Railway car having a heated fresh air intake

Claim 2

In a railway car having a closed body adapted to carry moisture containing lading and having means for circulating conditioned air about the lading in the body, the improvement comprising apparatus for minimizing condensation on a surface of said body, said apparatus including an electric heater energized from a power source on the car and located generally adjacent said surface at end of the car, a fresh air inlet at said end of the car for providing a stream of ambient air past the heater, a thermal switch located in the stream of air ahead of the heater and connected in circuit with the heater for closing the circuit when the temperature of the ambient air is below a given value, said means for circulating conditioned air being so arranged relative to said air inlet that during operation of said air circulating means a shielding stream of fresh air is caused to flow within the car across said surface to prevent condensation thereon of moisture from the humid air being circulated about the lading by said air circulating means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, including an adjustable closure means for closing said fresh air inlet or opening it a selected amount.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to clAim wherein said air circulating means includes means for continuously exhausting a portion of the circulated air, thereby permitting fresh air to be supplied to said car body through said air inlet.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said car is a closed hopper car having a plurality of hoppers, the conditioned air is introduced into the body at the bottom of each hopper and withdrawn at the other end of the car near the top thereof, whereby the pressures in the car body cause the fresh air from said inlet to flow adjacent the roof across the length of the car to prevent condensation on the inner surface of the roof.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, including a housing for said heater and thermal switch, said housing including a pivoted door forming an outer wall of said housing and providing the fresh air inlet when opened, whereby the heater heats the thermal switch and causes it to turn off the heater unless cold air is flowing over the switch and heater.

Claim 7

In a railway car having a closed body adapted to carry moisture containing lading and having separate means for circulating heated air through the body from the lower portion of the body to the upper portion thereof, the improvement comprising apparatus for minimizing condensation on the upper surfaces of said body, said apparatus including an electric heater at one end of the car adjacent the roof thereof said heater being energized from a power source on the car, a fresh air inlet at said end of the car for providing a stream of ambient air past the heater, a thermal switch located in the stream of air ahead of the heater and connected in circuit with the heater for closing the circuit when the temperature of the ambient air is below a given value, said means for circulating conditioned air being so arranged relative to said air inlet that during operation of said air circulating means a shielding stream of heated fresh air is caused to flow within the car over said upper surfaces to prevent condensation thereon in cold weather of moisture from the humid air being circulated about the lading by said air circulating means, a housing for said heater and thermal switch, said housing including a pivoted door forming the fresh air inlet and adjustable between open and closed positions, and means to adjust the spacing between the door and housing to permit the entry of a predetermined amount of fresh air.

Claim 8

In a railway car having a closed body adapted to carry moisture containing lading and having separate means for circulating heated air through the body from the lower portion of the body to the upper portion thereof, the improvement comprising apparatus for minimizing condensation on the upper surfaces of said body, said apparatus including an electric heater at one end of the car adjacent the roof thereof said heater being energized from a power source on the car, a fresh air inlet at said end of the car for providing a stream of ambient air past the heater, a thermal switch located in the stream of air ahead of the heater and connected in circuit with the heater for closing the circuit when the temperature of the ambient air is below a given value, said means for circulating conditioned air being so arranged relative to said air inlet that during operation of said air circulating means a shielding stream of heated fresh air is caused to flow within the car over said upper surfaces to prevent condensation thereon in cold weather of moisture from the humid air being circulated about the lading by said air circulating means, a housing for said heater and thermal switch, said housing including a pivoted door forming the fresh air inlet and adjustable between open and closed positions, and means to adjust the spacing between the door and housing to permit the entry of a predetermined amount of fresh air.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means to adjust the spacing between the door and housing includes a manually rotatable member engaging the pivoted door for varying the amount of fresh air admitted.