US2798250A

US2798250A - Hinged floor rack for freight cars

Info

Publication number: US2798250A
Application number: US483401A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ingram Orville
Original assignee: UNITCAST CORP
Current assignee: UNITCAST CORP
Priority date: 1955-01-21
Filing date: 1955-01-21
Publication date: 1957-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-07-09

Description

July 9, 1957 Q |NGRAM 2,798,250

HINGED FLOOR RACK FOR FREIGHT CARS Filed Jan. 21, 1955 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR ORVILLE INGRAM BY flax-l,

July 9, 1957 o. INGRAM HINGED FLOOR RACK FOR FREIGHT CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1955 INVENTOR ORVILLE INGRAM M MJFJAITTORNEYA y 1957 o. INGRAM HINGED FLOOR RACK FOR FREIGHT CARS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 21, 1955 IHIIIIII INVENTOR INGRAYM ATTORNEYS ORVILLE United States Patent HIN GED FLOOR RACK FOR FREIGHT CARS Orville Ingram, Alexandria, Va., assignor to Unitcast Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 21, 1955, Serial No. 483,401 12 Claims. (Cl. 16-174) This invention relates to hinged floor racks for use in railroad freight cars and more particularly'to floor racks for refrigerator cars and the like which may be raised for cleaning the underlying floor.

In United States Patent No. 2,672,645, issued March 23, 1954, to Orville Ingram and Norman T. Anderson, there is disclosed a pintle type hinge for use on fioor racks of refrigerator cars and the like. This patent discloses a hinge including a pair of hinge elements which are respectivelyattached to the car structure and to the pivotally movable floor rack. The hinge element connected to the car structure includes projections having cup-like pintle receiving recesses which are adapted to receive pintle members carried by the hinge element con nected to the pivotally movable floor rack. The hinge element having the pintle members is provided with arcuate wing portions spaced from the pintles which cooperate with the pintle receiving projections of the other hinge element in such manner as to prevent disengagement of the two hinge elements until the floor rack has been rotated through a predetermined angular displacement from a horizontal position.

The conventional refrigerator car is provided with a plurality of floor rack sections each having a pair of hinge members connecting the respective floor rack section to the car structure. The floor rack sections which are positioned adjacent the center door of the refrigerator car are provided in the region of the door opening with an end section which is pivotally connected to the remaining or main portion of the floor rack section.

The hinges which connect the floor rack to the car structure are both connected inwardly of the door opening and in spaced relation to the pivotally connected end section of the floor rack. This offset relation of the end floor rack section with respect to the hinges provides an unsymmetrical distribution of weight with respect to the hinges, when the floor rack is being raised to a vertical position. As a result it frequently happens that the unbalanced weight of the floor rack causes the pintle members of the hinge spaced farthest from the door to lift out of their associated pintle receiving recesses. This tendency of the hinge elements spaced away from the door to separate from each other upon elevation of the floor rack to a vertical position is an undesirable characteristic which often causes inconvenience.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a hinge for use with floor racks in refrigerator cars and the like which prevents unintended separation of the hinge elements due to an unsymmetrical distribution of the weight of the floor rack with respect to the hinges.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hinge particularly useful with a refrigerator floor rack of the type which includes an end rack section pivotally connected to the main portion of the rack in the region of the car door and causing an unsymmetrical distribution of the floor rack weight with respect to the hinges.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pair of hinges for attaching a floor rack to a refrigerator car and the like, and particularly a floor rack whose weight is unsymmetrically distributed with respect to the hinges, in which two spaced hinge members cooperate to provide a latching action which prevent unintended separation of the hinge elements of one of the hinges and also to prevent any relative axial movement of the floor rack and the hinge elements connected thereto with respect to the hinge elements connected to the car structure.

