Abstract: A bottom unit for a material transportation car hopper includes a planar membrane which is oriented at an angle with respect to horizontal and slopes toward a hopper discharge pipe. The bottom unit is separate from the discharge pipe. The bottom unit includes a vibrator for vibrating the membrane, and projections on the membrane for agitating the material adjacent the membrane.

Abstract: A covered railway hopper car includes side walls comprising upper arcuate side sheet and lower flat inclined side sheet portions. The upper edge of the flat side sheet is bent to form a longeron which extends intermediate the height of the side wall and which is attached adjacent the lower edge of the arcuate side wall. A side sill extends longitudinally on the exterior of the flat side sheet to form, together with the longeron, reinforcement for the side walls. The car also includes an end structure comprising a vertical plate extending upwardly into support of the end slope walls of the car at a location intermediate the length of the end slope walls and a vertical support of the interior of the wall above the plate to distribute forces directly from the center plate of the car to the roof at a location spaced from the vertical end walls of the car.

Abstract: A bottom assembly for a hopper vehicle is adapted to permit safe pneumatic unloading as well as gravity unloading of a hopper. The bottom assembly includes a membrane mounted to be moved over and away from a hopper bottom opening, and sealing devices for insuring a secure seal for the hopper which can be easily set. A discharge manifold is connected to the hopper at a location spaced from the hopper bottom opening, and the hopper bottom opening is contained in a plane which is tilted with respect to the horizontal.

Abstract: A bottom unit for a material transportation car hopper includes a membrane which preferably is foraminous. The membrane is oriented at an angle with respect to horizontal and slopes toward a hopper discharge pipe. The bottom unit is separate from the discharge pipe. The bottom unit includes a vibrator for vibrating the membrane, and an air injection system for defining a film of air moving up through and across the membrane for sweeping material from the membrane and into the hopper material discharge system.

Abstract: A rail car includes substantially flat plate extensions interposed between upper and lower sections of the shell of the car to increase the internal volume of the car. The extensions are supported by lateral supports which extend laterally in the interior of the car and by longitudinal support beams also in the car interior which extend longitudinally of the extensions, are intersected by the lateral supports, and substantially prevent internal pressure in the car from being applied to the extensions.