Technical Field The present disclosure generally relates to discharge assemblies for bulk material and more specifically to sealing arrangements for such assemblies. The disclosure has particular application for discharge assemblies for rail wagons and is herein described in that context.

Background of the invention

Rail wagons, such as articulated railway freight trains, trucks and wagons which utilise containers for carriage of bulk materials (such as mineral ores, grains and the like) may include discharge assemblies within the container. One such discharge assembly comprises outlets for gravitational discharge and closures which are moveable between an open position to allow discharge through the outlets and a closed position to close the outlets.

Summary

Some embodiments provide a rail wagon discharge assembly including a base incorporating at least one opening to allow gravity discharge of bulk material from a container of the rail wagon; a closure member associated with the opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal operative to seal between the base and the closure member, the seal being removably mounted and accessible from an underside of the rail wagon.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

Brief description of the Drawings

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the disclosure embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Fig. 1 shows a side view of one example of a bulk material railway wagon; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a discharge assembly for the wagon of Fig. 1. The assembly is shown separate to the wagon container for the ease of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the discharge assembly of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed partial perspective view of the discharge assembly of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a detailed partial side view of the discharge assembly of Fig. 2.

Detailed Description

This disclosure is directed generally to railway wagons and the disclosure is described generally in the context of freight wagons for the carriage of bulk material.

Articulated railway freight trains and trucks which utilise containers for carriage of bulk materials (such as mineral ores, grains and the like) are known. In rail applications, the bulk materials container can be seated on an elongate wagon underframe which itself is connected to two bogies located near either end of the wagon underframe. The bogies include wheel sets and a bogie bolster to which the wagon underframe is mounted via an articulated connection or centreplate device. The articulated connection is provided by mating a male member of the underframe and a female component of the bogie bolster. Discharge of bulk materials from the container involves, in some forms, gravitational discharge through an opening or outlet situated in the base or at a lower section of the container. The openings or outlets have doors, louvers, covers, slats or other closure members associated with them and configured such that the openings can be closed for carriage of bulk materials and opened for discharge of bulk materials. The closure members are therefore moveable to close and open the openings. In some forms the closure members are moveable by sliding or rotation. In some known forms in the closed position the closure members are configured to support the weight of the bulk materials stored in the container while being moveable.

An embodiment provides a rail wagon discharge assembly comprising: a base incorporating at least one opening configured to allow gravity discharge of bulk material from a container of the rail wagon; a closure member associated with the opening and moveable between an open position and a closed position; and a seal operative to seal between the base and the closure member, the seal being removably mounted and accessible from the underside of the rail wagon. In one form, the discharge assembly forms at least part of a floor of the container of the rail wagon with an upper surface of the discharge assembly forming an interior surface of the container, and a lower surface forming at least part of the underside of the wagon. In one form, the seal is mounted on the lower surface of the base. In a particular form, the base incorporates at least one guide portion disposed adjacent the at least one opening, the at least one guide portion having an inclined upper surface configured to facilitate gravity discharge of the bulk material to the at least one opening. In one form, the seal is mounted to the lower surface of the guide portion.

In one form, the guide portion is made from sheet material. In one form the guide portion is an extruded aluminium profile, however it will be clear that other compositions and formation are available such as metal castings or forgings or non-metallic materials such as, for example, UHMWPE, fibre reinforced plastics, or other polymers or plastics. In some forms the composition includes a corrosion resistant coating.

In one form, the closure member is slideable relative to the base between the open position and the closed position. In other forms, the closure member may rotate between the open and closed position. In another form, the movement is more complex and comprises a combination of rotation and/or translation movements. In a particular form, the closure member comprises a plate member adapted to at least partially cover the opening when in the closed position.

In one form, the seal is configured to limit loss of bulk material between the closure member and the base while allowing the closure member to be moveable with respect to the base. In a particular form, the seal comprises a brush seal. In one form, the brush seal is arranged to allow sliding movement of the closure member relative to the base whilst providing a seal between the base and closure member. In one form, the assembly further comprises a coupling removably mounting the seal to the base, the coupling being configured to allow removal and replacement of the seal. In one form, the seal is located at a periphery of the opening.

In a further form, a rail wagon is provided that comprises a container; and a discharge assembly in any form as disclosed above, the discharge assembly forms at least part of a floor of the container, an upper surface of the discharge assembly forming an interior surface of the container, and a lower surface forming at least part of the underside of the wagon. In one form, the base includes an array of openings and associated closure members, and a plurality of the seals operative to seal between the base and the closure members. In a particular form, the base incorporates a plurality of guide portions disposed between adjacent openings, the guide portions having an inclined upper surfaces configured to facilitate gravity discharge of the bulk material to the openings.

