US3325223A - Railway hopper cars - Google Patents

Description

June 13, 1967 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 FIG.!

A. E. PRICE RAILWAY HOPPER CARS FIG.2

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @zax ALBERT E. PRICE 8 fmyazj ATTYS.

June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE 3,325,223

RAILWAY HOPPER CARS INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE BY I .Z Zia ATTYS.

June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE RAILWAY HOPPER CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE June 13, 1967 A. E. PRICE RAILWAY HOPPER CARS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,325,223 RAILWAY HDPPER CAR$ Albert E. Price, Chicago, llL, assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, llll., a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 430,807 8 Claims. (Cl. 302-52) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railway hopper car body is provided with an enlarged bottom outlet disposed below and on either side of a divider enclosing the center sill extending therethrough. A gate is selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to the bottom outlet to accommodate gravity unloading of the lading. A pair of laterally spaced-apart hoods are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the divider and located immediately above the gate in its closed position. A common suction header communicates with a pair of outlet conduits that respectively communicate with the hoods; and a pair of valve elements are respectively arranged in the outlet conduits .to accommodate selective pneumatic unloading via the hoods of the lading.

The present invention relates to railway hopper cars for storage and transportation of finely divided or granular material, such, for example, as flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like; and it is the general object of the invention to provide in a railway hopper car, improved and simplified combination gravity and pneumatic unloading mechanisms for selectively controlling the unloading to the exterior of the granular material from the bottoms of the hoppers incorporated in the car body, wherein each of the hoppers may be selectively unloaded independently of the other of the hoppers and wherein the unloading of each hopper may be carried out either on a gravity basis or on a pneumatic basis.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with a hopper adapted to contain granular material and having a bottom opening, improved mechanism carried by the lower portion of the hopper and including a gate cooperating with the bottom opening and selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect thereto so that the hopper may be gravity unloaded, and also including a pair of elongated longitudinally extending hoods arranged in the lower portion of the hopper and in laterally spaced-apart relation with each other and defining a pair of tunnels disposed closely adjacent to the gate in its closed position, and further including facility for selectively connecting the tunnels to a suction header so that the hopper may be pneumatically unloaded.

A further object of the invention is to provide the combination described, wherein the mechanism further includes upstanding divider structure arranged in the lower portion of the hopper and extending longitudinally therein and positioned intermediate the pair of hoods and in laterally spaced-apart relation therewith, thereby to define a pair of laterally spaced-apart pockets in the lower portion of the hopper and respectively containing the pair of hoods, whereby both of the pockets are gravity unloaded when the gate occupies its open position, and whereby the pockets are selectively pneumatically unloaded via the respectively corresponding one of the tunnels.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the railway hopper car and of the combination gravity and pneumatic unloading mechanism therefor, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a railway hopper car incorporating combination gravity and pneumatic unloadingmechanism and embodying the present invention;'

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the railway hopper car, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the end hoppers incorporated in the railway hopper car, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and illustrating the construction and arrangement of the unloading mechanism mentioned;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the one end hopper, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the offset line 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral sectional view of the one end hopper, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the ofi3set line 5-5 in FIG. 4. Referring now to FIGS, 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a railway hopper car I0 that comprises an elongated longitudinally extending underframe 11, including a center sill 12, and carrying an elongated longitudinally extending body 20 of box-like configuration, the body 20 comprises a pair of upstanding longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart side walls 21, a pair of upstanding laterally extending and longitudinaly spacedapart end walls 22, a roof 23 and bottom wall structure 24 defining in the bottom of the body 20 three individual hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C arranged in adjacent longitudinally spaced-apart relation. In the arrangement, the end hoppers 25A and 25C are somewhat larger than the middle hopper 25B, but all of the hoppers 25A, 25B and 250 are characterized by a single basic structure described more fully below. As illustrated: the contiguous hoppers 25A and 2513 may be completely separated by an upstanding laterally extending bulkhead 26; and similarly, the contiguous hoppers 25B and 25C may be completely separated by another upstanding laterally extending bulkhead 26. However, this complete separation of the upper portions or principal body portions of the hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C, as described above, is not essential; whereby these upper portions: of the hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C may be commonly interconnected by the expedient of omitting the bulkheads 26, in an obvious manner.

The hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C are especially adapted to contain finely divided or granular material, such as, flour, malt, plastic resin beads, or the like; whereby the roof 23 carries a corresponding plurality of pairs of individual and substantially identical loading hatches 27X and 27Y. In the arrangement: three of the loading hatches 27X are carrired on one side of the roof 23 and respectively communicate with the three hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C; and three of the loading hatches 27Y are carried on the other side of the roof 23 and respectively communicate with the three hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C. The loading hatches 27X and 27Y are of conventional construction and arrangement and are provided with corresponding conventional hatch covers 28X and 28Y. Each hatch cover 28X and 28Y is selectively operative between open and closed positions with respect to the associated loading hatch 27X and 27Y; and each hatch cover in the closed position effects a water-tight closure of the asso- 3 ciated loading hatch; all in a well-known manner. The bottoms of the hoppers A, 25B and 25C are respectively provided with the individual combination gravity and pneumatic unloading mechanisms A, 30B and 30C of identical construction and arrangement and embodying the features of the present invention.

As previously noted, the hoppers 25A, 25B and 25C are of the same basic construction and arrangement; whereby it is noted that the bottom of the hopper 25A comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spacedapart side walls 31 and a pair of laterally extending and longitudinally spaced-apart end walls 32; the hopper side walls 31 extend downwardly and inwardly from the respectively adjacent body side walls 21; and the hopper end walls 32 extend downwardly and inwardly from the respectively adjacent body end wall 22 and body bulkhead 26. Thus, the hopper 25A has an inverted frusto pyrimidal shape, as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and the extreme bottom of the hopper 25A is provided with a substantially rectangular bottom opening 33. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the bottom of the hopper 25A projects downwardly below the center sill 12 of the underframe 11; whereby a section of the center sill 12 projects longitudinally through the lower portion of the hopper 25, the bottom opening 33 is positioned below the bottom of the center sill 12, and the mechanism 30A is located principally below the center sill 12.

The center sill 12 essentially comprises a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart channel elements 41 tied together by a longitudinally extending bottom plate 42 rigidly secured thereto, as by welding; and the section of the center sill 12 that projects through the lower portion of the hopper 25A is enclosed by a hollow longitudinally extending and centrally disposed upstanding box or tube 43, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, thereby to maintain the granular material contained in the hopper 25A out of contact with the center sill 12. Specifically, the tube 43 comprises a pair of upstanding side walls 44 arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation, a bottom wall 45 and a top wall 46, the top wall 46 being crowned or peaked, as indicated at 46a, so as to prevent the accumulation of granular material there-. upon incident to unloading of the granular material from the hopper 25A. The opposite ends of the tube 43 are secured in water-tight relation with the adjacent portions of the hopper end walls 32 so that the longitudinal extension of the section of the center sill 12 through the lower portion of the hopper 25A does not puncture the hopper 25A with respect to the outside. A pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart bafile plates 47 are respectively arranged on the opposite sides of the tube 43 and project downwardly and somewhat outwardly therefrom, as best shown in FIG. 5. The top of each baflle plate 47 is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the bottom of the adjacent side wall 44 of the tube 43; and the opposite ends of each bafile plate 47 is rigidly secured, as by welding, to the respectively adjacent hopper end walls 32. The lower ends of the bafile plates 47 are rigidly braced against inward movements toward each other by a laterally disposed strut 48 extending therebetween, the opposite ends of the strut 48 being rigidly secured to the respectively adjacent lower ends of the baflle plates 47, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The extreme lower edges of the baflle plates 47 terminate substantially in the generally horizontal plane of the bottom opening 33 of the hopper 25A, for a purpose more fully explained below. The tube 43, together with the baflle plates 47 constitute an upstanding divider structure 50 extending longitudinally through the lower portion of the hopper 25A and defining therein a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart pockets 25AX and 25AY respectively disposed on opposite sides of the divider structure 50. In the arrangement, the two pockets 25AX and 25AY have substantially identical configurations respectively disposed in left-hand and right-hand positions with respect to each other, as viewed in FIG. 5.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the top of the divider structure 50 is disposed well below the tops of the hopper walls 31 and 32, so that the principal portion (the upper or body portion) of the hopper 25A is in direct communication with the tops of the pockets ZSAX and 25BX; and the bottoms of the pockets 25AX and 25BX are in direct communication with the hopper bottom opening 33.

The bottom of the hopper 25A carries a substantially rectangular frame 60 that is positioned below and in surrounding relation with the hopper bottom opening 33, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Specifically, the frame 60 comprises a pair of side members 61 and a pair of end members 62; the side members 61 are substantially vertically disposed and are provided at the tops thereof with upwardly and outwardly directed flanges 63 that are rigidly secured to the outer surfaces of the respectively adjacent lower portions of the hopper side walls 31; and the end members 62 are substantially vertically disposed and are provided at the tops thereof with upwardly and outwardly directed flanges 64 that are rigidly secured to the outer surfaces of the respectively adjacent lower portions of the hopper end walls 32. The frame 60 carries a substantially rectangular gate that is disposed immediately below and in cooperating relation with the hopper bottom opening 33. More particularly, the upper portions of the pair of frame side members 61 are provided with a corresponding pair of substantially horizontally aligned ledges 61a that are arranged just below the hopper bottom opening 33 and that receive the opposite sides of the gate 70 so as to support the same in a substantially horizontal position immediately below the hopper bottom opening 33, and so as to mount the same for longitudinal sliding movements between open and closed positions with respect to the hopper bottom opening 33. The upper portion of one of the frame end members 62 is also provided with a ledge 6211 that is disposed in the plane of the ledges 61a provided upon the upper portions of the frame side members 61; which ledge 62a receives and supports the corresponding end of the gate 70, when the gate 70 occupies its closed position with respect to the hopper bottom opening 33, as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the upper portion of the opposite frame end member 62 has a laterally extending slot 62b therein, as shown in FIG. 4, in which the gate 70 is movable in its sliding movements between its open and closed positions.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the gate 70 may be moved longitudinally, toward the left, through the slot 62b into its fully closed position, wherein one end of the gate 70 engages the ledge 62a and the other end of the gate 70 projects somewhat outwardly and to the right of the slot 62b. Also, the gate 70 may be moved longitudinally, toward the right in FIG. 4, through the slot 62b into its fully open position, wherein the one end of the gate 70 is disposed adjacent to the slot 62b and the other end of the gate 70 projects well outwardly beyond and to the right of the slot 62b.

