Rail car door opener and closer

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This Invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for opening and closing railroad car doors, wherein the doors are located on the bottom of the railroad car.

2. Background Art

Hopper cars are railroad cars with doors located on the bottom of the railroad car. When the hopper cars arrive to deliver their load, technicians open the doors. The conventional way the door is opened is by striking the Wine Door Lock (Trademark) latch in an upward direction with a large sledge hammer. The latch holds the doors in a closed position during transportation. The striking motion required is to move the latch for the doors to open dispatching the product, and this striking motion has to be accurate for the latch to move to the open position. Often it takes multiple strikes of a hammer for the latch to release, thus opening the doors to dispatch the material into the hopper. Other type locks and latches require the technician to use a bar that they insert into a rotatable door fixture and after having inserted the technician is required to provide a physical force between 100 and 600 foot pounds of force to rotate the opener mechanism and then to reverse after the car is unloaded the rotation to securely close the door and then rotate a lock to secure the latch. Or in the case of rack and pinion slide hopper doors use a ratchet and a suitable square configured tool that inserts to the pinion drive housing and then apply a force sufficient to rotate the pinion thus moving the rack attached to the door to move it open.

The technician opening the door in this conventional way is exposed to many hazards. The surface he is standing on, through which the transported material falls, is generally a grate of various dimensions of spacing; an estimated average is an opening of approximately six inches square. The grate creates a hazard for the technician. The industry has experienced accidents related to slipping. Additionally missing the latch while attempting to deliver the strike required to move the latch, can result in the technicians loosing their balance, falling, and sustaining various types of injuries.

Following the opening of the doors and dispatch of the transported product through the grate the doors hang down, sometimes vertically and sometimes at a lesser angle to the horizontal, such as about 45 degrees. These doors typically weigh about 400 pounds each and are very difficult to move manually. This difficulty can be amplified if the railroad cars are old and the doors and hinges are worn. Warped and bent doors create additional problems when closing.

Manual closure of the doors requires one or more workers to be positioned very near under the car. Occasionally, workers have been injured when the doors do not close completely, fail to latch and then swing back into the worker. Or when other types previously mentioned while opening the technician has to apply rotational forces sufficient to rotate and close the door. Another common method of manually closing the doors requires the worker to insert a bar into some captive area of the door and pull the door up and closed into a latch. All theses activity has suffered many injuries to the workers when the bar slips and generally the line of fire is the head area due to the position of the worker and the position he had to take to effectively pull the door closed. Standing on the grate while pulling the door closed creates its own set of problems related to unsure footing.

Accordingly, various automated or semi-automated means for opening and closing the doors of a railroad hopper car have been developed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,508,037 to Rousseau describes a car door opener wherein, in a railway hopper car with several bottom dump doors, the doors are operated by a main door operating member in the form of a thrust bar running the length of the Car. The bar, when moved, rotates levers, which rotate actuator shafts, which move the door operating linkage arrangements, opening and closing the dump doors.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,974 to Ritter describes a car door opener wherein, a railroad hopper car having bottom discharge doors, an elongated beam assembly along the bottom of the car, door operating levers to open and close the doors connected to the beam assembly and doors, and lost motion timing connections in the beam assembly which permits displacement of beam sections to open and close pairs or sets of doors in a sequential but substantially simultaneous and automatic order so as to permit reduction of air pressure required to open the doors, or permit use of smaller diameter air cylinder.

Accordingly, what is needed is an automated or semi-automated rail car door opener and closer to avoid the hazards of conventional opening and closing of railroad car doors and with advantages over prior automated and semi-automated door openers and closers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVETION

The present invention relates to a method and device for opening and closing the doors of hopper cars, wherein the doors are located on the bottom of the railroad car. Additionally the mechanism described as this invention can be fitted with attachable links that are remotely controlled to close and open sliding doors of cargo car sliding doors.

This invention provides for a semi-automatic method for opening the latch on hopper cars thus opening the doors and then provides for a semi-automatic method for closing the doors. Upon delivery of the transported commodity. The doors of the hopper cars are opened via a way side tool arm controlled by the worker or can be automated, to be positioned remotely to engage a modified Wine Door Lock (Trademark)™ or other door latches as described above including rotatable type mechanism that require a clock wise or counter clockwise rotation. When the primary arm that traverses on a overhead beam locates a perpendicular location to the latch the worker remotely swings the primary arm at that perpendicular angle up close to the latch and then engages a second arm that is a member of the primary arm to rotate around its axis from a downward stowed position upward to engage the modified latch lifting it up to a open position releasing the doors to open.

In another aspect the same second arm incorporates a driven rotate able shaft with an adaptable tool holder end for different fixtures to open and close various doors that require a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation on the latch and lock assembly In another aspect a specific impact jarring type motor can be securely attached to the rotatable shaft on the secondary arm that will transmit vibrations in a torsional vibration to help free stuck doors.

The semi-automatic method for closing the doors provides for a arm attached to the same or separate traversing mechanism. Upon dispatch of the commodity after the doors are opened as described, the worker can remotely and or automatically control the closing process. The traversing member is moved to be located to a perpendicular or semi-perpendicular angle to a opening between the doors and under the rail car, then the worker remotely swings the arm into the area thus positioning the arm member under the car. This positioning process is not limited to the worker performing this task as a positioning sensor can be employed to locate a preferential area to swing the closer element under the car and between the doors The end of the arm member contains a attachable configuration similar to a triangle so that when the traversing member is moved in a direction to close the door the triangular member contacts the door. Once positioned the traversing mechanism is moved in a parrell forward or backward motion related to the railroad tracks. With the arm being positioned under the car the resultant movement of the traversing member transmits the force to the door closer arm and the arm members contact the door closing it. Multiple arms can be locate on the traversing member. The arms can act independently of the traversing member providing the same forward and backward motion parallel to the railroad tracks, creating a squeezing effect on the doors closing them. In the case of a rotation requirement to close and lock the door the secondary arms rotatable shaft with the proper tool attached is employed to rotate the lock and latch to the closed and locked position.

This enables the technicians to avoid the hazards of the conventional opening and closing means and provides an easy, less dangerous and less physically exerting way of opening and closing the railroad car doors.

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIGS. 1A-1E show the operation of and a method for closing a plurality of rail car doors according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2A-2C show an apparatus that provides the articulation and rotation required to open rail car doors according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 3A-0.3C show a detachable tool to open and close rack and pinion rail car doors.

FIGS. 4A-4F show a detachable tool to open ™Wine Door Locks, a common lock set used to hold bottom hopper rail car doors closed.

FIGS. 5A-5D show a detachable tool to open and close ™Miner “type D” doors, a door locking system for holding bottom doors closed.

FIG. 6 shows the door tool frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1A Shows a view of the Door opener/closer assembly. The assembly comprises a set of main vertical arms 106 and are attached to traversing members 101 and 102 respectfully. Attached to the main arm is a secondary horizontal assembly arm 104. Arm 104 consist of a horizontal beam with closing contact member 103 securabley attached to said 106 vertical beams. Member 102 includes the drive motor that traverses the entire assembly right or left. The member 101 slides in conjunction with member 102 and is attached to 101 via a cylinder 107 depicted in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1B shows a view of the door closer/opener. Member 102 is motored to provide left and right movement moving both 102 and 101 together. Member 107 cylinder provides a extending and retracting motion that moves 102 and 101 apart upon extension of 107 and moves 102 and 101 together upon retraction of 107. The retraction of 107 provides the squeezing effect on the doors as the force is transmitted through common 106 members to 104 horizontal beam to 103 door contactor member to the doors to slide them closed along the slide rails to the closed position.

FIG. 1C shows the door closer/opener. The image depicts that vertical swing arms 106 are hinged via pins and bores 109 and motive power is provided by cylinder 108. When 108 is retracted 106 members are pulled back and up and the result is 104 is moved back away from the doors. The image further depicts that a swing arm assembly comprises two members 106 attachabley and pivotabley secured to 104 and attachabley pivotabley secured to 101 and 102 respectfully. The image further depicts that the attachabley secured swing arm assemblies can be rotated at or near a right angle to member 101 and or 102 this function allows for the swing arms to be rotated out of the way for non work periods to provide a clear walk way between the door opener/closer and a rail car.

