Abstract: A system to remotely report the load condition of a railroad car including a mechanism to sense the load condition in the form of a switch responsive to load condition to change the state of an electrical circuit, a controller to recognize the state of the circuit and a radio wave transmitter directed by the controller to report the condition to a remote receiver. Load is sensed by recognition of the distance between two components of the car, one which remains relatively fixed regardless of the weight of the car, the other which moves relative to the first component as the car weight changes.

Abstract: A system to report the position and/or measured conditions of a railroad car using satellite communication. The system includes a rechargeable power supply and communications unit incorporating one or more solar cells in combination with a rechargeable battery and further including a bank of ultracapacitors. The equivalent series resistance or “ESR” of the capacitor bank is substantially less than the ESR of the battery thereby allowing peak power demands to be filled by rapid dissipation of stored charge from the capacitor bank without substantial involvement of the battery under normal conditions.

Abstract: A system for monitoring railroad cars comprising a hatch cover assembly including a cover body, a sensor, a wireless transmitter for transmitting data received from the sensor, a wireless receiver for receiving the data from the wireless transmitter, and a satellite transmitter for transmitting the data to a satellite. The wireless receiver and the satellite transmitter are attached to the hatch cover assembly. In one embodiment, the sensor is a pressure sensor having a sensing unit situated in the plenum of a vented hatch cover. In another embodiment, the sensor is an air flow sensor having a sensing unit situated in the plenum of a vented hatch cover. In another embodiment, the sensor is a chain tension sensor attached to a handbrake chain. In another embodiment, the sensor is a hatch cover position attached to the hatch cover assembly.

Abstract: A vented hatch cover comprising a cover body, an intake filter element, a discharge filter element and a gasket. The cover body has a plurality of walls defining an air intake passage, an air discharge passage, and a plenum extending from the air intake passage to the air discharge passage. The cover body includes a plurality of ribs extending across the air intake passage. The intake filter element is disposed over the air intake passage and includes a plurality of latches engaging the ribs to secure the intake filter element to the cover body. The cover body further includes an inner rim and an outer rim located radially outward of the inner rim. The inner rim and the outer rim define a pocket. The gasket is retained in the pocket of the cover body. The discharge filter element is disposed over the air discharge passage and includes a plurality of upward extending portions or latches located radially between the inner rim and the gasket.

Abstract: A system to remotely report the load condition of a railroad car including a mechanism to sense the load condition in the form of a switch responsive to load condition to change the state of an electrical circuit, a controller to recognize the state of the circuit and a radio wave transmitter directed by the controller to report the condition to a remote receiver. Load is sensed by recognition of the distance between two components of the car, one which remains relatively fixed regardless of the weight of the car, the other which moves relative to the first component as the car weight changes.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for connecting the end of a first pipe to the end of an axially aligned second pipe. The clamp assembly comprises a first semi-circular clamp arm, a second semi-circular clamp arm, a lever and a latch. The first clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second clamp arm is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The lever is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The latch has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the latch is pivotably attached the second end portion of the second clamp arm. The second end portion of the latch is attached to the lever upon the clamp assembly in a closed position. The distance between the attachment of the latch to the second clamp arm to the attachment of the latch to the lever is adjustable in the attachment of the latch to the second clamp arm.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for connecting the end of a first pipe to the end of an axially aligned second pipe. The clamp assembly comprises a first semi-circular clamp arm, a second semi-circular clamp arm, a lever, a latch and a gasket. The first clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second clamp arm is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The lever is pivotably attached to the second portion of the first clamp arm. The latch has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the latch is pivotably attached the second end portion of the second clamp arm. The second end portion of the latch is attached to the lever upon the clamp assembly in a closed position. The first clamp arm defines a groove for seating the gasket. The second clamp arm defines a groove for seating the gasket.

Abstract: The present disclosure shows a security lock arrangement for a covered access opening. It shows a cable seal lock body housed in the cavity of a housing that is welded to a structure defining a covered access. The cable of the cable seal lock passes through a latch for the access opening cover and through the lock body from which it cannot be removed without destruction of the cable. A new cable is usable with the lock body permanently mounted to the covered access opening structure.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for connecting the end of a first pipe to the end of an axially aligned second pipe. The clamp assembly comprises a first semi-circular clamp arm, a second semi-circular clamp arm, a lever, a latch and a gasket. The first clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second clamp arm is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The lever is pivotably attached to the second portion of the first clamp arm. The latch has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the latch is pivotably attached the second end portion of the second clamp arm. The second end portion of the latch is attached to the lever upon the clamp assembly in a closed position. The first clamp arm defines a groove for seating the gasket. The second clamp arm defines a groove for seating the gasket.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for connecting the end of a first pipe to the end of an axially aligned second pipe. The clamp assembly comprises a first semi-circular clamp arm, a second semi-circular clamp arm, a lever and a latch. The first clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second clamp arm has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the second clamp arm is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The lever is pivotably attached to the first end portion of the first clamp arm. The latch has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the latch is pivotably attached the second end portion of the second clamp arm. The second end portion of the latch is attached to the lever upon the clamp assembly in a closed position. The distance between the attachment of the latch to the second clamp arm to the attachment of the latch to the lever is adjustable in the attachment of the latch to the second clamp arm.

Abstract: A ring protector for preventing unauthorized access through the dome port openings of a railcar dome. The ring protector defines a plurality of approximately equally spaced holes. The ring protector has an opened position in which each of the dome port openings is in-line with one of the access holes and a closed position in which each of the port openings is not in-line with one of the access holes. The ring protector is adapted to be rotatable from the opened position to the closed 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: A manway cover assembly to cover an opening of a tank car, defined by an upstanding manway nozzle. The manway cover assembly comprises a manway cover housing, a safety vent and a manway nozzle gasket. The safety vent includes a body mounted on the manway cover housing. The safety vent further includes 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. The manway cover housing defines a bore which contains the surge protector of the safety vent. The manway cover housing includes a tube extending downwardly and surrounding the surge protector.