Methods for improving the aerodynamic characteristics of railroad cars and railroad cars embodying the same

Abstract

A railroad car adapted for open-top transport of materials including a receptacle for receiving a selected material. The receptacle is defined vertically by a floor, defined laterally by first and second sidewalls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor and defined longitudinally by first and second end-walls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor. A lateral baffle disposed within the receptacle between the first and second sidewalls laterally partitions the receptacle into a plurality of cavities for reducing aerodynamic drag during open-top motion of the railroad car.

1 . A railroad car adapted for open-top transport of materials comprising: 
 a receptacle for receiving a selected material, the receptacle defined vertically by a floor, defined laterally by first and second sidewalls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor, and defined longitudinally by first and second end-walls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor; and    a lateral baffle disposed within the receptacle between the first and second sidewalls for laterally partitioning the receptacle into a plurality of cavities for reducing aerodynamic drag during open-top motion of the railroad car.    
   
   
       2 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one longitudinal baffle disposed between the first and second end-walls for longitudinally partitioning the plurality of cavities into additional cavities for further reducing aerodynamic drag.  
   
   
       3 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral baffle has a height and extends downward from an upper edge of the receptacle defined by the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       4 . The railroad car of  claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal baffle has a height substantially equal to a height of the lateral baffle and extends downward from an upper edge of the receptacle defined by the first and second end-walls.  
   
   
       5 . The railroad car of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the lateral baffle is substantially equal to the height of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       6 . The railroad car of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the lateral baffle is less than a height of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       7 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls include inner surfaces defining the receptacle and outer surfaces, wherein a substantial length of the railroad car is substantially free of structures extending outward from the outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       8 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sidewalls include inner surfaces defining the receptacle and outer surfaces and the railroad car further comprises at least one longitudinal reinforcing rib extending along at least a portion of the outer surface of each of the sidewalls.  
   
   
       9 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral baffle comprises one of a plurality of at least three spaced apart lateral baffles disposed between the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       10 . The railroad car of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lateral baffle contacts the floor of the receptacle.  
   
   
       11 . A method of reducing the aerodynamic drag of a railroad car having a receptacle for transporting material comprising: 
 partitioning the receptacle into a plurality of cavities for reducing parachute drag during open-top motion of the railroad car.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the receptacle is defined vertically by a floor, defined laterally by first and second sidewalls, and defined longitudinally by first and second end-walls, and the method comprises: 
 partitioning the receptacle with at least one lateral baffle extending from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising partitioning the receptacle with at least one longitudinal baffle extending from the first end-wall to the second end-wall.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second sidewalls have a height relative to the floor and partitioning the receptacle comprises partitioning the receptacle with a lateral baffle having a height substantially equal to the height of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second sidewalls have a height relative to the floor and partitioning the receptacle comprises partitioning the receptacle with a lateral baffle having a height less than the height of the first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second end-walls have a height relative to the floor and partitioning the receptacle comprises partitioning the receptacle with a longitudinal baffle having a height substantially equal to the height of the first and second end-walls.  
   
   
       17 . A railroad car including a receptacle for transporting materials, the receptacle including a floor, first and second sidewalls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor, and first and second end-walls having a height and extending at an angle from the floor, the railroad car comprising: 
 a plurality of baffles partitioning the receptacle into a plurality of cavities for reducing aerodynamic drag during open-top motion of the railroad car.    
   
   
       18 . The railroad car of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of baffles includes a plurality of lateral baffles extending between the first and second sidewalls and a longitudinal baffle extending between the first and second end-walls.  
   
   
       19 . The railroad car of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of an external surface of the first and second sidewalls is free of external ribs.  
   
   
       20 . The railroad car of  claim 18 , further comprising at least one longitudinal rib extending along a portion of an external surface of the first and second sidewalls.