Railroad Coil Car Floating Floor Sheet

Abstract

A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies with each trough forming assembly including including at least one floating floor sheet.

Claims

1. A transverse trough coil car body including a plurality of transverse troughs along the car body, comprising: a center sill extending substantially the longitudinal length of the car body; a pair of side walls extending the longitudinal length of the car body on opposed sides of the car, each side wall including a side sill, top chord and side plate extending between the top chord and the side sill; and a plurality of trough forming assemblies, with each trough forming assembly including at least one floating floor sheet.

2. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 1 wherein in at least a plurality of the trough forming assemblies a plurality of floor plate supporting gussets are positioned substantially parallel to each other and with a longitudinal axis of the car body.

3. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 1 wherein in each trough forming assembly includes at least one base member and one ridge member extending across the car body.

4. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 3 wherein in each floating floor sheet includes a pair of clips at opposed ends of the sheet for coupling the floor sheet to the trough forming assembly.

5. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 4 wherein each trough forming assembly is bolted to each side wall.

6. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of trough forming assemblies include two floating floor plates.

7. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 1 further including at least one trough floor pan extending between adjacent trough forming assemblies.

8. A transverse trough coil car body including a plurality of transverse troughs along the car body, comprising: a pair of side walls extending the longitudinal length of the car body on opposed sides of the car, each side wall including a side sill, top chord and side plate extending between the top chord and the side sill; and a plurality of trough forming assemblies, with each trough forming assembly including at least one floating floor sheet which is coupled to trough forming assembly in a manner to allow for thermal expansion in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the car body and in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car body.

9. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 8, wherein each floating floor sheet extends from a base member of the trough forming assembly to a ridge member of the trough forming assembly.

10. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 9, wherein each trough forming assembly includes a plurality of spaced frame supports extending between at least one base member thereof and the ridge member thereof.

11. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 10, wherein each trough forming assembly includes a plurality of spaced gussets with each gusset positioned at a location of one of the frame supports, and wherein the gussets extend generally along the longitudinal axis of the car body.

12. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 11, wherein each floating floor sheet includes a series of stops coupled to the sheet and wherein each floor sheet is supported on the base member via the series of stops.

13. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 12, wherein expansion room for each floating floor sheet is provided under the ridge member, and wherein the ridge member overlaps the floating floor sheet and allows for expansion of the floating floor sheet in the first direction along a longitudinal axis of the car body.

14. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 13, wherein each floating floor sheet includes clips configured to engage a plurality of frame members.

15. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 14, wherein each floating floor sheet engage with the frame members in a manner configured to support and retain the floating floor sheets and allow expansion in the second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car body.

16. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of the trough forming assemblies include a triangular frame in which the apexes of which are generally formed by two of the base members and the ridge member.

17. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 16, further including trough floor pans extending between adjacent trough forming assemblies.

18. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 17, wherein each floating floor sheet is formed from ⅝″ ASTM A-572 Grade 60 plate product.

19. The transverse trough coil car body according to claim 18, wherein each trough assembly is bolted to the sidewalls.

20. A transverse trough coil car comprising: At least two spaced trucks; A car body supported on the trucks and including a plurality of transverse troughs along the car body, the car body including: i) a center sill extending substantially the longitudinal length of the car body, ii) a pair of side walls extending the longitudinal length of the car body on opposed sides of the car, each side wall including a side sill, top chord and side plate extending between the top chord and the side sill; and iii) a plurality of trough forming assemblies, with each trough forming assembly including at least one floating floor sheet which is coupled to trough forming assembly in a manner to allow for thermal expansion in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the car body and in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, which show an apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a prior art transverse coil car;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a transverse trough coil railcar body with trough forming assemblies having floating floor sheet in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the transverse trough coil railcar body of FIG. 2;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of the transverse trough coil railcar body of FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a trough forming assembly of the transverse trough coil railcar body of FIG. 2 with the floating floor sheets removed;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the trough forming assembly of FIG. 5;

[0027] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the trough forming assembly of FIG. 5;

