Protective cover for railcars

Abstract

A protective cover for a truck assembly of a railcar comprises a first end portion, a second end portion, and a middle portion. The first end portion is molded to fit over a first section of the truck assembly. The second end portion is molded to fit over a second section of the truck assembly. The middle portion is molded to fit over a middle section of the truck assembly. The first end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The second end portion and the middle portion are coupled to one another using at least one fastener. The first end portion, the second end portion, and the middle portion are molded such that when coupled together, the protective cover corresponds to a frame structure of the truck assembly.

1 . A protective cover for a truck assembly of a railcar comprising:
 a first end portion molded to fit over a first section of the truck assembly;   a second end portion molded to fit over a second section of the truck assembly;   a middle portion molded to fit over a middle section of the truck assembly;   at least a first fastener configured to couple the first end portion and the middle portion at one or more locations where the first end portion meets the middle portion; and   at least a second fastener configured to couple the second end portion and the middle portion at one or more locations where the second end portion meets the middle portion,   wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, and the middle portion are molded such that when coupled together, the protective cover corresponds to a frame structure of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein for a first type of railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a first distance and the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the first distance.   
     
     
         3 . The protective cover of  claim 2 , wherein for a second type of railcar different from the first type pf railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a second distance;   the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the second distance; and   the second distance is different from the first distance.   
     
     
         4 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover houses at least a portion of the truck assembly to protect the truck assembly from being exposed to paint during a painting operation of a component of the railcar adjacent to the truck assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end portion is designed to fit over the first section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the first section of the truck assembly;   the second end portion is designed to fit over the second section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the second section of the truck assembly; and   the middle portion is designed to fit over the middle section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the middle section of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         6 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is formed of a plastic or a plastic alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the truck assembly comprises at least one of a side frame, a wheel, a wheel bearing, and a wheel axle. 
     
     
         8 . A railcar comprising:
 a truck assembly; and   a protective cover configured to cover the truck assembly, comprising:
 a first end portion molded to fit over a first section of the truck assembly; 
 a second end portion molded to fit over a second section of the truck assembly; 
 a middle portion molded to fit over a middle section of the truck assembly; 
 at least a first fastener configured to couple the first end portion and the middle portion at one or more locations where the first end portion meets the middle portion; and 
 at least a second fastener configured to couple the second end portion and the middle portion at one or more locations where the second end portion meets the middle portion, 
   wherein the first end portion, the second end portion, and the middle portion are molded such that when coupled together, the protective cover corresponds to a frame structure of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The railcar of  claim 8 , wherein for a first type of railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a first distance and the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the first distance.   
     
     
         10 . The railcar of  claim 9 , wherein for a second type of railcar different from the first type pf railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a second distance;   the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the second distance; and   the second distance is different from the first distance.   
     
     
         11 . The railcar of  claim 8 , wherein the protective cover houses at least a portion of the truck assembly to protect the truck assembly from being exposed to paint during a painting operation of a component of the railcar adjacent to the truck assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The railcar of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the first end portion is designed to fit over the first section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the first section of the truck assembly;   the second end portion is designed to fit over the second section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the second section of the truck assembly; and   the middle portion is designed to fit over the middle section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the middle section of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The railcar of  claim 8 , wherein the protective cover is formed of a plastic or a plastic alloy. 
     
     
         14 . The railcar of  claim 8 , wherein the truck assembly comprises at least one of a side frame, a wheel, a wheel bearing, and a wheel axle. 
     
     
         15 . A method for using a protective cover for a truck assembly of a railcar during a painting operation comprising:
 installing a first end portion of the protective cover over a first section of the truck assembly, wherein the first end portion of the protective cover is molded to fit over the first section of the truck assembly;   installing a second end portion of the protective cover over a second section of the truck assembly, wherein the second end portion of the protective cover is molded to fit over the second section of the truck assembly;   installing a middle portion of the protective cover over a middle section of the truck assembly, wherein the middle portion of the protective cover is molded to fit over the middle section of the truck assembly;   coupling the first end portion to the middle portion by at least a first fastener at one or more locations where the first end portion meets the middle portion; and   coupling the second end portion to the middle portion by at least a second fastener at one or more locations where the second end portion meets the middle portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein for a first type of railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a first distance and the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the first distance.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein for a second type of railcar different from the first type pf railcar:
 when coupled together the middle portion overlaps the first end portion a second distance;   the middle portion overlaps the second end portion the second distance; and   the second distance is different from the first distance.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protective cover houses at least a portion of the truck assembly to protect the truck assembly from being exposed to paint during a painting operation of a component of the railcar adjacent to the truck assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first end portion is designed to fit over the first section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the first section of the truck assembly;   the second end portion is designed to fit over the second section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the second section of the truck assembly; and   the middle portion is designed to fit over the middle section of the truck assembly according to a surface of the middle section of the truck assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the protective cover is formed of a plastic or a plastic alloy.