Patent ID: 7347306

Claim:
An apparatus for operating a take-up mechanism in a locomotive braking system, comprising: a. a plate, said plate defining first and second surfaces; b. a first brake configured for releasable engagement with said plate; c. a first set of depressions on said first surface of said plate; d. a second set of depressions on said second surface of said plate; e. a gear configured for engagement with said first set of depressions on said first surface of said plate so that torque applied to said first set of depressions from said gear increases the engagement between said first brake and said plate; f. a motor configured for engagement with said gear so that said gear transmits rotation and torque from said motor to the take-up mechanism in a first mode of operation; g. a manual input shaft configured for engagement with said second set of depressions on said second surface of said plate so that said plate transmits rotation and torque from said manual input shaft to said gear to set and release the take-up mechanism in a second mode of operation; h. wherein said motor is engaged with said gear during said second mode of operation when setting and releasing the take-up mechanism.