478results about "Tipping wagons" patented technology

A freight container (10) has a base (20) or a portion thereof that can be opened to discharge its contents. This container (10) has a top which can be opened in similar manner as the base. Another container having at least one compartment, each compartment having a lower section with a reducing cross-sectional area and a pivotably operable closure assembly, with several such closure assemblies being linked together by means of bars. Such a container is used to contain raw building materials for stockpiling of these materials at a container port. It is also used to supply materials to a concrete production plant whee pollution control containers are provided below the supply container and above the scaling and mixing stations to reduce particulate pollution. A pair of slewing apparatuses is also provided to engage both ends of a container and turn the container over about its longitudinal axis, thereby emptying its contents.

An actuating system for manually operating the doors of a railroad hopper car. An operating shaft having a handle is rigidly coupled to an actuating lever. A door opening lever, which is rotatably coupled to the actuating lever, is rotatably coupled to the door for a hopper chute. To operate the system, an operator rotates the handle of the operating shaft, rotating the actuating lever and the door opening lever, shifting the door from the closed to the open position.

A hopper car discharge section may be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The closure members come together to a closed condition or position for retaining lading. When apart, in an open position or condition, lading may be discharged. A seal member or seal member assembly is mounted to one or both of the closure members. The closure member may have a lading discharge encouragement feature, which may be in the nature of a tine, or blade, or knife that extends upwardly through the throat of the discharge section. Movement of the door may tend to move the blade, thereby tending to dislodge lading that may be otherwise reluctant to move.

A railroad hopper car discharge gate is assembled from unitary stacked frames that provide unimpeded flow of lading during discharge. A low-wear glide system minimizes friction between the gate panels and other components of the apparatus, and an improved sealing system protects lading from contaminants such as rain, dust and insect infestation and provides enhanced vacuum sealing for greater efficiency during vacuum discharge.

An identity preserved container for storage, transportation, and segregation of a flowable cargo is provided. The container comprises a frame supporting an enclosure with a top, bottom, side walls, front wall, and a back wall. A liner is provided and secured to an interior of the enclosure, comprising side panels and funnels panels forming a bin terminating in a centrally located opening in said bottom of the enclosure. The container also includes a belly door located in the opening in the bottom of the enclosure wherein the belly door moves between a closed and an open position.

A utility vehicle for removably mounting and carrying a plurality of different equipment, such as turf maintenance equipment, is provided. The utility vehicle is motorized and has a support frame. A multi-purpose platform is mounted to the support frame. The multi-purpose platform has a plurality of different equipment mounts so configured and arranged to removably mount the plurality of different equipment to the multi-purpose platform. A hydraulic lifting mechanism pivots the multi-purpose platform upward while the equipment is mounted to the multi-purpose platform to provide access to the area of the vehicle underneath the multi-purpose platform.

PCT No. PCT / AU96 / 00180 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 11, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 11, 1997 PCT Filed Mar. 29, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 30223 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 3, 1996A suspension system for a large dump truck. The dump truck having a main frame with laterally spaced frame members each associated with a rear wheel mounting hub with a wheel on each of its sides. Each hub is attached to a respective frame member by an attachment member pivotally attached to the respective frame member by a pivotal mounting and a suspension spring pivotally attached to the hub by a spherical bearing and to the respective frame member at a pivot mounting. The connections of the hub allow for limited pivotal movement of the hub about transverse and longitudinal axes relative to the frame members. A dump body is pivotally attached to the frame members at the pivot mounting or to the rear and above a suspension pivotal connection at a body pivotal connection.

An actuating system for operating transverse doors of a railroad hopper car. The mechanism includes an operating member which is coupled to a door or doors of the car by a shaft and a linkage which couples a power source to the operating member, where the operating member rotates to move the door away from the hopper. The mechanism can operate doors which open in opposed direction with a single power source. The mechanism can be used in new car construction, and can be retrofitted onto existing hopper cars.

A system for controlling motion of a hydraulic actuator during a portion of its range of motion is described, including a sensor on the hydraulic actuator for providing a signal indicating that the actuator is near a portion of its range of motion, and a pneumatic control valve that is configured to selectively modify a pressurized air control signal to in turn restrict flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic actuator. The hydraulic actuator control system further includes an electronic controller for controlling the pneumatic control valve in response to a signal from the sensor. The hydraulic actuator control system thereby slows the motion of the hydraulic actuator near the portion of its range of motion.

Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.

