Mechanism for longitudinal door systems

A railway car, comprising:

• an underframe, the underframe comprising:
• a center sill located at a longitudinal centerline of the railway car and defining a longitudinal axis of the railway car;
• and
• a first side sill and a second side sill positioned proximate to a lower portion of the railway car, the first side sill and the second side sill extending generally parallel with the center sill and spaced laterally from opposite sides of the center sill;
• at least one compartment for transporting lading;
• a first discharge opening;
• a second discharge opening;
• a first door assembly adjacent to the first discharge opening;
• a second door assembly adjacent to the second discharge opening;
• a first discharge control system comprising a first common linkage mounted to the first side sill, the first common linkage coupled to a first secondary linkage coupled to the first door assembly, wherein the first discharge control system is operable to open and close the first door assembly;
• a second discharge control system comprising a second common linkage mounted to the second side sill, the second common linkage coupled to a second secondary linkage coupled to the second door assembly, wherein the second discharge control system is operable to open and close the second door assembly;
• a first actuator mounted to the first side sill, the first actuator operable to drive movement of the first common linkage in connection with opening and closing the first door assembly;
• and
• a second actuator mounted to the second side sill, the second actuator operable to drive movement of the second common linkage in connection with opening and closing the second door assembly.

A method of forming a railway car, comprising:

• forming a railcar underframe, the railcar underframe comprising a side sill oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railway car and positioned proximate to a lower portion of the railway car;
• forming at least one compartment for transporting lading;
• forming at least one discharge opening;
• mounting a door assembly adjacent to the at least one discharge opening;
• mounting, to the side sill, at least a portion of a common linkage of a discharge control system, the common linkage coupled to a secondary linkage coupled to the door assembly, wherein the discharge control system is operable to move the door assembly between a first position and a second position;
• and
• installing an actuator operable to drive movement of the common linkage of the discharge control system in connection with movement of the door assembly between the first position and the second position, wherein the actuator is mounted to the side sill.