Abstract: Methods and apparatuses can be used to adjust the torque transfer capacity and improve the overall performance and longevity of a clutch assembly. Through the use of various improved clutch components disclosed herein, it is possible to: (1) increase clutch apply forces through an increase in the fluid pressure apply surface area, or piston reaction area, of a clutch piston, thereby increasing frictional forces generated within a clutch pack for transferring input torque from a drive shaft to a driven shaft; (2) improve clutch plate contact conditions through a more rigid clutch pressure plate configuration, thereby reducing clutch pack/plate distortion and supporting structure deformation and/or wear that can otherwise lead to excessive heat generation and overall clutch performance degradation and/or failure; and/or (3) improve the clutch assembly's ability to dissipate and/or tolerate heat generated through clutch plate friction by means of an improved clutch pack configuration.

Abstract: An obstruction detection device for use with a truss fabrication system including a table having spaced accessways. The obstruction detection device includes a support structure configured for movable attachment to a table having spaced accessways. An obstruction sensor is connected to the support structure and configured to detect obstructions in the spaced accessways of the table. The obstruction sensor has an activated state and a deactivated state. A control system is operatively connected to the obstruction sensor to activate and deactivate the obstruction sensor in response to a position of the obstruction sensor relative to the spaced accessways. The control system activates the obstruction sensor when the obstruction sensor is aligned with one of the spaced accessways of the table and deactivates the obstruction sensor when the obstruction sensor is out of alignment with the spaced accessways of the table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic brake cylinder including a piston for transferring the pneumatic pressure to a brake, and a device for automatic adjustment in the event of wear of the brake linings, the device comprising a spindle, an adjusting nut, and a control sleeve that can be engaged with the adjusting nut. According to the invention, the control sleeve is embodied as a composite part including a metallic coupling ring and a sliding sleeve of a plastic material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydro-pneumatic piston accumulator (1), particularly for vehicle suspension systems, consisting of an accumulator housing (2) and a separating piston (6), which is disposed free-floating inside the accumulator housing in a displaceable manner in the direction of the movement axis (4). The separating piston separates an accumulator area (8) for a hydraulic medium from a pressure area (10) that is filled or is to be filled with a compressible medium, and is guided with an interior guide opening (30) on an elongated guide element (32), which is axially fixed within the accumulator housing (2).

Abstract: A rail vehicle brake slack adjuster comprises an axially movable, sleeve-shaped driver element (22) adapted to receive an axially applied braking force in a brake application direction, a spindle (16) axially movable within the driver element, an adjuster nut (34) in non-self-locking thread engagement with the spindle, clutch means between the driver element and the adjuster nut, and a barrel spring (30) biasing the spindle in the brake application direction. The adjuster has a combination of a first clutch (36) comprising a clutch surface on the driver element (22) directed in the brake application direction and a corresponding clutch surface on the adjuster nut (34) and a second clutch (38) comprising a clutch surface on the driver element (22) directed in the direction opposite to the brake application direction and a corresponding clutch surface on an adjuster nut sleeve (37). The adjuster nut sleeve (37) is axially movable on the adjuster nut (34).

Abstract: A brake application device for vehicles, in particular rail vehicles, which comprises a wear adjuster that is configured as a brake actuator with a screw drive, having a threaded spindle and a nut that can be screwed onto said spindle as the screw parts. At least one of the screw parts is electrically actuated for wear adjustment.

Abstract: A fluid operated brake actuator is provided composed of a common housing, a shaft rotatable within the housing, the shaft being rotatable to engage and disengage a brake, a vane connected to the shaft, the vane being responsive to fluid pressure to rotate the shaft, a torsion power spring for producing torque to bias the shaft in a first rotational direction; and an inlet port through the housing, the inlet port for introducing fluid pressure into the housing in order to exert a force on the vane in order to rotate the shaft against the bias of the spring.

Abstract: A spring brake cylinder having an emergency release device, particularly for rail vehicles, comprising: a housing; a spring piston for operating and releasing a spring brake; a normally locked, not self-locking threaded screw drive; an outer-radial sliding surface having a detent flank, the outer-radial sliding surface being an element of a rotatable part of the threaded screw drive, and the threaded screw drive having a pitch dimensioned such that the rotatable part carries out less than a complete rotation along its maximal axial adjusting stroke, and the detent flank being configured for locking the emergency release device; and a latch for interacting in a form-locking manner with the detent flank to lock the emergency release device, and for releasing the spring brake in the absence of a release pressure medium and thereby permitting axial movement of the spring piston.

