Center beam car with increased load capacity

Abstract

A center beam railcar that has increased volume capacity and versatility. The car preferably has a narrow top chord that does not interfere with loading by overhead crane, but still contributes significantly to the strength and load carrying capacity of the railcar. The top chord is preferably of a generally rectangular, tubular configuration, and has a width substantially equal to or slightly less than the width of the intermediate portion of the center beam therebelow. The railcar preferably has a depressed central portion that provides a clear loading height of at least about 14 feet thereabove, located between a pair of higher end portions, each preferably having a length of about 16 feet so that the end portions may be used to carry products of substantial length. The depth of the depression may be, e.g., about 16 in., to enable the depression to accommodate bundles of engineered wood products having a height of 15½ in., with the tops of the bundles being at about the same level as the adjacent end portions of the deck. The lading is preferably secured by straps, each having a first end secured on a first side of the car, and a second end secured on the opposite side of the car. The strap may extends over or under the top chord. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the straps may be secured at or near the side sills on both sides of the car. Winches may be provided only on one side, with a simple retaining mechanism for securing a strap end provided on the other side. The winches and retaining mechanisms preferably are longitudinally adjustable in tracks on the side of the car.

1 . In a center beam railcar comprising a deck, bulkheads at opposite ends of the railcar, and a center beam extending longitudinally of the railcar and including a center sill, a top chord, and an intermediate structure connecting the top chord and the center sill, the center beam having a height greater than or equal to that of the bulkheads, the improvement wherein the top chord has a width that is not substantially greater than the width of said intermediate structure.  
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said top chord is of a generally rectangular, tubular configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said top chord is of generally square tubular configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein said deck includes a depressed central portion.  
   
   
       5 . The improvement of  claim 4  wherein said railcar has a clear loading height of at least about 14 ft. above said depressed central portion of said deck.  
   
   
       6 . The improvement of  claim 4  wherein said railcar is capable of carrying at least about 110 tons of wood products having a density of about 30 lbs./cu. ft. without exceeding the AAR Plate F clearances.  
   
   
       7 . The improvement of  claim 1  wherein the deck includes first and second end portions at a first elevation and a depressed central portion at a second elevation, each of the end portions having a length equal to an integral multiple of the length of a standard product to be carried by said deck.  
   
   
       8 . The improvement of  claim 7  wherein said first elevation is above said second elevation by a dimension approximately equal to the height of a product to be carried in said depressed central portion.  
   
   
       9 . The improvement of  claim 8  further comprising elongated flexible members for securing the lading, and longitudinally adjustable winches for securing said elongated flexible members.  
   
   
       10 . The improvement of  claim 9  wherein said railcar further comprises a pair of side sills, and wherein said winches are supported on one of the side sills, and the elongated flexible members are of sufficient length to extend from said winches over the lading and top chord to the opposite side sill when the car is fully loaded, and wherein said railcar further includes retaining means on the opposite side sill to secure the free ends of the elongated flexible members.  
   
   
       11 . The improvement of  claim 10  wherein said intermediate structure includes a plurality of posts, and further includes, at each end, one or more elongated structural supports connecting one or more of the posts to a respective one of the bulkheads, and wherein said elongated structural supports are not connected to the center sill or the top chord.  
   
   
       12 . A method of securing a load on a center beam railcar comprising: 
 providing a strap on a first side of the railcar and retaining a first end of said strap on said first side;    providing a fastener on the opposite side of said railcar;    passing a second end of the strap over the load and over the top chord of the railcar to the other side of the railcar while retaining the first end of the strap on said first side;    securing the second end of the strap to the second side of the railcar with said fastener; and    tensioning the strap.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing a corner protector as part of the load.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein tensioning the strap comprises winding the strap onto a winch, said method further comprising adjusting the longitudinal position of at least one end of said strap by adjusting the longitudinal position of at least one of said winch and said fastener.  
   
   
       15 . A method of securing a load on a center beam railcar comprising: 
 providing a strap on a first side of the railcar and retaining a first end of said strap on said first side;    passing a second end of the strap over the load and under the top chord of the railcar to the other side of the railcar while retaining the first end of the strap on said first side;    securing the second end of the strap to the second side of the railcar; and    tensioning the strap.    
   
   
       16 . In a center beam railcar having an elongated flexible member connected to the railcar to secure the lading on the railcar deck, the improvement comprising a longitudinally adjustable retainer to secure an end of the elongated flexible member to the railcar.  
   
   
       17 . The improvement of  claim 16  wherein said longitudinally adjustable retainer comprises a winch.  
   
   
       18 . The improvement of  claim 17  wherein said elongated flexible member comprises a 4½ in. wide strap.  
   
   
       19 . In a center beam railcar comprising a center beam including a center sill, a top chord, and a plurality of posts extending between the center sill and the top chord, a pair of bulkheads at opposite ends of the center beam, and one or more load-supporting surfaces between the bulkheads, the improvement comprising one or more structural supports which are connected to one of said bulkheads and one or more posts, and which are not connected to said center sill or to said top chord.  
   
   
       20 . The improvement of  claim 19  wherein each of said one or more structural supports extends substantially horizontally between said bulkhead and said one or more posts.