Railcar door control apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling discharge of commodity from a railcar having a hopper with at least two transversely spaced discharge openings and two laterally spaced and commonly joined pivotal doors arranged in registry with the two discharge openings. The control apparatus includes a transversely extending operating shaft and a linkage system operably connecting the operating shaft to the doors. A drive mechanism is operably connectable to the linkage system. The drive mechanism includes a driver for selectively operating the linkage mechanism to either simultaneously push the doors into their closed position or to simultaneously pull the doors from their closed position. The drive mechanism further includes a lever radially extending from the operating shaft and operably connected to the driver. To releasably hold and maintain the doors in their closed position, a lock assembly is arranged in operable combination with the driver. The lock assembly can be operated in either of two operable conditions and either in timed relation to movement of the doors or manually. An indicator is also provided for providing a visual indication, from a side of the car, the operable condition of the lock assembly.