FIG. 1D Shows the member 103 attached to member 104 and a simulated rail car door. Member 104 is attached to the two vertical beams 106 and as 106 assembly is swung in member 104 and 103 follow to position 103 under the rail car door to contact door as 102 and 101 are squeezed together the door is closed.

FIG. 1E shows the door opener/closer from a rail road side track view. Member 109 is the operator station in the image depicted the operator station is open to atmosphere and traverses with member 102 the operator station is preferred to be climate controlled with a air purification system to limit operators exposure to silicates that are present in many hauled commodities and become airborne as the released commodity is dumped into the hopper below the tracks.

FIG. 2A shows a member that is attachabley secured to frame of member 109 of FIG. 1A via operators station support columns, for providing the articulation required to perform many functions to be described. Opening the various door latches requires this articulation of rotate ability and extension and swing to or aft of center of rotatable shaft 202. The assembly that rotates beyond the stationary support frame is comprised of members 202,205, 206, 208, and 204 and any tools that may be attached to 208. The rotation of direction desired is provided via motor 207 that is linked to sprocket 205 and the size ratio of the sprockets varies the torque multiplication of the rotated members. The assembly is provided a high torque clockwise (cw) or counter clockwise (ccw) rotation powered by drive motor 207. Drive assembly 205 has a motor 207 that rotates the assembly in the required direction. The assembly attached to 102 and traverses with 102 as 102 is forceably traversed on a aerial support beam 900. The secondary arm 206 is pivotabley positioned via cylinder 204 while simultaneously vertical positioning is prosecuted by a cylinder not illustrated to provide a vertical positioning of the assembly shown in FIG. 2a.

FIG. 2B shows a opener assembly with bearings 203 and shaft 202 that rotates within bearings 203. Member 201 is a hydraulic rotatable coupling that allows multiple circuits of hydraulic flow to supply power beyond the rotation point out the end of shaft 202.

FIG. 2C Shows member 208 that is extended or retracted via a cylinder not shown inside of member 206 and said cylinder is mounted internally to member 206 and 208 so that when power beyond is supplied via hydraulic coupling and out end of shaft 202 the extension or retraction of member 208 is accomplished. Member 206 is swung away from or towards the axis of shaft 202 by cylinder 204 and the whole assembly is rotated by motor 207.

FIG. 3A shows a attachable tool for rack and pinion doors that require a rotation to open and a reverse rotation to close. The member is an illustration of a common hub used for rack and pinion doors the hub is attached to a shaft and the shaft has gears called pinion gears and are incorporated with rack type gears that are attached to the doors of bulk type rail cars. Member 302 is square to match the inside configuration of the hub 301. As 208 is connected to 205 which rotates around the center line axis of 202 the resultant crank like rotation transmits the torque of the motor 207 to the attachable tool 304 and an interference of a lug attached to member 302 exhaust rotational travel once seating against member 304 and the torque applied to member 208 is realized and transmitted to the hub 302 to open or close the doors.

FIG. 3B shows a attachable for rack and pinion doors and an additional member 303 a impact wrench that applies a torsional vibration to loosen stuck or corroded door gear. As 208 rotates around the center of 302 that is in line with the center of 202 an additional torque with vibration is applied through shaft 302 from 303 and transmitted to said 301 hub.

FIG. 3C shows a common hub of a rack and pinion door.

