Patent Publication Number: US-2020298894-A1

Title: Storage Assembly for Railcar

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/821,064 filed Mar. 20, 2019 and titled “STORAGE ASSEMBLY FOR RAILCAR,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNIAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     This disclosure relates generally to a storage assembly on a railcar. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Railcars (e.g. well cars) transport freight and cargo in containers. To increase the number of containers that are carried by a railcar, the containers may be stacked on top of one another on the railcar. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISLCOSURE 
     Railcars (e.g. well cars) transport freight and cargo in containers. To increase the number of containers that are carried by a railcar, the containers may be stacked on top of one another on the railcar. Interbox connectors (IBC) are used to lock and secure two stacked containers to one another. This is called double-stacking. 
     When IBCs are not in use, they are stored in an IBC storage box on the railcar. An IBC storage box is typically positioned between two railcars to make it easier for users to access the IBC storage box. However, in that position, the IBC storage box is also close to the mechanism that couples railcars to each other. As a result, the IBC storage box may be easily damaged or cracked due to the vibration frequency or a direct impact from the railcar coupler during transportation or operation. Furthermore, to satisfy vibration and fatigue requirements, the IBC storage box and structures that secure the IBC storage box to the railcar may be large and/or heavy. As a result, the IBC storage boxes may reduce the amount of weight in freight and cargo that the railcar can carry. 
     Additionally, conventional IBC storage boxes are typically positioned at the level of the railcar. As a result, when the railcar is by a rail platform, the IBC storage boxes are positioned below the level of the platform. If an operator or user on the platform wants to access the IBC storage box, the operator or user may need to lean downwards from the platform or to drop down onto the railcar from the platform, which may result in injury. 
     This disclosure contemplates an IBC storage box assembly that is elevated from the railcar. A vertical beam is used to elevate the storage box off the railcar so that the storage box is more easily accessed from a rail platform. Additionally, the vertical beam may provide some clearance for the storage box so that the storage box is not impacted by the railcar coupler during transport. Certain embodiments of the storage box assembly are described below. 
     According to an embodiment, a railcar includes an articulated end and a first storage assembly. The articulated end couples the railcar to another railcar. The first storage assembly is coupled to the articulated end. The first storage assembly includes a first vertical beam and a first storage box. The first vertical beam is coupled directly to the articulated end. The first vertical beam extends vertically upwards from the articulated end. The first vertical beam extends vertically higher than the articulated end. The first storage box is coupled to the first vertical beam such that the first storage box is positioned above the articulated end and such that the first storage box extends from the first vertical beam away from the articulated end. The first storage box stores an interbox connector. 
     According to another embodiment, an articulated end, a first storage assembly, and a second storage assembly. The articulated end couples the railcar to another railcar. The first storage assembly is coupled to the articulated end. The first storage assembly includes a first vertical beam and a first storage box. The first vertical beam is coupled directly to the articulated end. The first vertical beam extends vertically upwards from the articulated end. The first vertical beam extends vertically higher than the articulated end. The first storage box is coupled to the first vertical beam such that the first storage box is positioned above the articulated end and such that the first storage box extends from the first vertical beam away from the articulated end. The first storage box stores an interbox connector. The second storage assembly is coupled to the articulated end. The second storage assembly includes a second vertical beam and a second storage box. The second vertical beam is coupled directly to the articulated end. The second vertical beam extends vertically upwards from the articulated end. The second vertical beam extends vertically higher than the articulated end. The second storage box is coupled to the second vertical beam such that the second storage box is positioned above the articulated end and such that the second storage box extends from the second vertical beam away from the articulated end. The second storage box stores an interbox connector. 
     Certain embodiments disclosed herein may contain or embody one or more technical advantages. As an example, certain embodiments may improve the durability of the IBC storage assembly and lessen the weight and the complexity of the IBC storage assembly. Particular embodiments may provide various heights of the IBC storage assembly to fit a user&#39;s needs. In addition, particular embodiments may provide more storage space for an IBC at a lower cost. 
