US2165641A - Merchandise container and apparatus for transferring the same - Google Patents

Description

R. F. MATTOX 2,165,641

- MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANsFERRl NG THE SAME July 11, 1939.

, e SheetS -Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1955 R. F. MATTOX 2,165,641

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME July 11, 1939.

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MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANS FERRING THE SAME File d May 15, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W wmwww Q m n n u I mw ww ,H-

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R. F. MATTOX July 11, 1939.

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME 65heets-Sheet 4 Filed May 15, 1935- July 11, 1939. R. F. MATTOX 2,165,641

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME Filed May 15, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 511N541 tilwliiniiilm 9. .A M \M \N 1 SN N M N Z A R. MATTOX July 11-, 1939.

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME Filed May 15, 1935 6 SheetsSheet 6 Patented July 11, 1939 MERCHANDISE CONTAINER AND APPARA- TUS FOR TRANSFERRING THE SAME,

Ralph Franklin Mattox. Dundalk, Md. Application May 15, 1935, Serial No. 21,527

23 Claims.

- My invention relates in general to freight transporting and handling devices, and 'more particularly to the mechanism for transfer'iin containers from railway cars to a motor truck or vice versa.

Sectional box cars or containers are usually mounted for shipment on flat railway cars provided with a load supporting floor ,or platform adapted to receive and support a plurality of individual shipping containers. These individual containers are particularly adapted for use in connection with a railway transportation system for handling and shipping of large quantities of material such for examples, as freight, merchandise, parcel post, express material etc. in separate and individual groups or units which can be fiiignsferred from the car to a motor vehicle or the One of the objects of my invention relates to the carriage constructidh and the mechanism .for

advancing and retracting the carriage.

Another object of my invention relates to the means for positioning and holding the containers in a .fixed position on the railway car and motor truck.

Another object of my invention relates'to the means mounted on the movable carriages for raising or lowering the containers into or out of engagement with the positioning means on the railway car or motor truck.

Another object of my invention relates to the mechanism for vertically adjusting the carriages and actuating mechanism therefor, and for holding the truck in a fixed position during the transferring of the containers.

Another object of my invention relates to the means for supporting the container independent of the truck after it has been raised in an elevated position in such a manner that the truck can be run from beneath the container when thus supported, or backed underneath the same, so

' riages and actuating mechanism therefor with its that the container can be again lowered-onto the truck. For this purpose I use a plurality of supporting legs which are pivotally connected to the containers.

Another object of my. invention relates to forming the containers with recesses. so that the pivoted supporting legs can be telescoped therein when not in use.'

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Referring now to the accompanying six sheets of drawings which form a part of this specification and on which like characters "of reference denote like parts:

Figure l is a side elevation of a flat railway car mechanism mounted thereon indicated in full lines in the lowered position, the foot portions of the jacks for vertically adjusting the transferring mechanism being in the raised position, and a 15 container seated on the truck illustrated in section Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a portion of a railway car and truck located adjacent to each other as in Fig. 2 but showing the carriage and actuat- 2 ing mechanism therefor in full lines before they have been extended.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of a portion of the roller sprocket chain at the point where it is attached to the bracket plate of the carriage. 1 25 Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of'the carriages and the actuating mechanism for reciprocating the same drawn on a larger scale. 'Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the broken line of Fig. 3 but showing the 30 container elevated and supported on its legs abovethetruck. 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a detailsectio'n taken on the line 9---!! 35 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken on the line ill-I0 of Fig. 8. I, I

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on the line lI-ll of Fig. '7. g 40 Fig. 12 is an end elevation of one of the cardriving gears and casing surrounding the same shown in section.

Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section 45 through the actuating mechanism for one of the carriages taken on the linel3- -l3 of Fig. 12, and

Fig. 14 illustrates a modified form of actuating mechanism which I may use for reciprocating the carriages.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings: A railway car of the flat type is indicated as I, having a floor 2, comprising channel tracks 3, and saddle seating channels 4, extending transversely. of the car floor 55 at spaced intervals and disposed with their flanges extending vertically upwardly and their webs adapted to rest on the tops of the center and side sills and form the cross bearing members for the car underframe.

Between the spaced channels 3 and 4, the floor is formed of wooden planking 5. The saddle seating channels 4, have transversely extending rods or bars 6, welded thereto at spaced intervals adapted to engage notches 1 stormed in the flanges of channels 8, which are secured to I- beams 8 attached transversely to the floor of the containers I8. When the containers H) are seated on the car-l, the bars 6 engage the notches] of the channels 8 and prevent the containers from shifting.

The opposite ends of the saddle seating channels 4, each have their webs slotted as at H for the passage of a swinging stop l2, pivoted as at |3 to hinge blocks |4. These swinging stops |2 when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8 engage the ends of the channels 8, and I-beams 9, and further prevent the shifting of the containers. Each stop being held in the raised position by means of a wedge l5, which is inserted through an opening |6 in the stop and engages the tops of the hinge blocks l4. When the wedge I5 is withdrawn the stop will swing downwardly into the position indicated in dotted lines in the above mentioned figure, and to prevent the loss of the wedge it is connected to the stop by a flexible connection |1.

As indicated in Figs. 3, '1 and 11, a bracket arm I8 is pivoted as at l8 to the opposite outer ends of each I-beam 8, each having its projecting end formed with a sleeve portion 28 for receiving a leg 2|, and a short bifurcated arm 22, to which is pivoted as at 23, the eye of an adjustable rod 24. This adjustable rod has its projecting portion swiveled in a support 25, which is held in a keeper 26 secured to the bottom of the container near each corner.

After the rod 24 has been adjusted it is held in position by means of a set screw 21. A series of perforations 28 are formed in the legs, which are adapted to register with a perforation in the sleeve portion 28 for receiving a pin 28 for holding the legs in the desired adjusted position when in use. When the legs are not in use they are adapted to be telescoped into recesses 38 formed in each corner of the container. These recesses having their inner walls formed of a bent plate 3|, the edges of which are welded to the inside of the container, an opening 32 being formed in the floor of each corner of the container for the passage of the legs The intermediate portion of the floor of the container is further reinforced by means of transverse I- beams 33.

The numeral 34 indicates a motor truck, the

floor of which above the longitudinal sills 35 r is provided with a'pair of transverse ways 36, and

saddle seating channels 31 of similar construction to the saddle seating channels 4 on the railway car above described. In each of the transverse wayslis'm'ounted a carriage andactuating mechanismtherefor adapted to reciprocate the said carriages. Means is also shown for simultaneously raising and lowering the carriages and actuating mechanism, and means for raising and lowering the containers in relation to the ..carriages.

It will be understood that both the carriages and operating mechanism connected therewith are operated together-simultaneously, and as each are of the same construction but rights and lefts, a description of one will apply to both.

The carriage 38 and actuating mechanism 38 therefor are mounted on a rectangular frame 48, formed of longitudinally and transversely disposed channels 4| and 42 respectively, the lower flanges of which are all connected together by means of a cover plate 43. A longitudinally extending channel forming a trackway 44 for the carriage 38 is secured to one side of the top of the rectangular frame, the channel having its web secured to the top of the frame with its flanges extending upwardly. All of said parts of said frame being preferably welded together to form a rigid structure.

The carriage is formed of a pair of spaced 'channels 45 having their webs vertically disbe reinforced at this point. Said axles 46 having rollers 41 on their outer ends engaging the trackway 44 to facilitate the movement of the carriages on the trackways. The channels 45 are further connected together by means of lifting jacks, comprising fluid pressure cylinders 48,, having top flanges 48. Each of said fluid pressure cylinders 48 being provided with a piston 58 having their upper ends flanged as at 5|, to which are secured threaded stub-shafts 52 having adjustable nuts 53 mounted thereon for engaging the flange 48, to limit the upward movement of the pistons. The fluid pressure cylinders 48 in both of the carriages are connected together and adapted to receive their fluid pressure from a suitable source of supply preferably mounted on the truck, through pipe connections 54. The top flanges of the channels 45 are connected together by means of central and end top cover plates 55 and 56 respectively, and are further connected at an intermediate point by means of a bracket-plate 51, which extends laterally from one side of the top of the carriage and is connected as at 58 to the sprocket chain 58, of the actuating mechanism at the side of the carriage.

The actuating mechanism for reciprocating the carriage comprises a movable frame 68 formed of a pair of spaced channels 6|, disposed with their webs vertically and their flanges extending outwardly. The top flanges being connected together by means of a cover plate 62.

