Dual durometer gasket for a railroad hopper car

摘要

A gasket assembly for sealing between a gate assembly and the bottom opening of a railroad hopper car wherein the gate assembly has a peripheral flange, and a hopper car flange surrounds the bottom opening of the railroad hopper car. The gasket includes a central band with an interior edge and exterior edge. The central band is made of a relatively rigid material. The central band contains a plurality of holes therein. An interior band of relatively softer material is bonded to the central band adjacent to the interior edge thereof. An exterior band of relatively softer material is bonded to the central band adjacent to the exterior edge thereof. Upon the assembly of the gate assembly to the bottom opening of the railroad hopper car, the interior band and the exterior band are subjected to a compressive force wherein the extent of the deformation of the interior band and the exterior band being limited by portions of the central band to which the interior band and the exterior band are bonded.