Abstract: A low-profile railway car retarder having a pair of braking bars disposed parallel and on opposite sides of a track rail and having an upper and lower pivotal lever carrying a respective one of the pairs of braking bars. A pneumatic motor pivotally connected to the outer extremities of the upper and lower levers, and the height of the pivotal connection of the upper lever is substantially at the same level as the track rail so that a humped railway vehicle is permitted to freely pass through the car retarder. The pneumatic motor lifts the upper lever and depresses the lower lever to move the pair of braking bars to a closed braking position wherein pressure is supplied to the pneumatic motor so that the pair of braking bars engage the opposite side of the wheels of a traversing vehicle at a relatively high point to exert a greater amount of retardation of the vehicle.

Abstract: A locking assembly for vat wheels mounted in a track includes an air cylinder actuator having a reciprocating piston rod which drives a pivotable rocker assembly. The rocker assembly includes a pair of wheel braces which, in a locking position, cross the tracks contacting the inner surfaces of two adjacent vat wheels to prevent rolling or rocking of the vat.

Abstract: A retarder, suitable when mounted in association with a rail of a railway track for reducing the speed of a wagon rolling along the track, includes an hydraulic unit which comprises a hollow member, a piston slidably housed in that member, and a piston rod. A portion of the hydraulic unit is, for retardation of the wagon, disposed in the path of a wagon wheel. When that portion is engaged, directly or indirectly, by a wheel it is deflected by, and out of the path of, the wheel to permit the wheel to pass the retarder. The ratio of the diameter of the piston to the diameter of the piston rod is in the range 2.80:1 to 6.00:1 and the ratio of the diameter of the piston to the length of stroke of the hydraulic unit is in the range 0.53:1 to 1.20:1.

Abstract: A retarder, suitable for mounting with respect to a rail of a railway track for reducing the speed of a wagon rolling along the track, includes an hydraulic unit a portion of which, for retardation of the wagon, is disposed in the path of a wheel of the wagon. That portion when engaged, directly or indirectly, by the wheel is deflected by, and out of the path of, the wheel. A thruster device, disposed alongside the unit and capable also of deflecting the portion out of the path, includes a displaceable element which is normally disengaged from the portion but which upon initial movement thereof is so tilted that a part thereof comes into driving engagement with the portion. On continued movement of the element the driving engagement is maintained and the portion moves from its position in the path of the wheel into another position out of the path.

Abstract: A toy train set includes a toy train car operative upon a two rail trackway. The trackway includes a braking system for reducing the toy train speed at selected places along the trackway and a track intersection having no moving parts which permits a child user to select either of two direction paths. An elongated beam spring is provided on the toy cars to facilitate placement upon the trackway by a younger child.

Abstract: A retarder, suitable for reducing the speed of a wagon rolling along a railway track, includes a retainer, which is adapted to be secured upon or adjacent a rail of the track, and an hydraulic unit which is fitted in the retainer. A portion of the unit normally projects from the retainer thus to lie in the path of a wheel of the wagon so as to be engageable by that wheel. The portion is movable inwardly of the retainer to a position, out of the path, in which it permits the wheel to pass the retarder. The retarder includes holding mechanism for maintaining the portion in that position.

Abstract: A brake or retarder for braking rolling railway cars preferably for shunting purposes incorporates an actuating member adapted to be given a movement by a passing railway car wheel, which movement via a speed-dependent coupling is transferred to a mechanical braking device when the speed of the movement exceeds a certain pre-set value.

Abstract: In a retarder system for railway wagons, a retarder device which includes a rotatable cylinder resiliently urged into a working position adjacent a rail and provided with a flange with a helical contact surface. The flange of a railway wagon wheel which passes in a working or first direction influences the contact surface of the cylinder to set the cylinder rotating thereby pumping a hydraulic medium through a throttled opening to obtain a braking action. The cylinder is provided with an elongated projection arranged parallel to the axis of the cylinder, which extends radially from the cylinder and is directed, in a position of readiness of the cylinder, substantially towards the rail.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a cylinder and a piston rod passing through at least one end of the cylinder. A piston unit is mounted on the piston rod and divides the cavity within the cylinder into two working chambers. A damping fluid is contained within the cylinder. The working chambers are interconnected across the piston unit by first and second branch flow passages arranged in parallel. First and second flow valves are associated with these first and second flow passages, respectively, and operate to dampen movement of the piston rod in at least one direction in dependency on the velocity of movement. The first branch passage flow valve is normally open and closes only when a predetermined velocity of movement is exceeded. The second branch passage flow valve is normally closed and opens only when the pressure differential between the working chambers exceeds a predetermined value. Closing of the first branch passage flow valve increases the damping effect.

Abstract: A brake shoe structure includes a series of alternating long brake shoes and short brake shoes mountable on adjacent brake beams in a railroad car retarder. The length of the long brake shoe is such that the long brake shoe symmetrically straddles two adjacent brake beams. The length of the short brake shoe is such that the shoe occupies the spacing on the brake beams between two long brake shoes. The long brake shoes are affixable to each of the brake beams at at least two points. The brake shoes contain a plurality of slanting slots in their braking surfaces for interrupting harmonics producing screeching noises during retardation. The brake shoes may be formed of steel or heat treatable ductile iron.

