The current invention relates to a method for monitoring a hand brake (1) of at least one rail wagon, preferably unpowered rail wagon, comprising a chassis by means of a monitoring system (33, 34); said hand brake comprising a hand-operated mechanical device, a brake linkage system and at least one brake pad; said hand-operated mechanical device, said brake linkage system and said at least one brake pad mechanically connected; said monitoring system comprising a detection module and a monitoring module; said detection module comprising at least one detector element (33, 34); said monitoring module comprising a processor, tangible non-volatile memory, instructions on said memory for instructing said processor; said method comprising a plurality of steps.

A railway car brake lock has a brake linkage arm connector configured to connect to a brake linkage arm. A draw rod is connected to the brake linkage arm connector. The draw rod has a locking rack with a plurality of locking rack teeth. An outside shell holds the locking rack, while allowing the locking rack to slide between a locking rack engaged position and a locking rack disengaged position. The locking rack engaged position corresponds to a railway car brake engaged position and wherein the locking rack disengaged position corresponds to a railway car brake disengaged position. A locking actuator piston has locking actuator piston teeth that engage the locking rack teeth when the locking actuator piston slides from a locking actuator piston disengaged position to a locking actuator piston engaged position.

A railway car brake lock has a brake linkage arm connector configured to connect to a brake linkage arm. A draw rod is connected to the brake linkage arm connector. The draw rod has a locking rack with a plurality of locking rack teeth. An outside shell holds the locking rack, while allowing the locking rack to slide between a locking rack engaged position and a locking rack disengaged position. The locking rack engaged position corresponds to a railway car brake engaged position and wherein the locking rack disengaged position corresponds to a railway car brake disengaged position. A locking actuator piston has locking actuator piston teeth that engage the locking rack teeth when the locking actuator piston slides from a locking actuator piston disengaged position to a locking actuator piston engaged position.

A railway slipping block brake lock has a brake linkage arm connector configured to connect a brake linkage arm to a draw rod. A draw rod is connected to the brake linkage arm connector. The draw rod has a draw rod engaged position corresponding to a railway brake engaged position, and the draw rod has a draw rod disengaged position corresponding to a railway brake disengaged position. A slipping block is mounted around the draw rod. The slipping block has a wedge shaped profile that fits to a wedge-shaped opening of a retaining frame. The retaining frame has a retaining frame wedge-shaped inside profile to receive the slipping block. The slipping block releases the draw rod and disengages from the retaining frame when the draw rod moves toward an engaged position.

A railway car brake lock has a brake linkage arm connector configured to connect to a brake linkage arm. A draw rod is connected to the brake linkage arm connector. The draw rod has a locking rack with a plurality of locking rack teeth. An outside shell holds the locking rack, while allowing the locking rack to slide between a locking rack engaged position and a locking rack disengaged position. The locking rack engaged position corresponds to a railway car brake engaged position and wherein the locking rack disengaged position corresponds to a railway car brake disengaged position. A locking actuator piston has locking actuator piston teeth that engage the locking rack teeth when the locking actuator piston slides from a locking actuator piston disengaged position to a locking actuator piston engaged position.

A railway car brake lock has a brake linkage arm connector configured to connect to a brake linkage arm. A draw rod is connected to the brake linkage arm connector. The draw rod has a locking rack with a plurality of locking rack teeth. An outside shell holds the locking rack, while allowing the locking rack to slide between a locking rack engaged position and a locking rack disengaged position. The locking rack engaged position corresponds to a railway car brake engaged position and wherein the locking rack disengaged position corresponds to a railway car brake disengaged position. A locking actuator piston has locking actuator piston teeth that engage the locking rack teeth when the locking actuator piston slides from a locking actuator piston disengaged position to a locking actuator piston engaged position.

An airbrake locking assembly for keeping parking brake engaged on a vehicle with airbrakes includes a vehicle that has airbrakes which include a parking brake plunger. The parking brake plunger is positionable in an actuated position and an un-actuated position. A collar is provided that has a first half being pivotally coupled to a second half. The collar is positionable around the parking brake plunger when the parking brake plunger is positioned in the actuated position. Moreover, the collar inhibits the parking brake plunger from being urged into the un-actuated position when the collar is positioned around the parking brake plunger. In this way the vehicle is retained in a parked position thereby enhancing safety for individuals entering and exiting the vehicle. A lock is coupled to first half of the collar and releasably engages the second half.

Method and system may be configured to determine a stationary time period during which a vehicle has remained stationary. The method and system may be further configured to enable a parked function of the vehicle in response to determining that the stationary time period exceeds a designated threshold. While the parked function is enabled, the vehicle applies a braking effort to the vehicle in response to detecting movement of the vehicle.

Method and system may be configured to determine a stationary time period during which a vehicle has remained stationary. The method and system may be further configured to enable a parked function of the vehicle in response to determining that the stationary time period exceeds a designated threshold. While the parked function is enabled, the vehicle applies a braking effort to the vehicle in response to detecting movement of the vehicle.

A railway vehicle parking brake that can provide the appropriate tension to the braking system using a motor, a brake chain drum interconnected to the motor to take up or release a brake chain, a load arm deflects in response to tension in the brake chain, and a switch that is closed by the load arm when it deflects. A movable sheave interconnects the brake chain and the load arm and is positioned between the brake chain drum and a fixed sheave over which the brake chain is looped. A control method considers the position of the first switch to determine whether to the motor off when applying the brakes and the amount of current being drawn by the motor to determine whether to the motor off because of a system failure.