IP Library Granted Patent US 7,824,140
Granted Patent B2
US 7,824,140 · App. 11/458,308 · Granted Nov 2, 2010

Aluminum vehicle carrier railcar

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,824,140
App. No.
11/458,308
Granted
Nov 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bi-level aluminum vehicle carrier railcar ( 10 ) includes an integrated aluminum roofing structure ( 30 ), aluminum side panels ( 18, 20 ), and aluminum decking structure ( 36, 50 ) attached to a steel underframe. The decking structure ( 36, 50 ) is supported on side stakes ( 18 ) of the side panels ( 18, 20 ) with the decking structure ( 36, 50 ) including overlapping extruded aluminum decking plates with ( 38, 52 ) anti-skid features. The anti-skid features include a media blasted finish to a portion of the surface of the decking and extruded ribs ( 64 ) in a portion of the decking. The roofing structure ( 30 ) includes overlapping, arched corrugated aluminum panels ( 30 ), wherein the roof panels ( 30 ) remain uncoated.

Claims (19)

1. A multi-level vehicle carrier railcar comprising:

a pair of opposed trucks;

an underframe supported on the trucks;

an aluminum upper structure supported on the underframe, the upper structure defining a substantially enclosed multi-level cargo space and including a corrugated aluminum roof decking; and wherein the upper structure further includes aluminum side stakes, aluminum side sheets and aluminum floor decking forming the multi-level cargo space, wherein the aluminum floor decking includes anti-slip features, and wherein the anti-slip features of the aluminum floor decking include a media blasted finish to a surface of the aluminum floor decking.

2. A multi-level vehicle carrier railcar comprising:

a pair of opposed trucks;

an underframe supported on the trucks, wherein the underframe includes a center sill, and wherein the center sill is a one piece cold formed center sill;

an aluminum upper structure supported on the underframe, the upper structure defining a substantially enclosed multi-level cargo space and including a corrugated aluminum roof decking.

3. A multi-level vehicle carrier railcar comprising:

a pair of opposed trucks;

an underframe supported on the trucks;

an aluminum upper structure supported on the underframe, the upper structure defining a substantially enclosed multi-level cargo space and including a corrugated aluminum roof decking, wherein the substantially enclosed multi-level cargo space further includes aluminum floor decking, and wherein the aluminum floor decking includes anti-slip features, the anti-slip features including a media blasted finish to a surface of the aluminum floor decking and wherein the anti-slip features of the aluminum floor decking further include extruded ribs formed in the aluminum floor decking.

4. The railcar as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the aluminum roof decking includes overlapping extruded aluminum panels.

5. The railcar as claimed in claim 3 wherein the upper structure further includes aluminum side stakes, and aluminum side sheets.

6. The railcar as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper structure defining the cargo space remains uncoated.

7. The railcar as claimed in claim 3 wherein the underframe includes a center sill, and wherein the center sill is a one piece cold formed center sill.

8. The railcar as claimed in claim 3 wherein the corrugated aluminum roof decking includes overlapping corrugated and rolled aluminum panels.

9. The railcar as claimed in claim 8 wherein overlapping ends of the corrugated and rolled aluminum panels are fastened together with mechanical fasteners extending through aligned holes.

10. The railcar as claimed in claim 3 wherein the corrugated aluminum roof decking includes roof latch strikers.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2025
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.; FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 069822/0471 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 31, 2024
From: BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 069831/0925 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 20, 2024
From: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.; JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069746/0953 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 24, 2020
From: FREIGHTCAR AMERICA, INC.; JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 054463/0076 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2019
From: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: BMO HARRIS BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048874/0787 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2019
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048878/0602 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 6, 2013
From: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 030983/0512 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2012
From: JAC PATENT COMPANY
To: JAC OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029546/0357 →