US3001266A

US3001266A - Bridging plate and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: US3001266A
Application number: US40381A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Kilbane; Sidney H Palmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-01
Filing date: 1960-07-01
Publication date: 1961-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 1978-09-26

Description

Sept. 26, 1961 J. A. KlLBANE ET AL 3,001,266

BRIDGING PLATE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 1, 1960 INVENTORIS JAMES A. K/LBANE SIDNEY H. PALMER .BY M

A TT'ORNEY findSidrrey H. Palmer, "2729 N. Gr'iggs, St. Paul, Minn. Filed July 1, 1960,:Ser. No. M1581 '4 Claims. (Cl. 29---15'5) The invention relates broadly to means for moving mobile units from one railroad flat car to another and, more particularly, to the plates used to bridge the space between the ends of the coupled iiat cars whereby a unit on one fiat car may :be .moved to an adjacent .fiat

In recent years, the demand for some sort of bridging between railroad fiat cars has increased, particularly with the advent of the semitrailer and its movement by railroad flat car. At present, such bridging is done by plates made of steel, but provides apla'te which has a weight too great for one man to handle Placing of present day plates for use and storing requires two men to do the job.

To merely replace these iron plates with aluminum pi-ates of suliicierit thickness to carry the load is not the answer, for it has been found such a plate would also be too heavy for one man, and, in addition, the cost would be greater than that of the present iron plate and make the same prohibitive.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to providehaving a construction which a bridging plate of aluminum gives the rigidity needed, but with a minimum of weight and material.

It shall not be attempted here to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to the invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of two of the bridging plates in operative position on two coupled fiat care, only a portion of the end of each flat car being shown.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the primary plate portion with the secondary reinforcing plate portion tacked in position as part of the-method of making the plate.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in FIGURE 2 in a further advanced stage in the method of construction.

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the plate finished according to the method.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal, side, elevational View of the plate.

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the plate.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end edge view of the plate.

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view of the connecting U-bolt and a portion of the bridging plate.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my bridging plate A includes the primary flat plate portion 10 which is gen erally of one-half inch, flat aluminum stock in rectangw lar form approximately thirty inches by fifty-four inches. Also included is the secondary reinforcing plate portion 12 which is generally of one-half, flat, aluminum stock in rectangular form approximately twelve inches by fiftyfour inches.

The secondary plate portion 12 is placed on the under surface of the primary plate portion 10 substantially centrally and longitudinally thereof as illustrated particularly in FIGURE 2. In this position, the plate portion 12 is tacked" to the plate portion 10 by small, spaced,

' ing of the plate Patented Sept. 26 .1961

tack welds, as at 1448, FIGURE 2. The rack welds 14-28 are alternately and progressively made fimm one end to the other. With the plate portion .12 in the position shown in FIGURE .2 as the first step in the formation of the complete plate A, the plate portion 12 is then further secured to the primary plate portion, :as the second step. is done by making a back step weld from a to b and then alternating to the pposite :edge of the plate 12 and making a back step eld from c to d. Then alternating to the first mentioned side of plate portion 12 and making the back step weld from e to b and then making a back step weld from f to d. .By back step welding in segments as outlined above the complete weld is made at 30 along one edge of the secondary plate and a complete weld at 32 along the opposite edge. In welding the edges as outlined above the result is a double pass fillet weld along the entire length of each completed weld 30 and .32.

The alternation of the back step welds outlined above is preferred, but the same may be changed in the order and placement as long as there is progressive alternation.

As a result of the steps outlined above, the longitudinal areas of the plate portion ltil betweenthe outer edges of the plates wand 12 are progressively welded and warped along their entire length at the dges of the plate 12 to form the longitudinal

deflected portions

34 and 36 which give rigidly to the plate. In addition, there is no warpsame remains relatively fiat except for the

deflected portions

34 and 36 which give the plate A an arched formation in transverse cross section.

Further provided at one end of the plate A are the spaced,

elongated slots

38 and 40. The numeral 42 designates a U-bolt to which is attached a small plate 44 which rests on the bed of the flat car B or C, the U-bolt being secured to the flat car bed. The U-bolt is positioned through the slot of the plate A whereby the plate may be pivoted upwardly to substantially a vertical position and engaged with the post such as D when not in use. The plate may also be flopped over and stored upon the surface of the fiat car when space allows.

It will be noted that a single plate A is connected to the end of the flat car adjacent one corner thereof with a second plate connected to the opposite end adjacent the corner obliquely disposed to the first mentioned corner whereby a plate of each of two connected fiat cars may be placed in parallel relation for bridging between the cars, as shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be seen that l have disclosed a bridging plate and the method of making the same which, due to its construction, allows a relatively light weight fabrication, but which gives suificient strength and rigidity.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The method of making a bridging plate having deflected longitudinal portions consisting in forming a primary plate portion and forming a secondary plate portion of a width less than the primary plate portion, then positioning said secondary plate portion on the primary plate portion and securing the same thereto by spaced tack welds along the longitudinal edges of said secondary plate, then forming spaced weld sections of relatively short lengths alternately and progressively along the longitudinal edges of said secondary plate portion to form a continuous weld on both edges of said secondary plate portion, the formation of said continuous A generally because of my process and the to the primary plate l, first short weld 7 sections in the manner outlined until a continuous weld continuous welds to deflect and provide a bridging plate which is arched transversely.

2. The method of making a bridging plate consisting in forming a flat primary plate portion and a secondary flat plate portion of a width less' than the primary plate portion, then securing said secondary plate portion to said primary plate portion substantially centrally thereof by welding the secondary plate at its longitudinal edges edge of the secondary plate portion, then forming a second short sectionof weld along the longitudinal edge of the secondary plate portion opposite to the first mentioned weld section and forming a third short weld portion along the longitudinal substantially coextensive therewith, then edge of the secondary plate portion extending from the section, then forming further short weld is formed on both longitudinal edges of said secondary 4 1 plate portion, the formation of the continuous welds causing portions of the primary plate portion extending longitudinally thereof and outwardly from the continuous welds to deflect and provide a bridging plate which is arched transversely.

4. The method of making a bridging plate having deflected longitudinal portions consisting in forming a primary plate portion and forming a secondary plate portion of a width less than the primary plate portion, then positioning said secondary plate portion on the primary plate portion and securing the same thereon, then forming spaced Weld sections of relatively short lengths alternately and progressively along the longitudinal edges of said secondary plate portion to form a continuous weld on both edges of said secondary plate portion, the'foimation of said continuous welds causing portions of the primary plate portion extending longitudinally thereof and outwardly from the continuous welds to deflect and produce a bridging plate which is arched transversely.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 951,518 Welch et 'al Mar. 8, 1910 2,347,411 Hefier et al Apr. 25, 1944 2,641,829 Sasso June 16, 1953 2,788,75 1 Russell Apr. 16, 195.7