US3738511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible railway hopper car
Assignee: Paccar Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-12
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1991-03-12
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to a container such as a railroad car or a truck having bottom hoppers for the discharge of loose bulk cargo which is equally usable for loose bulk cargo or prepackaged stackable cargo. The conversion of the car from a form suitable for packaged cargo to one suitable for bulk cargo is accomplished through the incorporation of self-storing slope sheets or secondary floors for use with loose cargo and the incorporation of hinged covers for use over the hoppers when the car is being used for packaged bulk cargo. The self-storing slope sheets are secured in position against an end wall or adjacent the ceiling during the hauling of packaged cargo and are against an end wall for the hauling of loose cargo. The slope sheets are moved to a position where they form a continuous sloped floor to the hopper during the unloading of the loose bulk cargo sweeping the contents to the hopper. The use of the self-storing slope sheets enables the car to be filled to its entirety when both packaged and loose cargo is being transported.
Inventors
- 👤 L Lemon
- 👤 K Palsson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:51
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D3/00; B61D3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A convertible covered hopper car; including upstanding vertical outer end and side walls, a floor, a ceiling and at least one discharge hopper provided in the floor, the improvement comprising: sectional slope sheet means pivotally secured adjacent the ceiling movable from a retracted position with a first section adjacent said outer end walls and a second section adjacent said ceiling to an extended sloping position, said slope sheet means having a lower edge moveable along the floor toward the hopper until the lower edge is adjacent the edge of the hopper as the slope sheet is extended, and means shielded from the interior of the car for moving the slope sheets to the extended position whereby the material may be swept to the edge of the hopper by the slope sheet during the movement to the extended position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A convertible covered hopper car; including upstanding vertical outer end and side walls, a floor, a ceiling and at least one discharge hopper provided in the floor, the improvement comprising: sectional slope sheet means pivotally secured adjacent the ceiling movable from a retracted position with a first section adjacent said outer end walls and a second section adjacent said ceiling to an extended sloping position, said slope sheet means having a lower edge moveable along the floor toward the hopper until the lower edge is adjacent the edge of the hopper as the slope sheet is extended, and means shielded from the interior of the car for moving the slope sheets to the extended position whereby the material may be swept to the edge of the hopper by the slope sheet during the movement to the extended position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle of claim 1 wherein said moving means for said slope means includes power transmission means directly connected to the bottom of said slope sheet and a drive means independent of said vehicle but selectively engageable with said drive means for use with different vehicles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said slope sheet means has the second section pivotally mounted to the side walls adjacent to top thereof and the first section pivotally joined to the lower edge of said second section for movement with said second section as a unit from the retracted position wherein said second section is generally parallel to the floor and said first section is generally vertical, to an extended position wherein the sections form a generally continuous co-planer surface from the hopper upwardly and outwardly to a line inboard from its respective end wall, adjacent the roof whereby all material within the vehicle is either pushed toward the hopper or flows by gravitational force to the hopper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
The vehicle of claim 3 including bearing means on the lower edge to said first section for sliding along the floor, means for retracting upper and lower sections and means for locking the slope sheet means in retracted position, said moving means for said slope sheet means including cable secured to lower edge and adapted to be wrapped around a winch drum located generally centrally of the adjacent end of the vehicle, transmission means coupled to said winch drum having a coupler extending outwardly of the vehicle and an independent power drive means selectively engagble with said coupler and completely removable from said coupler and said vehicle whereby a single drive means may be used for different vehicles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle as in claim 1 wherein the slope sheet means is moved from the stored position to the discharge position by means of a worm and a nut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
200 words
A material handling vehicle capable of carrying bulk material to be discharged through an opening at the bottom of the vehicle and packaged material to be loaded and unloaded through side doors; comprising an exterior shell having a top, bottom, side and end walls, at least one of said side walls having a sealable opening therein and at least one opening at the bottom, discharge means mounted inside the shell movable from a first position adjacent the end wall bearing the bottom substantially free of obstruction to a second sloping position overlying the bottom and having the lowermost edge adjacent the bottom opening to assist in unloading the vehicle through the bottom opening; said discharge means comprising a substantially planer element serving as the interior end wall, occupying the first position during the transportation of the goods, whereby the vehicle has a substantially larger carrying capacity using the entire interior of the shell and as the discharge means moves from the first position to the second position the material is swept to the discharge opening, means for moving the discharge means from the stored position to the discharge position, and means for moving discharge means back to the stored position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
200 words
A material handling vehicle capable of carrying bulk material to be discharged through an opening at the bottom of the vehicle and packaged material to be loaded and unloaded through side doors; comprising an exterior shell having a top, bottom, side and end walls, at least one of said side walls having a sealable opening therein and at least one opening at the bottom, discharge means mounted inside the shell movable from a first position adjacent the end wall bearing the bottom substantially free of obstruction to a second sloping position overlying the bottom and having the lowermost edge adjacent the bottom opening to assist in unloading the vehicle through the bottom opening; said discharge means comprising a substantially planer element serving as the interior end wall, occupying the first position during the transportation of the goods, whereby the vehicle has a substantially larger carrying capacity using the entire interior of the shell and as the discharge means moves from the first position to the second position the material is swept to the discharge opening, means for moving the discharge means from the stored position to the discharge position, and means for moving discharge means back to the stored position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle as in claim 6 wherein the discharge means comprises a rigid sheet pivotally mounted to the upper portions of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
A vehicle as in claim 6 wherein the discharge means comprises a pair of rigid flat members hingedly secured together, one of said members being hingedly secured to the upper portion of the vehicle whereby the means can be stored with one member adjacent the ceiling and the other member adjacent the end wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A vehicle as in claim 6 wherein a discharge means is mounted adjacent each end of the car and when in the discharge position said means present a surface continuously urging the bulk material to the edge of the bottom opening whereby substantially all of the material may be discharged by gravity.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A vehicle as in claim 6 wherein the opening in the bottom of the vehicle comprises at least one hopper having a top cover which is open when the vehicle is used as a bulk carrier and closed when the vehicle is used to transport packaged goods.
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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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |