US2278354A - Floor rack for refrigerator cars - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1942. c. s. JOHNSTON 2,278,354

' FLOOR RACK RoR RRFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 26, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 KQN wm, NQS WW NW. km/Qw mw Nm. ww Nw @lv i March 31 1942. 'c. s. ,IOHNSTN FLOR RACK FDR REFRIGERATOR CARS 5 Sheet's-Sheet. 2

' FiledA March 26, 195s T 'IT iT'l [nden/Zai? A CdrZeSLOnSm March 3l, 1942. c. s. JOHNSTONv 2,278,354 FLOOR RACK FOR R'FRIQER'ATOR'GARS y Filed March 2e, ,-1938 5 Sheng-sheet 3 March 31, 1942- C. s. JOHNSTON `FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FiledMarch 26, 1938 fggjf AZ il@ v ,ALLO

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c. s.. JOHNSTON 2,278,354

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed March 26, 1938 Marchal, 1942.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ce ed# im? Q96? Patented Mar. 3l, 1942 l 2,278,354 FLooa RACK Fon REFRIGERATOR cARs Charles s. Johnston, Glencoe,y nl., assignor m Transportation Specialties Company, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinois Application March 26,1938, serial No. 198,289

12 claims. (ol. ros- 375) The present. invention relates to floor racks for refrigerator cars, and is particularly concerned with the provision of. improved metal kfloor racks which are` adapted to he used' in refrigerator cars to support the freight in such manner as to permit the free circulation of the cooling air about the load in a manner similar to that accomplished by' Wooden oor racks, but with a greater freedom of ventilation.

One. of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved floor rack construction for refrigerator cars which is completely fireproof and which is adapted to provide a maximum freedom of ventilation or air movement through the fi'oor racks for the purpose of effecting a cooling or refrigeration of the products supported upon the floor rack.

Another object is the provision of an improved floor rack for refrigerator cars which is iirm, sturdy, and rigid, and provided with a maximum amount of free air openings, and which can be constructed economically so that the invention may be. placed within the means of a larger nurnber ofusers of refrigerator cars.

Another object of the invention is the provik sion ofY an improved floor rack construction which utilizes a minimum amount of structural metal or other materials, but which provides air ventilation channels underneath the rack and openings through the rack for a maximum amount of ventilation, without sacrificing strength.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of dilerent forms. of refrigerator Yfi'oor rack structure, each of which is adapted to provide a maximum amount of ventilation, but all of which are firm and rigid.- so that they are adapted to support the heaviest loads which mightI he placed upon them without deformation or damage, even when the refrigerator car isA subjected to hard jolts or rough usage in traino.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved refrigerator car floor rack structure which is adapted to be provided with a vsubstantially plane or srnoothupper surface so as to permitthe greatest freedom for rolling trafo, and which is also provided with ventilation apertures, without any substantialI waste of the material of whichthe covering sheet is constructed.

Other objects and advantages. of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate` similar parts throughout the several views.

lOl

Referring to the five sheets of drawings ac.- companying this specication,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view, taken through a refrigerator car, just above the floor racks', showing the floor racks in plan;

. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one form, of construction of the oor rack, such as, for example, one of the four small racks which are used adjacent the car doors;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line y3-3 of' Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the details of structure;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the 1 plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of one of the other larger oor racks, four of which are used at eachend of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, this gure being on a smaller scale, andy having the major' portion of the-top covering removed;

Fig. 6 isV a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view', taken on the plane of the line 1-1 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of another modified form of floor rack;

Fig.9 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, taken onLv the plane of the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 11 is another top plan view of a modification;

Fig. -12 is-a vertical sectional view, taken on the plane of the line |2-l2 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction of the arrows; y Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the plane of the line I=3I3 of Fig. 11, lookingv in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of another form ofthe invention;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view, taken on a plane extending longitudinally of the iioor rack of Fig. 14; Fig. 16;

Fig. 16 is a Lvertical sectional view, taken on a planev extending transversely of the iioor rack of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on a plane at right angles to one of the stringers of, Fig. 4, showing a modified form of Stringer construction;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional View taken through the frame members of the type of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, 26 indicates in its entirety the refrigerator car, which is shown diagrammatically as being provided with side walls 2l, 22, end walls 23, 24, and bulkheads 25, 26 dividing the car into the central space for the freight, and the two ice compartments 21, 28 located at each end of the car.

