US2575751A

US2575751A - Adjustable dunnage apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2575751A
Application number: US62926A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donnelley Elliott
Original assignee: RR Donnelley and Sons Co
Current assignee: RR Donnelley and Sons Co
Priority date: 1948-12-01
Filing date: 1948-12-01
Publication date: 1951-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1968-11-20

Description

Nov. 20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY 2,575,7571

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV- 20, 1951 E. DoNNl-:LLEY

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l, 1948 Nov. 20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l, 1948 b b M l l l l l l l l l l L.|

K el? Zai c? Nov. 20, 1951 E. DONNELLEY 2,575,751

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. l, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 OOOGOOOOOO y? ozvzezls Nov. 20, 1951 E. DoNNr-:LLEY

ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. l, 1948 Patented Nov. 20, 1951 ADJUSTABLE DUNNAGE APPARATUS Elliott Donnelley, Chicago, Ill., assigner to- R. R.

Donnelly t` Sons, `a corporation. of Illinois.

Application December 1, 1948, Serial No.762g926 22Claims. (Cl.105-369) members areA retained in position against the walls of the car principally by endwise thrust of main braces disposed therebetween.

A further object is to provide dunnage apparatus in which cross-arms may be readily dis posed between adjacent main braces so as to give lateral stability to a load.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of the preferred form of the invention installed in a railway box car, the top of the car being removed for clarity of'illustration; Fig. 2 is a section taken as indicated at 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a main brace partly in section; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cross-arm; Fig. 5 is a section taken as indicated at 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig; 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a main brace with the flanking cross braces in position; Fig. '7 is a section taken as indicated at 1*7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a section taken as indicated at 8-8 of Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of a box car illustrating a modified form of the in.

vention; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan View of the modied form of supporting member and main brace; and Fig. 11 is a section taken` as indicated at II-I I of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is illustrated as applied to a box car, indicated generally at I5 and consists of three principal elements-supporting members A, main braces B, and cross-arms C.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 6 to 8, inclusive, each supporting member A in the preferred embodiment comprises a main plate IB which is of sufficient length to extend from the floor to the top of the normal loading Zone of -a box car, said plate being provided on its rear surface with a `plurality of short, spaced teeth I'I to engage the wall of the car and resist lateral displacement of the supporting member. Welded to the front of the main plate and extending the length thereof are a pair of spaced angle irons I8 provided along their projecting edges With a series of registering pairs or hook-like serrations I9. With respect to the body of the box car, therefore, the serrations face inwardly. A few holes 2|! extend through the` angle irons and main plate to accommodate nails 2I by which the supporting member A may be lightly secured to a wall of the box carl The supportingmembersare ordinarily disposed in opposed pairs as seen in Fig. 1, and the nails 2i are employedonl'y for a temporary mounting while the main braces B are being put into place, the principali retaining means for the supporting members being the endwise thrust ofY the main braces as will be more fully explainedhereafter.

As best seen in Fig; 3, each main brace B comprises a rectangular metal tube 22 which has an extension member 23 telescopically mounted in each of its ends. Preferably the main braces are fabricated from extruded aluminum or magnesium, to minimize` deadweigh-tl Inasmuchas the two endsof a main brace are identical, only one-halfof such arbrace is illustrated in detail and will be described.

Since the supporting members areheld in place principally by the thrust of the main braces, the latter must be extensible, and readily retained in any predetermined position. To this end, the inner end of the extensionmember 23 is provided with an adjusting head 24 held in place by a plurality of set screws 24a. A center bore in the adjusting head 24 carries a threaded insert 25 which has an annular flange 26 by which it is fastened to the adjusting head 24 by means of a plurality of screws 21, the flange also serving to confine a compression spring 28 which surrounds the threaded insert 25. Thus, the threaded insert 25 may be adjusted longitudinally of the main brace by proper setting of the screws 2l, and is maintained against displacement by the thrust of the spring 28.

A cross head 29 in the tube has at its center a bearing 39 through which is passed a rotatable shaft 3I having a thread Sla at its outer extremity so as to engage 'the threaded insert 25 of theadjusting member. The cross head 29 also serves as a stop to limit the retraction of the extension member 23; A bearing block 32 isr mounted at the middle of the tube 22 and is provided with

lateral bearings

33 and 34 for the threaded shafts 3l and also with a center Well 35 to receive a crank shaft 36 which has its upper end rotatably carried in a flanged well 3"V vided adjacent its lower end with a bevel gear 39 which meshes with bevel gears 40 on the threaded sharts 3| so that rotation of the crank shaft 36 will cause extension or retraction of the telescopmg extension members 23.

