TODAY’S PATENT – HANDBRAKE WITH A DOUBLE-SIDED GEAR BOX

The described invention pertains to an enhanced handbrake mechanism for railway vehicles, addressing issues with existing designs. Invented jointly by Peter Paul Gregar, Richard Wayne Plegge and Scott Lee Natschke currently assigned to Wabtec Holding Corp. The patent of Handbrake with a Double-sided gear box was published on 16-10-2014 bearing the patent no. US20140305240A1.

This invention is an improved system and focuses on aligning gear components during assembly and mitigating binding caused by manufacturing variations. The mechanism includes a handbrake body housing gear train components and a drive shaft, with an intermediate pinion shaft connected to the drive shaft via gears. A shaft alignment link maintains the drive shaft and intermediate pinion shaft’s spacing during rotation, eliminating gear binding. The system involves a gear box housing encompassing these parts, with the alignment link allowing movement due to eccentric drive shaft rotation to prevent binding.

Two embodiments are outlined, one introduces a method to align internal gear components, employing the shaft alignment link and associated elements to ensure proper spacing between the drive shaft and intermediate pinion shaft. Another embodiment discusses an alignment system, featuring the shaft alignment link connected to the handbrake’s backplate.

This system retains proper spacing during drive shaft rotation, facilitated by a gear box housing and rib sets. The innovation aims to enhance railroad handbrake mechanisms by streamlining assembly, alleviating gear binding issues, and ensuring consistent functionality. By employing the described components and concepts, this improved handbrake system offers a solution to the challenges posed by traditional designs.