Railroad hopper car with ballast distributing blades and remote control system

Abstract

A ballast distributing railroad car has a number of ballast hoppers, each with a selectively operable hopper discharge control member which is operable to selectively drop material from the respective hopper either inside of or outside of the rails of a railroad track. The railroad car also has a pair of ballast distributing blades pivotally attached beneath it, either between the hopper discharge control members or one at either end of the car, with the blades being mirror images of each other. Each blade and each hopper discharge control member can be selectively operated via an independent hydraulic actuator. A remote control radio transmitter and car mounted receiver provide for remote, individual and selective control of hopper discharge control members and blades on a car.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
       1. A ballast distributing railroad hopper car including: (a) a pair of hoppers and associated hopper discharge control members, said discharge control members being selectively operable to distribute ballast from the respective hopper on the inside or the outside of a particular rail;   (b) a pair of ballast distributing blades, each said blade being selectively movable between an upper, non-operative position and a lower, operative position;   (c) a pair of blade operating means, each of which is associated with a respective one of said blades for selectively moving the respective blade between said operative and said non-operative positions;   (d) a pair of hopper discharge control member operating means, each of which is associated with a respective one of said hopper discharge control members for selectively moving the respective hopper discharge control member between a center, non-discharge position and either of a side discharge position or a center discharge position;   (e) a receiver on said car connected to the door and blade operating means on that car, said receiver being responsive to coded control signals to selectively, independently and individually control positions of each of said hopper discharge control members and said blades; and   (f) a mobile remote transmitter selectively operable to transmit said coded control signals to cause said receiver to control the connected discharge control member operating means and blade operating means.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, for use on a train including a plurality of railroad cars, each such car including a plurality of said hopper discharge control members and hopper discharge control member operating means and a plurality of said blades and said blade operating means and each such car being equipped with one of said receivers, wherein: (a) each receiver is adapted to respond to a different coded receiver address signal; and   (b) said remote transmitter is selectively operable to transmit any one of said coded receiver address signals along with said control signals to enable a selected one of said receivers.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) said hopper discharge control members each comprise a hydraulic motor and said blade operating means each comprise a hydraulic actuator.   
     
     
       4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said car includes a power source and a hydraulic fluid pump.   
     
     
       5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) one of said pair of ballast distributing blades is attached between one of said hopper discharge control members and one end of said car.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein: (a) each of said ballast distributing blades is shaped as a V, with the center portions of the V blades on said car extending toward each other such that said car can distribute ballast in either direction on a railroad track.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein: (a) said ballast distributing blades are adjustable and each includes at least one wing portion which is extendable and retractable to selectively change the effective width of said blade.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) one of said pair of said ballast distributing blades is attached inside of a respective one of the hopper toward the center of said car.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein: (a) each of said ballast distributing blades is shaped as a V, with the center portions of the V blades on each car extending away from each other such that each ballast from one hopper or hopper pair can be off-loaded and distributed via one of said blades while ballast from a second hopper or hopper pair can be sprinkle dumped behind the distributing blades while said car is in motion in either direction on a railroad track.   
     
     
       10. On a train including a plurality of railroad cars, each car including a plurality of hopper discharge openings, each with a hopper discharge control member, and at least one ballast distributing blade attached beneath the car, said blade being movable between a non-operative position and an operative position, a control system for controlling each of said hopper discharge control members and each of said blades, said control system comprising: (a) hopper discharge control member operating means associated with each said hopper discharge control member for selectively moving the respective hopper discharge control member between a center, non-discharge position and either of a side discharge position or a center discharge position;   (b) blade operating means associated with said blade for selectively moving said blade between said operative and said non-operative positions;   (c) a receiver on each car connected to each hopper discharge control member and blade operating means on that car, said receiver being responsive to coded control signals to selectively, independently and individually control positions of said hopper discharge control members and said blade, each said receiver being adapted to respond to a different coded address signal; and   (d) a mobile remote transmitter selectively operable to transmit any one of said coded address signals and said coded control signals to cause a selected one of said receivers to control the connected hopper discharge control member and blade operating means.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) said hopper discharge control members each comprise a hydraulic motor and said blade operating means each comprise a hydraulic actuator.   
     
