Branch pipe tee with integral volume for short cars

Abstract

A branch pipe tee for a rail car having a length that is below standard. The branch pipe tee has a standard mount for connecting to the brake pipe and branch pipe as well as integral volume that compensates for the reduced brake pipe length of the rail car. The integral volume is dimensioned to make the effective brake pipe length of rail car fall within standard ranges so that the braking system of the rail car can perform normally and avoid the need for additional equipment to compensate for the length of the rail car.

Claims

1. A branch pipe tee, comprising a first port having a 1.25 quarter inch diameter formed in a first flange configured to connect to a first portion a rail car brake pipe and a second port having a 1.25 inch diameter formed in a second flange positioned oppositely from the first flange and configured to connect to a second portion of a rail car brake pipe; a third port having a 0.75 inch diameter formed in a third flange that is configured to connect to a branch pipe; a housing connecting the first port, the second port, and the third port and additionally defining a predetermined volume that increases the effective length of the connection of the first port, the second port, and the third port by an amount that represents at least ten feet of the rail car brake pipe by being in fluid communication with said first port, said second port, and said third port and the brake pipe and the branch pipe when the brake pipe and the branch pipe are interconnected thereto.

2. The branch pipe tee of claim 1, wherein said housing is dimensioned so that said predetermined volume increases the effective length of the brake pipe to between 45 and 75 feet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

(1) The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a branch pipe tee having an integral volume according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a branch pipe tee having an integral volume according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a branch pipe tee having an integral volume according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 a branch pipe tee 10 according to the present invention having a standard mount 12 for interconnecting to a train braking system and an integral volume housing 14 in communication with mount 12. Mount 12 comprises a flange 16 having a port 18 formed therethrough and including mounting holes 20 that are dimensioned for interconnection to a standard branch pipe that leads to a brake control valve. Mount 12 further comprises a pair of opposing flanges 22 and 24 having ports 26 and 28 formed therethrough, respectively, along with additional mounting holes 20 for interconnecting branch pipe tee 10 along an intermediate portion of a brake pipe. Branch pipe tee 10 may thus be attached to a brake pipe in the same manner as a convention branch pipe tee.

(6) As seen in FIG. 3, pipe 10 provides for fluid communication between ports 18, 26 and 28 as well as with an integral volume 30 formed by integral volume housing 14. Integral volume 30 is dimensioned to compensate for any reduced brake pipe length of a rail car to which branch pipe tee 10 is to be attached. As a rail car carrying a heavy load, such as an iron ore car, may have a brake pipe length that is shorter than the standard 45 to 75 feet, volume 30 may thus be dimensioned to provide the difference in volume between the shorter brake pipe of the heavy rail car and the standard 45 to 75 feet brake pipe to which a braking system is configured. For example, in a rail car having a 35 foot brake pipe, integral volume will compensate for at least 10 feet of brake pipe, thereby bringing the effective length of the brake pipe up to or above the minimum standard length of a regular rail car so that that the heavy rail car can be controlled by conventional equipment and will undergo standard braking performance and operations.