US1914743A

US1914743A - Automobile block

Info

Publication number: US1914743A
Application number: US567644A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leo P Hughes
Original assignee: REEVES Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: REEVES MANUFACTURING Co
Priority date: 1931-10-08
Filing date: 1931-10-08
Publication date: 1933-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1950-06-20

Description

June 20, 1933- U E 1314 743 AUTOMOBILE BLOCK Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTOR Zea B Patented June 26, 1933 S PATEL sis L ED P. HUGHES, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNGR '10 THE REEVES MANUFACTURING COM'PAIQY, F DOVER, GHIO, A CORPORATION OF CHIC AUTOMOBILE BLOCK Application filed October S, 1931.

'My invention relates to blocks for inter positioning between the wheels of automobiles and similar vehicles and a floor, more particularly the floor of a railway car, for

preventing movement of the vehicle with respect to the floor.

More particularly my invention relates to a one-piece .metal block, and includes improvements of the automobile block set forth 0 in, my prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,556,-

327, issued October 6, 1925, wherein is set forth a two-piece block including a body portion having one end formed as a base adapted for being secured to the floor of a railway car, or the like, and a wheel seat member secured to the other end of the body portion, the axis of the body portion being inclined with respect to its base so as to constitute a line substantially radial with respect to the wheel being engaged by the seat.

It has been found that sheet metal blocks made of two or more pieces frequently collapse in use by buckling-or bending, because the seat members do not supply transverse strength to the blocks for resisting shock loads applied to the blocks substai'itially parallel to the bases thereof, when railroad cars equipped with the same are being shunted in railroad yards. However, I have discovered that a block provided with an axis incliningwith respect to its base so as to lie in a line approximately radial to a Wheel in engagement with the seat thereof, and made from a single sheet of metal, has great strength for resisting both transversely and axially applied loads.

One of the objects of the present improve ments therefore includes the provision of an improved one-piece metal block having the general characteristics of the block set forth in my aforesaid prior patent, and including an integral body portion having a base formed at one end and a seat formed directly F at the other end thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece block having an axis inclined with respect to its base, lying in a line approximately radial to a wheel in engagement with the seat thereof.

0 A further object of the present invention is Serial No. 567,644.

to provide a block structure enabling the manufacture of a sheet metal block including a tube like body portion having an angular base formed at one end thereof and a curved trough-like seat formed at the other end thereof, directly from one piece of sheet metal.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the blocks, apparatus, parts improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the present improved automobile block includes a body portion, which is preferably tubular or tube-lil-ie and may be either cylindric, slightly tapered for nesting purposes, or frusiirconical with a more pro nounced slope of the wall thereof with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, and the body portion is preferably provided with a base flange at one end, and a trough-like seat at the other end, the wall of the trough-like seat preferably including one or more folds, and the block being formed of one piece of sheet or strip metal.

Preferred embodiments of the present improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof,-in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation illustra ting'two of the improved blocks in use in connection with a wheel of an automobile;

Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical sectional View of one of the blocks, as on line 22, Fig. 3;

i Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view thereof as on line 33, Fig. 2;

Fig. i, a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a second embodiment of the improved block; and

Fig. 5, a view similar to Figs. l and 2 illustrating a third embodiment of the improved block.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3, one embodiment of the improved blocks is indicated generally by 10, and the block 10 is formed as by drawing and pressing from a single piece of sheet or strip metal, preferably steel.

The block 10 includes a frusto-conical, tubular body portion 11 on the lower end of which is formed an outwardly extending peripheral flange 12, and the flange 12 has suitable apertures 13 formed therein, whereby the flange may be secured to the car floor or the like, as by nails or screws 14.

The upper end of the body portion 11 is closed and has formed therein a curved trough-like seat 15 for receiving the tire 16 of the automobile wheel 17 being supported by the block 10.

The outer surfaces of the seat 15 preferably substantially conform to the contour of the tire 16.

The seat 15 has one or more folds 15a formed therein to take up the fullness or ex cess of metal resulting in providing a block, formed from a single sheet of metal, with a curved trough-like seat at one end of the tubular body thereof. The fold 15a is formed in such a way that the metal in the seat is overlapped. Moreover, the fold 15a increases the strengthening action of the integrally formed seat for resisting transverse shock loads to which the block is subjected in use.

The body portion 11 of the block 10 as aforesaid is frusto-conical and has a relatively pronounced slope wit-h respect to its longitudinal axis 20, which preferably passes through the axis 21 of the Wheel 17 in use.

The second embodiment of the invention, indicated generally by 110, in Fig. 4, is generally similar to the block 10, with the exception that in the block 110, the body porton 111 is only slightly tapered for economizing in material and at the same time permitting nesting of the blocks 110.

In Fig. 5, a third embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by 210, and is generally similar to the blocks 10, and 110, with the exceptionthat inthe block 210, the body portion 211 is a cylindric tube.

In the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 4c and 5, the seats 115 and 215, respectively have one or more folds 115a and 215a, respectively formed therein for taking up excess metal and for strengthening the blocks. However, these folds are shown as extending crosswise of the seats 115 or 215 rather than longitudinally thereof as in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each of the foregoing embodiments of the improved block may be rapidly and economically manufactured from a single piece of sheet or strip metal, and the formation of each block with a tube-like body portion having a radial axis and a seat at its upper end having one or more folds, provides lateral stiffness, strength, and rigidity for the block, and the tubular body portion acts as a strut or column between the wall and the floor.

I claim:

1. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tube-like body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

2. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tapered tubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

3. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a frusto-conical tubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

4. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tube-like body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a trough shaped seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a tapered tubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a trough shaped seat at the other end of the body portion, and

themetal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

6. A block, for supporting automobile wheels and the like, integrally formed of one piece of metal sheet material, and including a frusto-conical tubular body portion, a base at one end of the body portion, and a trough shaped seat at the other end of the body portion, and the metal in the seat being folded and overlapped.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEO P. HUGHES.