Railcar Support Beam System and Method

Abstract

A railcar system includes a railcar bed and a beam structure positioned on the railcar bed. The beam structure comprises a plurality of support beams spaced apart vertically and positioned on the railcar bed such that a longitudinal axis of each support beam is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcar bed. Each support beam comprises a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The beam structure includes a first set of support sheets each coupled to the first side of at least one respective support beam and a second set of support sheets each coupled to the second side of at least one respective support beam.

1 . A railcar beam support apparatus, comprising:
 a plurality of support beams spaced apart vertically and positioned on a railcar such that a longitudinal axis of each support beam is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcar, each support beam comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side;   a first set of support sheets each coupled to the first side of at least one respective support beam; and   a second set of support sheets each coupled to the second side of at least one respective support beam.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets each form a generally planar surface area to support railcar lading. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support beams are positioned at approximately the center of the railcar. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a formation formed by the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets comprises an A-frame formation. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support sheets includes at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the support sheets comprise a flange surrounding the at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support sheets comprise plate steel. 
   
   
       8 . A railcar system, comprising:
 a railcar bed; and   a beam structure positioned on the railcar bed, the beam structure comprising:
 a plurality of support beams spaced apart vertically and positioned on the railcar bed such that a longitudinal axis of each support beam is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcar bed, each support beam comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side; 
 a first set of support sheets each coupled to the first side of at least one respective support beam; and 
 a second set of support sheets each coupled to the second side of at least one respective support beam. 
   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets each form a generally planar surface area to support railcar lading. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the beam structure is positioned at approximately the center of the railcar bed. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein a formation formed by the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets comprises an A-frame formation. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the support sheets includes at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the support sheets comprises a flange surrounding the at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the support sheets comprise plate steel. 
   
   
       15 . A method for manufacturing a railcar system, comprising:
 positioning on a railcar bed a plurality of support beams spaced apart vertically such that a longitudinal axis of each support beam is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the railcar bed, each support beam comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side;   coupling each of a first set of support sheets to the first side of at least one respective support beam; and   coupling each of a second set of support sheets to the second side of at least one respective support beam.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets each form a generally planar surface area to support railcar lading. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning on a railcar bed a plurality of support beams comprises positioning the plurality of support beams at approximately the center of the railcar bed. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a formation formed by the first set of support sheets and the second set of support sheets comprises an A-frame formation. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the support sheets includes at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming the at least one hole in each of the support sheets through a punching process such that each of the support sheets comprises a flange surrounding the at least one hole in the sheet. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the support sheets comprise plate steel.