A railroad car hatch cover assembly including a replaceable combined hatch cover protector and gasket that can be quickly and easily mounted to a hatch cover of the vented hatch cover assembly and easily and quickly removed therefrom. In certain embodiments, the combined hatch cover protector and gasket includes an outer sealing member configured to be positioned in a pocket of the hatch cover, an inner protector element holder, a protector element held by and secured to the protector element holder, and a dual connector connecting the outer sealing member and the inner protector element holder, and configured to partially facilitate connection to the hatch cover.

The current invention relates to methods and systems for evaluating a filling state of a load bearing means by means of a monitoring system comprising a sensing module; said load bearing means adapted for being carried by a transport unit; said load bearing means comprising a loading space; said sensing module situated in proximity to said load bearing means and outside of said loading space; said sensing module comprising an emitter, a receiver, an evaluator and a memory comprising calibration data; said sensing module configured for carrying out a plurality of steps; wherein a spacing S between said emitter and said receiver does not exceed 200 mm; and wherein a maximum dimension M of said load bearing means is not smaller than 4 m.

The current invention relates to methods and systems for evaluating a filling state of a load bearing means by means of a monitoring system comprising a sensing module; said load bearing means adapted for being carried by a transport unit; said load bearing means comprising a loading space; said sensing module situated in proximity to said load bearing means and outside of said loading space; said sensing module comprising an emitter, a receiver, an evaluator and a memory comprising calibration data; said sensing module configured for carrying out a plurality of steps; wherein a spacing S between said emitter and said receiver does not exceed 200 mm; and wherein a maximum dimension M of said load bearing means is not smaller than 4 m.

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.

According to some embodiments, a pressure relief valve system comprises a valve body coupled to a pressure chamber. The valve body defines a vapor flow path between the pressure chamber and the atmosphere. A valve orifice in the valve body is configured to allow vapor to flow between the pressure chamber and the valve body. A vapor conduit comprises a vapor conduit first end coupled to the valve orifice and a second end opening into the pressure chamber. The vapor conduit forms a passageway between the vapor conduit first and second end. The vapor conduit also comprises a vapor conduit orifice near its first end. The vapor conduit orifice is configured to allow the vapor to flow from the pressure chamber into the vapor conduit. A gravity-operated valve positioned near the vapor conduit first end is configured to control the flow of vapor through the vapor conduit orifice.

According to some embodiments, a pressure relief valve system comprises a valve body coupled to a pressure chamber. The valve body defines a vapor flow path between the pressure chamber and the atmosphere. A valve orifice in the valve body is configured to allow vapor to flow between the pressure chamber and the valve body. A vapor conduit comprises a vapor conduit first end coupled to the valve orifice and a second end opening into the pressure chamber. The vapor conduit forms a passageway between the vapor conduit first and second end. The vapor conduit also comprises a vapor conduit orifice near its first end. The vapor conduit orifice is configured to allow the vapor to flow from the pressure chamber into the vapor conduit. A gravity-operated valve positioned near the vapor conduit first end is configured to control the flow of vapor through the vapor conduit orifice.

In a method or apparatus for transporting bulk goods by rail cars on a rail network to a rail car handling terminal where the handling terminal includes a loading and/or unloading system with a metering device for measuring an amount of the bulk goods loaded or unloaded. At the terminal there is a center control data hub connecting to a plurality of portable hand held field computers and a communication system for communication with the rail network to obtain a Car Location Message (CLM), a way bill and mechanical data for each of the rail cars. The center control hub generates data indicating a current stage of each of the railcars and a signal indicative that a rail car can be transferred from one stage to another stage to the portable computers to control transfer of the rail car from one stage to the next stage.

A handle assembly for an outlet valve for a tank, where the outlet valve has a stem that is actuated to open and close the outlet valve, is provided. The handle assembly includes a handle. A shaft is attached to the handle, and an adapter attached to the shaft. A bracket is adapted to mount the shaft to the tank so that the shaft is pivotally mounted with respect to the tank and movable with respect to the outlet valve between an engaged position, where the adapter is connected to the stem, and a disengaged position, where the adapter is disconnected from the stem.

A handle assembly for an outlet valve for a tank, where the outlet valve has a stem that is actuated to open and close the outlet valve, is provided. The handle assembly includes a handle. A shaft is attached to the handle, and an adapter attached to the shaft. A bracket is adapted to mount the shaft to the tank so that the shaft is pivotally mounted with respect to the tank and movable with respect to the outlet valve between an engaged position, where the adapter is connected to the stem, and a disengaged position, where the adapter is disconnected from the stem.