Abstract: A semi-trailer for use in hauling grain has four sides and two sloped cargo areas, each having a hopper funnel made of a continuous, unitary polymer material. A door below each hopper is driven by a linear actuator that is disposed above the level of the door. The trailer sidewalls are made of a composite material having inner and outer panels attached to a center panel by adhesive.

Abstract: A hopper car gate assembly having a frame with opposed side walls, opposed end walls, and top and bottom openings. The gate assembly has a door with a lower section that is supported by the frame and an upper section that is vertically spaced from the lower section. The door is moveable between a closed position, in which the lower section blocks the bottom opening, and an open position, in which cargo can exit through the bottom opening. A drive mechanism engages the upper section of the door to move the door between its closed and open positions. Preferably, the door has a middle section that is joined to and extends upward from the lower section, and the upper section is joined to and extends away from the middle section.

Abstract: A railcar operating shaft assembly mounted on a gate assembly frame for moving a gate between closed and open positions. The operating shaft assembly includes an operating shaft and a capstan assembly provided at each end of the operating shaft. Each capstan assembly includes first and second axially aligned and conjoined but separate members. The first member is releasably coupled in non-rotatable relation relative to a free end of the operating shaft and is mountable on the gate assembly frame for rotation about a fixed axis. The second member of each capstan assembly is releasably conjoined in non-rotatable relation relative to the first member such that rotational movements imparted to the second member are transferred to the first member and to the operating shaft coupled thereto.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly has upper and lower gate assemblies with independent drive mechanisms to open and close the gates. The drive mechanisms may be rack and pinion drives. The racks for the lower gate do not enter the gate cavity. The outlet gate assembly can be used for vacuum, gravity or pneumatic sled discharge. The vacuum openings are offset from the center plane of the discharge area to allow free flow of lading. The lower gate assembly includes surfaces that cover and protect the lowermost horizontal surfaces of the assembly when the lower gate assembly is closed. Thus, no separate mud plate is needed. The outlet gate assembly includes seals made of an ultra high molecular weight polymer.

Abstract: A discharge gate assembly for a railroad hopper car is disclosed. The gate assembly includes a frame defining a discharge opening and a gate or first element slidably carried on the frame for controlling the discharge of material from the hopper car through the discharge opening. The gate assembly further includes a second slidable element carried by the frame in vertically spaced relation relative to the first element and extending across the discharge opening. A first drive mechanism including a first operating shaft assembly is mounted on the gate frame for slidably moving the first element relative to the frame. A second drive mechanism including a second operating shaft assembly is also mounted on the gate frame for slidably moving the second element relative to the gate frame. The operating shaft assemblies are mounted for rotation about independent fixed axes and in horizontally adjacent relation relative to each other.

Abstract: A gate assembly for a railroad hopper car is disclosed. The gate assembly includes a frame defining a discharge opening, a slidable door mounted on the frame for movement between a closed position, wherein the door closes the discharge opening, and an open position, wherein the door is positioned to allow commodity to pass through the discharge opening. Either of two modular components can be arranged in combination with the door on the gate assembly to allow the gate assembly to be conditioned for either pneumatic and/or gravitational discharge or gravitational discharge only of commodity from the gate assembly. A drive mechanism including an apparatus for selectively engaging either the door or either of the modular elements arranged in association with the door is mounted on the frame of the gate assembly, with the apparatus of the drive mechanism preferably being lost motion connected to the door.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a gate in the frame. A conventional rack and pinion opening and closing drive moves the gate between open and closed positions on the frame. An inertial latch mechanism latches the gate in the fully closed position. Actuation of the opening and closing drive displaces the latch to automatically unlatch the gate. Upon impact, an inertial mass bears directly against the latch and transmits a latching force holding the latch closed and preventing opening of the gate.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a gate in the frame. A conventional rack and pinion opening and closing drive moves the gate between open and closed positions on the frame. An inertial latch mechanism latches the gate in the fully closed position. Actuation of the opening and closing drive displaces the latch to automatically unlatch the gate. Upon impact, an inertial mass generates a latching force holding the latch closed and preventing opening of the gate.

