A vehicle braking system includes brakes, a body, a braking linkage, a service brake comprising a braking piston movable relative to the body to act on the braking linkage and delimiting a service brake pressure chamber to place the braking piston in a service braking position. A parking brake acts on the braking piston and has a working configuration and a resting configuration. The parking brake includes a blocking device movable relative to the body to act on the braking piston and having a first position and a second position in which the blocking device is configured to immobilize the braking piston in a service braking position. A control device is movable relative to the body and has a locking position to hold the blocking device in the second position. A service brake indicator device receives information representing supply and/or venting of the service brake pressure chamber.

A vehicle braking system includes brakes, a body, a braking linkage, a service brake comprising a braking piston movable relative to the body to act on the braking linkage and delimiting a service brake pressure chamber to place the braking piston in a service braking position. A parking brake acts on the braking piston and has a working configuration and a resting configuration. The parking brake includes a blocking device movable relative to the body to act on the braking piston and having a first position and a second position in which the blocking device is configured to immobilize the braking piston in a service braking position. A control device is movable relative to the body and has a locking position to hold the blocking device in the second position. A service brake indicator device receives information representing supply and/or venting of the service brake pressure chamber.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

A bail compensating joint may include a threaded push rod, a ratchet in threaded connection with the push rod for rotational motion thereon, and a helical joint including a first bearing and a second bearing mounted on the ratchet for facilitating rotation of the ratchet. The second bearing is supported by an annular composite race member formed by a metal annular inner race member joined with a resiliently deformable annular outer member. In another embodiment of the bail compensating joint, a pair of spherical joints is disposed on opposite sides of the ratchet, the spherical joints supporting the respective first and second bearings.

A bail compensating joint may include a threaded push rod, a ratchet in threaded connection with the push rod for rotational motion thereon, and a helical joint including a first bearing and a second bearing mounted on the ratchet for facilitating rotation of the ratchet. The second bearing is supported by an annular composite race member formed by a metal annular inner race member joined with a resiliently deformable annular outer member. In another embodiment of the bail compensating joint, a pair of spherical joints is disposed on opposite sides of the ratchet, the spherical joints supporting the respective first and second bearings.