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.

Abstract: An opening and closing method and mechanism is adapted for a convertible movable top cover of a railway freight wagon including first and second convertible movable top covers; a belt driving mechanism is arranged on the wagon. One end of the first convertible movable top cover is connected with one side of a driving belt in the belt driving mechanism and a first outer convex portion; one end of the second convertible movable top cover is connected with the other side of the driving belt in the belt driving mechanism and a second outer convex portion. A moving direction of one side of the driving belt is opposite to that of the other side of the driving belt. First and second stopper devices are arranged on the ground. When the wagon moves, the first stopper device contacts the first outer convex portion or the second stopper device contacts the second outer convex portion.

Abstract: A track mounted system for closing rail car doors that enables the simultaneous closing of multiple car doors. After hopper car contents such as aggregate or coal are unloaded, the doors are closed in pairs by semi-automated door closing arms that are positioned on the track and are operated by hydraulic cylinders, pneumatic cylinders, or electric motors. The closing arms are configured in specific shapes to adapt to a variety of hopper door configurations. The closing arms may be added in pairs depending on the number of doors. The door closer can be sequenced to accommodate frontward or rearward facing doors. Hydraulic cylinders with a differential bell crank can be used to activate the closer arm assemblies. Closer arms can be mounted side by side on the inside or outside of the track or separately inside and outside of the track.

Abstract: A system for operating hopper doors 14, 16 in a bulk transport vehicle comprises linkages 34, 36, 38, 40 forming an over-center locking arrangement and separate opening and closing trip levers 24, 50 attached to an operating shaft 30. The trip levers 24, 50 are operated by engaging associated cams 28, 54 as the vehicle is moved relative thereto. The cams 28, 54 are inactivated by being rotated, translated or lowered out of the path of the trip levers to a position where they do not trigger the operation of the doors 14, 16. A single door or pair of doors may be operated at the same time. To prevent false triggering of the door mechanism in transit, a secondary lock can be provided where a spring or counterweight is used to bias a lever which restrains a governor. The governor moves between stops which determine the angular positions corresponding to the door(s) 14, 16 being opened or closed.

Abstract: A truck dumping and unloading apparatus which is operated by reverse truck motion and is adapted for mounting on a flatbed truck or a pick-up truck. The apparatus includes a single or double-member, open-top sled having at least a primary compartment adapted for containing trash, garbage or refuse, a sled guide mounted on the back of the truck for receiving a cable, one end of which cable is attached to the sled and a traveling block adapted for traveling on the opposite end of the cable and receiving a pair of tire chains or friction mats for deployment beneath the rear wheels of the truck. Operation of the truck rearwardly and traversal of the tire chains or friction mats by the rear truck tires causes the traveling block to traverse the cable and the sled to slide from the truck bed and dump the trash, garbage, bulk materials or refuse, reponsive to tension applied to the cable by the travelling block.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hopper, and more particularly to a wheeled hopper for rail operation, including a container body which has a discharge opening in its underside, two doors which are pivotally connected to the body on opposite sides of its discharge opening with the pivot axes of the doors lying in the direction of travel of the hopper, the doors being movable between a first position in which they close the opening and a second position in which the opening is open, a door latch arrangement including an abutment formation on each door at one end of the hopper which, in the first position of the doors, are opposite and directed towards each other at a position above the pivot axes of the doors, a detent between the abutments for preventing movement of the doors from their first to second positions and means on the hopper body which is movable independently of the doors for moving the detent from between the abutments to enable the doors to move under gravity from their first to their second position

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.

Abstract: A door locking mechanism for a hopper door includes a latch arrangement which is incorporated into a door closure mechanism activated by a side-of-track camming mechanism. The arrangement includes an actuating device responsive to car wheel engagement and a safety locking combination cooperating with the actuating mechanism.

Abstract: A hopper car discharge gate operating mechanism providing a toggle or over center linkage mechanism with one link having a roller extending outwardly of the hopper vehicle and engageable with a trackside operating cam for opening and closing the hopper gates. The roller is mounted on a support arm that is carried by a mechanism link and held with a locking pin in such a manner to allow the locking pin to break and release the arm in the event the doors are jammed closed. The operating mechanism also includes a biasing spring for automatically returning the doors to a closed position after the hoppers are emptied.

Abstract: A bottom dump hopper car includes a pair of closure doors interconnected for conjoint movement. One of the doors is provided with a pivoted arm extending toward the center sill and is in operative engagement with a pivoted locking latch. The latch includes a stop and a follower element and is pivotally moved between door opening and closing position by means of a reciprocating actuation rod containing a cam element engagable with the follower element.

Abstract: An arrangement for operating longitudinally disposed discharge door for a railway hopper vehicle includes adjacent pairs of interconnected hopper doors. The doors of each pair are connected by linkages to provide simultaneous, cooperative opening and closing movement. The inner door of each pair is operatively connected with a locking linkage which, when in the locked position, engages a longitudinally displaceable locking cam to secure the doors. Displacement of the locking cam permits the weight of the lading within the car to open the discharge doors. The doors are returned to the closed position by means of door-engaging trackside cams, and the locking cam is returned to the locked position securing the doors.

Abstract: A hopper car door locking and unlocking arrangement includes a crank arm which is initially moved to a bail engaging position laterally outwardly of the car and then is further operated by the bail of a side of track door opening device. The crank arm moves a longitudinal actuating means which controls the locking members of a pair of downwardly opening hopper doors.

Abstract: A locking arrangement for the side dump doors of a hopper car includes a pair of actuating levers projecting downward from the car engaging suitable trips mounted adjacent to the tracks which provides for longitudinal movement of a pair of latch bars which disengage a plurality of latches longitudinally disposed on the car between the hopper slope sheets and the swinging doors. Safety locks are provided to provide inadvertent opening of the latch mechanisms.