Autorack deck adjustments

Abstract

An unconventional coupler assists in adjusting the height of a deck in an autorack car. The coupler allows the deck to couple to an adjustment mechanism (e.g., a ball screw) that can adjust the height of the deck. When the deck is repositioned, the coupler allows the deck to decouple from the adjustment mechanism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a latch configured to couple to a deck of an autorack car, the latch comprising:
 a body coupled to a hinge such that the body may rotate about the hinge from a first position to a second position; and 
 a headpiece coupled to the body; 
   a travelling nut configured to engage a ball screw, the travelling nut configured to rotate with the ball screw when the body is in the first position, the body configured to exert a force on the travelling nut when the body is in the second position, the travelling nut and the latch configured to adjust a height of the deck in the autorack car when the body is in the second position and when the ball screw is turned; and   a collar configured to encircle the latch when the body is in the second position, the collar may be lifted above the latch.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the collar prevents the body from rotating from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second latch comprising a second body coupled to a second hinge such that the second body may rotate about the second hinge from a third position to a fourth position, the travelling nut configured to rotate with the ball screw when the second body is in the third position, the travelling nut and the second latch configured to adjust the height of the deck in the autorack car when the second body is in the fourth position and when the ball screw is turned. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the travelling nut is configured to engage the ball screw such that the ball screw extends through the travelling nut. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the force is transverse to the body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the headpiece is positioned above the travelling nut when the body is in the second position such that the travelling nut exerts an upwards force on the headpiece. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the headpiece is transverse to the body. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the travelling nut comprises a nut body and a nut head positioned above the nut body, the force is exerted on the nut head, the nut head is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the headpiece comprises a key; and   the collar comprises a slot, the slot and key configured such that the collar may be lifted above the slot when the slot is aligned with the key.   
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 rotating a first latch from a first position to a second position such that a first body of the first latch exerts a first force on a travelling nut, the first force is transverse to the first body;   rotating a second latch from a third position to a fourth position such that a second body of the second latch exerts a second force on the travelling nut, the second force is transverse to the second body, the first and second forces prevent the travelling nut from rotating with a ball screw when the ball screw is rotated, the travelling nut configured to rotate with the ball screw when the ball screw is rotated, the first latch is in the first position, and the second latch is in the third position;   lowering a collar such that the collar prevents the first latch from rotating from the second position to the first position and the second latch from rotating from the fourth position to the second position; and   rotating the ball screw such that the travelling nut and the latch adjust a height of a deck in an autorack car.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising uncoupling the deck from the autorack car before rotating the ball screw. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 lifting the collar above the first latch; and   rotating the first latch from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising aligning a slot in the collar with a key of a headpiece of the first latch before lowering the collar, the headpiece coupled to the first body, the key prevents the collar from lowering such that the collar prevents the first latch from rotating from the second position to the first position when the slot is not aligned with the key. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the headpiece is positioned above the travelling nut when the first body is in the second position such that the travelling nut exerts an upwards force on the headpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the headpiece is transverse to the body. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first force is opposite the second force. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the travelling nut is configured to engage the ball screw such that the ball screw extends through the travelling nut. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the travelling nut comprises a nut body and a nut head positioned above the nut body, the first force is exerted on the nut head, the nut head is rectangular.