IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,554,797
Granted Patent B2
US 11,554,797 · App. 16/386,168 · Granted Jan 17, 2023

Handheld solenoid activation remote for a railroad car door

Inventors: Cory Copeland (Tuscumbia, AL); Gregory P. Josephson (Salix, PA)
Assignee: JAC OPERATIONS, INC
B61D7/02G08C19/02H02J7/0045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,554,797
App. No.
16/386,168
Granted
Jan 17, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A handheld portable solenoid activation device for operating doors of hopper railcars includes a battery power source and is configured for safe single hand operation in either opening or closing arrangements, recharging of the batteries, and isolation of the electrical components from the operator. The device or remote includes a housing configured to be held in one hand of the user; a battery power source within the housing; a pair of leads extending from the housing and selectively coupled to the battery power source and configured to align and connect with the touch plate and ground plate of a railroad car door operating solenoid; and an activator configured for one handed operation by the user, wherein activation when the leads are connecting the touch plate and ground plate will activate the solenoid for opening or closing of the railroad car door.

Claims (25)

1. A handheld portable solenoid activation device for operating doors of hopper railcars comprising:

a housing configured to be held in one hand of the user in either door opening or door closing arrangements;

a battery power source within the housing, wherein the battery power source is rechargeable;

a pair of rigid leads extending from the housing and selectively coupled to the battery power source and configured to align and connect with the touch plate and ground plate of a railroad car door operating solenoid, wherein the housing provides isolation of the electrical components from the user.

2. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 1 , further including an activator configured for one handed operation by the user, wherein activation when the leads are connecting the touch plate and ground plate will activate the solenoid for opening or closing of the railroad car door.

3. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 1 , wherein the rigid leads are formed of ¼ diameter aluminum rods.

4. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a lower portion formed as a pistol grip for one handed operation.

5. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 4 , wherein the activator is a trigger button on the pistol grip.

6. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 1 , further including a polarity toggle configured to switch the polarity of the leads.

7. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 6 , wherein the polarity toggle includes an off position in which no power is sent to the leads.

8. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 7 , wherein the polarity toggle is a switch.

9. The handheld portable solenoid activation device according to claim 1 , further including a recharging plug in the housing for coupling a charging unit to the battery power source.

10. A handheld solenoid activation remote for a railroad car door comprising:

A housing configured to be held in one hand of the user;

A battery power source within the housing;

A pair of leads extending from the housing and selectively coupled to the battery power source and configured to align and connect with the touch plate and ground plate of a railroad car door operating solenoid;

An activator configured for one handed operation by the user, wherein activation when the leads are connecting the touch plate and ground plate will activate the solenoid for opening or closing of the railroad car door.

11. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 10 , wherein the leads are formed of rigid metal rods.

12. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 11 , wherein the leads are formed of ¼ diameter aluminum rods.

13. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 10 , wherein the housing includes a lower portion formed as a pistol grip for one handed operation.

14. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 13 , wherein the activator is a trigger button on the pistol grip.

15. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 10 , further including a polarity toggle configured to switch the polarity of the leads.

16. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 15 , wherein the polarity toggle includes an off position in which no power is sent to the leads.

17. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 16 , wherein the polarity toggle is a switch.

18. The handheld solenoid activation remote according to claim 10 , further including a recharging plug in the housing for coupling a charging unit to the battery power source.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2025
From: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 070200/0160 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2025
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.; FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 069822/0471 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2025
From: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069716/0899 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.; JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054463/0076 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2019
From: COPELAND, CORY; JOSEPHSON, GREGORY P.
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC
Reel/Frame 049197/0687 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62658527 · Apr 16, 2018
Related Publication 20190315377A1 · Oct 17, 2019