# US 2009/0260538 A1 · Rail car extension system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260538 A1 - Document ID: US20090260538A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/418,895 - Filed: 2009-04-06 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-21 - Assignees: Shur-Co, LLC - Inventors: Christopher Joseph McCallum; David Joseph Schaefer; Derrick K. Barr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260538A1 ## CPC - B61D 17/12: Roofs (movable or foldable roofs, covers or tarpaulins B61D39/00) - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) ## Abstract A rail car extension system including a first main rail section, a second main rail section and a plurality of bow structures. The first main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall. The first main rail section includes a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion. The second main rail section is mounted with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall. The second main rail section includes a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion. The plurality of bow structures are each attached to and extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rail car extension system comprising: a first main rail section mounted with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall, wherein the first main rail section comprises a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion; a second main rail section mounted with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall, wherein the second main rail section comprises a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion; and a plurality of bow structures that are each attached to and extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rail car extension system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first upper rail portion and the second upper rail portion comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a bottom panel that are attached to each other so that the first side panel and the second side panel each extend between the top panel and the bottom panel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rail car extension system of claim 2, wherein a width of the first upper rail portion and the second upper rail portion is greater proximate the top panel than proximate the bottom panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The rail car extension system of claim 1, and further comprising a latch plate that extends from an outer surface of at least one of the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rail car extension system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bow structures are pivotally attached to the first main rail section and the second mail rail section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rail car extension system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of bow structures each include a central bow, a first attachment region and a second attachment region and wherein the central bow extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The rail car extension system of claim 6, wherein the central bow is arched such that ends of the central bow are lower than a central portion of the central bow, and wherein the plurality of bow structures each further comprise a cross bar that extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region. ### Claim 8 An increased capacity rail car system comprising: an open top rail car comprising a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a bottom wall that define an enclosure with an upwardly directed opening; and a rail car extension system comprising: a first main rail section mounted with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall, wherein the first main rail section comprises a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion; a second main rail section mounted with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall, wherein the second main rail section comprises a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion; and a plurality of bow structures that are each attached to and extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first upper rail portion and the second upper rail portion comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, a top panel and a bottom panel that are attached to each other so that the first side panel and the second side panel each extend between the top panel and the bottom panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 9, wherein a width of the first upper rail portion and the second upper rail portion is greater proximate the top panel than proximate the bottom panel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, and further comprising a latch plate that extends from an outer surface of at least one of the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of bow structures are pivotally attached to the first main rail section and the second mail rail section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of bow structures each include a central bow, a first attachment region and a second attachment region and wherein the central bow extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 13, wherein the central bow is arched such that ends of the central bow are lower than a central portion of the central bow, and wherein the plurality of bow structures each further comprise a cross bar that extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, and further comprising at least one end rail section mounted with respect to at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the end rail section is aligned with and spaced-apart from the main rail section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 15, wherein the end rail section includes an end upper rail portion and an end lower rail portion that extends from the end upper rail portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The increased capacity rail car system of claim 8, and further comprising a cover that extends at least partially over the first main rail section, the second main rail section and the plurality of bow structures to substantially cover the rail car. ### Claim 18 A method of increasing capacity of an open top rail car that includes a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall and a bottom wall that define an enclosure with an upwardly directed opening, wherein the method comprises: mounting a first main rail section with respect to an upper surface of the first side wall, wherein the first main rail section comprises a first upper rail portion and a first lower rail portion that extends from the first upper rail portion; mounting a second main rail section with respect to an upper surface of the second side wall, wherein the second main rail section comprises a second upper rail portion and a second lower rail portion that extends from the second upper rail portion; and attaching a plurality of bow structures to extend between the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, and further comprising attaching a latch plate to an outer surface of at least one of the first main rail section and the second main rail section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of bow structures are pivotally attached to the first main rail section and the second mail rail section. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of bow structures each include a central bow, a first attachment region and a second attachment region and wherein the central bow extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region, wherein the central bow is arched such that ends of the central bow are lower than a central portion of the central bow. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, and further comprising attaching a cross bar to the first attachment region and the second attachment region. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, and further comprising mounting at least one end rail section with respect to at least one of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the end rail section is aligned with and spaced-apart from the main rail section. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, and further comprising extending a cover at least partially over the first main rail section, the second main rail section and the plurality of bow structures to substantially cover the rail car.