US20070079726A1 - Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism - Google Patents
Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070079726A1 US20070079726A1 US11/548,492 US54849206A US2007079726A1 US 20070079726 A1 US20070079726 A1 US 20070079726A1 US 54849206 A US54849206 A US 54849206A US 2007079726 A1 US2007079726 A1 US 2007079726A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- railway car
- indicator
- primary linkage
- assembly
- linkage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B61—RAILWAYS
- B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
- B61D7/00—Hopper cars
- B61D7/14—Adaptations of hopper elements to railways
- B61D7/16—Closure elements for discharge openings
- B61D7/24—Opening or closing means
Definitions
- the present disclosure is related in general to an indicator for railway cars and more particularly to an indicator assembly operable to show the status of a discharge control system associated with discharging cargo or lading from a hopper type railway car.
- railway cars with one or more hoppers have been used for many years to transport and sometimes store dry, bulk materials. Hopper cars are frequently used to transport coal, sand, metal ores, ballast, aggregates, grain and any other type of lading which may be satisfactorily discharged through respective openings formed in one or more hoppers. Respective discharge openings are often provided at or near the bottom of each hopper to rapidly discharge cargo. A variety of door assemblies and gate assemblies along with various operating mechanisms have been used to open and close discharge openings associated with railway cars.
- Hopper cars may be classified as open or closed. Hopper cars may have relatively short sidewalls and end walls or relatively tall or high sidewalls and end walls.
- the sidewalls and end walls of many hopper cars are typically reinforced with a plurality of vertical side stakes.
- the sidewalls and end walls are typically formed from steel or aluminum sheets.
- Some hopper cars include interior frame structures or braces to provide additional support for the sidewalls.
- hopper cars may be generally described as top loading and bottom unloading. Such hopper cars typically require closing gates or doors located underneath the hopper car prior to loading and opening the gates or doors only when the hopper car is at a specific location in an unloading facility.
- the gates or doors and associated linkages, air cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electrical motor and/or other operating mechanisms are typically located underneath such hopper cars.
- One embodiment of the present disclosure may include a railway car having at least one hopper for transporting lading and one or more indicators to show the status of an associated discharge control system.
- the railway car may include an underframe having a center sill that defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car and at least one discharge opening formed proximate a lower portion of the hopper.
- a respective door assembly or gate assembly may be mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper.
- Each door assembly may be operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the respective discharge opening.
- the discharge control system may be used to move each door assembly between the respective first position and the respective second position.
- At least one indicator may extend or appear from at least one side of the railway car as one or more components of the discharge control system move to a position which corresponds with moving each door assembly from the respective first, closed position to the respective second, open position.
- a portion of each indicator may remain visible from the at least one side of the railway car as long as the one or more components of the discharge control system remain in the position corresponding with the door assembly remaining in the respective second, open position.
- each indicator may be visible to an observer viewing along the length or side of an associated railway car to avoid having to view each railway car from a generally perpendicular direction to determine the status of an associated door assembly or assemblies.
- respective indicators associated with multiple railway cars may be satisfactorily observed by looking down the length of the railway cars.
- a respective indicator may extend (appear) and retract (disappear) from each side of a railway car to provide personnel with a visible indication of the status of an associated discharge control system.
- the status of respective discharge control systems associated with multiple railway cars may be simultaneously determined by looking down the length or sides of adjacent railway cars. Observations made along the length of a train having multiple railway cars with such indicators may quickly or simultaneously indicate the status of each respective discharge control system.
- Technical benefits of the present disclosure include providing an economical indicator assembly for determining whether one or more components of a discharge control system of a railway car is in a secure status.
- One example of such secure status may be portions of a mechanical linkage, associated with moving a gate or door from an open position to a closed position, moving to an over center, locked position.
- Providing a highly visible indicator on each side of the railway car permits personnel to readily view several railway cars simultaneously prior to loading or unloading each railway car.
- each railway car may be readily checked prior to and during transportation to help ensure that the associated discharge control system is in a secure status.
- a respective indicator may extend from both sides of a railway car to visually indicate that components of an associated discharge control system are in an unlocked position which may correspond with associated discharge doors or gate assemblies being in an open position. Retraction of the respective indicators from each side of the railway car may provide visual indication that components of the associated discharge control system have moved to a locked position which generally corresponds with the associated discharge doors or gate assemblies being in a closed position.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing in elevation with portions broken away showing a side view of a railway car incorporating teachings of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a plan view taken along lines 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken long lines 3 - 3 of FIG. 1 showing portions of a railway car and discharge control system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure with a pair of door assemblies in their first, closed position;
- FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away showing various components of the discharge control system of FIG. 3 with the associated door assemblies in their second, opened position;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away showing one example of an interior supporting structure satisfactory for use with longitudinal discharge openings, door assemblies and a discharge control system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure
- FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing in section and in elevation with portions broken away showing the railway car and discharge control system of FIG. 1 with portions of the discharge control system in an over center, locked position and associated door assemblies in their first, closed position;
- FIG. 7A is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of a discharge control system and associated door assemblies in their first, closed position;
- FIG. 7B is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away of the discharge control system of FIG. 7A including a primary linkage slidably disposed within a support assembly;
- FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away of the railway car of FIG. 1 showing one example of a discharge control system and an associated indicator assembly incorporating teachings of the present disclosure in a first position;
- FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing in section with portion broken away showing the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly of FIG. 8A in a second position;
- FIG. 9A is a schematic drawing showing a plan view with portions broken away taken along lines 9 A- 9 A of FIG. 8A of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the first position;
- FIG. 9B is a schematic drawing showing a plan view with portions broken away taken along lines 9 B- 9 B of FIG. 8B of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the second position;
- FIG. 10A is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken along lines 10 A- 10 A of FIG. 8A of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the first position;
- FIG. 10B is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken along lines 10 B- 10 B of FIG. 8B of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the second position;
- FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of the discharge control system and indicator assembly of FIG. 8A in the first position.
- FIGS. 1-11 of the drawings Preferred embodiments of the disclosure and associated advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-11 of the drawings. Like numbers may be used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
- railway car 20 which may be used to carry coal and other types of lading.
- Railway car 20 may be generally described as an open hopper car with bottom discharge openings or outlets. Respective door assemblies or gates may be opened and closed to control discharge of lading from associated discharge openings or outlets of railway car 20 .
- the present disclosure is not limited to open hopper cars with bottom discharge openings or hopper cars that carry only coal.
- various features of the present disclosure may be satisfactorily used with closed hopper cars, hopper cars that carry aggregate, ore, grain and other types of bulk lading and ballast cars.
- Examples of lading carried by closed hopper cars may include, but are not limited to, corn distillers dried grains (DDG), corn condensed distillers solubles (CDS), corn distillers dried grains/solubles (DDGS) and wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS). Such products may be associated with ethanol production from corn and/or other types of grain.
- DDG corn distillers dried grains
- CDS corn condensed distillers solubles
- DDGS corn distillers dried grains/solubles
- WDGS wet distillers grain with solubles
- teachings of the present disclosure may be satisfactorily used with railway cars having a wide variety of discharge control systems, discharge openings and door assemblies or gates.
- the present disclosure is not limited to railway cars having longitudinal discharge openings, longitudinal door assemblies or air cylinders to operate an associated discharge control systems.
- Railway car 20 may include a pair of sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b , bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b and sloped end wall assemblies 80 a and 80 b mounted on railway car underframe 50 .
- Railway car underframe 50 may include center sill 52 and side sills 54 a and 54 b . See FIGS. 3 and 4 .
- Side sills 54 a and 54 b may extend generally parallel with center sill 52 and spaced laterally from opposite sides of center sill 52 .
- a pair of railway trucks 22 and 24 may be attached to opposite ends of center sill 52 .
- center sill 52 may have a generally rectangular cross section.
- Generally triangular shaped dome assembly or cover 56 may be disposed on portions of center sill 52 extending between end wall assemblies 80 a and 80 b.
- the present disclosure may be used with center sills having a wide variety of configurations and designs other than a rectangular cross section.
- the present disclosure may be used with center sills that do not have domes or covers.
- the present disclosure is not limited to center sill 52 or cover 56 .
- Sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b may have approximately the same overall configuration and dimensions. Therefore, only sidewall assembly 30 b will be described in detail.
- Sidewall assembly 30 b preferably includes top cord 32 b with a plurality of side stakes or support posts 34 extending between top cord 32 b and side sill 54 b . Side stakes or support posts 34 may also be spaced laterally from each other along the length of top cord 32 b and side sill 54 b .
- a plurality of metal sheets 36 may be securely attached with interior portions of top cord 32 b , side stakes 34 and side sill 54 b .
- sidewall assembly 30 a may include top cord 32 a , side stakes 34 , respective metal sheets 36 and side sill 54 a.
- Metal sheets 36 may form interior surface 37 and exterior surface 38 of respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b .
- the respective interior surfaces may be referred to as 37 a and 37 b .
- the respective exterior surfaces may be referred to as 38 a and 38 b.
- Bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b may have approximately the same overall dimensions and configuration. Therefore, only bottom slope sheet assembly 40 b will be described in more detail.
- Bottom slope sheet assembly 40 b may include a plurality of angles 42 extending inwardly from side sill 54 b to bottom cord 44 b .
- Bottom cord 44 b and top cord 32 b may be formed from hollow metal tubes having generally rectangular configurations.
- a plurality of metal sheets 46 may be attached with interior surfaces of respective angles 42 and bottom cord 44 b .
- Metal sheets 36 and 46 may have similar specifications and thickness.
- an additional angle 48 b may be attached to bottom cord 44 b opposite from associated angles 42 to provide additional structural strength for railway car 20 .
- Bottom cord 44 b and angle 48 b preferably extend along substantially the full length of railway car 20 .
- bottom slope sheet assembly 40 a may include respective angles 42 , respective metal sheets 46 , bottom cord 44 a and additional angle 48 a.
- Bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b may be attached to respective side sills 54 a and 54 b .
- Bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b may extend inward at an angle from respective side sills 54 a and 54 b to a location proximate bottom clearance or minimum clearance for railway car 20 relative to associated railway tracks (not expressly shown) as defined by applicable American Association of Rails (AAR) specifications and operating envelops.
- bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b may extend at an angle of approximately forty five (45°) degrees relative to respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b.
- bottom slope sheet assembly 40 a cooperates with portions of center sill 52 and dome assembly 56 to define in part longitudinal discharge openings 26 a .
- portions of bottom slope sheet assembly 40 b cooperate with portions of center sill 52 and dome assembly 56 to define in part longitudinal discharge openings 26 b .
- Longitudinal discharge openings 26 a and 26 b may be disposed along opposite sides of center sill 52 .
- a railway car may be formed in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure with more than one hopper and more than two discharge openings. The present disclosure is not limited to hopper cars with only one hopper and two longitudinal discharge openings.
- Longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may be hinged proximate on upper portion of center sill 52 adjacent to dome assembly 56 .
- Longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may also be described as “door assemblies”, “discharge doors”, “gates”, “swinging longitudinal slope sheets” or “swing gates.”
- Longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may be formed with overall dimensions and configurations similar to bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b and associated longitudinal discharge openings 26 a and 26 b . Attaching longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b proximate upper portions of center sill 52 may increase the volume of lading carried within railway car 20 and may also lower the center of gravity when railway car 20 is loaded.
- hinges may be satisfactorily used to engage door assemblies 90 a and 90 b with portions of center sill 52 .
- a plurality of hinges 92 a and 92 b may be used to rotatably attach or pivotally attach door assemblies 90 a and 90 b proximate upper portions of center sill 52 .
- Hinges 92 a and 92 b may include any suitable hinge operable to allow door assemblies 90 a and 90 b to move between open and closed positions.
- Each door assembly 90 a and 90 b may include a first, closed position which blocks the discharge of lading from railway car 20 (see FIGS. 1-3 ) and a second, open position which allows lading to be discharged from railway car 20 (see FIG. 4 ).
- Various components of an associated discharge control system including, but not limited to, a primary linkage, a plurality of secondary linkage assemblies, a mechanical stop assembly and an indicator assembly may also have respective first positions associated with the first, closed position of door assemblies 90 a and 90 b .
- Various components of the associated discharge control system may also have respective second positions corresponding generally with the second, open position of door assemblies 90 a and 90 b.
- Door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may extend along approximately the full length of respective longitudinal discharge openings 26 a and 26 b .
- the length of longitudinal discharge openings 26 a and 26 b and door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may be approximately twenty-nine (29) feet.
- Door assemblies 90 a and 90 b may be formed using metal sheets 96 a and 96 b having similar thickness and other characteristics associated with metal sheets 36 and 46 .
- Respective angles 98 a and 98 b may be attached with the longitudinal edge of each door assembly 90 a and 90 b opposite from respective hinges 92 a and 92 b .
- angles 98 a and 98 b may be replaced by an I-beam (not expressly shown), a Z-beam (not expressly shown), or any other suitable structural shape.
- respective longitudinal recesses 99 a and 99 b may be formed along an edge of each door assembly 90 a and 90 b opposite from respective hinges 92 a and 92 b .
- the overall dimensions and configuration of recesses 99 a and 99 b may be selected to be compatible with the dimensions and configuration of respective angles 48 a and 48 b .
- recesses 99 a and 99 b cooperate with respective angles 48 a and 48 b to help seal respective longitudinal discharge openings 26 a and 26 b to eliminate or substantially minimize any leakage of lading from railway car 20 .
- Various types of sealing mechanisms may be satisfactorily used to engage a door assembly with adjacent portions of a bottom slope sheet assembly.
- End wall assemblies 80 a and 80 b may have approximately the same overall configuration and dimensions. Therefore, only end wall assembly 80 a will be described in detail.
- end wall assembly 80 a may include sloped portion 82 a and generally vertical portion 84 a .
