The new weld-on flange is compatible with standard industry bolt-on gates.
One of Stucki’s newest products provides hopper car owners and shippers more options for their car’s outlet gate applications.
The new weld-on outlet gate flange incorporates a standard 66-bolt pattern (a widely used configuration in the rail industry) to make it compatible with bolt-on gate designs, including Stucki’s GATOR® outlet gate.
“The flange provides flexibility for hopper car owners to meet the needs of their lessees who prefer a bolt-on gravity outlet gate in place of a previously equipped hopper car with a weld-on gravity gate,” said RICH POTJE, vice president and chief engineer.
Hopper car gates control the discharge of bulk commodities on the underside of a railcar.
Bolt-on gates offer fast installation and easy maintenance, while weld-on gates provide increased corrosion resistance and longevity – an important consideration for hopper cars in fertilizer service.
A flange provides a secure mounting surface for a gate on the bottom of a car.
weld-on flange attached to gate.
Stucki’s new weld-on flange stays in place for future maintenance, so any future gate replacements can be completed by unbolting the old gate and bolting on the new one – no cutting, grinding, or re-welding required.
The product was developed by Stucki’s engineering and sales teams, led by RIC GIRT, manager of finite engineering analysis and 3D modeling.
“Railcar operators can seamlessly integrate the weld-on flange into their fleets utilizing both bolt-on and weld-on gates, which reduces the need for separate parts and ensures longer service life,” said Rich.
