Abstract: A method of producing wet process phosphoric acid comprises reacting, in a reactor system, calcium phosphate rock particles with a mixture of recycled phosphoric and sulfuric acids, preferably supplemented with added fresh sulfuric acid, to form additional phosphoric acid and calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum). The reactor environment is controlled so as to avoid appreciable coating of the rock particles with calcium sulfate. A gypsum slurry is withdrawn and product phosphoric acid is separated therefrom and withdrawn from the process. The gypsum may be washed with a dilute sulfuric acid wash solution which is then added to the reactor. The gypsum is passed to a first recrystallizer wherein sulfuric acid is introduced, and the gypsum is recrystallized to hemihydrate. A slurry of the hemihydrate is passed to a second recrystallizer, wherein water obtained as described below is added and the hemihydrate is recrystallized to gypsum.

Abstract: A hatch latch mechanism for a railway hopper car having a longitudinally extending handle pivotally and slidingly linked to a hopper car roof which can be upwardly and rearwardly rotated to extend entrappingly across an outboard projection of a hatch cover holddown bar. The handle includes a bottom camming portion downwardly engageable with the outboard projection to compress the hatch cover gasket as the handle is rearwardly rotated to seal the hatch; thereafter, the handle is urged forward in slidingly upward engagement about the outboard projection of the holddown bar by the upward force of the compressed gasket against the hatch cover to insure automatic positive locking of the latch.

Abstract: A container with hinged doors is provided with an improved locking bar arrangement including square and rectangular locking bars. The locking bars are rotated between open and locked positions by a locking pin or hinged handle which is removable from a bar interlock position to selectively engage apertured tubular gathering members provided on the bars for rotating them into the positions selected. Slide bolt assemblies also are movable into locking engaging position with the bars. The bars include camming means and keeper members are provided on the container which facilitate the opening and closing of the doors and which with the associated structure contributes to the total strength of the door assembly and in the stabilization of the container.

Abstract: A railway hopper car includes side discharge openings and hinged door assemblies which are maintained in a locked position by an improved latching mechanism. The latching mechanism is pivotally connected to car structure and includes a positive lock arrangement adapted to be actuated by a linkage arrangement tripped by a cam assembly supported on the ground adjacent to the path of movement of the hopper car.

Abstract: An arrangement for handling containers particularly for aircraft includes a chassis adapter frame which is connected to the chassis of a highway trailer by means of twist locks. The adapter frame also includes twist lock assemblies which are adapted to engage the base of cargo containers whereby the adapter frame may be selectively removed from the container if desired. The arrangement includes loading and conveying arrangements which are particularly suited for transporting the container with the adapter frame connected thereto or with the same removed.

Abstract: A table arrangement for a railway passenger car compartment includes a first table which can be folded from a use to a stored position in a side of the compartment. The first table can be used alone or it can be joined for use with a larger knock-down table which includes latching provisions for interlocking the two table tops of the arrangement.

Abstract: A chassis lock to secure a container body to a trailer chassis includes a bolt comprising upper and lower telescoping sections, the upper section having a head member received in a cavity in the container body and shaped so that rotating the head bolt locks the body to the chassis. The head member is rotated through the lower portion which is vertically displaceable and lockable in two rotatably different positions by a plate welded thereto that locks into a slot in the chassis in those two positions.

Abstract: An integrated process is described wherein a heavy oil catalytic cracking unit is integrated with a pretreating zone. In the pretreating zone, petroleum feedstock is contacted, in the presence of hydrogen, with used equilibrium catalyst purged from the cracking zone to reduce the metals, carbon residue, and sulfur content of the petroleum feedstock prior to charging the feedstock to the cracking zone of the heavy oil catalytic cracking unit.

Abstract: A convertible passenger seat headrest for a railway sleeping compartment having a convertible seat and bed arrangement. The headrest is pivotally supported from the compartment wall at its lower end and includes a stowable ladder folded within it when the headrest is in the raised position. When it is desired to make up the upper berth of the sleeping compartment, the headrest can be pivoted outwardly from the wall and the ladder unfolded to form a ladder and step which a passenger can use to climb into the upper berth.

Abstract: A locking device for railway hopper cars having continuous trough hatch openings and a plurality of associated hinged covers arranged end-to-end. Hold-down arms, also pivotally mounted, are positioned to overlap and seal adjacent hatch cover ends. Each hold-down arm has a spring loaded, locking latch with a keeper hook for automatically engaging an associated keeper lug mounted to the hopper car adjacent the hatch opening. The locking hatch has an upper flange that may be foot engaged to unlock the hold-down arm by pivoting the locking latch to disengage the keeper hook from the keeper lug.

Abstract: A bottom dump hopper car having outwardly swinging clamshell doors includes a locking mechanism for maintaining a door in closed position by means of a stop and bracket arrangement. A vertically moveable arm is actuated to disengage the locking mechanism whereupon the door can swing outwardly as the arm swings in an outward path which is controlled by a ground mounted tripping mechanism.

