Temperature controlled composite boxcar

A temperature controlled composite boxcar having a composite box structure mounted on a railway car underframe comprising:

• the railway car underframe having a coupling at each end for attachment to other railway cars;
• a pair of opposite side walls, each side wall having upper and lower edges and ends;
• a pair of opposite end walls, each end wall having upper and lower edges and ends and extending between and joined to an end of each of the side walls;
• a floor having opposite side edges and ends, the floor extending between and joined to the lower edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the lower edges of the end walls;
• a roof having opposite side edges and ends, the roof extending between and joined to the upper edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the upper edges of the end walls;
• the side walls, end walls, roof and floor cooperating with each other to define an interior portion of the composite box structure for carrying cargo;
• a respective opening intermediate the ends of each side wall to provide access to the interior portion of the box structure for loading and unloading cargo;
• the side walls, the end walls, the floor and the roof of having a plurality of core members wrapped with fiber material and sandwiched between one or more layers of fiber material;
• the fiber material impregnated with a resin to form webs of fiber reinforced plastic disposed between adjacent core members and fiber reinforced plastic layers on the interior and the exterior of the respective side walls, end walls, floor and roof;
• and
• a temperature control system for maintaining the interior portion of the composite box structure within a desired temperature range.

A composite box structure for mounting on a railway car underframe to form a composite boxcar, comprising:

• a pair of opposite side walls, each side wall having upper and lower edges and ends;
• a pair of opposite end walls, each end wall having upper and lower edges and ends and extending between and joined to an end of each of the side walls;
• a floor having opposite side edges and ends, the floor extending between and joined to the lower edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the lower edges of the end walls;
• a roof having opposite side edges and ends, the roof extending between and joined to the upper edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the upper edges of the end walls;
• the side walls, end walls, roof and floor cooperating with each other to define an interior portion of the composite box structure for carrying cargo;
• a respective opening intermediate the ends of each side wall to provide access to the interior portion of the box structure for loading and unloading cargo;
• the side walls, the end walls, the floor and the roof having a plurality of core members wrapped with fiber material and sandwiched between one or more layers of fiber material;
• the fiber material impregnated with a resin to form webs of fiber reinforced plastic received between adjacent core members and fiber reinforced plastic layers on the interior and the exterior of the respective side walls, end walls, floor and roof;
• at least one recess formed in an exterior portion of one of the side walls;
• and
• at least a portion of a ladder secured within the recess.

A composite box structure for mounting on a railway car underframe to form a composite boxcar, comprising:

• a pair of opposite side walls, each sidewall having upper and lower edges and ends;
• a pair of opposite end walls, each end wall having upper and lower edges and ends and extending between and joined to an end of each of the side walls;
• a floor having opposite side edges and ends, the floor extending between and joined to the lower edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the lower edges of the end walls;
• a roof having opposite side edges and ends, the roof extending between and joined to the upper edges of the side walls and extending between and joined to the upper edges of the end walls;
• the side walls, end walls, roof and floor cooperating with each other to define an interior portion of the composite box structure for carrying cargo;
• a respective opening intermediate the ends of each side wall to provide access to the interior portion of the box structure for loading and unloading cargo;
• the side walls, the end walls, the floor and the roof of having a plurality of core members wrapped with fiber material and sandwiched between one or more layers of fiber material;
• the fiber material impregnated with a resin to form webs of fiber reinforced plastic received between adjacent core members and fiber reinforced plastic layers on the interior and the exterior of the respective side walls, end walls, floor and roof;
• and
• a coating material containing ceramic fibers applied to exterior surfaces of the composite box structure.