A remotely operated manhole cover for a tanker or trailer is provided. The manhole cover includes a hollow neck which is welded in place in the shell of the tanker or trailer. The neck defines an opening which allows access to the interior of the tanker or trailer for filling or cleaning of the tanker. A lid is pivotable about an axis between a closed position in which the manhole cover is closed, and an open position in which the lid is clear of the neck opening to allow access to the interior of the tanker. The lid is provided with an inflatable seal and locking flanges which extend from a rim of the lid. Pivotal locking members are provided on the neck and are movable between a locked position in which locking member engages the lid locking flange and an unlocked position in which the locking members are disengaged from the lid locking flange. Separate actuators are provide for the cover and the locking members. A controller is provided to energize the cover and locking member actuators and to inflate and deflate the seal. The controller activates the locking member and lid actuators and inflates or deflates the seal in sequence to unlock and open the lid or to close and lock the lid. The controller includes a manually operable switch assembly which activates the manhole cover to open and close the lid. The switch assembly is located remote from the manhole cover, and preferably near the bottom of the tanker.

Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.

A hoist for raising and lowering a truck bed to and from a truck frame is provided which utilizes a lever to accomplish initial lift and to further position the hydraulic cylinder at a more efficient angle for completion of the lift process. The hoist further provides a locking device to immobilize the lever and one end of the hydraulic cylinder during certain phases of the raising and lowering cycle, improving safety and stability in the dump bed raising and lowering process.

A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, including manual or automated visual techniques, laser technology, radar technology, radio frequency transponders, magnetic sensor, thermal imaging and aerial photogrammetry. The invention also contemplates “on the fly” surveys and terrain profiling using lasers or radar.

A hopper car discharge section may be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The closure members come together to a closed condition or position for retaining lading. When apart, in an open position or condition, lading may be discharged. A seal member or seal member assembly is mounted to one or both of the closure members. When open, the seal member or seal member assembly lies substantially flush with, or shy of, the slope of the surface of the closure member. When closed, the seal member may be self-energizing, in the sense that as lading is added the seal may tend to seal more tightly. The seal assembly may include a cantilevered spring that presents a land to the opposed closure member, and a fulcrum, over, or across, which the spring is cantilevered, such that pushing down on one end of the spring may tend to cause the other end to flex upward. The fulcrum may also be cantilevered outward from the slope sheet of the closure member to which the seal assembly is attached. The discharge section may be robustly reinforced to discourage deformation.

The present invention relates to a dump truck or large mining truck, comprising a dump body for the transport of overburden or the like, a first hydraulic circuit having a first pump device for the actuation of the dump body as well as a second hydraulic circuit having a second pump device for the actuation of a steering and / or of a braking device of the dumper truck chassis and / or an auxiliary truck element. In accordance with the invention, the first, second and / or a further hydraulic circuit having are connected to one another by a valve device which is controlled by a control device such that the plurality of hydraulic circuits cooperate in an unloading mode and actuate the dump body together and, on the other hand, the hydraulic circuits work separately in a travel mode so that the second hydraulic circuit and / or any further hydraulic circuit is separated from the dump body and its actuator device. The performance of the pump devices are added so-to-say by the combination of the hydraulic circuits, whereby a fast unloading of the dump body can be achieved despite the huge load. On the other hand, the valve device can uncouple the hydraulic circuits from one another, whereby the second hydraulic circuit can be utilized specifically only for the steering and / or the braking device in the travel mode.

A remotely operated manhole cover for a tanker, trailer, or other storage unit is provided. The manhole cover includes a hollow neck which is welded in place in the shell of the tanker or trailer. The neck defines an opening which allows access to the interior of the tanker or trailer for filling or cleaning of the tanker. A lid is pivotable about an axis between a closed position in which the manhole cover is closed, and an open position in which the lid is clear of the neck opening to allow access to the interior of the tanker. The lid is provided with an inflatable seal and locking flanges which extend from a rim of the lid. Movable locking members are provided on the neck and are movable between a locked position in which locking member engages the lid locking flange and an unlocked position in which the locking members are disengaged from the lid locking flange. Separate actuators are provide for the cover and the locking members. A control unit is provided to energize the cover and locking member actuators and to inflate and deflate the seal. The control unit activates the locking member and lid actuators and inflates or deflates the seal in sequence to unlock and open the lid or to close and lock the lid. The control unit includes a manually operable switch assembly which activates the manhole cover to open and close the lid. The switch assembly is located remote from the manhole cover, and preferably near the bottom of the tanker.

An assembly for mounting an accessory to the chassis of a vehicle includes an accessory mounting frame which includes a first base plate and a second base plate, and a pair of clamping mechanisms for mounting the base plates of the mounting frame to the horizontal portions of a pair of longitudinal frame components of the chassis. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each clamping mechanism includes an elongated clamp block having a first end and a second end, and a fastener that is adapted to fasten the clamp block to the base plate. The first end of each clamp block is adapted to engage a surface of the horizontal portion of a longitudinal frame component, while the second end is adapted to engage the base plate while the base plate also engages a surface of the horizontal portion of the longitudinal frame component that is not engaged by the first end of the clamp block.

