A device is provided to assist rail car loaders when loading rail cars and to hold open the rail car dome lid to further prevent from closing while the rail car loader is working in the dome lid area. Additionally, this invention allows for improved egress when the rail car loader is working on the rail cars. The device for a railcar dome lid enables and holds the railcar dome lid open and to sit at a near a 90-degree angle without the possibility of the railcar dome lid falling closed on an operator. The railcar dome lid device includes a base member and an internal holding arm on the inside of the railcar dome wall. The base member includes two arms, with one arm on the outside of the railcar dome wall and one arm that props up against and holds the railcar dome lid open.

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.

A vacuum relief valve for a railroad tank car and methods for using the same to test the vacuum relief valve for leaks without requiring removal of the valve from the railroad tank car are described herein. According to one aspect of the invention, a vacuum relief valve described herein may be inspected for leaks without removing the vacuum relief valve from the railroad tank car by using two or more access openings located on the body of the vacuum relief valve. According to another aspect of the invention, a vacuum relief valve described herein may be inspected for leaks without removing the vacuum relief valve from the railroad tank car by using an opening to an interior cavity of the valve body that is revealed by rotating a cover from a closed position to an open position.

A manway assembly for a railroad tank car features a nozzle defining a central opening and having a sidewall, a cover, a hinge attaching the cover to the nozzle, and a seal assembly to seal the cover to the nozzle. The seal assembly may include a circumferential seal and a circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may include a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and a side portion between the top portion and the bottom portion. An underside edge portion of the cover may be provided with the circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may be positioned within the circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may have a C-shaped cross section and may be positioned in the circumferential seal channel such that the top portion of the seal is seated against a top wall of the circumferential seal channel and the bottom portion of the seal is seated against a circumferential ledge of the nozzle.

A device is provided to assist rail car loaders when loading rail cars and to hold open the rail car dome lid to further prevent from closing while the rail car loader is working in the dome lid area. Additionally, this invention allows for improved egress when the rail car loader is working on the rail cars. The device for a railcar dome lid enables and holds the railcar dome lid open and to sit at a near a 90-degree angle without the possibility of the railcar dome lid falling closed on an operator. The railcar dome lid device includes a base member and an internal holding arm on the inside of the railcar dome wall. The base member includes two arms, with one arm on the outside of the railcar dome wall and one arm that props up against and holds the railcar dome lid open.

A manway open and close assist device that is operably connected to at least one upper hinge attachable to a manway cover and a lower hinge attached to a vessel or tank. The device comprises. A disc-like piston is mounted on a threaded input screw and at least one anti-rotation member to provide linear translation of the piston due to rotation of the input screw. A cylindrical and tubular housing that receives the threaded input screw, the anti-rotation member, and the piston, wherein the housing has a plurality of helical grooves disposed in its inner surface that receive teeth on the outer surface of the piston. The housing may be fixed to the upper hinge member(s) and a rotation of the housing and attached hinge member(s) is effectuated by rotating the input screw and resulting linear movement of the piston to open and close the manway cover.

The present railway car hatch cover latch assembly includes a latch plate. One end of the latch assembly rod is affixed to a bracket, with the adjustable end usually comprising an eye at the end of a threaded shaft. The threaded shaft is received in a keeper. The keeper in turn supports and holds a coil spring between the eye and the keeper cap. A bent hooking rod has two upturned ends that hold the end of the coil spring nearest the eye. The center of the bent hooking rod extends from the keeper to form a receiver. A latch plate includes a pivot rod that extends through the receiver of the bent hooking rod. The latch paddle itself contacts and holds the hatch cover is a compressively closed position against the railway car hatch ring.

A sealed manhole clamp securing a manhole cover to a weld ring, including a lever assembly, the lever assembly having a lever arm and a cam, a pivot bolt, the pivot bolt having a cylindrical upper portion, and a lower portion, the lower bolt portion threadedly engages upwardly within the cylindrical upper portion of the pivot bolt, the cylindrical upper portion being pivotally pinned to the lever arm, the lower bolt portion being pivotally mounted to a seal ring, wherein since the lower bolt portion threadedly engages within the cylindrical upper portion, the entrance of any debris, dust, or moisture is prevented from entering the region of this threaded engagement of the pivot bolt components.

A manway assembly for a railroad tank car features a nozzle defining a central opening and having a sidewall, a cover, a hinge attaching the cover to the nozzle, and a seal assembly to seal the cover to the nozzle. The seal assembly may include a circumferential seal and a circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may include a top portion, a bottom portion opposite the top portion, and a side portion between the top portion and the bottom portion. An underside edge portion of the cover may be provided with the circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may be positioned within the circumferential seal channel. The circumferential seal may have a C-shaped cross section and may be positioned in the circumferential seal channel such that the top portion of the seal is seated against a top wall of the circumferential seal channel and the bottom portion of the seal is seated against a circumferential ledge of the nozzle.

Manway assemblies for railroad tank cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the manway assemblies include a cover having a perimeter portion with a plurality of spaced grooves. The manway assemblies additionally include a plurality of spaced fasteners pivotably attached to the nozzle adjacent to the opening. The manway assemblies further include an interference member attached to the cover adjacent to at least one groove. The interference member prevents pivoting of the at least one fastener from a secured position in which the fastener is received in a corresponding groove, to an unsecured position in which the fastener is spaced from the corresponding groove when the cover is in a closed position. The interference member allows pivoting of the at least one fastener from the secured position to the unsecured position when the cover is in a partially open position in which pressure contained within the railroad tank car is vented.