Valve apparatus for controlling train action events

Claim 2

A valve for controlling the impedance level in an hydraulictype train cushioning device, said valve comprising: valve means biased to a normally open condition and operable to provide immediately effective fluid communication between a high-pressure impedance zone of a cushioning device and a fluid receiving means; actuating means operable to move said valve means to a position tending to impede flow between said impedance zone and said fluid receiving means in response to ''''run-in,'''' train action forces acting on said cushioning device; and valve disabling means, operable in response to buff coupling forces acting on said cushioning device, to disable said actuating means and maintain said valve means in a substantially open condition.

Claim 3

A valve for controlling the impedance level in hydraulic-type railway cushioning devices, said valve comprising: body means; passage means extending through said body means and operable to providE fluid communication between an hydraulic impedance zone of a railway-cushioning device and a low-pressure fluid discharge zone of said cushioning device: a valve member mounted for telescoping movement in said body means and operable to control flow through said passage means; fluid reaction means operable to cause said valve to move to a position impeding flow through said passage means in response to flow from said impedance zone to said low-pressure fluid discharge zone; port means providing fluid communication between said passage means and said fluid reaction means; valve disabling means operable to tend to close said port means in response to a rate of movement of a railway coupling member, connected with said cushioning device, which rate of movement results from buff coupling forces acting on said coupling member; and biasing means resiliently urging said valve member to an open position operable to permit fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 4

A valve for controlling the impedance level in hydraulic-type railway cushioning devices, said valve comprising: body means; passage means extending through said body means and operable to providE fluid communication between an hydraulic impedance zone of a railway-cushioning device and a low-pressure fluid discharge zone of said cushioning device: a valve member mounted for telescoping movement in said body means and operable to control flow through said passage means; fluid reaction means operable to cause said valve to move to a position impeding flow through said passage means in response to flow from said impedance zone to said low-pressure fluid discharge zone; port means providing fluid communication between said passage means and said fluid reaction means; valve disabling means operable to tend to close said port means in response to a rate of movement of a railway coupling member, connected with said cushioning device, which rate of movement results from buff coupling forces acting on said coupling member; and biasing means resiliently urging said valve member to an open position operable to permit fluid flow through said passage means.

Claim 5

A valve for controlling the impedance level in hydraulic-type railway cushioning devices, said valve comprising: generally cylindrical body means; passage means extending through said body means and operable to provide fluid communication between an hydraulic impedance zone of a railway cushioning device and a low-pressure fluid discharge zone of said cushioning device; a cylindrical valve member mounted for telescoping movement in said body means and operable to control flow through said passage means, said valve member including a fluid reaction surface traversing said passage means, and first port means between said reaction surface and said impedance zone providing communication between said passage means and said discharge zone; annular piston means connected with said valve member and operable to cause said valve to move to a position impeding flow through said passage means in response to flow from said impedance zone to said low-pressure discharge zone: second port means providing fluid communication between said passage means and said annular piston means: sleeve means operable to tend to close said second port means in response to a rate of movement of a railway coupling member, connected with said cushioning device, which rate of movement results from buff coupling forces acting on said coupling member, which buff forces induce a rate of movement of said coupling member exceeding the rate of movement responsive to run-in forces; and coil spring means resiliently urging said valve member to a position operable to permit fluid flow through said passage means and urging said sleeve means away from said second port means; mounting means operable to secure said valve member to the exterior of a cylinder wall housing said impedance zone; retaining means operable to prevent movement of said valve member and said sleeve means through said cylinder wall into said impedance zone: said sleeve means being characterized by lower inertia than said valve member.

Claim 6

A valve for controlling the impedance level in hydraulic-type railway cushioning devices, said valve comprising: generally cylindrical body means; passage means extending through said body means and operable to provide fluid communication between an hydraulic impedance zone of a railway cushioning device and a low-pressure fluid discharge zone of said cushioning device; a cylindrical valve member mounted for telescoping movement in said body means and operable to control flow through said passage means, said valve member including a fluid reaction surface traversing said passage means, and first port means between said reaction surface and said impedance zone providing communication between said passage means and said discharge zone; annular piston means connected with said valve member and operable to cause said valve to move to a position impeding flow through said passage means in response to flow from said impedance zone to said low-pressure discharge zone: second port means providing fluid communication between said passage means and said annular piston means: sleeve means operable to tend to close said second port means in response to a rate of movement of a railway coupling member, connected with said cushioning device, which rate of movement results from buff coupling forces acting on said coupling member, which buff forces induce a rate of movement of said coupling member exceeding the rate of movement responsive to run-in forces; and coil spring means resiliently urging said valve member to a position operable to permit fluid flow through said passage means and urging said sleeve means away from said second port means; mounting means operable to secure said valve member to the exterior of a cylinder wall housing said impedance zone; retaining means operable to prevent movement of said valve member and said sleeve means through said cylinder wall into said impedance zone: said sleeve means being characterized by lower inertia than said valve member.