Abstract: A lump breaker apparatus for a rotary car dumper includes a porous barrier means in the form of a grizzly element, having sized openings therein and positioned in the flow path of the discharged bulk material prior to its entry into the hopper pit. Motorized impact means, preferably rotatable drum means, having a plurality of outwardly protruding striking elements, is mounted on the frame of the rotary dumper, extending between the end plates thereof and moveable with the frame. The impact means is selectively activated to engage and breakup lumps of oversized bulk material retained on the grizzly during a dumping cycle.

Abstract: The piston rod of at least one hydraulic cylinder is axially connected to a pivot pin about which the car holding arm of a car holding device rotates in a vertical plane to engage the couplings between railroad cars. In the case of a single hydraulic cylinder, the inner chamber of the cylinder, located closest to the car holding arm, is connected to the outer chamber on the other side of the piston by a conduit. When hydraulic cylinders are connected to each pivot pin of the car holding arm, the inner chambers of the two cylinders are interconnected by a conduit as are the two outer chambers. When flow through the conduits is blocked by a solenoid valve, movement of the car holding arm in the direction parallel to the track is resisted and the arm holds the train in position.

Abstract: A car positioning device for dumping of random cars in a rotary car dumper, and a method for directly positioning cars within a rotary dumper, where the car positioning device, movable on a trackway parallel to a track portion carrying railroad cars, has a carriage base and a pivoted car positioning arm thereon, the car positioning arm being L-shaped with a long section extending parallel to the trackway and a short section carrying a coupling apparatus, transverse the track portion, such that the long section extends beyond the carriage and beyond the guideway for the carriage, with the short section of the arm positionable within the car dumping apparatus to directly position a car within the confines of the dumper.

Abstract: A train position control arm adapted for use in handling cars of a unit train in a movable train positioner and in a stationary train holder. The arm is proportioned to engage a car coupler from a zone limited to the area immediately above the coupler so that a symmetrical pair of such arms may be simultaneously employed at the same location on a mating pair of couplers. A coupler engaging head of the arm includes elements for engaging and disengaging a coupler under full compression or buff loading. In a train holder apparatus, the arm is pivotally supported on a horizontal axis spaced from the tracks and at substantially the same height as a car coupler. A stationary base supporting the arm includes shock absorbing apparatus adapted to resist impact forces on the arm along a line coincident with the pivot axis.