TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to the field of railway cars, and more particularly, to load bearing crossbearer connections on railway cars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In railway cars having side sills and crossbearers for carrying loads, the crossbearers are typically connected to the side sills for support. One example of connecting a crossbearer to a side sill is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,085,152 to Tylisz et al., assigned to Trinity Industries, Inc., which is incorporated herein for all purposes.

In designing various types of railway cars having side sills, it is frequently desirable to place the side sills as low as possible to the railway tracks or the prescribed clearance distance that has been authorized. At the same time, it is frequently desirable to maintain the strength and stability of the connection as well as ease of making the connection. Conventional crossbearer connections may not have provided an easy means for connecting the crossbearer to the side sill and side stakes that allow the side sills to be as low as desired while having a direct connection to the side stake.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for an apparatus and method for conveniently attaching a crossbearer to a side sill of a railway car having side stakes that allows for direct connection to the side stakes and allows for a minimal distance between the rails and the bottom of the side sills. In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus for connecting a crossbearer to a side sill are provided that substantially eliminate or reduce the disadvantages and problems associated with the previously developed connections and methods.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a load bearing crossbearer connection for connecting a load bearing crossbearer to a portion of a side sill having a vertical flange and a horizontal flange and to a side stake of a railroad car is disclosed that includes a support bracket formed to rest against an interior surface of the vertical and horizontal flanges of the side sill. The connection may include a projecting member attached to or formed integral to the support bracket having a male portion and a female portion and with the projecting member extending through an opening in the side stake. The crossbearer connection may also include an exterior support member having a base portion and male portion which is sized to mate with the female portion of the projecting member. The male portion of the projecting member mates with a portion of the side stake. According to another aspect of the present invention, a portion of the support bracket may be subjected to shot peening.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for securing a crossbearer to a side sill and side stake of a railway car is disclosed that includes the steps of forming a support bracket shaped to rest against an interior surface of a vertical and horizontal flange of the side sill; forming a projecting member that is integral to the support bracket and has a male portion and female portion with the projecting member extending into an opening in the side stake; forming an exterior support member that has a base portion and a male portion that sized to mate with the female portion of the projecting member; disposing the base portion of the exterior support member against a portion of the exterior surface of the vertical flange of the side sill; mating the male portion of the projecting member with a portion of the side stake; and finally securing these items in place.

Among the technical advantages of the present invention, the crossbearer connection and method of connecting a crossbearer to the side sill and side stake, allows for a direct connection to the side sill while providing minimal clearance between the side sill or side structure and the rails or prescribed design envelope. Another technical advantage of the present invention, is that it provides for the side sill to pass through the connection without being disrupted. Another technical advantage of the present invention is that it is convenient to install.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a railway car according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a crossbearer connection according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a crossbearer connection according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a back elevational view of a support bracket according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the support bracket according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a support bracket according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an exterior support member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an exterior support member according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exterior support member according to an aspect of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view with portions broken away of a crossbearer connection according to an aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1-10 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a portion of an underframe of a railway car 12 having side structures 14 and an end structure 16 is shown. End structure 16 includes articulated connection 18 and connections to side sills 20. With the exception of the crossbearer connection and method of connecting a crossbearer to the side sill as described and claimed below, railway car 12 may be any of a number of types with conventional designs, and therefore, aspects other than the crossbearer connection and method are not presented in detail as they are known in the art.

A plurality of crossbearers 24 may be placed transversed to side sills 20 for carrying a floor structure or supporting the lading. A plurality of crossbraces 26 may also extend between side sills 20. Side walls 28 form an exterior of car 12. A plurality of side stakes 30 extend vertically from side sills 20 to provide support and stability for side walls 28. Crossbearer connections 32 are utilized to connect load bearing cross bearers 24 to side sill 20 and corresponding side stakes 30.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a portion of crossbearer connection 32 that is interior to car 12 is shown. Crossbearer connection 32, which may be one of numerous connections on a given railway car 12, includes a support bracket 34. Support bracket 34 includes an attachment area 36 for securing an end of a crossbearer 24 thereto. Support bracket 34 has a horizontal bracket flange 38 and a vertical bracket flange 40. Horizontal bracket flange 38 has a first surface 42 and a second surface 44 (see FIG. 6). Vertical bracket flange 40 has a first surface 46 and a second surface 48 (see FIG. 4). Horizontal bracket flange 38 is angled with respect to vertical bracket flange 40 such that resultant corner 50 coincides with corner 52 of side sill 20. To enhance support bracket 34, it may be desirable to shot peen corner 50.

