Refrigerated Boxcar Ducted Floor With Removable Top Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerated boxcar floors struggle to address multiple design considerations such as customizable air flow, easy cleaning, and durability, leading to issues like dirt/debris accumulation, uneven temperature distribution, and difficulty in accommodating different commodities.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerated boxcar ducted floor with a bottom structure and top plates attached via quick disconnect fasteners, allowing for easy customization of air flow patterns and easy cleaning by enabling the exchange of top plates with different designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If closed channels are used for air flow, then air flow is provided, but cleaning becomes extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is divided into two separable parts: a bottom structure with integrated air channels and removable top plates. This segmentation allows the top plates to be easily removed for cleaning access to the channels while maintaining the structural integrity and air flow function of the bottom structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The top plates are extracted as removable components from the floor assembly, allowing direct access to the air channels for cleaning. The top plates can be completely removed or partially detached to enable thorough cleaning of the channels without disassembling the entire floor structure.
2Device complexity
If fixed floor design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different commodities is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The floor design transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, reconfigurable system where top plates can be easily removed, replaced, or adjusted. This allows the air flow characteristics of the floor to be adapted to different commodity requirements while maintaining a simple base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, maintains floor integrity, and houses the air channel system. The removable top plates can be configured differently to accommodate various air flow needs for different commodities, making the overall system universally applicable.
3Ease of operation
If open channels with top surface openings are used, then aspirations can be removed, but cleaning requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the top plates from the bottom structure, the design enables complete removal of the top surface components. This allows thorough cleaning of both the top plates and the underlying channels, eliminating areas where dirt and debris can accumulate while maintaining open channels for aspiration removal when needed.
4Strength
If integrated floor structure is used, then structural strength is maintained, but repair and replacement difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor is segmented into a permanent bottom structure and removable top plates. The bottom structure maintains structural strength and can remain in place, while damaged or worn top plates can be easily removed and replaced without affecting the overall floor integrity or requiring extensive repair work.
Solution Approach 2:
The top plates are designed as replaceable components that can be discarded when worn or damaged and replaced with new or refurbished plates. The valuable bottom structure with integrated channels is preserved and reused, reducing waste and repair costs.
Data Source
AI summary
According to some embodiments, a refrigerated railcar comprises a pair of side walls, a roof, a floor, and a refrigeration unit. The floor comprises a bottom structure comprising a plurality of channels for return air flow from an interior of the railcar to the refrigeration unit. The floor further comprises at least two top plates coupled to the bottom structure (e.g., via a pivot rod). Each of the top plates extends longitudinally along the bottom structure and is configured to rotate up and away from the bottom structure proximate one of the side walls of the pair of side walls. Lifting an edge of a top plate opposite the edge of the top plate pivotally coupled to the bottom structure causes the top plate to rotate to an upright position exposing the plurality of channels of the bottom structure.