Loading ramp deck
AssigneeWestinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
InventorJohn B. Carroll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightweight loading ramp deck and a method for forming such deck is provided. This loading ramp deck is capable of being used in a retractable loading ramp in the loading and unloading of intermodal cars. The loading ramp deck comprises a plurality of tubular members. Each of these tubular members comprises a first end, a second end, a top wall, a bottom wall, and longitudinal side walls. The top, bottom and side walls extend between the first and second ends. The tubular members are positioned such that the side walls are adjacently disposed with respect to each other and joined to form a loading deck which is inexpensive, lightweight, exceptionally strong and has excellent shear flow.
Claims20
A loading ramp deck for intermodal cars comprising:
- (a) a plurality of tubular members, each of said tubular members comprising a first end, a second end, a top wall and a bottom wall, and longitudinal side walls, each of said top, bottom and side walls extending between said first and second ends, said plurality of tubular members being positioned such that said longitudinal sides walls are adjacently disposed with respect to each other;
- and
- (b) joining means for joining said plurality of tubular members to each other along said adjacently disposed longitudinal side walls to form a loading ramp deck having a predetermined width.
A method of forming a lightweight loading ramp deck for an intermodal car, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a plurality of tubular members, each of said tubular members comprising a first end, a second end, a top wall, a bottom wall, and longitudinal side walls, each of said top, bottom and side walls extending between said first and second ends;
- (b) positioning said tubular members such that said longitudinal side walls are adjacently disposed with respect to each other;
- and
- (c) joining said plurality of tubular members to each other along said adjacently disposed longitudinal side walls to form a loading ramp deck having a predetermined width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.