Abstract: A brake actuator for use in railway transit and similar vehicles to adjust for wear of braking components located on such vehicles. The brake actuator includes an externally threaded or serrated rod having a longitudinal axis. Such brake actuator further includes power and slack adjusting collets disposed on the rod and located in respective housings disposed about the collets and rod. A yoke member is disposed about and in engagement with the power collet housing and a first axially translatable bearing is disposed on the yoke member. A second fixed bearing is spaced from the axially translatable bearing and a piston is disposed for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The piston has an integral fork-shaped wedge disposed astraddle the threaded or serrated rod for movement to a location between the bearings.

Abstract: In a spring applied mechanism such as a fail-safe disc brake having a disk and pads, there is provided an automatic adjuster to maintain even travel and pressure to the brake pads from the spring pack regardless of pad wear. The adjuster has a piston operable by hydraulic pressure to draw a pushrod back from the brake pad and a lock actuator in the form of a collet operable between the piston and the pushrod to provide positive movement of the pushrod with the piston in the direction of force application from the spring pack while allowing relative movement between the piston and the pushrod during movement of the piston in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An actuation device for machine elements having wear-induced play, especially for brakes in rail vehicles, has an actuating piston-cylinder unit which generates actuation force and has a piston rod. The piston rod cooperates with a readjusting device which compensates for play caused by wear and which supplies the actuation force to the machine element to be actuated such that wear play is compensated. The readjusting device comprises a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit which carries out the wear play readjustment through the extension of an adjusting piston. To actuate the adjusting piston, a sensor element detects the wear-induced play and, when a threshold amount of wear-induced play is reached, opens a valve which admits a hydraulic medium to the readjusting piston-cylinder unit by utilizing the operating pressure of the actuating piston-cylinder.

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: A brake actuator for use on passenger transit railway vehicles, is disclosed. The actuator includes a housing containing a service piston and a parking brake piston. The service piston is connected to an inner hollow stem having a forward conical surface disposed to engage a conical surface of a collet provided on a threaded rod located within the stem. The parking brake piston has a hollow outer sleeve surrounding the hollow stem, while a coil spring is located about the outer sleeve for applying a braking force when fluid pressure is removed from a housing containing the parking brake piston. The spring expands against a locking ring located on a forward sleeve secured to an intermediate sleeve that engages the hollow stem. This causes forward movement of the outer sleeve and forward movement of the conical portion of the hollow stem into engagement with the conical portion of the conical surface of the collet. This, in turn, moves the threaded rod to engage brake applying components of a transit vehicle.

Abstract: A brake actuator includes a tubular housing member, connected at a first end to a cylindrical housing with a member for admitting fluid, a piston with a sealing member mounted for reciprocal movement within such cylindrical housing, a tubular stem connected at one end to such piston, the tubular stem having a first conical surface at its other end, a piston return disposed intermediate such first piston and the tubular housing, a flange connected at one end to another end of the tubular housing, a pair of abutment surfaces carried by such flange and an externally threaded rod having a first portion extending inside the tubular housing and such tubular stem and a second portion extending outwardly from such tubular housing and through the flange, the improvement of a collet style slack adjuster to adjust for wear of braking elements.

Abstract: A tread brake unit including a spring actuated compensating mechanism for maintaining the brake unit piston stroke constant. A roller associated with the compensating mechanism is adapted to ride along an operating surface of a lever arm that rotates according to the degree of piston stroke. The profile of this operating surface regulates the roller movement to prevent the stressing of operating springs in the compensating mechanism from exceeding a maximum value corresponding to their fatigue limit.

Abstract: A tread-brake unit comprises a brake piston and arrangement (101/100), a slack adjuster (200) and a brake shoe (300). The piston (101) is mounted in the cylinder (100) such that in operation of the brake piston and cylinder arrangement the axis (103) of the piston (101) oscillates about the axis (104) of the cylinder (100). The axis (104) of the cylinder (100) is inclined with respect to the axis (201) of the slack adjuster (200) in the plane in which the axis (103) of the piston (100) is oscillatable about the axis (104) of the cylinder (100). The piston rod (105) of the piston (101)is pivotally engaged with one end of a first lever (401) pivotally mounted in the unit and engageable with one end of a second, bell-crank, lever (410) which is pivotally mounted at its elbow in the unit and is pivotally engaged at its other end to a part (280) of the slack adjuster (200) movement of which within the unit effects, through the slack adjuster (200), operation of the brake shoe (300).

