Abstract: This invention concerns an inlet opening protector for use during maintenance operations on railroad hopper cars. The protector shields the coaming of a hopper car hatch and closes off the hatch opening. The protector includes a throat liner and a short liner. The throat liner has a frusto-conical skirt portion which defines interior and exterior edges. A radical flange is attached to the internal edge of the skirt. A plate member is attached to the external edge and covers the space defined by that edge. The surfaces of the skirt are tapered and sized to fit partially through the coaming. The short liner has a radial collar and an annular ferrule which fit around the skirt. The ferrule frictionally engages the coaming and the skirt to hold the throat liner in place in the inlet opening.

Abstract: The emitter-valve includes a deformable element placed within a cavity. The element has a stem which extends within a water inlet to the cavity or a base which rests on the inlet wall on the bottom of the cavity so that, upon supply of water, the element deformably moves upward against a wall having a water outlet therein to permit water to flow to soil. A groove across the element top cooperates with an annular protuberance on the water outlet wall so that, as water pressure rises, water flow decreases and, as water pressure decreases, water flow increases. Further included are three deformable fingers of springy material which normally space the element from the water outlet and which briefly resist upward movement of the element and contact of the groove with the annular protuberance upon initial water turn-on to permit the water to spurt through the valve outlet and to carry therewith any lodged solid particulate matter.