LOADING GRANULATED METALLIC UNITS INTO RAILCARS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
Loading granulated metallic units (GMUs) into railcars, and associated systems, devices, and methods, are disclosed here. In some embodiments, an apparatus for loading GMUs into a railcar comprises a housing unit, a weigh bin, a weigh bin gate, a hopper, and an articulating chute. GMUs in the weigh bin are discharged via gravity through the weigh bin gate when the weigh bin gate opens. The hopper is configured to guide GMUs received from the weigh bin to the articulating chute. The articulating chute is angled and rotatable about an axis of the hopper such that, when rotated, the end of the chute is closer to the floor of a railcar. In some embodiments, the chute includes telescoping segments.
1 . A method of loading granulated metallic units (GMUs) into a railcar, the method comprising:
filling a weigh bin with GMUs;
determining a weight of the GMUs in the weigh bin;
opening a weigh bin gate positioned at an outlet section of the weigh bin;
receiving the GMUs at an articulating chute positioned below the weigh bin gate, wherein the articulating chute is angled and rotatable relative to the weigh bin about an axis, wherein the axis is positioned above an end section of the articulating chute; and
guiding the GMUs through the articulating chute into the railcar.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the articulating chute from a first position to a second position, wherein the end section is at a first height relative to a floor of the railcar when the articulating chute is in the first position and the end section is at a second height when the articulating chute is in the second position, and wherein the second height is closer to the floor of the railcar than the first height.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the GMUs from the weigh bin at a hopper positioned above the articulating chute.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising rotating the articulating chute relative to the weigh bin.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the articulating chute further includes one or more baffle elements, extending inwardly from inner surfaces of the articulating chute and wherein the method further comprises slowing at least a portion of the GMUs guided through the articulating chute via the one or more baffle elements.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the articulating chute further includes a telescoping segment, and wherein the method further comprises extending the telescoping segment from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration, wherein the end section of the articulating chute is positioned closer to a floor of the railcar when the telescoping segment is in the extended configuration.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the telescoping segment is a first telescoping segment and the articulating chute further includes a second telescoping segment distal to the first telescoping segment, wherein the method further comprises extending the second telescoping segment distally from the first telescoping segment.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transporting the GMUs via a conveyer mechanism to a surge bin positioned above the weigh bin, wherein the conveyer mechanism is configured to reduce the loss of industrial product via one or more catch trays compared to conventional conveyer mechanisms;
supplying the GMUs to the weigh bin via the surge bin; and
shutting a surge bin gate of the surge bin based on a target weight of the weigh bin.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising repositioning the railcar relative to the chute while guiding the GMUs into the railcar through the articulating chute.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a target weight of the GMUs based at least in part on a gross weight limit of a rail line and/or the railcar, and wherein opening the weigh bin gate is based at least in part on the GMUs at least meeting the target weight.
11 . 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.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the articulating chute is rotatable relative to the hopper about an axis.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the articulating chute is (i) rotatable relative to the hopper, and (ii) extendable from a retractable position to an extended position.
14 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein rotation of the articulating chute in a first direction about an axis positions an end portion from approximately the first height to approximately the second height, and rotation of the articulating chute in a second direction about the axis positions the end portion from approximately the second height to approximately the first height.
15 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the articulating chute includes one or more baffle elements positioned within an interior of the articulating chute, wherein the baffle elements are configured to partially restrict a flow of GMUs through the articulating chute.
16 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the articulating chute has a first outer surface portion and a second outer surface portion distal to the first outer surface portion, wherein the second outer surface portion is angled relative to the first outer surface portion.
17 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a surge bin coupled to and positioned within the housing, wherein the surge bin is positioned above the weigh bin and includes a surge bin gate positioned at an outlet of the surge bin, wherein the surge bin gate is moveable from a closed position in which GMUs are maintained in the surge bin to an open position in which the GMUs are discharged via gravity past the surge bin gate, wherein the weigh bin is configured to receive GMUs from the surge bin.
18 . 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.
19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a hopper positioned below the weigh bin gate and configured to receive the GMUs discharged by the weigh bin gate.
20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the hopper includes an inlet having a first cross-sectional dimension and an outlet having a second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension.