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. 22, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 04, 2000
Daniel Joseph Kaplan, Norcross, GA (US);
Ralph Hartman Schorr, Lawrenceville, GA (US);
Ronny Lamar Allison, Winder, GA (US);
Barney Russell Willoughby, Jr., Watkinsville, GA (US);
Thrall Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago Heights, IL (US);
Abstract
A radial end door that includes, in addition to the conventional inner and outer rollers for supporting the door, a door mounted support on the inner portion of the door, unsupported by the railcar body when the door is open, but supported by the railcar body when the door is closed. The door mounted support preferably comprises a roller that can be added as a retrofit or upgrade to the existing door, without altering the basic configuration, geometry or operational characteristics of the door, except to improve the performance of the door. The door mounted support preferably cooperates with a floor-mounted support comprising a wear bar having a ramp portion to raise the door mounted support and increase loading on the outer roller as the door is closed. The door mounted support preferably includes a compact housing which may be easily retrofitted on existing doors and may be removed for service or replacement, and which does not interfere with ramp clearances or other clearances during loading and unloading of motor vehicles.