US2580760A

US2580760A - Railway car

Info

Publication number: US2580760A
Application number: US670410A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest G Goodwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-05-17
Filing date: 1946-05-17
Publication date: 1952-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1969-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR 8 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 17, 1946 E. G. GOODWIN Jan. l 1952 RAILWAY CAR Filed May 17, 194e 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 15.11952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR Filed May A17, 194e 8 Shee'cs-Sheeil 5 E. G. GOODWIN Jan. 1, 1952 RAILWAY sheets-sheet 4 Filed May 17, 1946 IIIlIVII Jan. 1, 1952 E. G. GOODWIN RAILWAY CAR 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 17, 194e E. G. GOODWINl Jan. l, 1952 RAILWAY CAR Filed May 17, 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 E. GOODWIN Jan. l, 1952 RAILWAY CAR 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed May 1'7, 1946 Jam l 1952 E. G. GOODWIN 2,580,760

RA'ILWAY CAR Filed May 1'?,k 1946 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 in providing a drop end door -wthftubularmeans Patented Jan. l, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to railway cars and more particularly to spring means for drop end doors of gondola cars and to a method of applying the spring means to the doors.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a drop end door of a gondola car with spring means which is energized upon opening'of the door and tends to return the door to closed position. f

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method whereby the spring device formed of torsion bars is subjected to initial torsion during the assembling operation of the door with the car.

The primary feature of the invention consists in providing a drop end door of a railway gondola car with torsion bars extending longitudinally of the lower edge of the door, the outer ends of the bars being secured to the side walls of the car against rotation and the door being provided with means for twisting the bars as it moves toward open position so as to provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing the lower edge of a drop end .door with a tubular housing in which a plurality of torsion bars are disposed, the outer ends of the torsion bars being secured lto the side walls of the car against rotation and means beingdispo'sed in the tubular portion of the door for operatively engaging the bars and twisting them as the doorV moves toward open position to provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

. A further feature o-f the invention consists in providing a drop end door with a tubular portion along its lower edge having a bracket intermediate the sides of the door for engaging the inner ends of torsion bars which, at their outer ends, are secured to the side walls'of the car and are, therefore, twisted when the door is moved toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

A sti11 further and more specific feature of the invention consists in providing a dro-p end door having a downwardly and inwardly inclined flange with `a U-shaped member providing aV housing for torsion bars extending longitudinally of the door, the outer ends of the torsion bars being held by the side Walls of the car against rotation and the bars being adapted to bel twisted as the door moves toward open position to provide a force tending to return it to closed position.`

A still further feature of the invention consistsy at its' lower edge adapted toencircle inwardly projecting bosses of brackets secured to the car sides, the outer ends of the torsion springs being held against rotation by the brackets and the torsion springs being adapted to be twisted upon movement of the door toward open positionvto provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

Other and more specific features of the invention, residing in advantageous forms, combinations and relations of parts, will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Y t

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a railway gondola car showing a drop end door of standard manufacture in elevation as viewed from the end of the car. 4

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View partly in section and partly in elevation of the bracket secured within the tubular portion of the drop end door.

Figure 4 is a side view in elevation of one of the brackets secured to the car sides, the torsion bars engageable thereby being shown in section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a gondola car showingV a drop end door embodying another form of my invention.

, Figure 6 is a vvertical sectional view taken on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view of a railway gondola car showing the corner of the car illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 5. l

Figure 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the door bracket for the torsion bar of the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 5.

Figure 10 is aside view of the bracket as seen in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a top view of the bracket, partly in section and partly in elevation.

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of one of the bosses of one of the car brackets.

Figure 13 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the door hinge brackets.

,Figures 14 and 15 are views respectively corresponding to Figures 6 and 7 of a third form of the invention.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a railway gondola car showing a drop end door thereof embodying the third Vform of the invention.