For the purpose of sliding the gate 70 between its closed and open positions, a pair of laterally spaced-apart racks 71 are rigidly secured to the lower surface of the gate 70 respectively adjacent to the opposite sides thereof, as best shown in FIG, 4. Also, conventional mechanism, indicated at 72 in FIG. 4, is provided for actuating the gate 70 via the racks 71. For example, the mechanism 72 may comprise a laterally extending shaft 73 mounted for rotation upon a pair of laterally spaced-apart brackets 74 carried by the frame end member 62 in which the slot 62b is formed; which shaft 73 carries a pair of laterally spaced-apart pinions 75 respectively meshing the racks 71. Further, the mechanism 72 comprises a pair of rotatably mounted elements 76 respectively carried by the frame brackets 74 adjacent to the opposite ends of the frame end member 62 and thus adjacent to the opposite frame side members 61, as best shown in FIG. 5; which elements 76 also cooperate in drive relation with the shaft 73. Specifically, each of the elements 76 may be operated independently of the other to eifect sliding of the gate 70; rotation of either one of the elements 76 in one direction slides the gate 70 towards its closed position; and rotation of either one of the elements 76, in the opposite direction slides the gate 70 towards its open position. As shown in FIG. 5, rotation of either one of the elements 76 may be effected by engagement thereof with a cooperating pneumatic driven torque wrench, indicated at 76. This conventional mechanism 72 accommodates oper ation of the gate 70 from either side of the hopper car by a single mechanic employing a pneumatic driven torque wrench in a simple and ready manner.

In view of the foregoing description of the hopper A, it will be understood that the granular material contained therein may be readily unloaded therefrom on a gravity basis simply by operating the mechanism 72 to slide the gate '70 from its closed position into its open position. Of course, the two bodies of granular material in the two pockets 25AX and 25AY fall through the respectively adjacent portions of the hopper bottom opening 33 and the granular material in the upper or body portion of the hopper 25A falls down into the tops of the pockets ZSAX and 25AY. The peak-like shape of the top wall 46 of the divider structure 50 prevents the accumulation of the granular material thereon, so that the granular material falls or flows downwardly along the side walls 44 and the baffle plates 47 of the divider structure 50 and thence through the hopper bottom opening 33, with the gate 70 in its open position, as described above.

Considering further the construction of the unloading mechanism A arranged in the lower portion of the hopper 25A, the same further comprises a pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart hoods 80X and MY respectively arranged in the pockets 25AX and 25AY, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The hoods 80X and MY are identical and are carried fundamentally by the hopper end wall 32 that is disposed above the frame end member 62 in which the slot 62b is formed through which the gate 70 is movable (which hopper end wall 32 is hereinafter referred to arbitrarily as the righthand hopper end wall 32, since the same is best shown in right-hand positions, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4); and the left-hand ends of the hoods 80X and 80Y are secured in place by respective clips 81 rigidly secured thereto and to the adjacent portions of the left-hand hopper end Wall 32. Each of the hoods 80X and 80Y has an inverted trough-like lateral configuration, as best shown in FIG. 5 whereby each of the hoods 80X and SOY includes a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spacedapart sides 82 and a sharply-peaked cap 83; whereby the hoods 80X and SOY are spaced well later-ally inwardly gitudinally extending tunnels 80XT and 80YT therethrough. The inner sides 82 of the hoods 80X and 80Y are spaced well laterally outwardly from the adjacent ones of the bafile plates 47; and the outer sides 82 of the hoods 80X and 80Y are spaced well laterally inwardly from the adjacent hopper side walls 31; all as shown in FIG. 5; whereby the shapes of the caps 83, together with the spacings of the sides 82, prevent interference by the hoods 80X and SOY with gravity unloading of the granular material from the respective pockets 25AX and 25AY, when the gate 70 occupies its open position, as previously described.

