US2047421A

US2047421A - Lift door

Info

Publication number: US2047421A
Application number: US738231A
Authority: US
Inventors: Madland Thorvald
Original assignee: Youngstown Steel Door Co
Current assignee: Youngstown Steel Door Co
Priority date: 1934-08-03
Filing date: 1934-08-03
Publication date: 1936-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-14

Description

T. MADLAND July 14, 1936.

LIFT DOOR Filed Aug. 3, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l VEA/foeJ Wimax/ALD lMAD/ wvo I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT?? T. MADLAND LIFT DOOR Filed Aug. 5, 1934 `uly 14, 1936.

July 14, 1936.

T. MADLAND LIFT DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 3, 1934 Y VEN Toe- #mex/ALD MAD/.AND

MII

Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIFT DOOR of Ohio Application August 3, 1934, Serial No. 738,231

11 Claims.

This invention relates to lift doors'.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a lift door' embodying a relatively longitudi-V nally movable carriage including rolling means and wherein the amount of friction between the parts shall be materially reduced; to provide a more stable lift structure utilizing relatively longitudinally movable door supporting means ;y and to provide a lift structure of sturdier construction and of reduced weight.

With these and other objects in view, which will become clear as the description of the invention proceeds, this invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings form-ing part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a partial elevation of a railway freight car upon which a door embodying the instant invention is mounted, the door being shown in lowered position;

Figure 2 is a View similar to- Figure 1, the door being illustrated in elevated position;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Figure l;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectionv taken on line l-lr of Figure 7, showing a modi-lied formv of the invention;

Figure 'Z' is a view similar to Figure l showing in elevation the modified form of invention illustrated in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8 of Figure l; and Y Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, and Figure 8,-

the numeral l0 designatesv a portion of the siding of a railway freight car upon which a sliding door Il is mounted.Y The door I-I is ofv a wellknown metallic construction andY is merelyillustrative of' one type of door with which the invention may be employed. The side door comprises a metallic panel I2 provided with spaced horizontal corrugations I3 and vertical corrugations i4 and l5 with which the horizontal corrugations merge. rIlhe door is of the sliding type and is supported for suclr movement upon a track i6 supported. from. a` side sill l'l by means of a plu-V (Cl. 2li-22) rality of brackets, one of which is indicated at l.- Rivets are utilized to secure the track and track brackets to the side sill. The structure of the lower portiony o-f the door comprises a substantial-ly tubular formation I9` secured to the lower horizontal margin of the panel l2 byl means of a plurality of rivets 20.

The tubular formation comprises a plurality of plates 2l and' 22. The plate 2l? is offset to provide a horizontal ange 23 from which said plate extends vertically downwardly to provide a flange 24. The plate 22 comprises a vertical dange 25y which,- adjacent the lower portion thereof, is offset outwardly toprovi-de a substantially horizontal flange 26 which, in turn, isf bent downwardly to provide a vertical flange 21'. The upper portions of the plates 2li and 22 are secured together by therivets 29 which fasten said plates tothe lower margin of the panel i2 while the lower portions of the plates are fastened together by means of rivets 28- which extend through the vertical flanges 24 and 2l, respectively of the plates. BY means of this construction it is to be observed that a tubular formation results, definedv by the

horizontal flanges

23 and 26 and the

vertical flanges

24 and 25.

Withinthe above described tubular formation is disposed a carriage 29. This carriage comprises preferably an anglemember 30 arranged with one leg 3l positioned in a vertical plane and the other leg 32 directed inwardly relative to the car. A roller carrying member 33' is secured to each end ofthe angle member 3B; Each of the roller carrying members preferably comprises a pair of

plates

34 and 35. The plate 35' is substantially straight` and is disposed upon the outside of the vertical leg" 3lof the angle memberl 30. The plate 35 has a portion 36 abutting the vertical leg 3l upon the inside thereof, said portion 36- and the plate 33 beingriveted to the' adjacent end of the angle member 30. From its point of securement tov the angle member the plate 35v is offset inwardly as indicated at 31 to p-rovide a portion 38 disposed in spaced parallel relationsl'iipv to the plate 33. A roller 39* disposed between thespaced portions of the plates 34 and 3-5 said roller being mounted upon a pin 40`v fastened in the

plates

34 and 35. filler block 4l is disposed between theportion 38 of the plate 35 and the plate 34V and is riveted to said plates beyond the roller. The upper surface of the filler block 4I as well as the upper surface ofthe adjacent portions ofY the plates 34 and 35' are provided with a substantially V-shaped indenture 42 adaptedv to'- receive a roller bearingI 43'. The

plate 34 is extended downwardly and is provided with a hook portion 44 within which the depending flange 45 of the track |6 is received in order to prevent accidental disengagement of the door from the track. It will be clear from Figure 3 of the drawings that the depending portion upon which the hook is provided lies upon the outside of the track and in order to permit this disposition of said portion the flange 21 of the plate member 22 is coped as indicated at 46 and 41. It will be observed from Figure 1 of the drawings that this coped portion is of greater extent than the length of the depending hook portion. By means of this relationship the flange 21 is utilized to limit the relative longitudinal movement of the carriage with respect to the track as hereinafter more fully set forth. The foregoing description has been applied to the structure at one end of the carriage 29 inasmuch as the construction of the opposite end of said carriage is substantially the same.

A filler block 48 is disposed between and secured to the

vertical flanges

24 and 25 of the plate members 2| and 22 as by means of rivets 49 in spaced vertical alignment with each of the filler blocks 4| provided on the carriage. The lower surface of each of the filler blocks 48 is provided with a substantially inverted V shaped indenture 50. It will be clear from the foregoing that a roller bearing lies within the area defined by the V shaped indenture 42 and the inverted V shaped indenture 50. The inverted V shaped indentures, when the door is in its normal or lowered position, are preferably out of contact Y with the roller bearings.

In the normal or lowered position of the door it is disposed upon and has frictional engagement with the track. In the instant embodiment of the invention such frictional engagement is provided by the contact between the horizontal fiange 26 of the plate 22 and the track. While the weight of the door is thus carried directly by the track the arrangement of the rollers 39 is such as to engage the track and for this purpose the horizontal ange 26 is coped as indicated at I.

In order to move the door upon the rollers 39 the weight of the door is first transferred from the track to the rollers. Such transference of the weight of the door is obtained by imparting a longitudinal movement of the carriage 29 relative to the door and the track. For this purpose a lever 52 pivoted intermediate its ends upon a boss 53 formed on a bracket 54 secured to the door extends through an opening 55 provided in the horizontal ange 23 of the plate member 2|. The lower portion of the lever 52 is provided with

spaced prongs

56 and 51 which extend through

corresponding openings

58 and 59 formed in the horizontal leg 32 of the angle member 3D. It will be apparent from a consideration of Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings that as the carriage 29 is shifted longitudinally upon the track its movement will be limited by the engagement of the depending portion of the carriage with one end of the recess provided in the vertical flange 21 of the plate member 22 and the roller bearings will be engaged by opposite branches of the indentures provided in the filler blocks 4| and 48. The engagement between these parts and the continued longitudinal movement of the carriage 29 will cause the roller bearings to ride up the engaged branch of the V shaped indentures provided on the carriage so as to effect elevation of the door. whereupon the horizontal flange 26 of the plate member 22 will be disengaged from the track. The weight of the door has thus been shifted from the track to the rollers and the door may then readily be moved upon the rollers to the desired position. When it is desired t0 move the door in the opposite direction the operating lever 52 will be swung in said direction so as to impart longitudinal movement to the carriage 29. The remaining opposite branches of the indentures provided on the door and on the carriage will then engage the roller bearings 43 so as to cause said bearings to roll up the engaged branches of the carriage indentures in order to elevate the door. The door may then again be readily moved upon the rollers 39.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 9 of the drawings. In this embodiment a carriage 60 is provided which comprises an angle member 6| disposed with the legs thereof in downwardly diverging relationship, whereby such legs constitute a runway 62. Within this runway and in contact with a door supporting track 63 a plurality of balls 64 are disposed. The balls 64 are maintained in spaced relationship by means of a spacer 65 provided with pairs of upstanding prongs 66 and 61, between which each ball is disposed.

A plurality of spaced saddles 68 are secured upon the angle member 6|. Each of said saddles comprises a plurality of V shaped

indentures

69 and 10 adapted to receive ball bearings 1| and 12. It will be observed that the V shaped indentures and, consequently, the ball bearings disposed therein lie upon opposite sides of the axis of the angle member 6|.

The carriage above described is preferably disposed between a substantially Z shaped member 13 and a plate member 14. The upper portion of the plate member and one Vertical flange of the Z shaped member are secured as by means of rivets 16 to the lower horizontal portion of the panel 2. The other vertical flange 11 of the Z shaped member 13 lies in spaced relationship to the plate member 14 so as to provide space for the reception of the carriage 69. The lower margin of the vertical flange 11 may be turned inwardly as indicated at 18 so as to avoid the track when the door is in lowered position.

A plurality of spaced members 19 are secured to the web 80 of the Z shaped member 13 and extend between the vertical flange 11 thereof and the plate 14. Each of these members 19 is provided with a plurality of inverted V shaped indentures 8| and 82 disposed in vertical alignment with the V shaped indentures 69 and 1U provided on the saddle members 68. The indentures provided on the saddle members 68 and on the members 19 provide spaces for the reception of the bearing balls 1|.

Frictional engagement between the door and the track in the normal or lowered position of the door is obtained by Contact between the portion 18 of the vertical flange 11 and by means of the contact between the gusset members 83 and 84 secured, respectively, to the lower corners of the door. In order to break such frictional engagement and to support the door upon the balls 64 for antifrictional movement relative longitudinal movement is imparted to the carriage on the lower portion of the lever straddle an 5 abutment 90 formed on a bracket .member 9| secured to the carriage.A Longitudinal movement is imparted to the carriage 6l! byswinging the upper end of the lever in the directionit is desired to movethe door. During such longitudinal movement of the carriage the bearing-.balls 1l will be engaged between 4,opposed branches of the indentures provided -on the saddle members 68 and the membersv I9 and said bearing balls will be caused to roll up theengaged branch of the V `shaped indentures provided on thesaddle members. As the bearing balls move up suc-h branches VVan elevating movement will be imparted to the door so that-,the frictional engagement of said door with the track will be broken. 'I'he weight of the door having Athus-been transferred to the balls 64 the doormay readily be moved in the desired direction.

