Abstract: Railroad hopper cars and methods of increasing total volume capacity of a railroad hopper car having a car body with two or more hoppers. In one embodiment, the railroad hopper car includes a car body having a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposed ends defining a length. The hopper car additionally includes a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The hopper car further includes two or more spaced bulkheads extending between the pair of opposed sides to define three or more separate hoppers arranged adjacent one another along the length of the car body and between the pair of side walls. The hoppers being longitudinally asymmetric such that total volume of the hoppers on one side of a transverse center plane of the car body is different from total volume of the hoppers on the other side of the transverse center plane.

Abstract: A method comprises removing a first deck of a plurality of decks and a second deck of the plurality of decks from an autorack. The method further comprises removing one or more of a plurality of posts of the autorack and coupling a cross-brace assembly to one or more of the plurality of posts, wherein the cross-brace assembly is coupled to the one or more of the plurality of posts at a location above an existing brace bay of the autorack. The method also comprises coupling the second deck of the plurality of decks to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly.

Abstract: A method comprises removing a first deck of a plurality of decks and a second deck of the plurality of decks from an autorack. The method further comprises removing one or more of a plurality of posts of the autorack and coupling a cross-brace assembly to one or more of the plurality of posts, wherein the cross-brace assembly is coupled to the one or more of the plurality of posts at a location above an existing brace bay of the autorack. The method also comprises coupling the second deck of the plurality of decks to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly.

Abstract: A cargo carrying vehicle (10) includes a load support deck (44). The deck is comprised of a plurality of laterally adjacent deck pieces (46). Each deck piece includes in transverse cross section a plurality of elongated cavities (56). A respective support member (100) is selectively longitudinally positionable in a respective cavity adjacent to a load area to provide additional strength and crush resistance.

Abstract: A device for the transportation of vehicles, at a prescribed maximum height of the system, transports an increased possible number of vehicles on a given surface area. The device is suitable for transportation by air, sea, and land. In this context, the vehicles are not unloaded from the device, even in the case of combined land, sea, or air transportation. The device consists of a lower pallet and an upper pallet. The upper pallet is supported on booms which, in turn, rest on the lower pallet. The booms are individually height-adjustable so that the upper pallet can be tilted relative to the lower pallet in the longitudinal direction. At the second end, there is a support element on which the device can be moved in the lengthwise direction, at least if it has been slightly lifted at the opposite first end.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a spaced trucks grouped in pairs, and a railcar body supported on a pair of the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a pair of spaced trucks, and a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill at four corners of the well structure; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A railroad freight car that may include multiple units, the body of at least one unit including a container well for carrying intermodal freight containers, the body including a pair of side sills generally of closed box beam configuration with holes and reinforcing rings and with longitudinally extending reinforcing members in the top or bottom, or both, of the beams. The ends of the longitudinally extending reinforcing members are tapered and have their extremities attached to a portion of a side sill web spaced apart from the extreme top or bottom members of the beam.

Abstract: A railroad well car includes a pair of spaced trucks, and a railcar body supported on the trucks, the body comprising a pair of spaced end structures, each end structure supported on one truck, and a well structure extending between the end structures. The well structure comprises a pair of top chord members extending between the end structures; a pair of side sills extending between the end structures; a pair of end chords extending between the side sills; four corner container support members, each secured to one end chord and one side sill at four corners of the well structure; a plurality of floor beams extending between the side sills forming at least a portion of a floor for the well structure; and a plurality of side truss members extending between one side sill and one top chord on each side forming an open truss side for the well structure.

Abstract: A railcar has a substructure, a superstructure and intermediate webwork sides joining the substructure and the superstructure to form a truss-like structure for carrying automobiles. The resultant truss-like structure does not have a straight through center sill, but does retain end stub sills. The main deck of this structure can be depressed between the railcar trucks, and, in combination with a vehicle supporting deck structure allows vehicles of a greater height to be carried in the depressed center than over the end structure above the railcar trucks. The integrated structure, including a structurally significant roof frame, is also used to support the vehicle carrying decking.

