Patent ID: 6431084
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B61D,Y02T

Abstract:
A gate assembly for a railroad hopper car having a hopper body capable of holding ballast therein and defining a hopper bottom outlet positioned between a pair of opposed end panels, said gate assembly comprising:a frame configured for attachment to said hopper body in surrounding relation relative to said outlet, said frame defining a discharge opening; a door assembly mounted on said frame for generally vertical and generally linear sliding movements between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening on said frame; and a driver operably coupled between said frame and said door assembly for imparting up to a 2000 lb. opening force on said door assembly and a speed of about 2.0 inches per second as said door assembly moves from said closed position to said open position, and wherein said driver is powered by a direct current electric motor which draws no more than about 30 amperes from a power source as said door assembly moves from said closed position to said open position.