Railroad tank car fittings

Abstract

A railroad tank car may have external fittings, such as brake fittings. A low mount brake fitting is located in a recess formed in the end sill of the car or in the side sill of the car between the main bolster and the end sill. Where an end sill installation is used, the end sill may be asymmetric, with the recess being formed to one side of the center sill. Alternatively, the end sill may be offset longitudinally away from the striker, and a spacer inserted.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A railroad tank car having a side-mounted trackside-operable handbrake installation. 
     
     
         2 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , wherein said handbrake is a low-mounted handbrake that is located at a height reachable by an operator standing on the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , wherein said handbrake is mounted in a side recess of said tank car. 
     
     
         4 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tank mounted on first and second cradles, and carried upon railroad car trucks for rolling motion along railroad tracks;   a first draft sill extending longitudinally outboard of a first of said trucks;   said first cradle extends cross-wise relative to said first draft sill of said railroad car;   an end sill is spaced lengthwise outboard of said first cradle and oriented cross-wise relative to said first draft sill; and   said side-mounted trackside-operable handbrake assembly is recessed between said first cradle and said end sill.   
     
     
         5 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , wherein said tank car has a tank and said tank has a transverse handrail mounted thereto. 
     
     
         6 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , having a tank mounted on trucks, said tank car having a walkway located longitudinally outboard of said tank, and said walkway running transversely across said tank car. 
     
     
         7 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , wherein said tank car has a tank carried on a pair of first and second tank cradles, said tank cradles being longitudinally spaced apart; said tank car having first and second spaced apart main bolsters, each of said main bolsters being mounted at a respective truck center over a corresponding railroad car truck; each of said cradles being mounted upon a respective one of said main bolsters; and said tank car having jacking pads located at the laterally outermost extremities of said main bolsters. 
     
     
         8 . The railroad tank car of  claim 7 , wherein said tank car has a side sill extending lengthwise outboard of said bolster, said side sill is recessed laterally inboard clear of said jacking pad. 
     
     
         9 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1  wherein said tank car has
 a tank mounted on first and second cradles, and carried upon railroad car trucks for rolling motion along railroad tracks; 
 a first draft sill extending longitudinally outboard of a first of said trucks; 
 said first cradle extends cross-wise relative to said first draft sill of said railroad car; 
 an end sill is spaced lengthwise outboard of said first cradle and oriented cross-wise relative to said first draft sill; 
 an end sill walkway; and 
 said end sill walkway surmounts said end sill. 
 
     
     
         10 . The railroad tank car of  claim 9 , wherein said handbrake is a low-mounted handbrake that is located at a height reachable by an operator standing on the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The railroad tank car of  claim 9 , wherein said tank car has first and second spaced apart main bolsters, each of said main bolsters being mounted at a respective truck center over a corresponding railroad car truck; each of said cradles being mounted upon a respective one of said main bolsters; and said tank car having jacking pads located at the laterally outermost extremities of said main bolsters. 
     
     
         12 . The railroad tank car of  claim 11 , wherein said tank car has a side sill extending lengthwise outboard of said bolster, said side sill is recessed laterally inboard clear of said jacking pad. 
     
     
         13 . The railroad tank car of  claim 11 , wherein said handbrake is mounted in a side recess of said tank car located between said main bolster and said end sill. 
     
     
         14 . The railroad tank car of  claim 1 , wherein said tank car has
 a tank mounted on first and second cradles, and carried upon railroad car trucks for rolling motion along railroad tracks;   a first draft sill extending longitudinally outboard of a first of said trucks;   said first cradle extends cross-wise relative to said first draft sill of said railroad car; and   an end sill is spaced lengthwise outboard of said first cradle and oriented cross-wise relative to said first draft sill.   
     
     
         15 . The railroad tank car of  claim 14 , wherein:
 said first cradle extends cross-wise relative to said first draft sill of said railroad car;   an end sill is spaced lengthwise outboard of said first cradle and oriented cross-wise relative to said first draft sill; and   said side-mounted trackside-operable handbrake assembly is recessed between said first cradle and said end sill.   
     
     
         16 . The railroad tank car of  claim 14 , wherein said tank car has a tank and said tank has a transverse handrail mounted thereto. 
     
     
         17 . The railroad tank car of  claim 14 , having a tank mounted on trucks, said tank car having a walkway located longitudinally outboard of said tank, and said walkway running transversely across said tank car. 
     
     
         18 . The railroad tank car of  claim 14 , wherein said tank car has first and second spaced apart main bolsters, each of said main bolsters is mounted at a respective truck center over a corresponding one of said railroad car trucks; each of said cradles is mounted upon a respective one of said main bolsters; said tank car having jacking pads located at the laterally outermost extremities of said main bolsters. 
     
     
         19 . The railroad tank car of  claim 18 , wherein said tank car has a side sill extending lengthwise outboard of said bolster, said side sill is recessed laterally inboard clear of said jacking pad, and said handbrake assembly is nested between said main bolster and said end sill.