Rail road hopper car ridge fittings

A railroad hopper car, said hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction along railroad car tracks, wherein said hopper car body comprises:

• a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls each running in the longitudinal direction, and being mutually opposed and spaced apart cross-wise to the longitudinal direction;
• each of said first and second sidewalls having a top chord running therealong;
• at least a first hopper and a second hopper defined between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first hopper being longitudinally adjacent to said second hopper;
• each of said first and second hoppers having a respective discharge section;
• each respective discharge section having a closure movable between a closed position and an open position to govern discharge of lading from its respective hopper;
• said first hopper having a first slope sheet, said first slope sheet extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said second hopper having a second slope sheet, said second slope sheet extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first slope sheet having a first end and a second end;
• said first end of said first slope sheet extending longitudinally downward toward said closure of said first hopper;
• said second end of said first slope sheet extending longitudinally upwardly toward said second slope sheet;
• said second slope sheet having a first end and a second end;
• said first end of said second slope sheet extending longitudinally downward toward said closure of said second hopper;
• said second end of said second slope sheet extending longitudinally upwardly toward said first slope sheet;
• a hollow tube extending cross-wise from said first sidewall to said second sidewall;
• a first side of said hollow tube being defined by a portion of said first slope sheet;
• a second side of said hollow tube being defined by a portion of said second slope sheet;
• said tube has a third side sheltered beneath and extending between said first slope sheet and said second slope sheet;
• and
• said hopper car has a coupler and a coupler centerline height;
• said top chord of said first sidewall defines a top chord height;
• said second ends of said first and second slope sheets each extend to a height that is at least half way from said coupler centerline height to said top chord height, and said third side of said tube is defined by a cross-gusset that is also at least half way from said coupler centerline height to said top chord height.

A railroad hopper car, said hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction along railroad car tracks, wherein said hopper car body comprises:

• a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls each running in the longitudinal direction, and being mutually opposed and spaced apart cross-wise to the longitudinal direction;
• each of said first and second sidewalls having a top chord running therealong;
• at least a first hopper and a second hopper defined between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first hopper being longitudinally adjacent to said second hopper;
• each of said first and second hoppers having a respective discharge section;
• each respective discharge section having a closure movable between a closed position and an open position to govern discharge of lading from its respective hopper;
• said first hopper having a first slope sheet, said first slope sheet extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said second hopper having a second slope sheet, said second slope sheet extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first slope sheet having a first end and a second end;
• said first end of said first slope sheet extending longitudinally downward toward said closure of said first hopper;
• said second end of said first slope sheet extending longitudinally upwardly toward said second slope sheet;
• said second slope sheet having a first end and a second end;
• said first end of said second slope sheet extending longitudinally downward toward said closure of said second hopper;
• said second end of said second slope sheet extending longitudinally upwardly toward said first slope sheet;
• a hollow tube extending cross-wise from said first sidewall to said second sidewall;
• a first side of said hollow tube being defined by a portion of said first slope sheet;
• a second side of said hollow tube being defined by a portion of said second slope sheet;
• and
• said hopper car has a center sill and a shear web extending upwardly of said center sill between said first and second slope sheets, said shear web mating with said first and second slope sheets, and said shear web being located beneath said hollow tube.

A railroad hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for travel in a longitudinal direction along railroad tracks, said car body comprising:

• first and second sidewalls, said first and second sidewalls running in the longitudinal direction and being spaced apart cross-wise to the longitudinal direction, each of said first and second sidewalls having a respective top chord;
• first and second hoppers defined between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said first and second hoppers being bottom-dumping hoppers;
• said first hopper being longitudinally next adjacent to said second hopper;
• said hopper car having a hollow tube extending thereacross from said first sidewall to said second sidewall between said first hopper and said second hopper;
• said hopper car having a first gusset extending upwardly of said hollow tube, said first gusset having a first edge connected to said tube, and a second edge connected to said first sidewall, said second edge running upwardly of said hollow tube toward said top chord of said first sidewall, said first gusset and said first sidewall co-operating to resist lateral deflection of said top chord of said first sidewall;
• and
• said hopper car having a second gusset extending upwardly of said hollow tube, said second gusset having a first edge connected to said tube, and a second edge connected to said second sidewall, said second edge running upwardly of said hollow tube toward said top chord of said second sidewall, said second gusset and said second sidewall co-operating to resist lateral deflection of said top chord of said second sidewall.

A railroad hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for travel in a longitudinal direction along railroad tracks, the hopper car having a coupler centerline height, said car body comprising:

• first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls running in the longitudinal direction, said first sidewall having a first top chord and said second sidewall having a second top chord;
• first and second hoppers defined between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said first and second hoppers being bottom-dumping hoppers;
• on opening by which to admit lading to said hopper car, said opening being bounded by said top chords;
• said first hopper being longitudinally next adjacent to said second hopper;
• said first hopper having a first slope sheet on a side of said first hopper closest to said second hopper;
• said second hopper having a second slope sheet on a side of said hopper closest to said first hopper;
• said hopper car having a cross-wise extending fitting extending across said car between said first and second sidewalls;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a first portion defining a stem co-operating with said first sidewall, said first portion terminating adjacent to said first top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a second portion defining a stem co-operating with said second sidewall, said second portion terminating adjacent to said second top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting having a central portion, said first and second portions being connected to said central portion, said central portion having an uppermost edge running between said first and second portions;
• said first and second slope sheets each having a margin mated to said cross-wise extending fitting;
• and
• said first slope sheet margin mated to said cross-wise extending fitting being at a height that is at least half way from the coupler centerline height to said first top chord.

A railroad hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for travel in a longitudinal direction along railroad tracks, the hopper car having a coupler centerline height, said car body comprising:

• first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls running in the longitudinal direction, said first sidewall having a first top chord and said second sidewall having a second top chord;
• first and second hoppers defined between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said first and second hoppers being bottom-dumping hoppers;
• said first hopper being longitudinally next adjacent to said second hopper;
• said first hopper having a first slope sheet on a side of said first hopper closest to said second hopper;
• said second hopper having a second slope sheet on a side of said hopper closest to said first hopper;
• said hopper car having a cross-wise extending fitting extending across said car between said first and second sidewalls;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a first portion defining a stem co-operating with said first sidewall, said first portion terminating adjacent to said first top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a second portion defining a stem co-operating with said second sidewall, said second portion terminating adjacent to said second top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting having a central portion, said first and second portions being connected to said central portion, said central portion having an uppermost edge running between said first and second portions;
• said first and second slope sheets each having a margin mated to said cross-wise extending fitting;
• said first slope sheet having a lineal run;
• and
• said central portion of said cross-wise extending fitting having a vertical depth that is less than 20% of said lineal run of said first slope sheet.

A railroad hopper car having a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for travel in a longitudinal direction along railroad tracks, the hopper car having a coupler centerline height, said car body comprising:

• first and second sidewalls, said sidewalls running in the longitudinal direction, said first sidewall having a first top chord and said second sidewall having a second top chord;
• first and second hoppers defined between said first sidewall and said second sidewall, said first and second hoppers being bottom-dumping hoppers;
• said first hopper being longitudinally next adjacent to said second hopper;
• said first hopper having a first slope sheet on a side of said first hopper closest to said second hopper;
• said second hopper having a second slope sheet on a side of said hopper closest to said first hopper;
• said hopper car having a cross-wise extending fitting extending across said car between said first and second sidewalls;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a first portion defining a stem co-operating with said first sidewall, said first portion terminating adjacent to said first top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting including a second portion defining a stem co-operating with said second sidewall, said second portion terminating adjacent to said second top chord;
• said cross-wise extending fitting having a central portion, said first and second portions being connected to said central portion, said central portion having an uppermost edge running between said first and second portions;
• said first and second slope sheets each having a margin mated to said cross-wise extending fitting;
• and
• said railroad hopper car conforming to any one of the following:
• (a) said central portion of cross-wise extending fitting having a vertical depth that is less than 1 ft.;
• (b) said railroad hopper car has a center sill, and said central portion of said cross-wise extending fitting is less than half as deep as said center sill;
• and
• (c) said hopper car has a cross-wise extending hollow tube beneath said central portion of said cross-wise extending fitting, said hollow tube extending from sidewall to sidewall, said cross-wise extending fitting having vertical depth that is less than deep than is said hollow tube.

A railroad hopper car comprising:

• a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction along railroad car tracks;
• said hopper car body including a first and second sidewalls, said first and second sidewalls running longitudinally and having respective first and second top chords running therealong;
• said hopper car body having at least a first hopper and a second hopper defined between said first and second sidewalls, said first hopper being next adjacent to said second hopper in said longitudinal direction;
• said first hopper has a first slope sheet, and said second hopper has a second slope sheet, said first and second slope sheets extending across said car between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first and second slope sheets being angled upwardly toward each other;
• a structure mounted intermediate said first and second hoppers, said structure including a first part, a second part, and a third part;
• said first part defining a first gusset securing said structure to said first sidewall;
• said second part defining a second gusset securing said structure to said second sidewall;
• said third part extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first slope sheet having an upper margin mated to said third part;
• said second slope sheet having an upper margin mated to said third part;
• and
• said first and second parts extending upwardly of said respective upper margins of said first and second slope sheets;
• said first part forms a T-stem with said first sidewall, said second part forms a T-stem with said second sidewall, and
• said structure resists lateral deflection of said first and second top chords.

A railroad hopper car having a hopper car body carried on rail road car trucks for rolling motion in a lengthwise direction, said railroad hopper car comprising:

• first and second lengthwise running sidewalls and first and second hoppers defined between said sidewalls;
• said first sidewall having a first top chord and said second sidewalls having a second top chord;
• the first hopper being lengthwise next adjacent to the second hopper;
• the first hopper including a first slope sheet;
• the second hopper including a second slope sheet;
• each of the first and second slope sheets having a respective upper margin running crosswise between the sidewalls of the hopper car;
• the first and second slope sheets being inclined upwardly toward each other;
• a structure extending cross-wise between, and being mated to, said first and second sidewalls;
• said respective upper margins of said first slope sheet and said second slope sheet being mated to said structure;
• said structure including a first part, a second part, and a third part, said first and second parts being joined together;
• said third part extending cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said third part having an uppermost edge, said uppermost edge being located upwardly of said upper margins of said first and second slope sheets;
• said first part of said structure having an uppermost part located adjacent to said first top chord, said first part having a first edge joined to said first sidewall, and a second edge extending away from said first sidewall downwardly and inboard thereof toward said third part;
• said second part of said structure having an uppermost part located adjacent to said second top chord, said second part having a first edge joined to said second sidewall, and a second edge extending away from said second sidewall downwardly and inboard thereof toward said third part;
• and
• said structure being operable to resist lateral deflection of said top chords.

A railroad hopper car comprising:

• a hopper car body carried on railroad car trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction along railroad car tracks;
• said hopper car body including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls running lengthwise, said first and second sidewalls having an upper margin and a first and second top chord thereat respectively;
• said hopper car body having at least a first hopper and a second hopper defined between said first and second sidewalls, said first hopper being next adjacent to said second hopper in said longitudinal direction;
• said first hopper has a first slope sheet, and said second hopper has a second slope sheet, said first and second slope sheets extending across said car between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first and second slope sheets being angled upwardly toward each other;
• a structure mounted intermediate said first and second hoppers, said structure including a first part, a second part, and a third part;
• said first part defining a first gusset securing said structure to said first sidewall;
• said second part defining a second gusset securing said structure to said second sidewall;
• said third part being oriented cross-wise between said first and second sidewalls;
• said first slope sheet having an upper margin mated to said third part;
• said second slope sheet having an upper margin mated to said third part;
• and
• said first and second parts extending upwardly of said upper margins of said first and second slope sheets and defining respective first and second T-stems with said first and second sidewalls, said T-stems ending adjacent to said top chords, respectively, said structure resisting lateral deflection of said top chords.

A rail road hopper car body, comprising:

• a pair of opposed cross-wise running first and second end walls;
• a pair of opposed lengthwise running first and second sidewalls mounted between said end walls, each of said sidewalls having an upper margin, and first and second top chords running along said upper margin respectively;
• a plurality of slope sheets extending between said sidewalls, said plurality of slope sheets including a first slope sheet and a second slope sheet, said first slope sheet being a slope sheet of a first hopper, and said second slope sheet being a slope sheet of a second hopper, said second hopper being next lengthwise adjacent to said first hopper;
• said first and second slope sheets of said first and second hoppers sloping upward toward each other;
• said first and second slope sheets of said first and second adjacent hoppers each having a respective upper margin;
• a ridge member mounted cross-wise between said sidewalls, said upper margins of said first and second slope sheets mating with said ridge member;
• said ridge member having first and second end portions and a central portion extending between said first and second end portions;
• said first and second end portions being attached to said first and second sidewalls respectively to form T-stems;
• said ridge member having the function of a spring to resist lateral deflection of said top chords;
• and
• said first and second end portions each having an upper margin inclining upwardly outboard from said central portion to the first and second sidewalls respectively.

A rail road hopper car body, comprising:

• a pair of opposed cross-wise running first and second end walls;
• a pair of opposed lengthwise running first and second sidewalls mounted between said end walls, said first and second sidewalls having respective first and second top chords running therealong;
• a plurality of slope sheets extending between said sidewalls, said plurality of slope sheets including a first slope sheet and a second slope sheet, said first slope sheet being a slope sheet of a first hopper, and said second slope sheet being a slope sheet of a second hopper, said second hopper being next lengthwise adjacent to said first hopper;
• said first and second slope sheets of said first and second hoppers sloping upward toward each other;
• said first and second slope sheets of said first and second adjacent hoppers each having a respective upper margin;
• a ridge member mounted cross-wise between said sidewalls, said upper margins of said first and second slope sheets mating with said ridge member;
• said ridge member having first and second end portions and a central portion extending between said first and second end portions;
• said first and second end portions being attached to said first and second sidewalls respectively;
• said first and second end portions are each substantially triangular in shape and include an upper margin that inclines upwardly outboard from said central portion toward the respective one of said first and second sidewalls to which that end portion is mated;
• and each of said first and second end portions has an outboard margin that mates with, and extends vertically upwardly against, a respective one of said sidewalls toward a respective one of said first and second to chords, said ridge member functioning to resist lateral deflection of said top chords.