Patent Publication Number: US-8534203-B2

Title: Support system for a railcar and method for assembling the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments described herein relate generally to support systems for railcars and, more particularly, to an internal support system for a railway hopper car that allows a loading arm to freely move within the hopper car from hopper compartment to hopper compartment for most of the length of the hopper car. 
     Railroad cars generally have one or more compartments for storing and transporting materials. At least some known railroad cars include roof panels that include one or more access openings or hatch ports. Hatch ports are provided for loading the compartment with product and are usually located at the top of the compartment defined in the roof panel. Hatch ports usually have an elongated elliptical cross-sectional shape and are frequently provided with a collar extending outwardly about the periphery of the hatch port. A hatch cover is provided to close or seal the hatch port. 
     Known railroad cars generally include bulkheads positioned within the railroad car to separate compartments and to provide structural support to an outer shell of the compartment. Hatch ports are positioned between the bulkheads for loading and unloading a respective compartment. With respect to loading at least some known railcars, a worker will insert a loading arm into an open hatch port. Material will be pumped or transported through the loading arm into the hopper compartment. When the corresponding hopper compartment is full, the loading arm is removed an then inserted into the next open hatch port so the next hopper compartment can be filled. With respect to at least some known railroad cars, a worker inserts a probe through the hatch port and into the compartment to facilitate unloading the materials through the bottom of the compartment. The probe is used to breakup the material to get it to flow out the bottom opening. The worker inserts the probe into each compartment separately, which increases the time spent unloading the railroad car. Additionally, as the probe is inserted and removed through each hatch port for unloading, the hatch port, bulkhead, and compartment shell may become damaged as the probe moves about the compartment to unload the materials. A system is needed that facilitates loading and unloading a hopper car. Specifically, an internal support structure is needed to allow a loading arm and unloading probe to move unimpeded from one hopper compartment to another. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, a method of assembling a railway hopper car is provided. The method includes coupling first and second opposing sidewalls extending in a longitudinal direction to first and second opposing end walls extending in a transverse direction to form an upper portion of the hopper car wherein the sidewalls and the end walls include a top edge and a bottom edge, and coupling a plurality of well panels to the upper portion of the hopper car for forming a lower portion of the hopper car. The lower portion includes a plurality of cargo wells. Each of the well panels sloping inwardly from the bottom edge of the upper portion to a selectively openable floor. Each cargo well of the plurality of cargo wells including at least one longitudinal boundary extending in the transverse direction and defined by an intersection of two well panels. The method further includes coupling a roof panel proximate to the top edge of the sidewalls and the end walls wherein the roof panel includes an access opening extending longitudinally over at least a portion of each of the plurality of cargo wells, and coupling a first support assembly to an inner surface of the first sidewall and a second support assembly to an inner surface of the second sidewall proximate to a first longitudinal boundary of the at least one longitudinal boundary, each support assembly extending between the roof panel and the bottom edge of the sidewalls, wherein the first support assembly is separate from the second support assembly. 
     In another aspect, a support system for a railway hopper car is provided. The railway hopper car includes an upper portion, a lower portion coupled to the upper portion, and a roof panel coupled to a top section of the upper portion. The upper portion includes a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall extending in the longitudinal direction. The first and second sidewalls are coupled between a first end wall and an opposing second end wall wherein the first and second end walls extend in the transverse direction. The lower portion includes a plurality of cargo wells including a plurality of inwardly sloping well panels, each cargo well of the plurality of cargo wells including at least one longitudinal boundary extending in the transverse direction and defined by the intersection of two well panels. The roof panel includes an access opening extending longitudinally over at least a portion of each of the plurality of cargo wells. The support system includes a first support assembly coupled to an inner surface of the first sidewall of the hopper car, and a second support assembly coupled opposite said first support assembly to an inner surface of the second sidewall of the hopper car, wherein the first support assembly and the second support assembly are separate from one another. 
