Importance

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Abstract

A top-operated, outside unloading device for a bottom discharge railway tank car is disclosed. The tank car has an outlet valve in its bottom which is opened and closed by an operating rod connected to the valve and which extends up through the interior of the tank car. The operating rod projects out through the top of the tank car and is rotated by means of a hand wheel. The upper end of the operating rod is sealed with respect to the tank car by compressible packing seals carried by a packing body surrounding the upper end of the operating rod. The packing body has a part-spherical lower end which mates with a seat surrounding the opening in the top of the tank car through which the operating rod extends. The packing body may universally, angularly (or swivel) move with respect to the seat within a cone of movement so that any misalignment (within a limited range) of the operating rod from the valve at the bottom of the car to the top opening may be accommodated, and so that the packing seals within the packing body may be concentrically aligned with the operating rod thereby to assure proper sealing of the rod to the packing body. After alignment of the packing body with respect to the operating rod, the packing body is sealably secured (preferably welded) to the tank car. A method of aligning and sealing the operating rod relative to the tank car is also disclosed.

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First Claim