Railcar Heating Assembly

Abstract

A railcar comprises a tank coupled to a heating assembly. The heating assembly is configured to increase the temperature of the interior of the tank when a heating agent is pumped through the heating assembly. The heating assembly includes a first side coil assembly and a head coil assembly. The first side coil assembly includes a first set of pipelines that longitudinally extends along a side of the tank. The heating assembly includes a second set of pipelines that longitudinally covers at least a portion of the head of the tank.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 a tank; and   a heating assembly coupled to the tank, wherein the heating assembly is configured to increase the temperature of the interior of the tank when a heating agent is provided through the heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly comprises:
 a first side coil assembly comprising a first set of pipelines coupled to a first side of the tank, wherein the first set of pipelines longitudinally extends along the first side of the tank; and 
 a head coil assembly comprising a second set of pipelines coupled to the head of the tank, wherein the second set of pipelines longitudinally covers at least a portion of the head of the tank. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the heating assembly further comprises a second side coil assembly comprising a third set of pipelines coupled to a second side of the tank, wherein the third set of pipelines longitudinally extends along the second side of the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first side coil assembly is coupled to the head coil assembly such that at least one pipeline of the first side coil assembly is run through a cut-out of a bolster of the tank, and connected to at least one pipeline of the head coil assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first side coil assembly is coupled to the head coil assembly such that at least one pipeline of the first side coil assembly is run around a bolster of the tank, and connected to at least one pipeline of the head coil assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first set of pipelines are arranged in a first serpentine configuration, and   the second set of pipelines are arranged in a second serpentine configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first side coil assembly covers at least a portion of the first side above a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the first side coil assembly covers at least a portion of the first side below a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the head coil assembly covers at least a portion of the head above a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         9 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the head coil assembly covers at least a portion of the head below a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the heating agent comprises steam or crude oil. 
     
     
         11 . A heating assembly for a railcar, comprising:
 a first side coil assembly comprising a first set of pipelines coupled to a first side of a tank of the railcar, wherein the first set of pipelines longitudinally extends along the first side of the tank; and   a head coil assembly comprising a second set of pipelines coupled to the head of the tank, wherein the second set of pipelines longitudinally covers at least a portion of the head of the tank,   wherein the heating assembly is configured to increase the temperature of the interior of the tank when a heating agent is provided through the heating assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the heating assembly further comprises a second side coil assembly comprising a third set of pipelines coupled to a second side of the tank, wherein the third set of pipelines longitudinally extends along the second side of the tank. 
     
     
         13 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side coil assembly is coupled to the head coil assembly such that at least one pipeline of the first side coil assembly is run through a cut-out of a bolster of the tank, and connected to at least one pipeline of the head coil assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side coil assembly is coupled to the head coil assembly such that at least one pipeline of the first side coil assembly is run around a bolster of the tank, and connected to at least one pipeline of the head coil assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first set of pipelines are arranged in a first serpentine configuration, and   the second set of pipelines are arranged in a second serpentine configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side coil assembly covers at least a portion of the first side above a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first side coil assembly covers at least a portion of the first side below a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         18 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the head coil assembly covers at least a portion of the head above a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         19 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the head coil assembly covers at least a portion of the head below a centerline of the tank. 
     
     
         20 . The heating assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the heating agent comprises steam or crude oil.