Patent ID: 6955127
Filing Date: 2005-10-18
Classification: B61D

Abstract:
1. A manual operating mechanism for actuating doors of a hopper car including a body having an underside, at least one discharge chute having an underside positioned along the underside of the body, and at least one door coupled for rotation to the body to open and close each discharge chute, said mechanism comprising: a door opening lever rotatably coupled at its first end directly to said at least one door for shifting said at least one door between a first chute closed position and a second chute open position; an actuating lever, rotatably coupled to said door opening lever at its second end; and a first operating shaft, coupled for rotation to the underside of said at least one chute, rigidly affixed at a first end to said actuating lever and having a first handle rigidly affixed at a second end on a first lateral side of said car, whereby when said first handle is manually rotated by an operator, said first operating shaft rotates said actuating lever to cause said door opening lever to shift said at least one door from said first chute closed position to said second chute open position.