Patent · US Expired

Method for loading and unloading railroad cars

US4190394A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
11References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1978
Grant dateFeb 26, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE02F9/085
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A method of loading and unloading an open top or gondola railroad car utilizes a mobile, wheeled apparatus having power actuated front and rear boom structures. A front supportive foot engageable with the upper surfaces of the railroad car sidewalls is connected to free ends of the front boom structure and similarly engageable rear supportive feet are connected to the ends of outrigger arms movable outwardly from the sides of the rear end of the mobile apparatus. The rear boom structure includes an articulated material engaging grapple for loading and unloading operations. During operation, the operator positions the mobile apparatus adjacent an end of the railroad car with the front boom raised and the front supportive foot engaged with the top surfaces of the car sidewalls. The rear boom and material engaging grapple is folded close to the apparatus rear end and by coordinately operating the front and rear boom structures and the material grapple, the mobile apparatus is raised above the railroad car walls and moved forwardly until the front and rear supportive feet engage with the side wall upper surfaces. Then, the rear boom and material handling grapple is used to load and unl…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.