Arrangement for connecting a test device to a railroad car brake control valve device

• US 5,709,436 A
• Filed: 12/17/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Co (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Scott, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US08/767,661
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 303/86, 303/33, 303/28-30, 303/36-38, 303/82, 303/81, 303/35, 303/39, 303/1, 303/60, 285/63, 285/137.1, 285/161, 285/158, 137/347, 137/349, 137/594, 73/121, 73/126, 73/39, 73/37, 73/127, 73/128, 73/129, 73/863.86, 73/866.5
• US Class Current: 303/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/043 Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/228 for railway vehicles

Abstract

A pneumatic receptacle adapted to receive a pneumatic connector head of a test device is mounted in a universal location remote from the brake control valve of a railroad freight car. The remotely mounted receptacle may be located on the railroad car body, for example, and is communicated with access ports associated with the control valve via hoses or conduits. In locating the receptacle on the car body, hook-up of the test device can be accomplished conveniently and in a safe manner by railroad personnel in the course of conducting a single car test to check the condition of the car brakes, regardless of the control valve location.

Claims

1. For a railroad car having a brake pipe, an auxiliary reservoir, an emergency reservoir, a brake cylinder, and a control valve device, including a pipe bracket portion, to which the foregoing are connected, there is provided a universal access arrangement via which a pneumatic connector head of a test device may be connected to the control valve device to test the railroad car brakes, said universal access arrangement comprising:

(a) said control valve device having at least one access port and a corresponding passageway interconnected with a respective one of said brake pipe, said auxiliary reservoir, said emergency reservoir, and said brake cylinder device;

(b) pneumatic receptacle means affixed to said railroad car remote from said control valve device for receiving said pneumatic connector head of said test device; and

(c) conduit means between said at least one access port and said pneumatic receptacle means for establishing fluid pressure communication between said corresponding passageway of said control valve device and said test device without interrupting any one of said brake pipe, auxiliary reservoir, emergency reservoir, and brake cylinder connections with said pipe bracket portion of said control valve device.

2. Universal access arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said control valve device further includes an access plate interposed between said service portion and said pipe bracket portion and having said at least one access port.

3. Universal access arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said pneumatic receptacle means comprises:

(a) at least one through channel having a first end connected to said conduit means and a second end to which said pneumatic connector head is connectable; and

(b) a check valve disposed in said at least one through channel such as to prevent flow of fluid under pressure in a direction from said at least one access port to said second end of said at least one through channel in a closed condition thereof.

4. Universal access arrangement as recited in claim 3, further comprising spring bias means acting on said check valve in a direction to established said closed condition thereof.

5. Universal access arrangement as recited in claim 3, wherein said receptacle means further include means for covering said at least one through channel at said second end thereof when said pneumatic connector head is disconnected from said receptacle means.

6. Universal access arrangement as recited in claim 5, wherein said means for covering said receptacle include:

(a) a cover plate connected to said receptacle means in a manner to establish and interrupt access to said second end of said at least one through channel; and

(b) a sealing gasket between said cover plate and said second end of said at least one through channel when such access thereto is interrupted by said cover plate.