As best seen in rigs. b to inclusive, the main braces B are provided at their ends with a plurality of spaced projecting pins 4I which are positioned to rest in the hook-like serrations I9 of the supporting members A. Since the main braces B must be set snugly against the adjoining portions of a'load, they must be laterally adjustable over a small area. Accordingly, each end of.

a main brace is provided with av threaded bore 42 through which extends a threaded screw 43 having a peripherally grooved collar 44 adjacent one or' its ends, the collar being an appropriate width to engage the angle member I8 immediately adjacent the hook-like serration I9 into which the threaded screw 43 fits. The end 43a of the screw 43 is square to accommodate a crank by which the screw may be manipulated. rlhus, the main braces may be laterally adjusted with respect to the angle members I8; and in order that such adjustment may be readily made even when the main braces are thrusting against the supporting members A, the ends of the main braces are provided with rollers 45 mounted on vertical spindles 45 in such a fashion that the rollers project from the ends of the main braces and form the thrust element thereof.

The cross-arms C extend between adjacent main braces B and accordingly the main braces are constructed toaccommodate the cross-arms and to retain them against displacement longitudinally of the brace. Ordinarily, proper bracing of a load in a box car or truck will require a cross-arm at each side of the load and one substantially in the center. Accordingly, the tubes 22 of the main braces are provided at the center and adjacent each lend of the sidewalls with a series of spaced apertures 41, and the extension members 23 are provided with slots 48 which register with the end series of apertures 4l.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, a cross-arm C is formed from a rectangular tubular member 49 having a central cross head 50 from each side of which projects a tubular spring guide A thrust element 52 is telescopically mounted in each end of the tube 49 and has its outer end closed by a headed plug 53 which serves as a seat for a spring well 54. The inner end of the spring well 54 is supported in an annular plug 55 at the inner end of the thrust element 52.

The telescoping elements of a cross-arm LC are Vretained against accidental separation by a long screw 56 which extends through an apertured plug 5l in the end of the spring guide 5|. The head of the screw 56 seats on the plug 57 while the threaded end 58 thereof screws into an appropriately located socket in the headed plug 53 of the extension member 52 and is retained by a lock nut 59. A compression spring 60 has one of its ends abutting against the cross-head 5|) and has its other end abutting against the top surface of the headed plug 53, the body of the spring being carried on the spring guide 5| and in the spring well 54. A suitable spring will be of sufcient strength to require approximately lbs. compressive force in order to retract the thrust members 52 in the tubular member 49. The end of each cross-arm is provided with a pair of spaced projecting pins 6| which are positioned to penetrate an adjoining pair of spaced apertures 41 in the main braces B.

It is seen from the foregoing description that the adjustable dunnage apparatus may be readily accommodated to various loads and loading conditions. Thus, as seen in Fig. l, a pair of supporting members AI and A2 may be placed in opposed positions immediately adjacent the corners of a box car. Main braces BI are then placed at appropriate intervals along the length of the supporting members AI and AZ-the spacing between main braces being determined principally by the height of the individual units making up the load. A first group of elements forming the load will then be put into position with the back sides of the elements flush against the main braces BI. Supporting members A3 and A4 may then be nailed lightly into position adjacent ,the forward side of the rst portion of the load, and secured in place by means of appropriately distributed main braces B2. In order that the main braces B2 may hold the rst portion of the load securely in place they may be adjusted with respect to the supporting members A3 and A4 by means of the threaded screws 43.

Cross-arms CI, C2 and C3 may then be placed between the adjacent main braces BI and B2 at appropriate intervals to retain the elements forming the rst portion of the load against lateral displacement. The cross-arms are readily put into position by inserting the pins 5| intoa suitable pair of the holes 41 in the main brace, putting suflicient pressure upon the cross-arms to compress the springs 50, and engaging the pins 6| at the opposite end of the cross-arm with the apertures 4l in the adjoining main brace B2 which are directly opposite those in the main brace Bl.

The several groups of elements making up the entire load may thus be strongly braced against lateral or longitudinal displacement by appropriately spaced additional supporting members A, main braces B and cross-arms C.

In the modied form of dunnage apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and l1, supporting members X are retained in place by the longitudinal thrust of main braces Y, and the cross-arms Z are disposed between adjacent main braces. The cross-arms Z are identical with those described for the preferred form, and thus their description will not be repeated here.

Each supporting member X consists of a plate ||6 provided on its rear surface with a plurality of short, spaced teeth III, to engage the Wall of the car and resist longitudinal displacement of the supporting member. The forward surface of the plate Ht` is provided with a pair of spaced horizontal rail members IIS and a gear rack ||9 disposed between said rails. The main braces Y are similar to the main braces B of the preferred embodiment of the invention, except for the engaging elements at the ends of the main braces which make engagement with the supporting members X Thus, the main braces Y are formed from a plurality of telescoping elements |22 and |23.

V Rotatably mounted at the upper end of each of the spindles |26 is a peripherally grooved roller |28 which is adapted to span the upper rail IIS, and at the lower end of each spindle |25` is rotatably mounted a roller |29, positioned to bear against the lower rail VI I8. Mounted onY the spindle 21 is agear wheel|3llwhich is 7positioned to engage the teeth rot the gear rack H9.

It willA be seen that each main brace may be put into place adjacent a portion of the load in a box car, and its engaging elements brought into thrusting engagement with the supporting members X by cranking the telescoping members |22 and |23 to an appropriately extended position, in the same manner as was described for the main braces BJ The mainbraces Y may then be driven close against. the adjacent portion of the load by engaging a crank with the upper end of spindle |21 and turning, it to drive the gear wheel |30 across the rack: l I9.

In order to retain the main brace Y in the above described position, each yoke member |25 has a central vertical bore |3| above the inner edge of the gear wheel It@ and a pin |32. extending through said bore is pressed downwardly by a spring |33 confined beneath a plug cap I 34. The lower end |35 oi the pin 32 is shaped to extend between two adjacent teeth. of the gear wheel |30 and lock it against` rotation. When the gear wheel is being turned by` the crank, the spring pressed pin may be held out ci engagement by gripping the head thereof and drawing it upwardly against the tension of the spring |33.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as modications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Iclaim:

1. Adjustable dunnage apparatus comprising: supporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members thereof, said members having inwardly facing serrated portions; main braces comprising a plurality of telescoping members and having projecting elements at their ends to engage the serrated portions of an opposed pair of supporting members; screw and nut means in said `main braces for effecting longitudinal adjustment thereof to provide an outward retaining thrust against the supporting members tending to retain said members against displacement; and cross-arms adapted to be disposed between adjacent main braces, said cross-arms being longitudinally adjustable and having their ends provided with means for engaging said main braces.

2. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein the main braces are constructed to retain the cross-arms against lateral displacement.

'3. Apparatus of the character described` in claim 1 wherein the main braces are provided on each side with a plurality of spaced apertures, and the means on the cross-arms for engaging the main braces comprises a plurality of pins adapted to penetrate said apertures.

4. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein the cross-arms comprise a plurality of telescoping members, means to prevent accidental separation of said members, and springs urging said telescoping members to their most extended positions.

5. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein the supporting members are normally retained in place principally by the thrust of the main braces and have wall engaging teeth on their rear surfaces to resist lateral displacement.

6. Apparatus of the character described in claim 1 wherein each main brace comprises an elongated metal tube andan extension member telescopically engaging said tube; and the screw and nut means comprises athreaded nut mounted at theV inner end of the extension member; a rotatable shaft mounted transversely of the tube and adapted. to be turned by a crank, and a longitudinal. screw engaging the threaded nut, said screw being operatively connected tothe shaft.

7. Adjustable dunnage apparatus, comprising: supporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to theV inner walls of4 a. box` car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members thereof, said members having. a verticalV series of spaced pairs of inwardly facing hook-like serraticns; main braces comprising a plurality of telescoping` members and having a plurality of laterally projecting studs` adjacent their ends adapted to support the braces on the hook-like serrations of the supporting members; means in said main braces for eiecting` longitudinal adjustment thereof to provide an outward retaining thrust against the supporting members tending to retain said members against displacement; and crossarms adapted to be disposed between adjacent main braces, said cross-arms being longitudinally adjustable and having their ends provided with means for engaging said main braces.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 7 wherein each main brace has a threaded lateral bore adjacent each end with a threaded screw extending therethrough, each screw having a peripherally grooved collar adjacent one or" its ends to engage a serration on the supporting member so that rotation of the screw will cause lateral adjustment of the brace in the supporting member.

9. Apparatus of the character described in claim 8 wherein each main brace has a vertically spindled roller projecting from each of its ends so as to permit substantial pressure of the ends of the brace against the supporting members without hindering its lateral adjustment.