Some embodiments of the discharge assembly, such as those illustrated, may allow ease of access to the seal (as a result of being positioned on the underside of the wagon) which permits maintenance or replacement of seals without having to enter the rail wagon. Regular replacement of the seals is necessary to maintain the integrity of the container. Having to enter the rail wagon can be difficult as it is a confined space with limited access. Fig. 1 shows a side view of a bulk material railway wagon. As depicted, the wagon 1 includes a bulk material transport container 2 which is positioned and supported atop an elongate railway wagon underframe 3. The underframe 3 is connected to two bogies 4 located near respective ends 5, 6 of the wagon underframe 3. Couplers 7 are mounted to the underframe 3 at opposite ends of the wagon 1 to allow for interconnection of wagons and/or connection of the wagon to a locomotive. The wagon 1 as illustrated is arranged as a hopper for bottom discharge of the bulk material and includes one or more discharge assemblies 20 disposed below the underframe and which forms a floor to the container 2. In the illustrated form, the wagon includes two discharge assemblies which extend along the wagon on either side of a centre sill 8 of the wagon underframe 3.

Figs. 2 to 4 are various views of the discharge assembly 20 shown separate to the wagon 1 for ease of illustration. The discharge assembly 20 comprises a base 22 which in the illustrated form comprises two discrete frames 24, 26, interconnected by an actuation assembly 29. Each frame includes longitudinal and transverse frame elements (28, 30) and intermediate guide members 32 that extend between the longitudinal frame elements and are spaced apart from one another to form openings 34. These openings 34 form the discharge outlets for assembly 20. It is to be appreciated that the arrangement of the base 22 may vary such that the number and/or the configuration of openings may vary as could the structure of the frames. For example, in an alternative form, the base, or parts thereof, may be integrally formed with the container 2 and/ or the underframe 3 of the wagon.

The discharge assembly further comprises closure members 36 movably mounted on the respective frames (24, 26) and movable between a closed position as shown where the closure members cover respective openings 34 (as best seen in Fig. 3) to an open position (not shown) where the closure members generally aligns with respective ones of the guide members 32. In the illustrated form, this movement of the closure members is by translation along the longitudinal frame elements 28 under operation of the actuating assembly 20.

In the illustrated form, the actuating assembly 29 is disposed between the frames (24, 26) and comprises a piston cylinder arrangement 60 which is mounted on a linkage assembly 62. The linkage assembly in turn is connected to drive rods (64, 66) which extend in opposite directions through the respective frames and are connected to respective closure members 36. Retraction or extension of the piston cylinder assembly causes a corresponding movement of the drive rods either towards or away from the piston cylinder assembly there by operating the closure members in unison. Again it is to be appreciated that the closure members may move other than by translation for example they may pivot or rotate or may have a more complex movement that includes rotation and translation. Furthermore the actuating assembly may be configured to operate the closure members individually rather than in unison, or may allow for sequential or batch movement of the closure members depending on the requirements of the system. Fig. 5 shows components of one form of the discharge assembly 20 in more detail. In the illustrated form, the guide members 32 are formed in a "tent" configuration having inclined side walls 38 which slope to respective openings to encourage the flow of materials in the container 2 into the openings 34 . The inclined side walls 38 inhibit hang up of materials by being sufficiently inclined to be typically greater than the angle of repose for the bulk material to promote sliding of the material down the inclined walls and into the openings.

In illustrated form, the closure members 36 include plate portions 40 which are configured to extend across the openings 34 when the closure members are in their closed position. In this position the plate portions 40 will be loaded by the bulk material in the container 2. In the form as illustrated, the closure members include stiffening formations 42 which depend from the plate portions 40. These stiffening formations 42, in the illustrated form, include a web portion 44 and flange 46 and are designed to prevent deflection of the plate member under load. In the form as illustrated, the flanges 46 are wedge shaped to include upper inclined surfaces 48 which are designed to inhibit hang up on the flanges 46. It is to be appreciated that the closure members may be configured other than described above and may include thicker plate elements or be configured in other arrangements that obviate the need for additional stiffeners or alternative the stiffeners may be configured in other arrangements. For example the closure members may be formed as other profile sections, such as hollow sections, or may be made from composite material or the like to meet the required strength and stiffness characteristics. In illustrated forms seals 50 extend downwardly from the container base 22 to contact the closure members 36. The seals 50 obstruct discharge or movement of bulk materials between the closure members 36 and the container base 22. The seals 50 are positioned at the periphery of the openings 21 and are sufficiently flexible to allow the closure members 36 to slide between a closed position illustrated to an open position, whilst maintaining an effective seal. In some forms the seals 50 are brush seals which are well suited for the carriage of grains or other bulk material. However, is to be appreciated that the seals may take other forms such as polymeric wiper seals or the like.

In illustrated forms, the seals 50 are removably mounted to the base 22 as they require regular maintenance and replacement. In the form as illustrated the seals 50 are mounted within couplings 52 which provide a mechanical fixing arrangement for the seals 50 to the base 22.

In the form as illustrated, the seals are mounted to the underside of the discharge assembly to allow for ease of access to the seal for the purpose of maintenance and replacement. Specifically in the illustrated form the seals are mounted to the underside of the guide tents 32 which include retaining portions 54 which receive end portions 56 of the seals 50 to form the couplings 52. These end portions may be fixed in position by mechanical fasteners, or through an interference connection with the retaining portions. Such an arrangement allows ease of access to the seals (as a result of being positioned on the underside of the wagon) which permits maintenance or replacement of seals without having to enter the rail wagon. Regular replacement of the seals is necessary to maintain the integrity of the container. Having to enter the rail wagon can be difficult as it is a confined space with limited access.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.