Patent Application
20250178651
The present invention relates to cargo protection devices useful for railway cars carrying cargo, and more particularly to protectors in the form of bumpers or guards for autorack railway vehicles that are used to transport automobiles, methods for their production, and railway autorack cars.
Railway cars are often used to carry cargo. There are specially designed railway cars that are used to transport automobiles, such as, for example, cars, trucks, vans, SUV's. The autorack railway cars typically have vertical sidewalls and may have multiple levels, such as two or three stacked levels that can contain vehicles, the levels depending on the rail clearances and the heights of the vehicles being transported. A number of vehicles may be transported in one railway car, from as few as two, to ten or more, and there are guidelines for loading vehicles. In some instances, the railroads purchase the rack structures, and the rack structures are installed on a flatcar of the railroad converting the flat car to an autorack car. In other instances, the autorack railway car may be a self-contained car having a structure of levels. In most cases, the autorack cars will typically have exposed support posts that are vertically disposed at intervals along each lateral side of the car. The autorack railway cars generally have screens on each side thereof which are the sidewalls. The screens have a plurality of holes provided therein for air and light, and are designed to protect against objects and debris that could otherwise damage the automobiles in transit.
The posts or struts that support the walls of an autorack railway car present a potential danger to the automobiles therein. Often, automobiles are loaded onto an autorack by a human driver who drives them onto the platform or level within the railway car (typically on a ramp leading to the autorack cargo entrance). In order to do this, the driver must open the door to exit the vehicle. This can present a problem should the door swing too far and contact the autorack sidewall or more likely the side post. Even where a driver is careful and does not open the door into a sidewall or post, in other situations, the automobile vehicle door may become dislodged and open during transport. In any situation where a door contacts the post or other structure of the autorack, there is usually damage, and repair costs can be substantial as the vehicles typically are new vehicles. While the new automobiles being transported usually have a protective wrap covering their exterior surfaces, the wrap does not protect the vehicle from engagement with the autorack interior structures.
A number of attempts to protect the automobile cargo traveling in an autorack railway car have been made. Some prior devices may be time-consuming to install and can be expensive to mount. Since typically a large number of autorack railway cars are configured at once, any delays in configuring them has the potential to hold-up loading operations, or require advanced efforts to install the protections. Some prior devices may provide some protections, but still fail to protect some areas of the autorack railway car, leaving some structure exposed (such as a post or sidewall) and likely to cause damage to an automobile should an automobile door inadvertently contact the autorack structure sidewall or support. In addition, the existing door edge protection systems typically are placed in what are considered to be optimal locations to protect against as many different car door profiles as possible. While this type of general placement attempts to accommodate a number of door profiles, the prior devices have been known to prove inadequate for some vehicles where an outermost contact point of the vehicle door is at an unprotected location and beyond the protections offered by the current devices.
Some examples of prior devices and attempts to provide protections include US Patent application US 2002/067970 A1, which discloses a “Door Edge Protection System for Conventional Autorack Railcars”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,823 which discloses a “Bumper Seal For Auto Rack Car”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,001 which discloses a “Door Edge Protector”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,139 which discloses a “Vehicle Door Protection System; U.S. Pat. No. 10,676,113 which discloses a “Projected magnetic fastening system”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,823 which discloses a “Bumper seal for auto rack car”. U.S. Pat. No. 5,527,139 discloses a “Vehicle door protection system” using foam on a sidewall supported on a mounting bracket. US Patent application US 2010/0104391 discloses an “Auto-Rack Railroad Car Vehicle Positioning And Damage Prevention System” that includes a mirrored surface coating for viewing an automobile tire to enable a loader to determine the distance between the vehicle the loader is driving. US Patent application US 2003/0170089 discloses an “Auto Rack Railroad Car Panel Bumper Guard” that has a bumper that transversely extends from two mounting bases. U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,825 discloses a “Gap closing device for closing sidewall gaps in auto rack cars” having a bumper with a straight section extending from a body at a perpendicular angle and an arcuately shaped second section connected to the straight section. U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,650 also discloses a “Gap closing device for closing gaps in auto rack car side walls”. U.S. Pat. No. 9,789,885 discloses an “Auto-rack railcar panel bumper guard and side post guard apparatuses and methods of using the same”. U.S. Pat. No. 11,077,868 discloses “Auto rack car conversions and deck adjustments” where a cushion extends from the side of the railcar towards an interior of the railcar as a way to prevent the side of the railcar from contacting an object stored in the railcar.
A need exists for devices and methods that can provide protection for automobiles being carried in an autorack railway car and which may be readily attached to and removed from an autorack railway car, and can be adjusted or positioned over the railway car structures and which can provide improved coverage areas.
Protectors that are removably installable on a railway vehicle are provided. The protectors are designed for use in a railway vehicle, and more particularly, in an autorack railway vehicle or rail car that has been configured with one or more levels and sidewalls to form an interior designed to receive and transport automobiles. The inventive protectors include a body with a mounting area that is configured to attach the protector to the rail car side screen or sidewall. The protector includes two flanges that project from the body preferably at divergent angles to provide a barrier between the cargo space and the sidewall. The flanges are spaced apart and provide protection by defining an upper engagement zone of protection and a lower engagement zone of protection. The protector flanges provide an engagement point that is inward from the sidewall or side screen.
The protectors are secured to the rail car sidewall or side screen typically using a fastener. Protectors are configured with one or more apertures therein that allow a fastener to pass through and anchor to the sidewall or side screen to secure the protector. Typically, the sidewalls of the autorack railway cars are formed from side screen panels having arrangements of apertures therein, and the respective fasteners are inserted through the respective protector apertures and into respective apertures of the side screen to hold the protectors in place.
For example, the protectors may be secured to the autorack interior structures using separate fasteners (including commercially available fasteners). According to some embodiments, installation may be carried using fasteners that attach the protector or portions of the protector to the sidewall or other structure of the autorack. Some embodiments may implement fasteners that are pre-attached or even integrally provided as part of the protector, or combinations of fastener types.
Preferred embodiments provide improved coverage areas of protection relative to the location at which the protector is installed or fastened to the rail car structure, such as to a side screen of an autorack rail car. The protector flanges are connected to the body portion and are flexibly provided to deflect when engaged by an object, such as a vehicle door panel (e.g., of a vehicle being loaded/unloaded or transported by the rail car). The protection provided by the protector spans one or more zones of deflection, so that even when the flanges are moved or are moving from their initial position, they afford protection.
Preferred embodiments of the present protectors and protector systems allow removal and/or repositioning of the protector and components to provide protection at a suitable or desired location, allowing tailoring of the system and protectors to desired locations or relative heights along the sidewall. For example, the protectors may be secured with fasteners, and the fasteners can be released (preferably from the opposite side of the sidewall) to allow the removal of the protectors. The protectors shown and described herein preferably are installed in a horizontal orientation, and are designed to protect against an object (such as a vehicle door panel) being abraded or dented by direct contact with the sidewall of the rail car. The protectors may be used in conjunction with other protectors, including, for example, protectors that install over the side posts, or roof rails.
Embodiments of the protectors are constructed from a material that if contacted by an automobile will not abrade or damage the door, paint finish, or other structure of the automobile. Preferred embodiments are constructed from a plastic material, and may be molded or extruded. Other suitable non-abrading materials may be used to construct the protector. Protectors also are suitably strong, but yet have some resilience, so that the underlying structure of the autorack that the protector covers, such as, for example, a side screen wall, will not be able to damage the vehicle, or, any potential damage will be minimized.
Preferred embodiments may be constructed to meet the requirements for door edge protection systems set forth in AAR specification M-991, or exceed these requirements where minimum thresholds are provided. For example, embodiments of the protectors and protector systems, including the fastening components or features, preferably are constructed from materials that if inadvertently contacted will not damage the painted door surface of an automobile, nor transfer any color or material to the vehicle door. In addition, the protectors preferably have longevity and can last for a duration of at least 10 years while remaining full functionality to provide protection. The protectors also are removable, and preferred embodiments provide replaceability for conservation and reuse of materials. Embodiments may be constructed from recycled materials and may themselves be recyclable, and which preferably pose no environmental hazards, nor any harm to the health or safety of personnel installing or operating near the devices. As a further safety aspect, the protectors preferably are configured without sharp edges, in order to minimize the potential to catch on clothing of personnel and/or injure personnel passing or working nearby. The present protectors also allow easy repairs or replacement should that be necessary, which can be done on site, or at shop or pool loading locations. According to some embodiments, fewer numbers of protectors may be used to cover a large span, as the flanges are angled away from the body and mounting location, and provide for coverage in both an upward and downward span or zone when engaged by an object. The protectors also are designed and constructed to have sufficient strength to withstand expected contact with vehicle doors and/or personnel without becoming damaged or misaligned. The protectors preferably are sufficiently strong so that they can have a minimal thickness that provides protection to the vehicles, while at the same time, being flexible to absorb impacts and provide deflection when engaged by a door panel. In addition, embodiments of the protectors are designed to maximize the protective area, or zone or zones of protection, while minimizing potential intrusion into the cargo space of the rail car where the vehicle is loaded.
The protector may be configured with flanges that project away from the autorack structure providing a contacting surface that sits in front of the autorack structure (e.g., in front of a sidewall). The inventive protector allows some resilience or rebound when the protector is engaged by a vehicle part, such as an automobile door. For example, the resilience slows down the door by absorbing some or all of the force and transferring that force to the movement of the protector surface or surfaces to deflect the flange or flanges impacted. The flange displacement preferably is vertical and inward, with an upper flange being deflected upwardly and inward toward the sidewall, and the lower flange being downwardly and inward.
