Patent ID: 9540020
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: B61H

Claim:
1. A braking system for a railway car, the braking system defining a longitudinal centerline and comprising: a. a first brake assembly and a second brake assembly spaced from one another along the longitudinal centerline; b. a pair of live levers each defining a first end and disposed opposite the longitudinal centerline from one another, the live levers rotatably connected to the second brake assembly and connected to the first brake assembly through respective connection rods, wherein each of the live levers are rotatably connected to the second brake assembly at a fixed distance from one another; c. a brake cylinder including a cylinder rod, the cylinder rod in mechanical communication with the first end of each live lever for articulating each live lever and moving the first and second brake assemblies away from one another along the longitudinal centerline; and d. a pair of opposing single-piece offset members defining a respective first end and a respective second end, each offset member rotatably connected at the first end to the brake cylinder and at the second end to a respective live lever; e. wherein the cylinder rod extends along the longitudinal centerline, wherein the live levers each articulate about a connection point on the second brake assembly when the cylinder rod is extended, wherein the live levers press the second brake assembly in a first direction along the longitudinal centerline when the cylinder rod is extended, and wherein the live levers press the first brake assembly in a second and opposite direction along the longitudinal centerline when the cylinder rod is extended.