Abstract: A slack adjuster has a non-rotatable fast-threaded output member (19) threadedly engaged by a pair of nuts (20, 21), one of the nuts being a first brake-force-transmitting nut (20) clutchable to prevent rotation thereof and the other being a second adjustment nut (21) clutchable to land. Relative axial movement of these nuts relative to the output member (19) is a measure of "excessive" brake clearance and restoration of the normal spacing between these nuts serves to restore brake clearance to "normal". The nuts (20, 21) are housed in a housing (8) which is non-rotatable but axially movable with respect to the output member (19). The first nut (20) is clutchable to a thrust member (26) resiliently loaded with a force which is overcome only by forces of the magnitude of braking forces transmitted through the slack adjuster.

Abstract: A tread-brake unit copmrises, as a unitary structure, a brake shoe (300) for engaging a vehicle wheel tread, a brake actuator (100) having an output member (19) via which the brake shoe (300) can, firstly, be moved into engagement with the wheel tread and, thereafter, a braking force generated by the actuator (100) can be transmitted to the brake shoe (300), and a slack adjuster (200) by which clearance between the brake shoe (300) and the wheel tread, in the "released" condition of the unit, can be maintained substantially constant. The slack adjuster (200) has a pair of fast-threaded units (20,21), each nut being threadedly engaged with and rotatable on the output member (19) of the actuator (100).

Abstract: An assembly and disassembly system for a spring of a brake actuation unit, in particular for rail vehicles including a fluid pressure cylinder and a piston slidable in the cylinder. A cylindrical nut member is provided having a tubular portion extending outwardly of the piston. An output head is connected to the tubular portion and includes an outer tubular portion extending towards the piston. A compression spring is provided disposed between the tubular portion of the cylindrical nut member and the outer tubular portion of the output head. A sleeve member is disposed between the spring and the outer tubular portion of the output head. This sleeve is provided with a slot which extends in an axial direction along the sleeve. The outer tubular portion includes an opening which may be aligned with the sleeve slot. A member such as a pin is provided which extends through the opening into the slot holding the sleeve and the outer tubular portion in a position engaged around the spring.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a brake actuator incorporating a mechanically operated adjuster, the adjuster compensating for friction pad wear. The brake actuator comprises two adjuster members interconnected by a self-sustaining thread and located between a friction pad and an actuation member, the actuation member being biassed by a main spring to a brakes-on position with at least one hollow piston being displaceable under hydraulic pressure to compress the main spring and move the actuation member to a brakes-off positon, a second piston being carried within the hollow piston and being carried within the hollow piston and being axially displaceable therein under the hydraulic pressure and against a further spring, to cause interengaging clutch elements to rotate one adjuster member relative to the other adjuster member, a stop being arranged to limit the available movement of the clutch elements.

Abstract: A rail vehicle slack adjuster in a brake unit has an axially movable piston rod (7), a non-rotatable, brake force delivering spindle (8), an adjuster nut (26) in non-self-locking engagement with the spindle and rotating on a bearing (18), and a barrel spring (29) between the unit piston (3) and the spindle, the adjuster nut being clutchable over a main clutch (27) to the piston rod for transmitting brake force. A non-rotatable locking sleeve (20), which is only axially movable a control distance (A) under the action of a locking spring (21), is clutchable to the adjuster nut over a control clutch (28).

Abstract: A truck mounted air cylinder and slack adjuster incorporates an elongated brake operating member adapted to apply a brake applying thrust to the brake beams. An air cylinder is mounted to the truck and a threaded rod is attached to the brake operating member and extends into the air cylinder. A drive member is positioned within the air cylinder and is in sealing relationship with the cylinder walls. The drive member is movable within the cylinder in response to a brake application air pressure applied thereto. A clutch connecting the threaded rod to the drive member for concurrent axial movement with the clutch provides for rotation of the rod relative to the drive member. A slack adjuster is associated with the cylinder and the rod. The slack adjuster cooperates with the clutch to extend the rod relative to the elongated brake operating member in response to a slack condition sensed by the slack adjuster during a brake application.

Abstract: The hydraulic activators are provided with a relief valve which serves to permit communication between the disengaging cylinder chamber and the work cylinder chamber. The open position of the relief valve occurs when the release apparatus for the rotatable friction brake member is closed. The closed position of the relief valve occurs after the rotating brake is released. The relief valve can be mounted in the release apparatus of the working piston.