- Sloped end wall assembly 80 a may be formed from one or more metal sheet 86 .
- railway car 20 may be generally described as having a single hopper defined in part by sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b , end wall assemblies 80 a and 80 b and bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b .
- Other railway cars incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include two or more hoppers.
- a plurality of interior supporting structures or interior brace assemblies 200 may be disposed within railway car 20 extending between sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b and bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b .
- Interior supporting structures may be formed from structural members such as plates, angles, bars, channels, beams, tubing, cables, ropes, wires, a combination of different structures, or any other structural member satisfactory for use with railway cars.
- Hopper cars may be formed with fewer than four cross brace assembly 200 but may also be formed with more than five cross brace assembly 200 .
- railway car 20 may be formed with three cross brace assembly 200 .
- partitions (not expressly shown) may be used in place of interior cross brace assemblies.
- interior cross brace assemblies 200 a , 200 b , 200 c and 200 d may have substantially the same configuration and dimensions. Therefore, various features of the disclosure will be described with respect to interior brace assembly 200 as shown in FIG. 5 .
- Interior brace assembly 200 may sometimes be referred to as a “rib plate assembly”.
- Each interior brace assembly 200 may include respective rib plate 210 centered over and attached to center sill 52 by generally U-shaped bracket 210 a .
- Each bracket 210 a preferably includes dimensions compatible with upper portions of center sill 52 .
- Various types of mechanical fasteners such as bolts and huck fasteners and/or welding techniques may be satisfactorily used to securely engage each bracket 210 a and associated rib plate 210 with center sill 52 .
- each bracket 210 a and associated rib plate 210 may be formed as integral components.
- each rib plate 210 and associated bracket 210 a may be formed as separate components and then welded with each other.
- Each interior brace assembly 200 preferably includes respective horizontal cross bearers 230 and 235 extending from respective side sills 54 b and 54 a and connecting with associated rib plate 210 .
- horizontal cross bearers 230 and 235 may be attached to and extend generally laterally from associated rib plate 210 .
- Various types of mechanical fasteners such as bolts and huck fasteners and/or welding techniques may be satisfactorily used to securely attach each interior brace assembly 200 with side sills 54 a and 54 b .
- horizontal cross bearer 230 may bolt to respective side sill 54 b using plate member 231 b at first end 230 a and second end 230 b of cross bearer 230 couples with rib plate 210 .
- cross bearer 235 may connect to respective side sill 54 a using plate member 231 a at first end 235 a and second end 235 b of cross bearer 235 couples with rib plate 210 .
- Upper diagonal braces 220 and 225 may extend between sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b and rib plate 210 . As shown in FIG. 5 , first end 220 a of upper diagonal brace 220 may be secured proximate sidewall assembly 30 b at connector plate 202 b and extend diagonally to connect with rib plate 210 at second end 220 b of upper diagonal brace 220 . Similarly, first end 225 a of upper diagonal brace 225 may be secured proximate sidewall assembly 30 a by connector plate 202 a and extend diagonally to connect with rib plate 210 at second end 225 a of upper diagonal brace 225 .
- Lower diagonal braces 240 and 245 may extend between bottom slope sheet assemblies 40 a and 40 b and associated rib plate 210 .
- First end 240 a of lower diagonal brace 240 preferably couples to bottom cord 44 b and angle 48 b of bottom slope sheet assembly 40 b being secured by connector plate 241 b .
- Second end 240 b of lower diagonal brace 240 may be secured with associated rib plate 210 .
- first end 245 a of lower diagonal brace 245 may be connected with bottom cord 44 a and angle 48 a of bottom sloped sheet assembly 40 a by connector plate 241 a .
- Second end 245 b of lower diagonal brace 245 may be secured with rib plate 210 .
- Horizontal crosspiece 205 may extend between sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b .
- First end 205 a of horizontal crosspiece 205 may be engaged with connector plate 202 a .
- Second end 205 b of horizontal crosspiece 205 may be engaged with connector plate 202 b .
- Pairs of connector plates 202 a and 202 b are preferably mounted on interior surfaces of sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b at locations generally aligned with respective horizontal cross bearers 230 and 235 .
- cross brace assembly 200 may include a reduced cross section member (not expressly shown).
- cables such as aircraft quality stainless steel cable may replace one or more braces such as lower diagonal braces 240 and 245 .
- railway car 20 may more rapidly discharge lading.
- each discharge control system may include a power source and associated mechanical linkages operable to open and close such door assemblies and/or gates.
- the mechanical linkages may include a first portion or primary linkage disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along an associated center sill.
- the primary linkage may also be referred to as a “common linkage.”
- One or more second portions or secondary linkages may be attached to and extend between the first portion and each door assembly or gate whereby movement of the first portion or primary linkage results in movement of associated second portions or secondary linkages to open and close associated door assemblies or gates.
- the secondary linkages may also be referred to as “secondary linkage assemblies.”
- first portions may include, but are not limited to, planks, bars and tubes.
- the bars and tubes may have generally rectangular, square or circular cross sections.
- the tubes may have generally hollow bores extending therethrough.
- the primary linkage may also be formed in part a generally elongated, cylindrical bar (hollow or solid) with threads formed on exterior portions of the bar.
- Other relatively long structural members such as generally C-shaped channels, U-shaped channels and angles may be used to form portions of a primary linkage.
- Second portions may include, but are not limited to, turnbuckles, pivot arms and a wide variety of other mechanical linkages and assemblies.
- Second portions or secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be generally described as door connector assemblies extending between primary linkage 162 and respective longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b .
- Various types of mechanical connectors including, but not limited to, sockets, socket assemblies, ball joints and pivot pins may be used to operably engage secondary linkage assemblies 170 with primary linkage 162 and/or associated longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b.
- discharge control system 150 may include a power source or drive actuator such as air cylinder 152 , first portion or primary linkage 162 and a plurality of second portions or secondary linkage assemblies 170 .
- Air cylinder 152 may be disposed adjacent to one end of primary linkage 162 .
- mechanical stop assembly 100 may be provided proximate the end of primary linkage 162 opposite from air cylinder 152 .
- Primary linkage 162 may be described as having a first end proximate air cylinder 152 and a second end proximate mechanical stop assembly 100 .
- mechanical stop assembly 100 may include first abutment 101 engaged with center sill 52 and second abutment 102 operable to move with the second end of primary linkage 162 .
- Air cylinder 152 may include piston 154 and piston rod 156 disposed therein. Piston 154 and piston rod 156 may be slidably disposed within air cylinder 152 . Piston 154 may divide the interior of air cylinder 152 into two variable volume fluid chambers 158 a and 158 b . Air pressure may be applied to either chamber 158 a or 158 b and air pressure may be released from or vented from the other variable volume fluid chamber 158 a or 158 b to cause piston 154 to move longitudinally within air cylinder 152 . Because of this movement, piston rod 156 coupled to piston 154 may move generally longitudinally or reciprocate relative to center sill 52 and other components associated with railway car underframe 50 .
- Air cylinder 152 may be disposed proximate a lower portion of railway car 20 such as center sill 52 . However, air cylinder 152 may be attached, located, placed, coupled or disposed with other portions of railway car 20 . In one embodiment, air cylinder 152 may be located beneath and securely attached to center sill 52 proximate railway truck 22 near the A end of railway car 20 .
- air cylinder 152 may be replaced or supplemented by any suitable power source satisfactory for providing desired movement of primary linkage 162 relative to center sill 52 and other components of an associated discharge control system.
- discharge control system 150 may include an electrically operated motor (not expressly shown).
- power sources include, but are not limited to, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, electric actuators, manual actuators such as geared drives, rotating capstans and any other power source or drive actuator associated with railway cars and hopper cars.
- One end of piston rod 156 extending from cylinder 152 may include clevis 180 .
- Pin 181 may be used to engage clevis 180 with connector 161 .
- connector 161 may be formed as an integral component of primary linkage 162 or may be a separate component which is welded and/or otherwise attached with the first end of primary linkage 162 proximate air cylinder 152 .
- connector 161 may be described as a relatively short, metal plate or strip as compared with primary linkage 162 .
- primary linkage 162 may be slidably disposed under center sill 52 of railway car 20 .
- Support assemblies or bearing assemblies 164 may be attached with center sill 52 opposite from dome shaped cover 56 .
- Support assemblies 164 may also be described as “sliding bearings” or “longitudinal bearings”.
- each support assembly 164 may include housing 165 with a pair of brackets 166 attached thereto.
- Respective plate 167 may be used to attach each bracket 166 with adjacent portions of center sill 52 .
- Bolts, hucks, and other mechanical fasteners may be used to attach each plate 167 with center sill 52 .
- one of the support assemblies 164 designated 164 a , may form a portion of mechanical stop assembly 100 operable to limit the longitudinal travel of primary linkage 162 as secondary linkage assemblies 170 move to their over center locked position.
- Housing 165 may be described as an elongated, hollow box having a generally square cross section.
- Bearing material 163 may be disposed within housing 165 .
- the dimensions of housing 165 are preferably selected to accommodate installing bearing material 163 between exterior portions of primary linkage 162 and adjacent interior portions of housing 165 .
- housing 165 and bearing material 163 are preferably selected to allow primary linkage 162 to slide or reciprocate longitudinally within each support assembly 164 relative to center sill 52 .
- a plurality of support assemblies 164 may be used to maintain primary linkage 162 generally aligned with center sill 52 .
- Various types of bearing materials 163 may be disposed between primary linkage 162 and housing 165 to reduce friction associated with primary linkage 162 sliding relative to housing 165 . Examples of such bearing materials include, but are not limited to, ultra high molecular weight plastic (UHM plastic) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Such materials are available from a wide variety of manufacturers and suppliers.
- UHM plastic ultra high molecular weight plastic
- HDPE high density polyethylene
- Discharge control system 150 may open and close gates or longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b by alternately pushing or pulling primary linkage 162 .
- One or more secondary portions or secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be connected with primary linkage 162 and connected with respective longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b .
- Secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be disposed in a generally symmetrical pattern with respect to primary linkage 162 and with respect to each other to help balance forces placed on primary linkage 162 while opening and closing longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b and when secondary linkage assemblies 170 are in respective over center locked positions.
- Substantial forces may be applied to each arm 174 a and 174 b when railway car 20 is filled with lading and longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b are closed with secondary linkage assemblies 170 in their over center, locked positions.
- the weight of longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b and the weight of any lading in railway car 20 will hold arms 174 a and 174 b in their over center locked position until discharge control system 150 applies sufficient force to primary linkage 162 to move arms 174 a and 174 b to their unlocked position which results in longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b moving to their second, open position. See FIG. 4 .
- Each secondary linkage assembly 170 may include respective socket assembly 172 attached with primary linkage 162 opposite from center sill 52 .
- Each secondary linkage assembly 170 may also include a pair of arms 174 a and 174 b which extend from primary linkage 162 to engage respective longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b .
- First end 176 of each arm 174 a and 174 b may include a respective ball joint which may be rotatably engaged with associated socket assembly 172 .
- Second end 178 of each arm 174 a and 174 b may be rotatably engaged with each door assembly 90 a and 90 b spaced from respective hinges 92 a and 92 b .
- longitudinal movement of first portion or primary linkage 162 relative to center sill 52 may result in three dimensional rotation and radial pivoting of second portions or secondary linkage assemblies 170 to open and close attached longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b.
- discharge control system 150 and associated indicator assembly 110 may be described with respect to primary linkage 162 moving in a first direction relative to center sill 52 and moving in a second direction relative to center sill 52 .
- primary linkage 162 may be described as moving in a “first direction” when air cylinder 152 pulls or causes primary linkage 162 to slide longitudinally from railway truck 24 (B end of railway car 20 ) towards railway truck 22 (A end of railway car 20 ).
- Primary linkage 162 may be described as moving in the “second direction” when air cylinder 152 pushes or causes primary linkage 162 to slide longitudinally from railway truck 22 towards railway truck 24 .
- air cylinder 152 and attached piston rod 156 may only be required to move primary linkage 162 approximately one inch to one and one-half inches in the second direction to unlock arms 174 a and 174 b from their over center locked position. After arms 174 a and 174 b have been moved from their over center, locked position, the weight of door assemblies 90 a and 90 b and particularly the weight of any lading carried within railway car 20 will then move longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b to their second, open position. Air cylinder 152 is generally not required to continue applying force to move primary linkage 162 in the second direction since the weight of any lading within railway car 20 will generally be sufficient to fully open longitudinal discharge door assemblies 90 a and 90 b.
- Arms 174 a and 174 b may be pulled past center or over center to provide a positive lock to hold longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b in their first, closed position. See for example FIGS. 1, 3 , 6 and 7 A. Pulling longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b to their first, closed position and then continuing to pull arms 174 a and 174 b to their over center position may sometimes be described as “over center locking”.
- arms 174 a and 174 b may include respective turnbuckle 175 rotatively engaged with threaded portions 177 .
- Each turnbuckle 175 may be rotated by engaging an appropriate tool (not expressly shown) with notch or opening 175 a .
- Rotating turnbuckles 175 relative to threaded portions 177 may extend or retract the length of associated arm 174 a or 174 b .
- the position of door assemblies 90 a and 90 b in their respective open and/or closed positions may be adjusted.
- Rotation of turnbuckles 175 allow adjusting the length of respective arms 174 a and 174 b to provide desired closure of each longitudinal door assembly 90 a and 90 b relative to associated longitudinal openings 26 a and 26 b.
- support assembly 164 a may form a portion of mechanical stop assembly 100 and may allow adjusting the length of the longitudinal movement of primary linkage 162 relative to center sill 52 .
- mechanical stop assembly 100 may include first abutment 101 which may be securely attached to, and extend from, support assembly 164 .
- first abutment 101 may be securely attached to, and extend from, support assembly 164 .
