Patent ID: 6039409
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B60T,B61G

Abstract:
A railroad brake line shutoff valve assembly for connection to a car-mounted railway brake line disposed on a first railway vehicle and to a brake line air hose, such brake line air hose for terminating in a gladhand assembly, such gladhand assembly for connection to a similar gladhand assembly on a second railway vehicle coupled to such first railway vehicle, said shutoff valve assembly comprising:a stationary valve portion and a moveable valve portion, said stationary valve portion having a first fluid line attachment site for attachment of such car mounted railway brake line and a second fluid line attachment site for attachment of such brake line air hose, a motion of said moveable valve portion relative to said stationary valve portion to a first position opening a flowpath through a valve portion between said first fluid line attachment site and said second fluid line attachment site so that such brake line air hose is connected to such car-mounted railway brake line and a motion of said moveable valve portion relative to said stationary valve portion to a second position closing said flowpath through said valve portion between said first fluid line attachment site and said second fluid line attachment site so that such brake line air hose is not connected to such car mounted railway brake line;an electrical switch for connection to a predetermined number of car-mounted electrical trainline conductors mounted on such first railway vehicle and to a predetermined number of electrical line end segments, such electrical line end segments terminating in a multiple contact electrical trainline connection means, such electrical trainline connection means for connection to a similar electrical trainline connection means on such second railway vehicle coupled to such first railway vehicle, said electrical switch having a stationary portion and a moveable portion, said stationary portion of said switch having a junction portion, said junction portion having a predetermined number of first electric line attachment sites for attachment of such predetermined number of car mounted electrical trainline conductors, said junction portion further having a predetermined number of second electric line attachment sites for attachment of such electrical line end segments, and said junction portion further having a predetermined number of third electric line attachment sites, said third electric line attachment sites having electrical connections to respective members of said first electric line attachment sites, said third electric line attachment sites for connection of respective conductors of a branch electric line to at least one of an electronic system and an electrical system located on such first railway vehicle;a motion of said moveable portion of said switch relative to said stationary portion of said switch to a first position making a predetermined number of switch electrical connections between individual members of said first electric line attachment sites and said second electric line attachment sites so that such electrical line end segments are electrically connected to respective members of such car mounted electrical trainline conductors and a motion of said moveable portion of said switch relative to said stationary portion of said switch to a second position breaking said switch electrical connections between said first electric line attachment sites and said second electric line attachment sites so that such electrical line end segments are not electrically connected to such electrical trainline conductors;said stationary portion of said electrical switch being mechanically connected to said stationary valve portion and said moveable portion of said electrical switch being mechanically connected to said moveable valve portion, so that when said valve portion is in said first valve position, then said switch is in said first switch position and when said valve portion is in said second valve position, then said switch is in said second switch position, so that when said moveable valve portion is placed in said first valve position relative to said stationary valve portion so that said shutoff valve is opened said electrical switch is closed and so that when said moveable valve portion is placed in said second valve position relative to said stationary valve portion so that said shutoff valve is closed said electrical switch is opened; andmeans attached to at least one of said moveable valve portion and said moveable portion of said switch for moving said moveable valve portion from said first valve position to said second valve position and said moveable portion of said switch from said first switch position to said second switch position, and for moving said moveable valve portion from said second valve position to said first valve position and said moveable portion of said switch from said second switch position to said first switch position.