Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an operating rod attached to a bottom outlet valve passes through a nozzle assembly connected to the tank top. The nozzle assembly includes a hollow cylindrical housing for the operating rod and means to seal the operating rod relative to the tank. The nozzle assembly further includes a sleeve made of a material having a coefficient of friction with metal, particularly steel. The material has sufficient shear strength to withstand loads applied by rotation of the operating rod to the nozzle assembly, and sufficient strength in compression to react bending moments applied to the nozzle assembly resulting from misalignment of the lading valve relative to the nozzle assembly. Preferably also the material is self lubricating to avoid potential failure of the material in the event the assembly is not regularly lubricated.

Abstract: To provide a railway tank car mounting flange which does not extend more than one (1) inch below the tank bottom, fixed stops to prevent rotation of the valve closure during movement between open and closed positions, and fixed stops which determine the amount of travel of the valve closure between open and closed positions are located within the tank. The valve closure is provided with outwardly extending stops which engage the fixed stops within the tank. Preferably the fixed stops extend inwardly and upwardly from the mounting flange. Preferably the valve closure is bench assembled onto a removable valve seat and is installed into the tank from the bottom, avoiding the need for a workman to be located within the tank during installation.

Abstract: At least one ball valve segment is located within a partial valve cage mounted within a tank. The cage is integral with a valve housing removably mounted within a tank mounting flange. The housing includes an inclined sealing surface which the ball valve segment engages in closed position. A lading outlet chamber is located below the inclined sealing surface. An operating shaft is inclined with respect to the outlet chamber. Inclined openings are provided in the valve housing and in the outlet chamber through which the operating shaft passes. The operating shaft includes an eccentric head which is located within a non-round slot in the ball valve segment. Rotation of the operating shaft rotates the eccentric head which drives the valve segment between open and closed positions. Preferably a pair of ball valve segments located approximately 180.degree. apart are connected with supports or ribs. The valve segment which closes the opening into the discharge chamber is larger.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an unloading assembly for a top operated lading valve is disclosed. The unloading assembly includes means for connecting an unloading outlet chamber to the existing depending valve outlet chamber of the lading valve. The unloading outlet chamber is hollow and is in fluid communication with the lading valve outlet chamber. The unloading assembly includes an operating shaft extending upwardly through the unloading outlet chamber and through the valve outlet chamber. The operating shaft includes a non-round connection portion adapted to engage a non-round connection portion of the top operating rod.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange is provided with a stepped valve seat slot to receive a contained valve seat member. The valve seat is provided with an upper internal valve seat portion to receive a valve closure. A valve seat body portion located below the valve seat portion is provided with a valve seat slot to receive an operator retainer to prevent the operator from moving vertically during operation. A valve seat flange portion extends radially outwardly from the valve seat body portion and is provided with first fastener openings for holding the valve seat member in place within the mounting flange and supporting the valve closure and any lading in the tank. The valve seat flange portion is provided with second fastener openings, preferably circumferentially spaced from the first fastener openings to receive fasteners to hold in place an outlet chamber extending below the valve seat member.

Abstract: An opening is formed in a tank bottom and a mounting flange for a bottom outlet valve is attached to the tank bottom extending into this opening. This valve mounting flange contains fastener openings. A vertically extending light source is removably attached to the mounting flange, for example with mechanical fasteners. This light source is shined upwardly into the tank and indicates a reference point on the internal surface of the tank top for locating a nozzle opening. This reference point is marked, and a top opening is then formed in the tank shell by workmen located in the tank, usually after rotating the tank 180.degree.. If the tank has been rotated prior to forming the top opening, the tank is again rotated 180.degree. to locate the top opening at the top of the tank. An optional reinforcing plate is then welded to the outside surface of the tank surrounding the top opening. This reinforcing plate contains a reinforcing plate opening.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an open and closed position indicator assembly is provided for use with a bottom operable tank car valve assembly. An operating shaft for the lading valve extends downwardly through the outlet chamber and includes a connection portion at its lower end. An indicator housing is integrally connected to that portion of the outlet chamber above the connection portion which surrounds the operating shaft. An indicator member located within the indicator housing is internally threaded and engages an externally threaded portion of the outlet chamber. The indicator member includes a lower non-round opening which is adopted to be driven by a cooperating non-round portion of the operating shaft.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a tank car valve mounting flange, valve cage and valve seat are provided. The cage is generally cylindrical. The mounting flange extends radially outwardly from the cage. The valve seat is located on an inner surface of the cage. A multi-armed sleeve is threaded onto a threaded valve stem. Clamp fasteners attach a valve closure to a lower portion of the stem. The sub-assembly of the valve closure, valve stem and sleeve is placed within the valve cage, with the closure resting on the valve seat. The arms of the sleeve extend into cage slots having a generally horizontal portion in the cage. A keeper assembly is provided to retain the sleeve arms within the cage slots. The stem is then connected to a top operating rod extending to the top of the tank. The valve assembly is then raised by the top operating rod until the valve flange engages a tank mounting flange.

