Well car side assembly

Abstract

A well car includes a well floor, a first end portion, a second end portion, and a first side assembly. The first end is portion coupled to the well floor. The second end portion is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly is coupled to the well floor. The first side assembly includes a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions. The first side portion is coupled to the first end portion. The second side portion is coupled to the second end portion. The first humped portion is positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A well car comprising:
 a well floor;   a first end portion coupled to the well floor;   a second end portion coupled to the well floor;   a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, the first side assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions, the first side portion coupled to the first end portion, the second side portion coupled to the second end portion, the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The well car of  claim 1 , further comprising a second side assembly coupled to the well floor, the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions, the third side portion coupled to the first end portion, the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion, the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second side assembly, the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The well car of  claim 1 , further comprising a first casting, a second casting, and a third casting, the first casting coupled to the first side portion, the second casting coupled to the first humped portion, the third casting coupled to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight. 
     
     
         4 . The well car of  claim 1 , wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor. 
     
     
         5 . The well car of  claim 1 , wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The well car of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion. 
     
     
         7 . The well car of  claim 5 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 coupling a first side assembly to a well floor of a well car, the first side assembly comprising a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions, the first side portion coupled to a first end portion coupled to the well floor, the second side portion coupled to a second end portion coupled to the well floor, the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising coupling a second side assembly to the well floor, the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions, the third side portion coupled to the first end portion, the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion, the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth side portions, the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 coupling a first casting to the first side portion;   coupling a second casting to the first humped portion; and   coupling a third casting to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a railcar; and   a well car configured to couple to the railcar, the well car comprising a well floor, a first end portion coupled to the well floor, a second end portion coupled to the well floor, a first side assembly coupled to the well floor, and a second side assembly coupled to the well floor, wherein:
 the first side assembly comprises a first side portion, a second side portion, and a first humped portion coupled between the first and second side portions; 
 the first side portion coupled to the first end portion; 
 the second side portion coupled to the second end portion; 
 the first humped portion positioned higher than the first and second portions on the first side assembly; 
 the second side assembly comprising a third side portion, a fourth side portion, and a second humped portion coupled between the third and fourth side portions; 
 the third side portion coupled to the first end portion; 
 the fourth side portion coupled to the second end portion; 
 the second humped portion positioned higher than the third and fourth portions on the second side assembly; and 
 the second side assembly parallel to the first side assembly. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a first casting, a second casting, and a third casting, the first casting coupled to the first side portion, the second casting coupled to the first humped portion, the third casting coupled to the second side portion, the first, second, and third castings configured to support freight. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first side assembly is substantially orthogonal to the well floor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first side assembly further comprises a hollow tube that forms a top surface of the first side assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hollow tube forms a top surface of the first side portion, the second side portion, and the first humped portion. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the hollow tube comprises a first tube, a second tube, and a third tube, the first and third tubes welded to the second tube.