Patent ID: 6237506
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: B61D,Y02T

Abstract:
A center beam rail road car having a longitudinal centerline, the railroad car being supported by rail car trucks at either end thereof, said railroad car comprising:a cargo support structure borne between the trucks, upon which cargo can be carried;a web work assembly including an array of posts mounted along the longitudinal centerline of the rail road car, said array extending upwardly of said cargo support structure;an upper beam assembly surmounting said web work assembly, said upper beam assembly having cantilevered wings extending laterally of said longitudinal centerline;said railroad car having a load limit height defined at a level measured upwardly from said cargo support structure, and having a nominal load height that is less than said load limit height;said nominal load height being at least as great as 32 inches multiplied by Q, where Q is the integer quotient obtained by dividing the load limit height by 32 inches;said web work assembly having at least one skirt member mounted thereto to define a longitudinally extending face against which loads placed laterally outward thereof can bear;said skirt member extends from a first height that is at least as high as said nominal load height to a second height that is at least six inches below said nominal load height; andreinforcements mounted laterally inward of said skirt member to discourage lateral deflection of said skirt member under loads bearing laterally against said longitudinally extending face.