FIG. 4A shows a attachable tool for the opening of ™Wine Door Lock (further referred to as the wine door lock) type door locks. The Wine Door Lock has a configuration that is silhouetted by this member via tabs 404. As the opener assembly is extended outward from the operator station the tabs surround the outline of the Wine door lock. For further reference on this process of positioning we will refer to it as the tool docking with latch assembly that is located on the rail car. Members 408, 402, 403, and 401 of FIG. 4A create a assembly to be called the cam rotator. The tip of 403 is positioned under the camlock tab as described in FIG. 4F when the opener assembly is docked with the Wine Door Latch Assembly. The impact wrench is activated by the operator from his station to rotate 403 around the axis of 402 shaft which is housed in and through the 401 housing which is permanently attached to the door opener assembly at a angle to align with the center axis of rotation of the cam lock. As 403's tip is configured like a chisel the resultant rotation rotates the cam to the open position. Member 403s position is now ready for locking the cam after the doors are shut which though a separate process is just a reversal of the steps to open the cam.

FIG. 4B shows member 403 having been rotated by the impact wrench 408. Member 408 is attachabley secured to the door opener assembly and is rotate able in cw or ccw direction by the operator from his station to flip the cam lock in either direction desired.

FIG. 4C shows a view to depict how the tabs of the assembly create a silhouette that surrounds the wine door lock and holds to it through interference of the tabs contacting the frame housing of the wine door latch, this interference is claimed as important because of the torsional forces that will be applied to the opener assembly as the opener arms 405 depicted in FIG. 4d are rotated and further contact the latch of the wine door latch be positioned below the door latch depicted in FIG. 4f and the cylinder 406 depicted in FIG. 4d upon extension of said cylinder lifts the winged arms 405 to a point that the side not engaged on a door latch has limited travel and stops moving upward and the continued extension of the cylinder 406 transmits that resistance force and continued extension of cylinder to the winged arm that is under a latch thus lifting it to open the doors. FIG. 4C illustrates two silhouette areas that are mirrored because the wine door latch comes in left hand and right hand style so the duplication of openers can open the cam and then open the latch of either style depend upon which style is presented for opening.

FIG. 4D shows a view of the wine door lock opener assembly where 406 is a extendable and retractable cylinder and is tie rod connected to arm 405 with pin 409. Member 405 rotates around a limited arc with its axis at pin 407. As cylinder 406 is extended the 405 member on the non contact to latch side having limited travel of rotation bottoms out and the continued extension transmitted from the cylinder rotates the opposite 405 member that has been positioned to contact the wine door lock latch and said further extension of 406 transmits the force to lift 405 up to and against the latch forceably moving the latch to the open position where the doors drop open from the weight of the commodity bearing pressure of the commodities specific gravity to open the doors dispensing the commodity.

FIG. 4E shows the configuration of 405 opener arm and the axis pin 407.

FIG. 4F shows a wine door lock assembly. When the docking of the opener member is accomplished by the operator on to the lock assembly the cam opener assembly is in position to rotate the cam to the unlocked position and the opener arm 405 is in position to lift the latch rotateably thus opening the door.

FIG. 5A shows a ™Miner type D door lock assembly on a rail car the 501 member is a rotatable cam that provides a interference to 502s rotation thus keeping 502 from rotating and opening the door. The opening sequence is to rotate 501 out of the way of 502 so 502 can be rotated c.c.w. in this depiction to open the door via a bell crank attached to the shaft of 502.

FIG. 5B shows a overhead view of the miner assemblies 501 and evidences a pocket configured for a bar to insert in to for the rotation of said cam lock 502 has a configuration adaptable to the same bar for rotation.

FIG. 5C shows a opener arm for miner type door locks as it might be employed to open miner doors. Member 206 and 208 are part of the assembly that rotate around their axis as depicted and described in FIGS. 2A-2C 504 and 503 form a assembly used with the opener and are attachabley secured to the opener as a tool for the opening of miner doors. The above mentioned rotation comes into play to rotate the cam and then the opener member 502 and prior to that process the 206s ability to swing towards its axis allows the 503 member to be inserted in to the cavity of 501 and once in this position can rotate 501 to unlock the cam and then respectfully proceed to a similar process to insert bar 503 into 502 and then rotate 502 to open the door. The opening process is reversed to close the door with the same tool.

FIG. 6 shows the frame of the opener/closer with 900 a boxed beam and two members 901 vertical support beams that suspend 900 above the ground.