- Various techniques and procedures may be satisfactory used to securely engage first abutment 101 with support assembly 164 a .
- manual adjusting device 64 may be engaged with portions of housing 165 to allow varying the spacing between first abutment 101 and second abutment 102 when primary linkage 162 is in its second position which generally corresponds with the second position of associated discharge control system 150 and the second, open position of longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b.
- Manual adjusting device 64 may include relatively short, hollow sleeve 66 attached with associated housing 165 using various techniques such as welding and/or mechanical fasteners (not expressly shown). Threaded bolt 68 may be slidably disposed within sleeve 66 . First abutment 101 may be formed by the head of bolt 68 extending from sleeve 66 towards railway truck 24 . Nuts 70 and 72 may be engaged with threaded bolt 68 for use in adjusting the length of bolt 68 extending from support assembly 164 a in the direction of railway truck 24 .
- portions of mechanical stop assembly 100 attached to and extending from the second end of primary linkage 162 may be described as generally L-shaped bar stop or head 104 .
- Second abutment 102 may be formed as part of bar stop or head 104 .
- the generally L-shaped configuration of head 104 may include first portion 104 a and second portion 104 b .
- the dimensions and configuration of first portion 104 a may be selected to allow inserting head 104 into the longitudinal bore of primary linkage 162 .
- Second abutment 102 may be formed on second portion 104 b facing first abutment 101 on threaded bolt 68 .
- discharge control system 150 may move primary linkage 162 from its first position (see FIGS. 4 and 8 B) generally corresponds with associated secondary linkage assemblies 170 and associated longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b being in their second, open position. Discharge control system 150 may also be used to move primary linkage assembly 162 to its first position such as shown in FIG. 1 which corresponds with secondary linkage assemblies 170 and associated door assemblies 90 a and 90 b being located in their first, closed position. See FIGS. 1, 3 , 6 , 7 A and 8 A. The over center locked position of secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be adjusted by rotating nuts 70 and 72 to vary the length or longitudinal distance that thread bolt 68 first abutment 101 extends from support assembly 164 a in the direction of railway truck 24 .
- Arms 174 a and 174 b of each secondary linkage assembly 170 may rotate through a compound angle mainly oriented in a longitudinal direction parallel to primary linkage 162 when gates 90 a and 90 b are in their second, open position and into an over center locked position extending generally laterally from common linkage 162 when gates 90 a and 90 b are in their first, closed position. Additional secondary links (not expressly shown) may be added to carry heavier loads between gates 90 a and 90 b and primary linkage or common linkage 162 . Multiple gate arc travel (not expressly shown) can be accomplished by changing the length of secondary linkage assemblies 170 .
- indicator assembly 110 may be used to indicate the status of one or more components associated with discharge control system 150 .
- indicator assembly 110 may be referred to as an “over center lock indicator” used to indicate the status of primary linkage 162 and secondary linkage assemblies 170 .
- indicator assemblies incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may be used to indicate the status of various components associated with a discharge control system and/or door assemblies. Indicator assemblies and indicators incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may be used to indicate the status of any component associate with a railway car when the component is moved between a first position and a second position by an associated control system.
- indicator assembly 110 may be engaged with the second end of primary linkage 162 opposite from power source 152 .
- Various components of indicator assembly 110 may be mounted on and attached to center sill 52 proximate mechanical stop assembly 100 and the second end of primary linkage 162 . See FIGS. 1, 8A , 8 B and 11 .
- indicator assembly 110 may be engaged proximate the first end of primary linkage 162 (not expressly shown) adjacent power source 152 .
- indicator assembly 110 may be engaged with portions of primary linkage 162 intermediate the first end and the second end (not expressly shown).
- Indicator assembly 110 may include operating rod 112 , bracket 120 attached to head 104 of mechanical stop assembly 100 , pivot plate or trilever 130 and one or more indicators 140 .
- the various components of indicator assembly 110 may be located proximate the B end of railway car 20 and attached to or mounted on center sill 52 proximate railway truck 24 .
- Operating rod 112 , bracket 120 , pivot plate 130 , indicators 140 and other components of indicator assembly 110 may be located outside of the hopper or car body formed by sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b and end wall assemblies 80 a and 80 b.
- indicator assembly 110 may include a pair of indicators designated as 140 a and 140 b .
- Indicator 140 a may be described with respect to sidewall assembly 30 a and indicator 140 b may be described with respect to sidewall assembly 30 b .
- end 142 a of indicator 140 a may extend from sidewall assembly 30 a when portions of discharge control system 50 are in the same unsecure or unlocked position.
- End 142 b of indicator 140 b may extend from portions of sidewall assembly 30 b when portions of discharge control system 150 are in an unsecure, unlocked position. See FIG. 10B .
- End 142 a of indicator 140 a may extend through a portion of sidewall assembly 30 a that extends beyond end wall assembly 80 b .
- End 142 b of indicator 140 b may extend through a portion of sidewall assembly 30 b that extends beyond end wall assembly 80 b . See FIGS. 1, 10A and 10 B.
- indicators 140 a and 140 b may be positioned below respective side sills 54 a and 54 b without requiring ends 142 a and 142 b to extend through associated sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b .
- ends 142 a and 142 b may be disposed in respective hollow tubes (not expressly shown) when portions of discharge control system 150 are secured and locked. Ends 142 a and 142 b may extend from such hollow tubes when portions of discharge control system 150 are unsecure and unlocked.
- the respective hollow tubes may be engaged with the bottom or lower portion of side sills 54 a and 54 b (not expressly shown.)
- indicators 140 a and 140 b may be positioned such that ends 142 a and 142 b may extend through small openings (not expressly shown) formed in respective side sills 54 a and 54 b.
- bracket 120 may be formed from a metal strip or plate having a generally elongated, rectangular configuration. Portions of bracket 120 may be bent to accommodate the configuration and dimensions of support assembly 164 a , head 104 and center sill 52 . See FIGS. 10A and 10B .
- First end 121 of bracket 120 may be securely engaged with portions of mechanical stop assembly 100 .
- a pair of bolts 124 may be used to securely engage portions of bracket 120 with head 104 .
- Hollow sleeve 126 may be engaged proximate second end 122 of bracket 120 .
- Various techniques such as welding and/or various types of mechanical fasteners (not expressly shown) may be satisfactorily used to attach hollow sleeve 126 proximate second end 122 of bracket 120 .
- Operating rod 112 may be generally described as having an elongated, L-shaped configuration defined in part by first portion 112 a extending generally parallel with center sill 52 and second portion 112 b extending generally normal or vertical with respect first portion 112 a .
- One or more rod supports 114 may be engaged with portions of center sill 52 .
- First portion 112 a of operating rod 112 may be slidably disposed within rod supports 114 .
- a plurality of threads 116 may be formed on first portion 112 a adjacent to first end 118 of operating rod 112 .
- second end 119 of operating rod 112 may be operably engaged with trilever or pivot plate 130 .
- the dimensions of rod supports 114 and hollow sleeve 126 are preferably selected to allow first portion 112 a of operating rod 112 to slide longitudinally therethrough.
- Bolt 117 may be engaged with threaded portion 116 proximate hollow sleeve 126 .
- the dimensions of bolt 117 are preferably selected to limit movement of operating rod 112 relative to sleeve 126 .
- support plate 146 may be attached with one side of center sill 52 corresponding with the attachment of bracket 120 with head 104 .
- Bolts 145 or other mechanical fasteners may be satisfactorily used to attach support plate 146 with center sill 52 .
- L-shaped mounting bracket 148 may be attached with and extend from support plate 146 .
- Pivot pin 143 may be disposed in bracket 148 spaced from support plate 146 .
- Pivot pin 143 may be used to rotatably engage pivot plate 130 with bracket 148 .
- Support plate 146 , L-shaped bracket 148 and pivot pin 143 cooperate with each other to allow limited rotational movement of pivot plate or trilever 130 relative to center sill 52 .
- Pivot plate or trilever 130 may have a first position such as shown in FIGS. 8A, 9A , 10 A and 11 corresponding with the first position of primary linkage 162 , secondary linkage assemblies 170 , longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b and mechanical stop assembly 100 .
- Various holes and/or openings may be formed in trilever or pivot plate 130 to accommodate engagement with second end 119 of portion 112 b of operating rod 112 , indicators 140 a and 140 b and pivot pin 143 .
- Pivot plate or trilever 130 may also have a second position such as shown in FIGS. 8B, 9B and 10 B which correspond generally with the second position of primary linkage 162 , secondary linkage assemblies 170 , longitudinal door assemblies 90 a and 90 b and mechanical stop assembly 100 .
- spring 136 may be engaged with portions of support plate 146 and a portion of trilever or pivot plate 130 .
- Spring 136 may be used to move trilever or pivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position to extend ends 142 a and 142 b of indicators 140 a and 140 b from respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b.
- Each indicator 140 a and 140 b may further include multiple bends or angles that enable each indicator 140 to translate rotational movement of trilever or pivot plate 130 into lateral movement above center sill 52 . This translation of movement allows indicators 140 a and 140 b to extend in an outward direction from center sill 52 such that end 142 a and 142 of respective indicators 140 a and 140 b may extend beyond sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b , as illustrated in FIG. 10A .
- first portion 112 a of operating rod 112 may be adjusted such that pivot plate or trilever 130 will be securely held in its first position such as shown in FIGS. 8A, 9A and 10 A when primary linkage 162 is in its first position.
- Extreme end 142 a and 142 b of indicators 140 a and 140 b will preferably be withdrawn or retracted from the respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b . See FIG. 10A .
- bracket 120 and attached hollow sleeve 126 will move longitudinally towards railway truck 24 and release engagement between hollow sleeve 126 and nut 117 .
- spring 136 may rotate trilever 130 to its second position and extend ends 142 a and 142 b of indicators 140 a and 140 b from respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b . See FIGS. 9B and 10B .
- bracket 120 When discharge control system 150 moves primary linkage 162 from its second position to its first position, bracket 120 will move hollow sleeve 126 longitudinally towards railway truck 22 (first direction) and re-engage sleeve 126 with nut 117 .
- bracket 120 Continued movement of bracket 120 towards railway truck 22 causes operating rod 112 to slide or move longitudinally away from railway truck 24 which results in rotation of trilever or pivot plate 130 from its second position (see FIG. 9B ) to its first position (see FIG. 9A ).
- tension may be re-applied or placed on spring 136 .
- primary linkage 162 may only be required to slide longitudinally approximately one and one-half inches in the second direction (towards railway truck 24 ) to move associated secondary linkage assemblies 160 from their over center locked position to their unlocked position.
- a resulting gap of approximately one and one-half inches may then be formed between nut 117 and hollow sleeve 126 which allows spring 136 to rotate pivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position.
- the dimensions and configuration of pivot plate 130 and associated indicators 140 a and 140 b may be selected to allow translating approximately one and one-half inches of longitudinal movement of operating rod 112 into approximately three inches of lateral movement by each indicator 140 a and 140 b .
- ends 142 a and 142 b may extend approximately three inches from respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b as soon as secondary linkage assemblies 170 have moved to their unlocked position.
- stop pins 137 and 138 may be attached to opposite sides of generally L-shaped bracket 148 . Stop pins 137 and 138 may be offset with respect to each other. See FIGS. 9A, 9B , 10 A and 10 B. As previously noted, movement of primary linkage 162 from its first position to its second position will result in movement of bracket 120 and releasing engagement between nut 117 and hollow sleeve 126 . As a result, tension in spring 136 will cause rotation of pivot plate 130 from its first position as shown in FIG. 9A to its second position as shown in FIG. 9B . Stop pin 137 may be disposed on the side of generally L-shaped bracket 148 to limit the movement of trilever or pivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position. See FIG. 9B .
- primary linkage 162 As previously noted movement of primary linkage 162 , associated head 104 and bracket 120 by only one inch to one and one-half inches towards railway truck 24 will result in indicator assembly 110 extending ends 142 a and 142 b laterally approximately three inches relative to sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b .
- primary linkage 162 head 104 and bracket 120 may continue to move longitudinally in the second direction towards railway truck 24 as much as eighteen to twenty inches.
- the sliding engagement between hollow sleeve 126 and first portion 112 a of operating rod 112 accommodates additional longitudinal movement of bracket 120 without any additional longitudinal movement of operating rod 112 .
- head 104 , bracket 120 and attached hollow sleeve 126 may move longitudinally as much as eighteen or twenty inches in the first direction towards railway truck 22 without causing any movement of operating rod 112 .
- Hollow sleeve 126 will generally contact nut 117 only when primary linkage 162 has started to move associated secondary linkages from their unsecured position to their over center locked position. Therefore, ends 142 a and 142 b will remain extended until primary linkage 162 moves an additional one to one and one-half inches to place primary linkage assemblies 170 in their secure, over center locked position which also results in retracting ends 142 a and 142 b from respective sidewall assemblies 30 a and 30 b.
- indicator assembly 110 may include a pair of indicators 140 a and 140 b .
- an indicator assembly may be formed in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure having only a single indicator or may have more than two indicators.
- the present embodiments are described with respect to ends 142 a and 142 b extending when portions of the discharge control system are in an unsecure or unlocked position.
- ends 142 a and/or 142 b may extend from an associated sidewall assembly when one or more portions of the associated discharge control system are in a secured or locked position.
- approximately forty-five (45°) degrees of rotation of pivot plate 130 may cause ends 142 a and 142 b of indicator rods 140 a and 140 b to extend approximately one inch from respective sidewall assemblies 30 b and 30 a .
- indicator 140 a and 140 b may include a high visibility coloring or luminescent coloring such as “safety orange” to augment visibility of ends 142 a and 142 b for a railway car user/operator. Based on their visibility, an operator may readily determine when portions of discharge control system 150 is in a locked position or unlocked position.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wing Frames And Configurations (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/727,970 filed Oct. 18, 2005, entitled “Over Center Lock Indicator for Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism.”
