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US 6,978,720 B2Granted
Gondola railcar construction
OwnerKent N. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gondola railcar having a plurality of side posts connected to the underframe for a high strength construction. The underframe includes a plurality of cross-bearing members having an upper flange, a lower flange and at least one vertical web connecting the two flanges. The upper flange has an opening disposed therein that receives the side post such that the side post abuts with the upper flange inside the opening. The side post also abuts with an end of the vertical web, and an end portion of the side post abuts with the lower flange of the cross-bearing member.
Claims18
A railcar subassembly, comprising:
- a horizontal cross-bearing member having a longitudinal axis, a top flange, and a bottom flange, the top flange and bottom flange connected by at least one vertical web, the cross-bearing member formed at a first end such that the flanges extend beyond the web along the longitudinal axis, the top flange having an opening defined therein that is bordered by an inner edge of the top flange;
- and,
- a side post having a side wall and an end portion, the side post disposed through the opening in the top flange of the beam such that the side wall abuts with the inner edge of the top flange, abuts with the web, and an end portion of the side post abuts with the bottom flange.
A railroad car, comprising:
- a subframe assembly including a plurality of horizontal cross-bearing members having a longitudinal axis, a top flange, and a bottom flange, the top flange and bottom flange connected by at least one vertical web, the cross-bearing member formed at a first end such that the flanges extend beyond the web alone the longitudinal axis, the top flange having an opening defined therein that is bordered by an inner edge of the top flange;
- a side structure having a side sheet having inner and outer surfaces and a plurality of vertical side posts disposed adjacent to the side sheets;
- and,
- at least one of the side posts connected to the cross-bearing member and disposed through the opening in the upper flange of the cross-bearing member such that the post abuts with the opening and the vertical web, the side post having an end portion that abuts with the lower flange of the cross-bearing member.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.