Abstract: A rail vehicle has a roof region. In a longitudinal direction of the roof region, an air-conditioning duct is laid and which is bounded with respect to a passenger compartment by an inner ceiling. When the air-conditioning duct is composed in its longitudinal direction of at least two air-conditioning duct elements, the two air-conditioning duct elements are connected to one another by a sealing frame which can be pre-positioned. Furthermore, a method for constructing the roof region for such a rail vehicle is specified.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improvement for an inseam mechanically attached roofing membrane which includes a body portion, a mechanically fastened edge on one length with a fold line along the body portion and an overlap portion overlying the body portion. Further disclosed herein is a roofing material for a lap type roof system with a reinforced lap edge, which includes the base portion of the roofing material and a secondary portion of material disposed at the edge of the base portion.

Abstract: The systems and methods of the present invention employ either a sensor in communication with the auger or a sensor in the form of a switch operated by the user of the auger. When the sensor detects that the auger is operating or the switch is operated by the auger operator, an indication of auger operation is published to a remote location. The indication may be in the form of an aural or visual indication or in the form of a wireless transmission.

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 fabricating an electrostatic actuator with an intrinsic stress gradient is provided. An electrode is formed on a substrate and a support layer is formed over the electrode. A metal layer is deposited onto the support layer via a deposition process. Deposition process conditions are varied in order to induce a stress gradient into the metal layer. The intrinsic stress in the metal layer increases in the direction from the bottom to the top of the metal layer. The support layer under the electrode is removed to release the electrostatic actuator.

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 wall closure for use in conjunction with a roof system is defined by an integral unit fabricated from a non-corrosive, durable material and having a generally M-shaped configuration to provide an anchoring flange for attachment to the top of a vertical wall or parapet, an upper flange defining a mounting base for attachment of a wall coping, and an intermediate portion between the anchoring flange and the upper flange creating depth therebetween for ventilation of the roof system.

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: In order to provide a car-body structure which has few different kinds of structural members, a small number of structural members, a small occurrence of strain and which is high in dimensional accuracy, and, consequently, in assembling accuracy, each of the car-body blocks is formed of a one-piece structure consisting of an outside plate and a reinforcing plate, each of which is made of a metallic material. The reinforcing plate is composed of panels divided into a plurality of sections; and, each of the panels has a plurality of beads in the form of a long and narrow projection formed by plastic working of a metal plate and extending in the longitudinal direction of the block. A bar-ring in the form of a long hole with a rib extending in the direction of the block is formed between the beads through plastic working. Further, at least one post-shaped protrusion extending in the direction intersecting at a right angle with the bead is provided in each of panels of the reinforcing plate.

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: An arched building structure comprises an arched coupling body, a still plate and a still, which support the arched coupling body on the ground. The arched coupling body is constituted by coupling two curved members with a plate member formed separate from the curved members. Each curved member is constituted by coupling multiple large steel decks bent with roundness in a wave direction.

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 covered railway hopper car includes a partition sheet assembly, including a plurality of partition sheets rigidly connected to the roof, each having a construction at its upper ends which provides improved fatigue characteristics in the vicinity of the roof step and coaming area adjacent to the hatch opening area thereby relieving stress and reducing fatigue fractures.

Abstract: A unitary, prefabricated railway car roof and its method of manufacture. Two elongated flat webs of galvanized sheet metal disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, and having a combined width slightly greater than the width of the finished roof, are preferably unwound from rolls and are intermittently moved through a welding station which bonds the two webs together into a single wide sheet. Downstream of the welding station the sheet is fed through dies of a hydraulic stamping press which form transverse corrugations at approximately two foot intervals in the combined sheet to provide stiffening panels extending substantially the full width of the roof, and at the same time to form a gable with the longitudinal weld line being the crest of the gable and defining the longitudinal centerline of the roof.

Abstract: A unitary, prefabricated railway car roof and its method of manufacture. Two elongated flat webs of galvanized sheet metal disposed in edge to edge abutting relation, and having a combined width slightly greater than the width of the finished roof, are preferably unwound from rolls and are intermittently moved through a welding station which bonds the two webs together into a single wide sheet. Downstream of the welding station the sheet is fed through dies of a hydraulic stamping press which form transverse corrugations at approximately two foot intervals in the combined sheet to provide stiffening panels extending substantially the full width of the roof, and at the same time to form a gable with the longitudinal weld line being the crest of the gable and defining the longitudinal centerline of the roof.