Abstract: An apparatus for actuating and locking pairs of hopper doors of a railroad hopper car of the type having a longitudinal center sill and pairs of longitudinally extending chutes, located opposite each other and on each side of the center sill, configured to discharge lading to each side of the hopper car, and each provided with a hopper door. Each chute of a pair is provided with a longitudinally extending shaft rotatively mounted on the underside thereof with first and second end portions extending beyond its chute. Both end portions of the shaft have an operating cam assembly non-rotatively mounted thereon and connected to the adjacent hopper door by an operating link. The operating cam assemblies at corresponding ends of the shafts are joined by connecting links. The first end of each shaft has a ratchet wheel and a capstain non-rotatively mounted thereon. Each chute of the pair has a ratchet pawl pivoted thereto and cooperating with its respective ratchet wheel.

Abstract: A railway flatcar for carrying a highway trailer, the flatcar having been converted from a conventional railway box car. The sides, ends and roof of a conventional box car are cut and removed therefrom substantially at the floor line. The side sill assemblies of the car are reinforced substantially throughout their length. At the bogie end of the car, those portions of the out-board floor stringers spanning between adjacent cross ties and cross bearers are reinforced. The cross ties are also reinforced and/or additional cross ties added at the bogie end of the car. At the hitch end of the car, appropriate reinforcement and mounting means are located along the bolster and center sill to which a conventional trailer hitch is affixed.

Abstract: Top side chord attachment for the sides of bottom-discharge, open-top railroad hopper cars of the type with which top shakers may be used. Each car side comprises a vertically oriented side sheet, affixed at its bottom edge to a bottom chord in the form of the car frame side sill and affixed at its top edge to a top chord. A plurality of side posts having lateral flanges are arranged vertically along the car side exterior in parallel spaced relationship. Each side post is affixed to the bottom chord, to the top chord, and along its lateral flanges to the side sheet. The top chord comprises a beam-like member extending substantially the length of the side sheet and having a horizontal portion terminating at its longitudinal in-board edge in a downwardly depending leg lying along the inside surface of the upper edge of the side sheet. A pair of gussets are located to either side of the upper end of each side post, overlying the side post flanges and the adjacent portions of the side sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating and locking each pair of hopper doors of a railroad hopper car of the type having a plurality of hopper doors arranged in opposed pairs and extending transversely of the hopper car center sill. Each door actuating and locking apparatus for each opposed pair of hopper doors comprises a shaft assembly extending transversely of the hopper car between its respective opposed pair of hopper doors and through the hopper car center sill and the inner and outer hopper sheets for those hopper doors. That portion of the shaft assembly located within the center sill has an L-shaped lever structure non-rotatively mounted thereon. The lever structure is connected by links to the hopper doors of its respective pair. Either end of the shaft assembly can be engaged externally of the hopper car by an approriate tool to rotate the shaft assembly and its lever structure between a door open position and an over-center, door-closed and locked position.

Abstract: Seals to prevent seepage of a fine granular commodity between the hopper doors and the adjacent hopper sheets of a railroad hopper car of the type having opposed pairs of hopper doors swingable between a closed position and a downwardly depending open position. The seals comprise elongated strips of flexible material with their upper longitudinal edge portions mounted along the inside lower edges of the inner and outer hopper sheets and being of a width such that their free lower longitudinal edge portions extend downwardly beyond the lower edges of the hopper sheets. The free edge portions of the seals being bent inwardly by and lying in sealing engagement against the hopper doors when the hopper doors are in their closed position. Similar strips of flexible material may be so located as to form a seal between the upper portion of each hopper door and its adjacent slope sheet.

Abstract: A restraint assembly for the door-actuating means of a railroad hopper car. The door-actuating means is shifted by the piston of a fluid cylinder between door-closing and door-opening positions. The restraint mechanism comprises a first bracket mounted on the center sill and rotatively supporting a shaft on which a lever is mounted. The free end of the lever is pivotally joined to a first end of a spring assembly. The second end of the spring assembly is pivotally mounted to a second bracket affixed to the center sill. One end of the shaft has a notch formed therein. The door-actuating means has a laterally extending lug. When the door-actuating means is in its retracted door-closing position the restraint assembly will be in an over center restraining condition. Abutment of the door-actuating means lug against the shaft notch will prevent longitudinal shifting of the door-actuating means due to inertia.

Abstract: Automatic latch means for the door-actuating beam of a hopper car of the type having a plurality of hopper doors arranged in opposed pairs and swingable between a closed position and a downwardly depending open position when the door-actuating beam is shifted longitudinally by the piston of a fluid cylinder between a retracted door-closing position and an extended door-opening position. The latch means comprises a catch asembly mounted on the hopper car frame and a pivotable hook operatively attached to the door-actuating beam. When the door-actuating beam is in its door-closing position the catch assembly will be engaged by the hook and means are provided to maintain this engagement under all dynamic conditions of the hopper car. As a consequence, movement of the door-actuating beam to open the hopper doors is prevented and the hopper doors are thus locked in their closed positions. The cylinder piston is provided with a clevis operatively connected to the door actuating beam.