Abstract: A pneumatic outlet is provided in which a discharge conduit is affixed to spaced outlet slope sheets and to outlet end sheets. A valve member is movable vertically in the discharge conduit to assume a fully closed and a plurality of open positions. The extent of valve opening may vary from a closed position on one side of the outlet to a partially or fully open position on the other side, linearly across the outlet. Operating mechanisms for raising and lowering the valve member are provided on opposite sides of the outlet, preferably comprising lift rods which engage the valve member. A plurality of operating mechanisms for raising and lowering the valve member are disclosed including screw jack assemblies and cam and cable assemblies. The operating mechanism preferably includes transverse linkages along the outlet operating the valve member from the opposite side of the outlet from either side of the outlet.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a railway hopper car is provided having an enclosed quadrilateral tube as a through sill. The enclosed tube through sill has end portions which are welded to the car end sills at opposite ends of the car. The end sills are integrally attached to the side sills. The end sections also have attached thereto a center plate and a bolster cover plate. The bolster cover plate extends from the center sill to the side sill. At least one bolster web extends vertically from the bolster cover plate to the end sheet of the car. The hopper slope sheets are reinforced by means of generally triangular shaped members attached to the through sill and attached to the hopper slope sheets.

Abstract: A railway flat car is provided including a center sill extending throughout the length of the car. A deck is attached to the center sill, and a side sill assembly is connected at opposite sides of the car to the deck. The side sill assembly includes an upper side sill member adjacent the deck and a depending vertically inclined first plate attached to the upper side sill member. The first plate is attached to crossbearers in the car in the main body of the car and at opposite end portions of the car. The first plate is foreshortened at least in the bolster-truck area of the car. The side sill assembly further includes on either side of the bolster-truck area of the car and through the bolster-truck area of the car, a second vertical plate transversely spaced from the first plate. At least one and preferably a pair of caps are attached to the lower portion of the second plate, preferably on opposite sides of the second plate.

Abstract: Baffles are provided in transportation hoppers to solve the problem of upper bulk lading exerting pressure and causing damage to lower bulk lading in the hopper by reducing load density of the lading. The baffles are preferably inclined with respect to the horizontal. More than one layer of baffles may be provided. Supports for the baffles are preferably fixed to the sides and/or roof of the transportation hopper. The baffles may be provided with openings to facilitate circulation of conditioned air through the hopper. The baffles may be provided with larger openings which facilitate loading the hopper. The baffles also may be provided with doors which facilitate loading the hopper by means of a loading chute. The baffles may be used in a wide variety of transportation hoppers. In a preferred embodiment the transportation hopper is a railway hopper car.

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.

Abstract: A bottom outlet for tanks is provided including a valve body welded to an opening in the bottom of the tank. The valve body has an opening into which a retainer assembly is fitted to urge a seal into engagement with at least a portion of the valve body. The retainer assembly includes a threaded center portion and a retainer vertical portion having an opening therein. A valve plug is mounted to be vertically movable between closed and open positions, into and out of engagement with the retainer vertical portion. A lower housing is affixed to the valve body with mechanical fasteners which define a first shear plane. The housing has an opening into which a valve operator assembly is mounted. The valve operator assembly includes a first valve operator having a lower tool connection and a first operator extension. The first operator extension has a first valve operator opening into which a second valve operator is inserted and is drivably engaged.

Abstract: A box car anti-pilferage device for plug doors mounted a sufficient distance above the rail whereby the device is usually beyond the reach of thieves standing on the ground in a railroad yard. The device includes a first plate having at least one opening therein mounted upon the door, and a second, movable plate having at least one opening therein mounted upon the plug door operating rod. The second plate obtains a position adjacent but spaced from the first plate when said box car door is in closed position. A locking member is mounted upon one of the first and second plates, and is biased toward a locked position passing through the openings in the first and second plates. The locking member is manually movable from said locked position to an open position out of engagement with one of the openings. A stop maintains the locking member in the open position during initial rotation of said operating rod from a door closed position toward a door open position.

Abstract: This invention comprises a method whereby heated residual fuel oils can be successfully burned in existing conventional forced atomizing air type small capacity industrial oil burners.

Abstract: Baffles are provided in insulated convertible hopper-box cars to allow bulk shipment of perishable lading, which is not capable of supporting more than several feet without the upper lading portion damaging the lower lading portion due to the weight of the upper portion. For example, citrus fruits may thus be transported in such baffled convertible railway cars.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for assisting in the unloading of a difficult to unload lading from a vessel. An accumulator is mounted adjacent the vessel. A first conduit connects the accumulator with a valve for periodic discharge of the accumulator. A self-indexing elbow is rotatably mounted on the vessel and extends within the vessel. A second conduit connects the valve with the elbow. The elbow includes an elbow conduit portion in fluid communication with the second conduit. The elbow conduit portion has a center line defining an axis about which the elbow is rotatable. The elbow also includes an elbow portion having an elbow center line passing therethrough. The elbow portion has a discharge end having a discharge opening through which the elbow center line passes. At the discharge end the elbow center line is offset with respect to the axis so as to define a moment arm between the elbow portion and the axis.

Abstract: A gravity outlet suitable for hoppers is provided comprising a gate movable back and forth between open and closed positions. A locking shaft is mounted on the gate having handles on at least one side of the outlet and having a locking member preferably hook shaped mounted thereon. A locking lug and a tripping lug are affixed to the pans or frame structure of the outlet. In order to open the gate the locking shaft is rotated to move the locking member to a position out of engagement with the locking lug thus allowing the gate to move outwardly from the pans. As the gate travels towards the open position, the tripping lug trips the locking member into a tripped position where it rides to the open position with the gate. Stops are provided to stop the gate in the full open position. During closing of the gate, a cam surface on the locking member travels up the locking lug and then the locking member drops into the locked position automatically to maintain the gate in a closed and locked position.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a pressure indicator is mounted upon a railway car and is in communication with an opening into the pressure chamber of the car. The car may be, for example, a pressurized hopper car or a pressurized tank car. The indicator comprises a fixed assembly having a resilient member so engaging said fixed assembly that the resilient member may react against the fixed assembly. A movable assembly is provided, at least a portion of which is used to indicate the pressure in the chamber. A flexible diaphragm is provided in the indicator, preferably a rolling diaphragm, which is affixed to the fixed assembly and the movable assembly and enables the pressure applied to the indicator to be applied to the movable assembly against the bias of the resilient member and permit at least a portion of the movable assembly to indicate the pressure range in the tank. Preferably the indicating portion is color coded.

Abstract: An adapter is affixed to a conventional weld wire feed roll assembly said adapter having a first opening through which the weld wire passes generally toward the target area. The adapter comprises a second opening which is at a skew angle to said first opening and a third opening which is also at a skew angle and having a larger diameter than to the second opening. A weld guide is inserted into the third opening and the weld guide is bent at its lower portion to intersect the center line of the first opening. Rotational means are affixed to the adapter and weld guide respectively, so that selective rotation of the adapter and weld guide will allow intersection of any point within the weld target area.

Abstract: A box car end is provided having an offset portion. A box car flat end liner is affixed to the end on the side opposite the offset portion. The assembled liner and end are placed in engagement with an end sill having a horizontal portion extending inwardly toward the car and a vertical extension at the end thereof. The offset portion is integrally affixed to the end sill vertical extension, preferably with mechanical fasteners. A floor support is integrally affixed to the horizontal portion of the end sill. The floor support has a horizontal portion supporting a portion of the car floor and an upper vertical portion providing an unobstructed end area on the inside of the car. The upper vertical portion of the floor support may be integrally affixed, preferably by welding to either the end and/or the flat end liner, preferably above the offset portion.

Abstract: This application discloses a sliding gate the top surface of which is tapered so that as it is closed the top surface will compress against a first elastomeric sealing means to eliminate lading leakage, and move away from the lading as the gate is opened, reducing the force required to open the gate. A cam assist mechanism is combined with the inclined gate to further reduce the required opening torque. The gate may be mounted on rollers, which also aid to reduce the opening force required. However, a low friction track may also be utilized to support the gate. In addition to the first elastomeric sealing means, a second elastomeric sealing means may be provided, preferably spring-loaded, at the back edge of the gate to close the gap between the gate and the second sealing means when the gate is opened.The gate may be fabricated from metal plates or utilize a honeycomb sandwich type of construction.