In achievement of these objectives, this invention provides a hinge member for connecting a floor rack to a car structure which is generally similar to that disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,672,645, Ingram et al., but in which the total length of the pintle-receiving recesses of the hinge element which is connected to the car structure is made longer that the overall length of the pintles which they receive in order to permit a relative axial movement of the pintles with respect to the pintle-receiving recesses when the floor rack is being placed in engagement with the hinge elements attached to the car structure. Further, the pintle-carrying hinge element is provided with a lug-like projection which engages a projection of the mating hinge element in such manner as to prevent unintended detachment of the two mating hinge elements with respect to each other when the floor rack is in vertical position. The hinge member just described is disposed at the far end of the floor rack away from the door opening and away from the end floor rack section which causes the unsymmetrical weight distribution. The hinge which is positioned adjacent the door opening or nearest to the unsymmetrical end section of the floor rack is of the same type as disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,672,645 in which the pintle receiving recess of one of the hinge elements is of just sufficient length to receive the pintle member of the other hinge element. By using in combination a hinge of the modified type in accordance with the invention of the present application and a hinge of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,672,645, Ingram et al., unintended detachment of the hinge elements with respect to each other and also axial movement of the floor rack and the hinge elements connected thereto with respect to the stationary hinge elements is prevented.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, illustrating the orientation of the floor racks with respect to the refrigerator car;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, illustrating the hinges and their connections to the floor rack and to the car structure;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the hinge in accordance with the invention with the hinge elements being shown connected to the floor rack and to the car wall respectively;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section along line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section along line 77 of Fig. 5; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views showing the sequential movements of the hinge elements as the hinge elements carried by the floor rack are being moved into engagement with the hinge elements connected to the car structure.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a floor rack generally indicated at 20 disposed within a refrigerator car and including a main floor rack section 22 and an end section 24. End section 24 is pivotally connected to main rack section 22 by means of suitable hinge members 26. Floor rack 29 is disposed adjacent door 28 of the refrigerator car. The inside lining of the car is indicated at 30 and the insulated wall of the car is indicated at 32. An air wall lining 34 extends in spaced relation to inner lining 30 to provide a ventilating duct which facilitates circulation of air in the car. The lower end of air wall lining 34 terminates a short distance above the upper surface of the floor rack (see Fig. 4).

Floor rack 20 is hinged to the car structure by a pair of spaced hinge members generally indicated at 36 and 38. Hinge 36 is connected to the end of rack section 22 which is nearest to door 28 while hinge 38 is connected to the end of rack section 22 which is spaced away from door 28. Hinge 36 is of the same type as that disclosed in Patent No. 2,672,645, Ingram et al., and will not be again described in detail. Hinge 38 is in general similar to hinge 36 but is modified in several important respects in accordance with the invention.

Hinge 38 includes a female hinge element generally indicated at 40 which is rigidly connected to the car structure and more particularly to a sill member 42 which extends lengthwise of the car adjacent inside lining 30. Hinge 38 also includes a male hinge element generally indicated at 44 which is rigidly connected to fioor rack section 22.

Hinge element 40 includes a pair of spaced vertically extending plate portions 46 to which are connected a pair of laterally extending

parallel web members

48 and 49 which support a generally T-shaped horizontally extending upper plate generally indicated at 50. Plate 50 includes a straight portion 52, corresponding to the stem of the T, and twoplate

portions

53 and 54 lying in the same plane as portion 52 and together forming the head or cross-piece of the T. Connected to the forward or innermost edge of plate portion 50 and extending vertically downwardly therefrom is a web member 55 which defines the rear wall of two cup-like pintle-receiving

projections

56 and 58 which are respectively attached to the

plate portions

53 and 54. The outer surfaces 60 of

projections

56 and 58 having the pintlereceiving recesses are of arcuate shape.

Projections

56 and 58 are spaced from each other to provide a slotlike opening 62 which receives a web member attached to the mating hinge element.

Plate portion 54 is substantially wider than plate portion 53 in the direction which extends longitudinally of the car and is provided with a projection 64 lying in the same plane as plate portion 54 and which extends laterally inwardly of the car for a short distance; say three-quarters of an inch, for example, beyond the edge of cup-

like projections

56 and 58.

A portion of the outer peripheral surface of projec tion 56 adjacent slotted opening 62 is cut away as indicated at 66 (Fig. to a level only slightly above the bottom inside surface of the pintle-receiving recess to permit axial movement of the mating hinge element, as will be described later. Also, a portion of the vertical web 48 is cut awayas indicated at 57 (Fig. 8) where end of the upper edge of web 74, pintles 78 and 79 ex- Y tending substantially equal distances on either side of web 74. A pair of

arcuate wing portions

80 and 82 extend on either side of Web 74 and radially outwardly of the

respective pintles

78 and 79. The arcuate surfaces of

wing portions

80 and 82 extend substantially parallel to the arcuate surfaces of the pintles but in spaced relation thereto. Wing portion 82, which lies on the side of the hinge element disposed farthest from the door when the rack is positioned in the car, is provided with a lug-like extension 84 which projects longitudinally a short distance; say one-half inch, for example, be yond the remaining portion of wing 82.

