US2334080A - Structure straightener - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 9, 1943. H. J. FREEMAN STRUCTURE STRAIGHTENER Filed March 18 1942 SSheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: HafiylFree/irmz,

WI TNE-SSES:

BY @2141 W ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 9, 1943. H. J. FREEMAN STRUCTURE STRAIGHTENER Filed March'18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 9, 1943. J. FREEMAN STRUCTURE STRAIGHTENER Filed March 18, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

Hazzglfieemazz, BY mm" I TNBESZS: 0 M

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STAT STRUCTURE STRAIGHTENEB.

Harry J. Freeman,

Columbus, Ohio, assignor to l The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, l hiladelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application MarchlS, 1942; Serial No. 435,147 a 8 Claims. 2 (Cl. 153-48) This invention has general reference to means designed for restoring distorted structural areas to normal planar condition; while it relates, more particularly, to apparatus or devices adapted for thestraightening of deformed railroad carbodies. Means of the last mentioned species, heretofore devised, have either necessitated the rer'noval. ,o f the distortedpart or parts of the car or truck, with an expenditure of much unnecessary time and labor; or such means has been of a stationary and non-portable in service time for the damaged car or truck.

The primary object of this invention is to overcome the above noted disadvantages by provision of a straightener-device which can be easily character with resultant loss moved to the location of a distorted structure or the like, readily attached thereto, and the misshapen part or area promptly restored to desirable normality with a minimum expenditure of time and labor. l

Another object of this inventionis to provide a portable straightener-device preferably, although not essentially, designed forpromptly restoring the distorted end or ends ofrailroad cars, and the like, to proper position irrespective of whether the car be loaded or empty. f

A further object is to provid a railroad car or truck end straightening-device, of the species in-' dicated in the preceding paragraph, which includes provisions whereby it is automatically connectable to the standard A. A. R. coupler customarily located at both ends of freight cars, as well as adjustable support for power actuated means adapted to effect pressure abutment against the mis-shapen part or parts to effect the straightening-out thereof.

A still further object is the provision of' a power-actuable railroad car end straighteningdevice which is positive in action and easily ad justable to effect the restoration of loaded or empty box or gondola car distorted ends to proper shape, whether they-be made of flat or corrugated material.

Additional objects of this invention involve certain improved features of constructiomin adevice of the species above defined, as well as the novel combinations and arrangements of the various parts hereinafter disclosed.

While the foregoing definitions are indicative, in a general way of the objects of this invention, others with ancillary advantages will be, evident to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction, arrangement and opera? tion of the device hereafter fully described; but

itwill be further appreciated that the invention of Fig. 1.

, specific terms will be employed for the sake of is susceptible of other embodiment or'structurally modified forms, than the one chosen for illustrative purposes in'the accompanying drawings, and coming equally well within the terms of the concluding claims.

Iii-the drawings:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a preferred form of car or truck end straightening device, in accordance with this invention, coupled to a gondola car and in position for re-shaping the adjoining bulged out, end thereof, and with parts in section for the better clarification of structural details.

Fig. 2 is a front end elevation of the straightem'ng-device'. i j

Fig. 3 is 'a' correspondingview at the rear end thereof. 1

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken a'pproximately as indicated by the angle-arrows IV -IV inFig.1. v Fig. 5 is a s'imilarsection, on the plan V-V Figs. (Sand 7 are detailjse'ctions taken, respectively, ,on the arrowediplarles and VII VII in Fig. 5, anddrawn to. larger scale for purposes of clarity. e r

' In describing the form of this invention, exem plified inthe abovecaptioned drawings herewith,

clarity, but it is to be understood the scope of said invention is not thereby limited; each such term being intended to embrace all equivalents which perform the same function for an analogouspurpose. y H i Referring more in detail tothe drawings which, conveniently, illustrate a form of this invention well adapted for straightening the distorted ends of railroad gondola, or box," cars either'loadedjor empty, the reference character l indicates spaced fragmentary lengths of rail forming a'trackway; while 2 generally designates a broken portion of a standard type gondola car, having the sheet metal end 3 outwardly bellied or distorted; and 4 comprehensively denotes the straightening-device of this invention.

This straightening-device, 4 comprises a structure conveniently composed of opposed channels,

preferably having the flangesi, 5' inwards, said channels defining vertical columns or postsfi for support of .a coupler 'l and the jack 8, which will be later onagain referred to. Rigidly secured, as by a weld 9, to the lower outer web portion of each post 6, is a re'arwardly-extending inverted T-section or base member Ill, and in planar alignment" therewith is a" forwardly-directed angle-section ,having the {vertical flange united explained, and to better restrain the device 4 against deflection from the vertical, when seated on the head or ball of track rails I. To secure the posts 6 in rigid spacial relation, use is conveniently made of a T-section upper brace I5 having its ends suitably united, as by end welds Inclined struts 48 are welded to the lower angular bends of the bars 43, at 49, and to the forward ends of the device base angles I I, at 50, to rigidly brace the parts connected thereby; whileacross tie 5| connects the forward angles I I in parallel.

The jack beam 42, as best understood from Figs. 2 and 4, is of an over-all length in excess of the width across the posts 6; while the upper and lower flanges 52, 52? thereof are provided with notches 53 for sliding coaction with the post forward flanges 5, whereas the web portion of said beam similarly coacts with the bars 43 for varticalguidance; in an obvious manner. The beam '42 is preferably reinforced by a rearwardly di I rected truss-structure comprising an angled-brace 54witha center post 55 and spacedly-related re- IS, to the adjoining inner face of the web por- I tions of said posts; while the top surface of the flange I! of said brace I 5 is preferably located coplanar with the upper edges of the posts 6. Angle 'section struts I8 are conveniently welded at I9, 20, respectively to the upper'outer or rear flanges 5' of the posts 6, and to the inner races of the leg portionsof the T-section base members I; and, with intervening diagonal braces 2|, preferably of angle-section, united thereto by welds 22 and toone another by similar means 23, jointly serve torig'i'difythe device 4, as a fabricated frame-like structure.

IThe Supporting means for the coupler I preferably comprises a transverse channel-section carrier or beam 24, conveniently secured by welds 25, 26 across the forward flanges of'the posts 6, at the desirable elevation for axiallyaligning said coupler with the corresponding coupler I, at the adjoining end of the car 2. It is observable the beam 24 ,is conveniently of corresponding stock tothat'of the posts 6, and that the web 2'! thereof is in abutment against the post front flanges 5; while the beam 24 is reinforced by a diagonal bra e 28 united'to the medial part or the web 21 and the inner vertical edges of the post rear flanges 5' by .weldsfl 29, '30, respectively. The shank (H of thecoupl'er I is aflordeds'ubstantial bearing on the upper edge of a somewhat triangular strap-like support 32, including an outer rounding as at 324,,said support having the inner ends inabutment with and welded-to the outer face of the beamfweb 21 at 33,v and also seating on thelower flange 34 of the" beam 24 and similarly attached to sai dflange. Th supporttLit is to be also remarked, is further sustained by oblique braces 36 secured thereto by welds 31, with corresponding welds 33 uniting them to theupper flange of the carrier beam 24, as readily under stood on an inspection of Fig. 1,'more particularly. The coupler shank 'SI passes through 'a corresponding-section aperture 39 in the web 27 of the carrier beam 24,1and is fitted with rec tang'ular plate washers 40 as well as a retainer key M while it is observable the low'er'portion I. of; the coupler 7 is afiorded a restricted degree of arcual movement, incident to coaction offsaid portion I with the support rounding32'.

The means for carrying the jack 8, with free-, dom for vertical adjustment, consists of' a move able channel-section beam 42, afforded guidance by flat bars43 in spaced parallel relation to the forward flanges 5, of the posts 5,'said bars having their lower portions inwardly-angled at 44, to seat on the upper flange of the coupler beam 24, and

rigidly attached thereto by welds/45. On the other hand the upper ends of the barsl4'3fare stepped, approximately Zflashion, at 46 and, se cured in abutment to theflanges' 5 bya'weld 41'.

. or retractedimo.

versely-inclined ties 56; all of said parts 54-45 being rigidly-united to the web of the beam .42,

intermediate the flanges 52 thereof, by welds 5 1. It'will now be readily understood the beam 42 is to resist the compression-thrust ex-1 erted by the jack 8, when in action, as later cn:

fabricated explained.

The"jack for instance, one comprising a gear-and-pinlon drive-attachment "58 operated by *a reversible pressure-air motor 59, both securely "attached to thegbeam 42, and said motor including-a piston T head 6 I, 'all'in accordancevvitlrknovjri 60 having a practice; r For jraising or ball 61, 'is appropriately the supportingfbeam 42 and jac' 8; in," fo'r- In order to provide adequate support rdr at propriate straightener elements T2, see Fig. 1,

the angleemer'nber St? is fitted, with spacedundenilying stepped straps 13, conveniently attached theretoby elds T 5, said strapsaifording slid} able guidance for fiat bars 15 havin 'the rear ends conveniently shaped at T6 to afiord" means 7 whereby; they are more "easily moved forward',

end a. The straightener'elements 1gareprerer ably in the form of blocksgrooved, as indicated at 17,ffor!engagement over the corrugate stiflfeners 18, or the upper. angle reinforc 79,1commoii1y forming ,a part of railroad understandablefromfFig. 1.

To hold the device a ,rigidjwhenlmovedintfo to'the distorted 'end 7 7 mutually operative position, relative 3 of the car 2, with the couplers I, engaged, means such'as opposing clamp elements 8ilare preferably provided at the lowerendsof the respective posts'ii, aswell. as in connection with the'o-uter rear portion of the T-bar bas members It and united endsjof the diagonal braces 2|.

These clamp elements!!!) are prefer: ably in the form ofstep or joggled .mBmberS having'the lower ends angled inwards atelier snug engagement below the head or balllp'ortio of the railsfi, while said members are retained inassemblyby throughibolts 2:2 with Wedge-keys 83ya11as readily understandable by those con/ 8 may be of any appropriate ram lowering the jackifl, withth associated carrying-beam 42,- an over-reaching i. yoke hanger 62 is securely fixed at 63fto the up per inner parts of the straighteningdevice 6-, said hangerhaving suitable provisiom at' 64;

-forsuspension of a conventional chain-hoist'6 l; or the like, with a suitable cable I55. A lifter or. '1

7 attached by fastenlfit means 68 tothe vertical flarige'of an angle-mern ber 69, permanently secured to the underside 'oI the hook! I, at the .or from abutment with thec'ar car ends," as readily versant with the art. n Obviouslyfother; suitable fastening means, instead of the clamp elements and key-bolts 82,,may be employed for securing the device 4 to the rails l. t

To afford a convenient station for theoperator, of the device 4, a platform 84 is provided rearwardly of the posts 6.; This platform is, preferably, attached by carriage bolts 8'5 to angle-- bars 86, 81 respectively securedacross'the rear flanges '5' of the posts 6 and to the struts l8, all as readily understandableby thoseacquainted with the art; Thus it 'will be apparent that an operator standing on the platform 84 is in a-most convenient position to manipulate the hoist 65 as well as control actuation 'of' the jack 8. A tool-box 3% may, alsofbamounted intermediate the leg portions of the 'T-section base members it in abutment withjthepost flanges Having fully outlinedthe structuralaspects of the improved car end straightening-device 4, the use and operation thereof is briefly as follows:

Assuming, as hereinbefore indicated, that a "standing or braked gondola car 2 has the end bulged out, as shown at 3 in Fig. 1, the device l is suitably transported or moved to the rails I, whereon the car 2 is located, and suitably positioned with the base members ill, I! seated on the ball portions of said rails with the clamp elements so loosely engaging said rail at both sides thereof; whereupon the device 4 is pushed,

or otherwise forced, towards the car end3 until the couplers l, l interengage, when the clamp bolt keysBt are driven tight to hold the device rigidly in position. The operator next raises or lowers the jack 8 to the desired elevation, and then pushes the bars towards the distorted car end 8, until their forward extremities abut said car end, whereupon the necessary block 12, or a plurality of such blocks 12 as shown with an associated across the bars 1'5.

Air under pressure is bridging piece 12', is seated now admitted to the rethrust-mechanism to and therebygreatly facilitating the straightening operation.

In conclusion, illustrated embodiment of the"invention,-herein disclosed, adequately vantages primarily'set forth, it is to be understood the said invention is subject to variation, modification, andother "application, within the spirit and scope of the *following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A portable devicefor restoring the distorted walls of railroad cars and'the like to normal condition comprising side components of inverted T-formation with vertical united channel-sections defining spaced posts having rearwardly and forwardly extending base supports directly alignable with and-placeable on top of railroad rails; side struts and lateral braces connecting the side components in rigid parallelism; a stationary reinforced be'a'm Qperman'ently secured across the columns and affording bearing for a forwardly-directed car-coupling adapted to interengage the conventional coupler means of an adjoining car end; a transverse reinforced beam vertically guided by the spaced posts, said beam being located above the car coupling and affording rigid support for a horizontally-effective thrust-mechanism; a hanger-bracket carried by andprojecting forwardly over from the upper part of the the hanger-bracket adapted for elevating the ing the car wall straightening-operation; slidable' versible motor 59, from any controllable source-- not shown-to effect advancement of the actuator (ill, for force abutment of. its head 6| against the block 12, whereupon ent that under continued pressure exerted by the air, the bulged-out end 3 will be pushed or shoved back into its normal position without removal of the car end. When the car end has assumed the normal straightened out position, the motor it will be readily appar- 59 is reversed, and the head 6| will obviously be retracted, whereupon the block or blocks 12 is,

or are, removed and the car again is in proper service condition. It will, also, be readily understood that car loads of long material can be pushed back on the truck, concurrently with, or without, effecting the straightening operation; while the steel ends of box cars, both plain and corrugated, can be straightened by simply elevating the jack 8, by means of the to the desirable level for effecting the restorative operation above explained. Particular attention is directed to the fact that, in actual practice, car ends, such as 3, have been straightened-out by the device 4 herein disclosed in less than one-half hour, as contrasted with an expenditure of from}? to 9 man hours, under pre vailing practice; while it is further worthy of notation that, by connecting the device 4 to the coupler i of the car 2' to be operated on, and by clamping the base member ID, ll firmly to the heads of the rail I, that the thrust of the plunger head M is effectively and rigidly opposed by the car 2 jointly with the clamp means 80,

hoist B5,

to the upper ends of the bars carried by the movable beam for projection V into contact with the adjoining car wall to be straightened, said bars jointly affording support for a staightener-elementi" a platform projecting rearwardly from the spaced posts for the operator ofthe device; and longitudinally-spaced means associated with the column lower ends and the base support-rear ends for rigidly clamping the portable devicealignedly on the heads of railroad rails, whereby the active stroke of the thrustmechanism is effectively and rigidly opposed by the car being operated on and the means clamping said device to the railroad rails.

2. A portable straightening-device, as defined in claim 1, wherein the side components consist of opposedly-re1ated channel-section posts having integrally connected rearward base supporting portions of inverted T-section and aligned substantially-shorter base supporting portions of angle-section; a T-section rigidly connects the posts at their upper ends; the side struts consist of angle-sections respectively connecting the outer ends'of the rear base supporting portions ends of the forward base supporting portions to an intermediate point in the height of said posts; intersecting diagonal-braces connect the rear side struts; and a tie rod intervenes the outer ends of the forward base supporting portions of angle-section.

3. A portable straightening-device, as defined in claim 1, wherein thestationary beam consists of a channel-section rearwardly reinforced by a diagonal-brace, said brace integrally connecting the medial web-portion of the beam to the relatively remotelvertical edges of the leg sections of the inverted T-section side components; and an angular strap having a medial rounding with obliquely related braces is integrally secured edgewise-vertical intermediate the channel-secwhile it is self-evident that the f fulfills the objects and adspaced posts; a hoist suspended from the desired level for efiect posts, and the outer tion'fianges touafford rigid bearing for the car-r coupler. 4 l

4'. A portable straightening-device, as defined iii-claim; 1,, wherein: the movable beam consists of a channel-section having the flanges spacedly nently secured ta the'web' and fiangesoi the channel-section; and-means whereby a suitable power-actuated thrust-mechanism is attachable to said movable beam.

5. A portable straightening-device, as defined inclaim 1, wherein the hoist sustaining hangerbracket consists of a semiearched yoke having a. medial suspension-eya'the ends of said yoke being integrally-secured to the upper inner parts. of the side component spaced posts; and the hoist is of the chain type.

6. A portable straighteningdevice, as definedin claim 1, wherein. the clamp means consist of inclaim; wherein beam are-defined byQthe forwardefaces of the j respective side component post sections, and an bars-spacedly attached. to said sections are suit- Y JSSQQ Q: opposingly-related transversely-ioggled. elements having thevlower ends inwardly turned;

boltsto adiustably secure said elementsto lower parts of the inverted T-formationjslde components in longitudinally spaced relation.

' 1.;Ariorta'ble straightening-device, as defined in claim 1, wherein :the slidable members for sup-l port'of thestraig'htener element are in the-form.

of Ilatibars having the" inner'ends shaped 1oz easy handling;

tothe underside of themovablebeam, in um, I

components,

v I 8. .A portable straightening-device, as defined.

the guides for the movable respective ends. tocomplete-- ably angled at their the .guideways andsaid members are 'movably supported' lby stepped straps, integrally-attached HARRY J. i

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