US 8,973,508 B2 · Freight car with lifting location and method

Abstract

A railroad freight car has lifting apparatus at the body bolsters of the car. In addition it has lifting interface members mounted to underlie the side sills near the wheel-well cut-outs of the side beams. The lifting interface members stand downwardly proud of adjacent structure and fasteners heads, such that when lifting apparatus, such as a hydraulic lift, is brought to bear it contacts the lifting interface member first, rather than damaging adjacent structure, be it the side sills themselves, lateral cross-members such as cross-bearers and cross-ties, or diagonal struts. It may also tend to prevent consequent damage to the end bulkheads. The lifting interface members may permit the replacement of wheelsets in the field. The lifting members may be sacrificial, such that they may be replaced when worn or damaged.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A railroad freight car having:

first and second side sills;
a truck center, and a truck clearance envelope,
each of said first and second side sills having a first end nearest to said truck clearance envelope;
a first cross-member running between said first and second side sills nearer to said truck center than is any other cross-member;
each of said first and second side sills having a first end nearest to said truck center;
a lifting interface member mounted to said first end of said first side sill inboard of said first truck center of said freight car;
and
said lifting interface member being located between said first end of said first side sill and said first cross-member.

5 more elements

A railroad well car body unit comprising:

first and second end sections;
first and second side beams;
said first and second side beams being spaced apart cross-wise, and extending lengthwise between said first and second end sections whereby a well is defined between said first and second side beams and said first and second end sections;
said first end section having a truck center at which to mount a first railroad freight car truck;
said first side beam having a first side sill;
said first side sill having a first end adjacent to said first end section, and a second end distant from said first end section;
and
at least a portion of said first end of said first side sill having a lifting interface member mounted thereto;
said first side sill has a first leg and a second leg;
said first leg extending predominantly upwardly;
and
said second leg extending predominantly laterally inwardly from a lowermost portions of said first leg;
said well car body unit has at least a first cross-member and a second cross-member;
said first cross-member extends between said first side beam and said second side beam and has first and second ends that mount upon respective second legs of respective side sills of said first and second side beams;
beam and has first and second ends that mount upon said second cross-member extends between said first side beam and said second side respective second legs of respective side sills of said first and second side beams;
said first cross-member defines a first seat for an end of a shipping container;
said second cross-member defines a second seat for an end of a shipping container;
said first cross-member is located closer to said first end section than is said second cross-member;
and
said lifting interface member undergirds said first side sill and extends lengthwise relative thereto, said lifting interface member being located between said first end of said side sill and said first cross-member.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Freight car with lifting location and method

Life of this patent

Freight car with lifting location and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32