Longitudinal gate hopper car without partitions

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises an underframe, a pair of sidewall assemblies, a pair of end wall assemblies, and one hopper bay formed between the pair of sidewall assemblies and the pair of end wall assemblies. The one hopper bay includes a longitudinal discharge opening extending the length of the hopper bay. The one hopper bay may extend the length of the railcar. The railcar may further comprise one or more longitudinal discharge gates coupled to the hopper bay and configured to cover the longitudinal discharge opening. The one or more longitudinal discharge gates are movable away from the longitudinal discharge opening, thereby allowing lading within the hopper to discharge through the longitudinal opening.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 an underframe, a pair of sidewall assemblies, a pair of end wall assemblies, and one hopper bay formed between the pair of sidewall assemblies and the pair of end wall assemblies;   wherein the one hopper bay includes a longitudinal discharge opening extending the length of the hopper bay.   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the one hopper bay extends the length of the railcar. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more longitudinal discharge gates coupled to the hopper bay and configured to cover the longitudinal discharge opening, wherein the one or more longitudinal discharge gates are movable away from the longitudinal discharge opening, thereby allowing lading within the hopper to discharge through the longitudinal opening. 
     
     
         4 . A hopper for a railcar, the hopper comprising:
 a longitudinal discharge opening extending the length of the hopper; and   wherein the hopper extends the length of a railcar when coupled to the railcar.   
     
     
         5 . The hopper of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more longitudinal discharge gates coupled to the hopper and configured to cover the longitudinal discharge opening, wherein the one or more longitudinal discharge gates are movable away from the longitudinal discharge opening, thereby allowing lading within the hopper to discharge through the longitudinal opening. 
     
     
         6 . A railcar comprising:
 a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar and coupled to a center sill; and   one hopper disposed between the pair of trucks and coupled to the center sill;   wherein the one hopper includes a longitudinal discharge opening extending the length of the hopper.   
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the one hopper extends from one truck of the pair of trucks to the other truck of the pair trucks. 
     
     
         8 . The railcar of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more longitudinal discharge gates coupled to the hopper bay and configured to cover the longitudinal discharge opening, wherein the one or more longitudinal discharge gates are movable away from the longitudinal discharge opening, thereby allowing lading within the hopper to discharge through the longitudinal opening.