System and Method for Reconfiguring an Autorack
AssigneeTrinity Rail Group, LLC
InventorsKyle R. Coston, David W. Higginbotham, Robert J. DeGroot
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims11
1-12. (canceled)
An autorack comprising:
- a flatcar comprising:
- a first end portion;
- a second end portion;
- and
- a center portion;
- wherein a width of the first end portion of the flatcar is greater than a width of the center portion of the flatcar;
- wherein a width of the second end portion of the flatcar is greater than the width of the center portion of a flatcar;
- a plurality of posts;
- a first post of the plurality of posts located near a first side of the first end portion of the flatcar;
- a second post of the plurality of posts located near a second side of the first end portion, the second side opposite the first side, wherein a width between the first post of the plurality of posts and the second post of the plurality of posts is greater than the width of the center portion of the flatcar;
- a third post of the plurality of posts located near a first side of the second end portion of the flatcar;
- a fourth post of the plurality of posts located near a second side of the second end portion, the second side opposite the first side, wherein a width between the third post of the plurality of posts and the fourth post of the plurality of posts is greater than the width of the center portion of the flatcar;
- a cross-brace assembly coupled 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;
- a replacement deck coupled to the autorack at a location above or below the cross-brace assembly
- one or more of a plurality of replacement side screens coupled to one or more of the plurality of posts;
- and
- a replacement roof section coupled to the autorack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.