Tank car and train thereof and loading and unloading systems

Claim 2

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first control valve in said lading conduit for selectively opening and closing said lading conduit, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit on one side of said first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a second control valve in said first pipe for selectively opening and closing said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit on the other side of said first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve in said second pipe for selectively opening and closing said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for closing said first control valve and opening said second and third control valves to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and for closing said first and second and third control valves for transporting of said tank.

Claim 3

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, wherein said second pipe terminates in an open end spaced a predetermined distance from the top of said tank.

Claim 4

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a third pipe in communication with said lading conduit and terminating in an open end spaced a predetermined distance below the open end of said second pipe, and a valve mechanism in said third pipe.

Claim 5

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a fluid level gauge mounted in said tank for detecting the loaded condition thereof to actuate said valve mechanisms to open said lading conduit and to close said first and second pipes and for detecting the unloaded condition of said tank.

Claim 6

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a fluid level gauge mounted in said tank for detecting a first loaded condition thereof to actuate said valve mechanisms to open said lading conduit and to close said first and second pipes at a first level of fluid lading within said tank and for detecting a second loaded condition thereof to actuate said valve mechanisms to open said lading conduit and to close said first and second pipes at a second level of fluid lading within said tank and for detecting the unloaded condition of said tank.

Claim 7

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, wherein said lading conduit and said control valves are mounted on top of said tank.

Claim 8

The railway tank car set forth in claim 6, and further comprising a protective housing mounted on the top of said tank and surrounding said control valves.

Claim 9

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, and further comprising a visual indicator to give a visual signal as to whether said control valves are in the loading or unloading conditions thereof.

Claim 10

The railway tank car set forth in claim 1, wherein all of said control valves are ball valves with double-acting pneumatic actuators.

Claim 11

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a first control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first condition to close said lading conduit between said first and second pipes and to open said first and second pipes to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and to a second condition for closing said first and second pipes for transporting of said tank.

Claim 12

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a first control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first condition to close said lading conduit between said first and second pipes and to open said first and second pipes to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and to a second condition for closing said first and second pipes for transporting of said tank.

Claim 13

The railway tank car set forth in claim 10, wherein said lading conduit and said control valves are mounted on the top of said tank.

Claim 14

The railway tank car set forth in claim 11, and further comprising a protective housing mounted on the top of said tank and surrounding said control valves.

Claim 15

The railway tank car set forth in claim 10, wherein said first control valve is at the junction of said lading conduit and said first pipe, and said second control valve is at the junction of said lading conduit and said second pipe.

Claim 16

The railway tank car set forth in claim 10, and further comprising a liquid level sensor for detecting the loaded condition of said tank and for detecting the unloaded condition for said tank.

Claim 17

The railway tank car set forth in claim 14, wherein said liquid level sensor can detect two different loaded levels in said tank.

Claim 18

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said train comprising a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said car together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, a first control valve in each lading conduit for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve in each first pipe for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve in each second pipe for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanisms on each of said tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanisms being actuated to close the associated first control valves and to open the associated second and third control valves and thereafter to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism opening the associated first control valve and closing the associated second and third control valves to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all of the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to the other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and all said valve control mechanisms are actuated to open all said first valves and said valve control mechanism for the tank at said other end of said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves on the tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves for said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms then closing said second and said third control valves.

Claim 19

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said train comprising a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said car together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, a first control valve in each lading conduit for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve in each first pipe for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve in each second pipe for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanisms on each of said tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanisms being actuated to close the associated first control valves and to open the associated second and third control valves and thereafter to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism opening the associated first control valve and closing the associated second and third control valves to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all of the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to the other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and all said valve control mechanisms are actuated to open all said first valves and said valve control mechanism for the tank at said other end of said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves on the tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves for said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms then closing said second and said third control valves.

Claim 20

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, wherein each of said second pipes terminates in an open end spaced a predetermined distance from the top of said tank.

Claim 21

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, and further comprising a third pipe for each of said tanks in communication with said loading conduit and terminating in an open end spaced a predetermined distance below the open end of the associated second pipe, and a valve mechanism in each of said third pipes.

Claim 22

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, wherein said lading conduits and said control valves are mounted on the top of the associated tank.

Claim 23

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 19, and further comprising a protective housing mounted on the top of each of said tanks and surrounding the associated control valves.

Claim 24

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, and further comprising a visual indicator to give a visual signal as to whether each of said control valves is in the open or closed position thereof.

Claim 25

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, wherein all of said control valves are ball valves with double-acting pneumatic actuators.

Claim 26

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 16, and further comprising fluid level sensor means for each of said tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof and the unloaded condition thereof, detection of the loaded condition of the associated tank by said fluid level sensor means causing the associated valve control mechanism to open the associated first control valve and to close the associated second and third control valves to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train, the detection of the unloaded condition of the associated tank by said fluid level sensor means actuating the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves for said next tank in said train.

Claim 27

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 23, wherein said fluid level sensor means can detect two different loaded conditions of the associated tank.

Claim 28

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said cars together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating said control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said tank train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanism on the tank car at said one end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to said other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and said valve control mechanism for the last tank on the other end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close said lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on the last tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms operating said first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing said first and second pipes.

Claim 29

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said cars together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating said control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said tank train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanism on the tank car at said one end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to said other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and said valve control mechanism for the last tank on the other end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close said lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on the last tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms operating said first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing said first and second pipes.

Claim 30

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 25, wherein said lading conduits and said control valves are mounted on the top of the associated tank.

Claim 31

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 25, and further comprising a protective housing mounted on the top of each of said tanks and surrounding the associated control valves.

Claim 32

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 25, wherein said first control valves are at the junctions of the associated lading conduits and the associated first pipes, and said second control valves are at the junctions of the associated lading conduits and the associated second pipes.

Claim 33

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 25, and further comprising fluid level sensor means for each of said tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof and the unloaded condition thereof, detection of the loaded condition of the associated tank by said fluid level sensor means causing the associated valve control mechanism to actuate the associated first and second control valves to the first position thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train, detection of the unloaded condition of the associated tank by said fluid level sensor causing the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train to be actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on said next tank in said train.

Claim 34

The railway tank car train set forth in claim 29, wherein said fluid level sensors means can detect two different loaded conditions of the associated tank.

Claim 35

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having an outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, valve mechanism on each of the associated tanks for selectively closing and opening the lading conduit and the first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof, to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, said terminal control system actuating the valve mechanisms on at least the tank car at the one end of the associated train to close the associated lading conduit between the associated first and second pipes and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of the associated train from said supply of fluid lading, filling the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the train to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in the train until all of the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to said other end of the train, disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 36

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having an outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, valve mechanism on each of the associated tanks for selectively closing and opening the lading conduit and the first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof, to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, said terminal control system actuating the valve mechanisms on at least the tank car at the one end of the associated train to close the associated lading conduit between the associated first and second pipes and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of the associated train from said supply of fluid lading, filling the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the train to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in the train until all of the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to said other end of the train, disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 37

The loading system set forth in claim 31, wherein said supply of fluid lading is high pressure liquified gases.

Claim 38

The overloading system set forth in claim 31, wherein said supply of fluid lading is liquified petroleum gases.

Claim 39

The loading system set forth in claim 31, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 40

The loading system set forth in claim 31, wherein the valve mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 41

The loading system set forth in claim 31, wherein said fluid level sensor can detect a first loaded condition of the associated tank at a first level of fluid lading within the tank and can detect a second loaded condition of the tank at a second level of fluid lading within the tank.

Claim 42

The loading system set forth in claim 31, and further comprising a supply of gas under pressure for providing pneumatic pressure to the valve mechanisms and for providing gas to purge the lading conduit at the completion of the loading operation.

