Trinity Industries, Inc.

Trn Business Trust

Mcconway & Torley, LLC

Trinity Rail Group, LLC

Trinity North American Freight Car, Inc.

George S Creighton

D Bruce Fetterman

Robert J Barry

Robert J Cencer

Aubra D McKisic

Joseph M Sindelar

John C Herzog

Joseph L Gagliardino

P Scott Mautino

Richard G McMillen

Guy W Steeves

Randall W Schudalla

Aubra D Mckisic

Andrew Brown

Robert C Ortner

James R Mitzenberg

Scott P Mautino

Richard G Mcmillen

Peter S Mautino

Erich A Schoedl

Donald E Wilt

Lee A Reitz

Keith A Salis

Caglar Ozerdim

John W Coulborn

Robert J Pokorski

A railcar coupler includes a coupler head portion extending from a shank portion. The coupler head portion is configured to couple to a first coupler knuckle for coupling the railcar coupler to a second railcar coupler of an adjacent railcar. The coupler head portion comprises a nose portion and a gathering face extending from the nose portion for engaging a second coupler knuckle coupled to the second railcar coupler. The coupler head portion comprises a guard arm portion extending from the nose portion towards the shank portion. The coupler head portion comprises a horn portion having a back surface. A distance between the back surface of the horn portion and a nose end of the guard arm portion is less than 11 inches. The coupler head portion comprises a locklifter shelf less than 2 inches above a bottom edge of the coupler.

Railcar coupler system and method

A method of shipping automobiles, railcars for shipping automobiles, and methods of manufacturing railcars for shipping automobiles to enable more efficient shipping of automobiles by facilitating conversion of autorack cars between unilevel, bi-level and tri-level configurations, and/or by providing increased load factors.

Method of converting a tri-level auto-rack railcar to a bi-level auto-rack railcar

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a hopper with a sloped sheet and a discharge door. A first end of the discharge door is coupled to the railcar and pivots the discharge door between closed and open positions. The sloped sheet comprises a discharge end that is in contact with the discharge door when in the closed position. A second end of the discharge door extends beyond the discharge end of the sloped sheet when in the closed position. The discharge door comprises a lip disposed at its second end that extends generally perpendicular to the discharge door and parallel to the sloped sheet when the discharge door is in the closed position. The sloped sheet comprises a gasket coupled to its exterior portion. The lip of the discharge door contacts the gasket when in the closed position.

Hopper car gate seal

Method of converting a bi-level auto-rack railcar

An energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar including a draft assembly provided toward opposed ends of a centersill on the railcar. Each draft assembly includes a coupler and a draft gear assembly disposed in longitudinally disposed and operable relation relative to each other. The coupler is configured to allow at least 4.5 inches of travel in a single longitudinal direction during operation of the coupler. The draft gear assembly of each draft assembly is configured to consistently and repeatedly withstand up to about 110,000 ft-lbs. of energy imparted to the energy absorption/coupling system at a force level not to exceed 900,000 lbs. over a range of travel of a wedge member in an inward axial direction relative to the housing of at least 4.5 inches. With the present invention disclosure, high level impact forces between rail cars can be absorbed and dissipated while maintaining an overall length of the railcar constant and unchanged. A method for releasably coupling two railcars to each other is also disclosed.

Energy absorption/coupling system for a railcar and related method for coupling railcars to each other

In one embodiment, a system includes a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover an opening of a rail car. The system also includes an actuator. A first common linkage is coupled to the actuator and is operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator. In particular embodiments, a first secondary linkage is coupled to the first common linkage and is coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car.

System and method for powered railcar doors

Systems and methods for accumulating air in an auxiliary reservoir of a railroad car are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method may include charging an air brake system. Air pressure in the air brake system may reach a predetermined value. Once this predetermined value is reached, additional or excess air may be bled from the air brake system and the additional or excess air may accumulate in an auxiliary reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir may be adapted to supply air to an auxiliary cylinder or other types of pneumatic components or equipment.

System and method for accumulation of air for pneumatic railroad car systems

Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.

Hopper cars with one or more discharge control systems

A railway car includes a railway car underframe having a first longitudinal side sill and a second longitudinal side sill with at least one sidewall assembly disposed along the first longitudinal side sill of the railway car underframe. The sidewall assembly is formed in part from a side sheet, an interior vertical support post, and an exterior vertical support post. A first end of the interior vertical support post and a first end of the exterior vertical support post are each respectively disposed adjacent to the first longitudinal side sill of the railway car underframe. The exterior vertical support post is coupled to an exterior surface of the side sheet. The interior vertical support post is coupled to an interior surface of the side sheet.

Increased capacity railcar and method

A railcar with discharge control system is disclosed. In one embodiment, a railway car includes an underframe and at least one hopper for transporting lading. The railway car further including the underframe including a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the railway car. A discharge opening formed proximate to a lower portion of the hopper. A respective door assembly pivotally mounted adjacent to the discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the hopper. The door assembly operable for movement between a first, closed position and a second, open position relative to the discharge opening. A discharge control system operable to move the door assembly between the first position and the second position. The discharge control system operably moves generally longitudinally along the axis of the railway car to move the door assemblies between the first, closed position and the second, open position.

Railcar with discharge control system

Growing community of inventors

Double Oak, TX, United States of America

George S Creighton