Figure 17 is a' vertical sectional'view of the tubular member'at the lower edge of the drop end Figure 21 is an end elevational view of the" portion of the car shown in Figure 20 illustrating the location of the door abutting members with respect to the center sill of the car.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsV and to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, I indicates the side sheets of the side walls of a drop end railway gondola car to which, as is well known,V corner posts 2 are respectively secured. In addition Ato the iiange 3l which is secured to the side walls of the car, each corner post has a flange 4 which extends transversely of the car across the adjacent end thereof. l

Pivotally associated with the car adjacent itsY opposite ends are drop end doors 5, only'oneof which has been illustrated since the two doors are of identical construction. The flanges 1If of the corner posts are arranged t overlap the outer faces of the drop end door and provide an abutment therefor when the door is in upright closed position. v Y I Y Adjacent its lower corners, the door may be advantageously provided with a pair of brackets 6 each having a portion 'I 'secured to the main body portion of the door and 'a flange secured to an adjacent marginal flange 8a ofthe door which preferably inclines inwardly as shown in Figure l. The door illustratedl to which this present embodiment of thev invention is applied has a downwardly and Vinwardly inclined lower flange 9 to which the brackets lv are also preferably secured. Thel brackets are respectively formed with outwardly projecting portions I9 which encircle inwardly projecting bosses II of brackets I2 which are rigidly secured to the sides of the car whereby the door is pivotally sup'- ported. The cylindrical portions II) may Vadvantageously be reinforced and connected tothe' main portions of the bracket 6 by triangularly shaped rigidifying ribs I3. The lower portion of the dooris provided `with a tubular housing which preferably extends from one side of the door to the other and, inthe pres` ent embodiment of the invention, may y conveniently be formed by a U-shaped` memfberiii whose upper ends are welded to the 'door fadjacent opposite edges of the inclined'angef'g; The door is thus provided with arcurved or 'sermcircular lower portion which :is preferably concentric with the pivotal axis of the door. This enables the lower edgeof the door to be disposed closely adjacent the floor of the car and dirt or other foreign matter which may pass 'under it will not obstruct or interfere with movement of the door on its rigid pivotal connections to lthe car as the rounded lower edge will merely slide on dirt which may have accumulated in the cavity between the bottomportion of the door and the end of the car. l

Disposed within the, tubular portion" and secured to thellower flange 3 before thelJ-shaped member I4"is1connected 'thereto' is a bracket AI 5v having oppositely opening recesses I6 for red ceiving the inner ends of torsion bars I1 which extend longitudinally of the lower edge of the door. To prevent any turning of the bracket I5 with respect to the door, it is formed with laterally projecting ears or the like I8 for receiving rivets I9 whereby it may be rigidly secured to the inclined ange 9. In addition, the bracket may be conveniently provided with downwardly extendinglugs or vthe likel 20 which are adapted to fit within suitable recesses in the bottom of the U-:shaped member I4. Thus bracket I5 is prevented from turning by the rivets I9 as well as bythe lugs or studs 20 engaging recessed portions of .the U-shaped member I4 which, as stated before, is secured to the lower edge of the door after the-bracket has been riveted in place.

A plurality of torsion bars I'I arranged in over` lapping 'engagement are preferably disposed on opposite sides of the bracket I5 with their inner ends tting within the recesses IB.- The outer ends ofthe'torsion bars are inserted into recesses 2l in the respective bosses II of the car brackets I2. The portions of the bosses II which extend beyond the recessed portions I6 of the car advantageously provided with-substahtially tri'- angularly shapedribs or the like 22 forguiding the ends of the bars when being inserted in the recesses. Y d I By thus holding the outer ends of the torsion bars against yrotation with respect to thefc'ai'v body and by also holding the inner ends-'of the two sets of torsion bars against rotation withl respect to'the'door, it will be appreciated Ithat,

when the door is moved inwardly towardit's op'en position, the vbars will bev twisted and thereby provide a force tending to return the d'oor'to upright closed position. With the aidpo the torsional'vfo'rces provided by the bars I1, it-will be readily apparent that the door may be raised from its horizontal openV position to its vertical closed position by a single workman instead-of by several as have heretofore been required.