Claim 43

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having and outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of the tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, valve control mechanisms on each of the tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, said terminal control system actuating all the valve control mechanisms on the associated tanks to cause the first control valves to close the associated lading conduits and to cause said second and third control valves to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train from said supply of fluid lading, filling of the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the tank car on the one end of the train to open the associated first control valve and to close the associated second and third control valves and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in the train for loading in the same manner as the tank at the one end of the train until all of the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to the other end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the first control valves to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 44

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having and outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of the tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, valve control mechanisms on each of the tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, said terminal control system actuating all the valve control mechanisms on the associated tanks to cause the first control valves to close the associated lading conduits and to cause said second and third control valves to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train from said supply of fluid lading, filling of the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the tank car on the one end of the train to open the associated first control valve and to close the associated second and third control valves and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in the train for loading in the same manner as the tank at the one end of the train until all of the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to the other end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the first control valves to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 45

The loading system set forth in claim 38, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 46

The loading system set forth in claim 38, wherein the valve control mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 47

The loading system set forth in claim 38, wherein said fluid level sensor can detect a first loaded condition of the associated tank at a first level of fluid lading within the tank and can detect a second loaded condition of the tank at a second level of fluid lading within the tank.

Claim 48

The loading system set forth in claim 38, and further comprising a supply of gas under pressure for providing pneumatic pressure to the valve control mechanisms and for providing gas to purge the lading conduit at the completion of the loading operation.

Claim 49

The loading system set forth in claim 38, wherein each of said valve control mechanisms includes a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve and a third valve actuator for the associated third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to the associated load outlet and unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to the associated unload outlet and accumulator and to the associated first valve actuator for selectively applying gas under pressure to the associated first valve actuator to control the position of the first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to the associated load outlet and accumulator and the associated second and third control valves for selectively applying gas under pressure to the associated second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 50

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having an outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, valve control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second control valves for actuating the control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating the control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of said tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof, to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, a signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the associated train to move the first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at the one end of the associated train from said supply of said fluid lading, filling of the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the train actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the next tank in the train in the same manner as the tank at the one end of the train until all the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to the other end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 51

A loading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading, said loading system comprising a supply of fluid lading having an outlet therefor and an inlet therefor, a pump having the inlet thereof connected to said supply outlet and having an outlet, a vapor recovery system having an inlet and an outlet connected to said supply inlet, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, valve control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second control valves for actuating the control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating the control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of said tanks for detecting the loaded condition thereof, to accommodate the loading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of the train being connected to the outlet of said pump and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system and the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated second pipe at the other end of the associated train being connected to the inlet to said vapor recovery system, a signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the associated train to move the first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at the one end of the associated train from said supply of said fluid lading, filling of the tank providing a signal from the associated fluid level sensor to said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the tank car at the one end of the train actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the next tank in the train in the same manner as the tank at the one end of the train until all the tanks in the train have been loaded singly and in sequence from the one end of the train to the other end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the outlet of said pump and the inlet to said vapor recovery system and disconnection of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 52

The loading system set forth in claim 44, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 53

The loading system set forth in claim 44, wherein the valve control mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 54

The loading system set forth in claim 44, wherein said fluid level sensor can detect a first loaded condition of the associated tank at a first level of fluid lading within the tank and can detect a second loaded condition of the tank at a second level of fluid lading within the tank.

Claim 55

The loading system set forth in claim 44, and further comprising a supply of gas under pressure for providing pneumatic pressure to the valve control mechanisms and for providing gas to purge the lading conduit at the completion of the loading operation.

Claim 56

The loading system set forth in claim 44, wherein each of said valve control mechanisms includes a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying gas under pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said unload outlet and said accumulator.

Claim 57

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a source of compressed gas under pressure having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, valve mechanism on each of the associated tanks for respectively closing and opening the lading conduit and the first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said source of gas under pressure and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the tank at the other end of the train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve mechanism on the next tank in the train to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tanks in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for liquid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said supply of gas under pressure and disconnecting of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 58

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a source of compressed gas under pressure having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, valve mechanism on each of the associated tanks for respectively closing and opening the lading conduit and the first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said source of gas under pressure and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the tank at the other end of the train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve mechanism on the next tank in the train to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tanks in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for liquid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said supply of gas under pressure and disconnecting of the valve mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 59

The unloading system set forth in claim 50, wherein said supply of fluid lading is high pressure liquified gases.

Claim 60

The unloading system set forth in claim 50, wherein said supply of fluid lading is liquified petroleum gases.

Claim 61

The unloading system set forth in claim 50, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 62

The unloading system set forth in claim 50, wherein the valve mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 63

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a compressor having an inlet connected to said container outlet and said compressor having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of the tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, valve control mechanisms on each of the tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said compressor and the valve mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system to open all of the first valves on all of the associated tanks and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to close the first control valve to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the second valve and the third valve on the tank at the other end of the train to open the first and second pipes thereof and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the next tank in the train to close the first valve in the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the second and third valves and the associated first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tanks in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for fluid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said compressor and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the second and third control valves to close the associated lading conduit and the associated first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 64

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet and an outlet therefor, a compressor having an inlet connected to said container outlet and said compressor having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of the tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into the tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, valve control mechanisms on each of the tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, and a fluid level sensor for each of the tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said compressor and the valve mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system to open all of the first valves on all of the associated tanks and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to close the first control valve to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the second valve and the third valve on the tank at the other end of the train to open the first and second pipes thereof and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the next tank in the train to close the first valve in the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the second and third valves and the associated first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tanks in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for fluid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said compressor and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system closing the second and third control valves to close the associated lading conduit and the associated first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 65

The unloading system set forth in claim 55, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 66

The unloading system set forth in claim 55, wherein the valve mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 67

The unloading system set forth in claim 55, wherein each of said valve control mechanisms includes a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve and a third valve actuator for the associated third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to the associated load outlet and unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to the associated unload outlet and accumulator and to the associated first valve actuator for selectively applying gas under pressure to the associated first valve actuator to control the position of the first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to the associated load outlet and accumulator and the associated second and third control valves for selectively applying gas under pressure to the associated second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 68

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet therefor, a source of compressed gas under pressure having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, valve control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second control valves for actuating the control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating the control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of said tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said source of gas under pressure and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to move the first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes on the tank at the other end of the train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the next tank car in the train to move the first and second control valves thereof to the second positions to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tank in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for liquid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said supply of gas under pressure and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system operating the first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing the associated first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 69

An unloading system for railway tank car trains for singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said unloading system comprising a container for fluid lading having an inlet therefor, a source of compressed gas under pressure having an outlet therefor, a terminal control system having a control signal terminal and a fluid level signal terminal, and structure accommodating a railway tank car train having a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of the associated tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of the associated tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling the associated cars together, a lading conduit on each of the associated tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means at the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of the associated tank cars and coupled to the coupling means on the lading conduits, each of the tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into the associated tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of the associated tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from the first pipe and extending into the associated tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, valve control mechanism operatively connected to the first and second control valves for actuating the control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating the control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, and a fluid level sensor for each of said tanks for detecting the unloaded condition thereof, to accommodate the unloading of the associated railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at one end of the train being connected to the inlet for said container for fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of the train being connected to the outlet of said source of gas under pressure and the valve control mechanisms being connected to the control signal terminal of said terminal control system and the fluid level sensors being connected to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system, an unload signal from the control signal terminal of said terminal control system actuating the valve control mechanism on the tank at the other end of the associated train to move the first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes on the tank at the other end of the train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through the lading conduit to the inlet of said container for fluid lading, detection of the unloaded condition of the tank at the other end of the train by the associated fluid level sensor providing a signal to the fluid level signal terminal of said terminal control system that in turn provides a signal from the control signal terminal thereof to the valve control mechanism on the next tank car in the train to move the first and second control valves thereof to the second positions to close the associated lading conduit between the first and second pipes and to open the first and second pipes on the next tank in the train and thus to remove the fluid lading from the tank in the train singly and in sequence from the other end of the train to the one end of the train, disconnection of said lading conduit from the inlet to said container for liquid lading and disconnection of the lading conduit from the outlet of said supply of gas under pressure and disconnection of the valve control mechanisms and the fluid level sensors from said terminal control system operating the first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing the associated first and second pipes to place the railway tank car train in readiness for transporting.

Claim 70

The unloading system set forth in claim 59, wherein said terminal control system is electrically operated.

Claim 71

The unloading system set forth in claim 59, wherein the valve mechanisms are both pneumatically and electrically operated.

Claim 72

The unloading system set forth in claim 59, wherein each of said valve control mechanisms includes a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying gas under pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said unload outlet and said accumulator.

Claim 73

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing said lading conduit, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit on one side of said first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit on the other side of said first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for closing said first control valve and opening said second and third control valves to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and for closing said first and second and third control valves for transporting of said tank, said valve control mechanism including a first valve actuator for said first control valve and a second valve actuator for said second control valve and a third valve actuator for said third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of said valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to said unload outlet and said accumulator and to said first valve actuator for selectively applying gas pressure to said first valve actuator to control the position of said first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said second and third valve actuators for selectively applying gas pressure to said second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 74

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing said lading conduit, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit on one side of said first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit on the other side of said first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for closing said first control valve and opening said second and third control valves to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and for closing said first and second and third control valves for transporting of said tank, said valve control mechanism including a first valve actuator for said first control valve and a second valve actuator for said second control valve and a third valve actuator for said third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of said valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to said unload outlet and said accumulator and to said first valve actuator for selectively applying gas pressure to said first valve actuator to control the position of said first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said second and third valve actuators for selectively applying gas pressure to said second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 75

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a first control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to close said lading conduit between said first and second pipes and to open said first and second pipes to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and for closing said first and second pipes for transporting of said tank, said valve control mechanism including a first valve actuator for said first control valve and a second valve actuator for said second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of said valve actuators, and a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying gas pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said accumulator and said unload outlet.

Claim 76

A railway tank car adapted for interconnection in fluid communication with associated like tank cars by flexible connecting conduits for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said tank car comprising a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting said tank with chassis coupling means for coupling to the chassis of associated like cars, a lading conduit on said tank extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, said coupling means coupling to associated flexible connecting conduits to place said lading conduit in fluid communication with the lading conduits of adjacent like tank cars, a first pipe in communication with said lading conduit extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom of said tank, a first control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said first pipe, a second pipe in communication with said lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing said lading conduit and said second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to close said lading conduit between said first and second pipes and to open said first and second pipes to accommodate loading of fluid lading into said tank and to accommodate unloading of fluid lading from said tank and for closing said first and second pipes for transporting of said tank, said valve control mechanism including a first valve actuator for said first control valve and a second valve actuator for said second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of said valve actuators, and a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying gas pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said accumulator and said unload outlet.

Claim 77

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said train comprising a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said car together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanisms on each of said tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanisms being actuated to close the associated first control valves and to open the associated second and third control valves and thereafter to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism opening the associated first control valve and closing the associated second and third control valves to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all of the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to the other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and all said valve control mechanisms are actuated to open all said first valves and said valve control mechanism for the tank at said other end of said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves on the tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves for said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms then closing said second and said third control valves, each of said valve control mechanisms including a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve and a third valve actuator for the associated third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to the associated load outlet and unload outlet for accummulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to the associated unload outlet and accumulator and to the associated first valve actuator for selectively applying gas pressure to the associated first valve actuator to control the position of the first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to the associated load outlet and accumulator and the associated second and third control valves for selectively applying gas pressure to the associated second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 78

