US2827960A

US2827960A - Reinforcing structure for barricade for box car doors

Info

Publication number: US2827960A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1958-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-25

Description

March 25, 1958 H. E. KEATING EFAL RBINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR BARRICADE FOR BOX CAR DOORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18 ATTORNEYS.

March 25, 1958 H. E. KEATING ETAL REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR BARRICADE FOR BOX CAR DOORS Filed Agril 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEYS.

2,827,960 Patented Mar. 25, 1958 REINFORCING STRUCTURE FOR BARRICADE FOR BOX CAR DOORS Henry E. Keating, Westchester, and John E. Murphy and Bernard N. Poss, Aurora, Ill.

Application April 18, 1955, Serial No. 501,976

12 Claims. (Cl. 160-368) The present invention relates to reinforcing structures for temporary barricades, sometimes referred to as inner doors, for the door openings of box cars used for handling grain or other bulk commodities.

Such box cars are usually provided with a conventional outer storm door or weather door, and it has been common practice, for many years, to place a suitable temporary barricade, or inner door, in position, across the door opening, against the inside face of the door frame, in order to reduce possible loss of contents, such as by leakage from the car, to a practical minimum. Such barricades, or inner doors, are usually of substantial height, and terminate a short distance from the top of the door opening so as to permit filling of the car and to afford access to the interior of the car, above the barricade, for checking, inspecting or sampling the grain or other material in the car.

Such temporary barricades, or inner doors, are of an expendable character, and are usually made up of an assembly of paper board panels and/or wood boards, secured together as a unit, such as by nailing to the inside of the door posts, at the sides ofthe door opening. Sometimes the panels or boards are individually nailed in place so as to build up a closure across the major portion of the height of the door opening. Such inner doors, or barricades are of a temporary nature, because they are usually destroyed in the process of discharging the contents from the car. Because inner doors that are well constructed of materials of adequate strength, are usually damaged in process of discharging the contents of a car, or become lost, such as by theft, the more re cent practice employed is to form such temporary barricades or inner doors of rather inexpensive materials, such as heavy paperboard panels, together with reinforcing materials, such as suitable metal strapping positioned across the door opening, in front of the paperboard panels, and nailed to the door posts on the inside of the car. To further reinforce such barricades, it has been customary to employ a wood pry board across the door opening, at the bottom thereof, and also employ a wood board across the door opening, adjacent the upper edge of the barricade. When a car is loaded with grain or other granular bulk material, such barricades are usually subjected to relatively high pressures from the material in the car. This condition usually results in the temporary barricade bulging outwardly through the door opening. Sometimes such bulging results in rupturing of the barricade, or inner door, in the normal handling of box cars or freight cars in switchyards or the like. Sometimes the pressure of the material within the car causes the barricades to bulge into direct contact with the outer storm door or weather door of the car, and thus makes it diflicult for an inspector to open the storm door in order to obtain access to and sampling of the material in the car. Sometimes, in the process of opening the storm door, if the barricade is bulged outwardly in contact therewith, the barricade, or inner door, is ruptured, resulting in a substantial loss of the contents of the car.

Because barricades or inner doors, as now employed, are not of sufficient strength so as to be capable of withstanding substantial shocks to which cars are normally subjected to, such as occurs in being shunted in switchyards and the like, substantial loss of the material from the cars frequently occurs. This results in substantial damage claims being filed against the railroad. It is well known that, in recent years, such claims have been relatively great and it is the desire of railroads to take all necessary steps for reducing such claim losses.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for reinfocring a temporary baricade, or inner door, of a railroad car, to substantially eliminate the possibility of the barricade, or inner door, being bulged outwardly into direct contact with the storm door of the car, so as to preclude inadvertent rupture of the barricade, and attendant loss of the bulk contents from the car, and wherein said reinforcing may be quickly and easily moved along a track, from a storage position, at one side of the door opening, or to an operative position in the door opening of the car.

Another object is to provide a novel reinforcement of the character indicated which is pivotally supported at its upper end on a track supported in the upper portion of the box car, and which is constructed and arranged so as to be releasably latched in the door opening of the car, in an upright position, immediately in front of the barricade, so as to permit inward swinging movement of the reinforcement, while precluding outward swinging movement of said reinforcement through the door opening.

