Non-horizontal discharge gates

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises an underframe and at least two hoppers coupled to the underframe. Each hopper is configured to transport a lading and comprises a transverse slope sheet and a discharge gate. The transverse slope sheet is coupled to a first side of the hopper and extends at an angle downward towards the center of the hopper forming a transverse discharge opening. The discharge gate is coupled to a second side of the hopper. The discharge gate is operable to move between a closed position where the discharge gate extends downward towards the transverse slope sheet restricting discharge of lading arid an open position where the discharge gate facilitates lading discharge. The orientation of the discharge gate is non-horizontal.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 an underframe;   at least two hoppers coupled to the underframe, each hopper of the at least two hoppers configured to transport a lading and each hopper comprising:
 a transverse slope sheet coupled to a first side of the hopper, the transverse slope sheet extending at an angle downward and towards the center of the hopper forming a transverse discharge opening between the first side of the hopper and a second side of the hopper opposite the first side of the hopper; 
 a discharge gate coupled to the second side of the hopper, the discharge gate operable to move between a closed position Where the discharge gate extends downward towards the transverse slope sheet restricting discharge of lading through the transverse discharge opening and an open position where the discharge gate facilitates lading discharge through the transverse discharge opening; and 
 wherein the orientation of the discharge gate is non-horizontal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge gate is pivotally coupled to the second side of the hopper and operable to swing between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge gate is pivotally coupled to the second side of the hopper proximate a ridge between the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge gate is slidably coupled to the second side of the hopper and operable to slide between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge gate of a first hopper of the at least two hoppers is offset from horizontal at a different angle than the discharge gate of a second hopper of the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge gate of a first hopper of the at least two hoppers opens in a different direction than the discharge gate of a second hopper of the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 6 , wherein the discharge gate of the first hopper and the discharge gate of the second hopper open towards each other. 
     
     
         8 . The railcar of  claim 6 , wherein the discharge gate of the first hopper and the discharge gate of the second hopper are coupled proximate a ridge between the first hopper and the second hopper. 
     
     
         9 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal distance between adjacent edges of the at least two discharge gates is less than the longitudinal length of the discharge gate. 
     
     
         10 . A hopper car discharge gate apparatus, the discharge gate apparatus comprising:
 a transverse slope sheet for coupling to a first side of a hopper of railcar, when coupled to the hopper the transverse slope sheet extends at an angle downward and towards the center of the hopper forming a transverse discharge opening between the first side of the hopper and a second side of the hopper opposite the first side of the hopper;   a discharge gate for coupling to the second side of the hopper, when coupled to the hopper the discharge gate is operable to move between a closed position where the discharge gate extends downward towards the transverse slope sheet restricting discharge of lading through the transverse discharge opening and an open position where the discharge gate facilitates lading discharge through the transverse discharge opening; and   wherein the orientation of the discharge gate is non-horizontal when coupled to the hopper.   
     
     
         11 . The discharge gate apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the discharge gate comprises a pivotal coupling for coupling to the second side of the hopper and the discharge gate is operable to swing between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         12 . The discharge gate apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the discharge gate comprises a sliding coupling for coupling to the second side of the hopper and the discharge gate is operable to slide between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . A railcar comprising:
 an underframe;   at least two hoppers coupled to the underframe, each hopper of the at least two hoppers configured to transport a lading and each hopper comprising:
 a transverse discharge opening between a first side of the hopper and a second side of the hopper opposite the first side of the hopper; 
 a discharge gate coupled to the hopper, the discharge gate operable to move between a closed position where the discharge gate restricts discharge of lading through the transverse discharge opening and an open position where the discharge gate facilitates lading discharge through the transverse discharge opening; and 
 wherein the orientation of the discharge gate is non-horizontal. 
   
     
     
         14 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge gate is pivotally coupled to the hopper and operable to swing between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge gate is pivotally coupled to the hopper proximate a ridge between the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         16 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge gate is slidably coupled to the hopper and operable to slide between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge gate of a first hopper of the at least two hoppers is offset from horizontal at a different angle than the discharge gate of a second hopper of the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         18 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the discharge gate of a first hopper of the at least two hoppers opens in a different direction than the discharge gate of a second hopper of the at least two hoppers. 
     
     
         19 . The railcar of  claim 18 , wherein the discharge gate of the first hopper and the discharge gate of the second hopper open towards each other. 
     
     
         20 . The railcar of  claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal distance between adjacent edges of the at least two discharge gates is less than the longitudinal length of the discharge gate.