BRIDGE PLATE AND BRIDGE PLATE LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR CAR TRANSPORT RAILWAY CARS

Abstract

The present invention provides a bridge plate locking assembly for automobile transport rail cars comprising a support bracket, a support block, a guide tube, a sliding locking pin partially positioned in the guide tube, a handle that can be detachably attached to the locking pin by a removable roller pin, a fixed pivot pin partially positioned in the guide tube, and a spring located in the guide tube between the pivot pin and the locking pin.The present invention also provides a bridge plate for car carrier railcars that includes a plate configured to extend from one car carrier railcar to an adjacent car carrier railcar, and such a locking assembly is connected to the plate and configured to pivotally fix the plate to one of the car carrier railcars.

Description

BRIDGE PLATE AND BRIDGE PLATE LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR CAR TRANSPORT RAILWAY CARS PRIORITY CLAIM This request claims priority and the benefit of the US Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 339,354, filed on May 20, 2016, the full content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The rail industry employs a variety of car carrier railcars to transport newly manufactured vehicles such as cars, vans, and trucks. Car carrier railcars, known in the rail industry as car-carrying railcars, commonly travel thousands of miles across varied terrain. Car carrier railcars may have a single platform or deck, and usually have compartments with two or three platforms or decks. Newly manufactured vehicles are loaded into and unloaded from a car carrier railcar by one or more people (each sometimes called a "loader") who drive the vehicles in or out of the car carrier railcar. One issue related to car carrier railcars involves the bridge plates used to load and unload a chain or series of connected or coupled car carrier railcars. Before loading or unloading the chain or series of connected or coupled car carrier railcars, the doors of the car carrier railcars are opened, and bridge plates are placed in the spaces between each of the adjacent car carrier railcars. In other words, each space between each pair of adjacent car carrier railcar decks is spanned or covered by a pair of removable, portable bridge plates for loading the vehicles.Vehicles are loaded onto car carrier railcars by driving them at one end of a chain or series of connected or coupled car carrier railcars, over bridge plates, and through adjacent railcars until all the car carrier railcars in the chain or series are full. Vehicles are driven onto the first car carrier railcar, either on the first, second, or third deck (depending on the type and size of the car carrier railcar and the vehicle). Typically, one deck or level is loaded at a time, and then the bridge plates are moved down or up to load the next deck or level. This process is reversed to unload vehicles from the chain or series of connected or coupled car carrier railcars. Each pair of bridge plates supports the vehicle as it is driven over the space between the aligned decks of adjacent car carrier railcars, with one bridge plate supporting the right side and the other supporting the left side of the vehicle. Bridge plates are typically mounted on car carrier railcars only during vehicle loading and unloading. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) specifies a maximum weight, minimum strength requirement, and fatigue load for such bridge plates in AAR specifications. Each bridge plate is typically made of an aluminum plate and a steel locking assembly attached to the bottom of one end of the aluminum plate. Each bridge plate is pivotally attached by the locking assembly to one end of a car carrier railcar and spans the gap to the deck of the adjacent car carrier railcar. Each bridge plate is attached to only one of the adjacent car carrier railcars at one end to accommodate the varying spacing between adjacent coupled car carrier railcars in the chain or series of car carrier railcars being loaded or unloaded. The end of the bridge plate that is the non-hinged end rests on the deck of the adjacent car carrier railcar.The steel locking assembly of each bridge plate includes several outward-extending pins (including a spring-loaded locking pin) that pivotally connect the bridge plate to one of the car carrier rail cars. The locking assembly is attached to and accessible from the underside of the bridge plate. One such known bridge plate locking assemblies includes: (a) a support bracket; (b) a guide tube connected to the bottom of the support bracket; (c) a first sliding locking pin located partially in the guide tube; (d) a first handle integrally attached to the first sliding locking pin; (e) a second sliding locking pin located in the guide tube; (f) a second handle integrally attached to the second sliding locking pin and also integrally connected to the first handle; (g) a pivot pin partially positioned in the guide tube and loosely attached to the guide tube by a rivet; (h) a collar hinged around the second locking pin; and (i) a spring located in the guide tube between the collar and the pivot pin. During the use, installation, and / or removal of bridge plates that have such locking assemblies, the bridge plates and their locking assemblies are often subjected to various forces (such as forces generated when the bridge plates are dropped). When a bridge plate is subjected to such forces, one or more components of that bridge plate's locking assembly may bend, crack, or be otherwise damaged. For example, in the locking assembly described above, one or more of: (i) the guide tube; (ii) the first sliding locking pin; (iii) the second sliding locking pin; and (iv) the pivot pin, are often bent or otherwise damaged. When this occurs, the locking assembly does not operate easily, does not operate correctly, or does not operate at all.In another example, the hinged collar around the second sliding locking pin can break and then shift relative to the second sliding locking pin. When this occurs, the tension provided by the spring on the first and second locking pins is reduced, and this well-known locking assembly does not work easily, does not work properly, or does not work at all. This known locking assembly cannot be repaired easily, quickly, or effectively because the first locking pin, the second locking pin, and their respective handles are welded together and therefore cannot be easily removed from the guide tube. Thus, the entire locking assembly must be replaced, or the entire bridge plate must be replaced. Consequently, there is a need to solve these problems. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Several embodiments of the present invention provide a car carrier rail bridge plate locking assembly that solves the above problems by providing a locking pin that can be easily and simply replaced, by providing a guide tube that is less likely to bend, and by providing a more secure or fixed pivot pin. Several embodiments of the present invention provide a car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly comprising: (a) a support bracket configured to be connected to a car carrier railcar bridge plate; (b) a guide tube connected to the bottom of the support bracket; (c) a support block situated between and connected to the bottom of the support bracket and the top of the guide tube; (d) a single sliding locking pin partially positioned at one end of the guide tube and extending partially from that end of the guide tube; (e) a handle extending transversely from and detachably attached to the locking pin by means of a removable fastener such as a roller pin;(f) a fixed pivot pin located partially at the opposite end of the guide tube, securely or permanently connected to said opposite end of the guide tube, and extending partially from that end of the guide tube;and (g) a spring placed in the guide tube between and in contact with each of the fixed pivot pins and the sliding locking pin. The support block prevents or inhibits the likelihood of the guide tube bending relative to the support bracket. The removable handle and locking pin allow for replacement of the locking pin if it bends during use, installation, or removal. The configuration and securing of the fixed pivot pin to the guide tube reduces the likelihood of the pivot pin bending. The combination of these components decreases the likelihood that the locking assembly of the present invention will not function easily, function correctly, or not function at all. The combination of these components also allows the locking assembly of the present invention to be repaired easily and efficiently without the need to replace the entire locking assembly or the entire bridge plate. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι Several embodiments of the present invention also provide a car carrier railcar bridge plate having the locking assembly described herein. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets, in which the same reference numbers refer to similar parts. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a car carrier railcar configured to transport a plurality of vehicles. Figure 2A is a top perspective view of a car carrier railcar bridge plate with the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention attached thereto. Figure 2B is a perspective view from below of the car carrier railcar bridge plate of Figure 2A with the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figure 2A attached to the same. Figure 3A is a bottom front perspective view of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 2A and 2B. Figure 3B is a rear top perspective view of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figure 3A. Figure 4 is a bottom front perspective view of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B, with the guide tube shown in stroke form to illustrate the components in the guide tube. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 6 is an enlarged lower front perspective view of the support bracket of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 7 is an enlarged top rear perspective view of the support bracket of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of figures ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι 3A and 3B. Figure 8 is an enlarged top front perspective view of the guide tube of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 9 is an enlarged top rear perspective view of the guide tube of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 10 is an enlarged lower front perspective view of the locking pin of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 11 is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the fixed pivot pin of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of Figures 3A and 3B. Figure 12 is an enlarged top perspective view of the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly handle of Figures 3A and 3B. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to the drawings and particularly to Figure 1, a typical car carrier railcar 10 includes a frame 12 supported by carriages 14a and 14b, each of which has several wheels 16 configured to run along conventional railway tracks 18. The frame 12 supports two opposing side walls 20a and 20b and a roof 22. The car carrier railcar 10 includes a pair of clamshell doors 24 and 26 that operate together, mounted at each end of the car carrier railcar 10. The doors 24 and 26 are open to facilitate the loading and unloading of vehicles into and out of the car carrier railcar 10 and are closed during the transport or storage of the vehicles.It should be appreciated that the present invention can be used in such automobile transport railcars or automobile transport railcars configured in another way. The side walls 20 include a series of vertical steel posts 28 that are mounted on and extend upward from the frame 12. The roof 22 is mounted on and supported by these vertical posts. The vertical posts are evenly spaced along the entire length of both side walls 20 of the car carrier railcar 10. A plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced, rectangular galvanized steel side wall panels 30 are mounted between each pair of vertical posts 28. These side wall panels are supported at their corners by brackets (not shown) that are suitably fixed to the vertical posts. The average side wall panel has a multiplicity of round side wall panel holes 23.These 23 side wall panel holes provide the car carrier railcar with natural light as well as adequate ventilation. Proper ventilation prevents harm from toxic vehicle fumes to the person or persons (i.e., loaders) loading or unloading vehicles into or out of the car carrier railcar. With reference now to Figures 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, the bridge plate locking assembly of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is generally illustrated and denoted by the number 100. The bridge plate locking assembly 100 of the present invention is configured particularly for automobile carrier railcars (having one or more levels or decks) such as the automobile carrier railcar 10. The bridge plate locking assembly for automobile carrier railcars of the present invention is sometimes referred to herein for brevity as the locking assembly; such abbreviation is not intended to limit the present invention. Figures 2A and 2B generally show the bridge plate locking assembly 100 attached to a bridge plate bottom. The car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly 100 of various modalities of the ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι present invention generally includes a support bracket 110 configured to be attached to a car carrier railcar bridge plate, a support block 130 connected to the bottom of the support bracket 110, a guide tube 140 connected to the bottom of the support bracket 110 and connected to the bottom of the support block 130, a sliding locking pin 160 partially positioned at a first end of the guide tube 140 and extending partially from the first end of the guide tube 140, a detachable handle 170 detachably attached to the locking pin 160 by a removable fastener such as a roller pin 168,a fixed pivot pin 180 partially positioned in and securely connected to a second end of the guide tube 140 and extending partially from the second end of the guide tube 140, and a spring 190 located in the guide tube 140 between and in contact with the fixed pivot pin 180 and the locking pin 160. In this illustrated embodiment, the support bracket 110, support block 130, guide tube 140, sliding locking pin 160, removable handle 170, locking pin 160, removable roller pin 168, fixed pivot pin 180, and spring 190 are all made of suitable metals such as steel. It should be noted that one or more of these components of the locking assembly may be made of other suitable materials. It should also be noted that one or more of these components may be coated with a protective coating, such as paint. It should also be noted that one or more of these components may be plated. More specifically, in this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the support bracket 110 includes an elongated body 111 comprising five integrally formed or connected sections, namely a first section Illa, a second section 111b, a third section lile, a fourth section llld, and a fifth section lile. The first section Illa and the separate fifth section lile are situated in the same plane. The third section lile is situated in a higher plane. The second section 111b is curved and connects the first section Illa to the third section lile. Similarly, the fourth section llld is curved and connects the fifth section lile to the third section lile. The shapes of these sections generally correspond to the contour of the bridge plate to facilitate the connection of the locking assembly 100 to the bridge plate.Openings 112a in the first section Illa, openings 112b, 112c, 112d, 112e and 112f of the third section lile and openings 112g and 112h in the fifth section lile are used to attach the locking assembly 100 to the bridge plate by suitable fasteners (not shown) such as bolts and nuts (not shown). The second section 111b defines a pin removal opening 115 that allows the roller pin 168 to be removed from the locking pin 160 and the handle 170 as further described below. In other words, the support bracket 110 defines a roller pin removal opening 115 that allows the removal of the roller pin 168 (which securely holds or connects the handle 170 to the locking pin 160) when the locking pin 160 needs to be replaced as described in more detail below. In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4, and 5, the support block 130 is located between the third section of the support bracket 110 and the guide tube 140. In this illustrated embodiment, the support block 130 is connected (by welding) to the upper part of the guide tube 140 and is also connected (by welding) to the lower part of the support bracket 110; however, it should be appreciated that the support block 130 may alternatively be connected (such as by welding) to only one of these components according to the present invention. The support block 130 prevents or reduces the likelihood of the guide tube 140 bending relative to the support bracket 110 and thus helps to overcome one of the problems with previously known bridge plate locking assemblies.In this illustrated embodiment, the support block is a solid cube; however, it should be noted that the support block can be configured alternatively according to the present invention. It should also be noted that the support block could be made of other suitable materials (such as rubber) according to the present invention. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 8 and 9, the guide tube 140 includes an elongated hollow cylindrical body 141 defining: (a) a central cylindrical lumen 142; (b) cylindrical openings 142a and 142b at opposite ends of the body 141; (c) a first or upper roller pin cylindrical opening 143; (d) a second or lower roller pin cylindrical opening; and (e) an elongated oval handle opening 146 extending part of the length of the body side 141. The central cylindrical lumen 142 and the cylindrical opening 142a are configured and dimensioned such that the locking pin 160 can move freely within the guide tube 140. The central cylindrical lumen 142 is also configured and dimensioned such that the spring 190 moves freely within the guide tube 140.The central cylindrical lumen 142 and the cylindrical opening 142b are configured and dimensioned such that the fixed pivot pin 180 can be firmly attached to the end of the body 141 that defines the opening 142b. The first or upper roller pin cylindrical opening and the second or lower roller pin cylindrical opening 144 are aligned, configured, and dimensioned such that the roller pin 168 can be inserted through the upper opening 143 or through the lower opening 144 to fix the handle 170 to the locking pin 160, and such that the roller pin 168 can be pushed out of the upper opening 143 or the lower opening 144 to separate the handle 170 from the locking pin 160 as further described below.The control opening 146 is configured and dimensioned so that part of the handle 170 extends through the opening 146 and the guide tube 140 and can be moved within the opening 146. In this illustrated embodiment, the upper part of the guide tube 140 is connected (by welding) to the lower part of the support bracket 110, and particularly to the lower surfaces of sections Illa and lile of the support bracket 110, in two separate positions. In this illustrated embodiment, the upper part of the guide tube 140 is connected (by welding) to the lower part of the support block 130. In this illustrated embodiment, the guide tube is cylindrical; however, it should be appreciated that the guide tube can be alternatively configured according to the present invention. In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 10, the sliding locking pin 160 includes an elongated solid cylindrical body 161 with a chamfered first end 162a and a flat spring-coupling opposite end 162b. The sliding locking pin 160 is configured to be partially seated in the first end of the guide tube 140 and to extend partially from the first end of the guide tube 140. The sliding locking pin 160 defines: (a) aligned cylindrical roller pin openings 163a and 163b extending through the upper and lower portions of the cylindrical body 161; and (b) a cylindrical handle receiving opening 164 extending transversely through the entire body 161 from one side of body 161 to the opposite side of body 161.The cylindrical roller pin openings 163a and 163b are configured and sized such that the roller pin 168 can be press-fitted into the openings 163a and 163b to securely, but detachably, attach the handle 170 to the locking pin 160 as further described below. The cylindrical handle receiving opening 164 is configured and sized such that the attachment end 172 of the handle 170 can be inserted into the locking pin 160. The elongated solid cylindrical body 161 has an end section that is configured to be detachably inserted into a locking pin receiver (not shown) on a car carrier railcar as known in the industry for detachably attaching a bridge plate (not shown) to a car carrier railcar.In this illustrated embodiment, the sliding locking pin is cylindrical and solid; however, it should be noted that the sliding locking pin can be configured alternatively according to the present invention. In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 4, 5, and 12, the handle 170 includes an elongated solid body having a cylindrical fixing section 172 and a cylindrical gripping section 174 integrally formed with the fixing section 172. The fixing section 172 of the handle 170 defines a cylindrical roller pin opening 173 that extends through the entire body 171 from the top of the body 171 to the bottom of the body 171. The cylindrical roller pin opening 173 is configured and dimensioned such that the roller pin 168 can be press-fitted into the opening 173 to securely, but detachably, fix the handle 170 to the locking pin 160 as further described in Figure 1. continued. In this illustrated embodiment, the grip section 174 of the handle 170 includes a rounded end 175.In this illustrated embodiment, the handle is a solid member; however, it should be appreciated that the handle can be configured and shaped alternatively according to the present invention. In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 11, the fixed pivot pin 180 includes an elongated solid body 181 having three integrally formed cylindrical sections, including a first cylindrical section 182, an intermediate cylindrical section 183, and a third cylindrical section 184. The fixed pivot pin 180 is configured to be partially positioned at the second end of the guide tube 140 and to extend partially from the second end of the guide tube 140. More specifically, the first cylindrical section 182 is specifically configured and dimensioned to be inserted into and fit into the second end of the guide tube 140 through the opening 142b. The first section 182 defines an ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι flat spring coupling end 182a.The third cylindrical section 184 includes a chamfered end 184a and is specifically configured and sized to extend from the end of the guide tube 140 and to be detachably inserted into a pivot pin receiver (not shown) on a car carrier railcar as known in the industry for attaching a bridge plate (not shown) to a car carrier railcar. The intermediate cylindrical section 183 of the fixed pivot pin 180 has a larger circumference than the first cylindrical section 182 and the third cylindrical section 184, and is specifically configured and sized to be welded to the end of the guide tube 140 forming the opening 142b. This provides a secure or fixed connection between the guide tube 140 and the fixed pivot pin 180.In this illustrated embodiment, the intermediate cylindrical section 183 of the fixed pivot pin 180 has a central cylindrical surface, a tapered outer surface, and a flat transverse inner surface. In this illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin is machined to specific tolerances to fit securely into the guide tube 140 and the pivot pin receiver (not shown) in a railcar for transporting automobiles. In this illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin is generally solid and includes cylindrical sections; however, it should be appreciated that the pivot pin can be configured alternatively according to the present invention. In this illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin is suitably welded to the guide tube 140, but it could otherwise be securely fixed so that it does not move relative to the guide tube. In this illustrated embodiment, as best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the spring 190 is a helical spring configured and sized to be placed in the guide tube 40 between the fixed pivot pin 180 and the locking pin 160. The spring 190 has a first end configured to engage or rest against the opposite flat spring-engaging end 162b of the sliding locking pin 160 and a second opposite end configured to engage or rest against the flat spring-engaging end 182a of the first section 182 of the fixed pivot pin 180. The spring 190 is configured and sized to apply a pushing force against the locking pin 160 to push the locking pin 160 outward from the first end of the guide tube 140. In this illustrated embodiment, the spring is cylindrical; however, it should be appreciated that the spring may be configured alternatively according to the present invention. In this illustrated embodiment, to assemble the bridge plate locking assembly 100: (a) the support block 130 is welded to the bottom of the third section of the support bracket 110; (b) the guide tube 140 is welded to the bottom of the first section of the support bracket 110, to the bottom of the fifth section of the support bracket 110, and to the bottom of the support block 130; (c) the first section 182 of the fixed pivot pin 180 is inserted into the second end of the guide tube 140 and the intermediate section 183 is welded to that second end of the guide tube 140; (d) spring 190 is inserted into guide tube 140 through the first end of guide tube 140;(e) the locking pin 160 is inserted into the first end of the guide tube 140 so that the pin removal opening 115, the first roller pin cylindrical opening 143, the second roller pin cylindrical opening 144 and the roller pin openings 163a and 163b are aligned; (f) the fixing section 172 of the handle 170 is inserted through the handle opening 146 into the guide tube 140 and into the handle receiving opening 164 of the locking pin 160 such that the roller pin opening 173 defined by the handle 170 is also aligned with the pin removal opening 115, the first roller pin cylindrical opening 143, the second roller pin cylindrical opening 144, and the roller pin openings 163a and 163b;(g) The roller pin 168 is inserted through the opening 143 and press-fitted into the roller pin openings 163a and 163b and the roller pin opening 173 defined by the handle 170 to firmly fix the handle 170 to the locking pin 160. It will be appreciated that the assembly order may vary according to the present invention. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι If the 160 locking pin is bent or damaged during use or otherwise, the 160 locking pin may be replaced. In this illustrated embodiment, to replace the locking pin 160, the roller pin 168 is pushed out of the roller pin openings 163a and 163b and the roller pin opening 173 through the first cylindrical roller pin opening 143 in the guide tube 140 and through the pin extraction opening 115 in the support bracket 110. Alternatively, in this illustrated embodiment, to replace the locking pin 160, the roller pin 168 is ejected from the roller pin openings 163a and 163b and the roller pin opening 173 through pin 144 in the guide tube 140. In either case, a suitable tool such as a punch (not shown) can be inserted into the respective openings to engage and push out the roller pin 168.The pin removal opening 115 in the support bracket 110 facilitates the insertion of such a tool and the removal of the roller pin 168 in any of the removal directions described above. After removing the roller pin 168, the handle 170 can then be removed from the locking pin 160, and the locking pin 160 can be removed from the guide tube 140. A new locking pin 160 can then be inserted into the guide tube 140, such that the pin removal opening 115, the first roller pin cylindrical opening 143, the second roller pin cylindrical opening 144, and the roller pin openings 163a and 163b are aligned.The fixing section 172 of the handle 170 can be inserted into the handle receiving opening 164 of the locking pin 160 such that the roller pin opening 173 defined by the handle 170 is aligned with the pin removal opening 115, the first roller pin cylindrical opening 143, the second roller pin cylindrical opening 144, and the roller pin openings 163a and 163b. The roller pin 168 can be inserted through the opening 143 and press-fitted into the roller pin opening 163 and roller pin opening 173 defined by the handle 170 to secure the handle 170 to the new locking pin 160. The handle and roller pin can also be replaced in this manner. Therefore, it should be noted that the removable handle and locking pin allow the locking pin to be replaced if it is bent during use, installation, or removal. The combination of these components allows the locking assembly to be repaired easily and efficiently without needing to replace the entire locking assembly or the entire bridge plate. It should also be appreciated from the above that the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of the present invention eliminates the need for a collar (described above), and therefore in several embodiments does not include such a collar. It should also be appreciated from the above that the car carrier railcar bridge plate locking assembly of the present invention provides a pivot pin that is securely fixed to the guide tube, eliminating the need for a loosely fixed pivot pin (described above), and therefore in several embodiments does not include such a loosely or loosely fixed pivot pin. It should be appreciated from the foregoing that in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a bridge plate locking assembly for a car-carrying railway car that includes: (a) a support bracket; (b) a guide tube connected to the support bracket; (c) a support block located between the support bracket and the guide tube, wherein the support block is connected to the support bracket and to the guide tube; (d) a sliding locking pin partially positioned in the guide tube; (e) a handle detachably attached to the locking pin by means of a removable roller pin; (f) a pivot pin partially positioned in and connected to the guide tube; and (g) a spring located in the guide tube between the pivot pin and the locking pin and configured to apply a pushing force against the locking pin to push the locking pin outwards from the guide tube. It should also be noted that in certain embodiments of this type, the present invention provides a bridge plate locking assembly for a railcar transporting automobiles in which: (i) the support bracket includes a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, wherein the second section defines a pin removal opening that allows the roller pin to be removed from the locking pin and handle; (ii) the support block is located between the third section of the support bracket and the guide tube; (iii) the guide tube defines a central cylindrical lumen, cylindrical openings at opposite ends, a first cylindrical roller pin opening, a second cylindrical roller pin opening, and an elongated handle opening;(iv) the sliding locking pin defines aligned roller pin cylindrical openings and a handle receiving cylindrical opening; (v) the handle includes a fastening section and a gripping section, wherein the fastening section defines a roller pin cylindrical opening; and (vi) the pivot pin includes a cylindrical body having a first section, an intermediate section, and a second section. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι Several embodiments of the present invention also provide a car carrier railcar bridge plate with the locking assembly described above. Therefore, it should be appreciated in addition to the foregoing that in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a bridge plate for a car carrier railcar comprising: a plate configured to extend from one car carrier railcar to an adjacent car carrier railcar; and a locking assembly connected to the plate and configured to pivotally fix the plate to one of the car carrier railcars, wherein the locking assembly comprises: (a) a support bracket; (b) a guide tube connected to the support bracket; (c) a support block situated between the support bracket and the guide tube, wherein said support block is connected to the support bracket and to the guide tube; (d) a sliding locking pin partially positioned in the guide tube; (e) a handle detachably attached to the locking pin by a removable roller pin;(f) a pivot pin partially positioned in and connected to the guide tube; and (g) a spring located in the guide tube between the pivot pin and the locking pin and configured to apply a pushing force against the locking pin to push the locking pin outwards from the guide tube. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι It should also be noted that in certain embodiments of this type, the present invention provides a railway car carrier bridge plate in which: (i) the support includes a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, wherein the second section defines a pin removal opening that allows the roller pin to be removed from the locking pin and handle; (ii) the support block is situated between the third section of the support bracket and the guide tube; (iii) the guide tube defines a central cylindrical lumen, cylindrical openings at opposite ends, a first roller pin cylindrical opening, a second roller pin cylindrical opening, and an elongated handle opening; (iv) the sliding locking pin defines aligned roller pin cylindrical openings and a handle receiving cylindrical opening;(v) the handle includes a fixing section and a gripping section, wherein the fixing section defines a cylindrical roller pin opening; and (vi) the pivot pin includes a cylindrical body having a first section, an intermediate section, and a second section. It should be understood that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the new concepts of the present invention, and it should be understood that this application should be limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A bridge plate locking assembly for a car carrier railcar, characterized in that it comprises: a support bracket configured to be connected to a bridge plate for a car carrier railcar; an elongated guide tube connected to the support bracket, the guide tube being elongated in a first direction from a first end to an opposite second open end; a first pin partially positioned in the guide tube and projecting from the first end of the guide tube, wherein the first pin is fixed relative to the guide tube, and wherein the first pin is configured to be received in a first receiver attached to the car carrier railcar; a second pin positioned in the guide tube and projecting from the second open end of the guide tube, the second pin being configured to be received in a second receiver attached to the car carrier railcar;a handle detachably fixed to the second pin, the handle being configured to be grasped and moved to slide the second pin relative to the guide tube and the first pin; and a spring placed in the guide tube between the first and second pins and configured to apply a force to the second pin in the first direction; wherein the guide tube includes an elongated opening located between the first and second ends of the guide tube, the handle protruding from the second pin out of the slot;wherein the second pin is configured to be withdrawn in the guide channel by pulling the handle in a second direction, opposite to the first direction and towards the first pin, against the force imparted by the spring, and wherein the second pin is configured, when the second pin is aligned with the second receiver and the handle is released, so that the spring pushes the second pin in the first direction so that the second pin is received in the second receiver and joined to the bridge plate with the car carrier railcar;and where the support bracket comprises an elongated body having first and second sections that are separated from each other and lie in the same plane, the elongated body also having a third section that lies between the first and second sections and is located in a different plane from the same plane as the first and second sections, and the first and second sections are connected to respective opposite lateral edges of the third section by respective curved transition sections, the elongated guide tube being attached to at least the first and second sections of the elongated body of the support bracket.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a roller pin detachably attached to the handle, the roller pin being configured to be inserted into the handle to secure the handle to the second pin and to be removed from the handle to separate the handle from the second pin.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide tube includes an opening and the handle includes a channel aligned with each other along a third direction, the opening in the guide tube and the channel in the handle being aligned with each other to receive the roller pin along the third direction.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the first direction in which the guide tube is elongated and the third direction in which the opening of the guide tube and the channel in the handle are aligned and orthogonal to each other.

5. A bridge plate locking assembly for a car carrier railcar characterized in that it comprises: a guide channel configured to be attached to a bridge plate of a car carrier railcar, the guide channel extending from a first end to a second open end; a pivot pin partially positioned in the guide channel at the first end; a locking pin partially positioned in the guide channel at the second open end; a handle detachably attached to the locking pin, the handle configured to move relative to the guide channel to slide the locking pin out of or into the guide channel; and a spring member positioned within the guide channel between the pivot pin and the locking pin and configured to impart a force on the locking pin towards the second end of the guide channel.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a roller pin detachably attached to the handle, the roller pin being configured to be inserted into the handle to secure the handle to the locking pin and to be removed from the handle to separate the handle from the locking pin.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide channel includes an opening and the handle includes a channel aligned with it to receive the roller pin. ozccnn / i ζπζ / β / υιλι 8. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide channel includes an elongated groove positioned between the first open end and the second open end of the guide channel, the locking pin handle protruding out of the groove.

9. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the pivot pin is configured to be received in a first receiver connected to a car carrier railcar and the locking pin is configured to be received in a second receiver connected to the car carrier railcar to secure the bridge plate to the car carrier railcar.

10. A bridge plate locking assembly for a car-carrying railway car, characterized in that it comprises: a guide tube configured to be attached to a first component, the guide tube extending in a first direction from a first end to a second open end; a first pin projecting from the first end of the guide tube, the first pin configured to be received in a second component; a second pin projecting from the second open end of the guide tube, the second pin configured to move relative to the guide tube and the first pin to be received in the second component; and a handle detachably attached to the second pin, the handle being configured to be gripped and moved to slide the second pin relative to the guide tube and the first pin.

