WELL CAR STRUCTURE

STRUCTURE DE WAGON PLAT SURBAISSE

English Abstract

A well car has a retractable guide assembly for changing the effective width of a container well of a railroad freight car. The guide assembly has a housing having a pair of spaced apart walls. The guide assembly includes a pair of walls with cams in the nature of a pair of aligned slots. The guide has a bar that follows the slots between an extended position and a retracted position. The well car also has a floor structure that includes several cross members for supporting containers carried in the well. Some of the cross members have a pair of container support bracket castings at either end, and a beam member rigidly mounted between the container support brackets to yield a rigid cross member. The container support castings are bolted to the side beams of the car.

French Abstract

Un wagon plat surbaissé comporte un ensemble de guide rétractable permettant de modifier la largeur réelle d'un support de conteneur d'un wagon de marchandises. L'ensemble de guide comporte un logement avec une paire de parois espacées. L'ensemble de guide comprend une paire de parois avec des cames ressemblant à une paire de fentes alignées. Le guide comporte une barre suivant les fentes entre une position dépliée et une position rétractée. Le wagon plat surbaissé comporte également une structure de plancher comprenant plusieurs traverses supportant les conteneurs portés dans le support. Certaines des traverses comportent une paire de pièces coulées de palier de support de conteneur au niveau de chaque extrémité, et un élément formant poutre fixé de manière rigide entre les paliers de support de conteneur, afin d'obtenir une traverse rigide. Les pièces coulées de support de conteneur sont boulonnées sur les poutres latérales du wagon.

Claims

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We claim:
1. A cross member assembly for a rail road well car, the well car having a
pair of
end structures and a pair of first and second side beams extending between the
end
structures and having a cargo carrying well defined therebetween, the side
beams
having an upper region and a lower region, said lower region having an
upwardly
extending portion and a laterally inwardly extending arm, wherein said cross
member
assembly comprises:
a first end fitting, a second end fitting, and a medial portion extending
rigidly
between said end fittings;
said first end fitting being attachable to the first side beam and said second
end
fitting being attachable to the second side beam;
said first end fitting having a first portion formed to mate with the upwardly
extending portion of the side beam, and a second portion formed to
locate above the laterally inwardly extending arm of the side beam; and
said first end fitting having bolt holes defined therein to permit said first
end
fitting to be bolted to said first side beam.

2. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein said first portion of said
first
end fitting includes a first flange having bores defined therein to permit
said first flange
to be bolted to the upwardly extending portion of the side beam.

3. The cross member assembly of claim 2 wherein said first end fitting has an
upwardly facing surface for supporting a load placed in the well, said
upwardly facing
surface lies in a plane, and said first flange extends upwardly of said plane.

4. The cross member assembly of claim 2 wherein said first flange has four
horizontal bores defined therein through which to fasten said first flange to
the
upwardly extending portion of the first side beam.

5. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein said second portion of said
first
end fitting includes a flange for mating engagement with the laterally
inwardly
extending arm of the first side beam.

6. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein:




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said first portion of said first end fitting includes a first flange having
bores
defined therein to permit said first flange to be bolted to the upwardly
extending portion of the side beam; and
said second portion of said first end fitting includes a second flange having
a
bore defined therein to permit said second flange to be bolted to the
laterally inwardly extending arm of the first side beam.

7. The cross member assembly of claim 6 wherein said second portion of said
first
end fitting includes a third flange having a bore defined therein to permit
said third
flange to be bolted to the laterally inwardly extending arm of the first side
beam.

8. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first portion of said first end fitting includes a first flange, said
first flange
having a first face for contacting the upwardly extending portion of the
first side beam. said first face lying in a vertical plane and having bores
defined therein to permit said first flange to be bolted to the upwardly
extending portion of the side bean; and
said second portion of said first end fitting includes a second flange having
a
second face for mating engagement with the laterally inwardly extending
arm of the first side beam, said second face lying in a horizontal plane.

9. The cross member assembly of claim 8 wherein said bores defined in said
first
flange have horizontal axes, and said horizontal axes of said bores are offset
upwardly
from said horizontal plane of said second face of said second flange.

10. The cross member assembly of claim 8 wherein said second flange has a bore
defined therein to permit said second flange to be bolted to the laterally
inward
extending arm of said first side beam, said bore in said second flange has a
vertical axis,
and said vertical axis of said bore in said second flange is horizontally
offset laterally
inboard of the vertical plane of said first face of said first flange.

11. The cross member of claim 8 wherein:
said bores defined in said first flange have horizontal axes, and said
horizontal
axes of said bores are offset upwardly from said horizontal plane of said
second face of said second flange; and


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said second flange has a bore defined therein to permit said second flange to
be
bolted to the laterally inwardly extending arm of said first side beam,
said bore in said second flange has a vertical axis, and said vertical axis
of said bore in said second flange is horizontally offset laterally inboard
of the vertical plane of said first face of said first flange.

12. The cross member assembly of claim 2 wherein said first flange has four
horizontal bores formed therein through which to fasten said first flange to
said
upwardly extending portion of the side beam and said second and third flanges
each
have a vertical bore formed therein through which to admit bolts to fasten
said second
and third flanges to said second portion of the side beam.

13. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first end fitting is a bracket, said first portion is a vertically
extending flange
formed across a first end of the bracket, and said second portion of said
first end fitting is a horizontally extending portion of said bracket
extending from said first end toward a second end of said bracket, said
second end of said bracket lying laterally inboard of said first end of said
bracket when said first flange is attached to the upwardly extending
portion of the first side beam;
said horizontally extending portion of said bracket includes a wide region and
a
narrow region, said wide region lying adjacent to said first end of said
bracket, and said narrow region lying adjacent to said second end of said
first bracket.

14. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said medial portion of said
cross member assembly is a transverse beam member, said transverse beam member
having a length between said first and second end fittings, and a width
perpendicular to
said length, and said wide region of said first bracket is wider than said
transverse beam
member.

