US1804266A - Loading and unloading device - Google Patents

Description

May 5, 1931. B. A. MOORE LOADING AND UNLO ADING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20. 1930 I FIG. 1.

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FIG. 2.

INVENTOR,

dHHHIHmum-ml I I I May 5, 1931'. B. A. MOORE 1,304,266

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Bruce A-Mmnr E ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 5, 1931 NETE STATES BRUCE A. MOORE, OF BLAWNOX, PENNSYLVANIA LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Application filed February 20, 1930. Serial No. 429,991.

' This invention relates to improvements in loading and unloading devices.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved loading and t unlodaing device, particularly well adapted to be used for the efficient and expeditious loading and unloading of box cars of the side entrance type, so that heavy articles of merchandise may be placed or removed with T0 facility with respect to the box car at the sides and remote ends thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved transfer mechanism, comprising a beam arrangement. which may be movably supported as by a derrick or crane of approved type, and of a nature to be entered and withdrawn with facility with respect to the compartment of an ordinary railway box car for the purpose of loading or unloading the same, even along the side walls at the remote ends of the car.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved transfer apparatus of horizontally elongated hook-beam forma- N tion which is so related with respect to its support and its load supporting location that it will maintain a balanced position in unloaded or loaded condition.

ther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed .description.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred and modified forms of the invention,

Figure 1 shows a preferred form of the improved transfer machanism, showing it in a load supporting relation for the loading of a large object in an end adjacent a side of a box car.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the loading relation of the improved device with respect to a boX car.

Figure 3' is an elevation of the improved loading and unloading device, partly in section.

Figure 4 is an end view of the improved device shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view takcn substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of loading and unloading device.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the device of Figure 6, showing the closest relation which the same may assume with respect to a box car for the loading of a commodity in an end adjacent a side wall of the car.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A may designate the preferred form of invention, and B a modified form thereof.

The preferred transfer mechanism A preferably comprises a substantially U-shaped beam structure 10, comprising upper and lower beams 11 and 12 respectively, connected at similar ends by means of a curved bight portion 13. The arms 11 and 12 are relatively thin, and may be of a cross section which tapers slightly from the bight portion 13 to the free ends thereof. The arcuated or curved portion 13 is transversely offset in arcuated relation from the plane in which the arms 11 and 12 lie, defining a recess 13 therein, within which the roof portion of the car and the upper side wall at the opening 1 1 of the car may be received, in order to position the arms 11 and 12 parallel to the adjacent side wall of the car, to permit loading of articles in the car immediately adjacent the side wall, and as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The arms 11 and 12 are preferably of the same length, sufficient that when the arm 12 is inserted in the opening or doorway 14 of the car, the said arm may be moved so that its free end will lie closely adjacent an end wall of the car, so as to remotely position articles of merchandise or other commodities in the far end of the car, as will be apparent from Figure 1; the width of the bight portion 13 being such that it may be moved transversely across the door passageway, and it is to be noted that the offset bight portion 13 is not only offset arcuately transverse to the plane in which the connecting beams 11 and 12 lie, but it is offset arcuately in the direction longitudinally of the beams 11 and 12, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The beams 11 and 12 may be of I-cross-section to reduce the I e P' in a reducing relation weight thereof without sacrificing strength, although the connecting bight portion 13 is relatively heavy to withstand strains incident to support of a load.

The beam 11 at the free end thereof is provided with an enlarged offset 15 extending upwardly, and connected by webbing 16 to the free end of said beam 11. Above the beam it is provided with a vertical slot 17 constituting an eye adapted to receive the swivel hook 18 of cable 19; the latter being supported by a suitable crane or derrick mechanism, in a relation which will be apparent.

The beams 11 and 12 are of the same length, and the free end of the lower beam 12 is provided with a depending hook 21, of

' J-shaped formation, rotatably mounted upon a suitable shank 22 arranged normal to the free end of the beam 12. The supporting point of the hook 21 is axially aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis of the I or slot 17 so that the supporting points of the beams 11 and 12 are in direct vertical line with the improved device A. horizontally po- J sitioned in its normal balanced position. In

other words, a straight line drawn through the longitudinal axis of the slot 1? and intersecting the load point of the hook 21 is normal to the longitudinal axis of the device A between the beams 11 and 12 thereof.

A counterweight 25 is fixedly bolted or otherwise rigidly connected to the free end of the beam 11 at the opposite side of the eye 17 thereof from the beam. To accongplish this, the beam 11 adpacent the eye 11, but at the opposite side of the same from the beam 11 is provided with a counterweight supporting structure consisting of a vertical plate-like extension 30, shown in 1 igure 5, arranged axially of the beam or arm 11, having at opposite sides thereof right angled retaining flanges 31 at the end thereof adjacent the eye 17, and spaced therefrom having the right angled flanges 32 paralleling the flanges 31 and spaced therefrom. The counterweight 25 is of elongated formation, and in one end thereof opening upon the bottom thereof it is provided with an I-shaped slot 36 which terminates short of the top surface thereof, and is adapted to receive counterweight supporting portions and of the beam 11 therein, as shown in Figure 5; the end surface 38 of the counterweight 25 then resting in contact against the inner surfaces of the flanges 31. The bottom flanges 41 are horizontally integral with the lower ends of the flanges 31 and adjacent web 30, and directly support an end of the weight 25 thereon. This supports the counterweight 25 horizontally at the opposite side of the slot 17 from the beam 11, at an elevation slightly above the beam 11; the same being of a fixed weight sufficient to counterbalance the dead weight of the beams 11 and 12 and connecting portion 13 with the load disconnectec when the eye 17 receives the swivel 18 for supporting the structure A in the relation intended. Thus, the transfer device A is balanced so that the beams 11 and 12 will assume their horizontal and true position in a vertical plane, with the beam 12 immediately vertically below the beam 11. The device is not only balanced as to the support of the dead weight thereof, but inasmuch as the suspension means including the swivel 18 is connected at a location in vertical alignment with the suspension point of the hook 21, the device will be balanced when a load, such as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, is supported properly by the hook 21, preferably also balanced at the initial placement thereon.