The torsion bars may, of course, be of such size as to completely counterbalance the weight of of the'bracket I5,` itwill, of course, be appreciated'that 'ai smallerl spring forcey may `be obtained by completely omitting the torsion 'bars on 'onesideof the bracket. 'Moreoven when tor'- sion bars extend from only one of the carsides to thev bracket I5, the torsion to be imparted by the bars` tc Athe door may be varied or Aadjusted by shifting the bracket transversely 'of the car` andsecur ing"it tothe ldoor in the desired positionof adjustment. 's s A While it is preferred that the torsion bars themselves be insufficient to cause the 'door to movefro'm yopen to 'closed position, -it is desired that they exert some' Ytorsional force even after the door has yassumed fully closed'pos'ition soas to li'oldthe'door in that position unattended while the'usialretainingmeans v(not-shown) 7b are'operat'dto lock thefdoor in closed'position.

brackets fort'receiving the torsion' bars may'fbe Instead of 'having torsion bars on both sides 'To accomplish this, the recesses 2| in the car brackets I 2 are inclined relatively to the substantially horizontal recesses I6 in the bracket I5, it being seen that all of the recesses are enlarged at points opposite the walls thereof which are engaged by the bars so as to enable them to be easily inserted in the recesses and to also eliminate the necessity of machining the recesses for the entire width of the bars. Thus before the door is applied to the car, the torsion bars I'I are inserted within the recesses I6 and the car brackets I2 are mounted on the opposite sides,

of the door in engagement with the outer ends ofthe torsion bars. In view of the relative disposition of the recesses I6 in the bracket I5 secured to the door and the recessesr 2| in the car brackets I2, the lower ends 23 of the car brackets which are offset from the door will depend below the bottom portion of the bracket 24 which is disposed immediately below the torsion bars. Thus when the door is lowered into the car for connection thereto, the depending portions 23 of the car brackets engage the floor or some other portion of the car before the door comes to rest upon the car floor. This initial engagement of the car brackets with the car body causes them to rotate into the positions shown in the drawings and thus imparts some torsion to the bars I'I. After the car brackets have been rotated into the more or less upright positions shown in the drawings to impart initial torsion to the bars I1, they may be secured in the desired positions by first placing a drift pin through one of the apertures in the brackets and the corresponding apertures in the car sides. Thereafter, the brackets may be easily riveted in place.

It should be noted that the bottom of the U-shaped member I4 is provided with a plurality of drain holes 25 so that moisture collecting within the member mayieasily drain therefrom. Moreover, adjacent lits opposite ends, the U-shaped member is also provided with openings 26 for receiving depending lugs ZI of the hinge brackets 6 whereby the weld connections between the door and the rmember I4 are relieved from undue strain upon movement of the door to and from closed position.

The end sill cover plate 28 at each end of the car has an upwardly projecting flange 29 which is overlappingly secured to an upright flange 38 of the end floor supporting angle 3|, the other flange 32 of the angle underlying and thus supporting the floor 33 of the car. The upwardly extending portion 29 of the end sill, as well as the upwardly extending flange of the end angle, terminates in a horizontal plane near the horizontal plane passing through the pivotal axis of the door. When the door is closed these upstanding portions overlap the outer face of the door, and when the door is open they cooperate with the U-shaped member I4. By arranging the upper edges of flanges 29 and 38 in this manner, the formation of pockets between the flanges and the door, when the door is in open position, is eliminated so that dirt which might possibly prevent movement of the door to closed position is thereby prevented from collecting and lodging therein. This feature of construction whereby foreign matter cannot collect adjacent the hinge axis 'of the door when the door is open and thereby interfere with closure of the door is applicable to all types of drop end gondola car doors having curved lower portions, such as the member I 4,y

While the upright flange of the end floor angle and the corresponding part of the end sill cover plate have heretofore served as abutments to engage the lower portion of the pivoted doorV when in closed position, upright members 34 se,-r

-members may be placed transversely of the car as seen in Figures 20 and 21 whereineach is shown as a plate member extending longitudinally of the car. f

The end sill cover plate 28 overlies the end sill I9 Which may be of any conventional shape,

such as a channel or the like, having a web and inwardly projecting flanges SI. Intermediate its length and at the center of the car, the end sill is interrupted by the center sill 82 which may be conveniently formed as an integral member having sides 83 connected by a top wall 84, the sides terminating in outwardly projecting flanges 85. The upright door abutting members 34 are preferably disposed in the planes of the sides 83 of the center sill.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 5 to 13, inclusive, the tubular member extending longitudinally of the lower edge of the door maybe formed by a pipe or the like 35y welded or otherwise secured to the door and it is disposed below the bottom edge of the door so that the lower half thereof provides a curved portion concentric with the pivotal axis of .the door. A downwardly inclined shedding plate 36 may be employed with the pipe to prevent dirt from collecting in the angle where the pipe is secured to the door, one edge of the plate being secured to the upper portion of the pipe and its opposite edge being secured to the inner face of,

the door.