     
       12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) each said car includes an electrical generator and a hydraulic fluid pump.   
     
     
       13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) there are a pair of said ballast distributing blades on each said car, one blade being attached toward each end of each car, and each said blade has an independent blade operating means associated therewith.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein: (a) each of said ballast distributing blades is shaped as a V, with the center portions of the V blades on each car extending toward each other such that each said car can distribute ballast while said train is in motion in either direction on a railroad track.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein: (a) one or more of said ballast distributing blades is adjustable and includes at least one wing portion which is extendable and retractable to selectively change the effective width of said blade.   
     
     
       16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) there are a pair of said ballast distributing blades on each said car, one blade being attached inside of a respective one of each of the hopper discharge control members toward the center of said car, and each said blade has an independent blade operating means.   
     
     
       17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein: (a) each of said ballast distributing blades is shaped as a V, with the center portions of the V blades on each car extending away from each other such that each ballast from one hopper or hopper pair can be off-loaded and distributed via one of said blades while ballast from a second hopper or hopper pair can be sprinkle dumped behind the distributing blades while said train is in motion in either direction on a railroad track.   
     
     
       18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein: (a) said ballast distributing blades are adjustable and each includes at least one wing portion which is extendable and retractable to selectively change the effective width of said blade.   
     
     
       19. A method of selectively, independently and individually controlling a plurality of hopper discharge control members and one or more ballast distributing blades on a railroad hopper car, each said hopper discharge control member being selectively movable between a center, non-discharge position and either of a side discharge position or a center discharge position and each said blade being movable between an operative and a non-operative position, the method comprising the steps of: (a) attaching a reversible power source to each said hopper discharge control member and each said blade;   (b) connecting a receiver to all of said power sources to selectively, independently and individually control the switching and direction of each of said power sources in response to uniquely encoded control signals; and   (c) transmitting said encoded control signals to said receiver from a mobile remote transmitter.   
     
     
       20. The method of claim 19, wherein there are a plurality of hopper cars on a train, each car including a plurality of hopper discharge control members and blades, each car also including a respective one of said receivers, said method including the steps of: (a) adapting each receiver to respond to a unique coded receiver address signal;   (b) causing said remote transmitter to send a selected one of said receiver address signals so that a single selected receiver is enabled thereby.   
     
     
       21. In a railroad hopper car equipped for operation on a pair of railroad rails, said car including at least two material containing hoppers with one of said hoppers positioned toward one end of said car and the other of said hoppers being positioned toward the opposite end of said car, each hopper including a hopper discharge control member for selectively dropping material in the hoppers between said rails or outside of said rails, the improvement comprising: (a) a pair of V shaped material distributing blades attached beneath said railroad car, each said blade being of a width which simultaneously encompasses both rails of a railroad track, with each said blade being selectively movable between a lowered, operative position in which the blade is positioned to push material dropped from said car off of said rails and a raised, non-operative position, both of said blades being located between said hopper discharge control members toward a center of said car and with said blades being oriented with the center portions of their respective V's pointing away from each other; and   (b) a pair of blade operating means for respectively, selectively moving said blades between said operative and said non-operative positions such that one of said blades can be properly positioned to distribute the material dropped from a first of said hopper discharge control members while material dropped from the other of said hopper discharge control members is sprinkle dumped on the material so distributed regardless of the direction of travel of said car.   
     
     
       22. A railroad hopper car as in claim 21, wherein each said blade further comprises: (a) at least one wing portion which is extendable and retractable to thereby adjust the effective width of said blade; and   (b) wing operating means for selectively extending and retracting said wing portion.   
     
     
       23. A railroad hopper car as in claim 21, wherein: (a) each of said blade operating means comprises a hydraulic actuator means.   
     