In the arrangement, the bottom edges of the sides 82 of each hood 80X and MY are spaced somewhat above the upper surface of the gate 70 in its closed position, so as to define therebetween a pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart slots 84 respectively communicating with the opposite lower sides of each tunnel 80XT and 80YT. Thus, when the gate 70 occupies its closed position, the granular material contained in the pocket 25AX spills laterally from opposite sides of the hood sides 82 and through the slots 84 and 6 accumulates in two corresponding elongated longitudinally extending piles in the bottom of the tunnel 80XT and so as to prevent obstruction of the top of the tunnel 80XT, particularly immediately below the cap 83. Similarly, the granular material contained in the pocket 25AY spills laterally from opposite sides of the hood sides 82 and through the slots 84 and accumulates in two corresponding elongated longitudinally extending piles in the bottom of the tunnel 80YT and so as to prevent obstruction of the top of the tunnel BOYT, particularly immediately below the cap 83. On the other hand, the bottom edges of the battle plates 47 project downwardly closely adjacent to the upper surface of the gate in its closed position so as to prevent the spilling of the granular material from the pockets 25AX and 25AY laterally and below the tube 43 incorporated in the divider structure 50.

Further the mechanism 30A comprises a pair of outlet conduits 85X and 85Y that are also carried by the righthand hopper end wall 32, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5; which outlet conduits 85X and SSY extend longitudinally and are disposed in laterally spaced-apart relation; and which outlet conduits 85X and 85Y extend longitudinally nicate at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent outer ends of the tunnels SUXT and YT. More particularly: the right-hand ends of the hoods 80X and SOY are rigidly secured and sealed to the right-hand hopper end wall 32, as by welding; the inner; ends of the outlet conduits X and 85Y are rigidly secured and sealed into corresponding ports formed in the right-hand hopper end wall 32; and the openings into the inner ends of the outlet conduits 85X and 85Y respectively communicate directly with the righthand ends of the tunnels 80XT and 80YT. The outer ends of the outlet conduits 85X and 85Y carry a laterally extending suction header commonly communicating therewith. As best shown in FIG. 4, the outlet conduits 85X and 85Y and the suction header 90 are positioned well above the plane of the upper surface of the gate 70, thereby to prevent interference with the longitudinal sliding movements of the gate 70 between its open and closed positions, as previously described.

The opposite ends of the suction header 90 are provided with identical barrels 91 that, in turn, respectively removably carry identical end caps 92. Each end cap 92 is normally secured in place upon the adjacent barrel 91 and in covering and sealing relation with the adjacent open end of the suction header 90 by a cooperating pair of eye-bolts 93 respectively engaging a cooperating pair of fixtures 94 carried by the adjacent end portion of the suction header 90. Also, it is noted that upon removal of either one of the end caps 92 a cooperating suction main, not shown, may be operatively connected to the barrel 91 of the suction conduits 90 so as to produce a suction action within the suction header 90 in an obvious manner in order to effect pneumatic unloading of the granular material from the hopper 25A, as explained more fully below.

The pneumatic unloading arrangement further comprises a pair of butter-fly valve elements 101K and 101Y respectively arranged in the intermediate portions of the outlet conduits 85X and 85Y; the valve element 101X is carried by a spindle 102X mounted for rotation upon a bearing member 103K carried by the outlet conduit 85X; the valve element 101Y is carried by a spindle 102Y mounted for rotation upon a bearing member 103Y carried by the outlet conduit SSY; the spindles 102X and 102Y are arranged in lateral alignment with each other; and the inner ends of the spindles 102X and 102Y are interconnected by a hollow tube 104. The outer end of the spindle ltlZX is mounted for rotation in an opening provided in a plate 105K carried by the adjacent portion of the right-hand hopper end wall 32; and likewise, the outer end of the spindle 102Y is mounted for rotation in an opening provided in a plate 105Y carried by the adjacent portion of the right-hand hopper end wall 32. The extreme outer end of the spindle 102X terminates in a hand-grasp 106X disposed adjacent to the plate 105X and accommodating rotation of the valve elements 101X and 101Y from the corresponding side of the hopper car 10; and similarly, the extreme outer end of the spindle 102Y terminates in a hand-grasp 106Y disposed adjacent to the plate 105Y and accommodating rotation of the valve elements 101X and 101Y from the corresponding side of the hopper car 10; whereby the valve elements 101X and 101Y may be simultaneously selectively operated from either side of the hopper car 10 employing the adjacent hand-grasp 106X or 106Y.

In the arrangement of the valve elements ltllX and 101Y, there is a displacement by an .angle of 90, so that when one of the valve elements occupies its open position, the other of the valve elements occupies its closed position. In order to define the positions of the valve elements 101X and 101Y, the plates 105X and 105Y respectively carry two stops 107X and 107Y that respectively cooperate with the handles 106X and 106Y. Specifically: when the valve elements 101Y and 101X are respectively open and closed, the handle 106Y engages the stop 107Y; and when the valve elements 101Y and 101X are respectively closed and open, the handle 106X engages the stop 107X.

