US1015146A - Collapsible and extensible roof for open-top railway-cars, &c. - Google Patents

Description

R. DAVIS 6a J. J. KAIN. E AND BXTENSIBLROOF FOR OBEN TOP RAILWAY GARS, c.

ooLLAPsIBL AYPLIGATION FILED JULY 25, 1910.

Patented Jan. 16,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE- i' WILLIAM R. DAvIsAND JoI'IN J. KAIN, or MAYsvILLn KENTUCKY.

coLLArsIBLE ANI) EXTENSIBIQE nomi` Fon OPEN-Tor RAILWAY-CARS, am.

To all 'whom z't may concern.'

Be :it known that-we, WILLIAM R. DAVIS and JOHN J. KAIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Maysville, in the county of Mason and State of Kentucky, have 1nvented certain new and -useful Improve# I. ments in Collapsible ,and-Extensible Roofs lar receptacles; and the object of our invention is ,to provide an improved roof-oll the type speciiied .the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed in t-he clauses of the concluding claim.

In the drawing; Figure l is a view showing in perspective the body of an open top railway ear with our improved roof applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a view taken upon a plane normal to the roof and intersecting the same along the line'2-2 Fig. 1, showing three sections of the roof in their extended condition; Fig. 3 is a view taken upon a plane extending longitudinally of a roof section and at right angles thereto as indicated by the line 3 3 Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view taken upon a parallel plane indicated by ,the

line 4 4 Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing the sections collapsed.

In the drawing, 1 is the body of an open top railway car.

VThe characters 2 represent a series of -plates whlch, when extended, form a roof for the car, itbeing preferable to employ two such roofs as are described and shown, one secured to eaclgl end of the car and which roofs, when. exten ed, meet at the center of the car. A more compact roof for theentire car 1s thus procured, andv one whlch'may be more easily manipulated. However, heremafter and 1n the clauses of the clalm,

the term roof is used with reference to.

one.only of 'thetwo sections above contemplated. j

rlhe plates 2 abovle referred to extend entirely across the caro body and over the .upper edges 'of the sides/far enough to carry Specification of Letters Patent. r Ptented'Jan. 16,1912. Application led Iu1y'25, 1910. Serial No. 578,661.

water over the edges as will be understood, and said plates although capable of moving with reference to one another as will here` inafter appear are permanently secured tgether so that they collectively form a unitary roof structure. The said plates, after the first or one at the left, are capable of being moved into a position such that each overlies the next precedingl plate of the series, all the plates, whe.`-.' j"`hus, collapsed, being piled in'a vertical column as shown at the right, Fig'. l. The plates 2 are preferably curved slightly in the direction of their length, so that water will quickly run ofi.' them. The lef-t hand plate 2, being the first of the series, is secured to the end of .the car body by means of hinges 3, and 4 are brackets secured to the ends of the car body. It willbe obvious. that -the plates when collapsed may be permitted to rest upon the ends ofthe sides of the car as sl1oWn,-or may as a Whole' be turned about the, hinges 3 through 90 land permitted to rest u pon the brackets, each method of support having advantages peculiar to itself.

Guides are provided for securing smoothness of operation of the plates 2 as the roof is extended or'collapsed. These guides extend substantially the entire width of the plates 2 and as many rows or lines of guides will be used as 'is thought desirable, two such rows being shown in the roof illustrated. These guides are made up of cooperating guide members 5, G, the member 5 having converging side flanges 7 and the member 6 Vhaving diverging,l side flanges 8, which flanges 7 and 8 engage one another in the manner illustrated in thesectional views, F lgs. 3 and 4, whereby guidel'sare produced wliiyh are free to move lover vine a'nother in a direction longitudinally of the roof, but which are otherwise restrained from movement.' Each plate'2, except the first and last of the series, will have a guide upon both its upper and lowersurfaces as shown.

The edges of the plates' 2' arebent substantially at right angles to' ythe plate to form flanges 9, 10, and flanges 9 and 10 of adjacent plates will move'into positions as close as possible to one another without the guides 5, 6 becoming disengaged. Stops 1l. will preferably be employed to prevent the guides 5, G from becoming separated, and a part of the guide 5 will be turned up, as shown at 12, or solne other form of stop will-be use to prevent the guidesfrom runfact that the-ro'owhen Icollapsed occupies but little space and that'it is then securely supported at. the, ends of the car enables an open car equipped with our invention to remain open when used to, transport goods which need not be protected from the Weather'andwhenso,used the .roof is not subjected lto wear and tear.

Havingthus described our invention and explained-the operation thereof, We claim and desire"tq secure byL'etters APatent :1

l.' In .an extensible and collapsible roof for cars .and similar vehicles, an open top car body; a series of plates permanently secured together' and of. suticient length to extend across the car body and each plate after the first of the series being capable of being moved into a position such that it' overlies the next preceding plate, said plates when extended being adapted to form a root` for the car; and series of guides each comprising U-shaped section one secured to the upper and one to the lowerv surface of said plates, the guide upon-the upper surface ofa plate being in engagement with the guide-upon-the lower surface 'of the next vfollowing plate of the series whereby said plates are maintained in proper relation as the roof is extended or. collapsed.

2. In an extensible and collapsible roof for'cars and similar'vehicles, an open top carbody; a series of plates permanently secured together and of suiiicient length to extend across the 'car body and each plate: after the first of the series being capable of being' moved into a position such that/it overlies the nextpreceding plate, said plates when extended being adapted'to'form a roof for the car, and the. edges of said' plates being bent in opposite directions and substantially.

at right angles to the plate to thereby form fianges; and guides secured :to adjacent plates of said series of plates and iii-,engagement with one another for maintaining said plates in proper relation with one another as the roof is extended or collapsed.

.- In testimony whereof we alix our signas tures in presencey of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM R. DAVIS.

1Witnesses as to William R. Davis z'A LOUIS ZECH, EARL LAY. l

Witnesses as to John J.' Kain:

EDNA LEONARD, i R. M. WALLINGFORD.

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