The lower corners of the drop end door 3l may be provided with hinge castings 38 similar to the hinge brackets 5 of the first described embodiment of the invention. These castings or brackets respectively have plate portions 39 secured to the main body portion of the door and flanges 48 secured to the lower portion of inwardly inclined marginal flanges 4I of the door. In addition, each bracket 38 is formed with a cylindrical portion 42 which is Yadapted to enf circle an inwardly extending boss 43 of an adjacent bracket 44 secured to the neighboring side wall of the car. By having the brackets 38 encircle the bosses 43 of Vthe car brackets 44, the` door is pivotally connected to the car.

At about the center of the door is a bracket 454 which is rigid therewith. This bracket serves the same purpose as bracket I5 of the previously'` described form of the invention and is formed with a cylindrical body portion having oppositely arranged portions 46 disposed within the pipe 35 which is preferably formed in two sections, each extending in opposite directions from the casting 45. Y

Each of the portions 46 is formed with a recess 4'I for receivingthe inner ends of torsion bars 48, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10. The recesses in the casting 45 are of the same shape as those formed in the brackets I5, hav.

ing diagonally opposite substantially horizontal surfaces 49 adapted to engage the torsion bars,

48 and diagonally arranged inclined portions 50:

Which, as pointed out in the description l0f.

machining the top and bottom surfaces=ofthe` ing leg-'or the like 5I whichisprovided withaV plate portion 52 -for'engaging'the'adjacent inner face--of the door and, to properly. position thek casting on 'the door, theplate-iportionf52 may;A be formed with an' inwardly' projecting lugL 53 adapted to extend withinanropeningfin Athe'door.`

Because of the upwardly extendingV memberv I. the pipe 35 Vis formed in sections, one end of each section encircling one of the cylindrical portions 46 of the casting andthe other 'end thereof encircling a conical extension 5'4' of'the adjacent door vbracket *38; By taperingithe lex-l terior of the portion 54, the adjacent tubular sectionV may be easily placed thereoverand thereafter welded to the door bracket, as indicated atl55.

The bosses 43 of the carbra'ckets 44'are Arecessed, as indicated at 56, similarly to thecar brackets vl2 ofthe rst describedembodim'e'nt of the invention to receive the outer ends of the torsion bars 48. The brackets are likewise formed with triangularlyshaped guiding flanges 51 extending from the recessed portions 56to theends of the bosses. It is to beappreciated that these flanges-51 also afford means for rigidifying the bosses 43. vThe center-'casting 45 is alsoA formed` with 'flanges 58 for Vguiding fthe torsion bars into Athe recesses 41.

With the inner endslof the torsion'bars held against rotation with respect'to the door by "the casting 45 and the outerfends of the bars held against rotation -withrespect rto the car by the brackets 44, it will be perceived that, as the door is moved toward open position, the bars are twisted and thereby provide al force Ywhich tends.

to cause the door to returnv to` upright closed position.

The casting 45 on the-door isxpreventedrfrom relativerotation with respect thereto not only by the upright member 5I but also `by'a'downwardlyextending. lug orprojection 59 which is embedded in weld 60 connecting the sectionsofthe pipe together and to the casting'.

As seen in Figures 6, 8 arid also lligure 2l,V the upwardly extending portionsk 6I of the Aend 'i sill cover. plate 62, as well as the upwardly extend'- ing vportion 63 of the end floor fsu-pporting angle 64, terminates approximately in `arhorizontal plane passing through the pivotal-axis of thev door so that, when the door. isfin open :position, no pocket :is `formed between the door and these upwardly Aprojecting portions lin vwhich foreign Vmaterial may collect which wouldinterfere with movement of the door to closed position.

Aplurality of upright 'members 55 -are `secured to' the end sill cover plate and extend over-and above the upper edges of the upstanding portions 6I and 63 ofthe end sill and 1end floor ures5 to 13, inclusive', the tubevorlpipe--GEf-along,l

the lower edge ofthe doormaybe :made of sufiiciently heavy material -so that, asshowniin the form of the invention"illustratedflin ligure's.A 14A to 19, inclusivepthe brackets maybefdispensedwith and the pipe itself "encircle-inwardly.uprojecting bossesG-Tfof bracketslafsecuredlto theicar sides and thereby aiorda 1c ivot`al fsupporftorf the door.' `In2sucheailconstruction, the door will be'pivotallyconnected `to 'the 'car 1in the. same manner las in previously.l described embodiments of Vthe invention. -A v.downwardly inclined f shedding plate Gef-'identical with.-V shedding plate 36 in''the form of'the inventionl illustrated in Figures'i 1:0113; inclusive', may beemployedY in connecti'ori with the pipe6`6.

The'ipipe 66 may-'advantageously extend'continuously from one-sideof the carto theother by intcriorly providing'. it with a casting 10. This casting isfformed 'with arecess- 1l for receiving a member '12,V which'mayconvenientlybe platelike, andii's riveted to the door and'extends.

throughfa'nopenin'g 13 in the pipe into tnelre'ces's 1l. Thus the castingl is rmly locked against re1ative"rotation with respect-to thepipev66. In

using va casting of this form,iit will, of course, be

appreciated'that'it will ha'veito be Ica'refully assembled with the pipe 66's'0 that'its reces's`1l will register with theopening 13so as'to receive the plate-like'member 12.

In addition to having recessed portions 114 for receivingfthe inn'er'en'ds of torsion bars 15 which extend' in opposite directions to the sides of the carirom adjacent the central portion of the door, the casting '10' is fformed intermediate theY recesses 14 with an'openingpermitting a torsion bar 16 to extendcontiriuously from one side ofthe car to theother. Asin other forms of the invention, the outer en'd'sioflthe torsionbars vare heldagainst rotation .by being' disposed within recesses 11 in the bosses 61o'f the car'brackets. Thus 'the same torsional forces are 'set up in the bars, whenthe door isf-moved toward open position, as in the yotherembodiments 'of the invention.

It'will; offcourse, berecogniz'ed that the casting positioned withinthe central portion of the tubular lower edgeiof vthe Adoorln'iay be provided, as seeniniFigure v19,'with'an opening of sufficient size t0 permit a plurality of torsion bars 18 to extend `l`continuously from 'one side of 'the car tothe other insteadof merely having oppositely opening' recesses-for receiving shorter torsion bars.

As all structural parts of the car illustrated in therabove'embodiments of 'the invention are identical, the 'same'n'umerals'have been used to designate'th'e corresponding parts of car construction throughout the specification.

Various alterations 'may be 'made in details of the structural'embodiments of the-inventionhere-disclosedwithout departing from the spirit and-"scope of'the 'invention-- as dened in the appended claims.

WhatI claim is:

1; In"arailwayfgorid0la car having side walls and a-'pivotedld'r'openddoor 'adapted 'to be disposed"inuprightSpositionfwhen closed and adapted to be fdisp'osedin'ov'erlapping lrelation with th'ej-caroor 'when'opened, a bracket mounted in the lower portion-of the door having'oppositely openin'g'recesses, `a tubular housing 'extending on opposite sides offsaid bracket, brackets secured to the side walls-'of the lcar affording a pivotal 'mounting for the door, vand torsion bars disposed within said housing and having their inner ends in said recesses, the outer ends of the said'torsion rods'beingvsecured against rotation by said bracketssecured to the car sides, said'bracketon thedoor being cooperable with said ito'rsionibars to -twistthemas the door moves toward lopen lposition to thereby provide a v-force tendingito 'return fthe door to closed position` ed to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, a tubular housing extending along the lower portion of the door, brackets on the side walls of the car affording a pivotal support for the door, a bracket mounted within said tubular housing intermediate the sides of the door and having oppositely opening recesses, and torsion bars disposed within said housing and having their inner ends respectively disposed in said recesses and having their outer 'ends connected to the said brackets on the side walls of the car to prevent rotation of the outer ends thereof, said bracket on the door being cooperable with said torsion bars and being adapted to subject them to torsion when the door is moved toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to vclosed position.

3. In a railway gondola car having sidewalls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car ioor when opened, brackets on the side walls of the car affording a pivotal support for the door, a bracket secured to the lower portion of the door intermediate the side edges thereof andhaving oppositely opening recesses, and torsion bars respectively disposed in said openings and extending toward the sides of the car, said brackets on the car sides respectively holding the outer ends of said bars against rotation whereby when the door is moved toward closed position the bars are twisted and thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

4. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, said door having a downwardly extending flange adjacent its lower end, means secured to said door and disposed below said iiange forming a tubular housing, torsion bars disposed within said housing and connected to the side walls of the car against rotation, and means on the door intermediate the sides thereof having oppositely opening recesses in which the inner ends of said torsion bars are mounted for twisting said bars as the door moves toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

5. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car oor when opened, said door being provided adjacent its lower edge with an inwardly and downwardly inclined ange, a substantially U-shaped member disposed below the flange and connected to the door adjacent opposite edges of the flange, torsion bars extending longitudinally of said U-shaped member and having their outer ends connected to the side walls 'of the car against rotation, and means on the door intermediate the sides thereof for twisting said bars as the door moves toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

6. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, said door having an inwardly and downwardly inclined iiange adjacent its lower edge, a, bracket secured to said ange intermediate the sides of the door, and torsion bars extending substantially parallel with said ange and having their outer ends secured to lthe car sides against rotation, said bracket on the door engaging said bars for twisting them as the door moves toward `open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

'7. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, said door havinga downwardly inclined flange adjacent its lower edge, a bracket secured to said flange and disposed on the under side thereof, a .member secured to the door enclosing said bracket and providing the lower edge of the door with a longitudinally extending housing, and torsion bars disposed within said housing and having their outer ends secured to the side walls of the car against rotation, said bracket being engageable with said bars to twist them as the door is moved toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to return the door to closed position.

8. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car door when opened, brackets respectively secured to the lower corners of the door, and brackets secured to the side walls respectively cooperating with said door brackets for pivotally supporting the door, and torsion bars extending substantially parallel with the lower edge of the door and having their outer ends held against rotation by said brackets on the car, and means on the door intermediate the sides thereof operable upon movement of the door to open position to twist said bars so that a force is provided tending to cause the door to return to closed position. ,Y 9. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed n upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, brackets on the side walls of the car having inwardly extending bosses aording a pivotal support for the door, and torsion bars extending substantially parallel with the lower edge of the door, each of said brackets being respectively formed with recesses for receiving the outer ends of the torsion bars to hold them against rotation, and means on the door having oppositely opening recesses engageable with the inner-ends of said bars for twisting them as the door moves toward open position to thereby provide a force tending to cause the door to return to closed position.

l0. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop vend door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car oor when opened, brackets on the side walls of the car having inwardly projecting bossesI means adjacent the lower portion of the door adapted to encircle said bosses to pivotally connect the door to the car, torsion bars substantially parallel with the lower edge of the door and extending through said means on the door l to enable their outer ends to be engaged by said brackets to hold them against rotation, and

Ymeans on; the ldoor having; oppositely opening reoesses, engageablewith'fthe inner ends of said .harsfor twisting-themV as the door. moves: toward openrposition to therebyprovide; a force tending to'returnithe: door toV closed position. k

.111.; In. a. railway gondola. car: having side walls .andrai pivoteddrop end: door adapted to be dis- Lposedin upright position when closed and adaptredi-toi be vdisposedin `overlapping relation with thezcar-floor. when opened, brackets on thev side;4

walls of the car having inwardly extending bosszes; brackets connected to the lower corners of therdoor respectively having cylindrical portions .12.. In a railway. gondola car having sidewalls and: a pivoted drop end door adapted tol be dis-l posed in'.uprightposition when closed andadapted-v to:` be.' disposed in overlapping` relation with the car floor'whenopened, said door having a l1`o,wer..circula1" portion, torsion means extending longitudinally of. the lower edge of the door for resisting movement. of the door. to open'position,

.and members securedto the. car onthe outer side .ofc saiddoor.v having upstanding portions extend- .substantially parallel with the longitudinal ot the car. adaptedzt'o engagethe outer face of. the door when it is disposed in closed position. .113., In a railway gondola car having side walls 'and'a;.pivoted. drop end door adapted to' bel dis- -posedin upright. position-when closed and adapted; to bev disposed in overlapping relation with the. car floor when-opened, said door having a circular lowerv portion, torsion `means extending longitudinallyof the lower edge of the door for .resisting movement thereof to; open position, an

end sill of the car having an upwardly projecting .portionf adapted to overlap the outerface of' the door .when in closedY position, said portion terminating substantially at the same elevation as the :pivotal axis: of the door, and members` secured Atosaid endsillhaving upright portions substan- :tially 'parallel with the longitudinal axisof the car and extending above the top of the end sill -for cooperating with the outer face of the door.

..14. In al railwaygondolacar hav-ing side walls .and a pivoted dropenddoor adapted tobe dis- .posedin upright position when closed, and. adaptaed to. be disposed in overlapping relation with -the-car floor when opened, a pipe securedi to the lower portion of thei door, torsion bars within the pipe and connected to the door against. rotation relatively thereto,; and: brackets on the car sides respectivelyr engageable -with the outer ends of :.said pipe for pivotally supporting the door, said l bracket. respectively having portionsfor holding .the outer ends Aorf-said bars againstrotationv soi f tha'twheni thedoor is movedtoward openl posi- .tion ther bars-are twisted and a forceV is thereby provided tending to cause the door to return; to

closed,- position.

15. In a railway gondola car having. side walls and a. piVotedf-drop end-l door adapted tol be disvposedin upright position when closed and adapted toF bedisposed in overlapping relation 'with 'the oar? oorwhen opened, a pipe securedA to the flower ,portion of. theY door, a downwardly-inclined shedding platevarranged above the'- pipe with one Yedge; securedfto the door. andl theopposite edge secured .to the. pipe,- torsion .bars extending longitudinally of theipipe andv connected-1 tothe door against rotation'relatively thereto, and. brackets -on theoar affording a pivotal support for the door and for engaging the outer ends of said -bars' to hold them from rotation with respect thereto sothatwhen the door is moved-toward open.- positionv the bars are twisted and a force is'thereby provided tending to return the door to closed position.

:16. In; a railway-'gondolacar having side walls and al pivotedy drop end door adaptedto. be disv posed -in upright positionwhen closed and adapt- ...ed tope-disposed inv overlapping relation with thecar floor'when opened, said door having a -tubular portion extending longitudinally along =its=lower edge,a bracket respectively disposed within said tubular portion intermediate the sides of the door, and torsion bars extending l through said tubular' portion and having their :outer ends'anchored4 to the car sides against rotation,'said bracket'being cooperable with said barsior, twisting them as the door moves toward open position and being provided with a portion extending upwardly above said tubular portion for cooperating'with the inner face of the door toY preventl it from being rotated with respect to thev door during openingmovement of the latter.

;l'7\. In a railway gondola car having side walls yand apivoted drop end door adapted tobe dis- I posedinupright positioniwhen closed andadapt- .,edgtolbef disposed inoverlapping relation with the cariloor whenA opened, said door having a tubularlower portion, torsion bars disposed within said tubular portion, brackets secured to the 4side walls of the car affording a Pivotal support for theV door and for engaging the outer ends of the torsion bars to hold them against rotation, and a bracket secured to the door intermediate its -sides for engaging said torsion bars to twist them asthe door is moved toward open position, said bracket having anupwardly extending portion engaging thev inner face of the door to prevent it. from being turned by twisting of said bars.

18.*In a railway gondola car having side walls and apivoted drop end door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapt- .ed' to be Vdisposed in overlapping relation with the car iioor when opened, brackets secured to Athe door adjacent the lower corners thereof,

brackets secured to the car sides for cooperating with said dool` brackets to provide a pivotal support therefor, a tube assembly secured to the 4.lower portion of the door and having end portions fitting over portions of said door brackets, and torsion bars disposed within said tube assembly 4and having their outer ends anchored in the brackets on the car body, said torsion bars being engageable. intermediate the sides of the door =upon movement of the door toward open position totwist the bar-sand thereby provide a force tending to; return. the. door to closed position.

19. In a railway gondola car having side walls -and..ax-pivoted' drop end door adapted to be disposed in uprightposition when closed and adaptved to be disposed in overlapping relation with the caroor'when opened, a pipe secured to the lower Iportion of the door, torsion bars extending longitudinally within the pipe, and brackets se- .curedto the side walls of the car having bosses .extending intosaid pipe affording a pivotal support for. the door,l said bosses respectively having f recesses for holding the outer ends of the torsion 13 gears against rotation, vand means on the door intermediate the sidesfjv thereof and engageable with said torsion bars for twisting them during opening movement of the door to thereby provide a. force tending to cause the door to return to closed position. l

20. In a railway gondola car having side walls and a pivoted drop endV door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car floor when opened, brackets on the side walls of the car for pivotally mounting the door on the car, a tubular portion along the lower edge of the door, torsion bars extending longitudinally of said tubular portion, and a bracket secured to the door intermediate the side edge thereof for cooperating with the torsion bars, said brackets on the side walls of thecar being engageable with the outer ends of the torsion bars to hold them against rotation, atleast one of said bars extending from one side `ofA 'the car to the other.

21. In a railwayvfgondgola car having side walls and a pivoted drop end' door adapted to be disposed in upright position when closed and adapted to be disposed in overlapping relation with the car iioor when opened, said door being provided with a tubular portionextending along its lower edge, torsion bars disposed within said tubular member, the outer ends of said torsion bars being secured to the sidewalls of the car against rotation, a bracket within said tubular portion for cooperating with said torsion bars, and a member secured to the door extending through said tubular portion and cooperable with said bracket for holding it againstrotation with respect to said tubular portion so thatV when the door is moved toward closed position the bars are twisted and a force is thereby provided tending to return the door to closed position.

22. The methodrof applying to a railway gondola car a pivoted ydrop end door having a torsion spring device involving torsion bars extending longitudinally of the lower edge of the door and operatively connected to the door and brackets mounted on the outer ends of the bars which are to be secured to the side walls of the car for holding the outer ends of the torsion bars against rotation, which consists in assembling the torsion bars upon the door in operative relation thereto, mountingsaid brackets upon the side edges of the doors "in engagement with the outer bracketprojecting below and offset from the door. lowering the door towards its assembled closed position so as to impart torsion to said bars by causing the brackets to execute a predetermined rotation by engaging xed portions of the car body, and thereafter securing the brackets in fixed position to the side walls of the car.

`l23. The method of applying to a railway gondola *car a pivoted drop end door having a torsion spring :device involving torsion bars extending longitudinally of the lower edge of the door and operatively connected to the door and brackets mounted on the outer ends of the bars which are to be secured to the side walls of the car for holding the outer ends of the torsion bars against rotation, which consists in assembling the torsion bars upon the door in operative relation thereto, mounting said brackets upon the outer ends of the bars in assembled relation thereto with a portion of veach bracket projecting below and offset from the door, positioning said door and the brackets carried thereby abovevthe floor of the fear. lowering the door towards its assembled closed position to cause said brackets to engage ixed portions of the car body and thereby execute a predetermined rotation during completion of the downward movement of the door to impart initial torsion to said bars, and thereafter securing the brackets in xed position with respect to the side walls of the car.

ERNEST G. GOODWIN.

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

Y'. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16,831 Goddard Mar. 17,1857 93,359 Smith Aug. 3,1869 728,044 Summers May l2, 1903 781,643 Edwards Feb. 7, 1905 1,119,940 Edwards Dec. 8, 1914 1,284,413 Michaels Nov. 12,1918 1,688,685 Campbell Oct. 23,1928 1,861,888 Stevens June 7, 1932 l 2,061,318 Gilpin Nov. 17, 1936 'y 2,167,427 Tatum July 25,1939 2,258,447 Fairbanks Oct. 7,1941 2,292,251 Test et al. Aug. 4, 1942 2,452,163 Swann Oct. 26,1948

ends of said torsion bars with a portion of each