US3102496A

US3102496A - Loading and unloading systems for bodies of railway cars or the like

Info

Publication number: US3102496A
Application number: US125786A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E Price
Original assignee: General American Transportation Corp
Current assignee: General American Transportation Corp
Priority date: 1961-07-21
Filing date: 1961-07-21
Publication date: 1963-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-09-03

Description

p 3, 1963 A E PRICE 3,102,496

LOADING AND UNLAD lNG SYSTEMS FOR BODIES 0F RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Filed July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ri INVENTOR. Q3 ALBERT E. PRICE A ToR'NEYs FIG! p 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Filed July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALBERT E. PRCE BY 6 l M ATTORNEYS Sept. 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY ems OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filedduly 21, 1961 IIII Sept. 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 21. 1961 /11 Ill/I ||...l.| lllvlial INVENTOR. ALBERT E. PRICE p 3, 1963 A. E. PRICE 3,102,496

LOADING AND UNLOADING SYSTEMS FOR BODIES OF RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Filed July 21. 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGIO INVENTOR. ALBERT E. PRICE A ToRNEYs United States Patent 3,102,496 LOADING AND UNLOADLNG SYSTEMS FOR BODIES 0F RAILWAY CARS OR THE LIKE Albert E. Price, Chicago, 11]., assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Filed July 21, 1963, Ser. No. 125,786 Claims. (Cl. 104-98) The present invention relates to loading and unloading systems for bodies of railway cars, or the like, and more particularly to such systems that are especially designed for use in conjunction with packing houses for the transfer of dressed meats between refrigerators provided in such packing houses and such bodies that are also provided with refrigerating facilities.

It is a general object of the invention to provide in the body of a railway car, or the like, an improved overhead rail transfer system that accommodates both ready loading and ready unloading of the lading chamber of the body through the side doorways provided in the side walls thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer system of the character noted, that includes a plurality of laterally extending beams that are mounted by respectively cooperating pairs of guide rollers for selective longitudinal rolling movements in the lading chamber between a common transfer position disposed adjacent to the doorways provided in the side walls of the body and a corresponding plurality of storage positions disposed away from the side doorways and toward the opposite end walls of the body, and a corresponding plurality of lading rails respectively carried by the beams and movable therewith, whereby each of the lading rails may be readily loaded or unloaded with respect to the exterior through either one of the associated doorways when the associated beam occupies its transfer position, and whereby each of the beams may be readily rolled into and out of its storage position carrying therewith the associated lading rail that may be either in loaded or unloaded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer system of the character noted, that further comprises a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriages that may be selectively rolled onto or otf of either end of any one of the lading rails through the correspond ing one of the side doorways when the associated beam occupies its transfer position.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer system of the character noted that further comprises a turn-around mechanism that may be selectively mounted in either one of the side doorways in cooperating relation with the adjacent end of one of the lading rails when the associated beam occupies its transfer position, which turn-around mechanism is adapted completely to turn around any one of the lading carriages incident to loading or unloading thereof with respect to the adjacent end of one of the lading rails, thereby to accommodate the transfer system to an outside ladinghandling facility that may be inherently of left-hand type or of right-hand type, in the sense that the outside lading handling facility mentioned must receive either the left-hand end or the right-hand end of one of the lading carriages.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer system of the character noted, wherein the turn-around mechanism is especially designed for quick attachment and quick detachment in the doorway of the body so as to facilitate ready loading and ready unloading of the body.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved transfer system of the character noted, and further comprising a bracket that is detachably mounted in 3,102,496 Patented Sept. 3, 1963 the side doorway of the side wall of the body, which bracket carries both the turn-around mechanism mentioned disposed in an inner position adjacent to the outer end of one of the lading rails and a receiving rail disposed in an outer position with respect to the turn-around mechanism, whereby any one of the lading carriages may be readily rolled in either direction between the receiving rail and the lading rail across the transfer mechanism, with or without turn around of the lading carriage in passing over the turn-around mechanism disposed between the receiving rail and the lading rail.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the lading transfer system in the body of the railway car, or the like, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a railway refrigerator car, including a car body defining a refrigerated lading compartment and provided with side access doorways thereinto and incorporating a loading and unloading system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken through the car body away from the adjacent side doorway in the direction of the arrows along the line 2--2 in FIG. 1, and illustrating the left-hand end of one of the beams forming a part of the loading and unloading system mentioned;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical view, partly in section, of the left-hand end of the beam mentioned, illustrating the mounting arrangement therefor;

FIG. 4 is another enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, taken through the car body at the adjacent side doorway in the direction of the arrows along the line 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the beam mentioned, this View being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the pair of lading rails that are carried by the beam of FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, and also illustrating a turn-around mechanism that may be carried by the pair of lading rails mentioned, the mechanism having an operative position as shown in full lines and a storage position as shown in dotted lines;

PEG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of the pair of hiding rails and the mechanism. as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged end elevational view of the pair of lading rails and the mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, taken through the car body at the adjacent side doorway, and illustrating a modified mounting bracket for supporting the turn-around mechanism in the side doorway mentioned in cooperating relation with a pair of the lading rails carried by a corresponding one of the beams disposed adjacent to the side doorway mentioned; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged end elevational view of the mounting bracket for the turn-around mechanism, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 10-10 in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the railway refrigerator car 10 there illustrated may be of any suitable conventional type, the railway car 10 illustrated being of the general construction and arrangement of that disclosed in the copending application of Paul Talmey, Serial No. 14,788,

3 filed March 14, 1960, now Patent No. 3,062,156. Specifically, the railway car comprises a car body 11 that is divided by a heat-insulating bulkhead, not shown, into a machinery compartment occupying the left-hand end thereof and a refrigerated lading compartment 14 occupying the central and righthand end portions thereof, as shown in FlG. 1. The car body 11 defining the lading compartment 14 is of heat-insulating structure including a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spacedapart side walls 12 having laterally aligned doorways 13 formed therein and communicating with the opposite sides of the central portion of the refrigerated lading compartment 14, as best shown in FIG. 4. Each of the doorways 13 is provided with an associated heat-insulating door 15 of the plug-type, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Each of the plug doors 15 is mounted upon individually associated upper and lower track structures 16 and 17, respectively, and carried by the associated side wall 12 of the car body 11, each of the plug doors 15 being selectively movable between open and closed positions with respect to the associated doorway 13 in the usual manner.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the side wall 12 of the body 11 is of composite sandwich construction, including an inner plywood sheet 21, an outer plywood sheet 211?, a layer of cellular heat-insulating material 23 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 21 and the outer plywood sheet 21a, and a metal outer sheet 22, constituting a weather sheet. carried by the outer surface of the outer plywood sheet 21a. Also, the side wall 12 carries a plywood flue sheet 24 spaced laterally inwardly with respect to the inner plywood sheet 21 by a plurality of upstanding and longitudinally spaced-apart posts 25, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, the posts 25 define upstanding longitudinally spaced-apart lines 26 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 21 and the plywood flue sheet 24; and it is pointed out that air that has been cooled by the evaporator of the refrigerating machinery, not shown, is circulated forwardly into the floor structure, not shown, provided in the lading compartment 14 and thence upwardly through the dues 26 into the adjacent upper portion of the lading compartment 14, and also upwardly through the lading compartment 14, and thence back reurwardly to the evaporator of the refrigerating machinery mentioned.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the car body 11 further comprises a ceiling panel 31 of composite sandwich construction including a plywood ceiling sheet 32, an outer plywood sheet 33 and a layer of cellular heat-insulating material 34 disposed between the plywood ceiling sheet 32 and the outer plywood sheet 33. The opposite sides of the ceiling panel 33 are supported upon the adjacent upper ends of the inner plywood sheets 21 of the side walls 12, as best shown in FIG. 4, and the ceiling panel 31 is retained in place by a. plurality of longitudinally spacedapart clips 35 positioned thereabove and rigidly secured to the adjacent portion of the outer metal sheet 22 of the side wall 12. The ceiling panel 31 is covered by an associated roof sheet 36 disposed thereabove, the outer edge of the roof sheet 36 being suitably joined. as by welding. indicated at 37, to the adjacent upper edge of the outer metal sheet 22 of the side wall 12. The space between the outer plywood sheet 33 of the ceiling panel 31 and the adjacent roof sheet 36 is at least partially filled by an associated mass 38 of fibrous insulating material. The void between the top end of the layer 23 of insulating material incorporated in the side wall 12 and the side of the layer 34 of insulating material incorporated in the ceiling panel 31 is filled by a longitudinally extending mass of cellular insulating material 39 and by a longitudinally extending mass of caulking compound 40, as best shown in FIG. 4.

The doorway 13 provided in the side wall 12 of the car body 11 is provided with a lintel 51 in the form of a hardwood beam, as best shown in FIG. 4; which beam 51 extends longitudinally over the top of the doorway 13 and is arranged at the corner junction between the top of the interior portion of the side wall 12 and the adjacent side of the interior portion of the insulating panel 31.

Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the plug door 15, in 1ts closed position with respect to the doorway 13, comprises heat-insulating structure disposed within the doorway 13 and below the lintel 51. Specifically, the heat-insulating structure mentioned includes an upstanding inner plywood sheet 52, a metal outer sheet 53 and an intermediate slab of cellular heat-insulating material 54 disposed between the inner plywood sheet 52 and the metal outer sheet 53.

The construction and arrangement of the car body 11 has been described above only in general outline, since the details of the construction thereof form no part of the present invention, and since these details are completely disclosed in the previously mentioned Talmey application.

