Safety release cable for a train

• US 6,745,911 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ernest L. Maestranzi
• Original Assignee: Ernest L. Maestranzi
• Inventors: Maestranzi, Ernest L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz F.
• Application Number:
  US10/336,445
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 439/34, 439/35, 439/160, 439/157, 439/483, 439/352, 439/144, 439/142, 439/153, 439/310, 439/372, 213/1.3, 213/75.R, D13/147, D13/133
• US Class Current: 213/75.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B61G 5/10 for electric cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/62933 Comprising exclusively pivoting lever
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle

Abstract

A safety release cable for a train has a release mechanism mounted on a jumper cable. The release mechanism has an easily gripped handle, which activates the release mechanism substantially along a lineal axis of symmetry for the cable housing, which facilitates attaching and releasing of the cable from the locomotive or transit car.

Claims

1. A safety release cable for a train, having a release assembly mounted on the cable, comprising

(a) the connecting cable including a conductor with a first head assembly at a first cable end of the conductor and a second head assembly at a second cable end of the conductor;

(b) the first head assembly being oppositely disposed from the second head assembly;

(c) the release assembly being mounted on at least one connector selected from the group consisting of the first head assembly and the second head assembly;

(d) the release assembly having an accessible gripping means;

(e) the release assembly having a handle assembly;

(f) the handle assembly having a gripping member;

(g) the handle assembly operating a first push rod and a second push rod;

(h) the first push rod and the second push rod cooperating to release the connecting cable;

(i) the handle assembly including a hinge assembly mounted on the at least one connector to support the handle assembly;

(j) the gripping member being an U-shaped gripping member;

(k) the handle assembly including a shaped handle bar, a hinge assembly, a push rod mounting, and a pin mounting;

(l) the shaped handle bar cooperating with the hinge, and the pin mounting in order to operate the first push rod and the second push rod; and

(m) the first push rod and the second push rod cooperating to separate the safety release cable from the train.

2. The safety release cable for a train of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) the first push rod and the second push rod being mounted on oppositely disposed sides of the at least one connector;

(b) the at least one connector supporting the handle assembly; and

(c) the head assembly having a head housing and a head cap.

3. The safety release cable for a train of claim 2, further comprising:

(a) a first push rod mounting and a second push rod mounting being mounted on the head housing;

(b) the first push rod mounting receiving the first push rod;

(c) the second push rod mounting receiving the second push rod;

(d) the first push rod being slidably mounted in the first push rod mounting; and

(e) the second push rod being slidably mounted in the second push rod mounting.

4. The safety release cable for a train of claim 3, further comprising:

(a) the first push rod being substantially parallel to the second push rod;

(b) the first push rod being substantially symmetrical to the second push rod;

(c) the first push rod including a first pin mounting at one end thereof;

(d) the second push rod including a second pin mounting at one end thereof;

(e) a first push rod spring being mounted on the first push rod;

(f) a second push rod spring being mounted on the second push rod;

(g) the first push rod spring contacting the first push rod guide and the first pin mounting; and

(h) the second push rod spring contacting the second push rod guide and the second pin mounting.

5. The safety release cable for a train of claim 4, further comprising:

(a) the first pin receiving end having a first rod slot therein;

(b) the second pin receiving end having a second rod slot therein;

(c) the first rod slot receiving a first portion of the shaped handle bar;

(d) the second rod slot receiving a second portion of the shaped handle bar; and

(e) the shaped handle bar being movably secured in the first rod slot and the second rod slot.

6. The safety release cable for a train of claim 5, further comprising:

(a) the shaped handle bar having a hand grip centrally located thereon;

(b) the shaped handle bar having a first inward bend and a second inward bend at opposing ends thereof;

(c) the first inward bend extending into a first hinge platform;

(d) the second inward bend extending into a second hinge platform;

(e) the first hinge platform extending into a first parallel platform;

(f) the second hinge platform extending into a second parallel platform;

(g) the first parallel platform extending into a first pushing lever; and

(h) the second parallel platform extending into a second pushing lever.

7. The safety release cable for a train of claim 6, further comprising:

(a) the first inward bend and the second inward bend forming angled sides of an isosceles trapezoid;

(b) the first hinge platform and the second hinge platform being mutually parallel and perpendicular to the hand grip;

(c) the first parallel platform and the second parallel platform parallel to the hand grip; and

(d) the first pushing lever and the second pushing lever being perpendicular to the hand grip.

8. The safety release cable for a train of claim 7, further comprising:

(a) the first push rod being movably pinned to the first pushing lever;

(b) the second push rod being movably pinned to the second pushing lever;

(c) the hinge assembly including a hinge tube;

(d) the hinge tube the being mounted on the head housing;

(e) the hinge assembly including a linkage rod received in the hinge tube;

(f) the linkage rod being received between the first hinge platform and the second hinge platform; and

(g) a securing means supporting the linkage rod.

9. The safety release cable for a train of claim 8, further comprising:

(a) a second hinge bolt securing the linkage rod to the first hinge platform;

(b) a second hinge bolt securing the linkage rod to the first hinge platform;

(c) a stop shaft means secured to the head housing between the hinge tube and the cable; and

(d) the stop shaft keeping the handle assembly along with the first push rod and the second push rod in a desired position.

10. The safety release cable for a train of claim 9, further comprising:

(a) the stop shaft contacting the adapted to contact first parallel platform and the second parallel platform;

(b) the stop shaft preventing a disassembly of the handle;

a and

(c) the first push rod and the second push rod permitting an even push in order to safely remove the release cable.

11. A safety release cable for a train, having a release assembly mounted on the cable, comprising

(a) the cable including a conductor with a first head assembly at a first cable end of the conductor and a second head assembly at a second cable end of the conductor;

(b) the first head assembly being oppositely disposed from the second head assembly;

(c) the release assembly being mounted on at least one connector selected from the group consisting of the first head assembly and the second head assembly;

(d) the release assembly having an accessible gripping means;

(e) the release assembly having a handle assembly;

(f) the handle assembly having a gripping member;

(g) the handle assembly operating a first push rod and a second push rod;

(h) the first push rod and the second push rod cooperating to release the connecting cable;

(i) the handle assembly including a hinge assembly mounted on the at least one connector to support the handle assembly;

(j) the gripping member being an U-shaped gripping member;

(k) the first push rod and the second push rod being mounted on oppositely disposed sides of the at least one connector;

(l) the handle assembly including a shaped handle bar, a hinge assembly, a push rod mounting, and a pin mounting;

(m) the shaped handle bar cooperating with the hinge, and the pin mounting in order to operate the first push rod and the second push rod; and

(n) the first push rod and the second push rod cooperating to separate the safety release cable from the train;

(o) the at least one connector supporting the handle assembly;

(p) the head assembly having a head housing and a head cap;

(q) a first push rod mounting and a second push rod mounting being mounted on the head housing;

(r) the first push rod mounting receiving the first push rod; and

(s) the second push rod mounting receiving the second push rod.

12. The safety release cable for a train of claim 11, further comprising:

(a) the first push rod being slidably mounted in the first push rod mounting

(b) the second push rod being slidably mounted in the second push rod mounting;

(c) the first push rod being substantially parallel to the second push rod;

(d) the first push rod being substantially symmetrical to the second push rod;

(e) the first push rod including a first pin mounting at one end thereof;

(f) the second push rod including a second pin mounting at one end thereof;

(g) a first push rod spring being mounted on the first push rod;

(h) a second push rod spring being mounted on the second push rod;

(i) the first push rod spring contacting the first push rod guide and the first pin mounting; and

(j) the second push rod spring contacting the second push rod guide and the second pin mounting.

13. The safety release cable for a train of claim 12, further comprising;

(a) the first pin receiving end having a first rod slot therein;

(b) the second pin receiving end having a second rod slot therein;

(d) the first rod slot receiving a first portion of the shaped handle bar;

(e) the second rod slot receiving a second portion of the shaped handle bar;

(f) the shaped handle bar being movably secured in the first rod slot and the second rod slot;

(g) the shaped handle bar having a hand grip centrally located thereon;

(h) the shaped handle bar having a first inward bend and a second inward bend at opposing ends thereof;

(i) the first inward bend extending into a first hinge platform;

(j) the second inward bend extending into a second hinge platform;

(k) the first hinge platform extending into a first parallel platform; and

(l) the second hinge platform extending into a second parallel platform.

14. The safety release cable for a train of claim 13, further comprising:

(a) the first parallel platform extending into a first pushing lever;

(b) the second parallel platform extending into a second pushing lever;

(c) the first inward bend and the second inward bend forming angled sides of an isosceles trapezoid;

(d) the first hinge platform and the second hinge platform being mutually parallel and perpendicular to the hand grip;

(e) the first parallel platform and the second parallel platform parallel to the hand grip; and

(f) the first pushing lever and the second pushing lever being perpendicular to the hand grip.

15. The safety release cable for a train of claim 14, further comprising:

(a) the first push rod being movably pinned to the first pushing lever;

(b) the second push rod being movably pinned to the second pushing lever;

(c) the hinge assembly including a hinge tube;

(d) the hinge tube the being mounted on the head housing;

(e) the hinge assembly including a linkage rod received in the hinge tube;

(f) the linkage rod being received between the first hinge platform and the second hinge platform; and

(g) a securing means supporting the linkage rod.

16. The safety release cable for a train of claim 15, further comprising:

(a) a second hinge bolt securing the linkage rod to the first hinge platform;

(b) a second hinge bolt securing the linkage rod to the first hinge platform;

(c) a stop shaft means secured to the head housing between the hinge tube and the cable;

(d) the stop shaft keeping the handle assembly along with the first push rod and the second push rod in a desired position;

(e) the stop shaft being adapted to contact the first parallel platform and the second parallel platform;

(f) the stop shaft preventing a disassembly of the handle; and

(g) the first push rod and the second push rod permitting an even push in order to safely remove the release cable.

17. A method of attaching or removing a safety release cable relative to a locomotive or a transit car comprising:

(a) providing the safety release cable in the form of a release assembly mounted on the cable;

(b) providing the cable with a conductor having a first head assembly at a first cable end and a second head assembly at a second cable end;

(c) having the first head assembly be oppositely disposed from the second head assembly;

(d) mounting the release assembly on at least one connector selected from the group consisting of the first head assembly and the second head assembly;

(e) providing an accessible gripping means for the release assembly;

(f) providing a handle assembly for the release assembly;

(g) providing a gripping member for the handle assembly as part of the gripping means;

(h) operating a first spring loaded push rod and a second spring loaded push rod with the handle assembly in order to remove the safety release cable;

(i) providing stop shaft means to secure the handle assembly; and

(j) support the cable on the locomotive or the transit car with an oppositely disposed notch and lock system.