Direct Drive Automated Hatch System for Hopper Railcars

Abstract

An direct drive automated hatch system for a hopper rail car with a central longitudinal trough with coaming and a unitary hatch cover; a plurality of guide rail assemblies connecting one side of the top of the railcar perpendicular to and adjacent a corresponding longitudinal edge of the coaming to the hatch cover, wherein one guide rail assembly is positioned at each end of the trough and one or more guide rail assemblies are evenly spaced between the outermost guide rail assemblies; a cable network connecting the guide rail assemblies to the batch and external coaming of the trough; and means for activating the cable network to open and close the hatch and to align the opposing ends of the hatch cover during opening and closing. A hatch cover open/closed indicator visible from the side of the railcar is provided.

1 . An automated hatch system for a hopper railcar having a central longitudinal trough with coaming, the system comprising:
 a. a unitary hatch cover;   b. a plurality of guide rail assemblies connecting one side of the top of the railcar perpendicular to and adjacent a corresponding longitudinal edge of the coaming to the hatch cover, wherein one guide rail assembly is positioned at each end of the trough, one or more guide rail assemblies are evenly spaced between the outermost guide rail assemblies, and each guide rail assembly comprises
 i. a linear guide rail having a linear slot connected to the top of the railcar; 
 ii. a profiled guide rail having a curved slot connected to the top of the railcar, the profiled guide rail parallel to and spaced apart from the corresponding linear guide rail; and 
 iii. an arm having internal and external ends, the internal end connected to the top of the hatch cover and the external end comprising a first roller on one side of the arm movable within the linear slot and a second roller on the opposing side of the arm movable within the curved slot, 
   c. An opening cable network connecting the guide rail assemblies to the hatch and external coaming of the trough;   d. A closing cable network connecting the guide rail assemblies to the hatch and external coaming of the trough; and   e. means for activating the cable networks to open and close the hatch and to align the opposing ends of the hatch cover during opening and closing.   
     
     
         2 . The hatch system of  claim 1  wherein each of the opening and closing cable networks comprises:
 a. a plurality of sheaves mounted on sheave brackets at each end of each guide rail assembly, at the comers of the hatch cover, and at the external corners of the trough coaming; 
 b. a cable running through the sheaves and fixed in place relative to the railcar; and 
 c. a plurality of cable adjustment turnbuckles disposed along the cable network. 
 
     
     
         3 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for activating the cable network comprises:
 a. at least one pneumatic cylinder;   b. an alignment tube extending between the pneumatic cylinders;   c. an alignment car movable along the alignment tube between retracted and extended positions;   d. a source of pressurized air; and   e. actuator means.   
     
     
         4 . The hatch system of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator means comprises an actuator button. 
     
     
         5 . The hatch system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder comprises two pneumatic cylinders.