US1826814A - Refrigerator car - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 1`3, 1931. A. F. QcoNNoR 1,826,814

REFRIGERATOR' CAR Filed'nec. 14, 1928 s sheets-sheer 1 ctn 13, 1931. A. F. ocoNNoR 1,826,814-

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Dec. 14, .1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 13, 193.1. A. F. ocoNNoR REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Dec. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5f i, i 0,0 ,mw

30 provide an ice bunker atented @et 13, 193i YSAT-E1s ARTHUR F. OCONNOR,-OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 'UNION RAILWAY EQUIP- MENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F ILLINOIS REFRIGERATOR GAR Application filed December 14, 1928. Serial No. 326,014.

This invention relates to refrigerator cars. An object of the invention is to provide improved ice compartments for refrigerator cars wherein a plurality of foraminated receptacles for ice are provided, and wherein said receptacles are so disposed and supported within thecar as to provide circulating spaces between and surrounding the same, whereby increased cooling is effected and the eiiciency of the structure materially increased.

Another object of the invention is to provide an arrangement of this character wherein the ice-containing receptacles are so placed in position as to be readily removable in the event replacement is necessary and in connection with which the practice of making the ice bunker a built-in part of the car is eliminated. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of foraminated containers of the character indicated, wherein each of the same is provided with grate bars so arranged that when' the receptacles or g containers are utilized, the necessity for the provision of a grate construction for the ice bunker ordinarily provided, is dispensed with.

Still another object of the invention is to construction wherein the ice-containing receptacles and bulk-head are removable when desired, in order to permit repairl and replacement should the same become necessary and also to admit of the installation of .the receptacles and bulk-head without the necessity for building them in the car so as to form a. permanent part thereof.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an ice bunker construction wherein the 4.o ice receptacles may be cleaned without any necessity for removing the same or for removing the bulkhead, said receptacles and bulkhead being provided with doors permitting access` to the interior of the receptacle for the purpose of cleaning them.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this to specification, Figure 1 is a ltransverse sectional elevation taken through one end of a refrigerator car and disclosing the bulkhead and ice bunker construction forming the subject matter of the invention, the view being taken substantially along the line 1 1 of Figure 2. Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2--2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is avertical sectional View through the ice bunker corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Figure l. And Figure 4 is a horizontal, sectional view through one of the ice receptacles, corres ondlng subsantially to the line ir-4 Aof igure 1. As shown in the drawings, the ice bunker 1s located in one end of a refrigerator car, the latter including side walls 10--10, an end wall 11, a. floor 12, a false floor 120, a drip indicated at 14, one being disposed upon each side of the car to communicate through thel roof 15 with the interior of the end portion 0f the car. The construction thus far described is of an ordinary and well known character.

In applying kthe lstructure forming `the subject matter of 'my invention to the car, a plurality of vertically extending pairs of 2 x 4 supports 16-16 are provided, together with end supports 17-17, these supports being secured in position by bolts 18-18. The supports constituting each pair are spaced apart apredetermined distance as indicated at 19, and the outer posts of each pair are also spaced apart a predetermined distance, as indicated at 20. The end supports 17 are spaced from the adjacent pair of supports the same distance as that between each pair of supports, and also somewhat from the side walls 10 of the car. At the front of the compartment, there are pro'- vided posts 21--21 extending from the Hoor to the ceiling, and arranged longitudinally of the car in line with the spaces between the pairs of uprights 16-16, and the spaces'between the end uprights 17-17 and the'ad jacent side walls of the car, each of the posts 21 being of a thickness about the same as the distance between each pair of uprights 16-'16 as best shown in Figure 2, and at their ioo and the posts 21--21 somewhat above .the

At intervals transversely of the Ycar are pairs of upright `spacing members 22 and f23, the members 23 abutting against the adjacent side walls 10-10 of the car while the uprights 22-22 are arranged in line with the `posts 21 and the spaces 19 between the uprights l-ld The uprights 23 preferably extend from the floor to the ceiling. The

uprights 22--22 terminate short of the oeiling and at their upper ends bear against longitudinally extending members 24-24, the latter, at their ends each abuttingagainst the adjacent front post 21, and the opposite end extending ,within the space between the uprights 1G-16. The lower ends of the members 22-22 also terminate short of the bottom of the car, and bear upon horizontally extending members 25-25, the latter each extending from a point adjacent the frontpost 21, toward the end wall 11 of the car, and having its opposite end disposed between the adjacent pair of uprights 16-16. Tie rods 26 and 27 are provided which secure the front posts 21 and uprights 16-16 to the rear wall of the car, the tie rods 27 lbeing so located as to be /disposed beneath and support the members 25-25. Secured to the lower ends of the members 16--16, 17

floor of the'drip pan 130, are members providing supportingshelves or ledges indicat ed at'28 andI 29, said shelves having their upper edges disposed above the level of the members 25-25'1as best shown in Figure 3. rlhe framework, as described, provides skeleton enclosures or stalls, each for the reception and accommodation of one of the ice containers or receptacles '30. Each of the receptacles 30 is of elongated rectangular formationin cross section, the long dimension'being disposed longitudinally of the car and transversely of the bunker.. rlhe side walls 31 and end walls 32 of the container are of fora'minous mat'erial andare supported by vertically disposed angle irons indicated at 34 one at each corner and-disposed upon the inside of the container. The r angle irons 34 at their upper ends are rigidly secured to a rectangular frame 35 made up of angle members secured together, and providing outstanding lips or flanges 36 entirely around the frame. At the lower ends of the angle bars 34 a similar frame 37 is provided, the frame 37 being smaller than the frame 35 and disposed at the inside of the lower extremities of the angle bars and being secured thereto in such manner as to present a supporting ledge or flange 38 at the inner side of the receptacle.

Resting upon and secured to the anges 38 of the lower frame 37 are grate bars 39, preferably two of such bars being provided for each receptacle. 'Each ofthe bars is position,

teasers preferably formed of U-shape in cross-section as indicated at 40 `Vith anges 41-41 which are riveted to the flanges 38 of the lower frame, the grate bars being spaced apart a suitable distance to provide for the passage ofthe liquid from the melted ice therethrough and into the drip pan.

Each of the receptacles adjacent its lower end has its front wall out out to provide a doorl opening, theframework of the door opening being provided by an angle iron 43 extending between the angle irons at the forward portion of the receptacle. A door 44 is provided pivoted to the the framework at 45 so as to open outwardly, said door being normally maintained in closed position by a hasp' and pin arrangement indicated at 46, the pin being of S-shape so as to eliminate possibility of accidental detachment.

All of the receptacles 30 are exactly alike in construction, and each of the same is adapted to be removably placed in one of the vskeleton enclosures provided by the framevwork heretofore described. When the receptacles are in position within the enclosure, they are rigidly maintained in such position by means of strips 47 detachably secured to the posts 2l by bolts 48.

A bulkhead 49 isprovided which is detachably secured to the posts 21 by bolts 50, said bulkhead being secured in position so as to terminate short of the ceiling of the car at thetop and short of the ioor and false :Hoor at the bottom of the car. At the lower portion of the bulkhead, there is provided a door 51, hinged at 52 so as to swing outwardly, the door 51 being arranged in line with the doors 44 of the receptacles so that when the doorin the bulkhead is open, the doors of the receptacles also can be opened, providing access for cleaning out deposits which may have' accumulated upon the grate bars. at the lower ends of the receptacles.

By the above described arrangement, it will be appreciated that the four receptacles, while providing accommodation for a somewhat less quantity of ice than would be accommodated by an ordinary construction, enhance the cooling effect due to exposing larger surfaces of the ice to circulating air within the car, and provide additional space for circulation of the air. With the construction as described, the circulation is greatly improved andthe increased volume of air so circulated is subjected to greatly increased areas of the cooling medium. The provision of the receptacles, each with its individual grate bars, eliminates the necessity for providing grate constructions as ordinarilyA used. The. necessary framework for supporting the receptacle is of a simple character and readily applied, and when in position supports the receptacles to the best advantage. When the receptacles:l are in the same may be cleaned simply by raising the door in the'bulkhead and opening the doors in the receptacles, the grate bars being disposed longitudinally with reference to the car, greatly facilitating they cleaning operation. Should it become necessary to replace one or more of the receptacles due to injury in service, the bulkhead may be easily removed, and the detachable strips also removed, permitting any or all of the receptacles to be easily removed and replaced by others if it is found tol be desirable. construction provides a marked advantage over ordinary constructions which, in the event Qfd injury to the foraminouswalls of the container due to the built-in construction, necessitates tearing out of the entire ice bunker to effect the desired repairs.. Also, due to the arrangement of the receptacles, a very great increase is obtained in circulation and also in the area of cooling medium exposed to the circulated air. Further, due to the fact that the only additional foraminous material necessary in providing the construction described is that forming the side walls which divide the compartments, but very little additional material is required, Witha great saving in the amount of ice used and increase in eiiciency. f j

While I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my construction, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the ,scope of the claims appended hereto.

1. In a structure of the character described, l'

the combination with a refrigerator car; of a removable bulk-head defining an ice compartmentat one end of said car: means providing a support Within said ice compartment; and an ice receptacle detachably arranged within said enclosure, said bulkhead being removable to permit application and removal of said ice receptacle with respect to said enclosure. A

2. Ina structure of the character described, the combination with a railway car;` of means providing an ice compartment including a plurality of receptacles having foraminated walls, said receptacles each being p'rovided witli attached grate bars at its lower end for supporting the ice, said receptacles, when 'in operative position providing com.- bined enclosing walls for ice and means permitting escape of the liquid when said ice is melted'.

3. In a structure of the character described, the combination'with a railway car; of means providing an ice compartment including a plurality of receptacles having foraminated walls, said receptacles each being provided with grate bars 'at its lower end, said receptacles, when in operative position providing combined enclosing walls for ice and means permitting escape of the liquid when said ice This is melted, each of said receptacles being provided with a door for cleaning purposes; and a bulk-head having a door in line with the doors of said receptacles to permit access for the purpose of cleaning said receptacles.

. 4. In a structure of the character described, the combination with a refrigerator car; of a bulkhead terminating short of the top and bottom walls of the car to provide circulating spaces; a plurality of individual ice receptacles; and means for individually and removably supporting each of said receptacles in elevated position and spaced with respect to each other so as to provide circulating passages between said receptacles, said passages communicating with the circulating space above and below said bulkhead.

5. As an article of manufacture, an elongated ice receptacle including a skeleton frame enclosed by foraminated material along its sides and having one end closed by grate bars, said receptacle being provided with a door adjacent said grate bars whereby cleaning may be efected.

6. In a refrigerator Icar of the character described having hatchways, the combination with an end portion thereof adapted to form an ice bunker, said end portion being defined by top, bottom, side and end walls; of a plurality of unitary elongated receptacles adapted to contain ice, each of said receptacles opening at the top and having attached means at the bottom for supporting the ice and permitting escape of the liquid from the melted ice, said receptacles being disposed in a row transversely of the car and individually removable from said bunker, said receptacles providing in unitary structures means corresponding to the ice supporting grates and ice containing-baskets usually provided; and means for supporting said receptacles to maintain the open ends thereof in position adjacent said top wall where they may be filled through the hatchways, and the lower ends of said receptacles being elevated with reference to the bottom wall, said means also havingl elements for maintaining said receptacles in spaced relation with reference to each other and with reference to the side and en d Walls of said car, whereby circulation spaces are provided at all sides of said receptacles.

7. In a refrigerator car of the character described, the combination with an end portion having side, top and bottom walls; of a plurality of similar'unitary elongated re-A ceptacles supported in said car side by'side, the Walls of said receptacles being of foran'iinous material, and spaced from each ozher and from the walls of said car to provide cir- A culation spaces from top to bottom'about said receptacles, said receptacles extending toward the top wall of said car and having their upper end portions open for thc reception 'of the cooling medium, the bottom portions oi' P m said bulkhead.

said receptacles terminating short of the bottom wall and being closed by means secured thereto for supporting the cooling medium and permitting escape of waste liquids said receptacles being individually removable and replaceable in position; and a removable bulkhead terminating short of the top and bottom walls of the car, said circulation spaces communicating with the interior of the body ortion of the car at the top and also below 8. ln a structure of the character described, the combination with an end portion of a car, having top, bottom, side and end walls; of a frame Work arranged in said end portion and including supporting shelves above the bottom wall of the same; and an elongated receptacle havirg its walls of foraminated material, spaced from the walls of said car, said receptacle extending from said support.-

' ing shelves upwardly toward the top wall dil and having an open end for the reception of ice, the lower end of said receptacle having means secured thereto and extending across the open bottom portion for supporting the ice, said means providing openings for the escape of the liquid resulting from the melting of the ice, said receptacles and ice supporting means being removable as a unit.

9. In a structure ofthe character described, the combination with an end portion of a car having top, bottom, side and end walls; of a frame work disposed insaid end portion and having supporting shelves arranged f' above the bottom wall of the car; a plurality of removable ice receptacles, each of a similar construction, and together occupying the space transversely of the end portion of the car, the lower ends of said receptacles being supported on said shelves, and the upper ends reachingtoward the top wall of the car, the walls of said receptacles being of foraminou's material and spaced from the walls of adjacent receptacles 'so as to provide circulation spaces between said Walls, the upper ends of said receptacles being open for the reception of ice, and the lower ends having means carried thereby for supporting the ice and permitting the escape of the liquid incident to -f meltinga. bulkhead at the outer side of said permit escape of liquid incident to melting of the ice, said receptacle having braces exnaaaeia said foraminous walls between the ends of the receptacle and for supporting said ice carrying elements.

11. An article of manufacture, comprising an elongatedice receptacle for a refrigerator car, said receptacle being rectangular in cross section, and having walls formed of foraminous material, one end of said receptacle being open for the reception of ice and the opposite end having means for supporting the ice connected therewith and formed to permit the escape of liquid, reenforcing end frames connected with the ends of said foraminous walls and braces extending along the corners of the receptacle and connecting the end frames; and means extending across one end frame to provide an ice support formed to permit the escape of liquid from the melted ice.

12. An article of manufacture, comprising an elongated receptacle rectangular in cross section, and having walls formed of foraminous material, one end of said receptacle beingopen for the reception of ice and the opposite end having means for supporting the ice connected therewith and formed to ermit the escape of liquid, reenforcing end rames connected with the ends of said receptacle and braces extending along the corners of the receptacle and connecting the end frames, one of the foraminous walls adjacent the bottom of the receptacle being providediwith a door giving access to the interior of the receptacle.

13. ln a refrigerator car of' the character described, the combination with one end ortion thereof; of a plurality of complete ice-containing baskets, each having vertically disposed foraminous walls and each being provided at its bottom with ice-supporting elements attached thereto, said receptacles being arranged to provide a series of complete units which together form-the complete icecontaining compartment proper; and means for supporting and spacing vsaid unitary receptacles so as to provide circulation spaces on all sides of each receptacle.

14. In a refrigerator car of the character described, the combination with one end portion thereof; of a plurality of complete icecontaining baskets, each having vertically disposed foraminous walls and each being closed at its bottom bv ice-supporting grates attached thereto, said receptacles providing when in position a series of individual and complete units which together provide the entire ice-containing compartment; and means for individually and removably supporting and spacing said unitary receptacles so as to provide circulation spaces on all sides of each receptacle.

15. is an article of manufacture, an ice receptacle for refrigerator cars, comprising as a unit a skeleton frame consisting of spaced tending from. top to bottonel for supportmgcorner uprights, an upper rectangular open frame with which the upper ends of the uprights are connected, a lower rectangular open fra-me with which the lower ends of the uprights are connected, and gratebars extending transversely of the lower open frame and connected thereto, and a foraminous wall secured to the uprights and furnishing the side walls of the receptacle.

In Witness that I claim the fore oing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day 10 of December 1928.

vARTHUR F. OCONNOR'.

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