Actuating system for automatic operation of hopper doors of a railroad car

Abstract

A system for operating the hopper doors of a railroad car as the car is in motion. The system includes an actuating device which is mounted on the surface adjacent the railroad tracks, and a mechanism mounted on the railcar which is contacted by the actuating device as the railcar rolls past the device. A first lever of the mechanism contacts an arm of the actuating device to open the hopper doors, while a second lever contacts the arm to close the hopper doors. The operation is accomplished without the use of powered cylinders or valves. The system can be used with railcars having either transverse hopper doors or longitudinal hopper doors.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 582,048, filed Jun. 22, 2004, which application is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention is directed in general to a device for opening the hopper doors of a railroad car, and, in particular, to a system for automatically opening and closing the hopper doors of a railroad car without the use of cylinders or valves. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A common type of railroad freight car in use today is the freight car of the type wherein the load is discharged through hoppers in the underside of the body. Such cars are generally referred to as hopper cars and are used to haul coal, phosphate and other commodities. [0006] After hopper cars are spotted over an unloading pit, the doors of the hoppers are opened, allowing the material within the hopper to be em...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an actuating mechanism for hopper cars that allows the discharge doors to open and close automatically without the use of cylinders or valves. The mechanism is simple and can quickly empty the contents of the car. It can be used on either transverse or longitudinal doors."

Problems solved by technology

There are several disadvantages to the hopper door operating mechanisms described in some of the aforementioned patents.

One problem is that some of the prior art mechanisms are designed such that each actuating mechanism is connected to doors from two separate hoppers.

Another disadvantage of some of the above described hopper door mechanisms is that the operating mechanisms limit the distance of the door motion, thus limiting the open area of the car's bottom.

This arrangement slows the unloading process and causes additional costs and potential damage to the car due to increased periods in thaw sheds.

However, many of these systems usually require automatic operation of the doors, which requires an operating cylinder and valving.

This method of operation also normally requires the use of expensive air cylinders and valving.

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