Composite fiberglass railcar roof
AssigneeAmerican Composite Material Engineering, Inc.
InventorsJoseph V. Fecko, Paul L. Packer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiberglass railcar roof that includes a fiberglass surface with a central portion and plural elongate fiberglass ribs extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface. In a first embodiment, the central portion has a cross-sectional configuration that defines a first arc, and the ribs each have broad widths and each extend above the central portion to define a second arc that intersects the first arc. In a second embodiment, the ribs have arcuate cross-sections and extend downward from the lower face of the central portion. Also disclosed are embodiments of the previously described roofs that are configured for use on refrigerated and cryogenic railcars.
Claims21
A fiberglass roof for a railcar, comprising:
- a composite fiberglass surface having a central portion with a cross-sectional configuration that defines a first arc and a peripheral region that extends beyond the central portion;
- and
- plural elongate fiberglass ribs integrally formed in the central portion, extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface and further extending above the central portion to define a second arc that intersects the first arc.
A roof for a cryogenic railcar, comprising:
- a bunker for supporting cryogenic snow, wherein the bunker has a lower surface and opposed walls that define a recess within the bunker;
- a composite fiberglass surface mounted to the side walls to enclose the recess;
- an insulating layer disposed between the fiberglass surface and the bunker;
- a manifold for delivering cryogenic material to the bunker wherein the manifold includes a supply tube disposed below the lower surface of the bunker and a plurality of nozzles extending from the supply tube through the lower surface of the bunker and into the recess for forming cryogenic snow from cryogenic material and for distributing the cryogenic snow within the recess;
- and
- a plurality of spaced ports that extend through the lower surface of the bunker.
A railcar, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a roof mounted on the body, wherein the roof includes:
- a composite fiberglass surface having a central portion with a cross-sectional configuration that defines a first arc and a peripheral region that extends beyond the central portion;
- and
- plural elongate fiberglass ribs integrally formed in the central portion, extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fiberglass surface and further extending above the central portion to define a second arc that intersects the first arc.
A cryogenic railcar, comprising:
- a body;
- and
- a roof mounted on the body, wherein the roof includes:
- a bunker for supporting cryogenic snow, wherein the bunker has a lower surface and opposed walls that define a recess within the bunker;
- a composite fiberglass surface mounted to the side walls to enclose the recess;
- an insulating layer disposed between the fiberglass surface and the bunker;
- a manifold for delivering cryogenic material to the bunker wherein the manifold includes a supply tube disposed below the lower surface of the bunker and a plurality of nozzles extending from the supply tube through the lower surface of the bunker and into the recess for forming cryogenic snow from cryogenic material and for distributing the cryogenic snow within the recess;
- and
- a plurality of spaced ports that extend through the lower surface of the bunker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.