Abstract: A dual hopper rail car is converted from a three-hopper rail car. The converted rail car includes a pair of hoppers with each hopper including a discharge opening for discharging contents of the hopper. A center sill, pair of top chords, a pair of side sills and a pair of side sheets extend along the length of the converted rail car and each includes a welded splice connection. The welded splice connection of each side sheet is adjacent and between a pair of side stakes with a tie plate extending between the pair of side stakes. The method of converting the three-hopper rail car to the two-hopper rail car includes: severing the three-hopper rail car into a first end section, a second end section and a center section that includes the center hopper and a portion of an adjacent hopper; removing the center section; and attaching the first end section to the second end section.

Abstract: A gondola rail car for hauling wood chips and the like having a pair of side walls, an end wall, a floor, an open end and an open top. A door assembly is pivotally mounted for swinging movement adjacent the open end. A ledge is provided to enhance access by an unloading vehicle. The car may be constructed from an existing box car.

Abstract: A hopper with a bottom discharge slot and valving comprising plates slidably supported beneath the slot and movable between closed and open positions, said plates having a plastic flexible covering to facilitate movement in shear against the load of the particulate material bearing thereagainst.

Abstract: The invention is of a hatch assembly that includes a hatch cover adapted to seal a hatch opening defined by a raised combing of a deck. A locking arm having a hinge end and a lacth end extends across and beyond the hatch, and has a hatch clip adjacent each end to floatingly connect the locking arm to the hatch cover. A latch is mounted to pivot arms to engage latch engagement structure on the locking arm with a force dependent on the height of the pivot arms from the deck. An adjustment member includes tool bearing surfaces to enhance the rotation of the adjustment member and thereby adjust the force. A latch handle includes a stiffening member to strengthen the handle against forces tending to rotate the latch handle about the pivot arms. A pair of hinge bracket walls are mounted to the hatch combing and define a hinge bracket space between them. A stop is affixed to the bracket walls to prevent the hatch cover from contacting the horizontal deck surface.

Abstract: A hatch assembly that includes a hatch cover adapted to seal a hatch opening defined by a raised combing of a deck. A locking arm having a hinge end and a latch and extends across and beyond the hatch, and has a hatch clip adjacent each end to floatingly connected the locking arm to the hatch cover. A latch is mounted to pivot arms to engage latch engagement structure on the locking arm with a force dependent on the height of the pivot arms from the deck. An adjustment member includes tool bearing surfaces to enhance the rotation of the adjustment member and thereby adjust the force. A latch handle includes a stiffening member to strengthen the handle against forces tending to rotate the latch handle about the pivot arms. A pair of hinge bracket walls are mounted to the deck and define a hinge bracket space between them. A stop is affixed to the bracket walls to prevent the hatch cover from contacting the horizontal deck surface.

Abstract: An integrated optics print head includes an array of indepenedently driven semiconductor lasers disposed on a common substrate with their outputs coupled to an integrated waveguide structure. The integrated waveguide structure includes a multiplicity of "S" shaped, low-loss waveguides which have substantially the same length. Further, in order to reduce crosstalk, the region of the waveguide structure at the output where all the waveguides are in close proximity is made as short as possible while maintaining a parallel relation between the waveguide outputs.

Abstract: Method of converting a hopper type of rail car to accept a wider outlet gate permits existing cars which are in over-supply to be made useful. The method requires that the opposed pairs of side slope sheets of the original car, and the opposed pairs of center and end slope sheets which are joined to them to form the bottom portions of the hoppers, be cut apart. One of the pairs of slope sheets then has its width reduced at its lower end portion while the lower end portions of the other pair of slope sheets are cut away and replaced by new slope sheet portions which are of greater width than the original portions. After the mounting flanges for the original outlet gates are removed, new mounting flanges which are wider in one direction and narrower in the other, are located in a predetermined fixed position relative to the frame of the car, preferably by an assembly jig which is temporarily clamped to the car frame.

Abstract: A covered, dual hopper car made by converting a rail car having three or more covered hoppers suitable for carrying a large volume of a relatively low density commodity, to a car having a fewer number of hoppers suitable for carrying a smaller volume of a higher density commodity. This is done by internally bracing an interior portion of one end of one hopper end section; severing an unwanted center hopper section from two end hopper sections; removing the unwanted section; and then reassembling and welding the free end sections to each other. The vertical cutting and welding is horizontally offset at the side plate and the sill to provide tab and notch locking arrangements for reinforcement. Preferably, the roof loading hatches are also modified to include downwardly extending collar portions which limit the maximum loading height within the hoppers.

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.

Abstract: A railway hopper car has a hatch opening defined by its upper deck surface. A hatch cover is adapted to close the hatch opening. A hinge arrangement is connected with the upper deck surface and a locking arm extends from the hinge arrangement and across the hatch cover, being connected to the hatch cover. The hinge arrangement has a stop thereon which supports the hatch cover when it is pivoted open. The locking arm has a hatch engagement portion on the end opposite the hinge arrangement which is engaged by a latch structure connected with the upper deck surface. The latch structure includes a pivoting latch holder and latch which may be engaged with the latch engagement portion and rotated in one direction to seal the hatch cover and rotated in the opposite direction to unseal the cover.

Abstract: The hatch of a cargo vessel, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper upon unlocking the lock. An over center locking arm has two locking detents on it which coact with two locking detents on a locking bar to selectively provide a sealed, pressure blow off and hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch to be selectively adjustable.

Abstract: The wheel and axle assembly of a single axle wheel truck for a railway car is prevented from exceeding acceptable lateral and longitudinal movement with respect to fixed body portions of the railway car by an axle stop arrangement positioned laterally outboard of the wheel truck springs. This axle stop arrangement controls the wheel set movement relative to the car body and, due to its laterally outboard positioning, engagement between the axle stop structure and the wheels is prevented.

Abstract: A railway car underframe comprises a center sill having bell mouth draft housings at opposite ends thereof. The housings accommodate the use of drawbars or shank type couplers. With the use of a shank type coupler a draft housing extension is secured to the bell mouth housings. The housings include structural shear elements interengageable with each other to align and secure the housings in rigid relation. The housings include connector plates secured together by fasteners with said connector plates longitudinally spaced apart to provide vertical spaces. Wedge elements having open end vertically spaced recesses are driven into the vertical spaces to provide for rigid metal to metal contact with the spaces accommodating the fasteners. Proper alignment, securement, and quick assembly therefore is achieved.

Abstract: A railway car underframe center sill includes a drawbar structure which includes a rigid housing structure adapted to fit into the cushion pocket of the sill supporting the cushion. The rigid housing is readily removable if desired and includes a rigid end plate having a truncated opening which contains a truncated hemispherical reaction member which pivots in any direction. The drawbar is supported on the center sill for movement in true rotation and is provided at its inner end with an impact head at all times in flush contact with the hemispherical reaction member. The end of the drawbar includes a drawbar key structure secured in place by means of the draft key. The housing structure is securely maintained in position against a stop by a wedge member which is self-adjusting downwardly as wear may occur and thus insures a contact rigid effective assembly.This assembly provides a slackless condition in the drawbar attachment between companion units of a railway freight car.

Abstract: A modular center filler for railway vehicles comprising an inverted U-shaped core member fitted between front and rear cover plates and securely attached to a bottom cover plate to which a center plate is attached. Downwardly extending legs of the core are aligned with corresponding inner, beveled edges of the center plate which receive high forces during transit as a car rocks back and forth. The core member is positioned to receive these forces and transmit them into the center filler structure, car bolster and car body framing for even distribution throughout the vehicle.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the corner construction of a railway car, wherein the end wall, vertical reinforcing plate, side wall corner post and side plate are arranged with associated parts in a manner permitting an assembly without rotation of the car during manufacture.

Abstract: A center sill-less hopper car is provided with a body-mounted brake arrangement using a conventional brake beam and brake system. The arrangement includes the mounting of the individual components in a manner which accommodates the operation of the discharge gates of the hopper in discharging material downwardly from the car.

Abstract: An arrangement for operating longitudinally disposed discharge door for a railway hopper vehicle includes adjacent pairs of interconnected hopper doors. The doors of each pair are connected by linkages to provide simultaneous, cooperative opening and closing movement. The inner door of each pair is operatively connected with a locking linkage which, when in the locked position, engages a longitudinally displaceable locking cam to secure the doors. Displacement of the locking cam permits the weight of the lading within the car to open the discharge doors. The doors are returned to the closed position by means of door-engaging trackside cams, and the locking cam is returned to the locked position securing the doors.

Abstract: A hopper car door locking and unlocking arrangement includes a crank arm which is initially moved to a bail engaging position laterally outwardly of the car and then is further operated by the bail of a side of track door opening device. The crank arm moves a longitudinal actuating means which controls the locking members of a pair of downwardly opening hopper doors.