US2123630A - Deck structure - Google Patents

Description

I. JUDD DECK STRUCTURE July 12, 1938.

Original Filed April 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR IRVI 5 H.JUDD My m ATTORNEYS wom y 12, 1933- l. H. JUDD 2,123,630

DECK STRUCTURE Original Filed April 27, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR IRVING H.JUDD BY ATTORN s July 12, 1938.

' I. H. JUDD DECK ,smucwum' Original Filed April 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m m m IRVING H.Juop Y Mwz ATTORNEYS Patented Julylz, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE neon s'mncrnnn Irving n. Judd, Deal-born, Mich., assignor t6 Whitehead & Kalos Company, River Rouge, Mich, a corporation of Michigan 1 Original application April 27, 1936, Serial No. 16,715. Divided and this application August 9, 1937, Serial No. 158,219

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to motor vehicle transports of the double deck type and refers more particularly to the upper deck structure, and constitutes a division of my application filed April 27, 1936, bearing Serial No. 76,715.

. One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a transport of this type wherein provision is made for counterbalancing a hinged portion of the upper deck so that said portion may be easily raised and lowered by hand.

Another object is to provide a structure that is comparatively simple in construction and that can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost. Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a transport embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof; Figure 3 is a rear end elevation thereof; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially onthe line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper track showing the hump passing over the arch member, and also the anchorage means;

. Figure 6 is an elevation of the hinged portion of the upper track showing the counterbalancing mechanism therefor;

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the gusset plates between angular portions of the track sections; Y

Figure 8 is a detail view of the engagement between the movable arch member and post.

My improved transport is in the form of a trailer which is drawn by a motor truck and pro-.

vides storage space thereon for a lower and upper tierof cars. The base of the structure is formed by lowerside sill members, the central portions l of which are dropped as low as possible with the requisite road clearance. The forward portions 2 of these sills are raised to clear the front platform, and are connected to the lower portions by curved portions 3. At the rear, the sill members 4 are curved upward and then downward to clear the supporting wheels, and in rear of these members are sill members 5 which extend to the rear end of the frame. The portions I of the side sills are cross-connected by cross-sills 6, l, 8 and 9.

The forward portions 2 are connected to each other by an arcuate front portion l0, and the rear end portions 5 are cross-connected by a member II. There are also diagonal crux-members I2 alternatively. reversed in angularity to hold the side and cross-sills in rigid relation to each other.

Rising from these side sills are arch members l3, I4, 15 and I6 which include vertical post portlons and transversely extending carline portions, the latter supportingthe upper tier load. These arch members are preferably formed of tubing of rectangular cross-section as this facilitates attachment to. adjacent members and also has a greater strength per weight ratio than round section tubing. The post portions of these arch members are reinforced on their outer sides byplate members l1, these being of greater width to extend on opposite sides of the posts and are preferably secured thereto by welding. To these plate members are attached sheeting plates l8, the upper edges of which form a substantially straight line, while the lower edges are fashioned to conform to the'shape of the sill members. The members above described which are rigidly secured to each other, preferably by riveting,-together form a truss of which the sheeting l8 forms the web member.

The load in the lower tier is carried by track members which also serve for guiding the vehicles during loading and unloading.

The load in the upper tier is supported upon track members 21 which are mainly supported by the carline portions of the arches l3, l4, l5 and Hi. In order, however, to provide adequate clearance for the lower tier without unduly raising the upper tier the carline portions of the arches I4 and I5 extend above the tread portion of these track members 21 so as to form no obstruction therebeneath. The upper portion of the arch member I3 is also inclined forwardly, as shown at I3 so as to avoid interference with the windshield of the car directly therebeneath. The

. portion 28 of the track 21 which is in rear of the rear end of this hinge section is a tubular crossmember 29 which also is provided at its opposite ends with. downwardly tapering projections 30 which enter sockets 30 in the upper ends of posts 3| and form a coupling therewith. Thus, when the hinge section 29 is swung upward it will leave unobstructed space for the movement of the lower tier of cars over-the tracks 22, 28 and 2| into storage position. I

To facilitate the raising and lowering of the hinged section II, I have provided a' counterbalancing mechanism of the following construction. 32 are link members normally extending parallel to and above the, rub rails II and pivotally attached at their forward ends to brackets as extending upward from said rails. The rear ends of the members 32 are pivotally connected to lugs 34 extending forward from the lower ends of the arch members ll. II are springs anchored at their forward ends to the arch memward on its hinge Il and the opposite sides of this arch member together with the links 32 will form in'eifect toggle levers which in rising approach alignment with each other. 'Ihus, while the tension of the springs ll is diminished during the upward swinging movement, it will, nevertheless, be suiflcient in connection with these toggle levers to hold the section II in raised posi-' tion.

