Self-unloading train for bulk commodities

A method of transporting bulk material by rail and unloading the same comprising the steps of:

• loading bulk material having a particle size ratio of greater than 6 onto a train having a plurality of hopper cars, each having one or more hoppers, each of said hoppers having side walls inclined at least seventy degrees from the horizontal and nearly vertical end walls, said hoppers having a bottom discharge opening having a width at least fifty percent of a distance between wheels of said hopper cars:
• transporting said bulk material to a remote location:
• opening a discharge gate covering said bottom discharge opening such that said bulk material falls freely onto a train conveyor, said train conveyor underlying said hoppers and running a length of said hopper cars, said train conveyor having a width greater than the width of said discharge opening;
• and
• conveying said bulk material from said bottom discharge opening to a location distal from said hopper cars on said train conveyor;
• and
• discharging said bulk material from said train conveyor.

A hopper car for the transfer of bulk materials comprising:

• a frame;
• truck means mounted to said frame, said truck means for allowing movement along railroad tracks;
• a plurality of hopper walls connected to said frame, said hopper walls being inclined at an angle of less than forty-five degrees to the vertical, said plurality of hopper walls defining a hopper discharge opening at the bottom of said walls;
• said truck means comprising a plurality of wheels, said wheels positioned along opposite sides hopper car, said bottom discharge opening having a width at least fifty percent of a distance between said wheels on opposite sides of said hopper car;
• gate means positioned at said hopper discharge opening, said gate means being operable selectively so as to allow the discharge of said bulk materials from within said hopper walls;
• and
• conveying means supported in catenary fashion to said frame and underlying said hopper discharge opening and for transferring said bulk materials distal of said hopper discharge opening, said gate means opening parallel to said conveyor means.

A method of transporting bulk materials having a particle size ratio of greater than six, by a plurality of hopper cars on a rail system, said hopper cars having walls inclined at an angle greater than seventy degrees from the horizontal, said hopper cars having a bottom discharge opening with a width at least fifty percent of a distance between wheels of said hopper cars, said hopper cars having a tensionable conveyor system underlying said bottom discharge opening, said method comprising the steps of:

• loading bulk material onto a train having said plurality of hopper cars, said loading occurring at a supply location;
• removing a portion of the tension in said conveyor system;
• moving said loaded bulk material along said rail system from said said supply location to a discharge location;
• tensioning said conveyor system so as to remove slack in a conveyor belt within said conveyor system;
• actuating said conveyor system such that said conveyor belt moves longitudinally beneath said bottom discharge openings of said hopper cars;
• opening a discharge gate associated with said bottom discharge opening such that said bulk material drops through said bottom discharge opening onto said conveyor system;
• and
• directing said bulk material by said conveyor system to a desired discharge location.