RAILROAD CAR AND DOOR MECHANISM THEREFOR

摘要

A railroad hopper car discharge outflow is controlled by closure members, at least one of which is movable. The closure members (or 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 during opening and closing. The doors are driven by a transverse drive linkage that is driven by a transversely mounted actuator. The actuator may be mounted in an accommodation in the lee of slope sheets between adjacent hoppers in a mid-span portion of the car. Drive from the actuator is carried to a pair of symmetrically mounted doors through drive train linkages.

主权项

1. A railroad hopper car for operation in a rolling direction along railroad tracks, said railroad hopper car having:
a first hopper; said first hopper having a discharge; a pair of first and second doors mounted to govern egress of lading from said discharge; said doors being movable between a closed position for retaining lading within said first hopper and an open position for permitting egress of lading under the influence of gravity; a mechanical transmission mounted to drive said doors; said first and second doors being longitudinal doors; said mechanical transmission including a splitting member mounted to said railroad hopper car at a fulcrum; a first linkage connected to said splitting member to a first side of said fulcrum, said first linkage being connected to transmit force from said splitting member to said first door; a second linkage connected to said splitting member to a second side of said fulcrum, said second linkage being connected to transmit force from said splitting member to said second door; and an actuator mounted to drive said transmission, said actuator being mounted to act transversely relative to the rolling direction.