A hopper car discharge outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The doors are hingeless, being mounted on four bar linkages, such that the distal edge of the doors sweeps predominantly horizontally while the proximal edge of the door moves predominantly upwardly. The doors move through noncircular arcs, such that the size of the vertically projected door opening is abnormally large compared to the clearance heights of the door. The doors are driven by a transverse drive linkage that is driven by a transversely mounted actuator. The actuator is mounted in an accommodation in the lee of slope sheets between adjacent hoppers in a mid-span portion of the car. Drive from the actuator is carried to a pair of symmetrically mounted doors through drive train linkages. The drive train includes longitudinally extending torque tubes that transmit drive to both fore and aft ends of the door assemblies. The car also has a lost motion secondary lock system, an alternate manual drive door opening and closing drive train, and abnormally high side sills and a center sill that passes clear through the discharge sections at a height clearly lower than the upper margin of the discharge sections.

A bed leveling system for a dump truck to prevent an imbalance of the truck bed during unloading of material. The system controls the side to side tilt of the truck bed and returns that bed to a generally level orientation when the bed tilt exceeds a predetermined angle. The truck bed is pivotally affixed to the truck chassis through a hinge pin. Thus, the tilting of the dump bed is carried out by a hydraulic system that changes the tilt of the hinge pin. The leveling system includes a cylindrical tube that supports the hinge pin and which is rotatable with respect to the chassis. A roll cylinder rotates the cylindrical tube to change the tilt angle of the hinge pin. A tilt sensor senses the out of level orientation of the truck bed and activates the leveling system to bring the bed back to a generally level orientation.

A gondola car has a body for lading carried on an underframe. The underframe includes a center sill and cross-bearers. The car has deep side beams having top chords, side sills, and side sheets. The lower portion of the car includes tubs that seat between the cross-bearers. The car may have an internal volume of more than 8000 cu. ft. The car may have rotary dump claw sockets. The car has opposed internal and external stiffeners aligned at the longitudinal stations of the cross-bearers. The internal stiffeners may be triangular cantilevers extending upwardly inside the side sheets. The side sheet lies intermediate the stiffeners and their flanges. The top chords may be wider in cross-section than the side sills. The side sills may define torque tubes that co-operate with the sidewall stiffeners and the top chords to resist lateral deflection. The car may include a false deck, or dog-house at one end to accommodate the brake reservoir and brake valve, such that the car is longitudinally asymmetric.

A discharge gate assembly adapted to be secured in material receiving relation relative to a standard opening toward a bottom of a railroad hopper car. The gate assembly of the present invention satisfies AAR requirements and specifications and includes a rigid frame defining a ledgeless and generally square discharge opening which is sized substantially equivalent to the standard opening defined toward the bottom of the railcar whereby allowing commodity discharged from the opening in the railroad hopper car to pass through the gate assembly with minimum interference or obstruction thereby promoting the discharge of commodity from the railroad car. A gate is slidably movable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening on the gate assembly and is suspended, in a closed position, by a series of supports extending therebeneath.

A method for preventing overturning a dump vehicle, the vehicle including a forward vehicle section with a forward frame and a wheel axle supported by the frame. The dump vehicle further includes a rear vehicle section with a rear frame and at least one wheel axle supported by the frame. The dump vehicle further includes an articulation joint, which connects the forward frame and the rear frame and allows the forward frame and the rear frame to pivot in relation to each other about an axis extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. During a tilting procedure for unloading material from a container of the dump vehicle, the method includes determining if there is a risk for a pair of wheels of the wheel axle of the forward vehicle section to lose ground contact or if the pair of wheels have already lost ground contact. A warning signal for preventing an uncontrolled rotation of the forward vehicle section relative to the rear vehicle section via the articulation joint is further established when it is determined that the wheels of the forward wheel axle have lost or are about to lose ground contact.

A small, four wheeled, stable utility vehicle (S4WSUV) for hauling and dumping material, articles or containers and especially adapted to operate in tight areas is disclosed. The S4WSUV has two widely spaced free turning swivel wheels and two widely spaced, independently driven rear wheels, a pivoting platform connected to a lifting mechanism for pivoting the platform to dump the material, etc. to a side of the S4WSUV. An engine drives a power source that can be a hydrostatic system, an electrical system or a mechanical system for motors driving the rear wheels. Optional features include a cantilever mounted seat assembly, foot and / or hand controls for steering, container mounts on the platform or a platform frame for securing one or more containers of various types and sizes and attachments for attaching one or more pieces of equipment for functions other than hauling and dumping.

A stability detection system is provided for detecting the stability of an articulated vehicle. The stability detection system may include a weigh system configured to measure the weight distribution of the vehicle. A controller may provide a warning when the detected weight distribution exceeds a threshold.