Patent · US Expired

Hopper car discharge apparatus

US4224006A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
7References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 28, 1978
Grant dateSep 23, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 28, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65D88/66
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

This invention provides novel apparatus for accelerating the emptying of railroad hopper cars and the like. The invention comprises: a rigid frame fixedly mountable through a base to a pair of generally horizontally-spaced-apart rails upon which the wheels of a railroad hopper car can be movably supported, with the frame including an upright section from which there generally horizontally extends towards the rails a hollow spool connected to a vented source of pressurized fluid; and an excitor connected to the spool through an inflatable yieldably resilient sleeve that performs dual functions of moving the excitor generally horizontally with respect to the frame into and out of contact with a side of the hopper car and also vibration isolating the excitor from the frame. The novel apparatus further includes a stabilizer mechanism connected between the excitor and frame for multi-directional movement relative thereto, with the frame including a second section which is vertically spaced apart from the spool and extends generally horizontally from the upright section of the frame toward the rails and with the stabilizer mechanism comprising a rigid link connected at each of its opposi…

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