Selective hopper car gate operating mechanism

Claim 2

Mechanism for selectively operating a series of closure members in spaced alignement, comprising: a. a series of separate abutment members each connected to a respective closure member, the abutment members being separately movable in the direction of said alignement for operating the respective closure members; b. a shaft extending in the direction of said alignement; c. mounting means for the shaft, said mounting means permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft in the direction of its axis and rotational movement of the shaft about its axis; d. a series of radial abutments rigidly mounted on the shaft, the abutments being longitudinally spaced in the direction of the shaft and angularly spaced about said axis, the abutments being positioned on the shaft for selective engagement with the respective abutment members by rotation of the shaft; and e. power means connected to the shaft for moving the shaft longitudinally in either direction whereby to move the selectively engaged abutment members for operating the closure members.

Claim 3

A hopper arrangement comprising: a. a plurality of hoppers disposed in spaced alignment, each hopper having an outlet at its lower end; b. a series of closure members cooperating with said outlets; c. a series of separate abutment members each connected to a respective said closure member, the abutment members being individually movable in the direction of said alignment for operating the respective closure members; d. a shaft extending in the direction of said alignment; e. mounting means for the shaft, said mounting means permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft in the direction of its axis and rotational movement of the shaft about said axis; f. a series of radial abutments rigidly mounted on the shaft, the abutments being longitudinally spaced in the direction of the shaft and angularly spaced about said axis, the abutments being positioned on the shaft for selective engagement with the respective abutment members by rotation of the shaft; and g. a power means connected to the shaft for moving the shaft longitudinally in either direction whereby to move the selectively engaged abutment members for operating the closure members.

Claim 4

A hopper arrangement comprising: a. a plurality of hoppers disposed in spaced alignment, each hopper having an outlet at its lower end; b. a series of closure members cooperating with said outlets; c. a series of separate abutment members each connected to a respective said closure member, the abutment members being individually movable in the direction of said alignment for operating the respective closure members; d. a shaft extending in the direction of said alignment; e. mounting means for the shaft, said mounting means permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft in the direction of its axis and rotational movement of the shaft about said axis; f. a series of radial abutments rigidly mounted on the shaft, the abutments being longitudinally spaced in the direction of the shaft and angularly spaced about said axis, the abutments being positioned on the shaft for selective engagement with the respective abutment members by rotation of the shaft; and g. a power means connected to the shaft for moving the shaft longitudinally in either direction whereby to move the selectively engaged abutment members for operating the closure members.

Claim 5

A hopper arrangement according to claim 2, in which the closure members are horizontally disposed sliding plates constrained to slide in the direction of said alignement.

Claim 6

A hopper arrangement according to claim 3, in which each abutment member comprises a pair of upstanding walls secured to one side of a respective sliding plate, the walls being spaced in the direction of said alignement, each wall being formed with an opening through which the shaft extends, and each opening being formed as a gate for engaging a respective shaft abutment according to its angular positions.

Claim 7

In a hopper car adapted for the transportation of grain and like granulaR material, the car having an elongated body mounted on a frame structure, a. a plurality of discharge hoppers carried by the frame structure, the hoppers being located beneath the car body in longitudinally spaced relationship, each hopper having an outlet at its lower end; b. a series of closure members cooperating with said outlets; c. a series of separate abutment members each connected to a respective closure member, the abutment members being individually movable in the longitudinal direction for operating the respective closure members; d. a shaft extending longitudinally beneath the car body; e. mounting means for the shaft, said mounting means permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft in the direction of its axis and rotational movement of the shaft about said axis; f. a series of radial abutments rigidly mounted on the shaft, the abutments being longitudinally spaced in the direction of the shaft and angularly spaced about said axis, the abutments being positioned on the shaft for selective engagement with the respective abutment members by rotation of the shaft; and g. power means connected to the shaft for moving the shaft longitudinally in either direction whereby to move the selectively engaged abutment members for operating the closure members.

Claim 8

In a hopper car adapted for the transportation of grain and like granulaR material, the car having an elongated body mounted on a frame structure, a. a plurality of discharge hoppers carried by the frame structure, the hoppers being located beneath the car body in longitudinally spaced relationship, each hopper having an outlet at its lower end; b. a series of closure members cooperating with said outlets; c. a series of separate abutment members each connected to a respective closure member, the abutment members being individually movable in the longitudinal direction for operating the respective closure members; d. a shaft extending longitudinally beneath the car body; e. mounting means for the shaft, said mounting means permitting longitudinal movement of the shaft in the direction of its axis and rotational movement of the shaft about said axis; f. a series of radial abutments rigidly mounted on the shaft, the abutments being longitudinally spaced in the direction of the shaft and angularly spaced about said axis, the abutments being positioned on the shaft for selective engagement with the respective abutment members by rotation of the shaft; and g. power means connected to the shaft for moving the shaft longitudinally in either direction whereby to move the selectively engaged abutment members for operating the closure members.

Claim 9

A car according to claim 5, in which the shaft extends through the hoppers and is positioned above the closure members, said abutments and abutment members being located within the respective hoppers.

Claim 10

A hopper car according to claim 6, in which the power means comprises a double acting hydraulic cylinder carried by the frame structure, and means providing hydraulic connections to the cylinder.

Claim 11

A hopper car according to claim 7, in which the car body includes a floor section constituted by a grating supported on the frame structure, the hoppers being located beneath the grating.

Claim 12

A hopper car according to claim 8, in which there are four hoppers, the closure members thereof being operable by the shaft in any selected one of a number of combinations of one, two, three or four closure members according to the rotational position of the shaft.