Abstract: Systems and methods for actuating automatic sliding doors on railroad hopper cars are disclosed. The system includes a cylinder having a first cap end mounted on a hopper car, and a second rod end having a clevis. The cylinder has a piston rod which extends, causing an actuating reinforcer coupled to the clevis to rotate around a coupled main shaft. The rotational motion of the actuating reinforcer causes an operating lever, also coupled to the main shaft, to rotate. A connecting link translates the rotational motion of the operating lever to a door pan fulcrum mounted to a sliding door, causing the door pan fulcrum to pull the sliding door open. The system also enables automatic locking in an analogous way, with the door pan fulcrum pushed to close the sliding door, when the cylinder piston rod returns to its original position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for automatic operation of a top hatch cover for a container, comprising a hatch cover, a cylinder mount, a main operating lever, a connecting link, and a hatch locking lever. The cylinder mount is configured for pivotally connecting a piston to the container. A lower portion of the main operating lever is connected to a cylinder rod of an air cylinder. A first extension of the connecting link is rotatably connected to an upper portion of the main operating lever and a second extension of the connecting link is coupled to the hatch cover. The main operating lever and the hatch locking lever are rotatably coupled to a main shaft mount, where the hatch locking lever is configured to pivot around the main shaft mount to move between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for automatic operation of a top hatch cover for a container, comprising a hatch cover, a cylinder mount, a main operating lever, a connecting link, and a hatch locking lever. The cylinder mount is configured for pivotally connecting a piston to the container. A lower portion of the main operating lever is connected to a cylinder rod of an air cylinder. A first extension of the connecting link is rotatably connected to an upper portion of the main operating lever and a second extension of the connecting link is coupled to the hatch cover. The main operating lever and the hatch locking lever are rotatably coupled to a main shaft mount, where the hatch locking lever is configured to pivot around the main shaft mount to move between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a door-actuating assembly that utilizes a pick-up shoe and a rechargeable battery to minimize the occurrence of rail sparks inside dump sites. The door-actuating assembly includes a pick-up shoe, a battery electrically connected to the pick-up shoe, a hermetically sealed switch electrically connected to the battery, and an electro-pneumatic valve electrically connected to the hermetically sealed switch. The battery is rechargeable via the pick-up shoe when the pick-up shoe is biased into an active position having physical contact with a wayside conductor rail; the electro-pneumatic valve actuates the bottom discharge door between an open position and a closed position, after the battery is charged beyond a pre-determined state of charge, and after the pick-up shoe is biased into an inactive position not having physical contact with the wayside conductor rail. Railroad hopper cars comprising such door-actuating assemblies, and methods of operation are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a railroad hopper car bottom discharge door having two door plates, where at least one is rotatable between open and closed positions for the bottom discharge door. A seal member is fixedly connected to a distal end of each door plate, respectively, and each seal member has a seal lip protruding from the corresponding door plate. One seal lip comprises a first obtuse angle on a lower surface of the seal lip, while the other seal lip comprises a second angle smaller than the first obtuse angle on an upper surface of the seal lip. When the bottom discharge door is closed, the two angles on the two seal lips interlock to form a seal. Methods and systems for a door-actuating assembly that utilizes a pick-up shoe and a rechargeable battery to minimize the occurrence of rail sparks inside dump sites are also provided.