Improved Automatic Hatch System for Trough Loaded Hopper Railcars

Abstract

An automated hatch system for hopper railcars having a unitary hatch; guide assemblies connecting one longitudinal side of the top of the railcar to the hatch, each guide assembly has a lower mount mounted on the lateral edge of the top of the railcar; an upper mount mounted to a lateral edge of the hatch and having rollers on its outer edges for rollable engagement with a guide, the guide extending between the lower mount and the upper mount; a drive tube slidingly engaged through the lower mount; and means for moving the drive tube longitudinally between a closed position and an open position.

1 . An automated hatch system for a trough loaded hopper railcar having a central longitudinal trough with coaming, the system comprising:
 a. a unitary hatch;   b. a plurality of guide assemblies connecting one longitudinal side of the top of the railcar to the hatch, wherein one guide assembly is positioned in proximity to each end of the trough, one or more guide assemblies are evenly spaced between the outermost guide assemblies, and each guide assembly comprises:
 i. a lower mount mounted on the lateral edge of the top of the railcar; 
 ii. an upper mount mounted to a lateral edge of the hatch and having rollers on its outer edges for rollable engagement with a guide, the guide extending between the lower mount and the upper mount; 
 iii. a drive tube slidingly engaged through the lower mount; 
 iv. a long link pivotally connected at a first end to the drive tube and at a second end to the upper mount and an arm, the arm connected to a hatch mount plate attached to the hatch; 
 v. a short link pivotally connected between the lower mount and a midpoint of the long link; and 
 vi. means for moving the drive tube longitudinally between a closed position and an open position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the drive tube comprises:
 a. at least one pneumatic cylinder;   b. a source of pressurized air; and   c. actuator means.   
     
     
         3 . The hatch system of  claim 2 , further comprising a compression spring at the end of the drive tube opposite the pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The hatch system of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator means comprises an actuator handle. 
     
     
         5 . The hatch system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pneumatic cylinder comprises one pneumatic cylinder at each end of the drive tube. 
     
     
         6 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein the lever system constructed by the relative position of the long link, short link, arm, guide and drive tube is selected to effect a mechanical advantage wherein a longitudinal force of the drive tube effects a lateral force of the arm of at least 3 times the longitudinal force. 
     
     
         7 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot pin on the railcar adjacent the coaming for pivotal engagement with the upper mount to effect downward rotation of the arm onto the hatch. 
     
     
         8 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide has a profile selected to guide the upper mount along a desired path to move the hatch away from and onto the coaming of the trough. 
     
     
         9 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein the guide assembly is spaced apart from the surface of the railcar to permit passage of snow, ice and debris between the guide assembly and the railcar. 
     
     
         10 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein each drive tube and each guide assembly is attached to the railcar at only two positions. 
     
     
         11 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , further comprising an indicator flag movable between a closed position and an open position by a control cable attached from the indicator flag to a lever activated by activation of the cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The hatch system of  claim 1 , wherein all components of the system are externally visible with the hatch in an open or closed position. 
     
     
         13 . A method for opening and closing an automated hatch system for a trough loaded hopper railcar having a central longitudinal trough with coaming, a drive tube mounted along a longitudinal edge of the top of the railcar, a plurality of guide assemblies mounted perpendicularly between the hatch and the drive tube, the method comprising moving the drive tube in a first longitudinal direction to effect perpendicular lateral opening movement of the guide assemblies and attached hatch away from the trough, and moving the drive tube in a second opposing longitudinal direction to effect perpendicular lateral closing movement of the guide assemblies and attached hatch towards and onto the trough. 
     
     
         14 . A method of opening and closing a hatch for a trough loaded railcar from trackside comprising accessing and releasing a safety lock; activating an actuator handle to open the hatch before loading or unloading and close the hatch after loading or unloading, and securing the safety lock.