Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
In an air brake chamber wherein a diaphragm is peripherally engaged by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining the brake chamber therebetween, a pressurized fluid input into said chamber between said diaphragm and one of said housing members, the flanges of said housing members, with the diaphragm engaged therebetween, removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises an encircling diaphragm retaining ring of a width at least equal to the thickness of the diaphragm (when the latter is compressed between said two flanges) positioned outboard of the diaphragm periphery and inboard of the clamp band.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
In an air brake chamber wherein a diaphragm is peripherally engaged by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining the brake chamber therebetween, a pressurized fluid input into said chamber between said diaphragm and one of said housing members, the flanges of said housing members, with the diaphragm engaged therebetween, removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises an encircling diaphragm retaining ring of a width at least equal to the thickness of the diaphragm (when the latter is compressed between said two flanges) positioned outboard of the diaphragm periphery and inboard of the clamp band.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An improvement as in claim 1 wherein said ring is a continuous band.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an air brake chamber wherein a pair of diaphragms are peripherally engaged by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining said brake chamber therebetween, a pressurized fluid input into said chamber is provided between one diaphragm and one of said housing members, the flanges of said housing members, together with the peripheries of the diaphragms engaged therebetween, removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises a diaphragm retaining ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, said ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the said diaphragms and flanges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an air brake chamber wherein a pair of diaphragms are peripherally engaged by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining said brake chamber therebetween, a pressurized fluid input into said chamber is provided between one diaphragm and one of said housing members, the flanges of said housing members, together with the peripheries of the diaphragms engaged therebetween, removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises a diaphragm retaining ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, said ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the said diaphragms and flanges.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An improvement as in claim 3 wherein said ring is a continuous band.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
An improvement as in claim 3 wherein the outboard one (with respect to the brake) of said housing members has an inwardly extending bead positioned centrally of the inboard surface thereof, said bead continuous and operative to form, when the outboard diaphragm is positioned thereagainst, an annular zone between the periphery of the outboard diaphragm and the bead adapted for pressure sensing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an air brake chamber wherein paired diaphragms are peripherally engaged, with a first spacing ring therebetween, by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining said brake chamber therebetween; a first pressurized fluid input is provided into said chamber between the outboard (with respect to the brake) diaphragm and one of said housing members and a second pressurized fluid input into said chamber is provided between the two said diaphragms; the flanges of the said housing members having the peripheries of the diaphragms engaged therebetween with the said first ring spacing them; all of said flanges, diaphragms and first ring removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises a second diaphragm retaining ring encircling said diaphragms and first spacing ring, the width of said second ring at least equal to the combined thickness of the two diaphragms, in clamped state, with the first ring clamped therebetween, and said second ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the diaphragm peripheries, first ring therebetween and flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
172 words
In an air brake chamber wherein paired diaphragms are peripherally engaged, with a first spacing ring therebetween, by opposed flanges of paired housing members defining said brake chamber therebetween; a first pressurized fluid input is provided into said chamber between the outboard (with respect to the brake) diaphragm and one of said housing members and a second pressurized fluid input into said chamber is provided between the two said diaphragms; the flanges of the said housing members having the peripheries of the diaphragms engaged therebetween with the said first ring spacing them; all of said flanges, diaphragms and first ring removably and substantially circumferentially gripped by a clamp band, the improvement which comprises a second diaphragm retaining ring encircling said diaphragms and first spacing ring, the width of said second ring at least equal to the combined thickness of the two diaphragms, in clamped state, with the first ring clamped therebetween, and said second ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the diaphragm peripheries, first ring therebetween and flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An improvement as in claim 6 wherein said second ring comprises an elongate nOn-continuous band having a notch in each elongate edge thereof near each one of the ends thereof, said notches opposed to one another. (facing out of opposite edges)
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
An improvement as in claim 6 wherein an inwardly (with reSpect to said brake) extending continuous bead is provided on the inboard internal surface of the outboard one of said paired housing members, said bead operative, when said outboard diaphragm is positioned thereagainst, to provide an annular pressure sensing zone between the periphery of the diaphragm and said bead.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
An improvement as in claim 6 wherein said second ring is a non-continuous band, said band having a pair of perforations therein adjacent the ends thereof, each of said perforations having a slot connecting therewith extending toward the end of said band to which said perforation is most adjacent.