# US 11,305,789 B2 · System and method for reconfiguring an autorack > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,305,789 B2 - Document ID: US11305789B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/806,057 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2020-06-25 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-13 - Assignees: Trinity Rail Group, LLC - Applicants: Trinity Rail Group, LLC - Inventors: Kyle R. Coston; David W. Higginbotham; Robert J. DeGroot - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11305789B2 ## CPC - B61D 3/18: for vehicles {(vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06)} - B60P 3/07: for carrying road vehicles - B60S 5/00: Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles (vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K) - B61D 3/005: {convertible (B61D3/04, B61D3/06, B61D15/04 take precedence)} - B61D 3/02: with multiple deck arrangements (for carrying vehicles B61D3/18) - B61D 3/04: with movable floors, e.g. rotatable or floors which can be raised or lowered - B61D 3/187: {Details, e.g. bridges for floor connections} - B60P 3/08: Multilevel-deck construction carrying vehicles - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method comprises removing a first deck of a plurality of decks and a second deck of the plurality of decks from an autorack. The method further comprises removing one or more of a plurality of posts of the autorack and coupling a cross-brace assembly to one or more of the plurality of posts, wherein the cross-brace assembly is coupled to the one or more of the plurality of posts at a location above an existing brace bay of the autorack. The method also comprises coupling the second deck of the plurality of decks to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: removing an existing roof section from an autorack; removing one or more of a plurality of existing side screens from the autorack; removing a first deck of a plurality of existing decks from the autorack; removing a second deck of the plurality of existing decks from the autorack; increasing a width of a first end portion of a flatcar of the autorack such that the width of the first end portion of the flatcar is greater than a width of a center portion of the flatcar; increasing a width of a second end portion of the flatcar of the autorack such that the width of the second end portion of the flatcar is greater than the width of the center portion of the flatcar; increasing a width between a first post of a plurality of posts and a second post of the plurality of posts, the first post located near a first side of the first end portion of the flatcar and the second post located near a second side of the first end portion, the second side opposite the first side; increasing a width between a third post of the plurality of posts and a fourth post of the plurality of posts, the third post located near a first side of the second end portion of the flatcar and the fourth post located near a second side of the second end portion, the second side opposite the first side; coupling a cross-brace assembly to two or more of the plurality of posts of the autorack, wherein the cross-brace assembly is coupled to the two or more of the plurality of posts at a location above an existing brace bay of the autorack; coupling a replacement deck to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly; coupling one or more of a plurality of replacement side screens to one or more of the plurality of posts; and coupling a replacement roof section to the autorack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising removing one or more of the plurality of posts from the autorack. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the cross-brace assembly to the two or more of the plurality of posts comprises: coupling at least one brace of the cross-brace assembly to a fifth post of the plurality of posts; and coupling the at least one brace of the cross-brace assembly to a sixth post of the plurality of posts. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the cross-brace assembly to the two or more of the plurality of posts comprises: coupling a first bolting plate of the cross-brace assembly to a fifth post of the plurality of posts at a location above the existing brace bay of the autorack; coupling a second bolting plate of the cross-brace assembly to the fifth post of the plurality of posts at a location above the first bolting plate; coupling a third bolting plate of the cross-brace assembly to a sixth post of the plurality of posts at a location above the existing brace bay of the autorack; and coupling a fourth bolting plate of the cross-brace assembly to the sixth post of the plurality of posts at a location above the third bolting plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: coupling a first end of a first brace of the cross-brace assembly to the first bolting plate; coupling a second end of the first brace to the fourth bolting plate; coupling a first end of a second brace of the cross-brace assembly to the second bolting plate; and coupling a second end of the second brace to the third bolting plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: coupling at least one pulley to the autorack; coupling at least one cable to the replacement deck of the autorack and the at least one pulley, the at least one cable operable to adjust a vertical position of the replacement deck within the autorack; and coupling an actuator to the autorack, the actuator configured to pull the at least one cable to adjust the vertical position of the replacement deck within the autorack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising coupling a controller to the autorack, wherein the controller is electronically coupled to the actuator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing an existing door structure from the autorack; and coupling a seal-safe radial door structure to at least one end of the autorack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: increasing a height of one or more of the plurality of posts; wherein a height of the one or more of the plurality of replacement side screens is greater than a height of the one or more of the plurality of existing side screens. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the autorack is an existing autorack.