Patent ID: 6829998
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: B61K

Abstract:
A releasable retarder for resisting movement of railway cars moving along first and second running rails of a section of railway track, said releasable retarder comprising:first and second shoe beams supported adjacent to said running rails; a plurality of pairs of shoes carried by said shoe beams in a parallel, spaced relation with the first and second running rails; a bias structure biasing the shoe beams toward the running rails, trapping wheels of a railway car entering the retarder between the running rails and the shoes carried by the shoe beams and applying a frictional force to the railway car wheels for slowing or stopping the railway car; and a bidirectional operating mechanism operable in a release mode for moving the shoe beams inwardly, away from the running rails, from a home position in which the shoes are positioned to engage the railway car wheels, to a release position in which the frictional force is released, allowing the railway car to move freely through the retarder, the operating mechanism operable in a service mode for moving the shoe beams outwardly, towards the running rails, from the home position to a service position, allowing insertion of at least one shimming element, whereby upon subsequent movement of the shoe beams by the operating mechanism toward the home position, the shimming element limits travel of the shoe beams such that the shoes are repositioned in an adjusted position outwardly of the home position, closer to the running rails, compensating for wear on the shoes.