RAILROAD HOPPER CAR UNDERFRAME TRANSITION CASTING

摘要

A railroad hopper car (10) for carrying loads of commodities comprises spaced trucks (12) and a car body (14) supported on the spaced trucks (12). The car body (14) includes an underframe having a center sill (40) and discharge openings (26). The center sill (40) is arranged in the area of the discharge openings (26) toward the loaded commodities, and has surfaces sloped toward the discharge openings (26). The underframe has members (100) connecting the car body (14) to the spaced trucks (12). The underframe members (100) have shapes distinct from the shape of the center sill (40). The car body (14) further includes transition members (102) between the center sill (40) and underframe members (102). The transition members (102) along the center sill (40) are sized and shaped to fit with the center sill (40), and the transition members (102) along the underframe members (100) are sized and shaped to fit with the underframe members (100). The transition members (102) transit between the center sill (40) and underframe members (100), allowing the center sill (40) to have sloped surfaces while the underframe members (100) have other shapes.