Abstract: A nailable door post for a freight car in which the post comprises a pair of upright metal members which tightly embrace a wooden nailing strip which is held captive between a transverse wall of the outer member and a transverse offset portion in a longitudinal wall of the inner member, the post being flanked on its inner and outer sides by the longitudinal walls of the inner and outer members, the longitudinal wall of the inner member being provided with nail holes aligned with the wooden strip.The strip is held along the edge of the post remote from the door edge and there being a hollow in the post structure between the door edge and the wooden strip so that if the metal members are distorted, if struck by a heavy object, the strip will remain intact. The offset in the inner member longitudinal wall provides a pocket in which is secured a vertical lading strap anchor disposed in non-obstructing position inwardly of the plane of the inner side of the side wall of the freight car.

Abstract: A cap for a hollow stake of a highway cargo vehicle having a tarpaulin roof supported above the cargo bed of the vehicle by a plurality of stakes. The cap encloses the top of the stake to protect its interior from the elements and includes a fastening means which extends downwardly and is couplable with the inner portions of the hollow stake. The cap is provided with a bow socket portion which cooperates with a stake bow socket portion provided in the interior of the post to form a bow receiving socket for receiving a bow extending through the protector cap into the hollow stake.

Abstract: A vacuum operated discharge gate for unloading a hopper includes a tubular discharge member which has opposite ends adapted to be attached to a suction system for discharging a hopper. A probe adapted to be positioned in the tubular discharge member adapts the vacuum system to be connnected to a positive pressure source, the probe including openings and baffles associated therewith which provides a restriction within the probe thereby providing a negative pressure differential in an area adjacent the openings.

Abstract: A pressurized lubricant charging and leak detection apparatus and method to fill the lubricant reservoir of a wheel hub with lubricant and detect lubricant leaks therefrom. The apparatus includes a tubular filling probe which may be inserted into the hub which is connected through valving to a pressurized lubricant supply to fill the reservoir with lubricant and there with a pressurized air supply to charge air into the reservoir until a constant air pressure is established in the reservoir; whereafter, a drop in air pressure within the reservoir indicates lubricant leak from the hub.

Abstract: Coupling assemblies for coupling a trailer chassis to the corner castings of a container each include a vertical cone head and coupling pin rotatable and vertically positionable in a stationary tubular extension mounted in a housing, one of which is connected to each of the lateral ends of conventional front and rear chassis bolsters. Each housing includes a guide slot in a wall through which a handle and operating rod projects. As the rod is moved in the slot to pivot the coupling pin from open to lock position, it is rotatable about its axis. The rod includes cam means having stop and camming surfaces which are engageable with projections and surfaces on the lower ends of the stationary tubular extensions within which the coupling pin is movable to selectedly latch the pin in either an open position, a first vertical lock position, to accommodate a certain thickness of the base of a corner casting, and into a second position to accommodate a different thickness of corner casting base.

Abstract: Chlorine or bromine are produced from the respective hydrogen halide in a reaction system, wherein a stoichiometric excess of active nitrogen is maintained within the reaction system over the amount of hydrogen halide in the system. Preferably the reaction system is a single tower wherein sulfuric acid is introduced to the top of the tower where it absorbs the active nitrogen while conditions are so set that at the bottom of the tower the gases, introduced there, strip the active nitrogen away from the acid. It is a further characteristic of the process, that the nitrogen compounds stripped at the bottom, are mainly stripped as a mixture of nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. A major portion of the nitrogen monoxide stripped, is oxidized with the oxygen, present in the gases fed in the bottom, to form nitrogen dioxide. If hydrogen halide is fed in the bottom, it will also strip nitrogen compounds, but mostly in the form of nitrosyl-halide.

Abstract: A catalyst composition consisting of elemental nickel, nickel oxide or mixtures thereof on a zirconia carrier and promoted with elemental cobalt, a cobalt oxide or mixtures thereof in which the total content of nickel and cobalt, expressed as oxide, is desirably at least 1 weight percent of the total weight of the composition and the weight ratio of nickel to cobalt in the catalyst is preferably between 1:10 and 6:1. This invention also concerns the method of reforming hydrocarbons in the presence of said catalyst to selectively produce hydrogen, hydrogen containing products, such as Town's gas, or an oxide of carbon or mixtures thereof, while avoiding substantial carbon accumulation on the catalyst at relatively low steam to carbon ratios.

Abstract: In the process of producing phenol from cumene, aqueous waste streams result which are contaminated with organic materials, particularly phenol, which are made innocuous to the environment only with substantial difficulty. A process is described to reduce the biological oxygen demand of these aqueous wastes, particularly the phenol content, by a liquid extraction step whereby a highly aromatic fraction of an organic waste stream in the phenol process is used as the solvent. The process includes provision for simultaneous preparation and recovery of the solvent as well as recovery of the phenol.

Abstract: A gondola type railway car including a pair of laterally crossed elongated braces at each end of the car which couple the car corner caps to the car floor. Each brace extends downwardly and longitudinally inward and substantially across the car. The braces restrain lateral and longitudinal deflection of the car walls and thereby substantially reduce fatigue and fracture of the corner caps and walls. These braces not only effectively oppose the loads imposed upon the walls, but also do not obstruct the functionality of the car and do not materially encroach upon the usable space.