Abstract: A hopper tee mounting assembly adapted to retain a valve member situated between a circular flange and a hopper tee. The hopper tee mounting assembly comprises an upper mounting assembly separate from the circular flange and a hinge assembly. The upper mounting assembly has a flat surface adapted for abutment with the circular flange. The hinge assembly is attached to the upper mounting assembly. The hinge assembly allows the hopper tee to pivot relative to the upper mounting assembly.

Abstract: A drain plug assembly for insertion into a drain outlet through the floor of a rotary dump container. The drain plug assembly comprises a plug member, a washer and a securing mechanism. The plug member has a shank and a plug head. The shank is insertable into the drain outlet and includes an upper shank portion and a lower shank portion. The diameter of the lower shank portion is less than the diameter of the upper shank portion so as to define a shoulder along the shank. The washer is slidably fit on the lower shank portion. The securing mechanism secures the washer onto the lower shank portion so as to allow the washer to slide a predetermined distance on the lower shank portion and impact on the shoulder.

Abstract: A deflector assembly located within the interior of a trailer for distributing dry bulk during loading of the dry bulk into the interior of the trailer. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector and an air cylinder. The deflector has a deflecting surface capable of deflecting the dry bulk being loaded into the interior of the trailer. The deflector moves from an opened position to a deflecting position upon a flow of compressed air from an air source to the air cylinder.

Abstract: A deflector assembly located within the interior of a trailer for distributing dry bulk during loading of the dry bulk into the interior of the trailer. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector having a deflecting surface. The deflector has an opened position and a deflecting position, wherein the deflecting surface is not situated to deflect the dry bulk when the deflector is in the opened position and the deflecting surface is situated to deflect the dry bulk when the deflector is in the deflecting position.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet gate of a railroad hopper car has an valve member mounted for rotation in a discharge tube between open and closed positions. The valve member is an arcuate segment terminating laterally at edge faces. The edge faces are angled such that in the upper half of the discharge tube they always slant downwardly from the surface of the tube, while in the lower half of the discharge tube the edge faces face downwardly. An arrangement of stops and abutments prevents rotation of the valve member to a location where the edge faces could trap lading against the discharge tube. Accordingly, the edge faces are self-emptying.

Abstract: An aerator pad for a railroad hopper car has a fabric body member that overlies an aeration assembly slope sheet. The body member has a perimeter portion with indentations formed in the edges thereof. A gasket is molded to the perimeter of the body member. Bolt holes in the gasket are spaced from the fabric so that no edge or perimeter portion of the fabric is exposed to atmosphere. The gasket is located between mating flanges of the aeration assembly and car body. Spacer buttons lift the body member off the slope sheet and a wear pad prevents vibration induced deterioration at the gas inlet opening in the slope sheet.

Abstract: A moisture barrier seal for use on a hopper car hatch opening that does not need to be removed before vacuum unloading of the hopper car due to the use of a grained plastic such as vertically drawn or cast polyethylene which will rupture as soon as the seal is subjected to the pressure differential across the seal created by the application of vacuum to the hopper car. The moisture barrier layer when combined with a filter layer forms a combination moisture barrier and filter seal.

Abstract: A safety vent for a railroad tank car has a housing mounted about an opening on the top of the car. The housing body defines a cavity which contains a surge protector and a rupture disk. The rupture disk is designed to open at a known pressure and allow controlled venting of the pressure in the car. A securement cap threaded into the cavity centers the rupture disk in a seat formed in the surge protector. Removal of the securement cap provides quick, easy access to the rupture disk and surge protector for inspection and replacement without removing the housing body.

Abstract: A latch system for retaining hatch covers on railroad cars can accommodate any hatch cover type made by any car builder. The latch has a universal arm with a custom-made hinge adapter at one end for pivotally connecting the arm to any hatch design or cover type. The other end of the arm mounts a catch adaptor which receives a catch bolt for retaining the arm in a closed position. The arm also has fittings for accepting brackets and wings for vented hatch covers.

