Floating Floor Sheet for Coil Railcar Thermal Expansion

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing design of transverse trough coil railcars requires custom parts and fixtures for specific trough numbers and sizes, leading to increased design and manufacturing time and costs, as well as inefficiencies in accommodating thermal expansion.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of modular trough forming assemblies with floating floor sheets that can accommodate thermal expansion, allowing for easy adjustment of trough configurations without requiring specialized components, and enabling the use of optimized floor sheet thickness to reduce stress concentrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If custom parts and fixtures are used for specific trough numbers and sizes, then the railcar can be precisely tailored to specific coil configurations, but design and manufacturing time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different trough configurationsVSAvoiddesign and manufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is divided into multiple removable floor sections that can be independently configured. Each floor section can be positioned to create different trough configurations, allowing the same set of standardized components to adapt to various coil sizes and arrangements without requiring custom parts for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Standardized floor sections are designed to serve multiple functions and configurations. The same floor section can be positioned in different locations and orientations to accommodate different trough numbers and sizes, eliminating the need for specialized components for each specific configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If custom parts and fixtures are used for specific trough numbers and sizes, then the railcar can be precisely tailored to specific coil configurations, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of different trough configurationsVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The floor is divided into multiple removable floor sections that can be independently configured. Each floor section can be positioned to create different trough configurations, allowing the same set of standardized components to adapt to various coil sizes and arrangements without requiring custom parts for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Standardized floor sections are designed to serve multiple functions and configurations. The same floor section can be positioned in different locations and orientations to accommodate different trough numbers and sizes, eliminating the need for specialized components for each specific configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If fixed floor sheets are used, then structural integrity is maintained, but thermal expansion stresses cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrity of floorVSAvoidthermal expansion stresses

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The floor sections are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to expand and contract independently in response to thermal changes. This dynamic capability enables the floor to accommodate thermal expansion stresses without compromising structural integrity or causing damage to the railcar structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floor is divided into multiple removable floor sections that can be independently configured. Each floor section can be positioned to create different trough configurations, allowing the same set of standardized components to adapt to various coil sizes and arrangements without requiring custom parts for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design reduces fabrication and inventory costs, allows for faster assembly and adaptation to different coil sizes, and extends the longevity of the railcar by mitigating thermal expansion-related stresses.

Implementation Method 1

floating with regard to the floor sheets define that the floor sheet is coupled to the associated structure in a manner so as to accommodate thermal expansion in a length and width direction of the floor sheet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS10589757B2Coil railcar with floating floor sheet

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 JAC OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies with each trough forming assembly including at least one floating floor sheet. Each one floating floor sheet is structured to allow for thermal expansion in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of the car body and in a second direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car body.