Floor support connection casting

Abstract

A floor connection casting for use in construction of railcar floor assemblies as well as a floor assembly and railcar using the same are provided. The floor connection casting preferably includes a plurality of stringer connectors coupled along one or more sides as well as at least one crossbearer connector on one end. By coupling a pair of floor connection castings to opposing side sills in a railcar, lateral support can be provided for one or more floor plates. Floor stringers may then be coupled between adjacent floor connections using the stringer connectors such that longitudinal support for a flooring is provided. The floor assembly may then be coupled to a railcar using a sill connector included on the end of the floor connection casting opposite the crossbearer connector to couple to a side sill of the railcar.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a railway car having an underframe including a pair of side sills, a pair of end structures cooperating with the side sills to form a generally rectangular configuration, a plurality of crossbearers extending between the side sills, a plurality of stringers extending between the end structures and spaced laterally from each other between the side sills, each stringer coupled to the one or more crossbearers using a floor connection, the floor connection comprising: 
 a body having respective first and second surfaces, respective first and second ends and first and second sides;    a sill connector attached to the first end of the body and operable to couple the body to a side sill;    at least one stringer connector attached to and extending from the first side of the body and operable to couple a respective end of one of the stringers with the body; and    at least one weldment boss attached to the second end of the body and operable to couple a respective end of one of the crossbearers with the body.    
     
     
         2 . The floor connection of  claim 1  wherein the sill connector further comprises: 
 a first segment and a second segment having a generally L-shaped configuration;  
 the first segment operable to engage a generally horizontal flange of the side sill; and  
 the second segment operable to engage a generally vertical flange of the side sill.  
 
     
     
         3 . The floor connection of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of ribs operable to reinforce the floor connection and define a plurality of cavities.  
     
     
         4 . The floor connection of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one tiered connector operably coupled to the first side; and  
 the tiered connector operable to engage a stringer such that a top surface of the stringer is generally aligned with the first surface of the body.  
 
     
     
         5 . The floor connection of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one tiered weldment boss operably coupled to the first end of the body; and  
 the tiered weldment boss operable to engage a load bearing crossbearer such that a top surface of the crossbearer is generally aligned with the first surface of the body.  
 
     
     
         6 . The floor connection of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 at least one connector attached to and extending from the second side; and  
 the connector operable to couple a respective end of one of the stringers with the body.  
 
     
     
         7 . The floor connection of  claim 1  wherein the sill connector further comprises: 
 respective first and second surfaces;  
 the first surface generally aligned with the first surface of the floor connection; and  
 the second surface operable to engage a respective generally horizontal flange of one of the side sills.  
 
     
     
         8 . The floor connection of  claim 1  further comprising at least one filler operably coupled to the second surface of the floor connection and operable to reinforce the floor connection.  
     
     
         9 . The floor support connection of  claim 1  further comprising the floor connection formed from a casting.  
     
     
         10 . The floor connection of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises a generally flat first surface operable to engage at least one floor plate.  
     
     
         11 . The floor connection of  claim 1  wherein the body further comprises the second side operable to engage the end structure.  
     
     
         12 . In a railway car having first and second trucks, a railway car underframe mounted on the trucks at opposite ends thereof, the underframe having a pair of side sills and a floor assembly attached to the side sills, the floor assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of connection assemblies defined in part by:    respective first and second surfaces, respective first and second ends and respective first and second sides, the first surface having a generally flat configuration;    a respective sill connector operably coupled to the first end of each connection assembly and operable to couple to a side sill;    at least one crossbearer connector attached to and extending from the second end of each connection assembly and operable to engage one end of a respective crossbearer;    at least one stringer connector attached to and extending from the first side and operable to couple to one end of a respective floor stringer;    a plurality of crossbearers having respective first and second ends operably coupled to crossbearer connectors on respective connection assemblies such that lateral support for a floor plate is provided;    a plurality of floor stringers having respective first and second ends operably coupled to respective stringer connectors on respective connection assemblies such that longitudinal support for a floor plate is provided; and    at least one floor plate positioned generally parallel to the first surface of the connection assemblies and supported, at least in part, by the floor stringers and the crossbearers.    
     
