Abstract: A storm brake for a truck assembly supporting a large industrial device, wherein the truck assembly includes a truck chassis having a mount to support the device and a wheel engaging a raceway along which the truck assembly and device are to travel, the storm brake including: a storm brake shoe pivotably mounted to the truck chassis, wherein the storm brake shoe has a first pivot position in which the brake does not engage the raceway and a second pivot position in which the brake engages the raceway, wherein the storm brake shoe pivots in a direction generally aligned with a direction movement of the truck assembly along the raceway; an actuator having an extendable linkage coupled to the storm brake shoe and at an opposite end to a fixed mounting on the truck chassis, wherein extension of the linkage pivots the storm brake from the first position to the second position, and the fixed mounting provides a slidable engagement between the opposite end of the actuator and the truck chassis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a bogie (10), including a load bearing point (11), a wheel set portion (12) and an intervening spring suspension (13). A load weigh valve (15) is fixed between the load portion (11) and the spring (16) of the suspension (13). The valve (15) is mounted within a wedge element (19) so that it continually measures the vertical load.

Abstract: A system is presented for automatically releasing all handbrakes of a railroad freight car or passenger car system. Working from the main air brake pressure lines, a pressure switch is provided which trips once the air pressure for the separate air brake system of a freight train or passenger train is reached. This pressure switch in turn energizes another mechanism, either a piston or other internal types of mechanical connection, which then pushes up the brake lever release releasing the handbrake. Since each handbrake on each end of each car is connected to the main air brake system through pressure sensitive valves, all manual handbrakes are released on all cars once the air pressure of the train is brought up to a certain level.

Abstract: An improved brake linkage system for a railway car, especially a hopper car, having an air cylinder actuated to move a cylinder lever. The cylinder lever is directly connected to a floating operating lever by a slack adjuster which can be made substantially shorter, lighter and less expensive than slack adjusters of prior art systems. With respect to the prior art, the present invention permits use of less linkages, shorter linkages and lighter linkages, thus making the overall linkage system lighter, less expensive and more efficient.

Abstract: An improved single manual brake operating system for connecting the brake equipment of a plurality of wheeled railroad freight car trucks. The system provides for initial rapid takeup of slack in the linkages interconnecting the braking mechanisms for several trucks and thereafter supplies force with a greater mechanical advantage as the brake shoes are forced against the wheels of the railway car. This variably applied take-up force is accomplished using a system of noncircular sheaves to which flexible portions of the handbrake operating linkage are attached in such a manner that initial rotation of the take-up sheave provides a relatively long effective lever arm to take up slack in the interconnecting linkages, and thereafter provides a shorter effective lever arm for application of tension through the interconnecting linkages.

Abstract: An improved single manual brake operating system for connecting the brake equipment of a plurality of wheeled railroad freight car trucks. The system provides for initial rapid takeup of slack in the linkages interconnecting the braking mechanisms for several trucks and thereafter supplies force with a greater mechanical advantage as the brake shoes are forced against the wheels of the railway car. This variably applied take-up force is accomplished using a system of noncircular sheaves to which flexible portions of the handbrake operating linkage are attached in such a manner that initial rotation of the take-up sheave is accomplished through a relatively long effective axis of rotation of the sheave and thereafter through a shorter effective axis of rotation.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a handbrake system for a railway car, such as an articulated car, having at least first, second and third trucks, each truck having a handbrake mechanism. The system comprises a handbrake and a force distributor including an input branch and first and second output branches. The system further comprises a first linkage connecting the handbrake to the input branch for moving the distributor when the handwheel is turned, a second linkage from the first output branch to the brake mechanism of the first truck, an automatic slack adjuster, a third linkage from the second output branch to the slack adjuster, a fourth linkage from the slack adjuster to the brake mechanism of the second truck, and a fifth linkage from the slack adjuster to the brake mechanism of the third truck.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a hand brake assembly (300) is mounted adjacent one end of a first car or articulated unit (303). A force dividing assembly (306) is provided on the first car, which divides the applied hand brake into a first (313) and second (321) hand brake linkages. The first hand brake linkage (313) is connected to a first air brake linkage (315) located on the first car. Preferably a portion of the first air brake linkage is located within an air brake cylinder (318). When the hand brake is applied, the first hand brake linkage (313) is effective to apply the brakes on the first car or unit through the first air brake linkage. The second hand brake linkage (321) extends from one car or unit to a second adjacent car or unit (333).

Abstract: For application to railway cars having limited available transverse space for the brake system, a system of vertically extending brake levers and longitudinally extending brake rods is used to apply the air brake force to wheels located at opposite ends of the car.

Abstract: A railroad car (12) has a set (B1) of brakes acting on wheels (W1) at one end of the car and a set (B2) of brakes acting on wheels (W2) at the opposite end of the car. A mechanism (38) for applying a brake force produced by operation of a hand brake (HB) includes a force splitter (40) interconnected with the hand brake and one set (B1) of wheels to transmit the brake force to this set of brakes. A first torque unit (54) is interconnected with the force splitter to transfer the brake force from one end of the car to the other. A second torque unit (74) is interconnected with the first torque unit and the other set (B2) of brakes to transmit the brake force to this other set of brakes. Application of both sets of brakes in response to operation of the hand brake prevents movement of the car.

Abstract: A handbrake arrangement for railroad freight cars is disclosed that will connect a mechanical handbrake operating mechanism to the brake equipment (brake beams and brake shoes) on 2, 3, or more trucks on the same freight car. It is especially useful on articulated freight cars consisting of multiple units in order to satisfy handbrake power requirements required by industry and Federal regulations, but a similar arrangement may be used on special purpose cars having a multiplicity of trucks. On an articulated car, consisting of a number of units, there is a multiplicity of trucks and because of the size and weight characteristics of the car, it is desirable to connect the handbrake mechanism to a number of the trucks in order to provide adequate handbrake power.

Abstract: An improved single manual brake operating system for connecting the brake equipment of a plurality of wheeled railroad freight car trucks. The system provides for initial rapid takeup of slack in the linkages interconnecting the braking mechanisms for several trucks and thereafter supplies force with a greater mechanical advantage as the brake shoes are forced against the wheels of the railway car. This variably applied take-up force is accomplished using a system of noncircular sheaves to which flexible portions of the handbrake operating linkage are attached in such a manner that initial rotation of the take-up sheave is accomplished through a relatively long effective axis of rotation of the sheave and thereafter through a shorter effective axis of rotation.