US3595175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Convertible freight-hopper car
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-08-08
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Granted: 1971-07-27
•
Expires: 1989-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A vehicular hopper-box freight carrier adapted for transporting freight in granular and/or bulk form. The freight carrier includes a floor surface having a plurality of apertures opening to hopper means for discharging freight of granular form and of sufficient strength to support freight in bulk form above the surface. The carrier includes primary bulkhead means positioned to guide granular freight towards the hopper means and secondary bulkhead means adapted to longitudinally support freight in bulk form.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Austill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:39
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D3/00; B61D3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A convertible freight hopper car comprising, in combination: an enclosed freight car having a top wall, sidewalls, end walls and a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising hopper means for the discharge of granular freight from the freight car; and an open grid floor surface forming a plane over said hopper means and forming a plurality of apertures communicating with said hopper means, the apertures being of a sufficient size to permit the particles of granular freight over the floor surface to flow into said hopper means, said floor surface also forming a plane to support bulk freight thereon; said top wall being formed with means communicating with the interior of said car for loading granular freight into the car; said sidewalls being formed with doors movable to provide side loading openings for ingress and egress of bulk freight to and from said freight car; said floor surface comprising a plurality of tie members secured together to form a grid pattern; primary bulkhead means linked with said hopper means to guide granular freight toward said hopper means; and guide track means including primary cooperating means on the primary bulkhead means for guiding the primary bulkhead means toward and away from said end walls.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
A convertible freight hopper car comprising, in combination: an enclosed freight car having a top wall, sidewalls, end walls and a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising hopper means for the discharge of granular freight from the freight car; and an open grid floor surface forming a plane over said hopper means and forming a plurality of apertures communicating with said hopper means, the apertures being of a sufficient size to permit the particles of granular freight over the floor surface to flow into said hopper means, said floor surface also forming a plane to support bulk freight thereon; said top wall being formed with means communicating with the interior of said car for loading granular freight into the car; said sidewalls being formed with doors movable to provide side loading openings for ingress and egress of bulk freight to and from said freight car; said floor surface comprising a plurality of tie members secured together to form a grid pattern; primary bulkhead means linked with said hopper means to guide granular freight toward said hopper means; and guide track means including primary cooperating means on the primary bulkhead means for guiding the primary bulkhead means toward and away from said end walls.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The freight carrier of claim 1 in which the floor surface is secured in place and forming a surface over which mobile loading equipment may be directly operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The freight carrier of claim 1 further including means pivoting the primary bulkhead means toward and away from the floor surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The freight carrier of claim 1 in which said end walls are substantially normal to the floor surface with the point of intersection of the floor surface and end walls spaced from the hopper means, the primary bulkhead means being linked to the hopper means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The freight carrier of claim 4 in which the primary bulkhead means are pivotable relative to the floor surface at the linking point with the hopper means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The freight carrier of claim 4 in which the primary bulkhead means are substantially normal to the floor surface and engage the floor surface at the point of intersection with the hopper means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
196 words
A convertible hopper car freight comprising, in combination: an enclosed freight car having a top wall, sidewalls, end walls and a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising hopper means for the discharge of granular freight from the freight car; an open grid floor surface forming a plane over said hopper means and forming a plurality of apertures communicating with said hopper means, the apertures being of a size sufficient to permit particles of granular freight over the floor surface to flow therethrough into said hopper means, said floor surface forming a plane to support bulk freight thereon; said top wall being formed with means communicating with the interior of said car for loading granular freight into said car; said sidewalls being formed with doors movable to provide side loading openings for ingress and egress of bulk freight to and from said freight car; primary bulkhead means mounted in said car to guide granular freight toward said hopper means; and secondary bulkhead means disposed in said car and spaced inboard with respect to said primary bulkhead to support bulk freight thereagainst, said secondary bulkhead means being formed with apertures to permit the passage of granular freight therethrough.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
A convertible hopper car freight comprising, in combination: an enclosed freight car having a top wall, sidewalls, end walls and a bottom surface, said bottom surface comprising hopper means for the discharge of granular freight from the freight car; an open grid floor surface forming a plane over said hopper means and forming a plurality of apertures communicating with said hopper means, the apertures being of a size sufficient to permit particles of granular freight over the floor surface to flow therethrough into said hopper means, said floor surface forming a plane to support bulk freight thereon; said top wall being formed with means communicating with the interior of said car for loading granular freight into said car; said sidewalls being formed with doors movable to provide side loading openings for ingress and egress of bulk freight to and from said freight car; primary bulkhead means mounted in said car to guide granular freight toward said hopper means; and secondary bulkhead means disposed in said car and spaced inboard with respect to said primary bulkhead to support bulk freight thereagainst, said secondary bulkhead means being formed with apertures to permit the passage of granular freight therethrough.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The freight carrier of claim 7 in which the secondary bulkhead means includes a plurality of members secured together to form a grid pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The freight carrier of claim 7 in which Said end walls slope toward the hopper means and the secondary bulkhead means are spaced inwardly from the end walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The freight carrier of claim 7 in which the secondary bulkhead means is configured to include a plurality of individual horizontal and vertical planes joined in a stairstep configuration with individual vertical and level planes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |