Braking systems for railway cars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855960-B2
Application number	US-201615161507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2016
Priority date	May 23, 2016
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The braking system of claim 1 , wherein the strut assembly comprises a first strut member and a second strut member, the second strut member spaced from the first strut member along a vertical axis.

3. The braking system of claim 2 , wherein the live lever is disposed between the first strut member and the second strut member along the vertical axis.

4. The braking system of claim 2 , wherein each of the first strut member and the second strut member comprises a base connected to the tension bar assembly and an arm connected to the compression bar.

5. The braking system of claim 1 , wherein each tension bar assembly comprises a first tension bar and a second tension bar spaced apart from the first tension bar along a vertical axis.

6. The braking system of claim 5 , wherein the live lever and a first strut member and second strut member of the strut assembly are disposed between the first tension bar and the second tension bar of the second brake assembly along the vertical axis.

7. The braking system of claim 1 , further comprising a hand brake lever, the hand brake lever comprising a base and an arm extending from the base, the hand brake lever coupled to the pivot point of the live lever and connected to the movable rod.

8. The braking system of claim 7 , wherein the arm extends from the base at an angle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees.

9. The braking system of claim 7 , wherein the strut assembly comprises a first strut member and a second strut member, the second strut member spaced from the first strut member along a vertical axis, and wherein the base of the hand brake lever is disposed between the first strut member and the second strut member along the vertical axis.

10. The braking system of claim 1 , wherein the second flange comprises a body and a pocket defined in the body, and wherein a second end of the fixed rod is disposed within the pocket.

11. The braking system of claim 1 , wherein the second flange comprises a body and a passage defined in the body.

12. The brake system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an air bag.

13. 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.

14. The braking system of claim 13 , further comprising a hand brake lever, the hand brake lever comprising a base and an arm extending from the base, the hand brake lever coupled to the pivot point of the live lever and connected to the movable rod.

15. The braking system of claim 14 , wherein the arm extends from the base at an angle of between 20 degrees and 50 degrees.

16. The braking system of claim 14 , wherein the base of the hand brake lever is disposed between the first strut member and the second strut member along the vertical axis.

17. The braking system of claim 13 , wherein the live lever, the first strut member and the second strut member are disposed between the first tension bar and the second tension bar of the second brake assembly along the vertical axis.

18. The braking system of claim 13 , wherein the actuator is an air bag.

Assignees

• Amsted Rail-Faiveley LLC
• Amsted Rail Co Inc

Inventors

• Sunde Jonathan

Classifications

• B61H15/00

  Wear-compensating mechanisms, e.g. slack adjusters · CPC title

• B61H1/00

  Applications or arrangements of brakes with a braking member or members co-operating with the periphery of the wheel rim, a drum or the like · CPC title

• B61H13/36

  Beams; Suspension thereof · CPC title

• F16D49/00

  Brakes with a braking member co-operating with the periphery of a drum, wheel-rim, or the like (similar clutches F16D13/10) · CPC title

• B61H15/0014 Primary

  by means of linear adjustment · CPC title