Rail car closure

Claim 2

In a rail car which includes a closed roof, sides that slope towards each other at their upper ends, and tall ends, the improvement comprising: a gate structure closeable over most of one end of said rail car, and openable away therefrom, said gate structure sidewardly moveable and storeable at at least one side of the car below the slope in the car side; a top door having sides sloping to conform to the sloped upper ends of said car sides; holding means for supporting said door over the upper part of said car end, said door being moveable onto said roof by first tipping the lower end thereof outwardly and up and then sliding it along said holding means onto said roof; said gate structure including a portion moveable to a position directly outside a lower portion of said door, to prevent outward tipping of said door when said gate structure lies over said rail car end.

Claim 3

The improvement described in claim 1 wherein: said holding means includes a pair of substantially U-shaped holders at opposite sides of the rail car roof, each including a pair of legs fastened to said roof of said rail car and a base spaced from the rear edge of the roof; said door includes a cover sheet extending over the upper portion of the rail car end, and a pair of elongated vertical guide tracks fixed at opposite sides of the inner surface of said cover sheet, each vertical track having two vertically-extending runners, one spaced inwardly from the other, and the tops of said parts joined together; and each vertical guide track receives the cross arm of a corresponding holder between the vertically-extending runners of the vertical guide track.

Claim 4

In a rail car having sides, a roof, and at least one open end with said sides having upper ends sloping towards each other, the combination with said rail car of means for closing said open end comprising: a gate structure which includes a pair of gates storable at either side of the rail car, each gate having a vertical leading frame member which can move to near the middle of the open car end, each gate extending up to a level below the car roof; a top door including a cover sheet for covering an upper portion of the car open end and a pair of vertical guide tracks, each guide track having a pair of spaced vertical runners joined at their tops; and a pair of substantially U-shaped holders on opposite sides of the roof of the rail car, with the legs of each U-shaped holder fastened to the roof, and the base of the U holder received between the pair of vertical runners of the corresponding vertical guide track, so that the door can be stowed on the roof by tipping it horizontally and then sliding it onto the roof; said door having gate guides at the bottom of the door, which lie behind said gates, to thereby prevent outward tipping of the door when the gate is closed.

Claim 5

In a rail car having sides, a roof, and at least one open end with said sides having upper ends sloping towards each other, the combination with said rail car of means for closing said open end comprising: a gate structure which includes a pair of gates storable at either side of the rail car, each gate having a vertical leading frame member which can move to near the middle of the open car end, each gate extending up to a level below the car roof; a top door including a cover sheet for covering an upper portion of the car open end and a pair of vertical guide tracks, each guide track having a pair of spaced vertical runners joined at their tops; and a pair of substantially U-shaped holders on opposite sides of the roof of the rail car, with the legs of each U-shaped holder fastened to the roof, and the base of the U holder received between the pair of vertical runners of the corresponding vertical guide track, so that the door can be stowed on the roof by tipping it horizontally and then sliding it onto the roof; said door having gate guides at the bottom of the door, which lie behind said gates, to thereby prevent outward tipping of the door when the gate is closed.

Claim 6

In a rail car which includes a closed roof and sides, the improvement comprising: a gate structure closeable over most of one end of said rail car and openable away therefrom, said gate structure including two gate sections each having a leading frame member slideable from a side of said car end to near the middle thereof; a top door; and holding means for supporting said door over the upper part of said car end, said door being movable onto said roof by first tipping the lower end thereof outwardly and up and then sliding it along said holding means onto said roof; said door having a gate engager at the lower end thereof, said engager having a pair of spaced gate guides on either side thereof, each pair of gate guides positioned to receive a corresponding leading frame member between them, whereby to prevent outward tilting of the door when the gate structure is closed.

Claim 7

In a rail car which includes a closed roof and sides, the improvement comprising: a gate structure closeable over most of one end of said rail car and openable away therefrom, said gate structure including two gate sections each having a leading frame member slideable from a side of said car end to near the middle thereof; a top door; and holding means for supporting said door over the upper part of said car end, said door being movable onto said roof by first tipping the lower end thereof outwardly and up and then sliding it along said holding means onto said roof; said door having a gate engager at the lower end thereof, said engager having a pair of spaced gate guides on either side thereof, each pair of gate guides positioned to receive a corresponding leading frame member between them, whereby to prevent outward tilting of the door when the gate structure is closed.