Automatic hatch cover for a container and methods of operation thereof

A hopper car, comprising:

• a hatch cover that covers a top of the hopper car;
• and
• an automatic hatch cover operating mechanism, comprising:
• a cylinder mount coupled to a body of the hopper car, configured for pivotally connecting a piston to the body of the hopper car, wherein the piston comprises a cylinder rod;
• a main operating lever having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion of the main operating lever is connected to the cylinder rod, wherein the main operating lever is rotatably coupled to a main shaft mount;
• a connecting link having a first extension and a second extension, wherein the first extension is rotatably connected to the upper portion of the main operating lever and the second extension is coupled to the hatch cover with a hatch cover fulcrum;
• and
• a hatch locking lever, rotatably coupled to the main shaft mount, configured to pivot around the main shaft mount, enabled to move between a first position and a second position,
• wherein the hatch locking lever moves from the first position to the second position in response to rotation of the main operating lever along the main shaft mount,
• wherein the rotation of the main operating lever is in response to movement of the cylinder rod, and
• wherein the second extension of the connecting link is enabled to open the hatch cover on top of the hopper car, in response to the rotation of the first extension connected to the upper portion of the main operating lever.