Car dumper

a center of gravity, including the mass of any loaded car in said car-receiving portion,

• 3. a longitudinal axis,
• 4. rocker members with arcuate peripheries extending substantially in planes running transverse to said axis for supporting said cradle, and
• 5. driving pivot means connected with said rocker members for applying force to the rocker members in at least one position which is offset laterally from the side of the car receiving portion of the cradle, in the direction of the dumping position, as viewed in a transverse cross section of the cradle when it is in starting position;
• B. cradle track running laterally of said longitudinal axis beneath and supportively engaging said rocker members for rolling and lateral displacement of said cradle along said cradle track in a dumping motion which includes prior and subsequent portions;
• C. at least one fluid actuated cylinder having
• 1. a lower pivot,
• 2. a support to which said pivot is connected, the lateral location of said support being intermediate the positions occupied by the cradle when in its starting and dumping positions, and
• 3. a driving connection through said driving pivot means with said cradle, said lower pivot and driving pivot means being positioned for causing the cylinder:
• a. to incline toward the cradle and at an angle less than 90.degree. relative to the cradle track when the cradle is in starting position,
• b. to increase in inclination relative to the cradle track by pivoting about the lower pivot during rolling of the cradle along the cradle track during the prior portion of the dumping motion,
• c. to pass through a position which is at an angle of 90.degree. with the cradle track and corresponds to a give rotational position of the cradle intermediate the starting and dumping positions, and
• d. to continue pivoting in the subsequent portion of the dumping motion until the cylinder is inclined toward the cradle and at an angles less than 90.degree. relative to the cradle track when the latter reaches
• dumping position. 2. Apparatus for dumping top-unloading railcars comprising:
• A. a car-receiving cradle, rollable between a generally upright starting position for receiving a loaded car and a dumping position in which the cradle has been sufficiently inverted for dumping the contents of a car carried therein, and having
• 1. a car receiving portion, including car rails for receiving a loaded car into the cradle at a predetermined elevation,
• 2. a center of gravity, including the mass of any loaded car in said car-receiving portion,
• 3. a longitudinal axis,
• 4. rocker members with arcuate peripheries extending substantially in planes running transverse to said axis for supporting said cradle,
• 5. driving pivot means connected with said rocker members for applying force to the rocker members in at least one position which is offset laterally from the side of the car receiving portion of the cradle, in the direction of the dumping position, as viewed in a transverse cross section of the cradle when it is in starting position, and
• 6. clamping means for clamping the car against said car rails in said car-receiving portion of the cradle and holding the car in place substantially at said predetermined elevation during its dumping motion and inversion, throughout its presence in dumping position and during its return motion to starting position;
• B. cradle track running laterally of said longitudinal axis beneath and supportively engaging said rocker members for rolling and lateral displacement of said cradle along said cradle track;
• C. at least one fluid actuated cylinder having
• 1. a lower pivot,
• 2. a support to which said pivot is connected, the lateral location of said support being intermediate the positions occupied by the cradle when in its starting and dumping positions, and
• 3. a driving connection through said driving pivot means with said cradle, said lower pivot and driving pivot means being positioned for causing the cylinder:
• a. to retract during a prior portion of the dumping motion during which the cradle rotates through an angular interval in the range of about 70 to about 110 degrees from its starting position,
• b. to cease retracting at a transitional position corresponding to a given rotational position of the cradle intermediate the starting and dumping positions thereof,
• c. to thereafter extend in a subsequent portion of the dumping motion,
• d. after dumping of the car, to retract during a prior portion of the return motion of the cradle toward its starting position,
• e. to cease retracting at said transitional position, and
• f. to extend in a subsequent portion of the return motion,
• D. the condition of the cradle track with respect to
• 1. its being inclined or not inclined from the horizontal and
• 2. the position of the center of gravity of the cradle being coordinated for causing rolling of the cradle to continue at least in part by gravity (a) during at least the prior portion of its dumping motion, and (b) during at least the prior portion of its return motion.

Apparatus for dumping top-unloading railcars comprising:

• A. a car-receiving cradle, rollable between a generally upright starting position for receiving a loaded car and a dumping position in which the cradle has been sufficiently inverted for dumping the contents of a car, and including
• 1. a longitudinal axis,
• 2. rocker members with arcuate peripheries,
• 3. car rails mounted within said rocker members for supporting a loaded car on said cradle, and
• 4. a combined center of gravity of the car, of its load and of said cradle located relative to the peripheries of said rocker members for causing said cradle,
• a. with a loaded car thereon, to lower its center of gravity while moving from said starting position in a prior portion of its dumping motion comprising an angular interval in the range of about 70 to about 110 degrees and to continue beyond said interval to said dumping position in a subsequent portion of its dumping motion, and
• b. with an emptied car thereon, to lower its center of gravity in a prior portion of its return motion from said dumping position and, while passing through said angular interval to said starting position, to elevate its center of gravity in a subsequent portion of said return motion;
• B. cradle track running laterally of said longitudinal axis beneath and supportively engaging said rocker members for rolling and lateral displacement of said cradle along said cradle track between said starting and car dumping positions;
• and
• C. at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected with said cradle for applying fluid under pressure for moving said cradle beyond said interval during its car-dumping motion and within said interval during its return motion.

Apparatus for receiving and dumping top-unloading railcars comprising:

• A. cradle track extending from a car receiving position to a car dumping position;
• B. a car-receiving cradle movably mounted on said cradle track, said cradle including
• 1. car rails for supporting a loaded car on said cradle in a car receiving portion of the assembly,
• 2. rocker members with arcuate peripheries for contact with and support by said cradle track, said rocker members comprising
• a. a laterally projecting lower portion, extending beneath said car-receiving portion,
• b. a first side portion that is generally vertical and extends upwardly alongside said car-receiving portion,
• c. an overhanging upper portion overhanging said car-receiving portion, and
• d. a second side portion which
• i) is open at least at or near car coupler height and
• ii) is located on the opposite side of the car-receiving portion relative to said first side portion, and
• 3. car clamping means for engaging upper portions of a car and clamping said car in said car-receiving portion of the cradle, including
• a. pivot means connected with and supported by said overhanging upper portions of said rocker members,
• b. power means connected with and supported by said pivot means for pivoting adjustment of the position of the clamping means toward and away from said first side portion and having a power transmitting member for extension and retraction toward and away from the car upper portion, and
• c. a car clamping member suspended from said power means for moving up and down in response to motion of said power transmitting member for clamping and unclamping the car;
• and
• C. at least one fluid actuated cylinder connected with said cradle for assisting in the movement of said cradle between said car-receiving and car dumping positions, said cradle movement including
• 1. a dumping motion having a prior portion in which the cradle rotates through an angular interval in the range of about 70 to about 110 degrees from said car-receiving position, said cylinder applying fluid under pressure for moving said cradle in a subsequent portion of the dumping motion beyond said interval, and
• 2. a return motion in which said cylinder applies fluid under pressure for moving said cradle within said interval toward said car-receiving position.