Abstract: A drainage system for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brake rigging wherein the slack adjuster includes a main spring housing, a cone nut housing enclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster, and an over travel housing. The drainage system includes at least one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the main spring housing. The opening is configured to allow fluid and/or contaminates to drain therethrough to reduce exposure of the critical operating area of the slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants. A seal/splash guard can be provided at the intersection of the main spring housing and the cone nut housing to prevent fluid and contaminants from entering into the cone nut housing.

Abstract: A clevis including: bridge portion; a neck portion extending from the bridge portion in a first axial direction; a threaded opening passing through the bridge and neck portions through which a longitudinal axis passes; and first and second folded sidewalls extending from the bridge portion in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction. The first side wall includes: a first portion at a first distance, in a radial direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, from the longitudinal axis; and a second portion at a second distance, in the radial direction, less than the first distance, from the longitudinal axis and including at least one hole. The second side wall includes: a third portion at the first distance, in the radial direction, from the longitudinal axis; and a fourth portion at the second distance, in the radial direction, from the longitudinal axis and including at least one hole.

Abstract: A tension assembly indicates when a desired tension is achieved between two objects connected by the tension assembly. The tension assembly may be attached in series with a tension adjustor between a structure and an anchor, or any other two objects, and include a compressible component and an indication mechanism. As tension between the structure and anchor is adjusted using the tension adjustor, the compressible component adjusts in size, allowing the indicator to indicate whether the current tension is satisfactory. The compressible component includes a spring which, when compressed or expanded, allows the indicator to move toward or away from another indicator. When the indicators are aligned, the desired tension is achieved.

Abstract: A corrective device for correcting uneven brake shoe wear on a brake mechanism for a railway vehicle, wherein the railway vehicle includes a brake beam having a tension beam coupled to a compression beam, a brake head with brake shoes provided at each end of the brake beams, and a slack adjuster. The corrective device is configured to cooperate with at least one of the compression beam and the slack adjuster to minimize or prevent the compression beam and the tension beam from rotating relative to the wheels and side frames of the railway vehicle. A braking system including the corrective device and a method for correcting uneven brake shoe wear on a brake mechanism for a railway vehicle is also provided.

Abstract: A brake unit, preferably for a rail vehicle, including in a housing: a piston, and a push rod in the form of a spindle in an axial slack adjuster. The axial directions of the piston and the push rod are substantially perpendicular to each other, and means are provided for force transmission between these parts. The force transmitting means includes wedge elements at the underside of the piston cooperating with a driver element coaxial with and force-transmittingly connected to the spindle. The driver element is supported with rolling friction by the housing for movements in the axial direction of the spindle, and the spindle is axially guided by the housing at its forward end.

Abstract: An optical transmitter includes: a first modulator that modulates a first optical signal with a first data signal; a second modulator that modulates a second optical signal with a second data signal; a multiplexer that multiplexes the first optical signal and the modulated second optical signal to output a multiplexed signal; a phase difference data generator that generates a phase difference signal corresponding to a phase difference between the modulated first optical signal and the modulated second optical signal from the multiplexed signal; and a controller that controls the phase difference between the modulated first optical signal and the modulated second optical signal based on the phase difference signal.

Abstract: The train braking device includes an air brake controller in which a plurality of friction coefficients corresponding to a brake command and a brake initial velocity are stored, an electropneumatic conversion valve that converts a pressure control signal transmitted from the air brake controller into a pneumatic signal, a relay valve that generates a predetermined brake cylinder pressure corresponding to the pneumatic signal, and a brake cylinder that controls brake shoes according to the brake cylinder pressure, wherein the air brake controller generates the pressure control signal based on the friction coefficients corresponding to the brake command and the brake initial velocity.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the stroke of a brake cylinder has an elongated body endowed with a first end associated to a gap adjuster and a second end endowed with a flat structure which has a plurality of regulators. The regulators are disposed such that distances between centers of these regulators correspond to pre-determined adjustments to the stroke of the brake cylinder.

Abstract: A slack adjuster for a fluid-actuated brake comprises a slack adjuster collet (24) having a tubular skirt and an enlarged ring section. The enlarged ring section has opposed axial stop faces notched therein that define a conical lift surface facing the tube axis. A forward stop face has a conical or beveled surface arranged to engage the conical or beveled surface on one stop face of the collet when the collet carried by the actuator rod reaches the forward stop face and a retraction stop face has a conical or beveled surface arranged to engage the conical or beveled surface on the other stop face of the collet when the collet carried by the actuator rod reaches retraction stop face. The conical or beveled surfaces are configured so that when they engage, the force of the collet on the push rod is reduced.

Abstract: A wear adjuster for a brake caliper of a disk brake of a rail vehicle, having a) a helical gearing which has a threaded spindle and a nut to be screwed thereon as the screw connection elements, one of the screw connection elements and an adjusting element being rotatable in a first wear adjuster housing to rotatingly drive the screw connection element in the wear adjusting direction and the other screw connection element being non-rotatably mounted in a second wear adjuster housing, b) a wrap spring freewheeling mechanism which is blocked in a direction of rotation of the rotatable screw connection element against a wear adjustment and which is freewheeling in the opposite direction of rotation, the wrap spring freewheeling mechanism coupling the rotatable screw connection element to a rotationally fixed element. The rotationally fixed element is formed directly by the first wear adjuster housing.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a double-acting compression actuatable slack adjuster to adjust the slack in the brake rigging of a railway vehicle which includes a pair of elongated members movable with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction. A positioning device carrying a pair of opposed abutting surfaces is threadedly engaged with a threaded portion of the elongated rod. Pair of opposite facing abutment surfaces are positioned within the hollow housing. A first urging device is positioned to urge the positioning device into a disengaged position. A second urging device overcomes the force of the first urging device and urges an abutting surface on the positioning device into engagement with an adjacent abutment surface. A first overtravel control device is provided which is activated by a trigger device. A second overtravel control device is provided to prevent jamming condition of the positioning device with one of the abutment surfaces when the elongated rod is fully extended.

Abstract: A vapor-phase tubular reactor in a shell heat exchanger for removal of the heat of reaction at essentially isothermal conditions has porous wicking surface applied to the external surface of reactor tubes. The porous wicking surface on the reactor tubes draws liquid heat transfer fluid from a reservoir at the bottom of the wicked tube section and provides enhanced evaporative cooling. The invention is particularly useful for highly exothermic reactions or when reaction selectivity is negatively affected by high temperature excursions.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for braking a vehicle by means of at least a service brake and a retarder brake, the brake pedal velocity (vB) is detected and the brake pressure is increased by a control device (10) if the pedal velocity exceeds a definable activation threshold value (S). In addition, the position of an operating element of the retarder brake is detected, and the activation threshold value (S) is reduced if the position of the operating element exceeds a definable limit value (G).

Abstract: A locking assembly for preventing accidental let out of a slack adjuster is provided wherein the slack adjuster includes an elongated hollow housing member and an elongated rod member mounted for reciprocal movement within the hollow housing member. At least a portion of the rod member extends outwardly from a first end of the slack adjuster and is movable in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the hollow housing member. A rod weldment washer is secured to the rod member at a predetermined location intermediate each end thereof. This rod weldment washer is positioned within the hollow housing member such that a side edge thereof is a predetermined distance from an inner surface of a sidewall of the hollow housing member during normal operation of the slack adjuster.

Abstract: A locking assembly for preventing the accidental let out of a slack adjuster is provided. The elongated rod member of the slack adjuster has a first portion positioned within at least a portion of the slack adjuster's elongated hollow housing member and a second portion extending out of an end of this elongated hollow housing. A jaw member may be provided which is engageable with this second portion of the elongated rod member at a location remote from the end of the elongated hollow housing member. The locking assembly comprises an end cap engageable with the end of the elongated hollow housing. This end cap includes a portion extending substantially parallel with the second portion of the elongated rod member. At least one aperture is formed through this parallely extending portion of the end cap.

Abstract: An actuating device for machine elements that are subject to wear play, especially for brakes of railborne vehicles. The actuating device has a piston-cylinder unit operated by a pressure medium. The piston-cylinder unit has a piston rod engagable with an adjusting device configured as an adjusting nut/spindle assembly, for wear play compensation. The adjusting nut/spindle assembly has a sleeve-type adjusting nut with external toothing engagable with an automatically actuatable actuating drive. An electronic control unit generates an actuating signal for wear play compensation in dependence on the position of a brake piston connected to the piston rod. The brake piston position is measured by a sensor. The actuating signal is transmitted to the actuating drive.

Abstract: A device for operating a machine element subject to wear-related play, especially for brakes of rail vehicles, includes a pressure-medium-operated piston-cylinder arrangement having a cylinder and operating piston, the piston rod of which is actively connected to a readjustment device that compensates for wear-related play. To realize a simple and compact structure and create further prerequisites for active integration into an operating system, the readjustment device comprises a readjustment piston mounted in the piston-cylinder arrangement between the operating piston and the bottom of the cylinder and acts as a limit stop for the operating piston. For axial arresting the readjustment piston, a coaxial piston rod shoulder that faces the bottom of the cylinder and a holding element resting on the bottom of the cylinder form an arresting arrangement that permits movement of the readjustment piston toward the operating piston and blocks a counter movement of the readjustment piston.

