US3677196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Covered hopper car
Assignee: Pullman Standard Inc
•
Filing: 1969-12-19
•
Granted: 1972-07-18
•
Expires: 1989-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A covered hopper car having an open car body pivotally supporting between opened and closed positions a releasably lockable roof which may be hinged from either side while the other side is unhinged attendant to dumping a load through the open roof car body, the car body having mounted on each of its sides a plurality of releasable locking hinges connected to respective hinge structures on each of the car roof sides, each car body releasable hinge being provided with release plungers biased to the locked position and releasable by car rotating structure whereby one side of the roof moves away from the car during rotation and the other side remains hinged to permit the contents in the car body to fall outwardly therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 James J Schuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:54
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05D; E05D15/00; E05D15/48; E05D15/50; E05D15/505; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0969; Y10T292/097; Y10T292/0997
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
A covered hoPper car having an open car body portion having a pair of upper side plates, a removable releasably lockable pivotal roof mounted on said side plates, releasably locking and hinging means including a plurality of hinge lock structures pivotally connecting each side of the roof with a respective side plate, each lock and hinge means being spaced longitudinally of one another along the sides of the car, each of said lock and hinge structures comprising: hinge pin means including a pair of upright longitudinally spaced-apart arms connected to the side of the roof and a lower generally horizontally extending latch engaging pin portion connecting with said upright hinge arms and extending below the roof side, a car body hinge structure mounted on said side plate and including a housing, a latch member in the housing, spring means in the housing and engaging the latch member for urging the latch member outwardly of the side of the car, said latch member including a base slidable in the housing and a laterally extending plunger reciprocable outwardly of the side of the car through an aperture in the side plate, a vertical arm portion connecting with the base and having an upper horizontally projecting latch arm reciprocably extendable through a second aperture in the side plate, an upright latch plate mounted on the side plate and spaced laterally outwardly of the housing and having an aperture for the latch arm whereby the spring means urges the latch arm through the vertical side plate aperture and the laterally spaced upright latch plate aperture attendant to confining the roof hinge pin portion therein and said upper latch arm releasing said roof hinge pin portion upon depression of said plunger inwardly of the housing by associated hopper rotating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
A covered hoPper car having an open car body portion having a pair of upper side plates, a removable releasably lockable pivotal roof mounted on said side plates, releasably locking and hinging means including a plurality of hinge lock structures pivotally connecting each side of the roof with a respective side plate, each lock and hinge means being spaced longitudinally of one another along the sides of the car, each of said lock and hinge structures comprising: hinge pin means including a pair of upright longitudinally spaced-apart arms connected to the side of the roof and a lower generally horizontally extending latch engaging pin portion connecting with said upright hinge arms and extending below the roof side, a car body hinge structure mounted on said side plate and including a housing, a latch member in the housing, spring means in the housing and engaging the latch member for urging the latch member outwardly of the side of the car, said latch member including a base slidable in the housing and a laterally extending plunger reciprocable outwardly of the side of the car through an aperture in the side plate, a vertical arm portion connecting with the base and having an upper horizontally projecting latch arm reciprocably extendable through a second aperture in the side plate, an upright latch plate mounted on the side plate and spaced laterally outwardly of the housing and having an aperture for the latch arm whereby the spring means urges the latch arm through the vertical side plate aperture and the laterally spaced upright latch plate aperture attendant to confining the roof hinge pin portion therein and said upper latch arm releasing said roof hinge pin portion upon depression of said plunger inwardly of the housing by associated hopper rotating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a hopper car a locking and hinge structure for coupling the roof of the hopper car to the top of the hopper car body side plate including: a roof hinge pin depending from the side of the roof and a latch housing mounted on the car body side plate, a latch member and spring-like means mounted in the housing and urged by the spring outwardly of the housing, a latch plate laterally outward of the housing, the latch member including a guided plunger adapted to be moved inwardly by a hopper rotation mechanism and a locking latch arm connecting with the plunger and extendable out of the side plate and through an opening in the upright latch plate to confine the roof hinge pin therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a hopper car a locking and hinge structure for coupling the roof of the hopper car to the top of the hopper car body side plate including: a roof hinge pin depending from the side of the roof and a latch housing mounted on the car body side plate, a latch member and spring-like means mounted in the housing and urged by the spring outwardly of the housing, a latch plate laterally outward of the housing, the latch member including a guided plunger adapted to be moved inwardly by a hopper rotation mechanism and a locking latch arm connecting with the plunger and extendable out of the side plate and through an opening in the upright latch plate to confine the roof hinge pin therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 2, and said hinge pin including a pair of upright longitudinally spaced-apart arms connected to the side of the roof and a lower pin portion connecting with the upright arms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A locking and hinge structure for coupling the roof of the hopper car to the top of the hopper car body side plate including: a roof hinge pin depending from the side of the roof and a latch housing mounted on the car body side plate, a latch member and spring mounted in the housing and urged by the spring outwardly of the housing, a latch plate laterally outward of the housing, the latch member including a plunger adapted to be moved inwardly by a hopper rotation mechanism and an upper locking latch arm extendable out of the side plate and through an opening in the upright latch plate to confine the roof hinge pin therein, said roof including an angle portion attached thereto having an upright portion for attachment of the depending roof hinge pin thereto to juxtaposition the pin with respect to the locking means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A locking and hinge structure for coupling the roof of the hopper car to the top of the hopper car body side plate including: a roof hinge pin depending from the side of the roof and a latch housing mounted on the car body side plate, a latch member and spring mounted in the housing and urged by the spring outwardly of the housing, a latch plate laterally outward of the housing, the latch member including a plunger adapted to be moved inwardly by a hopper rotation mechanism and an upper locking latch arm extendable out of the side plate and through an opening in the upright latch plate to confine the roof hinge pin therein, said roof including an angle portion attached thereto having an upright portion for attachment of the depending roof hinge pin thereto to juxtaposition the pin with respect to the locking means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |