Abstract: An intermodal container has a roof, floor, side walls and end walls converted for use as a water processing tank, the tank walls reinforced so that the tank can be filled with water. The tank is lines with a flexible liner. On one of the walls aligned apertures are made in the liner and the wall with an inwardly facing flange surface facing into the tank. A process wall is mounted against the flange surface with fastening bolts exposed at the outside of the tank. The process wall is bolted from outside the tank so that a margin of the liner at the aperture is pinched between the process wall and the flange surface to seal it in place. Interface components are mounted and sealed at ports in the process wall to provide inputs to, and outputs from, the tank interior both above and below the design level of water in the tank.

Abstract: A containment system for reducing the release of harmful respirable particles through surface openings in equipment that carries sand includes a filter-receiving member configured to be coupled over an opening in a surface of the equipment and a filter member configured to be coupled to the filter-receiving member. The filter-receiving member can have a first side, a second side, and a passageway extending from the first side to the second side. The filter can have a porosity that permits air to flow through the filter member and restricts the flow of solid particulates.

Abstract: An easer rail is mated with the uncut web of a fixed running rail to form a more rigid thermal expansion joint between the fixed rail and a moveable rail. The easer rail has an extension that protrudes into the uncut web the fixed rail. The easer rail extension is machined to be complementary in shape to the uncut web and fits tightly against the flange, the underside of the head, and the base of the uncut web of the fixed rail. Bolt holes are provided through the extension and the easer rail, its extension, and the fixed rail to form multiple bolt joints. The bolted extension not only lengthens the easer rail but locks it in place between the head and base of the fixed rail to provide additional rigidity.

Abstract: A multi-fold door for an enclosed railcar comprising a first panel, a second panel and a third panel is disclosed. The first panel is pivotally attached to the second panel at an edge of each panel and the third panel is pivotally attached to the second panel at an edge of each panel. A posterior edge of the first panel is attached to a corner post of an end of the enclosed railcar by hinges that are positioned externally to the enclosed railcar.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a railcar having an enclosing superstructure which is capable of accommodating large vehicles such as semi-trucks is disclosed. The method includes the preparation of a previously used railcar or a railcar originally manufactured for another purpose and the subsequent attachment of a preferably widened superstructure applied thereto. Usable space and dimensions within the superstructure enclosure are maximized by the use of shallow weight bearing side structures, large top chords, stabilizing door headers, an extension of the railcar deck and thin end doors. Railcar accessories are accommodated within the interior of the superstructure such that minimal useful space is used.

Abstract: A system for a freight vehicle having a cargo space convertible for handling bulk cargo as well as piece goods, for deploying bulk cargo containers, includes a cable winding shaft positioned adjacent one end wall of the vehicle, with a cable winding reel mounted on each end of the shaft. The shaft is turned either by an electric motor or a hydraulic or pneumatic motor using the hydraulic or pneumatic system of the tractor that pulls the freight vehicle. Cables are run from the retainer rings of the bulk cargo bags upward against the side walls of the vehicle and then along the roof of the vehicle to the winding reels. According to another embodiment, the lifting mechanism for the bags is a hydraulic or pneumatic ram assembly which uses the hydraulics or pneumatics of the tractor for operation. The ram assembly is mounted externally under the floor of the freight vehicle and the cables are run through openings in the vehicle to the ram assembly.

Abstract: A collapsible container has a top frame and bottom frame with folding walls having predetermined fold lines therein. The container has a closed position which is a flat platform configuration. In this configuration the walls are folded within the platform which may be used as a pallet for piece goods. The container has an open position where the top frame is raised and the container can be integral with a wheeled vehicle and used as a bulk carrier. Thus the container can be used for one shipment as a pallet for piece goods and for a next shipment as a bulk carrier.

Abstract: A convertible container has side walls, a rear door, front end walls sloping downwardly in the direction of the rear door, a floor commencing at the rear door, and a gated hopper lying between the floor and the front end wall. A movably mounted sheet has first and second positions, the first position of the sheet lying between the side walls, covering the hopper. In the second position the sheet is supported between the side walls, over the floor, sloping downwardly in the direction of the front end wall, and between the hopper and the rear door. The convertible container can be part of a convertible vehicle including a tractor, tilt mechanism for tilting the container between a tilted and a substantially horizontal position, wheels supporting the container, and a towing mechanism pivotally connecting the tractor and the front of the container. The hopper may be employed to discharge dry bulk goods when the sheet is in the second position and the container is in the substantially horizontal position.

