Patents by Inventor James P. Klag

James P. Klag has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7182569
    Abstract: A multilevel railway auto rack car for transporting automobiles is provided having at least one upper deck with end segments pivotable to accommodate the difference in height of corresponding upper decks of adjacent auto rack cars and facilitate loading of automobiles between cars. A pivoting assembly pivots the end segment between raised and lowered positions, as well as prevents the end segment from being inadvertently left in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Wrobley, James P. Klag, Robert J. Recupido, Robert J. Cencer
  • Publication number: 20040052603
    Abstract: A multilevel railway auto rack car for transporting automobiles is provided having at least one upper deck with end segments pivotable to accommodate the difference in height of corresponding upper decks of adjacent auto rack cars and facilitate loading of automobiles between cars. A pivoting assembly pivots the end segment between raised and lowered positions, as well as prevents the end segment from being inadvertently left in the lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Applicant: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Wrobley, James P. Klag, Robert J. Recupido, Robert J. Cencer
  • Patent number: 6623223
    Abstract: A multilevel railway auto rack car for transporting automobiles is provided having at least one.upper deck with end segments pivotable to accommodate the difference in height of corresponding upper decks of adjacent auto rack cars and facilitate loading of automobiles between cars. A pivoting assembly pivots the end segment between raised and lowered positions, as well as prevents the end segment from being inadvertently left in the lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Eric Matthew Wrobley, James P. Klag, Robert J. Recupido, Robert J. Cencer
  • Patent number: 6363864
    Abstract: A railroad car for carrying steel coils includes a pair of spaced apart supports located inboard of the sides of the railroad car. The supports have upper angled surfaces and the supports are arranged so as to impart a trough-shape cavity for receiving bottoms of steel coils whose central axes are aligned generally parallel to the length of the railroad car. The supports carry lateral loading of the steel coil as well as draft and buff loadings. Laterally extending wings are located outboard of the supports for engaging one or more overhead covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: TRN Business Trust
    Inventors: Richard E. Jamrozy, James P. Klag
  • Publication number: 20010035108
    Abstract: A novel sidewall structure for a motor-vehicle carrying railway car wherein at least one upper deck is supported principally by longitudinal beams that are themselves supported by end structures, without the need for large, heavy vertical posts to support the decks between the end structures. To provide a lightweight car body with sufficient strength and durability for commercial rail service, the car body may be of monocoque construction. Each sidewall preferably has a plate girder structure that employs the horizontal beams as its principal supports, with the beams tied together by sidewall panels or plates. A plurality of light stiffeners may be employed to limit flexure of the sidewalls. Each of the end structures preferably comprises an offset H frame that includes a draft sill joined to a body bolster, and inner and outer cross bearers joined to the draft sill. In the offset H frame, the draft sill slopes downward and inward, with the inner cross bearer being at a lower elevation than the outer one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Applicant: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James P. Klag
  • Patent number: 6273004
    Abstract: A sidewall structure for a motor-vehicle carrying railway car wherein at least one upper deck is supported principally by longitudinal beams that are themselves supported by end structures, without the need for large, heavy vertical posts to support the decks between the end structures. To provide a lightweight car body with sufficient strength and durability for commercial rail service, the car body may be of monocoque construction. Each sidewall preferably has a plate girder structure that employs the horizontal beams as its principal supports, with the beams tied together by sidewall panels or plates. A plurality of light stiffeners may be employed to limit flexure of the sidewalls. Each of the end structures preferably comprises an offset H frame that includes a draft sill joined to a body bolster, and inner and outer cross bearers joined to the draft sill. In the offset H frame, the draft sill slopes downward and inward, with the inner cross bearer being at a lower elevation than the outer one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: James P. Klag
  • Patent number: 6244801
    Abstract: A novel sidewall structure for a motor-vehicle carrying railway car wherein at least one upper deck is supported principally by longitudinal beams that are themselves supported by end structures, without the need for large, heavy vertical posts to support the decks between the end structures. To provide a lightweight car body with sufficient strength and durability for commercial rail service, the car body may be of monocoque construction. Each sidewall preferably has a plate girder structure that employs the horizontal beams as its principal supports, with the beams tied together by sidewall panels or plates. A plurality of light stiffeners may be employed to limit flexure of the sidewalls. Each of the end structures preferably comprises an offset H frame that includes a draft sill joined to a body bolster, and inner and outer cross bearers joined to the draft sill. In the offset H frame, the draft sill slopes downward and inward, with the inner cross bearer being at a lower elevation than the outer one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James P. Klag, Richard E. Jamrozy, Robert J. Recupido
  • Patent number: 4784067
    Abstract: A freight carrying railroad car including a body supported at each end by wheel-containing trucks; the body having a vertical center beam extending the length of the car between bulkheads at each end of the car; the center beam having a center sill, a top sill parallel to and spaced above the center sill, and a plurality of vertical spaced apart columns connected at their lower ends to the center sill and at their upper ends to the top sill; a vertical plate at each end of the car extending from the center sill to the top sill, and from the respective bulkhead at that end inwardly along the center sill; each vertical plate being joined to the center sill, top sill, bulkhead and a plurality of said columns such that opposed facing ends of said vertical plates are spaced from each other a distance of at least about 60% of the length of said car between the bulkheads; and between the facing end of each of the vertical plates and the car length center, at least one bracing bar extending diagonally downwardly, tow
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William H. Harris, James P. Klag, Joseph W. Lam
  • Patent number: 4753175
    Abstract: A freight carrying railroad car including a body supported at each end by wheel-containing trucks; the body having a vertical center beam extending the length of the car between bulkheads at each end of the car; the center beam having a center sill, a top sill parallel to and spaced above the center sill, and a plurality of vertical spaced apart columns connected at their lower ends to the center sill and at their upper ends to the top sill; a vertical plate at each end of the car extending from the center sill to the top sill, and from the respective bulkhead at that end inwardly along the center sill, each vertical plate being joined to the center sill, top sill, bulkhead and a plurality of said columns such that opposed facing ends of said vertical plates are spaced from each other a distance of at least about 60% of the length of said car between the bulkheads; and between the facing end of each of the vertical plates and the car length center, at least one bracing bar extending diagonally downwardly, tow
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1988
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William H. Harris, James P. Klag, Joseph W. Lam
  • Patent number: 4681041
    Abstract: A freight carrying railroad car including a body supported at each end by wheel-containing trucks; the body having a vertical center beam extending the length of the car between bulkheads at each end of the car; the center beam having a center sill, a top sill parallel to and spaced above the center sill, and a plurality of vertical spaced apart columns connected at their lower ends to the center sill and at their upper ends to the top sill; a vertical plate at each end of the car extending from the center sill to the top sill, and from the respective bulkhead at that end inwardly along the center sill; each vertical plate being joined to the center sill, top sill, bulkhead and a plurality of said columns such that opposed facing ends of said vertical plates are spaced from each other a distance of at least about 60% of the length of said car between the bulkheads; and between the facing end of each of the vertical plates and the car length center, at least one bracing bar extending diagonally downwardly, tow
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Assignee: Thrall Car Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William H. Harris, James P. Klag, Joseph W. Lam