Patent US3918370A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3918370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Through sill for railway cars
Assignee: ACF Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-02-05
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-02-05
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention a through center sill is provided which in cross section comprises an enclosed tube of quadrilateral or tear drop shaped. Preferably a parallelogram, such as a square, or diamond, is used. The tube is so placed in the car as to make approximately an angle of about 30* to 60* to the horizontal. The present invention further comprises a hopper car having such a center sill and preferably a single bolster cover plate is used between the center sill and the side sill at the ends of the car. Reinforcing members, preferably triangularly shaped, making an angle with respect to the vertical of 2* to 30* support the hopper slope sheets. With these design features the car weight and fabrication costs may be reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 George C Campbell
- 👤 James C Hammonds
- 👤 Dallas W Rollins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:23
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D7/00; B61F; B61F1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A center sill comprising: in cross section an enclosed quadrilateral tube adapted to be placed in a railway hopper car; said quadrilateral having an apex adapted to extend upwardly into a railway car hopper making an angle of about 30* to 60* to the horizontal and a lower apex adapted to extend downwardly into a railway hopper car; said center sill further comprising opposite end portions which are adapted to receive railway car draft gear, and transition sections comprising a portion of a railway car center filler joining each of said end portions to said quadrilateral tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A center sill comprising: in cross section an enclosed quadrilateral tube adapted to be placed in a railway hopper car; said quadrilateral having an apex adapted to extend upwardly into a railway car hopper making an angle of about 30* to 60* to the horizontal and a lower apex adapted to extend downwardly into a railway hopper car; said center sill further comprising opposite end portions which are adapted to receive railway car draft gear, and transition sections comprising a portion of a railway car center filler joining each of said end portions to said quadrilateral tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A center sill according to claim 1 wherein said quadrilateral tube is a parallelogram.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 2 wherein said parallelogram comprises a square.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A center sill according to claim 3 wherein said square tube has rounded corners.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 3 wherein said parallelogram comprises a diamond.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 5 wherein said diamond has rounded corners.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A center sill according to claim 1 wherein said lower apex makes an angle of 30* to 60* with the horizontal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A center sill comprising: a center portion comprising in cross section an enclosed tube having an upper apex, said upper apex making an angle of 30* to 60* to the horizontal; at opposite ends thereof, said tube integrally affixed to end portions adapted to house draft gear and coupling equipment; and a transition section comprising a portion of a railway car center filler joining each of said end portions with said center portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A center sill comprising: a center portion comprising in cross section an enclosed tube having an upper apex, said upper apex making an angle of 30* to 60* to the horizontal; at opposite ends thereof, said tube integrally affixed to end portions adapted to house draft gear and coupling equipment; and a transition section comprising a portion of a railway car center filler joining each of said end portions with said center portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A center sill according to claim 8 wherein said enclosed tube is a quadrilateral in cross section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 8 wherein said quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A center sill according to claim 10 wherein said end section comprises a hat shaped cross section.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 10 wherein said parallelogram comprises a square.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A center sill according to claim 12 wherein said square tube has rounded corners.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 10 wherein said parallelogram comprises a diamond.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A center sill according to claim 14 wherein said diamond has rounded corners.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A center sill according to claim 8 wherein said transition section comprises a plate welded to said end section and said tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A center sill according to claim 16 wherein said end sections are hat shaped in cross section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A center sill according to claim 8 in which said transition section and said center filler comprises an integral member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A center sill according to claim 18 wherein said end portion, said transition section and said center filler comprise an integral member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
A center sill comprising: a center portion comprising in cross section an enclosed tear drop tube having an upper apex, said upper apex making an angle of 30* to 60* to the horizontal; at opposite ends thereof said tube integrally affixed to end portions adapted to house draft gear and coupling equipment; and a transition section joining each of said end portions with said center portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
66 words
A center sill comprising: a center portion comprising in cross section an enclosed tear drop tube having an upper apex, said upper apex making an angle of 30* to 60* to the horizontal; at opposite ends thereof said tube integrally affixed to end portions adapted to house draft gear and coupling equipment; and a transition section joining each of said end portions with said center portion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A center sill according to claim 20 wherein said transition section comprises a portion of a center filler.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
A center sill according to claim 20 wherein said transition section comprises a plate welded to each of said end sections and said tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A center sill according to claim 22 wherein said end sections are hat shaped in cross section.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
A center sill comprising: in cross section a tear drop tube adapted to be placed in a railway hopper car; said tear drop having an apex adapted to extend upwardly into a railway car hopper, and a lower apex adapted to extend downwardly into a railway hopper car.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
A center sill comprising: in cross section a tear drop tube adapted to be placed in a railway hopper car; said tear drop having an apex adapted to extend upwardly into a railway car hopper, and a lower apex adapted to extend downwardly into a railway hopper car.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
A center sill according to claim 24 wherein said center sill comprises opposite end portions which are adapted to receive railway car draft gear.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |