Patents by Inventor Robert F. Needham

Robert F. Needham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4641677
    Abstract: A top-operated, outside unloading device for a bottom discharge railway tank car is disclosed. The tank car has an outlet valve in its bottom which is opened and closed by an operating rod connected to the valve and which extends up through the interior of the tank car. The operating rod projects out through the top of the tank car and is rotated by means of a hand wheel. The upper end of the operating rod is sealed with respect to the tank car by compressible packing seals carried by a packing body surrounding the upper end of the operating rod. The packing body has a part-spherical lower end which mates with a seat surrounding the opening in the top of the tank car through which the operating rod extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert F. Needham
  • Patent number: 4168665
    Abstract: In accordance with the present structure, in a railway hopper car a corrugated bolster web extends vertically between a bolster cover plate and the end hopper slope sheet. The vertically extending corrugations act as reinforcements in the web which web has at least some of the corrugations positioned over the side bearings and center plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert F. Needham, Robert W. Randolph