Abstract: An articulated multi-unit railway hopper car including a pair of end units having couplers mounted on their outboard ends. A plurality of intermediate units are interconnected between said end units. A plurality of articulated connector assemblies interconnect the end units and the intermediate units. A pair of side bearing housings are mounted on each side of the articulated connector assemblies. A body side bearing extension arm assembly is disposed in bearing relationship with each of the side bearing housings and connects two ends of adjacent units. Torsion boxes extend substantially the width of the inboard ends of the end units and the opposed ends of the intermediate units and carry the upper bolster unit and are connected to the body side bearing extension arm assemblies.

Abstract: A hopper vehicle body having an elongated shell internally reinforced by spaced apart lateral reinforcing members in the general shape of a horseshoe and which have a hat-shaped cross section.

Abstract: A safety grid for center discharge grain boxes includes cross members and longitudinally extending rod members. The grid may be fitted to grain boxes having varying sizes through the use of an adjustable bolt movably connected to the cross members and connected to the box side walls. The cross members may be either tubular or L-shaped in cross section and are interconnected by longitudinally extending rod members.

Abstract: An aluminum hopper car having a center sill hood which uses aluminum collar castings to connect cross ridge hoods which intersect a center sill hood, and to connect the center sill hood with intersecting sloped car end walls.

Abstract: A hopper assembly for crushed material such as ore and limestone is provided, comprising a downwardly narrowing hopper having an outlet located at its lower end defined by facing lateral arcuate edges and a discharge chute, the discharge chute including at one end an arcuate portion conforming to the lateral arcuate edges and at another end a straight portion which guides the material discharged from the hopper, the chute including at each lateral edge thereof a deflector plate extending upwardly from the discharge chute positioned at the junction between the straight and arcuate portions, the deflector plates including an upper arcuate edge portion which lies in the same vertical plane as the facing lateral arcuate edges of the hopper and is adjacent thereto, the plate serving to prevent material discharge from the hopper from jamming between the facing lateral arcuate edges of the hopper and the discharge chute.

Abstract: A valve actuating device for a hopper is comprised of two spherical shaped shutters or registers which pivot about common suspension axles. Each of the registers is carried by two pairs of arms located on either side of the bottom of the hopper and is capable of pivoting about two axles mounted respectively on brackets fastened to the bottom on either side of the hopper. The supporting arms of one of the registers are connected respectively to the piston rods of two hydraulic jacks mounted pivotally on the brackets; and the first pair of supporting arms experiencing the action of the hydraulic jacks are connected respectively to the second pair of supporting arms by use of a linkage articulated on the bracket.

Abstract: An improved method for slurrying bulk dry powder material within a hopper car is described. The method includes providing a static web of individual strands extending through the interior of the hopper compartment so that when water is admitted to the bottom of the hopper car, the water will travel upwardly along the strands of the web and through the dry bulk material to wet the same.

Abstract: In a stub sill type railway hopper car the shear plate is eliminated and a truss arrangement is located in the end structure resulting in less weight.

Abstract: Bottom discharge hopper rail cars generally have a chassis on flanged wheels, and a hopper body mounted on the chassis and including transversely and longitudinally extending edges which border a discharge opening from the body. In the present invention, the opening is wholly or substantially wholly at a level below the tops of the wheels but above the bottoms of the wheels and extends at least partly between pairs of said flanged wheels.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a casting (60) is provided to connect the car bottom (40) to the side sill (10). A connecting plate (46) is provided to attach the casting (60) to the side sill (10). Preferably the side sill (10) is generally hat shaped and is reinforced with an angle (26) at the end portion of the car which supports the shear plate (34).

Abstract: A hopper car in which the body has vertical end walls and side walls each comprising a sloping lower portion and a vertical upper portion. The two sloping lower portions converge downwardly and their horizontal lower edges define a discharge opening. One of these edges lies in a horizontal plane which is at a different level to the plane containing the other lower edge. The angle of slope of one lower portion is different to the angle of slope of the other lower portion. Additionally, the horizontal plane containing the line of convergence between the one lower portion and its associated upper portion lies in a different horizontal plane to the corresponding line of convergence of the other side wall. An arcuate door carrying a laterally protruding operating arm closes-off the discharge opening.

Abstract: A car for charging a coke oven battery with coal. This car carries a plurality of integral coal hoppers. A particular space frame construction is disclosed to support these hoppers, and because of this construction a significant savings in the weight of the car is realized. This space frame includes a pair of horizontally spaced lower front and rear parallel transverse beams and upper front and rear parallel transverse beams. Longitudinally extending beams connect both ends of the upper and lower front transverse beams with the corresponding rear transverse beams. The above described structure is mounted on four wheel housings by means of four truss structures. Two of these wheel housings are positioned slightly in front of the front transverse beams and two are mounted slightly behind the front transverse beams.

Abstract: A convertible open top hopper car (10) is assembled by longitudinally aligning a pair of railway car stub sills (12) in an assembly position. Transversely extending shear plates (16) are attached to each stub sill. A transversely extending inclined locating plate (18) is integrally connected to the inner end portion of each stub sill. The locating plate preferably includes a flange portion (22) adapted to receive a desired hopper car bottom (24). The bottom may be a conventional gondola bottom having pivoting doors, a light weight gondola bottom for use in cars which are rotated 180.degree. to unload the lading, or a gondola bottom having rapid discharge doors. The bottom selected for application is preferably first attached at each of its ends to the longitudinally spaced locating plates (18). Then hopper car sides (40) including side sills (42) and side sheets (46) are lowered onto the respective shear plates (16) and are welded to the shear plates.

Abstract: An improved vertical cylindrical pneumatic tank for storage and transfer of pulverulent material of the type having inclined slope sheets, air slides, and an air inlet line, which improvement comprises an air manifold coupling the air inlet line to the air slide for directing air to the air slide in a closed system, and a pressure resistant filling material, such as foam, surrounding the manifold and filling the lower compartment for supporting the slope sheets and preventing pulverulent material from entering the lower compartment of the tank.

Abstract: In a self-unloading vessel having hoppers with discharge outlets for discharging either lump or pulverulent material onto an unloading conveyor, discharge apparatus includes a wheeled carriage supporting two separate gate assemblies thereon and movable to bring one or the other of the gate assemblies into discharge relationship with the hopper outlet. One gate assembly includes a horizontally sliding gate which is driven between open and closed positions by a drive cylinder. The other gate assembly includes fluidized bed airslide apparatus for directing pulverulent material to a discharge passage closed by a butterfly valve. Two embodiments are disclosed. In one a separate drive cylinder is provided for moving the carriage between its two positions along associated rails. In the other the one gate can be releaseably pinned to the other gate assembly. The relative positions of the two gate assemblies are reversed in the two embodiments.

Abstract: An auxiliary drive traction system for an automated guideway transit (AGT) vehicle. Remotely controlled hydraulic or electrically powered auxiliary drive systems are used to drive the AGT vehicle's lateral guide wheels, which are biased against a running surface, thus providing an auxiliary drive and braking system. A remotely controlled clutch may be added so as to selectively couple the auxiliary drive system and the guide wheels. A protective skirt is attached to the edges of the guideway assembly along its entire length in order to shield the guide wheel running surfaces from adverse weather conditions.

Abstract: A gasket structure for application to a hopper car door edge comprises an elongated flexible gasket of compressible material having a relatively thick body with a continuous tangentially projecting rib and a plurality of narrow elongated spring clips extending transversely of the gasket and each having a straight end portion underlying the gasket and riveted to the rib thereof, a straight intermediate portion angularly disposed with respect to the straight end portion, and an opposite end portion curved in the opposite direction with respect to the intermediate portion from the angulation of the straight end portion to form a nearly closed loop, the straight end portion being adapted to engage the inner surface of the hopper door web with the intermediate portion engaging the sloping peripheral rim of the hopper door and with the opposite end grippingly engaging the outer surface of the peripheral rim to secure the gasket against the door web.