The upper track members 21 and II are further fashioned so as to drop the cars supported thereon as low as possible. This is accomplished by providing a downwardly inclined portion 38 at the forward end of the portion 21 terminating in a further depressed portion 3. at the forward end of the frame. The portion 3! is adapted to support the rear wheels of a car when reversely arranged on the tracks, and upwardly curved portions or chocks lll hold the wheels from rolling oil the front end. The hinged sections 28 of the tracks have their rear ends depressed, as indicated at ll, to receive therear wheels of a car which is forwardly facing on the tracks. As has been stated, the arches II and II have their carline portions extending above the tread portions of the track, and to permit of moving the wheels of the cars thereover, double incline members 42 are provided. These constitute humps over which the wheels of the cars will ride without danger of disengagement from the tracks.

As the transport is sometimes used for carrying vehicles provided with dual wheels, the upper tracks are so formed as to prevent interference with such wheels. Thus, as shown, these upper track members are of a cross-section including a treadportion 43, an upwardly extending flange 44 on the inner side of the track terminating in a laterally extending flange I and a downwardly extending flange 48 on the outer edge of the track terminating in a downwardly extending returnbent flange 41. The inner upwardly extending flanges 44 form guides for holding the vehicle on the track, while the outer edge of the track is unobstructed and will permit dual wheels to project thereover. These upper track members are secured in .position on the arch members by angle brackets ll, one flange of each of which is secured to the .carline portions and the other to the underside of the tread portion 43 of the tracks. At their forward ends the track members are secured to an arcuate member ll corresponding to and above the member I. being amaeso supported thereon at opposite ends by posts ll securedto said member and braced by gusset plates II. This leaves the front end of the transport unobstructed so that the forward car in the lower tier can project slightly beyond the forward end of the transport as previously described.-

The several track sections are formed preferably by bending from sheet metal blanks, and where there is a change in direction longitudinally, the upper and lower flanges 44 and I. are severed and gusset plates ii are welded thereto to flll the gap.

With the construction as thus far described,

to load the support the hinged track section's-Ilare raised in the manner before described and are supported in this position by the springs II and toggle links I and 32. A suitable skid is then placed in rear of the transport with its forward end connected to the rear end of, the track section II. The first car for the lower tier is then driven forwardly onto the tracks and to the forward end of the frame where the front wheels rise onto the upwardly stepped portion. In this position, the radiator of the car will be just in rear of the depressed portion II in the upper tracks and the windshield will be slightly in rear of the forwardly inclined arch. The second car for the lower tier is backed onto the tracks and, when in position will have its rear wheels supported on the depressed portion 24 of said tracks and its front wheels upon the portion 22 in rear of the supported wheels for the transport. After this car is in podtion, the hinged track section II is again lowered and in so doing the toggle link 32 will swing the upper portion of the arch memberback into position where the tapering projections I6 will enter the sockets It. At the same time, the projections III at the rear end will enter the sockets on the rear post ii. The upper tier cars are then driven on through the medium of a suitable skid, the forward car being backed upon the tracks with its rear wheels rest upon the forward depressed portions 3!, being held from further movement by the checks 40. The rear upper tier car is driven on forwardlyand its rear wheels rest upon the depressed rear portion ll of the tracks. The cars are anchored in their several positions preferably 1. In a motor vehicle transport, a' frame pro- I viding storage space therewithin for a lower tier of cars and having tracks on the top thereof for supporting an upper tier of cars, rear portions of said tracks being hinged at their forward ends to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading and unloading the lower tier of cars, an arch member for supporting the hinged portions of said tracks intermediate the ends thereof, said arch member being hinged to said tracks to permit of folding, means cooperating with said arch member. during the folding thereof compelling the raising of said hinged portions of the tracks, and resilient means acting on said arch member in a direction to fold the same and counterbalancing the weight of said hinged portions of said tracks.

2. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage space therewithin for a lower tier of cars and having tracks onthe top thereof for supporting an upper tier of cars, rear portions of said tracks being hinged at their forward ends to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading and unloading the lower tier cars, an arch member for supporting the hinged portions of said tracks intermediate the endsthereof and being hinged to said tracks, links connected to the side portions of said arch memberand forming in connection therewith toggle levers anchored to a stationary portion of the frame, and resilient tension means connected to said toggle levers acting to straighten the same and to thereby form a counterbalance for said hinged portions of said tracks.

3. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame including a series of arches, said frame providing therewithin storage space for a lower tier of cars, tracks mounted on said arches for supporting an upper tier of cars, the rear portions of said tracks being hinged at their forward ends to one of said arch members and supported intermediate their ends on another arch member, the sides of said latter arch member being formed in separable upper and lower sections having a tongue and socket engagement with each other and the upper section being hinged to said hinged portions of said tracks, links connected to the lower end of said upper section and pivotally connected at their opposite ends to a stationary portion of said frame, said links forming in connection with the upper portion of said arch member toggle levers, and tension springs acting to straighten said toggle levers and to thereby form a counterbalance for the hinged portions of the tracks dur- 49 ing the raising and lowering of *the same.

4. In a transport of the class described, a box-like frame having a hinged top section provided with depending hinged uprights, and counter-balancing mechanism for said hinged top section including link members pivotally connected to opposite sides of said frame and to said hinged uprights, and springs connected to opposite sides of said frame and to the hinged uprights of' said hinged top section.

5. In a transport of the class described, a boxlike frame having a hinged top section provided with depending hinged, uprights, and counterbalancing mechanism for said hinged top section including link members pivotally connected at their forward ends to opposite sides of said frame and at their rear ends to said hinged uprights adjacent their lower ends, and springs connected at their forward ends to opposite sides of said frame in vertically spaced relation to the forward connections of the link members with the frame and adjustably connected at their rear ends to the hinged uprights of said hinged top section adjacentthe rear connections of the link members with the uprights. 1

6. In a transport of the class described, a

frame having fixed longitudinal and upright members and having a hinged top section provided with depending hinged members, and counterbalancing mechanism for said hinged top section including link members pivotally connected to said longitudinal members and to said depending hinged members, and springs connected to said upright members and to the depending hinged members of said hinged section.

7. In a transport of the class described, a frame having fixed longitudinal and upright members and having a hinged top section provided with hinged supporting means, and counterbalancing mechanism for said hinged top section including link members pivotally connected at one end to said longitudinal members and at the other end to said hinged supporting means adjacent said link members.

8. In a transport of the class described, a frame having a hinged top section, hinged supporting means for said hinged top section, means cooperating with said hinged supporting means to facilitate the raising of said hinged top section, and resilient means carried by said frame acting on said hinged supporting means to forma counterbalance for said hinged section.

9. In a transport of the class described, a frame having fixed longitudinal and upright members and having a hinged top section, hinged supporting means for said hinged top section, and counterbalancing mechanism for said hinged top section including non-flexible means terminally connected to said longitudinal members and to said hinged supporting means, and flexible means terminally connected to said upright members and to said hinged supporting means.

10. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage space therewlthin for a lower tier of cars and having a track for supporting an upper tier of cars, a rear portion of said track being hinged, at its forward end to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading and unloading the lower tier of cars, a hinged member for supporting the hinged portion of said track, means cooperating with said hinged member compelling the raising of the hinged portion of said track. and resilient means acting on said hinged memher and counterbalancing the weight of the hinged portion of said track.

11. In a motor vehicle transport, a frame providing storage space therewithin for a lower tier of cars and having a track for supporting an upper tier of cars, a rear portion of said track being hinged at its forward end to permit of swinging upward for clearance in loading and unloading the lower tier of cars, a hinged member for supporting the hinged portion of said track, a link connected to the hinged member and forming in connection therewith a toggle lever anchored to a stationary portion of the frame, and resilient tension means connected to said toggle lever acting to straighten the same and to thereby form a counterbalance for the hinged portion of said track.

IRVING H. JUDD.

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