Low level freight car for carrying trailers

Claim 1

A low level freight car for carrying a trailer comparable in length to the length of said freight car and having trucks including wheels supporting each end of said car and at least one next adjacent freight car comprising: (a) a main frame including a pair of load supporting longitudinal top side beams and end channels; (b) side and end walls connected to said side beams and said end channels, respectively, extending downwardly therefrom and forming stress panels for transfering loads to said side beams and said end channels; (c) a plurality of spaced, tapered braces extending substantially along the length of said freight car connected between said longitudinal top side beams and said side walls; (d) a floor structure connected to the low portion of said side and end walls to provide a well area below said side beams and end channels to receive and support the bottom portion of a trailer therein and transfer the vertical load to said side and end wall stress panels, said floor structure of said well area being substantially in the same plane as the horizontal centerline of said truck wheels; (e) said floor structure including a plurality of spaced lateral cross beams connected between the bottom portions of said downwardly extending walls; (f) end frame assemblies secured to each end at said freight car adjacent said well area including coupling means secured thereto; (g) a pair of trucks for supporting each of said freight car; and (h) coupling means connected to said end frame assemblies being adapted to pivotally secure the respective end of said freight car on one of said trucks, and at least one of said trucks being adapted for pivotally supporting another freight car.