The cars are usually provided with the centrally located and opposite doorways 29 and 30, and the iioor racks are preferably arranged as shown in the plan View of Fig. 1.

In order that the car may be used for other purposes, without oor racks on the floor, which is indicated by the numeral 32, the floor racksv are preferably pivotally mounted so as to be folded up against the side walls of the car. Thus the four racks 33--36 are pivotally mounted by means of hinges 31, s that the racks 313 and 34 fold up against the wall 2l and the racks 35 and 36 against the wall 22. vSuitable latchving'or securing devices are provided to hold the racks in xed position against the walls or to engage the frame members of the racks along the middle of the car so as totake the thrust when the `racks tend to slide along the floor, instead of placing all of the load upon the hinges 371.

The racks 33-36 thus cover one end of the car, while similar racks 38-41 cover the opposite end of the car- The space between the doorways 29, 3!) is preferably covered by four small racks 42-45, which are of suflicient size to rll this space. Each of these racks is preferably pivotally mounted on the adjacent one of the other larger racks, such as, for example, the rack 43 is pivotally mounted by hinges to the rack 33, thel rack 45 to the rack 35, the rack 44 to the rack 4|, and the rack 42 to the rack 39, as shown.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the framework of the rack there shown, such as, for example, the rack 43 of Fig. 1, preferably comprises aplurality of metal stringers 46 and channelled frame members 41, also of metal, extending transversely to the stringers, a covering of yexpanded metal 48, and an external frame at the top made of angles 49-52.

The stringers and channelled members may be made of sheet metal of suitable thickness, such as, for example, 13 gauge material; but I desire it to ybe understood that the thickness of the material will be dependentupon the particular service for which the cars are equippedl and heavier or thinner sheet metal may be used. The gauge metal selected for an example is believed ltending flanges 58, 59, both turned toward the 'same side of the body flange 51 and extending to be of suflicient strength to handle the majority of different loads.

The stringers 46 preferably each have a vertically extending body flange 53 and a horizontally extending foot ange 54 at right vangles thereto. The stringers are only slightly shorter than the top of the rack is wide, and the depth of the body flange 53 may correspond to the depth of the present frame members used under floor racks, or it may be varied to change the amount of ventilation.

Each of the stringers 46 is provided with a multiplicity of apertures 55, which may be arranged as shown in Fig. 4, in two rows,4 with the apertures staggered for the purpose of providing cross ventilation through thefstringers, which in the example of Fig. 2 will extend longitudinally of the car. The foot flanges 54 may be oppositely, arranged with the two centrally located stringers 46, and

they are preferably turned outwardly at the outermost stringers 46, as shown in Fig. 3.

The stringers are provided with a multiplicity of vertically extending slots 56, located in the upper edge of the body 46, the slots being of the same thickness as the gauge of metal of which the channelled frame members 41 are constructed. The slots 56 are deep enough in Fig. 4 to receive the channelled members 41 when these members are slightly straightened out by the slots, which involves making the slots slightly deeper than the normal depth of the channel.

Referring to Fig. 4, the` channelled members 41 in this embodiment may have a centrally 1ocated flat body 51 and a pair of diagonally exat an angle of, for example, 45 degrees thereto. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, four stringers are provided, and therefore the channelled members 41 are straightened out at the points Bil- 63, so

that they may be received in the slots 56. By straightening out, I mean that the diagonal flanges 58 and 59 are brought into the plane of the body ange 51 of the vchannelled member 41 at the slot 56.

The channelled members 41 are a forced fit in the slots 56, and the stringers are arranged as shown in Fig. 3, with their body flanges 53 at right angles to the channelled members 41. The stringers may bewelded to the channelled members at all of the points 60, 63 for each channelled member, if desired; but it mayl also be sufficient to merely weld one or two points on each channelled member or to select at random points on the channelled members and stringers for welding, care being taken so that each channelled member is preferably welded to at least one Stringer.

Despite the flattening of the channelled members 41 at the points 60-63, the vupper edges of the channelled members 41 and the upper edges of the stringers 46 are all brought into the same plane by the application of pressure to the points of juncture Ell-63, and this provides a framework to which the expanded metal framework 48 can be secured.

