Abstract: An on-board monitoring system for bogies or railroad trucks monitors components over time. The system is modular comprising a first modular device for mounting on the vehicle next to a component to be monitored and passing data on to one or more further modular devices. Focussed data acquisition and ongoing monitoring of a component becomes possible. Data transmission and analysis is also considered.

Abstract: A dual-purpose railcar is provided, designed for hauling of bitumen or diluent, optimized to provide transport of bitumen to a destination and transport of diluent in the return trip of the car.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a railway tank car including a tank coupled with first and second stub sill assemblies may be provided. The stub sill assemblies may each be coupled with associated railway car truck assemblies. A tank defined in part by a generally elongate hollow cylinder having first and second heads with first and second heads mounted upon the first and second heads, respectively, may also be provided. In a particular embodiment, one or more heat transfer panels may be disposed within the cylinder adjacent the first and second heads. In another embodiment, first and second support members may be disposed within the cylinder, and intermediate a midpoint of a longitudinal centerline of the tank, and each respective head. Each support member may provide support for, and maintain their respective heat transfer panels in a spaced relation with a lower portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A device and method for unloading frozen or congealed crude oil, oil product, or chemical cargo from a railway or highway tank car. A brief heating step uses the high thermal conductivity of metal tank walls, and the low thermal conductivity of oil or chemical cargos, to thaw a relatively thin band of cargo adjacent to the longitudinal tank wall. This thin band of thawed liquid lubricates the remainder of the plug, which remains solid, so that the plug can be mechanically ejected into a receiving trough positioned at the same height as the emerging plug; this avoids the requirement of completely thawing the frozen cargo before it can be pumped out. A tank car is disclosed having at least one end wall that can be opened, allowing a frozen or congealed mass to be physically ejected from the tank as a solidified plug.

Abstract: Heaters are used to simulate wheel bearings at specified temperatures. Two heaters are mounted on each side of a railroad test car. The heaters are mounted on the sprung carriage of the car to reduce vibration of the hardware and avoid interfering with wheel trucks on the car. Ambient temperature sensors are similarly mounted. Wire brushes are mounted below the heaters and sensors to activate magnetic wheel flange sensors. The heaters are controlled by a system which is integrated with a hot wheel simulator system.

Abstract: A simulator is provided for verifying the proper operation of railroad rolling stock hot wheel detectors. The simulator includes heaters mounted on trucks of a railroad car, between the wheels and within the profile of the thickness of the wheels. Shock mounts, spring mounts and safety cables are used. An electromagnet is mounted on the heater to trip a sensor to activate the detector and a sensor on the car is used to determine the ambient temperature. Each heater includes a heater temperature sensor and is maintained at a constant temperature above ambient to approximate the thermal radiation of a hot wheel. Each heater is adjusted to direct heat horizontally outwardly from the truck to permit a hot wheel detector adjacent to and outside of the rail to detect a hot wheel. The car has two trucks with one heater on each side of each truck. One heater on each side simulates a temperature approximately equal to a hot wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating carry-back includes one or more heat shrouds located at desired locations to avoid carry-back. The heat shrouds which may be powered by being connected to a rotating shaft of a material transportation device to avoid the need for additional power sources. The apparatus further includes a passive drying system for removing moisture from material while in transit.

Abstract: A railway car suitable for rotary or bottom dump unloading. The body bolster is fitted with vents to permit a heating of the slope floor at the ends of the car to thaw the lading prior to unloading.

Abstract: A railway tank car heated by steam through a heat exchanger located at the bottom of the tank car, the heat exchanger comprising pipes running lengthwise of the tank and outlets between the ends of the pipes. The outlet are arranged to drain hot condensate from different portions of the pipes into a cavity of a torus sleeved about a discharge valve in effective heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A railway car heated by steam through a heat exchanger located at the bottom of a tank, the heat exchanger comprising a torus sleeved about a discharge valve in efficient heat transfer thereto.

