TWO-STAGE CYLINDER FOR AUTOMATIC APPLICATION AND RELEASE OF A HAND BRAKE OF A RAILWAY VEHICLE

摘要

An apparatus engageable with a hand brake assembly which will automatically apply at least one brake secured to a railway vehicle with such hand brake assembly. The apparatus of the invention comprises an operating mechanism having at least a portion thereof engageable with at least one gear of a gear assembly disposed in a housing member of the hand brake assembly for operating such gear assembly. The operating mechanism is a two stage pneumatic cylinder (300) having a primary portion (308) for initial phase of the brake application and a secondary portion (310) for the final brake application to apply high forces to comply with AAR requirements. A source of fluid pressure is connected to the operating mechanism for periodically supplying a predetermined pressure to such operating means. A control device is connected to the source of the fluid pressure for initiating the supply of such predetermined pressure to the operating mechanism. A further control device is connected to the source of the fluid pressure for regulating the supply of such predetermined pressure to the operating mechanism thereby causing an automatic application of such brake by the hand brake assembly.