Abstract: A railcar has a substructure, a superstructure and intermediate webwork sides joining the substructure and the superstructure to form a truss-like structure for carrying automobiles. The resultant truss-like structure does not have a straight through center sill, but does retain end stub sills. The main deck of this structure can be depressed between the railcar trucks, and, in combination with a vehicle supporting deck structure allows vehicles of a greater height to be carried in the depressed center than over the end structure above the railcar trucks. The integrated structure, including a structurally significant roof frame, is also used to support the vehicle carrying decking.

Abstract: An improved railcar is provided which may be utilized for the transport of relatively lightweight bulky articles, as well as relatively heavy articles such as steel beams. The railcar includes a number of components which cooperate to allow such diversity of uses. A rectangular base structure is provided. A substantially planar deck is secured to the upper surface of the rectangular base structure. A plurality of rail wheel assemblies are coupled to the lower surface of the base structure. The rail wheel assemblies are adapted for engaging a railroad. A first bulkhead member is coupled to a first end of the base structure. A second bulkhead member is coupled to the second end of the base structure. A vertical center partition member is also provided. The vertical center partition member is substantially perpendicular to the base structure. It is located along a longitudinal centerline relative to the base structure.

Abstract: A railroad freight car including a longitudinal well for carrying intermodal cargo containers comprises a car body having longitudinally opposing end structures with body bolsters supported by railroad trucks adapted for movement along a railroad. The opposing end structures have stub center sills and couplers for coupling to other railroad cars. The car body has a structural frame comprising opposing side walls connected to the opposing end structures with bulkheads defining a well for receiving an intermodal cargo container. A plurality of transverse members with supporting brackets are located at the container support points and connected to the side walls at a lower edge thereof. Diagonal members and lighter transverse members connect the load supporting tranverse members to each other and to the end bulkheads to resist lateral loads and provide a safety support for the cargo container floor.

Abstract: The coach body construction comprises an upper structure having extruded profiles, which are connected detachably to one another by corner connectors and are made of an aluminum alloy, and a lower structure. The lower structure is composed of longitudinal and transverse supports which are made of an extruded aluminum alloy and are detachably connected to one another and to the upper structure by corner connectors. In interaction with the upper structure, it is of inherently sturdy construction. The corner connectors are, in particular, screw-on corner connectors.

Abstract: Center beam railroad car having a top chord, a parallel center sill below the top chord, columns joining the top chord and center sill, and diagonal tension members connecting the upper joint between one column and the top chord to the lower joint between another column and the center sill. In one embodiment, the tension member is pivotally secured at each end to the respective upper and lower joints, preventing fatigue failure of the tension member where it is secured to the joints. In another embodiment, at least one end of the tension member is secured to a joint between one end of a column and the center sill or top chord only after the joints are defined by assembling and joining the top chord, center sill, and columns. This method allows the tension members to be installed and to function substantially without tension in the unloaded, unused car and to accept tension loads when the car is loaded and operated.

Abstract: A railroad gondola car having improved side sills, internal horizontal tension braces and diagonal braces with cast metal connectors at the ends of the braces and doubler plates on the side wall post flanges for reinforcement purposes where posts are connected to the ends of the body bolsters and where the braces are connected to the car side walls opposite a side wall post.

Abstract: An internal water drainage system for an interconnected hollow structural assembly within a railroad pressure discharge hopper car or the like is disclosed. To facilitate water drainage throughout the interconnected hollow structural assembly following hydrostatic pressure testing of the car, water draining passageways are provided in the hollow structural members in an area of juncture between the members, at least along a lowermost extent of each of the hollow structural members. The water drainage passageways are constructed to communicate with a water drain opening provided in the shell of the railroad car, in order to afford gravity flow of water through the hollow structural members and evacuation from the railroad car. A method for hydrostatic pressure testing of a railroad car is also disclosed in which gravity flow evacuation of water through the hollow structural members is achieved by utilizing gravity flow of water throughout.