When hinge elements and 44 are in assembled relation with each other, lug 84 on hinge element 44 underlies the arcuate surface of pintle-receiving projection 58 when the floor rack is in horizontal position. When the floor rack is moved to a vertical position, lug 84 underlies projection 64 of plate portion and thereby prevents unintended separation of the

hinge elements

40 and 44 due to an unsymmetrical weight distribution of the floor rack with respect to hinge

members

36 and 38.

Floor rack 20 is positioned in hinged relation with respect to the hinge elements connected to the car structure in the manner best illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 which show the sequential movements of the hinge members while moving into engagement with each other. The floor rack is positioned in engagement with the hinge elements connected to the car structure in the folit joins the lower surface of projection 58 to accommodate a lug-like extension on the mating hinge element to be described hereinafter.

Hinge element 44 which is connected to floor rack section 22 is provided with a vertically extending plate portion 70 which is connected by bolts 72 to a longitudinally extending stringer forming a part of floor rack section 22.

A vertically extending web member 74 extends laterally from plate portion 70 substantially midway of the length thereof. A horizontal plate portion 76 extends laterally toward the outside of the car from the upper edge of plate 70, plate portion 76 being connected to the upper edge of vertical web 74 but terminating short lowing manner: with the floor rack in a vertical plane and tilted upwardly toward the door,

pintles

78 and 79 of the hinge element 40 of hinge 38 are positioned in the pintle-receiving recesses formed by the cup-

like projections

56 and 58. The end of pintle 78 which is nearest the door is positioned substantially in abutting relation to the end wall of the pintle-receiving recess of projection 56 as best seen in Fig. 8. During this portion of the engagement cycle, pintles 78 and 79' of hinge member 36 nearest the door are not seated in their corresponding pintle-receiving recesses but pintle 78' is resting with one of its ends on the upper surface of plate portion 53 of the T-shaped upper plate portion 50 of female hinge element 44'. With the hinge elements in the position shown in Fig. 8, the floor rack is slid longitudinally away from the door to cause

pintles

78 and 79 to slide within the pintle-receiving recesses of hinge element 44 until the end of pintle 79 which is farthest from the door abuts the end wall of pintle-receiving recess 58. Pintle 78 will then be in spaced relation to the inner surface of pintle-receiving recess 56 as best seen in Figs. 2, 5, 9 and 10. The movement of

pintles

78 and 79 longitudinally along the pintle-receiving recesses formed by cup-

like projections

56 and 58 permits the

pintles

78 and 79 of hinge element 49 to drop down into the pintle-receiving recesses of hinge element 44' as best seen in Fig. 9. When this occurs, the floor rack may then be rotated downwardly from a vertical to'a horizontal position to finally assume the position shown in Fig. 10.

When the

hinge elements

40 and 44 of the hinge member 38 and the hinge elements 40' and 44' of the hinge member 36 have finally assumed the position shown in Fig. 10, the lug '84 which extends from wing 82 of hinge element 40 then underlies the arcuate outer surface 60 of the cup-like projection 58 0f hinge element 44.

With the hinge elements of the respective hinges 36 and 38 engaged as shown in Figs. 1-7, 9 and 10 of the drawings, when the floor rack is raised to a vertical position,

dredged the presence of projecting lug 84 under the plate portion 64 of hinge element 44 prevents unintended separation of

pintles

78 and 79 from the pintle-receiving recesses of hinge element 44 due to the unsymmetrical Weight distribution caused by the presence of the end floor rack section 24. Furthermore, the pintle-receiving recesses and the pintles of the hinge member 36 nearest the door are so proportioned as to permit only a slight degree of axial movement of the pintles Within the pintle-receiving recesses once the pintles have seated, this axial movement being insuflicient to disengage projection 84 from locking engagement with the projection 64. Thus, the use of a hinge of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,672,645, Ingram et al., in combination with a hinge of the modified type described in this application provides a locking action which maintains the cooperating locking

elements

64 and 84 in proper engageable relation unless the floor rack is intentionally moved to a position in which these members are no longer engageable.

