Abstract: A superstructure for a railcar comprising at least a first side assembly, a roof extending from the first side assembly and being comprised of at least a first top chord extending inwardly and upwardly from the first side assembly and a first top chord stiffener comprised of at least a first leg and a second leg. The first and second legs are disposed at a right angle to each other, and the first top chord stiffener is attached to the first top chord and the first side assembly.

Abstract: A method of creating a bend in a construction component for use in a transportation vehicle. The method comprises providing a plurality of cuts in the construction component so as to create a region of increased flexibility in the construction component. The method further comprises bending the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause the construction component to acquire a bent shape, and then rigidifying the construction component in the region of increased flexibility so as to cause said construction component to maintain the acquired bent shape.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle where an air conditioner can be installed in an upper part of a roof thereof includes a roof structure having an opening, and a low roof main body having a recessed part provided in the opening, and recessed in a cross section, the air conditioner being able to be placed on the recessed part, and an edge part of the low roof main body which is continuously formed from the low roof main body and joined to the roof structure. The low roof main body and the edge part of the low roof main body are made of plastic.

Abstract: A method comprising removing a roof from a railcar, the railcar comprising a plurality of top chords, coupling an outer portion of a replacement roof to one or more of the plurality of top chords, the outer portion comprising a frame and a first plurality of panels, and coupling an inner portion of the replacement roof to the frame of the outer portion of the replacement roof after coupling the outer portion to one or more of the plurality of top chords, the inner portion comprising a second plurality of panels.

Abstract: A method of shipping automobiles, a railcar for shipping automobiles, and a method of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles to enable more efficient shipping of automobiles by increasing load factor.

Abstract: A roof structure for a power module of a locomotive is disclosed. The roof structure may have an upper roof layer and at least a portion of the upper roof layer may have a first set of cooling passages. The roof structure may further have a lower roof layer at least partially positioned below the upper roof layer and at least a portion of the lower roof layer may have a second set of cooling passages. Each of the cooling passages of the first set of cooling passages may not overlap a cooling passage of second set of cooling passages.

Abstract: A rail vehicle is particularly advantageous with respect to the installation and the operation of devices or built-in components. The rail vehicle has at least one device carrier, which is arranged in the region of the center of the transverse axis of the rail vehicle between the carriage body roof and the interior paneling of the ceiling of the rail vehicle.

Abstract: A hopper car discharge section may be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom. Outflow is controlled by movable closure members. The hopper car has a plurality of hoppers of which two hoppers share a common ridge assembly. The ridge assembly forms a common mating and fit up location for the upper margins of the slope sheets of two lengthwise adjacent hoppers. The ridge assembly includes an horizontal center section and two end plates that angle upwardly outboard toward the top chords of the sidewalls. The ridge assembly stands proud of the upper margin of the respective adjacent slope sheets. A gusset is mounted between the adjacent slope sheets below the ridge plate such that the slope sheets and gusset form a reinforcement tube running across the car, the end plates forming the stems of a vertical T-section attached to the sidewall and overlapping the top chord.

Abstract: A body structure for rolling stock is disclosed. The body structure may include an outside sheathing of a side construction, and a plurality of reinforcement members joined to said outside sheathing interiorly of said outside sheathing. Each of said plurality of reinforcement members may include a U-shaped part which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section and two fitting flange parts extending continuously from end edges of the U-shaped part in opposite directions. The fitting flange parts may be joined to said outside sheathing by laser welding, and the U-shaped part of at least one of said plurality of reinforcement members may be smaller in width than the U-shaped part of another of said plurality of reinforcement members provided on another part of said outside sheathing.

Abstract: A method of shipping automobiles, a railcar for shipping automobiles, and a method of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles to enable more efficient shipping of automobiles by increasing load factor.

Abstract: An auto rack rail road car has a main deck and upper deck. It is provided with a door for controlling access thereto. The door is a radial arm door, and has a ladder mounted thereon by which personnel can ascend the second deck when the door is open. A second ladder is mounted to the first deck so that when the door is open the second ladder is positioned to co-operate with the first ladder. The arcuate path of the door is free from overhanging obstructions. The door also has internal and external weld-free stiffeners member for enhancing the rigidity thereof. A roller mounted to the door permits the door to be moved between open and closed positions. The door may further include a lock. A guide member protruding from the door co-operates with a groove in the main deck which slidingly guides the door as it moves between open and closed positions to control access to the car.

