Abstract: A vented hatch coaming for a covered hopper car permits unloading without opening the hatch cover. The vented hatch includes an opening in the coaming for the passage of air. Preferably, a housing is positioned adjacent the ring opening to exclude contaminants and, where extraordinary sanitation is required, a filter element.

Abstract: A system for rapid and easy replacement of sacrificial machine parts, utilizing an adapter having a slot and a retainer pin fitted with at least one spring-loaded ball bearing suitable for engaging the slot when the retainer pin is inserted into the adapter.

Abstract: A railway tank car includes a tank at least partially defined by a generally elongated hollow cylinder, a first closed end and a second closed end. A plurality of heat transfer ducts operable to receive a heating fluid may be disposed on a lower portion of an exterior surface of the tank. A layer of ceramic coating may be disposed over exterior surfaces of the plurality of heat transfer ducts and at least a portion of the exterior surface of the tank.

Abstract: A hatch cover (10) is engageable with a hatch (11) on a railroad car (13). The hatch cover comprises a first rib (30) and a second rib (32) running annularly about the under side of the hatch cover and has an associated first coefficient of expansion. A gasket (70) having an annular shape and a U-shaped cross-section is coupled to the first and second ribs. The gasket forms a seal between the hatch and the hatch cover. The gasket has a second coefficient of expansion which is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. As the railroad car moves through different external temperature environments, the second coefficient of expansion being greater than the first coefficient of expansion allows the gasket to remain coupled to the hatch cover and maintain the seal between the hatch cover and the hatch throughout the various temperatures experienced.

Abstract: A support post for a guardrail which resists impact by a motor vehicle from one direction (strong direction) and yields to impact by a motor vehicle from another direction (weak direction). The support post is adapted to receive the guardrail such that the rail face of the guardrail runs generally perpendicular to the strong direction such that the support post resists an impact on the rail face of the guardrail and yields to an impact force on the end of the guardrail.

Abstract: A support post for a guardrail which resists impact by a motor vehicle from one direction (strong direction) and yields to impact by a motor vehicle from another direction (weak direction). The support post is adapted to receive the guardrail such that the rail face of the guardrail runs generally perpendicular to the strong direction such that the support post resists an impact on the rail face of the guardrail and yields to an impact force on the end of the guardrail.

Abstract: A railroad car (18) uses a coupling system (10) to couple to other railroad cars. The coupling system includes a coupler (12), a knuckle (14), a knuckle pin (16) and a lock (30). When two railroad cars are coupled to each other, the knuckles of the two railroad cars are engaged and the forces produced during buff and draft movement of the railroad cars are transmitted through the knuckles, the coupler and the locks. Under normal operation, the knuckle pin should experience minimal forces during the buff and draft movement of the railroad cars. However, over time the various components that make up the coupler system may fall out of tolerance due to usage, wear and other factors. As the various components of the coupler system fall out of tolerance, increasing bending forces are applied to the knuckle pin. A knuckle pin with a slot (52) and a hollow body (50) is capable of withstanding bending forces applied to the knuckle pin by out-of-tolerance coupling systems.

Abstract: A railway car having a lowered center of gravity is provided. The underframe of the railway car is preferably formed by extending a series of cross bearers between a pair of side sills and spacing them laterally between a pair of end sills. A center sill is then preferably disposed on top of the cross bearers and extended between the end sills along a center line of the railway car underframe. One or more floor stringers are preferably also included and disposed generally parallel to the center sill and extended between the end sills. In one embodiment, the one or more floor stringers may be disposed on stringer support spacer beams positioned on one or more of the cross bearers.

Abstract: A hopper car is provided having a plurality of discharge gates on the bottom side of the car to allow material to be discharged from within the car. The hopper car has a pair of trucks attached to its bottom side and with each truck positioned adjacent one of the opposing end walls. One of the discharge gates is provided on the bottom of the car between the trucks for dispensing material between the trucks. Another of the discharge gates is provided between at least one of the end walls and its adjacent truck for dispensing material between the truck and the sidewall.

Abstract: A roof assembly mounted on a composite box structure with an air plenum assembly attached to and extending from an interior surface of the roof assembly. The composite box structure includes a pair of end wall assemblies, a pair of side wall assemblies, a floor assembly and the roof assembly. An opening may be formed in one end of the end wall assemblies to allow installing a temperature control system. An airflow management system may be incorporated into the composite box structure. The composite box structure may be assembled on a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled railway car or an insulated box car.

Abstract: A center beam railcar that has increased volume capacity and versatility. The car preferably has a narrow top chord that does not interfere with loading by overhead crane, but still contributes significantly to the strength and load carrying capacity of the railcar. The top chord is preferably of a generally rectangular, tubular configuration, and has a width substantially equal to or slightly less than the width of the intermediate portion of the center beam therebelow. The railcar preferably has a depressed central portion that provides a clear loading height of at least about 14 feet thereabove, located between a pair of higher end portions, each preferably having a length of about 16 feet so that the end portions may be used to carry products of substantial length. The depth of the depression may be, e.g., about 16 in., to enable the depression to accommodate bundles of engineered wood products having a height of 15½ in.

