Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5560503 | Lubricating apparatus for articulated coupling arrangement An articulated coupling male connection member support assembly having an improved lubrication arrangement incorporated therein. Such support assembly includes a bottom ring bearing member supported on an upper surface of a bottom wall portion of a female... | 10/01/1996 |
| 5544767 | Freight railway car slackless drawbar assembly A slackless drawbar assembly connecting adjacent ends of a pair of freight cars together includes a pair of rear draft stop members and a pair of front draft stop members engageable with and securable to a pair of side wall portions of a center sill membe... | 08/13/1996 |
| 5471387 | Method of and apparatus for the combined detection of speed varying energy level wheel slip detection and determination of wheel slip intensity of a railway vehicle brake system A method of and an apparatus for controlling wheel slip in a railway vehicle brake system which includes: determining whether the axle rate is in the slippage range, and generating a first output logical signal indicative thereof; comparing the axle rate ... | 11/28/1995 |
| 5443170 | Variable angle friction clutch mechanism for a draft gear assembly A draft gear assembly having a variable angle friction clutch mechanism is provided. The assembly includes a housing member having a compressible cushioning element disposed adjacent a closed end thereof. A seat member is disposed between one end of the c... | 08/22/1995 |
| 5303937 | Seal having a metallic insert A method of forming a rubber seal containing a metal insert where a transfer mold having a cavity is provided with a post and a plurality of upwardly extending arcuated bosses on the base of the cavity. A metallic insert is disposed on the bosses and a fl... | 04/19/1994 |
| 5283936 | Apparatus for removing press fit pins An apparatus for removing a press-fit pin from a bore in an article, such as a press-fit pin in aligned bores of a cam dog for a railway brake apparatus. The apparatus has a pair of spaced jaws, moveable towards each other, one of the jaws having a peg ex... | 02/08/1994 |
| 5277323 | Locking wedge assembly to removably secure a male connection member in an articulated-type coupling arrangement This invention provides a locking wedge assembly capable of exerting a predetermined pressure in at least one direction. Such assembly removably secures a male connection member to a female connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement. Such ar... | 01/11/1994 |
| 5219082 | Male connection member for an articulated coupling arrangement A male connection member utilized in an articulated coupling arrangement is provided by this invention. Such male connection member includes a first end portion engageable with and connectable to one end of a railway car to be connected in a semi-permanen... | 06/15/1993 |
| 5211451 | Adjustable regulating device for a railway locomotive brake valve apparatus A valve spring housing for use in an adjustable regulating valve device of a railway locomotive brake valve has a cylindrical body with first, second and third sections. The first section has an outer cylindrical surface of a uninterrupted curvature, whic... | 05/18/1993 |
| 5172819 | Bearing assembly for an articulated coupling apparatus which connects adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars together The present invention provides a bearing assembly for use in an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connecti... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5172820 | Female connection member used in an articulated coupling arrangement This invention provides a female connection member of an articulated coupling arrangement. Such female connection member includes a center sill engaging portion disposed adjacent a first end of such female connection member and a male connection member re... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5167334 | Apparatus to provide versatility in securing male and female connection members of an articulated coupler to a center sill member of a railway car An apparatus which provides versatility in securing an articulated coupling arrangement to a center sill member of a railway car is provided. Such apparatus includes a bottom wall portion which matingly engages a bottom wall of such center sill member and... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5167333 | Apparatus to prevent detrimental extraneous foreign matter from entering a cavity formed at an outer end of a female connection member of an articulated coupling A shroud apparatus is provided to substantially minimize detrimental foreign matter entering into a predetermined portion of a cavity disposed at the outer end of a female connection member that receives therein the outer end of a male connection member o... | 12/01/1992 |
| 5165962 | Masking film composition and method of masking an article using same A masking film composition and method of masking a surface of an article to be coated with a protective coating, wherein a selected surface first is coated with a masking film consisting essentially of from over an approximate volume ratio of about 1:12, ... | 11/24/1992 |
| 5152409 | Draft gear assembly The present invention discloses a friction-type draft gear assembly including a housing having a front and a rear portion. A compressible cushioning element is positioned within the rear portion with a seating arrangement abutting one end thereof. A frict... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5139159 | Connecting pin for articulated coupling arrangement This invention provides a connecting pin member which facilitates a rotatable connection being achieved between a female connection member and a center bowl portion of a bolster. Such connecting pin member has a substantially round rod-like member which i... | 08/18/1992 |
| 5131331 | Articulated coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars The present invention provides an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includes a male connection member, a female connection... | 07/21/1992 |
| 5042393 | Locking assembly to secure a bearing assembly in an articulated coupling apparatus for connecting adjacent ends of a pair of railway cars The present invention provides an apparatus for securing a bearing assembly to an articulated coupling apparatus which connects one end of one railway car to an adjacent end of a second railway car in a semipermanent manner. Such coupling apparatus includ... | 08/27/1991 |
| 4910491 | Electrical apparatus used with a potentiometer and/or variable resistance element An electrical apparatus is provided for use with a potentiometer or variable resistance element which does not require a mechanical connection between a contact member and an activating mechanism. This is accomplished by using a magnet in at least a porti... | 03/20/1990 |
