High capacity container rail car for varying arrangements intermodal containers

Abstract

A railroad freight car for transporting intermodal cargo containers. The railroad freight car comprises a structural frame having spaced apart side structures, opposing end structures and a floor structure. The side structures each have a top member and a bottom member disposed in a spaced apart relationship and extending longitudinally between the opposing end structures. The floor structure is disposed to extend between the respective bottom members of each side structure. The end structures each provide an inboard bulkhead, such that the side structures, floor structure and bulkheads together define a well for receiving an intermodal cargo container. The end structure further provides a longitudinally disposed stub centre sill having an outboard end for receiving a coupling means for coupling the railroad freight car to another railroad car. The stub centre sill defines a draft centerline positioned above the railhead at a predetermined height A. The end structure has a transversely disposed structural member connected to each of the top members of the side structure. The uppermost surface of each of the top members is positioned above the draft centerline at a height B such that the ratio defined by the said height A divided into the said height B is greater than approximately 1. The freight car is capable of carrying various configurations of intermodal cargo containers, for instance, four 20-foot containers in a double-stacked arrangement.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.