Abstract: A permeable membrane seal (10) includes a body portion (12) made of elastomeric material. The body portion includes an elongated slot (18) to receive a permeable membrane (20). The membrane is held in place with stitches of thread (22) sewn at about 90.degree. to the seal body portion. The stitched threads substantially prevent a flow path of fluidizing air from the permeable material outwardly to either side of the elastomeric body portion. Mechanical fasteners (44) located outboard of the stitches hold the reinforced elastomeric body portion in place between a hopper mounting flange and an outlet mounting flange. Optional fabric reinforcement increases the tensile strength of the elastomeric material to better withstand the membrane pressure load applied by the fluidizing media. The fabric reinforcement (14) is preferably molded integral with the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A combination vacuum relief valve and pressure relief valve assembly includes a top cover plate which is movable vertically to vent a predetermined pressure in the tank above atmospheric. The top cover plate is resiliently mounted with springs which resiliently bias the cover into the closed position to determine the pressure at which the top cover plate moves to vent pressure in the tank. The vacuum relief valve is located below the top cover plate. First passageways provide fluid communication between the outside atmosphere and the lower surface of the vacuum relief valve. Second passageways provide fluid communication between the top surface of the vacuum relief valve, the bottom surface of the top cover plate and the interior of the tank.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet is provided including a rotatable control valve having a body portion and a moment portion extending therefrom. The moment portion and the body portion each include edge portions which in closed position engage adjacent valve seats. The moment portion is provided with a pattern of openings for metering flow of lading into the discharge tube and is arranged to reduce or eliminate pellets from becoming trapped in the valve opening. Preferably the pattern includes alternate tapered projections and recesses. The tapered projections are arranged to guide pellets away from the valve opening. In addition, the projections preferably include sharp edges which will shear any pellets which are trapped in the recess, thus avoiding jamming the control valve. Preferably also the body portion edge includes a similar pattern.

Abstract: A vacuum relief valve assembly includes a vacuum valve member located below a top cover plate and is thus protected from the atmosphere. First passageways defined in part by a bottom cover plate provide communication between the outside atmosphere and the lower surface of the valve. Second passageways provide communication between the upper surface of the valve and the inside of the container. When the pressure in the container is below atmospheric, atmospheric pressure acting on the bottom of the valve lifts the valve and air flows through the first and second passageways until atmospheric pressure is reached in the tank. A pressure relief valve is mounted for pivotal movement relative to an opening providing communication between the pressure in the tank and the first passageways to vent pressure in the tank. The pressure relief valve is protected from the atmosphere by the top cover plate, and in one embodiment, by the vacuum relief valve.

Abstract: An automatic vacuum relief valve assembly includes a cover plate closing an opening in a container to the atmosphere. A valve is vertically spaced below the cover plate and closes communication between the inside of the container and the outside atmosphere. A first passageway provides fluid communication between a first surface of the valve and the outside atmosphere. A second passageway provides fluid communication between the inside of the container and a second surface of the valve. When the pressure inside the container becomes less than atmospheric pressure, atmospheric pressure will cause the valve to move away from its seat and allow air to enter the container. When the pressure is equalized, the valve is biased to return to the seated position.

Abstract: In a pneumatic discharge outlet a rotatable discharge conduit attached to a rotatable lading control valve extends outboard of the outlet end wall. Operating handles to move the lading control valve between open and closed positions are located on the discharge conduit. Laterally spaced, large headed bolts extending outwardly parallel to the discharge conduit, are threaded into respective threaded portions of the operating handles. An outlet end cap includes laterally spaced end cap lugs having openings through which the large headed bolts pass. In closed position the heads of the large headed bolts engage the end cap lugs to hold the end cap in closed position. To remove the end cap the large headed bolts are rotated an amount sufficient to free the end cap lugs from the large headed bolts so that the end cap may be removed from the discharge conduit. The large headed bolts have bolt stops attached to their inner ends to prevent removal of the bolts when the end cap is removed.

Abstract: A control arrangement is provided to control discharges of compressed gas into vessels containing difficult to unload material comprising one or more control valves connected in operative relation to discharge valves operative to discharge compressed gas from an accumulator into the vessel. The control valves are provided with a timer for controlling the time of discharge of compressed gas from the accumulator. This timer may comprise a pneumatic, electro-mechanism and/or electronic timer. The control arrangement may also include means for applying pressure gas to discharge valves which are in operative relation with accumulator discharge devices which are not being utilized for unloading. Various arrangements for mounting the accumulators, discharge valves, conduits, and discharge devices are illustrated in connection with a railway hopper car. Certain discharge device mounting arrangements are preferred in unloading certain types of lading.

