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. 11, 2006
Filed:
May. 09, 2003
Mohamed A. Khattab, Burlington, CA;
David J. Keats, Brantford, CA;
Mohamed A. Khattab, Burlington, CA;
David J. Keats, Brantford, CA;
National Steel Car Limited, , CA;
Abstract
A center beam rail road car has a center sill that runs along the car from end to end. The center sill is dog-legged, having end portions mounted over rail car trucks, and a downwardly stepped central portion between the trucks. A central beam assembly stands upwardly of the center sill. A lading supporting deck structure extends laterally to either side of the center sill. The deck structure has a depressed medial portion between the trucks, and raised end portions over the trucks. The deck portions have lading bearing interfaces. The medial portion of the center sill has a top flange that is carried at a height that lies flush with, or below, the level of the lading bearing interface of the medial portion of the center sill. In one embodiment, a column member for carrying buff and draft loads is spaced upwardly from the medial portion of the center sill. The car may be constructed in a version having a top truss, or having a top chord member that lies within the profile of vertical posts of the central beam assembly. In embodiments having a narrow top chord, the car may be provided with a top chord cover.