System and method for powered railcar doors
AssigneeTrinity Industries, Inc.
InventorsGeorge S. Creighton, Aubra D. McKisic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a system includes a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover an opening of a rail car. The system also includes an actuator. A first common linkage is coupled to the actuator and is operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator. In particular embodiments, a first secondary linkage is coupled to the first common linkage and is coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car.
Claims26
A system, comprising:
- a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover a top hatch of a rail car;
- an actuator;
- a first common linkage coupled to the actuator and operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator;
- a first secondary linkage coupled to the first common linkage and coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car, in response to actuation of the actuator;
- a compressed air driven hydraulic motor located adjacent a bottom surface of the rail car and configured to receive compressed air through a train line extending from a reservoir that charges a brake system of the rail car;
- a vent disposed within an interior of the rail car and configured to allow airflow from outside the rail car to alleviate vacuum pressure during discharge;
- and
- hydraulic hosing coupling the motor and the actuator and disposed at least partially within the air vent.
A method, comprising:
- at least partially covering a top hatch of a rail car with a first door assembly;
- reciprocally moving a first common linkage coupled to an actuator in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator;
- and
- coupling a first secondary linkage to the first common linkage and to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car;
- disposing a motor adjacent a bottom surface of the rail car;
- coupling the motor with the actuator, using hydraulic hosing;
- and
- wherein the hydraulic hosing is disposed at least partially within a vent located inside the rail car and being configured to allow airflow from the outside of the rail car to alleviate vacuum pressure during discharge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.