US 7,387,075 B2 | ||
Method for mounting a hatch cover to a railcar | ||
Christopher C. Gaydos, Maple Park, Ill. (US); and Rudolph S. Fortuna, Oak Creek, Wis. (US) | ||
Assigned to Miner Enterprises, Inc., Geneva, Ill. (US) | ||
Filed on Dec. 07, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/296,800. | ||
Application 11/296800 is a division of application No. 10/730300, filed on Dec. 08, 2003, granted, now 7,003,850. | ||
Prior Publication US 2007/0022568 A1, Feb. 01, 2007 | ||
Int. Cl. B61D 3/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 105—281 | 3 Claims |
1. A method for mounting a railroad car hatch cover to stationary brackets on a railcar roof structure so as to allow said
hatch cover to pivotally move relative to coaming extending about a trough defined by said railcar roof structure, with said
stationary brackets having aligned openings, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a hinge structure having a first end and a second end, with the first end of said hinge structure being configured
with a generally planar portion extending from the first end and toward the second end for facilitating mounting of said hinge
structure to said hatch cover, with said planar portion defining a reference plane;
arranging any one of a plurality of adapters in association with the second end of said hinge structure and in laterally spaced
relation from said hatch cover, with each adapter in said plurality of adapters defining multiple openings arranged in generally
parallel relationship relative to each other, and with one or more of the openings in each of the plurality of adapters being
disposed at differing distances from the reference plane defined by said hinge structure, and wherein the spacing between
a majority of said openings in one adapter differing from the spacing between the majority of said openings in another adapter;
and
selecting that adapter having an opening which generally aligns with the openings defined by said stationary brackets whereby
permitting pivotal mounting of said hinge structure and thereby said hatch cover to the stationary brackets on the railcar
with a hinge pin arranged within predetermined distance ranges relative to the coaming on the railcar and which passes through
the aligned openings in said stationary brackets and the opening in said adapter.
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