Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing a railway tank car includes a tank shell. A plurality of attachment pads are welded to the tank shell to form a tank assembly. The tank assembly is subjected to a post-weld heat treatment. A plurality of shield plates may each be welded directly to at least one of the plurality of attachment pads. The shield plates are not subjected to the post-weld heat treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing a railway tank car includes a tank shell. A plurality of attachment pads are welded to the tank shell to form a tank assembly. The tank assembly is subjected to a post-weld heat treatment. A plurality of shield plates may each be welded directly to at least one of the plurality of attachment pads. The shield plates are not subjected to the post-weld heat treatment.

Abstract: A railway tank car is provided having a manway formed in a body of the tank car. The tank car includes a manway cover plate coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed over at least a portion of the manway. A protective housing assembly is coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed around the manway cover plate. At least one structural support is coupled with an interior surface of the body of the tank car adjacent to the protective housing assembly.

Abstract: A railway tank car is provided having a manway formed in a body of the tank car. The tank car includes a manway cover plate coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed over at least a portion of the manway. A protective housing assembly is coupled to the body of the tank car and disposed around the manway cover plate. A plurality of structural supports are arranged around an outer perimeter of the protective housing assembly and are coupled to the protective housing assembly and to the body of the tank car.

Abstract: Security devices are provided to prevent or block unauthorized access through portholes formed in a protective housing assembly when the protective housing assembly is in its first, closed position and to allow access through the portholes when the protective housing assembly is in its second, open position. The protective housing assembly may be mounted on an upper portion of a railway tank car to protect valves, fittings and other components associated with loading and unloading of lading from the tank car. The portholes are typically formed in the protective housing assembly to allow access to an adjacent valve or other component. Each porthole cover may be engaged with a normal access cover of the protective housing assembly to block or restrict access through the respective porthole.

Abstract: Security devices are provided to prevent or block unauthorized access through portholes formed in a protective housing assembly when the protective housing assembly is in its first, closed position and to allow access through the portholes when the protective housing assembly is in its second, open position. The protective housing assembly may be mounted on an upper portion of a railway tank car to protect valves, fittings and other components associated with loading and unloading of lading from the tank car. The portholes are typically formed in the protective housing assembly to allow access to an adjacent valve or other component. Each porthole cover may be engaged with a normal access cover of the protective housing assembly to block or restrict access through the respective porthole.

Abstract: A center plate (20) is provided for installation in a center plate pocket (21) in the underside of a railcar (10) undercarriage. The center plate (20) comprises an upper wall section (36), a lower cap section (38), and a weld area (32) between the upper wall section (36) and the lower cap section (38). When the center plate (20) is in the center plate pocket (21) the weld area (32) forms a continuous grooved perimeter which allows for the center plate (20) to be welded to the undercarriage with a single weld.

Abstract: A method for attaching a head brace to a tank car includes cutting a portion of the draft sill near the position where the head brace is to be located in order to create an access opening. The interior of the head brace is welded to the draft sill assembly and front sill pad through the access opening. The exterior of the head brace may also be welded to the draft sill assembly and front sill pad. An apparatus for attaching a portion of tank to railway car includes a head brace and draft sill formed with an access opening.

Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the level of flowable material contained in a transportable vessel that utilizes microwave gauging technology. The system includes a microwave lens/seal assembly, a microwave transceiver assembly, a controller/processor assembly and a computer. The lens/seal assembly is permanently secured to the vessel. The microwave transceiver assembly is adapted to be releasably attached to the vessel. The controller/processor assembly and the computer may be located at a loading/unloading facility.

Abstract: An outlet valve assembly is provided for a railway tank car. The valve is mounted at the bottom of the tank car for discharging downwardly between the tracks. The valve is operable between the closed position to occlude flow through the valve and an opened position to permit flow through the valve. A shaft is operably connected to, and extends from, the valve on a horizontal axis normal to the length of the tank car for being rotated on the axis to operate the valve between the closed and opened positions. A handle is connected to the shaft at a predetermined distance from the valve, and the handle extends generally radially outwardly from the shaft. The valve is operated between the closed and opened positions when the handle is swung through an arc from an initial orientation to a final orientation.

Abstract: A combination bottom outlet saddle and sump is provided for a railway tank car. The saddle member comprises an upper surface which conforms to the underside of the tank body and is attached thereto in surrounding relationship with an outlet opening formed in the tank body. An opening is formed through the saddle member in fluid communication with the outlet opening. A sump is recessed into the upper surface of the saddle member longitudinally spaced a short distance from the saddle member opening in fluid communication with the outlet opening. A bottom outlet valve is mounted to the lower surface of the saddle member in fluid communication with the saddle member opening. A recessed channel may be provided in the upper surface of the saddle member to permit fluid communication between the sump and the saddle member opening. A skid assembly surrounds the entire saddle member.

Abstract: An improved system and method for relocating a selected layer of overburden, such as a layer of unconsolidated soil, in a strip mining operation are provided. The system employs an excavator, an intermediate belt wagon with at least two slewable conveyors, and a cross-pit conveyor having a long cantilevered conveyor pivotably supported on a mobile base; with all of said equipment being preferably based on the highwall side of the pit. According to the method, the area to be stripped is divided first into a series of large rectangles aligned parallel to the pit, with each rectangle being further divided into a series of narrow strips also parallel to the pit. The area is then progressively stripped beginning with the nearest strip of a first rectangle and proceeding with the next adjacent strip until the first rectangle is completed and then proceeding in like manner with each successive rectangle.

Abstract: An improved cross-pit conveyor is provided for transferring excavated topsoils from the working side across the pit to the reclamation side in a strip mining operation. The machine includes a base to be positioned on the working side, a slewable upper frame mounted on the base, a long cantilevered conveyor pivotably supported at one end by the upper frame and reaching across the pit, and a separate on-board auxiliary conveyor for initially receiving the excavated material and feeding it smoothly onto the cantilevered conveyor. The receiving end of the auxiliary conveyor is pivotably connected to the back of the upper frame, and the discharging end is floatingly supported on the receiving end of the main conveyor to maintain a constant cooperative association therewith regardless of the hoist angle of the main conveyor.