Patent ID: 7392887
Filing Date: 2008-07-01
Classification: B61K

Abstract:
1. A railroad retarder for a railroad track having a pair of rails upon which the wheels of a railroad car travel, said railroad retarder comprising: first and second levers joined by a fulcrum, said fulcrum being adapted for positioning below one rail of the railroad track, each lever including a brake pad, said brake pads being positioned adjacent to and on opposite sides of the one rail, said brake pads being adapted to apply braking force to the wheels of the railroad car when at least one of said levers is pivoted about said fulcrum; an actuator having first and second plates and a flexible bladder, said plates being substantially parallel, and each plate having a central opening, said central openings being in concentric registry to form a centerline of said actuator, said bladder being secured between and to said plates to form an interior chamber, said actuator having an air inlet port to said chamber, and each plate being pivotally secured to one of said levers; a guide mechanism including a guide rod in axially unrestricted telescoping relation with a guide sleeve, said guide rod having a mounting flange secured over said central opening of said first plate and a shaft in concentric alignment with said centerline, said guide sleeve having a mounting flange secured over said central opening of said second plate and a first tubular wall with a bore in concentric alignment with said centerline, said bore receiving a bearing for sliding engagement with said shaft of said guide rod, and said first tubular wall having an outward radial flange; and, a stop arrangement independent of said guide rod, including a stop sleeve secured to the first plate having a second tubular wall extending from said first plate, said second tubular wall surrounding and spaced radially from said guide rod and said guide sleeve, and having a free end that engages said second plate to form a lower limit stop, said second tubular wall having an inward radial flange on the free end that engages said outward radial flange of said guide sleeve to form an upper limit stop.