Auto rack rail car with stepped bottom chord and offset body bolster

Abstract

A railroad car utilizing the maximum width and height allowed by the proposed American Association of Railroads proposed clearance Plate K and including body bolster having a top cover plate at a vertical height lower than a height of a stub sill top cover plate adjacent to a striker. The car fits within the profile of the proposed clearance Plate K by including a stepped lower portion in a side assembly. The stub sill top cover plate ramps down to abut the lower height of the body bolster top cover plate. this ramping allows for an increased height of a lower deck of the rail road car longitudinally closer to an end sill than on previous railroad cars.

1 . A rail road car comprising:
 a stub sill into which a coupler is mounted, the stub sill including a top cover plate having a first portion at a first height and a second downwardly sloping portion; and   a body bolster into which a center plate is mounted and including a top cover plate, the body bolster positioned adjacent to the stub sill,   wherein the body bolster top cover plate is offset vertically lower from the first portion of the stub sill top cover plate.   
   
   
       2 . The rail road car of  claim 1 , wherein the stub sill includes a bottom flange having a first portion at a first height and a downwardly sloping portion and the body bolster includes a bottom cover plate,
 wherein a laterally central portion of the body bolster bottom cover plate is offset vertically lower from the first portion of the stub sill bottom flange.   
   
   
       3 . The rail road car of  claim 1 , wherein the stub sill top cover plate extends horizontally from the coupler toward the body bolster and includes a bent section that slants vertically down to the body bolster top cover plate. 
   
   
       4 . The rail road car of  claim 1 , wherein the body bolster top cover plate includes a longitudinally inboard portion that slants vertically downward. 
   
   
       5 . The rail road car of  claim 1 , wherein the body bolster top cover plate is offset about 5 inches lower from the first portion of the stub sill top cover plate. 
   
   
       6 . The rail road car of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinally inboard portion of the body bolster top cover plate has a longitudinally inboard edge that is about 6 inches lower than the stub sill top cover plate. 
   
   
       7 . The rail road car of  claim 1 , wherein the rail road car is configured to carry multiple levels of automobiles or trucks. 
   
   
       8 . An auto rack rail road car comprising:
 A coupler end stub sill with a top cover plate at a first height adjacent to a striker bar; and   A body bolster with a center plate and a top cover plate, the top cover plate located at a second height lower than the first height.   
   
   
       9 . The auto rack rail road car of  claim 8 , further comprising an auto ramp extending from the stub sill downward into a well area that is at a height below the height of a bottom of the center plate. 
   
   
       10 . A rail road car side assembly comprising:
 a formed channel top chord;   a side sheet extending downward from the top chord, the side sheet including an inboardly slanting lower portion extending to a bottom horizontal portion; and   a z-shaped bottom chord having an upper horizontal leg affixed to the inboardly slanting lower portion of the side sheet and a vertical portion affixed to an edge of the bottom horizontal portion of the side sheet.   
   
   
       11 . The rail road car side assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the z-shaped bottom chord includes a lower horizontal leg. 
   
   
       12 . A rail road car comprising:
 a side assembly comprising:
 a formed channel top chord, 
 a side sheet extending downward from the top chord, the side sheet including an inboardly slanting lower portion extending to a bottom horizontal portion, and 
 a z-shaped bottom chord having an upper horizontal leg extending outboard affixed to the inboardly slanting lower portion of the side sheet, a vertical portion affixed to an edge of the bottom horizontal portion of the side sheet and a lower horizontal leg extending inward; and 
   a floor assembly affixed to an upper surface of the lower horizontal leg of the z-shaped bottom chord.   
   
   
       13 . An auto rack railroad car comprising:
 a lower deck positioned between a pair of trucks having a lower surface about 15 inches above a top of a rail when the car is empty; and   a side assembly affixed to the lower deck,   wherein the side assembly is positioned laterally to align with AAR Proposed Clearance Plate K along an outer surface of the side assembly, the side assembly including a lower stepped portion having a bottom horizontal surface above a lower stepped portion of Plate K and a vertical outboard surface positioned laterally inboard of the stepped portion of Plate K.   
   
   
       14 . A rail road car comprising
 a side assembly comprising:
 a formed channel top chord, 
 a side sheet extending downward from the top chord, the side sheet including an inboardly slanting lower portion extending to a bottom horizontal portion, and 
 an L-shaped bottom chord having an upper horizontal leg extending outboard affixed to the inboardly slanting lower portion of the side sheet and a vertical portion affixed to an edge of the bottom horizontal portion of the side sheet; and 
   a floor assembly affixed to vertical portion of the L-shaped bottom chord.