Abstract:
A test port adapter plate is used with an electropneumatic overlay access plate, which is incorporated to the single-sided pipe bracket in an overlay system, to provide enough space for a test connector to be connected.

Description:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    A single-sided pipe bracket for a pneumatic brake control valve for a rail vehicle has a service portion and emergency portion mounted on the side of the pipe bracket. Test ports are provided on the same face to provide access to a test of the brake valve. An example of the single-sided pipe bracket with test ports and a test connector for accessing the test ports is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,281, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    There are presently two types of electropneumatic (EP) brake control valves for rail vehicles, namely overlay and stand alone. Both are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,620, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the overlay system an access plate provided access to the interface of one of the service and emergency portions with the pipe bracket as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2A  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,620. 
         [0003]    With the incorporation of the overlay access plate to the single-sided pipe bracket in an overlay system, there is not enough space for the test connector to be connected. The present disclosure is directed to a test port adapter plate to be used with the EP overlay, single-sided pipe bracket allowing use of the test connector described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,281. 
         [0004]    These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure may be better understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of the embodiments thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a single-sided pipe bracket with test ports; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front view of an EP overlay, single-sided pipe bracket brake control valve with an adapter according to the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the brake control valve of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the adapter according to the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0009]    A pipe bracket  10 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , includes a front face or surface  12  and a back face or surface  14 . The front surface  12  includes mounting surface  16  for the service portion  30  and mounting surface  18  for the emergency portion  32 . An EP access plate  34  for an EP car control device CCD is connected between the emergency mounting surface  18  and the emergency portion  32 . 
         [0010]    The face  12  of the pipe bracket  10  includes four test ports  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28 . Also, three threaded bores  29  are provided to receive fasteners for mounting the adapter  40  of the present disclosure and the access housing  50  of the test connector of U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,281. For detailed explanation of the complete test connector and details of the access housing  50 , see U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,281. 
         [0011]    The adapter  40 , as shown in detail in  FIG. 4 , includes test port passages  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  to align with test ports  22 ,  24 ,  26  and  28  respectively. Through bores  49  align with the threaded holes  29  respectively. Recesses  47  in the front face  43  of the adapter  40  around the test ports passages  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  receive gaskets, not shown. The rear face  41  of the adapter  40  engages the front face  12  of the pipe bracket  10 . 
         [0012]    The access housing  50  of the test connector, as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes test port passages  52 ,  54 ,  56  and  58  to align with test port passages  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  respectively. Through bores  59  align with the through bores  49  respectively of the adapter  40 . Fasteners  60  extent through the through bore  59  and  49  and are screwed into threaded bores  29  in the pipe bracket. Threaded studs  57  extend from the access housing  50  to receive and secure a test connector. 
         [0013]    The depth of the adapter  40  is the same as the depth of the EP access plate  34 . Thus the added depth for the emergency portion  32  is compensated and the access housing and the test connector are accessible. 
         [0014]    Although the test connector of U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,281 is used as an example, other test connectors and access housings may be used. 
         [0015]    Accordingly, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and that other modifications and alterations may occur to those skilled in the art.