Still another object is to provide a novel reinforcing construction of the character indicated having a reinforcement mounted for sliding movement on its upper end on an overhead track, for positioning in an upright operative position in the door opening of the car, or in a storage recess adjacent one side of the door frame. and wherein the reinforcement is composed of a pair of telescoping members, to accommodate variations in the height of door openings of railroad cars, and also for securing the lower end in a latch plate in the bottom of the door frame to preclude upward movement of the reinforcement when in operative position.

A still further object is to provide a novel reinforcing construction of the character indicated which is simple, effective in use, and which is capable of being economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a railroad car, provided with a temporary barricade across the door opening, together with a barricade reinforcing structure embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the interior of the railroad car, provided with the reinforcing structure embodying the invention and with the reinforcement proper shown disposed in a storage position. at one side of the door opening.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the reinforcement in process of being moved to an operative position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the reinforccment shown in an upright operative position in the door opening.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of the interior of a railroad car, showing the door opening in the side wall thereof, together with the reinforcing construction embodying the present invention, with the reinforcement proper disposed in operative relation to a temporary barricade.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the reinforcement and the railroad car, with the reinforcement in operative position in front of a temporary barricade, and taken substantially as indicated at line 6-6 on Fig ure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the main parts of the reinforcing construction embodying the prevent invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a confining element, adapted to be positioned in the bottom of the storage recess at one side of the door opening, for assisting in confining the reinforcement in the recess.

The present invention embodies certain novel and important improvements in reinforcing structures disclosed in our co-pending application, Scr. No, 448,528, filed Au gust 9, 1954, which became Pat. No. 2,783,5tl8 on March 5, 1957.

In the drawings the conventional box car or freight car, shown fragmentarily, is indicated generally at 19, having one of its side walls provided with a central door opening 11 surrounded by a frame 12. As seen in the drawings, the frame comprises a pair of spaced-apart

upright side posts

14 and 15 connected together by a top frame member 16. The bottom of the door opening is defined by the floor of the car, together with a sill IS, in the form of an angle iron surrounding the outer edge of the floor portion of the car, at the door opening, for purposes of reinforcement and for accommodating wear. Mounted on the exterior of the car is a conventional weather, or storm door 20, adapted for normally closing the door opening 11.

When the box ear is to be used for hauling of grain or other granular or bulk materials, the major portion of the door opening, from the bottom up, is closed by a temporary, expendable barricade, or inner door, indicated gen erally at 22. The temporary barricade may be made up of inexpensive Wood boards, or may be made of a plurality of pieces, or a single piece of heavy pap-er board. as seen in the drawings.

When the main portion of the barricade is made up of paper board the lower edge thereof terminates in an inwardly extending flange 23 seated directly upon the floor of the car, as seen in the drawings, for assisting in precluding inadvertent seepage of grain or other material out of the car. When the paper board is used for making up the temporary barricade, there usually is provided a pry board, or timber, indicated at 24, positioned against the inside of the paper board. adjacent the floor, and to reinforce the upper edge of the barricade of a suitable board, or timber, 26, is similarly employed. The panel. or panels of paper board, and the timbers, are usually secured to the door frame such as by nailing to the sides of the door frame. Sometimes, suitable metal strapping is extended across the door opening, immediately in front of the paper board panel, or panels, and is secured to the side posts of the door frame, so as to assist in sustaining the pressure of the bulk contents of the car imposed against the temporary barricade.

The reinforcing structure embodying the present invention includes an upright reinforcement. indicated nenerally at 30, adapted to be placed in operative position in the door opening, prior to the securernent of the temporary barricade across the inner face of the door frame. The reinforcement is composed of two

elongated members

31 and 32, which preferably, though not necessarily. are formed of tubular metal stock, preferably, but not necessarily rectangular in crosssection, one telescoped within the other. The two

members

31 and 32 are interconnected so as to permit a limited range of telescopic movement of one member relatively to the other. For this purpose, the upper member is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed, upwardly extending elongated slots 33 through which extends a pin 34 the ends of which are press fitted in opposite side walls of the lower member 32. The upper end of the reinforcement is pivotally supported, and the lower member 32 is telescopically movable, vertically, with respect to the upper member 31. Mounted on a headed member, such as a bolt, as in- :ill

dicated at 36, secured in the upper end of the upper member 31 is a clevis 3'7, and the closed loop of the clevis is slidably mounted on an over-head track 39 which is in the form of a rod. The track has a main portion thereof extending adjacent tbe top of the door opening, in a direction generally lengthwise of the car, merging into a terminal portion, as indicated at 46. The end of the terminal portion is welded to a mounting bracket 42, secured in any convenient manner, such as by screws, or by welding. in the upper end of a vertical storage recess indicated at 43, located immediately adjacent the post 14, constituting a part of the door frame. The storage recess formed in the side wall of the car is for accommodating the reinforcement element 30 in an out-of-the-wny inoperative position.

The opposite end of the rod constituting the track 39, extends through, and is welded in a block 44 which is secured intermediate the length of an angle iron reinforcing frame member 45. The ends of the frame memher are bent downwardly and secured in any convenient manner, to the sides of the door frame 12 adjacent the top of the door opening, such as by screws or welding.

By virtue of the over-head track 39, the reinforcement while partially supported thereon, may be conveniently moved to and from an operative position, or to a storage position in the storage recess 43. As clearly seen in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the reinforcement, when in operative position, is disposed intermediate the width of the door opening, with the rear face thereof positioned substantially in the same plane as the inner faces of the

posts

14 and 15 constituting the sides of the door frame.

in the construction herein disclosed, it is desirable that the reinforcement, when in an upright operative position, be supported for pivotal movement about an axis extending approximately parallel to the main plane of the door opening. More specifically, it is desired that the reinforcement be capable of pivotal swinging movement about its upper end, so as to permit inward movement of the lower end of the reinforcement through the door opening 11, but precluding outward movement thereof through said door opening. To assist in precluding such outward movement of the reinforcement. we provide an angle bracket 48, which for convenience, is mounted on one end of the bolt 36, against the outer face of the upper member 31, and the end of the bolt is welded to the bracket, and the bracket may also, if desired. be welded directly to the member 31. The angle bracket 48 is so located that when the reinforcement is disposed in an operative position in the door opening, said bracket abuts against the lower edge of the vertical leg of the reinforcing angle frame member 45 as clearly seen in Figure 6 of the drawings.

The lower end of the reinforcement. when disposed in operative position, is caused to be seated in a latch plate 50 recessed in the sill 18 and floor of the door opening, as clearly seen in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The latch plate is preferably a casting, and is secured in position in any convenient manner, such as screws and/or welding to the sill 18. The latch plate includes a sump or recess 52 having a flat bottom wall portion 53, which continues into a rearwardly and up wardly inclined portion 54. The rear lower end of the lower member 32 of the reinforcement is cut at an incline, as indicated at 32a, at an angle substantially corresponding to the inclined wall 54 of the latch plate. The top of the latch plate is provided with an inwardly extending tongue 56 extending over the recess 52 adapted to inter-lock in a slot or notch 325 formed in the front face of the lower end of the lower member 32. When the reinforcement is in latching relation to tongue 56 of the latch plate, as seen in Figure 6 of the drawings. the lower member 32 is restricted against upward as well as outward movement with respect to the door opening. As above indicated, the reinforcement 33 is placed in operative upright position in the door opening prior to the mounting of the temporary barricade 22, across the inner face of the door frame, and when the barricade is in put-in position the lower end of the reinforcement is firmly held in place against movement in all directions. When the reinforcement is in operative position and the barricade is in place, and the car is loaded with grain or other bulk material, the lateral outward pressure of the material against the barricade is transmitted directly to the reinforcement, and the reinforcement provides auxiliary strengthening and reinforcing of the barricade to withstand the pressure exerted by the bulk material within the car.

