US3630154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rack-and-pinion-actuated railway hopper car gate
Assignee: Pullman Standard Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-22
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1989-09-22
Abstract
Abstract The discharge end of a hopper positioned on a railway hopper car is provided with a closure gate. The closure gate is movable between open and closed positions by means of a pinion and rack arrangement. The rack arrangement extends perpendicularly to one side of the hopper and is suitably suspended from the under side of the railway car structure. During the movement of the gate to its open position it is entirely supported at one end on the rack arrangement by means of a pair of hangers connected to the gate and slidable on the rack arrangement so that the trailing or rear end of the gate is suspended thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 William D Mundinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:14
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D7/00; B61D7/14; B61D7/16; B61D7/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A discharge gate arrangement for a hopper having a discharge opening adjacent the lower end thereof comprising: side frame members including first horizontal ledge portions spaced on opposite sides of said opening, an end frame member having a second horizontal ledge portion extending transversely between said first ledge portions, a gate carried on said first ledge portions for relative sliding movement over said opeNing, a pair of rack bars supported one on each side of said opening and including rack teeth disposed along one side thereof, support means movably supporting said gate below said rack bars and movably supported by the rack bars and said gate having one end portion suspended from said rack bars during movement of said gate to the open position to one side of said opening, and an opposite end portion of said gate being supported on portions of said first ledges, and rotatable means being connected with said support means and operatively engaged with said rack teeth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A discharge gate arrangement for a hopper having a discharge opening adjacent the lower end thereof comprising: side frame members including first horizontal ledge portions spaced on opposite sides of said opening, an end frame member having a second horizontal ledge portion extending transversely between said first ledge portions, a gate carried on said first ledge portions for relative sliding movement over said opeNing, a pair of rack bars supported one on each side of said opening and including rack teeth disposed along one side thereof, support means movably supporting said gate below said rack bars and movably supported by the rack bars and said gate having one end portion suspended from said rack bars during movement of said gate to the open position to one side of said opening, and an opposite end portion of said gate being supported on portions of said first ledges, and rotatable means being connected with said support means and operatively engaged with said rack teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention according to claim 1, support means movably supporting said gate on said rack bars and including a pair of hanger members connected to said gate and engaging said rack bars in relative sliding relation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 2, each hanger member including a slider element slidingly engaging an upper surface of each rack bar, said rack teeth being disposed along a lower surface of said rack bars, and said rotatable means including pinions rotatably carried by said hanger means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention according to claim 3, including a latch arrangement comprising a cam pivotally supported above said rack bars and said cam in a first position being disposed in the path of movement of said slider element to engage said slider element and retain said gate in a locked position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention according to claim 4, a support means mounting said cam, a stop member attached to the support means, an associated stop member attached to the cam, a projecting element extending from the cam, said cam being rotatable to a second position whereby said stop member engages the associated stop member attached to the cam and whereby the projecting element of said cam is in the path of movement of said slider element and is engaged thereby during movement of said gate to the open position, thereby rotating said cam toward said first position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
A discharge gate arrangement for a hopper having a discharge opening adjacent the lower end thereof comprising: side frame members including first horizontal ledge portions spaced on opposite sides of said opening, an end frame member having a second horizontal ledge portion extending transversely between said first ledge portions, a gate carried on said first ledge portions for relative sliding movement over said opening, a pair of rack bars supported one at each side of said opening and including rack teeth disposed thereon, bracket means slidably supporting said gate from said rack bars outwardly of said opening, a latch arrangement comprising a cam pivotally supported above said rack bars and said cam in a first position being disposed in the path of movement of said means supporting the gate to engage same and retain said gate in a locked position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
A discharge gate arrangement for a hopper having a discharge opening adjacent the lower end thereof comprising: side frame members including first horizontal ledge portions spaced on opposite sides of said opening, an end frame member having a second horizontal ledge portion extending transversely between said first ledge portions, a gate carried on said first ledge portions for relative sliding movement over said opening, a pair of rack bars supported one at each side of said opening and including rack teeth disposed thereon, bracket means slidably supporting said gate from said rack bars outwardly of said opening, a latch arrangement comprising a cam pivotally supported above said rack bars and said cam in a first position being disposed in the path of movement of said means supporting the gate to engage same and retain said gate in a locked position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
The invention according to claim 6, and a support means mounting said cam, a stop member attached to the support means, an associated stop member attached to the cam, a projecting element extending from the cam, said cam being rotatable to a second position whereby said stop member engages the associated stop member attached to the cam and whereby the projecting element of said cam is in the path of movement of said means supporting the gate and is engaged thereby during movement of said gate to the open position, thereby rotating said cam toward said first position.
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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) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |