Importance

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Abstract

A hopper car of a dump train for transporting material includes a hopper and a conveyor for loading the hopper with material. The loading conveyor includes a frame, a first pulley, a second pulley, and a continuous belt. The frame is attached to the car above the hopper. The first pulley is attached at one end of the frame adjacent an end of the hopper car. The first pulley has a motor positioned therein such that when the motor is operated the first pulley is rotated. The second pulley is attached at another end of the frame adjacent another end of the hopper car. The continuous belt is positioned on the first and second pulleys such that rotation of the first motorized pulley moves the continuous belt around the frame. A plow assembly is positioned on the frame and is operable to screed material off the continuous belt and into the hopper. The plow assembly includes a rotatable rod attached to the frame and includes a plow attached to the rotatable rod by an arm and a joint. Rotation of the rod raises or lowers the plow relative to the continuous belt. The plow assembly can be operated manually by a lever or can be operated hydraulically by a hydraulic actuator. The hopper car can also include a gate and a second conveyor for unloading the hopper. The gate can be mounted at an open bottom of the hopper and can be movable between opened and closed positions for discharging material from the hopper. The second conveyor is used for unloading the hopper and is positioned underneath the gate for carrying the discharged material along the dump train.

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First Claim