Modular autorack

Abstract

A modular autorack system includes a flatcar, first and second fixed ends, a coupling apparatus coupled to the flatcar, and an autorack module. The first fixed end is coupled to the flatcar at a first end of the flatcar. The second fixed end is coupled to the flatcar at a second end of the flatcar, opposite the first end. The autorack module is configured to detachably engage the coupling apparatus. The autorack module includes a floor panel configured to transport at least one vehicle, a first open end, and a second open end. The second open end is opposite the first open end. The first fixed end is configured to cover the first open end and to prevent a vehicle from exiting the autorack module through the first open end when the autorack module is engaged to the coupling apparatus and positioned between the first and second fixed ends.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular autorack system comprising:
 a flatcar;   a first fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a first end of the flatcar;   a second fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a second end of the flatcar, the second end of the flatcar opposite the first end of the flatcar;   a coupling apparatus coupled to the flatcar; and   an autorack module configured to detachably engage the coupling apparatus, the autorack module comprising:
 a floor panel configured to transport at least one vehicle; 
 a first open end; and 
 a second open end opposite the first open end, wherein the first fixed end is configured to cover the first open end and to prevent a vehicle from exiting the autorack module through the first open end when the autorack module is engaged to the coupling apparatus and positioned between the first fixed end and the second fixed end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The modular autorack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first fixed end and the second fixed end comprises at least one door. 
     
     
         3 . The modular autorack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coupling apparatus comprises at least one protruding portion; and   a protruding portion of the at least one protruding portion is configured to detachably engage a recessed portion of the autorack module.   
     
     
         4 . The modular autorack of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coupling apparatus comprises at least one recessed portion; and   a recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion is configured to detachably engage a protruding portion of the autorack module.   
     
     
         5 . The modular autorack of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling apparatus facilitates movement of the autorack module with respect to the flatcar between a first position in which the first fixed end covers the first open end of the autorack module and a second position in which the first fixed end does not cover the first open end. 
     
     
         6 . An autorack module comprising:
 a floor panel configured to transport at least one vehicle;   a first open end;   a second open end opposite the first open end; and   a first coupling apparatus coupled to the floor panel, the first coupling apparatus configured to detachably engage a second coupling apparatus of a modular autorack, the modular autorack comprising:
 a flatcar; 
 the second coupling apparatus coupled to the flatcar; 
 a first fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a first end of the flatcar; and 
 a second fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a second end of the flatcar, the second end of the flatcar opposite the first end of the flatcar, wherein the first fixed end is configured to cover the first open end of the autorack module and to prevent a vehicle from exiting the autorack module through the first open end when the first coupling apparatus is engaged to the second coupling apparatus and the autorack module is positioned between the first fixed end and the second fixed end. 
   
     
     
         7 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one deck configured to transport at least one vehicle, wherein the floor panel and the at least one deck are configured to support a weight of a plurality of vehicles when the autorack module is detached from the modular autorack. 
     
     
         8 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , further comprising a pair of side panels and a roof panel. 
     
     
         9 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , wherein a length of the autorack module is substantially the same as a distance between the first fixed end of the modular autorack and the second fixed end of the modular autorack. 
     
     
         10 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , wherein a length of the autorack module is less than half a distance between the first fixed end of the modular autorack and the second fixed end of the modular autorack, such that a second autorack module may be positioned between the first fixed end and the second fixed end when the autorack module is positioned between the first fixed end and the second fixed end. 
     
     
         11 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first coupling apparatus comprises at least one protruding portion; and   the second coupling apparatus comprises at least one recessed portion, wherein a protruding portion of the at least one protruding portion is configured to detachably engage a recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion.   
     
     
         12 . The autorack module of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first coupling apparatus comprises at least one recessed portion; and   the second coupling apparatus comprises at least one protruding portion, wherein a recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion is configured to detachably engage a protruding portion of the at least one protruding portion.   
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 removing a first autorack module from a modular autorack, where:
 the modular autorack comprises:
 a flatcar; 
 a first fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a first end of the flatcar; 
 a second fixed end coupled to the flatcar at a second end of the flatcar, the second end of the flatcar opposite the first end of the flatcar; and 
 a first coupling apparatus coupled to the flatcar; and 
 
 the first autorack module comprises:
 a floor panel configured to transport at least one vehicle; and 
 a second coupling apparatus coupled to the floor panel, the second coupling apparatus configured to detachably engage the first coupling apparatus, wherein the first fixed end is configured to cover a first open end of the autorack module and to prevent a vehicle from exiting the autorack module through the first open end, when the first coupling apparatus is engaged to the second coupling apparatus and the first autorack module is positioned between the first fixed end and the second fixed end; and 
 
 removing the first autorack module from the modular autorack comprises disengaging the first coupling apparatus from the second coupling apparatus; and 
   placing a second autorack module on the modular autorack, wherein:
 the first coupling apparatus is further configured to detachably engage a third coupling apparatus, the third coupling apparatus coupled to the second autorack module; and 
 placing the second autorack module on the modular autorack comprises engaging the first coupling apparatus with the third coupling apparatus. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first coupling apparatus comprises at least one protruding portion; and   the second coupling apparatus comprises at least one recessed portion, wherein a protruding portion of the at least one protruding portion is configured to detachably engage a recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first coupling apparatus comprises at least one recessed portion; and   the second coupling apparatus comprises at least one protruding portion, wherein a recessed portion of the at least one recessed portion is configured to detachably engage a protruding portion of the at least one protruding portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to placing the second autorack module on the modular autorack:
 moving the second autorack module in a lateral direction with respect to the modular autorack, from a first position in which the first fixed end of modular autorack covers a first open end of the second autorack module to a second position in which the first fixed end does not cover the first open end of the second autorack module;   loading vehicles into the second autorack module; and   in response to loading the vehicles into the second autorack module, moving the second autorack module from the second position back to the first position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 in response to moving the second autorack module to the second position, locking the second autorack module in the second position; and   in response to loading the vehicles into the second autorack module, unlocking the second autorack module from the second position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein removing the first autorack module from the modular autorack comprises lifting the first autorack module off of the modular autorack using at least one of a crane and a hoist. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, in response to removing the first autorack module from the modular autorack, unloading vehicles from the first autorack module. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first autorack module comprises a first number of decks; and   the second autorack module comprises a second number of decks, the second number of decks different from the first number of decks.