Railcar ballast delivery gate

Abstract

A railcar ballast delivery gate with first and second parallel side walls spaced apart by a center truss plate that extends between and is perpendicular to each of the two side walls, a center angled bar that straddles the center truss plate, first and second primary elongated tubes extending between the first and second side walls on opposing sides of the side walls, and a divider assembly. The primary elongated tubes are rotatably connected to first and second tube arms, which in turn are fixedly couple to first and second secondary elongated tubes that are configured to move relative to the primary elongated tubes while remaining parallel to them. The tube arms are rotatably connected to door linkages that are situated underneath and fixedly attached to door panels resting on trusses that extend from a center truss plate.

Claims

1. A railcar ballast delivery gate comprising: (a) first and second parallel side walls spaced apart by a center truss plate that extends between and is perpendicular to each of the two side walls; (b) a center angled bar that straddles the center truss plate and extends between the first and second side walls; (c) first and second primary elongated tubes extending between the first and second side walls on opposing sides of the side walls; and (d) a divider assembly; wherein the center truss plate and center angled bar are situated in between and parallel to the first and second primary elongated tubes; wherein the first and second primary elongated tubes are on the same horizontal plane; wherein the first and second primary elongated tubes each has a length, and the length of the first primary elongated tube is the same as the length of the second primary elongated tube; wherein each of the first and second primary elongated tubes is rotatably connected to a first tube arm on a first end of the primary elongated tube and rotatably connected to a second tube arm on a second end of the elongated primary tube; wherein the first tube arm is fixedly coupled to a first secondary elongated tube that is parallel to the first primary elongated tube; wherein the second tube arm is fixedly coupled to a second secondary elongated tube that is parallel to the second primary elongated tube; wherein the first and second secondary elongated tubes each has a length, and the length of the first secondary elongated tube is the same as the length of the second secondary elongated tube; wherein the length of the first and second secondary elongated tubes is greater than the length of the first and second primary elongated tubes; wherein the first and second secondary elongated tubes are configured to move relative to the first and second primary elongated tubes while remaining parallel to the first and second primary elongated tubes; wherein each of the first and second tube arms is rotatably connected to a door linkage that is situated underneath and fixedly attached to a door panel; wherein each of the door panels is slidably situated on top of a plurality of trusses that are perpendicular to and extend outwardly from the center truss plate; wherein each truss is angled downwardly from a center of the truss so that the door panels tilt upward as they rest upon the plurality of trusses; wherein a first end of each secondary elongated tube is rotatably coupled to a hydraulic cylinder situated on an exterior side of the first side wall; and wherein each hydraulic cylinder is rotatably attached to one of the first and second secondary elongated tubes via a cylinder arm.

2. The railcar ballast delivery gate of claim 1, wherein each truss is joined at the center of the truss to the center truss plate; wherein each truss has a first outer end and a second outer end; wherein the first outer end of each of the trusses is joined to a first exterior plate that is situated downward of and exterior to the first primary elongated tube; wherein the first secondary elongated arm is situated between the first primary elongated tube and the first exterior plate; wherein the second outer end of each of the trusses is joined to a second exterior plate that is situated downward of and exterior to the second primary elongated tube; and wherein the second secondary elongated arm is situated between the second primary elongated tube and the second exterior plate.

3. The railcar ballast delivery gate of claim 1, wherein each truss is a single piece of metal comprised of two truss arms; wherein each truss arm comprises an elongated bottom leg, a top leg that is shorter than the bottom leg and situated on top of the bottom leg with a cutout configured to receive one of the first and second primary elongated tubes, and a joinder section that joins the top leg to the bottom leg; wherein the top leg extends inwardly from the joinder section; wherein the joinder section forms an outer end of the truss; wherein the bottom leg is longer than the top leg; wherein a slot is located between the top leg and the bottom leg and is configured to receive one of the two door panels; and wherein the slot has a terminal end that is configured to act as a stop to prevent the door panel from sliding further downward when an outside edge of the door panel abuts up against the terminal end of the slot.

4. The railcar ballast delivery gate of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second primary elongated tubes has an outwardly facing first surface and an inwardly facing second surface; wherein the first surface and the second surface are at a ninety-degree angle relative to each other and at a forty-five-degree angle relative to a horizontal axis of the gate; wherein a first inside slope plates extends downwardly from a bottom edge of the second surface at the same angle relative to the horizontal axis of the gate as the second surface and terminates above the bottom legs of the plurality of trusses, thereby forming a gap that is configured to receive an outside edge of one of the two door panels; wherein the slope plate has an inside surface that rests against and is supported by angled edges on the top legs of the plurality of trusses; wherein the angled edges of the top legs of the trusses are at a forty-five-degree angle relative to the slots in the plurality of trusses; and wherein the inside slope plate is configured to form a continuous surface with the inwardly facing second surface of the first or second primary elongated tube.

5. The railcar ballast delivery gate of claim 1, wherein the divider assembly is comprised of two flat plates extending downwardly from a bottom edge of the center truss plate at a one hundred thirty-five-degree angle relative to a vertical axis of the center truss plate.

6. The railcar ballast delivery gate of claim 1, further comprising first and second interior plates spaced apart from and connected to an inner surface of each of the first and second side walls; wherein a pair of door guides is situated on an inner surface of each of the first and second interior plates and configured to receive the door panels.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed.

(2) FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed.

(3) FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed.

(4) FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed.

(5) FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention shown with one of the side walls, one of the interior plates, and a pair of door guides removed.

(7) FIG. 7 is a detail view of the mechanical arm assembly of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels open.

(9) FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels open.

(10) FIG. 10 is a side view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a first position.

(11) FIG. 11 is a side view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a second position.

(12) FIG. 12 is a side cross-section view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a first position.

(13) FIG. 13 is a side cross-section view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a second position.

(14) FIG. 14 is an isolated perspective view of a truss.

(15) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the present invention shown with one of the side walls, one of the interior plates, and the door panels removed.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(16) 1 Gate assembly

(17) 2a First side wall

(18) 2b Second side wall

(19) 3 Truss plate

(20) 3a Bottom edge (of truss plate)

(21) 4 Primary elongated tube

(22) 5a First tube arm

(23) 5b Second tube arm

(24) 6 Secondary elongated tube

(25) 7 Door linkage

(26) 7a Connecting member

(27) 8 Door panel

(28) 8a Outside edge (of door panel)

(29) 8b Inside edge (of door panel)

(30) 9 Truss

(31) 9a Bottom leg (of truss)

(32) 9b Top leg (of truss)

(33) 9c Cutout (in top leg of truss)

(34) 9d Joinder section (of truss)

(35) 9e Slot (in truss)

(36) 9f Terminal end (of slot)

(37) 9g Angled edge (of truss)

(38) 10 Hydraulic cylinder

(39) 11 Exterior plate

(40) 12 Inside slope plate

(41) 13 Divider assembly

(42) 13a First angled plate (of divider assembly)

(43) 13b Second angled plate (of divider assembly)

(44) 13c End plate (of divider assembly)

(45) 14 Pin gusset

(46) 15 Interior plate

(47) 16 Door guide

(48) 17 Cylinder arm

(49) 18 Center angled bar

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

(50) FIG. 1 is a first perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed. As shown in this figure, the gate assembly 1 comprises two parallel side walls 2a, 2b spaced apart by a center truss plate 3 (see FIG. 12) that is perpendicular to both side walls 2a, 2b and connects the two side walls. A center angled bar 18 straddles the center truss plate 3 and extends between the two side walls 2a, 2b. First and second primary elongated tubes 4 also extend between the two side walls 2a, 2b on opposing sides of the side walls. The center truss plate 3 and center angled bar 18 are situated in between and parallel to the first and second primary elongated tubes 4. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the first and second primary elongated tubes 4 are on the same horizontal plane. Both of the primary elongated tubes 4 are the same length.

(51) Each primary elongated tube 4 is rotatably connected to a first tube arm 5a on a first end of the primary elongated tube 4 and a second tube arm 5b on the second end of the primary elongated tube 4. The first and second tube arms 5a, 5b are each fixedly coupled to a secondary elongated tube 6 that is parallel to the primary elongated tube. The secondary elongated tubes 6 are the same length as each other and longer than the primary elongated tubes 4. The secondary elongated tubes 6 are configured to move relative to the primary elongated tubes 4 while remaining parallel to the primary elongated tubes. The secondary elongated tubes 6 extend longitudinally beyond the side walls; that is, the length of each secondary elongated tube 6 is greater than the distance between the two side walls 2a, 2b.

(52) Each tube arm 5a, 5b is rotatably connected to a door linkage 7 (see FIG. 9) that is situated underneath the door panel 8. Each door linkage 7 is fixedly attached to a door panel 8 that is slidably situated on top of a plurality of trusses 9 that are perpendicular to and extend outwardly from the center truss plate 3 (see FIG. 15, showing that each truss fits into a slot in the center truss plate 3). The trusses 9 are angled downwardly from the center of the truss so that the door panels 8 tilt upward (toward the center) as they rest upon the trusses 9. A first end of each secondary elongated tube 6 is rotatably coupled to a hydraulic cylinder 10 situated on the exterior side of a first side wall 2a.

(53) Each truss 9 is joined at its center to the center truss plate 3 and at its outer ends to an exterior plate 11 that is situated downward of and exterior to the primary elongated tube 4, with the movable secondary elongated arm 6 situated between the primary elongated tube 4 and the exterior plate 11. Each truss 9 is a single piece of metal comprised of two arms, each arm comprising an elongated bottom leg 9a, a top leg 9b that is shorter than the bottom leg 9b and situated on top of the bottom leg 9a with a cutout 9c configured to receive the primary elongated tube 4, and a joinder section 9d that joins the top leg 9b to the bottom leg 9a (see FIG. 14). The top leg 9b extends inwardly from the joinder section 9d, which forms the outer end of the truss, and the bottom leg 9a is about twice as long as the top leg 9b. A slot 9e is located between the top leg 9b and the bottom leg 9a and is configured to receive a door panel 8. The terminal end 9f of the slot 9e acts as a stop so that the door panel 8 stops sliding further downward (to open the gate) when the outside edge 8a of the door panel 8 abuts up against the terminal end 9f of the slot 9e.

(54) Each of the primary elongated tubes 4 is situated so that a first surface 4a and a second surface 4b of the tube are at a forty-five-degree (45°) angle relative to a horizontal axis of the invention (see FIG. 13). The second surface 4b faces inward (toward the interior of the invention), and the first surface 4a faces outward. The first and second surfaces 4a, 4b are at a ninety-degree (90°) angle relative to each other. An inside slope plate 12 extends downwardly from the bottom edge of the second surface 4b at the same angle as the second surface 4b and terminates above the bottom legs 9a of the trusses 9, creating a gap large enough for the door panel 8 to fit therethrough. The inside slope plate 12 rests against and is supported by the angled edges 9g on the top legs 9b of the trusses 9. The angled edge 9g of the truss is at a forty-five-degree (45°) angle relative to the slot 9e and is configured so that when the inside slope plate 12 rests against the angled edge 9g, the inside slope plate 12 forms a continuous surface with the inwardly facing second surface 4b of the primary elongated tube 4.

(55) A divider assembly 13 is comprised of two flat plates 13a, 13b extending downwardly from a bottom edge 3a of the truss plate 3 and at a one-hundred-thirty-five-degree (135°) angle relative to the vertical axis of the truss plate 3 (see FIG. 12). The truss plate 3 forms the central vertical (and lateral) axis of the gate assembly 1. The flat plates 13a, 13b act as a surface to which joinder plates (not shown) may be attached so that ballast exiting the gate assembly may be directed accordingly.

(56) FIG. 2 is a second perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed. As shown in this figure, the primary elongated tubes 4 are connected to the tube arms 5 via a pin gusset 14 on either side of the tube arm 5.

(57) FIG. 3 is a top view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed. In operation, the gate assembly 1 is secured to the bottom of a railcar so that ballast in the railcar will flow into the gate assembly and onto the door panels 8 when they are closed. With the door panels closed, the ballast will lie in the areas designated as “X” in this figure.

(58) FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed. As shown in this view, the invention preferably comprises an interior plate 15 spaced apart from and connected to an inner surface of each side wall 2. A pair of door guides 16 is situated on the inner surface of each interior plate and is configured to receive the door panels. The door guides 16 serve to secure the door panels 8 as they move up and down (open and closed) on the trusses 9.

(59) FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels closed. As shown in this figure, the divider assembly 13 further comprises an end plate 13c on either end of the divider assembly 13. The hydraulic cylinders 10 are attached to one of the end plates 13c.

(60) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention shown with one of the side walls 2, one of the interior plates 15, and a pair of door guides 16 removed. As shown in this figure, when the door panels 8 are in a closed position, the inside edge 8b of the door panel fits underneath the center angled bar 3, and the outside edge 8a of the door panel 8 fits underneath the inside slope plate 12. The bottom edge 3a of the truss plate 3 is connected to the apex of the divider assembly 13 (that is, the point at which the two flat plates 13a, 13b connect) along the entire length of the flat plates.

(61) FIG. 7 is a detail view of the mechanical arm assembly of the present invention. As shown in this figure, each door linkage 7 is preferably comprised of a pair of parallel connecting members 7a, each of which is connected to one side of the tube arm 5a, 5b so that there is a connecting member 7a on both sides of the tube arm.

(62) FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels open, and FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention shown with the gate panels open. As shown in these figures, each hydraulic cylinder 10 is rotatably attached to the secondary elongated tube 6 via a cylinder arm 17. In operation, as the hydraulic cylinders 10 are extended, the cylinder arms 17 are pushed outward, forcing the secondary elongated tubes 6 upward and the door panels 8 (via the linkages described above) to slide downward (into an open position) on the trusses 9.

(63) FIG. 10 is a side view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a first position, and FIG. 11 is a side view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a second position. In these two figures, the door panels 8 are in an open position in FIG. 10 and a closed position in FIG. 11.

(64) FIG. 12 is a side cross-section view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a first position, and FIG. 13 is a side cross-section view of the present invention showing the mechanical arm assembly in a second position. In these two figures, the door panels are in an open position in FIG. 12 and a closed position in FIG. 13.

(65) Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.