15. The cross-member assembly of claim 13 wherein said wide region of said
horizontally extending portion of said bracket includes a second flange, and
said second
flange meets said vertically extending flange at a corner.


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16. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said wide region of said
horizontally extending portion of said bracket is the same width as said
flange.

17. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said wide region merges with
said narrow region away from said vertically extending flange.

18. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said wide region is tapered
to
merge with said narrow region toward said second end of said bracket.

19. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said wide region extends
away
from said vertically extending flange and merge on smoothly curved corners
with said
narrow region.

20. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first end fitting is a bracket, said first portion of said first end
fitting is a
first flange, said first flange being a vertically extending flange formed
across a first end of the bracket, and said second portion of said first end
fitting is a horizontally extending portion of said bracket extending from
said first end toward a second end of said bracket, said second end of
said bracket lying laterally inboard of said first end of said bracket when
said first flange is attached to the upwardly extending portion of the first
side beam;
said horizontally extending portion of said bracket includes a wide region and
a
narrow region, said wide region lying adjacent to said first end of said
bracket, and said narrow region lying adjacent to said second end of said
first bracket;
said horizontally extending portion has an upwardly facing surface, said
upwardly facing surface having a length measured laterally inboard from
said first flange to said second end, and a width measured in a width
direction perpendicular to said length as wide as the narrow region; and
said horizontally extending portion includes a second flange and a third
flange,
said second and third flanges extending in said width direction to
opposite sides of said surface, said second and third flanges being
locatable above the laterally inwardly extending portion of said first side
beam.


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21. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein:
said second flange intersects with said first flange at a first corner;
said third flange intersects with the first flange at a second corner.

22. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein said second and third
flanges
each have a face for contacting said laterally inwardly extending arm of said
first side
beam, and said respective faces are co-planar.

23. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein:
said second flange meets said first flange at a first corner;
said third flange meets said first flange at a second corner; and
said second and third flanges extend away from said first and second corners
respectively and toward said second end of said bracket.

24. The cross member assembly of claim 23 wherein said second and third
flanges
merge with said narrow region away from said first and second corners.

25. The cross member assembly of claim 23 wherein said second and third
flanges
are tapered to merge with said narrow region toward said second end of said
bracket.

26. The cross member assembly of claim 23 wherein said second and third
flanges
extend away from said first and second corners, respectively, and merge on
respective
smooth radii with said narrow region away from said respective corners.

27. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein said upwardly facing surface
is
horizontal and said second and third flanges lie at a level lower than said
upwardly
facing surface.

28. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein said first end fitting has a
first
vertical thickness abreast of said second and third flanges, and said second
and third
flanges have a second vertical thickness that is less than the first vertical
thickness.

29. The cross member assembly of claim 20 wherein:
said second flange intersects with said first flange at a first radiused
corner;
said third flange intersects with the first flange at a second radiused
corner; and


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said second and third flanges extend away from said first and second radius
corners, respectively, and each of said second and third flanges merge
with said second portion of said bracket at a smoothly radiused transition
located away from said first and second radiused corners.

30. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said bracket has a
protruding
portion formed at said second end of said bracket, said protruding portion
mating with
an end of said medial portion.

31. The cross member assembly of claim 30 wherein said protruding portion is
hollow.

32. The cross member assembly of claim 30 wherein said medial portion is a
transverse beam member and said protruding portion has a shoulder, and meets
said
transverse beam member at said shoulder.

33. The cross member assembly of claim 32 wherein said shoulder has a
horizontal
portion adjacent to said upwardly facing surface, and vertical portions to
either side of
said horizontal portion.

34. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end fitting is
welded to
said medial portion.

35. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein a container support cone is
mounted to said first end fitting.

36. The cross member assembly of claim 13 wherein said horizontally extending
portion of said bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface, and a container
cone is
mounted to said flat surface.

37. The cross-member assembly of claim 13 wherein said horizontally extending
portion of said bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface, and a container
guide is
mounted to said flat surface of said horizontal portion of said bracket.



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38. The cross-member assembly of claim 13 wherein said horizontally extending
portion of said bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface, and a container
cone and a
container guide are mounted to said flat surface of said horizontal portion of
said first
bracket.

39. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end fitting is a
casting.

40. The cross member assembly of claim 1 wherein said second end fitting is
the
same as said first end fitting.

41. A cross member assembly for a rail road well car, the well car having a
pair of
end structures and a pair of first and second side beams extending between the
end
structures and having a cargo carrying well defined therebetween, the side
beams each
having a top chord, a bottom chord, and a web extending between the top and
bottom
chords, the bottom chord being an angle having an upwardly extending leg
connected to
the web, and a horizontal leg extending laterally inboard from the vertical
leg, wherein
said cross member assembly comprises:
a first bracket, a second bracket, and a transverse beam member rigidly
mounted
between said first and second brackets;
said first bracket being mountable to the first side beam and said second
bracket
being mountable to the second side beam;
said first bracket having a narrow end connected to said transverse beam
member, and a wide end having bores formed therein to permit said wide
end of said first bracket to be bolted to said bottom chord member of said
first side beam; and
said first bracket having a first portion locatable against the upwardly
extending
leg of the bottom chord, and a second portion locatable against the
horizontal leg of the bottom chord.

42. The cross member assembly of claim 41 wherein said first bracket is welded
to
said transverse beam member.

43. The cross member assembly of claim 41 wherein said first and second
brackets
have flat upwardly facing surfaces upon which to place a load.



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44. The cross member assembly of claim 43 wherein said first and second
brackets
have container guides mounted to said flat surfaces.

45. The cross member assembly of claim 43 wherein said first and second
brackets
have container support cones mounted to said flat surfaces.

46. A cross member assembly for a rail road well car, the well car having a
pair of
end structures and a pair of first and second side beams extending between the
end
structures and having a cargo carrying well defined therebetween, each of the
first and
second side beams having a top chord, a bottom chord, and a web extending
between
the top chord and the bottom chord, each of the bottom chords being an angle
having an
upwardly extending arm and a laterally inwardly extending arm, wherein said
cross
member assembly comprises:
a first container support bracket, a second container support bracket, and a
transverse beam member mounted rigidly between said first and second
brackets;
said first bracket being attachable to the bottom chord of the first side beam
and
said second bracket being attachable to the second side beam;
said first bracket having
a first portion formed to mate with the upwardly extending arm of the bottom
chord of the first side beam, and a second portion formed to locate above
the laterally inwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of the first side
beam; and
said first portion of said first bracket having bolt holes defined therein to
permit
said first portion of said first bracket to be bolted to the upwardly
extending arm of the first side beam.

47. A cross member assembly for a rail road well car, the well car having a
pair of
end structures and a pair of first and second side beams extending between the
end
structures and having a cargo carrying well defined therebetween, the side
beams
having an upper region and a lower region, the lower region having an upwardly
extending portion and a laterally inwardly extending arm, wherein said cross
member
assembly comprises:
a first end fitting, a second end fitting, and a medial portion extending
rigidly
between said end fittings;


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said first end fitting being attachable to the first side beam and said second
end
fitting being attachable to the second side beam;
said first end fitting having a body having a first end for attachment to the
first
side beam, and a second end located laterally inboard of the first end
when the first end is attached to the first side beam, said second end
being rigidly attached to said medial portion of said cross member
assembly;
said first end of said first end fitting having a flange formed thereacross
for
mating connection with the upwardly extending portion of the side beam;
said body having a downwardly facing surface formed to locate above the
laterally inwardly extending arm of the side beam;
said body having an upwardly facing surface upon which lading can bear; and
said flange having bolt holes defined therein to permit said flange to be
bolted to
said first side beam.

48. The cross member assembly of claim 47 wherein said upwardly facing surface
lies in a plane, and said flange extends upwardly of said plane.

49. The cross member assembly of claim 47 wherein said flange is a first
flange and
a second flange is formed at said first end of said body for mating engagement
with the
laterally inwardly extending arm of the first side beam.

S0. The cross member assembly of claim 49 further comprising a third flange
formed at said first end of said body; said second flange and third flanges
being formed
on opposite sides of said body.

51. The cross member assembly of claim 50 wherein said second and third
flanges
have bores defined therein to permit said second and third flanges to be
bolted to the
second portion of the side beam.

52. The cross member assembly of claim 50 wherein said second and third
flanges
are tapered to merge with said body toward said second end thereof.

53. The cross member assembly of claim 50 wherein:
said second and third flanges meet said first flange at respective first and
second


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corners;
said second and third flanges extend away from said first and second corners,
respectively; and
each of said second and third flanges merge with said body away from said
first
and second corners.

54. The cross member assembly of claim 50 wherein said second and third
flanges
extend along said body away from said first flange, and are each tapered to
merge with
said body away from said first and second corners.

55. The cross member assembly of claim 50 wherein said second and third
flanges
extend away from said first and second corners, respectively, and each merge
on
respective smooth radii with said body away from said respective corners.

56. The cross-member assembly of claim 47 wherein said body has a wide portion
adjacent said first end, and a narrow portion adjacent said second end, and
said wide
portion merges with said narrow portion.

57. The cross-member assembly of claim 56 wherein said wide region and said
narrow region merge at smooth radii.

58. The cross member assembly of claim 47 wherein said flange is a first
flange,
said body has first and second sides bordering said flat surface, said first
and second
sides extending away from said first flange toward said second end; and second
and
third flanges extending from said first and second sides, respectively.

59. The cross member assembly of claim 58 wherein said second and third
flanges
each have respective upwardly facing surfaces; and said upwardly facing
surfaces of
said second and third flanges are stepped downward relative to said upwardly
facing
surface of said body.

60. The cross-member assembly of claim 47 wherein said second end fitting is
the
same as said first end fitting, and both said first end fitting and said
second end fitting
are welded to said transverse beam member.



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61. A railroad freight car including a longitudinal well for carrying
intermodal cargo
containers, comprising:
a structural frame having side beams, end structures and a floor, said side
beams
being connected to said end structures at opposite ends of said side
beams, each of said side beams having a top chord and a bottom chord
and a web extending between said top chord and said bottom chord, said
floor extending between said bottom chords of said side beams;
said floor including a plurality of load supporting transverse beam members
spaced along said well at container support points, said load supporting
transverse members extending between container support brackets
mounted on said bottom chords of said side beams;
said bottom chords of said side beams being a first bottom chord and a second
bottom chord respectively;
said first bottom chord having an upwardly extending arm, and a laterally
inwardly extending arm extending toward said second bottom chord;
said second bottom chord having an upwardly extending arm and a laterally
inwardly extending arm extending toward said first bottom chord;
a first of said container support brackets being mounted to said first bottom
chord, a second of said container support brackets being mounted to said
second bottom chord opposite to said first container support bracket;
one of said transverse beam members being a first transverse beam member
rigidly mounted between said first and second container support
brackets;
said first container support bracket having a first portion mounted against
said
upwardly extending arm of said first bottom chord, and a second portion
mounted above said inwardly extending arm of said first bottom chord;
said second container support bracket having a first portion mounted against
said upwardly extending arm of said second bottom chord, and a second
portion mounted above said inwardly extending arm of said second
bottom chord; and
said first portion of said first container support bracket is bolted to said
upwardly extending arm of said first bottom chord, and said first portion
of said second container support bracket is bolted to said upwardly
extending arm of said second bottom chord.


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62. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein said first portion of said
first
container support bracket includes a first flange having bores defined therein
to permit
said first flange to be bolted to the upwardly extending arm of the bottom
chord of the
first side beam.

63. The railroad freight car of claim 62 wherein said first container support
bracket
has an upwardly facing surface for supporting a load placed in the well, said
upwardly
facing surface lies in a plane, and said first flange extends upwardly of said
plane.

64. The railroad freight car of claim 63 wherein said first flange has four
horizontal
bores defined therein through which to fasten said first flange to the
upwardly extending
arm of the bottom chord of the first side beam.

65. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein said second portion of said
first
container support bracket includes a flange for mating engagement with the
laterally
inwardly extending arm of the bottom chard of the first side beam.

66. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein:
said first portion of said first container support bracket includes a first
flange
having bores defined therein to permit said first flange to be bolted to the
upwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of the first side beam; and
said second portion of said first container support bracket includes a second
flange having a bore defined therein to permit said second flange to be
bolted to the laterally inwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of the
first side beam.

67. The railroad freight car of claim 66 wherein said second portion of said
first
container support bracket includes a third flange having a bore defined
therein to permit
said third flange to be bolted to said laterally inwardly extending arm of the
bottom
chord of the first side beam.

68. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein:
said first portion of said first container support bracket includes a first
flange,
said first flange having a first face for contacting the upwardly extending
arm of the bottom chord of the first side beam, said first face lying in a


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vertical plane and having bores defined therein to permit said first flange
to be bolted to the upwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of the
side beam; and
said second portion of said first container support bracket includes a second
flange having a second face for mating engagement: with the laterally
inwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of said first side beam, said
second face lying in a horizontal plane.

69. The railroad freight car of claim 68 wherein said bores defined in said
first
flange have horizontal axes, and said horizontal axes of said bores are offset
upwardly
from said horizontal plane of said second face of said second flange.

70. The railroad freight car of claim 68 wherein said second flange has a bore
defined therein to permit said second flange to be bolted to the laterally
inwardly
extending arm of the bottom chord of said first side beam, said bore in said
second
flange has a vertical axis, and said vertical axis of said bore in said second
flange is
horizontally offset laterally inboard of the vertical plane of said first face
of said first
flange.

71. The railroad freight car of claim 68 wherein:
said bores defined in said first flange have horizontal axes, and said
horizontal
aces of said bores are offset upwardly from said horizontal plane of said
second face of said second flange; and
said second flange has a bore defined therein to permit said second flange to
be
bolted to the laterally inwardly extending arm of said first side beam,
said bore in said second flange has a vertical axis, and said vertical axis
of said bore in said second flange is horizontally offset laterally inboard
of the vertical plane of said first face of said first flange.

72. The railroad freight car of claim 62 wherein said first flange has four
horizontal
bores formed therein through which to admit bolts to fasten said first flange
to said
upwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of said first side beam, and said
second
and third flanges each have a vertical bore formed therein through which to
admit bolts
to fasten said second and third flanges to said inwardly extending arm of said
side
beam.



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73. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein:
said first portion is a vertically extending flange formed across a first end
of said
first container support bracket, and said second portion of said first
container support bracket is a horizontally extending portion of said first
container support bracket extending from said first end toward a second
end of said first container support bracket, said second end of said first
container support bracket lying laterally inboard of said first end of said
first container support bracket; and
said horizontally extending portion of said first container support bracket
includes a wide region and a narrow region, said wide region lying
adjacent to said first end of said bracket, and said narrow region lying
adjacent to said second end of said first bracket.

74. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said first transverse beam
member
has a length between said first and second container support brackets, and a
width
perpendicular to said length, and said wide region of said first container
support bracket
is wider than said first transverse beam member.

75. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said wide region of said
horizontally extending portion of said bracket includes a second flange, and
said second
flange meets said first flange at a corner.

76. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said wide region of said
horizontally extending portion of said first container support bracket is the
same width
as said flange.

77. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said wide region merges with
said
narrow region away from said first flange.

78. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said wide region is tapered
to merge
with said narrow region toward said second end of said bracket.

79. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said wide region extends away
from
said first flange and merges on smoothly curved corners with said narrow
region.


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80. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein:
said first portion of said first container support bracket includes a first
flange,
said first flange being a vertically extending flange formed across a first
end of the first container support bracket, and said second portion of said
first container support bracket includes a horizontally extending portion
extending from said first end toward a second end of said bracket, said
second end of said bracket lying laterally inboard of said first end of said
bracket;
said horizontally extending portion of said first container support bracket
includes a wide region and a narrow region, said wide region lying
adjacent to said first end of said first container support bracket, and said
narrow region lying adjacent to said second end of said first container
support bracket;
said horizontally extending portion has an upwardly facing surface, said
upwardly facing surface having a length measured laterally inboard from
said first flange to said second end, and a width measured in a width
direction perpendicular to said length as wide as the narrow region; and
said horizontally extending portion includes a second flange and a third
flange,
said second and third flanges extending in said width direction to
opposite sides of said surface, said second and third flanges being
located above the laterally inwardly extending arm of the bottom chord
of said first side beam.

81. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein:
said second flange meets said first flange at a first corner; and
said third flange meets said first flange at a second corner.

82. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein said second and third flanges
each
have a face contacting said laterally inwardly extending arm of the bottom
chord of said
first side beam, and said respective faces are co-planar.

83. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein:
said second flange meets said first flange at a first corner;
said third flange meets said first flange at a second corner; and


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said second and third flanges extend away from said first and second corners
respectively and toward said second end of said bracket.

84. The railroad freight car of claim 83 wherein said second and third flanges
merge
with said narrow region away from said first and second corners.

85. The railroad freight car of claim 83 wherein said second and third flanges
are
tapered to merge with said narrow region toward said second end of said
bracket.

86. The railroad freight car of claim 83 wherein said second and third flanges
extend
away from said first and second corners, respectively, and merge on respective
smooth
radii with said narrow region away from said respective corners.

87. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein said upwardly facing surface
is
horizontal and said second and third flanges lie at a level lower than said
upwardly
facing surface.

88. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein said first portion has a
first vertical
thickness abreast of said second and third flanges, and said second and third
flanges
have a second vertical thickness that is less than the first vertical
thickness.

89. The railroad freight car of claim 80 wherein:
said second flange intersects with said first flange at a first radiused
corner;
said third flange intersects with the first flange at a second radiused
corner; and
said second and third flanges extend away from said first and second radius
corners, respectively, and each flange merges with said second portion at
a smoothly radiused transition located away from said first and second
radiused corners.

90. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said first container support
bracket
has a protruding portion formed at said second end thereof, said protruding
portion
being mated with an end of the transverse beam member.

91. The railroad freight car of claim 90 wherein said protruding portion is
hollow.



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92. The railroad freight car of claim 90 wherein said protruding portion has a
shoulder, and meets said transverse beam member at said shoulder.

93. The railroad freight car of claim 92 wherein said shoulder has a
horizontal
portion adjacent to said narrow region, and vertical portions to either side
of said
horizontal portion.

94. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein said first and second
container
support brackets are welded to said transverse beam member.

95. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein a container support cone is
mounted
to said first container support bracket.

96. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said horizontally extending
portion
of said first container support bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface,
and a container
cone is mounted to said flat surface.

97. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said horizontally extending
portion
of said bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface, and a container guide is
mounted to
said flat surface of said horizontal portion of said bracket.

98. The railroad freight car of claim 73 wherein said horizontally extending
portion
of said bracket has a flat upwardly facing surface, and a container cone and a
container
guide are mounted to said flat surface of sand horizontal portion of said
first bracket.

99. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein said first container support
bracket
is a casting.

100. The railroad freight car of claim 61 wherein said second container
support
bracket is the same as said first end fitting.

Description

i.
CA 02359695 2002-06-28
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WELL CAR STRUCTURE
Field of Invention
This invention relates to cross members for supporting containers
carned in a rail road well car and to a rail road freight car including a
longitudinal
well for carrying intermodal cargo containers that has container support cross
members.
Backeround of Invention
Intermodal cargo containers are standardized in various lengths such
as 20, 24, 40, 45, 48 and 53 ft. The standardized cargo containers are
regularly
stacked one on top of another on a railway freight car for transport.
The ever increasing demand to increase the payload of railway cars
and commercial competitiveness has forced manufacturers to design lighter
railway
cars which can still safely withstand the various dynamic forces which act
upon the
cargo containers during transport.
United States Patent No.4,599,949, discloses a light weight container
car. The container car comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side sills
of
double web construction welded to a plurality of transverse beams and cross
beams for strengthening the side sills from lateral deflection. Two cross
beams
are welded to a centred pad and extend between adjacent transverse beams.
United States Patent No. 4,771,706, discloses a container carrying
railroad car with supporting castings. The car body has opposing side walls
and
end walls defining a well in which a container can be received. The supports
for
the bottom of the container within the well have a plurality of metal casings
joined
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to each side wall. Each casting has a substantially vertical leg jointed to an
exterior stiffener on the side wall and an arm extending substantially
horizontally
inward under the side chord or angle towards the centre of the car on which a
container bottom can be supported.
United States Patent No. 4,909,157, discloses a railway car having
a plurality of spaced metal castings jointed to each side wall. Each casting
has an
L-shape with the vertical leg joined at the bottom of the side wall to an
exterior
stiffener and the arm of the casting extending laterally horizontally inwardly
under
the side bottom chord or angle to aid in supporting a container in the well.
In order to stack two cargo containers, the railroad car must have
a well to carry the two stacked containers as low as possible to meet the
height
restrictions of the rail system. The load bearing surfaces are generally
vertically
offset from the support points and the coupling points of the railroad car. As
a
result, unbalanced moments are created which must be counterbalanced with an
opposite moment.
United States Patent No.4,599,949, discloses an end bulkhead joined
to the side sills. The bulkhead has a plurality of strengthening baffles.
United States Patent No. 4,807,722, discloses a railway car wherein
each end of the car has a stub sill knee to transfer loads from the coupling
to a
lower horizontal shear plate in the well area which can collect snow which
must
be cleared before loading the car.
Although these patents effectively counterbalance the unbalanced
moments, the structure has not been fully satisfactory.
Intermodal cargo containers are also standardized in terms of width.
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A cargo container can have either a 96 inch or 102 inch width. A well of a
railroad freight car is generally manufactured to receive the larger width
container. However, if a narrower width container is loaded into the wider
well,
the narrower container is prone to overturn within the container well.
Retractable
guides have been proposed to effectively narrow the width of the container
well.
United States Patent No. 4,754,709, discloses a railroad car for
carrying a container. The car body has opposing side walls having guides
mounted
along each side for reducing the width of the wells spaced therebetween so as
to
centre in the well, a container having a width less than the well width so as
to
limit sideward movement of the container in the well when the car rocks.
However, such guides must be deployed prior to the container being deposited
in
the well, since the guide pivots. through a space which is occupied by the
container
after it has been deposited in the well. a
United States Patent No. 4,930,426, discloses a device for changing
the effective width of a container well of a freight car. A guide body is slid
laterally inwardly and locker in the inner position for guiding a narrower
container. A latch comprising a bar and aperture is used to lock the guide
body
in either the inner or outer position. However, the latch is prone to jam with
ice
under freezing conditions and therefore will lock in a particular position.
Summary of the Invention
The disadvantaf;es of the prior art may be overcome by providing
a retractable guide assembly 'which is deployable regardless of whether a
cargo
container has been loaded and which is not prone to rust or jam.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a

