Safety latch lock indicator for railcar door operation mechanism

Abstract

A safety latch lock indicator for a railcar door operation mechanism is disclosed. In one aspect, the present invention teaches a railway car having an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A respective door assembly mounted adjacent to the discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly moves via the discharge control system between a first and second position relative to the discharge opening. An indicator may extend from a side of the railway car as the door assembly moves between the first and second positions, wherein a portion of the indicator becomes visible from at least one side of the railway car.

1 . A railway car having an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading, the railway car comprising: 
 the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car;    a discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper;    a respective door assembly mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper;    the door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening;    a discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position;    the discharge control system including an actuator operable to move longitudinally relative to the center sill;    an indicator operably coupled to the actuator to extend and retract from at least one side of the railway car as the door assembly moves between the first position and the second position; and    a portion of the indicator visible from the at least one side of the railway car when the door assembly is moved to either of the first or second position.    
     
     
         2 . The railway of  claim 1  further comprising an open hopper car.  
     
     
         3 . The railway car of  claim 1  further comprising a closed hopper car.  
     
     
         4 . The railway car of  claim 1  wherein the actuator for the discharge control system further comprises: 
 an air cylinder coupled to the railway car;    an operating piston extending from the air cylinder and coupled with a clevis to move the clevis longitudinally with respect to the center sill; and    the clevis operably coupled with the indicator.    
     
     
         5 . The railway car of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator further comprises a latch component operable to move between a first, secured position to a second, unsecured position based on the position of the actuator.  
     
     
         6 . The railway car of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator further comprises: 
 a connecting rod operably coupled between the actuator and one end of the railway car; and    the connecting rod extending from of the actuator to one end of the railway car accommodate positioning the respective indicator at the one end of the railway car.    
     
     
         7 . The railway car of  claim 1 , further comprising the indicator having a first position and a second position operable to extend and retract from respective sides of the railway car.  
     
     
         8 . The railway car of  claim 1  further comprising a highly visible coloration disposed on the portion of the indicator extending from the at least one side.  
     
     
         9 . The railway car of  claim 8  wherein the highly visible coloration comprises a safety orange color.  
     
     
         10 . A discharge control system operable to control the flow of lading from a hopper in the railway car, comprising: 
 a latch component operably coupled to a portion of the discharge control system;    the latch component operable to move between a first, secured position and a second, open or unsecured position based on the movement of the discharge control system between an open position and a closed position;    the latch component mechanically linked to an indicator portion; and    the indicator portion operable to appear and disappear from view along at least one side of the railway car such that a user has visible indication of the position of the discharge control system.    
     
     
         11 . The discharge control system of  claim 10 , wherein the movement of the latch component comprises an axial displacement.  
     
     
         12 . The discharge control system of  claim 10  further compromising the indicator portion providing a visual indication of the status of the discharge control system when an observer looks down the length of several associated railway cars.  
     
     
         13 . The discharge control system of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a first cam mechanically coupled between the latch component and the indicator portion; and    the first cam operably translates the movement of the latch component into a rotational displacement.    
     
     
         14 . The discharge control system of  claim 13 , wherein the rotational displacement comprises a displacement of approximately thirty degrees.  
     
     
         15 . The discharge control system of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 a connecting rod coupled between the first cam and the indicator portion; and    the connecting rod operable to permit the indicator portion to be located near one end of the railway car.    
     
     
         16 . The discharge control system of  claim 15 , further comprising second cam coupled between the connecting rod and the indicator portion, the second cam operable to translate the rotational movement into an axial displacement such that the indicator portion extends from at least one side of the railcar.  
     
     
         17 . The discharge control system of  claim 10 , further comprising a highly visible coloration disposed on the indicator portion.  
     
     
         18 . A method of indicating status of a discharge control system associated with a railway car, comprising: 
 moving a door assembly between a first, closed position and a second, open position using the discharge control system to control the flow of lading through the door assembly;    displacing a latch component with a portion of the discharge control system as the door assembly moves between the first and second position; and    extending and retracting a portion of an indicator from at least one side of a railway car in response to displacement of the latch component.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising translating the displacement of the latch component into a rotational movement using a cam coupled between the latch component and the portion of the indicator extending from the at least one side of the railway car.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising exposing a visible coloration on the portion of the indicator extending from the side of the railway car.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising extending the portion of the indicator from the side of the railway car to when the discharge control system has moved to the door assembly the second, open position.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, based on the extended portion of the indicator, causing a lading to be placed into the railway car.