Abstract: A rail heating system is provided for heating railroad components such as railroad switch areas and electrified third rails. The heating system includes a side heater having a heating pad that has a flexible contact surface. A clip arrangement such as a spring steel clip is provided for securing the heating pads to the stock rail and pressing the contact surface into engagement with the rail. The contact surface of the heating pad is forced to conform to the shape of the contacted portion of the rail. Ground pan heaters may be used to keep areas of the switch that are not suitable for attachment by the side heaters, such as the switch rod, free from ice and snow.

Abstract: A hot bearing simulator is provided for verifying the proper operation of hot box detectors in a dynamic fashion. The hot bearing simulator employs a temperature controller and heater means associated with various axles of a rolling carriage. The heaters are adjusted such that a hot box detector will be verified to determine if it is able to sense when the absolute temperature of left or right wheel bearings exceeds a first predetermined temperature or, alternatively, when the difference in temperature between a left and right wheel bearing differ by a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: A hot bearing simulator is provided for verifying the proper operation of hot box detectors in a dynamic fashion. The hot bearing simulator employs a temperature controller and heater means associated with various axles of a rolling carriage. The heaters are adjusted such that a hot box detector will be verified to determine if it is able to sense when the absolute temperature of left or right wheel bearings exceeds a first predetermined temperature or, alternatively, when the difference in temperature between a left and right wheel bearing differ by a second predetermined amount.

Abstract: A valve attachment flange comprising the lading outlet for a railway tank car is placed in an insulative space between a heat element, heated fluid medium carrying heat ducts and the bottom of the car. The outlet is surrounded by a heat chamber in fluid flow communication with the heat ducts of the heat elements whereby the heat chamber surrounding the outlet is efficiently heated simultaneous with the heating of the lading by the heat element to promote flow of lading from the tank. This arrangement promotes fast efficient heating of the lading on top of and adjacent the valve and enables a valve attached to the recessed attachment flange to extend downwardly from the bottom of the car a lesser amount than conventionally mounted valves.

Abstract: A heated tank such as in a railroad tank car has a heat exchanger spaced from the bottom of the car to define a dead air space to insulate the heat exchanger from the bottom. The heat exchanger extends substantially longitudinally and transversely across the entire bottom of the car to provide a large heating transfer surface to the lading supported by the exchanger. A portion of the exchanger substantially encompasses a discharge valve of the tank car to provide heat transfer to the valve during unloading. The heat exchanger slopes toward the discharge valve to facilitate total removal of the lading. An inlet and an outlet associated with the heat exchanger are disposed adjacent the discharge valve for additional transfer of heat to the discharge valve. Baffles in the heat exchanger define a plurality of serpentine passages for conducting a heating medium.

Abstract: A sloped heat exchange element is sealingly mounted above the bottom of the tank of a railway tank car adjacent each end of the tank. Each heating element is thermally isolated from the tank cradles and bolsters, which detrimentally act as heat sinks in conventional heated tank cars. The sloped heat exchangers can be manufactured into the car or retrofit into tank cars not previously having heat coils or they can be retrofit into tank cars having either internal or external heating coils.

Abstract: One or a series of wheeled tank cars for carrying a commodity which must be heated for effective handling and which produces noxious gases when heated is provided with a closed vapor recovery system, including valved lines respectively associated with each tank car, for safely venting said gases to a remote recovery sink away from operating personnel as the commodity is heated in the one or more tank cars prior to unloading or during the filling operation. An upper heating coil system is also disclosed for melting away solidified commodity from upper tank fittings prior to operation of said fittings in the unloading or loading operation for reliable flow handling therethrough and operation of their valves.

Abstract: A heat transfer apparatus adapted for installation in a mobile liquid container such as a railroad tank car. The apparatus includes inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends of a continuous finned pipe. The continuous finned pipe extends within the container to provide a surface for conductive heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid flowing through the pipe to the contents of the container.The continuous finned pipe is provided with shock absorbers and flexible loop portions to prevent damage to the apparatus from inertial shocks to the container. A preferred embodiment is designed particularly for use in railroad tank cars adapted to carry molten sulfur. The apparatus is used to remelt the sulfur, which has solidified in transit, for unloading.

