U.S. patent number RE30,388 [Application Number 05/906,799] was granted by the patent office on 1980-09-02 for railroad car with depressed floor.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pullman Incorporated. Invention is credited to William D. Mundinger, Richard C. Snyder.
United States Patent |
RE30,388 |
Mundinger , et al. |
September 2, 1980 |
Railroad car with depressed floor
Abstract
A high cubic capacity railroad boxcar that is provided with a
longitudinally extending depressed nailable steel floor section
disposed on each side of a longitudinally extending center sill
structure, the top surface of the floor sections being at the same
elevation as the surface of a plate over the center sill structure,
the outside lateral margins of each floor section having a
removable inverted filler channel member positioned in a
longitudinal runner recess adjacent a car angle member and side
sill. Each filler channel member may be replaced with a bulkhead
floor track in the form of a slotted runner member or a rack gear
member and cooperate with a similar overhead track for receiving,
locating and restraining removable bulkheads later added to the car
by a lading shipper as may be required.
Inventors: |
Mundinger; William D.
(Canfield, OH), Snyder; Richard C. (Michigan City, IN) |
Assignee: |
Pullman Incorporated (Chicago,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
27039102 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/906,799 |
Filed: |
May 17, 1978 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
458741 |
Apr 8, 1974 |
03885506 |
May 27, 1975 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/139; 105/404;
105/414; 105/420; 105/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D
17/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B61D
17/04 (20060101); B61D 17/10 (20060101); B61D
017/00 (); B61D 017/10 (); B61F 001/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;105/366R,367,368R,368A,376,404,412,414,220,422,420 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Beltran; Howard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Myers; Richard J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A railroad car for high cubic capacity interior design including
a recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of .Iadd.generally L-shaped .Iaddend.side sills, .Iadd.each
having an upright portion and a horizontal portion .Iaddend.
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units .Iadd.having lateral and outer
ends.Iaddend., one on either side of and extending substantially
below the top of the center sill structure and .[.inwardly.].
.Iadd.having its outer lateral end supported on the horizontal
portion .Iaddend.of a respective side sill, .[.and.].
said floor structure having a longitudinal recess portion
.Iadd.with inner and outer sides .Iaddend.between each floor unit
and .[.its.]. .Iadd.the upright portion of an .Iaddend.adjacent
side sill and a removable filler within said recess portion. .[.2.
The invention according to claim 1, and
each of said floor units having its outer lateral end supported by
a respective side sill and having its inner lateral end supported
by the
center sill structure..]. 3. A railroad car for high cubic capacity
interior design including a recessed floor construction and
comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill, the recessed floor units having
top surfaces, .[.and.].
said floor structure including a flat plate means over the center
sill structure and connecting with each floor unit and having a top
surface generally flush with the top surfaces of the floor units to
present a generally smooth horizontal floor .Iadd.,
each car having vertical side walls,
each floor unit having an outer edge spaced inwardly from the
respective side wall,
each side sill having an inwardly extending horizontal portion
underlapped with respect to the adjacent outer edge of the
associated floor unit and defining a recess therewith extending
lengthwise of the car,
transversely extending crossmembers connected at one end to the
center sill and extending therefrom to beneath respective side
sills,
a longitudinally extending channel-shaped side sill reinforcement
member beneath each side sill member and connected to the
horizontal portion thereof, and
a longitudinal member positioned adjacent to each reinforcement
member and spaced inwardly thereof and connected between said
horizontal portion of the adjacent side sill and the crossmembers
therebeneath and forming a rectangular construction with said
crossmembers and said reinforcement
member and the related side sill. .Iaddend. 4. The invention
according to claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.3.Iaddend., and each of said floor
units having its
outer lateral end supported by the side sill. 5. The invention
according to claim 3, and each of said floor units having its outer
lateral end supported by a respective side sill and having its
inner lateral end
supported by the center sill structure. 6. The invention according
to claim 3, and said floor structure having a longitudinal runner
recess portion between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill
and a removable filler within said recess portion adapted to be
removed and replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for
locating and holding a load divider bulkhead in one of various
longitudinal positions within the car.