Shafts 63 of sprocket wheels 64, are journaled in opposite ends of the movable frame. The sprocket chain 58 connects the sprocket wheels 64. The ends of said sprocket chain 58 being connected as at 65 and 66 to the stationary hearing block 61.

Between the path of the sprocket chain 58 is mounted a traveling feed screw 68, havingone end reducedand formed plain andkeyed to a movable sliding block 68, which is secured thereto by means of a nut 18. The opposite end of the feed screw is threaded into a rotating sleeve nut 1| journaled in the stationary bearing block 61. The inner end of the sleeve nut 1| is formed with a beveled gear 12, which'meshes with a similar beveled gear 13 mounted on the upper end of a stub-shaft", which is journaled in the stationary bearing block 61.] A flexible coupling 15 is secured to the lower end of the stub-shaft 14, from which extends a squared slidably movable shaft-16 provided with a beveled gear 11, meshing with 'a beveled gear 18 mounted on a'drive shaft 18, which is connected in any suitable manher with the transmission mechanism (not shown) of the motor truck from which it is controlled and receives its power.

The movable sliding block 69 is perforated as at 80 for the passage of the sprocket chain 59 and is supported on a pair of guide rods 8I, said guide rods having one of their ends secured in sockets formed in the stationary block 61, and the opposite ends secured in a bracket 82 mounted on one end of the rectangular frame 40.

It will be readily perceived from the foregoing description that the carriage 38 will be projected from the truck or other support at twice the rate of movement and for twice the distance that the actuated assembly 39 is moved.

As illustrated each rectangular frame 40, with the carriages and actuating means therefor, mounted thereon in the transverse ways 36, are adapted to be raised or lowered by means of jacks 83, operated by fluid pressure. Each jack 83 has the upper end of its cylinder 84 rounded to engage a socket I03. A socket member being secured near the opposite ends of each frame 40. The upper end of each cylinder 84 being pivoted as at I04, from which point they extend downwardly therefrom through openings in the webs of the channel shaped members I05 forming the transverse ways 36 and engage the outside of each longitudinal side sill 35 of the truck, thereby allowing for vertical movement and preventing longitudinal movement of the frame.

The jacks 83 each have pistons 85 provided with an enlarged base portion 86, which is adapted to be projected by means of fluid pressure from a suitable source of supply admitted through pipes 81 either simultaneously or individually, and each retracted when the fluid pressure is exhausted by means of a pair of helical springs 88, said springs each having one end attached to a flange B9 on the base portion and the other attached to an eye formed in the lower end of a rib 90 on the side of the jack cylinder 84.

It will be understood that each pair of jacks 83 may be initially operated simultaneously by fluid pressure, but each jack must also be individually controlled by a valve to give final adjustment to each of the jacks in case the surface upon which the truck stands is uneven;

In Fig. 14 I have shown a modified form of actuating mechanism' for' the carriagesin which the feed-screw 9| is rotatably mounted but having its endsajournaled in fixed bearings 92 and .93, the feed screw having a: beveled gear 94 mounted thereon meshing'with a. beveled gear 95 on aiverticallyslidingshaft 98,- which is con- :nected with the transmissionme'chanism of the motor truck. A sprockettchain 91 is attached to I bracket plate '51- at" the point 99.

the fixed. bearing 92'asrat98, and to the carriage A traveling movable nut-I00 is threaded on the rotating feed screw 9f having'a flanged extension IN, to which is journaled'the shaft of a sprocket wheel I02.

As the feed-screw shaft is rotated in the required direction the nut I00 with the sprocket wheel I02 will travel from one end of the threaded feed screw 9| to the other toadvance or retract the carriage. Otherwise the mechanism and operation is-substantially the same as above described.

