Modular coil railcar
AssigneeTrinity Rail Group, LLC
InventorsSuman Gachhadar, Christopher Crisafulli, Aubra D. McKisic, Konstantin I. Khenokh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular railcar includes a modular top system that is configured to hold one or more coils of material, and a railcar underframe that supports the modular top system. The modular top system includes a pair of side sills and one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills. Each side sill of the pair of side sills extends a longitudinal length of the modular top system. Each trough of the one or more troughs is configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material. The underframe includes one or more coupling apparatuses that are configured to detachably engage the modular top system when the modular top system is positioned on top of the underframe.
Claims18
A modular railcar comprising:
- a modular top system configured to hold one or more coils of material, the modular top system comprising:
- a pair of side sills, each side sill of the pair of side sills extending a longitudinal length of the modular top system;
- and
- one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills, each trough of the one or more troughs configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material;
- and
- a railcar underframe configured to support the modular top system, the underframe comprising one or more coupling apparatuses configured to detachably engage the modular top system when the modular top system is positioned on top of the underframe;
- wherein a side sill of the pair of side sills comprises a scalloped upper edge defining one or more indentations;
- each support member of the plurality of support members extends in a transverse direction between the pair of side sills;
- and
- each indentation of the one or more indentations is associated with a trough of the one or more troughs, wherein a position of a center of the indentation along the length of the modular top system generally corresponds to a position of a center of the associated trough along the length of the modular top system.
A method comprising:
- removing a first modular top system from a railcar underframe, wherein:
- the first modular top system is configured to hold one or more coils of material, and comprises:
- a pair of side sills, each side sill of the pair of side sills extending a longitudinal length of the modular top system;
- and
- one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills, each trough of the one or more troughs configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material;
- the railcar underframe comprises one or more coupling apparatuses configured to detachably engage the first modular top system;
- and
- removing the first modular top system from the railcar underframe comprises disengaging the first modular top system from the one or more coupling apparatuses of the railcar underframe;
- and
- placing a second modular top system on the railcar underframe, wherein:
- the one or more coupling apparatuses of the railcar underframe is further configured to detachably engage the second modular top system;
- and
- placing the second modular top system on the railcar underframe comprises engaging the second modular top system with the one or more coupling apparatuses of the railcar underframe.
A modular top system configured to hold one or more coils of material, the modular top system comprising:
- a pair of side sills;
- one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills, each trough of the one or more troughs configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material;
- and
- one or more coupling apparatuses configured to detachably couple to a railcar underframe, wherein each coupling apparatus of the one or more coupling apparatuses comprises at least one of:
- a protruding portion configured to detachably engage a recessed portion of the railcar underframe;
- and
- a recessed portion configured to detachably engage a protruding portion of the railcar underframe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.