According to certain embodiments, an adapter assembly for a bottom outlet valve comprises an apparatus configured to be coupled to a stem of the bottom outlet valve of the railroad car. The stem of the bottom outlet valve is aligned generally with a longitudinal axis of the railroad car. The apparatus comprises a coupler configured to be coupled to the stem of the bottom outlet valve and a primary gear coupled to the coupler. The primary gear is configured to be coupled to a handle assembly extending from either side of the railroad car. The handle assembly is configured to operate the bottom outlet valve.

An on-track work or rescue vehicle for fire-fighting and/or the rescue of persons in tunnels or subway tubes has a drive which can be operated for at least a limited duration without ambient air. A liquid tank is arranged on the work or rescue vehicle. A fan blower with a fluid spraying device is connected to the liquid tank for producing a spray mist. The work or rescue vehicle is a traction vehicle for pulling or pushing other rail vehicles. A work or rescue vehicle of this type can move to a fire source under the protection of the spray mist blown into the tunnel or subway tube and, if required, pull or push a damaged rail vehicle from a danger zone.

An on-track work or rescue vehicle for fire-fighting and/or the rescue of persons in tunnels or subway tubes has a drive which can be operated for at least a limited duration without ambient air. A liquid tank is arranged on the work or rescue vehicle. A fan blower with a fluid spraying device is connected to the liquid tank for producing a spray mist. The work or rescue vehicle is a traction vehicle for pulling or pushing other rail vehicles. A work or rescue vehicle of this type can move to a fire source under the protection of the spray mist blown into the tunnel or subway tube and, if required, pull or push a damaged rail vehicle from a danger zone.

A rail vehicle car includes at least one tank for storing gaseous fuels. The at least one tank is integrated into a car body shell of the rail vehicle, and the walls of the tank are constructed in such a way that they assume a load-bearing function within the car body shell.

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 low-pressure fuel management and delivery system 10 for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) rail tender is disclosed. The system provides a rail tender that is inherently safer in operation to known LNG rail tenders through its use of a double-hulled tank design 12, which lacks any penetration of the bottom surface of the first inner tank 16 by any portion of the fuel supply portion of the system 10; the lower pressure storage of the fuel 22 in the first inner tank 16; the inclusion of a gas return line 58 for directing fuel 22 trapped in the LNG flow lines 38, the heat exchanger 46, or the multistage gas compressor 52 to the vapor space 32 of the first inner tank 16 at safe pressures and temperatures; the lack of cryogenic pumps within the first inner tank 16 to drive the fuel supply portion of the system 10; and the location of all the flow controlling valves 40, 42, 50, and 56 in positions that afford them improved physical protection from potential damage due to vehicular collisions or other railroad accidents. During operation, the fuel management and delivery system 10 provides required fuel flow rates and temperatures to an associated locomotive through the use of hydrostatic pressure differences between the LNG fuel 22 and the vapor space 32 within first inner tank 16, as well as a heat exchanger 46 and a multi-stage compressor 52, which are preferably located external of the double-hulled fuel storage tank 12, but on the same rolling stock chassis 14.

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 and methods relating to the safety of railway cars carrying flammable materials. A rail tank car having an inner tank and an outer protective wall surrounding the inner tank is provided. The outer surface of the inner tank and the inner surface of the outer protective wall are separated by a gap. A low emissivity coating is applied to one or both of the outer surface of the inner tank and the inner surface of the outer protective wall. Existing rail tank cars with a similar construction can be retrofitted by spraying the low emissivity coating inside the gap to thereby coat at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface. Preferably, the low emissivity coating has an emissivity coefficient of, at most, 0.8.

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.