Grate track with center hinge

Abstract

A railcar system is disclosed. The railcar system comprises a railcar and a grate track assembly disposed longitudinally within the railcar. The grate track assembly comprises: a first grate; a second grate; and a center hinge disposed between the first grate and the second grate. The center hinge is rotatably coupled to the first grate along a first longitudinal edge of the center hinge and rotatably coupled to the second grate along a second longitudinal edge of the center hinge.

1 . A railcar system, comprising:
 a railcar; and   a grate track assembly disposed longitudinally within the railcar, the grate track assembly comprising:
 a first grate; 
 a second grate; and 
 a center hinge disposed between the first grate and the second grate, the center hinge rotatably coupled to the first grate along a first longitudinal edge of the center hinge and rotatably coupled to the second grate along a second longitudinal edge of the center hinge. 
   
     
     
         2 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first grate is different from a width of the second grate. 
     
     
         3 . The railcar system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the width of the first grate is eighteen inches;   the width of the second grate is four and one-half inches; and   a width of the center hinge is one and one-half inches.   
     
     
         4 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the first grate is the same as a width of the second grate. 
     
     
         5 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first grate comprises a first gap separating the first grate into a first first-grate portion and a second first-grate portion, the first gap running parallel to a lateral axis of the first grate; and   the second grate comprises a second gap separating the second grate into a first second-grate portion and a second second-grate portion, the second gap running parallel to a lateral axis of the second grate.   
     
     
         6 . The railcar system of  claim 5 , wherein a position of the first gap and a position of the second gap are staggered with respect to each other within the grate track assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The railcar system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first first-grate portion and the second first-grate portion are operable to rotate from a first position to a second position;   the first first-grate portion is operable to remain in the first position while the second first-grate portion is in the second position; and   the second first-grate portion is operable to remain in the first position while the first first-grate portion is in the second position.   
     
     
         8 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vehicle positioned within the railcar, the vehicle comprising at least one tire positioned at least partially on the grate track assembly; and   a chock positioned over the center hinge on the grate track assembly and adjacent to the at least one tire, the chock comprising an extended lock connected to the chock by a strap positioned over the at least one tire, wherein the chock is locked to both the first grate and the second grate.   
     
     
         9 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , wherein the center hinge is affixed to a deck of the railcar using a plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         10 . The railcar system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the center hinge comprises a twin hinge; and   the first grate comprises a top wire and a bottom wire forming a two-layer grate.   
     
     
         11 . A grate track assembly, the grate track assembly comprising:
 a first grate;   a second grate; and   a center hinge disposed between the first grate and the second grate, the center hinge rotatably coupled to the first grate along a first longitudinal edge of the center hinge and rotatably coupled to the second grate along a second longitudinal edge of the center hinge.   
     
     
         12 . The grate track assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the first grate is different from a width of the second grate. 
     
     
         13 . The grate track assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the width of the first grate is eighteen inches;   the width of the second grate is four and one-half inches; and   a width of the center hinge is one and one-half inches.   
     
     
         14 . The grate track assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a width of the first grate is the same as a width of the second grate. 
     
     
         15 . The grate track assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first grate comprises a first gap separating the first grate into a first first-grate portion and a second first-grate portion, the first gap running parallel to a lateral axis of the first grate; and   the second grate comprises a second gap separating the second grate into a first second-grate portion and a second second-grate portion, the second gap running parallel to a lateral axis of the second grate.   
     
     
         16 . The grate track assembly of  claim 15 , wherein a position of the first gap and a position of the second gap are staggered with respect to each other within the grate track assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The grate track assembly of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first first-grate portion and the second first-grate portion are operable to rotate from a first position to a second position;   the first first-grate portion is operable to remain in the first position while the second first-grate portion is in the second position; and   the second first-grate portion is operable to remain in the first position while the first first-grate portion is in the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The grate track assembly of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the center hinge comprises a twin hinge; and   the first grate comprises a top wire and a bottom wire forming a two-layer grate.   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 forming a grate track assembly, the grate track assembly comprising:
 a first grate; 
 a second grate; and 
 a center hinge disposed between the first grate and the second grate, the center hinge rotatably coupled to the first grate along a first longitudinal edge of the center hinge and rotatably coupled to the second grate along a second longitudinal edge of the center hinge; and 
   affixing the grate track assembly to a transport vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 positioning a vehicle within the transport vehicle, the vehicle comprising at least one tire positioned at least partially on the grate track assembly affixed to the transport vehicle; and   securing the vehicle to the grate track assembly using a chock positioned over the center hinge on the grate track assembly and adjacent to the at least one tire, the chock comprising an extended lock connected to the chock by a strap positioned over the at least one tire, wherein the chock is locked to both the first grate and the second grate.