     
         13 . The floor assembly of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 the respective connection assemblies disposed at each of four corners generally defined by a first end structure laterally disposed between the side sills and adjacent the first truck and by a second structure laterally disposed between the side sills and adjacent the second truck; and  
 the second side of the connection assemblies operable to engage an end structure.  
 
     
     
         14 . The floor assembly of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 at least one stringer connector operably coupled to the second side of one or more of the plurality of connection assemblies; and  
 the at least one stringer connector operable to engage one end of the one or more respective floor stringers such that longitudinal support for the floor plate is provided.  
 
     
     
         15 . The floor assembly of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 the sill connector generally arcuate and formed from a first portion and a second portion;  
 the first portion operable to engage a generally vertical flange of the side sill; and  
 the second portion operable to engage a generally horizontal flange of the side sill.  
 
     
     
         16 . The floor assembly of  claim 14  further comprising the sill connector operable to engage a generally horizontal flange of the side sill.  
     
     
         17 . The floor assembly of  claim 12  further comprising at least one floor reinforcement operably coupled to the floor plate.  
     
     
         18 . The floor assembly of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 one or more of the plurality of stringer connectors having a tiered end;  
 the tiered end operable to engage one end of a respective floor stringer such that a top surface of the respective floor stringer aligns with the first surface of the connection assembly.  
 
     
     
         19 . The floor assembly of  claim 12  further comprising the second surface of the connection assemblies having a plurality of ribs thereon.  
     
     
         20 . A well car comprising: 
 first and second end structures;    first and second side sills operably coupled to the end structures at opposite ends of the side sills;    first and second side walls operably coupled to the end structures at opposite ends of the side walls and to the side sills along a lower length of the side walls;    a floor assembly extending between the side sills, the floor assembly including; 
 a plurality of stringers;  
 a plurality of crossbearers;  
 a plurality of floor connection castings  
   operable to engage the stringers and the crossbearers, the floor connection castings including; 
 a sill connector attached to and extending from a first end of the floor connection casting;  
 the sill connector operable to engage a horizontal flange of a side sill;  
 a crossbearer connector attached to and extending from a second end of the floor connection casting;  
 the crossbearer connector operable to engage a respective end of a crossbearer;  
 a plurality of connectors attached to and extending from a first side of the floor connection casting; and  
 the connectors operable to engage a respective end of a stringer.  
   
     
     
         21 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 the floor connection castings having respective first and second surfaces;  
 the first surface operable to engage one or more floor plates; and  
 the second surface having a plurality of ribs forming cavities therein.  
 
     
     
         22 . The well car of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 at least one filler disposed in at least one cavity on the second surface; and  
 the filler operable to strengthen the floor connection casting.  
 
     
     
         23 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a plurality of connectors attached to and extending from the second side of the floor connection casting; and  
 the plurality of connectors operable to engage a respective end of a stringer.  
 
     
     
         24 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 the sill connector formed from a first portion and a second portion;  
 the first portion and the second portion forming a general L-shape;  
 the first portion operable to engage the horizontal flange of the side sill; and  
 the second portion operable to engage a vertical flange on the side sill.  
 
     
     
         25 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising the second side of the floor connection casting operable to couple to an end structure coupled at opposite ends between respective side sills proximate an end structure.  
     
     
         26 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a graduated crossbearer connector attached to and extending from the second end of the floor connection casting; and  
 the graduated crossbearer connector operable to engage one end of a crossbearer such that a surface of the crossbearer engages a floor plate disposed on a first surface of the floor connection casting.  
 
     
     
         27 . The well car of  claim 20  further comprising: 
 a plurality of graduated connectors attached to and extending from the first side of the floor connection casting; and  
 the graduated connectors operable to engage one end of a stringer such that a surface of the stringer engages a floor plate disposed on a first surface of the floor connection casting.