John D Pavolka

40279219, Jun 7, 1977

Jul 15, 1976

5/705723

Franklin P. Adler - Michigan City IN
John D. Pavolka - Michigan City IN

Pullman Incorporated - Chicago IL

B65G 5314
B65G 5340

302 52

A vacuum operated discharge gate for unloading a hopper includes a tubular discharge member which has opposite ends adapted to be attached to a suction system for discharging a hopper. A probe adapted to be positioned in the tubular discharge member adapts the vacuum system to be connnected to a positive pressure source, the probe including openings and baffles associated therewith which provides a restriction within the probe thereby providing a negative pressure differential in an area adjacent the openings.

42394244, Dec 16, 1980

Jul 25, 1979

6/060248

John D. Pavolka - Michigan City IN

Pullman Incorporated - Chicago IL

B65G 5340

406157

A method and device for evenly distributing granular material such as plastic pellets into a railway hopper car to reduce the valley angle, eliminate void spaces, and increase the volume of material in each hopper. A cone-shaped deflector is placed in line with each hatch opening at a point below the roof line. The deflector directs material horizontally away from the hatch opening to reduce and virtually eliminate the valley angle for most granular materials. The cone is hung from support struts which may be suspended from an angular mounting ring which is mounted atop the hatch coaming.

47655178, Aug 23, 1988

Mar 20, 1986

6/841843

John D. Pavolka - Michigan City IN

Pullman Rail Leasing, Inc. - Chicago IL

B61D 726
B61D 720
B65D 4720
B65D 9060

222505

A railway hopper car has a pneumatic discharge structure having a throat leading to a control tube from which lading is pneumatically withdrawn. The throat is opened and closed by valve plates supported on the ends of rods extending through bearings supported in the wall of the control tube. The rods have rack structures mounted thereon operatively engaged with pinion portions of operating shafts extending parallel to the control tube. Rotation of the operating shafts causes movement of the rods and valve plates. Retainer brackets are mounted on the rack structures and include retaining portions spaced and parallel to the rack structures. The pinion portions are supported between the rack structures and the retaining portions to maintain intermeshed engagement of the pinion portions with the rack structures. Stop portions are provided on the bracket which prevent movement of the valve plates beyond the fully open and fully closed positions.