Abstract: In a vehicle braking system having a slack adjuster with an actuator and an electrically operable car control unit, an electrical switch is responsive the position of the actuator and is coupled to the car control unit to provide an indication of the condition of the vehicle brake shoes, i.e. whether or not the brake shoes are disengaged from the vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A brake actuator and slack adjuster subjected to axial vibration includes a slack adjusting mechanism circumferentially engaging a brake actuating mechanism. A circumferential elastomer bushing is disposed about the brake actuating mechanism for damping axial vibrations experienced by the slack adjuster. One washer has a recess sized to receive and seat one end of the bushing while a shim washer is located at the other end of the bushing and against a bearing race of the slack adjuster.

Abstract: The method includes moving a piston and a force transmitting element connected to the piston to a locking position. The piston and force transmission elements are locked in the locking position which preferably is displaced from the brake released position. Preferably, the piston is locked to the housing and the force transmission elements to a brake beam. A portion of the cylinder surrounding the piston is removed from the housing which is connected to the brake beam or truck and the packing cup is replaced. The cylinder portion is then replaced on the housing and the piston and the force transmission elements are unlocked and the piston and the force transmission elements are allowed to return to their released position.

Abstract: A brake system wherein the single actuator is freely mounted to a first brake beam so as to align its force application axis with the axis of a first force transmitting rod connected at its other end to a transfer lever on a second brake beam. A second force transmitting rod connects the transfer lever back to the first brake beam. The mounts for the actuator and the transfer lever are designed for use with brake beams of dual actuator brake systems.

Abstract: A device for maintaining the proper lateral position of brake shoes with respect to the wheels of a locomotive. An adjusting bar is used to adjust the distance between the pull rod of the brakes and a bracket supported by the safety strap. A supporting axle has a locomotive wheel on each end so that there is a wheel on each rail. Each wheel has a brake which is provided with an adjuster bar. There is thus a left and a right adjuster bar. A tie bar extends from the left adjuster member to the right adjuster member to keep the brake shoes aligned with the respective wheels after there is wear in the various linkage connections.

Abstract: A rail vehicle brake unit having a tubular housing and a slack adjuster movable therein in a brake force applying direction in response to a braking force applied to a push rod has a simple parking brake attachment. Thus, a sleeve abutting the slack adjuster presents a movable shoulder, which in turn is coupled with a pivoted parking brake lever for movement thereby to actuate the brakes.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism is taught which actuates an overtravel control apparatus of a slack adjuster in a railway vehicle brake rigging in response to the measured travel distance of a brake cylinder piston rod. The triggering mechanism includes an elongated hollow member secured to one end of the slack adjuster housing. An abutment surface carried by an extension member secured to one end of the overtravel control apparatus which moves reciprocally within the hollow member. A pivotal connection is secured adjacent an aperture formed in the wall of the hollow member. A lever device is pivotally connected to such pivotal connection and positioned to engage at one end thereof the abutment surface and having the other end movable in response to the brake cylinder piston rod travel distance.

Abstract: A device at a slack adjuster for manually rotating a spindle (1, 5) therein at the replacement of worn-out brake blocks, the spindle being in clutch engagement with a non-rotatable adjuster ear (6).In order to provide for a rotational movement of the spindle (1, 5) by external circumferential movements back and forth a locking spring (12) is arranged between a part (5) of the spindle and an externally actuatable operating sleeve (10).

Abstract: A brake rigging arrangement for high capacity dropped bottom gondola cars of the curved bottom type in which each end of the car up to the dropped bottom is in the form of a planar shear plate that is coextensive with the car end and is highly stressed under load, and is integrated with a stub center sill and body bolster, in which arrangement the rigging is of the double ended car supported type, and at each end of the car, the rigging for that end of the car is applied entirely below the shear plate in question and is integrated with the car end stub center sill at the level of the stub center sill without requiring perforation of the shear plate in the load bearing area of the car end.

Abstract: A brake adjustment device for locomotives wherein the braking system of a locomotive truck may be converted from a double shoe clasp-type assembly to a single brake shoe assembly, and comprising a pair of brackets adapted to be secured to the locomotive truck between a pair of adjacent or in-line locomotive wheels, an apertured slide rod secured to the outer ends of each bracket and extending in a direction toward the respective in-line wheel, an apertured housing secured to the brake lever of each of the wheels and having one end thereof open for slidably receiving the respective slide rod therein whereby the adjuster may be used in the manner of a turnbuckle for quickly adjusting the brakes for facilitating the replacement or repair of the brakes, a keeper pin cooperating with each respective apertured slide rod and apertured housing for selectively locking the slide rod with the respective housing, and a lever cooperating with each keeper pin for retaining the keeper pins in engagement with the respective

Abstract: A brake comprises a friction pad carried by a support and engageable with a braking surface of a rotor. An adjusting device moves the friction pad relative to the support to compensate for wear of the friction material. The adjusting device comprises a screw extending parallel with the direction of movement of the friction pad and a thrust member in screw threaded engagement with the screw member and engaging the friction pad. The thrust member transmits braking forces from the screw member to the friction pad and can rock into force-transmitting engagement with the support under the action of the braking and reaction forces.