Rail transport dump loop system for conveying bulk materials

A rail system comprising an underground dump loop for unloading cars of a train traveling on the rail system, wherein the rail system comprises:

• a set of incoming parallel rails for guiding a train in an upright position;
• a set of outgoing parallel rails for guiding a train in an upright position;
• an underground dump loop section component for inverting the cars of the train to thereby unload contents of the cars, the underground dump loop section component comprising:
• a set of parallel inner rails for guiding the cars of a train thereupon, the parallel inner rails having an annular curve to form at least a partial loop;
• a set of parallel outer rails having a corresponding annular curve to form at least a partial loop, the set of parallel outer rails spaced from the parallel inner rails to accommodate the wheel of the cars of a train therebetween,
• one or more bracers spanning the parallel inner and outer rails for reinforcing, supporting or maintaining the spacing and/or shape of the parallel rails, the one or more bracers shaped to accommodate the cars of the train when travelling upon the rails in an upright or inverted orientation, the bracing comprises center bracing, C-bracing and/or spoke bracing reinforcing, supporting or maintaining the spacing and/or shape of the annular curve and/or the spacing of the inner and outer rails,
• wherein the dump loop section component has a dump loop section angle defined by the angular difference between the angle of entrance into the dump loop section component and the angle of exit from the dump loop section component;
• and
• wherein the dump loop section angle is sufficient to at least partially invert a car travelling therethrough to cause unloading of the contents of the car, and
• an underground collection shoot positioned below the dump loop section for collecting unloaded contents from the cars of the train.

A dump loop section component for a dump loop in a train system, the dump loop section component comprising:

• a set of parallel inner rails for guiding the cars of a train thereupon, the parallel inner rails having an annular curve to form at least a partial loop;
• a set of parallel outer rails having a corresponding annular curve to form at least a partial loop, the set of parallel outer rails spaced from the parallel inner rails to accommodate the wheel of the cars of a train therebetween,
• one or more bracers spanning the parallel inner and outer rails for reinforcing, supporting or maintaining the spacing and/or shape of the parallel rails, the one or more bracers shaped to accommodate the cars of the train when travelling upon the rails in an upright or inverted orientation, the bracing comprises center bracing, C-bracing and/or spoke bracing reinforcing, supporting or maintaining the spacing and/or shape of the annular curve and/or the spacing of the inner and outer rails,
• wherein the dump loop section component has a dump loop section angle defined by the angular difference between the angle of entrance into the dump loop section component and the angle of exit from the dump loop section component;
• and
• wherein the dump loop section angle is sufficient to at least partially invert a car travelling therethrough to cause unloading of the contents of the car.