US1953298A

US1953298A - Folding step

Info

Publication number: US1953298A
Application number: US374777A
Authority: US
Inventors: George S Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-06-29
Filing date: 1929-06-29
Publication date: 1934-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1951-04-03

Description

April 3, 1934. G. s. GOODWIN FOLDING STEP 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29 1929 April 3, 1934. v I 5 GQQDWIN 1,953,298

FOLDING STEP Filed Jum 29. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ril 3, 1934. G. s. GOODWIN FOLDING STEP 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 29, 1929 Weds,-

Patented Apia? 3, 1934 FOLDING s'rnr George S. Goodwin, Chicago, Ill. Application June 29, 1929, Serial No. 374,777

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a folding step which is adapted to be secured to the side of a locomotive boiler above the running board, airplanes, railway cars and the like, and is used for the purpose of enabling enginemen, machinists and other workmen to climb up the side of the body upon which it is placed, and can be folded out of the way when not in use.

Another object'of my invention is the provision of a folding step which is adapted particularly to be secured to the side of the locomotive boiler and folded up and out of alignment of the view of the engine crew from the cab, so that the view forward along the side of the boiler is not obstructed or obscured in any manner, as is the case with steps which are now permanently secured to the boilers and which project outward therefrom obstructing the view from the cab.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure having steps foldable in recesses in the body of the structure, thus reducing air resistance, improving the appearance of the structure, and providing steps available for use when needed.

It has been common in the past to provide steps along side the locomotive boiler to enable the engine crew, machinists and workmen to climb to the top of the boiler for the purpose of making repairs, cleaning the boiler jacket, or for filling.

the sandbox and the like, these steps being permanently secured to the boiler and projecting outward therefrom. In modern construction of locomotive boilers the diameter of the boilers is so great that these steps which project outward .from the side of the boiler are in line with the view of the engine crew from the cab and seriously interfere with the view of the track ahead of the locomotive.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a step which is firm and secure, with all of the substantial rigidity common to the old form of steps, and yet provide a step which is firmly attached to the locomotive boiler, railway car or the like and when not in use can be folded out of the way.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a folding step which is so designed that when in folded position it is substantially flush with the body to which it is attached and will not permit water or dirt to lodge in the step.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevational view of my improved step showing it in closed position on a locomotive boiler;

Figure 2 is a transverse view partially in section of the step shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse view partially in section of a step with a slightly modified form of that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a boiler step of a modified form in open position;

Figure 5 is a transverse View partially in section of the step illustrated in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a transverse view partially in section of another modified form of step;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of a modified form of step;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the step shownin Figure 7 in closed position; and

Figure 9 is a vertical sectionalview showing the step in open position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a section of boiler shell 10 is shown having the usual jacket 11 applied thereto. A pocket 12 is provided which has a flange 13 extending therearound and adapted to cover the jacket 11. The pocket 12 preferably is of substantially the same depth as the distance between the shell 10 and the jacket 11, and is secured to a the boiler shell 10 by means of a plurality of

studs

14, 14 having

nuts

15, 15 on the outer ends thereof.

On the under side of the pocket 12 is provided a pair of transversely extending ribs-16, 16, these ribs being of sufiicient height to compensate for the curvature of the boiler shell 10 so that the pocket 12 is fitted securely against the outer side of the boiler shell 10. Integrally.

formed with the pocket 12 and extending along the lower side thereof and upward from the flange 13, is a rib portion 17 upon which the step 18 is adapted to rest when in open position. The height of the rib 1'7 may vary depending upon the distance at which the step is mount- 7 ed from the bottom of the pocket 12 as described hereinafter. The step 18 has a pair of

side flanges

19, 19 formed on the upper side thereof, and at the rear portion thereof has an enlarged portion 20 having an opening 21 therein through which a bolt 22 extends, the bolt 22 passing through the side walls of the pocket 12 and having a nut 23' on the outer end thereof which fits against a boss 24 formed on the side of the pocket 12. A similar boss 24 is formed on the opposite side of the pocket 12 against which the head of the bolt 22 is fitted. The bolt 22 forms a pivot member upon which the step 18 is mounted and serves to support the step when in open position.

Formed in the upper part of the pocket 12 is a projecting portion 25 having a spring member 26 mounted thereon by means of screws 27, the free end of the spring member 26 projecting upward and outwardand being adapted to fit over the upper side of the step 18 so that when the step is folded into position it passes under the end of the spring 26, which is bent downwardly slightly, and is held in vertical position without danger of falling down into the view of the engine crew.

In Figure 3 a modified form of the device is shown in which the step is adapted to fit into the pocket 12 in a slightly different manner than the form heretofore described, and in which the rib portion 1'? on the pocket 12 is slightly increased in height and a step 27*- provided having a slot 28 in the rear portion thereof through which the bolt 22 is adapted to pass. This form operates in precisely the same manner except that when in vertical position the step drops downward and rests against the lower side of the pocket 12 so that a retaining member is not needed to hold the step in position in the pocket.

In Figures 4 and 5 a slightly modified form of step is shown and in which the step 29 is shown having

side ribs

30, 30 formed thereon, and which has a downwardly extending head portion 31 having an opening 32 therein through which the bolt 22 is adapted to pass. Secured to the upper-flange portion of the pocket 12 is a rotatably mounted latch member 33 secured in position by a screw 34, this member extending downward and adapted to retain the step 39 in folded position when turned upward into the pocket 15.

In Figure 6 is illustrated a slightly different form of device in which a step 35 is shown having web side portions 36 with wide rear end portions 37 and having openings 38 therethrough, through which the bolt 22 passes in the same manner as heretofore described. The holes in the pocket 12 through which the bolt 22 passes, are placed slightly higher than in the forms heretofore described because of the slightly different construction of the step at its rear end and of course must be in proper register with the openings 38 in the side portion of the step to hold the step in horizontal position when open.

Referring to Figures 7, 8 and 9, in which a modified form of step is illustrated, a pocket 39 is shown having

ribs

40 and 41 formed at the rear portion adapted to engage the boiler shell 10 and is held in position by a plurality of

studs

14, 14, having

nuts

15, 15 on the outer ends.

The pocket 39 has a flange 42 extending com-- pletely therearound and has an outer upwardly extending projecting wall 43 which is formed integral with the pocket 39 and terminates short of the wall of the pocket at-the upper side so that an opening or slot 44 is formed in the pocket at the upper side thereof.

A step 45 is provided which in normal enclosed position is adapted to fit in edgewise position in the pocket 39*, the step having side flange portions 46 formed thereon and an enlarged portion 47 at the rear end which curves upward into a hooked form 48, with a seat 49 being formed therein. A bolt 50 is passed through the pocket 39 'and is adapted to engage in the seat 49 formed in the rear side of the step when the step is in open position. The step in 'open position is held by the bolt 50 and upper edge of the member 43 upon which the step rests (Fig. 9). The step 45 is placed in the pocket 39 before the bolt 50 is inserted in the step and after the bolt 50 is inserted it is impossible to remove the step 45. A pair of

slots

51, 51 are cut through the portion 48 of the step 45 so that the step will pass over the nuts 15.

In operation of the device it will be understood that an opening is cut in the boiler jacket 11 of suflicient size to receive the pocket 12 and the

studs

14, 14 placed in position in the boiler shell 10 and the pocket 12, which preferably theretofore has had the step mounted therein is placed in position against the boiler shell 10 and secured firmly thereto by means of the studs 14 and nuts 15.

When it is desired to use the step it is only necessary to release the retaining'members 26 or 33, as the .case may be, and allow the step to drop down into extended position. After the step is used, it is folded back up into the pocket 12 where it is flush with the jacket of the boiler and does not interfere with the vision of the engine crew, and also substantially covers the opening in the pocket 12.

Drain

holes

39, 39 are provided through which water lodged in the pocket 12 drains, so that water or dirt will not lodge in the pocket 12.

In the form shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the pocket 39 is secured to the side of the boiler 10 by the

studs

14, 14, the step 45 is inserted in the pocket 39* through the slot 44, and the bolt 50 placed in position through the pocket. When it is desired to use the step, the operator grasps the outer edge of the step 45 and lifts it up until the seat'49 is in engagement with the bolt 50, and the step thereafter turned down into the position shown in Figure 9. When through using the step, the operator merely lifts the outer end of the step 45 and it falls back into the pocket 39*.

The device is shown as applied to a locomotive, but may be attached to the side of a railway car, an airplane body, or the like, as may be desired.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction,I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. a

I claim:

1. A step for locomotives, comprising in combination a pocket, means whereby the said pocket is secured to a locomotive, a step having openings therein, abolt adapted to pass through the openings in said step and through said pocket, and a spring detent member adapted to hold said step in folded position.

' 2. A step for locomotives, comprising in combination a pocket, means whereby the said pocket is secured to a locomotive, a step having openings therein, a bolt adapted to pass through the openings in said step and through the said pocket, and a retaining member whereby thesaid step is held in folded position.

3. A step for locomotives, comprising in combination a pocket, means whereby the said pocket is secured to a locomotive, a step having openings therein, a bolt adapted to pass through the openings in'said step and through the said pocket, and a latch member adapted to hold said step in folded position. I

4. A step for locomotives, comprising in combination a pocket, means whereby the said pocket is secured to a locomotive, a step having openings therein, a bolt adapted to pass through the openings in said step'and through the said pocket, and a rotatably mounted latch member adapted to hold said step in folded position.

GEORGE. S. GOODWIN.