Patent ID: 6899038
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: B61D

Abstract:
1. A railroad hopper car discharge gate assembly, comprising: a rigid frame configured with a generally a square and ledgeless discharge opening greater than 1600 square inches whereby allowing for rapid discharge of commodity therethrough, with a gate having an upper surface defining an area generally equivalent to the size of the discharge opening, and and wherein said gate is mounted on said frame such that said gate linearly move only in a single, generally horizontal predetermined plane between a closed position, wherein said gate prevents flow of commodity through said discharge opening and, and an open position, and wherein said frame is further configured to inhibit bending of said frame and said gate under columnar loading adapted to be applied to the greater than 1600 square inches of surface area defined by said gate and which is exposed to commodity carried by a railcar to which said gate assembly is adapted to be operably coupled, with said frame including an upper flange extending outwardly and about a periphery of said frame for facilitating connection of said gate assembly to a hopper of a railroad car, said frame further including wall structure rigidly connected to and depending from said upper flange, and wherein said predetermined plane of movement of said gate is disposed in vertically spaced relation below said upper flange; seal structure arranged in sealing engagement with the upper surface and toward a periphery of said gate when the gate is in the closed position, with said seal structure being carried by said frame in vertically spaced relation below said upper flange and configured to promote movement of said commodity therepast when said gate is moved toward said open position; an operating shaft assembly supported by opposed frame extensions for rotation about a fixed axis, with said operating shaft assembly being operably coupled to said gate; and a lock assembly operable in timed relation relative to rotation of said operating shaft assembly, said lock assembly including a stop which, when said gate is the closed position, positively engages with the gate thereby preventing inadvertent movement of said gate toward the open position and which is operably removed from the path of movement of the gate prior to said gate being positively moved under the influence of said operating shaft assembly moved toward the open position.