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A foldable device for facilitating the stacking of adjacent pairs of pallets loaded with container arrays includes a pair of pivotally-interconnected sections. Each section includes a generally flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a respective top layer of exposed container tops, and a top surface

A foldable device for facilitating the stacking of adjacent pairs of pallets loaded with container arrays includes a pair of pivotally-interconnected sections. Each section includes a generally flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a respective top layer of exposed container tops, and a top surface that include surface features whose uppermost portions cooperate to define a first reference plane. Each section includes a plurality of complementary hinge components defining a pivot axis that lies in a second reference plane located between the section's bottom surface and first reference plane, and further includes detents by which to maintain the bottom surfaces of each section pair in a substantially coplanar relationship when the hinged sections are spread open. Preferably, the surface features of each section pair are complementary such that, the assembly is folded about the resulting shared pivot axis, the bottom surfaces become generally parallel-spaced to facilitate device storage.

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A foldable device for facilitating the stacking of adjacent pairs of pallets loaded with container arrays includes a pair of pivotally-interconnected sections. Each section includes a generally flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a respective top layer of exposed container tops, and a top surface

A foldable device for facilitating the stacking of adjacent pairs of pallets loaded with container arrays includes a pair of pivotally-interconnected sections. Each section includes a generally flat bottom surface adapted to rest on a respective top layer of exposed container tops, and a top surface that include surface features whose uppermost portions cooperate to define a first reference plane. Each section includes a plurality of complementary hinge components defining a pivot axis that lies in a second reference plane located between the section's bottom surface and first reference plane, and further includes detents by which to maintain the bottom surfaces of each section pair in a substantially coplanar relationship when the hinged sections are spread open. Preferably, the surface features of each section pair are complementary such that, the assembly is folded about the resulting shared pivot axis, the bottom surfaces become generally parallel-spaced to facilitate device storage. rein each of said first and second pawls has first and second ends with said first ends continuously urged toward engagement with said ratchet wheel. 8. The railcar door assembly of claim 7 wherein the second end of each pawl has a greater weight than its respective first end so that said pawls are continuously urged to pivot around said pivot pin toward engagement with said ratchet wheel. 9. The railcar door assembly of claim 1 further including a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending generally radially outward from the outer circumference thereof and mounted to said railcar door in spaced relation to said first ratchet wheel. 10. The railcar door assembly of claim 9 wherein a third pawl is disposed for selective operative engagement with said second ratchet wheel teeth for selectively preventing undesired movement of said second ratchet wheel in one direction of rotation. 11. The railcar door assembly of claim 10, wherein said third pawl has a first end and a second end, said third pawl first end including a portion for selective engagement with said second ratchet wheel teeth. 12. The railcar door assembly of claim 10, wherein said third pawl is mounted in spaced relation to said first and second pawls on a common pivot pin. 13. A railcar door assembly comprising: a substantially planar door; at least one elongated support member rotatable mounted to said door; a drive mechanism associated with said door and operatively connected to said support member for selectively rotating said support member about its length to partially open or fully close said door; and, a stop mechanism associated with said door for preventing movement of said drive mechanism when said door is in one of a partially opened and fully closed position, said stop mechanism including a first rotatable mounted ratchet wheel and first and second pawls disposed in a side-by-side relation for selective alternating engagement with said ratchet wheel to selectively prevent movement of said ratchet wheel in one direction of rotation; and, wherein each of said pawls includes a grooved area extending to the pawl outer extremity from a pivot pin mounting opening for preventing debris buildup between said pawls and said pivot pin. 14. A stop mechanism for a railcar door having a gear mechanism and a lever operatively connected thereto for rotating the gear mechanism to open and close the door, said stop mechanism comprising: a ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending generally radially from the outer circumference thereof and adapted for rotatable mounting to said railcar door; a first pawl disposed for selective operative engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth; a second pawl disposed for selective operative engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth; and, said first and second pawls being configured and dimensioned so that one of said pawls is always disposed in operative engagement with one of said ratchet wheel teeth for selectively preventing undesired movement of said ratchet wheel in one direction of rotation; wherein each of said first and second bawls has first and second ends, said first ends each including a portion for selective engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth; and, said first and second pawls being mounted in side-by-side relation on a common pivot pin and wherein said first ends of said pawls are configured and dimensioned such that when the first end portion of one pawl is in engagement with a ratchet wheel tooth the first end portion of the other pawl is disengaged from said ratchet wheel teeth. 15. The stop mechanism of claim 14 wherein each of said ratchet wheel teeth has a leading edge and a trailing edge, said first end portions of said pawls selectively preventing rotation of said ratchet wheel against said teeth trailing edges while allowing rotation of said ratchet wheel against said teeth leading edges. 16. The stop mechanism of claim 15 wherein the first end portions of said first an d second pawls are dimensioned and configured so that when the first end portion of one pawl is engaged with one of said ratchet wheel teeth the first end portion of the other pawl engages an outermost land area of a tooth adjacent said one of said ratchet wheel teeth. 17. The stop mechanism of claim 16 wherein said first and second pawls are continuously urged toward engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth. 18. The stop mechanism of claim 14 wherein the second end of each pawl has a greater weight than its respective first end so that said pawls are continuously urged to pivot around said pivot pin toward engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth. 19. The stop mechanism of claim 14 wherein each of said pawls includes a grooved area extending to the pawl outer extremity from a pivot pin mounting opening for preventing debris buildup between said pawls and said pivot pin. 20. A stop arrangement for a railcar door having a gear mechanism and a lever operatively connected thereto for rotating the gear mechanism to open and close the door, said stop arrangement comprising: a ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending generally radially outward at predetermined spaced intervals around the outer circumference thereof and adapted for rotatable mounting to said railcar door; said ratchet wheel teeth each having a leading edge and a trailing edge with a land area disposed between the leading and trailing edges of adjacent teeth; first and second pawls each having a first end portion disposed for selective alternating operative engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth; and, said first end portions of said first and second pawls being configured and dimensioned so that one of said first end portions is always disposed in operative engagement with one of said ratchet wheel teeth intermediate the leading and trailing edges thereof for selectively preventing undesired rotation of said ratchet wheel in a direction against the trailing edge of said one of said ratchet wheel teeth while the other first end portion engages one of said land areas. 21. The stop arrangement of claim 20 wherein said first and second pawls are mounted in side-by-side relation on a common pivot pin. 22. The stop arrangement of claim 21 wherein the first end portions of said first and second pawls are dimensioned and configured so that when the first end portion of one pawl is engaged with one of said ratchet wheel teeth the first end portion of the other pawl engages the land area of a tooth adjacent said one of said ratchet wheel teeth. 23. The stop arrangement of claim 20 wherein said first and second pawls are continuously urged toward engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth. 24. The stop arrangement of claim 23 wherein said each of said first and second pawls has a second end portion of greater weight that its respective first end portion and said pawls are pivotally mounted intermediate said first and second end portions such that said pawls are continuously urged to pivot toward engagement with said ratchet wheel teeth. 25. The stop arrangement of claim 24 wherein said first and second pawls are mounted in side-by-side relation on a common pivot pin. 26. A stop mechanism for a railcar door having a gear mechanism and a lever operatively connected thereto for rotating the gear mechanism to open and close the door, said stop mechanism comprising: a first ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending generally radially from the outer circumference thereof and mounted to said railcar door in a spaced relationship to said first ratchet wheel; a second ratchet wheel having a plurality of teeth extending generally radially from the outer circumference thereof and adapted for rotatable mounting to an associated railcar door; first and second pawls configured and dimensioned so that when one of said first and second pawls is in operative engagement with one of said first ratchet wheel teeth for selectively preventing undesired movement of sa