Material or article handling – Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor – Convertible attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-21
2001-09-04
Bratlie, Steven A. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Elevator or hoist and loading or unloading means therefor
Convertible attachment
C294S081560, C410S098000, C410S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283700
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to railroad freight cars, and, more particularly, to an apparatus, system and method for unloading railcars having a center beam structure extending along the length of the car body.
2. Relevant Background
Center beam railcars have been used for a number of years to carry cargo such as lumber, building materials, and generally any cargo that can be packaged in packages of substantially uniform size and shape. Center beam railcars offer advantages of lower size and weight, and therefore can carry greater cargo weight. This feature results in greater efficiency in transport, greater fuel efficiency as compared to conventional boxcar designs.
Generally, a center beam railcar comprises a flatbed-like railcar usually with bulkheads on both front and back ends of the car. The center beam railcar has substantially no sidewalls or roof structure. A center beam or partition structure runs along the length of the car extending upwardly from the deck. The center beam structure provides for the static and dynamic loads associated with the cargo during transport.
Center beam railcars have an integral cable-stayed load tie-down system. At an upper portion of the center beam a mounting structure is formed or attached that includes a plurality of keyhole slots for attaching cables, straps, or other means of securing the load. To unload a center beam railcar a person must climb atop the railcar to release the cable tie-down system from the keyhole slots. This operation presents a significant safety hazard as personnel can easily fall from the top of the railcar. This is particularly true when the operation must be performed in rain, snow, or other adverse conditions. Another disadvantage is that the cables and components of the tie down system can easily fall from the car presenting significant risk of injury to people positioned below the car.
This safety problem has been addressed with stopgap measures awaiting a more permanent solution. For example, the task can be performed by an operator protected from falling by a cage suspended by a forklift. This solution makes the task of releasing the cable-tie more cumbersome and time consuming. Moreover, two operators are required for the task rather than one operator as intended. A need exists for a method of releasing the cable tie system that improves safety while allowing rail yard operators to efficiently unload center beam type railcars.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the present invention involves a method, apparatus, and system for uncabling a center beam flatcar. In transport, a load is retained on the railcar using a tie down assembly attached to key holes of an upper rail of the flatcar. In accordance with the present invention a cable removing apparatus is operated by loosening cable tie downs to create cable slack, then attaching the cable removing apparatus in accordance with the present invention to a lift mechanism having a plurality of cable claws located distally from the lift mechanism. The cable claws are positioned so that tip ends of the cable claws are adjacent to the loosened cables and clear of a load carried in the railcar. The cable claws are shifted sideways in the direction of the cables such that the tip ends enter a loop created by the cable slack. Using the lift mechanism, the cable claws are raised to engage the cables and lift the cable claws above the upper rail of the center beam. The cable claws are moved towards the upper rail of the center beam flatcar until all of the cables engaged by one of the cable claws are released from the keyholes in the upper rail. The cable claws are moved away from the upper rail until the cables are pulled free of the railcar and fall to the ground.
A cable removing apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of hook shaped cable claws that are rigidly coupled in a spaced apart, aligned fashion to a support beam. The cable claws are spaced from each other by a spacing substantially similar to cable-to-cable spacing in center beam flatcars. The support beam is coupled to one or more lift sleeves having a receiving end for removably attaching to an external lift mechanism. Optionally, a safety gate is attached by hinges to the cable removing apparatus near the receiving end of the lift sleeves to protect a lift operator from falling cables during operation.
A cable removing system in accordance with the present invention is designed to enable a single operator using a lift mechanism such as a forklift to remove cable ties securing a load to a center beam flatcar. The system in accordance with the present invention includes a cable removing mechanism that removeably attaches to a lift mechanism such as a forklift or overhead crane. The cable removing apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart aligned cable hooks positioned at a first end and a lift mechanism receiver located at a second end. The cable hooks extend downwardly a sufficient distance to engage a loosened cable tie down from above the load.
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Bratlie Steven A.
Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.
Langley Stuart T.
Lembke Kent A.
Safety Solutions, Inc.
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