Side sill 20 has a side sill horizontal flange 54 and a side sill vertical flange 56. Side sill horizontal flange 54 has a first or interior surface 58 and a second, or exterior surface 60. Side sill vertical flange 56 has a first, or interior, surface 62 and a second, or exterior, surface 64. Corner 52 is formed between flanges 56 and 58. When corner 50 of support bracket 34 is nested or mated with corner 52 of side sill 20, second surface 44 of support bracket 34 rests on first surface 58 of the horizontal flange of side sill 20, and second surface 48 of vertical bracket flange 40 is against or near first or interior surface 62 of side sill vertical flange 56. As shown in FIG. 2, a portion of vertical bracket flange 40 rests against side walls 28, but a reinforcement plate 68 may be placed against side wall 28 between crossbearer connection 32 and side wall 28. A portion of support bracket 34 extends through wall 28 as will be described further below.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view from the exterior of the car of a portion of crossbearer connection 32 is shown. From this view, a projecting member 70 of support bracket 34 may be seen. Projecting member 70 projects from second or exterior surface 48 of vertical bracket flange 40. Projecting member 70 may be, and preferably is, an integral part of support bracket 34. Projecting member 70 extends through an opening 72 in side wall 28 and reinforcement plate 69. As will be described in more detail below, projecting member 70 may be associated with exterior support member 76 and side stakes 30.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, which show a back elevational view, plan view, and a side elevational view respectively of support bracket 34, second or exterior surface 48 of vertical bracket flange 40 of support bracket 34 may be seen and projecting member 70 may be seen to extend from surface 48. Projecting member 70 has a male portion 78 and a receptacle or female portion 80. A hollowed portion 82 may be included. A plurality of holes 84 may be formed in support bracket 34 to accommodate bolts or other fasteners as will be described below. Support bracket 34 is preferably casted, but may be forged or fabricated in other manners.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-9, which show a back elevational view, side elevational view, and a plan view respectively of exterior support member 76, exterior support member 76 has a longitudinal base portion 90 having a first, or interior, surface 92 and a second, or exterior, surface 94. Extending from longitudinal base portion 90 is a protruding member 96 which includes a male portion 98, which may have clipped or rounded corners 100. Male portion 98 is sized to mate with female portion 80 of support bracket 34. A plurality of holes 102 may be formed in exterior support member 76 to accommodate bolts or other fasteners. The vertical width (for the orientation shown in FIG. 7) is such that it substantially coincides with side sill vertical flange 56. Exterior support member 76 is preferably casted although it may also be forged or fabricated using other techniques.

As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 10, the assembly and interconnection of the components previously discussed to form a crossbearer connection 32 may be conveniently accomplished. At the time of forming crossbearer connection 32, side sill 20 and side stake 30 may already be in place. Support bracket 34 may then be placed on side sill 20 such that corner 50 rests on corner 52 of side sill 20 and male portion 78 of projecting member 70 extends into a female portion 104 of side stake 30 as shown in FIG. 10. Fasteners such as bolts 106-112 may then be placed through holes 84 in support bracket 34, and side wall 28. Exterior support member 76 may then be put into place. Male portion 98 of exterior support member 76 is mated with female portion 80 of support bracket 34. Fasteners, such as bolts 114-120 may then be used to secure exterior support member 76 in place.

Once crossbearer connection 32 is passed through opening 72, mated with side stake 30, and exterior support member 76 is mated with support bracket 34, and the necessary fasteners are secured, one embodiment of crossbearer connection 32 is complete. Crossbearer connection 32 allows for direct connection to side stake 30, but also allows support bracket 34 to rest directly on top of side sill 20, which allows side sill 20 to be lower to the railroad tracks than would otherwise be possible. Additionally, crossbearer connection 32 allows side sill 20 to pass through the connection without being disrupted.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.