RAILWAY CAR OUTLET GATE ASSEMBLY WITH COMPACT INERTIAL LATCH

摘要

An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a gate in the frame. A conventional rack and pinion opening and closing drive moves the gate between open and closed positions on the frame. An inertial latch mechanism latches the gate in the fully closed position. Actuation of the opening and closing drive displaces the latch to automatically unlatch the gate. Upon impact, an inertial mass bears directly against the latch and transmits a latching force holding the latch closed and preventing opening of the gate.