Abstract: A tooth assembly for an excavating machine includes an adapter having first and second surfaces and first and second sides. The first surface of the adapter is generally tapered and converges toward a first end of the adapter. A tooth point is coupled with the adapter at the first end of the adapter, and the tooth point has a contact edge opposite the first end of the adapter. The tooth point also includes first and second sides, the first side having a slot adapted to receive a non-rotation ridge of a retainer pin to prevent rotation of the retainer pin with respect to the tooth point. A second end of the adapter is adapted to be removably coupled with a tooth horn. The tooth assembly further includes a central portion extending generally from the first side of the adapter to the second side, the central portion defining a central bore.

Abstract: An adapter assembly which includes an adapter having first and second adapter ends and first and second adapter sides. A removable tooth having first and second tooth sides is coupled with the adapter, and at least partially covers the first adapter end. A retainer pin extends at least partially through first and second openings of the first and second tooth sides, respectively and through an elongate slot of the adapter. The retainer pin is operable to cooperate with the adapter adjacent the first and second openings to couple the removable tooth and the adapter. A secondary retainer pin extends from the adapter at least partially into the elongate slot and engages a recessed portion of the retainer pin, the secondary retainer pin being operable to limit movement of the retainer pin along an imaginary longitudinal axis of the elongate slot.

Abstract: Pultruded panels having a first longitudinal edge profile and a second longitudinal edge profile may be used to form a floor assembly mounted on a railway car underframe. The pultruded panels may also be used to form walkways, bridges, piers and other structures. A bead may be placed on at least one of the longitudinal edge profiles to form a gap between an adjacent pultruded panel. An adhesive may be placed within the gap to couple or bond adjacent pultruded panels with each other. Void spaces may be formed within the pultruded panel and filled with foam to provide improved resistance to heat transfer through the respective panel. Respective coverings may be placed on opposite ends of each panel to block access to the associated void spaces.

Abstract: A manufacturing facility and method for assembling a composite box structure on a railway car underframe are provided. The composite box structure may be defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes attached to the exterior metal surface, foam insulation disposed between the side stakes and attached to the metal surface and at least one layer of reinforced plastic material forming an interior surface. The composite box structure preferably includes a pair of end walls, a pair of side walls, a floor assembly and a roof assembly. The composite box structure may be assembled on a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled boxcar or on insulated boxcar.

Abstract: A composite box structure assembled on and securely attached to a railway car underframe to form a temperature controlled railway car or on insulated boxcar. The composite box structure defined in part by an exterior metal surface, interior side stakes and at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic attached to the side stakes. Foam insulation may be disposed between the side stakes, the exterior metal surface and the at least one layer of fiber reinforced plastic. The foam insulation provides improved resistance to heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the composite box structure. An airflow management system may be incorporated into the composite box structure.

Abstract: A hitch (10) with a lock indicator system (16) interacts with a rotor (18) to provide an indication that a kingpin (14) is properly inserted into the hitch. The rotor rotates in response to proper insertion of the kingpin to align a rotor slot (20) with a plunger (24). Once the rotor slot and the plunger are aligned, an indicator (28) moves from a first position, indicating an unlocked kingpin, to a second position, indicating a locked kingpin. A control pin (74, 174) prevents rotation of the rotor from improper insertion of the kingpin. The control pin is controlled by a control lever (70, 170).

Abstract: A breakaway support post (18, 210) is provided for a highway guardrail system (10) to enhance the safety of a vehicle impacting with either the rail face of the associated guardrail (16) or one end of the guardrail facing oncoming traffic. The breakaway support post may have upper and lower portions (26, 28) with a releasable coupling assembly (29, 211) disposed therebetween to maintain the upper and lower portions generally aligned with each other prior to the impact of a vehicle with one end of the associated guardrail. The breakaway support post may also have releasable coupling assembly (301) disposed between the upper and lower portions and a cable (303). The releasable coupling assembly may allow the upper portion to separate from the lower portion. The cable may be released by the support post during separation of the upper and lower portions. The coupling assembly preferably provides sufficient support during a rail face impact to direct an impacting vehicle back onto the associated roadway.

Abstract: An aerator pad assembly having an aeration pad with a number of cutouts forming a shaped perimeter, is provided. The aeration pad may include a number of supports providing which provide air flow paths between the aeration pad and an associated aeration panel. A gasket may be disposed about the shaped perimeter, the gasket having a plurality of protuberances with fastener openings included, and the protuberances preferably cooperate with the cutouts to form a generally continuous interface between them. In one embodiment, a notched opening within the gasket is provided at the generally continuous interface with the shaped perimeter at least partially occupying a portion of the notched opening. In a particular embodiment, the gasket may be molded onto the aeration pad. In another embodiment, an adhesive material may be provided to form the attachment. In yet another embodiment, stitches of thread may attach the gasket and the aeration pad.

Abstract: A railway boxcar may be provided for transporting packaged products having generally uniform first and second perimeter dimensions. The railway boxcar may include a car body having an interior compartment defined in part by a floor and a plurality of sidewalls. In one embodiment, the floor may include a width which generally corresponds to a multiple of the first perimeter dimension and a length which generally corresponds to the sum of a second multiple of the first dimension and a third multiple of the second dimension. In another embodiment, a door opening may provide access to the interior compartment. The width of the door opening may generally correspond to a fourth multiple of the first perimeter dimension. In another embodiment, a panel assembly may be provided to selectively fill voids within the interior compartment. The panel assembly may include a plurality of elongate plates extending generally parallel with one another.