# US 7,607,521 B2 · Apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,607,521 B2 - Document ID: US7607521B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/054,042 - Filed: 2008-03-24 - Published: 2008-07-10 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-12 - Assignees: Graham-White Manufacturing Company - Inventors: William F. Ginder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607521B2 ## CPC - B61H 13/04: by mechanisms incorporating toothed gearing - B60L 7/00: Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general - B60T 7/107: {with electrical power assistance} - B60L 2200/26: Rail vehicles - B60L 2250/24: by lever actuation - 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) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - 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 ## Abstract In the specification and drawings, an apparatus and method for operating a take-up mechanism is described and shown. The take-up mechanism includes a gear, a motor configured for engagement with the gear, and a manual input shaft configured for engagement with the gear. In a first mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the motor, and in a second mode of operation, the gear transmits rotation from the manual input shaft. In an alternate embodiment, the take-up mechanism may include a plate between the manual input shaft and the gear. The plate may be configured to transfer rotation and torque from the manual input shaft to the gear, or inhibit the transfer of rotation and torque from the gear to the manual input shaft. The method for operating the take-up mechanism uses a motor and a manual input shaft connected to a gear to operate the take-up mechanism in the first and second modes. The motor is continuously engaged with the gear during at least the second mode of operation when setting and releasing the take-up mechanism. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system, comprising: a. a gear; b. a motor configured for engagement with said gear; c. a manual input shaft configured for engagement with said gear; d. a first mode of operation in which said gear transmits rotation from said motor; e. a second mode of operation in which said gear transmits rotation from said manual input shaft; and f. wherein said motor is engaged with said gear at some time during said second mode of operation when setting or releasing the take-up mechanism. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, wherein said motor is continuously engaged with said gear during said first mode of operation when setting and releasing the take-up mechanism. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, further including a plate between said manual input shaft and said gear, said plate being configured to transfer rotation and torque from said manual input shaft to said gear. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 3, wherein said plate includes conical depressions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, further including a plate between said manual input shaft and said gear, said plate being configured to inhibit the transfer of rotation and torque from said gear to said manual input shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, wherein said manual input shaft rotates independently from said motor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, further including a motor brake engaged with said motor when said motor is de-energized to inhibit rotation of said motor when said motor is de-energized. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, further including an electronic control circuit configured for operating said system in said first mode of operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 1, further including a torque limiting device for limiting the amount of force applied to the take-up mechanism to a predetermined amount. ### Claim 10 An apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism comprising: a. a gear; b. a motor configured for engagement with said gear; c. a manual input shaft configured for engagement with said gear; d. a plate between said manual input shaft and said gear, said plate being configured to transfer rotation and torque from said manual input shaft to said gear; e. a first mode of operation in which said gear transmits rotation from said motor; f. a second mode of operation in which said gear transmits rotation from said manual input shaft; and g. wherein said motor is engaged with said gear at some time during said second mode of operation when setting or releasing the take-up mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism as in claim 10, wherein said motor is continuously engaged with said gear during said first mode of operation when setting and releasing the take-up mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism as in claim 10, wherein said plate includes conical depressions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism as in claim 10, wherein said plate is further configured to inhibit the transfer of rotation and torque from said gear to said manual input shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism as in claim 10, wherein said manual input shaft rotates independently from said motor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism as in claim 10, further including a motor brake engaged with said motor when said motor is de-energized to inhibit rotation of said motor when said motor is de-energized. ### Claim 16 A method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system, comprising: a. energizing a motor connected to a gear to rotate said gear to set the take-up mechanism in a first mode of operation; b. manually rotating a manual input shaft connected to said gear to set and release the take-up mechanism in a second mode of operation; and c. connecting said motor and said gear at some time during said second mode of operation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 16, further including maintaining a continuous engagement between said motor and said gear during said first mode of operation to set and release the take-up mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 16, further including engaging a motor brake to said motor when said motor is de-energized to inhibit rotation of said motor when said motor is de-energized. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 18, further including disengaging said motor brake from said motor to release the take-up mechanism in said first mode of operation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system as in claim 16, further including energizing said motor to rotate said gear to re-set the take-up mechanism in said first mode of operation.