Retarder devices and methods for shimming retarder devices for slowing railcars

Abstract

A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail. The retarder device is configured to be coupled to an actuator assembly. A lever pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail. A block opposed the lever, the block having an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the block to the actuator assembly. A biasing device is positioned between the lever and the block. The biasing device biases the lever to pivot to move the braking rail towards the running rail, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device for shimming the retarder device and/or for moving the braking rail away from the running rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail, wherein the retarder device is configured to be coupled to an actuator assembly, the retarder device comprising:
 a lever that pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail;   a block opposing of the lever, wherein the block comprises an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the block to the actuator assembly; and   a biasing device positioned between the lever and the block, wherein the biasing device biases the lever to pivot to move the braking rail towards the running rail, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device for shimming the retarder device and/or for moving the braking rail away from the running rail.   
     
     
         2 . The retarder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the biasing device is a coil spring that is sandwiched between the lever and the block. 
     
     
         3 . The retarder device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a rod that extends through the lever, the coil spring, and the block to maintain alignment therebetween. 
     
     
         4 . The retarder device according to  claim 1 , wherein operating the actuator assembly moves the block towards the lever. 
     
     
         5 . The retarder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises an elongated member that extends from a first end to an opposite second end, the second end being configured to be coupled to the engagement feature of the block, and wherein the operating the actuator assembly forces the first end of the elongated member away from the lever to thereby compress the biasing device. 
     
     
         6 . The retarder device according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises a cylinder coupled to the first end of the elongated member and positionable between the lever and the first end of the elongated member, and wherein operating the actuator assembly extends the cylinder to force the first end of the elongated member away from the lever and compress the biasing device. 
     
     
         7 . The retarder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the block is a first block, further comprising a second block positioned between the biasing device and the lever, wherein the second block comprises an engagement feature configured for operatively coupling the second block to the actuator assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The retarder device according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuator assembly is pivotally coupled to the first block and slidably coupled to the second block. 
     
     
         9 . The retarder device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever is a first lever and the braking rail is a first braking rail, further comprising a second lever that pivotally couples the second braking rail to the running rail, wherein the biasing device is positioned between the first lever and the second lever, and wherein the retarder device is configured to be shimmed by positioning a shim between the second lever and the first block when the biasing device is compressed by the actuator assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The retarder device according to  claim 9 , further comprising a shim positioned between the second lever and the first block and coupled to the first block via a fastener. 
     
     
         11 . A method for shimming a retarder device having a lever that moves a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail, the retarder device further comprising a block opposing the lever and a biasing device that pivots the lever to move the braking rail towards the running rail, the method comprising:
 operatively coupling an actuator assembly to the block;   compressing the biasing device via operation of the actuator assembly;   coupling one or more shims such that the block is positioned between the one or more shims and the biasing device; and   decompressing the biasing device, whereby the retarder device is shimmed by the coupling of the one or more shims to the block.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising positioning an actuator assembly proximate the retarder device, and further comprising decoupling the actuator assembly from the block after coupling the one or more shims to the block and decompressing the biasing device. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operatively coupling the actuator assembly to the lever. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises an elongated member that extends from a first end to an opposite second end, wherein the second end of the actuator is operatively coupled to the block, and wherein operating the actuator assembly forces the first end of the elongated member away from the lever to thereby compress the biasing device. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the block is a first block and the retarder device further comprises a second block positioned between the biasing device and the lever, wherein operatively coupling the actuator assembly to the first block comprises pivotally coupling an elongated member of the actuator assembly to the first block, further comprising slidably coupling the elongated member to the second block. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operating the actuator device to compress the biasing device to reduce braking by the braking rail on a railcar. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising coupling the one or more shims to the block. 
     
     
         18 . A retarder device configured for moving a braking rail to slow a railcar on a running rail, the retarder device comprising:
 a lever that pivotally couples the braking rail to the running rail;   a block opposing the lever and a biasing device positioned between the lever and the block, wherein the biasing device biases the lever to move the braking rail towards the running rail; and   an actuator assembly operatively coupled to the block and the lever, wherein operating the actuator assembly compresses the biasing device such that the braking rail moves away from the running rail to thereby reduce braking for the railcar on the running rail.   
     
     
         19 . The retarder device according to  claim 18 , wherein the lever is a first lever, the braking rail is a first braking rail, and the block is a first block, further comprising:
 a second lever that pivotally couples a second braking rail to the running rail; and   a second block opposing the second lever, wherein the biasing device is sandwiched between the first block and the second block and biases the second lever to move the second braking rail towards the running rail;   wherein the first block is configured to couple one or more shims thereto such that the one or more shims are positioned between the first block and the second lever, and wherein coupling the one or more shims to first block shim the retarder device to adjust a separation between the first braking rail and the second braking rail.   
     
     
         20 . The retarder device according to  claim 19 , wherein the biasing device is a coil spring, further comprising a rod that extends through the first lever, the second block, the coil spring, the first block, and the second lever to maintain alignment therebetween, and wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator that when operated forces a lower end of the first lever and the first block closer together while the rod extends through the first lever, the second block, the coil spring, the first block, and the second lever.