11. The assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises a roller pin detachably attached to the handle, the roller pin being configured to be inserted into the handle to secure the handle to the second pin and to be removed from the handle to separate the handle from the second pin.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, characterized in that the guide tube includes an opening and the handle includes a channel aligned with each other, the opening in the guide tube and the channel in the handle being aligned with each other to receive the roller pin along the second direction.

13. The assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises an elastic member placed inside the guide tube between the first pin and the second pin.

14. The assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide tube includes an elongated groove positioned between the first and second openings of the guide tube, the handle of the second locking pin protruding outside the groove.

15. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a support bracket configured to be attached to the bridge plate, wherein the support bracket comprises an elongated body having first and second sections that are separated from each other and lie in the same plane, the elongated body also having a third section that lies between the first and second sections and is located in a different plane from the same plane as the first and second sections, and the first and second sections are connected to respective opposite lateral edges of the third section by means of respective curved transition sections, and wherein the guide tube is attached to at least the first and second sections of the elongated body of the support bracket.

16. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a support bracket configured to be attached to the bridge plate, wherein the support bracket comprises an elongated body having a plurality of sections, the plurality of sections including a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, the first section and the fifth section being separated from each other and lying in the same plane, the third section being located between the first section and the fifth section and lying in a different plane 36 from the same plane as the first and fifth sections, the second section being curved and connecting the first section to a first lateral edge of the third section, and the fourth section being curved and connecting the fifth section to an opposite second lateral edge of the third section,and where the guide channel is attached to at least the first and fifth sections of the elongated body of the support bracket.

17. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises a support bracket configured to be attached to the bridge plate for a railway car carrier, and wherein the support bracket comprises an elongated body having first and second sections that are separated from each other and lie in the same plane, the elongated body also having a third section that lies between the first and second sections and is located in a different plane from the same plane as the first and second sections, and the first and second sections are attached to the respective opposite lateral edges of the third section by means of respective curved transition sections, and wherein the guide tube is attached to at least the first and second sections of the elongated body of the support bracket.

18. The assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the first component comprises a support bracket configured to be attached to a bridge plate for a railway car carrier, and wherein the bracket support comprises an elongated body having a plurality of sections, the plurality of sections including a first section, a second section, a third section, a fourth section, and a fifth section, the first section and the fifth section being separated from each other and lying in the same plane, the third section being located between the first section and the fifth section and lying in a different plane from the same plane as the first and fifth sections, the second section being curved and connecting the first section to a first lateral edge of the third section, and the fourth section being curved and connecting the fifth section to an opposite second lateral edge of the third section,and where the guide tube is attached to at least the first and fifth sections of the elongated body of the support bracket.

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