- This application is Continuation-in-Part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/182,975 filed Jul. 15, 2005 entitled “Safety Latch Lock Indicator For Railcar Door Operation Mechanism,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/600,290 filed Aug. 10, 2004.
- The present disclosure is related in general to an indicator for railway cars and more particularly to an indicator assembly operable to show the status of a discharge control system associated with discharging cargo or lading from a hopper type railway car.
- Railway cars with one or more hoppers have been used for many years to transport and sometimes store dry, bulk materials. Hopper cars are frequently used to transport coal, sand, metal ores, ballast, aggregates, grain and any other type of lading which may be satisfactorily discharged through respective openings formed in one or more hoppers. Respective discharge openings are often provided at or near the bottom of each hopper to rapidly discharge cargo. A variety of door assemblies and gate assemblies along with various operating mechanisms have been used to open and close discharge openings associated with railway cars.
- Hopper cars may be classified as open or closed. Hopper cars may have relatively short sidewalls and end walls or relatively tall or high sidewalls and end walls. The sidewalls and end walls of many hopper cars are typically reinforced with a plurality of vertical side stakes. The sidewalls and end walls are typically formed from steel or aluminum sheets. Some hopper cars include interior frame structures or braces to provide additional support for the sidewalls.
- Many hopper cars may be generally described as top loading and bottom unloading. Such hopper cars typically require closing gates or doors located underneath the hopper car prior to loading and opening the gates or doors only when the hopper car is at a specific location in an unloading facility. Through the use of linkages and one or more power sources such as an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, an electrical motor or other types of operating mechanisms associated with hopper cars the gates or doors may be closed prior to loading and opened to discharge lading. The gates or doors and associated linkages, air cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, electrical motor and/or other operating mechanisms are typically located underneath such hopper cars. As a result, it is often difficult to see whether the gates or doors and associated linkages have moved to a fully closed and locked position. Therefore, personnel associated with loading and unloading of such hopper cars must often make a specific visual inspection of the gates or doors and associated operating linkages prior to loading and prior to moving each hopper car to an unloading facility.
- In accordance with teachings of the present disclosure, several disadvantages and problems associated with railway cars having discharge control systems have been substantially reduced or eliminated. One embodiment of the present disclosure may include a railway car having at least one hopper for transporting lading and one or more indicators to show the status of an associated discharge control system. The railway car may include an underframe having a center sill that defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car and at least one discharge opening formed proximate a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly or gate assembly may be mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. Each door assembly may be operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the respective discharge opening. The discharge control system may be used to move each door assembly between the respective first position and the respective second position. At least one indicator may extend or appear from at least one side of the railway car as one or more components of the discharge control system move to a position which corresponds with moving each door assembly from the respective first, closed position to the respective second, open position. A portion of each indicator may remain visible from the at least one side of the railway car as long as the one or more components of the discharge control system remain in the position corresponding with the door assembly remaining in the respective second, open position.
- For some applications each indicator may be visible to an observer viewing along the length or side of an associated railway car to avoid having to view each railway car from a generally perpendicular direction to determine the status of an associated door assembly or assemblies. For some applications respective indicators associated with multiple railway cars may be satisfactorily observed by looking down the length of the railway cars.
- A respective indicator may extend (appear) and retract (disappear) from each side of a railway car to provide personnel with a visible indication of the status of an associated discharge control system. The status of respective discharge control systems associated with multiple railway cars may be simultaneously determined by looking down the length or sides of adjacent railway cars. Observations made along the length of a train having multiple railway cars with such indicators may quickly or simultaneously indicate the status of each respective discharge control system.
- Technical benefits of the present disclosure include providing an economical indicator assembly for determining whether one or more components of a discharge control system of a railway car is in a secure status. One example of such secure status may be portions of a mechanical linkage, associated with moving a gate or door from an open position to a closed position, moving to an over center, locked position. Providing a highly visible indicator on each side of the railway car permits personnel to readily view several railway cars simultaneously prior to loading or unloading each railway car. In addition, each railway car may be readily checked prior to and during transportation to help ensure that the associated discharge control system is in a secure status.
- For some applications, a respective indicator may extend from both sides of a railway car to visually indicate that components of an associated discharge control system are in an unlocked position which may correspond with associated discharge doors or gate assemblies being in an open position. Retraction of the respective indicators from each side of the railway car may provide visual indication that components of the associated discharge control system have moved to a locked position which generally corresponds with the associated discharge doors or gate assemblies being in a closed position.
- For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following written description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing in elevation with portions broken away showing a side view of a railway car incorporating teachings of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing showing a plan view taken along lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken long lines 3-3 ofFIG. 1 showing portions of a railway car and discharge control system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure with a pair of door assemblies in their first, closed position; -
FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away showing various components of the discharge control system ofFIG. 3 with the associated door assemblies in their second, opened position; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away showing one example of an interior supporting structure satisfactory for use with longitudinal discharge openings, door assemblies and a discharge control system incorporating teachings of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing in section and in elevation with portions broken away showing the railway car and discharge control system ofFIG. 1 with portions of the discharge control system in an over center, locked position and associated door assemblies in their first, closed position; -
FIG. 7A is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of a discharge control system and associated door assemblies in their first, closed position; -
FIG. 7B is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away of the discharge control system ofFIG. 7A including a primary linkage slidably disposed within a support assembly; -
FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away of the railway car ofFIG. 1 showing one example of a discharge control system and an associated indicator assembly incorporating teachings of the present disclosure in a first position; -
FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing in section with portion broken away showing the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly ofFIG. 8A in a second position; -
FIG. 9A is a schematic drawing showing a plan view with portions broken away taken alonglines 9A-9A ofFIG. 8A of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the first position; -
FIG. 9B is a schematic drawing showing a plan view with portions broken away taken alonglines 9B-9B ofFIG. 8B of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the second position; -
FIG. 10A is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken alonglines 10A-10A ofFIG. 8A of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the first position; -
FIG. 10B is a schematic drawing in section with portions broken away taken alonglines 10B-10B ofFIG. 8B of the discharge control system and associated indicator assembly in the second position; and -
FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing showing an isometric view with portions broken away of the discharge control system and indicator assembly ofFIG. 8A in the first position. - Preferred embodiments of the disclosure and associated advantages are best understood by referring to
FIGS. 1-11 of the drawings. Like numbers may be used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. - Various features of the present disclosure may be described with respect to
railway car 20 which may be used to carry coal and other types of lading.Railway car 20 may be generally described as an open hopper car with bottom discharge openings or outlets. Respective door assemblies or gates may be opened and closed to control discharge of lading from associated discharge openings or outlets ofrailway car 20. However, the present disclosure is not limited to open hopper cars with bottom discharge openings or hopper cars that carry only coal. For example, various features of the present disclosure may be satisfactorily used with closed hopper cars, hopper cars that carry aggregate, ore, grain and other types of bulk lading and ballast cars. Examples of lading carried by closed hopper cars may include, but are not limited to, corn distillers dried grains (DDG), corn condensed distillers solubles (CDS), corn distillers dried grains/solubles (DDGS) and wet distillers grain with solubles (WDGS). Such products may be associated with ethanol production from corn and/or other types of grain. - Teachings of the present disclosure may be satisfactorily used with railway cars having a wide variety of discharge control systems, discharge openings and door assemblies or gates. The present disclosure is not limited to railway cars having longitudinal discharge openings, longitudinal door assemblies or air cylinders to operate an associated discharge control systems.
-
Railway car 20 incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include a pair ofsidewall assemblies slope sheet assemblies end wall assemblies railway car underframe 50.Railway car underframe 50 may includecenter sill 52 andside sills FIGS. 3 and 4 .Side sills center sill 52 and spaced laterally from opposite sides ofcenter sill 52. A pair ofrailway trucks center sill 52. For embodiments of the present disclosure as represented byrailway car 20, center sill 52 may have a generally rectangular cross section. Generally triangular shaped dome assembly or cover 56 may be disposed on portions ofcenter sill 52 extending betweenend wall assemblies - The present disclosure may be used with center sills having a wide variety of configurations and designs other than a rectangular cross section. The present disclosure may be used with center sills that do not have domes or covers. The present disclosure is not limited to center
sill 52 orcover 56. -
Sidewall assemblies sidewall assembly 30 b will be described in detail.Sidewall assembly 30 b preferably includestop cord 32 b with a plurality of side stakes or support posts 34 extending betweentop cord 32 b andside sill 54 b. Side stakes or support posts 34 may also be spaced laterally from each other along the length oftop cord 32 b andside sill 54 b. A plurality ofmetal sheets 36 may be securely attached with interior portions oftop cord 32 b, side stakes 34 andside sill 54 b. In a similar manner,sidewall assembly 30 a may includetop cord 32 a, side stakes 34,respective metal sheets 36 and side sill 54 a. -
Metal sheets 36 may form interior surface 37 and exterior surface 38 ofrespective sidewall assemblies - Bottom
slope sheet assemblies slope sheet assembly 40 b will be described in more detail. Bottomslope sheet assembly 40 b may include a plurality ofangles 42 extending inwardly fromside sill 54 b tobottom cord 44 b.Bottom cord 44 b andtop cord 32 b may be formed from hollow metal tubes having generally rectangular configurations. A plurality ofmetal sheets 46 may be attached with interior surfaces ofrespective angles 42 andbottom cord 44 b.Metal sheets - For some applications, an
additional angle 48 b may be attached tobottom cord 44 b opposite from associatedangles 42 to provide additional structural strength forrailway car 20.Bottom cord 44 b andangle 48 b preferably extend along substantially the full length ofrailway car 20. In a similar manner, bottomslope sheet assembly 40 a may includerespective angles 42,respective metal sheets 46,bottom cord 44 a andadditional angle 48 a. - Bottom
slope sheet assemblies respective side sills slope sheet assemblies respective side sills railway car 20 relative to associated railway tracks (not expressly shown) as defined by applicable American Association of Railroads (AAR) specifications and operating envelops. For embodiments of the present disclosure represented byrailway car 20, bottomslope sheet assemblies respective sidewall assemblies - Portions of bottom
slope sheet assembly 40 a cooperate with portions ofcenter sill 52 anddome assembly 56 to define in partlongitudinal discharge openings 26 a. In a similar manner portions of bottomslope sheet assembly 40 b cooperate with portions ofcenter sill 52 anddome assembly 56 to define in partlongitudinal discharge openings 26 b. SeeFIG. 4 .Longitudinal discharge openings center sill 52. For some applications a railway car may be formed in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure with more than one hopper and more than two discharge openings. The present disclosure is not limited to hopper cars with only one hopper and two longitudinal discharge openings. -
Longitudinal door assemblies center sill 52 adjacent todome assembly 56.Longitudinal door assemblies Longitudinal door assemblies slope sheet assemblies longitudinal discharge openings longitudinal door assemblies center sill 52 may increase the volume of lading carried withinrailway car 20 and may also lower the center of gravity whenrailway car 20 is loaded. - Various types of hinges may be satisfactorily used to engage
door assemblies center sill 52. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 4, 5 , 8A, 8B and 8C, a plurality ofhinges door assemblies center sill 52.Hinges door assemblies - Each
door assembly FIGS. 1-3 ) and a second, open position which allows lading to be discharged from railway car 20 (seeFIG. 4 ). Various components of an associated discharge control system including, but not limited to, a primary linkage, a plurality of secondary linkage assemblies, a mechanical stop assembly and an indicator assembly may also have respective first positions associated with the first, closed position ofdoor assemblies door assemblies -
Door assemblies longitudinal discharge openings longitudinal discharge openings door assemblies Door assemblies metal sheets metal sheets Respective angles door assembly respective hinges - As shown in
FIG. 4 , respectivelongitudinal recesses door assembly respective hinges recesses respective angles FIG. 3 recesses respective angles longitudinal discharge openings railway car 20. Various types of sealing mechanisms may be satisfactorily used to engage a door assembly with adjacent portions of a bottom slope sheet assembly. -
End wall assemblies wall assembly 80 a will be described in detail. For some applications endwall assembly 80 a may include slopedportion 82 a and generallyvertical portion 84 a. Slopedend wall assembly 80 a may be formed from one ormore metal sheet 86. For embodiments of the present disclosure as shown inFIGS. 1-4 ,railway car 20 may be generally described as having a single hopper defined in part bysidewall assemblies end wall assemblies slope sheet assemblies - A plurality of interior supporting structures or
interior brace assemblies 200 may be disposed withinrailway car 20 extending betweensidewall assemblies slope sheet assemblies - Hopper cars may be formed with fewer than four
cross brace assembly 200 but may also be formed with more than fivecross brace assembly 200. In some embodiments,railway car 20 may be formed with threecross brace assembly 200. Also, partitions (not expressly shown) may be used in place of interior cross brace assemblies. - For embodiments of the present disclosure as shown in
FIGS. 1-5 interiorcross brace assemblies interior brace assembly 200 as shown inFIG. 5 . -
Interior brace assembly 200 may sometimes be referred to as a “rib plate assembly”. Eachinterior brace assembly 200 may includerespective rib plate 210 centered over and attached to centersill 52 by generallyU-shaped bracket 210 a. Eachbracket 210 a preferably includes dimensions compatible with upper portions ofcenter sill 52. Various types of mechanical fasteners such as bolts and huck fasteners and/or welding techniques may be satisfactorily used to securely engage eachbracket 210 a and associatedrib plate 210 withcenter sill 52. For some applications eachbracket 210 a and associatedrib plate 210 may be formed as integral components. For other applications eachrib plate 210 and associatedbracket 210 a may be formed as separate components and then welded with each other. - Each
interior brace assembly 200 preferably includes respectivehorizontal cross bearers respective side sills rib plate 210. Typically,horizontal cross bearers rib plate 210. Various types of mechanical fasteners such as bolts and huck fasteners and/or welding techniques may be satisfactorily used to securely attach eachinterior brace assembly 200 withside sills horizontal cross bearer 230 may bolt to respective side sill 54 b usingplate member 231 b atfirst end 230 a andsecond end 230 b ofcross bearer 230 couples withrib plate 210. Similarly,cross bearer 235 may connect to respective side sill 54 a usingplate member 231 a atfirst end 235 a andsecond end 235 b ofcross bearer 235 couples withrib plate 210. - Upper
diagonal braces sidewall assemblies rib plate 210. As shown inFIG. 5 ,first end 220 a of upperdiagonal brace 220 may be securedproximate sidewall assembly 30 b atconnector plate 202 b and extend diagonally to connect withrib plate 210 atsecond end 220 b of upperdiagonal brace 220. Similarly,first end 225 a of upperdiagonal brace 225 may be securedproximate sidewall assembly 30 a byconnector plate 202 a and extend diagonally to connect withrib plate 210 atsecond end 225 a of upperdiagonal brace 225. - Lower
diagonal braces slope sheet assemblies rib plate 210. First end 240 a of lowerdiagonal brace 240 preferably couples tobottom cord 44 b andangle 48 b of bottomslope sheet assembly 40 b being secured byconnector plate 241 b.Second end 240 b of lowerdiagonal brace 240 may be secured with associatedrib plate 210. In a similar mannerfirst end 245 a of lowerdiagonal brace 245 may be connected withbottom cord 44 a andangle 48 a of bottomsloped sheet assembly 40 a byconnector plate 241 a.Second end 245 b of lowerdiagonal brace 245 may be secured withrib plate 210. -
Horizontal crosspiece 205 may extend betweensidewall assemblies horizontal crosspiece 205 may be engaged withconnector plate 202 a.Second end 205 b ofhorizontal crosspiece 205 may be engaged withconnector plate 202 b. Pairs ofconnector plates sidewall assemblies horizontal cross bearers - In some alternate embodiments,
cross brace assembly 200 may include a reduced cross section member (not expressly shown). For example, cables such as aircraft quality stainless steel cable may replace one or more braces such as lowerdiagonal braces railway car 20 may more rapidly discharge lading. - Various types of operating assemblies and discharge control systems formed in accordance with teachings of the present disclosure may be satisfactorily used to open and close door assemblies and/or gates. For some embodiments each discharge control system may include a power source and associated mechanical linkages operable to open and close such door assemblies and/or gates. The mechanical linkages may include a first portion or primary linkage disposed adjacent to and extending longitudinally along an associated center sill. The primary linkage may also be referred to as a “common linkage.” One or more second portions or secondary linkages may be attached to and extend between the first portion and each door assembly or gate whereby movement of the first portion or primary linkage results in movement of associated second portions or secondary linkages to open and close associated door assemblies or gates. The secondary linkages may also be referred to as “secondary linkage assemblies.”