Abstract: A pair of longitudinally spaced valve elements are provided in a pneumatic outlet. Each valve element includes a body portion, preferably a segment of a circle, including a body portion edge which seats on a body portion valve seat located adjacent the body portion edge, and a moment portion extending eccentrically away from the body portion, which seats on a moment portion valve seat. Each valve element is movable to a sampling position in which the body portion is spaced from the body portion valve seat and the moment portion is spaced from the moment portion valve seat to allow lading for sampling to flow into the discharge conduit. Each valve element includes a pair of operating shafts extending in opposite directions from the valve element, parallel to the discharge conduit, through opposite end walls of the outlet. Operating handles are attached to the operating shafts outside the end walls of the outlet.

Abstract: A discharge outlet for attachment to the bottom of a hopper which has a longitudinally extending discharge opening between spaced inner edges of the outlet side walls. An elongate control valve is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis in the discharge opening between a pair of longitudinally extending parallel seats on opposed sides of the valve, and the control valve has its axis of rotation closer to one side of the control valve than to its other side whereby from a closed position weight of lading on the valve urges the valve in one direction of rotation to an open position in which lading is discharged about both sides of the control valve. The control valve includes a body portion extending longitudinally in the discharge opening, and a moment portion extending transversely and eccentrically relative to the axis of rotation of the body portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic outlet for a hopper is disclosed having a tubular conduit extending from at least one end of the outlet to which suction or air under pressure may be applied for unloading the outlet. The tubular conduit is rotatably mounted and is connected to an internal valve member whereby rotation of the tubular conduit actuates the valve member to control the flow of lading from the outlet. The tubular conduit has a cylindrical outer surface, and a hub having at least one handle extending therefrom is rotatably and axially slidable on the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A hopper for lading having a lower discharge outlet and a gas discharge nozzle extending into the hopper above the discharge outlet through which blasts of gas may be directed into the hopper to break up the lading and facilitate discharge of the lading through the discharge outlet. A conduit is mounted within the hopper extending between the end of the gas discharge nozzle and the discharge outlet to direct blasts of gas from the gas discharge nozzle to the discharge opening of the outlet to break up lading bridged across the outlet opening. The gas discharge nozzle is of elbow shape and rotatably mounted whereby it may be rotated to either direct blasts of gas through the conduit to the opening of the outlet or to direct blasts of gas to other areas of the hopper.

Abstract: A pneumatic bottom discharge outlet for hoppers is provided having a tubular conduit extending from at least one side of the outlet to which vacuum suction or air under pressure may be applied for unloading lading from the discharge outlet. The tubular conduit has a first annular portion having an outer surface for receiving a female hose coupling of one diameter and a second annular portion projecting axially from the first annular portion and having an outer surface of a smaller diameter than the first annular portion for receiving a female hose coupling of a smaller diameter. The first and second annular portions are eccentric with the inner surface of the second annular portion being substantially tangent to the inner surface to the first annular portion to provide a smooth flow passage for lading flow during clean-out of the discharge outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for assisting in the unloading of a difficult to unload lading from a vessel. An accumulator is mounted adjacent the vessel. A first conduit connects the accumulator with a valve for periodic discharge of the accumulator. A self-indexing elbow is rotatably mounted on the vessel and extends within the vessel. A second conduit connects the valve with the elbow. The elbow includes an elbow conduit portion in fluid communication with the second conduit. The elbow conduit portion has a center line defining an axis about which the elbow is rotatable. The elbow also includes an elbow portion having an elbow center line passing therethrough. The elbow portion has a discharge end having a discharge opening through which the elbow center line passes. At the discharge end the elbow center line is offset with respect to the axis so as to define a moment arm between the elbow portion and the axis.

Abstract: A gravity outlet suitable for hoppers is provided comprising a gate movable back and forth between open and closed positions. A locking shaft is mounted on the gate having handles on at least one side of the outlet and having a locking member preferably hook shaped mounted thereon. A locking lug and a tripping lug are affixed to the pans or frame structure of the outlet. In order to open the gate the locking shaft is rotated to move the locking member to a position out of engagement with the locking lug thus allowing the gate to move outwardly from the pans. As the gate travels towards the open position, the tripping lug trips the locking member into a tripped position where it rides to the open position with the gate. Stops are provided to stop the gate in the full open position. During closing of the gate, a cam surface on the locking member travels up the locking lug and then the locking member drops into the locked position automatically to maintain the gate in a closed and locked position.

Abstract: This application discloses a sliding gate the top surface of which is tapered so that as it is closed the top surface will compress against a first elastomeric sealing means to eliminate lading leakage, and move away from the lading as the gate is opened, reducing the force required to open the gate. A cam assist mechanism is combined with the inclined gate to further reduce the required opening torque. The gate may be mounted on rollers, which also aid to reduce the opening force required. However, a low friction track may also be utilized to support the gate. In addition to the first elastomeric sealing means, a second elastomeric sealing means may be provided, preferably spring-loaded, at the back edge of the gate to close the gap between the gate and the second sealing means when the gate is opened.The gate may be fabricated from metal plates or utilize a honeycomb sandwich type of construction.