CA1237604A - Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate - Google Patents
Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gateInfo
- Publication number
- CA1237604A CA1237604A CA000480571A CA480571A CA1237604A CA 1237604 A CA1237604 A CA 1237604A CA 000480571 A CA000480571 A CA 000480571A CA 480571 A CA480571 A CA 480571A CA 1237604 A CA1237604 A CA 1237604A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- trolley
- track
- pinion
- torque
- gates
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 235000000396 iron Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 235000017899 Spathodea campanulata Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002040 relaxant effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Transmission Devices (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A hopper car gate opener comprising an elongated member having opposed flanges defining a fixed track; a trolley element mounted on the track supported by and movable along a top surface of each flange;
and a portion of the trolley element underlaying and spaced from a bottom surface of each flange. A torque producing unit is mounted on the trolley element and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predetermined rotational direction to drive a pinion of the gate.
A method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car having a plurality of gates where the gates are under control of rack and pin-ion sets individual thereto; providing a flanged track disposed gen-erally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car; mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track; and mounting a torque producing unit upon the trolley. The method additionally comprises positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion, and connecting the torque unit to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so that torque applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate the gate.
A hopper car gate opener comprising an elongated member having opposed flanges defining a fixed track; a trolley element mounted on the track supported by and movable along a top surface of each flange;
and a portion of the trolley element underlaying and spaced from a bottom surface of each flange. A torque producing unit is mounted on the trolley element and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predetermined rotational direction to drive a pinion of the gate.
A method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car having a plurality of gates where the gates are under control of rack and pin-ion sets individual thereto; providing a flanged track disposed gen-erally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car; mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track; and mounting a torque producing unit upon the trolley. The method additionally comprises positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion, and connecting the torque unit to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so that torque applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate the gate.
Description
I
A HOPPER CAR GATE OPENER AND METHOD
OF OPERATING A HOPPER CAR GATE
This invention provides a novel gate opener for a freight hopper car. More specifically, this invention contemplates a novel hopper car gate opener and a method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car.
US. Patent Number 4,075,~52 discloses an apparatus for opening a gear activated scissor-typ~ hopper car pocket opener. The appear-tusk includes a shaft, slide members mounted on opposite outboard links of the shaft, links which fit into sockets connected to the gears of the opener and which are mounted on the slide members so that the links are free to move axially on the shaft, and means for axially moving the slide members toward the mid length of the shaft. This patent does not teach or suggest the particular hopper car gate opener end method of operating the hopper car discharge gates of this invention.
This invention accomplishes its desired objects by providing a hopper car gate opener comprising an elongated member having opposed flanges defining a fixed track, a trolley element mounted on the track supported by and movable along the top surface of each flange, and a portion of the trolley element underlaying and spaced from a bottom surface of each flange. A torque producing unit is mounted on the trolley element and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predetermined rotational direction to drive a pinion of the gate.
Reaction to the twisting moment is to effectively rotate the trolley element relative to the track so that the portion of the trolley element underlaying the bottom surface moves into contact with the bottom sun-face of each flange, effective to seize the trolley frictionally and ~?3~7~
releasable to the track. This invention further accomplishes its de-sired objects by providing a method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car having a plurality of gates where the gates are under control of rack and pinion sets individual thereto. The method come proses the steps ox providing a flanged track disposed generally par-allot to the longitudinal axis of the car, mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track; mounting a torque producing unit upon the trot-icy; and positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion The method further comprises connect-in the torque to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so theatric applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate toe gate.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel hopper car gate opener which is capable of easily being assembled.
Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a method of operating hopper car discharge gates with a hopper car gate opener which can be easily transported, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
These together with the various ancillary objects and features will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are at-twined by this invention, preferred embodiments being shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hopper car gate opener;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation Al view of the hopper car gaze opener FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view waken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of e in FIG. 3.
~3~7S~
Referring in detail now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent similar parts of the invention, there is a freight hopper car (not seen entirely in the drawings) having a plurality of hoppers 10 with rack and pinion operated gates, generally illustrated as 11, individual to each hopper 10. The gate opener (see FIG. 1) of this invention comprises an elongated I-member, generally thus-treated as 12, having opposed flanges 13, 14 for deveining a fixed track.
A trolley element, generally illustrated as 16, is mounted on the de fined fixed track and is supported by and movable along a top surface 17, 18 of each flange 13, 14, respectively. A portion, generally if-lust raced as 19, of the trolley element 16 underlays and is spaced from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14, respectively. A torque producing unit, generally illustrated as 23, is mounted on the trolley element 16 and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predator-mined rotational direction to drive the pinion 11. In a preferred em-bodiment of the invention, torque producing unit 23 is a motor (pro-fireball electric) 42 connected to a gear boy 44 which in turn is con-netted via a universal joint 31 to a jack shaft 28 supporting a hand wheel 29. The end of the jack shaft 28 is adopted for insertion into the rack and pinion gates 11 on the hopper 10 to turn the same in opt oration to open the gates and empty the train from the hoppers 10 into a bin underneath. Circular hand wheel 29 is used to better handle the gate opener device of this invention in mounting the same on the rack and pinion gates 11 on the hoppers 10.
Reaction to the twisting moment from the torque producing unit 23 is effective to rotate the trolley element 16 relative to the defined ~376~
track such that portion lo of the trolley element 16, which underlays the bottom surface 21, 22, moves into contact with the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14 to frictionally seize and hold the trolley element 16 to the defined track (see FIG. 4 which illustrates the apt plied torque reaction twisting the trolley element 16 from solid line to dotted line position). Relaxing of the torque causes portion 19 of the trolley element 16 to be released from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14.
The trolley element 16 includes a frame having a pair of opposed angle irons defining L-shaped webs 24-27, 24-27 disposed perpendicular with respect to one another. Webs 24, 24 provide rotatable support for a pair of shafts 36, 36 having rollers 26, 26 which ride traversal on the top surface 17, 18 of each flange 13, 14 respectively. Webs 27-27 underlay and are spaced from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14 respectively. Spaced roller bearings 40, 40 are carried by each shaft 36 and are in rolling contact with the same and the not-tens 26, 26 as shown in FIX. 4.
With continuing reference to the drawings for operation of the in-mention, the trolley element 16 is mounted on the defined I-member 12 fixed track. The torque producing unit 23 is mounted on the -trolley element 16. Subsequently, the trolley element 16 is positioned along the defined track such that the torque producing unit 23 is aligned with the rack and pinion gates 11. Hand wheel 29 is utilized to fact-ligate the connecting of jack shaft 28 to the pinion gates 11.
Torque is applied to the jack shaft 28 by the torque producing unit 23 such that the shaft 28 drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the ~2376~
rack to operate the gate. The torque resulting from the turning of the jack shaft 28 by the torque producing unit 23 is great enough such that portion 19 (webs 27, 27) of the trolley element 16 that underlays the bottom surface 17, 18 pivots up against the bottom sun-face 17, 18 to lock or seize the trolley element 16 in position on the defined I-beam track. when the torque is relaxed, the trolley element 16 is freed from the defined track and can be sequentially positioned along the defined track in alignment with successive gates 10 in order to repeat the method or process.
While the present invention has been described herein with no-furriness to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disk closure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some lea-lures of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
A HOPPER CAR GATE OPENER AND METHOD
OF OPERATING A HOPPER CAR GATE
This invention provides a novel gate opener for a freight hopper car. More specifically, this invention contemplates a novel hopper car gate opener and a method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car.
US. Patent Number 4,075,~52 discloses an apparatus for opening a gear activated scissor-typ~ hopper car pocket opener. The appear-tusk includes a shaft, slide members mounted on opposite outboard links of the shaft, links which fit into sockets connected to the gears of the opener and which are mounted on the slide members so that the links are free to move axially on the shaft, and means for axially moving the slide members toward the mid length of the shaft. This patent does not teach or suggest the particular hopper car gate opener end method of operating the hopper car discharge gates of this invention.
This invention accomplishes its desired objects by providing a hopper car gate opener comprising an elongated member having opposed flanges defining a fixed track, a trolley element mounted on the track supported by and movable along the top surface of each flange, and a portion of the trolley element underlaying and spaced from a bottom surface of each flange. A torque producing unit is mounted on the trolley element and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predetermined rotational direction to drive a pinion of the gate.
Reaction to the twisting moment is to effectively rotate the trolley element relative to the track so that the portion of the trolley element underlaying the bottom surface moves into contact with the bottom sun-face of each flange, effective to seize the trolley frictionally and ~?3~7~
releasable to the track. This invention further accomplishes its de-sired objects by providing a method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car having a plurality of gates where the gates are under control of rack and pinion sets individual thereto. The method come proses the steps ox providing a flanged track disposed generally par-allot to the longitudinal axis of the car, mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track; mounting a torque producing unit upon the trot-icy; and positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion The method further comprises connect-in the torque to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so theatric applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate toe gate.
