A door operating mechanism for operating longitudinal doors of a railroad hopper car. The mechanism includes operating members that are coupled to ends of the doors. These operating members are each actuated by a separate actuating device that is coupled to a top surface of a sill of the hopper car. Door supports have one end coupled to a door and an opposite end coupled for rotation to an actuating device. When a power cylinder coupled to the operating member is activated, the actuating devices are rotated. This rotation causes the door supports to shift in opposite directions and to open the longitudinal doors.

A door operating mechanism for operating longitudinal doors of a railroad hopper car. The mechanism includes operating members that are coupled to ends of the doors. These operating members are each actuated by a separate actuating device that is coupled to a top surface of a sill of the hopper car. Door supports have one end coupled to a door and an opposite end coupled for rotation to an actuating device. When a power cylinder coupled to the operating member is activated, the actuating devices are rotated. This rotation causes the door supports to shift in opposite directions and to open the longitudinal doors.

Railroad hopper cars and methods of increasing total volume capacity of a railroad hopper car having a car body with two or more hoppers. In one embodiment, the railroad hopper car includes a car body having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposed ends defining a length. The hopper car additionally includes a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The hopper car further includes two or more spaced bulkheads extending between the pair of opposed sides to define three or more separate hoppers arranged adjacent one another along the length of the car body and between the pair of side walls. The hoppers being longitudinally asymmetric such that total volume of the hoppers on one side of a transverse center plane of the car body is different from total volume of the hoppers on the other side of the transverse center plane.

Railroad hopper cars and methods of increasing total volume capacity of a railroad hopper car having a car body with two or more hoppers. In one embodiment, the railroad hopper car includes a car body having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposed ends defining a length. The hopper car additionally includes a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The hopper car further includes two or more spaced bulkheads extending between the pair of opposed sides to define three or more separate hoppers arranged adjacent one another along the length of the car body and between the pair of side walls. The hoppers being longitudinally asymmetric such that total volume of the hoppers on one side of a transverse center plane of the car body is different from total volume of the hoppers on the other side of the transverse center plane.

The present invention discloses a connecting rod type two-level locking device, a hopper car bottom door and a hopper car, and belongs to the technical field of rail wagons. The connecting rod type two-level locking device includes a transmission shaft, a door opening arm, a first roller, a second roller, a first locating pin, a standstill locking disk and a linkage mechanism. The hopper car bottom door includes the connecting rod type two-level locking device. The hopper car includes the bottom door. Even if the connecting rod type two-level locking device is accidentally stressed, the linkage mechanism cannot rotate, and at this time, the slave arm cannot rotate neither. The accidental opening of the hopper car bottom door can be avoided. The hopper car is more reliable to use.

The present invention discloses a connecting rod type two-level locking device, a hopper car bottom door and a hopper car, and belongs to the technical field of rail wagons. The connecting rod type two-level locking device includes a transmission shaft, a door opening arm, a first roller, a second roller, a first locating pin, a standstill locking disk and a linkage mechanism. The hopper car bottom door includes the connecting rod type two-level locking device. The hopper car includes the bottom door. Even if the connecting rod type two-level locking device is accidentally stressed, the linkage mechanism cannot rotate, and at this time, the slave arm cannot rotate neither. The accidental opening of the hopper car bottom door can be avoided. The hopper car is more reliable to use.

A door operating assembly for a railcar includes an actuating device. The railcar includes a railcar container and a lower portion coupled to the railcar container. The railcar container includes two opposing sidewalls and at least one door coupled to the lower portion. The railcar defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door operating mechanism coupled to the actuating device. At least a portion of the at least one door operating mechanism extends longitudinally along one sidewall of the two opposing sidewalls. The door operating assembly further includes at least one axial drive member coupled to the at least one door operating mechanism. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door drive assembly coupled to the at least one axial drive member. The at least one door drive assembly is coupled to the at least one door.

A door operating assembly for a railcar includes an actuating device. The railcar includes a railcar container and a lower portion coupled to the railcar container. The railcar container includes two opposing sidewalls and at least one door coupled to the lower portion. The railcar defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door operating mechanism coupled to the actuating device. At least a portion of the at least one door operating mechanism extends longitudinally along one sidewall of the two opposing sidewalls. The door operating assembly further includes at least one axial drive member coupled to the at least one door operating mechanism. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door drive assembly coupled to the at least one axial drive member. The at least one door drive assembly is coupled to the at least one door.

Open top gondola railcars and closure assemblies for cleanout openings of those railcars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the closure assembly includes a closure member sized to be received in a cleanout opening and to span a substantial portion of the cleanout opening to define at least one gap between a closure perimeter and a floor perimeter. The closure assembly additionally includes a sealing member fixedly attached to, or formed with, the closure member. The sealing member spans between the floor perimeter and the closure perimeter to cover the at least one gap. The closure assembly further includes a tethering member having opposed first and second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the closure member and the second end portion is attached to one of the floor or a cross bearer of the open top gondola railcar.

Open top gondola railcars and closure assemblies for cleanout openings of those railcars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the closure assembly includes a closure member sized to be received in a cleanout opening and to span a substantial portion of the cleanout opening to define at least one gap between a closure perimeter and a floor perimeter. The closure assembly additionally includes a sealing member fixedly attached to, or formed with, the closure member. The sealing member spans between the floor perimeter and the closure perimeter to cover the at least one gap. The closure assembly further includes a tethering member having opposed first and second end portions. The first end portion is fixedly attached to the closure member and the second end portion is attached to one of the floor or a cross bearer of the open top gondola railcar.