In the car body 11, there is incorporated a loading and unloading system, embodying the features of the present invention, and comprising, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails 61 arranged in the upper portion of the lading compartment 14 and respectively disposed adjacent to the corner junctions between the upper portions of the side walls 12 and the side portions of the ceiling panel 31; and more particularly, the guide rails 61 extend from end to end of the lading compartment 14. The opposite ends of each of the guide rails 61 are disposed upon the adjacent tops of the side posts 25 and are rigidly secured in place, as by welding, as indicated at 62 in FIG. 3; and the intermediate portion of each of the guide rails 61 is secured to the adjacent inner side of the lintel 51 by an arrangement including an associated bracket 63 carried thereby, as shown in FIG. 4. Accordingly, it will be understood that each of the guide rails 61 extends from end to end of the lading compartment 14 and the central portion thereof extends over the top of the side doorway 13 disposed in the adjacent side Wall 12 of the car body 11, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, taken together. Moreover, the pair of guide rails 61 are disposed suitably below the inner ceiling sheet 32 of the ceiling panel 31, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Also, the loading and unloading system comprises a plurality of laterally extending beams, one of which is illustrated at 71 in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. More particularly, in the car body 11, the lading compartment 14 may have a length between the end walls thereof of 40 ft.; whereby eighteen of the beams 71 are incorporated in the system mentioned. Each of the beams 71 essentially comprises an H-section, as best shown in FIG. 5; and each of the beams 71 is mounted for longitudinal rolling movements upon the guide rails 61 from end to end of the lading compartment 14 and over the pair of substantially centrally disposed doorways 13 respectively provided in the side walls 12. More particularly, the opposite ends of each of the beams 71 carry a pair of mounting brackets 72 that. in turn, carry a pair of rollers 73 that are respectively supported upon the guide rails 61.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of the mounting brackets 72 is substantially L-shaped including a horizontal arm 74 disposed below the adjacent end of the beam 71 and a vertical arm 75 disposed laterally outwardly with respect to the adjacent end of the beam 71. The horizontal arm 74 of the bracket 72 is secured to the adjacent end of the beam 71 by a plurality of vibration dampers 76. Each of the vibration dampers 76 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a bolt 77 extending through a corresponding opening provided in the lower web of the beam 71 and extending through a corresponding aligned opening provided in the arm 74, a metal sleeve 78 surrounding the shank of the bolt 77, and a resilient grommet 79, formed of rubber, or the like, surrounding the sleeve 78. The resilient grommet 79 is maintained under compression within the opening provided in the arm 74 by an arrangement including an associated compression washer S0 surrounding the outer end of the bolt 77; the washer 80 being retained in place by an associated lock washer 81 of the split-ring type engaging the lower surface thereof and secured in place by an associated nut 82 carried upon the threaded extreme lower end of the shank of the bolt 77.

The vertical arm 75 of the bracket 72 carries a laterally outwardly extending trunnion 83 that, in turn, carries the associated roller 73. More particularly, the outer end of the trunnion 83 is provided with a cylindrical barrel 34 that forms the inner bearing member of an assoelated anti-friction bearing of the needle or roller type; which last mentioned bearing further includes a plurality of cylindrical needles or rollers 85 arranged within a concavity provided in the central portion of the roller 73 and surrounding the bearing member 84. The roller 73 and the associated anti-friction bearing therefor is retained in place by an associated Washer 86 arranged on the extreme outer end of the bearing member 84; which washer 85 is retained in place by an associated bolt 87 arranged in threaded engagement with a laterally extending threaded opening, not shown, provided in the outer end of the bearing member 84.

In view of the foregoing, it will be understood: that the supporting bracket 72 is resiliently mounted upon the adjacent outer end ot the beam 71 by the plurality of vibration dampers 76; that the supporting bracket 72, in turn, carries the associated roller 73 rotatably mounted upon the associated anti-friction bearing; and that the roller 73 is, in turn, mounted upon the guide rail 61. Hence, the beam 71 is mounted for longitudinal rolling movements in the lading compartment 14 upon the guide rails 61 by the rollers 73; and moreover, the vibration dampers 76 minimize the transmission of vibration to the beam 71 from the guide rails 61 that are rigidly carried by the side walls 12 of the body 11 of the railway car Ill.

Further, the beams 71 are provided with a common transfer position disposed adjacent to and in lateral alignment with the central portions of the laterally aligned doorways 13 respectively provided in the side walls 12 of the car body 11; and also, the beams 71 are provided with individual storage positions disposed in the opposite ends of the lading compartment 14. More particularly, in the present example, when the eighteen beams 71 occupy their storage positions in the lading compartment 14, a first group of nine of the beams 71 are respectively disposed in their storage positions in one end of the lading compartment 14 in longitudinally spaced-apart relation with each other, and a second group of nine of the beams 71 are disposed in the other end of the lading compartment 14 in longitudinally spaced-apart relation with each other; and at this time, a laterally extending vestibule is vacant through the central portion of the lading compartment 14 between the laterally aligned doorways 13 respectively provided in the side walls 12 of the car body 11. Thus, it will be understood that the transfer position mentioned is not only common to the eighteen beams 71 but occurs in the laterally extending vestibule between the laterally aligned doorways 13; while the two groups of storage positions are respectively disposed longitudinally on either side of the transfer position mentioned, the eighteen storage positions being individual to the eighteen beams 71.

For the purpose of selectively latching each of the beams 71 either in the common transfer position or in its individual storage position, the same carries individual latching mechanism 90 that cooperates with a common longitudinally extending latch plate 91 that is carried by the central portion of the ceiling sheet 32 of the associated ceiling panel 31 of the car body 11, as shown in FIG. 2. More particularly, the individual latching mechanism 9% that is carried by each of the beams 71 essentially comprises a latch bolt 92 that is urged upwardly into cooperating relation with respect to a longitudinally extending series of holes 91a provided in the cooperating latch plate 91. More specifically, a lever 93 extends through an opening provided in the latch bolt 92, one end of the lever '93 being pivotally connected to the beam 71 by an associated pivot pin 94 and the other end of the lever '93 carrying a pivot pin 95 to which there is connected a downwardly extending bolt 96 projecting through an opening provided in the lower web of the associated beam 71. A compression spring 97 is arranged in surrounding relation with respect to the bolt 96 and urges the outer end of the lever 93 upwardly so as to thrust the latch bolt 92 upwardly toward cooperating relation with respect to the associated latch plate 91. The extreme lower end of the bolt 96 carries a loop 98 that may be pulled downwardly, utilizing a manually operable pull cable, not shown; whereby the bolt 96 may be pulled downwardly so as to actuate the latch bolt 92 downwardly with respect to the cooperating latch plate 91, the downward movement of the bolt 96 compressing the compression spring 97 so as to effect the return of the latch bolt 92 back toward the cooperating latch plate 91 upon the release of the pull cable mentioned.

Recapitulating: the latch bolt 92 is normally thrust upwardly into latched position with respect to one of the latch holes 910 provided in the cooperating latch plate 91 by the compression spring 97; and when the pull cable, not shown, pulls downwardly upon the loop 98, the compression spring 97 is compressed and the lever 93 actuates the latch bolt 92 downwardly so as to cause the upper end of the latch bolt 92. to move out of latched engagement with respect to one of the latch holes 91a in the cooperating latch plate 91. Upon the subsequent release of the pull cable, not shown, the compression spring 97 returns the latch bolt 92 into its latched position,

as previously noted. Thus, it will be understood that after operation of the latch bolt 92 into its unlatched position with respect to the cooperating latch plate 91, the beam 71 may be rolled longitudinally between its individual storage position and the common transfer position previously mentioned. Also, it will be appreciated that the beam 71 is securely latched in place either in its individual storage position or in the previously mentioned common transfer position by the latch mechanism 90 upon release of the pull cable, not shown, that is operatively associated with the loop 98.

Also, each of the beams 71 carries in depending position thcrebelow, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, a pair of laterally extending lading rails R100 and 1.100 arranged in lside-by-side relation with respect to each other. The rail R100 constitutes a right-hand lading rail and the rail L100 constitutes a left-hand lading rail, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and as explained more fully below. More particularly, a plurality of laterally spaced-apart depending supports .101 are rigidly secured at the upper ends thereof to the bottom flange of the beam 71, as by welding, and project downwardly therefrom into supporting relation with respect to the lading rail R109 and L160. The intermediate portions of the supports 101 are cross-braced by a laterally extending plate 102 together with a number of side gusset plates 103 and a pair of end gusset plates 104, thereby to lend rigidity to the downwardly projecting sup ports 101. The lading rails R100 and L100 are disposed on opposite sides of the support 101 adjacent to the lower ends thereof and are rigidly secured thereto by a corresponding plurality of fasteners, indicated as rivets 105, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the arrangement, the ladiug rail R100 is substantially Z-shaped and projects upwardly and outwardly toward the right as viewed in FIG. 5, providing at the upper edge thereof a laterally disposed track rail adapted to receive and to support a corresponding group of roller nounted lading carriages; and likewise, the lading rail L166 is substantially Z-shaped and projects upwardly and outwardly toward the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, providing at the upper edge thereof a laterally disposed track rail adapted to receive and to support a corresponding group of rollerrnounted lading carriages. The lading rails R100 and L100 are disposed somewhat below the lintel 51 carried by the tops of the side doorways 13 when the corresponding beam 71 occupies its transfer position; and also at this time, the opposite ends of the lading rails R100 and L100 are respectively disposed adjacent to and in alignment with the corresponding side doorways 13. The opposite ends of the lading rails R100 and L100 are disposed laterally inwardly a suflicient distance with respect to the side doorways 13 so that they are arranged in noninterfering relation with respect to the plug doors 15 in their closed positions, as best illustrated in FIG. 4.

Further, the system comprises a plurality of the previously mentioned roller-mounted lading carriages 110, that are adapted to be selectively supported by the lading rails R100 and L100 of the pair carried by each of the beams 71. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lading carriages 110 are identical, and each of them essentially comprises a strap 111 that is provided with a return-bend section 112 adjacent to the upper end thereof that receives a cooperating roller 113, the roller 113 being mounted for rotation upon a journal pin 114 extending between the spaced-apart legs of the return-bend section 112 of the strap 11. The lower end of the strap 111 terminates in a flange 115 having an opening therethrou gh in which one end of an eye bolt 116 is mounted for swivel movements. In turn, the eye bolt 116 is provided with a lower loop 117 that receives and supports a lading carrier 118 in the form of a composite hook. More particularly, the upper end of the lading carrier 118 is provided with a ring-like structure 119 that is carried by the ring-like structure 117 of the eye bolt 116; and the outer end of the lading carrier 118 terminates in a sharp pointed spike 120. Accordingly, it will be understood that the lading carrier 118 essentially comprises a meat hook that is adapted to engage and to support a beef quarter in a conventional manner.

While the lading carriages 110 are identical, it is noted riage 110 is disposed on the outside of the engaged lading rail R100 or L100.

In the arrangement, the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 are adapted to receive a group of eight of the lading carriages 110; and all of this group of lading carriages may be loaded upon either of the lading rails R100 or L100, or the group may be divided indiscriminately between the two lading rails R100 and L100. This will be immediately apparent when it is appreciated that the total lateral distance between the opposite ends of the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 corresponds to the space that is occupied by a group of eight beef quarters respectively carried by the group of eight lading carriages 110.

Again referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it is pointed out that the extreme lower ends of the supports 101 project downwardly somewhat below the supported pair of lading rails R100 and L100 to provide a corresponding plurality of laterally spaced-apart tabs 121; and also a plurality of individual tabs 122 are carried by the pair of lading rails R100 and L100 in intervening laterally spaced-apart relation with respect to the tabs 121, the tabs 122 also projecting downwardly below the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100. The series of

tabs

121 and 122 carried by the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 are thus disposed in laterally spaced-apart relation and are respectively provided with holes 123 thcrethrough that are adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of stays, not shown, so as to block in place the individual lading carriages 110 that are carried by the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100. For example, the stays mentioned may comprise conventional meat hooks, or the like, that are thrust through. the respective holes 123 of the tabs 12 1 E22, thereby to prevent undue lateral shifting of the beef quarters respectively carried by the lading carriages 110 that are, in turn, carried by the lading rails R100 and L100.

Considering now the general mode of loading the lading compartment 14 of the railway refrigerator car 10, it is pointed out that the same may be completely loaded through either one of the side doorways 13 depending upon the position of the adjacent loading platform with respect to the railway track sliding, when the corresponding one of the plug doors 15 occupies its open position with respect to the associated side doorway 13. At this time, all of the beams 71 in the empty lading compartment 14 may be rolled along the guide rails 61 into one end of the lading compartment 14. Then one of the beams 71 is rolled into its common transfer position and latched in place, utilizing the individual latching mechanism whereby at this time the opposite ends of the coordinate pair of lading rails R and L100 arc respectively disposed in alignment with the pair of side doorways 13. It is, of course, assumed that the plug door 15 occupies its open position with respect to the associated side doorway 13 disposed adjacent to the loading platform. The individual loaded lading carriages are then loaded upon the lading rails R100 and L100, and the individual beef quarters carried by the lading carriages 110 are suitably blocked in place against undue lateral movements utilizing stays in the series of holes 123 in the

tabs

121 and 122, in the manner previously explained. More particularly, at this time, the eight loaded lading carriages 110 are loaded upon the lading rails R100 and L100 of the coordinate pair while the associated beam 71 occupies its transfer position in the laterally extending vestibule between the side doorways 13. After the pair of lading rails R100 and L100 are thus loaded, the latching mechanism 90 is operated to release the associated beam 71; whereby the loaded beam 71 is rolled along the pair of guide rails 61 into the extreme end position in the other end of the lading compartment 14. At this time, the loaded beam 71 occupies its normal storage position and the latching mechanism 90 latches the same in place in its normal storage position.

In a similar manner, the other eight beams 71 are successively loaded and rolled along the pair of guide rails 61 into their respective storage positions and latched in place, whereby at this time the other end of the lading compartment 14 is completely loaded.

The nine unloaded beams 71 remaining in the one end of the lading compartment 14 are then rolled along the guide rail 61 into the vestibule and the adjacent portion of the other end of the lading compartment 14. At this time, the innermost one of the unloaded beams 71 is rolled into the common transfer position and latched in place; whereupon this beam 71 is loaded in the manner previously explained and then rolled along the guide rails 61 back into the extreme end position in the one end of the lading compartment 14 and latched in place in its corresponding storage position. he loading of the other eight unloaded beams 71 is the same as that described above; whereby these unloaded beams 71 are successively loaded and rolled along the guide rails 61 into their corresponding storage positions in the one end of the lading compartment 14. At this time, the lading compartment 14 is completely loaded, except for the laterally extending vestibule disposed between the two laterally aligned side doorways 13; whereby other ladings may be arranged in the empty vestibule, in the usual manner. Then, the plug door 15 is closed with respect to the associated side doorway 13 and the seals upon the two plug doors 15 are perfected, in accordance with conventional practice. At this time, it is mentioned that the refrigerating machinery in the machinery compartment of the refrigerator car is operated so as to effect cooling of the lading compartment 14 and the ladin g stored therein. Specifically, when the lading compartment 14 is thus completely loaded, nine of the beams 71 are disposed in each end thereof, and each of the nine beams 71 carries the group of eight individual lading carriages 110.

The unloading of the lading compartment 14 of the railway refrigerator car 10 is accomplished in a manner substantially identical to the loading thereof, except that the sequence of steps involving the manipulation of the lading carriages 110 upon the pairs of lading rails R100 and L100 and the manipulations of the beams 71 upon the pair of guide rails 61 are effected employing a reversal of the principal steps, as described above.

In order to facilitate the loading and unloading of the coordinate pairs of lading rails R100 and L100, there is provided a turn-around mechanism 130, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, inclusive. More particularly, the mechanism 130 comprises a bracket 131 that may be detachably secured in an operative position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 6, to any one of the pairs of lading rails R100 and L100, and that may be detachably secured in a storage posit-ion, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6, to any one of the pairs of lading rails R100 and L100. More particularly, the extreme inner end of the bracket 131 may be pivotally connected to the adjacent tab 121 carried by the pair of lading rails R100 and L100, utilizing a removable pin 132; while the intermediate portion of the bracket 131 may be secured to either one of the adjacent tabs 122, utilizing a removable pin 133. More particularly, when the bracket 131 occupies its operative position, the pin 133 is secured in the opening 123 provided in the left-hand tab 122; on the other hand, when the bracket 131 occupies its storage position, the pin 133 is secured in the opening 123 provided in the right-hand tab 122.

Further, the mechanism 130 comprises a barrel 134 that is rigidly secured to the outer end of the bracket 131 and movable therewith; which barrel 134 carries a turntable or platform 13S supported upon a ball bearing 136 arranged between the end of the barrel 134 and the platform 135, the platform 135 being mounted for rotation upon a trunnion 137 carried by the end of the barrel 134. In turn, the platform 135 carries a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart upstanding transfer rails R140 and L140 that are spaced-apart a distance corresponding to that of the guide tracks respectively carried by the tops of the lading rails R100 and L100 of the coordinate pair, as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Thus, it will be understood that in a loading operation, one of the lading carriages 110 may be received either by the right-hand transfer rail R140 or by the left-hand transfer rail L140, depending upon the end of the l'ading carriage 110 that is presented to the mechanism 130. A lading carriage 110 carried by the transfer rail R140 may be rolled directly onto the adjacent end of the lading rail R100; and similarly, a lading carriage 110 carried by the transfer rail L140 may be rolled directly onto the adjacent end of the lcding rail L100. On the other hand, in the event that it is desirable to load onto the lading rail L100, 3. lading carriage 110 that is supported by the transfer rail R140, or in the event it is desirable to load onto the lading rail R100, a lading carriage 110 that is supported by the transfer rail L140, a turn-around of the lading carriage 110 is required that can be readily accompiished by rotation of the platform 135 through an angle of 180 in the required direction, as viewed in FIG. 7. When the turn-around of the platform 135 of the mechanism 130 is eifected, the transfer rails R140 and L140 respectively cooperate with the outer ends of the fading rails L100 and R100. Thus it will be understood that a lading carriage received by either one of the trans- 1'0 fer rails R140 or L140 may be readily transferred to either one of the lading rails R or L100, the turnaround of the mechanism 130 being necessary upon occasion and based upon the direction of the presentation of the lading carriage to the mechanism 130.

Of course, it will be understood that the unloading of a lading carriage between one of the lading rails R100 and L100 and the transfer rails R140 and L140 may be effected in a substantially identical manner; and of course after one of the lading carriages 110 has been deposited in supported position upon one of the transfer rails R140 or L140, a turn-around of the mechanism may be desirable depending upon the relationship of the outside conveying system and the mechanism 130 as will be readily appreciated from an examination of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Further, it will be understood that the bracket 131 carrying the mechanism 130 may be selectively mounted in a ready manner upon either end of the coordinate pair of lading rails R100 and L100 so that the transfer of the lading may take place through either one of the side doorways 13 in the opposite side walls 12 of the car body 11. Further, it will be appreciated that the bracket 131 may be transferred from one pair of the lading rails R100 L100 to another pair thereof as the corresponding beams 71 are presented to the common transfer position in the central portion of the lading compartment 14 in the loading and unloading operations, as previously explained.

Referring now to F163. 9 and 10, there is shown a modified arrangement of the turn-around facility that includes a plate 251 that is detachably mounted in either one of the side doorways 13, as required, in cooperating relation with respect to any one of the coordinate pairs of lading rails Rl00-L100 in the transfer position of the associated beam 71. More particularly, the upper end of the plate 251 has rigidly secured thereto a longitudinally extending plate 252 in which there are provided two longitudinally spaced-apart lteyhole slots 253 that, in turn, cooperate with two longitudinally spaced-apart bolts 254 carried by the outer metal sheet 22 of the side wall 12 of the car body 11. More specifically, the plate 252 may be readily placed and removed with respect to the outer metal weather sheet 22 of the side wall 12 at the central portion of the associated doorway 13 by appropriate manipulation of the keyhole slots 253 with respect to the cooperating bolts 254 In the arrangement the enlarged lower portions of the keyhole slots 253 will slip-over the enlarged heads of the bolts 254 only when the plate 252 is elevated with respect to the outer metal weather sheet 22 of the side wall 12; and in this regard, it is noted that the plate 252 is shown in its normal operative position with respect to the outer metal weather sheet 22 of the side wall 12 in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lower end of the plate 251 carries a bracket 255 that, in turn, carries, at the inner end thereof, a turn-around mechanism 230; which turn-around mechanism 230 is identical to the turn-around mechanism 130, as previously described in conjunction with F163. 6, 7' and 8. Also, the lower poo tion of the plate 251 carries a pair of receiving rails R260 and L260 disposed above the bracket 255, the inner ends of the receiving rails R260 and L260 cooperating with the pair of transfer rails R240 and L240 of the turnaround mechanism 230.

In the arrangement, when the plate 251 occupies its normal operative position in the side doorway 13 with the corresponding plug door 15 in its open position, the turn-around mechanism 230 is disposed in cooperating relation with respect to the adjacent outer ends of the pair of lading rails R100L100 carried by any one of the beams 71 in the common transfer position thereof. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that any one of the lading carriages 110 may be rolled in either direction from one of the receiving rails R260-L260 to any one of the iading rails Rlilil -Llttl) across one of the transfer rails R240L240, either with or Without a turn-around of the lading carriage 210 by the mechanism 230, as may be required in the loading or unloading operation.

