AU2012200552B2 - Railcar cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A railcar system including a railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover including a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slidable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. The linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough. The slidable hatch has two opposite sides that define a width of the slidable hatch, the shaped bar extending substantially the full width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar being attached to the two opposite sides of the slidable hatch. The hole through the low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate the shaped bar.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Structural Composites of Indiana Inc. Actual Inventor(s): Kenneth M. Baranowski, Arturo Machado, Roy J. Huber Address for Service and Correspondence: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: RAILCAR COVER Our Ref: 934329 POF Code: 452270/503716 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): - 1 - RAILCAR COVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 100011 This application is a divisional of Australian Patent Application No. 2009225481 filed on 20 March 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 1. Field of the Invention [00021 The present invention relates to a cover system for a railcar, and, more particularly, to an opening and closing system for railcar covers. 2. Description of the Related Art [00031 Bulk carrying railcars often have openings along the top that are opened for the loading of material and closed for transportation, some bulk railroad cars are utilized without any cover. It is desirous to protect the materials carried in the interior of the railroad car from damage, which may be caused by weather or other environmental sources of damage which may include particulate or biologic material contained in the area. It is also desirous to prevent the bulk material from being dissipated by transportation due to the air billowing over the bulk material while it is in transit. It is desirable to have a railcar open on top so as to provide an easy way of loading cargo from a delivering device, such as a hopper, that may be suspended over the top of the railroad car. It is known to have railroad car hatches that are hinged and which are opened by releasing the latches on one side and pivoting the covers to the other side thereby exposing a portion of the top of the railroad car so that material may be loaded therein. It is known to have sliding cover doors that employ rolling bearings located at each end of the railcar. This type of device requires a system that can coordinate the rolling, which can lead to mechanism failure such as the covers becoming pinched preventing their smooth operation. This system also requires personnel to operate the mechanism. 100041 What is needed in the art is a railcar cover that can easily and repeatably slide open to SC1000.DIV 2 expose the top of the railroad car and closed to cover the material therein. [00051 The above discussion of background art is included to explain the context of the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia at the priority date of any one of the claims of this specification. [00061 Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprising" and "comprises" are not intended to exclude other additives, steps or integers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [00071 The present invention is directed to a railcar system with linear bearings associated with the removable hatch. [00081 In a first aspect, the present invention provides a railcar system including a railcar having a longitudinal axis and a movable cover. The movable cover including a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slidable hatch connected to the plurality of linear bearing devices. The slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to the longitudinal axis. The linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough. The slidable hatch has two opposite sides that define a width of the slidable hatch, the shaped bar extending substantially the full width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar being attached to the two opposite sides of the slidable hatch. The hole through the low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate the shaped bar. [00091 An advantage of the present invention is that the linear bearing devices are spaced along the top of the cover to provide a coordinated opening of the lengthy cover. [00101 Another advantage of the present invention is that the opening and closing devices open SCIOQOL.DIV 3 and close the cover without the need for human intervention. 100111 Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the opening and closing devices are self-centering providing a coordinated opening and closing of the railcar cover hatches. [00121 Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the opening and closing of the railcar cover occurs by the movement of the railcar under the opening and closing devices. [00131 In a second aspect, the present invention provides a railcar cover system for use with a railcar. The railcar has a longitudinal axis. The railcar cover system, comprises a cover attachable to the railcar. The cover includes a plurality of linear bearing devices and at least one slidable hatch connected to said plurality of linear bearing devices. The slidable hatch are movable substantially normal to said longitudinal axis and the linear bearing devices each include a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough. The slidable hatch has two opposite sides that define a width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar extends substantially the full width of the slidable hatch. The shaped bar is attached to said two opposite sides of said slidable hatch. The hole through the low friction bearing is shaped to accommodate the shaped bar. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [00141 The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [00151 Fig. I is a perspective view of a railcar having an embodiment of a railcar cover of the present invention with an opening device suspended thereover; 100161 Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the railroad car of Fig. I about to encounter the closing device that will act to close the hatches of the railcar; SCIOOO.DIV 4 100171 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one hold down pin system utilized on the cover of Figs. I and 2; 100181 Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned end view of the cover of Figs. 1-3 showing the hatches in the closed position; 10019] Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned view of the cover of Figs. 1-4 shown in an open position; and [00201 Fig. 6 is a partial end view illustrating an embodiment of a latching mechanism utilized with the cover of Figs. 1-5. 