Rail Car Intercar Cable Arrangement, Rail Car Intercar Cable, and Hanger Arrangement Therefor

Abstract

A rail car intercar cable arrangement, including: a rail car intercar cable having a first end comprising a first connection arrangement configured for attachment to a connection point of a rail car; and a second end comprising a second connection arrangement configured for attachment to a second end of another rail car intercar cable; and a hanger arrangement comprising at least one hanger member having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the hanger member is attached to at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, such that the at least one hanger member is not directly attached to a portion of the rail car, and wherein the hanger member is configured to support the rail car intercar cable, thereby preventing the rail car intercar cable from contacting a ground surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hanger arrangement for at least one rail car intercar cable having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a first connection arrangement configured for attachment to at least one connection point associated with a rail car, the hanger arrangement comprising at least one hanger member having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the hanger member is attached to at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, such that the at least one hanger member is not directly attached to a portion of the rail car, and wherein the hanger member is configured to at least partially support at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, thereby preventing the rail car intercar cable from contacting a ground surface. 
     
     
         2 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment between the first end of the at least one hanger member and the at least one rail car intercar cable is substantially permanent. 
     
     
         3 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of first end of the at least one hanger member is integral with at least a portion of the at least one rail car intercar cable. 
     
     
         4 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first end of the at least one hanger member is attached to at least a portion of the first connection arrangement of the rail car intecar cable. 
     
     
         5 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the attachment between the first end of the at least one hanger member and the first connection arrangement of the at least one rail car intercar cable is substantially permanent. 
     
     
         6 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of first end of the at least one hanger member is integral with at least a portion of the first connection arrangement of the at least one rail car intercar cable. 
     
     
         7 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 4 , wherein the first connection arrangement of the at least one rail car intercar cable comprises at least one cable fitting, and wherein at least a portion of the first end of the at least one hanger member is permanently attached to or integral with at least a portion of the at least one cable fitting. 
     
     
         8 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hanger member is in the form of a sleeve having an inner conduit area through which at least a portion of the at least one rail car intercar cable extends. 
     
     
         9 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the sleeve is configured to be at least partially opened to provide access to the inner conduit area of the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a first hanger member with a first end at least partially attached to at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable and a second end configured for attachment to at least a portion of a second hanger member. 
     
     
         11 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment between the first hanger member and the second hanger member is at least one of the following:
 permanent, detachable, or any combination thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hanger member is adjustable in at least one of length and width. 
     
     
         13 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one hanger member is formed from a substantially rigid material. 
     
     
         14 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , further comprising a rigid member configured for attachment or engagement with the at least one hanger member. 
     
     
         15 . The hanger arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one hanger member is in the form of a sleeve having an inner conduit area through which at least a portion of the at least one rail car intercar cable extends, the hanger arrangement further comprising at least one bushing member positioned at least partially within the inner conduit area of the sleeve and configured to at least partially surround at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable. 
     
     
         16 . A rail car intercar cable arrangement, comprising:
 a rail car intercar cable having a first end comprising a first connection arrangement configured for attachment to at least one connection point associated with a rail car; and a second end comprising a second connection arrangement configured for attachment to a second end of another rail car intercar cable; and   a hanger arrangement comprising at least one hanger member having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the hanger member is attached to at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, such that the at least one hanger member is not directly attached to a portion of the rail car, and wherein the hanger member is configured to at least partially support at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, thereby preventing the rail car intercar cable from contacting a ground surface.   
     
     
         17 . The rail car intercar cable arrangement of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one strength member configured for attachment to at least a portion of a rail car, and directly or indirectly attached to at least a portion of the intercar cable. 
     
     
         18 . The rail car intercar cable arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment between the first end of the at least one hanger member and the at least one rail car intercar cable is substantially permanent. 
     
     
         19 . The rail car intercar cable arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of first end of the at least one hanger member is integral with at least a portion of the at least one rail car intercar cable. 
     
     
         20 . A rail car intercar cable, comprising:
 a first end comprising a first connection arrangement configured for attachment to at least one connection point associated with a rail car;   a second end comprising a second connection arrangement configured for attachment to a second end of another rail car intercar cable; and   a hanger arrangement comprising at least one hanger member having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the hanger member is attached to at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, such that the at least one hanger member is not directly attached to a portion of the rail car, and wherein the hanger member is configured to at least partially support at least a portion of the rail car intercar cable, thereby preventing the rail car intercar cable from contacting a ground surface.