Abstract: Heating apparatus is described that is particularly adapted for thawing frozen particulate material in railroad hopper cars. The apparatus is a low profile, fuel-fired heater adapted for installation between rails traversed by the hopper cars within a thawing shed. The construction employs heat-radiating metal plates forming an elongated gas-conducting chamber through which high velocity combustion gases are conducted. The arrangement of plates is such as to enhance the emission of radiant heat to the hopper car bottoms with appropriately positioned heat insulated regions to protect hopper car brake hoses, or the like, from damage caused by overheating.

Abstract: A method of converting a tank such as a railway tank car into a heated tank to facilitate dispensing a congealable stored medium, wherein at least one end portion of the tank is removed and an elongated heat exchanger is inserted into the tank through the opened end. The heat exchanger is secured within the tank, a pre-determined distance from the bottom of the tank to define with the bottom a dead air space, the heat exchanger extending substantially longitudinally and transverselly across the entire bottom of the tank and downwardly sloping and extending to a drain valve. The heat exchanger is positioned in a sealed relationship with the walls of the tank. Thereafter, the portion of the removed end of the tank is replaced in a sealed relationship with the heat exchanger. The method includes a particular positioning of the heat exchanger in a heat relationship with the drain valve. The method further includes the positioning of inlet-outlet openings in the heat exchanger adjacent the drain valve.

Abstract: A heated tank such as in a railroad tank car has a heat exchanger spaced from the bottom of the car to define a dead air space to insulate the heat exchanger from the bottom. The heat exchanger extends substantially longitudinally and transversely across the entire bottom of the car to provide a large heating transfer surface to the lading supported by the exchanger. A portion of the exchanger substantially encompasses a discharge valve of the tank car to provide heat transfer to the valve during unloading. The heat exchanger slopes toward the discharge valve to facilitate total removal of the lading. An inlet and an outlet associated with the heat exchanger are disposed adjacent the discharge valve for additional transfer of heat to the discharge valve. Baffles in the heat exchanger define a plurality of serpentine passages for conducting a heating medium.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat transfer apparatus adapted for installation in a mobile liquid container such as a railroad tank car. The apparatus includes inlet and outlet ports at opposite ends of a continuous finned pipe. The continuous finned pipe extends within the container to provide a surface for conductive heat transfer from the heat transfer fluid flowing through the pipe to the contents of the container.The continuous finned pipe is provided with shock absorbers and flexible loop portions to prevent damage to the apparatus from inertial shocks to the container. A preferred embodiment is designed particularly for use in railroad tank cars adapted to carry molten sulfur. The apparatus is used to remelt the sulfur, which has solidified in transit, for unloading. The present invention accomplishes this purpose in a shorter time period, more economically and with lower construction and maintenance expense than prior art apparati.

Abstract: A heated railway tank car includes heating conduits arranged on the tank and filled with a heating fluid and coupled to an electrically driven pump and heat exchanger in a closed-loop system for heating and continuously recirculating the heating fluid through the conduit. The tank car is adapted to be electrically interconnected with adjacent cars and the electric power may be provided from the locomotive, from an axle generator and alternator combination on the tank car, or from rechargeable batteries on the tank car charged by either terminal facilities or axle-mounted or locomotive-mounted generator means.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for inserting into a bottom unloading valve of a railroad tank car which has been locked in an opened or partially opened position due to liquids solidifying therein. The apparatus is a portable electrical heating unit removably insertable into the valve so as to be in a heat-transmitting relationship within the fluid passage of the valve. The apparatus has a removable flange adaptor which is connected to the heating unit and securable directly to the bottom unloading valve or a fitting connected to the valve. A control means for regulating the heat output of the heating unit is electrically connected to the heating unit. A drain may be provided to allow the liquefied fluid to escape from the valve's fluid passage.