Abstract: A covered hopper car having curved side wall units joined to a curved roof structure with a hollow beam side plate and having a reinforcing cap member on the roof sheets with a top portion spaced above the curved roof sheets and maintained in the spaced position by hatch coaming to reinforce the hatch openings. The car also includes a longitudinally extending hollow side sill with bolster posts located at each end and interconnecting the side sill with the side plate in such a fashion as to provide a reinforcing frame encircling the curved side wall sheets and curved roof sheets to hold the curved sheets in position during car movement.

Abstract: A bottom discharge hopper rail car has a hopper body mounted on a chassis which is itself supported on flanged wheels. The body has a pair of downwardly converging, laterally spaced side walls with longitudinally extending lower edges which border a discharge opening. The spacing between the lower edges of the sidewalls is greater than the lateral distance between the wheels as wider openings can facilitate discharge. In practice, the wheels have outer flange surfaces adjacent to rail-engaging surfaces for resting on the rails, and the spacing between the lower edges of the side walls is preferably greater than the distance between these outer flange surfaces. The side walls are asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal vertical plane passing centrally between the wheels as this can inhibit bridging during discharge.

Abstract: A double wall and method of assembly of the double wall for a cargo hopper, such as that of a belly dump trailer, having a unitary inner member and horizontal reinforcing members formed of the same material as the inner member and welded sequentially to the inner member and previously attached reinforcing members. Channel members extend along top and bottom of the inner member and generally "L"-shaped members are sequentially added to reinforce the intermediate area. An "I"-shaped member is added last to permit continuously welded construction.

Abstract: A drop center railway car is provided with a continuous center sill having a depressed portion between the wheel assemblies. The continuous center sill is disposed between a pair of light weight side walls which include side sills that are connected to transverse bolsters for proportionally distributing longitudinal and vertical loads between the two walls and the continuous center sill with the center sill supporting about three-quarters of the longitudinal load. Crossbearers cooperate with the bolsters to prevent injurious bowing of the commodity confining surfaces of the light weight side walls, side sills and bolsters, which light weight is made possible by the forces being proportionally distributed between the three, rather than two, longitudinal members.

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: A set of hinged covers adapted to sealably close the rectangular hatch on the roof of a railway hopper car having a coaming running along the hatch perimeter. Each cover has a vaulted formation to shed water, the long edges of the cover being rolled to define canopies which protectively shield the coaming and a compressible gasket secured to the underside of the cover which presses against the coaming to effect a seal against contaminants. The cover structure is a sandwich laminate of high rigidity and strength constituted by an end grain balsa wood core panel to whose faces are bonded fiberglass skins. The skins are extended beyond the ends of the panel and are interlaminated to define channel-shaped end flanges which cooperate with hinged hold-down bars having an opposed channel formation within which a compressible gasket is nested to seal the ends of the cover.

Abstract: An open top gondola railway car of depressed center design having stub sills and an end panel at each end of the car body which slopes outwardly and upwardly from an intersection with a generally permanently closed bottom having horizontal plate portions and at least one centrally located depressed curved portion in cross-section. Wheeled multi-axle trucks adjacent each end are provided with the horizontal plate portions extending over them. An upwardly directed step portion located intermediate the ends of the curved portion and reinforced openings having a smoothly curved perimeter in the horizontal plate portions located over the wheels, provide an increase in the clearance distance between the bottom and any concave or convex contoured portion of track upon which the car is located. The openings may be circular with rings or flanged conical members bolted to them to provide the reinforcing. The sloped ends have support sheets directing lading forces exerted on the ends to the stub sills.

