Abstract:
A railroad car loader/unloader apparatus includes a mobile machine adapted to operate atop an open top rail car. The apparatus includes a plurality of support subassemblies with surfaces adapted to engage upper surfaces of sidewalls of the rail car when the apparatus is positioned thereon. The support subassemblies are removable. The apparatus also includes a boom structure with a bucket attached at an end thereof. The apparatus can move atop the rail car on its own power, or by coordinated use of the boom structure to push or pull the apparatus along the rail car. In an alternative embodiment, rollers are attached to the support subassemblies in a position to engage the sidewall&#39;s upper surface to reduce travel friction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for handling materials, and more particularly to a mobile apparatus for loading and unloading open-top railcars. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     One method of loading and unloading open-top railcars has been to station large, fixed-base cranes or similar systems alongside railroad depots. However, loading and unloading must often be accomplished at a site remote from such a depot, such as during handling of cross-ties and track bed ballast for railroad construction or repair. Traditionally such unloading tasks have been accomplished via manual labor or by transporting large, highly specialized and expensive equipment to the job site. Manual labor has many disadvantages, including lack of efficiency and high expense. Alternatively, the costs of purchasing or renting expensive specialized equipment and the costs of transporting the equipment to each job site can also be prohibitive. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,902, titled APPARATUS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING RAILROAD CARS, U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,394 titled METHOD FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING RAILROAD CARS, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,606, titled LOADING/UNLOADING APPARATUS FOR RAILROAD CARS, all to Stanley Herzog et al., are directed to an apparatus, a method, and an improved apparatus, respectively, for employing a specially adapted backhoe-like machine which has the capability to load or unload open-top railcars. In these patents, which are incorporated herein by reference, the specifically adapted machines, called “Cartoppers®” backhoes can be easily transported to remote sites, where they are capable, with a trained operator and a front bucket-mounted winch, of loading themselves onto the top of the railcar. The machines include a front boom and a rear boom with respective buckets attached thereto. The machines can then be moved along the top of each railcar as material, such as railroad ties, track ballast, coal or other material is unloaded from, or loaded onto, the cars. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,902 shows an apparatus for loading and unloading railroad cars and includes supports attached to the front bucket, and to a chassis behind an operator&#39;s cab. Center support feet added in U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,394 increase stability. U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,606 includes a pair of front support feet attached to a front bucket and a pair of swingable outrigger arms on the backhoe chassis behind the operator&#39;s cab with the front and rear support feet resting on and overhanging the upper surfaces of the railcar sidewalls when the apparatus is positioned atop it. A center support assembly including a beam provides improved stability, and the center support can be readily extended or retracted depending on the task being performed (i.e. extended for tasks atop the railcar, retracted for ordinary tasks unrelated to loading/unloading a railcar). 
     As indicated, the prior designs are capable of self-mounting the railcars by coordinated use of the front and rear booms. Once atop the railcars, movement along upper surfaces of sides of the cars is accomplished by alternately folding the rear boom and engaging the railcar&#39;s bottom surface and then unfolding the same to slide the front and rear supportive feet along the upper surfaces. The apparatus can also be moved in the opposite direction atop the cars by pulling with the rear boom. Alternatively, the apparatus can be moved by a winch attached to the front bucket. 
     While the prior designs have proven effective, a need remains for a railcar loading/unloading apparatus, such as a conventional trackhoe, that can be easily positioned and moved atop a railcar or system of railcars to load or unload the railcar&#39;s contents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus for loading and unloading&#39;railcars. Although the apparatus as described includes a trackhoe type machine, other machines such as a bulldozer, backhoe, or other mobile apparatus also could be used. The apparatus allows for relatively easy movement atop the railcar, and a relatively large bucket to handle greater loads. The apparatus includes an upper body and a lower body. The upper body includes an articulated boom with a material handling bucket attached thereto. The lower body includes a supportive chassis and a pair of track subassemblies for movement. 
     A plurality of support subassemblies are attached to the chassis and provide support and stability when the apparatus is positioned atop the railcar with the support subassemblies in positions to engage upper and outer surfaces of the railcar&#39;s sidewalls. The support subassemblies are readily removable. 
     The apparatus can mount a railcar via a ramp, or, alternatively, by climbing an end thereof. Once atop the railcar, movement is accomplished either directly by rotation of the track subassemblies, or, alternatively, by using the boom and bucket to push or pull the apparatus along the railcar. 
     In an alternative version, rollers are attached to the support subassemblies to afford easier movement by reducing travel friction when the support assemblies engage upper surfaces of the railcar&#39;s sidewalls. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The principle objects and advantages of the present invention include: providing an improved railcar loader/unloader apparatus; providing such an apparatus that can be readily positioned atop an open-top railcar; providing such an apparatus that is able to negotiate different materials once atop the railcar; providing such an apparatus with improved stability, versatility and load carrying capabilities; providing such an apparatus with improved mobility; providing such an apparatus with a plurality of support subassemblies; providing such support subassemblies which are readily removable; providing such an apparatus with rollers attached to the support subassemblies to reduce travel friction; and to provide such an apparatus which is safe, durable and reliable, and which is particularly well adapted for its intended purposes. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. 
     The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a loading/unloading apparatus in position atop an open-top railcar. 
     FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of the loading/unloading apparatus similar to FIG. 1, but with the apparatus moved on the railcar. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a support subassembly mounted to a chassis of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the support subassembly including a roller subassembly. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support subassembly showing a vertical support plate in a downward position in solid lines, and in an upward position in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the loading/unloading apparatus, with the broken lines showing the boom swung to the side. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “rightwardly”, and “leftwardly” will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import. 
     Referring to the drawings and FIG. 1 in greater detail, the reference numeral  1  generally refers to a loader/unloader apparatus in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 1, the apparatus  1  is shown positioned atop a conventional railcar  2  for loading or unloading operations. The railcar  2  includes a pair of spaced, parallel sidewalls  3 , 4  with upper surfaces  3   a , 4   a  and outer surfaces  3   b , 4   b , and a pair of end walls  5 , 6 . 
     While the apparatus  1  shown resembles a conventional trackhoe, a bulldozer, backhoe or other mobile apparatus can also be used. The apparatus includes an upper body  7  and a lower body  8 . The upper body  7  includes a motor  10  and an operator&#39;s cab  11 . The upper body  3  also includes a material engaging device or bucket  15  supported by an articulated two-piece boom  16 . The boom  16  includes a proximate arm  17  and a distal arm  18 . The bucket  15  is pivotally attached to a front end  18   a  of the distal arm  18  via a pivot mount  19 . The bucket  15  is selectively pivotable about the pivot mount  19  via a bucket hydraulic drive cylinder  20 . The proximate arm  17  is selectively movable via first and second boom hydraulic cylinders  25 , 26  mounted at respective ends thereof  25   a , 26   a  to a surface of the upper body  7  and at opposite ends  25   b , 26   b  to the proximate arm  17 . The distal arm  18  is selectively movable via a third boom hydraulic cylinder  27  mounted at an end  27   a  of the proximate arm  17 , and at an opposite end  27   b  thereof mounted on the distal arm  18 . 
     The lower body  8  includes a supportive structure or chassis  28  with a pair of wings or beams  29 ,  30  interconnected by a center span  31 . A turning gear  32  is attached by any suitable means, such as welding, between an upper surface of the center span  31  and a lower surface of the upper body  7  and allows the upper body  7  to turn or pivot 360° about a vertical axis relative the lower body  8 . 
     A pair of track subassemblies  33 , 34  are mounted to the wings  29 , 30  respectively. The track subassemblies  33 , 34  each includes a respective outer track  35 , 36  driven by a system of chain subassemblies  40 , 41  attached to the outer tracks  35 , 36  respectively, and gear subassemblies  45 , 46  mounted to the wings  29 , 30  respectively. Under normal operating conditions (i.e. traveling on the ground) the apparatus  1  moves when the motor  10  supplies power to turn the gear subassemblies  45 , 46  which turn the chain subassemblies  40 , 41  and the outer tracks  35 , 36  respectively. 
     II. Support Bracket Subassemblies  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56   
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  1   a ,  2  and  5 , in adapting the apparatus  1  for use as a loader/unloader to be positioned atop the railcar  2 , a pair of front support bracket subassemblies  50  and  51  are attached at front portions  29   a ,  30   a  of the wings  29 ,  30  respectively. Similarly, a pair of rear support bracket subassemblies  55 ,  56  are attached at the wings&#39; rear portions  29   b ,  30   b  respectively. 
     The support bracket pairs  50 , 51  and  55 , 56  are mirror images of one another. The support bracket subassemblies  50 , 51 , 55 , 56  are otherwise substantially identical. They are attached at different locations on the wings  29 , 30 . 
     Therefore, this specification will only describe the support bracket subassembly  50 , which is generally representative of the other support bracket subassemblies  51 , 55 , 56 . 
     The support bracket subassembly  50  includes a support beam  57 . The support beam  57  includes a lower plate  58  with upper and lower surfaces  58   a ,  58   b  respectively and is attached (e.g., welded) to a generally inverted trough-like member  59 . Each end of the plate  58  is beveled at a 45° angle, as indicated at  60  on each of FIGS. 1,  1   a ,  2  and  5  to facilitate easier movement. A pair of bores (not shown) extend through opposite vertical sides  59   b ,  59   c  of a rear end of the upper member  59 . 
