HOPPER CAR DISCHARGE STRUCTURE

摘要

A bottom discharge open topped hopper car has a center sill with a bottom flange having laterally protruding edges. A shed plate assembly is provided to discourage accumulation of product on the exposed upwardly facing shelf otherwise presented by the bottom flange protrusions. The shed plate assembly may be mounted to the center sill in a manner that avoids impairment of the stress performance of the flanges of the center sill, whether by mechanical fastenings to other objects, or welding to objects that are not the center sill. The shed plate assembly may have walls having upper margins that are higher than the upper extremity of the hopper discharge opening such that the shelf of the center sill bottom flange is in the lee of, or sheltered by, the shed plate. The lading may thereby move under the influence of gravity past the shed plate to its desired unloading receptacle.

主权项

1. A railroad hopper car structure for a hopper car having at least a first hopper, that first hopper having a downwardly opening discharge section, the discharge section having an opening through which to discharge lading, said opening having a periphery, said structure comprising:
a center sill, said center sill having at least a first shear web and a first flange; said first shear web standing upwardly of said first flange; said first flange having a margin extending laterally outboard of said first shear web; and a wall member extending upwardly of said margin of said first flange, said wall member being located between said first flange and the periphery of the discharge opening, at least the majority of said margin of said first flange being located in the lee of said wall member.