Discharge assembly with seal

Abstract

A discharge assembly for a bulk materials rail wagon comprises a base incorporating at least one opening to allow gravity discharge of bulk material from the wagon, a closure member associated with the opening and movable to open and close the opening, and a seal to seal between the base and the closure member, the seal being removably mounted and accessible from an underside of the rail wagon.

1 . A rail wagon discharge assembly comprising:
 a base incorporating at least one opening configured to allow gravity discharge of bulk material from a container of the rail wagon, wherein at least one retaining portion is mounted at an underside of the base;   a closure member associated with the opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and   a seal operative to seal between the base and the closure member, the seal being removably mounted and accessible from an underside of the rail wagon, and comprising an end portion configured to be received in the at least one retaining portion.   
     
     
         2 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge assembly forms at least part of a floor of the container of the rail wagon, an upper surface of the discharge assembly forming an interior surface of the container, and a lower surface forming at least part of the underside of the wagon. 
     
     
         3 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the seal is mounted on the lower surface of the base. 
     
     
         4 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the base incorporates at least one guide portion disposed adjacent the at least one opening, the at least one guide portion having an inclined upper surface configured to facilitate gravity discharge of the bulk material to the at least one opening. 
     
     
         5 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the seal is mounted to the lower surface of the guide portion. 
     
     
         6 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the guide portion is made from sheet material. 
     
     
         7 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is slideable relative to the base between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a plate member adapted to at least partially cover the opening when in the closed position. 
     
     
         9 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is configured to limit loss of bulk material between the closure member and the base while allowing the closure member to be moveable with respect to the base. 
     
     
         10 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a brush seal. 
     
     
         11 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one retaining portion mounted at an underside of the base and the end portion of the seal define a coupling that removably mounts the seal to the base, the coupling being configured to allow removal and replacement of the seal. 
     
     
         12 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is located at a periphery of the opening. 
     
     
         13 . A rail wagon comprising:
 a container; and   a discharge assembly comprising:
 a base incorporating at least one opening configured to allow gravity discharge of bulk material from a container of the rail wagon, wherein at least one retaining portion is mounted at an underside of the base; 
 a closure member associated with the opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and 
 a seal operative to seal between the base and the closure member, the seal being removably mounted and accessible from an underside of the rail wagon, and comprising an end portion configured to be received in the at least one retaining portion; 
   wherein the discharge assembly forms at least part of a floor of the container, an upper surface of the discharge assembly forming an interior surface of the container, and a lower surface forming at least part of the underside of the wagon.   
     
     
         14 . The rail wagon according to  claim 13 , wherein the base includes an array of openings and associated closure members, and a plurality of said seals operative to seal between the base and the closure members. 
     
     
         15 . The rail wagon according to  claim 14 , wherein the base incorporates a plurality of guide portions disposed between adjacent openings, the guide portions having inclined upper surfaces configured to facilitate gravity discharge of the bulk material to the openings.