Tank car bottom outlet valve having combination ring and valve seat

A tank car bottom outlet valve assembly comprising:

• tank bottom having a tank bottom opening therein and a lower external surface;
• a tank mounting flange located within said bottom opening;
• said mounting flange including a lower flange surface and an upper flange surface;
• said lower flange surface extending below said tank lower external surface an amount not more than one (1) inch;
• said mounting flange including a mounting flange slot;
• said mounting flange slot including a first slot portion extending upwardly from said flange lower surface to a level intermediate said lower surface and said upper surface;
• said slot first portion extending radially inwardly to the internal surface of the flange at a level below said upper surface;
• and a second portion extending vertically along said internal surface to said upper surface;
• said slot adapted to receive a removable valve seat member;
• said valve seat member including an internal valve seat portion adapted to receive a valve closure movable between open and closed positions;
• said valve seat member having a valve seat opening therein;
• said valve seat portion located within said second slot portion;
• a valve seat body portion located below said valve seat portion and supporting said valve seat portion;
• at least one valve seat flange portion extending radially outwardly from said valve seat body portion and extending into said slot first portion and including fastening means for holding the valve seat member in place within said mounting flange slot and for supporting said valve closure and any lading in the tank;
• rotating means for rotating said valve closure located within said valve seat opening;
• said valve closure having stop means which engage fixed stop means located within said assembly whereby when said valve closure is rotated by said rotating means and said closure stop means engage said fixed stop means said closure moves vertically without rotation and whereby said valve seat and said valve closure are removable from the bottom of the tank by removal of said fastening means without the attendant having to enter the tank.

A tank car bottom outlet valve assembly comprising:

• a tank bottom having a tank bottom opening therein and a tank lower external surface;
• a tank mounting flange located within said mounting bottom opening;
• said flange including a lower flange surface and an upper flange surface;
• said lower flange surface extending below said tank lower external surface an amount not more than one (1) inch;
• said mounting flange including a mounting flange slot including a first slot portion extending upwardly from said flange lower surface to a level intermediate said lower surface and said upper surface;
• said slot first portion extending radially inwardly to the internal surface of the flange at a level below said upper surface;
• and a second portion extending vertically along said internal surface to said upper surface;
• said slot adapted to receive a removable valve seat member;
• said valve seat member including an internal valve seat portion adapted to receive a valve closure movable between open and closed positions;
• said valve seat member having a valve seat opening therein;
• said valve seat portion located within said second slot portion;
• a valve seat body portion located below said valve seat portion and supporting said valve seat portion;
• at least one valve seat flange portion extending radially outwardly from said valve seat body portion and extending within said slot first portion and including first fastening means for holding the valve seat member in place within said mounting flange and for supporting said valve closure and any lading in the tank;
• an outlet chamber located below said mounting flange;
• second fastening means, holding said outlet chamber in engagement with said mounting flange;
• a lower operator extending at least partially through said outlet chamber and engaging an internal operator located within said valve closure and within said valve seat opening;
• means for maintaining said internal operator spaced from said valve seat and vertically fixed but rotatable;
• means depending from said valve closure and engaging said internal operator whereby rotation of said lower operator will cause said internal operator to rotate but remain vertically fixed and caused said valve closure to move vertically between open and closed positions relative to seat without rotation during vertical movement;
• and whereby said outlet chamber is removable from the bottom by removing said second fasteners, and after removal of said outlet chamber, said valve seat and said valve closure are removable from the mounting flange from the bottom of the tank, by removing said first fasteners, without the attendant having to enter the tank.