The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
May. 10, 1999
Mell R. Thoman, Carrollton, TX (US);
Stephen W. Smith, Dallas, TX (US);
TRN Business Trust, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A composite box structure is formed from individually manufactured components such as a pair of endwalls, a pair of sidewalls, a floor and a roof. One or more components preferably include a core encapsulated in multiple layers of fiber reinforced plastic. The core may be formed from various materials which provide improved resistance to heat transfer between the interior and the exterior of the composite box structure. The composite box structure may include one or more components manufactured at least in part from steel alloys, aluminum alloys, wood and/or other materials associated with conventional railway boxcars. An opening is provided in each sidewall to allow access to the interior of the composite box structure. An opening may be formed in one of the endwalls of the composite box structure to allow installation of a temperature control system. An airflow management system may also be incorporated into selected interior portions of the roof, sidewalls, endwalls, and floor. The individual components may be mounted on a railway car underframe and connected with each other to form a box structure for various types of railway cars such as a railway boxcar or a temperature controlled railway car.