Abstract: The speed of loaded and unloaded driverless vehicles traveling along an inclined path is controlled by a hydraulic retarder mechanism which dissipates the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The retarder mechanism is velocity sensitive and projects into the path of part of the vehicle. The retarder mechanism slows down fast moving vehicles but has little or no effect on slow moving vehicles.

Abstract: Two beams of a railway car retarder which are located on opposite sides of a track rail are provided with brake shoes in the form of segments. The segments are positioned in recesses on the inside longitudinal sides of the beams. The recesses are separated from one another by web ribs. The segments are form-closed with the longitudinal recesses of the beams and fixedly located therein. By means of this braking system the squeaking sounds arising during the braking operation are substantially reduced.

Abstract: The braking apparatus of this invention functions in cooperation with a rabbit lure car provided with longitudinally arranged brake shoes adapted to be clamped between elongated clamp members as the lure car passes the clamp members. Actuation of the clamp members is by a fluid cylinder, preferably pneumatic, lever-connected to an actuating rod that operates through a plurality of bell cranks to open and close the elongated clamps. The clamp opening is positioned in pre-set spacing when the operator transfers a control switch preparatory to the lure car's entering the vicinity of the clamp members. When the lure car passes a preestablished position following initial braking resulting from the pre-set clamp spacing, full clamp pressure is automatically applied, stopping the lure car.An associated fluid cylinder automatically opens a lure gate when the lure operator transfers the control switch to pre-set the clamp spacing.

Abstract: The track brake is intended to limit the speed of rolling motion of a freight car according to the track gradient in a marshalling yard. A retarder installed along a braking rail comprises a number of braking tappets each having a portion which projects above the braking rail in the rest position and each being applied in turn beneath each wheel of the car to be braked. The track brake comprises a motion converter constituted by a series of rockers each pivotally mounted on a pin connected to the braking rail. One portion of each rocker cooperates with a braking tappet and another portion of the rocker cooperates with a piston-rod of a substantially horizontal hydraulic brake cylinder.

Abstract: Railway braking apparatus for frictionally engaging and retarding the wheels of railroad cars which includes a series of pneumatic cylindrical operators located between two adjacent crossties along the trackway. The piston of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is coupled to a frictional braking bar through a mechanical advantage pivotal lever. Each lever is pivotally connected to a rigid welded frame assembly including apertured lugs and pivot pins. The rigid force absorbing frame assembly is carried by the two adjacent crossties and includes a crosspiece member to which the cylinder of each pneumatic cylindrical operator is pivotally connected. The pivotal lever is constructed of a plurality of plates, two bolt accommodating tubes and a series of filler plates or slotted shims which allow for the lateral adjustment of the frictional braking bars and permits quick and easy assembly and dismantling of the actuators, levers and braking bar.

Abstract: A system for exchanging hydraulic fluid between a pump, a retarder and a reservoir in a railroad classification yard in which a pump housing and a control unit housing are supported independently outboard of opposite sides of the classification track with conduits reduced to a minimum and connected to the housings by hoses.

Abstract: A rail wheel gripper for holding or retarding a rail vehicle has opposed gripper mechanisms that engage a wheel between them. Each mechanism comprises a carrier arm for a gripper member and upper and lower pivot arms connected to the carrier arm controlling the path of movement of the gripper member. Each mechanism is so arranged, and a drive device co-operates with it, as to exhibit a mechanical advantage with increased gripping force when the opposed gripper members reach their operative positions, and a mechanical disadvantage with magnified displacement of the members when they are remote from their operative position.

Abstract: Noise from track retarders is significantly reduced by a brake shoe which dampens vibrations as continuous braking action of a wheel occurs. The brake shoe is adapted to have selectively variable brake surface configurations which contribute to reduced vibration. A special metal alloy, typically a flake-graphite bearing iron with vibration suppression characteristics lubricates the braking surface and lessens wheel oscillations during braking. The lubrication also contributes to uniform surface temperatures along the braking surface which lessens the tendency for the braking to fade. The brake shoe is basically a self-lubricated surface of variable contact area configuration.

Abstract: A rail trackway fitted with braking devices which are arranged along predetermined intervals and comprise elastically deformable braking bodies adapted for use in warehouses and at loading stations for transshipment.

Abstract: A railway track brake comprising a series of segments connected together in pairs and installed transversely between the rails of the track, each segment including a top beam with a shaft rotatably installed inside the top beam and provided at its ends with projecting arms carrying contact rollers for engagement with the wheels of the vehicle to be braked. The top beam is rotated with the shaft when the vehicle wheels contact the rollers and rotate the arms. The top beam is connected to a bottom beam which is linearly displaceable by means of a crank and a connecting rod. The bottom beam is connected to an energy absorbing device including a strip having a friction lining in contact with rotatable rolls. The bottom beams of each pair of segments are interconnected by a double-arm lever such that the bottom beams move in opposite directions.