The expanded metal framework 48 comprises a sheet of sheet metal of suitable gauge, which has beenprovided with a multiplicity of staggered slits and then expanded by force applied to the sheet transversely to the direction ofthe slits. This ordinarily leaves the metal at the junctures still extending slightly diagonally to the plane of the expanded sheet, but I prefer to subject the expanded sheet to rolling or pressure in some other form so that all of the metal is brought into the same plane. This provides an expanded metal sheet having a multiplicity of diamond shaped apertures 64 and a multiplicity of diagonally extending and transversely extending strips 65, 66. The expanded metal sheet for any rack is cut to the size of the rack desired and then applied to the top of the framework shown in Fig. 2, comprising the channelled members 41 and stringers 46.

In addition-` to these channelled members 41, the framework is preferably provided at each end of the stringers with one angle member 49 and 5I,. the angle member having a vertical flange 69 extending into the slot 56, and having its horizontal flange 10 brought into the plane of the upper edges of the stringers 46 and channelled members 41 to provide a border frame member for the rack.

The expanded metal sheet Y may then be, extended over the edges'. of the horizontal flanges 10 of the angles 49 andV 5|, and under these horizontal flanges,` asy shown at 1|, thehorizontally extending flanges projecting. slightly beyond the ends of: the stringers 46.

' The other two sidesof the rack, that is, the top and bottom of Fig. 2,4 may also be finished 01T by providing the. angle members 50 and 52 (Fig. 2) For example, the angle. member 52 (Fig. 3) has its vertical flange 12 weldedto the ends of the channelled members.y 4.1 andv has its horizontal flange 13appliedabove the expanded'metal 48 by welding afterwards. The adjacent stringer is braced by means of a plurality of short channelled membersy 14:,.which t in the corners of the stringers, 45 andA angle 52 and are welded at each end in the position shown; in Fig. 3.

The angle (Fig. 3") has its vertical iiange 15. welded to the ends of the channelled members 41 and its horizontal flange 16 .flush with the top edges of the stringers 45 and-,channelled members 41, and its horizontal flange isv outwardly turned andl located below the expanded metal 48.

A. plurality of similar bracing members 11 extend. between the foot 54 ofthe adjacent Stringer 46 and the angle 5,9, to bozth of which they are welded. n

It should be understood that the apertures in the stringers may be m-ade larger, and the heavier gauge metal employed, or the apertures may be made smaller and lighter gauge metal employed. The stringers may also be reinforced by flanging out the apertures 55 of the stringers, after the manner shown i-nV Fig. 17.

vReferring to Fig. 4 and Fig. 2, the endmost stringers 46 may be provided with metal hinge members 18, comprising pieces of sheet metal which are. welded at 19 to the stringers, and which are.- provided with apertures for a suitablepintle, thereby forming part of the hinges 31.

It should also be understood that while the stringers are preferably equally spaced from each other and the channelled members are preferably equally spaced from each other to provide the Same kind of support. under all parts of the expanded metal, they need not be equally spaced in every instance, and the. spacing may be varied for particular purposes. More or less stringere -or channelled members may also be employed.

Referring to Figs. 5 to '1, this is a modification. In this case the stringers, which have been indicated by the numeral 8|, are of similar structure; except that the slots 82 are wider, to accommodate not only the body flange 8e3 of the regular channels 84, but also the transverse flanges 85 andl 86 of those channels. The channels are placed on their sides in the slots B2, and preferably are a close fit within'the slots, except for the two endmost channelled members 84 at the left and right of Fig. '1, and these two are welded in the corners provided in the stringers 8|.

In this embodiment the framework is again preferably finished at the twoends by means of angle members 81, 88, yand the expanded metal covering 48 may be applied above the complete framework, comprising stringers, channels, andv angles, by welding, as described, and the extreme edges of the expanded metal may be turned downward, as at 89, on all of the sides of the rack. The downwardly turned edges 89 may bewelded in place or may be held in proper position by virtue of their own stiness.

Iii)

modification, in which. thestructure ofthe rack is similar to that of. Figs.. 2-4, but the slots 90 in the stringers 9| are of` lessdepth so that. only one of the diagonal anges, thatlis', the flanges 59 of the channelled members 4.1, need be straightened out for insertion, i'ntothe slots 90, as the upper flange 5|!k and, partv of the. channelled members 41 project from. the stringers 9|..

The channelled members 41 are otherwise of the same. construction as; shown, in Fig;y 2, and the framework, comprising they chan-nels: 41 and stringers 9| A welded together, is nish-ed o by means of four angle irons 49-52, applied as de scribed with respect to Figs.. 2 4,- with the hori-v zontal flanges of the lateral angle. irons 49 and ill extending in opposite directions. i Fig. 18; is a full size sectionalview of one of; the channelled members 41.. In. this embodiment, like.l

Fig. 5, the expanded metal covering 48 may extend over the edges of the angle irons 49.--52 and may: have its edge. bentdownward, asy indicated the channelled members are spaced. from eachl other and, supported bya plurality of;` Z-shaped sheet metal members 94 which serve as bearing plates, spacers, and frame members.. y

The z-shaped bearing plates are` provided with a fiat bodyl portion 9.5, which is,v preferably as. wide as the top ofthe wooden Stringer '92, with.

a dependingr flange 9G,V which engages the side of the stringer 92. Y

The upwardly extending ange 9.1 is provided with a plurality` of` slots 98,. or is cut. away at the ends to provide a place for the channelled members 93, whicharearranged inthe slots, and at the ends of the Z bar 94, engaging the; body flange 95, to which the channelled members may be-welded. r

The Z bar 94 is provided with. a plurality of. apertures 09 for receiving the bolts |00-, which also pass through apertures |0-| in the stringers, thereby securing the stringers to the Zv bars and channelled members.

In this case the upper and lower sides. of the framework in Figll are: finished by providing additional channelled members lll-2,l I 03, which, as seen in Fig. 12, are arranged with the side flanges extending outwardly, and' with the body flange-Welded to the ends, of the channelled mem,`

bersS-L` Y l The expandedr metal covering 4.9' may extend to the edges` of theframe, comprising the outside channelled members; 93, |02, and |03, or it may extend beyond the edges and beturned downwardly, as in the previous embodiments.

The metal parts in this construction are I welded, whereasy in the previous embodiments the stringers 925 are provided with slots' or counter. bores v|194 for receiving'thef heads of the bolts |180.

Referring to. Fig. 15, this; is another modification, inv which. the stringere are made; partlyofz wood andpartly of angle. irons. In this embodiment the stringers |05 are again equally spaced, and are each provided with an angle iron memmerxl, which is: secured to the. stringer by the Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, this is another 75' wooden bolts |01, the. heads of which areA em-v bedded in the. stringers. l

The vertical flange |08 of each angle iron isl provided with aplurality of equally spaced slots |09, and the slots are adapted to receive a plurality of metal strips or bars IIO, which may be made of sheet metal, and which are secured in the slots by a'close fit and by welding. The endmost slots |09 are filled with the vertical flange of an angle iron or ||2 (Fig. 16) thereby providing a rmer frame member at the border of the rack, the horizontal flanges III, |I2 being flush with the top of the angles |06, which involves cutting down the vertical flange |08 by the thickness of the flange of the angles I I I, I I2 from the last slot to the end of the angle iron |00. The other end borders of the framework may be nished by providing additional angle irons ||3, ||4 (Fig. 15), the vertical flanges of which are welded to the ends ofthe bars I|0, and the horizontal flanges of which are flush with the top edge of the flange |08.

In this case the expanded metal covering 48 may again be welded to the framework at a multiplicity of spaced points, preferably at intersections of the bars and angle irons |06, since they are welded, and may secure the expanded metal covering to 'both of the transverse frame members.

The expanded metal covering may terminate flush with the outermost edges of the angle lirons I I3, I4, and it may be provided with a hair-pin bend ||5 at each edge (Fig. 16) where it projects beyond the angle irons III, ||2.

, In this embodiment the stringers |05 project beyond the framework at one side, as shown in Figy 16, being provided with a cylindrical, curved end H6, and with an aperturev to receive a bolt used as a pintle for a hinge.

I desire it to be understood that any of the floor rack sections 33-36, l2-45, or 38-4I may be constructed according to any of the modifications, although the sizes shown indicate that the rst modiilcation of Figs. 2-4 was made to t the rack sections at the doorway, and the other modifications were made of a size for the other positions.

Any of the modifications may be made of any size desired and may be located at any of the points in the car.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved floor rack structure which may be made completely of metal so that it is entrely reproof, yet it may be made stronger than the floor racks of the prior art and may be so constructed that it has a greater capacity for ventilation.

The floor racks permit ventilation underneath the expanded metal covering in both directions, since the stringers may be provided with apertures, and the floor racks provide a maximum ventilation through the racks, since the frame occupies a minimum amount of space, and the expanded metal has a maximum amount of ventilating openings.

The floor racks constructed according to the present invention are also preferably galvanized over-all, after assembly of the metal parts, and this also tends to secure together those parts of the stringers, frame members and covering which may not have been welded. Thus the complete assembly is amply protected against rust, and the racks present a cleaner and more sanitary appearance. s

The rack covering of expanded and pressed metal also provides a relatively smooth and bumpless surface for rolling trafc, such as trucks. i

Due to the interlocking *arrangement between the stringers and channelled members which constitute the frame, and the welding, the present floor racks have a maximum of strength and rigidity, and they may be constructed at a low cost, since their structure provides the strength and rigidity with a minimum amount of metal. The entire framework is further strengthened by the attachment and welding of the expanded metal to the framework, since'th'e strips of metal in the expanded metal covering extend diagonally of the framework and act like braces.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the comb-ination of a plurality of stringer members, with a plurality of frame members extending transversely to said stringer members, and located at the top of said stringer members, one of said members being provided with spaced slots for receiving a part of the other of said members, whereby the upper surfaces of both of said members may be arranged flush to provide a framework, and a foraminated covering member carried by said framework and secured thereto, said transverse frame members comprising a plurality of channelled members.

2. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of stringers, said stringers comprising horizontally extending foot flanges and vertical flanges, with a plurality of frame members, said frame members comprising channels, each channel having a body flange and a pair of diagonally extending edge flanges, said stringers having slots in their upper edges for receiving said channels, said channels being deformed at each slot for the insertion of the diagonal flanges into the slot, anda covering of expanded metal for the frame provided by said channeled members and stringers, said channelled members being flush with the upper edges of said stringers, and said expanded metal having all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane.

3. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of metal stringers, each stringer having` a vertically extending flange provided with a multiplicity of apertures and having a laterally turned foot flange, each stringer being provided with a multiplicity of slots in its upper edge for receiving a plurality of channelled members, said channelled members having a body flange and a pair of laterally extending flanges all arranged in said slots with the upper surfaces 0f said channelled members flush with the upper `edges of said stringers, and a covering of expanded metal having all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane.

4. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of metal stringers, each stringer having a vertically extending llange provided with a multiplicity of apertures and having a laterally turned foot flange, each stringer being provided with a multiplicity of slots in its upper edge for receiving a plurality of channelled members, said channelled members having a body flange and a pair of laterally extending flanges al1 arranged in said slots with Lslots,with a plurality of transverse channeled the upper surfaces of said channelled members flush with the upper edges of said stringers, and a 'covering of expanded metal having all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane, said rack having similar channelled members arranged to form a border frame at the edges of said rack flush with the top of said stringers, and all lof said parts being Welded together at a plurality of spaced points.

5. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of stringers, each Stringer having a body flange and a foot flange, and said body flange being provided with a multiplicity of ventilation apertures, with slots in the upper edge thereof, and a plurality of channelled members, said channelled members having part of the body thereof secured in said slots, and a covering of expanded metal having all of its parts pressed into substantially the same pla-ne and secured to said channelled members in spaced relation to said stringers.

6. In a floor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of stringers, each Stringer having a body flange and a foot flange, and said body flange being provided with a multiplicity of ventilation apertures, with slots in the upper edge thereof, and a plurality of channelled members, said channelled members having part of the body thereof secured in said slots, and a covering of expanded metal having all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane and secured to said channelled members in spaced relation to said stringers, said stringers also supporting angle irons at the borders of said rack, and said covering extending over said angle irons.

