Modernization of hopper car for transportation of agglomerate and other materials

The paper considers results of the analysis of operability of the transporting equipment at agglomeration shops of the Ural metallurgical enterprises. It was established that during long-term operation of the hopper car for transportation of hot agglomerate, dust settles on its walls, growths of accumulated dust are formed, and the effect of vaulting occurs. Due to compaction and increase in dust layer, useful volume of the hopper car decreases which in turn leads to the need to carry out dangerous work to clean the dust directly inside the hopper car. Manual labor is used for this purpose. Such works are very dangerous for human health due to high dust content and high injury risk. In order to eliminate the problem of vaulting and accumulation of dust on the car walls, it is proposed to use the installation of two vibrating devices of the “False wall” type together with a vibrating neck (vibrating beam). The vibrating element of the device is a plate that is mounted on the inner wall on flexible suspensions (round link chain). Rubber shock absorbers are installed between the plate and the hopper wall, which are used as rubber-fabric conveyor belt. A vibrator is mounted to the plate through the support post, and the transmission of vibrations to the agglomerate is carried out using a vibrating hump, which is welded to the plate (false wall). Introduction of the designed device ensures reduction of unplanned downtime of the hopper cars team and rejection of hazardous to human health work related to the bunkers cleaning. The economic calculation confirms feasibility of the ongoing measures for reengineering of hopper cars in the conditions of agglomerate production at metallurgical enterprises.