Tank car nozzle reinforcement and flashing

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method of flashing a jacketed rail car comprises covering an opening in a tank jacket of a rail car with a first flashing piece. The opening permits a fitting to protrude through the jacket. The fitting comprises a base portion of a first perimeter and a top flanged portion of a second perimeter. The first flashing piece comprises a slot. The method further comprises bonding the first flashing piece to the jacket and to the base portion of the fitting, and bonding a vertical support piece to the tank shell. The vertical support piece extends through the slot in the first flashing piece. The method further comprises bonding the vertical support piece to the top flanged portion of the fitting; covering the slot with a second flashing piece; and bonding the second flashing piece to the first flashing piece and the vertical support piece.

1 . A method of flashing a jacketed rail car, the method comprising:
 covering an opening in a jacket of a tank shell of a rail car with a first flashing piece, the opening in the jacket permitting a fitting to protrude through the jacket, the fitting comprising a base portion of a first perimeter coupled to the tank shell and a top flanged portion of a second perimeter greater than the first perimeter, the first flashing piece comprising:
 a first portion generally corresponding to a shape of a portion of the opening in the jacket; 
 a second portion generally corresponding to a shape of the base portion of the fitting; and 
 a slot; 
   bonding the first portion of the first flashing piece to the jacket;   bonding the second portion of the first flashing piece to the base portion of the fitting;   bonding a first end of a vertical support piece to the tank shell, the vertical support piece extending through the slot in the first flashing piece;   bonding a second end of the vertical support piece to the top flanged portion of the fitting;   covering the slot in the first flashing piece with a second flashing piece; and   bonding the second flashing piece to the first flashing piece and the vertical support piece.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bonding the first end of the vertical support piece to the tank shell comprises inserting the first end of the vertical support piece in the slot and bonding the first end of the vertical support piece to the tank shell in the slot. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is disposed beneath the flanged portion of the fitting when the first flashing piece is bonded to the base portion of the fitting. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flashing piece comprises a plurality of separate pieces to facilitate installation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bonding comprises welding. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first flashing piece and the second flashing piece comprise steel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fitting comprises a nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical support piece comprises steel. 
     
     
         9 . A rail car comprising:
 a generally cylindrical tank shell for transporting a commodity;   a jacket covering the tank shell;   an opening in the jacket permitting a fitting to protrude through the jacket, the fitting comprising a base portion of a first perimeter coupled to the tank shell and a top flanged portion of a second perimeter greater than the first perimeter;   a first flashing piece substantially covering the opening in the jacket around the fitting protruding through the jacket, the first flashing piece comprising a slot;   a vertical support piece comprising a first end bonded to the tank shell and a second end extending through the slot of the first flashing piece and bonded to the top flanged portion of the fitting; and   a second flashing piece covering the slot in the first flashing piece.   
     
     
         10 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the slot of the first flashing piece is disposed beneath the flanged portion of the fitting. 
     
     
         11 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the first flashing piece comprises a plurality of separate pieces bonded together to facilitate installation. 
     
     
         12 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the first flashing piece is welded to the jacket and to the fitting. 
     
     
         13 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the second flashing piece is welded to the first flashing piece and the vertical support piece. 
     
     
         14 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the first flashing piece and the second flashing piece comprise steel. 
     
     
         15 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the fitting comprises a nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The rail car of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical support piece comprises steel. 
     
     
         17 . A flashing assembly for a jacket of a tank car, the flashing assembly comprising:
 a first flashing piece comprising:
 a first portion corresponding to a shape of a portion of an opening in a jacket of a tank car, the opening in the jacket permitting a fitting to protrude through the jacket, the fitting comprising a base portion of a first perimeter coupled to the tank shell and a top flanged portion of a second perimeter greater than the first perimeter; 
 a second portion corresponding to a shape of the base portion of the fitting; and 
 a slot sized to accommodate a vertical support piece extending through the slot between the tank shell and the flanged portion of the fitting; and 
   a second flashing piece sized to cover the slot in the first flashing piece.   
     
     
         18 . The flashing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the slot is sized to permit bonding of the vertical support piece to the tank shell after the first flashing piece is bonded to the fitting. 
     
     
         19 . The flashing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first flashing piece comprises a plurality of separate pieces to facilitate installation. 
     
     
         20 . The flashing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the fitting comprises a nozzle.