U.S. patent application number 16/786618 was filed with the patent office on 2020-11-05 for steel gondola railcar.
The applicant listed for this patent is Trinity Rail Group, LLC. Invention is credited to Kyle R. Coston, Percy H. Elavia, Konstantin l. Khenokh, George A. Nelle.
Application Number | 20200346670 16/786618 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004686834 |
Filed Date | 2020-11-05 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200346670 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nelle; George A. ; et
al. |
November 5, 2020 |
STEEL GONDOLA RAILCAR
Abstract
A gondola car is made of high strength and high abrasion
resistance steel that provides a lightweight structure and that
prolongs the useful life of the car. The high strength and high
abrasion resistance steel enhances the strength of the gondola car
without increasing its thickness. The contemplated railcar
positions components (e.g., side posts and cross-bearers) of the
railcar away from areas of the railcar that experience high
stresses during transport. In this manner, these components can be
welded to form the railcar, and the welds will experience less
stress during transport resulting in less weld breaks.
Additionally, the number of components (e.g., side posts and
cross-bearers) may be reduced, which reduces the weight of the
railcar.
Inventors: |
Nelle; George A.; (Plano,
TX) ; Coston; Kyle R.; (Forney, TX) ; Khenokh;
Konstantin l.; (Plano, TX) ; Elavia; Percy H.;
(Plano, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Trinity Rail Group, LLC |
Dallas |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004686834 |
Appl. No.: |
16/786618 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62841429 |
May 1, 2019 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D 3/00 20130101; B61D
17/041 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B61D 17/04 20060101
B61D017/04; B61D 3/00 20060101 B61D003/00 |
Claims
1. A gondola railcar comprising: a first side sheet; a second side
sheet, the first and second side sheets comprise an alloy having a
hardness of at least 200 HB and a yield strength of at least 65
ksi; a bottom plate coupled to the first and second side sheets; a
first bolster coupled to the bottom plate; a second bolster coupled
to the bottom plate; and exactly two cross-bearer structures, a
first cross-bearer structure comprising: a first cross-bearer
coupled to the bottom plate between the first and second bolsters;
a first side post coupled to the cross-bearer and welded to the
first side sheet; and a second side post coupled to the
cross-bearer and welded to the second side sheet; and a second
cross-bearer structure comprising: a second cross-bearer coupled to
the bottom plate between the first cross-bearer and the second
bolster; a third side post coupled to the second cross-bearer and
welded to the first side sheet; and a fourth side post coupled to
the second cross-bearer and welded to the second side sheet.
2. The gondola railcar of claim 1, further comprising a center sill
coupled to the bottom plate, the first and second bolsters and the
first and second cross-bearers are coupled to the center sill.
3. The gondola railcar of claim 1, further comprising: a first end
sheet coupled to the bottom plate and to the first and second side
sheets; and a second end sheet coupled to the bottom plate and to
the first and second side sheets.
4. The gondola railcar of claim 1, wherein the gondola railcar
weighs less than 50,000 pounds.
5. The gondola railcar of claim 1, further comprising: a fifth side
post coupled to the first bolster and welded to the first side
sheet, the first side post between the third and fifth side posts;
a sixth side post coupled to the first bolster and welded to the
second side sheet, the second side post between the fourth and
sixth side posts; a seventh side post coupled to the second bolster
and welded to the first side sheet, the third side post between the
first and seventh side posts; and an eighth side post coupled to
the second bolster and welded to the second side sheet, the fourth
side post between the second and eighth side posts.
6. The gondola railcar of claim 5, a distance between the first
cross-bearer and the second cross-bearer is substantially the same
as a distance between the second cross-bearer and the second
bolster.
7. The gondola railcar of claim 1, the bottom plate comprises an
alloy having a hardness of at least 200 HB and a yield strength of
at least 65 ksi.
8. A method comprising: positioning a gondola railcar, the gondola
railcar comprising: a first side sheet; a second side sheet, the
first and second side sheets comprise an alloy having a hardness of
at least 200 HB and a yield strength of at least 65 ksi; a bottom
plate coupled to the first and second side sheets; a first bolster
coupled to the bottom plate; a second bolster coupled to the bottom
plate; and exactly two cross-bearer structures, a first
cross-bearer structure comprising: a first cross-bearer coupled to
the bottom plate between the first and second bolsters; a first
side post coupled to the cross-bearer and welded to the first side
sheet; and a second side post coupled to the cross-bearer and
welded to the second side sheet; and a second cross-bearer
structure comprising: a second cross-bearer coupled to the bottom
plate between the first cross-bearer and the second bolster; a
third side post coupled to the second cross-bearer and welded to
the first side sheet; and a fourth side post coupled to the second
cross-bearer and welded to the second side sheet; and unloading a
commodity from the gondola railcar.
9. The method of claim 8, the gondola railcar further comprising a
center sill coupled to the bottom plate, the first and second
bolsters and the first and second cross-bearers are coupled to the
center sill.
10. The method of claim 8, the gondola railcar further comprising:
a first end sheet coupled to the bottom plate and to the first and
second side sheets; and a second end sheet coupled to the bottom
plate and to the first and second side sheets.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the gondola railcar weighs less
than 50,000 pounds.
12. The method of claim 8, the gondola railcar further comprising:
a fifth side post coupled to the first bolster and welded to the
first side sheet, the first side post between the third and fifth
side posts; a sixth side post coupled to the first bolster and
welded to the second side sheet, the second side post between the
fourth and sixth side posts; a seventh side post coupled to the
second bolster and welded to the first side sheet, the third side
post between the first and seventh side posts; and an eighth side
post coupled to the second bolster and welded to the second side
sheet, the fourth side post between the second and eighth side
posts.
13. The method of claim 12, a distance between the first
cross-bearer and the second cross-bearer is substantially the same
as a distance between the second cross-bearer and the second
bolster.
14. The method of claim 8, the bottom plate comprises an alloy
having a hardness of at least 200 HB and a yield strength of at
least 65 ksi.
15. A system comprising: a gondola railcar comprising: a first side
sheet; a second side sheet, the first and second side sheets
comprise an alloy having a hardness of at least 200 HB and a yield
strength of at least 65 ksi; a bottom plate coupled to the first
and second side sheets; a first bolster coupled to the bottom
plate; a second bolster coupled to the bottom plate; and exactly
two cross-bearer structures, a first cross-bearer structure
comprising: a first cross-bearer coupled to the bottom plate
between the first and second bolsters; a first side post coupled to
the cross-bearer and welded to the first side sheet; and a second
side post coupled to the cross-bearer and welded to the second side
sheet; and a second cross-bearer structure comprising: a second
cross-bearer coupled to the bottom plate between the first
cross-bearer and the second bolster; a third side post coupled to
the second cross-bearer and welded to the first side sheet; and a
fourth side post coupled to the second cross-bearer and welded to
the second side sheet; and a commodity loaded in the gondola
railcar.
16. The system of claim 15, the gondola railcar further comprising
a center sill coupled to the bottom plate, the first and second
bolsters and the first and second cross-bearers are coupled to the
center sill.
17. The system of claim 15, the gondola railcar further comprising:
a first end sheet coupled to the bottom plate and to the first and
second side sheets; and a second end sheet coupled to the bottom
plate and to the first and second side sheets.
18. The system of claim 15, wherein the gondola railcar weighs less
than 50,000 pounds.
19. The system of claim 15, the gondola railcar further comprising:
a fifth side post coupled to the first bolster and welded to the
first side sheet, the first side post between the third and fifth
side posts; a sixth side post coupled to the first bolster and
welded to the second side sheet, the second side post between the
fourth and sixth side posts; a seventh side post coupled to the
second bolster and welded to the first side sheet, the third side
post between the first and seventh side posts; and an eighth side
post coupled to the second bolster and welded to the second side
sheet, the fourth side post between the second and eighth side
posts.
20. The system of claim 19, a distance between the first
cross-bearer and the second cross-bearer is substantially the same
as a distance between the second cross-bearer and the second
bolster.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/841,429 filed May 1, 2019 and titled "STEEL FOR
RAILCAR STRUCTURE," which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to railcars.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Railcars come in various kinds of cars and containers which
carry freight and cargo across the country. For example, a railcar
may be a tank car, a covered or open hopper, a well car, a flat
car, a gondola car, and/or a box car based on the freight and cargo
it carries or the facility at the terminal station.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] Railcars come in various kinds of cars and containers which
carry freight and cargo across the country. For example, a railcar
may be a tank car, a covered or open hopper, a well car, a flat
car, a gondola car, and/or a box car based on the freight and cargo
it carries or the facility at the terminal station. A gondola
railcar is usually designed to carry granular aggregates,
steel/concrete waste, heavy structural shapes, and plates and coal.
It may transport the commodity to a terminal station, which may
rotate each gondola car to unload the commodity from the open top
of the gondola car or have the commodity removed by other
means.
[0005] Traditionally, a gondola car is made of mild carbon steels
having yield strengths between 36 and 65 ksi. These steels tend to
dent severely in service. Also due to material strength
limitations, these gondola cars have at least certain numbers of
side posts and underframe designs with particular structural
elements.
