Brakes – Vehicle – Railway
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-17
2001-10-23
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Vehicle
Railway
C188S219100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305504
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to a car mounted brake assembly for a railway vehicle and, more particularly, to a car mounted brake assembly having a pair of brake beams and a suspension system for suspending each of such pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Car mounted brake assemblies are well known in the railway industry. These brake assemblies typically include a brake cylinder, a slack adjuster and a pair of brake beams mounted at each end of the car. A railway vehicle truck arrangement is provided at each end of the brake assembly. Each of the truck arrangements include a bolster and a pair of side frames having a wheel and axle set at each end of each pair of the truck side frames. The brake beams are typically mounted within a channel in the truck side frames of the railway vehicle truck arrangement. The brake beams are actuated by the brake cylinder via a series of levers and linkages. Each of these brake beams have a brake head attachable to each end thereof and each of the brake heads carries a brake shoe thereon. The brake heads are positioned such that during a brake application, the brake shoes engage the railway vehicle wheels causing the railway vehicle to stop.
In the U.S. railway industry, the side frame is fixed to the wheel and axle and the brake beams are secured to the truck side frame. This type of mounting of the brake beams subjects the braking system to a significant amount of shock as the railway vehicle moves along a route. Additionally, due to this type of mounting, occasionally, full contact is not made between the brake shoes and the wheels as the car moves up and down.
This differs from the European railway industry braking system. In the European market, presently used individual braking systems are suspended within the truck arrangement so that the braking system becomes part of the sprung system of the vehicle, giving the braking system more cushion and preventing shock onto the system.
A significant drawback to the systems currently in use in the European market is that these braking systems require the use of such an individual brake unit at each wheel, significantly increasing the cost of the braking system and the cost of maintaining each of these individual units. Another disadvantage is that the use of an individual braking unit at each wheel significantly increases the weight of the carsets, as well as, the energy required to power the railway vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved car mounted brake assembly is provided wherein the brake assembly includes a brake cylinder, a slack adjuster and a pair of brake beams mounted at each end of the car mounted brake assembly and actuated by the brake cylinder via a series of levers and linkages and wherein the improvement comprises a suspension system for suspending each of the brake beams within a corresponding railway vehicle truck arrangement. Each of the brake beams have a brake head attachable to each end thereof and each of the brake heads carries a brake shoe thereon which is positioned for engagement with a respective railway vehicle wheel during a brake application. The railway vehicle truck arrangement within which the brake beams are suspended includes a pair of truck side frames and a truck bolster member. The suspension system comprises a first means pivotally connected at a first end thereof with a predetermined portion of the railway vehicle truck arrangement and pivotally connected at a second end thereof to a predetermined portion of the car mounted brake assembly for suspending the pair of brake beams in the railway vehicle truck arrangement. The suspension system also includes a second means having at least a portion thereof connected with the car mounted brake assembly for maintaining each of the brake beams in a predetermined plane during application and release of the railway vehicle brake assembly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement which provides more cushion and reduces the amount of shock endured by the braking system.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement so as to achieve full contact of the brake shoes against the wheel as the car moves up and down allowing for an even wear of the brake shoes and better energy efficiency.
It is another object of the invention to provide a car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement so that this truck mounted brake suspension system may be utilized in a broader range of braking systems.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement which provides a braking system having greater energy efficiency, requires less maintenance and is less expensive.
Although a number of objects and advantages of the present invention have been described in some detail above, various additional objects and advantages of the car mounted brake assembly having a suspension system for suspending a pair of brake beams within a railway vehicle truck arrangement will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such detailed description of the invention is taken in conjunction with both the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 33207 (1990-05-01), Brodeur et al.
patent: 5259485 (1993-11-01), Jackson
patent: 5452776 (1995-09-01), Kohler
patent: 6148966 (2000-11-01), Daugherty, Jr. et al.
James Ray & Associates
Schwartz Christopher P.
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
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