Insulated cover for torpedo cars and method of forming an insulated cover

An insulating cover for covering an opening in a torpedo car comprising:

• an upper mesh layer;
• a lower mesh layer;
• an insulating layer positioned between the upper mesh layer and the lower mesh layer;
• tie means for securing the upper mesh layer and the lower mesh layer together and holding the insulating layer in position;
• at least one ferromagnetic plate, whereby each ferromagnetic plate provides a lift point for lifting the insulating cover;
• and
• a pair of support rods positioned in an “X” shape between the upper mesh layer and the insulating layer, each support rod extending beyond side edges of the upper mesh layer and the lower mesh layer and having a length greater than a widest portion of the opening in the torpedo car.

A method of forming an insulating cover for lowering into an opening in a torpedo car, comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a lower wire mesh layer, an upper wire mesh layer, and an insulating layer positioned between the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layers on a bending frame;
• b) bending the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer on said bending frame, whereby the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer each includes a pair of planar outer sections and a recessed central section;
• c) providing at least one ferromagnetic plate having a support strip, whereby each ferromagnetic plate provides a lift point for lifting the insulating cover;
• d) inserting a support rod between the upper wire mesh layer and the insulating layer and through the support strip, whereby the support rod extends beyond ends of the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer, and wherein the support rod has a length greater than a widest portion of the opening in the torpedo car;
• and
• e) securing the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer together with tie means.

A method of forming an insulating cover for lowering into an opening in a torpedo car, comprising the steps of:

• a) placing a lower wire mesh layer, an upper wire mesh layer, and an insulating layer positioned between the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layers on a bending frame;
• b) bending the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer on said bending frame, whereby the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer each includes a pair of planar outer sections and a recessed central section;
• c) providing at least one ferromagnetic plate having a support strip, whereby each ferromagnetic plate provides a lift point for lifting the insulating cover;
• d) inserting a pair of support rods in an “X” shape between the upper wire mesh layer and the insulating layer and through the support strip, whereby each support rod extends beyond side edges of the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer, and wherein each support rod has a length greater than a widest portion of the opening in the torpedo car;
• and
• e) securing the upper wire mesh layer and the lower wire mesh layer together with tie means.