Patent ID: 7367271

Claim:
A method of providing an apparatus for controlling discharge of material from a hopper car, said method comprising the steps of: providing a unitary hopper subassembly presenting a generally rectangular opening for downward flow of material thereinto, said subassembly including an upper frame having a first upper sidewall and a spaced, generally parallel second upper sidewall, said sidewalls presenting first and second sidewall edges respectively at said opening, a first upper end wall and a spaced, generally parallel second upper end wall, said end walls presenting first and second end wall edges respectively at said opening, a first flexible seal strip on said first sidewall extending along said first sidewall edge and projecting into said opening, a second flexible seal strip on said second sidewall extending along said second sidewall edge and projecting into said opening, a third flexible seal strip on said first end wall extending along said first end wall edge and projecting into said opening, and a fourth flexible seal strip on said second end wall extending along said second end wall edge and projecting into said opening, providing a unitary gate subassembly having a panel component moveable between a closed, sealed position and an open position permitting discharge of material through the gate subassembly, said panel component being in contact with said first, second, third and fourth seal strips when in the closed position to provide a complete seal, and positioning said gate subassembly beneath said hopper subassembly in alignment with said opening for receiving material therefrom.