Acf Industries, Incorporated

John W Coulborn

John A Krug

Richard H Dugge

George S Creighton

Andrew Brown

Philip A Balbi

End segment of a railway car

A hatch cover assembly (1) for a railway car (C). A hatch cover (7) is hingedly mounted to a roof (R) of the car for pivotal movement of the cover to open and close a hatch. The axis about which hinging movement occurs is perpendicular to the center line (CL) of the car. A locking strap (31) is rotationally mounted to the cover for movement between a cover locking position and a cover unlocking position. The longitudinal axis of the strap when the cover is in its locking position is also perpendicular to the center line of the car. A latch mechanism (61) adjacent the cover latches the strap in its cover locking position to prevent movement of the strap.

Hatch arrangement for covered hopper cars

An end structure for a railway car, and more particularly a covered hopper railway car, is disclosed which has side sill extensions extending diagonally inwardly from the ends of the side sills to the center stub sill for transmitting substantially all of the longitudinal, horizontal loads between the center stub sill and the side sills. A generally vertically extending truss is provided between the center stub sill and the end of the car above the center stub sill so as to withstand overturning moments and vertical loads between the end of the car and the center stub sill. The side sill extensions are tapered in heightwise and widthwise relation so as to minimize weight of these members. The truss includes outer vertical members which are curved so as to blend with the side sheets of the car body thereby to optimize load transfer. Inner truss members are of a convenient rectangular cross section so as to facilitate fabrication. The outer truss members incorporate a reinforcing cable hook opening so as to permit lifting of the car in accordance with AAR specifications.

End structure for railway car

An end structure for a railway car, and more particularly a covered hopper railway car, is disclosed which has side sill extensions extending diagonally inwardly from the ends of the side sills to the center stub sill for transmitting substantially all of the longitudinal, horizontal loads between the center stub sill and the side sills. A generally vertically extending truss is provided between the center stub sill and the end of the car above the center stub sill so as to withstand overturning moments and vertical loads between the end of the car and the center stub sill. A connector casting rigidly interconnects the side sills and the side sill extensions. A transition plate is in face-to-face engagement with the side sheets at the outer ends of the side sills so as to facilitate the transfer of load between the side sills and the side sheets. A cutout is provided in the bottom of the side sills at the ends thereof so as to enable interior welds to be made. A high strength steel cover plate closes the output. The connector casting has an integral roping staple.

In a stub sill open top railroad car, such as a gondola or hopper car particularly adapted for coal service, a corner fitting or casting is provided at each end of the car joining the top chord extending along each side of the car with the end chord, the latter extending transversely of the car at the upper ends thereof. The corner casting includes projections which extend into the top and end chords so as to facilitate making an integral (i.e., welded) connection between the chords and an adjacent end diagonal member. In one embodiment, the casting includes a downwardly extending portion which is received within and to which the diagonal is welded, while in another embodiment, a connection plate is utilized to secure the end diagonals to the corner casting.

Growing community of inventors

Harris County, TX, United States of America

John W Coulborn