Valve apparatus for controlling train action

Claim 2

In a valve system for controlling the impedance level in an hydraulic-type, train cushioning device, wherein said cushioning device includes hydraulic piston means and cylinder means, and restoring means operable to tend to effect predetermined relative positioning of said piston means and cylinder means, the improvement in said system comprising at least one valve including: valve means biased to a normally open condition and operable to provide immediately effective fluid communication between a high-pressure impedance zone of said cushioning device and a fluid receiving means; actuating means operable to move from a first to a second position and in so doing move said valve means to a position tending to impede flow between said impedance zone and said fluid receiving means, with said actuating means being operable to undergo said movement in response to ''''run-in'''', train action forces acting on said cushioning device; valve disabling means, operable in response to buff coupling forces acting on said cushioning device, to disable said actuating means, prevent said movement thereof, and maintain said valve means substantially in said normally open condition; and resilient biasing means operable to yieldably impede movement of said actuating means from said first to said second position.

Claim 3

A valve system as described in claim 1 wherein: said system includes a plurality of passage means controlling fluid communication between said high pressure impedance zone and said fluid receiving means, with flow through each such passage means being controlled by a said valve; and said resilient biasing means of said at least one valve is operable to position said valve means thereof in said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means.

Claim 4

A valve system as described in claim 1 wherein: said system includes a plurality of passage means controlling fluid communication between said high pressure impedance zone and said fluid receiving means, with flow through each such passage means being controlled by a said valve; and said resilient biasing means of said at least one valve is operable to position said valve means thereof not in said position tending to impede flow in responSe to operation of said restoring means.

Claim 5

A valve system as described in claim 1 wherein: said resilient biasing means of said at least one valve is operable to position said valve means thereof in said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means.

Claim 6

A valve system as described in claim 1 wherein: said resilient biasing means of said at least one valve is operable to position said valve means thereof not in said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means.

Claim 7

In a valve system for controlling the impedance level in an hydraulic-type, train cushioning device, wherein said cushioning device includes hydraulic piston means and cylinder means, and restoring means operable to tend to effect predetermined relative positioning of said piston means and cylinder means, the improvement in said system comprising: an impedance zone; fluid receiving means; a plurality of control valves; and a plurality of passage means operable to control fluid communication between said high pressure impedance zone and said fluid receiving means in response to buff forces acting on said cushioning device, with flow through each of said passage means being controlled by an individual control valve; each said control valve including: valve means biased to a normally open condition and operable to provide immediately effective fluid communication between said high-pressure impedance zone of said cushioning device and said 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, 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, and resilient biasing means yieldably cooperating with said actuating means and operable to determine whether or not said actuating means will be operable to move said valve means to said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means, said resilient biasing means being operable to position said valve means in said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means.

Claim 8

In a valve system for controlling the impedance level in an hydraulic-type, train cushioning device, wherein said cushioning device includes hydraulic piston means and cylinder means, and restoring means operable to tend to effect predetermined relative positioning of said piston means and cylinder means, the improvement in said system comprising: an impedance zone; fluid receiving means; a plurality of control valves; and a plurality of passage means operable to control fluid communication between said high pressure impedance zone and said fluid receiving means in response to buff forces acting on said cushioning device, with flow through each of said passage means being controlled by an individual control valve; each said control valve including: valve means biased to a normally open condition and operable to provide immediately effective fluid communication between said high-pressure impedance zone of said cushioning device and said 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, 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, and resilient biasing means yieldably cooperating with said actuating means and operable to determine whether or not said actuating means will be operable to move said valve means to said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means, said resilient biasing means being operable to position said valve means in said position tending to impede flow in response to operation of said restoring means.