Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to containment of spills, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus for containing spillage during transfer of liquid contents to or from tank cars used for hauling liquids by rail. As used herein, the term “rail car tanker,” “railcar tanker,” or “railcar” will be used interchangeably to mean a tanker type car used for hauling liquids by rail.  
         [0002]     Transfer of a liquid from a railcar tanker frequently results in leakage of the liquid at the line coupling. The liquid is also prone to spill from the ends of transfer lines as the transfer lines are being connected and disconnected. The liquid may be a hydrocarbon or other petrochemical which contaminates the surrounding environment and necessitates remedial action. The liquid may also be a food product such as corn syrup whose presence is, at the very least, a nuisance.  
         [0003]     Between loads, the railcar tankers must be cleaned to prevent cross-contamination between different contents. Rail cars are often cleaned using high pressure water jetting equipment. Water jetting equipment, which is inserted into the rail car, shoots streams of cleansing water jets under high pressure to all areas of the rail car interior. The water-liquid mixture must then be removed through a line connection attached to the rail car.  
         [0004]     A typical railcar tanker includes a line connection at the lowest point in the tanker. The tanker line connection is generally centered between the two rails on which the railcar travels above the crossties and surrounding fill. The height of the tanker line connection above the crossties varies. From time to time, operators have attempted to catch any spillage by placing a reservoir beneath the line connection. Those efforts have been ineffective, however, in part because the liquid tends to follow the liquid transfer lines and in part because the non-standard height of the tanker line connection requires different apparatus for different tanker car configurations.  
         [0005]     Hence, there is a need for a simple, economical and effective apparatus for containing spillage from a line connection wherein the apparatus is easily adaptable for varying heights of the tanker line connection above the crossties.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A railcar transfer containment unit for collecting spillage during transfer of liquid from a railcar tanker having a bottom line connection provides a container, a vertically adjustable ell disposed within the container, means for adjusting the vertical position of the ell within the container, and means for locking the ell in a selected fixed vertical position. Conductive grounding straps are provided to reduce the danger of fire resulting from a static electricity discharge during transfer of flammable liquids.  
         [0007]     An object of the present invention is to provide an easily deployed spill containment unit adaptable for railroad tanker cars of varying heights.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a spill containment unit which will securely store fixed-length quick-coupling connection line assembly within the container.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spill containment unit which can be cleaned out using the same transfer pump utilized to pump the liquid from the railcar to another storage location.  
         [0010]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view of applicant&#39;s railcar transfer containment unit located beneath a line connection of a railcar tanker.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional exploded view of another railcar transfer containment unit according to applicant&#39;s invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is another view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 3  wherein the railcar transfer containment unit is shown in a relatively lower position to accommodate a relatively lower railcar line connection.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is another view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 3  wherein the railcar transfer containment unit is shown in a relatively higher position to accommodate a relatively higher railcar line connection.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of another railcar transfer containment unit according to applicant&#39;s invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is another view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is another view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is plan view of the railcar transfer containment unit shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a view of another railcar transfer containment unit according to applicant&#39;s invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     In the following description of the invention, like numerals and characters designate like elements throughout the figures of the drawings.  
         [0024]     Referring generally to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 , a railcar transfer containment unit  50  is connected to a line connection L of a railcar tanker T. A railcar line connection valve (not shown) is normally closed unless liquid is being transferred from the railcar tanker T. The railcar transfer containment unit  50  is supported by crossties C between the rails R (only one rail shown). A vertical connection line assembly  52  connects the railcar transfer containment unit  50  to the line connection L of the railcar tanker T. A transfer line  54  connected to the railcar transfer containment unit provides a conduit for flow of the liquid contents of the railcar tanker T to a pump (not shown) or other storage (not shown). An external grounding strap  56  connects the railcar transfer containment unit  50  to the railcar tanker T.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the railcar transfer containment unit  50  is shown in cutaway. An ell assembly  60  is mounted in a support assembly  62  attached to a rear wall  64  of a container  66 . The ell assembly  60  includes a standard ell (i.e., a 90-degree pipe fitting)  68  held in fixed position by an ell support member  70 . The ell support member  70  has an arcuate end  72  proximate to the ell  68  and a distal end  74  attached to a vertical slide  76  retained by the support assembly  62 .  
         [0026]     Still referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the ell  68  includes a top opening  78  and a side opening  80 . The top opening  78  is coupled to one end of the vertical connection line assembly  52 , and the side opening  80  is attached to one end of the transfer line assembly  54 . Quick-coupling fittings  82  attached to the railcar line connect L, the top opening  78 , and the side opening  80  facilitate deployment of the railcar transfer containment unit  50 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4 , a container cleanout assembly  84  is attached to the ell  68 . The container cleanout assembly  84  includes, in order moving away from the ell  68 , a pipe fitting  86 , a valve  88 , and a flexible hose  90  having an upper end portion  92 , an intermediate portion  94 , and a lower end portion  96 . A hose clamp  98  secures the upper end portion  92  to one port of the valve  88 . In  FIG. 2 , a puddle of adhesive  100  secures the intermediate portion  94  of the flexible hose  90  to the bottom of the container  66 . In  FIG. 3 , a clamp  102  held in place by a screw  104  secures the intermediate portion  94  of the flexible hose  90  to the bottom of the container  66 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the puddle of adhesive  100  and the clamp  102  merely serve as an anchor to ensure the lower end portion  96  of the flexible hose  90  rests at a low point in the container  66 .  
         [0028]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-3 , the container  66  has a front wall  106  opposite the rear wall  64 . A cutout  108  in the front wall  106  provides a passageway for the transfer line assembly  54 .  