According to some preferred embodiments, the protector is constructed having at least one, and preferably includes a pair of outwardly positioned flanges. The flanges preferably span a horizontal length of the protector, although they may be intermittent or segmented, according to some alternate embodiments. The flanges preferably are connected to the body at one edge and have a free end that includes an engaging edge. The protector flanges may be displaced by an engaging object so that one or both flanges move upward or downward from the central body, and inward (toward the sidewall) to provide a zone of protection and prevent the engaging object, such as a door panel, from directly contacting the rail car sidewall. According to some preferred embodiments, the inventive protectors provide an expansive zone or zones of protection coverage while minimizing or reducing the amount of material needed. The protectors therefore can provide protective coverage with lesser weight than traditional apparatus.
According to some embodiments, the protective devices are provided so that they may be configured to meet the needs for the particular autorack railway vehicle, and/or satisfy the demand for the railroad, the customer, the installer, or other person or entity that needs to procure and install the protective devices. For example, according to some embodiments, the protectors comprise or are supplied in, different lengths.
The protectors are configured to mount on the autorack interior, and preferably are mounted on the sidewall. Suitable mounting hardware, such as a press-fit fastener, may be used to secure the protector in place on the sidewall. The protector preferably has one or more apertures formed in the body that allow the stem of a fastener to pass through, while the fastener head remains stopped by the body surface.
The protectors may be formed from a suitable method, including molding and/or extrusion. For example, a protector may be extruded to a longer length and then cut into multiple sections to form a plurality of protectors. The apertures for mounting may be formed in the protector or may be cut or formed after the protector is extruded. The extrusion may be provided with mounting apertures at locations along its length to provide suitable locations for mounting.
Embodiments of the invention also provide an autorack railway car configured with protectors arranged to protect the automobiles transported therein from damage due to inadvertent contact with an interior structure of the autorack car (such as a post or sidewall). The protector provides a barrier between the post or sidewall and the automobile door, so that in the event a door is swung open too widely, it will contact the protector and damage will be prevented and preferably contact with an interior car structure eliminated.
These and other advantages are provided by the invention. Features that are described and shown in connection with an embodiment may be used in conjunction with another embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
Protective devices comprising guards for use in an autorack railway vehicle to provide protection for the cargo, typically, automobiles such as cars, trucks and vans loaded into and carried therein are shown and described herein according to preferred embodiments illustrating the invention. Methods for producing the devices and for installing the devices also are provided.
Referring to
The protector 110 is configured to be flexibly constructed so that when a flange 113, 114 is engaged, the flange 113, 114 will deflect to undergo a vertical and rearward displacement. The deflection may maximize out when one or both of the respective flange terminal edges 118, 127 contact the railway car sidewall. The movement of the flanges 113, 114 upon engagement changes the engagement surface so that the forward facing surface is an area between the front 117 of the flange 113 and the joining location 121 (as per the first flange 113), and similarly for the second flange 114, between the front 125 and joining location 130. According to some embodiments, the rear wall 112 also is flexibly constructed so that the protector 110 may continue to be held on the rail car sidewall (e.g., at the fastening point), while the connecting edges 141, 142 may undergo a slight vertical displacement to further facilitate the vertical displacement of the respective front edges 115, 125 of the flanges 113, 114.
According to preferred embodiments, each terminal edge 118, 127 is disposed so that it is oriented rearward toward the rear wall 112 (or rearward toward the sidewall when the device 110 is installed on a sidewall of a rail car). This minimizes or eliminates the potential for the edge 118, 127 to catch on a structure, such as a vehicle door, or the clothing or tools of personnel loading and unloading the vehicles. The inturned terminal edge 118, 127 also facilitates the desired movement of the respective flange 113, 114, and provides an engaging edge for contacting the sidewall.
Referring to
Preferably, the fasteners used to secure the protector 110 to a sidewall of the rail car (such as the autorack car) are constructed from a non-abrasive material, such as a plastic or nylon or other suitable materials, which if contacted also will not damage the vehicle panel. A fastener (such as for example, the fastener 250 shown in see
The protector 110 may be provided in different lengths, and protectors 110 may be mounted horizontally adjacent to each other or another protector 110 to provide a horizontal zone of protection along a wall area of the rail car (such as an autorack rail car). The protector 110 provides protection along the horizontal length at the location on the sidewall at which it is installed, and also provided a range of vertical protection along the horizontal length of installation.
