Modular Coil Railcar

Abstract

A modular railcar includes a modular top system that is configured to hold one or more coils of material, and a railcar underframe that supports the modular top system. The modular top system includes a pair of side sills and one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills. Each side sill of the pair of side sills extends a longitudinal length of the modular top system. Each trough of the one or more troughs is configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material. The underframe includes one or more coupling apparatuses that are configured to detachably engage the modular top system when the modular top system is positioned on top of the underframe.

1 . A railcar configured to hold one or more coils of material comprising:
 a pair of side sills, each side sill of the pair of side sills extending a longitudinal length of the railcar; and   one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills, each trough of the one or more troughs configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material; and   
       wherein a side sill of the pair of side sills comprises a scalloped upper edge defining one or more indentations; 
       each support member of the plurality of support members extends in a transverse direction between the pair of side sills; and 
       each indentation of the one or more indentations is associated with a trough of the one or more troughs, wherein a position of a center of the indentation along the length of the railcar generally corresponds to a position of a center of the associated trough along the length of the railcar. 
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each trough of the one or more troughs comprises one or more angled floor sheets, each floor sheet of the one or more angled floor sheets comprising:
 a pair of sloped sides; and 
 a horizontal bottom; and 
   the railcar further comprises a plurality of gussets, each gusset of the plurality of gussets coupled to at least one trough of the one or more troughs and configured to support a sloped side of the pair of sloped sides of the at least one trough.   
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of support members, wherein:
 each trough of the one or more troughs is positioned between a pair of adjacent support members of the plurality of support members; and   each gusset of the plurality of gussets extends between a support member of the plurality of support members and a sloped side of the pair of sloped sides of a trough of the one or more troughs.   
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more angled floor sheets comprises a single sheet of metal, the single sheet of metal comprising:
 a first end coupled to a top of a first support member of the plurality of support members; and   a second end opposite the first end and coupled to a top of a second support member of the plurality of support members, the second support member adjacent to the first support member.   
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 3 , wherein each angled floor sheet of the one or more angled floor sheets comprises:
 a first sheet of metal comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to a top of a first support member of the plurality of support members; and   a second sheet of metal comprising a first end and a second end, the second end of the second sheet coupled to a top of a second support member of the plurality of support members, the second support member adjacent to the first support member, wherein:
 the horizontal bottom of the angled floor sheet comprises the second end of the first sheet of metal and the first end of the second sheet of metal; and 
 a portion of the first sheet of metal comprising the second end of the first sheet overlaps a portion of the second sheet of metal comprising the second end of the second sheet. 
   
     
     
         7 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 unloading each coil of one or more coils of material from a railcar configured to hold the one or more coils of material, the railcar comprising:
 a pair of side sills, each side sill of the pair of side sills extending a longitudinal length of the railcar; and 
 one or more troughs disposed between the pair of side sills, each trough of the one or more troughs configured to hold a coil of the one or more coils of material;
 wherein a side sill of the pair of side sills comprises a scalloped upper edge defining one or more indentations; 
 each support member of the plurality of support members extends in a transverse direction between the pair of side sills; and 
 each indentation of the one or more indentations is associated with a trough of the one or more troughs, wherein a position of a center of the indentation along the length of the railcar generally corresponds to a position of a center of the associated trough along the length of the railcar; and 
 
   unloading a coil of the one or more coils of material from the railcar comprises accessing a central longitudinal axis of the coil through the indentation associated with the trough of the one or more troughs in which the coil is held, wherein a height of the central longitudinal axis of the coil is greater than the minimum height of the side sill and less than the maximum height of the side sill.