. A railroad car for high cubic capacity interior design including
a recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills, and
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
said floor structure having a longitudinal runner recess portion
between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable
filler within said recess portion adapted to be removed and
replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for locating
and holding a load divider bulkhead
in one of various longitudinal positions within the car. 8. A
railroad car for high cubic capacity interior design including a
recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills, and
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
said floor structure having a longitudinal runner recess portion
between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable
filler within said recess portion adapted to be removed and
replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for locating
and holding a load divider bulkhead in one of various longitudinal
positions within the car, and
said floor structure including closure means between a runner
recess portion and an adjacent side sill, the top surface of the
closure means, the runner recess portion and the side sill lying
generally in the same
horizontal plane. 9. A railroad car for high cubic capacity
interior design including a recessed floor construction and
comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills, and
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill;
said floor structure having a longitudinal runner recess portion
between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable
filler within said recess portion adapted to be removed and
replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for locating
and holding a load divider bulkhead in one of various longitudinal
positions within the car, and
the removable filler lying generally in the same horizontal plane
as its
adjacent floor unit. 10. A railroad car for high cubic capacity
interior design including a recessed floor construction and
comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
.[.and.].
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
each floor unit being recessingly supported on a side sill and said
adjacent center sill structure with the top portion of the center
sill structure extending approximately in the same general
horizontal plane as the top of the floor unit.Iadd., and
each side sill and having a vertical portion spaced laterally
outwardly from an adjacent outer edge portion of the respective
floor unit and having a horizontal portion extending under the
adjacent outer edge portion, said portions of each side sill and
the edge portion of the related floor unit forming a longitudinal
recess which is positioned inside of said vertical side walls for
accommodating bulkhead mounting structure therein, and a removable
inverted U-shaped filler member positioned in each recess providing
a top wall having a surface coplanar
with said plane. .Iaddend. 11. A railroad car for high cubic
capacity interior design including a recessed floor construction
and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a .Iadd.slidable .Iaddend.center sill structure spaced between the
side sills, .[.and.].
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
a top floor plate on the top of the center sill structure being in
the same horizontal plane as the top of each of the floor
units.Iadd.,
said floor units having lateral edge portions spaced inwardly from
respective sides of the car,
angle member means mounted upon each side sill and connected
thereto and defining a longitudinal recess with the adjacent edge
portion of the respective floor unit,
a removable filler mounted in each recess in covering relation
thereto and having a top wall providing a surface coplanar with
said plane and having depending walls closely fitting along the
respective sides of the associated recess,
a stationary center sill at each side of said slidable center sill
structure,
a longitudinal reinforcement member beneath each side sill and
connected thereto, and
floor unit supporting cross-members at each side of the car and
extending between and connected to the stationary center sill and
reinforcement
member at that side of the car. .Iaddend.12. A railroad car for
high cubic capacity interior design including a recessed floor
construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
.[.and.].
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending,
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
each of said floor units being supported by a crossmember spaced
between a respective side portion of the car and a respective side
of the center sill structure.Iadd., and
each floor unit having an outer lateral terminal edge portion
spaced inwardly of the respective vertical sidewall of the car, and
each side sill having a bottom flange portion extending under the
edge portion of the respective floor unit and defining a bulkhead
receiving recess, which is positioned inside the respective
vertical sidewall of the car and a reinforcement member having a
vertical portion connected to the adjacent end of said
crossmembers, said bottom flange portion of the side sill and said
reinforcement member having an inwardly directed upper portion
disposed in reinforcing supporting relation to said side sill
bottom
flange portion. .Iaddend. 13. The invention according to claim 12,
and .[.stringer means being interposed between each floor unit and
each crossmember.]. .Iadd.longitudinal angle members comprising an
outwardly directed lower flange seated upon said crossmember and a
vertical flange having an upper end connected to the underside of
said bottom flange
portion. .Iaddend. 14. A railroad car for high cubic capacity
interior design including a recessed floor construction and
comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills, and
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
said floor structure having a longitudinal runner recess portion
between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable
filler within said recess portion adapted to be removed and
replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for locating
and holding a load divider bulkhead in one of various longitudinal
positions within the car, and
a longitudinal doorway threshold plate having a top surface in the
same horizontal plane as the top of the removable filler and
laterally
outwardly adjacent thereto. 15. The invention according to claim
14, and
the threshold plate being supported by its respective side sill.
