Patent ID: 8381886
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: B60T,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A release holding mechanism for a railcar hand brake connected by a chain to railcar brakes, said hand brake having a housing, a manually operable driving means including a ratchet wheel and a holding pawl cooperating with the ratchet wheel, the manually operable driving means connected to the chain and rotatable in one direction and upon buildup of tension on the chain during take-up thereof for effecting a railcar brakes application, the manually operable driving means rotatable in an opposite direction for releasing the railcar brakes application, said release holding mechanism comprising: (a) a release shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; (b) a quick release handle rigidly secured to an external end of the release shaft for rotation therewith, said quick release handle manually rotatable in said one direction into a release position to initiate the quick release of the railcar brakes application; (c) a release lever mounted for rotation on said release shaft and cooperating with the driving means to effect quick release of the railcar brakes application; (d) a release ratchet wheel mounted adjacent to and coaxially with the ratchet wheel for rotation with the manually operable driving means; (e) a tooth engaging portion being in operative engagement with teeth of said release ratchet wheel when said manually operable driving means is rotated for releasing the brake application; and (f) a gravity weighted means disposed on and rigidly secured to said release lever, said gravity weighted means maintaining said tooth engaging portion, due to gravity, in a disengaged position relative to said release ratchet wheel when said driving means is manually operable in said one direction for effecting the railcar brakes application.