Dino A Capuano

US Patent:

6669237, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/202862

Inventors:

John Burch - Natural Bridge NY
Dan Rowland - Adams NY
Mark Tinklepaugh - Central Square NY
Dino Capuano - Massillon OH
Phil OReilly - Canton OH

Assignee:

New York Air Brake Corporation - Watertown NY

International Classification:

F16L 3500

US Classification:

285 69, 285 3, 285 68, 285 87

Abstract:

An improved air brake hose coupling member for a rail car including a pivotally mounted pawl. The pawl has a ramp for engaging another coupling member. The engagement causes the pawl to be raised to an unlocking position automatically during coupling of the members. The axis of rotation of the pawl is in a plane substantially parallel to an inner coupling face of the member and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of a tubular body of the member. The coupling member also has a biasing element that causes the pawl to drop down into a locking position after coupling of the members is complete, thereby enabling the pawl to prevent undesired rotational decoupling of the members. A method for modifying existing non-locking coupling members with a pivotally mounted pawl.