Railroad hopper car underframe transition casting

Abstract

A railroad hopper car for carrying loads of commodities comprises spaced trucks and a car body supported on the spaced trucks. The car body includes an underframe having a center sill, with discharge openings, the center sill in the area of the discharge openings toward the loaded commodities having surfaces sloped toward the discharge openings. The underframe has members connecting the car body to the spaced trucks. These members have shapes distinct from the shape of the center sill. The car body further includes transition members between the center sill and underframe members connecting the car body to the spaced trucks. The transition members along the center sill are sized and shaped to fit with the center sill, and the transition members along the underframe members are sized and shaped to fit with the underframe members. The transition members transition between the center sill and underframe members, allowing the center sill to have sloped surfaces while the underframe members have other shapes. The described structure has the advantages, among others, of eliminating bulky structures, such as center sill hoods, to provide sloped surfaces to center sills, and eliminating flat topped sills. Loaded commodities in increased volumes and weights discharge past sloped upper surfaces of center sills, combining the best of the eliminated structures and flat topped center sills without added structures.