초록 ▼

Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car a

Air flow guide members at each end of the cargo carrying structure of an open top gondola type railway car, together with rounded transition or corner surfaces on the exterior of the car and aerodynamically shaped and oriented cross braces within the car serve to reduce aerodynamic drag on the car as it is moved. Additionally, to further enhance the energy efficiency of the car, the cargo carrying structure is formed predominately of a lightweight weldable metal, such as an aluminum alloy, and the side support members are placed on the interior wall of each side to provide a smooth, minimized air flow resistant side surface.

대표청구항 ▼

In a railway car having a bottom closure structure and a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls engaged with and extending upward substantially vertically from said bottom closure structure for forming a space for containing cargo, each of said side walls having an exterior surface and an interi

In a railway car having a bottom closure structure and a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls engaged with and extending upward substantially vertically from said bottom closure structure for forming a space for containing cargo, each of said side walls having an exterior surface and an interior surface and each of said end walls having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the improvement comprising: each of said side walls having a portion extending longitudinally beyond said exterior surface of each of said end walls; each of said side wall portions extending beyond said exterior surface of said end wall having a laterally inward extending curve for forming a vertically extending convex curved surface along each of two vertically extending end portions of each of said end walls; each of the side walls having a laterally inward offset side wall portion adjacent each end of each of said end walls, each of said offset side wall portions having a smooth exterior surface and each of said vertically extending curved surfaces being engaged with an end portion of one of said offset side wall portions for guiding air flow conformingly along said curved surfaces and said exterior surfaces of said offset side wall portions; a vertically extending member having a second convex curved surface connecting an exterior surface of each of said offset side wall portions to an exterior surface of one of said side walls for causing air to conformingly flow along said offset side wall portions and along said second curved surface and said smooth side of said side wall for reducing aerodynamic drag on said car; a laterally extending substantially horizontally disposed member having a convex curved surface extending downward and longitudinally toward said space and connecting a lower end portion of one of said end walls to said bottom closure for reducing aerodynamic drag on said car; and each of said side walls having a substantially smooth surface whereby upon movement of said car in operation air flows conformingly along said exterior surfaces of said side walls for reducing aerodynamic drag on said car.