Abstract: A gasket for railroad car manways or hatches is mounted on the top of a loading nozzle. The gasket is a ring having an inverted J-shaped cross section. It is held in position by a long down leg and a short leg. The legs are joined by a bail. The junction between the outside surfaces of the bail and down leg has a chamfer to avoid interference with a closed manway cover. Chevrons are formed on the upper surface of the bail. A flexible loop engages a bolt bracket on the loading nozzle to prevent dislodging of the gasket during opening of the cover.

Abstract: A moisture barrier seal for use on a hopper car hatch opening that does not need to be removed before vacuum unloading of the hopper car due to the use of a grained plastic such as vertically drawn or cast polyethylene which will rupture as soon as the seal is subjected to the pressure differential across the seal created by the application of vacuum to the hopper car. The moisture barrier layer when combined with a filter layer forms a combination moisture barrier and filter seal.

Abstract: A hatch cover for railroad car hatch openings has a body member with inner and outer depending circular flanges. The flanges are located so as to span the loading nozzle or coaming of the hatch. The flanges and body portion define a three-sided pocket between them which receives a removable gasket. The gasket is retained in the pocket by a plurality of clips either integrally molded into the lower edges of the flanges or held by fasteners. The clips extend radially toward the opposite flange. The gasket is sufficiently resilient to allow a user to flex the gasket past the clips during installation and removal of the gasket in and out of the pocket. During opening and closing of the cover the clips retain the gasket in the pocket.

Abstract: A pesticide device holder for railroad cars has a frame resting in a hatch coaming. The frame has a gas-permeable underside support sheet and an impervious upper membrane. Pesticide devices, such as fumigant packages, rest between the support sheet and membrane. A separator is provided to prevent contact between the fumigant packages.

Abstract: Drip irrigation apparatus for a container having a plant growing therein in soil in the container including a through access opening preferably in the side of the container. A length of tubing extending from outside to inside the opening and an inside and an outside female adapter secured on opposite ends of the length of tubing by threaded connections or by bonding. The adapters have larger diameters than the opening and a washer on the length of tubing so that the opening is sealed against loss of soil therethrough. The inside adapter and the outside adapter have extending inwardly and outwardly thereof respectively an inside barbed fitting and an outside barbed fitting. Inside flexible tubing at one end connecting to the inside fitting to direct water to irrigate inside the containers. Inside flexible tubing at one end connecting to the outside flexible tubing and connecting at the other end to a source of water. A male adapter can be substituded for one female adapter and the length of tubing.

Abstract: A stake cap is provided for covering the upper opening of an outside stake of a railroad hopper car. The stake cap has a retainer plate having front and rear surfaces which define top, bottom and side edges. The side edges are beveled such that the front surface of the retainer plate is wider than the rear surface. A top sheet is joined at a right angle to the top edge of the retainer plate. Gussets strengthen the connection of the top sheet and retainer plate. When the stake cap is installed in the upper opening of a stake, the beveled side edges of the retainer plate form themselves to the stake and are wedged between the stake and the hopper car outside shell. The top sheet overlies the opening and prevents entry of contaminants and water.

Abstract: A vented hatch cover for an enclosed vessel having a cover body sized to overlie and cover a hatch opening defined by an upstanding coaming. A pair of air passages are defined by the cover body and a pair of hoods connected thereto. The hoods define air inlet opening and a plenum which communicates with air outlet openings in the interior of the cover body. The air passages permit air flow in sufficient volume to vent the vessel and to empty the vessel by high speed vacuum unloading. A filter is removably retained on the hoods in the air inlet openings. A filter screen on the interior of the cover prevents contamination of the air passages from the inside. A latching arm provides downward pressure on the hatch when in a sealing position and the capability of pivoting the hatch cover together with the latching arm when it is moved. The cover is floatingly engaged in the arm.

Abstract: An improved outlet gate pan gasket is located between the outlet gate and outlet flange of a hopper car. The gasket includes a central web which fits around the perimeter of the outlet aperture. An inner margin is attached to the inner periphery of the web and an outer margin is attached to the outer periphery. The inner margin has upper and lower horizontal surfaces joined by an edge surface which is perpendicular to the horizontal surfaces prior to compression of the gasket between the gate and outlet flanges. The inner margin has a solid cross-section. The uncompressed thickness of the inner margin is greater than that of either the web or outer margin.