- Examples of first portions may include, but are not limited to, planks, bars and tubes. For some applications the bars and tubes may have generally rectangular, square or circular cross sections. The tubes may have generally hollow bores extending therethrough. The primary linkage may also be formed in part a generally elongated, cylindrical bar (hollow or solid) with threads formed on exterior portions of the bar. Other relatively long structural members (not expressly shown) such as generally C-shaped channels, U-shaped channels and angles may be used to form portions of a primary linkage.
- Examples of second portions may include, but are not limited to, turnbuckles, pivot arms and a wide variety of other mechanical linkages and assemblies. Second portions or
secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be generally described as door connector assemblies extending betweenprimary linkage 162 and respectivelongitudinal door assemblies secondary linkage assemblies 170 withprimary linkage 162 and/or associatedlongitudinal door assemblies - For some embodiments such as shown in
FIGS. 1-11 discharge control system 150 may include a power source or drive actuator such asair cylinder 152, first portion orprimary linkage 162 and a plurality of second portions orsecondary linkage assemblies 170.Air cylinder 152 may be disposed adjacent to one end ofprimary linkage 162. For some applicationsmechanical stop assembly 100 may be provided proximate the end ofprimary linkage 162 opposite fromair cylinder 152.Primary linkage 162 may be described as having a first endproximate air cylinder 152 and a second end proximatemechanical stop assembly 100. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 8A and 8B mechanical stop assembly 100 may includefirst abutment 101 engaged withcenter sill 52 and second abutment 102 operable to move with the second end ofprimary linkage 162. -
Air cylinder 152 may includepiston 154 andpiston rod 156 disposed therein.Piston 154 andpiston rod 156 may be slidably disposed withinair cylinder 152.Piston 154 may divide the interior ofair cylinder 152 into two variablevolume fluid chambers chamber volume fluid chamber piston 154 to move longitudinally withinair cylinder 152. Because of this movement,piston rod 156 coupled topiston 154 may move generally longitudinally or reciprocate relative to centersill 52 and other components associated withrailway car underframe 50. -
Air cylinder 152 may be disposed proximate a lower portion ofrailway car 20 such ascenter sill 52. However,air cylinder 152 may be attached, located, placed, coupled or disposed with other portions ofrailway car 20. In one embodiment,air cylinder 152 may be located beneath and securely attached to centersill 52proximate railway truck 22 near the A end ofrailway car 20. - In alternate embodiments,
air cylinder 152 may be replaced or supplemented by any suitable power source satisfactory for providing desired movement ofprimary linkage 162 relative to centersill 52 and other components of an associated discharge control system. For example,discharge control system 150 may include an electrically operated motor (not expressly shown). Other examples of power sources include, but are not limited to, hydraulic actuators, pneumatic actuators, electric actuators, manual actuators such as geared drives, rotating capstans and any other power source or drive actuator associated with railway cars and hopper cars. - One end of
piston rod 156 extending fromcylinder 152 may includeclevis 180.Pin 181 may be used to engage clevis 180 withconnector 161. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 Aconnector 161 may be formed as an integral component ofprimary linkage 162 or may be a separate component which is welded and/or otherwise attached with the first end ofprimary linkage 162proximate air cylinder 152. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 A,connector 161 may be described as a relatively short, metal plate or strip as compared withprimary linkage 162. Various procedures and techniques may be satisfactorily used to operably engage a power source with a primary linkage other than the use ofclevis 180,pin 181 andconnector 161. For some applications one end ofpiston rod 156 may be directly engaged with the first end ofprimary linkage 162. - For embodiments such as shown in
FIGS. 1-11 ,primary linkage 162 may be slidably disposed undercenter sill 52 ofrailway car 20. Support assemblies or bearingassemblies 164 may be attached withcenter sill 52 opposite from dome shapedcover 56.Support assemblies 164 may also be described as “sliding bearings” or “longitudinal bearings”. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 1-11 eachsupport assembly 164 may includehousing 165 with a pair ofbrackets 166 attached thereto.Respective plate 167 may be used to attach eachbracket 166 with adjacent portions ofcenter sill 52. Bolts, hucks, and other mechanical fasteners may be used to attach eachplate 167 withcenter sill 52. As discussed later in more detail, one of thesupport assemblies 164, designated 164 a, may form a portion ofmechanical stop assembly 100 operable to limit the longitudinal travel ofprimary linkage 162 assecondary linkage assemblies 170 move to their over center locked position. -
Housing 165 may be described as an elongated, hollow box having a generally square cross section.Bearing material 163 may be disposed withinhousing 165. The dimensions ofhousing 165 are preferably selected to accommodate installingbearing material 163 between exterior portions ofprimary linkage 162 and adjacent interior portions ofhousing 165. - The dimensions of
housing 165 andbearing material 163 are preferably selected to allowprimary linkage 162 to slide or reciprocate longitudinally within eachsupport assembly 164 relative to centersill 52. A plurality ofsupport assemblies 164 may be used to maintainprimary linkage 162 generally aligned withcenter sill 52. Various types of bearingmaterials 163 may be disposed betweenprimary linkage 162 andhousing 165 to reduce friction associated withprimary linkage 162 sliding relative tohousing 165. Examples of such bearing materials include, but are not limited to, ultra high molecular weight plastic (UHM plastic) and high density polyethylene (HDPE). Such materials are available from a wide variety of manufacturers and suppliers. -
Discharge control system 150 may open and close gates orlongitudinal door assemblies primary linkage 162. One or more secondary portions orsecondary linkage assemblies 170 may be connected withprimary linkage 162 and connected with respectivelongitudinal door assemblies Secondary linkage assemblies 170 may be disposed in a generally symmetrical pattern with respect toprimary linkage 162 and with respect to each other to help balance forces placed onprimary linkage 162 while opening and closinglongitudinal door assemblies secondary linkage assemblies 170 are in respective over center locked positions. - Substantial forces may be applied to each
arm railway car 20 is filled with lading andlongitudinal door assemblies secondary linkage assemblies 170 in their over center, locked positions. The weight oflongitudinal door assemblies railway car 20 will holdarms discharge control system 150 applies sufficient force toprimary linkage 162 to movearms longitudinal door assemblies FIG. 4 . - Each
secondary linkage assembly 170 may includerespective socket assembly 172 attached withprimary linkage 162 opposite fromcenter sill 52. Eachsecondary linkage assembly 170 may also include a pair ofarms primary linkage 162 to engage respectivelongitudinal door assemblies arm socket assembly 172.Second end 178 of eacharm door assembly respective hinges discharge control system 150, longitudinal movement of first portion orprimary linkage 162 relative to centersill 52 may result in three dimensional rotation and radial pivoting of second portions orsecondary linkage assemblies 170 to open and close attachedlongitudinal door assemblies - Various features of
discharge control system 150 and associatedindicator assembly 110 may be described with respect toprimary linkage 162 moving in a first direction relative to centersill 52 and moving in a second direction relative to centersill 52. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 1-11 ,primary linkage 162 may be described as moving in a “first direction” whenair cylinder 152 pulls or causesprimary linkage 162 to slide longitudinally from railway truck 24 (B end of railway car 20) towards railway truck 22 (A end of railway car 20).Primary linkage 162 may be described as moving in the “second direction” whenair cylinder 152 pushes or causesprimary linkage 162 to slide longitudinally fromrailway truck 22 towardsrailway truck 24. - Longitudinal movement of
primary linkage 162 in the first direction relative to centersill 52 will generally result in rotation and radial extension ofarms secondary linkage assemblies 170 anddoor assembly FIG. 4 ) to their first, closed position (seeFIG. 3 ). Longitudinal movement ofprimary linkage 162 in the second direction relative to centersill 52 will generally result in rotation and radial retraction ofarms secondary linkage assemblies 170 from their first, closed position to their second, open position which allows rapid discharge of any lading contained withinrailway car 20. - For some
applications air cylinder 152 and attachedpiston rod 156 may only be required to moveprimary linkage 162 approximately one inch to one and one-half inches in the second direction to unlockarms arms door assemblies railway car 20 will then movelongitudinal door assemblies Air cylinder 152 is generally not required to continue applying force to moveprimary linkage 162 in the second direction since the weight of any lading withinrailway car 20 will generally be sufficient to fully open longitudinaldischarge door assemblies -
Arms longitudinal door assemblies FIGS. 1, 3 , 6 and 7A. Pullinglongitudinal door assemblies arms - For some
applications arms respective turnbuckle 175 rotatively engaged with threadedportions 177. Each turnbuckle 175 may be rotated by engaging an appropriate tool (not expressly shown) with notch or opening 175 a. Rotatingturnbuckles 175 relative to threadedportions 177 may extend or retract the length of associatedarm rotating turnbuckles 175, the position ofdoor assemblies turnbuckles 175 allow adjusting the length ofrespective arms longitudinal door assembly longitudinal openings - As previously noted,
support assembly 164 a may form a portion ofmechanical stop assembly 100 and may allow adjusting the length of the longitudinal movement ofprimary linkage 162 relative to centersill 52. For some embodiments,mechanical stop assembly 100 may includefirst abutment 101 which may be securely attached to, and extend from,support assembly 164. Various techniques and procedures may be satisfactory used to securely engagefirst abutment 101 withsupport assembly 164 a. For example,manual adjusting device 64 may be engaged with portions ofhousing 165 to allow varying the spacing betweenfirst abutment 101 and second abutment 102 whenprimary linkage 162 is in its second position which generally corresponds with the second position of associateddischarge control system 150 and the second, open position oflongitudinal door assemblies -
Manual adjusting device 64 may include relatively short,hollow sleeve 66 attached with associatedhousing 165 using various techniques such as welding and/or mechanical fasteners (not expressly shown). Threadedbolt 68 may be slidably disposed withinsleeve 66.First abutment 101 may be formed by the head ofbolt 68 extending fromsleeve 66 towardsrailway truck 24.Nuts bolt 68 for use in adjusting the length ofbolt 68 extending fromsupport assembly 164 a in the direction ofrailway truck 24. - For some applications portions of
mechanical stop assembly 100 attached to and extending from the second end ofprimary linkage 162 may be described as generally L-shaped bar stop orhead 104. Second abutment 102 may be formed as part of bar stop orhead 104. For some applications the generally L-shaped configuration ofhead 104 may include first portion 104 a and second portion 104 b. The dimensions and configuration of first portion 104 a may be selected to allow insertinghead 104 into the longitudinal bore ofprimary linkage 162. Second abutment 102 may be formed on second portion 104 b facingfirst abutment 101 on threadedbolt 68. - As previously discussed,
discharge control system 150 may moveprimary linkage 162 from its first position (seeFIGS. 4 and 8 B) generally corresponds with associatedsecondary linkage assemblies 170 and associatedlongitudinal door assemblies Discharge control system 150 may also be used to moveprimary linkage assembly 162 to its first position such as shown inFIG. 1 which corresponds withsecondary linkage assemblies 170 and associateddoor assemblies FIGS. 1, 3 , 6, 7A and 8A. The over center locked position ofsecondary linkage assemblies 170 may be adjusted by rotatingnuts thread bolt 68first abutment 101 extends fromsupport assembly 164 a in the direction ofrailway truck 24. - When
