Abstract: A railway hopper car has a pneumatic discharge structure having a throat leading to a control tube from which lading is pneumatically withdrawn. The throat is opened and closed by valve plates supported on the ends of rods extending through bearings supported in the wall of the control tube. The rods have rack structures mounted thereon operatively engaged with pinion portions of operating shafts extending parallel to the control tube. Rotation of the operating shafts causes movement of the rods and valve plates. Retainer brackets are mounted on the rack structures and include retaining portions spaced and parallel to the rack structures. The pinion portions are supported between the rack structures and the retaining portions to maintain intermeshed engagement of the pinion portions with the rack structures. Stop portions are provided on the bracket which prevent movement of the valve plates beyond the fully open and fully closed positions.

Abstract: A railway tank car having a wafer-type valve arrangement is provided with a nozzle member. The nozzle member has a mounting portion mounted on the valve arrangement. The mounting portion has an inlet opening therein which is large enough to receive a portion of the wafer valve when the valve is opened. A taper portion is formed integral with the mounting portion, and an outlet portion is formed integral with the taper portion. The outlet portion is smaller than the inlet opening and has securing means thereon for attachment to standard-sized connectors for unloading liquid or semi-liquid cargo. A breakage groove is provided in the nozzle member to protect the valve arrangement from impacts. A steam heating member with steam inlet and outlet means may be placed over the smaller outlet portion and secured to the nozzle member for heating cargo passing therethrough. The taper portion has an indentation therein to facilitate heating of cargo in the nozzle member.

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: A hopper discharge structure is provided with slope sheets defining a throat over a pneumatic outlet tube. The throat is closed by two sliding valve plates. The valve plates are moved by crank arrangements which provide an operator with varying mechanical advantage in operating the valve means. The crank arrangements are mounted on operating shafts extending the length of the hopper. The operating shafts extend through the hopper end walls and are adjustably supported for rotation by reinforcement plates adjustably mounted on the end walls. The operating shafts are equipped with handles which accommodate the insertion of an extension bar from two different directions. The outlet tube is covered by a hinged cap and locking structure. The cap is cammingly sealed over the end of the outlet tube by a cam lock and handle mounted on the locking structure. Outward force on the handle unlocks and withdraws the cap from the end of the outlet tube.

Abstract: A plastic hatch cover is secured over a hatch opening by a hold-down bar extending across the hatch opening above the hatch cover. The hold-down bar has one end pivotally connected with a hinge bracket on the upper deck and another end engageable with a latch structure for sealing the hatch cover. The hatch cover is secured to the hold-down bar by clips on the hold-down bar adjacent the latch structure and adjacent the hinge. The clip adjacent the hinge detaches from the rest of the hold down bar when the hinge bolt is withdrawn, allowing removal of the hatch cover. Lug portions extend upwardly from the hatch cover to engage the hold-down bar to prevent lateral motion of the hatch cover with respect to the hold-down bar. The hatch cover is provided with reinforcing webs on its upper surface and on its lower surface.