     
       24. A railroad hopper car as in claim 23, wherein: (a) each of said blades is pivotably attached beneath said railroad car, and each of said hydraulic actuator means is operative to pivot the respective blade between said raised, non-operative position and said lowered, operative position.   
     
     
       25. A railroad hopper car as in claim 24, wherein each of said blades further comprises: (a) roller means for contacting and rolling along said rails when said blade is in said operative position to thereby otherwise hold said blade just clear of said rails.   
     
     
       26. A railroad hopper car as in claim 21, wherein each of said hopper discharge control members includes a hopper discharge control member operating means, the improvement further comprising: (a) control means for remotely controlling said blades and said hopper discharge control members, said control means including: (i) a receiver on said car connected to the respective hopper discharge control member operating means and blade operating means on the car, said receiver being responsive to coded control signals to selectively, independently and individually control positions of each of said hopper discharge control members and said blades; and   (ii) a mobile remote transmitter selectively operable to transmit any one of said coded control signals to cause said receiver to control the connected hopper discharge control member operating means and blade operating means. .Iadd.     
     
     
       27.  An apparatus to enable remote control of a distribution of a preselected railroad track ballast material, to at least one of an inside portion and an outside portion of a particular rail, from an at least one opening formed in an at least one hopper disposed on a railway hopper car, said apparatus comprising: (a) a signal receiving means connectable to each of a predetermined source of power and to an at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and to an at least one ballast distribution blade operating means, said signal receiving means being responsive to coded control signals received thereby for each of selectively and independently and individually controlling such at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and such at least one ballast distribution blade operating means; and   (b) a mobile remote coded control signal transmitting means selectively operable for transmitting said coded control signals to said signal receiving means for enabling said signal receiving means to initiate said each of said selective and independent and individual control of such at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and such at least one ballast distribution blade operating means..Iaddend..Iadd.28. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein such preselected railroad track ballast material is distributed from a plurality of hopper cars and said apparatus further includes a separate signal receiving means connectable to each of such at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and such at least one ballast distribution blade operating means on each such hopper car, each said separate signal receiving means being responsive to a different coded control signal and said mobile remote coded control signal transmitting means being selectively operable for transmitting said different coded control signal to said separate signal receiving means for enabling said separate signal receiving means to initiate said each of said selective and independent and individual control of such at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and such at least one ballast distribution blade operating means on each such hopper car..Iaddend..Iadd.29. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein said signal receiving means is a radio receiver and said mobile remote coded control signal transmitting means is a radio control transmitter..Iaddend..Iadd.30. An apparatus, according to claim 29, wherein said radio receiver is capable of receiving an RF signal and decoding a digital address and control signal modulated thereon..Iaddend..Iadd.31. An apparatus, according to claim 28, wherein said separate signal receiving means connectable to each of such at least one hopper discharge control member operating means and such at least one ballast distribution blade operating means on each such hopper car is a radio receiver and said mobile remote coded control signal transmitting means being selectively operable for transmitting said different coded control signal to said separate signal receiving means is a radio control transmitter..Iaddend..Iadd.32. An apparatus, according to claim 31, wherein said radio receiver is capable of receiving an RF signal and decoding a digital address and control signal modulated thereon..Iaddend..Iadd.33. An apparatus, according to claim 32, wherein said radio receiver includes a predetermined plurality of relays..Iaddend..Iadd.34. An apparatus, according to claim 33, wherein said radio control transmitter further includes a predetermined plurality of switches operative to select a particular said radio receiver..Iaddend..Iadd.35. An apparatus, according to claim 34, wherein at least a portion of said predetermined plurality of switches are rotary switches..Iaddend..Iadd.36. An apparatus, according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said predetermined plurality of switches is a toggle switch..Iaddend..Iadd.37. An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein said predetermined source of power is selected from battery power and   
     
     
        electrical power supplied by a generator..Iaddend..Iadd.38.  An apparatus, according to claim 27, wherein each of said signal receiving means and said mobile remote coded control signal transmitting means include an RF antenna..Iaddend.