Tank car top platform closure plate

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a tank car comprises a tank; a top platform coupled to a top of the tank comprising a walking surface; a walkway platform extending longitudinally between an end of the tank and the top platform comprising a walking surface disposed above a line tangent to the top of the tank; and a closure plate coupled to an end of the walkway platform proximate to the top platform. The closure plate extends below the walkway platform to cover access to a space between the walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank. In particular embodiments, the top platform comprises a first and second handrail assembly and a space between the handrail assemblies for accessing the walkway platform. The closure plate covers access to the space between the handrail assemblies and below the walkway platform.

1 . A tank car comprising:
 a generally cylindrical tank for transporting a commodity comprising a first end and an opposite second end;   a top platform coupled to a top of the tank and disposed between the first end and the second end of the tank, the top platform comprising a walking surface;   a walkway platform extending longitudinally along the top of the tank between the first or second end of the tank and the top platform, the walkway platform comprising a walking surface disposed above a line tangent to the top of the tank; and   a closure plate coupled to an end of the walkway platform proximate to the top platform, the closure plate extending below the walkway platform and generally covering a space between the walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The tank car of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom of the closure plate is curved to correspond to a curve of a lateral circumference of the tank below the walkway platform. 
     
     
         3 . The tank car of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the top platform further comprises:
 a first handrail assembly enclosing a portion of the top platform disposed to a first side of the walkway platform; 
 a second handrail assembly enclosing a portion of the top platform disposed to a second side of the walkway platform; and 
 a space between the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly for accessing the walkway platform; and 
   the closure plate generally covers access to the space between the walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank between the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The tank car of  claim 3 , wherein the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly are coupled to the closure plate. 
     
     
         5 . The tank car of  claim 4 , wherein the closure plate comprises a first flange for coupling the closure plate to the first handrail assembly and a second flange for coupling the closure plate to the second handrail assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The tank car of  claim 4 , wherein the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly are bolted to the closure plate. 
     
     
         7 . The tank car of  claim 4 , wherein the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly each comprises:
 a longitudinal side supported by one or more pads coupled to the tank; and   a lateral side supported by the closure plate coupled to the walkway platform.   
     
     
         8 . The tank car of  claim 1 , wherein the closure plate is bolted to the end of the walkway platform proximate to the top platform. 
     
     
         9 . A closure plate for covering access to a space between a top of a tank car and a generally horizontal walking surface of a walkway platform coupled to the top of the tank car, the closure plate comprising:
 a generally flat plate comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, wherein:
 the top edge is generally straight and corresponds to the generally horizontal walking surface of the walkway platform when the closure plate is coupled to an end of the walkway platform; and 
 the bottom edge extends below the walkway platform and generally covers access to a space between the generally horizontal walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank when the closure plate is coupled to an end of the walkway platform. 
   
     
     
         10 . The closure plate of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom edge is curved to correspond to a curve of a lateral circumference of the tank below the walkway platform. 
     
     
         11 . The closure plate of  claim 9 , further comprising a first flange for coupling the closure plate to a first handrail assembly and a second flange for coupling the closure plate to a second handrail assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The closure plate of  claim 11 , wherein the first flange and the second flange comprise bolt holes. 
     
     
         13 . A method of installing a closure plate on a tank car, the method comprising:
 aligning a closure plate to an end of a walkway platform of a tank car, wherein the tank car comprises:
 a generally cylindrical tank for transporting a commodity comprising a first end and an opposite second end; 
 a top platform coupled to a top of the tank and disposed between the first end and the second end of the tank, the top platform comprising a walking surface; and 
 the walkway platform extends longitudinally along the top of the tank between the first or second end of the tank and the top platform and comprises a walking surface disposed above the line tangent to the top of the tank; and 
   coupling the closure plate to the end of the walkway platform of the tank car such that the closure plate extends below the walkway platform and generally covers access to a space between the walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a bottom of the closure plate is curved to correspond to a curve of a lateral circumference of the tank below the walkway platform. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the top platform further comprises:
 a first handrail assembly enclosing a portion of the top platform disposed to a first side of the walkway platform; 
 a second handrail assembly enclosing a portion of the top platform disposed to a second side of the walkway platform; and 
 a space between the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly for accessing the walkway platform; and 
   the closure plate generally covers access to the space between the walking surface of the walkway platform and the top of the tank between the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising coupling the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly to the closure plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the closure plate comprises a first flange for coupling the closure plate to the first handrail assembly and a second flange for coupling the closure plate to the second handrail assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising bolting the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly to the closure plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first handrail assembly and the second handrail assembly each comprises:
 a longitudinal side supported by one or more pads coupled to the tank; and   a lateral side supported by the closure plate coupled to the walkway platform.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising bolting the closure plate to the end of the walkway platform proximate to the top platform.