Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a railway tank car including a tank coupled with first and second stub sill assemblies may be provided. The stub sill assemblies may each be coupled with associated railway car truck assemblies. A tank defined in part by a generally elongate hollow cylinder having first and second heads with first and second heads mounted upon the first and second heads, respectively, may also be provided. In a particular embodiment, one or more heat transfer panels may be disposed within the cylinder adjacent the first and second heads. In another embodiment, first and second support members may be disposed within the cylinder, and intermediate a midpoint of a longitudinal centerline of the tank, and each respective head. Each support member may provide support for, and maintain their respective heat transfer panels in a spaced relation with a lower portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A railway tank car heated by steam through a heat exchanger located at the bottom of the tank car, the heat exchanger comprising pipes running lengthwise of the tank and outlets between the ends of the pipes. The outlet are arranged to drain hot condensate from different portions of the pipes into a cavity of a torus sleeved about a discharge valve in effective heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A railway car heated by steam through a heat exchanger located at the bottom of a tank, the heat exchanger comprising a torus sleeved about a discharge valve in efficient heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A valve attachment flange comprising the lading outlet for a railway tank car is placed in an insulative space between a heat element, heated fluid medium carrying heat ducts and the bottom of the car. The outlet is surrounded by a heat chamber in fluid flow communication with the heat ducts of the heat elements whereby the heat chamber surrounding the outlet is efficiently heated simultaneous with the heating of the lading by the heat element to promote flow of lading from the tank. This arrangement promotes fast efficient heating of the lading on top of and adjacent the valve and enables a valve attached to the recessed attachment flange to extend downwardly from the bottom of the car a lesser amount than conventionally mounted valves.

Abstract: A sloped heat exchange element is sealingly mounted above the bottom of the tank of a railway tank car adjacent each end of the tank. Each heating element is thermally isolated from the tank cradles and bolsters, which detrimentally act as heat sinks in conventional heated tank cars. The sloped heat exchangers can be manufactured into the car or retrofit into tank cars not previously having heat coils or they can be retrofit into tank cars having either internal or external heating coils.

Abstract: A method of converting a tank such as a railway tank car into a heated tank to facilitate dispensing a congealable stored medium, wherein at least one end portion of the tank is removed and an elongated heat exchanger is inserted into the tank through the opened end. The heat exchanger is secured within the tank, a pre-determined distance from the bottom of the tank to define with the bottom a dead air space, the heat exchanger extending substantially longitudinally and transverselly across the entire bottom of the tank and downwardly sloping and extending to a drain valve. The heat exchanger is positioned in a sealed relationship with the walls of the tank. Thereafter, the portion of the removed end of the tank is replaced in a sealed relationship with the heat exchanger. The method includes a particular positioning of the heat exchanger in a heat relationship with the drain valve. The method further includes the positioning of inlet-outlet openings in the heat exchanger adjacent the drain valve.