Offset Pivot Patents (Class 105/283)
  • Patent number: 10480387
    Abstract: A housing for an aftertreatment system is disclosed. The housing includes a wall that defines an interior cavity. The interior cavity is configured to enclose at least one aftertreatment component. Moreover, the wall has at least one corrugated panel having alternating grooves and ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Denis, Zhang Zhenhua, Min Xiao, Julian Justin, Jun Zuo
  • Patent number: 9561902
    Abstract: A gate assembly for a bulk feeder includes a gate housing and a plurality of paddles. The gate housing defines a product feed path therein extending between intake and dispensing ends. The plurality of paddles are mounted to the gate housing and pivotable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the product feed path is blocked by the plurality of paddles, and unblocked in the open position. In the closed position, the plurality of paddles collectively forms a polyhedron, open facing the intake end and tapering to a closed apex toward the dispensing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Scott Veix
  • Patent number: 7726151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a relatively constant temperature of a working fluid in an evaporator of a refrigeration system by providing a constant volumetric displacement compressor and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the high pressure and low pressure portions of a refrigeration circuit to superheat, and hold substantially constant, the temperature of the refrigerant entering the compressor. In doing this, the pressure of the refrigerant in the low pressure portion of the circuit, including the evaporator, and the mass flow rate of the refrigerant remain substantially constant. As a result, the temperature of the saturated refrigerant in the evaporator remains substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Dan M Manole
  • Patent number: 7275488
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 6289822
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 6067912
    Abstract: A single circular or cylindrical door is provided which covers a pair of horizontal discharge openings in a hopper car construction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rail car. Each circular or cylindrical door is pivotally mounted to the rail car body on each side of the rail car. A fluid operated cylinder is connected to each door at the central span thereof. The other end of the fluid operated cylinder is connected to the center sill of the rail car. A directional valve controls the direction of fluid flow to the fluid operated cylinder to cause the door to rotate from a closed position blocking the pair of discharge openings to an open position whereby both discharge openings may simultaneously discharge material from the hopper car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventor: Daniel L. Miller
  • Patent number: 5765486
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 5657700
    Abstract: A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper discharge control member which is operable to selectively drop material from the respective hopper either inside of or outside of the rails of a railroad track. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, either between the hopper discharge control members or one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade and each hopper discharge control member can be selectively operated via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper discharge control members and blades on a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan Eugene Bounds
  • Patent number: 5423268
    Abstract: A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper door. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade can be selectively raised and lowered via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper doors and blades on a car. When there are a plurality of ballast cars on a train, each car has a receiver which responds to a different address sequence. The remote transmitter is operable to selectively send any of the different address sequences so that a single selected car can be remotely controlled. In a modified arrangement, each ballast distributing blade has a pair of extendable wings on either side to allow the wider distribution of ballast where needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan E. Bounds
  • Patent number: 5311822
    Abstract: A ballast hopper car door control apparatus and method for controlling a pivoting hopper discharge control member on a railroad ballast car or the like, includes a drive shaft extending through the discharge control member at the pivot point. A transmission is connected to the drive shaft and is driven by a reversible electric motor. The motor is controlled via a radio receiver which receives motor control signals from a remote radio transmitter. When there are a plurality of ballast cars on a train, each car has a receiver which responds to a different address sequence. The remote transmitter is operable to selectively send any of the different address sequences so that a single selected car can be remotely controlled. Multiple hoppers on a single car are controllable by a single receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan E. Bounds
  • Patent number: 4964348
    Abstract: A pivoted drop end for a railway car which is adapted to be manipulated (lifted) by power equipment in the car to open or close the car end. The car end includes lower side posts, each having a cam follower running in a cam on the car frame which swings the car end about a pivot carried on each of the posts. The pivots are guided in a vertical slot and cooperates with the cam. The car end is opened outwardly of the car and rests in open horizontal position on a pedestal support of the frame so that adjacent open car ends form a bridge to move loads longitudinally of the train. The car end is dampened in lowering (opening) movement by dash-pots connected between the car end and car frame. A side dumping railway car tilts the car body to either side by sets of pneumatic cylinders, each set being alternatively under control of a valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Differential Steel Car Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Flowers, John R. Murray, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4706854
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for containing and feeding particulate material tending to pack into a mass from an elongated hopper having opposed sloping walls converging downward and inward towards each other to terminal margins presenting between them an elongated laterally restricted outlet for directing material onto a conveyor below. Gates are provided to close the outlet for containing the material and to open the outlet to discharge it onto the conveyor belt. Baffles within the hopper are provided to divide the cargo at a level spaced above the outlet into several piles which merge above and below the outlet. In this way the material is channelled to the outlet so that lateral arches which may be formed in the material are prevented or broken up to assure feeding. Pressure may be relieved on some of the piles by flanges extending laterally of the baffles. The invention also includes the combination of gates equipped to break up longitudinal arches with baffles to prevent the formation of lateral arches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: ULS International Inc.
    Inventor: Charles D. Pole
  • Patent number: 4580502
    Abstract: A device for unloading a container used for bulk materials is such that a container floor is made up at least in part of flaps which can be tilted or swung out away from the interior. To this end at least two flaps are connected via a ridging beam or axle which runs through the interior of the container above a rotatable shaft. The rotational movement of the shaft is transmitted to the flaps to actuate same. The shaft features on opposite sides and transverse to its longitudinal axis first and second flange pairs, the former accommodating an elbow lever with the help of a push-fit bolt, and the latter a lever with the help of a bolt. The elbow lever and the lever are hinged to the flaps respectively. Further, connected to the flaps is a lock which joins up via bolts with the elbow lever or the lever, and in the closed position engages on a latching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Antal Ritzl, Jurg Zehnder
  • Patent number: 4574989
    Abstract: In a hopper or the like wherein the flow of particulate material is controlled by a gate the improvement wherein the gate is mounted to be swingable towards an open position within the hopper so as to break arches and rat holes which form in the material above the gate or a gate adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Upper Lakes Shipping Ltd.
