Abstract: A mobile road or rail tanker. The tanker is formed of sheet aluminum which forms an outer shell. The shell encloses a chamber which is divided by a transverse wall. The wall adjacent the shell comprises an annealed heat treatable weldable aluminum alloy which is relatively soft and ductile so that weld material adjacent the wall is stronger than the remainder of the wall.

Abstract: A skid protective casting and adapter for a tank car for retrofitting a new outlet bottom valve on a tank car. The skid protective casting includes two separate sections having sloped bottom surfaces. The skid protective casting is welded in a manner that post weld heat treatement is not required in connection with the retrofitting procedures. The new outlet valve is affixed to the existing valve saddle with an adapter plate for economical and effective mounting.

Abstract: A protective valve system including a pipe extending into the tank through a wall with a seat positioned in the pipe inside of the tank and a safety plug movable for releasable and sealingly seating on the seat. A first valve is positioned outside the tank and connected to the pipe and a second valve is positioned in the pipe inside of the tank. A valve operator positioned inside of the tank is connected to the second valve but is exposed to the exterior of the tank for actuation.

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: An outlet valve assembly is provided for a railway tank car. The valve is mounted at the bottom of the tank car for discharging downwardly between the tracks. The valve is operable between the closed position to occlude flow through the valve and an opened position to permit flow through the valve. A shaft is operably connected to, and extends from, the valve on a horizontal axis normal to the length of the tank car for being rotated on the axis to operate the valve between the closed and opened positions. A handle is connected to the shaft at a predetermined distance from the valve, and the handle extends generally radially outwardly from the shaft. The valve is operated between the closed and opened positions when the handle is swung through an arc from an initial orientation to a final orientation.

Abstract: A system for preventing contamination of particulate material in a railroad hopper car during transportation and unloading of the material from the car, comprising transporting the material in the railroad hopper car with a filter on each of the various inlet and outlet openings of the car, then upon reaching the point for unloading, applying a vacuum to draw the material out of the car through one spout with its filter removed, while leaving the filters in place on the other openings in the car to prevent contamination of the product from external sources during transportation and unloading. The preferred filter for the railroad car spouts has a frame, a conical filter bag, and a filter bag support ring for mounting on a spout on the car.

Abstract: A hopper vehicle body having an elongated shell internally reinforced by spaced apart lateral reinforcing members in the general shape of a horseshoe and which have a hat-shaped cross section.

Abstract: An eduction or siphon pipe in a railway tank car extends from adjacent a bottom sump area to a fitting in a top area of the car. The railway tank car has a generally curvilinear inner wall, and the eduction pipe is provided with a shape corresponding to the generally curvilinear inner wall and is supported in proximity thereto. This enables the eduction pipe to readily accommodate radial distortions of the railway tank car during transport. In addition, all (or substantially all) of the fluid commodity in the railway tank car can be withdrawn through the eduction pipe since the lower end thereof may be positioned in close proximity to the bottom sump without concern for radial distortion or deflection of the tank car.

Abstract: A two-way tamper-proof vent arrangement especially constructed for food grade receptacles and tanks is disclosed. The vent arrangement includes inner and outer stainless steel inverted cup members which are nested together and are concentrically mounted on a bracket over a tubular vent opening in the receptacle or tank. The outer cup member has a lower circumferential edge which bears on the surface of the receptacle or tank surrounding the vent opening so that tubes or other instruments cannot gain access to the vent opening. The inner cup member has a lower circumferential edge spaced from the surface of the receptacle surrounding the vent opening. The outer cup member is provided with a plurality of small openings to permit the inflow and outflow of venting air along a labyrinth path formed by the inner and outer cup members between the exterior of the outer cup member and the vent opening.

Abstract: An internal water drainage system for an interconnected hollow structural assembly within a railroad pressure discharge hopper car or the like is disclosed. To facilitate water drainage throughout the interconnected hollow structural assembly following hydrostatic pressure testing of the car, water draining passageways are provided in the hollow structural members in an area of juncture between the members, at least along a lowermost extent of each of the hollow structural members. The water drainage passageways are constructed to communicate with a water drain opening provided in the shell of the railroad car, in order to afford gravity flow of water through the hollow structural members and evacuation from the railroad car. A method for hydrostatic pressure testing of a railroad car is also disclosed in which gravity flow evacuation of water through the hollow structural members is achieved by utilizing gravity flow of water throughout.

Abstract: A center stub sill railway tank car is disclosed having a generally cylindric, elongate tank. A center stub sill assembly is secured to the lower portion of the tank at each end thereof for transferring longitudinal train and lading loads between the tank and the center stub sill assembly. A bolster assembly is secured to the center stub sill and extends transversely of the car. An improved cradle assembly is secured to the lower end portion of the tank for reinforcing the tank bottom in the area of the center stub sill, the cradle assembly having an arcuate cradle extending at least in part circumferentially upwardly from the bottom centerline of the tank generally at the longitudinal position of the bolster assembly, and an upwardly facing hat section elongate cradle secured to the bottom end of the tank and extending inboard from the cradle.

Abstract: An internal baffle system comprising a plurality of upper stationary baffles spaced along the top interior wall portion of the tank and extending downward to a point within the tank, a second plurality of stationary baffles along the bottom floor portion of the tank and extending upward into the tank, a floor portion positioned substantially along the central interior of the tank for isolating the tank into an upper fluid portion and a lower fluid portion along its length, the floor portion including a centrally located panel member rotatable between open and closed positions, wherein in the open position allows fluid flow between the upper tank portion and the lower tank portion, and in the closed position any fluid contained within the lower half of the tank would be isolated from fluid or space in the upper half of the tank, thus creating a lower center of gravity of the tank, thus creating a lower center of gravity of the tank of the fluid being transported, and at the same time preventing any movement of

Abstract: A chassisless fiberglass tank trailer. The tank trailer includes a tank shell formed of a fiberglass reinforced isotholic resin, with fiberglass filaments bias-wound at an angle of approximately 45.degree.. The tank shell has a forward head and a rear head for forming a fluid carrying container. A forward cradle is attached to the tank shell with mounting portions used for mounting a fifth wheel member, and a rear cradle is attached to the tank shell and having mounting portions used for mounting a rear wheel carriage. The cradles further include a plurality of holes extending therethrough and a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom. The holes and protrusions interact with the resin and fiberglass winding to rigidly hold the cradles to the tank shell. A plurality of circumferential reinforcing ribs are located between each of the mounting portions and at other desired locations longitudinally on the tank shell. The ribs are also molded in with fiberglass reinforced resin.

Abstract: A protective flange is provided for the protection of a protrusion or valve on the surface of a tank car. The flange has an inner arcuate wall and an outer deflection portion for receiving impacts. The inner wall is annular and spaced from the protrusion to provide for mounting over the protrusion without cutting into the tank car. The outer portion includes longitudinally extending slope portions and vertical side walls welded to the tank car surface. The flange is tapered to deflect impacts received at the sides of the flange. The outer deflection portion and the inner wall define a closed space surrounding the protrusion or valve. Steam connections may be made to the flange to introduce steam into the closed space for heating the valve.

Abstract: Railroad tank cars are provided with spirally wound cylindrical tanks spanning and supported on wheeled trucks with a continuous weld extending the full length of the tank. A steel plate ribbon or strip is spirally wound in the form of a right circular cylinder with a continuous weld bonding the edges of the strip in abutted relation to provide the tank side wall. The open ends of the resulting cylinder tube are closed by welded-on end caps and suitable openings are provided in the tube for manways, vents, valves and the like. A heating coil may be provided on the inside or outside of the tank in intimate contact with the spirally wound ribbon and conventional insulation and jacketing may be provided around the tank. Drop center and center sump tank are provided by cutting the spirally wound tube along a diagonal plane, rotating adjoining sections 180.degree.

Abstract: A railway hopper car (200) includes a filament wound fiberglass car body having side walls (202, 204) integral with a roof (208), preferably also formed of a filament wound fiberglass. The fiberglass side walls are connected to longitudinally extending side sills (220, 222) preferably made of steel which extend along each side of the car. The car body includes laterally spaced top sills (226) preferably of fiberglass connected to the fiberglass sides. The car is divided into a plurality of hoppers by transverse bulkheads (244, 246, 248) which are conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings. Hopper slope sheets (258, 260, 262, 264, 266, 268) and end slope sheets (304, 306) are also conveniently formed of sandwich panels of wood or wood fibers with fiberglass facings.

Abstract: Flexible container apparatus for shipping fluids within a rigid transport container wherein a pair of flexible containers having transverse dimensions equal to or slightly greater than the width dimension of the rigid cargo container permits stable transport of the fluid and reuse of the rigid container on the return trip.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enclosing a large cylindrical container within an existing refrigerated railway car by affixing structural framework to the container for supporting vertical forces, removing one end of the railway car, sliding the container, which is supported in a horizontal position within the railway car, securing the container in place by structural members extending from the supporting framework of the container through the floor to the center sill, and replacing the end of the railway car. Structural members are provided to transmit longitudinal forces to one end wall and to a bulkhead position near the other end wall.

Abstract: A leak containment kit for tank cars is disclosed. The kit is bolted to the manway cover of the tank car and surrounds all of the valves mounted on the manway cover. The kit provides means to connect each of the valves on the manway cover with a valve mounted on the external of the main body of the leak containment kit.

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 skid arrangement to protect an appurtenance which extends from the bottom of a railroad tank car. The skid arrangement includes a ramped box-like frame structure which is defined by longitudinal side plates and transverse end plates and diaphragm plates. The upper edges of the end plates and diaphragm plates are welded to a reinforcing pad. A pair of wood blocks are positioned within and secured to the frame structure in contact with the reinforcing pad by stud members extending therethrough and through the side plates. Impact forces which are applied to the skid arrangement are directed by the stud members into the wood blocks and in turn are directed into the reinforcing pad and uniformly distributed over a substantial length of the body of the tank car.

Abstract: One or a series of wheeled tank cars for carrying a commodity which must be heated for effective handling and which produces noxious gases when heated is provided with a closed vapor recovery system, including valved lines respectively associated with each tank car, for safely venting said gases to a remote recovery sink away from operating personnel as the commodity is heated in the one or more tank cars prior to unloading or during the filling operation. An upper heating coil system is also disclosed for melting away solidified commodity from upper tank fittings prior to operation of said fittings in the unloading or loading operation for reliable flow handling therethrough and operation of their valves.

Abstract: Large metal plates (120) located on each side of a railway hopper car are used to connect the hopper slope sheets (102, 104) to the car body sides (16) and longitudinally extending side sills (112). The large plates are generally "U" shaped and include legs (124, 126) which extend downwardly from the joint between the transverse bulkheads (14) and the slope sheets downwardly along each of the slope sheets. The plates are connected to the car body sides (16) to a smaller side sill reinforcing plate (121) and the side sill (112) with mechanical fasteners (128, 129) such as Huck bolts. The plate includes flange portions (132, 134) extending inwardly from the car body sides containing openings or slots (132, 134) to receive transversely extending reinforcements (140), preferably I beams (142, 142') which reinforce the hopper slope sheets and which are held in place adjacent, but spaced from, the car body sides and side sill with gussets (146) integrally connected to the large plates.

Abstract: A covered railway hopper car includes side walls comprising upper arcuate side sheet and lower flat inclined side sheet portions. The upper edge of the flat side sheet is bent to form a longeron which extends intermediate the height of the side wall and which is attached adjacent the lower edge of the arcuate side wall. A side sill extends longitudinally on the exterior of the flat side sheet to form, together with the longeron, reinforcement for the side walls. The car also includes an end structure comprising a vertical plate extending upwardly into support of the end slope walls of the car at a location intermediate the length of the end slope walls and a vertical support of the interior of the wall above the plate to distribute forces directly from the center plate of the car to the roof at a location spaced from the vertical end walls of the car.

Abstract: A heated tank such as in a railroad tank car has a heat exchanger spaced from the bottom of the car to define a dead air space to insulate the heat exchanger from the bottom. The heat exchanger extends substantially longitudinally and transversely across the entire bottom of the car to provide a large heating transfer surface to the lading supported by the exchanger. A portion of the exchanger substantially encompasses a discharge valve of the tank car to provide heat transfer to the valve during unloading. The heat exchanger slopes toward the discharge valve to facilitate total removal of the lading. An inlet and an outlet associated with the heat exchanger are disposed adjacent the discharge valve for additional transfer of heat to the discharge valve. Baffles in the heat exchanger define a plurality of serpentine passages for conducting a heating medium.

Abstract: A tank car head shield is generally arcuate and is located outboard of the tank. The shield extends upwardly from the center sill to the top portion of the tank and outwardly to protect the entire tank head. A head shield anchor extends generally horizontally from the shield to a location generally on the horizontal portion of the top of the tank, and circumferentially on either side of the tank and down to the center sill. The head shield anchor is continuous. First connecting means connect the head shield to an outer portion of the anchor outboard of the tank. Second connecting means connect an inner portion of the anchor to the tank. Third connecting means connect the shield and/or anchor to the center sill. In one embodiment the first connecting means comprises an angle welded to the anchor and to the head shield and the second connecting means comprises a pad welded to the anchor and to the tank. The anchor pad may be discontinuous.

Abstract: A heated railway tank car includes heating conduits arranged on the tank and filled with a heating fluid and coupled to an electrically driven pump and heat exchanger in a closed-loop system for heating and continuously recirculating the heating fluid through the conduit. The tank car is adapted to be electrically interconnected with adjacent cars and the electric power may be provided from the locomotive, from an axle generator and alternator combination on the tank car, or from rechargeable batteries on the tank car charged by either terminal facilities or axle-mounted or locomotive-mounted generator means.

Abstract: A lift lug for receiving and securing a lifting device to a railroad tank car for re-railing the tank car. The lift lug includes a bolster pad mounted adjacent an end of the tank car and a vertically disposed bolster web, the bolster web having a substantially horizontal extending upper edge. A substantially horizontal base plate is mounted on the extended upper edge of the bolster web with an inner edge of the horizontal base plate secured to the bolster pad. A substantially vertical lift lug plate has its upper edge secured to the bolster pad and its lower edge secured to the base plate. A pair of generally triangular lift lug webs each have their lower edges secured to the base plate, their outer edge secured to the bolster pad. The lift lug plate has an opening adjacent its lower edge.

Abstract: A truck trailer useful for hauling liquid and granular material includes two liquid end chambers and one center chamber or hopper. The two liquid end chambers are frusto-conical in shape and have insulation within jacket pieces around them. The end chambers are connected by an insulated pipe extending through the center chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a uranium slurry hauling system comprising a low-boy trailer on which are mounted a pair of substantially identical slurry tanks. Each of the tanks comprises a generally horizontal cylindrical vessel surrounded by a protecting framework rigid with the trailer. The tanks are connected to the trailer frame in a fashion which allows racking movement of the trailer independently of the tanks, i.e. without imparting racking forces to the tanks. The trailer also provides a support location for a third substantially identical tank and is designed to carry two loaded tanks or three empty tanks.

Abstract: A rail car includes substantially flat plate extensions interposed between upper and lower sections of the shell of the car to increase the internal volume of the car. The extensions are supported by lateral supports which extend laterally in the interior of the car and by longitudinal support beams also in the car interior which extend longitudinally of the extensions, are intersected by the lateral supports, and substantially prevent internal pressure in the car from being applied to the extensions.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting a liquid commodity has a combined frangible disc safety vent and siphon unloading pipe nozzle. The siphon unloading pipe passes through a hole in the vehicle that is surrounded by the nozzle side wall. The hole is dimensioned to enable the nozzle to act as a surge chamber that dissipates transient pressure surges and thereby prevents premature breaking of the frangible safety vent disc.

Abstract: A support system for large generally cylindrical tanks in ships and including four supporting devices each comprising a tank portion and a hull portion respectively secured to the tank and hull, one of the supports being fixed with respect to linear horizontal movement, another of the supports being movable only transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tank, yet another of the supports being movable parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank and still another support being movable both parallel to and transversely of the longitudinal axis of the tank; each tank portion of each support being connected with its respective hull portion by means of a spherical joint with thermal insulation between the spherical portions of the joints.

Abstract: A tank truck vehicle for transporting fluid or pulverous material, such as oil, comprises in one embodiment a longitudinally extending tubular shell whose length is substantially that of the truck vehicle and which is formed so as to be sufficiently rigid so as to function both as the wall of the transporting container of the vehicle and, simultaneously, as the supporting frame for the vehicle so that there is no need for a supporting beam frame separate from the supporting tank as is conventional. The front and rear wheels are mounted on axle assemblies which are substantially directly connected to the tubular shell.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm can be moved to line opposite surfaces of a tank vehicle so that incompatible fluids alternately can be transported in the vehicle without the need for cleaning it. The diaphragm is prevented from entering a manway on the vehicle, and an outage gauge is confined entirely within the manway to prevent damage to the diaphragm.

Abstract: A filament wound railroad car including an elongated, load bearing body having walls formed of a specified fiber reinforced plastic resin composite of glass reinforcing filaments and a structural organopolymeric resin having particular characteristics.

Abstract: A safety topdeck for a boiler having a cylindrical shell including a generally horizontal walkway and a frame for supporting the walkway on the cylindrical shell comprising laterally spaced apart, generally upstanding support legs and mechanism for mounting the support legs to opposite sides of the cylindrical shell.

Abstract: In a bottom operable tank car lading valve assembly, a combination skid and lading valve seat for the lading valve closure is provided, which is attached to the tank car universal flange with mechanical fasteners. The valve seat portion extends inwardly and upwardly from the universal flange and includes a machined seat. The skid portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the universal flange, forming a circumferential taper, and the upper portion abuts the bottom of the tank. The outer end of the skid is connected to the tank with fasteners which do not require stress relieving of the tank body. The skid portion protects the lading valve closure and the lading valve seats against impacts which might normally cause unseating of the valve closure and escape of the lading in the absence of the skid portion.

Abstract: A railroad car has an elongated cylindrical car body formed of thin cylindrical longitudinal walls and closed at each end by a respective end wall, a coupler at each end of the car body for coupling the car to other cars, a truck at each end of the car body, and a supporting structure mounted on each of the trucks for supporting the car body on the respective truck for transport on rails. As described, the end walls are conical and truncated, the longitudinal and end walls comprising continuously wound filaments impregnated with resin with the filaments lying in the longitudinal walls at an angle of less than 30.degree. to the longitudinal direction and extending in the end walls to the region of the truncation.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a lifting pocket is provided in a tank car bolster bottom cover plate or other tank car support plate. The support plate includes an opening for receiving a U-shaped lifting hook having a first leg having an eye for attachment to a chain or cable and an outer leg having a tapered end portion. The opening is in communication with a pocket formed above the opening for receiving the lifting hook. The pocket includes walls extending upwardly from the plate and a cover plate closing the top of the pocket. The pocket is spaced from the outer end of the support plate sufficient for the outer leg of the hook to extend into the pocket transversely of the car and the inner leg to a vertical surface at the side of the car. The support or bolster is sufficiently wide that the hook cannot be inserted into the pocket other than transversely of the car with the first leg engaging the side of the car and the outer leg extending into the pocket.

