Patent ID: 8256355
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: B61D,B65G

Abstract:
1. An improved rail car pulled by an engine for transporting coal or other porous dust bearing materials having opposing long sidewalls and opposing shorter end walls, which together define an initially open interior, a bottom and an open top and an improved cover for the open top, the improved cover comprising: at least one pair of opposing A-frame sections mounted over the open top of the rail car to form an A-frame unit, each of the A-frame sections having a first, longitudinal edge generally aligned with one of the opposing long sidewalls of the car in a closed position, the A-frame section also having a second, longitudinal edge spaced apart from the first longitudinal edge and opposing intermediate edges which together form a discharge door opening for each of the A-frame sections; at least one discharge door located in the discharge door opening of each A-frame section, the discharge door being pivotally hinged along a longitudinal axis which is generally parallel to the first and second longitudinal edges of the respective associated A-frame section; a pivot-linkage mechanism associated with each of the respective A-frame sections for moving each A-frame section from the closed position to an open, loading position to allow coal or other porous dust bearing material to be loaded into the open interior of the car; and wherein moving the A-frame sections from the open, loading position to the closed position protects the coal from air flow while in motion and improves fuel economy of the engine by the reduction of aerodynamic drag, the discharge doors allowing the coal or other porous material to be dumped in a rotary dumping operation.