US1880085A - Car roof - Google Patents

Description

G. G. GILFIN sept. 27, 1932.

GAR ROOF Filed April 6, 1931 wherein the roof Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES 1 .,.T1:1\1Ti o FFICE.I

GABTH G. GILPIN, OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR '.lO P. H. MURPHY COMPANY, OF NEW KENSINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA can. noor- Application-led April 6, 1931. Serial No. 527,983.,-

the type of metal the neutral axis type, sheets are adapted, arranged rand joined together to form a roof consisting of a series of ribs alternating with channels, and the roof as a whole functions mechanically after the manner of a beam. The principal object of the present invention is to strengthen and stiifen the seam construction and adapt it for better cooperation with the body portions of the sheets in taking care of beam stresses. Another objectis to secure an equal distribution of the metal above and below the geometrical center line of the roof, thereby placing the neutral axis This invention relates to car roof known as vofthe roof along said line and thus enabling the maximum strength of the metal to be obtained. Another object is to avoid extending the fastening devices from the outsideto the inside of the car. Another object is tov utilize the space between the upper and lower levels of the roof sheets to accommodate'the roof seams Wholly or in part. l The invention consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations ofparts hereinafter described.T L

In the accompanyin drawin which forms part of this specifigcation an wherein ike reference letters and numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur, p

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a car roof embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse cross-section through one-half of the roof on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal cross-sec.

` tion through the' roofy on the line 3-3 in vinvention form a series of flat-topped ribs A "at one level alternating with 1g. 4 1s an enlarged cross-section of one A of the vertical seams that connect the margins of adjacent sheets, x

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross-sectlonal views Similar to Fig. 4, showing seams -of modified form. Y

Conformably to the so-called-.neutral axis type of roof, the roof sheets'l ofthe present a lserles of flat- B of substantially equal at a lower level, said bottomed channels cross-sectional area point at or near the eaves where they merge into the plane of the side portions. Along each side margin .ofthe sheet is an upstand-' v are arranged side ing flange 4. The sheets b side with their ends riveted to theside plates 2 and with seam caps5 straddling the upstanding flan rigidly secured t neutral axis of the roof. 1

es 4 of adjacent sheets and v ereto, preferably along the;

t Preferably the seam cap 5 is a strip of metal of heavier vgage than the sheets, which strlp is folded on itself and provided along` its longitudinal edges with flanges 6 that rest on the body portions of adjacent sheets. this arrangement, the seams are located at the middle` of the channels'B; and asthe rivets y7 extend horizontally lthrough the seam caps 5 and sheetfla'nges 4, they are wholly outside of the car where they are easy to drive and where they of leakage into the car. located 'in the channels B, they ject at the ridge of the car a produceno danger need not proove the upper region of the eaves, such seams can be kept lowenough to keep kinside the linesY estab.- lished for clearance of tunnels and bridges.

One of the advantages of the present car is that thq entire seam construction, includ ing the :sheet flanges and seam ucover, erate efciently with the middle of the in taking care of the stresses .on theroof, especially as the metaly in the roof is so distributed that the neutral'axis of thereof as a whole is approximately midway between the upper and lower levels of the roof sheets and especially also because the seam construction is relatively only a 'short distance coop# Y sheets' l As the seams are level of the roof sheets; and even in the i members of the roof structure considered asy from the vertically disposed sides of the channels, which sides function as the web a beam. By reason of the relatively short distance between said web members and the seam construction, the resistanceto buckling stresses is greatly increased and there is more cficient cooperation in taking care of mechanical stresses.

In order to place the neutral axis midway between the upper and lower panels of the roof, it is preferable to make the width of the upper middle panel of the sheet substantially equal to the combined widths of the two lower side panels thereof, and to make said side portions equal to each other, especially as this locates the seam at' the middle of the channel. The roof sheet hereinbefore described has the advantage that it may be readily made of galvanized metal without injuring the same, and that it is easy to apply to the car. Obviously the design of the seam cover admits of considerable variation both as to the thickness of the material and the cross-sectional shape thereof; and the seam -construction may be varied or strengthened by reinforcing strips of metal interposed between the roof sheets, For instance, in the modification illustrated in Fig. 5, the ,reinforcing strip is a flat strip 8 interposed between the sheet anges, while in the construction illustrated in Fig. 6,- the reinforcing strip 9 is of inverted channel shape.

What I claim is: 1. A car roof comprising roof sheets having upstanding flanges along their side margins rigidly securedl together, each sheet having its longitudinal middle portion atxone level and its side portions at a diferent level, the cross-sectional arca of the middle por- -tion of a sheet being substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the two side portions thereof.

2. A metal car roof having alternating.

flat-topped ribs and flat-bottomed channels formed therein extending crosswise of the car, said roof consisting of a plurality of roof sheets that have their adjacent margins connected by upstanding seams that extend longitudinally of said channels substantially midway of the sides thereof, the cross-sectional area of said ribs, said channels and said seams being such that the amount of metal abovel the neutral axis of the roof is substantially equal to the amount of metal below such neutral axis.

3.' A metal car roof having alternating flattopped ribs and fiat-bottomed channels formed therein extending crosswise of thecar, said roof consisting of a plurality of roof sheets that have their adjacent margins connected by vertical seams that extend longitudinally of said channels intermediate betweenthe sides thereof, the cross-sectional topped ribs and fiat-bottomed channels formed therein that extend crosswise of the car, said roof comprising a plurality of roof sheets secured together along' their adjacent margins by hollow seams located between the upper and lower levels of the roof, and stiffening members secured within said hollow seams.

6. A car roof whose longitudinal cross-section comprises alternating {iat-topped ribs and flat-bottomed channels, saidroof consisting of a plurality of roof sheets that have their adjacentmargins connected together by vertical seams that extend longitudinally of said channels intermediate the sides thereof, and sti'fening members secured within said seams. f

7. A car roof whose o1011 ltudinal crosssection comprises alternatmg flat-topped ribs and Hat-bottomed channels, said roof consisting of a plurality of roof sheets that have thelr adjacent margins connected together byf vertical `seams that extend lon tudinally of said channels substantia ly midway between the sides thereof.

8. A carroof whose longitudinal crosssection comprises alternating fiat-topped ribs and flat-bottomed channels, said roof consisting of ay plurality of roof1 sheets that have their adjacent margins connected together by vertical seams that extend lon' said rib's and said. channels being substantially equal and the metal in said seam being so distributed as to place the neutral axis of the roof as a whole approximately midwaybetween the upper and lower levels of the roof. y

9.: A car roof whose lon/'tudinal crosssection comprises alternatmg fiat-topped ribs and fiat-bottomed channels, said roof consisting of a plurality of roof sheets that have their adjacent margins connected together by vert-ical seams that extend longitudinally of said vchannels substantiallymidway between the sides thereof, said seams comprising vertical flanges along their side margins and seam caps that straddle said flanges, the cross-sectional area of said ribs and said channels being substantially equal and the metal in said seam being so dis- 5 tributed as to place the neutral axis of the roof as a whole approximately midway between the upper and lower levels of the roof, said seam caps being rigidly secured to adjacent seam flanges approximately along the l neutral axis of the roof.

10. A car roof sheet having upstanding flanges along its side margins and having its longitudinal middle portion at one level and its side portions at a different level, the

@ cross-sectional area of the middle portion of said sheet being substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the two side portions thereof.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 2 day of April, 1931.

GARTH G. GHJPIN.

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