DOOR ASSEMBLIES FOR RAILROAD CARS

Abstract

Door assemblies for railroad cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the door assemblies include a base having a central portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the central portion. The central portion is in a plane different from the perimeter portion. The door assemblies additionally include a perimeter gasket attached to the perimeter portion and surrounding the central portion. The door assemblies further include a first end wall member having a first portion that is attached to the perimeter portion and a second portion that is attached to the central portion. The door assemblies additionally include a second end wall member having a third portion that is attached to the perimeter portion and a fourth portion that is attached to the central portion. The perimeter portion is disposed between the second or fourth portion and the perimeter gasket. The first and second end wall members are each distinct from the base.

Claims

1. A door assembly for a railroad car, the door assembly comprising: a base having front and rear surfaces, opposed horizontal end portions, and opposed vertical end portions, the base having a central planar portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the central portion, the central portion being in a plane different from the perimeter portion, and the perimeter portion being adjacent to the horizontal and vertical end portions; a perimeter gasket attached to the perimeter portion and surrounding the central portion; a first end wall member having spaced first and second portions, the first portion is attached to the perimeter portion and the second portion is attached to the central portion, the perimeter portion being disposed between the second portion and the perimeter gasket; and a second end wall member having spaced third and fourth portions, the third portion is attached to the perimeter portion and the fourth portion is attached to the central portion, the perimeter portion being disposed between the fourth portion and the perimeter gasket, wherein each of the first and second end wall members is distinct from the base.

2. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end wall member further includes a fifth portion disposed between the first and second portions, and the second end wall member further includes a sixth portion disposed between the third and fourth portions.

3. The door assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second portions of the first end wall member are parallel to each other, and the third and fourth portions of the second end wall member are parallel to each other.

4. The door assembly of claim 3, wherein the fifth portion is perpendicular to the first and second portions, and the sixth portion is perpendicular to the third and fourth portions.

5. The door assembly of claim 4, wherein fifth and sixth portions are along planes that do not include a portion of the perimeter gasket.

6. The door assembly of claim 5, wherein the first end wall member further includes a seventh portion disposed between the first and second portions and spaced from the fifth portion, and the second end wall member further includes an eight portion disposed between the third and fourth portions and spaced from the sixth portion.

7. The door assembly of claim 6, wherein the seventh and eighth portions are attached to the central portion of the base.

8. The door assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second end wall members define an interior compartment therebetween.

9. The door assembly of claim 8, further comprising insulation disposed within the interior compartment.

10. A railroad car, comprising a cargo-carrying container having an opening; and the door assembly of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an example of a door assembly of the present disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a reverse isometric view of the door assembly of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the door assembly of FIG. 1.

[0012] FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the door assembly of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 2, showing an example of an end wall member of the door assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Referring now to the drawings that form a portion of the disclosure herein, FIGS. 1-5 show a door or door assembly 20 for railroad cars incorporating a novel construction that provides greater stiffness to resist deformation and is more impact resistant to other equipment. Door assembly 20 includes a planar or generally planar base 22 having a front surface 24 and a rear surface 26. The base also includes opposed horizontal end portions 28 and 30, and opposed vertical end portions 32 and 34. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, base 22 includes a first planar panel 36, a second planar panel 38, and a third planar panel 40 that are welded and/or otherwise attached to each other. In other examples, base 22 may include more or less planar panels (including a single planar panel).

[0015] Base 22 includes a central wall or portion 46, a perimeter wall or portion 48 that surrounds the central wall or portion, and a connecting wall or portion 50 disposed between the central portion and the perimeter portion. The central, perimeter, and connecting portions are each planar and/or generally planar. The base is shaped such that central portion 46 extends rearward relative to perimeter portion 48. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, the central portion and the perimeter portion are parallel or generally parallel to each other, while connecting portion is perpendicular or generally perpendicular to the central and perimeter portions.

[0016] Door assembly 20 further includes an elongate perimeter gasket 54. The perimeter gasket is attached to perimeter portion 48 such that perimeter gasket 54 surrounds central portion 46. For example, a gasket retainer 58 is attached to, or formed with, the perimeter portion and receives perimeter gasket 54. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, perimeter gasket 54 includes wing portions 60 that are received in a channel 62 of the gasket retainer. Perimeter gasket 54 may be any suitable material(s), such as rubber and/or silicone.

[0017] Door assembly 20 additionally includes a plurality of end wall members 64 that are attached to base 22 and that span a corresponding side or end portion of base 22. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, end wall members 64 include a first end wall member 66 and a second end wall member 68 that attach (e.g., welded) to a corresponding side or end portion of base 22. For example, first end wall member 66 is attached to a horizontal end portion of base 22. Second end wall member 68 is attached to an opposed horizontal end portion of base 22. End wall members 64 may be made of any suitable material(s), such as steel.

[0018] Each of end wall members 64 includes a distal side or portion 74, a proximate or base interface side or portion 76 spaced from the outward portion, a first connecting portion 78 disposed therebetween, and a second connecting portion 77 attached to central portion 46 and connecting distal portion 74 with the central portion. A side or end portion of base 22 attaches to base interface portion 76. In the example shown in FIGS. 1-5, the base interface portion and the outward portion are parallel to each other, while the first connecting portion (and at least a portion of the second connecting portion) are perpendicular to those portions. An attachment part 79 of the second connecting portion is parallel to portions 74 and 76. However, other examples of end wall members 64 may include portions that are not parallel and/or not perpendicular to each other. Each of end wall members 64 includes a plurality of apertures 80 to allow lock bars and/or crank rods of a locking mechanism of door assembly 20 to engage apertures on the door frame. First and second end wall members 66, 68 each includes a base member 82 and a pair of corner elements 84 attached to or formed with opposition longitudinal end portions of the base member. Base 22 and end wall members 64 collectively define an interior compartment 88 therebetween. End wall members 64 are shaped to provide that interior compartment or void that is directly behind the gasket sealing surface. In some examples, the interior compartment may additionally contain insulation or insulation material(s) 90 (e.g., foam or fiber insulation).

[0019] In some examples, door assembly may include a liner (not shown) and/or insulation panels of any suitable material(s), as shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/839,132. The complete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

[0020] The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.