Railcar dewatering unit and method of using the same

A railcar comprising:

• a body having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a bottom that bound and define an interior chamber;
• one or more bogies operatively engaged with the body and adapted to engage a pair of rail tracks;
• a conveyor assembly provided in the interior chamber and adapted to move articles toward the second end;
• at least one first screen positioned below the conveyor assembly, wherein the at least one first screen is adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough;
• and
• at least one second screen provided in one or both of the first side and the second side of the body;
• wherein the at least one first screen a second screen is adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough;
• wherein each of the at least one second screen is V-shaped when viewed from above.

A railcar comprising:

• a body having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a bottom that bound and define an interior chamber;
• wherein the body further comprises a top;
• and at least one opening is defined in the top, wherein the at least one opening is adapted to permit a mixture of liquid and solids to be placed into the interior chamber;
• at least one connector member operatively engaged with the top adjacent the at least one opening;
• said at least one connector member defining a bore therethrough,
• at least one actuator operably engaged with the at least one connector member, said at least one actuator being operable to move the at least one connector member between a raised position and a lowered position relative to the top;
• one or more bogies operatively engaged with the body and adapted to engage a pair of rail tracks;
• a conveyor assembly provided in the interior chamber and adapted to move articles toward the second end;
• and
• at least one first screen positioned below the conveyor assembly, wherein the at least one first screen is adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough.

A railcar comprising:

• a body having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a bottom that bound and define an interior chamber;
• one or more bogies operatively engaged with the body and adapted to engage a pair of rail tracks;
• a conveyor assembly provided in the interior chamber and adapted to move articles toward the second end;
• at least one first screen positioned below the conveyor assembly, wherein the at least one first screen is adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough;
• at least one overflow weir defined in one or both of the first side and second side and proximate a top of the body;
• and
• a screen provided in the at least one overflow weir.

A railcar comprising:

• a body having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a bottom that bound and define an interior chamber;
• one or more bogies operatively engaged with the body and adapted to engage a pair of rail tracks;
• a conveyor assembly provided in the interior chamber and adapted to move articles toward the second end, wherein the conveyor assembly is generally U-shaped when viewed from the first side wherein the generally U-shaped conveyor assembly includes a central portion with a first portion extending at a first angle in a first direction, and a second portion extending at a second angle in a second direction, and wherein the second angle is smaller than the first angle;
• and
• at least one first screen positioned below the conveyor assembly, wherein the at least one first screen is adapted to permit liquid to pass therethrough.

A method of dewatering a mixture of a solid material and a liquid;

• said method comprising:
• engaging one or more rail bogies on a railcar with a pair of rail tracks;
• moving the railcar along the rail tracks to a container holding a mixture of a solid material and a liquid;
• aligning the opening in the top of the railcar with a chute of the container;
• dropping a quantity of the mixture of solid material and liquid through an opening in a top of the railcar and onto a conveyor assembly located within an interior chamber of the railcar;
• raising a connector member on the railcar proximate the opening to engage the chute of the container prior to dropping the quantity of the mixture through the opening;
• transporting the solid material on the conveyor assembly towards a second end of the railcar;
• and
• allowing some of the liquid in the mixture to drain through one or more first screens located below the conveyor assembly and out of the railcar.