Adhesive Bonded Refrigerator-Freight Cars

The Unicel car described in this paper is in effect a continuous box girder enclosing a three-dimensional space approximately 50 feet long, 9 feet high., and 9 feet wide. It is well known that the cellular type of construction, consisting of a framework of spacers with faces applied to each side by means of adhesives, represents the highest strength to weight ratio ever achieved. Such structures are both very rigid and very capable of absorbing stress. The car is constructed of two skins of plywood bonded to a framework of wood strips. The production of the cars involves the separate fabrication of eight major panels comprising the bottom, top, two ends, and four side sections. At either end is a yoke block, which is bonded to the bottom of the car, and through which the trucks are bolted. The floor panel of the Unicel car is an enormous laminated structure. Construction details, including adhesives and bonding techniques, are discussed in the article. Performance tests are described for two types of cars, a refrigerator car and a standard box car. In every test for strength, rigidity, endurance, and performance of the new car, it proved superior to any other type of car construction. Cost estimates indicate that the Unicel car will cost approximately 15 percent less than a conventional car.

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