In order to remove the floor rack from engagement with the stationary hinge elements attached to the car structure, it is necessary to reverse the movements shown in Figs. 8-10, inclusive, in which the floor rack was being moved into hinged position. Thus, in removing the floor rack, the floor rack is pivotally moved to vertical position and tilted upwardly at the end adjacent the door in order to permit raising pintles 78' and 79' from the pintle-receiving recesses of hinge 36. The floor rack is then slid longitudinally toward the door with the pintle 78' riding along the plate portion 53 of hinge element 44'. This permits pintles 78 and 79 to slide axially along the pintle-receiving recesses of hinge element 44 until projection 84 clears the projecting plate portion 64 on hinge element 44. The

pintles

78 and 79 may then be lifted clear of the pintle receiving recesses of the

projections

56 and 58.

It can be seen from the foregoing that there is provided in accordance with this invention an improved hinge particularly useful for the hinged connection of a floor rack having an unsymmetrical distribution of weight. With respect to its supporting hinges, the locking action provided by the cooperation between the projection on the pintle-carrying hinge element with the projecting plate portion of the mating hinge element prevents unintended separation of the hinge elements disposed away from the door when the floor rack is being raised. Furthermore, when a hinge member of the modified type in accordance with the invention is used in conjunction with a hinge member of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,672,645, Ingram permit an unlocking engagement of the locking elements just mentioned is prevented.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge elements for attachment to the car structure and to the floor rack structure, respectively, said first hinge element including a first supporting portion attached to the car structure and projecting laterally toward the interior of said car, a pintlesupporting projection carried by said portion and comprising an upwardly open pintle-receiving recess, a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, said second hinge element including a second supporting portion connected to said floor rack and projecting alterally toward the exterior of said car, horizontally extending pintle means carried by said second supporting portion and seated in said pintle-receiving recess, means extending laterally from at least one surface et al., any axial movement which might of said second supporting portion and underlying said pintle-supporting projection during a predetermined angular movement of said floor rack from a horizontal position, an extension carried by said second hinge element and underlying said plate portion when said floor rack is in a vertical position to prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintle-receiving recess when said extension underlies said plate portion, said pintle-receiving recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said pintle means.

2. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge elements for attachment to the car structure and to the floor rack structure, respectively, said first element including a first supporting portion attached to the car structure and projecting laterally toward the interior of said car, a pintle-supporting projection carried by said portion and comprising a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess having an arcuate pintle-supporting surface and an arcuate outer surface, a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, said second element including a second supporting portion connected to said floor rack and projecting laterally toward the exterior of said car, horizontally extending pintle means carried by said second supporting portion and seated in said pintle-receiving recess, said pintle means having an arcuate outer surface, a wing portion extending laterally from at least one surface of said second supporting portion, said wing portion having a radially inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said arcute outer surface of said pintle means, said Wing portion having a longitudinal extension underlying the arcuate outer surface of said pintle-supporting projection, said extension underlying said laterally extending plate portion when said floor rack is raised to vertical position to thereby prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintle-receiving recess when said extension underlies said plate portion, said pintle-receiving recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said pintle means.

3. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge elements for attachment to the car structure and to the floor rack structure respectively, said first element including a supporting portion attached to the car structure and extending laterally toward the interior of said car, a pintle-supporting projection carried by said supporting portion having an arcuate outer surface and comprising a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess having an arcuate pintle supporting surface, a laterally extending plate portion extending from said pintle-supporting projection toward the interior of the car, said second hinge element including a web portion attached to said floor rack and extending laterally toward said first hinge element, horizontally extending pintle means carried by said web portion and seated in said pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge element, a wing portion extending laterally from said web portion, said wing portion having a radially inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said arcuate outer surface of said pintle means, said wing portion having a longitudinal extension underlying the arcuate surface of said pintle-supporting projection, said longitudinal extension underlying said laterally extending plate portion when said floor rack is raised to vertical position to thereby prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintle-receiving recess when said extension underlies said plate portion, said pintle receiving recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said pintle means.

4. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second bracket members for attachment to the car structure and to the floor rack structure respectively, said first member having a first plate portion for attachment to a vertical wall of said car structure, a first vertically extending web portion carried by said first plate portion and extending from said first plate portion toward the interior of said car, substantially horizontally extending aligned spaced projections carried by said first web portion, said projections having an arcuate outer surface and comprising a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess having an arcuate pintlesupporting' surface, a lateral plate portion extending from one of said projections toward the interior of the car, said second member having a second plate portion for attachment to said floorrack, a substantially vertical second web portion carried by said second plate portion and extending between said spaced projections of said first member, horizontally extending pintle means carried by said second web portion and seated in said pintle-receiving recess, said pintle means having an arcuate outer surface, a wing portion extending laterally from at least one surface of said second web portion, said wing portion having a radially inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said arcuate outer surface of said pintle means, said wing portion having a longitudinal extension underlying the arcuate surface of said one projection, said longitudinal extension underlying said laterally extending plate portion to thereby prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintle-receiving recess when said extension underlies said plate portion,

said pintle-receiving recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said pintle means.

5. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second bracket members for attachment to the car structure and to the floor structure, respectively, said first member having a first plate portion for attachment to a vertical wall of said car structure, a first vertically extending web portion carried by said first plate portion and extending laterally from said first plate portion toward the interior of said car, substantially horizontally extending aligned spaced projections carried by said first web portion, said projections having an arcuate outer surface and comprising a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess having an arcuate pintle-supporting surface, said second member having a second plate portion for attachment to said floor rack, a substantially vertically extending second web portion carried by said second plate portion and extending between said spaced projections of said first member, horizontally extending pintle means carried by said second web portion and seated in said pintle-receiving recess, said pintle means having an arcuate outer surface, a wing portion extending laterally from at least one surface of said second web portion, said wing portion having a radially inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said arcuate outer surface of said pintle means, said radiallyinner arcuate surface being adapted to move in an arcuate path adjacent and radially outwardly of the outer surface of at least one of said projections for at least 45 degrees angular rotation of said floor rack structure from a horizontal position when said floor rack is rotated on said pintle means about a horizontal axis, an extension connected to said wing portion and adapted to underlie the outer surface of one of said projections, and a laterally extending plate portion carried by a projection of said first member adjacent the upper edge thereof and extending toward the interior of the car, said extension on. said wing portion engaging said laterally extending plate portion when said floor rack is raised to vertical position to thereby prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintlereceiving recess when said v portion, said pintle-receivmg recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said' pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said pintle means. a

t 6. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge members spaced apart longitudinally-of said rack, each 'of said hinge members including a first hinge element attached to the car'structure and a second hinge element attached to the floor rack, each of said first hinge elements comprising an upwardly open pintle-receiving means, a first abutment means extending laterally toward the interior ofthe car from the pintle-receiving means of said second hinge member, each of said second hinge elements including a horizontally extending pintle means seated in a corresponding pintle-receiving recess of the pintle-receiving means of a first hinge element,,the pintle-receiving recess of said second hinge member being longer than the pintle received in said recess to permit substantial axial movement of the pintle within said pintle-receiving recess, the pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge member being of substantially the same length as its corresponding pintle, and a cooperating abutment means extending from said second hinge element of said second hinge member and adaptedlto underlie said first abutment means when said floor rack is in vertical position to prevent unintended detachment of said hinge elements of said second hinge member when said floor rack is in a vertical position.

7. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge members spaced apart longitudinally of said rack, each of said hinge members including a first hinge element attached to the car structure and a second 'hinge element attached to the floor rack, each of said first hinge elements comprising an upwardly open pintle-receiving projection, the first hinge element of said second hinge member including a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, each of said second hinge elements including a horizontally extending pintle means seated in a corresponding pintle-receiving recess of the pintle-receiving projection of a first hinge element, the pintle-receiving recess of said second hinge member being longer than the pintle received in said recess to permit substantial axial movement of the pintle within said pintlereceiving recess, the pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge member being of substantially the same length as its corresponding pintle, and a projection extending longitudinally from said second hinge element of said second hinge member and adapted to underlie said plate portion when said floor rack is in vertical position to prevent unintended detachment of said hinge elements of said second hinge member.