     The support beam  57  is attached to the wing  29  by any suitable means. For example, a metal mounting plate  62  with a pair of bored receiving members  63  may be welded to a vertical edge near the front of the wing  29   a . A pin assembly  64  may be inserted through the receivers  63  and the bores  61  to removably mount the support bracket subassembly  50  to the wing  29 . For added support, a vertical gusset  70  extends upwardly from the upper member  59  and is welded along an edge thereto. The gusset  70  is also attached at an end thereof to the wing  29  by a plurality of bolts  71 . A U-shaped lift ring  72  is attached to the gusset  70  by a pin connector  74  inserted through a bore  73  extending through the gusset  70 . A chain  75 , the purpose of which will be discussed later, may be attached at one end thereof to the ring  72  and at an opposite end thereof may be removably clamped to the wing  29 . 
     A lateral support plate  81  is pivotally attached to an outer end  59   a  of the upper member  59  via a pivot arm  82 . A plurality of locking pin receiving extensions  83  are attached to opposite vertical sides  59   b )  59   c  of the outer end  59   a  of the upper member  59  and are sized to receive a locking pin  84 . Referring to FIG. 4, the plate  81  is movable 180° between an upward position and a downward position by removing the locking pin  84  from the receiving extensions  83 , swinging the plate up or down to the desired position, and reinserting the locking pin  84  to hold the plate in position. The locking pin  84  can be secured in its locking position by a removable clip  85  fastened to the end thereof. In the down position, the plate  81  will limit lateral sliding of the apparatus  1  atop the railroad car  2  by engaging outer sides thereof if the apparatus  1  moves too far to one side thereof. Both ends  81   a ,  81   b  of the support plate  81  are beveled at a 45° angle to facilitate movement in either direction atop the railcar  2 . 
     The support bracket subassembly  50  can be removed from the apparatus  1 . To facilitate removal, the bolts  71  and the pin assembly  64  are removed. The subassembly  50  is then removed from the wing  29 , for example, by using the bucket  15  to lift the chain  75  with the support bracket subassembly  50  attached thereto. 
     III. Alternative Embodiment Support Subassembly  101   
     Referring generally to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the support bracket subassembly is indicated generally with the numeral  101 , it being understood, again, that the support bracket subassembly  101  is generally representative of other support bracket subassemblies that may be attached to the wing support beams  29  and  30 , as discussed previously. The support bracket subassembly  101  differs from the support bracket subassemblies  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56  in the provision of a support roller  102 . The roller  102  is positioned in a slot  104  in the bottom of a plate  110 . A pair of press fit bearings  115  and  116  are attached to a top side of the plate  110  and the roller  102  extends therebetween via a roller shaft (not shown). The roller  102  may be positioned atop the upper surface  3   a  or  4   a  of the railcar&#39;s sidewalls  3  or  4 , respectively, to facilitate movement of the apparatus  1  along the top of the railcar  2 . 
     IV. Operation 
     The apparatus  1  may be positioned atop the railcar  2  via a ramp  150 . Alternatively, if the railcar  2  is relatively low to the ground, the apparatus  1  can simply mount the railcar  2  by climbing its end wall. In any event, the apparatus  1  is mounted atop the railcar  2  with the lower surfaces of the plates  58  of the support bracket subassemblies  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56  in positions to engage the upper surfaces  3   a  or  4   a  of the railcar sidewalls  3  or  4 , respectively. Movement of the apparatus  1  along the railcar  2  varies depending on the contents  151  of the railcar  2 . The apparatus  1  can travel directly across the contents  151  using the track subassemblies  33  and  34  when sufficient quantities of contents  151  are present. Alternatively, the apparatus  1  can be positioned atop the railcar  2  with the support bracket subassemblies  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56  engaging respective upper edges  3   a ,  4   a  thereof. The apparatus  1  can then move atop the railcar  2  forward or backward by pushing or pulling the bucket  15  relative to the sidewalls  3 ,  4  or end walls  5 ,  6  of the railcar  2 . The railcar&#39;s contents  151  can be loaded or unloaded with the bucket  15 . The apparatus  1  dismounts the railcar  2  via the ramp  150  or, alternatively by simply climbing off the railcar  2  and onto the ground. Alternatively, the apparatus  1  can be positioned atop the railcar  2  with the support bracket subassemblies  50 ,  51 ,  55  and  56  engaging upper edges thereof. The apparatus  1  can then move atop the railcar  2  forward or backward by pushing or pulling the bucket  15  relative to the sidewalls  3 , 4  or end walls  5 , 6  of the railcar  2 . The railcar&#39;s contents  151  can be loaded or unloaded with the bucket  15 . The apparatus  1  dismounts the railcar  2  via the ramp  150 , or, alternatively by simply climbing off the railcar  2  and onto the ground. 
     It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.