Patents by Inventor D. Bruce Fetterman

D. Bruce Fetterman 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: 8915194
    Abstract: Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Barry
  • Patent number: 7891304
    Abstract: A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Herzog, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Cencer, Joseph M. Sindelar, George S. Creighton
  • Publication number: 20100275811
    Abstract: Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Barry
  • Patent number: 7735426
    Abstract: Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Barry
  • Patent number: 7681507
    Abstract: A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: John C. Herzog, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Cencer, Joseph M. Sindelar, George S. Creighton
  • Publication number: 20080236438
    Abstract: A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: John C. Herzog, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Cencer, Joseph M. Sindelar, George S. Creighton
  • Patent number: 7305923
    Abstract: A universal boxcar is provided with exterior metal surfaces and load carrying capabilities of a conventional uninsulated boxcar and thermal transfer ratings of an insulated boxcar. The boxcar may be formed with interior dimensions corresponding generally with interior dimensions of an uninsulated boxcar without high cost, high performance insulation. The boxcar may include a double side doors slidably mounted on the exterior of each sidewall assemble. A load restraint system may be provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics. The load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs. All or portions of the load restraint system may be used in uninsulated boxcars or temperature controlled railway cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, Robert J. Barry, D. Bruce Fetterman
  • Patent number: 7261044
    Abstract: A boxcar and load restraint system are provided with improved load carrying capabilities and performance characteristics of uninsulated boxcars and insulated boxcars. An insulated boxcar with the load restraint system may have increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs as compared to conventional insulated boxcars. All or portions of the load restraint system may be used in uninsulated boxcars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman, Guy W. Steeves, Robert J. Barry
  • Patent number: 7210413
    Abstract: A universal boxcar is provided with load carrying capabilities of a conventional uninsulated boxcar and temperature ratings of an insulated boxcar. The insulated boxcar may be formed with interior dimensions corresponding generally with interior dimensions of an uninsulated boxcar without requiring the use of high cost, high performance insulation. The insulated boxcar may be formed at a reasonable cost and selling price with increased load carrying capacity, increased service life, and reduced maintenance costs as compared to conventional insulated boxcars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Robert J. Barry, Guy W. Steeves, George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman
  • Patent number: 7051661
    Abstract: A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: John C. Herzog, D. Bruce Fetterman, Robert J. Cencer, Joseph M. Sindelar, George S. Creighton
  • Patent number: 7004080
    Abstract: A boxcar and load restraint system are provided. Various features of the load restraint system may be used with uninsulated boxcars and insulated boxcars. Such boxcars may include a roof assembly, a floor assembly, a pair of sidewall assemblies and a pair of endwall assemblies. The load restraint system may include a floor anchor system and a sidewall anchor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: George S. Creighton, D. Bruce Fetterman, Guy W. Steeves, Robert J. Barry
  • Patent number: 5562046
    Abstract: A crossbearer connection (32) and method of forming a crossbearer connection (32) are disclosed, including a support bracket (34) angled to rest against an interior surface of a vertical and horizontal flange (54, 56) of the side sill (20) of a railway car (12), a projecting member (70) formed integral to the support bracket (34) having a male portion (78) and female portion (80), and where in the projecting member (70) extends through an opening (72) in the side wall (28), an exterior support member (76) having a base portion (90) and a male portion (98) which is sized to mate with the female portion (80) of the projecting member (70) and with the base (90) portion disposed against a portion of the exterior surface of the vertical flange of the side sill (20), and the male portion (78) of the projecting member (70) mating with a portion of the side stake (30) of the railway car (12), and a plurality of fasteners (106-120) for securing the support bracket (34) to the side sill (20) and the exterior support me
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Bruce Fetterman, Stephen W. Smith
  • Patent number: 5341747
    Abstract: A rotary dump railway gondola car that includes troughs which extend downwardly from the midpoint of the car toward the trucks. End members for the troughs extend at an enlarged angle relative to the car's center sill to increase the carrying capacity of the car. The end members have been further modified to include a bracket which attaches each end member to the center sill. A chamfer is located near the lower portion of each end member to allow drainage from the associated trough. Sections of the floor in the car adjacent to the troughs have been modified to increase load carrying capacity. The troughs may also include a longitudinal radius to further increase the load carrying capacity of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Bruce Fetterman, Stephen W. Smith