Abstract: An inner top corner connector of a container body which comprises an angled fitting made of elastic ABS or PVC material and having an angle of 95°-105°, an inner roof sheet connecting portion of the angled fitting is provided with an outer seal blade inclining upward near an end thereof at an outer side thereof. An inner side panel connecting portion of the angled fitting is provided with a connecting plate for connecting a top end of the inner side panel of the container body. The connecting plate is provided with a guide blade. An inserting groove is jointly formed by the guide blade, the inner side panel connecting portion and a part of the connecting plate. The inner roof sheet connecting portion and the inner side panel connecting portion have warping portions directing outward at ends thereof, respectively.

Abstract: The invention provides a railway car with superior riding quality by improving the flexural rigidity of the car body structure while suppressing increase of body structure mass. A reinforcing plate 7 is attached to a roof construction 1 on the side facing an inner side of the car body at a longitudinal center portion of a railway car body structure 10 composed of a roof construction 1, a side construction 2, an underframe 3 and an end construction 4. The range in which the reinforcing plate 7 is adhered in the longitudinal direction of the railway car body structure 10 is between two body bolsters 6, and the range in which the plate 7 is adhered in the horizontal direction of the roof construction 1 is approximately half the length of the roof construction 1 in the horizontal direction. The thickness of the reinforcing plate 7 is increased gradually as the height of the roof construction 1 in the vertical direction increases.

Abstract: A fiberglass railcar roof that includes a fiberglass surface with a central portion and a peripheral portion adapted to be joined to the upper edge region of a railcar. In some embodiments, the roof includes plural elongate fiberglass ribs extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface. In some embodiments, the roof is adapted for use on refrigerated, high cube and cryogenic railcars. Methods for forming the invented roofs and roof panels are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides roofing membrane that increases wind resistance by having at least a two sheets of scrim material (10) that is between an upper layer (12) and a lower layer (14). The upper and lower layers (12 and 14) may be a thermoplastic or other material appropriate for use in a roofing membrane.

Abstract: A fiberglass railcar roof that includes a fiberglass surface with a central portion and a peripheral portion adapted to be joined to the upper edge region of a railcar. In some embodiments, the roof includes plural elongate fiberglass ribs extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface. In some embodiments, the roof is adapted for use on refrigerated, high cube and cryogenic railcars. Methods for forming the invented roofs and roof panels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiberglass railcar roof that includes a fiberglass surface with a central portion and a peripheral portion adapted to be joined to the upper edge region of a railcar. In some embodiments, the roof includes plural elongate fiberglass ribs extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface. In some embodiments, the roof is adapted for use on refrigerated, high cube and cryogenic railcars. Methods for forming the invented roofs and roof panels are also disclosed.

Abstract: A roof assembly for a railroad boxcar having centrally located side door openings. The roof assembly is formed of a number of roof panels each of generally rectangular shape and having longitudinally and laterally located edges. The roof panels are positioned on the boxcar with the longitudinal edges of the panels supported on top side plates of the boxcar. The roof panels include end panels, intermediate panels and door overlying panels. Each of the end panels is located at one of the longitudinal ends of the boxcar and has a laterally located edge. The door overlying panels are positioned over the centrally located side doors of the boxcar. The intermediate panels are positioned between the end panels and the door overlying panels. Each of the intermediate panels is wider than each of the door overlying panels and wider than the end panels. Each intermediate panel is formed with four corrugations while each end panel and door overlying panel is formed with two corrugations.

Abstract: A large capacity car body for a pressure discharge railway hopper car has a plurality of end slope plates assemblies, each having a slope sheet, and a plurality of intermediate slope sheet units, each of inverted “V” shape. The intermediate slope sheet units and the end slope plates form the end walls of a plurality of hoppers. A crossridge frame is associated with each of the intermediate slope sheet units and together with the end frames supports side sheets and a top sheet. Top chord members and bottom chord members extend coextensively with and are welded to upper and lower edge portions of each side sheet. Edge portions of the top sheet overlap and are welded to upper leg portions of the two top chord members. The crossridge frames and chord members considerably increase the resistance of the side sheets and top sheet to deforming when the car body is pressurized during unloading.

