Importance

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Abstract

A method of loading and unloading an open top or gondola railroad car utilizes a mobile, wheeled apparatus having power actuated front and rear boom structures. A front supportive foot engageable with the upper surfaces of the railroad car sidewalls is connected to free ends of the front boom structure and similarly engageable rear supportive feet are connected to the ends of outrigger arms movable outwardly from the sides of the rear end of the mobile apparatus. The rear boom structure includes an articulated material engaging grapple for loading and unloading operations. During operation, the operator positions the mobile apparatus adjacent an end of the railroad car with the front boom raised and the front supportive foot engaged with the top surfaces of the car sidewalls. The rear boom and material engaging grapple is folded close to the apparatus rear end and by coordinately operating the front and rear boom structures and the material grapple, the mobile apparatus is raised above the railroad car walls and moved forwardly until the front and rear supportive feet engage with the side wall upper surfaces. Then, the rear boom and material handling grapple is used to load and unload materials relative to the railroad car. Transfer from one railroad car to another in a train thereof is also accomplished by coordinated use of the front and rear boom structures.

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First Claim