US3583331A

US3583331A - Railcar

Info

Publication number: US3583331A
Application number: US789241A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rolf Mowatt-Larssen
Original assignee: Fruehauf Corp
Current assignee: Faiveley Transport North America Inc
Priority date: 1969-01-06
Filing date: 1969-01-06
Publication date: 1971-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-08
Also published as: JPS5044B1

Abstract

A covered hopper railcar includes side sheet means of undulating cross section having a center sideplate means secured to the side sheet means adjacent a point of reverse curvature thereof and extending longitudinally of the railcar. A top sideplate means extends longitudinally along the top of said side sheet means, and a side sill means extends longitudinally along the bottom of the side sheet means. The center sideplate means, the top sideplate means and the side sill means are all formed of steel while the side sheet means and roof are formed of aluminum, suitable aluminum shield means being provided for preventing contamination of lading by the steel members. The railcar includes a plurality of spaced hoppers and a longitudinally extending center sill means extending substantially throughout the length of the car. The roof of the car is of curved crosssectional configuration.

Description

3,277,842 10/1966 Schwartz Jr. et al. 105/358 3,339,499 9/1967 Charles et al. 105/248 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorneylmirie, Smiley, Snyder & Butrum Rolf Mowatt-Larssen Kinnelon, NJ. Appl. No. 789,241 [22] Filed Jan. 6, 1969 [45] Patented June 8,1971

Assignee Magor Railcar Division, Fruehauf m mma w w m 5 d5 0 0 1 61 cam 4 "2 u/s 5" mmm m .w m m m n F n n M N m m m r u n [M D n u n cc m m i a f. mmc u o d Mm s t. m RlU h F .l 1 .l .l 4 2 1 O b. w U H United States Patent [72] Inventor ABSTRACT: A covered hopper railcar includes side sheet means of undulating cross section having a center sideplate means secured to the side sheet means adjacent a point of reverse curvature thereof and extending longitudinally of the railcar. A top sideplate means extends longitudinally along the top of said side sheet means, and a side will means extends longitudinally along the bottom of the side sheet means. The center sideplate means, the top sideplate means and the side sill means are all formed of steel while the side sheet means and roof are formed of aluminum, suitable aluminum shield means being provided for preventing contamination of lading by the steel members. The railcar includes a plurality of spaced hoppers and a longitudinally extending center sill means extending substantially throughout the length of the car. The roof of the car is of curved cross-sectional configuratio [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,253,556 5/1966 Glaser et PATENTEU JUN 81971 SHEET 1 0F 4 INVENT OR filln ROLF MOWATT-LA RSSEN ATTORNl-IYS PATENTED JUN 81971 SHEET 2 [IF 4 N R m WA L I. Tl T A W 0 M F .L O R BY i ww @M ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN 8197! $583,331

sum 3 or 4 INVENTOR ROLF MOWATT LA RSSEN ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUN 8l97l 3583331 saw n []F 4 INVENTOh ROLF MOWATT- LARSS E N CD a N BY fi iuu (1140 (gilt thu ATTORNEYS RAILCAR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a railcar, and more particularly to a covered hopper railcar. This type of railcar has for many years incorporated a conventional construction including straight vertical sides including vertically extending side stakes spaced along the side to provide strength and stiffness. A flat or sloping roof is supported by the sides. The provision of such stakes is expensive and since they project outwardly from the sides of the railcar, the internal cargo carrying capacity of the car is correspondingly reduced since the outer periphery of the car must fit within specific clearance limitations as defined by A.A.R. (Association of American Railroads).

In order to overcome the disadvantages attendant with a straight vertical side construction, hopper cars have been designed including curved sides and also including a curved roof. The provision of curved sides eliminates the necessity of providing side stakes on the car thereby resulting in considerable economy since the material of the side stakes is eliminated. The curvature of the sides provides sufflcient stiffness to take the necessary loads without requiring the provision of any side stakes.

