Loading granulated metallic units into railcars, and associated systems, devices, and methods

An apparatus for loading granulated metallic units (GMUs) into a railcar, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing unit defining a structure of the apparatus;
• a weigh bin coupled to and within the housing, wherein the weigh bin includes a weigh bin gate positioned at an outlet of the weigh bin, wherein the weigh bin gate is moveable from a closed position in which the GMUs in the weigh bin are maintained in the weigh bin to an open position in which the GMUs are discharged via gravity past the weigh bin gate;
• a hopper positioned below the weigh bin gate and configured to receive the GMUs discharged by the weigh bin gate, the hopper including an inlet having a first diameter and an outlet having a second diameter less than the first diameter, wherein the outlet is below the inlet;
• and
• an articulating chute coupled to the hopper and positioned to receive the GMUs from the hopper, wherein:
• the articulating chute is angled and configured to guide the GMUs from a first height to a second height closer to a floor of the railcar than the first height.

An apparatus for loading GMUs into a railcar, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing unit defining a structure of the apparatus;
• a weigh bin coupled to and within the housing, wherein the weigh bin includes a weigh bin gate positioned at an outlet of the weigh bin, wherein the weigh bin gate is moveable from a closed position in which the GMUs in the weigh bin are maintained in the weigh bin to an open position in which the GMUs are discharged via gravity past the weigh bin gate;
• and
• a telescoping chute positioned to receive the GMUs from the weigh bin, wherein:
• the telescoping chute includes one or more telescoping segments configured to extend from a first position to a second position and to retract from the second position to the first position, wherein an end portion of the telescoping chute is positioned closer to a floor of the railcar when the telescoping segments are extended to the second position, and
• the telescoping chute is angled based on an angle of repose of the GMUs, and wherein the telescoping chute is configured to guide GMUs from a first height to a second height, the second height being closer to a floor of the railcar than the first height.