100211 Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 100221 Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. I and 2, there is shown a railcar system 10 including a railcar 12 having a cover system 14 thereon. Cover system 14 includes a hatch 16 and a hatch 18 that encounter an opening system 20 as shown in Fig. I and a closing system 22 as shown in Fig. 2. Hatches 16 and 18 respectively have protrusions 24 and 26 extending substantially vertically from the top surface of hatches 16 and 18. [0023] Opening system 20 includes an angled opening wedge 28 that is suspended from an overhead support 30. In a similar fashion, closing system 22 includes closing wedges 32 suspended from an overhead support 34. Railcar 12 has a longitudinal axis 36 and moves along that axis in direction 38. Angled opening wedge 28 has an adjusting direction 40 and in a like manner closing wedge 32 is adjustable in a direction 42. [00241 As railcar 12 moves in moving direction 38 as shown in Fig. 1, protrusions 24 and 26 SCI00O.DIV 5 encounter the angled surfaces of opening wedge 28. Presuming that one of protrusions 24 or 26 encounter opening wedge 28 before the other protrusion, the opening wedge 28 is supported in a sliding manner by overhead support 30, thereby allowing opening wedge 28 to shift in an appropriate direction so as to cause protrusions 24 and 26 to diverge from each other at the same time and cause the opening process to start in a relatively uniform manner. Additionally, there may be a powered adjustment feature with sensors to also adjust wedges 28 and 32 appropriately. Additionally, an adjusting mechanism may be utilized to move wedges 28 and 32 to one side of their prospective support in the event that it is not desired to open the railcars passing beneath supports 30 and 34. 100251 In a typical operation, the movement of the railcars is in a singular direction with railcar 12 first encountering opening system 20 and then, with hatches 16 and 18 in an open position, railcar 12 is loaded with some bulk material. As railcar 12 continues to move in direction 38, it then encounters closing system 22 as shown in Fig. 2 where closing wedge 32 encounters protrusions 24 and 26, adjusting to provide for a uniform closing of hatches 16 and 18. The movement of the wedges in directions 40 and 42 may continue up to the point the hatches 16 and 18 has completed its' travel. This system compensates for any imbalance in the frictional movement of individual hatch. For example, if hatch 16 is reluctant to move, hatch 18 may move to its full extent while hatch 16 is slow to move until hatch 18 reaches its full movement at which point sideways movement stops causing hatch 16 to receive additional force from the encountered wedge causing it then to move to its full extent. Although overhead supports 30 and 34 are illustrated, it is also anticipated that wedges 28 and 32 can be integrated into the structure of a loading operation. 100261 Now, additionally referring to Fig. 3, there is shown part of the cover hold down system including a pin 44 extending from railcar 12 through an opening in cover 46 with a sealing SCIOOO.DIV 6 washer 48 followed by a washer 50, a spring 52, a washer 54, and a keeper pin 56. This system advantageously allows for the quick installation and removal of cover system 14. Additionally, positioning of spring 52 allows cover 46 to move upward in the event that there is a sudden air pressure change within railcar 12. Ideally, several of the hold down systems are utilized on cover system 14 at appropriately positioned places. [0027] Now, additionally referring to Figs. 4 and 5, elements of the linear bearings 58, which allow hatches 16 and 18 to move are illustrated. Experimentation has shown that five linear bearings along each hatch are an optimal number of linear bearings for each hatch cover. Other numbers of linear bearings utilized are also contemplated. Linear bearings 58 include a rod 60 that extends through a bearing 62. Rod 60 extends from one edge of the cover to the other edge substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis 36. Rod 60 may be circular in cross section although other shapes are also contemplated. Bearing 62 has a cavity that is shaped to match the shape of rod 60 and bearing 62 is made of a low friction material to allow rod 60 to slide therethrough. Bearing 62 may be substantially half the length of rod 60 to provide a long bearing surface thereby reducing or eliminating the possibility of hatch 16 or 18 from cocking or pinching while it moves. Bearing 62 is made from a low friction material and has a consistency that has a substantially constant density along its length. Additionally, other configurations are also contemplated such as two bearings 62 separated by a space being positioned to support rod 60. Hatches 16 and 18 are configured to slide toward and away from each other in a coordinated manner by utilizing wedges 28 and 32. However, hatches 16 and 18 are not constrained to open in a coordinated manner. Further hatches 16 and 18 advantageously do not require any mechanism carried by railcar 12 to open or close them. The opening and closing devices, since they are slideable in a direction that is substantially normal to longitudinal axis 36 allows the opening and closing devices to be self-centering relative to protrusions 24 and 26. Opening SCI0001.DIV 7 wedges 28 and closing wedges 32 are stationary relative to the railcar in the longitudinal direction as the railcar passes through opening system 20 and closing system 22. 100281 Now additionally referring to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a hatch latch 64 that is configured to latch hatch 16 to hatch 18 when they are slid together. Opening system 20 also provides for the automatic unlatching of hatches 16 and 18 when the opening sequence starts. The unlatching is illustrated as protrusion 24 is allowed to hinge a predetermined amount to thereby lift latch 64 from catch 66. Closing system 22 in a similar fashion causes the hatch latch to latch before shipping. This is accomplished by latch 64 being itself hinged relative to protrusion 24 having a wedge shaped end that encounters catch 66 to thereby allow latch 64 to hook to catch 66. Other latching mechanisms are contemplated including magnetic latches. (00291 While the opening and closing of hatches 16 and 18 has been discussed relative to a filling operation, it is also anticipated that hatches 16 and 18 will be at least partially opened during an emptying operation to preclude any damage that might occur by the rapid removal of bulk material which may cause a vacuum within railcar 12. Alternatively, a pressure relief valve system may be part of cover system 14. For example, a pressure relief valve may be an integral part of protrusions 24 and 26 extending through the middle thereof. [00301 While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims. SCI000I.DIV 8

Claims (14)

1. A railcar system, comprising: a railcar having a longitudinal axis; and a movable cover including: a plurality of linear bearing devices; and at least one slidable hatch connected to said plurality of linear bearing devices, said slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to said longitudinal axis, said linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough, said slidable hatch having two opposite sides that define a width of said slidable hatch, said shaped bar extending substantially the full width of said slidable hatch, said shaped bar being attached to said two opposite sides of said slidable hatch, said hole through said low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate said shaped bar.

2. The railcar system of claim 1, wherein said low friction bearing has a length, said shaped bar having a length that is approximately twice as long as said length of said low friction bearing.

3. The railcar system of claim 2, wherein said low friction bearing has a substantially constant density along said length of said low friction bearing.

4. The railcar system of any one of claims I to 3, wherein said at least one slidable hatch includes a first slidable hatch and a second slidable hatch that are configured to slide away from each other to reveal an opening in said cover and toward each other to close the opening in said cover. SCIOOO.DIV 9

5. The railcar system of claim 4, wherein said first slidable hatch and said second slidable hatch each have an upwardly extending protrusion.

6. The railcar system of claim 4 or claim 5, further comprising a latching system that latches said first slidable hatch to said second slidable hatch.

7. A railcar cover system for use with a railcar, the railcar having a longitudinal axis, the railcar cover system, comprising: a cover attachable to the railcar, the cover including: a plurality of linear bearing devices; and at least one slidable hatch connected to said plurality of linear bearing devices, said slidable hatch being movable substantially normal to said longitudinal axis, said linear bearing devices each including a shaped bar and a low friction bearing having a hole therethrough, said slidable hatch having two opposite sides that define a width of said slidable hatch, said shaped bar extending substantially the full width of said slidable hatch, said shaped bar being attached to said two opposite sides of said slidable hatch, said hole through said low friction bearing being shaped to accommodate said shaped bar.

8. The railcar system of claim 7, wherein said low friction bearing has a length, said shaped bar having a length that is approximately twice as long as said length of said low friction bearing.

9. The railcar system of claim 8, wherein said low friction bearing has a substantially SCIOQO.DIV 10 constant density along said length of said low friction bearing.

10. The railcar system of any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said at least one slidable hatch includes a first slidable hatch and a second slidable hatch that are configured to slide away from each other to reveal an opening in said cover and toward each other to close the opening in said cover.

11. The railcar system of claim 10, wherein said first slidable hatch and said second slidable hatch each have an upwardly extending protrusion.

12. The railcar system of claim 10 or claim 11, further comprising a latching system that latches said first slidable hatch to said second slidable hatch.

13. A railcar system, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention.

14. A railcar cover system for use with a railcar, substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings of embodiments of the invention. SCIOO.DIV 11