Railroad hopper car with bottom discharge doors having angled seals and actuating assemblies
US9914464B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 8, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60L2200/26
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a railroad hopper car bottom discharge door having two door plates, where at least one is rotatable between open and closed positions for the bottom discharge door. A seal member is fixedly connected to a distal end of each door plate, respectively, and each seal member has a seal lip protruding from the corresponding door plate. One seal lip comprises a first obtuse angle on a lower surface of the seal lip, while the other seal lip comprises a second angle smaller than the first obtuse angle on an upper surface of the seal lip. When the bottom discharge door is closed, the two angles on the two seal lips interlock to form a seal. Methods and systems for a door-actuating assembly that utilizes a pick-up shoe and a rechargeable battery to minimize the occurrence of rail sparks inside dump sites are also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.