All The Claims

1. A recombinant polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 wherein the amino acid sequence comprises one or more of the following features:
a) an amino acid with a negatively charged side chain at the position corresponding to Asn 13 of SEQ ID NO:1;
b) an amino acid with a negatively charged side chain at the position corresponding to Glu 17 of SEQ ID NO:1;
c) an amino acid with a negatively charged side chain at the position corresponding to Gln 64 of SEQ ID NO:1; or
d) an amino acid with a polar side chain at the position corresponding to Leu 67 of SEQ ID NO:1.
2. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises an amino acid with a negatively charged side chain at one or more of the positions corresponding to:
e) Glu 8 of SEQ ID NO:1;
f) Glu 12 of SEQ ID NO:1;
g) Glu 35 of SEQ ID NO:1; or
h) Asp 68 of SEQ ID NO:1.
3. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises at least two of said features.
4. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 85% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3.
5. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises an Asp residue at the position corresponding to Asn 13 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
6. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises a Glu residue at the position corresponding to Glu 17 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
7. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises a Glu residue at the position corresponding to Gln 64 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
8. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the amino acid sequence comprises a Thr residue at the position corresponding to Leu 67 of SEQ ID NO: 1.
9. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.
10. The polypeptide of claim 1, wherein the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.
11. A method for binding uranyl comprising:
(a) contacting a solution comprising uranyl with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least about 80% identical to SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, thereby binding the uranyl to the polypeptide.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the solution comprises uranyl having a 238U, 235U or 233U uranium isotope.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the solution comprises carbonate.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the polypeptide binds to uranyl with a KD of between about 1.8 nM and about 1.0 fM.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising isolating or concentrating the polypeptide bound to uranyl.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising eluting uranyl from the polypeptide.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein eluting comprises heating the polypeptide.
18. A method for reducing the level of uranium in a solution comprising:
(a) contacting a solution comprising uranyl with the polypeptide of claim 1 thereby binding the uranyl to the polypeptide; and
(b) purifying the polypeptide away from the solution thereby reducing the level of uranium in the solution.
19. A method for binding uranyl comprising:
(a) contacting a solution comprising uranyl with the polypeptide of claim 1, thereby binding the uranyl to the polypeptide.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the polypeptide binds to uranyl with a KD of between about 100 nM and about 0.1 fM.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A compound capable of modifying ion channels, in vivo, having a formula:
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof, wherein:
wherein A is N, CR4, a carbon atom bound to L, or is not an atom;
one of W, Z, B, Y and X is a carbon atom bound to L if A is not an atom, another of W, Z, B, Y and X is a carbon atom bound to G, and each of the remaining W, Z, B, Y and X is independently N or CR4;
L is substituted or unsubstituted -(C-C)-, -(CR5=CR6)- or -(C\u2261C)-;
G is C=O, C=S or SO2;
R1 is substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl;
R2 is hydrogen or substituted or unsubstituted alkyl;
R3 is substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl;
each R4 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, acyl, acylamino, alkylamino, alkylthio, alkoxy, alkoxycarbonyl, alkylarylamino, arylalkyloxy, amino, aryl, arylalkyl, sulfoxide, sulfone, sulfanyl, aminosulfonyl, arylsulfonyl, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid ester, dihydroxyphosphoryl, aminohydroxyphosphoryl, azido, carboxy, carbamoyl, carboxyl, cyano, cycloheteroalkyl, dialkylamino, halo, heteroaryloxy, heteroaryl, heteroalkyl, hydroxyl, nitro or thio; and
each of R5 and R6 is independently H, halo, or substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl.
2. A compound according to claim 1 wherein the compound is of the formula:
and all substituents may be as defined in the above.
3. A compound according to claim 2 wherein
L is substituted or unsubstituted -(C-C)-, -(CR5=CR6)- or -(C\u2261C)-;
G is C=O;
R1 is substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or heteroaralkyl;
R2 is hydrogen;
R3 is substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic or alkyl.
4. A compound according to claim 3 wherein R3 is CF3, n-propyl, or a group of formula:
wherein R2\u2019 is hydrogen or alkyl; and wherein two R2\u2019 may join together to form a cycloalkyl or cycloheteroalkyl ring of 3-8 atoms; provided at least two of R2\u2019 are alkyl.
5. A compound according to claim 4 wherein the compound is of the formula:
and all substituents may be as defined in the above.
6. A compound according to claim 5 wherein R1 is substituted alkyl.
7. A compound according to claim 6 wherein R1 is \u2013(CR2
2)x- R4\u2019; R2 is hydrogen or alkyl; R4\u2019 is R4; R4 is as described in claim 1; and x is an integer from 1-3.
8. A compound according to claim 7 wherein R4\u2019 is selected from t-butyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl and heteroaryl.
9. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, or naphthalenyl.
10. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted cyclopropyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.
11. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, or morpholinyl.
12. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl.
13. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted furanyl, imidazolyl, thiophenyl, pyrazolyl, or thiazolyl.
14. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is substituted or unsubstituted benzodioxanyl, benzopyranyl, indolyl, indazolyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, or dihydroisoquinolinyl.
15. A compound according to claim 8 wherein R4\u2019 is t-Bu.
16. A compound according to any of claims 8-15 wherein x is 1 or 2.
17. A compound according to claim 6 wherein R1 is t-Bu.
18. A compound according to claim 5 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl, cycloheteroalkyl or heteroaryl.
19. A compound according to claim 18 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted cyclopropyl or cyclopentyl.
20. A compound according to claim 18 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted pyrrolidinyl, piperidinyl, or morpholinyl.
21. A compound according to claim 18 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl.
22. A compound according to claim 18 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted furanyl, imidazolyl, thiophenyl, pyrazolyl, or thiazolyl.
23. A compound according to claim 18 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted benzodioxanyl, benzopyranyl, indolyl, indazolyl, methylenedioxyphenyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl, tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydroisoquinolinyl, dihydroquinolinyl, or dihydroisoquinolinyl.
24. A compound according to claim 5 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted aryl.
25. A compound according to claim 24 wherein R1 is substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, naphthalenyl, 2-biphenyl or 4-biphenyl.
26. A compound according to claim 25 wherein the compound is of the formula:
wherein R1\u2019 is R4; and x is selected from 1-5.
27. A compound according to claim 26 wherein x is 1.
28. A compound according to claim 27 wherein R1\u2019 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, isopropyl, t-butyl, cyano, trifluoroalkyl, halo, nitro, methoxy, trifluoromethoxy, amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, phenyl, SO2Me, SO2CF3, SO2NMe2, and carboxy.
29. A compound according to claim 28 wherein the R1\u2019 substitution is at the 4-position.
30. A compound according to any one of claims 5-29 wherein each of W, X, Y and Z is CR4.
31. A compound according to any one of claims 5-29 wherein W is N and each of X, Y and Z is CR4.
32. A compound according to any one of claims 5-29 wherein Y is N and each of W, X and Z is CR4.
33. A compound according to any one of claims 5-29 wherein two of W, X, Y and Z are Ns.
34. A compound according to any one of claims 30-33 wherein L is
(CR5=CR6).
35. A compound according to claim 34 wherein R5 and R6 are both hydrogen.
36. A compound according to claim 34 wherein R5 is methyl and R6 is hydrogen.
37. A compound according to claim 34 wherein R5 is hydrogen and R6 is methyl.
38. A compound according to any one of claims 30-33 wherein L is
or (C\u2261C).