When the grain cars and the like are positioned for discharging the contents, such as in an elevator, there is usually suitable unloading mechanism provided, a portion of which is caused to abut the outer face of the reinforcement, first moving the lower portion of the reinforcement inwardly a short distance, by upward telescoping movement of the lower member 32, acting camwise against the inclined portion 54, of the latch plate to disengage the reinforcement from the latch plate, and cansing rupturing of the barricade 22. Rupturing of the barricade 22, permits the bulk material in the car to flow out of the bottom and sides of the door opening 11. After the initial rupturing of the door and partial discharging of the contents from the car, the entire car may then be tilted sidewise against a member on the unloading mechanism, to approximately 15, during which tilting movement the reinforcement tends to remain vertical, due to the pivotal support thereof at the upper end. Such tilting of the car in effect causes the lower end of the reinforcement to move into the car, and the unloader mechanism continues to exert a pressure on the reinforcement for effecting a complete rupturing of the barricade, so that the bulk material in the car is caused to flow freely out of the door opening. Usually, such car dumping apparatus includes mechanism for tilting the car end-wise for effecting complete discharge of all bulk material through the door opening. It will be apparent that during the process of rupturing the barricade, when the barricade is made up of paper stock, there will be a normal tendency for the barricade, after being ruptured, to wrap around the reinforcement. This makes it easy to retrieve portions of the barricade from the car for disposal and avoids possible jamming or clogging of the apparatus employed for moving the mathe interior of the car.

In order to afford convenient access to the interior of the car, while the barricade is in operative position, to permit inspection, testing and sampling of the contents of the car, We provide on the reinforcement a series of vertically spaced apart step members, indicated at 60, arranged in staggered relation so as to perform the function of a ladder. Heretofore, it has been necessary for an inspector to provide a suitable ladder for placement against, or hooking over the upper edge of the barricade to permit climbing over the barricade to gain access to the interior of the car.

In the construction herein disclosed, the reinforcement 30 may be conveniently moved bodily to and from an operative position, by reason of the main support for the upper end of the reinforcement being provided for by the track 39. When the reinforcement is to be moved to an inoperative position, in the vertical storage recess 43, such movement is easily accomplished because of the sliding support provided by the clevis 37 on the track 39. The lower member 32 of the reinforcement is raised relatively to the member 31, so as to cause the open lower end of the lower member 32 to seat over a confining member, indicated at 64, mounted on the floor, at the bottom of the recess 43. As shown, the confining member 64 is in the form of an angle clip, which is secured directly to the floor of the car. When the reinforcement is stored in the recess 43, it is disposed in an out-of-the way position, so as not to interfere in any manner with the normal use of the car. When a temporary barricade is to be employed for closing part of the door opening 11, the reinforcement 30 is first moved from the storage position to an operative position, as shown in Figures 1., 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

By reason of the telescopic relationship of the two

members

31 and 32 of the reinforcement, said reinforcement, in addition to adapting itself for the novel latching and storage arrangement herein shown, also permits producing the reinforcement in a size so as to readily accommodate and adapt itself for proper use with box cars having the usual range of variable heights of door openings.

It will be apparent that by virtue of the present invention, our novel reinforcing structure greatly reduces possibility of inadvertent rupture of the temporary barricade, due to excessive load or pressures thereon, or due to the barricade bulging into direct contact with the Weather door and being damaged in process of opening the weather door. It will be apparent that our novel reinforcing structure is such that when attached in place in a box car, it becomes a permanent part of the car and cannot be readily disassembled and hence, inadvertent loss or the theft of parts is reduced to a practical minimum.

Although we have herein shown and described a certain preferred embodiment of our invention, manifestly it is capable of modification and rearrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. We do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the precise embodiment herein disclosed, except as we may be so limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade, removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means 39 fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having aportion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position, in close proximity to the side wall of the car, at one side of the door opening.

2. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade, removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising an elongated portion extending lengthwise of the car, one end of said elongated portion being rigidly attached to the interior of the car, adjacent one side of the door opening, the other end of said elongated portion being rigidly attached to the interior of the car, adjacent the upper end of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position adjacent said one end of the track means, in close proximity to the side wall of the car, at one side of the door opening.

3. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and hav ing a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door opening, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said reinforcement being movable along said trac'x means to a storage position, in close proximity to the side wall a storage position in the storage recess.

4. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade, removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across thadoor opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement movably supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an opera tive position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, the side wall of the car being formed to provide an upright storage recess adjacent one side of the door frame in vertical alignment with said track means, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position in the storage recess.

5. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position in close proximity to the side wall of the car, at one side of the door opening, and a series of step members connected to and arranged along the length of the reinforcement.

6. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the door frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening. an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door opening, said reinforcement comprising a pair of cooperating, telescopically associated elongated members, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the lower member in the bottom of the door opening, when said reinforcement is in operative position, to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening.

7. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the door frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door openings, said reinforcement comprising a pair of cooperating, telscopically associated elongated members, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the lower member in the bottom of the door opening, when said reinforcement is in operative position, said means comprising a latch plate carried on the floor of the car, in said door opening, for receiving the lower end of the reinforcement, to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said latch plate having an inwardly and upwardly inclined cam surface and the lower end of the lower member having a cooperating, inclined cam surface, whereby the application of pressure to the outer face of the reinforcement causes telescopic movement of the lower member relative to the other member and disengagement from the latch plate for rupturing the barricade.

8. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the door frame, across the door opening track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door opening, said reinforcement comprising a pair of cooperating, telescopically associated elongated members, means interconnecting said members for limiting the extent of telescopic movement relative to each other, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the lower member in the bottom of the door opening, when said reinforcement is in operative position, to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening.

9. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the door frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portron extcnding adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door opening, said reinforcmeent comprising a pair of cooperating, telescopically associated elongated members, means for releasably securing the lower end of the lower member in the bottom of the door opening, when said reinforcement is in operative position, said means comprising a latch plate carried on the floor of the car, in said door opening, for receiving the lower end of the reinforcement through the door opening, said latch plate having an inwardly and upwardly inclined earn surface, the lower end of the lower member having a cooperating, inclined cam surface, whereby the application of pressure to the outer face of the reinforcement causes telescopic movement of the lower member relative to the other member and disengagement from the latch plate for rupturing the barricade, and cooperating features on the latch plate and lower end of the lower member, adapted when engaged, to preclude upward movement of said lower member.

10. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising an elongated rod extending lengthwise of the car and having one end rigidly attached to the interior of the car, adjacent one side of the upper end of the door opening, the opposite end of said rod being rigidly attached to the top of the door frame intermediate its width; an upright reinforcement, a clcvis member connected to the upper end of the reinforcement, and surrounding said rod to provide a movable support for the upper end of the reinforcement, said reinforcement being movable to an operative position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, and means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position adjacent said one end of the track means, in close proximity to the side wall of the car, at one side of the door opening.

11. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position in the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, said reinforcement comprising a pair of cooperating telescopic members, the lower member being of tubular formation, means for releasably securing the lower end of the reinforcement in the bottom of the door opening to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening, the side wall of the car being formed to provide an upright storage recess adjacent one side of the door frame in vertical alignment with said track means, said reinforcement being movable along said track means to a storage position in the storage recess, and means in the bottom of the storage recess for receiving the lower end of the lower member for confining the reinforcement in said recess.

12. The combination of a box car having a side wall provided with a door opening defined by a door frame for the reception of an expendable barricade removably mounted against the inner face of the door frame, across the door opening, track means fixedly mounted adjacent the top of the interior of the car and comprising a portion extending adjacent the top of the door opening and having a portion terminating adjacent one side of the door opening, an upright reinforcement, movably and pivotally supported at its upper end on said track means and movable to an operative position intermediate the door opening, forwardly of the plane of the inner face of the door frame, for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the main plane of the door opening, said reinforcement comprising a pair of cooperating, telescopically associated elongated members, and abutment means on the upper end of the upper member, adapted when the reinforcement is in an upright, operative position to abut against a portion of the door frame to preclude outward movement of the reinforcement through the door opening.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,453 Flynn Dec. 20, 1927 1,658,442 Jackson Feb. 7, 1928