US 5,307,744 A · Magnetic skirt product protection assembly for transporting on railroad cars

Abstract

A magnetic skirt assembly is provided which is used as a metallic particle and grit collector on a railroad car to protect transported products. The magnetic skirt (20) includes a supporting frame structure (21) and a magnetic material (36) operatively attached thereto. The magnetic skirt is installed on the underside of the railroad car, preferably one skirt at each end of the railroad car adjacent to the outboard side of the wheel trucks. The magnetic skirts of the invention attract and collect fine metallic particles and grit on their magnetic surfaces which come off the railroad bed during transit of the railroad car. The design of the magnetic skirt particularly addresses the primary flow of air through the railroad car wheel trucks directed outboard and the airstream carrying the metallic particles flowing upward between rail cars which can potentially enter the gaps in the railroad car end doors. Periodically, the magnetic skirts can be cleaned or rinsed off to remove the accumulated grit or particles.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A magnetic skirt assembly for use on a railroad car for collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, comprising:

(a) a supporting frame structure arranged and configured to be attached to an underside of a railroad car;
and
(b) magnetic means, operatively connected to said supporting frame structure, for attracting and collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, said magnetic means being oriented on said supporting frame structure to attract the airborne metallic particles, wherein during travel of the railroad car on the railroad bed, said magnetic means attracts and collects metallic particles from the railroad bed which have become airborne, thereby protecting products transported on the railroad car from the airborne metallic particles.

A magnetic device for use on a railroad car, the combination comprising:

(a) a railroad car having an underside;
(b) a plurality of wheel trucks attached to said underside of said railroad car;
and
(c) at least one magnetic skirt assembly, operatively connected to said underside of said railroad car proximate said wheel trucks, said magnetic skirt assembly including magnetic means for attracting and collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, said magnetic means being oriented to attract the airborne metallic particles, wherein during travel of said railroad car on the railroad bed, said magnetic means attracts and collects metallic particles from the railroad bed which have become airborne, thereby protecting products transported on said railroad car from the airborne metallic particles.

1 more element

A method of attracting and collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed during travel of a railroad car, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching at least one magnetic skirt assembly to an underside of a railroad car, said magnetic skirt assembly comprising:
(i) a supporting frame structure operatively connected to the underside of the railroad car;
and
(ii) magnetic means, operatively connected to said supporting frame structure, for attracting and collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, said magnetic means being oriented on said supporting frame structure to attract the airborne metallic particles;
and
(b) moving the railroad car along a railroad track disposed on a railroad bed;
wherein during movement of the railroad car on the railroad track, said magnetic means attracts and collects metallic particles from the railroad bed which have become airborne, thereby protecting products transported on the railroad car from the airborne metallic particles.

4 more elements

A magnetic skirt assembly for use on a railroad car for collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, comprising:

(a) a supporting frame structure arranged and configured to be attached to an underside of a railroad car, said supporting frame structure including:
(i) a plurality of vertical support members, each of said vertical support members having a first and a second end and being arranged and configured to extend generally orthogonal to the underside of a railroad car, wherein each of said vertical support members is connectable proximate said first end to the underside of the railroad car;
and
(ii) a plurality of elongated brace members, each of said elongated brace members having a first and a second end, said second end being operatively connected to the second end of one of said plurality of vertical support members, and said first end being arranged and configured to be connectable to the underside of the railroad car;
and
(b) magnetic means, operatively connected to said supporting frame structure, for attracting and collecting airborne metallic particles from a railroad bed, said magnetic means being oriented on said supporting frame structure to attract the airborne metallic particles, whereby during travel of the railroad car on the railroad bed, said magnetic means attracts and collects the metallic particles from the railroad bed which have become airborne, thereby protecting products transported on the railroad car from the airborne metallic particles.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic skirt product protection assembly for transporting on railroad cars

Life of this patent

Magnetic skirt product protection assembly for transporting on railroad cars

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37