An apparatus for filling a container with bulk material, in particular sand, comprises a storage container for the bulk material with a closable lid and an outlet, a metering device arranged beneath the storage container and a pneumatic feeding device arranged under the metering device for feeding the bulk material into the container to be filled with the aid of compressed air via a feed hose. The feeding device has an injector with a plurality of, preferably at least five, holes for the compressed air.

A method for reconditioning a railcar coupler is disclosed, including determining, using a gauge, an amount of wear to a coupler pulling lug; cleaning a surface of the coupler pulling lug experiencing the wear; and applying a weldment to the surface of the coupler pulling lug experiencing the wear to increase the thickness of the coupler pulling lug. The amount of weldment applied to the coupler pulling lug is preferably equal to the amount of wear experiencing by the coupler pulling lug to bring the thickness of the coupler pulling lug back to its original thickness or very close thereto.

A method for reconditioning a railcar coupler is disclosed, including determining, using a gauge, an amount of wear to a coupler pulling lug; cleaning a surface of the coupler pulling lug experiencing the wear; and applying a weldment to the surface of the coupler pulling lug experiencing the wear to increase the thickness of the coupler pulling lug. The amount of weldment applied to the coupler pulling lug is preferably equal to the amount of wear experiencing by the coupler pulling lug to bring the thickness of the coupler pulling lug back to its original thickness or very close thereto.

A detection and positioning method for a train water injection port includes: acquiring train water injection port video images, and performing threshold segmentation on the train water injection port video images to obtain binarized train water injection port video images; processing the binarized train water injection port video images and matching the processed binarized train water injection port video images with a train water injection port template image; detecting a position of the water injection port in the train water injection port video image and comparing the position with a pre-set position range where the water injection port is located; and if the position and the pre-set position range have been matched, then transmitting a matching valid signal to a mechanical device control module to control a mechanical device to move or stop and start or stop water injection.

A detection and positioning method for a train water injection port includes: acquiring train water injection port video images, and performing threshold segmentation on the train water injection port video images to obtain binarized train water injection port video images; processing the binarized train water injection port video images and matching the processed binarized train water injection port video images with a train water injection port template image; detecting a position of the water injection port in the train water injection port video image and comparing the position with a pre-set position range where the water injection port is located; and if the position and the pre-set position range have been matched, then transmitting a matching valid signal to a mechanical device control module to control a mechanical device to move or stop and start or stop water injection.

A detection and positioning method for a train water injection port includes: acquiring train water injection port video images, and performing threshold segmentation on the train water injection port video images to obtain binarized train water injection port video images; processing the binarized train water injection port video images and matching the processed binarized train water injection port video images with a train water injection port template image; detecting a position of the water injection port in the train water injection port video image and comparing the position with a pre-set position range where the water injection port is located; and if the position and the pre-set position range have been matched, then transmitting a matching valid signal to a mechanical device control module to control a mechanical device to move or stop and start or stop water injection.

A detection and positioning method for a train water injection port includes: acquiring train water injection port video images, and performing threshold segmentation on the train water injection port video images to obtain binarized train water injection port video images; processing the binarized train water injection port video images and matching the processed binarized train water injection port video images with a train water injection port template image; detecting a position of the water injection port in the train water injection port video image and comparing the position with a pre-set position range where the water injection port is located; and if the position and the pre-set position range have been matched, then transmitting a matching valid signal to a mechanical device control module to control a mechanical device to move or stop and start or stop water injection.

An exhaust extraction system for a train is disclosed. The system includes: a stationary duct having a duct wall that defines a plurality of openings; a suction source for creating suction in the interior of the stationary duct; at least one cover flap covering the plurality of openings; a guide track extending longitudinally in spaced parallel relation to the stationary duct; and a carriage that is movable along the guide track. The carriage includes an exhaust duct having an outlet at a first end and an inlet at a second opposite end, the inlet for receiving exhaust gas from a locomotive, and a support frame for supporting the exhaust duct in a fixed vertical position. The carriage is operable to move the at least one cover flap to uncover one or more of the plurality of openings that align with the outlet as the carriage moves along the guide track.

A railroad tank car cleaning system that does not require a human to enter the tank car is disclosed herein. The system may include a cannon assembly secured to a tank of a railroad tank car at an opening of a manway hatch of the tank. The cannon assembly may include an adapter configured to seal the opening of the manway hatch and a hydraulic cannon configured to extend within an interior of the tank. The system may further comprise a controller configured to automatically control movement and operation of the hydraulic cannon during cleaning according to one or more cleaning profiles specifying a pre-programmed duration and/or pattern of movement. The cleaning profiles used for a given tank may be selected by a user or automatically determined based on knowledge of the tank.

A railroad tank car cleaning system that does not require a human to enter the tank car is disclosed herein. The system may include a cannon assembly secured to a tank of a railroad tank car at an opening of a manway hatch of the tank. The cannon assembly may include an adapter configured to seal the opening of the manway hatch and a hydraulic cannon configured to extend within an interior of the tank. The system may further comprise a controller configured to automatically control movement and operation of the hydraulic cannon during cleaning according to one or more cleaning profiles specifying a pre-programmed duration and/or pattern of movement. The cleaning profiles used for a given tank may be selected by a user or automatically determined based on knowledge of the tank.