Abstract: A fluidation kit for retrofit installation on a pneumatic outlet for a railway covered hopper car is disclosed. The outlet includes an outlet pan having downwardly sloping walls. The kit includes at least one air permeable fluidizing membrane on the inside face of the outlet pan wall to fluidize a powdered or pulverant lading. An externally mounted manifold assembly is attached to outside surfaces of the outlet pan for connecting the air permeable fluidizing membranes on the inside surfaces of the downwardly sloping walls of the outlet pan to a source of fluidizing air. The air permeable fluidizing membrane is supported in a peripheral extending frame member which supports the air permeable fluidizing membranes a small predetermined distance above the sloping wall surfaces to provide a plenum therebetween for diffusing fluidizing air throughout the entire extent of the air permeable fluidizing membrane.

Abstract: An end structure for a railway car, and more particularly a covered hopper railway car, is disclosed which has side sill extensions extending diagonally inwardly from the ends of the side sills to the center stub sill for transmitting substantially all of the longitudinal, horizontal loads between the center stub sill and the side sills. A generally vertically extending truss is provided between the center stub sill and the end of the car above the center stub sill so as to withstand overturning moments and vertical loads between the end of the car and the center stub sill. A connector casting rigidly interconnects the side sills and the side sill extensions. A transition plate is in face-to-face engagement with the side sheets at the outer ends of the side sills so as to facilitate the transfer of load between the side sills and the side sheets. A cutout is provided in the bottom of the side sills at the ends thereof so as to enable interior welds to be made.

Abstract: A limp, porous membrane of sheet (i.e., cloth) material for a fluidized outlet is disclosed. The outlet is in communication with a container, such as a hopper within a covered hopper railway car, containing a supply of particulate material for being fluidized and unloaded via the outlet. The outlet comprises an outlet housing, an outlet frame for securing the outlet housing to the hopper, an outlet opening, and outlet walls extending from the frame to the outlet opening. The membrane is secured to the outlet frame and to the outlet opening and is disposed generally on the inside faces of the outlet walls. A manifold is provided for introducing a fluidizing fluid (e.g., air) under pressure between the outlet walls and the membrane such that the fluidizing fluid flows through the membrane thereby to fluidize the lading above the membrane.

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: A gasket for a hopper outlet is disclosed, particularly for use with an unloading outlet for a railway hopper car. The car has hopper walls which slope inwardly and downwardly, and a hopper frame is carried by the lower portions of the hopper walls. The outlet has an outlet frame which mates with and is secured to the hopper frame, with a seal between the hopper frame and the outlet frame for effectively sealing the outlet frame to the hopper frame, and for effectively preventing entrappment of powdered or particulate lading at the interface of the hopper frame and the outlet frame. In one embodiment, such a seal may be retrofitted to existing outlets.

Abstract: An elastomeric in compression trailer hitch cushion for an over-the-road trailer hitch, as mounted on a railway car, is disclosed so as to cushion against longitudinal loads transmitted between the railroad car and the trailer. This trailer hitch cushion serves as the hitch diagonal strut and it has one end thereof secured to the railway car and its other end secured to the vertical hitch strut, with the diagonal cushioning strut being disposed so as to cushion longitudinal loads in either fore or aft direction and to maintain the vertical strut in vertical position. The cushioning strut comprises a frame, compressible elastomeric cushioning members carried by the frame, and a compression load applying system for compressing the elastomeric members relative to the frame upon a longitudinal load in either fore or aft directions relative to the railroad car being applied to the hitch.

Abstract: The difference in the pressure drop in a pneumatic discharge conduit between at least one discharge outlet into the conduit and a point downstream of the discharge outlet caused by lading in the discharge conduit is used to control opening and closing of the lading outlet valve to automatically control pneumatic unloading of lading from a container. In one application, the container is a railway hopper car having a plurality of pneumatic discharge outlets which discharge into a pneumatic discharge conduit.

Abstract: An end structure for a center stub sill railway car is disclosed in which diagonal side sill extensions incline inwardly from the side sills to the center stub sill side for transmitting the longitudinal train loads between the stub sill and the side sills with the side sill extensions constituting the only horizontal, longitudinal load path between the stub sill and the side sills. A truss is disposed in a vertical transverse plane for transmitting overturning moments between the end of the car and the center stub sill.

Abstract: In a stub sill type railway hopper car the shear plate is eliminated and a truss arrangement is located in the end structure resulting in less weight.

Abstract: A high volume covered railway hopper car is disclosed which has vertical end walls so as to fully utilize the space over the trucks of the car for lading volume. An automatic pneumatic unloading system is provided so as to unload a pulverant lading from the end compartments or hoppers, as well as the center, of the car, thus eliminating the necessity of sloped end sheets. A pneumatic loading system is provided which permits loading from below and thus permits the elimination of hatches, walkways, and the like on the roof of the car so as to permit the roof to extend substantially the full extent of AAR height clearances thereby to further maximize the lading volume of the car.

Abstract: In a stub sill open top railroad car, such as a gondola or hopper car particularly adapted for coal service, a corner fitting or casting is provided at each end of the car joining the top chord extending along each side of the car with the end chord, the latter extending transversely of the car at the upper ends thereof. The corner casting includes projections which extend into the top and end chords so as to facilitate making an integral (i.e., welded) connection between the chords and an adjacent end diagonal member. In one embodiment, the casting includes a downwardly extending portion which is received within and to which the diagonal is welded, while in another embodiment, a connection plate is utilized to secure the end diagonals to the corner casting.

Abstract: A top-operated, outside unloading device for a bottom discharge railway tank car is disclosed. The tank car has an outlet valve in its bottom which is opened and closed by an operating rod connected to the valve and which extends up through the interior of the tank car. The operating rod projects out through the top of the tank car and is rotated by means of a hand wheel. The upper end of the operating rod is sealed with respect to the tank car by compressible packing seals carried by a packing body surrounding the upper end of the operating rod. The packing body has a part-spherical lower end which mates with a seat surrounding the opening in the top of the tank car through which the operating rod extends.

Abstract: A railway car (10) for transporting containers of various lengths and widths, which are shiftable longitudinally, laterally, or both, within the car is provided. To restrain the various size containers a plurality of openings (52, 52', 54, 54', 56, 56', 58, 58', 60, 60', 62, 62') are formed in the floor (50) of the car. The location of the openings is determined by the lengths and widths of the various containers to be carried by the car. A plurality of restraining pins (64, 66, 68, 70) automatically extend up into the floor (50) of the car through the openings in register with the pins. The containers include corner units (80) at each bottom corner thereof with corner openings therein in which a restraining pin is received.

Abstract: The flow restrictor (10) comprises a resilient and flexible porous membrance (12) over an air inlet port (18). In one embodiment an impervious member (130) is attached to the lower surface of the membrane over the air inlet port. The membrane balloons due to air flow through the inlet which greatly increases its effective cross sectional area as air flows into the plenum chamber. When air flow stops gravity and/or air pressure from the container forces the membrane against the seat (118) and the effective cross section of the membrane is reduced to approximately that of the inlet port.

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: In accordance with the present invention a locking member is integrally connected to a transversely extending operating shaft. A handle is preferably provided on at least one end of the operating shaft. A locking lug and a tripping element are integrally connected to a movable gravity gate. In closed position the locking member has a hook portion which engages the locking lug. The locking member is movable to a generally vertical position by rotation of the operating shaft. As the gate is moved toward open position the tripping element engages the locking member and pivots the locking member to a generally horizontal position. As the gate is further opened, gravity urges the locking member into a further rotation position in which a depending safety tip on the locking member is below a fixed stop located adjacent the outlet wall with the locking member generally horizontal and not resting on the gate.

Abstract: A high volume covered hopper railroad car is disclosed which maximizes the lading volume of a car while still utilizing smooth, sheet-like side sheets, and while remaining within AAR clearances. The high lading volume is achieved by forming the side sheets of the car from three radii of curvature, with the radius of curvature of the lower section of the side sheets being relatively short thereby to provide enhanced resistance to buckling, with the mid-portion of the side sheets of a relatively large radius of curvature thereby to provide a generally vertical region of the side sheets, and with the upper region of the side sheets being of a shorter radius of curvature thereby to again provide greater resistance to buckling at the top margin of the side sheets.

Abstract: A hopper is provided having longitudinally spaced tapered end walls and transversely spaced tapered side walls. An opening is provided in one of the end walls and a discharge conduit is attached to the external surface of this end wall. On the internal surface of this end wall a discharge trough is attached. The front surface of the trough is tapered on the same incline as this end wall. Fluidizing membrane assemblies are attached to each of the side walls which are inclined downwardly toward the discharge conduit to facilitate lading flowing into the discharge conduit during unloading. The discharge trough is generally in the form of an inverted V, with the lower edges of the V spaced from the lower hopper wall a distance sufficient to allow air and lading to pass around the trough and into the discharge trough.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a casting (60) is provided to connect the car bottom (40) to the side sill (10). A connecting plate (46) is provided to attach the casting (60) to the side sill (10). Preferably the side sill (10) is generally hat shaped and is reinforced with an angle (26) at the end portion of the car which supports the shear plate (34).

Abstract: A railroad car (R) for hauling trailers (T) has a hitch assembly (HA) for securing the trailer. The hitch assembly includes a retainer pin (P) extending through a head portion (H) of the hitch assembly. A retainer (1) for retaining the pin in place and for facilitating its removal and replacement includes a clip (3) attached to each side of the head adjacent the opening (O) in the side of the head adjacent the opening (O) in the side of the head through which the pin is installed or removed. Each clip projects outwardly from the respective side of the head and has an opening (9) corresponding to the opening in the side of the head. A fastener (11) is removably attachable to each clip through the opening in the clip. A portion (15) of the fastener abuts the outer end of the retainer pin when the fastener is assembled with the clip. This prevents longitudinal movement of the retainer pin.