[0006] This disclosure contemplates a gondola car made of high
strength and high abrasion resistance steel that provides a
lightweight structure and that prolongs the useful life of the car.
The high strength and high abrasion resistance steel enhances the
strength of the gondola car without increasing its thickness. One
challenge that previously prevented the use of this steel in
forming railcars was that the chemical and mechanical properties of
the steel made it difficult to form welds that could withstand the
forces and tensions caused by transporting commodities in the
railcar. These welds would often break, resulting in damage or
failure of the railcar. The contemplated railcar addresses these
weldability concerns by positioning components (e.g., side posts
and cross-bearers) of the railcar away from areas of the railcar
that experience high stresses during transport. In this manner,
these components can be welded to form the railcar, and the welds
will experience less stress during transport resulting in less weld
breaks. Additionally, the number of components (e.g., side posts
and cross-bearers) may be reduced, which reduces the weight of the
railcar.
[0007] Several embodiments are elaborated in this disclosure.
According to one embodiment, the steel for a gondola car structure
is made of an alloy having a Brinell hardness of at least 200 HB
and a yield strength of at least 65 ksi. In one embodiment, the
steel has a yield strength in a range from 65 to 150 ksi based on a
thickness of the steel. In one embodiment, the steel has a yield
strength of 150 ksi in a variety of thicknesses. In one embodiment,
the steel has a yield strength of greater than 100 ksi. In one
embodiment, the steel has a hardness in a range between 400 and 500
HB.
[0008] According to one embodiment of a gondola car, the interior
of the gondola car is made of high strength and high abrasion
resistance steel and comprises four or fewer side posts per side,
wherein the steel may be an alloy having a hardness of at least 200
HB and a yield strength of at least 65 ksi; and the four or fewer
side posts per side are mounted to an exterior structure of the
gondola car. In one embodiment, the gondola car comprises four or
fewer welded areas where the cross-bearer connections attach to at
the center sill and the four or fewer side posts per side. In one
embodiment, the gondola car is made of steel having a hardness of
at least 200 HB and a yield strength of at least 65 ksi.
[0009] According to another embodiment, a gondola railcar includes
a first side sheet, a second side sheet, a bottom plate, a first
bolster, a second bolster, and exactly two cross-bearer structures.
The first and second side sheets include an alloy having a hardness
of at least 200 HB and a yield strength of at least 65 ksi. The
bottom plate is coupled to the first and second side sheets. The
first bolster is coupled to the bottom plate. The second bolster is
coupled to the bottom plate. The first cross-bearer structure
includes a first cross-bearer coupled to the bottom plate between
the first and second bolsters, a first side post coupled to the
cross-bearer and welded to the first side sheet, and a second side
post coupled to the cross-bearer and welded to the second side
sheet. The second cross-bearer structure includes a second
cross-bearer coupled to the bottom plate between the first
cross-bearer and the second bolster, a third side post coupled to
the second cross-bearer and welded to the first side sheet, and a
fourth side post coupled to the second cross-bearer and welded to
the second side sheet.
[0010] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their
embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges.
There are, proposed herein, various embodiments which address one
or more of the issues disclosed herein.
[0011] Certain embodiments disclosed herein may contain or embody
one or more technical advantages. As an example, certain
embodiments may lessen the weight of the gondola car by utilizing
high strength and high abrasion resistance steel to reduce the
number of the side posts in the gondola car. Particular embodiments
may provide fewer welded areas in the bottom and sides of the
gondola car to reduce localized deformations around those areas, so
that it may highly improve the durability of the gondola car.
[0012] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present
disclosure are apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in
view of the following detailed description of the disclosure and
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of this disclosure,
reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description,
wherein like reference numerals represent like parts.
[0014] FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate an example gondola car; and
[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example gondola
car, in accordance with certain embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Certain embodiments of the present disclosure and inventive
concepts, and their features and advantages, may be understood by
referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, like numerals being used for
corresponding parts in the various drawings.
[0017] This disclosure contemplates using a high strength and high
abrasion resistance steel in manufacturing a gondola car. The
gondola car may benefit from the high strength and high abrasion
resistance steel through a significant reduction on the total
weight of the gondola car and fewer welded areas in the bottom and
sides of the gondola car to enhance its durability. To address
weldability concerns presented by the steel, components (e.g., side
posts and cross-bearers) are positioned at locations on the gondola
car that experience the least amount of stress when transporting
goods, rather than positioning several side posts and cross-bearers
across the gondola car. This positioning may result in fewer
components being welded to the gondola car. In a particular
embodiment, the gondola car includes only two side posts and
cross-bearers. As a result of reducing the number of side posts and
cross-bearers, the weight of the gondola car is further reduced
relative to conventional designs. Additionally, because of fewer
side posts and cross-bearers supporting the structure of the
gondola car, fewer abrasions and deformations may be formed in the
gondola car during operations when the gondola car is impacted by
an object.
[0018] FIG. 1A illustrates an example gondola car 100. As seen in
FIG. 1A, gondola car 100 may be a railcar that is rectangular in
shape. Commodities may be loaded and unloaded through the top of
gondola car 100. Gondola car 100 may include wheels that allow
gondola car 100 to transport commodities over rails.
[0019] FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of gondola car 100.
Gondola car 100 comprises a body 102 and an underframe 104. The
body 102 comprises fourteen side posts 106, two side sheets 108,
two end sheets 110, and a bottom plate 112. The underframe 104
comprises five cross-bearers 114, two bolsters 116, and one center
sill 118.
[0020] A structure of the body 102 is constructed with the two side
sheets 108, the bottom plate 112, and the two end sheets 110. The
two side sheets 108 are coupled to the two end sheets 110. The
bottom plate 112 is coupled to a bottom side of the two side sheets
108 and the two end sheets 110 to form a container having an open
top. The structure of the body is made of carbon steels, which have
yield strengths between 36 and 65 ksi. The fourteen side posts 106
are welded with the two side sheets 108 separately to strengthen
the side sheet 108. Each side sheet 108 has seven side posts 106
coupled to the side sheet 108.
[0021] The underframe 104 is constructed with the five
cross-bearers 114, the two bolsters 116, and the center sill 118
and is welded to the bottom plate 112 of the body 102. The center
sill 118 is mounted on the bottom plate 112 along a longitudinal
axis of the gondola car 100 and is connected with the two opposite
end sheets 110. The two bolsters 116 are mounted on the bottom
plate 112 near the two opposite end sheets 110 respectively and are
connected with the center sill 118 orthogonally. In one embodiment,
the two bolsters 116 may also be extensively connected with the
side posts 106 welded with the side sheets 108. The five
cross-bearers 114 are mounted on the bottom plate 112 between the
two bolsters 116 and are connected with the center sill 118
orthogonally. In one embodiment, the five cross-bearers 114 may
also be extensively connected with the side posts 106 welded with
the side sheets 108. The underframe 104 may also be made of carbon
steels, which have yield strengths between 36 and 65 ksi.
[0022] The gondola car 100 comprising the body 102 and the
underframe 104 has a total weight of 52,500 lbs. Furthermore, each
joint and welded area formed in the body 102 and the underframes
104 may cause localized deformations during operations, such as
loading/unloading commodities and transportation.
[0023] This disclosure contemplates a gondola car made of high
strength and high abrasion resistance steel that provides a
lightweight structure and that prolongs the useful life of the car.
The high strength and high abrasion resistance steel may enhance
the strength of the gondola car without increasing its thickness.
One challenge that previously prevented the use of this steel in
forming railcars was that the chemical and mechanical properties of
the steel made it difficult to form welds that could withstand the
forces and tensions caused by transporting commodities in the
railcar. These welds would often break, resulting in damage or
failure of the railcar. The contemplated railcar addresses these
weldability concerns by positioning components (e.g., side posts
and cross-bearers) of the railcar away from areas of the railcar
that experience high stresses during transport. In this manner,
these components can be welded to form the railcar, and the welds
will experience less stress during transport resulting in less weld
breaks. Additionally, the number of components (e.g., side posts
and cross-bearers) may be reduced, which reduces the weight of the
railcar. The gondola car will be discussed in more detail using
FIG. 2.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an example gondola car 200 utilizing a
high strength and high abrasion resistance steel, in accordance
with certain embodiments. Generally, components of the gondola car
200 are made of a high strength and high abrasion steel, which
includes an alloy having a hardness of at least 200 HB and a yield
strength of at least 65 ksi. The alloy may include any suitable
elements to accomplish a Brinell hardness of 200 to 500 HB and a
yield strength of greater than 65 ksi. The steel used in
manufacturing the gondola car 200 may reduce a total weight of the
gondola car 200 under 50,000 pounds (e.g., to 47,900 pounds, which
may represent a weight reduction of 4,600 pounds).
[0025] The structure of gondola car 200 has been designed to
address the weldability challenges presented by the chemical and
mechanical properties of the steel. Generally, certain components
of gondola car 200 (e.g., side posts and cross-bearers) are
positioned at locations that experience less stress during
transport. In this manner, the welds on these components are less
susceptible to breaking. Additionally, the number of these
components is reduced relative to gondola car 100, which further
reduces the weight of gondola car 200.
[0026] Gondola car 200 includes a body 202 and an underframe 204.
Body 202 includes four side posts 206A, 206B, 206C, and 206D, two
side sheets 208, two end sheets 210, and a bottom plate 212. The
underframe 204 includes two cross-bearers 214A and 214B, two
bolsters 216A and 216B, and one center sill 218.
[0027] The two side sheets 208, the bottom plate 212, and the two
end sheets 210 form a boxlike structure. The two side sheets 208
are coupled to the two end sheets 210. The bottom plate 212 is
coupled to a bottom side of the two side sheets 208 and the two end
sheets 210 to form a container having an open top. The four side
posts 206A-D are welded with the two side sheets 208 separately, so
that the side posts 206A-D may reduce the amount of stress to the
gondola car 200 in service. Each side sheet 208 may have two side
posts 206 welded to the side sheet 208. In the example of FIG. 2,
side posts 206A and 206B are welded to one side sheet 208 and side
posts 206C and 206D are welded to the other side sheet 208.
[0028] The structure of the body (e.g., side sheets 208 and bottom
plate 212) is made of a steel having a yield strength of at least
65 ksi and a hardness in a range between 200 and 500 HB. In some
embodiments, the steel has a yield strength greater than 150
ksi.
[0029] The underframe 204 includes the two cross-bearers 214A and
214B, the two bolsters 216A and 216B, and the center sill 218.
These components may be welded to the bottom plate 212. The center
sill 218 is mounted on the bottom plate 212 along a longitudinal
axis of the gondola car 200 and is connected with the two opposite
end sheets 210. The two bolsters 216A and 216B are mounted on the
bottom plate 212 near the two opposite end sheets 210,
respectively, and are connected with the center sill 230
orthogonally. In one embodiment, the bolsters 216A and 216B are
coupled to side posts 206E-H. Side posts 206E-H are further welded
with the side sheets 208. Bolsters 216A and 216B may be used to
couple gondola car 200 to wheels that allow gondola car 200 to
travel on rails. The two cross-bearers 214A and 214B are mounted on
the bottom plate 212 between the two bolsters 216A and 216B and are
connected with the center sill 218 orthogonally. In one embodiment,
the cross-bearers 214 are coupled to side posts 206A-D, which are
welded to the side sheets 208. In the example of FIG. 2, side posts
206A and 206B are positioned between side posts 206E and 206F.
Similarly, side posts 206C and 206D are positioned between side
posts 206G and 206H. Side post 206A is between side posts 206E and
206B. Side post 206B is between side post 206A and side post 206F.
Side post 206C is between side post 206G and side post 206D. Side
post 206D is between side post 206C and side post 206H. The
underframe 204 may also be made of the high strength and high
abrasion steel disclosed herein.
[0030] The side posts 206A-H may be spaced evenly across side sheet
208. For example, a distance between side post 206E and side post
206A may be substantially the same as a distance between side post
206A and side post 206B, a distance between side post 206B and side
post 206F, a distance between side post 206G and side post 206C, a
distance between side post 206C and side post 206D, and a distance
between side post 206D and side post 206H. Additionally, a distance
between bolster 216A and cross-bearer 214A may be substantially the
same as a distance between cross-bearer 214A and cross-bearer 214B
and a distance between cross-bearer 214B and bolster 216B. This
disclosure contemplates that two distances are substantially the
same if they are within 5 inches of each other.
[0031] Gondola car 200 has fewer side posts 206A-H relative to
gondola car 100, which may significantly reduce the amount of joint
and welded areas formed in the body 202 and the underframe 204.
Therefore, the permanent, localized deformation in the gondola car
200 may be reduced during transportation and operations.
[0032] According to various embodiments, an advantage of features
herein is that utilizing high strength and high abrasion resistance
steel to manufacture a gondola car, so that the gondola car may
reduce a certain number of side posts and a total weight and still
maintain the durability of the gondola car. Therefore, the gondola
car which uses the high strength and high abrasion resistance steel
may reduce the abrasions and deformations caused in service from
reducing the welded areas connected the side posts and the
underframe.
[0033] Although particular embodiments and their advantages have
been described in detail, it should be understood that various
changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Particular
embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be used
or mounted for a railroad car, a semi-trailer, a truck or any other
transportation.
* * * * *