    Inventor: Charles D. Pole
  • Patent number: 4550665
    Abstract: A hopper car in which the body has vertical end walls and side walls each comprising a sloping lower portion and a vertical upper portion. The two sloping lower portions converge downwardly and their horizontal lower edges define a discharge opening. One of these edges lies in a horizontal plane which is at a different level to the plane containing the other lower edge. The angle of slope of one lower portion is different to the angle of slope of the other lower portion. Additionally, the horizontal plane containing the line of convergence between the one lower portion and its associated upper portion lies in a different horizontal plane to the corresponding line of convergence of the other side wall. An arcuate door carrying a laterally protruding operating arm closes-off the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Rotaque (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Cornelis Brouwer
  • Patent number: 4452149
    Abstract: A hopper-type railroad car for transporting ballast used for roadbed restoration includes a set of bottom outlets for discharge of the ballast. Gate assembly units are installed over these outlets to provide regulation of the ballast discharge. Each unit has an inner and outer opening selectively covered by an arcuate shaped door. Each door is connected by linkage to an inner and outer door shaft carried concentrically by the unit. Selective rotation of either shaft moves the respective door to cover or uncover the unit openings to regulate ballast discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward S. LeMarbe
  • Patent number: 4196932
    Abstract: A hopper gate and pneumatic actuating mechanism for controlled discharge of bulk materials from a bottom-unloading vehicle are described. The hopper gate comprises an arcuate closure plate pivotally mounted by wedge shaped end plates below a rectangular hopper opening, said hopper opening having one edge defining the end of a hopper end elevated higher than the opposed edge defining the other hopper end wall. The pneumatic actuating mechanism comprises a pair of opposed air bags selectively expanded by an air supply and operatively connected to the closure gate by a linkage system for opening and closing the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Alforge Metals Corporation, Limited
    Inventor: Werner J. Mark
  • Patent number: 4163583
    Abstract: A pneumatic hopper outlet, where the discharge conduit end cap is held in place with at least one large headed bolt which is pivotably mounted on the discharge conduit and which engages at least a portion of the end cap. The large headed bolt is attached to a vertically extending locking member of generally inverted J shape which is rotatably mounted on a side of the discharge conduit. When an operating handle attached to an operating shaft of an outlet valve element is in the position which corresponds to the fully closed position of the valve element, the lower surface of the locking member prevents movement of the operating handle and the valve element from moving from the closed position. If the valve element and its operating shaft are not in the fully closed position, the operating handle obstructs the path of the pivoting locking member and the large headed bolt cannot be pivoted into position to hold the end cap in closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1979
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: James C. Hammonds
  • Patent number: 4151935
    Abstract: A pair of longitudinally spaced valve elements are provided in a pneumatic outlet. Each valve element includes a body portion, preferably a segment of a circle, including a body portion edge which seats on a body portion valve seat located adjacent the body portion edge, and a moment portion extending eccentrically away from the body portion, which seats on a moment portion valve seat. Each valve element is movable to a sampling position in which the body portion is spaced from the body portion valve seat and the moment portion is spaced from the moment portion valve seat to allow lading for sampling to flow into the discharge conduit. Each valve element includes a pair of operating shafts extending in opposite directions from the valve element, parallel to the discharge conduit, through opposite end walls of the outlet. Operating handles are attached to the operating shafts outside the end walls of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard H. Dugge
  • Patent number: 4114785
    Abstract: A discharge outlet for attachment to the bottom of a hopper which has a longitudinally extending discharge opening between spaced inner edges of the outlet side walls. An elongate control valve is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in the discharge opening between a pair of longitudinally extending parallel seats on opposed sides of the valve, and the control valve has its axis of rotation closer to one side of the control valve than to its other side whereby from a closed position weight of lading on the valve urges the valve in one direction of rotation to an open position in which lading is discharged about both sides of the control valve. The control valve includes a body portion extending longitudinally in the discharge opening, and a moment portion extending transversely and eccentrically relative to the axis of rotation of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1978
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard H. Dugge
  • Patent number: 4009664
    Abstract: A closure actuating device is disclosed for freeing rotation of discharge control doors for railway hopper cars of the type where the door assembly is supported for rotation about a pivotal axis parallel to and beneath the discharge opening in the railway car. To alleviate sticking of the doors due to compaction of fines on the upper surface of the control doors which cover the discharge openings, the device lowers the control doors to increase the clearance between the terminating edges of the discharge openings and the upper surface of the discharge door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1977
    Assignee: Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Fearon
  • Patent number: 3997089
    Abstract: A discharge gate assembly for sealing and controlling the flow of particulate material from a discharge opening in a hopper of the type used on semi-trailers, railroad cars or storage bins is disclosed wherein the discharge gate assembly comprises a frame which is secured over the discharge opening and has a discharge passageway through which particulate material can fall when the hopper is being emptied, a valve means in the discharge passageway to regulate the flow of material through the discharge passageway, a seal between the frame and hopper to prevent contamination from entering the discharge opening and hopper, and a cover means for sealing the lower end of the discharge passageway to prevent entry of any contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1976
    Assignee: Florig Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin E. Clarke, Albert J. Florig
  • Patent number: RE36685
    Abstract: A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper discharge control member which is operable to selectively drop material from the respective hopper either inside of or outside of the rails of a railroad track. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, either between the hopper discharge control members or one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade and each hopper discharge control member can be selectively operated via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper discharge control members and blades on a car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Herzog Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Ivan Eugene Bounds