US1721563A - Adjustable bulkhead for refrigerator cars - Google Patents

Description

D. KUPELIAN 'Jul 23, 1929.

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 28, 1927 Inventor July23, 1929. D. KUPE.LIAN Y 1,721,563

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD F OR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Oct. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 7 3a. 7zj L9 7 1g rzyii, M

Inventor fiiralz j wZzah Attarnqy July 23, 1929.

3 Sheets-Sheet Filed 001;. 28, 1927 r m I Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES DIR AN KUPELIAN, OF EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE BULKHEAD FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

Application filed October 28, 1927.

This invention relates to adjustable bulk heads adapted particularly for use in railway refrigerator cars and has for a principal object to provide means for securing the material being shipped in the car against shifting movement while en route.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which may be easily and conveniently drawn in and out of the way positions in the car when not in use.

Heretofore in the shipment of material in refrigerator cars which only partially fills the area thereof, in order to prevent the shifting of the packages or crates while en route and to prevent the consequent injury or breakage as a result thereof, lumber has been the usual means employed for forming a bulk head for the material by cutting the lumber into braces to suit the load and force the same into place to prevent the shifting movement of the material. However, the use of lumber in this manner makes it inexpedient and has proven entirely unsatisfactory for the purpose. It

is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a more practical method of forming a bulk head for the material within the car which is readily adjustable to retain the brace and other articles within a predetermined area, of the car and insure the same against shifting movement so as to prevent injury or damage thereto and which may be easily removed when unloading the car and drawn in an out of the way position until desired for further use.

The invention has for a further object to provide an apparatus of this character which is strong and durable, eflicient for enabling the shipment of the goods in safety, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted to the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the special construction and combination of the various elements comprising the invention,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof. wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a refrigerator car showing my invention in operative position therein,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along a line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view showing the assembled bulk head in retaining posi tion within the car,

Serial No. 229,394.

Figures 4 and 5 are side and end elevational views respectively of the vertical members of the bulk head provided with means for adjustably securing one end of the cable,

Figure 6 is a View in elevation of the adjustin g tool,

Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the horizontal members forming the bulk head,

Figure 8 is an end view thereof,

Figure 9 is a top plan view of one of the horizontal members of a modified form of bulk head provided with an adjusting drum,

Figure 10 is a side elevational View thereof,

Figure 11 is a rear elevational view,

Figure 12 is an elevational view of one of the vertical bulk head members employed for use with the modified form of the invention,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 1313 of Figure 10,

Figure 14 is a detail of one of the sectional rollers forming the connection between the vertical and horizontal members of the modified form of bulk head, and

Figure 15 is a perspective view of one of the cable guides.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown my invention adapted for use in connection with the body of a railway refrigerator car indicated generally at 5, said body being formed of a floor rack 6, top 7 and end sections 8. Bolts 9 with or without springs are attached to each of the end sections forming an attachment for one end of cables 10 extending longitudinally with respect to the body, one set of cables extending beneath the floor rack 6 and upwardly through an opening 11 formed therein adjacent the center of the body.

The other set of cables is arranged adjacent the top of the body and may be disposed at any suitable predetermined position therein to extend over the top of the crate or packages indicated at 12 being transported by the car. Both the upper and lower sets of cables may comprise any suitable number, the present embodiment of the invention pro viding for the use of three of such cables to each set. The end of each of the cables is provided with an extension 13 spliced to the main cable, the ends of the extension and the main cable each being provided with rings 14.

A bulk head is formed within the body composed of a plurality of horizontally arranged members and vertically disposed members 16. The horizontal members have one face thereof provided with a pair of spaced parallel ribs 17 extending longitudinally thereof and adapted to be retained in engaged position with a series of notches 18 formed along the rear edge of the vertical members 16. The opposite or smooth face of the horizontal member 15 arranged for abutting the ends of the crates 12. The opposite edge of the vertical members 16 is formed with the series of inclined prongs 19 extending outwardly therefrom and arranged in upper and lower sections, the prongs of each section extending in a direction toward the center of the member. Pulley wheels 20 are rotatably mounted at the upper and lower ends of each of the vertical members 16.

I'Vith the members 15 and 16 arranged in assembled position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the cables 10 are carried over the upper and under the lower ends thereof by means of the pulleys 20, the rings 1 1 attached to the ends of the -main cable being adapted to engage one of the prongs l9 whereoy to retain the bulk head in assembled position at the end of the crates.

In order to create a proper tension upon either the upper or lower cable I employ a tool indicated at 21 in the form of a lever having a hook 22 attached intermediate its ends for engaging the ring 4 of the cable extension and which upon bracing the end 23 thereof against the end of the notches 19 in the vertical member Figure 4:, may be utilized to tighten the cable, after which the ring 14 attached to the end of the main cable may be adjusted upon one of the notches 19 whereby to maintain the tension on the cable after the lever has been removed.

In Figures 9 to 15 inclusive of the drawings, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention which may be used in place of the member forming the bulk head. such modification consisting of one or more horizontally disposed members 24.- having pulley wheels 25 rotatably mounted at the opposite ends thereof over which the cables 26 may be carrier for connection with a drum 2'? rotatably supported intermediate the ends of such member. In the present form of the invention the cables 26 are adapted for extending longitudinally along the sides of the crates rather than above and beneath the same as heretofore described. The face of the horizontal member opposite from the drum 27 is adapted to be raised innermost with respect to the crates and is provided with a longitudinally extending channelled groove 28 adapted to slidably receive one end of a flanged roller 29. The opposite flanged end 30 of the roller is threadedlv at tached thereto whereby to permit the roller to be inserted through a slotted opening 81 on any vertically disposed bulk head member 39.

F I I whereby to retain the horizontal member 24;

in position with respectthereto. The outer face of the horizontal member 22- is provided at each end with cable guides 33 so as to maintain the cable in position upon the pulleys 25 as clearly illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings.

The shaft 34: forming a mounting for the drum extends outwardly therefrom through a bearing bracket 35 attached to the horizontal member and carries a ratchet 36 thereon engageable by a pawl 37 whereby to secure the drum against rotation in one direction. The outer end of the shaft is formed into a socket 38 designed for removably receiving a handle member 39 by means of which the drum may be rotated so as to maintain a proper tension on the cable 26.

By employing the form of the invention last referred to it will be apparent that the crates or packing boxes may be securely retained in position from the sides of the body of the car and avoid cutting grooves in the floor rack of cars as otherwise required in previous description of use of invention. By creating a proper tension upon the cables the material will be prevented from shifting either transversely or longitudinally with re spect to the car during the transportation of the same.

Whenever it is desired to unload the car,

the cables may be released and the bulk heads disassembled and stored in racks 40 attached to the roof of the car. The cables may also be retained in an out of the way position by attaching the same to hooks 41 also suitably placed in the top of the car, or in brackets in the sides of the car when installed as provided in the modified form of the invention.

The horizontal and vertical members constituting the bulk head may be loosely attached to a chain 42 connected with the bracket 10 to prevent the removal of such members from the car. Thus the parts are always retained Within convenient reach when desired for use.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advan tages, and I accordingly claim all such forms of the device to which I am entitled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising a plurality of vertically disposed bulk head members. a plurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, means formed on each of said members coacting to retain the same in a predetermined position with respect to each other. flexible connecting means extending over and under the load within the compartment, and means carried by certain of said members for releasably engaging said connecting means, said connecting means operating to retain the Cir connecting member in position with respect to the load.

2. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, a plurality of vertically disposed bulk head members, means formed on each of said members coacting to retain the same in a prede termined position with respect to each other, oppositely inclined prongs formed on the outwardly disposed bases of said vertical members and a plurality of flexible members hav ing one end attached to one of the walls of the compartment and extending over and under the load therein and the upper and lower ends of said vertical members and means carried at their opposite ends for adjustably securing the same to said prongs.

3. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, a plural ity of vertically disposed bulkhead members, ribs formed on one face of said horizontal members, notches formed on one edge of said vertical members coacting with the ribs to retain such members in a predetermined position with respect to each other, prongs formed on the opposite edge of said vertical member and a plurality of flexible members having one end attached to one Wall of the compartment with their opposite ends extending over the ends of certain of said bulk head members and arranged for adjustably engaging said prongs.

4. In a collapsible bulk head for shipping compartments, a plurality of Vertically disposed bulk head members, a plurality of horizontally disposed bulk head members, means formed on each of said members for acting to retain the same in a predetermined posit-ion with respect to each other, pulleys mounted at the upper and lower ends of said vertical mcmbers,fiexible members extending over and under the loads within the compartment and about said pulleys, and means carried by certain of said bulk head members for releasably engaging said flexible members, said flexible members operating to retain the members in posit-ion with respect to the load.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DIRAN KUPELIAN.

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