# US 5,701,825 A · Gap closing device for closing side wall gaps in auto rack cars > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,825 A - Document ID: US5701825A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/623,135 - Filed: 1996-03-28 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1996-03-28 - Assignees: Zeftek, Inc. - Inventors: Walter J. Peach, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701825A ## CPC - B61D 3/18: for vehicles {(vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06)} - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) ## Abstract A device for closing the gap between adjacent sidewall panels in an auto rack railroad car in the form of a generally H-shaped elongated plastic member grippingly engaging the panels and closing the gap to prevent the movement of air and precipitation through the gap. The device may be made as a one-piece or two-piece unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In an auto rack railroad car having opposed walls including a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced apart sidewall panels defining horizontally extending gaps between adjacent upper and lower sidewall panels, each said sidewall panel having an outer face and an inwardly extending flange on the periphery thereof; the improvement being in means for closing the gaps between said adjacent upper and lower sidewall panels, said means comprising: body means for positioning in each said gap and extending substantially the entire length of said gap, first arm means extending from the body means for mounting said body means to said lower sidewall panel and maintaining a substantially water-tight seal therewith, said first arm means including interior and exterior arms connected to said body means, second arm means extending from the body means for mounting said body means to said upper sidewall panel and maintaining a substantially water-tight seal therewith, said second arm means including interior and exterior arms connected to said body means, and means on said first and second arm means for locking said arm means onto the flanges of said sidewall panels, whereby air and water are prevented from entering said car through said gap. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, wherein said second arms means is longer than said first arm means to accommodate gaps of varying sizes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, which includes means on said lower and upper exterior arms for grippingly and sealingly engaging said outer faces of said lower and upper sidewall panels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, wherein said interior and exterior arms of said arm means mounted on said upper panel are spread apart and thereafter moved toward each other and locked in place on said upper panel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, wherein said body means includes spaced apart interior and exterior walls which are connected by spaced apart top and bottom walls which provide structural rigidity to said gap closing means. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The gap closing means as defined in claim 5, wherein said interior and exterior upper and lower arms are integrally connected to said interior and exterior walls of said body means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The gap closing means as defined in claim 5, wherein said body means is substantially box-shaped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, wherein said body means includes a socket formed by spaced apart top and bottom walls interconnected by an exterior wall and a detached locking member formed by spaced apart top and bottom locking bars interconnected by an interior wall and adapted to be inserted into said socket. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, which further includes means connected to an exterior part of said gap closing means for directing and channeling water laterally of said panels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, which further includes bumper means connected to an interior part of said gap closing means for preventing a vehicle door from contacting the sidewall of the auto rack railroad car. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The gap closing means as defined in claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a locking shoulder adapted to engage said flange. ### Claim 12 In an auto rack railroad car having opposed walls including a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced apart sidewall panels defining horizontally extending gaps between said adjacent sidewall panels, and each said sidewall panel having inwardly extending flanges on the peripheries thereof, the improvement being in a member for closing the gaps between said adjacent sidewall panels, said member comprising: body means for positioning in and extending substantially the entire length of said gap and having attached interior and exterior walls, interior and exterior lower arms extending downwardly from the body means for mounting the member to said lower sidewall panel, and interior and exterior upper arms extending upwardly from the body means for mounting said body to said upper sidewall panel, said upper arms being longer than said lower arms to accommodate gaps of varying sizes, whereby said member prevents air and water from entering said car through said gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The gap closing member as defined in claim 12, which includes locking means on said interior arms for locking said arms onto the flanges of said upper and lower sidewall panels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The gap closing member as defined in claim 13, which includes gripping means on said exterior arms for enhancing the sealing engagement between said exterior arms and said upper and lower sidewall panels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The gap closing member as defined in claim 12, which further includes a rain diverter means connected to one of the exterior walls or arms of the member for channeling water laterally of the panels. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The gap closing member as defined in claim 12, which further includes bumper means connected to one of the interior walls or arms of the member for preventing a vehicle door from contacting the sidewall of the auto rack railroad car. ### Claim 17 A gap closing-device closing an air gap between horizontally extending and vertically adjacent upper and lower screens of an auto rack railroad car, said screens having an outer face and an inwardly extending flange on the periphery thereof, said gap closing device comprising: body means disposed in and extending substantially the entire length of said gap, interior and exterior upper arm means extending downwardly from said body means for mounting said body means on said lower sidewall panel, interior and exterior upper arm means extending upwardly from said body means for mounting said body means on said upper sidewall panel and for creating a substantially water-tight seal against the outer surface of said upper sidewall panel, whereby air and water are prevented from entering said car through said gap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein said upper arm means includes diverging arms movable together and lockable during mounting on said upper panel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein said body means is box-shaped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device of claim 19, wherein the box-shaped body means is formed from coacting and mating C-shaped members. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The device of claim 17, wherein the upper arm means are longer than said lower arm means to accommodate gaps of varying sizes. ### Claim 22 A gap closing device closing an air gap between horizontally extending and vertically adjacent upper and lower sidewall panels of an auto rack railroad car, said panels having an outer face and an inwardly extending flange on the periphery thereof, said gap closing device comprising: female means for engaging said adjacent upper and lower sidewall panels, and male means for locking said female means on said panels, said female means having a body, interior and exterior lower arm means extending from said body for mounting said female means on said lower sidewall panel, interior and exterior upper arm means extending from said body for slideably mounting said female means on said upper sidewall panel and for forming a substantially water-tight seal between said female member and said upper sidewall panel, and said body formed to receive said male means, and said male means having interconnected locking bar means for inserting into said body of said female means to lock said female member on said upper and lower sidewall panels, whereby said device prevents air and water from entering said car through said air gap and wherein said device may be installed on new or existing cars. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The device of claim 22, wherein said female and male means include coacting locking means which prevent the male means from being dislodged from the female means. ### Claim 24 In an auto rack railroad car having opposed walls including a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced apart sidewall panels defining horizontally extending air gaps between adjacent upper and lower sidewall panels, each said sidewall panel having an outer face and in inwardly extending flange on the periphery thereof, the improvement being in means for closing the air gap between adjacent sidewall panels, said means comprising: an elongated plastic device closing and extending substantially the entire length of the air gap, said device being H-shaped and including a substantially box-shaped section disposed in the air gap, inner and outer upwardly extending means grippingly engaging the upper panel, and inner and outer downwardly extending means grippingly engaging the lower panel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the box-shaped section and said upwardly and downwardly extending means are a one-piece unit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The device of claim 24, wherein the box-shaped section and said upwardly and downwardly extending means are a two-piece unit.