Abstract: A door operating mechanism for a bottom dump railway hopper car including a plurality of longitudinally mounted, divergently opening discharge doors held in the closed position by a plurality of longitudinally spaced claw-like latches. Each pair of transversely opposite latches includes operating rods connecting each latch to a bell-crank positioned beneath the longitudinal hood of the car. The bell-cranks are operatively connected to a longitudinally disposed tension rod, which includes linkages at either end for actuation of the mechanism by trackside mounted cams.

Abstract: A door operating mechanism for a bottom dump hopper car including a plurality of transversely mounted bottom discharge gates arranged in oppositely opening pairs and operatively connected by compression struts to pendulously mounted vertical levers. The levers are movable divergently outward by linkages connecting them to a lever mounted on a longitudinally extending rotatable actuating shaft. The invention further provides that in the locked position the vertical levers and compression struts be in an overcenter position relative to each pair of associated discharge gates, thereby assuring positive locking of the mechanism.

Abstract: A sliding door and door guide arrangement for the door opening of a railway passenger compartment including a spring biased door guide mechanism for retarding abrupt movement of the door due to car impacts during rail operations and including a threshold plate having a guide channel cooperative with a guide plate depending from the door slidingly engaged therein to align the door and downwardly biased thereagainst to retard abrupt movements of the door.

Abstract: A door lock mechanism for hopper cars includes a longitudinally extending operating rod actuated by a linkage means tripped by a track side cam. The rod in turn actuates cam locks by means of bell cranks which cause the locks to rotate and release transverse tension rods connected to doors for opening the same. The cam locks include cams engageable with teeth on the tension rods for securely locking the doors in a closed position. The operating rod also includes cam means effectively engaging the cam locks to positively lock the same in a closed position.

Abstract: A trackside door closing arrangement for closing the swinging doors of a railway hopper car includes a pair of pneumatic tires and wheels mounted on a pivot arm. The tires are interconnected for rotation in concert and during engagement with the doors, swing them inwardly to a closed position.

Abstract: A high volume railway gondola car particularly suited for high speed rail operations including a pair of rigid elongated tension and compression braces at each end of the car which couple the corner caps of the car walls to the minimum vertical flexure portions of the car floor located immediately above the car center bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A door actuating mechanism for hopper cars includes a pivoted lever moved in response to a cam situated along the track on which a railway car travels. In order to provide for proper door opening under all conditions, a secondary cam is also provided which is engaged by a cam follower which provides a positive laterally directed force for pulling the lever and the door to its open position.

Abstract: A railway hopper car is provided with bottom discharge doors which include an opening and closing mechanism for each of the doors. The mechanism comprises a bell crank lever and linkage arrangement which in the closed position assumes an over-center lock position. The doors are initially actuated to an open position for affecting gravity discharge by means of a track side cam. A second closing cam structure is provided, which, as the car passes therethrough on opposite sides of the track, the bell crank lever and linkage mechanism is again moved to its closed over-center position locking the doors. The closing cam includes a spring actuated portion built into the cam face which is adapted to assist in the operation of the bell crank lever again moving to its over-center position.

Abstract: A railway gondola car includes a depressed floor section with underframe cross members placed below the centersill, with the cross members extending completely across the width of the car. The opposite ends of the gondola car are provided with elevated floors and the car includes a simplified and reinforced construction for minimizing structural damage to the car during operation.

Abstract: A railway hopper car having bottom dump discharge openings include a bell crank arm which is pivoted by a camming arrangement positioned adjacent to track to an opened position whereby a load is discharged. An auxiliary latch is provided which in the normal operating condition of the train locks the arm against rotation to prevent opening of the doors. The camming device includes an arrangement which is first engaged by an auxiliary latching element which is moved to a release position whereby a cam follower engages the camming face of a cam to thereby pivot the bell crank to its open position.

Abstract: A fluid motor actuating mechanism for railway hopper car doors includes a linkage arrangement which interconnects the doors to provide for opening and closing operation in concert. The doors are supported adjacent a discharge opening and are arranged to swing outwardly to maximum degree to provide an enlarged space through which material is discharged from the hopper car.