10. A main brace for use in adjusting dunnage apparatus having supporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members of the box car, and which sup-porting members have inwardly facing serrated portions, comprising: a plurality of telescoping members; screw and nut means 'for effecting relative longitudinal adjustment of said members whereby the brace is adapted to exert a retaining thrust tending to prevent displacement of said supporting members; and projecting elements at the ends of the brace to engage with said serrated portions.

l1. A main brace oi" the character described in claim 10 wherein means are provided at intervals along the length of the brace for interlocking with the ends of a cross-arm so as to retain the cross-arm against movement longitudinally of the brace.

l2. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus having supporting member adapted` to be temporarily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members of a box car and which supporting members have inwardly facing serrated portions, comprising: an elongated metal tube; an extension member telescopically engaging said tube; a threaded nut mounted at the inner end of said extension member; a rotatable shaft mounted transversely of the tube and adapted to be turned by a crank; a rotatable screw extending longitudinally of the tube and engaging the nut on the extension member; intermeshing members for transmitting rotary motion from said shaft to said screw whereby when the brace is placed between two supporting members it may be elongated to exert aA retaining thrust tending to prevent displacement of said supporting members; and projecting elements at the ends of the brace to engage said serrated portions.

13. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus having supporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner Walls of a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members of a box car and which supporting members have a vertical series of spaced pairs of inwardly facing hooklike serrations, comprising: a plurality of telescoping members; screw and nut means for effecting relative longitudinal adjustment of said members whereby when the brace is placed between two supporting members it may be elongated to exert a retaining thrust tending to prevent displacement of said supporting members; and a plurality of laterally extending studs adjacent each end of the brace adapted to support the brace upon the spaced pairs of hook-like serrations of the supporting members.

14. A main brace of the character described in claim 13 wherein a threaded lateral bore is provided adjacent each end and a rotatable screw extends therethrough, said screw having a peripherally grooved collar adjacent one of its ends to engage a serration on the supporting member so that rotation of the screw will cause lateral adjustment of the brace in the supporting member.

15. A main brace of the character described in claim 14 which has a vertically spindled roller projecting from each of its ends so as to permit substantial pressure of the ends of the brace against the supporting members without hindering said lateral adjustment.

16. A cross-arm adapted for mounting between parallel, transversely extending main braces in adjustable dunnage apparatus of the character described, comprising: a plurality of telescoping body members; means to prevent accidental separation of said body members; springs urging said telescoping body members to their most extended positions; and means at the ends of the cross-arm to engage the main braces.

17. A cross-arm of the character described in claim 16 wherein the means to engage the main braces comprise a plurality of pins adapted to penetrate spaced apertures in the main braces.

18. Adjustable dunnage apparatus, comprising: supporting members adapted to be'tempararily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposed pairs and bearing against structural members thereof, each supporting member comprising a plate having on its inner surface in spaced relation a pair of horizontal rail members and a horizontal gear rack; main braces comprising a plurality of telescoping members having adjustment means arranged to provide longitudinal outward thrust of the main braces against the supporting members tending toretain said members against displacement; engaging elements at the ends of said main braces comprising a peripherally grooved roller adapted to span one of the rails on the supporting' member, a roller adapted to bear against the other rail, a gear wheel adapted to engage the gear rack, and means for locking the gear wheel against rotation; and longitudinally adjustable cross-arms adapted to engage adjoining main braces.

19. Apparatus of the character described in claim 18 wherein the two rollers are on one spindle and the gear wheel is on a second spindle provided with a projecting end adapted to receive a crank member, and the means for locking the gear wheel against rotation consists of a spring-pressed pin shaped to seat between two adjacent teeth of the gear wheel.

20. A main brace for use in adjustable dunnage apparatus having supporting members adapted to be temporarily secured to the inner walls of a box car in opposed pairs bearing against structural members of the box car and in which each supporting member comprises a plate having on its inner surface in spaced relationship a pair of horizontal rail members and a horizontal gear rack, comprising: a plurality of telescoping members having adjust-` ment means arranged to provide an outward longitudinal thrust of the main braces against the supporting members tending to retain said members against displacement; a peripherally grooved roller adapted to span one of the rails on the supporting members; a second roller adapted to bear against the other roller; a gear wheel adapted to engage the gear rack; and the means for locking the gear wheel against rotation.

21. A main brace of the character describedin claim 20 wherein the two rollers are on one spindle, and the gear wheel is on a second spindle provided with a projecting end adapted to receive a crank member, and the means of locking the gear wheel against rotation consists of a spring-pressed pin shaped tov seat between two adjacent teeth of the gear wheel. 22. Apparatus of the character described in claim 21 which is provided with a pair of spaced spindles each having mounted upon it a peripherally grooved roller and a second roller.

ELLIOTT DONNELLEY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,075,001 Bacon Oct. 7, 1913 1,833,016 Chandler Nov. 24, 1931 2,268,394 Hebert Dec. 30, 1941 2,287,852 Zyara June 30, 1942 2,354,861 Hermann Aug. 1, 1944 2,425,875 Hermann Aug. 19, 1947