CA 02359695 2002-06-28
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retractable guide assembly for changing the effective width of a container
well
of a railroad freight car. The guide assembly comprises a housing having a
pair of
spaced apart walls, each having an inverted U-shaped slot, and a guide for
slidably
mounted between the walls for translational movement relative to the housing.
The guide is slidable between a retracted position and an extended position in
which a portion of the guide projects beyond the housing. The guide has a bar
for
extending through each slot of the walls for travelling therealong in a cam
relationship as the guide slides between the retracted positions and the
extended
position.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
retractable guide assembly for attachment to an upper edge of a wall of a
railroad
car. The retractable guide assembly comprises a housing and a guide. The
housing has a base and a pair of spaced opposed walls mounted on the base.
Each wall has a matching, inverted generally U-shaped slot with downwardly
1 S depending slot arms, one of which is angled away from the other and the
other
has a basal abutment. The guide is slidably mounted between the walls. The
guide has a convex bumper face extending between the walls, a bar extending
from the guide adapted for sliding travel in each of the walls slots, and a
downwardly depending protrusion formed below the convex bumper face. The
convex bumper face is extendable beyond the housing by seating the bar in the
slot arm having the basal abutment and is retractable by seating the bar in
the slot
arm angled away from the other.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
retractable guide assembly for changing the effective width of a container
well
of a railroad freight car. The guide assembly comprises a housing and a guide.
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The housing has a pair of spaced apart walls, each having an inverted U-shaped
slot. The guide is pivotally mounted between the walls for rotational movement
relative to the housing. The guide is pivotable between a retracted position
and
an extended position in which a portion of the guide projects beyond the
housing.
S The guide has a radially extending slot and a bar slidably engaging the
radially
extending slot for reciprocal movement relative to an axis of rotation of the
guide.
The bar extends through each of the U-shaped slots of the walls for travelling
therealong in a cam relationship. When the bar is in a radially inward
position,
the guide is pivotable between the retracted and extended positions and when
the
bar is in a radially outward position, the guide is restrained in either of
the
retracted and extended positions.
According to still another aspect of the invention there is a cross member
assembly for a rail road well car. The well car has a pair of end structures
and a
pair of first and second side beams extending between the end structures and
has a
cargo carrying well defined therebetween. The side beams have an upper region
and a lower region. The lower region has an upwardly extending portion and a
laterally inwardly extending arm, wherein the cross member assembly comprises
a first end fitting, a second end fitting, and a medial portion extending
rigidly
between the end fittings. The first end fitting is attachable to the first
side beam
and the second end fitting is attachable to the second side beam. The first
end
fitting has a first portion formed to mate with the upwardly extending portion
of
the side beam, and a second portion formed to locate above the laterally
inwardly
extending arm of the side beam. The first end fitting has bolt holes defined
therein to permit the first end fitting to be bolted to the first side beam.
In another aspect of the invention there is a cross member assembly for a
rail road well car. The well car has a pair of end structures and a pair of
first and
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second side beams extending between the end structures and has a cargo
carrying
well defined therebetween. Each of the first and second side beams have a top
chord, a bottom chord, and a web extending between the top chord and the
bottom
chord. Each of the bottom chords is an angle having an upwardly extending arm
and an inwardly extending arm, wherein the cross member assembly comprises a
first container support bracket, a second container support bracket, and a
transverse beam member mounted rigidly between the first and second brackets.
The first bracket is attachable to the bottom chord of the first side beam and
the
second bracket is attachable to the second side beam. The first bracket has a
first
portion formed to mate with the upwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of
the first side beam, and a second portion formed to locate above the laterally
inwardly extending arm of the bottom chord of the first side beam. The first
portion of the first bracket has bolt holes defined therein to permit the
first portion
of the first bracket to be bolted to the upwardly extending arm of the first
side
beam.
In another aspect of the invention there is a cross member assembly for a
rail road well car. The well car has a pair of end structures and a pair of
first and
second side beams extending between the end structures and has a cargo
carrying
well defined therebetween. The side beams have an upper region and a lower
region. The lower region has an upwardly extending portion and a laterally
inwardly extending arm, wherein the cross member assembly comprises a first
end fitting, a second end fitting, and a medial portion extending rigidly
between
the end fittings. The first end fitting is attachable to the first side beam
and the
second end fitting is attachable to the second side beam. The first end
fitting has
a body having a first end for attachment to the first side beam, and a second
end
located laterally inboard of the first end when the first end is attached to
the first
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CA 02359695 2002-02-08
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side beam. The second end is rigidly attached to the medial portion of the
cross
member assembly. The first end of the first end fitting has a flange formed
thereacross for mating connection with the upwardly extending portion of the
side
beam. The body has a downwardly facing surface formed to locate above the
laterally inwardly extending arm of the side beam. The body has an upwardly
facing surface upon which lading can bear. The flange has bolt holes defined
therein to permit the flange to be bolted to the first side beam.
In another aspect of the invention there is a railroad freight car including a
longitudinal well for carrying intermodal cargo containers, comprising a
structural
frame having side beams, end structures and a floor. The side beams are
connected to the end structures at opposite ends of the side beams. Each of
the
side beams has a top chord and a bottom chord and a web extending between the
top chord and the bottom chord. The floor extends between the lower chords of
the side beams. The floor includes a plurality of load supporting transverse
beam
members spaced along the car body at container support points. The load
supporting transverse members extend between container support brackets
mounted on the lower chords of the side walls. 'the bottom chords of the side
beams are a first bottom chord and a second bottom chord respectively. The
first
bottom chord has an upwardly extending arm, and an inwardly extending arm
extending toward the second bottom chord. The first bottom chord has an
upwardly extending arm and an inwardly extending arm extending toward the
second bottom chord. A first of the container support brackets is mounted to
the
first bottom chord member. A second of the container support brackets is
mounted to the second bottom chord member opposite to the first bracket. One
of
the transverse members is a first transverse member rigidly mounted between
the
first and second container support brackets. The first container support
bracket
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CA 02359695 2002-06-28
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has a first portion mounted against the upwardly extending arm of the first
bottom chord, and a second portion mounted above the inwardly extending arm of
the first bottom chord. The second container support bracket has a first
portion
mounted against the upwardly extending arm of the second bottom chord, and a
second portion mounted above the inwardly extending arm of the second bottom
chord. The first portion of the first container support bracket is bolted to
the
upwardly extending arm of the first bottom chord member. The first portion of
the second container support bracket is bolted to the upwardly extending arm
of
the second bottom chord member.
Description of the Drawings
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention,
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a railroad car of the present
invention loaded with stacked intermodal cargo containers;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the railroad car of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section view of a main transverse member of the
railroad car of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of an intermediate transverse member of
the railroad car of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a pair of container support brackets
for connecting the main transverse member of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of one of the pair of the
connecting brackets of Figure 5;
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CA 02359695 2002-06-28
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Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the side wall of the railroad
car of the present invention, illustrating a first embodiment
of a retractable lateral guide in a retracted position;
Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view of the connection between the
main transverse member, the container support bracket and
the side wall of the railroad car of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of the container support bracket of Figure
8 along the lines 9-9;
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the end structure of the railroad
car of Figure 1;
Figure 11 is an end elevational view of the end structure of the
railroad car of Figure 1 illustrating a second embodiment of
the retractable lateral guide;


Figure 12 is a partial side sectional view of the
bulkhead portion of the


end structure of Figure 10 from the reverse
angle;


Figure 13 is a detailed top plan view of a longitudinally
inner section


of the frame structure of Figure 2;


Figure 14 is a detailed top plan view of a longitudinally
outer section


of the frame structure of Figure 2;


Figure 1 S is a transverse elevational view of the
second embodiment of


the retractable lateral guide;
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the retractable lateral guide of Figure
15;
Figure 17 is an end elevational view of the end structure of a railroad
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n-il. t
CA 02359695 2002-06-28
car of the present invention illustrating the retractable lateral
guide of Figure 7.
Description of the Invention
The railroad freight car of the present invention is illustrated in
Figures 1 to 17. The freight car is constructed in accordance with standard
practice, the car having a longitudinally extending load bearing frame
structure
formed by opposing side beams comprising top chords 12, bottom chords 14, side
walls 16 and end structures 18. The frame structure is mounted at its ends on
trucks 20 which run on tracks. The side walls 16 and bulkhead wall 68 (Fig.
12)
define a well for receiving intermodal cargo containers 7, 8 and 9.
Referring to Figures 2, 13 and 14, the floor of the well extends
between bottom chords 14 and comprises load supporting transverse members 22,
intermediate transverse members 24 and end sills 26. Extending
between adjacent transverse members are diagonal struts 28 and 30 which are
symmetrical about the centre transverse member 22. Diagonal struts 28 are
approximately parallel to each other on one side of the centre transverse
member
but symmetrically opposed on opposite sides of the centre transverse member.
Diagonal struts 30 extend opposite to the adjacent diagonal strut 28.
Since the floor of the well is open, safety regulations require that
some support be provided in the event that the bottom of the cargo container
falls
out. Safety struts will support the cargo container load in such event.
Safety struts 32 and 34 extend longitudinally between transverse
members 24 and end sills 26. One end of the safety strut 32 is rigidly mounted
while the opposite end is slidingly mounted. In the preferred embodiment,
safety
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CA 02359695 2001-11-O1
_$_
struts 32 are welded into a bracket 36 at one end and pinned to bracket 38.
The
struts 32 have a slot at the pinned end and are so located that the strut
receives
no axial loads when the bottom chord 14 is strained. Pin 39 extends from the
end
of struts 32 and travels in the slot at the pinned end. As bottom cord 14 is
strained, pin 39 is able to travel along the slot preventing axial loads from
being
transferred to struts 32. The welded end is thus protected from high fatigue
loads.
Both ends of struts 32 may be pin connected with some increase in strut
weight.
Bracket 38 preferably receives both diagonal strut 28 and the pinned
end of safety strut 32. Bracket 38 ~ preferably receives both diagonal strut
30 and
the end of safety strut 34. Bracket 38 and 38 ~ and bracket 36 and 36 ~ are
identical except that bracket 38 ~ and 36 ~ are sized to receive the smaller
diagonal
strut 30 and safety strut 34, respectively.
The combination of opposed diagonal struts and transverse members,
produces a relatively light weight and rigid frame structure of the freight
car.
Transverse members 22 and intermediate transverse members 24
are preferably connected to the bottom chord 14 by bolts. Preferably, each
intermediate transverse member 24 is a hollow rectangular beam (Fig. 4) having
a flange on each side thereof for bolting to the bottom chord 14.
In the preferred embodiment, bottom chord 14 is a 90° open corner
angle having one arm welded to the side walk 16 which is welded to top chord
12.,
Top chord 12 is preferably a square or rectangular box beam. Extending between
top chord 12 and bottom chord 14 perpendicular to side wall 16 are vertical
side
wall braces 42.
Refernng to Figure 5, container support bracket 40 has a horizontal

CA 02359695 2001-11-O1
platform 44 having a flange 46 at one end extending perpendicular thereto and
merging with a horizontal flange 48 on each side thereof. Flanges 46 and 48
have
bolting holes 50 extending therethrough. The bolting holes in flange 46 are
preferably countersunk. 'The end opposite the flange 46 is a hollow 52. The
mouth of the hollow is narrowed to fit inside of hollow transverse member 22
and
provide backing for a weld joint. Bracket 40 can be cast, forged or machined,
but
is preferably cast.
During assembly, transverse member 22 is welded to brackets 40 at
each end thereof. Brackets 40 are then bolted to both the vertical and
horizontal
arms of bottom chord 14. Are impact stop block 53 is mounted on the vertical
arm of bottom chord 14 beyond the outer transverse members 22. (Figure 8)
On the brackets of the longitudinally outermost transverse member
22 is a container guide 54 and a locating cone 56. (Figure 9) The spacing
between cones and guides is the positioning distance of a standard cargo
container
to position the four corners of' a cargo container within the well.
Referring to Figures 10, 11, 12 and 14, the end structures 18 are
more particularly illustrated. Both end structures are identical; however, for
simplicity only one end is illustrated. Top chord 12 extends from the well
longitudinally outwardly to overlap the body bolster 64 under which the
railroad
truck means 20 is pivotally connected. Stub centre sill 66 extends from the
bulkhead wall 68 to the extreme end of the car. The stub centre sill 66 is the
main draft load connection between railroad cars. The connection can either be
drawbars or standard couplings.
Extending between side walls 76 is shear plate 60 which forms the

