Patents by Inventor Michael Selapack

Michael Selapack 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: 11958509
    Abstract: A hopper railcar includes a plurality of hoppers for carrying material laden material, wherein each hopper has a lower discharge chute formed by converging side sheets and end sheets defining a transverse opening; and pivoted transverse door for each transverse opening for selectively opening and closing and closed by a pivoted door, the pivoted door having a pivot axis perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the railcar, and lateral deflectors on lateral sides of the doors with each of the deflectors having a side face extending above an interior facing surface of the doors upon which laden flows with the door in the open position. A method of retrofitting hopper railcars to include deflectors is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Heider, Michael Selapack
  • Publication number: 20230192156
    Abstract: A hopper railcar includes a plurality of hoppers for carrying material laden material, wherein each hopper has a lower discharge chute formed by converging side sheets and end sheets defining a transverse opening; and pivoted transverse door for each transverse opening for selectively opening and closing and closed by a pivoted door, the pivoted door having a pivot axis perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the railcar, and lateral deflectors on lateral sides of the doors with each of the deflectors having a side face extending above an interior facing surface of the doors upon which laden flows with the door in the open position. A method of retrofitting hopper railcars to include deflectors is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Michael Heider, Michael Selapack
  • Patent number: 11577762
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a pair of spaced trucks, a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of side structures on opposed sides of the railcar and a pair of end structures on opposed ends of the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, with each corner cap, or end cap including inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having a plurality of discharge chutes forming pockets for the body which open to the interior with a plurality of door operated through a pneumatic door operating system and further including a manual door operating override for each door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Wissinger, Todd L. Lydic, Michael A. Selapack
  • Publication number: 20200317231
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a pair of spaced trucks, a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of side structures on opposed sides of the railcar and a pair of end structures on opposed ends of the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, with each corner cap, or end cap including inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having a plurality of discharge chutes forming pockets for the body which open to the interior with a plurality of door operated through a pneumatic door operating system and further including a manual door operating override for each door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher S. Wissinger, Todd L. Lydic, Michael A. Selapack
  • Publication number: 20200298895
    Abstract: A hopper railcar includes a plurality of hoppers for carrying material laden material, wherein each hopper has a lower discharge chute formed by converging side sheets and end sheets defining a transverse opening; and pivoted transverse door for each transverse opening for selectively opening and closing and closed by a pivoted door, the pivoted door having a pivot axis perpendicular to a longitudinal length of the railcar, and lateral deflectors on lateral sides of the doors with each of the deflectors having a side face extending above an interior facing surface of the doors upon which laden flows with the door in the open position. A method of retrofitting hopper railcars to include deflectors is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: William Edwards, Jason Grace, Michael Heider, Michael Selapack
  • Publication number: 20180001905
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a pair of spaced trucks, a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of side structures on opposed sides of the railcar and a pair of end structures on opposed ends of the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, with each corner cap, or end cap including inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having a plurality of discharge chutes forming pockets for the body which open to the interior with a plurality of door operated through a pneumatic door operating system and further including a manual door operating override for each door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher S. Wissinger, Brandon R. Plummer, Todd L. Lydic, Michael A. Selapack, Douglas M. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9669845
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a railcar body supported on the spaced trucks, the body comprising side and end structures on the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface for discharging lading toward the railcar interior. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, including inwardly sloped lading discharging top surfaces. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having discharge chutes forming body pockets opening into the interior with pneumatic doors having manual override for each door. The railcar may include a nonmetallic touch pad housing secured to the side structures and including a plurality of touch plates mounted in the housing configured for operating selective individual doors and combination of doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A Selapack, Christopher S Wissinger, Todd L Lydic
  • Patent number: 8342105
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a body on pair of spaced trucks, and a top chord extending the length of the side and the width of the end of the railcar, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar further includes corner cap members that have inwardly sloped top surfaces configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar has a plurality of discharge chutes including a plurality of doors operated through a pneumatic door operating system and a manual door operating override for each door. The railcar also includes a nonmetallic touch pad housing provided with a plurality of touch plates for operating selective doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Freightcar America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A Selapack, Christopher S Wissinger, Todd L Lydic
  • Publication number: 20110179969
    Abstract: A open top railcar comprises a pair of spaced trucks, a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of side structures on opposed sides of the railcar and a pair of end structures on opposed ends of the railcar, and a top chord extending the length of the side structures and the width of the end structures, wherein the top chord includes an inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may further include corner cap, or end cap members, with each corner cap, or end cap including inwardly sloped top surface configured to discharge lading toward the interior of the railcar through gravity. The railcar may be a hopper railcar having a plurality of discharge chutes forming pockets for the body which open to the interior with a plurality of door operated through a pneumatic door operating system and further including a manual door operating override for each door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Selapack, Christopher Wissinger, Todd Lydic
  • Patent number: 7832340
    Abstract: The door operating system of the present invention can be applied to new railcar or retrofitted to existing railcar designs. The hopper car will have a pair of doors on opposed sides of the center sill which are connected through a door spreader. The pneumatic, individual door operating system is connected to the door spreader through an adjustable spreader fulcrum in which the sliding adjustment may add in a proper connection force or tension between the door operating system and the individual doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Freightcar America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert H Dorian, Todd L Lydic, Michael Selapack
  • Publication number: 20070175357
    Abstract: The door operating system of the present invention can be applied to new railcar or retrofitted to existing railcar designs. The hopper car will have a pair of doors on opposed sides of the center sill which are connected through a door spreader. The pneumatic, individual door operating system is connected to the door spreader through an adjustable spreader fulcrum in which the sliding adjustment may add in a proper connection force or tension between the door operating system and the individual doors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Dorian, Todd Lydic, Michael Selapack