Multi-stage ram assembly for product delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12552594-B2
Application number	US-202318491668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2023
Priority date	Nov 28, 2022
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

Provided herein is an assembly including a first ram that can move along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough to move product toward the outlet; a second ram that can be engaged by the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface in the trough, the second ram can be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the first ram; and an actuator that can move the first ram along the surface toward the outlet of the trough. In some embodiments, the first ram may be located between the surface in the trough and the second ram. Optionally, the actuator can engage with and move the first ram.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly comprising:
a first ram configured to move along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough to move product toward the outlet, the first ram comprising an engagement surface positioned at an end of the first ram; a second ram configured to be engaged by the engagement surface of the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface in the trough, the second ram configured to be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the engagement surface of the first ram; and an actuator configured to move the first ram along the surface toward the outlet of the trough.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first ram is configured to be located between the surface in the trough and the second ram.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is configured to directly or indirectly engage the first ram to move the first ram.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second ram is configured to be engaged and moved by the first ram, the second ram configured to be indirectly engaged by the actuator.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first ram includes a receptacle surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the second ram to pull the second ram away from the outlet of the trough.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a telescoping actuator.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a single actuator and both the first ram and the second ram are configured to be moved by only the single actuator.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the trough is angled upward, and the first ram and the second ram are configured to move up the surface toward the outlet of the trough to push the product toward the outlet.

9 . A method comprising:
moving a first ram along a surface in a trough toward an outlet of the trough; engaging a second ram with an engagement surface positioned at an end of the first ram as the first ram moves along the surface; moving both the first ram and the second ram along the surface following engagement of the second ram by the engagement surface of the first ram; and moving product in the trough toward the outlet using the first ram and the second ram.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the first ram includes moving the first ram between the second ram and the surface.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the first ram includes directly or indirectly engaging the first ram with an actuator that moves the first ram.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving both the first ram and the second ram includes moving the first ram farther along the surface than the second ram.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the first ram includes moving the first ram in a first direction along the surface and moving both the first ram and the second ram includes moving the first ram and the second ram in the first direction along the surface, and further comprising:
moving the first ram and the second ram along the surface in a second direction following moving the product toward the outlet.

14 . A system comprising:
a trough having a ramp surface leading to an outlet of the trough, the trough shaped to hold a product that is shaped to be moved from the trough via the outlet; and a single actuator, dual ram assembly operably coupled with the tough, the assembly comprising:
a lower ram configured to move along the ramp surface in the trough toward the outlet of the trough to move the product toward the outlet, the lower ram comprising an engagement surface positioned at an end of the lower ram;
an upper ram configured to be engaged by the engagement surface of the lower ram as the lower ram moves along the ramp surface, the upper ram configured to be moved toward the outlet of the trough by the engagement surface of the lower ram; and
an actuator configured to push the lower ram along the ramp surface toward the outlet of the trough and to pull the lower ram along the ramp surface away from the outlet of the trough.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the upper ram is configured to be indirectly engaged and moved by the actuator via the lower ram.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the lower ram includes a receptacle surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the upper ram to pull the upper ram away from the outlet of the trough.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a telescoping actuator.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the assembly is configured to move one or more of rail anchors, ballast material, or rail spikes in the trough toward the outlet.

Assignees

• Transp Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Wells Nathan
• Felix Nathan

Classifications

• B65D2583/0481

  One reciprocating action, e.g. to or from · CPC title

• B65G47/1478

  by means of pick-up devices, the container remaining immobile · CPC title

• B65G47/1471

  Movement in one direction, substantially outwards · CPC title

• B65D83/76 Primary

  for dispensing fluent contents by means of a piston · CPC title

• B65G25/08 Primary

  having impellers, e.g. pushers · CPC title