Railcar end door support

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11072972-B2
Application number	US-201916405068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 7, 2019
Priority date	May 24, 2018
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus includes a transfer ball, a rod, a first bracket, a second bracket, a lock nut, an elastic element, and a threaded collar. The rod is coupled to the transfer ball and extends vertically from the transfer ball. The second bracket is positioned above the first bracket. The rod extends vertically through the first bracket and the second bracket. The lock nut engages to the rod and is positioned above the first bracket and below the second bracket. The elastic element is positioned above the lock nut and below the second bracket. The rod extends vertically through the elastic element. The threaded collar is positioned above the elastic element and below the second bracket. The threaded collar is engaged to the rod. The rod extends through the threaded collar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a transfer ball;
a rod coupled to the transfer ball, the rod extending vertically from the transfer ball;
a first bracket;
a second bracket positioned above the first bracket, the rod extending vertically through the first bracket and the second bracket;
a lock nut engaged to the rod and positioned above the first bracket and below the second bracket;
an elastic element positioned above the lock nut and below the second bracket, the rod extending vertically through the elastic element; and
a threaded collar positioned above the elastic element and below the second bracket, the threaded collar engaged to the rod, the rod extending through the threaded collar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lock nut directly contacts the first bracket and the threaded collar directly contacts the second bracket.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second locknut positioned above the second bracket and directly contacting the second bracket, the second lock nut engaged to the rod.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lock nut is configured, when turned, to adjust a vertical distance between the transfer ball and the first bracket.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the threaded collar is configured, when turned, to adjust a vertical force applied downward on the elastic element.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is a spring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elastic element is an elastomer.

8. A railcar comprising:
a floor;
an end door positioned at an end of the floor; and
a rolling support coupled to the end door and configured support the end door on the floor, the rolling support comprising:
a transfer ball configured to roll on the floor;
a rod coupled to the transfer ball, the rod extending vertically from the transfer ball;
a first bracket coupled to the end door;
a second bracket positioned above the first bracket and coupled to the end door, the rod extending vertically through the first bracket and the second bracket;
a lock nut engaged to the rod and positioned above the first bracket and below the second bracket;
an elastic element positioned above the lock nut and below the second bracket, the rod extending vertically through the elastic element; and
a threaded collar positioned above the elastic element and below the second bracket, the threaded collar engaged to the rod, the rod extending through the threaded collar.

9. The railcar of claim 8 , wherein the lock nut directly contacts the first bracket and the threaded collar directly contacts the second bracket.

10. The railcar of claim 8 , further comprising a second locknut positioned above the second bracket and directly contacting the second bracket, the second lock nut engaged to the rod.

11. The railcar of claim 8 , wherein the lock nut is configured, when turned, to adjust a vertical distance between the transfer ball and the first bracket.

12. The railcar of claim 8 , wherein the threaded collar is configured, when turned, to adjust a vertical force applied downward on the elastic element.

13. The railcar of claim 8 , wherein the elastic element is a spring.

14. The railcar of claim 8 , wherein the elastic element is an elastomer.

15. The railcar of claim 8 , further comprising a platform coupled to the floor and extending from a side of the floor, the platform configured to support the transfer ball when the end door is open.

Assignees

• Trinity Rail Group Llc

Inventors

• Huck Kenneth W

Classifications

• B61D3/18 Primary

  for vehicles {(vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06)} · CPC title

• B61D19/004

  swinging (B61D19/008 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E05F7/06

  Devices for taking the weight of the wing, arranged away from the hinge axis · CPC title

• B61D19/001

  for wagons or vans (closure elements for hopper car discharge openings B61D7/16; doors convertible into loading and unloading ramps B61D47/00; B61D19/003 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E06B7/28 Primary

  Other arrangements on doors or windows, e.g. door-plates, windows adapted to carry plants, hooks for window cleaners {(edge protecting devices for door leaves E06B3/88; special glazing; emergency glazing; double glazing E06B3/66)} · CPC title