Spring-type railroad brake shoe locking key

摘要

A brake shoe locking key is provided with a retention tab that is saw-tooth shaped and extends across the entire width of the key shank. The retention tab is upraised from the shank more than the correspondingly-shaped serrations typically formed on the bottom of the key and is thus more effective in engaging the brake head as an initial detent to prevent the key from backing out of the keyhole in the brake head when a loose fitting key fails to retain its locking position. In addition, the retention tab is adapted to engage the keybridge at the orifice through which the key passes in order to provide a further detent to prevent a loose key from backing completely out of its locking connection between the brake head and brake shoe, in the event the first detent fails to engage.