Abstract: In a bottom operable tank car lading valve assembly, a combination skid and lading valve seat for the lading valve closure is provided, which is attached to the tank car universal flange with mechanical fasteners. The valve seat portion extends inwardly and upwardly from the universal flange and includes a machined seat. The skid portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the universal flange, forming a circumferential taper, and the upper portion abuts the bottom of the tank. The skid portion protects the lading valve closure and the lading valve seat against impacts which might normally cause unseating of the valve closure and escape of the lading in the absence of the skid portion.

Abstract: In accordance with the present application, a bottom operable tank car valve seat and skid are made in separate pieces. The skid is welded to a skid mounting flange which is located below a tank car universal mounting flange. The skid mounting flange is attached to the universal mounting flange with fasteners. A ring is inserted into a slot provided in the upper, inner surface of the universal flange. Fasteners inserted into existing threaded openings in the universal flange hold the ring in place. A valve seat is mounted on the inner surface of the universal flange and the ring. The ring is held in place with fasteners which extend through the universal flange into the ring. These fasteners also hold in place an operator retainer to maintain the lading valve operator spaced from the walls of the valve seat and vertically fixed. With this arrangement the skid can be removed separately from the outlet.

Abstract: A cleanable drainage arrangement for fluent products overflowing from the dam or reservoir of a tanker vehicle including a chute or outwardly opening trough having a removable translucent cover plate to accommodate periodic inspection and cleaning during field use.

Abstract: The outlet valve of a container for fluids is suspended from such container by a spring-biased safety closure mechanism that is protected from damage and has an actuating mechanism that breaks away with the outlet valve on impact capable of causing the outlet valve to permit discharge of the contents of the container.

Abstract: A railroad tank car for use in handling dry bulk commodities. The car body structure includes a pair of V shaped hopper sections sloping downwardly from each end of the car. The hopper sections having side walls which increase in length as they extend towards the center of the car. A pair of asymmetric truncated cone sections are secured adjacent to the corresponding upper edges of the hopper sections. End sections are secured adjacent the outer edges of the hopper section and the cone section. First stiffener members are secured to the outer surfaces of the hopper section. Longitudinally extending second stiffener members are secured to the first stiffener members adjacent the intersection between the hopper sections and the cone sections. Tie members extend transversely across the hopper sections. A plurality of longitudinally extending aeration conveyor trays are supported from the hopper sections defining a plenum area therebelow.

Abstract: A railway train made up of individual tank cars for interconnection and fluid communication with associated-like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits, wherein each tank car includes a wheeled chassis structure provided with coupling means for coupling adjacent tank cars. A tank is mounted on the chassis structure and has two lading conduits respectively coupled to the tank and in fluid communication therewith, each of the lading conduits having an outer end extending outwardly from the tank adjacent to the top thereof. Each of the lading conduits is connected to a vent conduit and to an eduction conduit with the vent conduit extending into the tank and having the inner end thereof terminating a predetermined distance from and near the top of the tank and with the eduction conduit extending into the tank and having the inner end thereof terminating near the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A tank car head shield assembly is provided including a tank car head shield and structure for fastening the base of the head shield to the stub sill or center sill at the ends of the tank car. A pair of longitudinally extending supports connect the upper portion of the head shield on opposite sides of the car with portions of the tank car support structure located longitudinally inwardly from the tank head shield, for example, to the end sill, side sill, or to the bolster caps. The supports are connected to the head shield on the outboard side of the head shield. The supports may pass through openings in the head shield or the support members may be bent around the shield to the outboard side. A pair of supports or a single support having bends on either end of the shield may be used. The support(s) are attached to the shield by welding or mechanical fasteners. The support(s) are connected to the tank car support structure by a weldment, a clevis and/or a tube within a tube.