Union Pacific Railroad Company

Brian Lester Davis

Mark Horne

Eric John Gehringer

John Patrick Birkmann

Systems and methods for automatically offloading railroad ties from a railroad car are described. A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a support platform including a support surface to support railroad ties in a vertical stack configuration; a support structure to hold the railroad ties stacked in the vertical stack configuration in a magazine during transit, the support structure defining a gap; a gate transitionable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the closed configuration blocks at least a portion of the gap, and wherein the open configuration permits passage of the railroad ties through the gap; and a lift structure including at least one member transitionable between a lowered configuration and a raised configuration, wherein the raised configuration positions the member above the support surface to raise an end of the railroad ties to offload the vertical stack.

Automated railroad tie unloading

Embodiments of the disclosure can relate to a ceiling mounted air distribution system for a railcar. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a ceiling-mounted air distribution plenum may include: a diffuser configured to transmit air to at least one first air channel, the at least one first air channel having a first end configured to couple to the diffuser, a second end distal from the first end; at least one second air channel disposed proximate to and longitudinally with the at least one first air channel, the at least one second air channel having a first end configured to couple to the diffuser, a second end distal from the first end, and at least one air distribution hole, and at least one channel divider disposed to separate the at least one first air channel and the at least one second air channel.

Conditioned air distribution ceiling plenum

Herein described are at least an elongated flooring unit and a floor. In one embodiment, an elongated flooring unit includes a left web, a right web, a top flange, and a bottom flange, in which the top flange is positioned parallel to the bottom flange. The left and right webs, and the top and bottom flanges, enclose an air space configured for use as an air duct. In one embodiment, a floor includes a plurality of alternating enclosed air ducts and open air ducts formed by interconnecting a plurality of flooring units, in which each enclosed air duct of the enclosed air ducts is formed by two webs and two flanges of each flooring unit of the plurality of flooring units, and in which the two flanges include a bottom flange and a top flange.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Charles, MO, United States of America

Brian Lester Davis