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:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 22, 1999
Christopher C. Gaydos, St. Charles, IL (US);
Robert T. Fischer, Homewood, IL (US);
Guadalupe L. Galvan, DeKalb, IL (US);
Miner Enterprises, Inc., , DE (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling discharge of material from a bottom dump railroad car having a centersill defining a longitudinal axis for the hopper car is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of longitudinally mounted discharge door assemblies. Each door assembly comprises a pair of longitudinally mounted discharge doors disposed to opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis of the car for movement between open and closed positions relative to respective discharge openings on a bottom of the car. Each discharge door is mounted for movement about an axis disposed adjacent and extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car. A door operating mechanism including a positively driven actuator is carried on the hopper car for operating at least one of the discharge door assemblies independently of at least one other discharge door assembly on the car. The door operating mechanism includes a primary lock for inhibiting inadvertent movement of the discharge doors of each door assembly to an open position. A secondary lock, operable in timed relation to the door operating mechanism, is disclosed for releasably maintaining the discharge doors of each discharge door assembly in a closed position.