Abstract: Slack adjusting means comprises a linearly movable input member, a linearly movable output member, and an element for transmitting a brake force from the input member to the output member, characterized in that the input and output members are constrained against relative angular movement, and in that the element is engaged with one of said members via co-operating helical thread means provided therebetween and is engageable with the other of said members via co-operable clutch faces provided therebetween and arranged such that in use the clutch faces are retained in force-transmitting engagement by the reaction forces in the co-operating helical thread means and are disengageable when said reaction forces are removed or relieved thereby to permit relative rotation, and hence relative linear displacement corresponding to the slack to be taken up, between the element and said one member in engagement therewith via the co-operating helical thread means.

Abstract: A brake actuator comprising: a piston-cylinder arrangement having a piston member and a cylinder member arranged for sliding motion relative to one another by fluid pressure medium; an elongate plunger longitudinally movable by one said member and comprising two mutually screw-threaded parts arranged to vary the effective or overall length of the plunger upon relative rotation of said two parts; a resilient spring torque motor for effecting said relative rotation, the torque motor being coupled to one of the parts for driving that part relative to the other part; and rotation preventing means comprising friction clutch or brake members coupled to said one part and releasable when the stroke of the plunger exceeds a pre-set or predetermined amount to permit torque transmission from the torque motor to said one part in a direction tending to increase the effective or overall length of the plunger.

Abstract: A brake cylinder device for railway vehicles including a built-in automatic slack adjuster and a manually axially positionable piston for resetting the piston and piston rod relative to the slack adjuster when necessary, such as when replacing worn brake shoes, the piston rod being interconnected through a nut and screw, friction clutch, and a key to a manually rotatable member, which, when rotated causes axial displacement of the piston rod and piston to desired adjusted position relative to the slack adjuster.

Abstract: In a brake cylinder there is a reciprocating piston from which extends a non-rotatable sleeve surrounding a co-axial non-rotatable axially displaceable threaded shaft upon which is threaded a coupling nut. A pair of rotary couplings are provided on opposed sides of the coupling nut with the sleeve and the rotary couplings are actuable by axial displacement of the coupling nut. A stop ring is axially displaceable on the coupling nut and is supported opposite to the braking direction by a fixed stop. A second stop on the coupling nut is spaced rearwardly of the first stop a distance approximately equal to the contact stroke of the vehicle brake when the resetting device is in the inoperative position. To provide for single acting operation, the resetting device is provided with a spring which has one end acting against the stop ring and the other end acting against an abutment on the sleeve.

Abstract: In a brake cylinder there is a reciprocating piston from which extends a non-rotatable sleeve surrounding a co-axial non-rotatable axially displaceable threaded shaft upon which is threaded a coupling nut. A pair of rotary couplings are provided on opposed sides of the coupling nut with the sleeve and the rotary couplings are actuable by axial displacement of the coupling nut. A stop ring is axially displaceable on the coupling nut and is supported opposite to the braking direction by a fixed stop. A spring has one end acting against the stop ring and its other end acting against an abutment on the sleeve. A second stop on the coupling nut is spaced rearwardly of the first stop a distance approximately equal to the contact stroke of the vehicle brake when the resetting device is in the inoperative position.

Abstract: A brake adjuster mechanism is of the type operable by a piston moving a threaded spindle axially during braking with a threaded nut thereon adjusting the spindle position. Two control members movable with the spindle are held apart by a spring between shoulder stops on the nut and they serve to position the nut between two opposed clutch surfaces to permit nut rotation until a predetermined slack setting is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatically-applied spring-released brake assembly for each individual wheel of a railway vehicle truck, wherein the brake assembly comprises a pair of levers that so cooperate with non-self-locking threads formed on a nut and a screw member as to provide a high mechanical advantage or multiplication of the braking force transmitted from a piston to a brake shoe thereby enabling a substantial reduction in the diameter of the piston and therefore of the size of the brake assembly from that of such assemblies heretofore necessary to transmit the same braking force to the shoe.

Abstract: The present invention refers to an automatic slack adjuster to regulate the slack between a rotating disc that is secured to a railroad car axle, and a braking element which is brought into contact with the rotating disc, to brake it. The slack adjuster is inserted in a pneumatic brake cylinder. This brake cylinder includes at least one piston the purpose of which is to move axially when the cylinder is activated, and a driving shaft or piston rod connected with the braking element.

Abstract: A single acting pneumatic brake assembly is constructed to permit the push rod to be returned by external force when brakes are replaced, and the like. Thus, two pairs of clutch surfaces are both disengaged while the push rod is returned by pressure applied between a stationary part and a movable member of the assembly such as the push rod and wheel. A movable clutch member holds the clutch surfaces open during return of the push rod. A spring holds one clutch surface closed until overcome by pressure to return the push rod.