Considering now the pneumatic unloading of granular material from the hopper 25A and assuming that the unloading is to proceed first from the pocket 25AY, the valve elements 101X and 101Y are operated into their respective closed and open positions, as shown in FIG. 3. Also, assume that the unloading is to take place from the side of the hopper car 10 adjacent to the pocket 25AY, the corresponding end cap 92, not shown, is removed from the adjacent barrel 91 of the suction header 90, as indicated in FIG. 3. At this time, one or both of the two hatch covers 28X and 28Y for the loading hatches 27X and 27Y communicating with the hopper 25A are opened, so as to admit conveying air thereinto. Further, the suction main, not shown, is operatively connected to the exposed barrel 91 of the suction header 90. Now assuming that the suction equipment, not shown, that is operatively connected to the suction main, is operated, a suction condition is produced in the suction header 90 and con sequently in the tunnel 80YT, by virtue of the open posi-= tion of the valve element 101Y in the communicating outlet conduit 85Y; however, no suction condition is produced in the tunnel SOXT, by virtue of the closed position of the valve element MIX in the communicating outlet conduit 85X. Air in the hopper 25A passes through the granular material contained therein and flows laterally through the slots 84 into the tunnel 80YT and then forms a current therein passing longitudinally through the tunnel SOYT and through the communicating outlet conduit 85Y, with the valve element 101Y in its open position, and thence into the suction header 90. Of course, the air current passing longitudinally through the tunnel 80YT entrains the granular material in the two longitudinally extending piles in the bottom of the tunnel SOYT; whereby the granular material is conveyed with the air current described. Of course, the conveying air carrying the entrained granular material passes through the suction header 90 and thence into the suction main, not shown; and ultimately, the granular material thus pneumatically unloaded from the hopper 25A is separated from the conveying air and stored for further processing or use, as required.

The great mass of the granular material contained in the hopper 25A may be pneumatically unloaded there from via the pocket 25AY; however, some of the granular material will ultimately become trapped in the pocket ZSAX, so that it can not be unloaded therefrom with the valve elements ltllX and 101Y in the respective closed and open positions. At this time, when only air is passing via the empty pocket ZSAY into the communicating outlet conduit 85Y, the operator actuates the handle 106Y to its opposite position, so as to open the valve element 101X and to close the valve element IMY. Closure of the valve element ltllY prevents the passage of air through the empty pocket 25AY into the suction header 90; while opening of the valve element 101K causes the granular material in the pocket ZSAX to be pneumatically unloaded therefrom via the tunnel XT and the communicating outlet conduit X and into the suction header 90. The pneumatic unloading of the granular material from the pocket 25AX proceeds in a manner identical to that described above in conjunction with that of the pocket 25AY until the pocket ZSAX is also empty.

In view of the above description of the modes of gravity unloading and pneumatic unloading of granular material from the hopper 25A, it will be understood that such unloadings of the granular material from the hoppers 25B and 25C take place in like manners; whereby these operations are not reiterated in the interest of brevity.

In a constructional example of the unloading mechanism 30A: the longitudinal distance between the inside surfaces of the frame end members 62 was 24 the lateral distance betwen the inside surfaces of the frame side members 61 was 50 the lateral distance between the centerline of the divider structure 50 and the centerline of each of the hoods 80X and 80Y was 18"; the lateral distance between each frame side member 61 and the side of the adjacent baffle plate 47 was 15''; the lateral distance between the inside surfaces of the sides 82 of each hood 80X and SOY was 6"; each of the slots 84 had a height of A1"; and the dimensions of the other elements were related to those noted above substantially in accordance with the scale of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an improved hopper and combination gravity and pneumatic unloading mechanism, wherein the hopper is adapted to contain granular material and the mechanism is adapted to unload the granular material from the bottom of the hopper either on a gravity basis or on a pneumatic basis, as required. Also, there has been provided an improved construction and arrangement of a railway hopper car incorporating the hopper construction and unloading mechanism described.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material and including a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantially rectangular bottom opening therein, upstanding divider structure arranged in the lower portion of said hopper and extending longitudinally between said end walls and spaced laterally from said side walls so as to define a pair of laterally spaced-apart substantially complementary pockets in the lower portion of said hopper, the top of said divider structure terminating well below the upper portions of said end and side walls so that the principal body of said hopper is in communication with the tops of said pockets, a gate carried by the bottom of said hopper and positioned below the bottom of said divider structure and cooperating with said bottom opening and movable between open and closed positions with respect thereto, mechanism for selectively moving said gate between its open and closed positions, whereby the granular material contained in said hopper is gravity unloaded therefrom when said gate occupies its open position, the granular material in the gravity unloading thereof passing from the principal body of said hopper into said pockets and then downwardly therethrough and thence through said bottom opening, a pair of elongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in the lower portions of said pockets and above said gate in its closed position, one of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from one side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from one of said side walls and the other of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from the other side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from the other of said side walls, each one of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granular material through the corresponding one of said pockets and through said bottom opening when said gate occupies its open position, the opposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat above the adjacent surface of said gate in its closed position so as to define a corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow slots respectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding one of said pockets and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of said tunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one pocket spills laterally through the corresponding pair of narrow slots into the corresponding one of said tunnels and accumulates therein when said gate occupies its closed position, a pair of outlet conduits carried by the lower portion of one of said end walls and respectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of said tunnels, a suction header communicating with the outer ends of said outlet conduits, said outlet conduits and said suction header being located exteriorly of said hopper and above said gate and in non-interferring relation with said gate in its movements between its open and closed positions, a pair of valve elements respectively arranged in said outlet conduits, each one of said valve elements being selectively operative between open and closed positions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits, whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding one of said outlet conduits to said suction header when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally through either one of said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outlet conduits into said suction header when said gate occupies its closed position and when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, with the result that the granular material accumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit into said suction header, thereby to effect pneumatic unloading of the granular material from said hopper through the corresponding one of said pockets and via said one outlet conduit and said suction header, and means for selectively operating said valve elements between their open and closed positions.

2. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material and including a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantially rectangular bottom opening therein, a substantially rectangular frame rigidly secured to the bottom edges of said side and end walls and surrounding said bottom opening, upstanding divider structure arranged in the lower portion of said hopper and extending longitudinally between said end walls and spaced laterally from said side walls so as to define a pair of laterally spaced-apart substantially complementary pockets in the lower portion of said hopper, the top of said divider structure terminating well below the upper portions of said end and side walls so that the principal body of said hopper is in communication with the tops of said pockets, a gate carried by said frame and positioned below the bottom of said divider structure and cooperating with said bottom opening, said gate being mounted upon said frame for longitudinal sliding movements between open and closed positions with respect to said bottom opening, mechanism for selectively sliding said gate between its open and closed positions, whereby the granular material contained in said hopper is gravity unloaded therefrom when said gate occupies its open position, the granular material in the gravity unloading thereof passing from the principal body of said hopper into said pockets and then downwardly therethrough and thence through said bottom opening, a pair of elongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in the lower portions of said pockets and above said gate in its closed position, one of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from one side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from one of said side walls and the other of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from the other side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from the other of said side walls, each one of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granular material through the corresponding one of said pockets and through said bottom opening when said gate occupies its open position, the opposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat above the adjacent surface of said gate in its closed position so as: to define a corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow slots respectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding one of said pockets and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of said tunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one pocket spills laterally through the corresponding pair of narrow slots into the corresponding one of said tunnels and accumulates therein when said gate occupies its closed position, a pair of outlet conduits carried by the lower portion of one of said end walls and respectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of said tunnels, a suction header communicating with the outer ends of said outlet conduits, said outlet conduits and said suction header being located exteriorly of said hopper and above said gate and in non-interfering relation with said gate in its sliding movements between its open and closed positions, a pair of valve elements respective-1y arranged in said outlet conduits, each one of said valve elements being selectively operative between open and closed positions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits, whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding one of said outlet conduits to said suction header when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally through either one of said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outlet conduits into said suction header when said gate occupies its closed position and when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, with the result that the granular material accumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit into said suction header, thereby to effect pneu matic unloading of the granular material from said hopper through the corresponding one of said pockets and via said one outlet conduit and said suction header, and means for selectively operating said valve, elements between their open and closed positions.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said bottom opening has a longitudinal dimension of at least about 2 feet and a lateral dimension of at least about 4 feet, so that said bottom has a large area accommodating rapid gravity unloading of said hopper.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said divider structure has a substantial width between the opposite sides thereof of at least about 1 /2 feet, and wherein the opposite sides of said divider structure are closely spaced above said gate in its closed position so as to prevent any substantial entry of the granular material from said pockets below said divider structure when said gate occupies its closed position.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said mechanism comprises a pair of rotatably mounted elements respectively mounted upon the opposite sides of said frame, each of said elements being selectively rotatable in opposite directions to effect respectively corresponding opening and closing sliding movements of said gate, whereby said gate may be readily slid between its open and closed positions by a person located on either side of said hopper.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein each one of said pockets has a width at the bottom thereof between the adjacent one of said side walls and the adjacent side of said divider structure that is somewhat in excess of about 1 foot, and the corresponding one of said hoods has a width at the bottom thereof between the opposite side edges thereof that is about /2 foot.

7. A railway car comprising an elongated longitudinally extending underframe including an elongated longitudinally extending center sill, an elongated longitudinally extending body carried by said underframe and including bottom structure defining a plurality of hoppers disposed in adjacent longitudinal positions, each one of said hoppers including two laterally disposed complementary lower parts respectively positioned on opposite sides of a corresponding section of said center sill passing longitudinally through the lower central portion of said one hopper, each one of said hoppers being provided with a bottom opening therein disposed below the adjacent section of said center sill passing longitudinally therethrough and communicating with both lower parts of said one hopper, a corresponding plurality of gates respectively carried by the bottoms of said hoppers and respectively cooperating with the adjacent ones of said bottom openings, each one of said gates being selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to the cooperating one of said bottom openings, a corresponding plurality of mechanisms for selectively moving said gates between their open and closed positions, whereby the granular material contained in any one of said hoppers is gravity unloaded therefrom and through the corresponding one of said bottom openings when the corresponding one of said gates occupies its open position, a corresponding plurality of pairs of elongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in said hoppers, the two hoods of each one of said pairs being arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation and respectively disposed in the lower portions of the two parts of the corresponding one of said hoppers and above the corresponding one of said gates in its closed position, each one of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granular material from the corresponding one of said hoppers and through the corresponding one of said bottom openings when the corresponding one of said gates occupies its open position, the opposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat above the adjacent surface of the corresponding one of said gates in its closed position so as to define a corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow, slots respectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding part of the corresponding one of said hoppers and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of said tunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one hopper spills laterally through the two pairs of narrow slots respective- 1y defined by the corresponding pair of said hoods and into the corresponding pair of said tunnels and accumulates therein when the corresponding one of said gates occupies its closed position, a corresponding plurality of pairs of outlet conduits respectively carried by the lower portions of said hoppers, each pair of said outlet conduits respectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of the corresponding pair of said tunnels, a corresponding plurality of suction headers respectively communicating with the outer ends of said pairs of outlet conduits, each pair of said outlet conduits and each one of said suction headers being operatively associated with a corresponding one of said hoppers and located exteriorly thereof and above the corresponding one of said gates and in non-interfering relation with said one gate in its movements between its open and closed positions, a corresponding plurality of pairs of valve elements respectively arranged in said pairs of outlet conduits, each one of said valve elements being selectively operative between open and closed positions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits, whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding one of said outlet conduits to the corresponding one of said suction headers when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally through any one of said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outlet conduits into the corresponding one of said suction headers when the corresponding one of said gates occupies its closed position and when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, with the result that the granular material accumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit into said one suction header, thereby to effect pneumatic unloading of the granular material from said one hopper via said one outlet conduit and said one suction header, and means for selectively operating the valve elements in each of said pairs between their open and closed positions.

8. In combination, a hopper adapted to contain granular material and including a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping end walls and a pair of downwardly and inwardly sloping side walls and having a substantially rectangular bottom opening therein, upstanding divider structure arranged in the lower portion of said hopper and extending longitudinally between said end walls and spaced laterally from said side walls so as to define a pair of laterally spaced-apart substantially complementary pockets in the lower portion of said hopper, the top of said divider structure terminating well below the upper portions of said end and side walls so that the principal body of said hopper is in communication with the tops of said pockets, a gate carried by the bottom of said hopper and positioned below the bottom of said divider structure and cooperating with said bottom opening and movable between open and closed positions with respect thereto, mechanism for selectively moving said gate between its open and closed positions, whereby the granular material contained in said hopper is gravity unloaded therefrom when said gate occupies its open position, the granular material in the gravity unloading thereof passing from the principal body of said hopper into said pockets and then downwardly therethrough and thence through said bottom opening, a pair of elongated longitudinally extending hoods respectively arranged in the lower portions of said pockets and above said gate in its closed position, one of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from one side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from one of said side walls and the other of said hoods being spaced laterally outwardly from the other side of said upstanding divider structure and laterally inwardly from the other of said side walls, each one of said hoods having an inverted trough-like lateral configuration so as to define a corresponding elongated longitudinally extending tunnel therethrough and so as to prevent interference with gravity unloading of the granular material through the corresponding one of said pockets and through said bottom opening when said gate occupies its open position, the opposite lower side edges of each one of said hoods being spaced somewhat above the adjacent surface of said gate in its closed position so as to define a corresponding pair of elongated longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart narrow slots respectively communicating between the corresponding two adjacent lower portions of the corresponding one of said pockets and the opposite sides of the corresponding one of said tunnels, whereby the granular material contained in said one pocket spills laterally through the corresponding pair of narrow slots into the corresponding one of said tunnels and accumulates there in when said gate occupies its closed position, a pair of outlet conduits carried by the lower portion of one of said end walls and respectively communicating at the inner ends thereof with the adjacent ends of said tunnels, a suction header communicating with the outer ends of said outlet conduits, said outlet conduits and said suction header being located exteriorly of said hopper and above said gate and in non-interfering relation with said gate in its movements between its open and closed positions, a pair of valve elements respectively arranged in said outlet conduits, each one of said valve elements being selectively operative between open and closed positions with respect to the corresponding one of said outlet conduits, whereby each one of said tunnels is connected via the corresponding one of said outlet conduits to said suction header when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, whereby a current of air may be passed longitudinally through either one of said tunnels and through the corresponding one of said outlet conduits into said suction header when said gate occupies its closed position and when the corresponding one of said valve elements occupies its open position, with the rwult that the granular material accumulated in said one tunnel is entrained into the current of air passing longitudinally therethrough and passes therewith through said one outlet conduit into said suction header, thereby to effect pneumatic unloading of the granular material from said hopper through the corresponding one of said pockets and via said one outlet conduit and said suction header, and means including a manually operable device for selectively operating said valve elements between their open and closed positions, said device having a first position operating first and second of said valve elements into their respective open and closed positions and a second position operating said first and second valve elements into their re spective closed and open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,535 4/1932 Moore 302-27 2,950,143 8/1960 Koranda et al. 30252 3,220,778 11/1965 Aller 302-52 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A HOPPER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN GRANULAR MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING END WALLS AND A PAIR OF DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY SLOPING SIDE WALLS AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR BOTTOM OPENING THEREIN, UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID END WALLS AND SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID SIDE WALLS SO AS TO DEFINE A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED-APART SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY POCKETS IN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HOPPER, THE TOP OF SAID DIVIDER STRUCTURE TERMINATING WELL BELOW THE UPPER PORTIONS OF SAID END AND SIDE WALLS SO THAT THE PRINCIPAL BODY OF SAID HOPPER IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE TOPS OF SAID POCKETS, A GATE CARRIED BY THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOPPER AND POSITIONED BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND COOPERATING WITH SAID BOTTOM OPENING AND MOVABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT THERETO, MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID GATE BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, WHEREBY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL CONTAINED IN SAID HOPPER IS GRAVITY UNLOADED THEREFROM WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, THE GRANULAR MATERIAL IN THE GRAVITY UNLOADING THEREOF PASSING FROM THE PRINCIPAL BODY OF SAID HOPPER INTO SAID POCKETS AND THEN DOWNWARDLY THERETHROUGH AND THENCE THROUGH SAID BOTTOM OPENING, A PAIR OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HOODS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED IN THE LOWER PORTIONS OF SAID POCKETS AND ABOVE SAID GATE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION, ONE OF SAID HOOKS BEING SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM ONE SIDE OF SAID UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND LATERALLY INWARDLY FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS AND THE OTHER OF SAID HOOKS BEING SPACED LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID UPSTANDING DIVIDER STRUCTURE AND LATERALLY INWARDLY FROM THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH ONE OF SAID HOODS HAVING AN INVERTED TROUGH-LIKE LATERAL CONFIGURATION SO AS TO DEFINE A CORRESPONDING ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TUNNEL THERETHROUGH AND SO AS TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE WITH GRAVITY UNLOADING OF THE GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND THROUGH SAID BOTTOM OPENING WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS OPEN PISTON, THE OPPOSITE LOWER SIDE EDGES OF EACH ONE OF SAID HOODS BEING SPACED SOMEWHAT ABOVE THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF SAID GATE IN ITS CLOSED POSITION SO AS TO DEFINE A CORRESPONDING PAIR OF ELONGATED LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND LATERALLY SPACED-APART NARROW SLOTS RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE CORRESPONDING TWO ADJACENT LOWER PORTIONS OF THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID TUNNELS, WHEREBY THE GRANULAR MATERIAL CONTAINED IN SAID ONE POCKET SPILLS LATERALLY THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING PAIR OF NARROW SLOTS INTO THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID TUNNELS AND ACCUMULATES THEREIN WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS CLOSED POSITION, A PAIR OF OUTLET CONDUITS CARRIED BY THE LOWER PORTION OF ONE OF SAID END WALLS AND RESPECTIVELY COMMUNICATING AT THE INNER ENDS THEREOF WITH THE ADJACENT ENDS OF SAID TUNNELS, A SUCTION HEADER COMMUNICATING WITH THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS, SAID OUTLET CONDUITS AND SAID SUCTION HEADER BEING LOCATED EXTERIORLY OF SAID HOPPER AND ABOVE SAID GATE AND IN NON-INTERFERRING RELATION WITH SAID GATE IN ITS MOVEMENTS BETWEEN ITS OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, A PAIR OF VALVE ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY ARRANGED IN SAID OUTLET CONDUITS, EACH ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BEING SELECTIVELY OPERATIVE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUIOTS, WHEREBY EACH ONE OF SAID TUNNELS IS CONNECTED VIA THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS TO SAID SUCTION HEADER WHEN THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, WHEREBY A CURRENT OF AIR MAY BE PASSED LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH EITHER ONE OF SAID TUNNELS AND THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID OUTLET CONDUITS INTO SAID SUCTION HEADER WHEN SAID GATE OCCUPIES ITS CLOSED POSITION AND WHEN THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID VALVE ELEMENTS OCCUPIES ITS OPEN POSITION, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE GRANULAR MATERIAL ACCUMULATED IN SAID ONE TUNNEL IS ENTRAINED INTO THE CURRENT OF AIR PASSING LONGITUDINALLY THERETHROUGH AND PASSES THEREWITH THROUGH SAID ONE OUTLET CONDUIT INTO SAID SUCTION HEADER, THEREBY TO EFFECT PNEUMATIC UNLOADING OF THE GRANULAR MATERIAL FROM SAID HOPPER THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID POCKETS AND VIA SAID ONE OUTLET CONDUIT AND SAID SUCTION HEADER, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPERATING SAID VALVE ELEMENTS BETWEEN THEIR OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS.

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