8. A refrigerator car fioor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge members spaced apart longitudinally of said rack, each of said hinge members including a first hinge element attached to the car structure and a second hinge element attached to the floor rack, each of said first hinge elements comprising an upwardly open pintle-receiving projection, the first hinge element of said second hinge member including a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, each of said second hinge elements including a horizontally extending pintle means seated in a corresponding pintle-receiving projection of a first hinge element, means extending laterally from each of said second hinge elements in underlying relation to the pintle-receiving projection of a first hinge element during a predetermined angular movement of said floor rack from a horizontal position, a longitudinal extension carried by the second hinge element of said second hinge member and underlying said plate portion of the first hinge element of said second hinge member when said r floor rack is in vertical position to thereby prevent uninextension underlies said plate tended detachment of the hinge elements of said second hinge when said floor rack is raised to vertical position, said pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge element of said second hinge member being longer than the pintle means which it receives to permit longitudinal sliding of said last-mentioned pintle means along said last-mentioned recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said last-- mentioned pintle means 9. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination a first hinge member and a second hinge member spaced from each other longitudinally of the car, each of said hinge members including a first hinge element fixed to the car structure and a second hinge element fixed to the Hour rack structure, the first hinge element of each of said hinge members including a projection having a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess, each of the second hinge elements of said hinge members including a pintle member receivable in a corresponding pintle-receiving recess of a first hinge element, the pintle-receiving recess of said second hinge member being longer than its corresponding pintle to permit substantial axial movement of said pintle within said pintle-receiving recess, the pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge member being of substantially the same length as its corresponding pintle, a plate portion extending laterally toward the interior of said car from the pintlereceiving projection of the first hinge element of said second hinge member, and a projection extending longitudinally from the second hinge element of said second hinge and adapted to underlie said plate portion when said floor rack is in vertical position to prevent unintended detachment of said hinge elements of said second hinge member.

10. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge members spaced apart longitudinally of said rack, each of said hinge members including a first hinge element attached to the car structure and a second hinge element attached to the floor rack, each of said first hinge elements comprising a projection having an arcuate outer surface and including a cup-like upwardly open pintle-receiving recess having an arcuate pintle-supporting surface, the first hinge element of said second hinge member including a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, each of said second hinge elements including a horizontally extending pintle means seated in a corresponding pintle-receiving recess of a first hinge element, said pintle means having an arcuate outer surface, a wing portion extending laterally from each of said second hinge elements, each wing portion including an inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said arcuate outer surface of said pintle means, said wing portion of said second hinge element of said second hinge member having a longitudinal extension underlying the arcuate surface of the cup-like projection of said first hinge element of said second hinge member, said longitudinal extension underlying said laterally extending plate portion when said floor rack is in vertical position to thereby prevent unintended detachment of the hinge elements of said second hinge member when said floor rack is raised to vertical position, said pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge element of the said second hinge membar being longer than the pintle means which it receives to permit longitudinal sliding of said last-mentioned pintle means along said last-mentioned recess whereby said extension may clear said plate portion to permit upward vertical movement of said last-mentioned pintle means.

11. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge members spaced apart longitudinally of said rack, each of said hinge members including a first hinge element attached to the car structure and a second hinge element attached to the floor rack, each of said first hinge elements comprising a projection including an upwardly open pintle-receiving recess, the first hinge element of said second hinge member'including a plate portion extending laterally from said projection toward the interior of the car, each of said second hinge elements including a horizontally extending pintle means seated in a corresponding pintle-receiving recess of a first hinge element, the pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge element of said second hinge member being longer than the corresponding pintle which it receives to permit substantial axial movement of said pintle within said pintle-receiving recess, the pintle-receiving recess of said first hinge element of said first hinge member being of substantially the same length as the corresponding pintle which it receives, a wing portion extending laterally from each of said second hinge elements, each wing portion including an inner arcuate surface spaced radially outwardly of said pintle means, said wing portion of said second hinge element of said second hinge member having a longitudinally extending projection underlying said laterally extending plate portion of said first hinge element of said second hinge member when said floor rack is in vertical position to thereby prevent unintended detachment of the hinge elements of said second hinge member when said floor rack is raised to vertical position.

12. A refrigerator car floor rack hinge comprising in combination first and second hinge elements for attachment to the car structure and to the floor rack structure, respectively, said first hinge element comprising a projection including an upwardly open pintle-receiving recess, an abutment extending from said first hinge element toward the interior of the car, said second hinge element including a horizontally extending pintle means received in said pintle-receiving recess, means extending from at least one surface of said second hinge element and underlying said projection during a predetermined angular movement of said floor rack from a horizontal position, and an extension carried by said second hinge element and underlying said abutment when said floor rack is in a vertical position to prevent upward vertical movement of said pintle means from said pintle-receiving recess, said pintle-receiving recess being longer than said pintle means to permit longitudinal sliding of said pintle means along said recess whereby said extension may clear said abutment to permit vertical movement of said pintle means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,923 Haseltine June 13, 1939 2,254,356 Dwyer Sept. 2, 1941 2,672,645 Ingram et a1. Mar. 23, 1954