     In particular embodiments, the vertical element of the IBC storage assembly may be an upward or downward shaft away from an operation platform of a car to lessen the vibration from the operation. Furthermore, the height of the vertical element may be adjustable to satisfy the user&#39;s need and/or the vibration and fatigue requirements. Particular embodiments may strengthen the structure of the IBC storage assembly with a minimum of weight by adding a reinforcement which connects the storage box and the vertical element. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure are apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description of the disclosure and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts. 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates an example railcar; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates an example interbox connector (IBC); 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate conventional IBC storage boxes in a railcar; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an example IBC storage assembly in a railcar, in accordance with certain embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of an example IBC storage assembly in a railcar, in accordance with certain embodiments; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an example IBC storage assembly between two cars, in accordance with certain embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of another example IBC storage assembly between two cars, in accordance with certain embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of an example IBC storage assembly at a coupler end of a car, in accordance with certain embodiments; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate a perspective view and a top view of another example IBC storage assembly between two cars, in accordance with certain embodiments; and 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of an example IBC storage assembly with an adjustable element, in accordance with certain embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain embodiments of the present disclosure and inventive concepts, and their features and advantages, may be understood by referring to  FIGS. 1A to 9 , like numerals being used for corresponding parts in the various drawings. 
     Railcars (e.g. well cars) transport freight and cargo in containers. To increase the number of containers that are carried by a railcar, the containers may be stacked on top of one another on the railcar. Interbox connectors (IBC) are used to lock and secure two stacked containers to one another. This is called double-stacking. 
     When IBCs are not in use, they are stored in an IBC storage box on the railcar. An IBC storage box is typically positioned between two railcars to make it easier for users to access the IBC storage box. However, in that position, the IBC storage box is also close to the mechanism that couples railcars to each other. As a result, the IBC storage box may be easily damaged or cracked due to the vibration frequency or a direct impact from the railcar coupler during transportation or operation. Furthermore, to satisfy vibration and fatigue requirements, the IBC storage box and structures that secure the IBC storage box to the railcar may be large and/or heavy. As a result, the IBC storage boxes may reduce the amount of weight in freight and cargo that the railcar can carry. 
     Additionally, conventional IBC storage boxes are typically positioned at the level of the railcar. As a result, when the railcar is by a rail platform, the IBC storage boxes are positioned below the level of the platform. If an operator or user on the platform wants to access the IBC storage box, the operator or user may need to lean downwards from the platform or to drop down onto the railcar from the platform, which may result in injury. 
     This disclosure contemplates an IBC storage box assembly that is elevated from the railcar. A vertical beam is used to elevate the storage box off the railcar so that the storage box is more easily accessed from a rail platform. Additionally, the vertical beam may provide some clearance for the storage box so that the storage box is not impacted by the railcar coupler during transport. Particular embodiments include an interbox connector (IBC) storage assembly used in a railcar. The IBC storage assembly includes a storage box and a vertical element. The vertical element keeps the storage box away from an operation platform of the railcar and other car elements such that the storage box is protected from the interference during transportation and is more accessible to a user. Furthermore, the storage box is configured to store at least two IBCs. As a result, the IBC storage assembly provides more storage room with less weight and cost. The IBC storage box assembly will be described in more detail using  FIGS. 1A-9 .  FIGS. 1A and 1B  describe a railcar and an IBC connector.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  describe a conventional IBC storage box.  FIGS. 3-9  describe embodiments of the improved IBC storage box assembly. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an example railcar  100 . In certain embodiments, railcar  100  is a well car that includes a well used to carry freight. Freight (e.g. shipping containers) is loaded into the well car, which transports the freight on rails to the destination. Well car  100  includes side assemblies  105  that form boundaries for the well of well car  100 . Side assemblies  105  include a section called a top chord  110 . As seen in  FIG. 1A , top chord  110  for well car  100  includes a section that runs across the length of well car  100 . 
