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US 12,037,029 B2Granted
Railcar systems and cargo transportation methods
AssigneeTsg Canada Holdings Inc.
InventorTimothy Scott Graham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cargo transport systems and cargo transport vessels that are used in combination with removable carriers that can be loaded and unloaded into the cargo transport vessel, and methods of using these systems, vessels, and removable carriers.
Claims20
A top-loading railcar comprising:
- a deck,
- wheels supporting the deck,
- an interior defined by walls comprising:
- a front wall extending vertically from the deck, a back wall extending vertically from the deck, one or more vertical separators extending vertically from the deck, and two sidewalls extending vertically from each of the two deck sides,
- a first interior segment and a second interior segment within the interior each formed in part by the one or more vertical separators,
- a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment,
- a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment,
- a first roof that is capable of an opened position that exposes the first top opening and allows access to the first interior segment, and a closed position that covers the first top opening,
- a second roof that is capable of an opened position that exposes the second top opening and allows access to the second interior segment, and a closed position that covers the second top opening,
- a first removable cargo carrier that comprises vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and that is adapted to be placed into and removed from the first interior segment through the first top opening,
- a second removable cargo carrier that comprises vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and that is adapted to be placed into and removed from the second interior segment through the second top opening.
8 more elements
A method of placing cargo into a top-loading railcar, the railcar comprising:
- a deck,
- wheels supporting the deck,
- walls extending vertically from the deck to define a railcar interior that comprises a first interior segment and a second interior segment,
- a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
- a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
- the method comprising:
- placing a first removable cargo carrier through the first top opening and into the first interior segment, the first removable cargo carrier comprising:
- vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and
- cargo supported on the horizontal support;
- placing a second removable cargo carrier through the second top opening and into the second interior segment, the second removable cargo carrier comprising:
- vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, and
- cargo supported on the horizontal support;
- placing a first roof over the first top opening;
- and
- placing a second roof over the second top opening.
12 more elements
A method of placing cargo into two or more top-loading railcars, each top-loading railcar comprising:
- a deck,
- wheels supporting the deck,
- walls extending vertically from the deck to define a railcar interior that comprises a first interior segment and a second interior segment,
- a first top opening at a top of the first interior segment defined by a top of the walls, and
- a second top opening at a top of the second interior segment defined by a top of the walls,
- the method comprising:
- with a first train on a rail line, the first train comprising one or more top-loading railcars,
- with a second train on a rail line parallel to the first train, the second train comprising one or more top-loading railcars,
- loading a first removable cargo carrier through the first top opening of a top-loading railcar of the first train, the first removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, with the cargo supported on the horizontal support,
- loading a second removable cargo carrier through the second top opening of a top-loading railcar of the first train, the second removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, with the cargo supported on the horizontal support,
- loading a third removable cargo carrier through the first top opening of a top-loading railcar of the second train, the third removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, with the cargo supported on the horizontal support, and
- loading a fourth removable cargo carrier through the second top opening of a top-loading railcar of the second train, the fourth removable cargo carrier comprising vertical frame supports, a bottom shelf, and a horizontal support supported by the vertical frame supports, with the cargo supported on the horizontal support.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.