In both embodiments of the invention the door will automatically seat itself in frictional engagement with the track when the operating lever is released. In the instant embodiment of the invention the plate Mis provided with a tongue `92 preferably struck out of the` plate as indicated at 93. The tongue 92 overlies the ball spacer 65 and in the lowering movement of the door said tongue engages and lies upon the spacer. By this construction the weight of the door is utilized to maintain the spacer in xed relationship with respect to the track so as to avoid accidental shifting of the balls 64 upon the track.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a car door, a carriage capable of relative longitudinal movement with respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for said carriage, longitudinally inclined guideways provided on said carriage, longitudinally inclined guideways provided on said door and antifriction means disposed between sai-d guideways.

2. In a car door, a carriage capable of relative longitudinal movement with respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for said carriage, substantially v shaped guideways provided on said carriage, guideways of substantially inverted V shape secured to said door in spaced vertical relationship to said carriage guideways and antifriction means disposed between said guideways.

3. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a track secured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagement with said track, a carriage, antifriction means supporting said carriage upon said track for longitudinal movement relative to said door and said track, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage and means for converting said longitudinal movement of said carriage into a vertical movement of said door, said latter means comprising vertically spaced longitudinally inclined guideways provided, respectively, on said carriage and said door and antifriction means disposed between said guideways.

4. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a track secured to said car adjacent saidopening a door for Aclosing said opening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagement with said track, a carriage, antifriction means supporting said carriag-e upon said track for longitudinal movement relative to said door and said track, means for imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage, substantially Vshaped guideways provided on said carriage, substantially inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door, antifriction means `disposed between said guideways whereby longitudinal movement of said carriage will effect rolling engagement between said rantifriction means and oppositely inclined branches of said doork and carriage guideways and elevation of said door above said track.

In a car door, la carriage capable of relative Alongitudinal ,movement with respect to said door, antifriction supporting means for said carriage, .substantially V shaped .guideways provided on said carriage, guideways of substantially inverted V shape secured to said door in spaced vertical relationship to said carriage guideways androller :beari-ngmembers disposed between said guideways.

6. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage, balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spaced members secured to said carriage, sai-d members being provided with longitudinally inclined guideways, ball bearings seated in said guideways, said door being provided with longitudinally inclined guideways disposed above said ball bearings.

7. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provide-d on said carriage, balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spaced saddles secured to said carriage, guideways provided on said saddles disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of said carriage, guideways provided on said door vertically aligned with said saddle guideways, said guideways being longitudinally inclined, and ball bearings disposed between said guideways.

8. In a car door, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage, balls seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door, a plurality of spaced saddles secured to said carriage, V shaped guideways provided on sai-d saddles disposed upon opposite sides of the axis of said carriage, inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door vertically aligned with said saddle guideways and ball bearings disposed between said guideways.

9. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a track secured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagement with said track, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage, balls disposed upon said track and seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door and track, a lever mounted upon said door for imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage, V shaped guideways provided on said carriage, ball bearings disposed in said raceways, inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door vertically above said carriage guideways, said door guideways being out of contact with said ball bearings when said door is in frictional engagement with said track, said ball bearings engaging said carriage and door guideways upon longitudinal movement. of said carriage to raise said door above said track. Y

10. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a track secured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door in its lowered position having frictional engagement with said track, a carriage, a ball raceway provided on said carriage, balls disposed upon said track and seated in said raceway for supporting said carriage for longitudinal movement relative to said door and track, a spacer having means disposed on opposite sides of each of said balls for maintaining said balls in spaced relationship, means provided on said door for engaging said spacer in the lowered posltion of said door for preventing movement of said spacer, a lever mounted upon said door for imparting longitudinal movement to said carriage, V shaped guideways provided on said carriage, ball bearings disposed in said guideways, inverted V shaped guideways provided on said door vertically above said carriage guideways, said door guideways being out of contact with said ball bearings when said door is in frictional engagement with said track, said ball bearings engaging said carriage and door guideways upon longitudinal movement of said carriage to raise said door Vabove said track.

11. In a railway car having a door opening in a side thereof, a track secured to said car adjacent said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door being frictionally supported in its lowered position, a longitudinally extending member, spaced rolling elements supporting said member upon said track for longitudinal movement relative to said door and track, lever means pivoted upon said door and engageable with said member for imparting longitudinal movement thereto and cooperating means including rolling devices and means having inclined surfaces associated with said devices provided on said door and member for effecting elevation of said door re- 20 sponsive to longitudinal movement of said member and transferring the support of said door to said rolling elements.

Y THORVALD MADLAND.