The protector 110 preferably is constructed from material that is suitable to withstand the elements of weather and corrosion. The protectors 110 preferably are constructed from materials that if inadvertently contacted will not damage the painted door surface of an automobile, nor transfer any color or material to the vehicle door. In addition, preferably the protectors have longevity and can last for a duration of at least 10 years while remaining full functionality to provide protection. The protectors also are removable, and preferred embodiments provide replaceability for conservation and reuse of materials. Embodiments may be constructed from recycled materials and may themselves be recyclable, and which preferably pose no environmental hazards, nor any harm to the health or safety of personnel installing or operating near the devices.
Embodiments of the invention also include a railcar configured with one or more levels to receive automobiles therein, and transport automobiles via the rails. The railcar is fitted with the protectors 110 shown and described herein, and may include other protectors (such as post protectors and/or roof rail protectors). The railcars that transport automobiles are often referred to as autorack railway cars, or just simply autoracks, and typically are flat cars that have sidewalls and roof covers installed on them to protect the cargo in the interior space. The railcar also has one or more wheelsets, one or more decks for the automobiles (e.g., single level, bi-level, or tri-level). Automobiles are loaded into the autorack railway car (typically they are driven in) and the autorack transports the automobiles on the railway to a destination. The sidewalls of the autorack car are formed from a panel, such as a screen having apertures therein to which the protectors 110 may be mounted. The autorack car includes a plurality of supporting posts that provide structure to the railway car, and which also support the sidewalls. The railcar interior structure is formed by a plurality of upstanding posts extending from the railcar frame. The railcar has sidewalls and a roof that protect the contents by blocking out debris and some weather elements. The upstanding posts are located on opposite lateral sides of the railcar and the sidewalls are also located on opposite lateral sides. An interior space for receiving the vehicles, and where the one or more decks are located, is provided between the lateral sides of the railway car, with the posts being disposed on each lateral side of the interior space, and sidewalls also being disposed on each lateral side of the interior space. The roof preferably covers the interior space. The protectors 110 of the invention discussed herein, are installed on the railcar interior to provide protection for automobiles to be transported. The protectors 110 are mounted to cover portions of the sidewalls and preferably are installed at pre-determined heights and positions to provide a barrier to unexpected contact with an automobile (e.g., such as a door swinging open). According to preferred embodiments, the protectors are mounted by attaching them to the sidewalls. The protectors 110 provide a zone of protection that is more expansive than the protector area, as the protector portions are deflected and increase the zone of protection above and below the initial installation position of the protector.
As illustrated in
The protector 110 allows for a central mounting of the protector 110 via the rear wall 112 to secure the protector 110 to the sidewall to provide coverage for the initial and expanded zones of protection (see e.g., Z1 and Z2 of
An exemplary embodiment of a railcar 500, configured as an autorack car is depicted in
The protectors 110 may be installed by securing the protector with a fastener, such as the fastener 250. The fastener shaft 251 preferably is inserted into an aperture 150, 151 and into an aperture of the side screen wall that is aligned therewith. The fastener cap 252 is larger than the protector apertures 150, 151, so the fastener 250 does not pass entirely through.
The protectors provide a barrier between the automobile and the interior rail car structures. The protectors may be installed to cover a sidewall, and provide a protective surface or structure between the sidewall and an automobile in order to limit damage caused by an automobile door that may swing out, which, instead, may contact the protector. According to preferred embodiments, the autorack is configured with a plurality of protectors which are disposed at heights suitable to protect the automobiles from direct contact with the sidewall by providing a protective barrier between the automobile door and the sidewall. According to preferred embodiments, the protector has a resilient surfaces, such as the flanges, that are designed to absorb shock and forces to prevent damage to the paint finish and/or structure of an automobile, such as the automobile door that is swung open toward a sidewall. The autorack may include protectors that have different lengths (which, for example, may be mounted horizontally along the sidewall), so that the height above the floor or floor level at which protection is required can be accommodated. Protectors may be installed at different heights to provide protection at different vertical heights along the sidewall, provides one or more zones of protection vertically as well as horizontally along the sidewall. Also, while described and shown in conjunction with the flanges moving similarly, each flange may react and encounter different forces and therefore there may be skewed or torsional movement of the flanges, and their movements may be independent of each other depending on the force and/or load encountered and handled by each flange.
The protectors shown and described preferably are constructed from a suitable material which may be a polymer having resistance to heat, cold and extreme weather conditions, as well as corrosion and UV radiation. The protectors shown and described herein may be injection molded, and/or extruded, or produced using a combination of extrusion and injection molding. In addition, the apertures may be formed using a suitable process, such as dies, cutters, punches, or other suitable devices and procedures.
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention. Numerous other changes, substitutions, variations, alterations and modifications may be ascertained by those skilled in the art and it is intended that the present invention encompass all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations and modifications as falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of: U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 63/606,431, filed Dec. 5, 2023, entitled “Rail Car Side Screen Protector”, the complete contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63606431 | Dec 2023 | US |