primary linkage 162 andsecondary linkage assemblies 170 have moved associatedlongitudinal door assemblies mechanical stop assembly 100 will preferably be in its first position withfirst abutment 101 and second abutment 102 contacting each other. SeeFIG. 8A . Whenprimary linkage 162 andsecondary linkage assemblies 170 have movedlongitudinal door assemblies mechanical stop assembly 100 will preferably be in its second position withfirst abutment 101 and second abutment 102 spaced from each other. SeeFIG. 8B . -
Arms secondary linkage assembly 170 may rotate through a compound angle mainly oriented in a longitudinal direction parallel toprimary linkage 162 whengates common linkage 162 whengates gates common linkage 162. Multiple gate arc travel (not expressly shown) can be accomplished by changing the length ofsecondary linkage assemblies 170. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 8 A-11,indicator assembly 110 may be used to indicate the status of one or more components associated withdischarge control system 150. For someapplications indicator assembly 110 may be referred to as an “over center lock indicator” used to indicate the status ofprimary linkage 162 andsecondary linkage assemblies 170. However, indicator assemblies incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may be used to indicate the status of various components associated with a discharge control system and/or door assemblies. Indicator assemblies and indicators incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may be used to indicate the status of any component associate with a railway car when the component is moved between a first position and a second position by an associated control system. - For applications such as shown in
FIGS. 8A-11 ,indicator assembly 110 may be engaged with the second end ofprimary linkage 162 opposite frompower source 152. Various components ofindicator assembly 110 may be mounted on and attached to centersill 52 proximatemechanical stop assembly 100 and the second end ofprimary linkage 162. SeeFIGS. 1, 8A , 8B and 11. For otherapplications indicator assembly 110 may be engaged proximate the first end of primary linkage 162 (not expressly shown)adjacent power source 152. For still otherapplications indicator assembly 110 may be engaged with portions ofprimary linkage 162 intermediate the first end and the second end (not expressly shown). -
Indicator assembly 110 may include operatingrod 112,bracket 120 attached to head 104 ofmechanical stop assembly 100, pivot plate ortrilever 130 and one or more indicators 140. The various components ofindicator assembly 110 may be located proximate the B end ofrailway car 20 and attached to or mounted oncenter sill 52proximate railway truck 24.Operating rod 112,bracket 120,pivot plate 130, indicators 140 and other components ofindicator assembly 110 may be located outside of the hopper or car body formed bysidewall assemblies wall assemblies - For embodiments such as shown in
FIGS. 8A-11 indicator assembly 110 may include a pair of indicators designated as 140 a and 140 b.Indicator 140 a may be described with respect tosidewall assembly 30 a andindicator 140 b may be described with respect tosidewall assembly 30 b. For example end 142 a ofindicator 140 a may extend fromsidewall assembly 30 a when portions ofdischarge control system 50 are in the same unsecure or unlocked position.End 142 b ofindicator 140 b may extend from portions ofsidewall assembly 30 b when portions ofdischarge control system 150 are in an unsecure, unlocked position. SeeFIG. 10B . End 142 a ofindicator 140 a may extend through a portion ofsidewall assembly 30 a that extends beyondend wall assembly 80 b.End 142 b ofindicator 140 b may extend through a portion ofsidewall assembly 30 b that extends beyondend wall assembly 80 b. SeeFIGS. 1, 10A and 10B. - For some
applications indicators respective side sills sidewall assemblies discharge control system 150 are secured and locked.Ends discharge control system 150 are unsecure and unlocked. The respective hollow tubes may be engaged with the bottom or lower portion ofside sills other applications indicators respective side sills - For some
applications bracket 120 may be formed from a metal strip or plate having a generally elongated, rectangular configuration. Portions ofbracket 120 may be bent to accommodate the configuration and dimensions ofsupport assembly 164 a,head 104 andcenter sill 52. SeeFIGS. 10A and 10B .First end 121 ofbracket 120 may be securely engaged with portions ofmechanical stop assembly 100. For embodiments such as shown inFIGS. 8A-11 a pair ofbolts 124 may be used to securely engage portions ofbracket 120 withhead 104.Hollow sleeve 126 may be engaged proximatesecond end 122 ofbracket 120. Various techniques such as welding and/or various types of mechanical fasteners (not expressly shown) may be satisfactorily used to attachhollow sleeve 126 proximatesecond end 122 ofbracket 120. -
Operating rod 112 may be generally described as having an elongated, L-shaped configuration defined in part byfirst portion 112 a extending generally parallel withcenter sill 52 andsecond portion 112 b extending generally normal or vertical with respectfirst portion 112 a. One or more rod supports 114 may be engaged with portions ofcenter sill 52.First portion 112 a ofoperating rod 112 may be slidably disposed within rod supports 114. - A plurality of
threads 116 may be formed onfirst portion 112 a adjacent tofirst end 118 ofoperating rod 112. As discussed later in more detail,second end 119 ofoperating rod 112 may be operably engaged with trilever orpivot plate 130. The dimensions of rod supports 114 andhollow sleeve 126 are preferably selected to allowfirst portion 112 a ofoperating rod 112 to slide longitudinally therethrough.Bolt 117 may be engaged with threadedportion 116 proximatehollow sleeve 126. The dimensions ofbolt 117 are preferably selected to limit movement ofoperating rod 112 relative tosleeve 126. - For some applications support
plate 146 may be attached with one side of center sill 52 corresponding with the attachment ofbracket 120 withhead 104.Bolts 145 or other mechanical fasteners may be satisfactorily used to attachsupport plate 146 withcenter sill 52. Generally L-shapedmounting bracket 148 may be attached with and extend fromsupport plate 146.Pivot pin 143 may be disposed inbracket 148 spaced fromsupport plate 146.Pivot pin 143 may be used to rotatably engagepivot plate 130 withbracket 148.Support plate 146, L-shapedbracket 148 andpivot pin 143 cooperate with each other to allow limited rotational movement of pivot plate ortrilever 130 relative to centersill 52. - Pivot plate or
trilever 130 may have a first position such as shown inFIGS. 8A, 9A , 10A and 11 corresponding with the first position ofprimary linkage 162,secondary linkage assemblies 170,longitudinal door assemblies mechanical stop assembly 100. Various holes and/or openings may be formed in trilever orpivot plate 130 to accommodate engagement withsecond end 119 ofportion 112 b ofoperating rod 112,indicators pivot pin 143. Pivot plate ortrilever 130 may also have a second position such as shown inFIGS. 8B, 9B and 10B which correspond generally with the second position ofprimary linkage 162,secondary linkage assemblies 170,longitudinal door assemblies mechanical stop assembly 100. - For some applications,
spring 136 may be engaged with portions ofsupport plate 146 and a portion of trilever orpivot plate 130.Spring 136 may be used to move trilever orpivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position to extend ends 142 a and 142 b ofindicators respective sidewall assemblies - Each
indicator pivot plate 130 into lateral movement abovecenter sill 52. This translation of movement allowsindicators center sill 52 such thatend 142 a and 142 ofrespective indicators sidewall assemblies FIG. 10A . - When
primary linkage 162 and associatedmechanical stop assembly 100 are in their respective first position,nut 117 engaged withthreads 116 ofoperating rod 112 will contacthollow sleeve 126. By adjusting the position ofnut 117 onthreads 116, the effective operating link offirst portion 112 a ofoperating rod 112 may be adjusted such that pivot plate ortrilever 130 will be securely held in its first position such as shown inFIGS. 8A, 9A and 10A whenprimary linkage 162 is in its first position.Extreme end indicators respective sidewall assemblies FIG. 10A . - When
discharge control system 150 movesprimary linkage 162 and associatedmechanical stop assembly 100 to their second positions such as shown inFIG. 8B ,bracket 120 and attachedhollow sleeve 126 will move longitudinally towardsrailway truck 24 and release engagement betweenhollow sleeve 126 andnut 117. As a result of this movement ofbracket 120,spring 136 may rotatetrilever 130 to its second position and extend ends 142 a and 142 b ofindicators respective sidewall assemblies FIGS. 9B and 10B . - When
discharge control system 150 movesprimary linkage 162 from its second position to its first position,bracket 120 will movehollow sleeve 126 longitudinally towards railway truck 22 (first direction) andre-engage sleeve 126 withnut 117. Continued movement ofbracket 120 towardsrailway truck 22causes operating rod 112 to slide or move longitudinally away fromrailway truck 24 which results in rotation of trilever orpivot plate 130 from its second position (seeFIG. 9B ) to its first position (seeFIG. 9A ). As trilever orpivot plate 130 moves to its second position, tension may be re-applied or placed onspring 136. - As previously noted
primary linkage 162 may only be required to slide longitudinally approximately one and one-half inches in the second direction (towards railway truck 24) to move associatedsecondary linkage assemblies 160 from their over center locked position to their unlocked position. A resulting gap of approximately one and one-half inches may then be formed betweennut 117 andhollow sleeve 126 which allowsspring 136 to rotatepivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position. The dimensions and configuration ofpivot plate 130 and associatedindicators operating rod 112 into approximately three inches of lateral movement by eachindicator respective sidewall assemblies secondary linkage assemblies 170 have moved to their unlocked position. - For some applications, stop pins 137 and 138 may be attached to opposite sides of generally L-shaped
bracket 148. Stop pins 137 and 138 may be offset with respect to each other. SeeFIGS. 9A, 9B , 10A and 10B. As previously noted, movement ofprimary linkage 162 from its first position to its second position will result in movement ofbracket 120 and releasing engagement betweennut 117 andhollow sleeve 126. As a result, tension inspring 136 will cause rotation ofpivot plate 130 from its first position as shown inFIG. 9A to its second position as shown inFIG. 9B .Stop pin 137 may be disposed on the side of generally L-shapedbracket 148 to limit the movement of trilever orpivot plate 130 from its first position to its second position. SeeFIG. 9B . - Movement of
primary linkage 162 from its second position to its first position will result inbracket 120 andhollow sleeve 126 contactingbolt 117 to pull or slideoperating rod 112 longitudinally away fromrailway truck 24. This movement results inportion 112 b of operating 112 pulling orrotating pivot plate 130 from its second position as shown inFIG. 9B towards its first position as shown inFIG. 9A . The rotation ofpivot plate 130 towards its first position may be limited by engagement withstop pin 138 as shown inFIG. 9A . - As previously noted movement of
primary linkage 162, associatedhead 104 andbracket 120 by only one inch to one and one-half inches towardsrailway truck 24 will result inindicator assembly 110 extending ends 142 a and 142 b laterally approximately three inches relative tosidewall assemblies primary linkage 162,head 104 andbracket 120 may continue to move longitudinally in the second direction towardsrailway truck 24 as much as eighteen to twenty inches. The sliding engagement betweenhollow sleeve 126 andfirst portion 112 a ofoperating rod 112 accommodates additional longitudinal movement ofbracket 120 without any additional longitudinal movement ofoperating rod 112. - When
discharge control system 150 movesprimary linkage 162 from its second position towards its first position,head 104,bracket 120 and attachedhollow sleeve 126 may move longitudinally as much as eighteen or twenty inches in the first direction towardsrailway truck 22 without causing any movement ofoperating rod 112.Hollow sleeve 126 will generally contactnut 117 only whenprimary linkage 162 has started to move associated secondary linkages from their unsecured position to their over center locked position. Therefore, ends 142 a and 142 b will remain extended untilprimary linkage 162 moves an additional one to one and one-half inches to placeprimary linkage assemblies 170 in their secure, over center locked position which also results in retracting ends 142 a and 142 b fromrespective sidewall assemblies - For embodiments such as shown in
FIGS. 8A-11 ,indicator assembly 110 may include a pair ofindicators - For one embodiment, approximately forty-five (45°) degrees of rotation of
pivot plate 130 may cause ends 142 a and 142 b ofindicator rods respective sidewall assemblies indicator ends discharge control system 150 is in a locked position or unlocked position. - Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.
