Apparatus and method for detaching cables from a center beam railcar
AssigneeSafety Solutions, Inc.
InventorJohn P. Oltrogge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for removing tie down cables from a center beam rail car loaded with cargo, the apparatus comprising a support beam having a width selected to be greater than the span between a number of tie down cables on the center beam rail car. A plurality of hook-shaped cable claws are rigidly attached in a spaced apart, downwardly extending manner to the support beam. At least one lift sleeve rigidly attached to the support beam and having a receiving end for attaching to an external lift mechanism.
Claims23
A method for removing cable tie downs from a center beam railcar having an upper beam to which cable ends of the cable tie downs are removably attached, the method comprising the steps of:
- loosening a cable tie down to create cable slack;
- attaching a cable removing apparatus to a lift mechanism having a cable claw located distally from the lift mechanism, the cable claw being rigidly mounted within the cable removing apparatus and including an open hook end rigidly mounted and configured to receive and contact cable tie downs;
- engaging a portion of the loosened cable tie down with the cable claw using the lift mechanism to position the cable claw adjacent the loosened cable tie down and moving the cable claw substantially parallel to the upper beam, whereby the loosened cable tie down is received into the open hook end of the cable claw;
- and
- moving the cable removing apparatus with the cable claw towards the upper rail of the center beam railcar until the cable tie down engaged by the cable claw is released from a keyhole in the upper rail.
An apparatus for removing tie down cables from a center beam rail car loaded with cargo, the apparatus comprising:
- a support beam having a width selected to be greater than the span between a number of tie down cables on the center beam rail car;
- a plurality of hook-shaped cable claws rigidly attached in a spaced apart, downwardly extending manner to the support beam, wherein the cable claws include a hook end having an opening for receiving the tie down cables and being in a plane substantially parallel to the support beam;
- and
- at least one lift sleeve with a longitudinal axis transverse to the support beam rigidly attached to the support beam and having a receiving end for attaching to an external lift mechanism.
An unloading system for a center beam flatcar comprising:
- a center beam railcar having a deck with a cargo loaded thereon, the center beam railcar having an upper rail extending along the top of the center beam, a plurality of key holes formed in the upper rail, and a plurality of winches attached to the deck;
- a plurality of cables securing the cargo, each cable having a first end coupled to one of the key holes and a second end attached to one of the winches;
- a lift mechanism with a lift member movable in vertical and horizontal directions;
- and
- a cable removing mechanism that removably attaches to the lift mechanism, wherein the cable removing apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart aligned cable hooks positioned at a first end having a hook end with an opening in a plane transverse to a longitudinal axis of the lift member and a lift mechanism receiver located at a second end and wherein the cable hooks extend downwardly a sufficient distance to engage a loosened cable tie down from above the load.
A cable removing device for use in detaching an end of a tie down cable from a center beam flatcar, wherein the center beam flatcar includes an upper rail with a plurality of transverse members having key holes for receiving and removably coupling to the end of the tie down cable when a load is bound to the center beam flatcar, comprising:
- a receiver end comprising a cavity configured for receiving a lifting member of a lift mechanism, wherein the received lifting member abuttingly contacts the cavity to vertically and horizontally position the cable removing device relative to the center beam flatcar;
- and
- a claw end comprising a claw bar connected to the receiver end on a side distal to the cavity, wherein the claw end further comprises a first claw assembly including a downtube rigidly attached to the claw bar and extending transverse to the claw bar and a hook portion rigidly attached to the downtube configured for receiving and contacting the tie down cable, the hook portion comprising a contact member extending laterally away from the downtube to form an open end in a plane transverse to an axis of the lift member;
- wherein the open end of the first claw assembly is configured for initially receiving and contacting the tie down cable with the downtube acting as a horizontal load bearing member when the lift mechanism is operated to move the lifting member in a direction substantially parallel to the upper rail of the flatcar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.