US2486382A - Endgate construction - Google Patents

Description

. Nov 1, 1949- cf F. BAUER ET AL 2,486,382

ENDGATE CONSTRUCTION Filed May 28, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BA R y/2 5 A UN, Edi-901% tSCOT ATTORNEYS Nov 1, 1949.

(I. F. BAUER ET AL ENDGATE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1945 FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 1, 1949 ENDGATE CONSTRUCTION Carl F. Bauer and Donald A. Wangelin, Rock Island, and Clifford L. Scott, Moline,'lll., assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 28, 1945, Serial No. 596,164

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to farm equipment and is more particularly concerned with wagon boxes for farm wagons, trailers and the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved --raising endgate construction for sheet metal wagon boxes, particularly the flared grain tank type. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a raising endgate construction which not only is strong and rigid but also is particularly adapted for use with the rear endgate of the wagon box of the flared type.

More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to provide a new and simplified means for operating the raising endgate section and for holding the latter in different positions where desired. It is also a feature of this invention to provide a particular construction of raising endgate section, formed of sheet metal parts but so fabricated and connected as to secure exceptional rigidity and light weight. It is also a particular purpose of the present invention to provide an inexpensive mechanism for raising and lowering the raising section of the endgate and for readily removing the raising endgate section from the endgate. This is of particular importance in simplifying the manufacturing operations in the construction of the rear endgate and also simplifies the setting up and assembly of the rear endgate for assembly on the wagon box.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which one preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the preferred fonm ofrear endgate construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view showing the construction of the upper endgate section and one of the two slides or guideways in which the lower or raising endgate section is normally disposed.

Figure 3 is anenlarged perspective view of the raising endgate section, certain portions being broken away in order to show the construction of the lower endgate section to better advantage.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1, the wagon box is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral I and comprises a bottom member 2, a pair of side members 3 and 4- suitably connected to the bottom member 2 and front and rear end-gates. The present invention is particularly concerned with the rear endgate, indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 5. The wagon box section, exclusive of therear endgate 5, forms the subject matter of another application, Serial No. 596,163, filed May 28, 1945.

The rear endgate 5 comprises an upper endgate section 6 and a lower or raising endgate section 7. The upper endgate section 6 includes an endgate sheet ll provided with a plurality of corrugations l2 which, as best shown in Figure 2, terminate short of the edges of the sheet. The sheet H is approximately trapezoidal in shape and at its upper edge has a flange |3 which is bent rearwardly, and then downwardly, as at l4, embracing and overhanging the upper ends of a pair of Z bars l5 and I6 which, as will be explained in more detail below, forms a slide or guideway for the .lower raising endgate section I. Opposite side edges of the sheet are reenforced by an angular strip I8, the thickness of which is substantially the same as the thickness of the outer flange I9 on the associated slide angle or 2 bar.

Each of the 2 bars l5 and I6 extend downwardly beyond the lower edge 2| of the sheet Also, each of the Z bars l5 and I6 includes a flange portion 23 which is spaced from the plane of the endgate sheet so as to cooperate therewith in forming a groove or slide indicated by the 7 reference character S. In order that the groove or guideway S at each side of the endgate shall extend downwardly beyond the lower edge 2|, we provide at each side a plate or bar 25, the upper end 26 of which lies in abutting relation with respect to the edge 2|, at each end thereof. Thus, the bars or strips 25 lie in the same plane as the sheet The flanges l9 of the two Z bars l5 and I6 are secured, preferably by spot welding, at a plurality of points to the sheet II and also to the associated strip 25. The rear edge of each of the two wagon box sides 3 and 4 is provided with a channel member 3| which, as best shown in Figure 4, has a pair of ribs 30 that form a groove 32 to receive the associated edge of the port channels 33 to the bottom sheet cleats 34.

The raising endgate section I is a double walled member, as best shown in Figure 3. Referring now to this figure, the rear or outer portion of the raising endgate section 1 includes a corrugated sheet 36 having a flange 31 at its upper and lower edges, "the flange 131 being 'shaped "to ';turn inwardly, as =at 38. The sheet *36 'is provided with two or more ribs or corrugations 39 which face inwardly. The other part which completes the raising endgate section 1 is a substantially lflat sheet 4! having a flange 42 at each opposite edge, each flange including a laterallyrdirectedsedge portion 43. Each edge portion 43 is-spaced from the main body of the sheetfil bya-diStance which corresponds to the width of the flanges 31 whereby, when the sheet 36 is slidaintogplace between the flanges 43 and the main portion of the sheet 4 l the corrugations 39 and the turned-inportions of the sheet 36 come into engagement with the :main .ebody aof the .sheet "41. The two sheets are secured together by spot welding, "aszat 43, :along :the :corrngations :39 :where they -:come into conatactrwith the sheet 41. :Se'curing theisheetsi36 'nnd 4:! together :this manner :serves to hold rtheiflanges 43 :of the sheet 4! snugly about the ends of the corrugated sheet 36, and no 'further fasteningor .attachmentris needed other'thanthe spot welds along the corrugations orribs 39,238 shown in Figure '3. :However, the overlapping :or uteentrant'flanges 538 andA-3, :together vwith 'the :maicr portions -:of the :flanges 3-1 and l2,:- serve to :reenforcesand-strengthen:the side and endedges :of the :raising-.endgate-seotion. IIhe thickness of the overlapping portions at opposite .edges, :as. at 42,-.of the raisingrendgate-sectioniis-substantially equal .to the distance tor -width -of :the slide or ,guideway E, :as Joest shown Figure A.

For raising the raising endgate :section :1 ave gprovide a pair of lugs i :welded to the 2 -.bars Hand 16 each bracket .5! being 'apertured, ,asat :52, (Figure 2) toreceivearotatable shaft,,pr.eferably in.therform-.of a:pine member-.53. .One-end of the :pipe member :53 :is ,slit, :as fat :54, .the .two ,portions .being .zapertured to receive a rivet or flush bolt 55 by rwhich -.a handle :55 .is iswingably connected to tthe pipe-cmember. ,A;pair of, pinions .51 are rfixed, .as by .welding, .to ,the pipe :member orshaft '53, and preferably .the minions 5:1 .are .punched.from.flatstock. .lhe t.eeth.of-.the .pinions '51. are adapted 'to .mesh. with 'holes' 59 punched .in flatstrips I61, thereby formingracks. flIhe strips 51 larewspot welded or otherwisesecured.rigidly .to the corrugated .sheet 316 preferably .up against 'thellaterally.inner-edgepf.theturnedovenflanged ,portion '43 of the sheet 41, -as .best .shown .in .Eigure .3.

As w'ill'be clear from Figure .1, the shaft T53 -may be rotated by turning the .same .with .the ihandlel56,.swinging the latteroutwardly suflicient to clear the associated .side .support .33 which Iforms a .part of the .side .memher, l3 vnrJl. The raising endgate section 1 .may thus be .raised #170 .anyextentdesired and .then heldin that position by. swinging the=handle;5'6 ilaterallyinwardlydnto a.,p.ositicn to engage theadjacent part 20f .the .wagon ,hox. After the endgate5lhas been .rezmovedzfrom .the -wagon-box, or heforexitihas been assembled thereon, the raisingrendgate ssection 1 may be removed from .the upper .section -16 by :turning the shaft :53 an amount. sufflcient to run the .-racks 6| beyond sand 'outpf mesh with the pinionslfi'l,whichrdisoonnects the endgatesection :1. EEhe :shaft :53 v and pinions A 5%! may th'en zbe .removed ,merely :by (shifting rthe same toward the 4 left (Figure 1) until the end 60 (see Figure 4) clears the associated bracket 5 I. That end of the shaft 53 may then be shifted away from the bracket 5| and laterally outwardly, the shaft 53 fitting with sufficient looseness in the other bracket 52 to accommodate this operation. Then by straightening the .handle56 :so that it lies in an axially aligned position with respect to the shaft 53, the latter may be withdrawn from the "bracket 52. Normally, when the raising endgate section .is in place, as shown in Figure 1, the engagement of the teeth on the pinions 51 with thezracks 3H 011 11118 section 1 is sufficient to prevent 'any a-xi'al displacement of the shaft 53.

' 5 The =raising endgate section may be assembled withthe'other endgate section 6, as during manurfacture-and/or=assembly thereof at the factory, by a reversal of the above-mentioned operations. -Whlle we have shown and described above the preferred structure iniwhich the principles of the tpresentinventiomhave been incorporated,itris to herunderstoodthat .our invention is-not-torbe: limitedito .the particularidetails:shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely difierentzmeans 5 mayrbe employedziri the practice ,ofthe broader aspectszofrour.invention.

Whattwe claim, therefore, and-desired tosecure TzbylLetters Patent is:

;-l.:An .endgate sectionforwagon boxes and the :like, :comprising an'upper endgate -.sheet having iflaringrdownwardlyconvenging sideed'ges-so QS'Z'GO .flt a flaring wagon -box, a .pa.ir-of reenforcing members 'fixedatorsaid endgate :sheet and extendiing downwardly from the lower sedge xthereof 5 forming-slots, araising endgate movably mounted :in said slotsandladapted to be raised and-lowered :therein, a ;-pa,ir-.0f:1ugs\carried by said reenforcing :members, .said .lugs xbeing rapertured, a shaft rortatably mounted :in said apertures, pinions 0 [mounted-on saidshaft, racks fixed to said raising eendgate .in a position to receive such ,pinions, means .for rotatingsaid'shaft to :raise said end- ;gate, said shaft being slidable in .said lugs when .saidpinions are rout of. mesh .withsaid racks, .and an .arm pivoted -.to one tend .of said shaft and swingable .into aposition aligned with-the -longi- .tudinal. edge .of .saidshaft to accommodate the ,passageof said shaft through said lugs.

:2. .The invention-set .forth in-claim 1,.further 30 characterized by .the upper portions .of said reenforcing members'being-apertured, anda tie rod disposed .in said :apelttures, the latter being located atsuch a vheightabovethe :lower edge of lthe endgate sheetand above saidilugs to.accommodate .the .movement of said raising endgate .upwardlybeyondsaid,pinions.

3. In\an..endgate constructionfor vwagonvboxes and the like, a raising endgate comprising a-pair of sheets, one having transverselreenforcing-ribs iormedtherein and all -.1ying.at.one--sider:of the plane of -.the.main portionof-saidone sheet, said .ribs extending from one side-edge of the .sheet to theothentheotherof .said-sheetslbeing substantially flat and having :reentrant side flanges formed to .embracelthe ends .of the ribs and cto overlap the sides of said first sheet, saidsheets being assembled with -.the .main portion of "said .first sheet-spaced from said other sheet butwith .thezreenforoingrribs.ofsaid-flrst sheet-tin substan- 7 tial engagement with said second sheet, ;and means for -.f-astening the contacting :portions of said sheets together.

In .an endgate construction for wagon-boxes .and the like,- a-raising endgatercomprising aipair rsof-sheets, onel-havingztransverse reenforcing :rlbs

formed therein and extending from one side to the other, the other of said sheets being substantially flat and having reentrant side flanges formed to embrace the ends of the ribs and to overlap the sides of said first sheet, said sheets being assembled with the reenforcing ribs of said first sheet in substantial engagement with said second sheet, the upper and lower edges of said first sheet being formed with flanges dimensioned to fill the space between said sheets along the upper and lower edges and to contact the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said second sheet.

5. In a wagon box construction, a bottom sheet having at its rear end laterally outwardly extending cleats, a pair of side sheets, supports fixed to said side sheets on the outer side thereof, means for fixing the lower ends of said side supports to said cleats, respectively, a pair of channeled members, one fixed to the inside of each of said side sheets adjacent the rear edge thereof and substantially opposit the associated side sheet support, an endgate construction carried by said channeled members and including an upper endgate sheet, a lower raising endgate section, means on said upper endgate sheet forming guideways to receive said raising endgate section, a shaft carried by said endgate construction, means operated thereby for raising and lowering said raising endgate section, said shaft extending adjacent the associated side sheet support at one side of the wagon box, and a handle member pivoted to said extended end of said shaft to provide for manually rotating said shaft said handle being adapted to stop against said associated side sheet support for limiting the rotation of said shaft and serving thereby to hold said raising endgate against movement in at least one direction.

6. In a wagon box construction, a bottom sheet, a pair of side sheets, supports fixed to said side sheets on theouter side thereof, means for fixing the lower ends of said side supports to said bottom sheet, a pair of channeled members, one fixed to the inside of each of said side sheets adjacent the rear edge thereof and substantially opposite the associated side sheet support, an endgate construction carried by said channeled members and including an upper endgate sheet, a lower raising endgate section, means on said upper endgate sheet forming guideways to receive said raising endgate section, a shaft carried by said endgate construction, means operated thereby for raising and lowering said raising endgate section, said shaft extending adjacent the associated side sheet support at one side of the wagon box, and a handle member pivoted to said extended end of said shaft to provide for manually rotating said shaft, said handle being adapted to stop against said associated side sheet support for limiting the rotation of said shaft and serving thereby to hold said raising endgate against movement in at least one direction.

7. An endgate section for wagon boxes and the like, comprising an upper endgate sheet, a pair of reenforcing members fixed to said endgate sheet and extending downwardly from the lower edge thereof forming slots, a raising endgate movably mounted in said slots and adapted to be raised and lowered therein, a pair of lugs carried by said reenforcing members, said lugs being apertured, a shaft rotatably mounted in said apertures, pinions mounted on said shaft, racks fixed to said raising endgate in a position to receive said pinions, said shaft being slidable in said lugs when said pinions are out of mesh with said racks, means for rotating said shaft to raise said endgate comprising an arm pivoted to one end of said shaft and swingable into a position aligned with the longitudinal edge of said shaft to accommodate the passage of said shaft through said lugs.

CARL F. BAUER. DONALD A. WANGELIN. CLIFFORD L. SCOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 697,949 Schofield Apr. 15,1902 889,295 Carroll June 2, 1908 946,981 Newberry Jan. 18, 1910 1,139,458 Ledwinka May 11, 1915 1,203,732 Hasselbring Nov. 7, 1916 1,204,971 Gordon Nov. 14, 1916 1,223,912 Waterman Apr. 24, 1917 1,270,026 Graeber et a1 June 18, 1918 1,388,896 Sage Aug. 30, 1921 1,394,198 Lawrence Oct. 18, 1921 1,765,204 Card June 17, 1930 1,806,428 Travis, Jr May 19, 1931 1,807,084 Chevrier May 26, 1931 1,836,723 Muchnic Dec. 15, 1931 1,908,457 Swift et a1 May 9, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,248 Denmark Jan. 17, 1907

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