Claims (22)
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/548,492 US20070079726A1 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2006-10-11 | Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism |
US11/550,098 US7735426B2 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2006-10-17 | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems |
US12/816,203 US8915194B2 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2010-06-15 | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US60029004P | 2004-08-10 | 2004-08-10 | |
US11/182,975 US20060032396A1 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2005-07-15 | Safety latch lock indicator for railcar door operation mechanism |
US72797005P | 2005-10-18 | 2005-10-18 | |
US11/548,492 US20070079726A1 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2006-10-11 | Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/182,975 Continuation-In-Part US20060032396A1 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2005-07-15 | Safety latch lock indicator for railcar door operation mechanism |
Related Child Applications (4)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/381,687 Continuation-In-Part US7681507B2 (en) | 2003-08-26 | 2006-05-04 | Railcar with discharge control system |
US11/550,098 Continuation-In-Part US7735426B2 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2006-10-17 | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems |
US12/728,544 Continuation US8065232B2 (en) | 2003-03-11 | 2010-03-22 | Method and system for initiating and/or conducting a transaction that is associated with at least two corresponding declarations of intent |
US12/816,203 Continuation-In-Part US8915194B2 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2010-06-15 | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070079726A1 true US20070079726A1 (en) | 2007-04-12 |
Family
ID=37910045
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/548,492 Abandoned US20070079726A1 (en) | 2004-08-10 | 2006-10-11 | Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070079726A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110025481A1 (en) * | 2009-08-03 | 2011-02-03 | Gaydos Christopher C | System and related method for visually indicating a condition of a lock on a railroad hopper car |
CN102495582A (en) * | 2011-11-30 | 2012-06-13 | 中国神华能源股份有限公司 | Train loading data acquisition system and method |
CN104442853A (en) * | 2014-11-14 | 2015-03-25 | 齐齐哈尔轨道交通装备有限责任公司 | Discharging control method and system of railway hopper truck |
US20190001997A1 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2019-01-03 | Trinity Rail Group, Llc | Longitudinal gate hopper car without partitions |
US10787109B2 (en) | 2016-11-11 | 2020-09-29 | Herzog Railroad Services, Inc. | System and method for operating a ballast car hopper door |
Citations (96)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US215626A (en) * | 1879-05-20 | Improvement in devices for exhibiting gems | ||
US707416A (en) * | 1901-10-16 | 1902-08-19 | Raymond H Hornbrook | Metallic railway-car. |
US728029A (en) * | 1902-10-03 | 1903-05-12 | Cornelius Vanderbilt | Railway-car. |
US1085058A (en) * | 1912-04-05 | 1914-01-20 | Robert Grant Jones | Pneumatic lock. |
US1092659A (en) * | 1913-07-14 | 1914-04-07 | John Daniel Mettler | Dump-car. |
US1212043A (en) * | 1916-07-28 | 1917-01-09 | Alex May Jr | Door operating and locking means. |
US1330361A (en) * | 1920-02-10 | Refrigerator car construction | ||
US1405415A (en) * | 1919-11-03 | 1922-02-07 | American Car & Foundry Co | General-service railway car |
US1482559A (en) * | 1921-08-04 | 1924-02-05 | Harry S Hart | Hopper car |
US1494579A (en) * | 1919-12-02 | 1924-05-20 | Gebhard C Bohn | Door joint |
US1801564A (en) * | 1929-07-20 | 1931-04-21 | Copeland Products Inc | Refrigerator cabinet |
US2011155A (en) * | 1933-12-11 | 1935-08-13 | Rodger Ballast Car Co | Car construction |
US2047133A (en) * | 1932-12-10 | 1936-07-07 | Pullman Standard Car Mfg Co | Refrigerator car |
US2167362A (en) * | 1938-09-03 | 1939-07-25 | Rodger Ballast Car Co | Car construction |
US2169692A (en) * | 1938-03-14 | 1939-08-15 | Hansen Mfg Co A L | Door lock |
US2269631A (en) * | 1940-03-29 | 1942-01-13 | Marinello Carl | Transportation body construction |
US2605064A (en) * | 1947-07-10 | 1952-07-29 | Frank L Davis | Cargo securing system |
US2684642A (en) * | 1949-03-09 | 1954-07-27 | Entpr Railway Equipment Co | Ballasting car |
US2716383A (en) * | 1952-09-30 | 1955-08-30 | Illinois Railway Equipment Co | Lading tie anchor means |
US2756693A (en) * | 1952-05-10 | 1956-07-31 | Lockheed Aircraft Corp | Cargo tie-down fitting |
US2888883A (en) * | 1956-07-09 | 1959-06-02 | Entpr Railway Equipment Co | Hopper door operating mechanism |
US3137247A (en) * | 1961-08-04 | 1964-06-16 | Magor Car Corp | Operating mechanism for doors on hopper type cars |
US3179068A (en) * | 1964-06-03 | 1965-04-20 | Illinois Railway Equipment Co | Freight car construction with lading tie bars |
US3316858A (en) * | 1962-10-24 | 1967-05-02 | Union Tank Car Co | Railway hopper car closure actuating device |
US3343725A (en) * | 1965-06-09 | 1967-09-26 | Hoover Ball & Bearing Co | Bottom discharge bin |
US3434433A (en) * | 1965-06-01 | 1969-03-25 | Midland Ross Corp | Hopper car door operating mechanism |
US3447485A (en) * | 1967-01-09 | 1969-06-03 | Continental Transport Applianc | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3455253A (en) * | 1967-01-12 | 1969-07-15 | Midland Ross Corp | Multiple hopper door actuating mechanism |
US3468063A (en) * | 1968-04-19 | 1969-09-23 | Hennessy Products | Double sliding door actuator |
US3468062A (en) * | 1967-07-19 | 1969-09-23 | Hennessy Products | Boxcar door control |
US3501030A (en) * | 1968-06-07 | 1970-03-17 | Braco Inc | Cam operating mechanism for unloading box |
US3580642A (en) * | 1969-03-10 | 1971-05-25 | Pullman Inc | Combination gravity and pneumatic gate arrangement for hoppers |
US3581672A (en) * | 1968-12-27 | 1971-06-01 | Pullman Inc | Hopper closure actuating and latching mechanism |
US3601453A (en) * | 1969-07-01 | 1971-08-24 | Seymour Silverman | Safety lock for trailer doors |
US3636658A (en) * | 1970-04-27 | 1972-01-25 | Hennessy Products | House car plug door control mechanism |
US3656437A (en) * | 1970-03-24 | 1972-04-18 | United States Steel Corp | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3683552A (en) * | 1970-11-09 | 1972-08-15 | Hennessy Products | Plug door control mechanism |
US3730360A (en) * | 1971-05-21 | 1973-05-01 | Pullman Inc | Unit train automatic unloading system |
US3746388A (en) * | 1971-06-30 | 1973-07-17 | Fieldhome Equip Corp | Cargo carrying vehicle construction |
US3789772A (en) * | 1972-05-15 | 1974-02-05 | H Bullard | Hopper car door operating and locking mechanism |
US3796007A (en) * | 1973-01-29 | 1974-03-12 | Hennessy Products | Door moving structure |
US3800711A (en) * | 1972-06-09 | 1974-04-02 | Pullman Inc | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3802356A (en) * | 1973-02-28 | 1974-04-09 | Gen Am Transport | Lock pin mechanism |
US3837296A (en) * | 1972-04-05 | 1974-09-24 | Unarco Industries | Safety latch pin for bulkheads |
US3883992A (en) * | 1972-07-31 | 1975-05-20 | Hennessy Products | Car door operating structure |
US3949681A (en) * | 1975-04-25 | 1976-04-13 | Pullman Incorporated | Motor actuated railway hopper car door mechanism |
US3965760A (en) * | 1974-11-27 | 1976-06-29 | Olin Corporation | Operating apparatus for sliding closures for railway car |
US4021066A (en) * | 1975-07-11 | 1977-05-03 | Mcshane James R | Pneumatic door locking system |
US4114318A (en) * | 1977-08-26 | 1978-09-19 | Hennessy Products, Incorporated | Plug door operating and moving mechanism |
US4136621A (en) * | 1977-04-11 | 1979-01-30 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car door locking mechanism |
US4138948A (en) * | 1977-04-27 | 1979-02-13 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car side door actuating mechanism |
US4145080A (en) * | 1977-07-22 | 1979-03-20 | Fruehauf Corporation | Meat rail support system |
US4167144A (en) * | 1977-09-19 | 1979-09-11 | Unarco Industries, Inc. | Buckle supporting and anti-pilfering assembly |
US4168667A (en) * | 1977-08-01 | 1979-09-25 | Unarco Industries, Inc. | Curtain for lading protection |
US4224877A (en) * | 1978-05-26 | 1980-09-30 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car closure actuating mechanism |
US4246849A (en) * | 1977-10-04 | 1981-01-27 | Pullman Incorporated | Partitioned railway hopper car |
US4250814A (en) * | 1978-11-02 | 1981-02-17 | Pullman Incorporated | Dual hopper car doors |
US4262601A (en) * | 1979-04-06 | 1981-04-21 | Pullman Incorporated | Cam actuated railway hopper car lock mechanism |
US4342267A (en) * | 1980-08-13 | 1982-08-03 | Evans Products Company | Hopper discharge unit with sliding gate |
US4400914A (en) * | 1981-07-29 | 1983-08-30 | Hennessy Products, Incorporated | Sliding door operating means |
US4450773A (en) * | 1981-01-23 | 1984-05-29 | The Youngstown Steel Door Co. | Sliding gate for a railroad hopper car |
US4491354A (en) * | 1976-11-29 | 1985-01-01 | Precision Hardware, Inc. | Lock bar |
US4580502A (en) * | 1982-09-16 | 1986-04-08 | Swiss Aluminium Ltd. | Device for unloading a container for bulk materials |
US4601244A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1986-07-22 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | Operating system for railroad hopper car gate assembly doors |
US4754710A (en) * | 1986-07-02 | 1988-07-05 | Kieres Keith C | Railway car for carrying freight such as coal or the like |
US4766820A (en) * | 1987-06-03 | 1988-08-30 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Company | Hopper car with automatic discharge door mechanism |
US4829908A (en) * | 1987-06-03 | 1989-05-16 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Co. | Hopper car automatic discharge door mechanism with operating lever adjustable support |
US4930427A (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1990-06-05 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Company | Railroad gondola or hopper car, particularly a coal car |
US4986590A (en) * | 1989-04-20 | 1991-01-22 | All Tech Industries | Truck bed liner |
US5115748A (en) * | 1990-10-23 | 1992-05-26 | Differential Steel Car Company | Hopper door and operating apparatus for a railway car |
US5144895A (en) * | 1990-10-31 | 1992-09-08 | Differential Steel Car Company | Hopper door apparatus for a railway car |
US5177988A (en) * | 1991-07-31 | 1993-01-12 | Bushnell Raymond B | Security lock mechanism incorporating hydraulic dead locking |
US5713974A (en) * | 1994-09-06 | 1998-02-03 | Thermacell Technologies, Inc. | Insulation microspheres and method of manufacture |
US5765485A (en) * | 1995-07-21 | 1998-06-16 | Trinity Industries, Inc. | Insulated composite railway boxcar and method |
US5802984A (en) * | 1995-07-21 | 1998-09-08 | Trinity Industries, Inc. | Load divider assembly and door assembly for a composite railway boxcar |
US5868045A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1999-02-09 | Hawk Industries, Inc. | Apparatus for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings |
US6019049A (en) * | 1998-06-02 | 2000-02-01 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | Railroad hopper car door assembly |
US6092472A (en) * | 1996-07-19 | 2000-07-25 | Trn Business Trust | Composite box structure for a railway car |
US6109844A (en) * | 1998-12-09 | 2000-08-29 | Ireco, Inc. | Cargo tie down system and retainer used therein |
US6112671A (en) * | 1996-04-16 | 2000-09-05 | Trn Business Trust | Railway freight car metal floor |
US6116118A (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2000-09-12 | Wesch, Jr.; William E. | Gripping apparatus for power tongs and backup tools |
US6186563B1 (en) * | 1995-04-04 | 2001-02-13 | Galbreath, Inc. | Apparatus and method for remotely locking and unlocking a transportable container |
US6270600B1 (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 2001-08-07 | Henkel Corporation | Reinforced channel-shaped structural member methods |
US6367391B1 (en) * | 1996-07-19 | 2002-04-09 | Trn Business Trust | Railway car with composite box structure formed from molded components |
US6374546B1 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 2002-04-23 | American Composite Materials Engineering, Inc. | Fiberglass railcar roof |
US6402446B1 (en) * | 1999-11-22 | 2002-06-11 | Ireco, Inc. | Lading tie anchor system |
US6422794B1 (en) * | 1998-12-16 | 2002-07-23 | Holland Company | Cargo snugger strap and hook mechanism |
US6575102B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2003-06-10 | Trn Business Trust | Temperature controlled railway car |
US6609583B2 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2003-08-26 | Dofasco Inc. | Vehicle hood safety prop |
US6709209B2 (en) * | 1999-05-14 | 2004-03-23 | Holland Company | Railcar anchor and load snugger arrangement |
US6712568B2 (en) * | 2000-10-25 | 2004-03-30 | Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. | Tie-down system with deformation region |
US6722287B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2004-04-20 | Trn Business Trust | Roof assembly and airflow management system for a temperature controlled railway car |
US6748841B1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2004-06-15 | Calbrandt, Inc. | Railroad hopper car gate operating system |
US6858466B1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2005-02-22 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | System and a method for fluid filling wafer level packages |
US7051661B2 (en) * | 2003-08-26 | 2006-05-30 | Trn Business Trust | Railcar with discharge control system |
US7080599B2 (en) * | 2003-06-09 | 2006-07-25 | Taylor Fred J | Railroad hopper car transverse door actuating mechanism |
-
2006
- 2006-10-11 US US11/548,492 patent/US20070079726A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (99)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US215626A (en) * | 1879-05-20 | Improvement in devices for exhibiting gems | ||
US1330361A (en) * | 1920-02-10 | Refrigerator car construction | ||
US707416A (en) * | 1901-10-16 | 1902-08-19 | Raymond H Hornbrook | Metallic railway-car. |
US728029A (en) * | 1902-10-03 | 1903-05-12 | Cornelius Vanderbilt | Railway-car. |
US1085058A (en) * | 1912-04-05 | 1914-01-20 | Robert Grant Jones | Pneumatic lock. |
US1092659A (en) * | 1913-07-14 | 1914-04-07 | John Daniel Mettler | Dump-car. |
US1212043A (en) * | 1916-07-28 | 1917-01-09 | Alex May Jr | Door operating and locking means. |
US1405415A (en) * | 1919-11-03 | 1922-02-07 | American Car & Foundry Co | General-service railway car |
US1494579A (en) * | 1919-12-02 | 1924-05-20 | Gebhard C Bohn | Door joint |
US1482559A (en) * | 1921-08-04 | 1924-02-05 | Harry S Hart | Hopper car |
US1801564A (en) * | 1929-07-20 | 1931-04-21 | Copeland Products Inc | Refrigerator cabinet |
US2047133A (en) * | 1932-12-10 | 1936-07-07 | Pullman Standard Car Mfg Co | Refrigerator car |
US2011155A (en) * | 1933-12-11 | 1935-08-13 | Rodger Ballast Car Co | Car construction |
US2169692A (en) * | 1938-03-14 | 1939-08-15 | Hansen Mfg Co A L | Door lock |
US2167362A (en) * | 1938-09-03 | 1939-07-25 | Rodger Ballast Car Co | Car construction |
US2269631A (en) * | 1940-03-29 | 1942-01-13 | Marinello Carl | Transportation body construction |
US2605064A (en) * | 1947-07-10 | 1952-07-29 | Frank L Davis | Cargo securing system |
US2684642A (en) * | 1949-03-09 | 1954-07-27 | Entpr Railway Equipment Co | Ballasting car |
US2756693A (en) * | 1952-05-10 | 1956-07-31 | Lockheed Aircraft Corp | Cargo tie-down fitting |
US2716383A (en) * | 1952-09-30 | 1955-08-30 | Illinois Railway Equipment Co | Lading tie anchor means |
US2888883A (en) * | 1956-07-09 | 1959-06-02 | Entpr Railway Equipment Co | Hopper door operating mechanism |
US3137247A (en) * | 1961-08-04 | 1964-06-16 | Magor Car Corp | Operating mechanism for doors on hopper type cars |
US3316858A (en) * | 1962-10-24 | 1967-05-02 | Union Tank Car Co | Railway hopper car closure actuating device |
US3179068A (en) * | 1964-06-03 | 1965-04-20 | Illinois Railway Equipment Co | Freight car construction with lading tie bars |
US3434433A (en) * | 1965-06-01 | 1969-03-25 | Midland Ross Corp | Hopper car door operating mechanism |
US3343725A (en) * | 1965-06-09 | 1967-09-26 | Hoover Ball & Bearing Co | Bottom discharge bin |
US3447485A (en) * | 1967-01-09 | 1969-06-03 | Continental Transport Applianc | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3455253A (en) * | 1967-01-12 | 1969-07-15 | Midland Ross Corp | Multiple hopper door actuating mechanism |
US3468062A (en) * | 1967-07-19 | 1969-09-23 | Hennessy Products | Boxcar door control |
US3468063A (en) * | 1968-04-19 | 1969-09-23 | Hennessy Products | Double sliding door actuator |
US3501030A (en) * | 1968-06-07 | 1970-03-17 | Braco Inc | Cam operating mechanism for unloading box |
US3581672A (en) * | 1968-12-27 | 1971-06-01 | Pullman Inc | Hopper closure actuating and latching mechanism |
US3580642A (en) * | 1969-03-10 | 1971-05-25 | Pullman Inc | Combination gravity and pneumatic gate arrangement for hoppers |
US3601453A (en) * | 1969-07-01 | 1971-08-24 | Seymour Silverman | Safety lock for trailer doors |
US3656437A (en) * | 1970-03-24 | 1972-04-18 | United States Steel Corp | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3636658A (en) * | 1970-04-27 | 1972-01-25 | Hennessy Products | House car plug door control mechanism |
US3683552A (en) * | 1970-11-09 | 1972-08-15 | Hennessy Products | Plug door control mechanism |
US3730360A (en) * | 1971-05-21 | 1973-05-01 | Pullman Inc | Unit train automatic unloading system |
US3746388A (en) * | 1971-06-30 | 1973-07-17 | Fieldhome Equip Corp | Cargo carrying vehicle construction |
US3837296A (en) * | 1972-04-05 | 1974-09-24 | Unarco Industries | Safety latch pin for bulkheads |
US3789772A (en) * | 1972-05-15 | 1974-02-05 | H Bullard | Hopper car door operating and locking mechanism |
US3800711A (en) * | 1972-06-09 | 1974-04-02 | Pullman Inc | Hopper car door actuating mechanism |
US3883992A (en) * | 1972-07-31 | 1975-05-20 | Hennessy Products | Car door operating structure |
US3796007A (en) * | 1973-01-29 | 1974-03-12 | Hennessy Products | Door moving structure |
US3802356A (en) * | 1973-02-28 | 1974-04-09 | Gen Am Transport | Lock pin mechanism |
US3965760A (en) * | 1974-11-27 | 1976-06-29 | Olin Corporation | Operating apparatus for sliding closures for railway car |
US3949681A (en) * | 1975-04-25 | 1976-04-13 | Pullman Incorporated | Motor actuated railway hopper car door mechanism |
US4021066A (en) * | 1975-07-11 | 1977-05-03 | Mcshane James R | Pneumatic door locking system |
US4491354A (en) * | 1976-11-29 | 1985-01-01 | Precision Hardware, Inc. | Lock bar |
US4136621A (en) * | 1977-04-11 | 1979-01-30 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car door locking mechanism |
US4138948A (en) * | 1977-04-27 | 1979-02-13 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car side door actuating mechanism |
US4145080A (en) * | 1977-07-22 | 1979-03-20 | Fruehauf Corporation | Meat rail support system |
US4168667A (en) * | 1977-08-01 | 1979-09-25 | Unarco Industries, Inc. | Curtain for lading protection |
US4114318A (en) * | 1977-08-26 | 1978-09-19 | Hennessy Products, Incorporated | Plug door operating and moving mechanism |
US4167144A (en) * | 1977-09-19 | 1979-09-11 | Unarco Industries, Inc. | Buckle supporting and anti-pilfering assembly |
US4246849A (en) * | 1977-10-04 | 1981-01-27 | Pullman Incorporated | Partitioned railway hopper car |
US4224877A (en) * | 1978-05-26 | 1980-09-30 | Pullman Incorporated | Railway hopper car closure actuating mechanism |
US4250814A (en) * | 1978-11-02 | 1981-02-17 | Pullman Incorporated | Dual hopper car doors |
US4262601A (en) * | 1979-04-06 | 1981-04-21 | Pullman Incorporated | Cam actuated railway hopper car lock mechanism |
US4342267A (en) * | 1980-08-13 | 1982-08-03 | Evans Products Company | Hopper discharge unit with sliding gate |
US4450773A (en) * | 1981-01-23 | 1984-05-29 | The Youngstown Steel Door Co. | Sliding gate for a railroad hopper car |
US4400914A (en) * | 1981-07-29 | 1983-08-30 | Hennessy Products, Incorporated | Sliding door operating means |
US4580502A (en) * | 1982-09-16 | 1986-04-08 | Swiss Aluminium Ltd. | Device for unloading a container for bulk materials |
US4601244A (en) * | 1985-07-05 | 1986-07-22 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | Operating system for railroad hopper car gate assembly doors |
US4754710A (en) * | 1986-07-02 | 1988-07-05 | Kieres Keith C | Railway car for carrying freight such as coal or the like |
US4766820A (en) * | 1987-06-03 | 1988-08-30 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Company | Hopper car with automatic discharge door mechanism |
US4829908A (en) * | 1987-06-03 | 1989-05-16 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Co. | Hopper car automatic discharge door mechanism with operating lever adjustable support |
US4930427A (en) * | 1987-12-04 | 1990-06-05 | Thrall Car Manufacturing Company | Railroad gondola or hopper car, particularly a coal car |
US4986590A (en) * | 1989-04-20 | 1991-01-22 | All Tech Industries | Truck bed liner |
US5115748A (en) * | 1990-10-23 | 1992-05-26 | Differential Steel Car Company | Hopper door and operating apparatus for a railway car |
US5144895A (en) * | 1990-10-31 | 1992-09-08 | Differential Steel Car Company | Hopper door apparatus for a railway car |
US5177988A (en) * | 1991-07-31 | 1993-01-12 | Bushnell Raymond B | Security lock mechanism incorporating hydraulic dead locking |
US5868045A (en) * | 1993-05-26 | 1999-02-09 | Hawk Industries, Inc. | Apparatus for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings |
US5713974A (en) * | 1994-09-06 | 1998-02-03 | Thermacell Technologies, Inc. | Insulation microspheres and method of manufacture |
US6186563B1 (en) * | 1995-04-04 | 2001-02-13 | Galbreath, Inc. | Apparatus and method for remotely locking and unlocking a transportable container |
US5802984A (en) * | 1995-07-21 | 1998-09-08 | Trinity Industries, Inc. | Load divider assembly and door assembly for a composite railway boxcar |
US5890435A (en) * | 1995-07-21 | 1999-04-06 | Trn Business Trust | Insulated composite railway boxcar and method |
US5765485A (en) * | 1995-07-21 | 1998-06-16 | Trinity Industries, Inc. | Insulated composite railway boxcar and method |
US6112671A (en) * | 1996-04-16 | 2000-09-05 | Trn Business Trust | Railway freight car metal floor |
US6270600B1 (en) * | 1996-07-03 | 2001-08-07 | Henkel Corporation | Reinforced channel-shaped structural member methods |
US6092472A (en) * | 1996-07-19 | 2000-07-25 | Trn Business Trust | Composite box structure for a railway car |
US6367391B1 (en) * | 1996-07-19 | 2002-04-09 | Trn Business Trust | Railway car with composite box structure formed from molded components |
US6374546B1 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 2002-04-23 | American Composite Materials Engineering, Inc. | Fiberglass railcar roof |
US6761840B2 (en) * | 1996-10-24 | 2004-07-13 | American Composite Materials Engineering, Inc. | Fiberglass railcar roof |
US6019049A (en) * | 1998-06-02 | 2000-02-01 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | Railroad hopper car door assembly |
US6279487B1 (en) * | 1998-06-02 | 2001-08-28 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | Railroad hopper car door assembly |
US6116118A (en) * | 1998-07-15 | 2000-09-12 | Wesch, Jr.; William E. | Gripping apparatus for power tongs and backup tools |
US6109844A (en) * | 1998-12-09 | 2000-08-29 | Ireco, Inc. | Cargo tie down system and retainer used therein |
US6422794B1 (en) * | 1998-12-16 | 2002-07-23 | Holland Company | Cargo snugger strap and hook mechanism |
US6709209B2 (en) * | 1999-05-14 | 2004-03-23 | Holland Company | Railcar anchor and load snugger arrangement |
US6402446B1 (en) * | 1999-11-22 | 2002-06-11 | Ireco, Inc. | Lading tie anchor system |
US6609583B2 (en) * | 2000-06-14 | 2003-08-26 | Dofasco Inc. | Vehicle hood safety prop |
US6712568B2 (en) * | 2000-10-25 | 2004-03-30 | Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc. | Tie-down system with deformation region |
US6575102B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2003-06-10 | Trn Business Trust | Temperature controlled railway car |
US6722287B2 (en) * | 2001-02-09 | 2004-04-20 | Trn Business Trust | Roof assembly and airflow management system for a temperature controlled railway car |
US6748841B1 (en) * | 2002-12-16 | 2004-06-15 | Calbrandt, Inc. | Railroad hopper car gate operating system |
US7080599B2 (en) * | 2003-06-09 | 2006-07-25 | Taylor Fred J | Railroad hopper car transverse door actuating mechanism |
US7051661B2 (en) * | 2003-08-26 | 2006-05-30 | Trn Business Trust | Railcar with discharge control system |
US6858466B1 (en) * | 2003-11-03 | 2005-02-22 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | System and a method for fluid filling wafer level packages |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110025481A1 (en) * | 2009-08-03 | 2011-02-03 | Gaydos Christopher C | System and related method for visually indicating a condition of a lock on a railroad hopper car |
US8319660B2 (en) * | 2009-08-03 | 2012-11-27 | Miner Enterprises, Inc. | System and related method for visually indicating a condition of a lock on a railroad hopper car |
CN102495582A (en) * | 2011-11-30 | 2012-06-13 | 中国神华能源股份有限公司 | Train loading data acquisition system and method |
CN104442853A (en) * | 2014-11-14 | 2015-03-25 | 齐齐哈尔轨道交通装备有限责任公司 | Discharging control method and system of railway hopper truck |
US10787109B2 (en) | 2016-11-11 | 2020-09-29 | Herzog Railroad Services, Inc. | System and method for operating a ballast car hopper door |
US20190001997A1 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2019-01-03 | Trinity Rail Group, Llc | Longitudinal gate hopper car without partitions |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US7681507B2 (en) | Railcar with discharge control system | |
US7735426B2 (en) | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems | |
US8915194B2 (en) | Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems | |
US7080598B2 (en) | Railway hopper car with longitudinal discharge openings | |
US11702113B2 (en) | Mechanism for longitudinal door systems | |
US20070079726A1 (en) | Over Center Lock Indicator For Railway Car Door Operation Mechanism | |
US20060032396A1 (en) | Safety latch lock indicator for railcar door operation mechanism | |
US11745771B2 (en) | Rapid discharge door locking system | |
CA3008151C (en) | Rapid discharge door locking system | |
CA3016709A1 (en) | Hopper car gate seal | |
CN110525461A (en) | A kind of automobile-used decrater structure of railroad hopper and railway hopper car | |
US20230406365A1 (en) | Automatic discharge sliding door mechanism for railroad hopper cars | |
CA3129561A1 (en) | Rapid discharge door locking system | |
CN116118608A (en) | Loading and unloading transport vehicle carriage |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TRN BUSINESS TRUST, TEXAS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CREIGHTON, GEORGE S.;HERZOG, JOHN C.;REEL/FRAME:018477/0933;SIGNING DATES FROM 20061005 TO 20061007 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:TRN BUSINESS TRUST;REEL/FRAME:019643/0691 Effective date: 20061220 Owner name: TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC.,TEXAS Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:TRN BUSINESS TRUST;REEL/FRAME:019643/0691 Effective date: 20061220 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: TRN, INC., TEXAS Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:TRN BUSINESS TRUST;REEL/FRAME:021664/0861 Effective date: 20061220 Owner name: TRINITY INDUSTRIES, INC., TEXAS Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:TRN, INC.;REEL/FRAME:021664/0972 Effective date: 20061220 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |