Autorack Cars Pivotable Deck Segments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current autorack cars lack the flexibility to accommodate different vehicle sizes, as they cannot be quickly adjusted to varying deck heights, limiting the coordination and loading of vehicles based on available car configurations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of pivotable deck segments and locking mechanisms allows the upper deck to be raised or lowered, enabling the autorack car to support both standard and taller vehicles by pivoting between nominal and raised positions, with locking mechanisms securing the deck in place for secure transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If autorack cars use fixed deck configurations, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility to accommodate different vehicle sizes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility to accommodate different vehicle sizesVSAvoiddeck configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper deck is divided into multiple independently pivotable segments that can be adjusted relative to each other and the lower deck, allowing flexible configuration to accommodate different vehicle heights and sizes while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The deck segments are designed with pivotable connections that allow dynamic adjustment between fixed and variable configurations, enabling the autorack car to adapt its deck height and arrangement based on loading requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If deck height is quickly adjustable, then vehicle loading flexibility improves, but structural stability during transport may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle loading efficiencyVSAvoiddeck stability during transport

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanisms are pre-positioned and designed to engage automatically or quickly with the pivotable deck segments, ensuring that the deck is securely locked in its selected configuration before vehicle loading begins, thus maintaining stability throughout the transport process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanisms use simple, robust mechanical components that provide reliable locking action for each transport journey, designed for quick engagement and disengagement to enable rapid reconfiguration between trips

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS11878724B2Autorack cars

Publication Date: 2024.01.23 GUNDERSON LLC

AI summary

Autorack cars, may include a car body and a pair of wheeled trucks supporting the car body. The autorack cars may additionally include a stationary deck segment fixedly attached to the car body and at least one pivoting deck segment that is adjacent to the stationary deck segment and that is pivotably connected to the stationary deck segment such that the at least one pivoting deck segment is pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the stationary deck segment. The at least one pivoting deck segment may be adapted to support at least one vehicle in the lowered and raised positions. The autorack cars may further include at least one pivot assembly for moving the at least one pivoting deck segment between the lowered and raised positions.