Abstract: A locking and actuating mechanism for a pair of horizontally movable hopper doors includes an arm and actuating linkage which engages a track side cam for moving the doors between open and closed positions. One of the doors includes a keeper which is engageable by a latch mechanism in the other door. The latch mechanism includes a linkage arrangement which is connected to the actuating link and arm by means of a lost motion connection.

Abstract: A sealing means for doors of a railroad hopper car and an apparatus and method for forming a sealing strip. The sealing means comprises a preformed strip of RTV silicone rubber fixed to the door at its edges and receiving a flange on the door frame. Preferably the strip is formed by extruding RTV silicone rubber from a traversing head onto a screen.

Abstract: A railroad tank car for use in handling dry bulk commodities. The car body structure includes a pair of V shaped hopper sections sloping downwardly from each end of the car. The hopper sections having side walls which increase in length as they extend towards the center of the car. A pair of asymmetric truncated cone sections are secured adjacent to the corresponding upper edges of the hopper sections. End sections are secured adjacent the outer edges of the hopper section and the cone section. First stiffener members are secured to the outer surfaces of the hopper section. Longitudinally extending second stiffener members are secured to the first stiffener members adjacent the intersection between the hopper sections and the cone sections. Tie members extend transversely across the hopper sections. A plurality of longitudinally extending aeration conveyor trays are supported from the hopper sections defining a plenum area therebelow.

Abstract: An apparatus for receiving incandescent coke from respective coke ovens of a horizontally arranged battery of coke ovens, comprises a wheeled carriage which is adapted to move backwardly and forwardly along the battery of coke ovens. A coke cake receiving device is mounted on said carriage and includes a hood portion which is adapted to be aligned with each of the coke ovens upon movement of the carriage to the particular coke oven to be discharged and which also includes means for separating contaminants from the gases which are generated from the coke and for discharging purified gases. The coke hood portion has an openable and closable lateral door for receiving the irridescent coke from the associated oven and for closing the hood thereafter. The coke entering the hood is received by a tank arranged below the hood.

Abstract: A resilient seal that may be removably mounted on the downwardly and inwardly tapering bottom portion of a hopper that defines a discharge opening, to cooperate with a gate in the form of a slide plate that normally closes the discharge opening to prevent moisture or water entering the interior of the hopper through the discharge opening when the gate is in a closed position. When the hopper has a water-tight cover mounted thereon, the resilient seal cooperates with the hopper to define a confined space within the interior thereof that is substantially moisture-proof, and one in which granular material, such as rice that is adversely affected by moisture, may be transported or stored.

Abstract: A coke oven discharge device for the closed discharge of coke from a horizontal row of coke ovens into a receiving bunker located alongside the ovens comprises a support frame which is mounted on an undercarriage for movement along a path alongside the rows of coke ovens. The tank is made up of a plurality of heat resistant metal plates which are suspended in loosely adjacent layers from strips and they overlap their adjacent plates. The tank includes a bottom with openable door means for selectively opening and closing a bottom discharge for discharging the coke into a receiving bunker. A separator and washer is connected to the tank for withdrawing gaseous dust and odors and for subjecting them to a washing and a removal of the dust. The tank carries a sealing sleeve which is engageable between the exterior of the tank around the bottom discharge and a bunker to seal the space therebetween during the discharge.

Abstract: A hopper bed for grain or the like is provided by the present invention. An opening in the hopper bed is closed by a flat plate structure which is mounted on first and second track components disposed on either side of the opening. A flat flange portion is coupled with the structure on each side in longitudinal alignment with a track component. Each flange portion has a plurality of closely spaced aligned openings which are also aligned with two spur gears. The spur gears are rotated to mesh with the gear track presented by the openings in the flange and thereby reciprocate the plate structure to close or open it. This construction precludes the accumulation of most foreign material in the gear track although any which does accumulate is cleaned out by the action of the gear itself moving in the track.