End cap for vacuum discharge outlet gate and method

An outlet gate for unloading a railroad car carrying particulate lading, comprising

• a manual valve closure mechanism,
• a discharge tube disposed below the manual valve closure mechanism,
• to receive particulate lading through said manual closure mechanism, including an end adapter at each end having a cylindrical outlet tube defining a discharge opening,
• a removable vented end cap secured to each said outlet tube removably closing each said discharge opening,
• each said vented end cap comprising:
• a generally cylindrical body surrounding said cylindrical outlet tube;
• a disc-shaped end wall with an interior surface, an exterior surface, and at least one flow aperture extending therethrough, the at least one flow aperture located at a central portion of the disc-shaped end wall;
• a vent hood on the exterior surface of said disc-shaped end wall defining with said end wall an air flow passage having an inlet opening and communicating with said at least one flow aperture, wherein:
• the interior surface forms a clean seal at a peripheral of the disc-shaped end wall;
• the exterior surface is a planar surface;
• the vent hood comprises two side walls extending from the exterior surface that conjoin with a planar wall, the two side walls diverge towards the inlet opening at a bottom of the planar wall;
• the air flow passage is structured as a conduit that runs from the inlet opening, upwards towards the at least one flow aperture, and downwards towards the clean seal;
• and
• a filter support housing defining with the interior surface of said end wall, an air flow passage chamber having an exit opening communicating with said air flow passage and with the interior of said vented end cap;
• and
• a filter media supported upon said filter support housing between said at least one flow aperture and said exit opening.