[0028] FIG. 8 is an end view of the trough forming assembly of FIG. 5;

[0029] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the trough forming assembly of FIG. 5;

[0030] FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the trough forming assembly of FIG. 5;

[0031] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an end trough forming assembly of the transverse trough coil railcar body of FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the end trough forming assembly of FIG. 11;

[0033] FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of the end trough forming assembly of FIG. 11 with a rear covering removed;

[0034] FIG. 14 is a end sectional view of the end trough forming assembly of FIG. 11;

[0035] FIG. 15 is an end view of the end trough forming assembly of FIG. 11; and

[0036] FIG. 16 is an end sectional view of the end trough forming assembly of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate a transverse trough coil railcar body 20 with trough forming assemblies 40 (including the end trough forming assemblies 40′) with floating floor sheets 42 in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. The railcar of the invention includes an under-frame having a conventional center sill 22 supported on a conventional pair of spaced trucks 14 (shown in FIG. 1) and extending substantially the longitudinal length of the car body 20. It is also known to have two railcar bodies share three trucks, or even four railcar bodies share five trucks and the body 20 and trucks 14 could be formed similarly, however even in these arrangements each single body 20 is associated with a given pair of trucks 14.

[0038] A truck 14 (also known as bogies), in railroading, references the railroad car wheel assembly usually having two or more axels and which typically rotate freely beneath the cars in order to allow the cars to navigate turns.

[0039] The center sill 22 is generally a box shaped in cross-section and may be considered the main structural member of the railcar. The center sill 22 runs from one end coupling 24 (also known as couplers) of the car to the other. The center sill 22 is the primary load path of the car both for longitudinal buff and draft loads from coupler to coupler, and for carrying the vertical load bending moment between the trucks. See examples in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,861,659; 6,119,345; 5,860,366; 4,565,135; 4,493,266 and 4,194,451 which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] The transverse trough coil railcar body 20 includes a pair of side walls 26 extending the longitudinal length of the car body 20 on opposed sides of the car, each side wall 26 including a side sill 28, top chord 30, and side plates extending between the top chord 30 and the side sill 28. Side stakes 34 may be provided to further support the side plates.

[0041] The side plates may be formed of a number of distinct plate members as needed. The construction of the side walls 26 is generally known in the art as is the end construction and intermediate cross supports (not shown) coupling the side sills 28 of the side walls 26 to the center sill 22. The top chords 30 and side sills 28 may be open or closed structural members and may be formed as composite members as known in the art.

[0042] A significant aspect of the present invention is the inclusion of a plurality of trough forming assemblies 40, including the end trough forming assemblies 40′, each including floating floor sheets 42 in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. The trough forming assembly 40 is shown in detail individually in FIGS. 5-10, while the end trough forming assembly 40′ is shown in detail individually in FIGS. 11-16.

[0043] The trough forming assembly 40 may be considered modular trough forming assemblies 40, analogous to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,387,864, allowing for reducing the fabrication costs, inventory costs and assembly time for each distinct car design. The modular trough forming assemblies 40 can be used to form essentially any desired number transverse troughs appropriate for the car. Increasing or decreasing the lateral distance between adjacent trough forming assemblies 40 creates larger or smaller pockets there between without requiring specialized components or requiring customized parts. A pair of adjacent trough forming assemblies 40 (or a trough forming assembly 40 and an end trough forming assembly 40′) forms a pocket or trough.

[0044] Each trough forming assembly 40, shown in FIGS. 5-10, includes a generally triangular frame formed with a pair of base members 52 and a ridge member 54 with frame supports 56 extending between one of the base members 52 and the ridge member 54. Side members 58 coupled to the ends of the ridge member 54 and sides of the outermost frame supports 56 cap the sides of each trough forming assembly 40. Gusset or support plates 60 are provided along the length at the location of the frame supports 56 to provide a rigid structure.

[0045] The floating floor sheets 42 are coupled to trough forming assembly 40 in a manner to allow for thermal expansion in the length and width direction of the floor sheet 42 as noted above, floating with regard to the floor sheets 42 of the present invention define that the floor sheet 42 is coupled to the associated structure in a manner so as to accommodate thermal expansion in a length and width direction of the floor sheet 42. The floor sheets 42 may be effectively formed from ASTM A-572 Grade 60 for most coil car applications. For example the floor sheet 42 may be supported on the base member 52 via a series of angles or stops 66 welded to the sheet 42 in a manner (between plates 60 and supports 56) to allow expansion of the sheet 42 as needed. Expansion room under the ridge member 54 allows for expansion in this direction, and the ridge member 54 retaining the floor sheet. The outermost frame members 56 engage with floor sheet clips 62 that are welded to the floor sheet 42 to support and retain the floating floor sheets 42 in a manner allowing side to side expansion. In other words the clips 62 secure the floor sheets 42 but allow expansion side to side (as does the resting stops 66). The floor sheets 42 are thus floating on the trough forming assembly 40

[0046] One end trough forming assembly 40′ is shown in detail individually in FIGS. 11-16 and each is roughly analogous to the trough forming members 40 accept with only a single floating floor sheet 42 and associated structure and a non-triangular frame. Each end trough forming assembly 40′ includes a generally frame formed with a single base member 52′ and a ridge member 54′ with frame supports 56′ extending the base member 52′ and the ridge member 54′. Side members 58′ coupled to the ends of the ridge member 54′ and sides of the outermost frame supports 56′ cap the sides of each end trough forming assembly 40′. Gusset or support plates 60′ are provided along the length at the location of the frame supports 56′ to provide a rigid structure. The floating floor sheet 42 is coupled to the end trough forming assembly 40′ in a manner to allow for thermal expansion in the length and width direction of the floor sheet 42 as noted above. For example the floor sheet 42 may be supported on the base member 52′ via a series of angles or stops welded to the sheet in a manner (between plates 60′ and supports 56′) to allow expansion of the sheet 42 as needed. Expansion room under the ridge member 54′ allows for expansion in this direction, and the ridge member 54′ retaining the floor sheet. The outermost frame members 56′ engage with floor sheet clips 62 that are welded to the floor sheet 42 to support and retain the floating floor sheet 42 in a manner allowing side to side expansion. In other words the clips 62 secure the floor sheet 42 but allow expansion side to side (as does the resting stops). The floor sheet 42 is thus floating on the end trough forming assembly 40

[0047] The design of the trough forming assemblies 40, in particular, and the bolting of the frame to the sidewall 26 to a lesser extent, allows for a distinct car to be easily converted in use to alternative trough configurations to accommodate other designated uses without substantial retrofitting of the car design.

[0048] The transverse trough coil car body 20 according to the present invention may further include floating trough floor pans extending between adjacent trough forming assemblies to complete the trough sections.

[0049] The troughs may include other coil engaging structure (not shown) such as wood supports to protect the coils and car cover structures over the car body, which also protect the coils.

[0050] A key feature of the present invention is the provision of a plurality of trough forming assemblies 40 and 40′, with each trough forming assembly 40 and 40′ including at least one floating floor sheet 42. Again, floating with regard to the floor sheets 42 of the present invention defines that the floor sheet 42 is coupled to the associated structure in a manner so as to accommodate thermal expansion in a length and width direction of the floor sheet 42. This design allows for the floor sheets 42 of the railcar to expand and contract as needed due to the thermal input associated with the loading and unloading of hot coils. By allowing the floor sheets 42 to free float as described the floor sheet thickness may be optimized and ⅜″ plate may be effectively used. The design reduced stress concentrations due to thermal expansion and contraction and the premature fatigue that can occur with repeated cyclic loading of this type. These stresses can be evidenced in car as a whole and the present design is believed to increase the longevity of the trough and the car as a whole.

[0051] A preferred embodiment has been described in detail and a number of alternatives have been considered. As changes in or additions to the above described embodiments may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited by or to those details, but only by the appended claims and equivalents thereto.