Hand brake arrangement

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, a hand brake assembly (300) is mounted adjacent one end of a first car or articulated unit (303). A force dividing assembly (306) is provided on the first car, which divides the applied hand brake into a first (313) and second (321) hand brake linkages. The first hand brake linkage (313) is connected to a first air brake linkage (315) located on the first car. Preferably a portion of the first air brake linkage is located within an air brake cylinder (318). When the hand brake is applied, the first hand brake linkage (313) is effective to apply the brakes on the first car or unit through the first air brake linkage. The second hand brake linkage (321) extends from one car or unit to a second adjacent car or unit (333). A force multiplying assembly (324) is provided on the second car or unit which increases the hand brake force of the second hand brake linkage to a level sufficient to apply the brakes on the second car or unit through a second air brake linkage (336) located on the second car or unit. A second force dividing assembly (340) is located on the second car and another hand brake linkage (353) is connected thereto extend to a third car or unit 363 to apply the hand brake force on the third car or unit.

Description

Claims

1. A hand brake assembly for use with separate railway cars or articulated car units comprising:

a wheel assembly mounted adjacent one end of a first car; means connecting said wheel assembly to a first force dividing means located on the first car which divides the applied hand brake force into first and second hand brake linkages; each having a reduced hand brake force; said first hand brake linkage connected to a first air brake linkage means located on the first car; whereby when the hand brake is applied, said first hand brake linkage is effective to apply the brakes on the first car or unit through said first air brake linkage; said second hand brake linkage extending from one car to a second adjacent car; means connecting said second hand brake linkage to a force multiplying means provided on the second car which increases the and brake force of the second hand brake linkage to a level sufficient to apply the brakes on the second car through a second air brake linkage means located on the second car.

2. A hand brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein the force multiplying means increases the hand brake force to a level substantially equal to the originally applied hand brake force.

3. A hand brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein said force multiplying means is connected to a third hand brake linkage located on the second car linkage means; said third hand brake linkage means connected to a second force dividing means which divides the hand brake force coming from said force multiplying means into fourth and fifth hand brake linkage means.

4. A hand brake assembly according to claim 3, wherein said fourth hand brake linkage is connected to a second air brake linkage means to apply the hand brake force to the second car through second air brake linkage means.

5. A hand brake assembly according to claim 4, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage means extends to a third car to apply the hand brake force on the third car.

6. A hand brake assembly according to claim 5, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage means is connected to third force multiplying means provided on said third car which functions on the third to apply the hand brake force in said fifth hand brake linkage means to a lever sufficient to apply the hand brake force in the third car.

7. A hand brake assembly according to claim 4, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage is removably connected to the second car.

8. A hand brake assembly according to claim 1, including lever means located between said wheel assembly and said first force dividing means to adjust the applied hand brake force to a suitable brake application level, and which lever means avoid interference with structure on said first cars.

9. A hand brake assembly for use with separate railway cars or articulated car units comprising: a wheel assembly mounted adjacent one end of the first car; connecting said wheel assembly to a force dividing means provided on said first car which divides the applied hand brake force into the first and second hand brake linkages, each having a reduced hand brake force; said first hand brake linkage means connected to first air brake linkage means located on the first car at least partially within an air brake cylinder; whereby when said hand brake assembly is applied, said first hand brake linkage is effective to apply the brakes on the first car through said first air brake linkages; said second hand brake linkage extending from one car to a second adjacent car; means connecting said second hand brake linkage to a force multiplying means located on the second car which increases the hand brake force of the second hand brake linkage to a level sufficient to apply the brakes on the second car; third hand brake linkage means connecting said force multiplying means to a second force dividing means located on said second car; said second force dividing means connected to a fourth hand brake linkage means connected to second air brake linkage means; whereby to apply the brakes on said second car; said second force dividing means also connected to fifth hand brake linkage means extending longitudinally of the car.

10. A hand brake assembly according to claim 9, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage extends to a third car to apply the hand brake force on the third car.

11. A hand brake assembly according to claim 10, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage means is connected to a second force multiplying means provided on the third car which functions to apply the hand brake force in said fifth hand brake linkage means.

12. A hand brake assembly according to claim 9, wherein said fifth hand brake linkage means is removable connected to the second car.

13. A hand brake assembly according to claim 9, wherein said first air brake linkage means includes at least a portion located within an air brake cylinder.

14. A hand brake assembly according to claim 13, wherein said air brake linkage means is also at least partially located within an air brake cylinder.

15. A hand brake assembly according to claim 9, wherein said second force multiplying means increases the brake force to substantiate the originally applied hand brake force.

16. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 1, including chain means extending from said hand brake wheel to a horizontally extending lever pivotally mounted upon a car body.

17. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 16, wherein at the midpoint of said horizontally extending lever, a longitudinally extending brake rod is connected located between a wheel and other structure on the car bottom.

18. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 17, wherein said rod is connected to a second horizontally extending brake rod pivotally mounted on the car.

19. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said second horizontally extending brake lever is pivotally mounted on an opposite side than said first hand brake lever.

20. A hand brake system according to claim 19, wherein said first horizontally extending rod increases the hand brake force applied.

21. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 20, wherein said second horizontally extending brake lever reduces the applied hand brake force.

22. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 18, wherein said second hand brake lever is connected to a longitudinally extending rod which in turn is connected to said first force dividing means.

23. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 22, wherein connecting means are provided between said hand brake wheel and a longitudinally extending rod and wherein said longitudinally extending rod is connected to said sheave.

24. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 23, wherein said sheave includes a horizontally extending plate and said rod is connected to said plate by means of removable fasteners.

25. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 24, wherein said sheave is located within a protective enclosure longitudinally from the car.

26. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 25, wherein said protective closure includes a channel and a plate is welded to the upper portion of said channel.

27. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said force multiplying means comprises a chain and wherein said second hand brake linkage means comprises a rod extending between adjacent cars and wherein said rod is connected to said chain.

28. A hand brake arrangement according to claim 27, wherein said force multiplying means includes a horizontally extending plate and wherein said third hand brake linkage includes a rod having a first bifurcated end and wherein removable connecting means connect said plate to said bifurcated rod.