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:
Sep. 26, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1998
Jeremy J Dohr, Kenosha, WI (US);
Brian A Senn, South Milwaukee, WI (US);
Robert S Toms, Racine, WI (US);
Miner Enterprises, Inc., , DE (US);
Abstract
A gate assembly for a hopper car having an enclosure for holding and transporting particulate matter and a plurality of openings along a bottom of the car through which particulate matter is discharged. The gate assembly is designed to allow for either pneumatic discharge of the particulate matter as a result of pressure differentials applied to the outlet on the hopper car or gravitational discharge of the particulate matter through a covered discharge plenum depending from a discharge opening defined by the frame of the gate assembly. The gate assembly further includes seal structure and a gate mounted on the frame for elevational movements between sealed and unsealed conditions and for sliding movements between open and closed positions. The gate assembly further includes a mechanism for arranging the frame, the gate and the seal structure in sealed relationship relative to each other such that a gage pressure of up to 15 psig. can be established in the enclosure of the car during unloading of the particulate matter. To reduce the effort required to condition the car for unloading and transport, the mechanism for sealing the gate relative to the frame of the gate assembly furthermore acts to arrange the cover used to seal the discharge opening in timed relationship with the sealing/unsealing of the gate assembly. The gate assembly further includes seal structure biased against an underside of the gate to seal closed the opening through which the gate horizontally reciprocates between the open and closed positions. Furthermore, edge seals are spring biased against opposed edges of the gate to enhance the sealing relationship of the gate to the frame of the gate assembly.