However, known constructions in railway hopper cars employ side sheets having an arcuate configuration of single curvature which results in a loss of cargo-carrying space within the internal confines of the railcar. So-called tank-type superstructures having curved side sheets in the prior art have not employed a center sill means extending longitudinally throughout the length of the railcar, and as a result, in order to obtain the necessary strength for withstanding impact and compressive loads, a large amount of additional structure must be employed.

Today, most covered hopper cars utilize a roof consisting of sheets strengthened by transverse stiffening members called carlines. The carlines are attached to the roof sheets and sideplates either by continuous or intermittent welds. The roof sheets are attached to the sideplates in most cases by an inside and an outside fillet weld. This type of roof construction is expensive to manufacture and unduly increases the light weight of the railcar.

Additionally, covered hopper railcars have generally been constructed entirely of steel or the like which provides a relatively heavy railcar which limits the load-carrying capacity thereof. Steel also has the undesired effect of causing contamination to a number of substances which are commonly carried by such cars. A further disadvantage of steel constructions is the fact that they require undue maintenance to maintain them in good operating condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the side sheet means is of a unique construction including a curved top side sheet and a separate curved bottom side sheet cooperating to define an overall side sheet means defining an undulation cross-sectional configuration including adjacent curved portions having a portion therebetween of reverse curvature. These side sheets are interconnected with one another by a longitudinally extending center sideplate means secured to the sheets adjacent the point of reverse curvature of the overall side sheet means. The side sheet means of the present invention provides the same advantages as associated with a side sheet means of single curvature by eliminating the necessity of providing side stakes and the like. At the same time, the side sheet means of the present invention results in improved volumetric efficiency as compared with railcars having a side sheet of single curvature. This is true since the undulating side sheet means ol the present invention serves to more nearly approximate a straight vertical side and to thereby increase the internal dimensions of the railcar, while at the same time retaining the advantages of a single curved side sheet means. The side sheet means of the present invention also enables the outer contour of the railcar to fit within the existing standards defined by A.A.R.

The railcar of the present invention is illustrated as comprising a covered hopper car including a curved roof which eliminates the necessity of providing carlines and thereby sub stantially reduces the complexity and cost of the roof construction as well as providing a lighter construction. Additionally, the novel side construction of the railcar of the present invention may also be employed in both covered and open top cars of other types.

The railcar of the present invention also includes a center sill means extending longitudinally substantially throughout the length of the railcar. This arrangement can readily withstand impact and compressive load encountered in use with a much more efficient utilization of material than in a construction wherein no longitudinally extending center sill means is provided. Accordingly, the present invention pro vides the combined advantages of the conventional full center sill underframe construction along with a tank-type superstructure.

The side sheet means and roof of the railcar are formed of aluminum thereby substantially reducing the weight of the railcar as compared with a steel construction. Accordingly, the load-carrying capacity of the present railcar is substantially greater than that of a corresponding size steel railcar construction. The hopper means of the railcar is also formed of aluminum so that lading may be effectively carried without the problem of contamination as would occur in a steel railcar construction. Furthermore, the aluminum construction of the present invention serves to provide a substantially maintenance-free arrangement.

In order to rigidify and reinforce the side sheet means so that it is readily able to withstand the loads applied thereto, center sideplate means is provided formed of a rigid material such as steel and suitably interconnected with the side sheet means to provide the necessary strength. A top sideplate means and a side sill means ofa suitable material such as steel are also operatively interconnected with the side sheet means in order to provide a very strong overall construction.

Joint means is also provided between the center sideplate means as well as the top sideplate means and partitions dividing the hoppers from one another. These joints include steel members or the like, and in order to shield the lading from the center sideplate means, the top sideplate means and the joints, a suitable aluminum shield means is incorporated at the inner surface of the railcar so that the lading cannot come into contact with the steel members, but rather is in contact with aluminum members at all times.

