Improvements in Hopper Cars.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov:, 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by SILAS FADER, of Vancouver, British Columbia,
Merchant.]
Improvements in Hopper Cars.
1 JOHN JOHNSON of 55 College Place Camden Town in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained.
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to dumping machines constructed as hopper cars for
carrying grain, coal, minerals and the like substances and consists in constructing
and operating them in the way hereinafter described so as to instantaniously
dump the load thereby assisting towards a quick dispatch of the material by ship
or rail.
In order to assist in the description of the invention reference should be had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a side view of a hopper car.
Fig. 2 an end view of the body of same, shewing lever action in one position.
Fig. 2 the same in the reverse position.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the underside of the car, looking upward,
Fig. 4 a plan of the inside of the car.
Fig. 5 a cross section of the dumping hopper, to an enlarged scale,
Fig. 6 a side elevation of the hopper with the doors closed,
Fig. 7 a section through same with the doors open.
Fig. 8 shews the bars which carry the clamps or clutches, as seen from beneath.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts.
A is the car formed with hopper sides B, and dumping outlet C closed by the
automatically acting doors D which are weighted at E and pivotted at F to the
sides of the hopper B by the arms V. The horizontal rocking shafts Gare
journaled to the hopper B and carry in the middle the clamps or clutches H, on
each side of which are the stops or catches I, the rocking shafts G, are also geared
through metal boxes J, secured to the frame of the car A. On the ends of the
shafts G are arms Z cranked to a bar or connecting rod K formed so as to give a
reverse action. This connecting rod K is pivotted at L to a tubular piece M
threaded with a female screw, and through this tubular piece M passes the screw
bar N carried in metal bearings O attached to the frame of the car.
Turning the screw bar N by means of a handle or key applied to one of its ends
beyond the bearing points will cause the piece M to travel on the screw thread
and bring the connecting rod K into the position shown in Fig. 24, the cranked
bars Z turning the rocking shafts G so as to remove the clamps H from under the
hopper doors D, thus releasing them as shewn in Fig. 7, and giving an immediate
outlet to the contents of the car which in its escape forces open the doors D which
are held in position by the stops or catches I on the rocking shafts G coming in
contact with the arms V.
The reverse turning of the screw bar N removes the stops I when the doors D
being weighted at E automatically close, and further action on the screw bar N
firmly secures the clamps H ready for reloading the car.
Instead of using the screw bar {N. for actuating the rocking shafts G, I can

page_text: pivot the rod K to the frame of the car and connect a rod or arm to it at P by
means of a knuckle joint, extending this latter rod to the side of the car where it
can be acted upon by a lever which will draw it forward thus bringing the several
parts into the same position as with the use of the screw bar N and as illustrated
by Fig. 2ª.
I am aware that dumping cars have previously been made; I therefore do not
claim such combination broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In cars constructed to dump or discharge their contents the employment of
hopper B with doors D in combination with shafts G, clamps H, stops I, and screw
bar N all substantially as described.
2. Working the connecting rod K by the screw bar N as illustrated or by an
arm attached to it and operated by a lever.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1895.
HENRY F. TALBOT,
7 Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.