Abstract: This invention relates to centre beam freight cars. The purpose of these freight cars is to carry large, bulky freight which does not require much protection from the elements. Thus, any freight car must have wide utility and sufficient rigidity but a tare mass which does not constitute a high proportion of the fully laden mass of the freight car. The prior art freight cars suffer from a high tare mass proportion in order to provide sufficient rigidity. In this invention, a freight car is provided with a centre beam structure in the form of a vertical truss having a horizontal truss mounted on the top of it. Either of the trusses, or both, are in the form of an open truss. This centre beam structure provides a freight car which has adequate resistance to normal lateral and compressive stresses but has a relatively low tare mass in relation to its fully laden mass.

Abstract: A railroad car for transporting vehicles comprising a car underframe having side sills and supported at each end by a railroad truck; a plurality of spaced apart vertical columns having lower ends rigidly connected to each of the side sills; a first deck supported by the car underframe; a second deck horizontally located above the first deck and rigidly connected to the columns; a brace bay between two adjoining first and second columns near each end of each side of the car; the brace bay having a horizontal member with opposing ends extending between the adjoining columns at the location of the second deck; the brace bay having a first diagonal brace having upper and lower ends extending from the first column downwardly to the second column and a second diagonal brace having upper and lower ends extending from the second column downwardly to the first column, with the upper ends of the two braces being located about at the horizontal member and the lower ends of the two braces being located about at the firs

Abstract: The specification discloses a new articulated car for transporting intermodal containers over a railroad. A novel bogey configuration having large sliding bearing assemblies is used to suspend the load below the axles of the bogies. Draft and buff forces are transmitted through the axles and side rails of the bogey rather than through the articulated coupling, thereby relieving stress on the coupling. The design makes it possible to lower the sills and the center of gravity by passing the load bearing members below the axles of the bogey.

Abstract: A car for charging a coke oven battery with coal. This car carries a plurality of integral coal hoppers. A particular space frame construction is disclosed to support these hoppers, and because of this construction a significant savings in the weight of the car is realized. This space frame includes a pair of horizontally spaced lower front and rear parallel transverse beams and upper front and rear parallel transverse beams. Longitudinally extending beams connect both ends of the upper and lower front transverse beams with the corresponding rear transverse beams. The above described structure is mounted on four wheel housings by means of four truss structures. Two of these wheel housings are positioned slightly in front of the front transverse beams and two are mounted slightly behind the front transverse beams.

Abstract: A covered hopper car having curved side wall units joined to a curved roof structure with a hollow beam side plate and having a reinforcing cap member on the roof sheets with a top portion spaced above the curved roof sheets and maintained in the spaced position by hatch coaming to reinforce the hatch openings. The car also includes a longitudinally extending hollow side sill with bolster posts located at each end and interconnecting the side sill with the side plate in such a fashion as to provide a reinforcing frame encircling the curved side wall sheets and curved roof sheets to hold the curved sheets in position during car movement.

Abstract: A trailer for receiving and hauling bulk material. The trailer includes an elongated bed with an external skeletal frame. Along with the skeletal frame, two truss members are provided on opposite longitudinal sides of the bed. Each truss includes downwardly converging truss members that are affixed at opposite upper ends to the horizontal top rail of the skeletal frame. The truss members converge downwardly to ends that meet at points below the bottom wall of the bed. These ends are affixed to one another and are situated at the approximate longitudinal center of the trailer. Upright web members extend between the top rails and truss members at longitudinally spaced locations along the trailer. A transverse tie member is also provided extending between the joined lower ends of the truss members across the width of the trailer below the bottom wall of the bed.

Abstract: A high volume railway gondola car particularly suited for high speed rail operations having a bracing structure extending the length of the car including a plurality of serially interconnected V-shaped trusses having laterally longitudinally downwardly convergent bracing members coupling the car walls to the underframe along the centerline of the car.

Abstract: A high volume railway gondola car particularly suited for high speed rail operations including a pair of rigid elongated tension and compression braces at each end of the car which couple the corner caps of the car walls to the minimum vertical flexure portions of the car floor located immediately above the car center bearing assemblies.