US1745057A

US1745057A - Method and apparatus for shipping metal

Info

Publication number: US1745057A
Application number: US313846A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert T Romine
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-09-10
Filing date: 1928-10-20
Publication date: 1930-01-28
Anticipated expiration: 1947-01-28
Also published as: US1830292A; US1876758A

Description

Jan. 28, 1930. R. T. ROMINE I 1,745,057

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHIPPING METAL Filed Oct. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H? Attorneys Jan. 28, 1930. ROMINE 1,745,057

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHIPPING METAL Filed ON. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a 4 2' f 9) Z 0 A) 4 v l v [72 van zqr:

J 1930. R. T. ROMINE 1,745,057

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHIPPING METAL Filed Oct. 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWI WWWL

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES ROBERT ROMINE, OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHIPPING METAL Application filed October 20, 1928. Serial No. 313,846.

This invention relates to the loading and shipping or transporting of material, such as sheet, strip or bar metal on railway cars or other carriers. I

An object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for loading or packing the metal, such as sheet, strip or bar steel, on the floor of a freight car or carrier for transportation in relatively heavy units and in such manner as to prevent or resist such relative shifting. movement of the constituent parts of the packs or bundles as would result in damage to the freight car, damage to the material, and render difficult and expensive the removal or unloading of the metal at destination. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and efficient method, as Well as an apparatus for carrying out the method, for shipping sheet, strip or bar metal in packs whereby resistance to the relative sliding or shifting movement of the parts of the pack during transit is obtained through the medium of friction material causing a binding or frictional action on the parts within the pack, or-within the cross sectional area thereof.

In accordance with the present invention the sheet, strip or bar metal, which is shipped in large quantities from steel or rolling mills to automobile manufacturers and others, is transported on the floor of a freight car or carrier in heavy packs or bundles, such as packs weighing from five to ten tons, and

' the constituent parts of the pack, in part or in whole, are held together by the application of friction interiorly of the pack or within the cross sectional area thereof. This may be done by interposing relatively softer friction material between the adjacent layers or edges of the sheets, strips or bars-such as relatively soft wood strips. The metal parts of the pack are maintained, preferably by substantial pressure, against this friction material.

This pressure may be obtained through the weight of the metal, through the medium of the binding or bracing elements, or both. I

In the case of sheet or strip metal, where the edges of the sheets are usuallyrelatively mon medium for frictionalresistance while sharp, especially where the sheets, or strips are sheared at the mill, wood strips may be advantageously employed and a sufficient amount of pressure of the edges of the metal against this material can be made to result in embedding the edges therein and in resisting relative shifting movement of the sheets or strips during transit. V Moreover, the invention enables a pack to be made up of several smaller units or stacks, and at the same time trans orted effectually by resisting relative shifting of the units within the bundle or pack as a whole. For instance, a bundle may be made up of -metal sheets of several different widths, or '65 simply of narrow sheets or strips arranged in individual piles according to width within the bundle as a whole. These sheetsare preferably arranged with their inner edges abutting or in opposed relation, with friction 7o material interposed therebetween, so that frictional resistance can thus be applied to the sheet or strip edges interiorly of the bundle, or within the cross sectional area thereof.

Furthermore, the invention provides for the shipment of unit packs made up of a plurality of piles or sections superimposed one upon the other, and in which any pile or section can be made up of stacks of sheets narrower than the width of the pack as a whole. In this instance the invention provides for the maintaining of the sections or layers together through preferably a comalso maintaining the individual stacks of any section together through frictional resistance Within the cross sectional'area of the bundle as a whole.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a pack of strip or bar metal loaded on the car 1 floor for shipment, this figure showing in a as much as twenty miles per hour.

fragmentary manner four different types of strip or bar metal.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view for the purpose of illustrating the embedding action of strip steel in the wood strips.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation illustrating a pack or bundle made up of sheets or strips of different widths. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the bound packs may be transported on a freight car floor.

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse vertical sections showing successive steps in the loading of a pack of sheet or strip metal on the car floor in accordance with another form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a pack or bundle loaded on the floor of a carrier for transportation and illustrating a further form of the invention. 1

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of the construction shown in Fig. 7.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto ap pended as considered in view of the. prior art and the requirements thereof.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 218,791, filed September 10,1927.

