Patent ID: 8479660

Claim:
An automated trackside railcar discharge gate operating system comprising: (a) a railcar gate opening and closing arrangement comprising a pair of automated carriage-mounted capstan-operating tool systems for opening/closing capstan-operated railcar gates, said tool systems being disposed to travel along a carriage track and open and/or close moving capstan-operated railcar gates on moving railcars, said tool systems including systems to acquire, transmit and receive data, including data regarding capstan coordinates for each car to be processed, a capstan-operating tool and visual device to acquire and track capstans to coordinate tool operation; (b) a railcar location feedback system separate from said railcar gate opening and closing arrangement and comprising a pair of carriage-mounted trackside feedback devices to coordinate railcar opening and closing operations, respectively, for detecting, being moved by, and communicating the location and movement of railcars to be processed, said device being disposed to travel along a feedback track; and (c) a central data processor and control device that communicates with and coordinates operation of said tool systems and said feedback devices.