It is an object of the invention to provide a novel hopper car gate opener which is capable of easily being assembled.
Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of a method of operating hopper car discharge gates with a hopper car gate opener which can be easily transported, and is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
These together with the various ancillary objects and features will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are at-twined by this invention, preferred embodiments being shown in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hopper car gate opener;
FIG. 2 is a side elevation Al view of the hopper car gaze opener FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view waken in direction of the arrows and along the plane of e in FIG. 3.
~3~7S~
Referring in detail now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent similar parts of the invention, there is a freight hopper car (not seen entirely in the drawings) having a plurality of hoppers 10 with rack and pinion operated gates, generally illustrated as 11, individual to each hopper 10. The gate opener (see FIG. 1) of this invention comprises an elongated I-member, generally thus-treated as 12, having opposed flanges 13, 14 for deveining a fixed track.
A trolley element, generally illustrated as 16, is mounted on the de fined fixed track and is supported by and movable along a top surface 17, 18 of each flange 13, 14, respectively. A portion, generally if-lust raced as 19, of the trolley element 16 underlays and is spaced from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14, respectively. A torque producing unit, generally illustrated as 23, is mounted on the trolley element 16 and is operable to generate a twisting moment in a predator-mined rotational direction to drive the pinion 11. In a preferred em-bodiment of the invention, torque producing unit 23 is a motor (pro-fireball electric) 42 connected to a gear boy 44 which in turn is con-netted via a universal joint 31 to a jack shaft 28 supporting a hand wheel 29. The end of the jack shaft 28 is adopted for insertion into the rack and pinion gates 11 on the hopper 10 to turn the same in opt oration to open the gates and empty the train from the hoppers 10 into a bin underneath. Circular hand wheel 29 is used to better handle the gate opener device of this invention in mounting the same on the rack and pinion gates 11 on the hoppers 10.
Reaction to the twisting moment from the torque producing unit 23 is effective to rotate the trolley element 16 relative to the defined ~376~
track such that portion lo of the trolley element 16, which underlays the bottom surface 21, 22, moves into contact with the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14 to frictionally seize and hold the trolley element 16 to the defined track (see FIG. 4 which illustrates the apt plied torque reaction twisting the trolley element 16 from solid line to dotted line position). Relaxing of the torque causes portion 19 of the trolley element 16 to be released from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14.
The trolley element 16 includes a frame having a pair of opposed angle irons defining L-shaped webs 24-27, 24-27 disposed perpendicular with respect to one another. Webs 24, 24 provide rotatable support for a pair of shafts 36, 36 having rollers 26, 26 which ride traversal on the top surface 17, 18 of each flange 13, 14 respectively. Webs 27-27 underlay and are spaced from the bottom surface 21, 22 of each flange 13, 14 respectively. Spaced roller bearings 40, 40 are carried by each shaft 36 and are in rolling contact with the same and the not-tens 26, 26 as shown in FIX. 4.
With continuing reference to the drawings for operation of the in-mention, the trolley element 16 is mounted on the defined I-member 12 fixed track. The torque producing unit 23 is mounted on the -trolley element 16. Subsequently, the trolley element 16 is positioned along the defined track such that the torque producing unit 23 is aligned with the rack and pinion gates 11. Hand wheel 29 is utilized to fact-ligate the connecting of jack shaft 28 to the pinion gates 11.
Torque is applied to the jack shaft 28 by the torque producing unit 23 such that the shaft 28 drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the ~2376~
rack to operate the gate. The torque resulting from the turning of the jack shaft 28 by the torque producing unit 23 is great enough such that portion 19 (webs 27, 27) of the trolley element 16 that underlays the bottom surface 17, 18 pivots up against the bottom sun-face 17, 18 to lock or seize the trolley element 16 in position on the defined I-beam track. when the torque is relaxed, the trolley element 16 is freed from the defined track and can be sequentially positioned along the defined track in alignment with successive gates 10 in order to repeat the method or process.
While the present invention has been described herein with no-furriness to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disk closure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some lea-lures of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth.