Abstract: A hopper car is described that is a thin shelled integrated structure having a roof and a pair of sidewalls. This structure is subject to longitudinal tensile and compressive loads, and to a partial internal vacuum during unloading. Local buckling phenomena and collapse due to the partial vacuum need to be resisted. The roof assembly has lateral stiffeners to maintain its profile, and a reinforced, roll formed longituding coaming.

Abstract: In a person transport vehicle, a roof structure is fixed on longitudinal sidewalls (1). In order to achieve a simple but highly functional structure, a longitudinal beam (3) for the roof is fixed to the area of the top side edges of each longitudinal side wall (1) and is provided with an at least approximately horizontal leg. The horizontal legs extend toward each other and carry in a weld-free and watertight manner an inherently stable roof plate (5) provided with integrated longitudinal channels (6, 7).

Abstract: A fully protective multi-unit railroad freight car for carrying motor vehicles on two or three levels with the lowest level being in a cargo well between a pair of deep side sills. A pair of vehicle-carrying decks are adjustable in height and are counterbalanced against each other during adjustment of their locations. A roof structure is light in weight and constructed of corrugated sheet metal with a self-supporting central portion. The ends of the car are equipped with three-panel folding doors, and a flexible diaphragm closes the space between articulated adjacent car units supported by a shared truck. A modular brake operating system is mounted on the car body.

Abstract: A fiberglass railcar roof that includes a fiberglass surface with a central portion and plural elongate fiberglass ribs extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface. In a first embodiment, the central portion has a cross-sectional configuration that defines a first arc, and the ribs each have broad widths and each extend above the central portion to define a second arc that intersects the first arc. In a second embodiment, the ribs have arcuate cross-sections and extend downward from the lower face of the central portion. Also disclosed are embodiments of the previously described roofs that are configured for use on refrigerated and cryogenic railcars.

Abstract: A vehicle superstructure, in particular for railway carriages to transport passengers, features a structural frame formed by side and end walls and roof. This forms an outer structural plane for the carriage superstructure which is covered by an outer skin and roof cover; insulating material is fitted between the structural plane and the outer skin and roof cover. The outer skin panels are on the one hand loosely mounted via spacers hooked into grooves in sections permanently attached to the carriage frame or outer structural plane, on the other hand releasably attached via other spacers to the structural plane or held by holders secured to sections of the carriage frame with interleaving insulation.

Abstract: A bow beam, as well as a method of making the beam for the roof of truck trailer, is described as being initially extruded in a U-shape with a flat web which is heavier than a pair of legs which extend from the web. The extruded beam is then placed in a press where the free ends of the legs are bent to form a bow in the topside of the beam in spaced relation from the flat bottom web. Thus, the strength of the beam is optimized with a minimal amount of material.

Abstract: A replacement roof sheet for replacing a removed roof section of a covered hopper car roof that has cracks radiating from the square corners of a rectangular hatch. The roof sheet has an arcuate cut-out aligned with the hatch opening and an upstanding, arcuate coaming web joined to said roof sheet at said cut-out, the ends of the coaming web forming joints with exposed ends of the roof coaming peripheral of the hatch opening. Two reinforcing members, having dual-angle standards, bridge the joints to reinforce them. Each member has a base portion secured to the roof sheet and the car roof, a first or lower portion conforming to the inward slope of the roof coaming and secured thereto on one side of the joint, and a second or upper portion conforming to the vertical coaming web and secured thereto on the other side of the joint. An end of the roof sheet overhangs an end wall of the car spaced from the hatch and an end sheet depends to said end wall to cover the space therebetween.

Abstract: An open sided trailer construction in which a roof structure (4) is supported between front and rear frames (30,31) by a central fore and aft spine or web (5,21); the spine or web has lateral supports (8,26,27) extending either side of the web or spine which support a roof covering (4,28) and preferably extend to cantrails (7,20) from which hang curtains (3). The arrangement has the advantage that intermediate supports between the front and rear frame for the roof are not required and the cargo space within the trailer is easy to access and has a greater volume for a given trailer dimension than previous open sided trailer constructions.

Abstract: A convertible railway hopper car has parallel longitudinal beams defining the sides of a hatchway for filling the car with granular material from a spout, and hinged on the upper margins of the car sidewalls are cargo cover members which may occupy elevated positions in which they form a roof covering the entire car body except the hatchway, or idle positions hanging inside the car body. Hinged hatch elements are mounted on the cargo cover members at one side of the hatchway and are movable between extended positions closing the hatchway and secured to the cargo cover members at the other side of the hatchway, and open positions lying atop the cargo cover members upon which they are mounted. When the cargo cover members are in idle position the hatch elements hang below them.

Abstract: A hatch cover opening and closing assembly which includes a hat member rockably secured to the hatch at about its center, the hatch cover being pivotably secured to the railway car coaming through the hat member at one end and the other end of the hat member being adapted to coact with a locking assembly that locks the hatch in closed, sealed, position either by means of a cam or crank acting mechanism.

Abstract: A railway hopper car includes an angular roof having a roof sheet provided with lateral edges each connected to the top of the car side sheet by an elongated top chord. Each top chord includes a substantially rectangularly-sectioned tube member affixed to the exterior of the top portion of the side sheet and includes a top wall inclined inwardly and upwardly and projecting interiorly of the car beyond the top edge of the side sheet. The undersurface of the lateral portion of the roof sheet overlies and is attached to a substantial portion of the upper surface of the top chord top wall. An inside wall on each top chord comprises a vertical member terminating in a top edge abutting the inclined top wall to provide a smooth vertical plane readily admitting installation of the side sheets and subsequent car interior lining.

Abstract: A roof support for a partitioned, covered hopper railway car having a longitudinal roof hatch which supports the roof between the end partition and an end wall without interfering with the hatch opening and transfers a portion of the roof load to the side walls of the car.

Abstract: A curved roof construction for a hopper type rail car wherein a plurality of roof support webs extend transversely between opposed car side walls at spaced intervals to each other. These webs provide support for a plurality of large roof panels which are disposed in generally end to end relationships and define the roof surface. The support webs have outwardly curved or bowed conformations between opposed ends thereof so that the roof panels will be similarly bowed. The roof panels are installed so as to define an elongated roof hatch opening generally centrally between and longitudinally of the car side walls. A roof coaming is associated with the roof panels in an adjacent surrounding relationship with the hatch opening. Elongated side plates fixedly secured to the car side walls adjacent to the top edges thereof provide mounting surfaces for the outer side edges of associated ones of the roof panels.

Abstract: A cabin for a funicular railway comprises a floor, two lateral walls facing each other, one of which is provided with a door opening, two end-walls, and a roof. All of these parts are united detachably by means of bolts, so that the cabin may be transported in the knocked-down condition, and may be subsequently assembled by bolting. The side and upper edges of the lateral walls consist of light-metal bars, the ends of which are welded together in pairs. The roof is provided with four bars welded together in pairs and together forming a roof-frame, two of these bars being welded to the bars forming the upper edges of the lateral walls. The end-walls are edged at the bottom and sides with bars which are bolted to the bars of the lateral walls and are riveted to the plates. The upper parts of the end-walls consist of transparent sheets, secured detachably, by means of resilient strips to parts of the end-walls, of the two lateral walls, and of the roof.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a removable, rigid cover system for railway hopper cars. The system employs a set of welded, steel roof sections which are bolted together end-to-end through upstanding flanges, and which are attached to the car by J-bolts which engage the outturned flanges at the upper margins of the side and end walls of the car. The sections have depending exterior skirts which, in the aggregate, envelope the car and serve to prevent entry of water and to shield the J-bolts from damaging impacts. The section may also have depending interior skirts which act as dams to minimize escape of grain from the car. The system also includes hatchways with hinged covers which facilitate loading of the car, and a walkway.

Abstract: A replacement roof panel for repairing damaged railway car roofs in the field. The damaged portion is cut away leaving an opening in the roof. The repair panel is fabricated to the desired width and has reinforcing end portions that form laterally extending stiffening members. The end portions are shaped to provide slots along the lateral edges of the repair panel for receiving the edges of the existing roof sheet. The repair sheet is then welded along its edges to the existing roof sheet and to the side plates of the car.

Abstract: A hopper car roof is provided with a plurality of hatch covers positioned over an elongated trough through which materials are loaded into the car. The hatch covers are locked over the trough by means of a hatch cover locking device which includes a hinge strap adapted to engage adjacent end portions of the trough hatch covers with the strap having an outwardly projecting tab engaged by a locking bar which is tightly held in a closed locking arrangement by means of an improved foot operated latch secured to the hopper roof.