Patent EP-0367570-A3 (EP)
Title: Loading system for railroad cars
IPC: G01G19/04
Filed: 1989-10-31
Abstract: A system for and method of loading loading particles 
into railroad cars, whereby the combined weight of the 
railroad car and the particles does not exceed a maximum 
permissible weight, wherein a control weight of a railroad 
car loaded with particles is established, which is less than 
the maximum permissible weight, including a continuous 
loading system wherein particles are dischargeable through a 
discharge end of a mass storage bin, and a batch loading 
system wherein particles are dischargeable through a 
discharge end of a weigh bin, the railroad cars 
continuously moving under the mass storage bin and the 
weight bin in a direction of travel, and wherein particles 
are dischargeable through the discharge end of a surge bin 
into the weigh bin, said method comprising the steps of: 
   a) weighing each railroad car prior to loading 
particles into the railroad car to determine an 
unfilled weight of each railroad car;    b) comparing the unfilled weight of each railroad 
car with a preset partial weight to determine a 
first difference weight for each railroad car and 
storing each first difference weight along with an 
associated car identification code uniquely 
identifying the particular railroad car associated 
with each first difference weight, the preset 
partial weight being a weight less than the control 
weight by an amount sufficient substantially to 
assure that no railroad car will be overloaded from 
the mass storage bin by an amount such that the 
weight of the railroad car loaded with particles 
exceeds the control weight, and the partial preset 
weight being as close as possible to the control 
weight while still substantially assuring that the 
 
 
partially filled weight of none of the railroad cars 
exceeds the maximum permissible weight, thereby 
minimizing the weight of the coal to be loaded by 
the batch loading system;    c) loading particles from the mass storage bin into 
each railroad car and terminating the loading of 
particles from the mass storage bin when about the 
first difference weight of particles has been loaded 
into each railroad car;    d) weighing each of the railroad cars after loading 
the railroad cars with particles from the mass 
storage bin to determine a partially filled weight 
of each of the railroad cars and determining a 
second difference weight equal to the difference 
between the control weight ght;    e) adjusting the amount of particles loaded into the 
railroad cars from the mass storage bin in response 
to the determined second difference weight whereby 
the amount of particles loaded into the railroad 
cars from the mass storage bin in as close as 
possible to the first difference weight;    f) loading particles from the surge bin into the 
weigh bin prior to unloading particles from the 
weigh bin into the railroad cars;    g) weighing the particles in the weigh bin as the 
particles are being loaded into the weigh bin and 
terminating the loading of particles into the weigh 
bin when a weight of particles has been loaded into 
the weigh bin about equal to the second difference 
weight associated with the railroad car to be loaded 
with that second difference weight of particles; and    h) loading the second difference weight of particles 
from the weigh bin into the railroad car to be 
loaded with that second difference weight of 
particles.