Patent ID: 8127688
Filing Date: 2012-03-06
Classification: B61D

Abstract:
1. A mechanism for controlling the opening and closing of a pivotally hinged discharge door covering an opening of a hopper car underside discharge opening, said mechanism comprising: (a) a pair of stationary hook assemblies, each located outboard of a discharge opening and having a proximal end affixed to the hopper car and a distal free end, each hook assembly comprising a locking cavity bounded by a locking cam surface, the stationary hook distal end having a distal slide surface; (b) a pair of rotatable locking cam assemblies, each having a cam surface matable with the locking cam surface, each locking cam assembly having a slot, each locking cam having an upstanding elongate tab having a centerline, wherein said upstanding elongate tab has a locking position at which the upstanding elongate tab centerline rotates passes a perpendicular position with said locking cam surface and locks said locking cam assembly such that pressure on each said locking cam assembly rotates said upstanding elongate tab further into a locking position; (c) a rotatable elongate member having ends affixed to said pair of locking cam assemblies; and (d) an end bearing assembly comprising an elongate coupling member terminated at each end with an annular end bearing, each said annular end bearing disposed adjacent to one of said locking cam assemblies and each annular end bearing affixed to said discharge door, said rotatable elongate member extending through each of said annular end bearings, said door openable by an operator placing an elongate rod into one of said locking cam assembly slots and rotating said locking cam assembly to partially open said door; the operator then rotating the cam lock assembly again with elongate rod so that the cam lock assembly rotates over said hook assembly locking cam surface to separate said locking cam assembly from said stationary hook assembly and open the door.