| 摘要 |
An end structure for a railroad freight car having longitudinally extending and spaced apart side structures. Each of the side structures provide top and bottom longitudinally disposed structural members which are spaced apart and connected to the end structure. Each of the top and bottom members have a terminal end portion. The bottom member is shorter in length than the top member to define an overhanging relationship between the top and bottom members in an area of the end structure outboard of the terminal end portion of the bottom member. The end structure comprises a planar sidewall extending between the top and bottom members. The sidewall has top and bottom edges. The top edge is joined to the top structural member. The bottom edge consists of an inboard straightedge portion, an intermediate curved portion and an outboard straightedge portion. The inboard portion is joined along its length to the bottom structural member. The curved portion extends upwardly from the inboard portion adjacent the terminal end portion of the bottom structural member and merges with the outboard portion of the bottom edge of the sidewall. The curved portion defines a curved edge having a positive slope of constantly decreasing value when measured from the inboard portion to the outboard portion. The end structure further comprises a one-piece curved flange connected to the terminal end of the bottom structural member and to the curved portion of the bottom edge of the sidewall along the entire length thereof. The sidewall consists of a single web in the area of the end structure outboard of the terminal end portion of the bottom structural member and inboard of the terminal end portion of the top structural member. The continuous curvature of the flange is designed to reduce stress risers associated with geometric discontinuity, to enhance fatigue resistance of the flange itself and the end structure, and to facilitate access by an operator to a truck supporting the end structure.
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