Discharge assembly for a wagon

Abstract

A discharge assembly for a bulk materials rail wagon includes a closure assembly movable to open and close an opening. The closure member includes a cover member and stiffener having a web and flange. In one form an upper surface of the flange is raked. In one form the edge of the stiffener web extends along a concave path to reduce stress concentration in the closure member.

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;   a closure member associated with the at least one opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position;   wherein the closure member translates between the open and closed positions and comprises a cover member having an upper and a lower surface which in use covers at least a portion of the opening, and a stiffener extending along at least a portion of the lower surface of the cover member, the stiffener comprising a flange spaced from the lower surface of the cover member and a web extending between the cover member and the flange, the flange having a raked upper surface wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is in facing arrangement with the lower surface of the cover member in the open and closed positions.   
     
     
         2 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover member comprises a plate. 
     
     
         3 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is in facing arrangement with the lower surface of the cover member. 
     
     
         4 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is raked downwardly away from a point at which the flange meets the web. 
     
     
         5 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is configured to assist flow of bulk material over the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is slideable between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         7 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the closure member is supported on the base at opposite end regions of the cover member, the end regions being slideable along the base to allow movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         8 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein opposite edges of the web of the stiffener join the cover member inwardly of the opposite end regions. 
     
     
         9 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the opposite edges of the web extend along a concave path between the cover member and the flange so as to inhibit stress concentration in the stiffener. 
     
     
         10 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is supported on the base at opposite end regions of the cover member, the end regions being slideable along the base to allow movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions and wherein opposite edges of the web of the stiffener join the cover member inwardly of the opposite end regions and extend along a concave path between the cover member and the flange so as to inhibit stress concentration in the stiffener. 
     
     
         11 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base includes an array of openings and associated closure members. 
     
     
         12 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the closure members are interconnected by means of an operative member which effects movement of the closure members between the open and the closed positions. 
     
     
         13 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the operative member comprises a bar extending between the closure members. 
     
     
         14 . The rail wagon discharge assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the bar extends through respective webs of the closure members. 
     
     
         15 . 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; 
 a closure member associated with the at least one opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position; 
 wherein the closure member translates between the open and closed positions and comprises a cover member having an upper and a lower surface which in use covers at least a portion of the opening, and 
 a stiffener extending along at least a portion of the lower surface of the cover member, the stiffener comprising a flange spaced from the lower surface of the cover member and a web extending between the cover member and the flange, the flange having a raked upper surface wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is in facing arrangement with the lower surface of the cover member in the open and closed positions, 
 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. 
   
     
     
         16 . The rail wagon according to  claim 15 , wherein the base includes an array of openings and associated closure members, and a plurality of seals operative to seal between the base and the closure members. 
     
     
         17 . The rail wagon according to  claim 16 , wherein the base incorporates a plurality of guide portions disposed between adjacent openings, the guide portions having an inclined upper surfaces configured to facilitate gravity discharge of the bulk material through the openings. 
     
     
         18 . A closure member for use in a discharge assembly of a rail wagon, wherein the closure member translates between the open and closed positions and comprises a cover member having an upper and a lower surface which in use covers at least a portion of the opening, and a stiffener extending along at least a portion of the lower surface of the cover member, the stiffener comprising a flange spaced from the lower surface of the cover member and a web extending between the cover member and the flange, the flange having a raked upper surface wherein the raked upper surface of the flange is in facing arrangement with the lower surface of the cover member in the open and closed positions. 
     
     
         19 . The closure member according to  claim 18 , wherein the closure member is supported on a base of the discharge assembly at opposite end regions of the cover member, the end regions being slideable along the base to allow movement of the closure member between the open and closed positions and wherein opposite edges of the web of the stiffener join the cover member inwardly of the opposite end regions and extend along a concave path between the cover member and the flange so as to inhibit stress concentration in the stiffener.