Abstract: A discharge gate assembly for a railway hopper car that satisfies the new AAR requirements and specifications and includes a frame defining a generally rectangular discharge opening with a gate slidably mounted on the frame for endwise horizontal movement between opened and closed positions. An operating shaft assembly is supported on opposite frame extensions for rotational movement about a fixed axis. The operating shaft assembly is operably coupled to the gate. A lock assembly is operably coupled to the operating shaft assembly and includes a vertically displacable stop member mounted for vertical and rotational movement about a fixed axis extending above the path of movement of the gate and in fore-and-aft relationship relative to an edge of the gate. When the gate is in its closed position, the stop member extends downwardly and into engagement with the gate edge to positively prevent the gate from substantial movement toward an open position.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a plate in the frame. An integrated rack and pinion drive moves the plate between open and closed positions on the frame. The drive includes a drive shaft, slip sockets mounted on the ends of the drive shaft and connected to the drive shaft through lost motion connections, pinion gears mounted directly to the drive shaft and rotatable with the drive shaft, racks mounted on the plate engaging the pinion gears so that rotation of the drive shaft moves the plate between the open and closed positions and a latch actuated by movement of either socket for latching the plate in the fully closed position and unlatching the plate prior to rotation of the drive shaft to open the plate.

Abstract: A gate valve assembly and a frame assembly for mounting the gate valve assembly on the discharge opening from a railway hopper car. The gate valve assembly includes an operating assembly for movement of a valve member within the gate valve assembly between a first, closed position and a second, open position. A locking mechanism is mounted on the frame assembly to maintain the gate valve assembly in its first closed position when the associated railway car is subjected to large impact forces. The operating assembly includes a lock striker which may be moved longitudinally relative to the valve member to deactivate the locking mechanism while the valve member remains in its closed position. The frame assembly also provides an enhanced seal or barrier to prevent materials from escaping when the gate valve assembly is in its closed position.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for a hopper type railway car includes a frame adapted to be mounted on an outlet opening in the rail car and a plate in the frame. An integrated rack and pinion drive moves the plate between open and closed positions on the frame. The drive includes a drive shaft, slip sockets mounted on the ends of the drive shaft and connected to the drive shaft through lost motion connections, pinion gears mounted directly to the drive shaft and rotatable with the drive shaft, racks mounted on the plate engaging the pinion gears so that rotation of the drive shaft moves the plate between the open and closed positions and a latch actuated by movement of either socket for latching the plate in the fully closed position and unlatching the plate prior to rotation of the drive shaft to open the plate.

Abstract: A gravity outlet (10) for discharging lading from a railway car (C). An outlet assembly attached to a discharge opening in the railcar includes an upper end attached to the opening and sidewalls (12a, 12b) and endwalls (14a, 14b) whose bottom portion defines an outlet (D) through which lading flows, by gravity, when discharged from the railcar. An outlet gate (34) positioned beneath the outlet assembly moves relative to the discharge outlet between respective open and closed positions. A latch mechanism (36) includes a latch (50a, 50b) pivotally attached to the gate to latch the gate in its closed position and prevent inadvertent opening of the gate and spillage of lading. A gate operating mechanism (38) includes a rack (40) attached to the gate and a pinion (42) engaging the rack for moving the rack and the gate. A capstan (46) is connected to an operating shaft (44), as is a coupling member (64). Rotation of the capstan by yard personnel effects movement of gate between its open and closed positions.

Abstract: Hopper apparatus for controlling the discharge of lading from a hopper of a railway car through an opening in which a door opens and closes the opening and is moved from the closed position to the opening position by rotatable gears and by racks attached to the door. The door is curved and rides on tracks disposed to urge the door to its closed position by gravity. The gears are rotated by a drive shaft having end portions for receiving a rotating tool,and the door is locked in its closed position by locking means including a ratchet wheel on the drive shaft and a pawl controlled by a handle assembly which, in the locked position of the door, covers the end portions of the drive shaft so that it is necessary to move the handle assembly to expose the end portions and to release the pawl from the ratchet wheel before the drive shaft can be rotated to open the door.

Abstract: A railway hopper car has a pneumatic discharge structure having a throat leading to a control tube from which lading is pneumatically withdrawn. The throat is opened and closed by valve plates supported on the ends of rods extending through bearings supported in the wall of the control tube. The rods have rack structures mounted thereon operatively engaged with pinion portions of operating shafts extending parallel to the control tube. Rotation of the operating shafts causes movement of the rods and valve plates. Retainer brackets are mounted on the rack structures and include retaining portions spaced and parallel to the rack structures. The pinion portions are supported between the rack structures and the retaining portions to maintain intermeshed engagement of the pinion portions with the rack structures. Stop portions are provided on the bracket which prevent movement of the valve plates beyond the fully open and fully closed positions.

Abstract: A railroad hopper car particularly adapted for shipment of dry, granular-like commodities may have its inner space divided into compartments which in turn are formed with chambers. Each chamber bottom includes a discharge system comprising a pair of aligned fluidizing conveyors which converge downward. Lower ends of the conveyors are spaced apart to define a chute outlet which includes a passageway through a chute portion of a slide gate discharge assembly. The passageway may be closed or opened by selective movement of a door plate connecting with a drive mechanism in a drive portion of the assembly. Commodity in the railroad car is maintained contamination free in part by isolating the chute and drive portion with seals that engage the door plate and a sanitary plate which pivots to close the passageway lower end. During commodity unloading the sanitary plate and door plate are located to clear the passageway through the chute outlet.

Abstract: The slide gate includes a closure door for selectively closing a discharge opening at the underside of a hopper car. The closure door is mounted for horizontally sliding movement in a support assembly which is mounted on the underside of the hopper car. The door is movable between at least open, first stage or generally closed, and fully closed positions. A resilient seal is mounted on the support assembly to be deformed by the door in the fully closed position, lightly engaged by the door in the first stage closed position and displaced from the door in the open position. Locking dogs fall by gravity behind the door as it moves toward its closed positions. A first engaging surface on the dogs locks the door in the first stage closed position and a second engaging surface locks it in the fully closed position. A rack and pinion assembly provides a mechanical advantage to assist in moving the door.

Abstract: An enclosed railroad car has hoppers at its underside for unloading a solid commodity. A pneumatic outlet trough is opened and closed by a slide valve or gate that is attached to operating rods supported in slide bearings. The gate can be safely removed from outside of the car by disengaging a pin that locks the gate to the operating rods.

Abstract: An outlet gate assembly for application to hoppers of railroad hopper cars that is equipped with a self cleaning rack and gear door plate actuation arrangement, in which the outlet gate assembly includes a frame defined by a pair of spaced apart longitudinal frame members that parallel the path of movement of the door plate and a pair of spaced apart transverse frame members joined together with the longitudinal frame members to define the gate outlet port. The frame members are formed to define shelf portions on which the gate door plate underside rides, with the gate underside being equipped with several sets of self cleaning gear and rack mechanisms that couple the gate operating shaft to the gate door plate. The door plate is formed from an UHMW polymer material of dry self lubricating light weight characteristics and is supported across the midportion of the port by a pair of spaced apart support members in parallel relation across the gate outlet port.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a hopper outlet is provided including transversely spaced, fixed racks on opposite sides of the outlet which extend longitudinally away from the outlet. At least one door bearing is attached to the outer end of a generally horizontally moving outlet gate. A ramp including an inclined cam surface is located below the inner outlet end wall. U-shaped elastomeric seals extend below the outlet sides and end walls and the lower leg of the seal engages the gate. A transversely extending pinion shaft includes pinions which ride upon the racks in moving between open and closed position. The pinion shaft extends through a slot in the door bearing. The slot is elongated vertically to allow vertical movement of the gate and the door bearing relative to the pinion shaft as the gate is ramped upwardly into closed position and downwardly into open position.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a railway hopper car unloading arrangement is provided, including at least one hopper having hopper slope sheets extending downwardly and inwardly. A standard outlet frame is attached to the inner ends of the hopper slope sheets. A removable adapter is attached to the outlet frame. The adapter includes an adapter mounting flange and a divider extending longitudinally of the car, which divides the adapter into a pair of transversely spaced adapter outlets or chutes. The adapter further includes adapter side walls and end walls, the lower ends of which define transversely spaced adapter chutes. A generally horizontally extending gate is movable between open and closed positions relative to each adapter chute. In addition, the adapter includes boot attachment means located below each adapter outlet for attachment of an unloading boot for each adapter outlet.

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.