     Shipping containers are loaded onto railcar  100  for transport. To increase the number of containers that railcar  100  holds, the containers may be stacked on top of one another. Interbox connectors (IBCs) are used to secure the containers (e.g., an upper container and a lower container) to each other when they are stacked on one another.  FIG. 1B  illustrates an example IBC  120  used in double-stacking containers. The IBC  120  includes an upper lock  122 , a hollow body  124 , a lower lock  126 , a shaft  128 , and a side handle  130 . The upper lock  122  engages with an upper container, and the lower lock  106  engages a lower container. The upper lock  102  is coupled to the lower lock  106  via the shaft  108 , which is rotatably disposed through the hollow body  104 . The side handle  110  is coupled to the shaft  108  in the hollow body  104  and allows a user to lock/unlock the upper lock  102  and the lower lock  106  of the IBC  100 . When locked, an upper container engaged with the upper lock  122  and a lower container engaged with the lower lock  126  are secured to IBC  120 . As a result, the upper container and lower container do not separate from IBC  120  during transport. At least four IBCs  120  are used to fix two stacking containers together. For example, one IBC  120  may be used to secure each corner of a rectangular shipping container. While the IBC  120  is not in use, such as when unloading or unstacking the containers, the IBC  120  is stored in an IBC storage box. Conventionally, one IBC storage box stores one IBC  120 . Thus, at least four IBC storage boxes are conventionally present for each railcar  100 . 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate two conventional IBC storage boxes  210  used in a railcar. In  FIG. 2A , IBC storage boxes  210  are installed at an articulated end of an intermediate well  200 A of the railcar. Each articulated end of the intermediate well  200 A includes two IBC storage boxes  210 . Therefore, the intermediate well  200 A includes four IBC storage boxes in total because the intermediate well  200 A has two articulated ends. When the railcar is coupled to another railcar, two IBC boxes  210  from two separated intermediate wells  200 A are positioned opposite to each other. During transportation, due to a narrow space between the two intermediate wells  200 A, the IBC boxes  210  may easily interfere with adjacent car components, in particular, when the railcar is in a curve on the rail, which may result in damage to IBC boxes  210  or the railcar. Furthermore, the IBC boxes  210  may be impacted by other car components, which may damage IBC boxes  210  or the railcar. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates an IBC storage box  220  used in an end well  200 B of a railcar. The end well  200 B has a coupler end and an articulated end. The articulated end may couple with the articulated end of the intermediate well  200 A, and the coupler end may couple with a locomotive or any suitable power vehicle. The IBC storage box  220  is installed at the coupler end of the end well  200 B. Therefore, the IBC storage box  200  may also be interfered with by any components coupled at the coupler end of the end well  200 B, which may result in damage to the IBC box  220  or to the railcar. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example well car  300  having example IBC storage assemblies  360  and  370 , in accordance with certain embodiments. The well car  300  includes at least one intermediate well  310  and an end well  320 . Both the intermediate well  310  and the end well  320  may carry International Organization for Standardization (ISO) containers. ISO containers come in lengths of 20 ft., 40 ft., and 53 ft., etc. These containers are placed inside the intermediate well  310  and the end well  320  for transport. For example, a first container  330  is placed inside the end well  320 , and a second container  340  is placed on top of the first container  330 . The first container  330  and the second container  340  are secured and locked with each other via four IBCs  120  (e.g., an IBC  120  to secure each corner of containers  330  and  340  to each other). Likewise, the intermediate well  310  may carry double-stacking containers via the similar operations. 
     The intermediate well  310  has two articulated ends  312 . The articulated end  312  is disposed with an articulated connector, which allows the intermediate well  310  to be coupled to another intermediate well  310  or the end well  320 . In some embodiments, an IBC storage assembly  370  is installed at one articulated end  312  or both the articulated ends  312  of the intermediate well  310 . In certain embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  370  is disposed upward or downward from an operation platform of the intermediate well  310 . The end well  320  may have a coupler end  322  and an articulated end  324 . The articulated end  324  of the end well  320  is configured to be coupled to the articulated end  312  of the intermediate well  310  via the articulated connector. The coupler end  324  of the end well  320  includes a standard coupler arrangement which allows the end well  320  to be coupled to any appropriate power vehicles, motors, locomotives, and the like. In some embodiments, an IBC storage assembly  360  is installed at the coupler end  322 . In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  370  is installed at the articulated end  324  of the end well  320 . In certain embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  370  is disposed upward or downward from the operation platform of the end well  320 . In certain embodiments, the IBC storage assemblies  360  and  370  are installed in any type of railcar which is suitable to carry double-stacking containers using the IBCs  120 . In some embodiments, the IBC storage assemblies  360  and  370  are disposed in any part of a well car  300  to provide various storages in different heights. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates example IBC storage assemblies  360  and  370  disposed in the end well  320  of the well car  300 , in accordance with certain embodiments. The end well  320  includes an IBC storage assembly  360  disposed at the coupler end  322  and another IBC storage assembly  370  disposed at the articulated end  324 . In some embodiments, the IBC assembly  370  includes a storage box  372  and a vertical element  374 . The vertical element  374  has two ends, in which one end attaches to the articulated end  324  of the end well  320  and is extended upward or downward from an operation platform of the end well  320 , while the other end of the vertical element  374  is coupled to the storage box  372  to hold the storage box  372  away from the operation platform of the end well  320 . The storage box  372  may store at least two IBCs  120 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates two example IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B installed at the articulated end  312  of the intermediate well  310 , in accordance with certain embodiments. The IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B each include a storage box  510 A or  510 B and a vertical element  520 A or  520 B. The vertical elements  520 A and  520 B each have two ends. One end is connected to the articulated end  312  of the intermediate well  310  and is extended upward from an operation platform  314  of the intermediate well  310 , and the other end of the vertical elements  520 A and  520 B is coupled to the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B to hold the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B away from an operation platform  314  of the intermediate well  310  (e.g., the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B extend from the vertical elements  520 A and  520 B away from the articulated end  312 ). In some embodiments, the vertical elements  520 A and  520 B are beams formed of a lightweight alloy, a plastic, a metal (e.g. steel), a composite (e.g. fiberglass), or any other suitable material as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon viewing this disclosure. The two IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B may be separated from each other by an appropriate distance. 
