Abstract: A railway hopper car chute having a discharge opening defined by a sidewall frame with a sliding plate gate operating in the discharge opening. An undercarriage support frame is fixed to the sidewall frame to support the gate for sliding movements relative the opening. A labyrinth seal for preventing the unwanted discharge of granular lading comprising an upwardly directed gate flange is integrally formed on at least part of the periphery of the gate plate. The flange is disposed in the space defined by the outside of the chute frame and the inside of the undercarriage frame. A pair of spaced elongated bars is disposed in the space between the gate flange and the adjacent hopper sidewall frame. These elongated bars together with the flange form a labyrinth seal with one of the bar seal elements being fixed to the gate and the other to the adjacent chute sidewall frame. Both seal elements define a labyrinth gap therebetween which serve as a non-contact seal for any granular lading located within the chute.

Abstract: A lock for a railway hopper car gate in which a hopper outlet chute defines a discharge opening with a siding platelike gate operating in the opening. An undercarriage structure having a pair of spaced side frames supports the gate for sliding movement relative the opening. An elongated lock shaft extends between and projects through guide slots formed in both side frames with one of the side frames also being formed with a lock hole. A U-shaped handle is fixed to each end of the lock shaft with each handle having a return leg supported for transverse and pivoting movement relative the side frames. A latching shoulder is fixed to the elongated lock shaft and one of the guide slots is formed with a latching notch. Transverse movement of the lock shaft by operation of either handle effects an engagement of one of the handle return legs into the frame hole to thereby lock the gate.