Apparatus and method for vibrating a railcar
AssigneeAshross, LLC
InventorLloyd Ash
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A railcar vibrator includes a base member and a vertical support coupled to the base member. A vibrator component is disposed on the vertical support. A wheel having a cushioned outer portion is rotationally coupled to the vertical support capable of rotation around an axis. The wheel can freely rotate, for riding along a moving railcar or line of railcars. A lateral positioning structure is operable with respect to the vertical support for adjusting the lateral position of the vertical support to place the cushioned outer surface of the wheel in contact with the railcar.
Claims16
A vibrator device for vibrating a railcar, the vibrator comprising:
- a) a base member;
- b) a vertical support having a top end, and a bottom end coupled to the base member;
- c) a wheel having a cushioned outer portion, rotationally coupled at an upper end of the vertical support and capable of rotation around an axis;
- d) a vibrator component coupled to the vertical support;
- e) a lateral positioning structure operable with respect to the vertical support to adjust the lateral position of the vertical support to place the cushioned outer portion of the wheel in contact with the railcar;
- and
- f) the lateral position structure further includes a pair of pneumatic airbags, operably disposed on opposite sides of the vertical support, the pneumatic airbags being operable to control the lateral position of the cushioned outer portion of the wheel with respect to sidewall of an adjacent railcar.
A method of vibrating a railcar, without regard to order, the method comprising:
- a) positioning a wheel in contact with the railcar by actuating a pair of pneumatic airbags disposed on opposite sides of a vertical support coupled to the wheel to laterally move the vertical support and the wheel with respect to the railcar, the wheel having a cushioned outer portion capable of rotation around an axis;
- b) rotating the cushioned portion of the wheel in contact with the railcar as the railcar moves;
- and
- c) vibrating the wheel laterally against the railcar during unloading.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.