Having thus given the foregoing general and detailed description of my invention, I will now describe its operation: Assuming that it is desired to transfer a container from the railway car I, indicated in Figure 1 to the motor truck 34, indicated in Fig. 3, for delivery to a warehouse or the like. The motor truck with the transferring mechanism mounted thereon is run alongside of the railway car until the two carriages are opposite the ends of the two channel trackways 3 on the car so that when the carriages are vertically adjusted they will register with the said trackways. The wedges I5 on the side ofthe car opposite the truck for holding the stops I2 in the raised position are then withdrawn allowing the stops to swing downwardly out of the way. Fluid pressure is then admitted to the jacks 83 through the supply pipes 81, thereby projecting the pistons 85 downwardly until the enlarged base portions engage the road or surface upon which 'the truck is standing thereby holding the truck in a fixed position. The frame 40 which supports the carriages 38 and actuating mechanisms for the same will then be raised until the outer ends of the carriages opposite the rail' way car register with'the channel trackways 3, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 4. Power is applied to the actuating mechanism from the motor truck transmission to rotate the sleeve nut in a clockwise direction when viewed from its right hand end in Fig, 13, thereby advancing the car-f riage with the rollers 41 into the two channel trackways 3 underneath the container as indithe motor truck 34. The fluid pressure is then exhausted from the jacks 48 on thecarriages, so that the notches I in the channels '8 will engage the bars 6 on the saddle seating channels 4 on the truck, after which the fluid pressure will be exhausted from the jacks 83; thereby allowing the pistons 85 to be raised by meansof the helical springs .88. With the, truck thus loaded the container may be delivered to a warehouse or the like destination and the contents unloaded onthe truck. If however it is desired to leave the container, or unload it from the truck, I provide means for supporting the container in an elevated position independently,of

--the truck at any p int or locality-where loading or unloading might bedesired, so that the chassis of the truck can be run from under, or backed under the container. When this is required fluid pressure-is admitted to the jacks 48 on the carriages 38 and the containers raised out of engagement with thebody of the truck. The pins 29 holding the telescoped legs are then removed allowing the said legs .to slide downwardly through the sleeves 20 until their-lower ends reach the floor orsurface upon which the truck ,is standing. The set screws 21 are then loosened and the'legs 2I and bracket arms I8 swung laterally and the-pins 29 inserted in the holes 28, and the set screws 21 tightened on the adjustable rods 24. The fluid pressure is then exhausted from the-jacks 48 allowingthe truck to be run out from under. the container which is then left supported by the legs as indicated in Fig. 7

When it is desired to return the container to the railway car the truck is run under the container until the notches register with the bars 8 on the saddle seating channels 31. The pistons of the Jacks are then raised by fluid pressure to support the container, the set screws 21 loosened and the pins 29 removed from the holes 28, the legs can then be returned to the recesses and held in the raised position by the pins 29 passed through the holes in the sleeves 20, and the holes near the lower ends of the legs, the pistons of the jacks 48 are then lowered and the container seated on the truck and transported to the railway car, again raised by means of the jacks 48 until it is above the seating surfaces of the truck, the carriages are again brought into alignment with the channel tracks 3 by means of the jacks 83, the carriages are then operated by the actuating mechanism to transfer the container to the railway car, the pistons 50 of the jacks 48 are then lowered and the container is seated as before in its initial position, the actuating mechanisms then return the carriages to the truck the fluid pressure exhausted from the jacks 83, and the mechanism returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 3, from which position the operations above described may be repeated.

In Figs. 2, 3, '7, 8, and 11, I have shown the recesses for receiving the legs 2| formed with an inner wall 3|. I may however dispense with this inner wall and form the recesses open by bending the corners of the outer wall of the containers inwardly into substantially the same position as that assumed by the inner wall 3|.

As illustrated the railway car floor 2, is formed with channel tracks 3 and saddle seating channels 4. I may however form the containers ill with I- bars 9 and 33, of greater height to allow enough space between the bottom of the container and the car floor to allow the carriages 38 to be run under the containers. The containers can then be seated directly on the floor of a flat car, and held in position thereon by means of the side and end stakes of the car. In this way any ordinary container now in use can be equipped with I-bars on the bottom of the container floor and transferred in the manner above described.

AlthoughI have shown and described the carriages and actuating mechanisms therefor as adapted to be operatedtransversely of the motor truck it will be understood they can if desired be arranged'parallel to the center line of the truck so that the container can be received or discharged from the rear end of the truck in a similar manner without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Although I have described and illustrated my invention in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof, as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions for, or equivalents thereof, as are embraced within the scope of my invention, or as pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a plurality of carriages, a frame for supporting each carriage and its actuating mechanism, means for reciprocating the carriages simultaneously, a plurality of jacks mounted on each carriage adapted to be simultaneously operated by fluid pressure to support a merchandise container or the like during the loading and unloading operations, and a plurality of jacks having their upper ends attached to the supporting frames, and fluid pressure means for simultaneously actuating the said jacks attached to the frames for vertically adjusting the carriages and actuating mechanism.

2. A loading and unloading apparatus for a merchandise container or the like comprising 9.

plurality of supporting frames, a carriage and actuating mechanism therefor mounted on each frame, said actuating mechanism being mounted in a frame adapted for longitudinal movement, a pair of sprocket wheels having their axles journaled in each end of the longitudinally movable frame, a fixed journal bearing block mounted on the supporting frame, a sprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels having its ends attached to the fixed journal bearing block, a connection between the carriage and the sprocket chain, and screw feeding means adapted to advance or retract the longitudinally movable frame for the actuating mechanism.

3. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles comprising a plurality of supporting frames, a carriage and actuating mechanism therefor mounted on each frame adjacent to the carriage, a connection between each carriage and each actuating mechanism, means for vertically adjusting the supporting frames, a longitudinally movable frame for supporting the carriage actuating mechanism, and means for horizontally ad vancing and retracting the carriages by means of the actuating mechanisms.

4. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a plurality of supporting frames, a carriage and an actuating mechanism therefor mounted on each frame, a connection between each carriage and the actuating mechanism, means for vertically adjusting the supporting frames simultaneously or individually, a longitudinally movable frame for supporting the carriage mechanism, means for horizontally advancing and retracting the movable frame for the carriage actuating mechanisms, and means for effecting a greater length of travel for the carriages than the actuating mechanisms.

5. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a motor truck for supporting the apparatus, a plurality of ways formed on the motor truck, a carriage and actuating mechanism therefor mounted in each way, jacks operated by fluid pressure for simultaneously or individually vertically adjusting the carriages and actuating mechanism, a plurality of jacks mounted on the carriages, fluid pressure means adapted to raise the jacks into supporting engagements with the said merchandise container or the like adapted to be conveyed, and means for advancing and retracting the carriages simultaneously.

6. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles comprising a motor truck, a plurality of transverse ways formed on the motor truck, a plurality of saddle seating channels mounted on the motor truck adjacent to the transverse ways for receiving a merchandise container or the like to be conveyed, a carriage and actuating mechanism therefor mounted in each transverse way, a plurality of vertically movable supporting jacks mounted on each carriage, and screw feeding means adapted to simultaneously advance or retract the carriages.

'7. The combination with two adjacently disposed floors, each having a plurality of parallel saddle seating surfaces arranged with intervening spaces, the saddle seating surfaces of one floor being adapted to register in end-to-end relationship with the parallel saddle seating surfaces on the other floor, a load transferring apparatus mounted on one floor comprising a plurality of carriages adapted for horizontal movement, actuating mechanism for horizontally advancing and retracting each carriage, vertically movable means mounted on each carriage adapted to support the load during the transferring operation, and means for simultaneously raising or lowering said carriages and actuating mechanism.

8. The combination with two adjacently disposed fioors, each having a plurality of channels forming parallel saddle seating surfaces arranged with intervening spaces adapted to support a merchandise container or the like, the saddle seating surfaces on one floor being adapted to register in end-to-end relationship and in alignment with the channels forming parallel saddle seating surfaces on the other floor, means secured to the channels forming the saddle seating surfaces for positioning the container, stops pivoted to the ends of the saddle seating channels'for holding the containers against displacement on the saddle seating surfaces, a plurality of trackways on each floor arranged adjacent to and parallel with the saddle seating surfaces, transferring apparatus for the container mounted on one fioor comprising a plurality of carriages and actuating mechanisms adapted for horizontally advancing and retracting each carriage, a frame for supporting each carriage and actuating mechanism, a trackway on each frame, wheels carried by each of the carriages for engaging the trackways mounted on the frame, a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks on each carriage adapted for vertical movement to support the container during the transferring operation and a plurality of jacks attached to each frame and operated simultaneously for vertically adjusting and supporting the carriages in their adjusted positions.

9. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a plurality of supporting frames mounted on a motor truck, a carriage and an actuating mechanism therefor mounted on each frame, a trackway on each supporting frame, wheels on each of the carriages for engaging the trackways, a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks mounted on the carriages adapted to be raised into supporting engagement with a merchandise container or the like during the loading and unloading operations, said actuating mechanism for each carriage comprising a sprocket chain connecting sprocket wheels, a

connection between the carriage and the sprocket chain, and means for moving the sprocket chain to horizontally advance or retract thev carriage. 10. A .loading "and unloading apparatus for vehicles-comprisinga plurality of vertically mova pportinglframes', each having a trackway secured thereto, a carriage'having rollers mounted' in ieachv trackway, a longitudinally .movable frame mounted adjacent to: each trackway, a relatively-fixed bearing block and a movable sliding'block for supporting each of the longitudinally movable=frames,-asprocket wheelat opposite ends of the .qlongitudinally movable frames having their axles mounted therein, sprocket chains connecting each set of. sprocket-wheels having-their ends attached to the relatively fixed bearing blocks, a connection between thev carriages and each of the sprocket chains, and screw feeding means for horizontally advancing and retracting the longitudinally movable frames and the carriages.

11. A loading andunloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising 'a motor truck, a plurality of vertically movable supporting frames, each having a trackwayse'cured to their tops at one'side thereof, a carriage having rollers engaging each trackway, a longitudinally movable frame mounted adjacent to each trackway, a relatively fixed bearing block attached to each supporting frame and a movable sliding block for supporting each of the longitudinally movable frames, sprocket wheels having their axles .journaled in opposite ends of the longitudinally movable frames,

sprocket chains connecting the sprocket wheels having their ends attached to the relatively fixed bearing blocks, a connection between the carriages and the sprocket chains, a sleeve nut journaled in each of the relatively fixed bearing blocks, a feed screw threaded into each of the sleeve nuts and keyed to the movable sliding blocks, and means for rotating the sleeve nuts on the feed screws for horizontally advancing and retracting the longitudinally movable frames and the carriages.

12. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a motor truck, a plurality of vertically movable supporting frames, each having a trackway secured to their tops at one side thereof, a carriage having rollers engaging each trackway,a longitudinally movable frame at one side of the top of the longitudinally movable supporting frame adjacent to each of the trackways, a relatively fixed journal bearing block attached to the vertically movable supporting frame near one end, a bracket mounted on the opposite end of said supporting frame, a pair of guide bars connecting each of the relatively fixed journal bearing blocks with the brackets, a sleeve nut journaled in each bearing block, a traveling feed screw threaded in each sleeve nut, a movable sliding block keyed to and supporting one end of each of the feed screws, and means for rotating the sleeve nuts for advancing and retracting the carriages.

13. A loading and unloading apparatus for vehicles, comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a carriage mounted thereon, a 1ongitudinally movable frame mounted on the vertically adjustable supporting frame, a pair of relatively fixed journal bearings mounted on the vertically adjustable supporting frame, a feed screw having its ends journaled in the relatively fixed journal bearings, a traveling nut threaded on the feed screw, a sprocket wheel having its axle journaled in the.travelingnutandone end of the longitudinally movable frame, a sprocket wheel having its axle journaled inthe opposite end of the longitudinally .movableframe to that of the sprocket wheel havingrits ax1e.' 1jour1naled in the traveling ,nutga sprocket chainc'onnectriage having'rollers engaging each .of the track ways, a longitudinally movable frame mounted at one side of the top of the vertically movable supporting frame adjacent to the trackway,, a car: riage, a pair of relatively fixed journal bearings on the vertically movable supporting frame, a longitudinally movable frame, a feed screw having its ends journaled in the relatively fixed journal bearings, a traveling nut threaded on the feed screw, a sprocket wheel having its axle journaled in the flanges extending fromthe traveling nut and one end of the longitudinally movable frame, 75

a sprocket wheel having its axle journaled in the opposite end of the longitudinally movable frame to that of the sprocket wheel having its axle journaled in the travelingnut, a sprocket chain connecting the sprocket wheels and secured. to one of the fixed journal bearings for the feed screw, a connection between the sprocket chain and the carriage, and means for rotating the feed screw to advance or retract the carriage.