         [0029]     With the railcar line connection valve in the closed position, the railcar transfer containment unit  50  to the line connection L of the railcar tanker T using the vertical connection assembly  52  and to a transfer pump using the transfer line assembly  54 . The valve  88  in the container cleanout assembly  84  is closed and the railcar line connection is open, permitting unimpeded flow from the railcar tanker T downwardly through the vertical connection assembly  52 , through the ell  86 , and out the transfer line assembly  54  to the transfer pump or, in the alternative, to another tank. Any spillage, which may take the form of a few drops or a small stream, are collected within the container  66 . When the transfer is complete, the railcar line connection valve is once again closed and the valve  88  in the container cleanout assembly  84  is opened. Operation of the transfer pump will now remove any spillage from the container  66 .  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the support assembly  62  includes a non-metallic cylindrical sleeve  110  fixed within a cylindrical housing  112 . The vertical slide  76  is biasedly received by the non-metallic cylindrical sleeve  110 . A handle  112  attached to ell support member  70  facilitates adjustment of the vertical slide  76  within the non-metallic cylindrical sleeve  110  to adapt to varying distances between the railcar line connection L and the crossties C. The vertical slide  76  is held in position within the support assembly  62  by frictional bias. The cylindrical housing  112  is affixed to a support plate  114  attached to the rear wall  64  of the container  66  by fastener assemblies  116  (nuts and bolts).  
         [0031]     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-3 , an ell assembly grounding cable  118  connects the ell support member  70  to the fastener assembly  116 . A fluid grounding strap  120  has an upper end portion  122  attached to a fastener assembly  116  and a lower end portion  124  resting generally against the bottom  101  of the container  66 .  
         [0032]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a threaded nut  126  covering a threaded hole  128  in the cylindrical housing  112  receives a locking handle  130 . The locking handle  130  can be tightened against the cylindrical sleeve  110  to further restrict movement of the slide  76  within the support assembly  62 .  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the movement of the slide  76  is illustrated. In  FIG. 5 , the ell assembly  60  is in a lowered position to adapt to a distance  134  between the railcar line connection L and the crossties (see  FIG. 1 ). In  FIG. 6 , the ell assembly  60  is shown in a raised position to adapt to a greater distance  136  between the railcar line connection L and the crossties (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0034]     Still referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , adjustability of the vertical position of the ell assembly  60  is required for varying railcar tanker configurations. The container  66 , deployed beneath the railcar line connection L of the railcar tanker T, must be in a proper position to collect spillage. The flexible hose  90  of the container cleanout assembly  84 , the ell assembly grounding cable  118 , and the fluid grounding strap  120  are of sufficient length to accommodate the change in vertical position of the ell assembly  60 . Similarly, the cutout  108  in the front wall  106  of the container  66  permits movement of the transfer line assembly  54  along arrow  138  as the ell assembly  60  moves between the relatively lower vertical position shown in  FIG. 5  and the relatively higher vertical position shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , another mechanism for locking the slide  76  in a selected vertical position provides a pull pin  140  which can be inserted in an upper slot  142 , an intermediate slot  144 , or a lower slot  146  in the support  62 .  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , another railcar transfer containment unit  150  includes an ell assembly  160  mounted in a support assembly  162  attached to a rear wall  64  of a container  66 . The ell assembly  160  includes a standard ell (i.e., a 90-degree pipe fitting)  168  held in fixed position by an ell support member  170 . The ell support member  170  has an arcuate end  172  proximate to the ell  168  and a distal end  174  attached to a candy-cane shaped handle  213 . The candy-cane shaped handle  213  is attached at the short end to a vertical slide  176  retained by the support assembly  162 . In all other respects, the railcar transfer containment unit  150  shown in  FIG. 8  is like the railcar transfer containment unit  50  shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIGS. 9-10 , the container  66  has a cover  250  attached to the container  66  by hinge assemblies  252 . The cover  250  has a handle  254 , a locking ear  256 , and a downwardly projecting member  258  covering the cutout  108  (see  FIGS. 2-3 ) when the railcar transfer containment unit  50  is not in use. A grounding lug  260  attached to one of the fasteners  116  provides a connection for the external grounding strap  56  (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , the railcar transfer containment unit  50  shown in  FIG. 2  is shown in plan view. For simplicity, not all parts are shown. The arrow A shows how the ell assembly  60  can swing as the slide  76  rotates within the cylindrical housing  112  and the non-metallic sleeve  110 . When the ell assembly  60  is moved to an extreme position, the vertical connection line assembly  52  is conveniently stored within the container  66 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , another railcar transfer containment unit  350  is shown. A vertically adjustable ell assembly  360  is supported by a telescoping stand  362  disposed within a container  366 . The ell assembly  360  includes a standard ell (i.e., a 90-degree pipe fitting)  368  held in fixed position by an elongated ell support member  370 . The elongated ell support member  370  is slidably received within a vertical member  372  supported by a base plate  374 . The elongated ell support member  370  is vertically adjustable along arrow B to adapt to different heights of the railcar tanker line connection L above the crossties C (see  FIG. 1 ). A threaded nut  376  covering a threaded hole  378  in the vertical member  372  receives a locking handle  380 . The locking handle  380  can be tightened against the elongated ell support member  370  to lock the ell assembly  360  in a selected vertical position. The vertical connection line assembly  52 , the transfer line assembly  54 , and the container cleanout assembly  84  were described in detail above. An internal grounding terminal  382  in a wall of the container  366  is conductively connected to an external grounding lug  384 . If appropriate, internal grounding straps can be attached to the internal grounding terminal  382  and an external grounding strap  56  (see  FIG. 1 ) can be used to connect the external grounding lug  384  to an appropriate location on the railcar tanker T.  
         [0040]     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Technology Category: b