     The storage boxes  510 A and  510 B are designed to store IBCs  120 . In some embodiments, the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B are designed to store at least two IBCs  120 . In some embodiments, the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B are extended outward from the intermediate well  310 , such that the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B stay away from the container placed inside the intermediate well  310  to avoid interfering with or impacting the container. In some embodiments, the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B include separations  532 A and  532 B to create several compartments, one for each IBC  120 . The IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B may further include reinforcements  530 A and  530 B, which improve the durability of the IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B. In some embodiments, the reinforcements  530 A and  530 B are supports that connect an outward end of the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B and a body of the vertical elements  520 A and  520 B to strengthen the structure of the IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B. In some embodiments, the IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B include a hand rail or a hand hold coupled to the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B, such that a user may secure his/her safety when reaching towards the IBC  120  in the storage boxes  510 A and  510 B. In some embodiments, the intermediate well  310  includes two IBC storage assemblies  500 A and  500 B to store four IBCs  120  in total. In some embodiments, the intermediate well  310  includes one IBC storage assembly  500  that includes two or more storage boxes  510  for storing a sufficient number of IBCs  120  for two adjacent intermediate wells  310 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates additional example IBC storage assemblies  600 A and  600 B installed at the intermediate well  310  and the end well  320 , in accordance with certain embodiments. Storage assembly  600 A is coupled to intermediate well  310  and storage assembly  600 B is coupled to end well  320 . The IBC storage assembly  600 A includes a storage box  610 A and a vertical element  620 A. The vertical element  620 A has two ends. One end is connected to the articulated end  312  of the intermediate well  310  and is extended upward from the operation platform  314  of the intermediate well  310 , and the other end of the vertical element  620 A is coupled to the storage box  610 A to hold the storage box  610 A away from the operation platform  314  of the intermediate well  310 . The storage box  610 A is extended outward from the intermediate well  310  and toward the end well  320 , such that the storage box  610 A may stay away from the container placed inside the intermediate well  310  and yet still be far away enough from the container placed in the end well  320 . 
