Railroad car hand brake release system

Abstract

An automatic hand brake system for a railcar including a release mechanism operatively connected between an actuator and the spool gear that is turned by hand to set the hand brake. The actuator is operatively connected to a pressured fluid system. When a threshold pressure is reached the actuator operates the release mechanism to release the spool gear so that the brakes are released. When there is a pressure drop, an automatic reset apparatus resets the release mechanism so that the hand brake can set. In one aspect, the pressurized fluid system such is an air brake system. In another aspect, the pressurized fluid system is oil or hydraulic system or a combination of air and oil. An apparatus can be employed to permit release of the hand brake if desired.

1 . A hand brake system for a railcar comprising:
 a brake release mechanism operatively connected between an actuator and a spool gear, said actuator being operatively connected to a pressurized fluid system such that the actuator operates the release mechanism to release the spool gear and hence a hand brake when a threshold fluid pressure is reached.   
     
     
         2 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the brake release mechanism further comprises a pivot mechanism between the actuator and the spool gear. 
     
     
         3 . The hand brake system of  claim 2  wherein the actuator is pivotally connected to the pivot mechanism and the pivot mechanism is operatively associated with a ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  further comprising an automatic reset apparatus to reset the brake release mechanism when the fluid pressure in the pressurized fluid system drops so that a hand brake can set. 
     
     
         6 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized fluid system is an air brake system. 
     
     
         7 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized fluid system is a pressurized oil system. 
     
     
         8 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the pressurized fluid system is a combination of an air and a hydraulic system. 
     
     
         9 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  further comprising a manual lever that can be engaged for manual release of a hand brake. 
     
     
         10 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the release mechanism is actuated at a fluid system pressure of less than about 70 psi. 
     
     
         11 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  wherein the release mechanism is actuated at a fluid system pressure of about 30 psi to about 50 psi. 
     
     
         12 . The hand brake system of  claim 1  further comprising a release to permit release the hand brake from a remote location. 
     
     
         13 . The hand brake system of  claim 12  wherein the release is a pneumatically actuated release. 
     
     
         14 . An automatic hand brake system for a railcar comprising:
 a housing;   a brake release mechanism, an actuator and a spool gear within the housing, the spool gear operatively associated with a railcar hand brake, said brake release mechanism being operatively connected between the actuator and the spool gear, said actuator being operatively connected to a pressurized fluid system such that the actuator operates the brake release mechanism to release the spool gear and hence the hand brake when a threshold pressure is reached; and   an automatic reset apparatus within the housing to reset the brake release mechanism when the fluid pressure in the pressurized fluid system drops so that the hand brake can set.   
     
     
         15 . The automatic hand brake system of  claim 14  further comprising apparatus that permits release of the hand brake from a remote location. 
     
     
         16 . The automatic hand brake system of  claim 15  wherein the apparatus that permits release is pneumatically actuated apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . An automatic hand brake system for a railcar comprising:
 a housing;   a brake release mechanism, an actuator and a spool gear within the housing, the spool gear operatively connected to a hand brake, said brake release mechanism being operatively connected between the actuator and the spool gear, said actuator being operatively connected to a pressurized fluid system such that the actuator operates the brake release mechanism to release the spool gear and hence the hand brake when a threshold pressure is reached;   an automatic reset apparatus within the housing to reset the brake release mechanism when the fluid pressure in the pressurized fluid system drops so that the hand brake can set; and   an apparatus that permits release of the hand brake from a remote location.   
     
     
         18 . The automatic hand brake system of  claim 17  wherein the apparatus that permits release is pneumatically actuated apparatus.