WELL CAR SIDE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A well car includes a well floor, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first side assembly. The first end is portion coupled to the well floor. The second end portion is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/545,087, entitled “Well Car Side Assembly,” which was filed Aug. 14, 2017, having common inventorship, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to configuring a railroad freight car (also referred to as a “railcar”).

BACKGROUND

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across long distances. As more freight is placed inside a railcar, the stress placed on the structure of the railcar increases.

SUMMARY

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across long distances. For example, railcars may store and transport automobiles, military equipment, livestock, construction equipment, etc. A well car is a type of railcar. A well car includes a well in which freight is loaded for transport.

Laws and regulations limit the weight of a well car and its freight during transport. The heavier the well car is without freight (also referred to as the tare weight), the less freight it can carry before hitting the weight limit. Additionally, the structure of the well car may limit the amount of freight it can carry. For example, the heavier the freight that is loaded into the well car, the more the the well car may deflect vertically towards the tracks. Laws and regulations limit the amount of vertical deflection that can occur during transport. Therefore, the amount of vertical deflection allowed by the structure of the well car may limit the amount of freight that the well car can carry.

This disclosure contemplates an improved well car design that increases the amount of freight that the well car can transport. The improved design includes structural side assemblies that have an elevated or humped portion. Certain embodiments are described below.

According to an embodiment, a well car includes a well floor, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first side assembly. The first end is portion coupled to the well floor. The second end portion is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

According to another embodiment, a method includes coupling a first side assembly to a well floor of a well car. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to a first end portion coupled to the well floor. The second side portion is coupled to a second end portion coupled to the well floor. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

According to yet another embodiment, a system includes a railcar and a well car. The well car is configured to couple to the railcar. The well car includes a well floor, a first end portion coupled to the well floor, a second end portion coupled to the well floor, a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, and a second side assembly coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly. The second side assembly includes a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions. The third side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The fourth side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The second humped portion is positioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second side assembly. The second side assembly is parallel to the first side assembly.

Certain embodiments provide one or more technical advantages. For example, an embodiment reduces the weight of a well car. As another example, an embodiment reduces the vertical deflection experienced by a well car when transporting freight. Certain embodiments may include none, some, or all of the above technical advantages. One or more other technical advantages may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims included herein

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example well car;

FIG. 2A illustrates an example well car;

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the well car of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the well car of FIG. 2A; and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of forming the well car of FIG. 2A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Railcars are configured to store and transport freight across long distances. For example, railcars may store and transport automobiles, military equipment, livestock, construction equipment, etc. This disclosure contemplates a railcar that is configured to store and transport any type of freight. A well car is a type of railcar. A well car includes a well that is used to carry freight. FIG. 1 illustrates an example well car 100. Freight (e.g. shipping containers) is loaded into the well car, which transports the freight on rails to the destination.

Well car 100 includes side assemblies 105 that form boundaries for the well of well car 100. Side assemblies 105 include a section called a top chord 110. As seen in FIG. 1, top chord 110 for well car 100 includes a section that runs across the length of well car 100. This section may be a hollow tube structure that forms the top portion of side assembly 105. Top chord 110 may be made of metal, alloy, plastic, and/or any appropriate material. In the example well car 100, top chord 110 is level across the length of well car 100.

Laws and regulations limit the weight of well car 100 and its freight during transport. The heavier well car 100 is without freight (also referred to as the tare weight), the less freight it can carry before hitting the weight limit. Additionally, the structure of well car 100 may limit the amount of freight it can carry. For example, the heavier the freight that is loaded into well car 100, the more the well car 100 may deflect vertically towards the tracks. Laws and regulations limit the amount of vertical deflection that can occur during transport. Therefore, the amount of vertical deflection allowed by the structure of well car 100 may limit the amount of freight that well car 100 can carry.

This disclosure contemplates an improved well car design that increases the amount of freight that the well car can transport. The improved design includes side assemblies that have an elevated or humped portion. The improved design will be described using FIGS. 2A-2C and 3.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example well car 200. As shown in FIG. 2A, well car 200 includes a well floor 205, castings 225, two end portions 210, and two side assemblies 105. The two end portions 210 and the two side assemblies 105 are coupled to the well floor 205. Each side assembly 105 includes a top chord 110. Each side assembly 105 includes two side portions 220 coupled to a humped portion 215. Each side portion 220 is also coupled to an end portion 210. Each casting 225 is coupled to a side assembly 105. In the illustrated example of FIG. 2A, well car 200 includes six castings 225 (not all illustrated) with three castings 225 coupled to each side assembly 105. In particular embodiments, the design of well car 200 allows well car 200 to transport a greater amount of freight and/or weight than well car 100 at the same or lower tare weight.

