Aerating system for a covered hopper railway car

Claim 2

In a covered hopper railway car having sidewalls including side sheets and an array of reinforcing vertical hollow side stakes on said side sheets extending throughout the length and height thereof; means for aerating lading in said car, comprising air propelling means mounted on the car; first air conveying means connecting the bottom of said side stakes to one side of said air propelling means; means for placing said side stakes in communication with the interior of said car; second air conveying means connecting the other side of said air propelling means to the interior of said car, whereby air is circulated through said car via said air conveying means and said stakes.

Claim 3

A car according to claim 1, wherein said stakes are on the outside of said sidewalls, said sidewalls having perforations along each of the stakes in registry therewith.

Claim 4

A car according to claim 2, wherein said first air conveying means includes channel-shaped side sills extending along said sidewalls and communicating with said stakes.

Claim 5

A car according to claim 1 having a plurality of hoppers each having a bottom outlet structure, and means for discharging air into said bottom outlet structure, including an air conduit between said first air conveying means and each bottom outlet structure.

Claim 6

A car according to claim 4, including opposed perforated slope sheets forming a false bottom for said outlet structure.

Claim 7

A covered hopper railway car for aerating lading transported by the car and comprising a pair of opposed sides; an array of hollow stakes on each side, said stakes having air passages communicating with the interior of the car; a plurality of hoppers between the sides, each hopper having a bottom outlet structure with discharge opening therein for unloading the lading from the caR; a closure for the discharge opening movable between open and closed positions; means to provide a continuous supply of air to lading within the car, said means comprising a blower mounted on said car, air conduits leading from the blower to the stakes to provide a supply of air to the interior of the car to aerate the lading, said air conduits including a hollow side sill extending along the lower portion of each side for substantially the length of the car, the stakes on each side of the car extending upwardly from one of the side sills; and an air outlet adjacent the upper end of the car.

Claim 8

A covered hopper railway car for aerating lading transported by the car and comprising a pair of opposed sides; an array of hollow stakes on each side, said stakes having air passages communicating with the interior of the car; a plurality of hoppers between the sides, each hopper having a bottom outlet structure with discharge opening therein for unloading the lading from the caR; a closure for the discharge opening movable between open and closed positions; means to provide a continuous supply of air to lading within the car, said means comprising a blower mounted on said car, air conduits leading from the blower to the stakes to provide a supply of air to the interior of the car to aerate the lading, said air conduits including a hollow side sill extending along the lower portion of each side for substantially the length of the car, the stakes on each side of the car extending upwardly from one of the side sills; and an air outlet adjacent the upper end of the car.

Claim 9

A car according to claim 6, wherein the air outlet includes an upper hollow side plate member extending longitudinally along the upper portion of each side for substantially the length of the car.

Claim 10

A car according to claim 2, wherein said second air conveying means includes a pair of channel-shaped side sills extending along the upper edges of the sidewalls of the car for substantially the entire length of the car and being in communication with the interior of the car.