In connection with the use of the turn-arund mech anism 230, it is pointed out that after the same has been mounted in place in the associated side doorway 13, the transfer of lading carriages 110 between the receiving rails R260 and L266 and the various coordinate pairs of lading rails RIM-L100 may take place without subsequent manipulation of the mounted position of the plate 251 in its operative position in the associated side doorway 13. This arrangement of the transfer equipment, including the turn-around mechanism 230-, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is very advantageous, by virtue of the fact that after the railway refrigerator car 10 has been properly spotted upon the associated railway track siding and with respect to the cooperating platform, a single connection can be perfected between the outside rail transfer system, not shown, and an appropriate one of the receiving rails R260 or L260, depending upon whether the outside rail transfer system, not shown, is essentially a right-hand system or a left-hand system. It will be, of course, appreciated that the outside rail transfer system that is incorporated in the associated refrigerated locker or storage warehouse is normally either a right hand system or a left-hand system depending upon the mode of support of the system with respect to the associated columns that are ordinarily utilized for the supporting purpose.

Thus it will be appreciated that a normally right-hand outside rail system will be connected to the right-hand receiving rail R260 after the railway refrigerator car 10 has been spotted and after the plate 251 has been placed in its operative position in the associated adjacent side doorway 13. Then the beams 71 may be successively brought into the common transfer position so as to insure successive cooperation between the coordinate pairs of lading rails R100L10t and the turn-around mechanism 230; whereby the railway refrigerator car may be readily loaded or unloaded with respect to the refrigerated locker or warehouse as may be required in the handling of the lading.

In the foregoing description of the loading and unloading system that is incorporated in the lading compartment 14, the lading carriages 110 have been described as carrying the meat hooks 118, and while this is the normally intended service of the railway refrigerator car 10, it will, of course, be appreciated that the lading carriages 110 may be provided with other facility for supporting or containing lading as may be required in the handling of the lading contemplated.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided in the body of a railway car, or the like, an improved and simplified loading and unloading system that readily accommodates corresponding loading and unloading of the lading compartment through either of the side doorways thereof, as well as the ready handling of the lading between the normal storage positions and the transfer position thereof. Moreover, in the arrangement, vibration damping is provided between each one of the lading beams and the common pair of guide rails upon which the lading beams are mounted, thereby to prevent the transmission of undue vibration between the body and the lading carried by the lading carriages that are, in turn, carried by the lading beams mentioned.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongated substantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, said structure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pair of upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being provided with an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affording access into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combination comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide rails in said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away from said doorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam in either one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending lading rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other and carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn around mechanism adapted to be supported in the top portion of said doorway in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said lading rails when said beam occupies its transfer position, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, the inner ends of first and second of said transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platform occupies a first of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one of said transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transfer rails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and either one of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platform and with said beam in its transfer position.

2. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongated substantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, said structure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pair of upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being provided with an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affording access into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combination comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide rails in said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away from said doorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam in either one of its positions named, a pair laterally extending lading rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other and carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, means carried by said one side wall for detachably supporting said turn-around mechanism in the top portion of said doorway in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said lading rails when said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends of first and second of said transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platform occupies a first of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one of said transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transfer rails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and either one of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platform and with said beam in its transfer position.

3. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongated substantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, said structure including a pair of upstanding opposite side walls and a pair of upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being provided with an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affording access into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combination comprising a pair of longitudinally extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide rails in said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage posiiton disposed away from said doorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam in either one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending lading rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other and carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, a bracket detachably supported by said one side wall and positioned in said doorway, said bracket carrying an outer pair of receiving rails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other and an inner turn-around mechanism, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other, the inner ends of first and second of said receiving rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of first and second of said transfer rails when said platform occupies a first of its positions and the inner ends of said first and second receiving rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of said second and first transfer rails when said platform occupies a second of its positions, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platform occu pies its first position with said brackets in its supported position and with aid beam in its transfer position and the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the outer ends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies its second position with said bracket in its supported position and with said beam in its transfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one of said receiving rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect to either one of said receiving rails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between either one of said receiving rails and either one of said lading rails across one of said transfer rails depending upon the position of said platform with said bracket in its supported position and with said beam in its transfer position.

4. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongated substantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, said structure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pair of upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being provided with an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affording access into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combination comprising a pair of longitudinal extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide rails in said lading chamber, said beam having a transfer position disposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away rom said doorway, latching mechanisms for selectively restraining said beam in either one of its positions named, a pair of laterally extending lading rails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other and carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-around mechanism adapted to be detachably secured to said lading rails when said beam occupies its transfer position and supported in the top portion of said doorway by said lading rails in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends thereof, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in side-by-side relation with respect to each other, the inner ends of first and second of said transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platform occupies a first of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one of said transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transfer rails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and either one of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platform and with said beam in its transfer position.

