Railroad tank car
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tank car comprising:
- an outer tank;
an inner tank enclosed within the outer tank, the inner tank being supported by a bottom support structure, where there is a tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank;
spacers and insulation within the tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank;
wherein the outer tank includes one or more openings and a spacer extends through each opening to abut the inner tank; and
wherein the spacers each have a cover plate, at least two legs that extend away from the cover plate and a bottom connected to the at least two legs that contacts the inner tank when the spacer is inserted into an opening of the outer tank.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Railroad tank cars are provided that include an inner tank, an outer tank, and tank to tank clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank. Insulation and spacers can be located within the tank to tank clearance. The inner tank can shift within the outer tank, and spacers can crush, under significant force loading, such as impact forces generated during a collision or derailment. The inner tank, insulation, spacers, and outer tank thus form an energy absorbing system that reduces the likelihood that the inner tank will be breached, and that a hazardous material contained therein will be released, under such conditions.
25 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tank car comprising:
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an outer tank; an inner tank enclosed within the outer tank, the inner tank being supported by a bottom support structure, where there is a tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; spacers and insulation within the tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; wherein the outer tank includes one or more openings and a spacer extends through each opening to abut the inner tank; and wherein the spacers each have a cover plate, at least two legs that extend away from the cover plate and a bottom connected to the at least two legs that contacts the inner tank when the spacer is inserted into an opening of the outer tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A tank car comprising:
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an outer tank; an inner tank enclosed within the outer tank, the inner tank being supported by a bottom support structure, where there is a tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; spacers and insulation within the tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of upper spacers spaced apart along an upper half of the tank car and a plurality of lower spacers spaced apart along a lower half of the tank car; and wherein the upper spacers have a U-shape, with two legs that extend away from the inner tank and a cross piece that connects the two legs and abuts the inner tank. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A tank car comprising:
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an outer tank; an inner tank enclosed within the outer tank, the inner tank being supported by a bottom support structure, where there is a tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; spacers and insulation within the tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; wherein the inner tank shifts within the outer tank under impact loading conditions and the insulation and spacers absorb energy of the impact loading conditions; wherein the outer tank includes one or more openings and a spacer extends through each opening to abut the inner tank; and wherein the spacers each have a cover plate, at least two legs that extend away from the cover plate and a bottom connected to the at least two legs that contacts the inner tank when the spacer is inserted into an opening of the outer tank. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A tank car comprising:
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an outer tank; an inner tank enclosed within the outer tank, the inner tank being supported by a bottom support structure, where there is a tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; spacers and insulation within the tank to tank clearance defined between the inner tank and the outer tank; wherein the inner tank shifts within the outer tank under impact loading conditions and the insulation and spacers absorb energy of the impact loading conditions; wherein the spacers comprise a plurality of upper spacers spaced apart along an upper half of the tank car and a plurality of lower spacers spaced apart along a lower half of the tank car; and wherein the upper spacers have a U-shape, with two legs that extend away from the inner tank and a cross piece that connects the two legs and abuts the inner tank. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification