# US 11,440,522 B2 · Combined dirt collector and cutout cock having controlled venting

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- Number: US 11,440,522 B2
- Document ID: US11440522B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/052,959
- Filed: 2018-08-02
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-25
- Assignees: New York Air Brake Corporation
- Applicants: New York Air Brake, LLC
- Inventors: Bryan M. McLaughlin; Lawrence E. Vaughn; Derick Call; Christopher J. Ferguson; Joshua D. Woodruff; Danial Rowland
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440522B2

## CPC

- B60T 17/04: Arrangements of piping, valves in the piping, e.g. cut-off valves, couplings or air hoses (traction couplings involving joints for supply lines, electric circuits, or the like B60D1/62; couplings peculiar to railway vehicles for, or combined with, couplings or connectors for fluid conduits or electric cables B61G5/06; pipes, cut-off valves, couplings, air hoses per se F16C, F16K, F16L)
- B60T 15/52: for quick release of brakes, e.g. for influencing counter- pressure in triple valve or recirculating air from reservoir or brake cylinder to brake pipe
- B60T 17/002: {Air treatment devices}
- B60T 17/043: {Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks}
- B61H 13/34: Details
- F16K 5/0605: {with particular plug arrangements, e.g. particular shape or built-in means}
- F16K 24/02: the enclosure being itself a valve, tap, or cock
- Y10T 137/7256: Locks against rotary motion
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- B61H: BRAKES OR OTHER RETARDING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAIL VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR DISPOSITION THEREOF IN RAIL VEHICLES (arrangements in rail vehicles for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or permanent-way conditions B60T8/00; transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive, brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems, B60T13/00; construction, arrangement or operation of valves incorporated in power brake systems B60T15/00; component parts, details or accessories of brake systems B60T17/00)
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A combined dirt collector and cutout cock (CDC & COC) device for a rail car control to prevent unintentional re-pressurization of the control valve and rail car braking system. The device has an inlet configured for interconnection to an air supply, an outlet configured for interconnection to a control valve of a rail car, a valve moveable between a first position where an inlet is connected to an outlet and a second position where the inlet is isolated from the outlet, and a control valve vent positioned downstream of the valve and configured to open in response to the valve being moved into the second position. The valve may include a ball having a first passageway for selectively connecting and disconnecting the inlet from the outlet and a second passageway formed therethrough that is positioned to interconnect the outlet with the vent when the valve is in the second position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A combined dirt collector and cutout cock device, comprising:
an inlet configured for interconnection to an air supply;
an outlet configured for interconnection to a control valve of a rail car;
a valve moveable between a first position where the inlet is connected to the outlet and a second position where the inlet is isolated from the outlet;
wherein the valve includes a vent positioned upstream of the outlet that is open when the valve is into the second position;
wherein the valve includes a ball having a first passageway formed therethrough for selectively connecting and disconnecting the inlet from the outlet as the ball is rotated within the valve from the first position to the second position, and a second passageway formed therethrough that is positioned to interconnect the outlet with the vent when the valve is in the second position;
wherein the valve further includes a valve cover having a pair of detents, wherein the valve cover is releasably coupled to the valve;
a user handle interconnected to the valve and rotatable therewith between the first position, where the handle is contact with one of the pair of detents, and the second position, where the handle is in contact with the other of the pair of detents; and
a locking element positioned to selectively block the user handle from rotating to the second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the handle is interconnected to the ball via a drive stem that extends from a free end to an end that is coupled to the ball so that movement of the handle rotates the ball within the valve.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the second passageway extends through the drive stem and the vent is positioned at the free end of the drive stem.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The device of claim 3, further comprising a shut-off valve that can selectively open and close the vent.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, further comprising piping coupled to the vent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the piping is connected to the shut-off valve.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the shut-off valve is positioned proximately to a 4-port test interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The device of claim 7, wherein the shut-off valve is incorporated into a dust cover of the 4-port test interface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the shut-off valve is incorporated into a 4-port test interface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a shut-off valve associated with the vent, wherein the valve of the device and the shut-off valve are independently moveable via first and second handles, respectively.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet coupled to the user handle of the valve for movement of the valve between the first and second positions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The device of claim 11, wherein the ratchet is configured to move the valve into at least a third position where the valve is closed and the vent is closed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the ball is positioned between a pair of opposing seals in a ball housing and the vent comprises an opening formed through the ball housing that is in alignment with a gap between the pair of opposing seals.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is a locking handle positioned over the user handle.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the locking element is a spring loaded pin.