     In another aspect, a railway hopper car is provided. The railway hopper car includes a first sidewall and a second opposing sidewall coupled between a first end wall and a second opposing end wall to form an upper portion of the hopper car. The first and second sidewalls extend in a longitudinal direction, and the first and second opposing end walls extend in a transverse direction. The sidewalls and the end walls include a top edge and a bottom edge. The railway hopper car further includes a plurality of cargo wells coupled together to form a lower portion of the hopper car. The upper portion is coupled to the lower portion to form the hopper car, each cargo well of the plurality of cargo wells comprises a plurality of well panels sloping inwardly from the bottom edge of the upper portion to a selectively openable floor. Each cargo well of the plurality of cargo wells includes at least one longitudinal boundary extending in the transverse direction and defined by an intersection of two well panels. The railway hopper car also includes a roof panel coupled to the top edge of the sidewalls and the end walls wherein the roof panel includes an access opening extending longitudinally over at least a portion of each of the plurality of cargo wells, at least one first support assembly coupled to an inner surface of said first sidewall wherein each of the at least one first support assembly extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the first sidewall, and at least one second support assembly coupled to an inner surface of the second sidewall. Each of the at least one second support assembly extends between the top edge and the bottom edge of the second sidewall. The second support assembly is separate from the first support assembly. 
     In another aspect, a railway hopper car is provided. The railway hopper car includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes a first sidewall, an opposing second sidewall, a first end wall, and an opposing second end wall. The lower portion is coupled to the upper portion, and includes at least two cargo wells and a longitudinal boundary extending between the at least two cargo wells. Each cargo well includes a selectively openable floor. The upper and lower portions define an interior volume of the hopper car. The railway hopper car further includes a roof panel coupled to a top edge of the sidewalls and the end walls wherein the roof panel includes an access opening extending longitudinally over at least a portion of the at least two cargo wells, and a first support assembly coupled to an inner surface of the first sidewall. The first support assembly extends between the top edge and a bottom edge of the first sidewall. The first support assembly is positioned proximate to the longitudinal boundary, and is configured to only partially extend into the interior volume of the hopper car. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1-9  show exemplary embodiments of the apparatus described herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary railway hopper car having a support system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the railway hopper car shown in  FIG. 1  with each hatch cover in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the railway hopper car shown in  FIG. 1  with the hatch covers and walkway removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the railway hopper car shown in  FIG. 1  with an exemplary embodiment of the support system. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary support system that may be used with the railway hopper car shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the exemplary top gusset panel shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the exemplary bottom gusset panel shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the support assembly shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the support assembly shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments of a support system for use with a railway hopper car are described herein. The support system enables an operator to manipulate a probe or loading arm from one hopper compartment to another hopper compartment for most of the length of the hopper car. More specifically, by including a support system that defines a roof access opening extending across multiple hopper compartments, the embodiments described herein facilitate assembling a railcar having an internal volume that extends mostly unimpeded across multiple hopper compartments for most of the length of the railcar. Moreover, the embodiments described herein include a support system that includes separate support assemblies coupled to an inside surface of opposing railcar sidewalls. Such support assemblies allow the operator to manipulate a probe or loading arm through each hopper compartment without requiring the probe or loading arm being removed from the railcar when moved from one compartment to an adjacent compartment, reducing time and cost associated with loading and unloading material and reducing damage to the railcar. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an exemplary railway hopper car  10  having an exemplary embodiment of the support system.  FIG. 2  is a top view of railway hopper car  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . Identical components shown in  FIG. 2  are labeled with the same reference numbers used in  FIG. 1 . Railway hopper car  10  can be used to store and/or transport materials, such as dried distillers grains, dried distillers grains with solubles, and/or any other suitable granular or flowable material. In the exemplary embodiment, railway hopper car  10  is configured to withstand a pressure of between about 0.25 pounds per square inch (psi) and about 15 psi. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, railway hopper car  10  includes an upper portion  12  coupled to a lower portion  14 . Lower portion  14  includes a cargo assembly  15  extending between a front sill assembly  16 , and a rear sill assembly  17 . Each sill assembly  16  and  17  includes a truck  18  having a pair of axles  20  each coupled to a pair of wheels  22 . Upper portion  12  includes a front end structure  24 , a rear end structure  28 , and two opposing sidewalls  44  extending therebetween. Front end structure  24  includes a front sloped sheet  32  coupled to a first or front end wall  36 . Front sloped sheet  32  extends obliquely inwardly from first end wall  36  towards rear end structure  28 . Rear end structure  28  includes a rear sloped sheet  34  coupled to a second or rear end wall  40 . Rear sloped sheet  34  extends obliquely inwardly from second end wall  40  towards front end structure  24 . Front end structure  24  is coupled to front sill assembly  16  and to a forward portion  26  of cargo assembly  15 . Rear end structure  28  is coupled to rear sill assembly  17  and to a rear portion  30  of cargo assembly  15 . Sidewalls  44  are coupled between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40 . A forward section  46  of sidewalls  44  is coupled to first end wall  36  and to front sloped sheet  32 . A rearward section  48  of sidewalls  44  is coupled to rear end wall  40  and to rear sloped sheet  34 . A bottom section  50  of sidewalls  44  is coupled to cargo assembly  15 . 
     A roof assembly  52  is coupled to a top section  54  of sidewalls  44  such that sidewalls  44  extend between roof assembly  52  and cargo assembly  15 . Roof assembly  52  is further coupled to a top  55  of first end wall  36  and a top  57  of second end wall  40 . In an alternative embodiment, roof assembly  52 , sidewalls  44 , first end wall  36  and second end wall  40  are formed integrally to form upper portion  12 . In the exemplary embodiment, at least one sill  56  is coupled to an outer surface  58  of cargo assembly  15  and an outer surface  60  of sidewalls  44 . Sill  56  extends between front end structure  24  and rear end structure  28 . At least one chord beam  62  extends between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40  and is coupled to an outer surface  66  of roof assembly  52  and to sidewall outer surface  60 . At least one support system  68  is coupled to an inner surface  70  of sidewalls  44  and extends between roof assembly  52  and cargo assembly  15 . Sidewalls  44 , roof assembly  52 , cargo assembly  15 , and support system  68  together define an interior volume  72  extending between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40 . Interior volume  72  includes a length  74  extending along a longitudinal axis  76  of railway hopper car  10 . 
     Cargo assembly  15  includes a plurality of cargo wells  78  that include at least one well panel  80 . In the exemplary embodiment, each cargo well  78  includes two opposing side well panels  82 , a front well panel  84 , and a rear well panel  86 . Side well panels  82  are coupled between front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86  to form cargo well  78 . Side well panels  82 , front well panel  84 , and rear well panel  86  each include a downwardly and/or inwardly sloping inner surface  88  to form cargo well  78  having a trapezoidal shape. In an alternative embodiment, cargo well  78  is formed having a conical shape. An opening  90  extends through an outer surface  92  of cargo well  78  such that interior volume  72  is accessible through opening  90 . A hatch  94  is removably coupled to cargo well  78  and is sized to at least partially cover opening  90 . In the exemplary embodiment, cargo assembly  15  includes a plurality of cargo wells  78  each coupled to an adjacent cargo well  78  such that cargo assembly  15  extends along longitudinal axis  76  between front end structure  24  and rear end structure  28 . Front well panel  84  is coupled to an adjacent rear well panel  86  to form at least one longitudinal boundary  96  between adjacent cargo wells  78  at the intersection of front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86 . In an alternative embodiment, a connecting panel (not shown) is coupled between front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86  to form longitudinal boundary  96 . As explained below, support systems  68  (See  FIG. 1 ) are positioned at longitudinal boundary  96 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, roof assembly  52  includes at least one roof panel  98  coupled between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40 . Roof panel  98  extends a length  102  measured along longitudinal axis  76  between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40 . Roof panel  98  includes an access opening  104  extending through roof panel  98  such that interior volume  72  is accessible through roof access opening  104 . Roof access opening  104  extends between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40  over at least a portion of the plurality of cargo wells  78 . Roof access opening  104  includes a length  106  measured along longitudinal axis  76 . In the exemplary embodiment, roof opening length  106  is greater than about one half of length  102  of roof panel  98 . In an alternative embodiment, roof opening length  106  is equal to about one half of length  102 , or is less than one half of length  102 . Roof assembly  52  includes at least one roof hatch  108  that at least partially covers roof access opening  104 . Roof hatch  108  is removably coupled to roof outer surface  66  and is configured to selectively cover roof access opening  104 . In one embodiment, roof assembly  52  includes a plurality of roof hatches  108  that each at least partially cover a portion of roof access opening  104 . 