It is to be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that the bight portion 13 being offsetto one side of the vertical plane in which the arms 11 and 1.2 lie would ordinarily twist the U-shaped supporting structure of the device A so that the beam 11 would lie in a plane with the arm 11, off the vertical. T 0 prevent this, the counterweight 25 is offset, as to the center of gravity thereof, to the opposite side of the plane in which the arms 11 and 12 lie, with respect to the offset 13, so that the structure will maintain the balanced relation intended, to permit facile transfer of loads, to load or unload the car or other structure about which work is being performed. It is readily apparent from Figures 1 and 2 with what facility the device A is arranged with re ect to conventional box car construction, for the purpose of compactly loading or un loading commodities or other articles with respect to the compartment of the car. Thus. as shown in Figure 2, the arm 12 may be entered into the car paralleling a side wall of the car, close at the inside thereof, for the purpose of loading or unloading an article 15 in close proximity not only to the side wall, but to the end wall of the car. Using the device A, which has an offset 13 such as shown, enables the loading of one end of the car from one side of the car, and the other end of the car may be loaded from the opposite side of the car. It is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a bight portion 13 having oppositely facing concavities, such as 13", and centralizing the upper and lower beams with respect thereto, so that a single such device may be employed to load both ends of the car in close proximity to the same adjacent side wall from one side of a car.

Referring to the form of invention B, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, the same is of somewhat the same nature as the device A above described, and similar structure has been given similar reference characters in both forms of the invention. In the main, the same comprises a horizontally positioned U-shaped supporting hook eos-,eee 3 structure 10 consisting of upper and lower beams 11 and 12 and a curved bight portion 13. The portions 11, 12 and 13 are all relatively thin, and all he in the same plane, normally a vertical plane, inasmuch as the device B is a balanced structure. The beams or arms 11 and 1.2" are ordinarily longer than the similar beams 11 and 12 provided in the transfer device A, inasmuch as the additional length will permit the free end of the lower beam 12 to be swung closer to the inside of the adjacent side wall of the car, when loading the car at an end, by reason of taking advantage of the full width of the doorway 14, as can be readily understood from Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The

I structure at the free end of the upper beam 11 for receiving the cable 19 and swivel hook 18, is the same as for the beam 11, and a counterweight is supported in the same relation as the counterweight 25 of the preferred form of invention A, except that the counterweight 25 has the longitudinal center line thereof aligning in the same plane as that in which the beams 11 and 12 lie, to balance the counterweight at the opposite sides of such plane. Of course, the counterweight 25 balances the weight of the beams 11 and 12 and connecting portion 13, when the device B is supported at the eye 17 thereof upon the swivel hook 18. The hook 21 of the free end of the beam 12 has its load point vertically aligned with the eye 17 in a line which is normal to the longitudinal axis of the device B between the beams 11 and 12 in order that a load may be carried and maintain the balance of the device B to facilitate loading or unloadin The device consisting of the upper and lower beams and the bight portion may be appropriately referred to as a yoke, and as before mentioned the yoke is shorter for the form of invention A than for the form of invention B, for reasons described. The structure may be made of steel, or may be built up, or forged, or formed in any approved durable relation. \Vhile the counterbalance portions are detachable, they are rigid and affixed with respect to the beams to which they are attached, and are not adjustable thereon. The space bet-ween the arms or beams of the yoke is sufficient that the load supporting arm may be lowered to the floor of the car for receiving or dislodging the load, without the upper arm or beam contacting the roof of thecar. If desired, safety gongs may be located upon the beams to prevent the placement thereof insuch relation, that they might injure the car.

It is to be particularly noted that the devices A and B are relatively narrow so. far as the plane in which the beams lie is concerned. In the construction of upper and lower beams of substantially the same length, and locating the supporting point of the beams at the free ends thereof in the relation described, makes it possible to centralize a load with respect to a supporting cable to maintain the device in a balanced and proper relation to facilitate the handling thereof. It is to be particularly noted that the supporting hook of the lower beam is located below the lower beam, which is one of the most essential and practical features of the invention.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spaced beams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in which said beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connecting means having a recess therein facing the plane in which said beams lie and open to the space between said beams.

2. In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spaced beams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in which said beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connecting means having a recess therein facing the plane in which said beams lie and open to the space between said beams, means for supporting the upper beam from thereabove, and load supporting means carried by the lower beam.

In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spaced beams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in which said beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connecting means having a recess therein facing the' plane in which said beams lie and open to the space between said beams, means for supporting the upper beam from thereabove, load supporting means carried by the lower beam in depending relation therefrom.

i. In a load transmitting device the combination of upper and lower spaced beams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in which said beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connecting means having a recess therein facing the plane in which said beams lie and open to the space between said beams, means for supporting the upper beam from thereabo-ve, load supporting means carried by the lower beam in depending relation therefrom, and counterweight means attached to the upper beam at the opposite side of the connection of the supporting means of the upper beam w'th respect to the major length of said upper beam and of a sufficient weight to balance the upper and lower beams and connecting means with the upper and lower beams lying in substantially a vertical plane with or Without load attachment upon the lower beam.

In a loading and unloading device of the class described the combination of upper and lower beams being connected in spaced rigid relation at similar ends thereof with the opposite ends unobstructed as an entrance to the space therebetween, means for sup porting the upper beam from thereabove, and a load supporting hook carried by the lower beam in depending relation therefrom.

BRUCE A. MOORE.

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