7. A floor rack for railway cars comprising a plurality of stringers consisting of metal angle irons having the vertical flanges thereof provided with a multiplicity of apertures and having a multiplicity of aligned sl-ots at the upper edge thereof, and a plurality of transverse frame members carried by said slots and secured therein in spaced relation to each other, said frame members comprising channels, the channels having a vertical flange, and a pair of horizontal flanges, the horizontal flanges being deformed at each of said slots, to permit said channels to be secured in said slots, and a foraminated metal covering carried by said stringers and transverse frame members and secured thereto at a multiplicity of spaced points.

8. A floor rack for railway cars comprising a plurality of metal stringers, each stringer having a horizontal flange and a Wider vertical flange, said vertical flange being provided with a multiplicity of apertures, and having at its upper edge a multiplicity of spaced slots, the slots of the respective stringers being in alignment, and a plurality of channeled transverse frame members having a vertical flange, and a pair of horizontal ilanges, and said horizontal flanges being of substantially the same width as said slots, whereby said channeled members may be located and secured in said slots flush with the top of said stringers, and a foraminated metal covering carried by said transverse frame members and stringers and secured thereto at a plurality of spaced points. y

9. In a floor rack for railway cars, a plurality of angle iron stringers having a horizontal flange and a wider vertical flange, said vertical flange being provided with a plurality of apertures and having at its upper edge a plurality of spaced frame members, said transverse channeled frame members having a body flange and a pair of diagonally extending edge flanges, said slots being of suilic'ient width to receive said body ilange, and one of said edge flanges being deformed at said slots inpsaid stringers whereby the transverse frame members may be inserted in said slots and secured therein, and a foraminated metal covering carried by the other edge flanges of said transverse frame members.

l0. In a oor rack for refrigerator cars, the combination of a plurality of stringers comprising sheet metal members having horizontal bearing flanges and vertically extending supporting flanges, said vertically extending supporting flanges being provided with a multiplicity of regularly spaced slots arranged in series, one slot in each of said stringers being aligned with slots of the same series in other stringers, and a plurality of transverse frame members, said transverse frame members having a verticalflange and diagonally bent flanges, said diagonally bent flanges being bent into the plane of said vertical flange at .each of said slots whereby said horizontal frame members may be received and secured in said slots, an external frame comprising a plurality of angle iron members secured to said transverse frame members to form a boundary frame, a covering of expanded metal lath having all of its parts in substantially the same plane,

xedly secured to said horizontal frame members and boundary frame, and bracing means extending from the outermost of said stringers to said boundary frame. l

1l. In a floor rack, the combination of a plurality of sheet metal stringers, each Stringer having a relatively broad vertically extending body flange and having a transversely extending foot flange for increasing its bearing on the floor of a refrigerator oar, said stringers being spaced at predetermined distance from each other and being provided at their upper ends with initially open slots of substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of channeled members, each channeled member having a Vertical web and a pair of horizontally extending flanges carried by the Web, said channeled members being disposed in said slots substantially ilush with the top edge of said stringers, and a foraminated covering carried by the upper edges of said stringers and the upper surface of the top flanges of said channeled members, said foraminated covering comprising expanded metal having substantially all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane, the stringers and channeled members and expanded metal being Welded together at predetermined points.-

l2'. In a floor rack, the combination of a plurality of sheet metal stringers, each stringerhaving a relatively broad vertically extending body flange and having a transversely extending foot flange for increasing its bearing on the floor of a refrigerator car, said stringers being spaced at predetermined distance fromy each other and being provided at their upper ends with initially open slots lof substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of channeled members, each channeled member having a vertical web and a pair of horizontally extending flanges carried by the web, said channeled members being disposed in said slots substantially flush with the top edge of said stringers, and a foraminated covering carried by the upper edges of said stringers and the upper surface of the top flanges of said channeled members, said foraminated covering comprising expanded metal having substantially'all of its parts pressed into substantially the same plane, the stringers and channeled members and expanded metal being Welded together at predetermined points, the said stringers extending longitudinally of the car. and'having a plurality of relatively large openings formed therein at regularly spaced points for permitting a. transverse circulation of air through the stringers as Well as circulation in the spaces between the stringers.

CHARLES S4. JOHNSTON.

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