16. The invention according to claim 15, and a load rack retainer
on the threshold
plate. 17. A railroad car for high cubic capacity interior design
including a recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill, the recessed floor units having
top surfaces,
said floor structure including a flat plate means over the center
sill structure and connecting with each floor unit and having a top
surface generally flush with the top surfaces of the floor units to
present a generally smooth horizontal floor,
each of said floor units having its outer lateral end supported by
a respective side sill and having its inner lateral end supported
by the center sill structure,
said floor structure having a longitudinal runner recess portion
between each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable
filler within said recess portion adapted to be removed and
replaced by a transversely extending bulkhead track for locating
and holding a load divider bulkhead in one of various longitudinal
positions within the car, and
the removable filler lying generally in the same horizontal plane
as its
adjacent floor unit. 18. The invention according to claim 17, and
each of said floor units being supported by a crossmember spaced
between a respective side portion of the car and a respective side
of the center
sill structure. 19. The invention according to claim 18, and
stringer means being interposed between each floor unit and each
crossmember. .[.20. A railroad car for high cubic capacity interior
design including a recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
a longitudinal runner recess portion between each side sill and
floor unit, and
a load divider bulkhead rack in each recess portion..]. .[.21. The
invention according to claim 20, and load divider bulkhead rack
means in the ceiling of the car to cooperate with the floor
racks..]. .[.22. The invention according to claim 20, and a
transverse load divider bulkhead coupling with said racks..].
.Iadd. 23. A railroad car for high cubic capacity interior design
including a recessed floor construction and comprising:
a pair of side sills,
a center sill structure spaced between the side sills,
said floor construction including a floor structure having a pair
of recessed floor units, one on either side of and extending
substantially below the top of the center sill structure and
inwardly of a respective side sill,
said floor structure having a longitudinal recess portion between
each floor unit and its adjacent side sill and a removable filler
within said recess portion, and
said floor units comprising a plurality of substantially contiguous
and longitudinally spaced steel planks extending transversely with
respect to said car,
a vertically elongated plate extending longitudinally of the car
and connected to the ends of the planks and forming an inner side
of the recess. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the construction of railroad freight
cars, such as boxcars, where transverse bulkheads divide the
interior into load confining compartments, and in particular to car
floor constructions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known to provide various interior freight car
constructions to increase the volumetric capacity of the car.
However, such construction alterations have been limited by the car
center sill height. It is this problem that the instant invention
resolves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved
freight railroad car, such as a boxcar, which has increased
volumetric capacity by recessing the car floor sections about the
center sill structure of the car underframe.
The invention provides an improved nailable floor construction that
includes a pair of longitudinal floor sections, one on each side of
the center sill where the top of the floor sections, the top of a
plate on the center sill, and the top of the side sill all lie in
the same horizontal plane. The invention further provides a
removable longitudinal floor section between the side sill and the
floor section and in a longitudinal runner recess for alternately
receiving a transverse bulkhead supporting rack type track
cooperating with a ceiling bulkhead supporting track
thereabove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a railroad boxcar with the
improved inventive floor design;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged sectional view of that shown in FIG. 2
but with the bulkhead rack track replacing the removable inverted
channel;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1 of the floor
construction with parts removed;
FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view with parts missing of the
bulkhead track portion taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged side view of the bulkhead and floor
track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to the drawings and in particular with reference to
FIG. 1, there is shown a railroad freight car 1 of the boxcar type
which has a roof 2 and ends 3 and 4, and sides 5 each with sliding
door means 6 in a doorway 7 and side posts 8. Each car has an
underframe 9 which includes the usual side sill reinforcements 10,
side sills 11, center sill structure 12, and trucks 13.
In FIG. 2 it is seen that the side sill 11 is an L-shaped angle
member from which extends downwardly the channel-shaped side sill
reinforcement 10 which connects with a transversely extending
horizontal crossmember 14 that extends inwardly to the center sill
structure 12 which includes a fixed or stationary center sill 15
and a conventional sliding center sill 16. Another crossmember 17
extends from the outer side of the center sill structure to the
other side (not shown) of the car which has the same type of side
construction including a side sill, side sill reinforcement, etc.
The crossmember 14 or 17 includes a vertical web 18, a bottom plate
or flange 19, and a top plate or flange 20, and an upright outer
end flange 21 between the upright channel member 22 of the fixed
sill and the side sill reinforcement 10 which has a bottom
reinforcement plate 23. The fixed sill has a top cover plate 24
joined to the member 22 and to the other stationary center sill
upright channel member 25. The inner end portion 26 of the top
crossmember plate 20 slopes up onto the top of the channel member
22. The fixed sill cover plate 24 is spaced above the stationary
sill 15 and has flat top portion 27, outward and downward sloping
side portions 28 and lateral horizontal end portions 29 on the tops
of the channels 22 and 25. The nailable steel floor section 30 (see
FIG. 2) has its right upright end 30a on the left flange end
portion 29 adjacent the left sloped portion 28 and also sits on
longitudinal I-beam stringers 31 (stringers are also on left side
of car) and side sill bottom flange 32 which sits on longitudinal
angle member 32a. The left end portion 33 of the nailable steel
floor section 30 is adjacent the removably attached runner channel
member 34 located in the elongated longitudinal passage, runner or
recessed area 35. The construction of the nailable steel floor
section 30 is shown, for instance, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,216,165
issued on Nov. 9, 1965 to William R. Shaver. The runner channel
member 34 has a top 36 and sides 37 and has on its left laterally
spaced overlapping closure angle members 38 and 39. As better seen
in FIG. 3, the angle member 38 has a top flange 38a and a side
flange 38b and angle member 39 has a top flange 39a and a side
flange 39b. The angle plate flange 39a extends and attaches to
upright flange 40 of the side sill 11. A central longitudinal steel
plate or floor cap structure 41 is on the stationary sill top plate
24 and has a flat top member 42 and short side angle members 43
engaging slope portions 28 and 29, the right end side angle member
43 being adjacent another longitudinal nailable steel floor section
44 which is identical to floor section 30 but on the right side of
the center sill structure 12. The horizontal tops of the angle
members 38 and 39 are substantially in the same horizontal plane as
the tops of members 38, 30, 41 and 44, these members being flush
with one another so that a smooth floor is presented. Thus the
nailable steel floor sections are recessed or depressed at center
sill level to provide for increased volume within the boxcar. The
sliding sill 16 is provided with guides 16a and the car sides 5 are
provided with side sheeting 5a. It will be appreciated that the
construction of the car on either side of the center sill structure
is identical. FIG. 4 illustrates the car doorway condition in
cross-section which includes the inverted U-shaped floor flush
threshold plate 7a, a reduced side sill upright portion 40a and
load rack retainer bar to hold in the load. The doorway 7 is a door
track 7c and door track bracket 7d. The runner inverted filler
channel member 34 on each side of the car floor may be removed and
replaced by a bulkhead engageable track member 45 as seen in FIGS.
3,5,6 and 7. The track is in the form of a rack and has teeth 46
and trough portions or recessed portions 47 which receive teeth 48
of a removable transverse bulkhead 50 as seen in FIGS. 3, and 5-7.
Similar bulkhead tracks 51 are located in the car ceiling 52 for
retaining the top 53 of the divider bulkhead 50 as seen in FIG. 6.
The bulkhead may be thus moved to various positions along the
tracks 45 and 51 and restrained thereat by teeth 46 and 48.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and
illustrate the invention insofar as the appended claims are so
limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before
them will be able to make modifications and variations therein
without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *