Door assemblies for railroad cars

Abstract

Door assemblies for railroad cars are disclosed. In some embodiments, the door assemblies include a base having a central portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the central portion. The central portion is in a plane different from the perimeter portion. The door assemblies additionally include a perimeter gasket attached to the perimeter portion and surrounding the central portion. The door assemblies further include a first end wall member having a first portion that is attached to the perimeter portion and a second portion that is attached to the central portion. The door assemblies additionally include a second end wall member having a third portion that is attached to the perimeter portion and a fourth portion that is attached to the central portion. The perimeter portion is disposed between the second or fourth portion and the perimeter gasket. The first and second end wall members are each distinct from the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A door assembly for a railroad car, the door assembly comprising:
 a base having front and rear surfaces, opposed horizontal end portions, and opposed vertical end portions, the base having a central planar portion and a perimeter portion surrounding the central portion, the central portion being in a plane different from the perimeter portion, and the perimeter portion being adjacent to the horizontal and vertical end portions;   a perimeter gasket attached to the perimeter portion and surrounding the central portion;   a first end wall member having spaced first and second portions, the first portion is attached to the perimeter portion and the second portion is attached to the central portion, the perimeter portion being disposed between the second portion and the perimeter gasket; and   a second end wall member having spaced third and fourth portions, the third portion is attached to the perimeter portion and the fourth portion is attached to the central portion, the perimeter portion being disposed between the fourth portion and the perimeter gasket, wherein each of the first and second end wall members is distinct from the base.   
     
     
         2 . The door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first end wall member further includes a fifth portion disposed between the first and second portions, and the second end wall member further includes a sixth portion disposed between the third and fourth portions. 
     
     
         3 . The door assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions of the first end wall member are parallel to each other, and the third and fourth portions of the second end wall member are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The door assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the fifth portion is perpendicular to the first and second portions, and the sixth portion is perpendicular to the third and fourth portions. 
     
     
         5 . The door assembly of  claim 4 , wherein fifth and sixth portions are along planes that do not include a portion of the perimeter gasket. 
     
     
         6 . The door assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first end wall member further includes a seventh portion disposed between the first and second portions and spaced from the fifth portion, and the second end wall member further includes an eight portion disposed between the third and fourth portions and spaced from the sixth portion. 
     
     
         7 . The door assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the seventh and eighth portions are attached to the central portion of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The door assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end wall members define an interior compartment therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The door assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising insulation disposed within the interior compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A railroad car, comprising
 a cargo-carrying container having an opening; and   the door assembly of  claim 1 .