Patent ID: 6220400
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: B61K

Abstract:
A low-profile railway car retarder system for controlling the speed of rail cars moving along rails of a railway track, the system comprising:a fulcrum pin positioned between a rail and a wood tie of the railway track;an upper lever and a lower lever, wherein at least one of the upper lever and the lower lever is disposed to pivot about the fulcrum pin;first and second brake beam supports coupled to the upper and lower levers, respectively, such that the brake beam supports are positioned adjacent and on opposite sides of the rail;first and second stop blocks coupled to the first and second brake beam supports, respectively, the first and second stop blocks applying a braking force to a passing train when at least one of the first and second levers is pivoted about the fulcrum pin;a braking actuator including a first cover plate, a second cover plate, and a bladder disposed between the first and second cover plates, wherein the first plate is coupled to the upper lever, and the second plate is coupled to the lower lever;at least one valve coupling the braking actuator to a fluid source for supplying fluid to expand the bladder, thereby causing at least one of the first and second stop blocks to rotate toward the rail and apply a frictional force to a passing rail car; anda retention mechanism including a pair of generally U-shaped arms external to the braking actuator and forming a frame around the braking actuator;wherein the braking actuator, the upper and lower levers, and the first and second brake beam supports are located beneath a horizontal plane drawn in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top of the rail to prevent inadvertent contact between the railway car retarder system and passing rail cars.