Members of like material are suitably connected as by welding, while members of different material are interconnected by conventional mechanical fastener means so that the railcar can be readily assembled in an effective and efficient manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top perspective view ofa railcar according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken through the center of one of the hoppers of the railcar shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating the hatch frame construction at the center of the roof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction at the top sideplate means;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction at the side sill means;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the construction at the center sideplate means;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 9-9 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of the overall railcar with the left-hand half ofthe railcar being shown in longitudinal section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen most clearly in FIGS. 1 and I0, the railcar includes conventional trucks indicated generally by reference numeral having the usual wheels thereon and including a transversely extending bolster assembly 24. A longitudinally extending center sill means 26 of conventional construction extends throughout the length ofthe railcar. The usual draft gear and coupler structure 28 is provided at opposite ends of the railcar. An end sill 30 is provided at each end of the railcar and a pair ofstub side sills 32 extend longitudinally from each end sill, these stub side sills supporting transition means 36 of a construction as described in copending US. Pat. Application Ser. No. 708,586, filed Feb. 27, 1968. This transition means supports a side sill means hereinafter described.

The railcar includes a side sheet means indicated generally by reference numeral 40 of undulating cross section, the side sheet means at opposite sides of the railcar being substantially identical and supporting a curved roof indicated generally by reference numeral 42. Corner posts 44 extend from the end sills of the railcar upwardly and are connected with the upper portion of the side sheet means adjacent to the roof.

The side sheet means as well the roof are each formed of aluminum, and the members defining the hoppers are also formed of aluminum. The end floor sheets 50 of the two hoppers at opposite ends of the railcar are formed of aluminum and are provided with transversely extending stiffeners 52. A body bolster assembly is supported above each of the truck bolster assemblies in the usual manner, and a substantially vertically extending web plate 54 formed of steel extends upwardly from the associated body bolster and is interconnected with the associated floor sheet 50 by an aluminum angle member 56 which is secured to

members

50 and 54 by mechanical fasteners.

Conventional running boards 46 extend longitudinally of the railcar and are supported in the operative position shown by a plurality of straps 47 suitably supported by the roof. A plurality of hatches 48 extend throughout the length of the railcar and provide access through the roof of the car to the hoppers defined therewithin. These hatches are made of aluminum. The usual ladders, safety appliances and so forth are provided at the ends of the car and are of conventional construction.

As seen most clearly in FIG. I0, the railcar is a triple hopper car including three hoppers indicated generally by reference numerals 60 and having conventional bottom outlet structures 62 at the lower ends thereof. These hoppers are defined in the usual manner and include the end floor sheets 50 as previously described. Further sloping floor sheets 64 which are also formed of aluminum join with transversely extending aluminum partitions 66 two of which divide the interior of the hopper car into the three hoppers illustrated. Sloping floor sheets 64 are suitably secured to partitions 66 which are also formed of aluminum by welding or the like. Partitions 66 extend below the upper ends of sloping floor sheets 64 of the hoppers, these downward extending portions of partitions 66 being secured by mechanical fasteners to steel support means 68 which in turn are operatively interconnected with the center sill means. Suitable gusset plates 70 supported by the center sill means are provided in abutting relationship with the sloping floor sheets of the hoppers for reinforcing and strengthening the hoppers.

As seen in FIG. 2, the undulating side sheet means 40 includes a top side sheet 80 and a bottom side sheet 82, each of these side sheets being of curved cross-sectional configuration and defining an overall side sheet means which has a center portion of reverse curvature as compared with the main parts of the top and bottom side sheets. These two side sheets are interconnected with one another by a longitudinally extending center sideplate means 84 which is formed of steel in contrast to the top and bottom side sheets which are both formed of aluminum. A longitudinally extending top sideplate means 86 is also formed of steel and serves to interconnect the top side sheet with the roof sheet 42. A longitudinally extending side sill means 88 is formed of steel and is interconnected with the bottom side sheet and a sloping side sheet 90 of an associated hopper. It should be understood that FIG. 2 illustrates one side of the railcar, the opposite side thereof being of substantially identical construction to that illustrated and comprising a mirror image thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the details of construction of the central portion of the roof are illustrated. As seen in this figure, each roof sheet 42 has the inwardly extending portion thereof suitably secured as by welding to a hatch frame H00 which extends longitudinally of the railcar. The laterally spaced hatch frames receive the hatches 48 previously described and are provided with an upper arcuate portion I04 adapted to cooperate with the hatches. A bar 106 is rigidly secured as by welding to the upper edge of each partition 66 and is supported adjacent the undersurface of the hatch frames as illustrated.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the construction of the top sideplate means and the joint between such means and an associated partition is illustrated. The top sideplate means which is formed of steel extends longitudinally substantially throughout the length of the side sheet means of the railcar and includes an upwardly sloping leg portion 110 in abutting relationship with the undersurface of the curved roof sheet 42. A plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 112 interconnect leg 110 with the roof sheet.

The top sideplate means also includes a depending leg portion 114 which is interconnected by a plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 116 with the upper edge of the top side sheet 80.

Shield means 120 formed of aluminum have the upper and lower edges thereof rigidly secured as by welding to the inner surfaces of roof sheet 42 and the top sideplate 80 respectively. These shield means 120 extend up to and in abutting relationship with the associated partitions and are suitably secured thereto by welding or the like as will be clearly seen from an inspection of FIGS. 5 and 10.

A joint is provided between the top sideplate means and each of the partitions 66. Each of these joints includes a plate 124 formed of steel and rigidly secured as by welding to top sideplate means 86. This plate is secured by a plurality of mechanical fasteners 126 to the outer edge portion of an associated partition 66.

It is apparent that the arrangement shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 enables a rigid top sideplate means of steel or the like to be employed as well as a joint in the form of a plate 124 formed of steel, while these components are completely shielded from the lading within the hoppers by shield means 120.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the details of the connection of the side sill means to the bottom side sheet 82 and the sloping side sheet 90 of the hopper are illustrated. The side sill means 88 which is an angle member formed of steel or the like includes a pair of

legs

88a and 88b. Leg 88a is secured to the lower edge of bottom side sheet 82 by a plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 130. It will be noted that the upper end 90a of the sloping side sheet 90 of the hopper is interconnected with the bottom side sheet as by welding or the like at a point above the interconnection of the side sill means with the bottom side sheet.

An angle member 132 formed of aluminum is suitably secured as by welding to the outer surface of sloping side sheet 90, and is also interconnected with the leg 88b of the side sill means by a plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 134. In this manner, the side sill means which is formed of steel is completely shielded from the interior of the hopper means so that the lading will not be contaminated by coming into contact therewith.

Referring now to FIGS. 79, the details of the manner of interconnection of the center sideplate means with the top and bottom side sheets are illustrated. As seen most clearly in H6. 7, center sideplate means 84 is of generally channel'shaped cross-sectional configuration, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 140 interconnect a flange portion 142 of the center sideplate means with the top side sheet 80.

A further plurality of longitudinally spaced mechanical fasteners 144 serve to interconnect a lower flange 146 of the center sideplate means with the lower edge 80a of the top side sheet as well as the upper edge of the bottom side sheet 82, these edges overlapping one another as shown. This center sideplate means extends longitudinally throughout substantially the entire length of the side sheet means, and it is apparent that the construction will serve to rigidify and strengthen the side sheet means.

Shield means 150 are provided, each of these shield means having the upper edge thereof rigidly secured as by welding to the inner surface of the top side sheet and the lower edge thereof rigidly secured as by welding to the inner surface of the bottom side sheet. These shield means are adapted to engage opposite sides of partitions 66 and are suitably secured thereto as by welding.

In order to provide an effective joint between the center sideplate means and each of the partitions, a plate 154 formed of steel or the like is welded to the center sideplate means adjacent each of the partitions and is disposed in abutting relationship with such partition. As seen most clearly in FIG. 9, plate 154 extends through a vertical cutout 156 formed in top sideplate 80 and also extends through a vertical cutout of greater width 160 formed in the adjacent shield means 150. A cutout 162 is provided in an adjacent shield means 150 to provide clearance for the heads of mechanical fasteners 164, a plurality of these mechanical fasteners being provided for interconnecting plate 154 with the outer edge portion of the associated partition 66.

In order to prevent contact of the steel plate 154 with lading in the hopper, a further aluminum shield member 170 has the upper and lower edges thereof rigidly secured as by welding to the associated shield means 150, member 170 also being rigidly secured as by welding to the partition 66. A closure plate 172 is secured as by welding between member 170 and the adjacent shield means 150 so that the lading cannot come into contact with plate 154.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

Iclaim:

1. A railcar comprising a pair of spaced side sheet means and extending longitudinally thereof and interconnected with said end sheet means a side sill means secured to the lower part of the lowermost one of said sheets and extending longitudinally thereof, and center sideplate means connecting adjacent ones of said sheets at said cusp, said center sideplate means being disposed outwardly of said sheets and extending longitudinally along said cusp to interconnect the associated side sheets and reinforce and rigidify the overall associated side sheet means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said side sheets and said center sideplate means are formed of different materials, and shield means positioned at the inner surfaces of said side sheets for preventing contamination oflading by said center sideplate means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said railcar is provided with transversely extending partitions at spaced points longitudinally thereof, and joint means operatively connecting each of said partitions with said center sideplate means.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a roof, said top sideplate means being operatively interconnected between said side sheet means and said roof.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said top sideplate means is formed of a different material from that of said side sheet means and said roof, and shield means supported at the inner surface of said side sheet means and said roof for preventing contamination of lading by said top sideplate means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said railcar is provided with transversely extending partitions at spaced points longitudinally thereof, and joint means operatively connecting each of said partitions with said top sideplate means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a roof supported by the upper portions of said side sheet means.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said roof is of curved cross-sectional configuration.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said railcar includes a center sill means extending longitudinally throughout substantially the entire length of said railcar.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said railcar includes a plurality of hoppers disposed at spaced points along the length of said railcar.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said railcar includes a pair of truck means, each of said truck means having a truck bolster assembly, a body bolster assembly supported above each of said truck bolster assemblies, and web plate means extending upwardly from the body bolster assemblies to the end floor sheet ofan adjacent hopper.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said side sheets are formed of aluminum and said center sideplate means, said top sideplate means and said side sill means are each formed of steel.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12 including mechanical fastener means for securing said center sideplate means to said side sheets and for connecting said top sideplate means to the associated side sheet.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 including shield means disposed at the inner surface of said side sheet means adjacent said center sideplate means, additional shield means disposed at the inner surface of said side sheet means and said roof adjacent said top sideplate means, each of said shield means being formed ofaluminum.

Claims

1. A railcar comprising a pair of spaced side sheet means joined by end sheet means at opposite ends thereof and including a supporting underframe structure, each of said side sheet means including a plurality of separate curved sheets which as seen from the interior of the railcar are each of concave curvature, said sheets defining a longitudinally extending cusp disposed at the longitudinal edges of adjacent sheets extending along said side sheet means, a top sideplate means secured to the upper part of the uppermost one of said sheets and extending longitudinally thereof and interconnected with said end sheet means a side sill means secured to the lower part of the lowermost one of said sheets and extending longitudinally thereof, and center sideplate means connecting adjacent ones of said sheets at said cusp, said center sideplate means being disposed outwardly of said sheets and extending longitudinally along said cusp to interconnect the associated side sheets and reinforce and rigidify the overall associated side sheet means.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said side sheets and said center sideplate means are formed of different materials, and shield means positioned at the inner surfaces of said side sheets for preventing contamination of lading by said center sideplate means.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said railcar includes a pair of truck means, each of said truck means having a truck bolster assembly, a body bolster assembly supported above each of said truck bolster assemblies, and web plate means extending upwardlY from the body bolster assemblies to the end floor sheet of an adjacent hopper.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 including shield means disposed at the inner surface of said side sheet means adjacent said center sideplate means, additional shield means disposed at the inner surface of said side sheet means and said roof adjacent said top sideplate means, each of said shield means being formed of aluminum.