     The IBC storage assembly  600 B includes a storage box  610 B and a vertical element  620 B. The vertical element  620 B has two ends. One end is connected to the articulated end  324  of the end well  320  and is extended upward from an operation platform  326  of the end well  320 , and the other end of the vertical element  620 B is coupled to the storage box  610 B to hold the storage box  610 B away from the operation platform  326  of the end well  320 . The storage box  610 B is extended outward from the end well  320  and toward the intermediate well  310 , such that the storage box  610 B may stay away from the container placed inside the end well  320  and yet still be far away enough from the container placed in the intermediate well  310 . In certain embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  600 A at the intermediate well  310  is separated from the IBC storage assembly  600 B at the end well  320  parallelly by an appropriate distance, such that outward ends of the storage boxes  610 A and  610 B do not impact or interfere with each other. In some embodiments, the storage boxes  610 A and  610 B include a separation  632 A and  632 B to create several compartments for each IBC  120 . The IBC storage assemblies  600 A and  600 B may further include reinforcements  630 A and  630 B. The reinforcements  630 A and  630 B connect the outward end of the storage boxes  600 A and  600 B and a body of the vertical elements  620 A and  620 B, such that the reinforcements  630 A and  630 B improve the durability of the IBC storage assemblies  600 A and  600 B. In some embodiments, the IBC storage assemblies  600 A and  600 B include a hand rail or a hand hold coupled to the storage boxes  610 A and  610 B, such that a user may secure his/her safety when reaching toward the IBC  120  in the storage boxes  610 A and  610 B. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another example IBC storage assembly  700  installed at the coupler end  322  of the end well  320 , in accordance with certain embodiments. The IBC storage assembly  700  includes a storage box  710  and two vertical elements  720 A and  720 B. The storage box  710  has two ends and each end is supported by the vertical elements  720 A and  720 B. Each vertical element  720 A and  720 B has two ends. One end is connected to the coupler end  322  of the end well  320  and is extended upward from the operation platform  326  of the end well  310 , and the other end is coupled to the storage box  710  to hold the storage box  710  away from the operation platform  326  of the end well  320 . As seen in  FIG. 7 , storage box  710  is positioned between the vertical elements  720 A and  720 B In some embodiments, the storage box  710  is positioned away from the container placed in end well  320  and the operation platform  326  of the end well  320 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate another example IBC storage assembly  800  installed at the intermediate well  310 , in accordance with certain embodiments. In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  800  may be installed at the end well  320 . In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  800  includes a storage box  810  and a vertical element  820 . The vertical element  820  has two ends. One end is connected to the intermediate well  310 , and the other end of the vertical element  820  is coupled to the storage box  810  to hold the storage box  810 . The storage box  810  may be configured to store at least four IBCs (or any other suitable tools or elements for a railcar). For example, the storage box  810  may include separators  832 A and  832 B that divide the storage box  810  into four compartments that can hold an IBC  120 . In certain embodiments, two or more storage assemblies  800  are installed at intermediate well  310  and/or end well  320 , as described using previous figures. 
     In some embodiments, the storage box  810  includes two or more storage compartments. In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  800  includes a reinforcement  830  which is coupled to an outward end of the storage box  810  and a body of the vertical element  820  to strengthen the structure of the IBC storage assembly  800 . In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  800  includes a hand rail  840  coupled to the storage box  810  and/or the vertical element  820 , such that a user may secure his/her safety when reaching towards the IBCs  120  in the storage box  810 . This hand rail  840  may be similarly installed in the examples shown in  FIGS. 3-7 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates yet another example IBC storage assembly  900  installed at the intermediate well  310 , in accordance with certain embodiments. The IBC storage assembly  900  includes a storage box  910  and a vertical element  920 . The vertical element  920  has two ends which are a coupling end  922  and an open end  924 . The coupling end  922  of the vertical element is connected to the intermediate well  310 , and the open end  924  of the vertical element  920  is coupled to the storage box  910  to hold the storage box  910  away from the intermediate well  310 . The storage box  910  may store at least two IBCs  120  (or any other suitable tools or elements for a railcar). In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  900  is installed at the end well  320 . In some embodiments, the IBC storage assembly  900  includes an adjustable element  950 , such that the adjustable element  950  may mount the storage box  910  along the vertical element  920  to position the storage box  910  at various heights. In some embodiments, the storage box  910  is mounted to the vertical element  920  at a first height  926  using the adjustable element  950 . In some embodiments, the storage box  910  is mounted to the open end  924  of the vertical element  920  at a second height  928  using the adjustable element  950 . For example, the vertical element  920  may include multiple through-holes along its body, some through-holes being positioned higher than other through-holes. The adjustable element  950  may be a fixation set, such as a bolt and a nut, which may mount the storage box  910  via any one of the through-holes of the vertical element  920  based on the user&#39;s need. In some embodiments, the adjustable element  950  may be a sliding track system installed along the vertical element  920  to position the storage box  910  at various heights. 
     Particular embodiments of the present disclosure may provide numerous technical advantages. For example, particular embodiments may improve the durability of the IBC storage box and the storage for IBC with less weight and complexity. In addition, particular embodiments may provide an accessible height of a storage for a user which further avoids interference to adjacent car elements and facilitates the operations in a railcar. 
     Although particular embodiments and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alternations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Particular embodiments of the present disclosure described herein may be used or mounted for a railroad car, a semi-trailer, a truck or any other transportations.