Autorack railroad car having convertible deck structure
US10377392B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 3, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB61D3/18
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An autorack railroad car has decks that are movably reconfigurable between tri-level and bi-level configurations. They are also movable to permit greater vertical clearance room for loading the main deck. The decks may be constrained to a single degree of freedom of motion, namely in the vertical direction, by guides that run along the vertical side posts of the car. The decks may include a passive counterbalance transmission linking the mid-level and upper level decks, such that the decks counterbalance each other when the decks are moved between the various positions. There is a separate, independent drive provided to move the decks. The drive may include scissor jacks. More than one scissor jack may share a common drive axis and shafting arrangement. The drive is operable from a trackside accessible drive distribution point. A secondary lock system is provided to prevent the decks from moving inopportunely.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.