A torque box includes a front plate and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is coupled to the front plate such that the bottom surface is orthogonal to front plate and such that front plate extends along the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a first raised portion configured to fit over a wheel of a railcar.

A torque box includes a front plate and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is coupled to the front plate such that the bottom surface is orthogonal to front plate and such that front plate extends along the bottom surface. The bottom surface defines a first raised portion configured to fit over a wheel of a railcar.

A double skin structure of a railcar bodyshell includes: a harmonica type structural portion in which a closed space is quadrangular when viewed from a car longitudinal direction; and a truss type structural portion which is located adjacent to the harmonica type structural portion and in which a closed space is triangular when viewed from the car longitudinal direction. A thickness reduced portion is formed in at least one of a region between a car width direction middle portion of a roof bodyshell and a car body circumferential direction middle portion of a cantrail. The thickness reduced portion having a bodyshell thickness that is made small by arranging an inner wall of the thickness reduced portion at a car exterior side of the inner wall of a region adjacent to the region in which the thickness reduced portion is formed.

A double skin structure of a railcar bodyshell includes: a harmonica type structural portion in which a closed space is quadrangular when viewed from a car longitudinal direction; and a truss type structural portion which is located adjacent to the harmonica type structural portion and in which a closed space is triangular when viewed from the car longitudinal direction. A thickness reduced portion is formed in at least one of a region between a car width direction middle portion of a roof bodyshell and a car body circumferential direction middle portion of a cantrail. The thickness reduced portion having a bodyshell thickness that is made small by arranging an inner wall of the thickness reduced portion at a car exterior side of the inner wall of a region adjacent to the region in which the thickness reduced portion is formed.

A land vehicle includes a body, a technical compartment opening onto an outer wall of the body; and a closing device that closes the technical compartment. The closing device includes first and second flaps, which are rotatable relative to the body, and a central element, which is connected to the body between the flaps. In a closed configuration of the closing device, each of the flaps extends in a longitudinal direction with one end of each in contact with the central element, so that the flaps close the technical compartment. In an open configuration of the closing device, both of the flaps folded against the outer wall or against the central element, so as to provide access to the technical compartment.

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.

The invention preferably relates to a method for stiffening a sheet element. In this regard, the method preferably comprises a first step of providing stiffening modules comprising a flange and at least one web. Furthermore, the stiffening modules are preferably attached to the sheet element sequentially along a load path, wherein the stiffening modules are connected to each other via their respective flanges using connecting means and/or joining methods for a positive, frictional and/or materially bonded connection to form a stiffening structure, such that the stiffening modules have a combined effect, specifically stiffening and reinforcing the sheet element. The invention also preferably relates to a stiffening structure for a sheet element comprising a plurality of stiffening modules arranged sequentially, and to a stiffening system comprising a stiffening structure and a sheet element.

A rail vehicle body structure, comprising: a tubular corrugated plate; an annular beam and an underframe cross beam sleeved within the corrugated plate; and underframe side beams provided between the annular beam and the underframe cross beam. The two sides of the bottom of the corrugated plate are symmetrically provided with connection parts, and the underframe side beam is disposed on the outside of the connection part.

A rail vehicle body structure, comprising: a tubular corrugated plate; an annular beam and an underframe cross beam sleeved within the corrugated plate; and underframe side beams provided between the annular beam and the underframe cross beam. The two sides of the bottom of the corrugated plate are symmetrically provided with connection parts, and the underframe side beam is disposed on the outside of the connection part.

A lightweight variable cross-section vehicle compartment is provided. The vehicle compartment at least includes a bottom plate and two side plates, the two side plates being arranged on the left side and the right side of the bottom plate respectively, the two side plates being of variable cross-section structures, and the thickness of the bottom of the side plate being greater than the thickness of the top of the side plate. In the lightweight variable cross-section vehicle compartment, the material thickness is designed according to the idea of equal strength, and while meeting the requirement for a load bearing strength, the vehicle compartment uses a variable cross-section design so as to maximize weight reduction, thus realizing the weight reduction lightweight structural design of a cargo vehicle, effectively reducing the oil consumption of the vehicle and increasing the cargo capacity.