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, said train comprising a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said car together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, a first control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated lading conduit, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on one side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a second control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit on the other side of the associated first control valve and extending into said tank, a third control valve for selectively opening and closing the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanisms on each of said tanks operatively connected to the associated control valves for opening and closing the associated control valves, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanisms being actuated to close the associated first control valves and to open the associated second and third control valves and thereafter to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism opening the associated first control valve and closing the associated second and third control valves to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all of the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to the other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and all said valve control mechanisms are actuated to open all said first valves and said valve control mechanism for the tank at said other end of said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves on the tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to close the associated first control valve and to open the associated second and third control valves for said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms then closing said second and said third control valves, each of said valve control mechanisms including a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve and a third valve actuator for the associated third control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to the associated load outlet and unload outlet for accummulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a first pilot valve connected to the associated unload outlet and accumulator and to the associated first valve actuator for selectively applying gas pressure to the associated first valve actuator to control the position of the first control valve, and a second pilot valve connected to the associated load outlet and accumulator and the associated second and third control valves for selectively applying gas pressure to the associated second and third valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated second and third control valves.

Claim 79

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said cars together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating said control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said tank train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanism on the tank car at said one end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to said other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and said valve control mechanism for the last tank on the other end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close said lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on the last tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms operating said first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing said first and second pipes, each of said valve control mechanisms including a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying air pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said unload outlet and said accumulator.

Claim 80

A railway tank car train for singly and sequentially loading the tank cars with fluid lading and singly and sequentially unloading the tank cars of fluid lading, a plurality of railway tank cars connected in tandem relationship, each of said tank cars including a tank for holding fluid lading, a wheeled chassis structure mounting each of said tanks with chassis coupling means for coupling said cars together, a lading conduit on each of said tanks extending substantially the length thereof and having coupling means on the ends thereof, a plurality of flexible connecting conduits respectively extending between adjacent coupled ones of said tank cars and coupled to said coupling means on said lading conduits, each of said tanks having a first pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit and extending into said tank and terminating at an open end adjacent to the bottom thereof, a first control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated first pipe, each of said tanks having a second pipe in communication with the associated lading conduit at a point spaced from said first pipe and extending into said tank, a second control valve for opening and closing the associated lading conduit and the associated second pipe, and valve control mechanism operatively connected to said control valves for actuating said control valves to a first position opening the associated lading conduit and closing the associated first and second pipes and for actuating said control valves to a second position closing the associated lading conduit and opening the associated first and second pipes, to accommodate the loading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit adjacent to the associated first pipe at one end of said tank train being connected to a source of fluid lading and said valve control mechanism on the tank car at said one end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open the associated first and second pipes and thus to fill the tank at said one end of said train and upon filling of the tank the associated valve control mechanism actuating the associated first and second control valves to the first positions thereof to open the associated lading conduit and to close the associated first and second pipes and to transfer the loading operation to the next tank in said train for loading in the same manner as the tank at said one end of said train until all the tanks in said train have been loaded singly and in sequence from said one end of said train to said other end of said train, to accommodate the unloading of said railway tank car train the free end of the lading conduit at the one end of said train being connected to a container for the fluid lading and the free end of the lading conduit at the other end of said train being connected to a source of gas under pressure and said valve control mechanism for the last tank on the other end of said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close said lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on the last tank at said other end of said train and thus to remove the fluid lading therefrom through said lading conduit and thereafter the valve control mechanism for the next tank in said train is actuated to move said first and second control valves to the second positions thereof to close the associated lading conduit and to open said first and second pipes on said next tank in said train and thus to remove the fluid lading from said tanks in said train singly and in sequence from said other end of said train to said one end of said train, for transporting of said train said valve control mechanisms operating said first and second control valves to the first positions thereof closing said first and second pipes, each of said valve control mechanisms including a first valve actuator for the associated first control valve and a second valve actuator for the associated second control valve, a solenoid control valve having an inlet for connection to a source of gas under pressure and a load outlet and an unload outlet selectively connectable to said inlet, an accumulator for compressed gases connected to said load outlet and said unload outlet for accumulating gas under pressure for operation of the associated valve actuators, a pilot valve connected to said load outlet and said accumulator and to said first and second valve actuators for selectively applying air pressure to said first and second valve actuators for controlling the positions thereof and the associated first and second control valves, and a connection between said unload outlet and said accumulator.