As described previously, the tare weight of well car 200 (e.g., the weight of well car 200 with no freight loaded) limits the amount of freight that well car 200 can carry before reaching a weight limit set by laws and regulations. The more that the tare weight of well car 200 can be reduced, the more freight it can carry before hitting the weight limit. However, reducing the tare weight of well car 200 may affect the structural strength of well car 200. In some instances, changing the structure of well car 200 may reduce its ability to support heavy freight thus limiting the amount of weight that well car 200 can safely transport.

This disclosure contemplates an unconventional humped design for the side assemblies 105 of well car 200. The humped design provides greater depth to each side assembly 105, which improves the vertical support provided by the side assemblies. As a result, the thickness of certain portions of the side assemblies 105 (e.g., top chords 110) may be reduced without jeopardizing the structural integrity and support of side assemblies 105. By reducing the thickness of certain components, such as top chord 110, the overall weight of side assembly 105 is reduced even though the hump design appears to increase the size of side assembly 105. Reducing the weight of side assemblies 105 results in a reduction in the tare weight of well car 200, which allows well car 200 to carry more freight before reaching the weight limit set by laws and regulations.

Freight is loaded into well car 200 to rest on castings 225. When freight is loaded into well car 200, the weight of the freight may cause well floor 205 to move closer to the track over which the well car 200 is running. This movement is referred to as vertical deflection. Laws and regulations effectively limit the amount of vertical deflection that can occur in a well car due to a specified minimum distance between the bottom of the car and the tops of the track's rails. Thus, if the weight of freight causes too much vertical deflection, the weight must be reduced or the well car will not be allowed to transport the freight.

The humped design of side assemblies 105 offers the additional advantage of reducing vertical deflections in well car 200. The humped design increases the cross-sectional area of side assembly 105, like an arch on a bridge. As a result, the vertical support that side assembly 105 provides to well car 200 and well floor 205 is improved. The improved vertical support reduces the amount of vertical deflection that occurs in well car 200 per unit of weight of freight loaded in well car 200. Thus, the amount of weight/freight that well car 200 can carry before reaching or exceeding vertical deflection limits effectively set by laws and regulations is also increased with the humped design.

Each side assembly 105 includes two side portions 220 coupled to a humped portion 215. The side portions 220 couple to the end portions 210 of well car 200. The humped portion 215 couples to the side portions 220. The humped portion 215 runs across a midline of the side assembly 105. Additionally, the humped portion 215 is elevated or positioned higher than the side portions 220. As a result, the humped portion 215 is elevated above the side portions 220. In some embodiments, the structure of top chord 110 and humped portion 215 in well car 200 is curved.

As a result of the structural improvement provided by the elevated humped portion 215, the overall weight of top chord 110 may be reduced. For example, top chord 110 may be a tube that runs along the top of side assembly 105. When side assembly 105 includes elevated humped portion 215, the tube may be made thinner when compared to the level top chord 110 of well car 100. The thinner tube results in a weight reduction of side assembly 105. By reducing the weight of side assembly 105, the weight of well car 200 is reduced. When the weight of well car 200 is reduced, more weight can be allotted to the freight that is carried by well car 200. Thus, well car 200 is configured to transport more weight than well car 100 with the same or less tare weight.

Elevated humped portion 215 also reduces the amount of vertical deflection that occurs when freight is loaded into well car 200. Elevated humped portion 215 increases the cross-sectional area of side assembly 105. Elevated humped portion 215 also creates an arch shape for top chord 110 and side assembly 105. As a result, side assembly 105 provides more vertical support for well car 200 which reduces the amount of vertical deflection that occurs in well car 200 when freight is loaded into well car 200.

Top chord 110 may be constructed in any appropriate manner. In certain embodiments, top chord 110 is a tube that is bent to form the humped design. In some embodiments, top chord 110 is formed by welding multiple sections of tubes together. For example, top chord 110 may be formed by first bending two end tubes and then welding them to a straight, center tube to form the humped design. Top chord 110 forms a top surface of side assembly 105. For example, top chord 110 forms a top surface of side portions 220 and/or humped portion 215.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of the well car 200 of FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2B, side assembly 105 includes top chord 110. Side assembly 105 includes two side portions 220 coupled to an elevated humped portion 215. The elevated humped portion 215 is positioned higher than each side portion 220. Additionally, as seen in FIG. 2B, castings 225 are coupled to side assembly 105. One casting 225 is coupled to each side portion 220. Another casting 225 is coupled to humped portion 215. Each casting 225 is positioned near the well floor 205 of well car 200. Although shown for clarity, it may not necessarily be the case that castings 225 are visible on the exterior surface of side assembly 105. Freight being transported by well car 200 rests on castings 225.

