Refrigerated railcar system

Abstract

A refrigerated railcar system that is configured to have a plurality of reefers operably coupled thereto wherein the present invention provides improved electrical coupling of the reefers. The refrigerated railcar system of the present invention includes a plurality of railcars that are operable to have secured thereto reefers ranging from twenty to fifty-three feet. The railcars have a first end and a second end with an electrical junction box present at each end. A generator railcar is present in the system and is electrically coupled to an adjacent railcar present on opposing ends thereof. The generator railcars include subpanel modules and a wiring harness that are operable to electrically couple to electrical junction boxes present at opposing ends of the generator railcars. A platform is coupled to the container of the generator railcar and is configured to have the wiring harness secured underneath thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerated railcar system comprising:
 at least one railcar, said at least one railcar having a first end and a second end, said at least one railcar having wheel-axle assemblies at said first end and said second end, said at least one railcar having a recessed area, said recessed area extending substantially intermediate said first end and said second end;   at least two first electrical junction boxes, said first electrical junction box being present at said first end of said at least one railcar, said first electrical junction box having a housing, said housing having a first side and a second side, said first side of said housing of said first electrical junction box having at least two electrical outlets, said second side of said first electrical junction box having at least four electrical outlets;   at least two second electrical junction boxes, said second electrical junction box being present at said second end of said at least one railcar, said second electrical junction box having a housing, said housing of said electrical junction box having a first side and a second side, said first side of said housing of said second electrical junction box having at least two electrical outlets, said second side of said second electrical junction box having at least four electrical outlets;   a generator railcar, said generator railcar having a container, said container having disposed therein necessary equipment to generate electricity, said generator railcar having a first end and a second end, said generator railcar having the first electrical junction box secured to said first end of the generator railcar, said generator railcar having the second electrical junction box secured to the second end of the generator railcar; and   at least one reefer, said at least one reefer being superposed the at least one railcar specifically in the recessed area thereof, said at least one reefer being electrically coupled to the first electrical junction box and the second electrical junction box.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one railcar and the generator railcar further include indicia, wherein the indicia is structured to extend outward from a surface of the at least one railcar and the generator railcar. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said the first electrical junction box present on the at least one railcar and the second electrical junction box present on the at least one railcar are electrically coupled. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the container of the generator railcar includes doors present at least one end thereof, said doors configured to be lockable, said doors operable to provide access to an interior volume of the container of the generator railcar. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the generator railcar further includes a first subpanel module and a second subpanel module, said first subpanel module and said second subpanel module located at the first end and the second end of the generator railcar, said first subpanel module and said second subpanel module configured to be electrically coupled to the first electrical junction box and the second electrical junction box mounted to the generator car respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 5 , and further including a first wiring harness and a second wiring harness, said first wiring harness being secured to said first subpanel module, said second wiring harness being secured to said second subpanel module. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the generator railcar further includes a platform, said platform located operably coupled to said container of said generator railcar, said platform being configured to facilitate the wiring harness being located underneath thereto. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the at least one railcar further includes at least one ladder, said at least one ladder being operably coupled to the at least one reefer, said at least one ladder being movable between a stored position and a deployed position. 
     
     
         9 . A refrigerated railcar system that is configured to transport a plurality of reefers providing improved electrical coupling thereof wherein the refrigerated railcar system comprises:
 a plurality of railcars, said plurality of railcars having a first end and a second end, said plurality of railcars having wheel-axle assemblies at said first end and said second end, said plurality of railcars having a recessed area, said recessed area extending substantially intermediate said first end and said second end, said recessed area of said plurality of railcars configured to have at least one reefer disposed therein, said plurality of railcars further including indicia, said indicia located at said first end and said second end of each of said plurality of railcars, wherein the indicia is structured to extend outward from a surface of the plurality of railcars;   a first electrical junction box, said first electrical junction box being present at said first end of each of said plurality of railcars, said first electrical junction box having a housing, said housing having a first side and a second side, said first side of said housing of said first electrical junction box having at least two electrical outlets, said second side of said first electrical junction box having at least four electrical outlets;   a second electrical junction box, said second electrical junction box being present at said second end of each of said plurality of railcars, said second electrical junction box having a housing, said housing of said electrical junction box having a first side and a second side, said first side of said housing of said second electrical junction box having at least two electrical outlets, said second side of said second electrical junction box having at least four electrical outlets, wherein said first electrical junction box is electrically coupled to said second electrical junction box on each of said plurality of railcars;   a generator railcar, said generator railcar having a container, said container having disposed therein necessary equipment to generate electricity, said generator railcar having a first end and a second end, said generator railcar being present within the refrigerated railcar system having approximately an equal number of railcars located on opposing ends thereof, said generator railcar having the first electrical junction box secured to said first end of the generator railcar, said generator railcar having the second electrical junction box secured to the second end of the generator railcar, wherein the container of the generator railcar includes doors present at least one end thereof, said doors configured to be lockable, said doors operable to provide access to an interior volume of the container of the generator railcar, said generator railcar further including indicia on at least one end thereof, said indicia of said generator railcar extending outward from a surface to which the indicia of the generator railcar is secured thereto; and   a plurality of reefers, said plurality of reefers being superposed the plurality of railcars specifically in the recessed area thereof, said plurality of reefers being electrically coupled to the first electrical junction box and the second electrical junction box.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the generator railcar further includes a first subpanel module and a second subpanel module, said first subpanel module and said second subpanel module located at the first end and the second end of the generator railcar, said first subpanel module and said second subpanel module configured to be electrically coupled to the first electrical junction box and the second electrical junction box mounted to the generator car respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 10 , and further including a first wiring harness and a second wiring harness, said first wiring harness being secured to said first subpanel module, said second wiring harness being secured to said second subpanel module. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the generator railcar further includes a platform, said platform located operably coupled to said container of said generator railcar, said platform being configured to facilitate the wiring harness being located underneath thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of railcars further include at least one ladder, said at least one ladder being operably coupled to each of the plurality of reefers, said at least one ladder being movable between a stored position and a deployed position. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerated railcar system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the preferred embodiment of the refrigerated railcar system includes ten railcars.