Railcar systems and cargo transportation methods

Abstract

Described are cargo transport systems, cargo transport vessels that are used in combination with removable carriers that can be loaded and unloaded into the cargo transport vessel, and methods of using these systems, vessels, and removable carriers.

1 . A top-loading railcar comprising:
 a deck,   a front wall extending vertically from the deck, a back wall extending vertically from the deck, and two sidewalls extending vertically from the deck,   an interior defined by the sidewalls, front wall, and back wall,   a top opening at the top of the interior defined by a top of the front wall, a top of the back wall, and tops of the two sidewalls,   a removable cargo carrier that is adapted to be loaded into the interior through the top opening, the removable cargo carrier comprising:
 vertical frame supports, 
 two or more horizontal supports supported by the vertical frame supports, and 
 a roof, 
   wherein when the removable cargo carrier is loaded in the interior, the roof encloses the interior.   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein
 the cargo carrier has a length and a width,   the roof has a length and a width,   the length of the roof is greater than the length of the cargo carrier, and   the width of the roof is greater than the width of the cargo carrier.   
     
     
         3 .- 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 1  comprising a second front wall, a second back wall, a second interior, a second top opening, and a second removable cargo carrier adapted to be loaded into the second interior through the second top opening, the second removable cargo carrier comprising:
 vertical frame supports, 
 two or more horizontal supports supported by the vertical frame supports, and a roof, 
 
       wherein when the second removable cargo carrier is loaded in the second interior, the roof engages walls of the railcar and encloses the second interior. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of loading a railcar of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 loading the removable cargo carrier into the interior through the top opening, and   supporting the removable cargo carrier on the deck.   
     
     
         11 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A top-loading cargo vessel comprising:
 a deck,   a front wall extending vertically from the deck, a back wall extending vertically from the deck, and two sidewalls extending vertically from the deck,   an interior defined by the sidewalls, front wall, and back wall,   a top opening at the top of the interior defined by a top of the front wall, a top of the back wall, and tops of the two sidewalls,   a removable cargo carrier that is adapted to be loaded into the interior through the top opening, the carrier comprising:
 vertical supports, 
 a horizontal support supported by the vertical supports, and 
 a roof that is moveable in a vertical direction relative to the vertical supports. 
   
     
     
         22 . The railcar of  claim 21 , wherein the roof is movable vertically between:
 a non-loaded position at a first height position relative to the vertical supports, and   a loaded position at a second height position relative to the vertical supports.   
     
     
         23 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The top-loading railcar of  claim 1 , wherein each of the two or more horizontal supports is adapted to slide laterally through an opening between the vertical supports at an end of the removable cargo carrier. 
     
     
         34 . The top-loading railcar of  claim 1 , wherein when the removable cargo carrier is loaded in the interior, the roof engages walls of the railcar and encloses the interior, and the removable cargo carrier is supported by the deck. 
     
     
         35 . The top-loading railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the roof is moveable in a vertical direction relative to the vertical frame supports.