Claims (9)
1. In a freight hopper car of the type having a plurality of hoppers with rack and pinion operated gates individual to each hopper, the improvement comprising an elongated member having opposed flanges defining a fixed track, a trolley element mounted on the track sup-ported by and movable along a top surface of each flange, a portion of said trolley element underlaying and spaced from a bottom surface of each flange, and a torque producing unit mounted on the trolley element operable to generate a twisting moment in a predetermined ro-tational direction to drive said pinion, reaction to said twisting moment being effective to rotate the trolley element relative to the track so that said portion of said trolley element underlaying said bottom surface moves into contact with said bottom surface of each flange effective to seize the trolley frictionally and releasably to the track.
2. The device of Claim 1 in which the trolley element includes a frame having a pair of webs disposed perpendicular to one another, a first web providing support for rollers riding on said top surface, and a second web underlaying and spaced from said bottom surface.
3. The device of Claim 2 in which the torque unit includes an elongated shaft supporting a hand wheel at its distal end for facili-tating adaptation of the shaft to the pinion.
4. The device of Claim 3 in which the shaft is connected to the torque unit by means of a universal joint.
5. The device of Claim 3 in which the trolley element includes a pair of opposed angle irons each having the first web supporting a pair of shafts, the second web underlaying and spaced from said bot-tom surface, and spaced roller bearings carried by said shafts and in rolling contact with same and said rollers.
6. A method of operating the discharge gates of a hopper car having a plurality of gates where the gates are under control of rack and pinion sets individual thereto comprising the steps of:
providing a flanged track disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car;
mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track;
mounting a torque producing unit upon the trolley, positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion;
connecting the torque unit to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so that the torque applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate the gate.
providing a flanged track disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the car;
mounting a trolley upon and movable along the track;
mounting a torque producing unit upon the trolley, positioning the trolley along the track so that the torque unit is aligned with the pinion;
connecting the torque unit to the pinion by means of an elongated shaft so that the torque applied to the shaft drives the pinion which, in turn, drives the rack to operate the gate.
7. The method of Claim 6 in which torque reaction is utilized to seize and fix the trolley releasable to the track.
8. The method of Claim 6 in which one end of the shaft is pro-voided with a hand wheel to facilitate connecting the torque unit to the pinion.
9. The method of Claim 7 in which the torque is relaxed freeing the trolley from the track and sequentially positioning the trolley along the track in alignment with successive gates and repeating the process.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480571A CA1237604A (en) | 1985-05-02 | 1985-05-02 | Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480571A CA1237604A (en) | 1985-05-02 | 1985-05-02 | Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1237604A true CA1237604A (en) | 1988-06-07 |
Family
ID=4130407
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480571A Expired CA1237604A (en) | 1985-05-02 | 1985-05-02 | Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1237604A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-05-02 CA CA000480571A patent/CA1237604A/en not_active Expired
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1064325A (en) | Driverless vehicle shuttle | |
| JPS5941139B2 (en) | Conveyance device | |
| DE277447T1 (en) | SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE MOVEMENT OF A TRACKED VEHICLE. | |
| DE69100734T2 (en) | Orientation device for spherical products with at least one predominantly flattened surface such as tomatoes and the like. | |
| SE8502588D0 (en) | WAGON WITH VIPPBARA PLATER, Separate for sorting machines | |
| AU5040998A (en) | A wagon for drawing off long-welded rails stored on transport wagons | |
| US4164281A (en) | Spotting machine | |
| US4522545A (en) | Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate | |
| US4351637A (en) | Precision chain drive | |
| SE8206854D0 (en) | DRIVE | |
| CA1237604A (en) | Hopper car gate opener and method of operating a hopper car gate | |
| DE3468500D1 (en) | Linear driving device with two motors | |
| GB2074960A (en) | Track tensioning apparatus | |
| SE8605274D0 (en) | PRODUCTION DEVICE WITH A STEP-DRIVE TRANSPORT MECHANISM | |
| US2244592A (en) | Printing mechanism | |
| DE59500373D1 (en) | System for the transport of people and / or goods | |
| DE2052960A1 (en) | Device for directing goods transported on a conveyor belt to various conveying devices or the like | |
| US4085849A (en) | Machinery locating device | |
| SU1391780A1 (en) | Arrangement for feeding elongated material to the working station | |
| DE2154016C3 (en) | ||
| KR200145764Y1 (en) | Self-carrying bogie | |
| JPH0340804Y2 (en) | ||
| JPS6138083B2 (en) | ||
| SU1115810A1 (en) | Arrangement for painting wheel pairs of rolling stock | |
| SU1728093A1 (en) | Scraper conveyer tensioner |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |