Abstract: A covered hopper railcar includes a roof portion and a plurality of side portions coupled to the roof portion. The plurality of side portions and the roof portion at least partially define a longitudinal centerline axis and a transverse centerline axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline axis. The covered hopper railcar also includes a bottom assembly coupled to the side portions. The bottom assembly includes a plurality of bottom side sheets and a trough assembly coupled to the plurality of bottom side sheets. The trough assembly is substantially parallel to and substantially aligned with the longitudinal centerline axis.

Abstract: A hatch cover for a covered hopper railcar includes a substantially circular shell member having a radially outer circumferential perimeter. The substantially circular shell member includes a topside surface and an underside surface. The hatch cover also includes a downwardly extending rim member coupled to and unitarily formed with the substantially circular shell member. The substantially circular shell member and the downwardly extending rim member define a shell/rim interface at the underside surface. The hatch cover further includes at least one sealing gasket fixedly coupled to the underside surface proximate the shell/rim interface.

Abstract: A door operating assembly for a railcar includes an actuating device. The railcar includes a railcar container and a lower portion coupled to the railcar container. The railcar container includes two opposing sidewalls and at least one door coupled to the lower portion. The railcar defines a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door operating mechanism coupled to the actuating device. At least a portion of the at least one door operating mechanism extends longitudinally along one sidewall of the two opposing sidewalls. The door operating assembly further includes at least one axial drive member coupled to the at least one door operating mechanism. The door operating assembly also includes at least one door drive assembly coupled to the at least one axial drive member. The at least one door drive assembly is coupled to the at least one door.

Abstract: A railcar door sealing assembly includes a first door seal member coupled to a first door plate of a first door of the railcar. The door sealing assembly also includes a second door seal member coupled to a second door plate of a second door of the railcar. The first door seal member at least partially overlaps with the second door seal member in a face-to-face relationship when the first door and the second door are in the closed position.

Abstract: A valve interlock system for a railcar including a valve stem locking subsystem that includes a coupling device rotatably coupled to the valve stem. The coupling device is substantially stationary in the longitudinal direction and rotatably translatable about a longitudinal axis and defines an engagement slot thereon. The subsystem also includes a stationary support member extending toward the coupling device in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and includes a locking member that is transversely translatable and complimentary with the engagement slot. The subsystem also includes a biasing device coupled to the locking member that increases an engagement bias as the locking member is transversely translated away from the engagement slot. The subsystem further includes a valve operator assembly that includes a longitudinally and rotatably translatable body configured to regulate the slot engagement bias as a function of a longitudinal position of the body.

Abstract: A center plate assembly for use in a railcar includes a substantially square standoff portion configured to be inserted into a center plate pocket defined in a portion of a sill assembly. The center plate assembly also includes a lower cap portion configured to be coupled to a truck assembly. The center plate assembly further includes a weld portion positioned between and extending from the standoff portion and the lower cap portion. The weld portion defines a weld region for coupling the center plate assembly to the sill assembly. The weld region is arcuate.

Abstract: A hatch assembly for use with a railway hopper car. The railway hopper car includes sidewalls, end walls, and bottom walls for defining an interior volume. The bottom walls define a cargo well that has an opening for discharging materials transported by the hopper car. The hatch assembly includes a support frame that is coupled proximate to a bottom of the cargo well. A hatch is slideably coupled to the support frame. The hatch is moveable between a closed position and an open position for selectively covering the cargo well opening. A hatch positioning system including a drive shaft that is coupled to the support frame, a locking assembly that is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to selectively engage a locking bar, a positioning assembly that is coupled to the drive shaft, and a drive assembly that is coupled to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A railway hopper car is provided. The railway hopper car includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes first and second sidewalls, and first and second end walls. The lower portion includes at least two cargo wells and a longitudinal boundary extending between the cargo wells. The upper and lower portions define an interior volume of the hopper car. The railway hopper car further includes a roof panel and a first support assembly. The roof panel includes an access opening extending longitudinally over at least a portion of the cargo wells. The first support assembly is coupled to an inner surface of the first sidewall, and extends between a top edge and a bottom edge of the first sidewall. The first support assembly is positioned proximate to the longitudinal boundary, and is configured to only partially extend into the interior volume of the hopper car.

Abstract: A vacuum relief valve is provided. The vacuum relief valve includes a body having a side wall, and a stem that is movable with respect to the body between an open position and a closed position. The stem is biased in the closed position. The vacuum relief valve further includes a first sight glass coupled to the body and configured to enable visual inspection of a sealing area of the vacuum relief valve. The sealing area includes at least a portion of said stem.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an axle is provided. The method includes heating a billet at a heating station to a predetermined temperature, forging the heated billet at a forging station to form an axle, and machining the axle at a machining station to form a machined axle. A product is automatically transported to and from each station using a product transport system, wherein the product includes the billet, the axle and the machined axle.

Abstract: A retractable stanchion for supporting a semi-trailer during transport on a deck of a railcar is provided. The stanchion includes a rear guide support assembly, a diagonal support strut coupled to said rear guide support assembly, and a vertical support strut operatively connected to said diagonal support strut. The vertical support strut an outer frame, an inner frame, and a moveable pull-up assembly. The outer frame includes an outer frame first end and an outer frame second end. The outer frame first end is pivotally mounted to the deck of the railcar. The inner frame is coupled to and disposed within the outer frame. The moveable pull-up assembly includes a pull-up assembly first end and a pull-up assembly second end, wherein the pull-up assembly first end is pivotally coupled to and substantially disposed within the inner frame, and wherein the pull-up assembly is configured to be engaged by a tractor hook and moved from an engagement position to a pull position.

Abstract: A hatch cover assembly for covering an opening in a vessel wherein a hatch port extends outwardly about the opening includes a hatch cover hingedly attached to the hatch port, and at least one latch assembly for fastening the hatch cover to the hatch port. The latch assembly includes a cam mount extending from the hatch port, and a first cam pin coupled to the cam mount. The first cam pin has a pin axis. A bolt member includes a first end and a second end, and the bolt member has a centerline axis extending between the first end and the second end. The centerline axis is generally perpendicular to the pin axis, and the first end is hingedly attached to the first cam pin about the pin axis. A securing member is in threaded relationship with the bolt member second end. The securing member is rotatable about the centerline axis of the bolt member. A cam member includes a cam lever portion and a clevis portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a cylindrical body utilizing a continuous weld is provided. The method includes feeding a source material including a first edge and a second edge from a coil and offsetting at least one of the first edge and the second edge. The method further includes spiraling the material to form a cylinder, welding the first edge and the second edge together forming a continuous weld, and cutting the cylinder to a selected length. To fabricate a jacket, a longitudinal cut is made in the cylindrical body, at least one cutout is cut, and the continuous weld is an outer fillet weld.

Abstract: A method for forming a cylindrical body utilizing a continuous weld is provided. The method includes feeding a source material including a first edge and a second edge from a coil and offsetting at least one of the first edge and the second edge. The method further includes spiraling the material to form a cylinder, welding the first edge and the second edge together forming a continuous weld, and cutting the cylinder to a selected length. To fabricate a jacket, a longitudinal cut is made in the cylindrical body, at least one cutout is cut, and the continuous weld is an outer fillet weld.

Abstract: An outlet (10) for unloading a pulverulent lading comprises an outlet body secured to the lower reaches of a railcar in communication with the lading carried by the railcar. The outlet body has an opening therein through which the lading is unloaded. A valve mechanism (30, 32) is movable between a closed and an open position for lading discharge. A valve operator (56, 58) is used to open and close the valves. A sampling port (60) is formed in the valve mechanism. Movement of the valve from its closed position to a sampling position intermediate its closed and open positions, allows a small amount of lading to be discharged only from the sampling port so a sample of the lading may be readily taken. At this time, the valve member blocks the remainder of the outlet so a lading discharge tube (26) cannot be overfilled with lading, and no spillage of lading onto a right of way can occur.