Systems and methods of insulating railcars

Abstract

Systems for and methods of insulating an uninsulated railroad car that include a plurality of insulation segments that are nonpermanently secured to interior surfaces of walls and a ceiling of the railroad car.

1 . A system of insulating a railroad car, the system comprising:
 a plurality of insulation segments; and   means for nonpermanently securing the insulation segments to interior surfaces of walls and a ceiling of the railroad car.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation segments are nonpermanently secured to the interior surfaces of walls and ceiling of the railroad car, and the walls and the ceiling of the railroad car are each entirely covered with at least one of the insulation segments. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nonpermanent securing means comprise magnets secured to a surface of each of the insulation segments. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the insulation segments are nonpermanently secured to the interior surfaces of walls and ceiling of the railroad car, and the magnets define an air space between the insulation segments and the interior surfaces of the walls and the ceiling. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a reflective bubble film material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a woven matting material having at least one layer of a reflective radiant barrier thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a non-woven matting material having at least one layer of a reflective radiant barrier thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a rigid foam board material. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation segments are nonpermanently secured to the interior surfaces of the walls and the ceiling of the railroad car, the ceiling is covered with at least one insulation segment formed of a high density foam board with a reflective material laminated on at least one side thereof, and the walls are each covered with a reflective blanket material. 
     
     
         10 . A method of insulating a railroad car with a plurality of insulation segments, the method comprising:
 locating the plurality of insulation segments on interior surfaces of walls and a ceiling of the railroad car; and   nonpermanently securing the insulation segments to the interior surfaces of walls and the ceiling of the railroad car.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the walls and the ceiling of the railroad car are each individually covered with one of the insulation segments. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the walls and the ceiling of the railroad car are entirely covered with more than one of the insulation segments. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the insulation segments are nonpermanently secured to the walls and the ceiling of the railroad car with magnets. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the magnets define an air space between the insulation segments and the interior surfaces of the walls and the ceiling. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a reflective bubble film material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a woven matting material having at least one layer of a reflective radiant barrier thereon. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a non-woven matting material having at least one layer of a reflective radiant barrier thereon. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the insulation segments are formed of a rigid foam board material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ceiling is covered with at least one insulation segment formed of a high density foam board with at least one layer of a reflective material and the walls are each covered with a blanket material comprising at least one layer of a reflective material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising transporting goods within the railroad car from a first location to a second location after locating the plurality of insulation segments therein. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing the plurality of insulation segments from the railroad car and returning the plurality of insulation segments to the first location.