Patents by Inventor Daniel G. Cortez

Daniel G. Cortez 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).

  • RAILCAR DOOR OPERATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH CAPSTAN DRIVES
    Publication number: 20230399032
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a longitudinal door system comprising one or more longitudinal doors for a railcar and a longitudinal operating beam coupled to the one or more longitudinal doors via one or more struts. A translation of the longitudinal operating beam is coupled to an opening and closing of the one or more longitudinal doors. The door system further comprising a gearbox coupled to the longitudinal operating beam and a first capstan receptacle. The gearbox is operable to translate a rotational movement of the first capstan receptacle to a linear movement of the longitudinal operating beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Daniel G. CORTEZ, Lee A. REITZ, Jerry W. Vande Sande, Carter R. ANDREWS, Kenneth W. HUCK, Craig J. STEVENS, William F. DEAKYNE
  • Railcar door operating systems and methods with capstan drives
    Patent number: 11738783
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a longitudinal door system comprising one or more longitudinal doors for a railcar and a longitudinal operating beam coupled to the one or more longitudinal doors via one or more struts. A translation of the longitudinal operating beam is coupled to an opening and closing of the one or more longitudinal doors. The door system further comprising a gearbox coupled to the longitudinal operating beam and a first capstan receptacle. The gearbox is operable to translate a rotational movement of the first capstan receptacle to a linear movement of the longitudinal operating beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: TRINITY RAIL GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel G. Cortez, Lee A. Reitz, Jerry W. Vande Sande, Carter R. Andrews, Kenneth W. Huck, Craig J. Stevens, William F. Deakyne
  • Railcar with adjustable opening longitudinal gates
    Patent number: 11273851
    Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Andrew Brown, Lee A. Reitz, Anthony R. Hiatt, Amy D. Brown, Daniel G. Cortez, Christopher C. Harkey
  • RAILCAR DOOR OPERATING SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH CAPSTAN DRIVES
    Publication number: 20210197870
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a longitudinal door system comprising one or more longitudinal doors for a railcar and a longitudinal operating beam coupled to the one or more longitudinal doors via one or more struts. A translation of the longitudinal operating beam is coupled to an opening and closing of the one or more longitudinal doors. The door system further comprising a gearbox coupled to the longitudinal operating beam and a first capstan receptacle. The gearbox is operable to translate a rotational movement of the first capstan receptacle to a linear movement of the longitudinal operating beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel G. Cortez, Lee A. Reitz, Jerry W. Vande Sande, Carter R. Andrews, Kenneth W. Huck, Craig J. Stevens, William F. Deakyne
  • Railcar with Adjustable Opening Longitudinal Gates
    Publication number: 20200010097
    Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system Further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Andrew Brown, Lee A, Reitz, Anthony R. Hiatt, Amy D. Brown, Daniel G. Cortez, Christopher C. Harkey
  • Railcar with adjustable opening longitudinal gates
    Patent number: 10449975
    Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: TRINITY NORTH AMERICAN FREIGHT CAR, INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Andrew Brown, Lee A. Reitz, Anthony R. Hiatt, Amy D. Brown, Daniel G. Cortez, Christopher C. Harkey
  • Railcar With Adjustable Opening Longitudinal Gates
    Publication number: 20180222495
    Abstract: A railcar system that includes a railcar with a discharge opening and a longitudinal gate positioned adjacent to the discharge opening. The system further includes a driving system connected to the longitudinal gate that is configured to move the longitudinal gate between a closed position and an open position. The system further includes a controller connected to the driving system that causes the driving system to position the longitudinal gate in the closed position, position the longitudinal gate in the open position, and position the longitudinal gate to remain an at least partially open position. The longitudinal gate is less than fully open when the longitudinal gate is in the at least partially open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Huck, Andrew Brown, Lee A. Reitz, Anthony R. Hiatt, Amy D. Brown, Daniel G. Cortez, Christopher C. Harkey