| 4901953 | Controller for railway vehicles A railway vehicle controller apparatus having a housing in which a rotatable shaft having a first portion positioned within the housing and a second portion extending out of the housing is provided. A control mechanism is connected to the second portion o... | 02/20/1990 |
| 4888997 | Control input device The present invention teaches a control input device particularly suited to a number of applications on a motor vehicle. The device can be activated by the foot of an operator to transmit an electrical output signal which is a function of load or displace... | 12/26/1989 |
| 4889037 | Chamber equipped with a breather opening to the atmosphere The invention provides an open breather chamber in front of the breather chamber proper with the cross-sectional and length ratios lying within certain configurations so that solids, fluid and steam particles will enter the breather chamber and not cause ... | 12/26/1989 |
| 4887513 | Brake cylinder with bayonet connection The present invention teaches a brake cylinder which is formed by a cylindrical housing and a cylinder base. The cylindrical housing and cylinder base are joined together by a bayonet connection and form a pressure chamber. The bayonet connection is desig... | 12/19/1989 |
| 4887067 | Warning device for pneumatic vehicle tire A warning device for a pneumatic vehicle tire. The device includes a measurement unit which is mounted at the rim or at the wheel and which is connected with the inner space of the tire. A contact element penetrates the rim and points towards the inner su... | 12/12/1989 |
| 4875503 | Stop for compressor plate valve A stop apparatus for a plate valve of a fluid compressor is provided. The stop apparatus is equipped with a wear-resistant insert so that the wear on some compressor components can be reduced.... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4875405 | Sealing device A sealing device particularly suitable for sealing pistons of working cylinders and for sealing two machine components which can slide against one another is disclosed. A conventional sealing element consisting of low-friction, but not very elastic materi... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4875742 | Solenoid operated hydraulic control valve A solenoid operated control valve for use as an inlet and/or exhaust valve in a pressure modulator has a flat valve element cooperating with a flat valve seat to control the flow of fluid through the valve. At least a portion of the solenoid armature has ... | 10/24/1989 |
| 4842015 | Check valve A check valve assembly in which a valve spring is positioned with respect to the valve body in a manner such that the deformation line of such valve spring is one of offset and inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the valve body so that one si... | 06/27/1989 |
| 4836093 | Piston assembly A piston assembly is disclosed which reduces the consumption of a lubricating agent circulated to provide lubrication between the outer sidewall of the piston assembly and the interior sidewall of a bore. This is accomplished by providing at least one ape... | 06/06/1989 |
| 4824178 | Fluid pressure responsive and electrically-controlled brake system An electrically-controlled fluid pressure responsive brake system, in which a solenoid valve is installed between a manual brake valve and a parking brake. The parking brake is equipped with a spring actuator. The solenoid valve can be positioned by an el... | 04/25/1989 |
| 4819995 | Control system for vehicle anti-locking brake system and drive traction regulation system A motor vehicle having an anti-locking brake system and a drive traction regulation system. The vehicle has one drive axle and a non-driven front or rear axle and is equipped with a preferably four-channel ABS/ASR electronic system. The invention provides... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4819511 | Activation apparatus for a differential pawl with an actuator An automatic activation apparatus for a differential pawl which is independent of intervention by an operator of a vehicle, the invention controls the energy supply to the actuator by means of a control logic with two signal inputs. The control logic is f... | 04/11/1989 |
| 4818036 | Braking power transmitter The present invention is a braking value transmitter with a pedal to modulate the braking pressure. The pedal is braced against a spring. The force exerted by the pedal or the position of the pedal is sensed by an electronic sensor. The output signal of t... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4817660 | Pressure regulating valve The present invention provides a pressure regulating valve which substantially avoids shutoff noises. The pressure regulating valve is designed such that the opening process of the shutoff valve proceeds in two steps. The two-step switching process is mad... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4817502 | Multiple-circuit valve apparatus A bidirectional flow communication passageway is provided by the present invention in a multiple-circuit fluid pressure responsive system on a motor vehicle to allow a gradual reduction of pressure in a parking brake circuit which is a part of such system... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4817501 | Multiple-circuit valve apparatus A bidirectional flow communication passageway is provided by the present invention in a multiple-circuit fluid pressure responsive system on a motor vehicle to allow a gradual reduction of pressure in a parking brake circuit which is a part of such system... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4817497 | Multiple-circuit valve apparatus A bidirectional flow communication passageway is provided by the present invention in a multiple-circuit fluid pressure responsive system on a motor vehicle to allow a gradual reduction of pressure in a parking brake circuit which is a part of such system... | 04/04/1989 |
| 4805715 | Differential pawl activation apparatus The present invention teaches an activation apparatus for a differential pawl. Such activation apparatus is designed to prevent damage to components of the differential pawl and/or of the drive train resulting from operator error. According to the inventi... | 02/21/1989 |
| 4796513 | Spring brake cylinder A sensing means is provided to indicate an operating condition of a spring brake cylinder assembly in which such operating condition may be one of a brake applied and a brake release position. The sensing means engages a clutch control mechanism which inc... | 01/10/1989 |
| 4793720 | Railway car resilient side bearing This invention provides a railway car resilient side bearing assembly which includes a housing member with a cavity formed therein. A first substantial portion of a resilient spring block is positioned within the cavity of the housing member. There is at ... | 12/27/1988 |
