Braking systems for railway cars
AssigneeAmsted Rail Company, Inc.
InventorJonathan Sunde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Braking systems for railway cars are provided. A braking system defines a longitudinal axis, and includes a first brake assembly, a second brake assembly, and an actuator operable to generate a linear force, the actuator disposed proximate the second brake assembly. The braking system further includes a movable rod and a fixed rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly. In some embodiments, the braking system further includes a dead lever and a slack adjuster disposed proximate the first brake assembly, the slack adjuster connected to the first brake assembly and the dead lever and operable to adjust a distance along the longitudinal axis between a reference point of the first brake assembly and a pivot point of the dead lever.
Claims18
A braking system for a railway car, the braking system defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a first brake assembly, the first brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly comprising a tension bar assembly and a compression bar;
- a second brake assembly, the second brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly comprising a tension bar assembly and a compression bar;
- an actuator operable to generate a linear force, the actuator disposed between the tension bar assembly and the compression bar of the second brake assembly;
- a fixed rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly;
- a movable rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the movable rod connected to the actuator and translatable along the longitudinal axis based on operation of the actuator;
- a live lever disposed proximate the second brake assembly, the live lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the actuator, the second end connected to the movable rod;
- a strut assembly disposed between and connected to the tension bar assembly and the compression bar of the second brake assembly, wherein the pivot point of the live lever is coupled to the strut assembly, wherein the strut assembly further comprises a first flange and a second flange, the first flange connected to the first end of the live lever, and wherein the actuator is connected to and between the first flange and the second flange.
A braking system for a railway car, the braking system defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- a first brake assembly, the first brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly comprising a tension bar assembly and a compression bar, the tension bar assembly comprises a first tension bar and a second tension bar spaced apart from the first tension bar along a vertical axis;
- a second brake assembly, the second brake assembly comprising a bar assembly and a plurality of brake heads connected to the bar assembly, the bar assembly comprising a tension bar assembly and a compression bar, the tension bar assembly comprises a first tension bar and a second tension bar spaced apart from the first tension bar along the vertical axis;
- an actuator operable to generate a linear force, the actuator disposed between the tension bar assembly and the compression bar of the second brake assembly;
- a fixed rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly;
- a movable rod extending between the first brake assembly and the second brake assembly, the movable rod connected to the actuator and translatable along the longitudinal axis based on operation of the actuator;
- a live lever disposed proximate the second brake assembly, the live lever comprising a first end, a second end, and a pivot point between the first end and the second end, the first end connected to the actuator, the second end connected to the movable rod;
- a strut assembly disposed between and connected to the tension bar assembly and the compression bar of the second brake assembly, the strut assembly comprising a first strut member and a second strut member, the second strut member spaced from the first strut member along the vertical axis, wherein the pivot point of the live lever is coupled to the first strut member and the second strut member, and wherein the live lever is disposed between the first strut member and the second strut member along the vertical axis, wherein the strut assembly further comprises a first flange and a second flange, the first flange connected to the first end of the live lever, and wherein the actuator is connected to and between the first flange and the second flange.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.