Link Swing Patents (Class 105/284)
  • Patent number: 10352083
    Abstract: A bottom door of a carriage includes a telescoping cylinder and at least two sets of door bodies, each set of the door body is provided with one set of driving mechanisms, each of the driving mechanisms includes a rotating shaft and a driving rod, and the rotating shaft is connected with the respective door body by the driving rod, to allow the door body to be driven to rotate when the rotating shaft rotates; each of the rotating shaft is driven to rotate by the telescoping cylinder, and at least two of the rotating shafts are configured to be driven to rotate successively by the telescoping cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: CRRC QIQIHAR ROLLING STOCK CO., LTD
    Inventors: Lei Yu, Shengkun Wang, Yong Fu, Tianjun Zhao, Shuang Yang
  • Publication number: 20140026781
    Abstract: A hopper car discharge outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The doors are hingeless, being mounted on four bar linkages, such that the distal edge of the doors sweeps predominantly horizontally while the proximal edge of the door moves predominantly upwardly. The doors move through noncircular arcs, such that the size of the vertically projected door opening is abnormally large compared to the clearance heights of the door. The doors are driven by a longitudinal shaft that is mounted within the center sill. It drives a set of single input, double output bell cranks that drive adjacent pairs of doors, and that employs an over-center toggle to hold the doors in the closed position when the car is laded. The actuators may be mounted in shelters midway along the car, and may be offset from the centersill. The actuators may be mounted predominantly vertically such that gravity may obviate the need for a secondary lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventor: National Steel Car Limited
  • Patent number: 8356560
    Abstract: A hopper car discharge outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The doors are hingeless, being mounted on four bar linkages, such that the distal edge of the doors sweeps predominantly horizontally while the proximal edge of the door moves predominantly upwardly. The doors move through noncircular arcs, such that the size of the vertically projected door opening is abnormally large compared to the clearance heights of the door. The doors are driven by a longitudinal shaft that is mounted within the center sill. It drives a set of single input, double output bell cranks that drive adjacent pairs of doors, and that employs an over-center toggle to hold the doors in the closed position when the car is laded. The actuators may be mounted in shelters midway along the car, and may be offset from the centersill. The actuators may be mounted predominantly vertically such that gravity may obviate the need for a secondary lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: National Steel Car Limited
    Inventors: James W. Forbes, Tomasz Bis
  • Patent number: 7275488
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 6405658
    Abstract: A manual discharge door operating system for a hopper railcar includes a door actuation shaft coupled to the railcar extending across the width of the railcar. The door actuation shaft has distal ends accessible from opposite sides of the railcar with each distal end adapted to be engaged with a handle for rotation of the actuation shaft by the operator. Rotation of the actuation shaft opens and closes the discharge door of the hopper railcar through linkage assemblies. Preferably, a door operating linkage assembly is provided with an over-center closed position to hold the door in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: JAC Patent Company
    Inventor: Fred J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6289822
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 6286436
    Abstract: A mobile cement laying machine for delivering concrete via tracks to areas which are difficult to access by truck. The mobile cement laying machine includes a carriage with a front end and a back end. A hopper is mounted to an upper side of the carriage toward the front end of the carriage. The hopper has an open top and a slot providing a lower opening into the hopper for dispensing cement from the hopper. A gate substantially closes the slot of the hopper. A pair of first rail wheels are coupled to the carriage towards the front end of the carriage. A pair of second rail wheels are coupled to the carriage towards the back end of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Giancarlo A. Sansalone
  • Patent number: 5823118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bottom discharge arrangement intended for mounting on goods container of a railway truck. The arrangement includes at least one pair of flaps which is pivotally mounted on the goods container at their mutually remote edges, so as to be able to swing between an open and a closed position in a plane perpendicular to the edges. The arrangement includes a two-arm lever which is common to the link systems and which functions to maneuver the flaps simultaneously. The lever arm is pivotally mounted centrally at a point between the pivot axes of the flaps and is pivotally connected at one end to a first link pivotally mounted on one flap and at the other end is pivotally connected to a second link pivotally mounted on the other flap. When the flaps are closed, the pivot points between the parts of the link system lie in an essentially forceless state of equilibrium in a common plane which is locked in this state of equilibrium by an operating device coacting with the link system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB
    Inventor: Hilding M.ang.nstrom
  • Patent number: 5765486
