Trunnion assembly for rotary dumper

A trunnion wheel assembly comprising:

• an equalizer bracket;
• an equalizer support pivotally connected to said equalizer bracket between opposite ends of the equalizer bracket;
• a trunnion wheel bracket defining a wheel pin passageway there through, said trunnion wheel bracket configured to selectively connect and disconnect from said equalizer bracket;
• wherein:
• said equalizer bracket is positioned for support on a static surface and defines a clearing space between a first mating surface and a second mating surface;
• and
• said trunnion wheel bracket defines a corresponding clearing space between a first corresponding mating surface and a second corresponding mating surface;
• wherein said first mating surface and said second mating surface define respectively angled mating surfaces connected to said equalizer bracket;
• wherein said first corresponding mating surface and said second corresponding mating surface define respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces connected to said trunnion wheel bracket;
• wherein said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces define respective angles relative to the static surface, such that, when connected, said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces extend around a central axis of the trunnion wheel without intersecting the central axis of the trunnion wheel;
• wherein said respectively angled mating surfaces selectively connect and disconnect from said respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces;
• and
• wherein in a connected position, said equalizer bracket and said trunnion wheel bracket meet at said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces to define a trunnion wheel cavity encompassing the clearing space and the corresponding clearing space such that the trunnion wheel is exposed by a section of the trunnion wheel cavity opposite the equalizer bracket and rotates within the trunnion wheel assembly,
• wherein the portion of the trunnion wheel that is exposed is configured to receive a load thereon at a plurality of angles determined by a pivot position of the equalizer support.

A railcar dumper system comprising:

• a rotary rail car dumper supported by at least four trunnion wheel assemblies, each trunnion wheel assembly comprising:
• an equalizer bracket;
• a pair of trunnion wheel units selectively connected and disconnected from opposite ends of the equalizer bracket, wherein each trunnion wheel unit comprises a respective trunnion wheel bracket supporting a respective trunnion wheel that rotates within the trunnion wheel bracket;
• and
• an equalizer support pivotally connected to said equalizer bracket between said opposite ends;
• wherein:
• said equalizer bracket is positioned for support on a static surface and defines a clearing space between a first mating surface and a second mating surface;
• and
• said trunnion wheel bracket defines a corresponding clearing space between a first corresponding mating surface and a second corresponding mating surface;
• wherein said first mating surface and said second mating surface define respectively angled mating surfaces connected to said equalizer bracket;
• wherein said first corresponding mating surface and said second corresponding mating surface define respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces connected to said trunnion wheel bracket;
• wherein said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces define respective angles relative to the static surface, such that, when connected, said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces extend around a central axis of the trunnion wheel without intersecting the central axis of the trunnion wheel;
• wherein said respectively angled mating surfaces selectively connect and disconnect from said respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces;
• and
• wherein in a connected position, said equalizer bracket and said trunnion wheel bracket meet at said respectively angled mating surfaces and respectively angled corresponding mating surfaces to define a trunnion wheel cavity encompassing the clearing space and the corresponding clearing space such that the trunnion wheel is exposed by a section of the trunnion wheel cavity opposite the equalizer bracket and rotates within the trunnion wheel assembly.