Hopper bottom unit

Claim 2

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; and vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate relative to said body section, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe.

Claim 3

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said angle is about 15°.

Claim 4

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said membrane includes fabric.

Claim 5

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 further including means for shunting air into said discharge pipe.

Claim 6

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said vibration inducing means includes an aerator device which fluidizes material in the hopper.

Claim 7

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said vibration inducing means includes a plurality of aerator devices each of which fluidizes material in the hopper.

Claim 8

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said vibration inducing means includes a beam connected to said body section and to said membrane and a motor mounted on said beam which induces vibration in said beam to be transmitted to said membrane.

Claim 9

The discharge unit defined in claim 7 further including adjustment means on said beam for controlling amplitude of movement of said beam and a zero position of said beam with respect to said body section.

Claim 10

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 further including a support mounted on said body section to support said membrane.

Claim 11

The discharge unit defined in claim 9 wherein said support is mushroom shaped.

Claim 12

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 further including an elastic means connected to said vibration inducing means for controlling movement of said vibration inducing means.

Claim 13

The discharge unit defined in claim 11 wherein said elastic means includes a spring.

Claim 14

The discharge unit defined in claim 11 wherein said elastic means includes a grommet.

Claim 15

The discharge unit defined in claim 11 further including baffle means on said vibration inducing means for directing air flow in said chamber.

Claim 16

The discharge unit defined in claim 1 wherein said car includes a railroad car.

Claim 17

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate relative to said body section thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe; and air induction means connected to said vibration inducing means to introduce air into the hopper for assisting in the movement of material located in the hopper toward said discharge pipe.

Claim 18

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate relative to said body section thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe; and air induction means connected to said vibration inducing means to introduce air into the hopper for assisting in the movement of material located in the hopper toward said discharge pipe.

Claim 19

The discharge unit defined in claim 16 wherein said membrane is metal.

Claim 20

The discharge unit defined in claim 16 wherein said membrane is a non-foraminous membrane.

Claim 21

The discharge unit defined in claim 16 wherein said membrane is a foraminous membrane.

Claim 22

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; and vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe, said vibration inducing means comprising an aeration device which fluidizes material in the hopper.

Claim 23

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; and vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe, said vibration inducing means comprising an aeration device which fluidizes material in the hopper.

Claim 24

The discharge unit defined in claim 20, wherein said vibration inducing means comprises a plurality of said aeration devices.

Claim 25

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; and vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe, said vibration inducing means including a beam connected to said body section and to said membrane and a motor mounted on said beam which induces vibration in said beam to be transmitted to said membrane.

Claim 26

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; and vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe, said vibration inducing means including a beam connected to said body section and to said membrane and a motor mounted on said beam which induces vibration in said beam to be transmitted to said membrane.

Claim 27

The discharge unit defined in claim 22 further including adjustment means on said beam for controlling amplitude of movement of said beam and a zero position of said beam with respect to said body section.

Claim 28

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe; elastic means connected to said vibration inducing means for controlling movement of said vibration inducing means; and baffle means on said vibration inducing means for directing air flow in said chamber.

Claim 29

A discharge unit for use on hopper cars comprising: a material discharge pipe connected to a car hopper; an arcuate body section attached to the bottom of the car hopper to be independent of and spaced from said discharge pipe; a flexible foraminous membrane mounted on said body section to cover the car hopper bottom, said membrane covering said body section to define a chamber, said membrane being tilted at an angle with respect to horizontal and sloping toward said discharge pipe; air induction means connected to said body section to introduce air into said chamber, said air moving from said chamber through said foraminous membrane to form an air sweep which assists in moving material located in the hopper adjacent said membrane toward said discharge pipe; vibration inducing means connected to said membrane for causing said membrane to pulsate, thereby assisting movement of material located in said hopper toward said discharge pipe; elastic means connected to said vibration inducing means for controlling movement of said vibration inducing means; and baffle means on said vibration inducing means for directing air flow in said chamber.

Claim 30

The discharge unit defined in claim 24 wherein said elastic means includes a spring.