The handling of sheet strip and bar metal, such as steel, and the shipment of this material in freight cars or carriers have in the past been accomplished at great expense, not only to the steel mills and consumers, such as automobile companies, but also to the railroads. Not only has the labor expense in loading or unloading the cars been very great, on account of manual handling of the metal, but the time required to load and unload the cars has resulted in tying up cars on the railroad sidings, causing congestion and frequently impeding production. One of the serious disadvantages to previous methods employed in transporting this metal has been on account of the enormous damage to freight cars as well as damage to the material due to the shifting of the metal in transit, particularly in the case of sheet steel. Freight cars are subjected in transit to shocks, blows and collisions, frequently resulting in impacts at Where the sheet, strip or bar metal is loaded on the ear floor in accordance with previous practice, violent displacement of the bars of sheets or steel strips frequently resulted when the car received a shock or blow, and the bars were often driven against the ends or the side walls of the car with great force. This resulted in considerable damage to the cars, as well as to the metal, even in ramming holes through the end walls of the car. The tendency of sheet, strip and bar steel to shift is, of course, aided by the fact that the surfaces are usually provided with on oily, rust preventative coating, causing the metal to slide very readily.

Referring now to the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 in which the present invention is applied in connection with the loading and shipment of bar and strip metal, preferably the bars or strips S and S are piled in layers on a support preparatory to loading in the car. As each successive layer is completed, friction material which may be in the form of strips 100 of relatively softer material, such for example as soft Wood, fibre board, etc., is laid upon the layer at any desired points extending transversely of the bars or strips so as to be positioned between the adjacent layers (see Fig. 1). After the desired number of layers of bars or strips with the interposed friction material have been placed upon the support until a pile or pack of desired size has been formed, the pack is in readiness to be bound together into a unit.

In Figs. 1, 3 and 4: I have illustrated the pack held together by means of binders E, which in this instance are constructed in accordance with my Patent No. 1,650,540, patented November 22, 1927. This binder in general is in the form of a rigid yoke or frame encircling the pack, and comprises four angular frame members E E E and E The adJacent ends of each pair of frame members are overlapped and adjustably connected together lliy means of bolts and nuts 10. The binder carries a series of screw pressure devices indicated in general at 11. Interposed between the pressure devices carried by each binder frame and the pack shown in Fig. 1 are vertical wood members 12 at each side of the pack and a transverse horizontal wood member 13 at the top of the pack. The pressure devices 11 are tightened so as to exert through the medium of the wood members considerable inward pressure against the metal parts forming the pack thereby effectually holding the same together by frictional pressure in a single mass or unit. Considerable pressure may be exerted by the pressure devices 11, and this pressure es ecially at the top of the pack in a downward direction against the wood member 13 will result in forcing the bars or strips into binding or frictional engagement with the frictional ma terial 100. It will also be understood that the weight of the bars or strips themselves is sufficient to exert a substantial downward pressure, this pressure by the weight of the metal itself will result in a substantial gripping action between the metal and the frictional material thereby increasing the. frictional resistance internally of the pile or pack.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3.I have shown the invention as applied in connection with packs of sheet metal, or relatively wide strip metal, wherein the sheets or strips are of different sizes and are positioned flatwise. The pack is. bound together by means of bind ers E as above described. In this instance the pack may be supported on the car floor through the medium of transverse wood members or riding blocks 14. A pair of structural steel members preferably in the form of angle bars 15 having upon their outer surfaces spurs or projections may be employed for embracing the bottom cornersof the pack, the sheets in this instance being piled or stacked flatwise. The wider sheets 0 are first placed upon the angles 15 after which one group of narrower sheets A as desired may be stacked fiatwise upon the top of the sheets C. A series of wood strips or bars 16 are placed against the inner edges of the group or stack of sheets A and thereupon another group or-stack of narrower sheets B may be placed upon the top of the pack C with their inner edges abutting against the friction material 16. The requisite number of sheets forming the groups or sections A and B are stacked fiatwise one above another until a pack of the desired size has been formed. Thereupon the pack is bound together, such as by means of thebinders E carrying pressure devices 11. 'Interposed between these pressure devices and the outer edges of the sheets at one side thereof is a friction Wood strip 17. In this instance the pressure devices at the opposite side of'the binder are omitted, and the binder itself is drawn into engagement with a wood strip 18 when the pressure devices at the opposite side are tightthe wood or frictional material.

ened. In this manner the

wood members

17 and 18 will be forced under pressure against the edges of the sheets in the stacks A, B and C. Furthermore the inward pressure exerted by the binder against the stacks or layers A and B will result in forcing the inner edges of the sheets into frictional engagement with the material 16, resulting in an embedding action of the edges of the sheets in In the construction shown in Fi s. 1 to 4. inclusive the acks of sheet, strip or ar metal are supported for transportation on the floor of the freight car or carrier through the medium of wood members 14, which in this instance are positioned transversely of the pack and are unsecured to the car floor to permit shiftable movement thereof. These wood members or riding blocks aresecured together by means of longitudinal members 19 which are secured thereto, or they may beheld together by means of angles 15 shown in Fig. 3. The foregoing constructions are more fully described in my above mentioned applications.

The packs during shipment are held in position on the car floor against lateral shifting movement with respect to each other and to the side walls, and are also guided in their movement longitudinally of the car by means of longitudinal guide members 20 which are nailed or secured to the car floor. These guides have the important functions,

(1) Of guiding the packs in a predetermined path longitudinally of the car during .the restricted floating movement of the packs back and forth on or relatively to the car floor as a result of shocks and blows to which the car is subjected in transit; and A (2) Of maintaining the packs in predeter:

mined spaced relation with respect to the side walls of the car, thereby preventing damage to the car walls While retaining suitable aisle spaces at opposite sides of the packs to permit removal of the packs as units at destination, such as by means of a portable crane or stack lifter as illustrated for instance in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,650,540. This stack lifter has an arched frame the legs of which aremovable into position in the aisle spaces, wheneither loading or unloading the packs, to straddle oppositesides of each pack, lifting mechanism being provided for lifting or lowering the pack with respect to the car floor. These guides therefore not only retain these aisle spaces but in performingthis function also prevent contact of the packs with the side walls of the car causing damage thereto during transit.

I In Figs. 5 and 6 I have'illustrated the invention as applied to the loading and shipment of metal sheets or wider strip metal in which the packs are bound together by means lower stack D, separated by means of transversely extending wood strips 21, or other friction material, engaging the opposed inner u edges of the sheets. Thissectional pack is in the present instance bound transversely by means of several longitudinally spaced band or strap steel binders 22, and interposed between these binders and the pack are wood bars or strips 23 preferably at all four sides of the pack. The bandbinders or strap'22 are of suitable gauge steel several-inchesin"- width, and the ends are drawn together and clamped at 24 by suitable mechanism. The

bands may be nailed to the wood bars 23 as illustrated in Figs. and 6. The pack is thus preferably first formed with the sides at right angles to one another, or rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 5, and after being thus formed may then be carried as a unit in a freight car for deposit on the floor for transportation, as by means of a power driven industrial truck.

The pack, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is supported on the car floor through the medium of pallet members such as wood bars or riding members 25 extending longitudinally of the car floor F. These are connected together transversely by a plurality of wood members 26 which are disposed edgewise with the lower straight edge 26 of each bar preferably set into transverse notches 90 in the members and nailed thereto. The upper edges of the members 26 are curved or arched at 26 These members are spaced longitudinally,

preferably out of a vertical alinement with 25 the binders 22, so that when the pack is lowered in the car on the supporting members 26 and 25 (as shown in Fig. 5) the lower edges of the sheets will rest upon the arched edges 26 with the binder at one side thereof as 30 shown in Fig. 6. This will result in bowing the stacks D and D causing them to conform to the curvature or arch of the members 26,

thereby increasing the cross sectional area of the entire pack, increasing the distance 'around the pack, and tightening the band binders or strips 22 under considerable tension.

Thus, the foregoing method enables the band or strap binders 22 to be tightened about the pack by increasing the distance around the pack. It provides frictional resistance against the lower edges of the sheets of the stack D through the wood members 26; frictional resistance against the upper edges of the sheets of pack D and the lower edges of the sheets of pack D through wood members 21; and frictional resistance against the upper ed es of the sheets of stack D through the me ium of top transverse wood strips 23 which are forced downwardly through the tightening of the binder. The weight of the stack D tends to embed the opposed edges of both stacks D and D in the friction material 21, interiorly of the pack. This is facilitated by the fact that the metal sheets or strips vary in width thereby presenting a ragged face along the edges of the sheets. The weight of the pack also causes the lower edges of the sheet of stack D to cut into or embed in the upper edges of the wood members 26, which action will result whenever the sheets start to slide as a result of a shock to the car thereby resisting such movement.

It Wlll be seen from the foregoing therefore that the sections D and D of the pack will be held together by internal friction through the medium of the friction strips 21 and will also be held to the supporting members 26 by frictional engagement of the lower edges of the sheets therewith. The stacks together with the

pallet members

25 and 26 will there'- fore shift back and forth on the car floor as a result of shocks and blows to which the car is subjected in transit. These movements are guided longitudinally by means of the guides 20 secured to the car floor and cooperating with the members 25.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have illustrated the invention as applied to the loading and shipping of metal sheets or wider strip metal in which wire is employed in binding the pack, and in which the sheets or strips may be positioned flatwise.

As in the case of the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the pack as a whole is made up of a plurality of sections or stacks superimposed one upon the other and separated by means of transverse strips, preferably of wood. These sections or groups may be of different heights or thicknesses and one of the advantages of forming the pack this way is to enable different heats at the steel mill to be separated, and also in enabling the pack to be made up of sheets of different sizes. In the example shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the pack is made up of three superimposed sections or piles. The lower section is formed for instance in two parts or stacks L and L which comprise narrower sheets or strips. Interposed between the stacks L and L are a series of longitudinally spaced relatively thin wood strips 27. Superimposed upon the lower section of the pack is a section or stack K, which is separated from the stacks L and L by means of a series of transverse woodstrips 28 forming a space 33. The stack K is illustrated by way of example as composed of sheets of the full width of the pack, and superimposed thereupon is another section com-. prising stacks M and M of different width metal sheets or strips. The stacks M and M are separated from each other by means of a series of vertical wood strips 29 spaced longitudinally of the pack. The stacks M and M are also vertically spaced from the stack K by means of a series of transverse wood strips or bars 30 forming a space 34.

' The pack, such as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, is preferably formed and bound as a shipping unitv at the steel mill preparatory to being loaded in the car for transportation. The pack may be formed on a suitable loading buck or platform and carried directly into the car as by means of a power driven industrial truck. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the pack is bound together or braced by means of binding units each includin a pair of

upright wood members

36 and 3 positioned at opposite sides of the pack. These members are drawn into engagement with the op element comprising in the present instance a plurality of Wires such as three of required gauge and tensile strength. The members 36 a and 37 project above and below the pack, and

their lower ends are connected by means of a wire binding element 38 which may be tightened at its ends either by twisting or in any other manner by a suitable tightening device. A similar wire binding element 39 extends through the space 33, a wire binding element 40 extends through the space 34, and

a wire binding element 41 extends transversely above the pack. All of these binding elements extend around the

wood members

36 and 37, and are tightened under sufficient tension to force the

wood members

36 and 37 under considerable pressure against the outer edges of the sheets. By drawing the

vertical wood members

36 and 37 inwardly against the pack not only at the ends thereof but at intermediate points, very substantial pressure may be obtained without breaking or bowing the wood, and since the sheets or strips have plus or minus variations in width the irregular edges thereof may be embedded in the

woodmembers

36 and 37 so that considerable frictional resistance is obtained in this manner.

Any number of these binding units may be employed on a pack depending upon the length or size of the pack, two being shown in the present instance in Fig. 7, adjacent opposite ends of the pack. Interposed between each wire binding element and the

wood members

36 and 37 are sheet metal angles 42 which act as bearing pieces between the wire and wood uprights to prevent the wire cutting through the wood. These angle plates 42 may be grooved transversely to receive the wire strands.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the inward pressure of the

wood members

36 and 37 will force the sheets M and M into em bedding engagement with the friction material 29, andwill also force the sheets L and L into embedding engagement with the friction material 27. From this it will be seen that the stacks M and M as well as the stacks L and L will be held together by frictional pack or bundle through the medium of the wood strips 27 and 29.

The pack, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, when loaded in the freight car is supported upon longitudinal riding or skhf members 31, three being shown in the present example, and these are preferably connected together by means of a series of transverse wood strips 32 forming spaces 35 for receiving the lower Wire binding element 38. The pack is'guided in its shifting movement longitudinally of the car by meansof guides 20 which are preferably nailed to the car floor and which are in position to engage the lower ends of the

upright members

36 and 37, thereby maintaining the pack in proper position during its floating movement back and forth on the car floor and maintaining aisle spaces at opposite sides of the pack so that it can be removed at destination in the manner referred to above.

It will be seen from the foregoing that I have provided a method and apparatus whereby sheet, strip and bar metal maybe transported in freight cars or carriers while minimizing the tendency of the metal parts to shift or break loose from the bundles or packs. The internal friction which is applied to the metal parts 'is preferably obtained through the medium of relatively softer material than the metal. On account of the fact that some variations usually occur not only in the width of the sheets, but also in the size of the bar or strip stock, particularly Where the mills are allowed a slight percentage of variations, the binding action between the friction material and the metal is increased by virtue of this fact. The slight irregular surfaces of the metal, at the edges or corners thereof, will cause the friction material to be embedded therein. This effectsa' clamping or binding action between the friction ma terial and the metal, thereby resisting relasubstantial distance within the pack since the frictional resistance internally of the pack,

as well as preferably externally also, between the metal and the frictional material will be greater than the frictional resistance between the supporting members and the car floor.

I claim:

1. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy unit packs on a freight car floor, which consists in applying friction internally of the pack through the medium of relatively softer material than the metal, said material being interposed between layers of the metal parts, and binding the pack together as a unit.;

2. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in-relatively heavy unit packs on a freight car floor, which consists in applying'friction internally of the pack through the medium of relatively softer materialthan the metal, said material being interposed between layers of the metal parts, and binding the pack together to force the metal and said material together under pressure.

3. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy unit packs on a freight car floor, which consists in supporting the pack on wood members unsecured to the car floor, frictionally resisting relative movement of the metal parts through the medium of relatively softer material interposed between layers of the metal, and maintaining the pack and said wood members together as a unit free to shift on the car floor.

a. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy unit packs on a freight car floor, which consists in supporting the pack on wood members unsecured to the car floor, frictionally resisting relative movement of the metal parts through the medium of relatively softer material interposed between layers of the metal, and guiding the pack and members in a predetermined path longitudinally of the car.

5. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy packs on a freight carfloor, which consists in supporting the pack on riding members on the car floor, applyin internal friction to the pack through the medium of relatively softer material than the metal, and permitting the pack and said ridin members to shift during transit on the car oor by applying greater internal friction to the pack than the friction of said members on the car floor.

6. The hereindescribedmethod of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy packs on a freight car floor, which consists in supporting the pack on the car floor through the medium of members interposed between the pack and the floor, applying internal friction to the pack through the medium'of softer material than the metal, and permitting the pack to move with its su porting members on the car floor as a unit y providing greater frictional resistance between the metal parts against relative movement than the frictional Eesistance between said members and the car oor.

7. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar 'or strip metal in relatively heavy acks on a freight car floor, which consists in supporting the pack on the car floor through the medium of members interposed between the pack and the floor, applying internal friction to the pack through the medium of softer material than the metal, permitting the pack to move with its supporting members on the car floor as a unit by providing greater frictional resistance between the metal parts against relative movement than the frictional resistance between said members and the car floor, and guiding said pack and members in a predetermined path longitudinally of the car.

8. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy packs on a freight car floor, which consists in maintaining the pack of metal together as a unit on the car floor with relatively softer material interposed between adjacent metal parts, and applying inward pressure on the pack-to bind the metal and said material together to provide frictional resistance against relative movement of the metal parts during transit.

9. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy packs on a freight car floor, which consists in maintaining the pack of metal together as a unit on the car floor with relatively softer material interposed between adjacent metal parts, and applying downward pressure to bind the metal and said material together to provide frictional resistance a ainst relative movement of the metal parts uring transit.

'10. The hereindescribed method of shippingv sheet, bar or strip metal in relatively heavy packs on a freight car floor, which consists in maintaining the pack of metal together as a unit on the car fioor with relatively softer material interposed between adjacent netal parts, and applying inward pressure stituent parts thereof maintained against relative displacement through internal friction between the metal and said material.

12. The hereindescribed method of shipping bound packs or units of sheet, strip or bar metal upon the floor of a carrier, which consists in forming a pack of the metal, interposing relatively soft friction material between layers or groups of the metal, binding the pack, supporting it on members inter posed between the pack and the car floor, and permitting the pack and said members to float as a unit on the car floor during shipment.

13. The hereindescribed method of forming a pack of metal, such as sheet, strip or bar metal, which consists in piling the metal upon a support, placing friction material between constituent strips or bars, placing binders about the pack, and forcing the metal parts and said material together under pressure. a

14. In a pack of sheet, bar or strip metal prepared for shipment on the floor of a car, the combination of means for binding the metal together into a unit, and means includ ing relatively softer material than the metal interposed between adjacent layers or groups of sheets, bars or strips for providing frictional resistance against relative displacement ofv the metal parts during transit.

15. The hereindescribed method of shipping sheet, bar or strip metal on a fright car floor, which consists in forming apack and placing it on the car floor and frictionally resisting relative displacement of the constituent .parts of the pack through the medium of relatively softer material interposed theremetal, which comprises transporting on the floor of a carrier a pack made up of smaller units separated by relatively softer material, such as wood, engaging edges of the sheets or strips, and maintaining said material in frictional'engagement with said edges to resist relative shifting of the parts, during transit.

18. The method of shipping sheet or strip metal, which comprises transporting on the floor of a car or carrier, a pack made. up of smaller units having the inner edges of the sheets or strips in opposed relation, and maintaining friction material in engagement with said inner edges and also in engagement with outer edges of the sheets or strips to resist relative movement thereof during transit.

19. The method of shipping sheet or strip metal, which comprises transportin on the car or carrier floor a pack made up 0 smaller units having the inner edges of the sheets or strips in opposed relation, interposing fric-v tion material between said opposed edges, and binding the pack to force said edges into fri'ctional engagement with said material.

20. The method of shipping sheet or strip metal, which comprises transporting on the car or carrier floor a pack made up of smaller units having the inner edges of the sheets or strips in opposed relation, interposing fric tion material between said opposed edges, and binding wood members against the outer edges of the sheets or strips. I I 1 2 1. The method of shipping metal, such as sheet or strip metal, on a carrier floor which comprises forming into a pack a plurality of stacks of the metal, and frictionally resisting 1 relative movement of the constituent parts by friction material interposed between edges of the sheets or strips of the stacks within the.

cross sectional area of the pack.

during transit.

22. The method of shipping metal, such as sheet or strip metal, on a carrier floor, which comprises forming into a single pack a plurality ofstacks of the metal with friction material interposed between adjacent edges of the stacks within the pack,and binding the pack together.

23. The method of shipping metal, such as sheet or strip metal, on a carrier floor, which comprises forming into a single pack a plurality of stacks of the metal With friction material interposed between adjacent edges. of the metal within the pack, and maintainlng said edges of the metal parts in frictional engagement with said material to resist rela tive movement thereof during transit.

24. The method of shipping metal, such as sheet or strip metal, on a carrier floor, which comprises forming into a single pack a plurality of stacks of the metal with friction material interposed between adjacent edges of the metal parts within the pack, and embedding said'edges in the material to resist relative movement of the parts during transit.

25. An apparatus for shipping sheet or strip metal on the floor of a freight car or carrier in a pack made up of smaller units, comprising relatively softer material than the sheets or strips interposed between said units and engaging edges of the sheets or strips, and means for maintaining said material in frictional engagement with said edges to resist relative shifting of the sheets or strips during transit.

26. An apparatus for shipping sheet or strip metal on the floor of a freight car or carrier in a paek made up of smallerv units having the inner edges of the sheets or strips of the units in opposed relation within the cross sectional area of the pack, comprising relatively softer material than the metal in engagement with said inner edges and also in engagement'with outer edges of the sheets or strips, and binding means for maintaining said material in binding or frictional engagement with said outer and inner edges to re sist relative shifting of the sheets or strips v 27. An apparatus for shipping sheet or strip metal on the floor. of a freight car or carrier in a pack made up of sections having inner edges of the sections in opposed relation, comprising wood strips interposed between said inner edges of the sections, wood members engaging outer edges ofthe sections, and means for forcing said wood members into frictional engagement with said outer edges and also for forcing the inner edges into frictional engagement with said strips. a a

28. An apparatus for shipping sheet or strip metal on the floor of a freight car or carrier in a pack made up of smaller sections,

comprising supporting members for the pack free to shift on the car floor, friction material interposed between said sections and engaging edges of the sheets or strips, and means for maintaining said material in frictional engagement with said edges to resist relative shifting of the sheets or strips during transit While permitting the pack and said supporting members to shift on the car floor.

29. The method of shipping on the floor of a carrier metal, such as sheet or strip 10 metal, in a pack made up of individual sections, which consists in supporting the pack on the car floor to permit the pack to shift longitudinally relatively to the car floor, applying friction to edges of the sheets of the sections Within the cross sectional area of the pack, and maintaining the sections together to form a single pack.

80. The method of shipping on the floor of a carrier metal, such as sheet or strip metal, 29 in a pack made up of individual sections, which consists in supporting the pack on the car floor to permit the pack to shift longitudinally relatively to the car floor, guiding the pack to predetermine its longitudinal movement, applying friction to the edges of the sheets of the sections Within the cross sec tional area of the pack, and maintaining the sections together to form a single pack.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

as ROBERT T. RUMINE.