A railroad car including a plurality of penetration resistant and protective structures including a penetration resistant and protective underframe, penetration resistant and protective first end, second end, and center bulkheads, penetration resistant and protective first, second, third, and fourth side walls, and protective first and second roof hatches, all configured to protect internal cylinder assemblies, the pipes that communicate the gas from the cylinders of the cylinder assemblies, and the safety critical valves, regulators, and other equipment connected to such cylinders and pipes of the railroad car in an accident (such as a derailment, crash and/or roll-over).

A vessel for transporting a material that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature, includes a body having an interior surface comprising textured metal, and a superoleophobic coating on the interior surface for inhibiting the material from adhering to the interior surface, the superoleophobic coating including a nanotextured coating disposed on the textured metal and functionalized with a fluorinated compound. The superoleophobic coating facilitates flow of the material along the interior surface.

A vessel for transporting a material that is solid or semi-solid at ambient temperature, includes a body having an interior surface comprising textured metal, and a superoleophobic coating on the interior surface for inhibiting the material from adhering to the interior surface, the superoleophobic coating including a nanotextured coating disposed on the textured metal and functionalized with a fluorinated compound. The superoleophobic coating facilitates flow of the material along the interior surface.

A method of transmitting electricity including providing a shippable container configured to transport a liquid electrolyte solution to a first charging station. The first charging station is configured to apply electricity to the liquid electrolyte solution. The first charging station charges the liquid electrolyte solution by applying electricity to the liquid electrolyte solution. The charged liquid electrolyte solution is loaded into the shippable container and transported to a discharging station. The electrolyte solution is electrically discharged at the discharging station and subsequently transported to a second charging station.

A method of transmitting electricity including providing a shippable container configured to transport a liquid electrolyte solution to a first charging station. The first charging station is configured to apply electricity to the liquid electrolyte solution. The first charging station charges the liquid electrolyte solution by applying electricity to the liquid electrolyte solution. The charged liquid electrolyte solution is loaded into the shippable container and transported to a discharging station. The electrolyte solution is electrically discharged at the discharging station and subsequently transported to a second charging station.

Systems, devices, and methods for passing railcar tank cleaning systems through the opening and mounted to existing manways. The invention can extend horizontally more than 25 feet and clean rail cars up to and beyond approximately 102 inches in diameter for manual, automated, or semi-automated programmable railcar tank cleaning systems, devices and methods for providing safe and efficient methods for breaking up oil, tar, chemical, radioactive, hazardous, or any other liquid, solid, or sludge waste inside rail tank cars and the like with nozzles which utilize fluid jets to break up, liquefy, and motivate tank material. The programmable railcar cleaning system can be a standalone, independent unit or integrated into new designs and/or existing systems. Simplified programming and user interface allow an operator to remotely operate the system. The various capabilities of this invention allow cleaning in a quicker and more efficient manner. The system is hydraulically controlled and can work in the presence of flammable vapors and dust.

A railroad tank car formed from steel alloy plates having improved toughness and puncture resistance. The steel alloy plates include a steel alloy including in wt. %: C: 0.1-0.15; Mn: 1.0-1.65; Si: 0.15-0.40; Al: 0.015-0.06; Mo: 0.1-0.3; Ni: 0.1-0.25; Nb: 0.015-0.045; Ti: up to 0.02; Cr: up to 0.22; V: up to 0.08; Cu: up to 0.35; P: max 0.025; S: max 0.015; and N: 0.004-0.01. The alloy plates may have been normalized for 30 minutes at 900° C. The alloy plates may have a tensile strength of at least 560 MPa; a yield strength of at least 345 MPa; a total elongation of at least 22%; a CVN impact toughness of at least 135.5J at −34.4° C.; a CVN impact toughness of at least 122J at −45.5° C. The alloy plates may have a ferrite-bainite microstructure, with 10% or less pearlite. The alloy plates of the inventive railroad tank car may have an absence of any banded ferrite-pearlite/martensite structure.

A railroad tank car formed from steel alloy plates having improved toughness and puncture resistance. The steel alloy plates include a steel alloy including in wt. %: C: 0.1-0.15; Mn: 1.0-1.65; Si: 0.15-0.40; Al: 0.015-0.06; Mo: 0.1-0.3; Ni: 0.1-0.25; Nb: 0.015-0.045; Ti: up to 0.02; Cr: up to 0.22; V: up to 0.08; Cu: up to 0.35; P: max 0.025; S: max 0.015; and N: 0.004-0.01. The alloy plates may have been normalized for 30 minutes at 900° C. The alloy plates may have a tensile strength of at least 560 MPa; a yield strength of at least 345 MPa; a total elongation of at least 22%; a CVN impact toughness of at least 135.5J at −34.4° C.; a CVN impact toughness of at least 122J at −45.5° C. The alloy plates may have a ferrite-bainite microstructure, with 10% or less pearlite. The alloy plates of the inventive railroad tank car may have an absence of any banded ferrite-pearlite/martensite structure.

A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.

A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.