US1431543A - Demurrage chart system - Google Patents

Description

J. H. ROSS.

DEMURRAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION HLE'D nac. 31. |921.

l 431,543 l Patented Got. l0, 1922.

JH. ROSS.

DEIVIUHRAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED DEc.sI. I92I.

Patente Oct. W, 1922.

IABILMS,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I. H. ROSS.

DEII/IURHAGE CHART SYSTEM. APPLICATION IIL'ED DEc.3I. I92I.

Ifwmwg mamma out. IIII, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

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Afl/DDL: T/eAc/r 771-5 I .I I I I I I` @VESTE/2N (3o/PRESS co. 9F Pwevwo/zv-H, TEXAS.

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I WSTERA/ COMP/asses o0. or P0127- woRTH, TEXAS.

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Patented @et lill, i922.

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yaosnrn iiuivrnia ross, or WASHINGTON, nIsTnIcT or confirmera.`

l DEMURRAGE CHART SYSTEM.

application :tiled December 31, 1921. Serial No. 526,350.

To all whomt may Concern:

Be it known thatl7 JOSEPH HUNTER Ross, a citizen or the United States, residing at Washington, in the District oi' Columbia,

`have invented certain new and useful lm- I be provided with designations for accurately indicating thenumber, movement and status or cars in private yards oron unloading sidings. It is wellknown that mills,` elevators, warehouses and like consignees or shippers usually have a so-called yard consisting of suitable trackage especially def'- ignated to receive cars delivered or consigned thereto by the railroad for loading `may be, and removed by the railroad. `the car is held over a certain time limit set or unloading purposes. Usually such a yard includes an unloading track or tracks hav` ing a dehnite car capacity and frequently the number or cars delivered to the consignoe are in excess or' the capacity oi the unloading tracks and therefore it becomes necessary to hold over suchexeess cars until they can be loaded or unloaded., as the cage if by the carrier, a line or "lee is assessed for the additional time that the car is held over and this ine is commonly called demurrage.

A`While it is quite well understood that the demurrage charges are incommensurate with the investment in the equipment, nevertheless, such a charge constitutes the penalty for failure to expedite the prompt loading or unloading of equipment after the same has been properly placed upon the delivery tracks. Due to numerous considerationsentering into the calculation of demurrage charges, such for example als constructive delivery, that is, when the consiignee is notified by the carrier that they are ready to deliver the car to him regardless of his `facilities for handling the same; the unloading oi' some cars in less than the free time leaving a balance or tree time to be applied to the handling of other cars; the denial of the actual receipt of a car by the consignee or shipper; loss or checking slips and the like, "it is very` difficult under the present system to keep` accurate account of car movements; Obviously, therefore,` in

the absence of some reliable and easily visu# alized record for checking the handling and movement of the cars, the amountof the demurrage charge isopen to dispute. t

Heretofore, the carriers or railroads have maintained; loose checking slips, such `as i switching listsor daily car track records in thel usual column or tabulated form, which, while containing a certain amount of data relating to. each car, do not in themselves serve to bring out clearly the definite move` ment of a car after it reaches its point or destination. From lists or this type it is possible to visualize the movement of the cars in such a positive and' definite manner that anyone not skilled in the technique of car checking can readily understand `how the demurrage accrued and whether `or not the amount thereofis correct. Y

Accordingly, `the present invention has primarily in view a novel chart system which visualizes very clearly in diagrammatic form the actual delivery and move` ment of each and every car to any given yard and unloading track. That is to slay, the invention contemplates a novel yardchart having diagrams provi-ded with designations indicating the total number of loaded cars availableV in the yard and the total number of unloading positions, together with a novel measuring symbol indicating the proportional number of cars which can occupy `the unloading tracks between shifts thereby making it possible to definitely ascertain how long a car must be held before it can be manipulated into a position to receive oidischarge its load. ln that way it is possible to definitely ascertain the length of time which any given car is held before it is moved into position on the unloading track. This yard chart cooperates with a primary record chart that receives in addition to the car record an arbitrary index symbol for the car thereby enabling it to be followed up throughout the series of novel track chartson which the status of `the car is further designated by other novel symbols indicating that it is loaded, unloaded, held over or empty. i

'Another object of the invention, in addition to the foregoing general object, is to provide a checking system which provides for ,keeping track of the date of receipt of such car which will enable anyone inspect ing the chartto examine it in connection with a novel embargo diagram to tell whether or not such a car was received in an embargo period or in a demurrage period without the necessity of consulting numerous records.

A further object of the invention is to provide a checking system` that may be readily adapted to any vindustry or yard plan, and which is susceptible ot' universal application to modern railway rules, stock handling regulations `and tariff conditions.

Vith the above and other objects in View which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment o'l` the invention is shown in the accompanyin@ drawings in which,

, Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustratinf the yard chart.

4igure Q-is a fragmentary view of the consignees or shippers primary record chart. f

yFigures 3, l and 5 are fragramentary views of portions of unloading track charts, the said views illustrating` the loading, unloading, held over or empty status of the cars at the end of three successive shifts.

Figure 6 is a detail view of a portion ot' the embargo chart.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In its general aspect the present invention involves a series of correlated charts having diagrams for conveniently receiving definite symbols for v indicating the status of the cars in order of their receipt by the consignee or shipper and their manipulation upon his tracks by the railroad company. These charts may be conveniently designated as the yard chart A., the primary record chart B for the consignee or shipper, la series of track charts C, C, C2, ete., representing the position of cars at the check up at the time of the daily shifts, and the embargo chart D.

In connection with the yard chart A, it is proposed to use a deiinite symbol for indicating the ratio of the capacity of the unloading track to the capacity of the yard. This symbol is preferably in the form ot' a funnel F which is to be regarded as a measuring symbol for indicating the relatively constricted throat through which the cars awaiting placement must pass vto be positioned on the unloading tracks. Or in other words, it symbolizes the entrance or exit to the unloading track and by which its capacity is regulated.

For the purpose of readily visualizing and identifying aV car as soon as it is delivered to the consignee or shipper within the territory of his yard, each car is given an index symbol w which may be a numeral or number as for example GO77 which may indicate, in the example under consideration, the order of its receipt into the yard and its position on the primary record chart B. This numeral constitutes an index or follow-up identification for the particular car to which it is given through thel present system and it will represent or indicate the name of the railroad, the number ott the car ot that road and all other necessary data .for such car, as indicated by the headings of the various columns on the primary record chart B.

To indicate the status of the car` that is. loaded, hold over or empty. the symbols m, y, and a are employed. The symbol :e .is preferably a heavy black line or rectangle and is intended to indicate that. a car is loaded when it is placed within the consignees or shipper-s yard and, il for any reason the said car is held over troni one shift to the next, it is underscored by the red line 3/ which is the hold over s vmbol. When the car is unloaded its position is designated by an ellipse or hollow oval 2 which is the empty symbol and shows that the consignec orshipper isthrough with the car. Il the car is held over on the uuloading track after it is empty it may also be designated as a hold over by placing the red line y beneath the ellipse l lith the foregoing symbols it will be apparent that the ear may be readily identified at a glance on any ol' the various charts and its status, that is loaded, held over or empty, may also be quickly determined. y

Referring now to the manner in which the charts are related and utilized one. iu connection with the other it may be observed that the yard chart A illustrates a consignees or shippers yard having an unloading track A', capable olI accommmlating ten cars. To indicate the number ot ears that said track may accommodate the saine is divided into spaces or stalls A2 while the lfeeder tracks A3 leading` trom the yard tracks to the unloading track converge into the 'l'unnel F, indicating that all the cars l'rom the. yard must pass over the feeder tracks and through the funnel in order to be placed on or withdrawn from the unloading track A.

In the illustration shown in Figure l ot the drawings, it will be understood that the unloading` track A. can only araommodate ten ears while the yard tracks A* on a given date contained thirty cars. As there are usually only two shifts made each day by the railroad company. one in the morning and one in the evening` it would be impossible for all of the thirty cars to pass through the funnel F, even if the unloading traek `40 and occupied stall #il `on unloading `track A asdesignated by the symbol Cc in, Figure 3.

y `cessive shifts.

" liveredby the carrier onthe yard tracks At,

vvas cleared each shift, in less than three suc- Therefore, if the car is de and a known number of cars are ahead of such acar, it can be definitely calculated how long it should takea given car to be placed on the unloading siding by the: railroad company if it vvere taken `up in its i the primary record chart B. ylf *To-illustrate, suppose that car .#60 vvas proper' order. i

When a car is iplacedflthat is, delivered by the carrier to the consignees orshippers yard, it shouldbe placed on the yard chart A and its statusi'indicated either as loaded or i empty by utilizing the symbol a" or a, While` at the same time the data of that car should be placedon the primary record chart B at which time the index symbol is also assigned to that particular carl rlhis index symbol i y is preferably a number or numeral which is `20 utilized throughout the remainder of the checking system as a substitute or symbol for all of the dataconcerning the car placed constructively placed by the railroad`coml pany'vvith the consignee on October 20, 1919 at 3 p: As shown by the yard chart A in "Figure 1 and the primary record chart B. 'Vf According to the symbol oar. #60 Was 3()` loaded when it Was constructively placed by y the carrier With the consignee on October 20,

1919, and, `ovving to the number of cars ahead lof :lttOiand the limited lcapacity of the unloading track A, itwvas impossible for the railroad .company to actually place car :tnton the unloading track A until October 27 on the 6 p. m. shift, as indicated by the track Chart O, Figure `3. i

Therefore, at 6 kp. m, on October 27, 1919, car #-60 had passed ythrough the funnel F On the next shift on the following morning, namely?" am., lOctober 28, 1919, car

:#:60 was held over` and still loaded, as indif y cated by the symbols @c and g/ in Figure 4l. ln thisfigure car $160 occupies stall if? `vvhere Iit remained until it was unloaded prior to the checkup and shift made atb p. m. on October 29, 1919, and illustrated in `Figure 5, 1n Figure 5 it vvillbefobserved thatcar,#GOoccupied stall :#:7 on unloadi ing track A', as designated by the ellipse a,

Which indicates that thecar is empty and ready for removal from the unloading` track by the carrier. ln other Words it was re# leased on October 29 at 6p. m., as shown `by the track O2, and which fact is recorded on the primary record chart B. From the data While on hisunloading track by simply applying the arbitrary car designating symbol opposite each space or stall on the unloading `track that the car occupies after each shift.

detailed explanation or reference to that fact on thechart.` y

Another novel and 4distinctive feature of the invention is the provision Iof the embargo chart D, shown in Figure 6. yThis chartconsists of a calendar strip D having the` days of each month arranged linearly across the sheet in such a manner that the demurrage and embargo periods may be readily marked or distinguished. That is to say, this chartienables anyone to tell at a glance the period when all carsare exempt from demurrage chargesrby marking the embargo period With a distinctive color line D2, redfor example, While the demurrage period may be marked with contrasting` color lines D3, bluerfor example. Y

As the primary record chart B contains the date of the constructive, as Well asthe actual, placing of the car,vvith such a date as guide the merest inspection of the ein-v i bargo chart is as followse The embargo chart, as previously indicated, contains the days of the months in linear succession and therefore readily readable at a glance in connection with the name `of the `monthappearing above the saine.' Since the primary record chart B shovvn in lFigure 2 always contains. the date of the constructive asxvvell as the actual placing of the car, With the constructive date as a guide, for example October 10th, the embargo chart may be examined andthe date` of October 10th Will show, `duc Y to the lines `D3 that-such` date- Was in a demurrage period and thereforedemurragewvas collectable-` On the other hand if the date of November 10th should be taken as thekey from the primary record chart B, immediately upon reference to the embargo chart, Which is lined to indicate `an embargo period it Will be ascertained at a glance that demurrage was not collectable when the car Wasplaced.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the novel` and distinctive features of the present invention are the provision of a series of novel correlated charts and symbols fo-r designating the ratio of the capacity of the unloading facilities to the number of` cars actually or constructively ldlc iodo

received', and also keeping accurate account or their status while chargeable :to a consignee or shipper. V

`Without further description it is thought that the many features and advantages ot the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in -the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, and other minor details of the ar-A rangement may be resorted to without departing from the yspirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A demurrage chart system including a chart having diagrams provided with designations indicating 'total number of loaded cars available in yard, total number of unloading positions, and symbols which respectively7 identify each car and its loaded or unloaded status.

2. A demurrage chart system including a chart having diagrams 4provided with designations indicatingtotal number of loaded cars available in yard, total number of unloading` positions, and a measuring symbol visualizing the proportional number oi cars which can occupy the unloading station between car shifts. Y

B. A demurrage chart system for rail way cars including a primary record chart having spaces bearing designations containing full data of a given car and an additional special index symbol for demarrage checking, and a series of track charts having spaces `bearingdesignations and sym bols respectively showing the special index of a given car andits status as to being loaded, empty or held over.

4. A demurrage chart system for railway cars including a yard chart havinga diagram indicating an unloading track angl a yard connected therewith by feeder tracks, and a measuring symbol arranged between the 4feeder tracks and the unloading track for visualizing the proportional number of cars which can occupy the unloading track between shifts.

5. A demarrage chart system for checking the status of'railway oars including a yard chart providedl with delineated car designation receiving spaces, a primary record chart provided with data receiving spaces, an arbitrary index symbol adapted to be placed in one et said spaces to identify a designated car onthe yard chart, a series of track charts also provided with delineated car designation receiving spaces, and a series of status indicating .symbols adapted to be applied to the spaces et' said yard and track charts to indicate whether the cars are loaded, held over or empty.

6. A demurrage chart system for checkingv the statusof `railway cars including a yard chart provided with delineated car designation receiving spaces a primary record chart also provided with spaces for receiving an arbitrary index symbol adapted to be placed in one of said spaces to identify a designated car on the yard chart, a series of track charts provided with delineated car designation receiving spaces corresponding to similar spaces on the yard chart, and a series of status indicating symbols adapted to be applied to the spaces oi5 said charts to indicate whether the cars are loaded, held ver, or empty.

7. A demurrage chart system i'or railway cars including` a series ot co-related charts having diagrams oi? yard and unloading tracks provided with delineated car designation receiving spaces, a main index symbol 'lor indentitying the car on all of the charts, and a series of status indicating symbols adapted to bc applied to the spaces` of said charts to indicate whether the cars are loaded, held over or empty.

S. A demurrage chart system for railway oars including a series of' charts, certain of said charts having spaces bearing data designating; a given car by symbols showing its demurrage status, and also ins cluding spaces for dates. and one of said charts being a calendar having the dates of each month arranged in .linear succession and provided with designations indicating periods ot embargo and demurrage.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of a Witness.

JOS. HUNTER ROSS.

Witness EMoRY L. Gnorr.

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