The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 18, 2022
Filed:
Jun. 26, 2019
Union Pacific Railroad Company, Omaha, NE (US);
Eric John Gehringer, Papillion, NE (US);
Brian L. Davis, Saint Charles, MO (US);
Union Pacific Railroad Company, Omaha, NE (US);
Abstract
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.