US3602324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Car dumper scale apparatus
Assignee: McDowell-Wellman Engineering Co
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Filing: 1970-01-28
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Granted: 1971-08-31
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Expires: 1990-01-28
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a railroad car dumping apparatus including an invertible cradle, a weighable platform assembly invertible therewith, weight-sensing means coacting between the cradle and the platform assembly in compression only, and stop means operable to support the platform assembly when the cradle is in its inverted position without a railroad car. This structure overcomes weight inaccuracies introduced by submitting the weight-sensing devices to both tensile and compressive forces and simplifies the structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward E Cheek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/02; G01G19/04; B; B65; B65G; B65G67/00; B65G2814/00; B65G2814/03; B65G2814/0347; B65G2814/0356; B65G2814/0359; B65G2814/037
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A railroad car dumper comprising in combination: a. a substantially invertible supporting cradle; b. means carried by the cradle and invertible therewith including a platform assembly having a pair of rails secured to the upper side thereof for supporting a railroad car to be dumped; c. a plurality of weight-sensing assemblies, each including a weight-sensing device and an abutment surface separate therefrom interposed between said platform assembly and said supporting cradle and adapted to be in abutting relation to each other when the cradle is at zero rotation and being under zero tensile stress when the cradle is in its inverted car dumping position; and d. stop means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly for supporting the platform assembly when the cradle is in the inverted car dumping position without having a car thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A railroad car dumper comprising in combination: a. a substantially invertible supporting cradle; b. means carried by the cradle and invertible therewith including a platform assembly having a pair of rails secured to the upper side thereof for supporting a railroad car to be dumped; c. a plurality of weight-sensing assemblies, each including a weight-sensing device and an abutment surface separate therefrom interposed between said platform assembly and said supporting cradle and adapted to be in abutting relation to each other when the cradle is at zero rotation and being under zero tensile stress when the cradle is in its inverted car dumping position; and d. stop means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly for supporting the platform assembly when the cradle is in the inverted car dumping position without having a car thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the weight-sensing device is a load cell which is secured to the cradle and the abutment surface is carried by the platform assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the weight-sensing device is a load cell.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 3 wherein the abutment surface and the confronting surface of the weight-sensing device together include complementary geometrically configured mating surfaces whereby the parts when under compressive stress are located in a predetermined position relative to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 4 wherein the complementary geometrically configured mating surfaces are spherical surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 5 wherein the confronting surface of the weight-sensing device is provided with projecting spherical segment integral therewith, and the abutment surface is provided with a mating spherically shaped recess dimensioned such that the entire compressive stress sensed by the weight-sensing device is transmitted across the mating surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 1 wherein the stop means includes a stop member and a stop abutment member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop member is secured to the platform and the stop abutment member is secured to the cradle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 7 wherein the stop means includes a laterally outwardly extending flange member and the stop abutment member is a laterally inwardly extending abutment plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 9 wherein the stop means includes laterally outwardly and inwardly extending flange surfaces, and the stop abutment member includes opposed inwardly and outwardly extending abutment plates, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A railroad car dumPer in accordance with claim 1 additionally characterized by lateral stabilizing and platform assembly locating means coacting between said cradle and said platform assembly in a generally horizontal direction and incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 which is additionally characterized by longitudinal platform assembly locating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 12 wherein the longitudinal locating means includes hydraulically actuated means coacting in a generally horizontal direction between the platform assembly and means stationarily supported adjacent the car dumper, said hydraulically actuated means being incapable of transmitting vertical forces of sufficient magnitude to adversely affect the weighing accuracy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 11 wherein the lateral stabilizing and locating means includes means for selectively engaging and disengaging said lateral stabilizing and locating means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 14 wherein the selective engaging and disengaging means includes an extensible member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A railroad car dumper in accordance with claim 15 wherein the extensible member is hydraulically actuated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-30 | 1975-03-01 | 1975-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-30 | 1979-03-01 | 1979-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-30 | 1983-03-01 | 1983-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |