Gunderson, Inc.

Oregon State University

Bruce D Becker

Gregory J Saxton

Deborah V Pence

An air flow conduit () and a related plenum () for distributing conditioned air from a refrigeration and heating unit () on an end () of a railroad freight car () into a cargo space () within the car (). A deflector directs a flow of air upward into an inlet end of the plenum () and allows the flow to expand gradually within the plenum, smoothing the flow of air within the plenum so that it continues effectively at sufficient rates over the length of the car ().

Air flow direction in a temperature controlled railroad freight car

A floor plate assembly for a railway freight car structure. The assembly includes a floor plate and set of floor plate support assemblies, each having a base and at least one side wall. The side wall has an outer margin that in some embodiments is welded to the floor plate. A reinforcing bar is welded to the base and has a margin which is located closely adjacent to the floor plate and which is welded to the floor plate in some embodiments. In some embodiments the floor plate support assemblies each have two side walls and the reinforcing bar is welded to the base between the side walls. The floor plate support assemblies may be formed away from the railway freight car that is under construction by using a jig to facilitate welding the reinforcing bar to the base. The floor plate assembly may also be assembled separately and then may be efficiently welded to the members of the freight car underframe. A floor plate assembly may include a channel, that includes a flange projecting horizontally from one side wall, to join together neighboring floor plate assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Bruce D Becker