    Abstract: A railway car for transportation of motor vehicles. The railway car may be articulated, comprising two or more units. The railway car may have end doors which are pivotally attached to the roof of the railway car. Flexible seals may be provided along the inner and outer edges of the end doors. Ventilation in the side walls of the railway car may be provided by small diameter perforations grouped at elevations near the top and bottom of each level. The side walls may be constructed by a combination of load bearing side wall panels which function as shear plates, and vertical posts. Protection for the door edges of motor vehicles being carried in the railway car may be provided by providing a plurality of parallel horizontal strips of a relatively soft material along the inside of each side wall on each level. A flexible enclosure may be provided between adjacent car units. A heat-reflecting corrosion-resistant coating may be provided on the galvanized steel corrugated roof to extend the life of the roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James E. Black, Jr., Andrew B. Eaker, Mark L. Litherland, Michael J. Rench, James C. Robertson, Ralph H. Schorr
  • Patent number: 5606916
    Abstract: A hopper door operating mechanism includes an arcuate closing plate mounted on an internal shaft pivotably connected to the frame of the hopper door. An operating crank has one end connected to the internal shaft and the other end pivotably connected to a link arm. The link arm has motors pivotably connected at opposite ends of the link arm. The closing plate can be rotated to open the hopper door in either direction depending on the discharge direction. To open and close the closing plate in a first direction, the first motor is operated to move the link arm and rotate the closing plate while the second motor is maintained in a closed position to retain one end of the link arm as a fulcrum point. To open and close the closing plate in the opposite direction, the second motor is operated to move the link arm while the first motor is maintained in a close position to retain end of the link arm as a fulcrum point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Difco, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Murray
  • Patent number: 5335880
    Abstract: A cargo compartment door for a passenger aircraft having about 80 to 150 seats, wherein the cargo compartment is located underneath the cabin floor, closes a loading opening (6) that extends from approximately a connection area (3, 4) between the cabin floor and the fuselage downwardly in a circumferential direction to well beyond the center plane of the fuselage. The cargo compartment door has a work platform that extends approximately horizontally in the loading position. These features provide an optimal convenience for loading and unloading such aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Deutsche Aerospace Airbus GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Guenter Klug
  • Patent number: 5261333
    Abstract: A discharge arrangement for dispensing the contents of a hopper. The discharge arrangement is particularly suitable for use as an automated ballast door operating mechanism on a railroad hopper car transporting ballast for use in roadbed restoration. The hopper includes at least one discharge opening for discharge of the contents of the hopper. Discharge arrangements are installed over each hopper discharge opening to provide regulation of the discharge of the contents. Each arrangement includes a pair of doors. Locking means are provided by which both or either of the pair of doors may be locked closed. The positioning of the doors is automated in that a fluid motor is connected between the doors. The fluid motor may be actuated to partially or fully open a selected door to regulate discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Difco, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel L. Miller
  • Patent number: 4606276
    Abstract: A motion retarder particularly useful for regulating rotary movement of a shaft, for example, includes an inner and outer tension unit carried on a bolt shaped rod. Arcurate end segments of a pressure member of each unit are positioned in an opposing manner to define a pair of shaft holding spaces. A spring carried on the rod between the inner unit and a head portion of the rod may be advanced through a threaded connection between an end of the rod and a lock-type nut forming part of the outer unit. This advancement compresses the spring to force an inner friction surface of the unit pressure member end segments into engagement with an outer surface of a shaft positioned in the respective holding spaces. This engagement selectively inhibits inadvertent shaft movement to maintain the position of the shaft until shaft movement is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward S. LeMarbe
  • Patent number: 4580502
    Abstract: A device for unloading a container used for bulk materials is such that a container floor is made up at least in part of flaps which can be tilted or swung out away from the interior. To this end at least two flaps are connected via a ridging beam or axle which runs through the interior of the container above a rotatable shaft. The rotational movement of the shaft is transmitted to the flaps to actuate same. The shaft features on opposite sides and transverse to its longitudinal axis first and second flange pairs, the former accommodating an elbow lever with the help of a push-fit bolt, and the latter a lever with the help of a bolt. The elbow lever and the lever are hinged to the flaps respectively. Further, connected to the flaps is a lock which joins up via bolts with the elbow lever or the lever, and in the closed position engages on a latching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Swiss Aluminium Ltd.
    Inventors: Antal Ritzl, Jurg Zehnder
  • Patent number: 4480954
    Abstract: A bottom dump arrangement attached to a body which provides a goods-holding space, the body resting on an undercarriage and including at least one pair of adjacent doors having remote edges, the doors being pivotally attached at their remote edges for swinging movement in a curved path transverse to the body and perpendicular to the remote edges, the free edges of the doors facing toward each other abutting each other in closed position of the doors, the arrangement also including guide paths that cooperate with the body to lift the body relative to the undercarriage, a linkage assembly pivotally connected between the doors and the body for permitting the body, when lifted by the guide paths, to become inclined to the pivotal axes for the doors in a vertical plane, which is parallel to the pivotal axes of the doors and perpendicular to the plane that the undercarriage rests on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB
    Inventor: Hilding Manstrom
  • Patent number: 4366757
    Abstract: An apparatus for actuating and locking each pair of hopper doors of a railroad hopper car of the type having a plurality of hopper doors arranged in opposed pairs and extending transversely of the hopper car center sill. Each door actuating and locking apparatus for each opposed pair of hopper doors comprises a shaft assembly extending transversely of the hopper car between its respective opposed pair of hopper doors and through the hopper car center sill and the inner and outer hopper sheets for those hopper doors. That portion of the shaft assembly located within the center sill has an L-shaped lever structure non-rotatively mounted thereon. The lever structure is connected by links to the hopper doors of its respective pair. Either end of the shaft assembly can be engaged externally of the hopper car by an approriate tool to rotate the shaft assembly and its lever structure between a door open position and an over-center, door-closed and locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1983
    Assignee: Ortner Freight Car Company
    Inventor: Stanley Funk
  • Patent number: 4206571
    Abstract: A bunker closure door mechanism for a bunker housing which has an opening with a seat around the opening which is closed by a closure door body, comprises, first and second spaced apart end levers which are pivotally connected between the housing and one end of the door. In addition, central levers are pivotally connected to the door body intermediate its length and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to a toggle lever which is pivotally mounted on the housing. The door body carries guide pins which are engageable in vertical slots of guide members supported on the bunker housing. By means of an actuator in the form of a fluid-pressure operated piston and cylinder connection, a guide rod is actuated to engage the central lever intermediate its length and to pivot it about its connection to the toggle lever and to also shift the toggle lever over its dead center position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Waggon Union GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Kramer, Felix Schneider, Gerhard Kampmann
  • Patent number: 4023719
    Abstract: A door for opening and closing the discharge opening of a hopper is carried y a support suspended from an oblique lateral wall of the hopper by two links pivoted to the support at one end and pivoted to the support at the other end of the links. An actuating and locking mechanism for the door is connected to the support. The support has a generally triangular shape and the two pivotal connections between the links and the support are in the vicinity of two of the corners of the triangle. The door is located in the vicinity of the third corner of the triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Societe Internationale d'Investissements et de Participations (Interpar)
    Inventor: Gustave Maurice Noyon
  • Patent number: 3949681
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1976
    Assignee: Pullman Incorporated
    Inventor: Roy W. Miller