     Hopper car  10  is divided into a plurality of hopper compartments  107 . Each hopper compartment  107  is at least partially defined by a portion of sidewalls  44 , a portion of roof panel  98 , a respective cargo well  78 , and at least one longitudinal boundary  96 . More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, a first hopper compartment  107   a  is at least partially defined by a portion of sidewalls  44 , first end wall  36 , a portion of roof panel  98 , a first cargo well  78   a , and a first longitudinal boundary  96   a . Further, a second hopper compartment  107   b  is at least partially defined by a portion of sidewalls  44 , a portion of roof panel  98 , a second cargo well  78   b , and first longitudinal boundary  96   a . In a particular embodiment, second hopper compartment  107   b  is further defined by a second longitudinal boundary  96   b  or second end wall  40 . Interior volume  72  extends continuously from first hopper compartment  107   a  to second hopper compartment  107   b . Moreover, a passageway  109  is defined through interior volume  72  and is at least partially defined by support system  68 . Passageway  109  extends between at least first hopper compartment  107   a  and second hopper compartment  107   b.    
       FIG. 3  is a top view of railway hopper car  10  shown in  FIG. 1  with each roof hatch  108  removed from roof panel  98  and with a walkway removed from around access opening  104 . In the exemplary embodiment, support system  68  is coupled to sidewalls  44  such that support system  68  does not extend into interior volume  72  directly below access opening  104 . Rather, interior volume  72  extends unimpeded from roof access opening  104  to lower portion  14 , and extends across longitudinal boundaries  96  and across a portion of each cargo well  78 . Support systems  68  provide the required reinforcing structural support for hopper car  10 . During loading of railway hopper car  10 , an operator inserts a loading arm into interior volume  72  through roof access opening  104  and manipulates the loading arm across each cargo well  78  through the full longitudinal length of access opening  104  without removing the loading arm from interior volume  72  as the loading arm crosses each longitudinal boundary  96 . Similarly, during unloading of railway hopper car  10 , the operator manipulates a probe through interior volume  72  across each cargo well  78  without removing the probe from the railway hopper car  10  when moving the probe across each longitudinal boundary  96 . 
