Railcar safety appliances

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a well component disposed between a pair of trucks. A pair of end sections are disposed at each end of the railcar. An end section comprises a well platform disposed near an end of the well component; an end platform disposed near an end of the railcar; and a connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform. A pair of ladders may be coupled to each end of the end platform. A first handrail may extend between the ladders and along an outside edge of the end platform. A second handrail may extend from a ladder, along an inside edge of the end platform, along an edge of the connecting platform, and along an inside edge of the well platform. A third handrail may extend along an edge of the well platform adjacent to the well component.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar;   a well component supported by the pair of trucks and disposed between the pair of trucks;   a pair of end sections supported by the pair of trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar;   a first end section of the pair of end sections comprising:
 a well platform disposed near an end of the well component; 
 a first end platform disposed near an end of the railcar; and 
 a connecting platform extending between the first end platform and the well platform; 
   a pair of ladders, each ladder of the pair of ladders coupled to an end of the first end platform;   a first handrail extending between the pair of ladders along an outside edge of the first end platform perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the end of the railcar;   a second handrail extending from a ladder of the pair of ladders and along an inside edge of the first end platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent an interior portion of the railcar, along an edge of the connecting platform parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railcar, and along an inside edge of the well platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar; and   a third handrail extending along an edge of the well platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the well component.   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second end section of the pair of end sections comprising a second end platform disposed near an articulated end of the railcar;   a pair of handrails extending along an outside edge of the second end platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the articulated end of the railcar; and   the pair of handrails are separated by an opening forming a passageway for an operator to pass between the pair of handrails to access an adjacent articulated railcar.   
     
     
         3 . A railcar comprising:
 a pair of trucks disposed near each end of the railcar;   a well component supported by the pair of trucks and disposed between the pair of trucks;   a pair of end sections supported by the pair of trucks and disposed at each end of the railcar;   at least one end section comprising:
 one or more platforms providing access to the well component; and 
 one or more handrails extending along at least one edge of the one or more platforms. 
   
     
     
         4 . The railcar of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the one or more platforms providing access to the well component comprise:
 a well platform disposed near an end of the well component; 
 an end platform disposed near an end of the railcar; and 
 a connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform; and 
   the one or more handrails extend along at least one edge of the end platform, the connecting platform, or the well platform.   
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 4 , further comprising a pair of ladders, each ladder of the pair of ladders coupled to an end of the end platform; and
 wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending between the pair of ladders and along an outside edge of the end platform adjacent to the end of the railcar and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar.   
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending from a ladder of the pair of ladders and along an inside edge of the end platform adjacent an interior portion of the railcar and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 6 , wherein the handrail extending from a ladder of the pair of ladders and along the inside edge of the end platform further extends along an edge of the connecting platform parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and along an inside edge of the well platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar. 
     
     
         8 . The railcar of  claim 7 , further comprising vertical supports coupling the handrail to the connecting platform and the well platform. 
     
     
         9 . The railcar of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending along an edge of the well platform adjacent to the well component and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar. 
     
     
         10 . The railcar of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the one or more platforms providing access to the well component comprise an end platform disposed near an articulated end of the railcar;   the one or more handrails include a pair of handrails extending along an outside edge of the end platform perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the articulated end of the railcar; and   the pair of handrails are separated by an opening forming a passageway for an operator to pass between the pair of handrails to access an adjacent articulated railcar.   
     
     
         11 . The railcar of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending along an edge of the end platform adjacent to the well component of the railcar and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar. 
     
     
         12 . A handrail system for a railcar, the handrail system comprising:
 one or more handrails extending along an edge of at least one or more platforms of a railcar; wherein the railcar comprises:   a pair of end sections disposed at each end of the railcar;   a well component disposed between the pair of end sections, and   wherein at least one end section comprises the at least one or more platforms providing an operator access to the well component.   
     
     
         13 . The handrail system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more platforms providing an operator access to the well component comprise:
 a well platform disposed near an end of the well component; 
 an end platform disposed near an end of the railcar; and 
 a connecting platform extending between the end platform and the well platform; and 
   the one or more handrails extend along an edge of at least one of the end platform, the connecting platform, and the well platform.   
     
     
         14 . The handrail system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the railcar further comprises a pair of ladders, each ladder of the pair of ladders coupled to an end of the end platform; and   the one or more handrails include a handrail extending between the pair of ladders and along an outside edge of the end platform perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the end of the railcar.   
     
     
         15 . The handrail system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending from a ladder of the pair of ladders and along an inside edge of the end platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent an interior portion of the railcar. 
     
     
         16 . The handrail system of  claim 15 , wherein the handrail extending from a ladder of the pair of ladders and along the inside edge of the end platform further extends along an edge of the connecting platform parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and along an inside edge of the well platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar. 
     
     
         17 . The handrail system of  claim 16 , further comprising vertical supports coupling the handrail to the connecting platform and the well platform. 
     
     
         18 . The handrail system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending along an edge of the well platform perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the well component. 
     
     
         19 . The handrail system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the one or more platforms providing access to the well component comprise an end platform disposed near an articulated end of the railcar;   the one or more handrails include a pair of handrails extending along an outside edge of the end platform perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the articulated end of the railcar; and   the pair of handrails are separated by an opening forming a passageway for an operator to pass between the pair of handrails to access an adjacent railcar.   
     
     
         20 . The handrail system of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more handrails include a handrail extending along an edge of the end platform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the railcar and adjacent to the well component of the railcar.