One-way dump railroad car

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a one-way dump railroad car that improves the efficiency of the discharging of bulk material carried in a body of a railroad car. Generally, the one-way dump railroad car includes a dump roller assembly that engages a trackside assembly to actuate rotation of the railroad car's body. The linear motion of the railroad car coupled with the rotation of the railroad car's body operate together to simultaneously form a discharge ramp from a second side wall of the body of the railroad car. The formation of this discharge ramp provides many benefits. First, it facilitates the discharging of bulk materials that are larger in size. Second, it enables the discharging of the bulk materials at a distance that is farther from the railroad car body. Finally, it facilitates the dumping of the entire load contained within the railroad car body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A one-way dump railroad car comprising:
 A first framework supported for linear movement by two or more spaced-apart bogies;   A rotatable body attached to the first framework; and   A rotatable dump roller assembly that is attached to the body by a second framework.   
     
     
         2 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more spaced-apart bogies comprise wheels, axles, and bearings. 
     
     
         3 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable body further comprises a first end wall, an opposing second end wall, a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, and a floor, wherein the first end wall, the second opposing end wall, and the first side wall are rigidly fixed to the floor. 
     
     
         4 . The one-way dump railroad car of claim  4 , wherein the dump roller assembly and the second framework are positioned on the same side of the body as the first side wall. 
     
     
         5 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 3 , wherein the dump roller assembly comprises of a dump roller, a roller axle, and a bearing, wherein the dump roller and the roller axle are movable from a first contracted orientation to a second extended orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 5 , wherein the dump roller is configured to be inserted into a trackside assembly, such that the linear motion of the railroad car guides the dump roller along the profile of the track assembly enabling rotation of the dump roller to a minimum angle of approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 6 , wherein the rotation of the dump roller while inserted into the trackside assembly enables the corresponding rotation of the body along a first longitudinal axis to a minimum angle of approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 7 , wherein the rotation of the body enables a second rotation of the second opposing side wall along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the second opposing side wall rotates from a closed position adjacent to the end walls to an open position forming a ramp that is continuous with the floor of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The one-way dump railroad car of  claim 8  further comprising a reciprocating mechanism that on one end is engaged with the second sidewall and on the other end is interfaced with the first framework to assist in the opening of the second side wall and formation of the ramp. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a one-way dump railroad car comprising
 providing a first framework supported for linear movement by two or more spaced-apart bogies;   providing a rotatable body attached to the first framework; and   providing a rotatable dump roller assembly that is attached to the body by a second framework.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 10  of operating a one-way dump railroad car wherein the two or more spaced-apart bogies further comprise wheels, axles, and bearings. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 11  of operating a one-way dump railroad car wherein the rotatable body further comprises a first end wall, an opposing second end wall, a first side wall, an opposing second side wall, and a floor, wherein the first end wall, the second opposing end wall, and the first side wall are rigidly fixed to the floor. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 12  of operating a one-way dump railroad car wherein the dump roller assembly and the second framework are positioned on the same side of the body as the first sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 13  of operating a one-way dump railroad car wherein the dump roller assembly comprises of a dump roller, a roller axle, and a bearing, wherein the dump roller and the roller axle are movable from a first contracted orientation to a second extended orientation. 
     
     
         15 . A method as in  claim 14  of operating a one-way dump railroad car, wherein the dump roller is configured to be inserted into a trackside assembly, such that the linear motion of the railroad car guides the dump roller along the profile of the track assembly enabling the rotation of the dump roller to a minimum angle of approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . A method as in  claim 15  of operating a one-way dump railroad car, wherein the rotation of the dump roller while inserted into the trackside assembly enables the corresponding rotation of the body along a first longitudinal axis to a minimum angle of approximately 45 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16  of operating a one-way dump railroad car, wherein the rotation of the body enables a second rotation of the second opposing side wall along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the second opposing side wall rotates from a closed position adjacent to the end walls to an open position forming a ramp that is continuous with the floor of the body. 
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17  of operating a one-way dump railroad car, further comprising a reciprocating mechanism that on one end is engaged with the second side wall and on the other end is interfaced with the first framework to assist in the opening of the second side wall and formation of the ramp.