As seen in FIG. 2B, humped portion 215 increases the cross-sectional area of side assembly 105 by creating an arched-shaped structure. This structure provides additional support for the structure of well car 200 such that well car 200 experiences less vertical deflection when transporting freight. Additionally, the structure may reduce the weight of side assembly 105 and well car 200 so that well car 200 can transport additional weight.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional view of well car 200 of FIG. 2A. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, well floor 205 is coupled to side assemblies 105. Each side assembly 105 includes a top chord 110 at the top of side assembly 105. Top chord 110 is a hollow tube. Although FIG. 2C shows side assembly 105 being orthogonal to well floor 205, this disclosure contemplates side assembly 105 being slightly angled relative to well floor 205 such that it is substantially orthogonal to well floor 205 (e.g., within five degrees of being orthogonal). This disclosure contemplates the top chord 110 being curved or bent. Castings 225 are coupled to side assemblies 105 near well floor 205. Freight being transported by well car 200 rests on castings 225.

When freight is loaded into well car 200, the freight will rest on castings 225 and be supported laterally by side assemblies 105. The humped design of side assemblies 105 allow for the freight to be of a greater weight before well car 200 reaches weight limits and/or vertical deflection limits set by laws and regulations. By being able to transport a greater weight of freight, well car 200 is more economically efficient and produces a greater economic return per use.

In some embodiments, well car 200 can couple via end portions 210 to other railcars (such as other well cars). In this manner, well car 200 can pull or be pulled by other railcars to transport freight.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method 300 of forming the well car 200 of FIG. 2A. In step 305, a side assembly is coupled to a well car. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first side portion and the second side portion. The first humped portion crosses a midline of the first side assembly. The first humped portion is also positioned higher than the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to a first end portion coupled to the well floor. The second side portion is coupled to a second end portion coupled to the well floor.

In step 310, a second side assembly is attached to the same well car. The second side assembly includes a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions. The second humped portion crosses a midline of the second top chord. The second humped portion is also positioned higher than the third and fourth side portions. The third side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The fourth side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The second side assembly is parallel to the first side assembly.

Each top chord may be formed in any appropriate manner. For example, a top chord may be a tube that is bent to form a humped design. As another example, a top chord may be formed by welding multiple tubes together. Each top chord may be attached to the well car assembly in any appropriate manner. For example, each top chord may be coupled to the side assembly by welding or mechanically fastening (hucks, bolts etc.).

In particular embodiments, by performing method 300, the resulting well car can transport an increased amount of weight or freight before reaching structural and/or weight limits set by laws and regulations. Additionally, the amount of vertical deflection for any given amount of weight of freight is reduced per tare weight of the car, thus allowing the resulting well car to transport an increased amount of weight or freight before reaching vertical deflection limits set by laws and regulations.

Although several embodiments have been provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed systems and methods might be embodied in many other specific forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. The present examples are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the intention is not to be limited to the details given herein. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may be omitted, or not implemented.

In addition, techniques, systems, subsystems, and methods described and illustrated in the various embodiments as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, modules, techniques, or methods without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Other items shown or discussed as coupled or directly coupled or communicating with each other may be indirectly coupled or communicating through some interface, device, or intermediate component whether electrically, mechanically, or otherwise. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope disclosed herein.

To aid the Patent Office, and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants note that they do not intend any of the appended claims to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) as it exists on the date of filing hereof unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Claims

1. A well car comprising:

a well floor;

a first end portion coupled to the well floor;

a second end portion coupled to the well floor;

a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, the first side assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions, the first side portion coupled to the first end portion, the second side portion coupled to the second end portion, the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

2. The well car of claim 1, further comprising a second side assembly coupled to the well floor, the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions, the third side portion coupled to the first end portion, the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion, the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second side assembly, the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly.

3. The well car of claim 1, further comprising a first casting, a second casting, and a third casting, the first casting coupled to the first side portion, the second casting coupled to the first humped portion, the third casting coupled to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight.

4. The well car of claim 1, wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor.

5. The well car of claim 1, wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly.

6. The well car of claim 5, wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion.

7. The well car of claim 5, wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube.

8. A method comprising:

coupling a first side assembly to a well floor of a well car, the first side assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions, the first side portion coupled to a first end portion coupled to the well floor, the second side portion coupled to a second end portion coupled to the well floor, the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a second side assembly to the well floor, the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions, the third side portion coupled to the first end portion, the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion, the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth side portions, the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

coupling a first casting to the first side portion;

coupling a second casting to the first humped portion; and

coupling a third casting to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube.

15. A system comprising:

a railcar; and

a well car configured to couple to the railcar, the well car comprising a well floor, a first end portion coupled to the well floor, a second end portion coupled to the well floor, a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, and a second side assembly coupled to the well floor, wherein: the first side assembly comprises a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions; the first side portion coupled to the first end portion; the second side portion coupled to the second end portion; the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly; the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions; the third side portion coupled to the first end portion; the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion; the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second side assembly; and the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a first casting, a second casting, and a third casting, the first casting coupled to the first side portion, the second casting coupled to the first humped portion, the third casting coupled to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube.