Metal fusion bonding – Process – With clamping or holding
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-10
2001-04-24
Ryan, Patrick (Department: 1725)
Metal fusion bonding
Process
With clamping or holding
C228S009000, C228S044300, C228S049100, C228S102000, C269S057000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220502
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to railway cars, and more particularly to a system and method for manufacturing a roof for a railway car.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Railway cars are used to carry goods throughout railway systems. For example, freight cars such as hopper, box, or gondola cars may be used to carry lading throughout the United States. In this regard, there has been a continuing move to increase the amount of lading that may be carried by a given car. Railroads have allowed heavier cars, which allow more carrying capacity, and further increases are being realized by reducing the empty weight or tare weight of the cars.
One manner of reducing the empty weight of a car is to utilize lighter materials such as aluminum alloy. Manufacturing a car substantially of aluminum alloy, however, creates many challenges. Consideration must be given to steel/aluminum alloy interfaces, and if the aluminum alloy is to be welded, special care must be given. For example, in welding aluminum alloy, it is frequently desirable to weld in a plane perpendicular to the gravity force field, i.e., horizontal. Otherwise, a welding puddle may tend to drain in one direction or another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the present invention, a system and method for manufacturing a roof for a railway car is provided that addresses shortcoming in previous car designs. According to an aspect of the present invention, a system for manufacturing an aluminum alloy roof for a railway car includes a welding station, a welding unit moveably coupled to the welding station, the welding unit for applying a weld, a roof retainer for selectively holding roof components thereto and for removably coupling to a portion of the welding station, and a rotator unit coupled to the roof retainer for selectively rotating the roof retainer to allow the welding unit to weld the roof components with an orientation substantially perpendicular with respect to gravity.
According to an aspect of the present invention, a system for manufacturing a roof for a railway car is provided that includes a welding gantry, a welding unit moveably coupled to the welding gantry for moving along the welding gantry and applying a weld, a roof retainer for selectively holding roof components thereto, and a rotator subsystem for selectively rotating the roof retainer to allow the welding unit to weld the roof components with a desired orientation with respect to gravity.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method includes placing roof carlines and roof sheets on a roof retainer, aligning and clamping the roof carlines and roof sheets to the roof retainer, rotating the roof retainer with respect to a welding to unit, and welding desired weld locations between the roof sheets and roof carlines during rotation of the roof retainer.
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“Welding Handbook”, AWS, 8th ed., vol. 1, pp. 288-310.
Gallinger Jay S.
Young Keith A.
Baker & Botts L.L.P.
Ryan Patrick
Stoner Kiley
TRN Business Trust
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