Rail road car with lading securement storage apparatus

Abstract

A center beam car has a main deck structure extending laterally from a main center sill, and a central vertically oriented central beam structure. The center beam so formed defines bunks upon in which to carry cargo. The upper region of the web-work structure includes a top chord mounted to run between two end bulkheads. The cargo can be secured to the deck with straps or webs. When the car is empty the straps or webs can be stored within boxes that are accessible at deck level by a person of average height. The storage boxes can be along the center line of the car, between the posts of the center beam, or they can be located adjacent to the side sills. Further, the boxes can be movable to a raised position, or to a lowered, stored position. A reeling mechanism is provided to facilitate winding of the straps or webs for storage.

1 . (canceled)  
   
   
       2 . A rail road freight car comprising: 
 a structure upon which to carry lading, said structure being carried by spaced apart rail car trucks;    lading securement apparatus for restraining the lading; and    lading securement storage apparatus mounted to said structure;    said lading securement apparatus including a first member, said first member being securable about the lading, said first member being formable into a reel for storage;    said lading securement storage apparatus including an enclosure mounted to said structure, said first enclosure having a storage space defined therein for accommodating the member when formed into reel form; and    said lading securement storage apparatus being mounted in a location that does not obstruct lading carrying capacity of said structure upon which to carry lading;    said lading securement storage apparatus including a second member, said second member being a movable member operable to control access to said enclosure; and    said lading securement storage apparatus including a reel support fitting operable to support said first member during forming of said first member into a reel.    
   
   
       3 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said second member is a door or said enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said reel support fitting is mounted to said second member.  
   
   
       5 . The rail road freight car of  claim 4  wherein said reel support fitting includes a socket for receiving a crank.  
   
   
       6 . The rail road freight car of  claim 5  further including a removable crank that is matably engageable in said socket.  
   
   
       7 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said second member is pivotally attached.  
   
   
       8 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said reel support fitting is movable to a retracted position lying within said enclosure.  
   
   
       9 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said reel support fitting is movable between an operative position and a storage position, and, in said operative position said reel support fitting is located above said enclosure.  
   
   
       10 . The rail road freight car of  claim 2  wherein said reel support fitting is rigidly fixed to said enclosure, and said enclosure is pivotally mounted to said structure for carrying lading.  
   
   
       11 . The rail road freight car of  claim 10  wherein said second member is a lid of said enclosure, said structure for carrying lading includes a deck structure defining a lading support interface above which lading can be carried, and said lid is movable to an inoperative position in which said lid lies in a position that is one of (a) flush with said support interface and (b) shy of said interface.  
   
   
       12 . A rail road car comprising: 
 structure upon which to carry lading, said structure being carried by spaced apart rail car trucks and including a deck;    lading securement apparatus for restraining the lading on the deck; and    lading securement storage apparatus mounted to said structure;    said lading securement apparatus including a first member, said first member being securable about the lading, said first member being formable into a reel for storage;    said lading securement storage apparatus including an enclosure mounted to said structure, said first enclosure having a storage space defined therein for accommodating the member when formed into reel form; and    said lading securement storage apparatus being mounted in a location that does not obstruct lading carrying capacity of said deck;    said lading securement storage apparatus including a second member, said second member being a movable member operable to control access to said enclosure; and    said lading securement storage apparatus including a reel support fitting operable to support    said lading securement storage apparatus including a reel support fitting operable to support said first member during forming of said first member into a reel.    
   
   
       13 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said enclosure is movably mounted to said deck structure.  
   
   
       14 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said reel support fitting is mounted to said second member.  
   
   
       15 . The rail road car of  claim 14  wherein said reel support fitting includes a socket for receiving a crank.  
   
   
       16 . The rail road car of  claim 15  further including a removable crank that is matably engageable in said socket.  
   
   
       17 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said reel support fitting is movable to a retracted position lying within said enclosure.  
   
   
       18 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said reel support fitting is movable between an operative position and a storage position, and, in said operative position said support fitting is located above said enclosure.  
   
   
       19 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said reel support fitting is rigidly fixed to said enclosure, and said enclosure is pivotally mounted to said structure for carrying lading.  
   
   
       20 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said enclosure is mounted to shelter said first member beneath said deck structure, and said enclosure being accessible from track level.  
   
   
       21 . The rail road car of  claim 12  wherein said deck structure includes a plurality of spaced apart vertical load bearing cross members, said cross members have outboard ends, and side sills run along said outboard ends of said cross members; and said storage enclosure is mounted mounted next to, and extends inboard of, one of said side sills, between a pair of said cross members.