Acf Industries, Incorporated

Edwin S Carlson

Charles E Reedy

In accordance with the present invention, a container outlet valve assembly (10) is provided including a generally cone-shaped housing (12) extending upwardly into the container, and including radially spaced openings (14) in the housing for lading to flow out of the container. A cone valve (30) is located within the housing containing spaced openings (34) which align with the openings (14) in the cone housing when the cone valve is in open position. A liner (36) of low friction material is attached to the outer surface of the cone valve and/or the inner surface of the cone housing. The cone valve is rotatable to a closed position in which the valve body closes the openings located in the housing (FIG. 3). An unloading chamber (44) is located below the cone valve and is attached to a tank mounting flange (18) with shearable fasteners (24). The flange does not extend below the tank bottom in excess of one (1) inch. Thus, a skid is not required to comply with AAR Regulations concerning projection below the tank body. In one embodiment (FIG. 1) an operating shaft (64) for the cone valve extends up through the unloading spout and engages a connection portion (84) formed in the upper, inner surface of the cone valve. In another embodiment (FIG. 2) an operating shaft (90) for the cone valve extends down from the top of the tank and extends through the valve housing and engages a connection portion in the upper portion of the cone valve. With the exception of the relatively small shaft cross section (64) in the bottom operated embodiment, the flow path from the cone valve into the unloading spout is unobstructed, thereby facilitating lading flow out of the cone valve and avoiding surfaces for lading to hang up.

Low profile cone valve assembly

In accordance with the present invention, a container outlet valve assembly (10) is provided including a generally cone-shaped housing (12) extending upwardly into the container, and including radially spaced openings (14) in the housing for lading to flow out of the container. A cone valve (30) is located within the housing containing spaced openings (34) which align with the openings (14) in the cone housing when the cone valve is in open position. A liner (36) of low friction material is attached to the outer surface of the cone valve and/or the inner surface of the cone housing. The cone valve is rotatable to a closed position in which the valve body closes the openings located in the housing (FIG. 3). An unloading chamber (44) is located below the cone valve and is attached to a tank mounting flange (18) with shearable fasteners (24). The flange does not extend below the tank bottom in excess of one (1) inch. In one embodiment (FIG. 1) an operating shaft (64) for the cone valve extends up through the unloading spout and engages a connection portion (84) formed in the upper, inner surface of the cone valve.

In a railway tank car, a tank mounting flange is integrally connected to the tank bottom. The tank mounting flange includes an opening into which is inserted a ball valve housing. The ball valve housing includes an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion. Mechanical housing fasteners hold the upper housing portion in engagement with the lower housing portion. The lower housing portion has an outwardly extending housing flange portion which engages the tank mounting flange. Removable fasteners hold the housing flange portion in place in engagement with the mounting flange. A ball valve is located within both the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion. A pair of vertically extending seals seal the ball valve with respect to the tank when the ball valve is in closed position. The ball valve may be either bottom operated or top operated.

Low profile tank car ball valve

In accordance with the present invention, a top operated tank car valve assembly includes a rod extending downwardly from the top of the tank and attached to a valve stem of a lading valve located in the bottom of the tank. A valve seat for the lading valve is located in an opening in the tank bottom and a valve cage includes circumferentially spaced openings formed in the valve cage for lading flow. A unitary valve guide, valve closure and stem retainer is provided. The unitary element includes a lower closure portion having a hub and a circumferential slot adapted to receive a closure seal. A fastener holds a seal retainer in engagement with a seal and with the closure portion. A valve guide portion extends upwardly from the valve closure at its periphery and is generally circular for a large portion of its circumference. The guide portion includes a guide portion opening on one side. A retainer portion located radially inwardly from the guide portion extends upwardly from the closure portion. The retainer portion is also circular and includes a stem opening in its center portion. This stem opening extends radially outwardly and aligns with the guide portion opening. The valve stem is inserted through the guide portion opening and the stem opening. A stem closure is provided which closes the stem opening to hold the valve stem in place.

Top operated outlet valve with unitary closure guide and retainer

An eduction pipe assembly includes a movable eduction pipe extending downwardly from the top of the tank toward a sump located in the bottom of the tank. The eduction pipe is supported from the upper portion of the tank. In the upper portion of the tank a flexible member is sealingly attached to an upper end portion of the eduction pipe. The flexible member extends upwardly and is sealingly attached at its upper end to an opening in the top of the tank. Preferably the flexible member is located in a dome in the top of the tank and thus is not in contact with the lading for extended periods of time. Preferably the flexible member is made of a material such as stainless steel which is resistant to corrosive attack by most ladings to be transported in the tank.

Eduction pipe assembly having upper flexible member

In a top operated tank car valve, a mounting flange is welded to an opening in the bottom of the tank. A valve seat is located inboard of, and above the lower surface of, the mounting flange. A vertically extending cage is integrally attached to the mounting flange. A top operator extends to the top of the tank, and a stem is attached to the lower portion of the top operator. The stem extends into an opening in a valve closure plug. A non-round cavity is formed in the bottom of the stem. The closure plug includes a seat which engages the valve seat located within the mounting flange. The closure plug includes a circular guide ring which engages a portion of the vertically extending cage as the closure plug moves between open and closed positions. The closure plug includes a vertical, generally central opening which communicates with the circular head portion of the valve stem. A retainer, held in place with retainer fasteners extending from the bottom of the retainer into the closure plug, holds in place a seal located in a circumferential groove in the closure plug. The retainer includes an extension which extends through the vertical, generally central opening in the closure plug. The retainer fasteners can be removed from the bottom of the car, providing access to the non-round cavity in the valve stem. Thus, the closure plug may be opened from the bottom of the tank with a tool extending through the vertical center opening. Since the valve seat is located within the mounting flange which does not extend more than one (1) inch below the tank bottom, a tank car skid is not needed to comply with AAR regulations concerning projections from the bottom of railway tank cars.

Top operated tank car lading valve also operable from the bottom

A bottom operable lading valve assembly for tank cars includes a valve closure plug movable between open and closed positions relative to a circular plug seat located within a valve body opening. A housing is affixed to the valve body with fasteners comprising a shear plane. The housing includes a generally vertical housing opening into which a rotatable valve operator is mounted comprising a lower tool connection portion, a shaft portion and an upper operating portion. The upper operating portion includes upper operator threads which engage an operating stem depending from the closure plug. The upper operating portion and the valve stem terminate on or above the shear plane. The valve operator shaft portion separates below the shear plane in the event impact causes the housing to shear off along the shear plane to maintain the upper operating portion, valve stem and closure plug in seated position to prevent escape of lading. During rotation of the valve operator in a direction to move the closure plug to open position, the closure plug wipes the plug seat. Further rotation of the valve operator causes the plug to move vertically toward open position without rotation. Rotation of the valve operator from open position causes the plug to move vertically downwardly to a closed and seated position without rotation. A screen may be provided extending up into the tank from the valve body to protect the valve assembly from objects located inside the tank.

Bottom operable tank car valve assembly having shear plane

A bottom operable lading valve assembly for tank cars includes a valve closure plug movable between open and closed positions relative to a circular plug seat located within a valve body opening. A housing is affixed to the valve body with fasteners comprising a shear plane. The housing includes a generally vertical housing opening into which a rotatable valve operator is mounted comprising a lower tool connection portion and an upper operating portion. The upper operating portion includes upper operator threads which engage an operating stem depending from the valve plug. The valve operator separates below the shear plane in the event impact causes the housing to shear off along the shear plane to maintain the closure plug in seated position to prevent escape of lading. During rotation of the valve operator in a direction to move the closure plug to open position, the closure plug wipes the plug seat. Further rotation of the valve operator causes the plug to move vertically toward open position without rotation. Rotation of the valve operator from open position causes the plug to move vertically downwardly to a closed and seated position without rotation.

A bottom outlet for tanks is provided including a valve body welded to an opening in the bottom of the tank. The valve body has an opening into which a retainer assembly is fitted to urge a seal into engagement with at least a portion of the valve body. The retainer assembly includes a threaded center portion and a retainer vertical portion having an opening therein. A valve plug is mounted to be vertically movable between closed and open positions, into and out of engagement with the retainer vertical portion. A lower housing is affixed to the valve body with mechanical fasteners which define a first shear plane. The housing has an opening into which a valve operator assembly is mounted. The valve operator assembly includes a first valve operator having a lower tool connection and a first operator extension. The first operator extension has a first valve operator opening into which a second valve operator is inserted and is drivably engaged. The second valve operator includes a second shear plane and has threads which engage the threads in the threaded center portion of the retainer assembly. These threads may define the second shear plane. The second valve operator engages the valve plug, and moves the same between closed and open positions. A seal member is affixed to the valve plug or to the retainer vertical portion.

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St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Edwin S Carlson