     To manufacture railway hopper car  10  having support system  68 , cargo assembly  15 , roof assembly  52 , support system  68 , end structures  24  and  28 , and sill assemblies  16  and  17  are assembled. More specifically, cargo assembly  15  is welded to end structures  24  and  28  and sill assemblies  16  and  17  are welded to cargo assembly  15 . Cargo assembly  15 , end structures  24  and  28 , and sill assemblies  16  and  17  are then rested on trucks  18 . Support systems  68  are welded to cargo assembly  15 . Sidewalls  44  and sills  56  are welded to support system  68  and cargo assembly  15 . Roof assembly  52  and chord beam  62  are welded to support system  68  and to sidewalls  44  to define interior volume  72  extending between roof assembly  52 , sidewalls  44 , and end structures  24  and  28 . Access opening  104  is formed through roof assembly  52  to define interior volume  72  extending from roof access opening  104  to cargo assembly  15 . Support systems  68  are positioned such that interior volume  72  extends unimpeded and continuously across at least a portion of each cargo well  78  of cargo assembly  15 , and across each longitudinal boundary  96 . 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of railway hopper car  10  along sectional line  4 - 4  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of support system  68  along sectional line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 . Identical components shown in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are labeled with the same reference numbers used in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In the exemplary embodiment, sidewalls  44  of railway hopper car  10  include a first sidewall  110  and a second sidewall  112 . First sidewall  110  is coupled between an inner surface  114  of roof panel  98  and a first outer portion  116  of cargo assembly  15 . Second sidewall  112  is coupled between inner surface  114  and a second outer portion  118  of cargo assembly  15  such that cargo assembly  15  extends between first sidewall  110  and second sidewall  112 . In the exemplary embodiment, railway hopper car  10  includes a width  120  measured along a transverse axis  122  defined between an outer surface  124  of first sidewall  110  and an outer surface  126  of second sidewall  112 . Roof panel  98  includes a first side  128  and a second side  129  that define roof access opening  104  extending between inner surface  114  and outer surface  66  of roof panel  98 . Roof access opening  104  has a transverse width  130  measured along a transverse axis  122 . In the exemplary embodiment, transverse width  130  is between about 24 inches and about 30 inches. In an alternative embodiment, transverse width  130  can be less than 24 inches or more than 30 inches. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, support system  68  includes at least one support assembly  132 . Support assembly  132  is coupled to sidewall inner surface  70  and extends between roof panel  98  and cargo assembly  15 . Support assembly  132  includes an inner surface  134  that at least partially defines interior volume  72 , which extends between first end wall  36  to second end wall  40  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and between roof access opening  104  to a cargo assembly well panel  80 . Interior volume  72  extends below roof access opening  104  through the full longitudinal length  106  of roof access opening  104  to facilitate accessing interior volume  72  from roof access opening  104 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, support assembly  132  includes a support member  136 , a top gusset panel  138 , and a bottom gusset panel  140 . Support member  136  is coupled to sidewall inner surface  70  and extends between roof panel inner surface  114  and well panel  80 . Top gusset panel  138  extends inwardly (toward the longitudinal middle) from an upper portion  142  of support member  136  towards roof access opening  104  and is coupled to roof panel inner surface  114 . Top gusset panel  138  includes an end surface  144  that at least partially defines a cooperative opening  146  extending from interior volume  72  to roof access opening  104 . Cooperative opening  146  is configured to facilitate accessing interior volume  72  from roof access opening  104  along longitudinal length  106  of roof access opening  104 . Bottom gusset panel  140  extends inwardly from a lower portion  148  of support member  136 . Bottom gusset panel  140  is coupled between support member  136  and cargo assembly  15 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, each support system  68  includes a first support assembly  150  and a separate opposite second support assembly  152 . Support assemblies  150  and  152  are specific support assemblies  132 . Second support assembly  152  is substantially similar to first support assembly  150 . First support assembly  150  and second support assembly  152  each include support member  136 , top gusset panel  138 , and bottom gusset panel  140 . First support assembly  150  is coupled to an inner surface  154  of first sidewall  110 . Second support assembly  152  is coupled to an inner surface  156  of second sidewall  112 . Inner surface  70  includes inner surfaces  154  and  156 . In one embodiment, second support assembly  152  is aligned substantially planar with first support assembly  150 . First support assembly  150  and second support assembly  152  each include inner surface  134  that defines interior volume  72  extending between first end wall  36  and second end wall  40 , and extending between roof access opening  104  and cargo assembly  15 . Support assemblies  150  and  152  at least partially define passageway  109 . First support assembly  150  and second support assembly  152  further define cooperative opening  146  having a transverse width  158  that is substantially equal to roof opening transverse width  130  such that cooperative opening  146  extends between interior volume  72  and roof access opening  104 . In one embodiment, no portion of either support assembly  150  and/or  152  extends below access opening  104 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, top gusset panel  138  of first support assembly  150  extends inwardly from support member  136  towards first side  128  of roof access opening  104 . Top gusset panel  138  of second support assembly  152  extends inwardly from support member  136  towards second side  129  of roof access opening  104 . In one embodiment, top gusset panel  138  of first support assembly  150  is positioned a distance from first side  128  such that top gusset panel  138  of first support assembly  150  does not extend into interior volume  72  defined below roof access opening  104 . Top gusset panel  138  of second support assembly  152  is positioned a distance from second side  129  such that top gusset panel  138  of second support assembly  152  does not extend into interior volume  72  defined below roof access opening  104 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of top gusset panel  138  shown in  FIG. 4 . Identical components shown in  FIG. 6  are labeled with the same reference numbers used in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 , in the exemplary embodiment, top gusset panel  138  includes a gusset sidewall  160  that extends between a top surface  162 , an opposite bottom surface  164 , and between a first end  166  and an opposite second end  168 . First end  166  is coupled to an outer surface  170  of support member  136 . Second end  168  extends inwardly from first end  166  and includes end surface  144  positioned adjacent roof access opening  104  to define cooperative opening  146 . Bottom surface  164  extends obliquely from first end  166  towards second end  168  such that end surface  144  is at least partially positioned above support member upper portion  142 . In one embodiment, first end  166  includes a first length  172  that is greater than a second length  174  of second end  168 . In the exemplary embodiment, top surface  162  extends between first end  166  and second end  168 , and includes an arcuate shape. Roof panel  98  is coupled to top surface  162  such that roof panel inner surface  114  includes a concave shape extending between first sidewall  110  and second sidewall  112 . Bottom surface  164  and end surface  144  at least partially define inner surface  134  of support assembly  132 . Top surface  162  includes a recessed groove  176  defined in an outer portion  178  of gusset sidewall  160 . Recessed groove  176  is sized to receive a roof support plate  180  coupled between roof panel inner surface  114  and top surface  162  to facilitate coupling top gusset panel  138  to roof panel  98 . 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of bottom gusset panel  140  shown in  FIG. 4 . Identical components shown in  FIG. 7  are labeled with the same reference numbers used in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 7 , in the exemplary embodiment, bottom gusset panel  140  includes a gusset sidewall  182  that extends between an outer surface  184 , an inner surface  186 , and a lower surface  188  to form bottom gusset panel  140  having a substantially triangular shape. Inner surface  186  is coupled to outer surface  170  of support member  136 . Lower surface  188  is coupled to well panel  80 . Outer surface  184  extends between inner surface  186  and lower surface  188  and at least partially defines inner surface  134  of support assembly  132 . In one embodiment, lower surface  188  includes a recessed groove  190  defined in an outer portion  192  of lower surface  188 . Recessed groove  190  is sized to receive a well panel support plate  194 . Well panel support plate  194  is positioned between cargo assembly  15  and bottom gusset panel  140  to facilitate coupling bottom gusset panel  140  to cargo assembly  15 . More specifically, well panel support plate  194  is coupled to front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86  at longitudinal boundary  96 . Well panel support plate  194  includes a first member  196  coupled to front well panel  84  and a second member  198  coupled to rear well panel  86 . 
       FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of support assembly  132  along sectional line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of support assembly  132  shown in  FIG. 4 . Identical components illustrated in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are labeled with the same reference numbers used in  FIG. 4 . Referring to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 , in the exemplary embodiment, support member  136  includes a base member  200 , a first wing wall  202 , and an opposing second wing wall  204 . First wing wall  202  is coupled to or integrated with base member  200  and extends substantially perpendicularly outwardly from base member  200 . Second wing wall  204  is coupled to or integrated with base member  200  and extends outwardly from base member  200  substantially parallel to first wing wall  202 , such that first wing wall  202  and second wing wall  204  are in an opposing relationship. Base member  200  includes an outer surface  206  that at least partially defines support member outer surface  170  and interior volume  72 . In the exemplary embodiment, first wing wall  202  and second wing wall  204  each extend from base member  200  such that support member  136  includes an interior surface  208  that at least partially defines a cavity  210 . Support member  136  is coupled to sidewall inner surface  70  such that cavity  210  is defined between interior surface  208  and sidewall inner surface  70 . First wing wall  202  and second wing wall  204  each include an outer edge  212  extending between support member upper portion  142  and support member lower portion  148 . In one embodiment, outer edge  212  includes an arcuate shape. Outer edge  212  is coupled to sidewall inner surface  70 , such that sidewalls  44  defines interior volume  72  having a substantially elliptical shape. In one embodiment, a lower section  214  of base member  200  includes a v-notch  216 . V-notch  216  is sized to at least partially receive cargo assembly well panel  80 . More specifically, v-notch  216  is sized to receive front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86  at longitudinal boundary  96 . In an alternative embodiment, v-notch  216  is sized to receive a connecting panel between front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86 . Lower section  214  of base member  200  overlaps at least a portion of front well panel  84  and rear well panel  86 . First wing wall  202  and second wing wall  204  each extend outwardly from lower portion  148  such that first wing wall  202  overlaps at least a portion of front well panel  84 , and second wing wall  204  overlaps at least a portion of rear well panel  86 . A reinforcement member  218  is coupled between an outer surface  220  of front well panel  84  and an outer surface  222  of rear well panel  86 . Reinforcement member  218  is positioned between first wing wall  202  and second wing wall  204  and extends along transverse axis  122  of railway hopper car  10  between first sidewall  110  and second sidewall  112 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, first end  166  of top gusset panel  138  is coupled to outer surface  206  of base member  200 . Inner surface  186  of bottom gusset panel  140  is coupled to outer surface  206  of base member  200 . Top gusset panel  138  and bottom gusset panel  140  are each positioned along a vertical axis  224  defined between longitudinal boundary  96  and roof panel  98 , such that top gusset panel  138  and bottom gusset panel  140  are substantially planar with longitudinal boundary  96 . Base member  200  includes a centerline  226  defined between an upper section  228  and lower section  214 . In one embodiment, base member  200  is coupled to cargo assembly  15  such that centerline  226  of base member  200  is substantially aligned with vertical axis  224 . In the exemplary embodiment, support member  136  is formed as a unitary piece with first wind wall  202  and second wing wall  204  bent outwardly along bending lines  230 . In an alternative embodiment, support member  136  is formed from a C-channel beam. In a further alternative embodiment, support member  136  is formed from an I-beam. 
     The above-described embodiments facilitate assembling a railway hopper car having a continuous cavity extending over a plurality of cargo wells. The above-described support system is a cost effective and efficient means to assemble a railway hopper car that facilitates unloading material with the use of a probe and reducing damage to the railway hopper car during unloading. The support system includes separate support assemblies coupled to opposite railcar sidewalls to define a continuous cavity that extends the length of the railway hopper car. As a result, the support assembly facilitates the use of a probe manipulated through each hopper compartment without requiring the probe to be removed from the railway hopper car. 
     Exemplary embodiments of a support system for a railcar and method of assembling the same are described above in detail. The support system and method are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components of apparatus and/or steps of the method may be utilized independently and separately from other components and/or steps described herein. For example, the support system may also be used in combination with other railway containers and methods, and are not limited to practice with only the railway hopper car and methods as described herein. Further, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized in connection with many other support system applications. 
     Although specific features of various embodiments of the invention may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. In accordance with the principles of the invention, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.