Acf Industries, Incorporated

David P Hillstead

Gunter R Behle

Robert W Randolph

Robert K Neff

In accordance with the present invention, an unloading assembly for a top operated lading valve is disclosed. The unloading assembly includes means for connecting an unloading outlet chamber to the existing depending valve outlet chamber of the lading valve. The unloading outlet chamber is hollow and is in fluid communication with the lading valve outlet chamber. The unloading assembly includes an operating shaft extending upwardly through the unloading outlet chamber and through the valve outlet chamber. The operating shaft includes a non-round connection portion adapted to engage a non-round connection portion of the top operating rod.

Bottom operator for top operated bottom installed tank car valve assembly

A top operated tank car valve assembly includes a rod extending downwardly from the top of the tank and is attached to the valve stem of a lading valve located in the bottom of the tank. The stem engages a threaded valve sleeve provided with a mounting flange which engages a cooperating mounting flange on a valve cage. Fasteners engage the upper surface of the sleeve, and extend through the valve cage and engage threaded openings in a tank car bottom outlet mounting flange. The cage includes a valve seat for a valve closure. The valve seat is formed on the lower, internal surface of the valve cage, and circumferentially spaced openings are formed in the valve cage for lading flow. Laterally spaced projections extend upwardly from the lading valve closure. A valve stem retainer includes a pair of formed retainer members which define a cavity or opening. The retainer engages the lower end of the valve stem with a sufficiently tight fit as to substantially reduce horizontal and angular movement of the stem relative to the stem retainer. Slots formed in the retainer receive the projections from the lading valve closure and fasteners hold the formed retainer members in abutting relation to the closure projections. A valve guide depends from the valve closure a sufficiently short distance as to not extend below the tank mounting flange, and thereby a skid is not required in order to comply with AAR and DOT regulations concerning projections extending below the bottom surface of a railway tank car.

Top operated tank car clapper value

In a railway car truck a lower transom extends between transversely spaced side frames. The side frames include depressed portions having transversely aligned vertical openings or slots which receive spring groups. A bolster including a center connection extends between the side frames above the transom and rests on the spring groups. The side frames each include a hollow post extending upwardly between the spring groups. The bolster includes a depending post which surrounds the side frame post. A friction damping assembly including upper and lower wedges is located within the side frame post and the bolster post. The upper and lower wedges include rear wear plates which engage the side frame post. The upper and lower wedges include an opening to receive a spring extending upwardly from the side frame depressed portion. The lower wedge has at least one inclined surface which slidingly engages at least one inclined surface on the upper wedge. The upper surface of the upper wedge engages the lower surface of the bolster. Oscillations of the spring group and bolster are damped by the rear wear surfaces forced outwardly by the inclines of the upper and lower wedges as the bolster moves downwardly with respect to the side frames.

Damping railway car truck

In accordance with the present invention a tank car mounting flange is welded to an opening in the tank bottom and preferably does not extend below the bottom surface of the tank more than one (1) inch to comply with AAR and DOT Regulations. A valve body including a valve seat is located concentrically within the mounting flange and is removably attached to the mounting flange. The valve body may be attached to the mounting flange with a threaded fitting, or with fasteners and a retaining ring located within the mounting flange, in which fasteners holding the retaining ring in place extend into the mounting flange. A depending housing including a lower operator is attached to the mounting flange or to the retaining ring with fasteners which define a shear plane. In order that there be sufficient material in the mounting flange to be structurally sound while including openings for the fasteners in the mounting flange, and not extend more than one (1) inch below the tank bottom, the mounting flange may include fastener portions extending into the tank above the area where the fastener openings are drilled. Further, the mounting flange fastener portion may be provided with slots or channels to facilitate lading flow into the outlet during unloading. In one embodiment the portions extending into the tank comprise mounds or knobs extending into the tank, separated by open areas for lading flow.

Growing community of inventors

St. Charles, MO, United States of America

David P Hillstead