15. A freight car comprising a body having a floor adapted to receive a plurality of containers or the like, a plurality of channels in the floor of the car arranged in pairs to form saddle seating surfaces for each container, a plurality of spaced bars extending transversely of each of the saddle seating surfaces and secured to the channels, a pair of channels in the floor at intermediate points between each pair of channels forming saddle seating surfaces adapted to form trackways, notched members connected to the bottom of each container for engaging the spaced transversely extending bars on the saddle seating surfaces, for positioning the containers on the car, a stop pivoted to each of the opposite ends of the channels forming the saddle seating surfaces for locking the' containers in position on the car, means for releasng the: stop, carriages having rollers adapted to engage the trackways, means mounted on the carriages for raising the containers out of engagement with the saddle seating surfaces, and means for actuating the carriages to convey the containers.

16. A freight car comprising a body having a floor adapted to receive and support a plurality of containers, a plurality of channels in the car floor arranged in pairs to form saddle seating surfaces for each container, a plurality of spaced members secured to each of the channels forming saddle seating surfaces, a pair of channels in the car floor at intermediate points between each pair of channels forming the saddle seating surfaces adapted to form trackways, notched members connected to the bottom of each container for engaging the spaced members on the saddle seating surfaces for positioning the containers on the car floor, carriages having rollers adapted to engage the trackways, jacks mounted on the carriages for raising the containers out of engagement with the saddle seating surfaces, and means for reciprocataing the carriages to convey the containers.

17. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a wheeled truck for transporting said apparatus and a container carried thereby, a supporting frame mounted on said truck, a horizontally movable carriage on said frame, means for projecting said carriage outwardly from said truck in order to position it beneath a container resting upon a platform or upon another vehicle, and a fluid pressure operated jack carried by said frame and adapted to be extended to contact with the ground and to elevate the frame and the carriage supported thereby, and means for automatically retracting said jack upon release of the fluid pressure operating means.

18. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a wheeled truck for-transporting said apparatus and a container carried thereby, a supporting frame mounted on said truck, a horizontally movable carriage on said frame, means also carried by said frame for projecting said carriage outwardly from said truck in order to position it beneath a container resting upon a platform or upon another vehicle, and a. fluid pressure operated jack carried by said frame and adapted to be extended to contact with the ground and to elevate the frame and the carriage, and actuating means supported there by, and a spring for automatically retracting said jack upon release of the fluid pressure operating means.

19. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a supporting frame, a second frame mounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means operable to move said second named frame relatively to said supporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable upon said second named frame and means associated with said second named frame for automatically projecting said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame upon movement of said second named frame, in order to position said carriage beneath a container resting upon an adjacent support.

20. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second frame mounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means operable to project said second named frame outwardly from said supporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable upon said second named frame and mechanism associated with both of said frames andautomatically operative upon movement of said second named frame to project said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame at twice the speed and for twice the distance that the second named frame moves.

21. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second frame mounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means operable to project said second named frame outwardly from said supporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable .upon said second named frame and mechanism associated with both of said frames and automatically operative upon movement of said second named frame to project said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame at twice the speed and for twice the distance that frame mounted for horizontal movement upon,

said supporting frame, means operable to proiect said second named frame outwardly'from said supporting frame, a carriage horizontally reciprocable upon said second named frame and mechanism associated with both of said frames and automatically operative upon movement of said second named frame to project said carriage outwardly from said supporting frame at twice the speed and for twice the distance that the second named frame moves, the means for projecting said second named frame outwardly from said supporting frame comprising a threaded shaft rigidly connected to a portion of said second name'd frame, a rotatable sleeve carried by said supporting frame, threaded upon said shaft, and retained against longitudinal movement with respect to said supporting frame, and means for rotating said sleeve whereby said shaft may be moved longitudinally in order to project said second named frame.

23. A loading and unloading apparatus for merchandise containers or the like comprising a vertically adjustable supporting frame, a second frame mounted for horizontal movement upon said supporting frame, means for moving said second frame comprising a threaded shaft rigidly secured thereto and a rotatable sleeve, threaded upon said shaft, carried by said supporting frame, and secured against longitudinal movement thereon, and means for rotating said sleeve; a carriage horizontally reciprocable upon said second named frame and means associated with said second named frame for automatically project-,

chain having its ends secured toa stationary porv tion of said supporting frame and passed around spaced sprocket wheels rotatably mounted on said second named frame and a connection between said carriage and an intermediate portion of said chain.

RALPH FRANKLIN MATTOX.

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