Railway hopper car

Abstract

A hopper car is provided having a plurality of discharge gates on the bottom side of the car to allow material to be discharged from within the car. The hopper car has a pair of trucks attached to its bottom side and with each truck positioned adjacent one of the opposing end walls. One of the discharge gates is provided on the bottom of the car between the trucks for dispensing material between the trucks. Another of the discharge gates is provided between at least one of the end walls and its adjacent truck for dispensing material between the truck and the sidewall.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A railway hopper car unit capable of transporting loads of bulk commodities in commercial rail service, said unit comprising: 
 first and second side walls;    first and second end walls;    a first truck assembly and a second truck assembly, each of said first and second truck assemblies having at least one axle;    said first truck assembly being proximate to said first end wall;    said second truck assembly being proximate said second end wall;    a first discharge gate between said first end wall and said first truck assembly; and    a second discharge gate between said first and second truck assemblies.    
     
     
         2 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 1  wherein at least one of said truck assemblies has only a single axle.  
     
     
         3 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 1  wherein each of said truck assemblies has only a single axle.  
     
     
         4 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said first end wall extends substantially vertically upward from said first gate.  
     
     
         5 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a plurality of discharge gates between said first and second truck assemblies.  
     
     
         6 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a hood over said first truck assembly, said hood comprising first and second walls defining a ridge over said axle.  
     
     
         7 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 6  wherein a brake cylinder is disposed under said hood.  
     
     
         8 . A railway hopper car unit in accordance with  claim 7  wherein gate actuation cylinder is disposed under said hood.