39. A compound according to any one of claims 34-38 wherein R3 is t-Bu or i-Pr.
40. A compound according to any one of claims 34-38 wherein R3 is CF3.
41. A compound according to claim 18 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 5, 13, 17, 35, 81, 87, 111, 117, 142, 143, 185, 196, 208, 211, 213, 238, 239, 275, or 305, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
42. A compound according to claim 18 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 11, 20, 24, 98, 116, 121, 194, 217, 286, or 304, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
43. A compound according to claim 24 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 2, 3, 15, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 61, 62, 66, 78, 130, 132, 136, 145, 148, 150, 151, 153, 156, 158, 169, 171, 172, 225, 226, 227, 228, 230, 233, 242, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 252, 313, 330, 331, 332, 334, 336, 337, 338, or 358, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
44. A compound according to claim 24 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 48, 52, 53, 64, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 105, 106, 166, 168, 202, 203, 234, 256, 259, 260, 261, 324, 341, 344, 345, or 351, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
45. A compound according to claim 24 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 54, 55, 204, or 205, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
46. A compound according to claim 24 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 8, 12, 56, 65, 181, 207, 214, 237, or 287, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
47. A compound according to claim 5 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 6, 9, 14, 16, 26, 29, 49, 60, 80, 88, 93, 95, 109, 112, 120, 123, 125, 126, 127, 139, 164, 179, 183, 190, 191, 192, 193, 197, 198, 206, 209, 216, 218, 219, 223, 224, 236, 267, 281, 283, 308, 315, 316, 356, or 357, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
48. A compound according to claim 38 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, or 412, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof.
49. A compound according to claim 38 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 411, 413-439, or 440, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
50. A compound according to claim 40 wherein the compound is of Table 1 and wherein the compound ID No. is 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 470, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, or 405, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or prodrug thereof; and stereoisomers thereof.
51. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a pharmaceutically effective amount of a compound of any of claims 1-50.
52. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 51 wherein the carrier is a parenteral carrier.
53. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 51 wherein the carrier is an oral carrier.
54. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 51 wherein the carrier is a topical carrier.
55. A method for preventing, treating, ameliorating or managing a disease or condition which comprises administering to a patient in need of such prevention, treatment, amelioration or management, a prophylactically or therapeutically effective amount of a compound of any of claims 1-50, or the pharmaceutical composition of any of claims 51-54.
56. The method of claim 55 wherein the disease or condition is a pain condition.
57. The method of claim 55 wherein the disease or condition is an autoimmune disease.
58. The method of claim 55 wherein the disease or condition is an inflammatory disease or condition.
59. The method of claim 55 wherein the disease or condition is a neurological or neurodegenerative disease or condition.
60. A method for preventing, treating, ameliorating or managing a disease or condition, which comprises administering to a patient in need of such prevention, treatment, amelioration or management a prophylactically or therapeutically acceptable amount of a compound of any of claims 1-50, or the pharmaceutical composition of any of claims 51-54, wherein the disease or condition is: pain including acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain; chronic pain; dental pain; headache including migraine, cluster headache and tension headache; Parkinson\u2019s disease; Alzheimer\u2019s disease; multiple sclerosis; diseases and disorders mediated by or result in neuroinflammation, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or encephalitis; centrally-mediated neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders including depression, mania, bipolar disease, anxiety, schizophrenia, eating disorders, sleep disorders and cognition disorders; epilepsy and seizure disorders; prostate, bladder and bowel dysfunction, urinary incontinence, urinary hesitancy, rectal hypersensitivity, fecal incontinence, benign prostatic hypertrophy and inflammatory bowel disease; respiratory and airway disease and disorders including allergic rhinitis, asthma and reactive airway disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; diseases and disorders mediated by or result in inflammation including arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; myocardial infarction; autoimmune diseases and disorders; uveitis and atherosclerosis; itchpruritus, psoriasis; alopecia (hair loss); obesity; lipid disorders; cancer; high blood pressure; spinal cord injury; or renal disorders.
61. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is Parkinson\u2019s disease.
62. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is Alzheimer\u2019s disease.
63. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is traumatic brain injury.
64. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is stroke.
65. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is pain.
66. The method of claim 60 wherein the disease or condition is neuropathic pain.
67. A method for preparing a compound of any of claims 1-66 which comprises contacting a compound of the formula R3-L-Cy-COCl or R3-L-Cy-SO2Cl with a compound of the formula R1R2NH under conditions sufficient to form a compound according to any of claims 1-50; and wherein Cy is aryl or heteroaryl.
68. A method of treating a mammal suffering from at least one symptom selected from the group consisting of symptoms of exposure to capsaicin, symptoms of burns or irritation due to exposure to heat, symptoms of burns or irritation due to exposure to light, symptoms of burns, bronchoconstriction or irritation due to exposure to tear gas, and symptoms of burns or exposure irritation due to exposure to acid which comprises administering to the mammal an effective disease-treating or condition-treating amount of a compound of any of claims 1-50, or the pharmaceutical composition of any of claims 51-54.
69. The method of claim 68 wherein the pain is associated with a condition selected from the group consisting of postmastectomy pain syndrome, stump pain, phantom limb pain, oral neuropathic pain, Charcot\u2019s pain, toothache, venomous snake bite, spider bite, insect sting, postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathy, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, trigeminal neuralgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, meralgia paresthetica, burning-mouth syndrome, bilateral peripheral neuropathy, causalgia, sciatic neuritis, peripheral neuritis, polyneuritis, segmental neuritis, Gombault\u2019s neuritis, neuronitis, cervicobrachial neuralgia, cranial neuralgia, egniculate neuralgia, glossopharyngial neuralgia, migranous neuralgia, idiopathic neuralgia, intercostals neuralgia, mammary neuralgia, mandibular joint neuralgia, Morton\u2019s neuralgia, nasociliary neuralgia, occipital neuralgia, red neuralgia, Sluder\u2019s neuralgia, splenopalatine neuralgia, supraorbital neuralgia, vidian neuralgia, sinus headache, tension headache, labor, childbirth, intestinal gas, menstruation, cancer, and trauma.
70. A compound of any of claims 1-50 for use as a pharmaceutical.
71. A compound of any of claims 1-50 for use as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of the conditions as set forth in any of claims 55-66, 68, or 69.
72. Use of a compound of claims 1-50 in the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of the conditions as set forth in any of claims 55-66, 68, or 69.

What is claimed is:

1. A flat cable connector characterized in: a first group comprising a plurality of terminals having distal ends serving as connection points with a flat cable arranged facing one direction and a second group comprising a plurality of terminals having distal ends serving as connection points with the flat cable arranged facing the other direction and reciprocating each of the terminals of said first group being anchored in a housing at the proximal end of terminal in a state wherein the distal end of each terminal of the second group and the distal end of each terminal of the first group are disposed so as to alternate with each other;
an insertion opening being formed in the housing, into which the end part of said flat cable enters and then abuts the distal end of each terminal of the first and the second groups;
a plate being interposed in the space between the end part of said flat cable inserted into said insertion opening and each terminal of said first and second groups; and
a plate displacing mechanism being provided that, by displacing said plate, elastically deforms and thereby separates from said flat cable each of the terminals of the first and second groups.
2. A connector for a flat cable according to claim 1 characterized in:
the plate displacing mechanism comprising an overhang of said plate that overhangs in the outward transverse direction farther than said flat cable inserted into said insertion opening, and an opening interfacing said overhang part formed in the direction of the displacing of said plate in said housing.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A cross member for a rail road well car for carrying shipping containers, said cross-member comprising:
a monolithic beam member having a first end portion for mounting to a first side beam of the well car, a second end portion for mounting to a second side beam of the well car, and a spanning portion extending between said first and second end portions, and
a retractable container stop mounted to said first end.
2. The cross member of claim 1 wherein a second retractable container stop is mounted to said second end portion.
3. The cross-member of claim 1 wherein said container stop is biased to an extended position for obstructing passage of containers therepast.
4. The cross member of claim 2 wherein each of said container stops are biased to an extended position for obstructing passage of containers therepast.
5. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said first end of said cross-member has a socket formed therein, and said retractable container stop is mounted in said socket.
6. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said cross-member is wider adjacent said retractable container stop than amidst said spanning portion.
7. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said first end portion has an upwardly facing load bearing surface extending longitudinally to either side of said retractable container stop, said container stop is movable to a retracted position under the vertical load of a container, and, in said retracted position, said stop permits shifting of containers relative thereto.
8. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said first end portion has a load bearing surface, and said stop is movable to a retracted position, said retracted position being chosen from the set of retracted positions consisting of
(a) a position that is flush with said load bearing surface; and
(b) a position that is shy of said load bearing surface.
9. The cross member of claim 8 wherein said stop is a round cylindrical stop, said first end has a bore formed therein, and said round cylindrical stop is matingly engaged in said bore.
10. The cross member of claim 8 wherein said stop has planar abutment surfaces for installation facing longitudinally forward and rearward relative to the well car, and said first end has a bore formed therein for mating engagement of said stop.
11. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said first and second end portions each have a toe bent to form an upstanding flange.
12. The cross member of claim 11 wherein each of said first and second end portions have mounting fittings formed in said upstanding flange.
13. The cross member of claim 12 wherein each of said first and second end portions has a horizontal portion, and fittings formed in said horizontal portion for attaching said horizontal portion to a horizontal portion of the respective side beams of the rail road car.
14. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said spanning portion has a first vertical through thickness, said first end portion has a second vertical through thickness, and said second vertical through thickness is smaller than said first vertical through thickness.
15. The cross member of claim 14 wherein said first end portion includes a toe bent upwardly to form an upstanding flange, and said flange is machined to have a diminishing thickness.
16. The cross member of claim 1 wherein said cross member has at least one lightening aperture formed therein.
17. The cross member of claim 16 wherein said cross member is wider adjacent said retractable stop than amidst said spanning portion.
18. The cross member of claim 16 wherein said cross member tapers from a narrow waist amidst said spanning portion to a broad land adjacent said retractable coil stop, and said lightening aperture terminates short of said broad land.
19. The cross member of claim 1 wherein:
said first end has a bore formed therethrough to define a socket;
said retractable stop includes a block seated in said socket, said block being reciprocally movable in an upward direction relative to said socket;
a retainer is mounted under said first end portion; and
a biasing member is captured between said block and said retainer.
20. The cross member of claim 1 wherein:
said first end has a bore formed therein to define a socket;
said retractable stop includes a block having a blind bore formed therein and a biasing member having a first end engaged in said blind bore and a second end extending therefrom;
said first end portion has an underside;
a retainer is mounted to said underside;
said block is mounted to reciprocate at least predominantly vertically in said bore; and
said second end of said biasing member bears against said retainer.
21. A cross member for a rail road well car, the well car having a longitudinal rolling direction, said cross member comprising:
a monolithic beam member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a spanning portion extending between said first and second end portions;
said end portions having respective mounting fittings by which to connect said end portions to longitudinally extending side beams of the well car;
each of said end portions having an upwardly facing surface region for supporting intermodal container loads;
a stop mounted to said first end portion;
said upwardly facing surface of said first end portion having portions extending longitudinally to either side of said stop;
said stop being movable to a retracted position under the vertical load of a cargo container, and, in said retracted position, said stop permitting longitudinal shifting of a container relative thereto; and
said stop being biased to an extended position, and, in said extended position, said stop stands in the way of shifting of a container from either longitudinal side past said stop.
22. The cross member of claim 21 wherein:
said stop is a first stop;
said cross member has a second stop mounted to said second end portion thereof;
said upwardly facing surface of said second end portion has portions extending longitudinally to either side of said second stop;
said second stop is movable to a retracted position under the vertical load of a cargo container, and, in said retracted position, said second stop permits longitudinal shifting of a container relative thereto; and
said second stop is biased to an extended position, and, in said extended position, said stop stands in the way of shifting of a container from either longitudinal side therepast.
23. A rail road well car comprising:
a rail road car body carried by railcar trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction, said railcar body having first and second spaced apart end structures and a pair of first and second spaced apart longitudinally extending side beams mounted between said end structures, said end structures and said side beams co-operating to define a well therebetween;
said well having a first end adjacent said first end structure, and a second end adjacent said second end structure;
each of said side beams including a top chord, a bottom chord, and a sidewall extending between said top and bottom chords;
a first transverse member for supporting a cargo container, mounted between said bottom chord of said first side beam and said bottom chord of said second side beam adjacent said first end of said well;
a second transverse member for supporting a cargo container, mounted between said bottom chord of said first side beam and said bottom chord of said second side beam adjacent said second end of said well;
a third transverse member for supporting a cargo container, mounted between said bottom chord of said first side beam and said bottom chord of said second side beam at a location intermediate said first and second transverse members;
said third transverse member including a monolithic beam member having a first end portion mounted to said first side beam, a second end portion mounted to said second side beam, and a spanning portion extending between said first end second end portions thereof;
a retractable container stop mounted to each of said first and second end portions of said third transverse member;
each said container stop being movable to a retracted position under a vertical load of a cargo container;
in said retracted position, said stop permitting longitudinal shifting of the container upon the third transverse member longitudinally to either side of said container stop;
each said container stop being biased to an extended position; and,
in said extended position of said container stop, said container stop standing proud of said third transverse member to prevent shifting of a container from either longitudinal side past said stop.
24. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein the third transverse member has a surface upon which an intermodal container can sit, each said stop has a top, and, in said retracted position, said top lies flush with said surface.
25. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein:
said first and second end portions of said third transverse member includes toes formed to mate with the adjacent side structures of the well car;
each said end portion has an upwardly facing surface for supporting the intermodal container;
each said end portion has a recess defined therein amidst said horizontal surface;
each said stop has a top; and
in said retracted position said top lies flush with said upwardly facing surface.
26. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein:
each of said bottom chords has an upwardly extending leg adjoining said sidewall of said first and second side beams respectively;
each of said bottom chords has a transverse leg, said transverse legs extending toward each other;
each of said first and second end portions of said third transverse member has a horizontally extending portion, said horizontally extending portion having bores formed therein to permit said horizontally extending portion to be bolted to said transversely extending leg of a respective one of said bottom chords;
each of said first and second end portions of said third transverse member has an upwardly extending flange adjacent said upwardly extending leg of said respective bottom chord, said upwardly extending flanges having bores defined therein to permit each of said upwardly extending flanges to be bolted to a respective one of said first and second side structures.
27. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein:
each of said first and second end portions of said third transverse member has an upwardly facing surface for supporting a shipping container and a recess formed amidst said upwardly facing surface;
said stop is mounted in said recess; and
said surface has a first portion longitudinally to one side of said recess and a second portion longitudinally to another side of said recess.
28. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein each of said bottom chords has a transversely inwardly extending leg, and said transversely inwardly extending leg has a relief formed therein adjacent to said third transverse cross member.
29. The rail road well car of claim 23 wherein each of said bottom chords has a transversely inwardly extending leg, said transversely inwardly extending legs extending toward each other and leaving a gap therebetween that is less than 80 wide; said bottom chords meeting said first and second end portions of said third cross member at respective first and second junctions, and said transversely inwardly extending legs of said bottom chords being locally relieved adjacent said first and second junctions.
30. The railroad well car of claim 23 wherein:
said third transverse member has a socket formed in each of said first and second end portions;
said retractable container stops are mounted in said sockets;
said third transverse member has an underside; stop retainers are mounted to said underside of said third transverse member; and
said retainers are mounted within said reliefs of said bottom chord.
31. A rail road well car comprising:
a car body supported on railcar trucks for rolling motion in a longitudinal direction along rail road tracks, said railcar body having a pair of spaced apart end structures and a pair of longitudinally extending spaced apart side beams extending between said end structures, said end structures and said side beams defining a well therebetween;
each of said side beams having respective first and second bottom chord members;
said bottom chord members each having a leg extending transversely inwardly relative to said well;
at least a first transverse member having a first end mounted to said first bottom chord member at a first junction, and a second end mounted to said second bottom chord at a second junction;
said legs of said bottom chords having a width, and said legs having a portion of diminished width adjacent to said first and second junctions.