Abstract: A tank vehicle lading valve assembly is provided including a lading valve mounted in an opening in the bottom of the tank which is movable vertically between open and closed positions. A valve housing or outlet chamber including an unloading spout is attached below a tank bottom mounting flange with fasteners, which preferably define a shear plane. A first operator attached to an upper portion of the lading valve extends vertically up through the tank to the upper portion of the tank where it is adapted to receive a suitable handle or tool to move the lading valve between open and closed positions. A second operator is preferably attached to a lower portion of the lading valve. The second operator portion preferably extends at least partially through the valve housing. Thus the lading valve is operable from either the top of the tank or from the bottom of the tank. The first operator may be eliminated and the lading valve operated from the bottom.

Abstract: A tank vehicle lading valve assembly is provided including a lading valve mounted in an opening in the bottom of the tank which is movable vertically between open and closed positions. A valve housing or outlet chamber including an unloading spout is attached below a tank bottom mounting flange with fasteners, which preferably define a shear plane. A first operator attached to an upper portion of the lading valve extends vertically up through the tank to the upper portion of the tank where it is adapted to receive a suitable handle or tool to move the lading valve between open and closed positions. A second operator is preferably attached to a lower portion of the lading valve. The second operator portion preferably extends at least partially through the valve housing. Thus the lading valve is operable from either the top of the tank or from the bottom of the tank. The first operator may be eliminated and the lading valve operated from the bottom.

Abstract: A top operated tank car valve assembly includes a rod extending downwardly from the top of the tank and is attached to the valve stem of a lading valve located in the bottom of the tank. The stem engages a threaded valve sleeve provided with a mounting flange which engages a cooperating mounting flange on a valve cage. Fasteners engage the upper surface of the sleeve, and extend through the valve cage and engage threaded openings in a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange. The cage includes a valve seat for a valve closure. The valve seat is formed on the lower, internal surface of the valve cage, and circumferentially spaced openings are formed in the valve cage for lading flow. Laterally spaced projections extend upwardly from the lading valve closure. A valve stem retainer includes a pair of formed retainer members which define a cavity or opening.

Abstract: In a railway tank car bottom outlet lading valve assembly, an operating handle assembly for the lading valve includes an operating shaft extending vertically within a lading outlet chamber. The shaft is provided with a non-round shaft tool connection portion near the bottom thereof. An operating handle is pivotably mounted on the outlet chamber adjacent the non-round connection portion. The operating ratchet includes a handle non-round connection portion which engages the shaft non-round connection portion. A handle-storing bracket for the distal end of the operating handle is mounted upon the tank body or on an upper mounting flange portion of the outlet chamber adjacent a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange. The bracket is preferably U-shaped and includes a removable pin extending between opposite arms of the U-shaped bracket.

Abstract: In a railway tank car bottom outlet lading valve assembly, an operating handle assembly for the lading valve includes an operating shaft extending vertically within a lading outlet chamber. The shaft is provided with a non-round shaft tool connection portion near the bottom thereof. An operating handle is pivotably mounted on the outlet chamber adjacent the non-round connection portion. The operating handle includes a handle non-round connection portion which engages the shaft non-round connection portion. A handle-storing bracket for the distal end of the operating handle is mounted upon the tank body or on an upper mounting flange portion of the outlet chamber adjacent a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange. The bracket is preferably U-shaped and includes a removable pin extending between opposite arms of the U-shaped bracket.

Abstract: In a bottom operable tank car lading valve assembly, a combination skid and lading valve seat for the lading valve closure is provided, which is attached to the tank car universal flange with mechanical fasteners. The valve seat portion extends inwardly and upwardly from the universal flange and includes a machined seat. The skid portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the universal flange, forming a circumferential taper, and the upper portion abuts the bottom of the tank. The outer end of the skid portion is connected to the tank with fasteners which do not require stress relieving of the tank body. The skid portion protects the lading valve closure and the lading valve seats against impacts which might normally cause unseating of the valve closure and escape of the lading in the absence of the skid portion.

Abstract: In a bottom operable tank car lading valve assembly, a combination skid and lading valve seat for the lading valve closure is provided, which is attached to the tank car universal flange with mechanical fasteners. The valve seat portion extends inwardly and upwardly from the universal flange and includes a machined seat. The skid portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the universal flange, forming a circumferential taper, and the upper portion abuts the bottom of the tank. The outer end of the skid is connected to the tank with fasteners which do not require stress relieving of the tank body. The skid portion protects the lading valve closure and the lading valve seats against impacts which might normally cause unseating of the valve closure and escape of the lading in the absence of the skid portion.

Abstract: In a railway tank car bottom outlet lading valve assembly, an operating handle assembly for the lading valve includes an operating shaft extending vertically within a lading outlet chamber. The shaft is provided with a non-round shaft tool connection portion near the bottom thereof. An operating handle is pivotably mounted on the outlet chamber adjacent the non-round connection portion. The operating handle includes a handle non-round connection portion which engages the shaft non-round connection portion. A handle-storing bracket for the distal end of the operating handle is mounted upon the tank body or on an upper mounting flange portion of the outlet chamber adjacent a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange. The bracket is preferably U-shaped and includes a removable pin extending between opposite arms of the U-shaped bracket.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a tank car mounting flange is welded to an opening in the tank bottom and preferably does not extend below the bottom surface of the tank more than one (1) inch to comply with AAR and DOT Regulations. A valve body including a valve seat is located concentrically within the mounting flange and is removably attached to the mounting flange. The valve body may be attached to the mounting flange with a threaded fitting, or with fasteners and a retaining ring located within the mounting flange, in which fasteners holding the retaining ring in place extend into the mounting flange. A depending housing including a lower operator is attached to the mounting flange or to the retaining ring with fasteners which define a shear plane.

Abstract: In a bottom operable tank car lading valve assembly, a combination skid and lading valve seat for the lading valve closure is provided, which is attached to the tank car universal flange with mechanical fasteners. The valve seat portion extends inwardly and upwardly from the universal flange and includes a machined seat. The skid portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the universal flange, forming a circumferential taper, and the upper portion abuts the bottom of the tank. The skid portion protects the lading valve closure and the lading valve seat against impacts which might normally cause unseating of the valve closure and escape of the lading in the absence of the skid portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fixture assembly for removing for repair and/or replacement some or all of the operating assembly of a bottom operable tank car valve while the closure portion of the valve, which closes the opening in the tank bottom, remains in closed position. The closure portion prevents lading from escaping from the tank while the damaged portion of the valve operating assembly is repaired and/or replaced, and the operating assembly is reassembled with a properly functioning valve operating assembly.

Abstract: An air inlet and outlet valve is located in the bottom of a tank so that the operator need not climb to the top of the tank to operate the valve. A conduit extends from the valve to the top of the tank. A stilling well is mounted inside the top of the tank. A ball which is lighter than the lading is mounted in the stilling well. The stilling well includes openings allowing air to enter or leave the tank through the conduit when the ball is in an unseated position in the stilling well. Lading contacting the ball moves the ball into a seated position which blocks the entrance to the conduit and prevents lading from entering the conduit, going down through the conduit to the valve at the bottom of the tank, and discharging from the conduit when the operator opens the valve.