5. In a body for a railway car, or the like, including elongated substantially box-like structure defining a lading chamber, said structure including a pair of upstanding opposed side walls and a pair of upstanding opposed end walls, one of said side walls being provided with an upstanding doorway in the central portion thereof and affording access into the adjacent side of said lading chamber; the combination comprising a pair of longitudinally 15 extending and laterally spaced-apart guide rails carried by said structure within said lading chamber and respectively disposed adjacent to the top inner portions of said side walls, the opposite ends of each of said guide rails respectively terminating adjacent to said end walls and the central portion of one of said guide rails extending over the top of said doorway, a laterally extending beam arranged in the top of said lading chamber, means including a pair of guide rollers respectively mounted upon the opposite ends of said beam and respectively engaging said guide rails for supporting said beam for guided rolling movements along said guide rails in said lading chamher, said beam having a transfer position disposed adjacent to said doorway and a storage position disposed away from said doorway, latching mechanism for selectively restraining said beam in either one of its positions named. a pair of laterally extending lading rails arranged in sideby-side relation with respect to each other and carried by said beam and positioned therebelow, turn-around mechanism adapted to be detachably secured to said one side wall and supported thereby in the top portion of said doorway and in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said lading rails when said beam occupies its transfer position, said turn-around mechanism including a rotatably mounted platform having two positions and carrying a pair of transfer rails arranged in side-byside relation with respect to each other, the inner ends of first and second of said transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of first and second of said lading rails when said platform occupies a first of its positions and said beam occupies its tranfer position, the inner ends of said first and second transfer rails being respectively disposed in cooperating relation with the adjacent outer ends of said second and first lading rails when said platform occupies a second of its positions and said beam occupies its transfer position, and a plurality of roller-mounted lading carriers adapted to be supported by either one of said transfer rails for rolling movements therealong and adapted to be readily placed and removed with respect to either one of said transfer rails through said doorway, whereby one of said lading carriages may be rolled in either direction between one of said transfer rails and either one of said lading rails depending upon the position of said platform and with said beam in its transfer position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,825,683 Stedefeld et a1 Oct. 6, 1931 l,titl,ll8 Lord NOV. 3, 1931 1,869,421 Harris Aug. 2, 1932 2,132,840 Workman et al Oct. 11, 1938 2,168,553 Baillie Aug. 8, 1939 2,l98,l55 Fahland Apr. 23, l940 a,272,639 Jack Feb. 10, 1942 2,657,643 Swanback et a1 Nov. 3, 1953

Claims

1. IN A BODY FOR A RAILWAY CAR, OR THE LIKE, INCLUDING ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE DEFINING A LADING CHAMBER, SAID STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF UPSTANDING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING OPPOSED END WALLS, ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING DOORWAY IN THE CENTRAL PORTION THEREOF AND AFFORDING ACCESS INTO THE ADJACENT SIDE OF SAID LADING CHAMBER; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING AND LATERALLY SPACED-APART GUIDE RAILS CARRIED BY SAID STRUCTURE WITHIN SAID LADING CHAMBER AND RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED ADJACENT TO THE TOP INNER PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS, THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID GUIDE RAILS RESPECTIVELY TERMINATING ADJACENT TO SAID END WALLS AND THE CENTRAL PORTION OF ONE OF SAID GUIDE RAILS EXTENING OVER THE TOP OF SAID DOORWAY, A LATERALLY EXTENDING BEAM ARRANGED IN THE TOP OF SAID LADING CHAMBER, MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF GUIDE ROLLERS RESPECTIVELY MOUNTED UPON THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BEAM AND RESPECTIVELY ENGAGING SAID GUIDE RAILS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BEAM FOR GUIDED ROLLING MOVEMENTS ALONG SAID GUIDE RAILS IN SAID LADING CHAMBER, SAID BEAM HAVING A TRANSFER POSITION DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID DOORWAY AND A STORAGE POSITION DISPOSED AWAY FROM SAID DOORWAY, LATCHING MECHANISM FOR SELECTIVELY RESTRAINING SAID BEAM IN EITHER ONE OF ITS POSITIONS NAMED, A PAIR OF LATERALLY EXTENDING LADING RAILS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER AND CARRIED BY SAID BEAM AND POSITIONED THEREBELOW, TURN-AROUND MECHANISM ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED IN THE TOP PORTION OF SAID DOORWAY IN COOPERATING RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF SAID LADING RAILS WHEN SAID BEAM OCCUPIES ITS TRANSFER POSITION, SAID TURN-AROUND MECHANISM INCLUDING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED PLATFORM HAVING TWO POSITIONS AND CARRYING A PAIR OF TRANSFER RAILS ARRANGED IN SIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER, THE INNER ENDS OF FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS BEING RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN COOPERATING RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID LADING RAILS WHEN SAID PLATFORM OCCUPIES A FIRST OF ITS POSITIONS AND SAID BEAM OCCUPIES ITS TRANSFER POSITION, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRANSFER RAILS BEING RESPECTIVELY DISPOSED IN COOPERATING RELATION WITH THE ADJACENT OUTER ENDS OF SAID SECOND AND FIRST LADING RAILS WHEN SAID PLATFORM OCCUPIES A SECOND OF ITS POSITIONS AND SAID BEAM OCCUPIES ITS TRANSFER POSITION, AND A PLURALITY OF ROLLER-MOUNTED LADING CARRIERS ADAPTED TO BE SUPPORTED BY EITHER ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS FOR ROLLING MOVEMENTS THEREALONG AND ADAPTED TO BE READILY PLACED AND REMOVED WITH RESPECT TO EITHER ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS THROUGH SAID DOORWAY, WHEREBY ONE OF SAID LADING CARRIAGES MAY BE ROLLED IN EITHER DIRECTION BETWEEN ONE OF SAID TRANSFER RAILS AND EITHER ONE OF SAID LADING RAILS DEPENDING UPON THE POSITION OF SAID PLATFORM AND WITH SAID BEAM IN ITS TRANSFER POSITION.