Folding step for autorack door

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a railcar comprises a door, and the door comprises an inside panel and a plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel arranged in a vertical sequence. The railcar further comprises a folding ladder apparatus comprising a first ladder rung and a second ladder rung. The folding ladder apparatus is pivotally coupled to the inside panel and operable to pivot in a vertical direction between an up position and a down position. When the door is in an open position and the folding ladder apparatus is in the down position, the second ladder rung extends below a bottom of the door facilitating access to the railcar. When the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung and the second ladder rung are vertically offset from the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door.

1 . A railcar comprising:
 a door configured to provide access to an interior of the railcar, the door comprising an inside panel that faces the interior of the railcar when the door is in a closed position;   a plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door in a vertical sequence; and   a folding ladder apparatus comprising a first ladder rung and a second ladder rung in a vertical sequence, the folding ladder apparatus pivotally coupled to the inside panel of the door and operable to pivot in a vertical direction between an up position and a down position;   the folding ladder apparatus configured such that:
 when the door is in an open position and the folding ladder apparatus is in the down position, the second ladder rung extends below a bottom of the door facilitating access to the railcar; and 
 when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung and the second ladder rung are vertically offset from the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the folding ladder apparatus is pivotally coupled to the inside panel of the door below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung is positioned below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door, and the second ladder rung is positioned above the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the inside panel of the door. 
     
     
         4 . The railcar of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch coupled to the inside panel of the door operable to secure the folding ladder apparatus in the down position. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar of  claim 4 , wherein the latch is positioned to secure the first ladder rung to the door. 
     
     
         6 . The railcar of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the folding ladder apparatus further comprises at least one vertical support that couples the first ladder rung to the second ladder rung; and   the latch is positioned to secure the at least one vertical support to the door.   
     
     
         7 . The railcar of  claim 1 , wherein the railcar comprises an autorack car. 
     
     
         8 . A folding ladder apparatus comprising:
 a first ladder rung and a second ladder rung in a vertical sequence;   a pivotal coupling operable to pivotally couple the first ladder rung and the second ladder rung to a door panel, the door panel comprising a plurality of ladder rungs arranged in a vertical sequence;   wherein:
 the folding ladder apparatus is operable to pivot in a vertical direction between an up position and a down position; 
 when the folding ladder apparatus is in the down position, the second ladder rung extends below a bottom of the door; and 
 when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung and the second ladder rung are vertically offset from the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
   
     
     
         9 . The folding ladder apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the folding ladder apparatus is pivotally coupled to the door panel below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
     
     
         10 . The folding ladder apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung is positioned below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door, and the second ladder rung is positioned above the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
     
     
         11 . The folding ladder apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a latch coupled to the door operable to secure the folding ladder apparatus in the down position. 
     
     
         12 . The folding ladder apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the latch is positioned to secure the first ladder rung to the door. 
     
     
         13 . The folding ladder apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the folding ladder apparatus further comprises at least one vertical support that couples the first ladder rung to the second ladder rung; and   the latch is positioned to secure the at least one vertical support to the door.   
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a railcar, the method comprising:
 providing a door configured to provide access to an interior of the railcar, the door comprising a plurality of ladder rungs arranged in a vertical sequence;   coupling a folding ladder apparatus to the door, the folding ladder apparatus comprising a first ladder rung and a second ladder rung in a vertical sequence, wherein:
 the folding ladder apparatus is operable to pivot in a vertical direction between an up position and a down position; 
 when the folding ladder apparatus is in the down position, the second ladder rung extends below a bottom of the door; and 
 when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung and the second ladder rung are vertically offset from the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the folding ladder apparatus is pivotally coupled to the door panel below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein when the folding ladder apparatus is in the up position, the first ladder rung is positioned below the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door, and the second ladder rung is positioned above the bottom-most rung of the plurality of ladder rungs coupled to the door. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising coupling a latch to the door, the latch operable to secure the folding ladder apparatus in the down position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the latch is positioned to secure the first ladder rung to the door. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the folding ladder apparatus further comprises at least one vertical support that couples the first ladder rung to the second ladder rung; and   the latch is positioned to secure the at least one vertical support to the door.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the railcar comprises an autorack car.