Abstract: Transport container for the transport of bulk material provided with a filling-hole in the upper part and an emptying device in the rear. For the loading and unloading of also parcelled goods the container is provided with a side section that can be opened, and that the emptying device comprises a pneumatic pressure discharger with a pressure vessel into which the bulk material can freely flow from the container through a check valve and in which, with the check valve closed, pressure can be produced for discharging the bulk material through a discharge pipe.

Abstract: A bin for storing and handling bulk material includes a fill opening through which material is introduced into the bin for storage and a discharge opening in a bottom portion of the bin through which material stored in the bin is discharged. The bin includes a primary bin support frame, and has at least one dump assembly with a bin floor panel that is hinged adjacent the discharge opening of the bin. The bin floor panel is pivotable from a generally horizontal position to an angled position for dumping bulk material into the discharge opening. The dump assembly includes a selectively collapsible secondary frame connected to the bin floor panel and pivotable with the bin floor panel. The bin further includes a flexible and collapsible bin wall portion connected to the primary and secondary frames and the bin floor panel to form an enclosure for storage of bulk materials.

Abstract: A bin for storing and handling bulk material includes a fill opening through which material is introduced into the bin for storage and a discharge opening in a bottom portion of the bin through which material stored in the bin is discharged. The bin includes a primary bin support frame, and has at least one dump assembly with a bin floor panel that is hinged adjacent the discharge opening of the bin. The bin floor panel is pivotable from a generally horizontal position to an angled position for dumping bulk material into the discharge opening. The dump assembly includes a rigid secondary frame connected to the bin floor panel and pivotable with the bin floor panel. The bin further includes a flexible bin wall portion connected to the primary and secondary frames and the bin floor panel to form an enclosure for storage of bulk materials. The flexible bin wall portion is supported in an erect position by the primary and secondary frames for storage and discharge of bulk materials.

Abstract: A railway car is convertible from a grain carrying car to a vehicle transport car and vice-versa. The car has closed sides, a roof and a floor and end doors movable from a closed position when in the grain carrying mode and to an open position for vehicle transport mode. Loading hatches in the roof and dumping hoppers in the base allow for use in carrying grain and other comminuted material and longitudinally extending spaced and parallel vehicle grids are provided on one, two or three levels thereby permitting vehicles to be carried in a conventional manner when in the vehicle transport mode. The grids and supporting structure permit and facilitate the loading and unloading of grain or the like when in the grain carrying mode and the railway car is easily converted manually from one mode to the other.

Abstract: Improvements in a freight vehicle having a cargo space convertible from that suitable for handling piece goods to that suitable for bulk material. A conventional cargo space for piece goods has openings for filling and discharging bulk material. A double-walled inflatable bag having its bottom attached to a rigid support platform is positioned in erected condition to handle bulk material and is movable to a stored position near the roof of the cargo space to allow handling of piece goods.

Abstract: A self-unloading bale box has a conveyor mounted in the floor of the box along one side. The conveyor is covered by a series of covering plates that are raised to expose an increasingly larger length of the conveyor as the box is unloaded. The bales are passed to a curved delivery chute.

Abstract: A bin for storing and handling bulk material includes a fill opening through which material is introduced into the bin for storage and a discharge opening in a bottom portion of the bin through which material stored in the bin is discharged. The bin is erectable over a flat support bed. The bin includes an upright frame that is positionable adjacent to a discharge area of the flat bed to bring the discharge opening of the bin into alignment with the discharge area of the flat bed. The bin includes an outer shield hinged in a lower portion of the frame so that the shield pivots between a closed vertical position against one side of the frame and an open horizontal position away from the frame. The bin includes a floor panel independently hinged inside the outer shield adjacent the discharge opening of the bin, the bin floor panel being pivotable with the outer shield from the horizontal open position to the vertical closed position.