~~,, i
CA 02359695 2002-06-28
-10-
top surface of body bolster 64 and stub centre sill 66. Optionally, an upper
bolster
64 may be incorporated. Main bolster 64 is connected to side walls 16. Shear
plate 60 is integrally connected to bulkhead wall 68 which is connected to
end sills 26 and side walls 16. Extending upwardly from shear plate 60 is
fixed
container guide assembly 70 which comprises a plate 72 and a perpendicular
flange 74. Fixed guide assembly 70 protects the end structures 18 from damage
during loading and unloading of the cargo containers.
The bottom flange 76 of side sill ends extends downwardly towards
the~bottom chords 14. Flanges 78 and 79 reinforce the bend in flange 76. Web
69
lies outboard of side wall 16 in line with bulkhead wall 68.
The outer edge of the shear plate 60 is defined essentially by the
body bolster outer webs 61 and the stub centre sill webs 63 with a large
transition
curve 65 between the two lines. A diagonal stiffening member 67 is provided
near
the curved edge.
1 S As illustrated in Figures 7 and 17, the retractable lateral guide
assemblies 82 are shown in a retracted position (solid lines) and an extended
position (broken lines 82a). Retractable guide assemblies 82 comprises a
housing
84 having two side walls 88, a tie bar 98 and a fixed locking bar 99 to
provide
structural integrity. Each side wall 88 has a matching inverted U-shaped slot
90.
One arm 92 of the slot is angled away from the other arm 94. At the base of
arm
94 is a basal abutment 96. Bar 99 has a square cross section which is rotated
presenting a detent.
Slidably extending between the two walls 88 is guide 100 which has
two side walls connected by a contoured plate top and inner surface. In the
preferred embodiment, guide 100 has a. generally chevron shape presenting a
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CA 02359695 2001-11-O1
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bumper surface 89. The top plate of guide 100 has a hand hold aperture for
gripping and moving the guide. Guide i00 has a bar 102 through the two side
plates and extends outwardly therefrom for slidingly engaging slot 90 in a cam
relationship. Guide 100 has ~~ tower edge having a protrusion 104 defining two
notches 106 and 108.
As illustrated in Figures 7 and 17, housing 84 is mounted onto the
top of a side beam angular reinforcement 86 which is part of the top chord 12.
A plurality of like lateral guides are spaced about the perimeter of the well
of the
freight car 10.
In a retracted position, bar 102 is slid towards.the end of arm 92 of
slot 90, whereby notch 106 will rest upon bar 99. The length of arm 92 and
notch
106 will stably retain the guide in a retracted position. To move the guide
into
an extended position, the operator may lift the guide 100 by the hand hold or
push laterally on bar 102 and move the guide relatively transversely inwardly.
Bar
102 will move along slot 90 into arm 94. Protrusion 104 will extend forwardly
until notch 108 rests on bar 99. Abutment 96 will restrain the bar 102 from
travelling transversely outwardly while fixed locking bar 99 will abut
protrusion 104
stably retaining the guide in the extended position.
To retract the guide 100, the operator lifts the guide 100 by the
hand hold to clear bar 99 and bar 102 out of slot arm 94, and then moves guide
100 laterally outward to the position in Figure 7.
When the guides 100 are in the extended position the effective width
of the well is reduced. Narrower cargo containers will abut against the
guides.
When the guides 100 are in the retracted position, wider cargo containers may
be

i
CA 02359695 2002-06-28
-12-
loaded into the well.
Referring to Figures 1 S and I6, a second embodiment of a
retractable guide assembly 120 is illustrated. Guide assembly 120 is mountable
on the top chord 12 of a railroad freight car. Guide assembly 120 comprises a
housing 122 and a pivotally mounted guide 124. Housing 122 has an open
transverse outer face, a sloped face 125 and side walls 128. Each side wall
128
has an inverted U-shaped slot 126. Slot 126 is sized to slidably receive bar
130
which extends outwardly from guide 124.
Guide 124 has a pivot pin 132 which pivotally connects guide 124
to housing I22. Guide 124 has an offset shape such that when the guide is in
an
extended position as illustrated in Figure 15, a bumper surface 134 is
presented.
Bumper surface 134 directs a container away from the side wall of car and
effectively reduces the width of the well.
Guide 124 has side wall walls 136. Each side wall 136 has a slot
I S 138 radially extending from the axis of rotation of pivot pin 132 and
sized to
slidingly receive locking bar 130. Locking bar 130 reciprocally slides
relative to
pivot pin 132.
The inner corners of the U-shaped slot 126 are shaped so that when
lateral forces are applied to the bumper surface 134 the weight of the guide
124
will tend to force locking bar 130 to the remote ends of the U-shaped slot
126.
In use, the operator can slide locking bar 130 relative to pivot pin
132. In a position radially inwardly, guide 124 can pivot about the axis of
rotation of pivot pin 132 between and extended position (solid lines) to a
retracted
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CA 02359695 2001-11-O1
-13-
position (broken Gnes) as locking bar 130 travels along slot 126. The operator
then urges locking bar 130 to one of the remote ends of slot 126 locking the
guide
124 in either the extended or retracted position.
When the guide 124 is in the extended position, the effective width
of the well is reduced to retain narrower containers. If the container rocks,
it will
bear against the bumper surface 134 of guide 124.
When the guide 124 is retracted, the well is suitable for wider
containers. Wider containers will also bear against bumper surface 134 or
against
the housing inner flange 127.
The retractable lateral guides of the first and second embodiment
can be deployed and retracted before or after the narrower container has been
installed. As the container bears against the bumper surface, the forces will
tend
to urge the locking mechanism into a locked or seated condition reducing the
possibility of the lateral guides from releasing.
Additionally, the placement of the movable parts reduces the
possibility of injuring the operator.
Although the disclosure describes and illustrates the preferred
embodiments of the imiention, it is understood that the imrention is not
limited to
these particular embodiments. Many variations and modifications will now occur
to those skilled in the art. For definition of the invention, reference is
made to
the appended claims.

Representative Drawing