Insulative panels for a railway boxcar

Abstract

Insulative panels mountable to the exterior of a railway boxcar, and railway boxcars having exterior insulative panels are disclosed. Each disclosed insulative panel may have first and second skins of fiber-reinforced plastic spaced apart from each other with foam or other insulative material interposed into the space therebetween. The disclosed insulative panels can be attached to the exterior of an existing, non-insulated boxcar to retrofit it as an insulated boxcar. In addition, thermally insulative material may be positioned vertically above a door opening for additional insulation.

1 . A railway boxcar having an outwardly directed surface defining a door opening, said boxcar comprising: 
 (a) at least one thermally insulating member proximate said outwardly directed surface; and    (b) thermally insulative material at a position vertically above said door opening and behind said outwardly directed surface.    
     
     
         2 . The railway boxcar of  claim 1  where said insulative material comprises foam insulation.  
     
     
         3 . The railway boxcar of  claim 1  where said insulative material comprises fiber reinforced composite material.  
     
     
         4 . The railway boxcar of  claim 1  including a rigid bracket to retain said insulative material in said position.  
     
     
         5 . The railway boxcar of  claim 4  where said bracket is secured to a top chord of said boxcar.  
     
     
         6 . The railway boxcar of  claim 5  including a member rigidly mounted to said top chord where said bracket is secured to said member  
     
     
         7 . The railway boxcar of  claim 6  where said bracket is secured to said member with a stud.  
     
     
         8 . The railway boxcar of  claim 6  where said member is a doorway header of said boxcar.  
     
     
         9 . The railway boxcar of  claim 5  where said thermally insulative material comprises foam insulation that is blown into said position after said bracket is secured to said top chord.  
     
     
         10 . The railway boxcar of  claim 1  where said thermally insulative material has a thickness less than two inches.  
     
     
         11 . A rail car having an inwardly directed side surface defining at least one anchor aperture shaped to matingly receive and retain a chain link inserted into said aperture in either of two orientations.  
     
     
         12 . The railway boxcar of  claim 11  where said two orientations are mutually perpendicular.  
     
     
         13 . The railway boxcar of  claim 12  where said aperture is plus-shaped.  
     
     
         14 . The railway boxcar of  claim 11  where said aperture is x-shaped.  
     
     
         15 . The railway boxcar of  claim 11  including two opposed said side surfaces, each including at least one said aperture to form a horizontally aligned pair of apertures so that a chain retained by each respective aperture may restrain cargo carried by said boxcar.  
     
     
         16 . The boxcar of  claim 15  including at least one vertical column of said horizontally aligned pairs.  
     
     
         17 . The railway boxcar of  claim 11  including a side post defining a vertical channel having opposed side surfaces and a plate rigidly secured between said opposed side surfaces, said plate defining said at least one anchor aperture.  
     
     
         18 . The railway boxcar of  claim 17  where said plate is welded to each of said side surfaces.