Abstract: A flexible bulk container is disclosed, integral with a wheeled vehicle, that has an open bulk mode and a closed flat bed mode. The container can be used one way full and the return journal empty in the flat bed mode with other cargo on the flat bed. The container comprises a main frame with two laterally spaced longitudinal members, two floor panel sections, each hinged at outside edges across the top surfaces of the longitudinal members, the two panel sections having a closed position providing a substantially flat floor, and an open position wherein the two panel sections slope upwards and outwards from each other, flexible liner attached to the two panel sections and the main frame, providing a bulk container when the two panel sections are in the open position, strut support means at the end of each of the longitudinal members to support the two panel sections in the open position, and discharge hopper means between the longitudinal members for emptying the bulk container.

Abstract: A flexible bulk container is disclosed, integral with a wheeled vehicle, that has an open bulk mode and a closed flat bed mode. The container can be used one way full and the return journey empty in the flat bed mode with other cargo on the flat bed. The container comprises a main frame with two laterally spaced longitudinal members, two floor panel sections, each hinged at outside edges across the top surfaces of the longitudinal members, the two panel sections having a closed position providing a substantially flat floor, and an open position wherein the two panel sections slope upwards and outwards from each other, flexible liner attached to the two panel sections and the main frame, providing a bulk container when the two panel sections are in the open position, strut support means at the end of each of the longitudinal members to support the two panel sections in the open position, and discharge hopper means between the longitudinal members for emptying the bulk container.

Abstract: A carrier unit adapted to be converted into a bulk material carrier including a container having a floor and two parallel substantially vertical walls. The floor has at least one floor panel movable between a storage position and an operative position and at least one floor section movable between a storage position and an operative position. The floor panel when in the operative position and the floor sections when in the operative position cooperate with portions of the walls to define a compartment and to form an opening in the floor, which communicates with hoppers depending from the floor. A flexible liner is mountable in the compartment, when the floor panel and the floor sections are in the operative positions, for holding bulk material. The flexible liner includes an inlet for charging bulk materials into the liner compartment and an outlet cooperable with the opening for communicating the interior of the liner compartment with the exterior of the compartment for discharging the bulk materials.

Abstract: A freight vehicle has a cargo space convertible from that suitable for handling piece goods to that suitable for dry bulk granular material. A conventional cargo space for piece goods has openings in the roof and floor for filling and discharging bulk material. A double-wall inflatable bag having its bottom attached to a rigid support platform is positioned in erected condition to handle bulk material and is movable to a stored position near the roof of the cargo space to allow handling of piece goods.

Abstract: A convertible freight car operable as a flatbed car for receiving items such as lumber and the like or as a bulk storage freight car for bulk items such as grain or the like. The freight car is converted from the flatbed car to the bulk storage freight car when the flatbed is elevated upward permitting a plurality of flexible containers attached to the underside of the flatbed to be extended to form containers for receiving bulk goods or liquids.

Abstract: A bottom dump hopper car includes a pair of closure doors interconnected for conjoint movement. One of the doors is provided with a pivoted arm extending toward the center sill and is in operative engagement with a pivoted locking latch. The latch includes a stop and a follower element and is pivotally moved between door opening and closing position by means of a reciprocating actuation rod containing a cam element engagable with the follower element.

Abstract: A vehicle for the selective transport of a piece load or a bulk load has a container including a bottom constituting, at least in part, a funnel having a discharge opening, a top closure arranged above the bottom and collapsible side walls attached to the bottom and the top closure. The side walls are formed of a plurality of relatively rigid side wall elements having, in a lowered position of the top closure, a collapsed state in which they are stacked with respect to one another between the top closure and the bottom. In the collapsed state of the side walls the upper face of the top closure serves as a loading platform for a piece load. The side walls further have, in a raised position of the top closure, an erected state in which the side wall elements together contiguously form sealed side walls.

Abstract: An improved dual purpose trailer body for a wheeled vehicle convertible to one position for handling freight of a bulk nature such as coils of steel or paper, panels of drywall construction material, and the like, and to another position for handling comminuted material such as dolomite, grain, and the like. The trailer body having normally horizontally disposed load supporting floor sections which are movably associated with the trailer body and positionable to a generally vertically disposed attitude to produce a bin wall structure forming a zone communicating with a hopper therebelow for receiving and maintaining comminuted material.

Abstract: Enclosed covered hopper cars are interconnected by conduits to form a partial or complete unit-train for liquid lading service, particularly liquid petroleum. The conduits are at least partially flexible to negotiate curves in the road bed. Preferably the conduits joining adjacent hoppers extend between openings located in the upper portion of the end hoppers. Preferably at the bottom of each hopper a hopper floor is removably attached to a hopper outlet mounting flange. The hopper floor includes a lading opening. A longitudinal tube is located below the lading openings, extending between the end floor sheets. A conduit extends from the upper portion of one end hopper in the car to the longitudinal tube to enable the cars to be unloaded by positive pressure applied to an end car of a group of cars.

Abstract: A mobile vehicle is selectively adaptable for carrying either bulk materials or general freight loads. The vehicle comprises a trailer including a suspension comprising at least one axle with wheels attached thereto and a platform mounted upon the suspension to be carried by the axle and wheels. At least one opening is formed in the platform and a closure or cover is provided for selectively covering or exposing the opening. A framework is mounted upon the platform and a collapsible container is attached to the platform. A hopper or a slope pan is mounted below the opening to define a bottom of the container and to permit unloading of bulk materials. The container is selectively erectable for attachment to the framework and is adapted to carry bulk materials when so erected. The container may also be collapsed and stored within the hopper under the closure so that the platform may be used to carry general freight loads.

Abstract: A convertible livestock/grain hauling trailer has front, center and rear compartments, with a second livestock floor in the center compartment. Means are provided for pivoting the floor boards of the second floor downward towards front and rear to define a pair of grain hoppers, and adjustable grain outlet doors are provided in the floor board at the base of the hoppers. Support rail hangers are provided along the side walls of the trailer corresponding to both the horizontal and slope positions of the second story floor boards, and support rails for the edges of the floor boards are movable from either set of hangers to support the floor board in its corresponding position. Front and rear bull gates are optionally pivotable towards the front and rear respectively to further define the grain hoppers, and support rails are provided to hold them in position.

Abstract: This application discloses a multi-purpose freight vehicle, such as a roadway trailer, which, in one condition, presents a clear cargo space with a continuous floor for hauling packaged goods and which, in another condition, provides one or more container bags between a top fill opening and a bottom discharge hopper opening for hauling bulk goods, the bag being formed of strong flexible material having a top opening with means of support at the top fill opening of the vehicle roof and a more flexible top end portion with closure means to provide a tight dustproof seal; the flexible bag, when empty, being stored in a hopper to which its lower open end is attached and having means for retrieval through the top opening of the vehicle roof, as by a hook pole, the bag except at the top, being rectangular in cross section and cubical to provide maximum capacity within the shape of the vehicle; floor sections above the hopper are hinged transversely to swing up as floor trap doors to permit the bag or bags to be rai

Abstract: A highway semitrailer body converts for transporting either discrete or loose bulk cargo by either maintaining hinged slope sheets in the ends of the body latched up near the roof or inclining them down to form a continuation of the hoppers in the floor. A grating over the hoppers supports the discrete cargo or permits loose bulk cargo to pass through its openings. The slope sheets are raised and lowered by flexible belt hoists actuated from outside the body through chain and sprocket transmissions mounted under covers between pairs of vertical ribs. The slope sheets are released from their upwardly latched positions by pull rod linkages also mounted between the pairs of vertical ribs. The bottom ends of the slope sheets are firmly clamped against the floor grating by locking pawls which hold down hooks on the bottom ends of the slope sheets, which pass through spaces in the grating.

Abstract: An improved trailer convertible to one position for hauling floor supported cargo and to one other position for hauling granular material. The trailer has a floor assembly including; a pair of center floor panels which are supported on the trailer frame and form a portion of the floor supporting structure in one position and which are removable and positionable for cooperating to retain granular material in one other position; and a pair of end slope members which are removably connectable to the trailer for cooperating with the center floor panels and portions of the trailer sides to retain granular material. The trailer is adapted such that pre-constructed sections of the trailer can be shipped and assembled at a remote location.

Abstract: Baffles are provided in insulated convertible hopper-box cars to allow bulk shipment of perishable lading, which is not capable of supporting more than several feet without the upper lading portion damaging the lower lading portion due to the weight of the upper portion. For example, citrus fruits may thus be transported in such baffled convertible railway cars.