US3112712A

US3112712A - Movable bulkhead

Info

Publication number: US3112712A
Application number: US14634A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward S Cisco
Original assignee: Stanray Corp
Current assignee: Stanray Corp
Priority date: 1960-03-14
Filing date: 1960-03-14
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

Dec. 3, 1963 E. s. CISCO MOVABLE BULKHEAD 3 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Hargh 14, 1960 llllll llll I! 9 INVENZOR.

d5 645cc 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. S. CISCO MOVABLE BULKHEAD Filed March 14, 1960 Dec. 3, 1963 INVENTQR. E'cfwardfwca Maw 1%? Dec. 3, 1963 E. s. CISCO MOVABLE BULKHEAD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 14, 1960 lklll. ll. II UHMP' INV EN TOR.

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United States Patent 3,112,712 MUVABLE Edward fi. @isco, Highland, End, to Stanray orporation, Chicago, 35., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 14, Edit, ei'. No. 14,634 3 Claims. ('Cl. res-s76 This invention relates to improvements in railway equipment and has particular reference to improvements in movable bulkheads for railway gondola cars. The invention of course is applicable to other types of cars utilizing a bulkhead for separating a load into less than carload lots, or for stabilizing a load during transit.

Generally speaking, gondola cars, having movable bulkheads therein, are equipped along the side walls with two continuous long members, usually angles, a pair adjacent the upper corner of the bulkhead and a pair adjacent the lower corner of the bulkhead. The angles are placed with a vertical flange secured to the ide wall and with the horizontal flanges projecting inwardly in spaced relation. Consequently there are our of these angles at each side of the car, or eight per car, and they extend from end to end of the car. At the upper and lower corners of the bulkhead there are members which project from the bul head between the horizontal flanges of these angles. The members are provided with rollers to roll on the lower angle of the pair. In my invention, 1 use but two angles at each side of the car, which reduces the weight and cost of said angles in half. A pair of members at the upper corner and the lower corner or" the bulkhead overlap and underlap the angles, and accomplish the same purpose as the more costly installations heretofore used and known to applicant.

There are many movable bulkheads for railway cars of the open-top type, all of which have objections, and the objection most common to all of them is their high cost. The movable bulkhead herein shown and described can be produced at a reasonable cost in comparison to the roller type bulkheads on the market. Simplicity of design and economy in manufacturing costs are therefore the principal objects of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and eflective means cooperatively associated with the bulkhead and the walls of the car to releasably lock the bulkhead in any of its adjusted positions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a bulkhead, partly broken away, installed between side walls of a car, and embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 33, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section on line 44, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a section view showing the manner of application of the stop blocks to the bulb angle belt rail.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a modified bulkhead per se.

FIG. 7 is an end view of FIG. 6.

Referring to the modification shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, 2 indicates the side wall sheathing of a gondola or other type of open-top railroad car, and 4 shows the bulb angle top chord of the side walls of the car. Extending longitudinally along the upper inner margin of each side wall 2 of the car is installed a bulb angle, having a flange s secured to said margin, and a horizontal flange 7 extending inwardly from wall 2, which flange '7 terminates in a bulb 3. Also extending longitudinally along the lower margins of the side walls 2 are bulb angles, likewise having vertical flanges 19, secured to said margins, horii atented Dec. 3, 1963 zontal flanges 12 extending inwardly from said margins and terminating in a bulb 14.

The bulkhead itself is composed of a rectangular sandwich of two spaced

sheets

12 and 14 of flat material having a suitable core of strong but lightweight material therebetween. Sheet 14 is provided with flanges l3 and 2t? extending normally from the top and bottom side edges of the sheet and spanning the distance between the sheets to form the top and bottom of the bulkhead. The sheet 12 is provided with a plurality of randomly spaced openlugs 13 so that sheet 12 may be plug-welded to the core of the bulkhead. The openings are randomly spaced and the core is of such nature that a concentrated load at any point on the bulkhead would be distributed by the core throughout the bulkhead and prevent :the bulkhead from buckling along a vertical or horizontal line passing through the center of the load. To provide stiffness for the bulkhead in the area of the corners thereof I have provided short pieces of angle iron 26 installed in the bulkhead where it is attached to sheet 12 and to sheet 14. The angle irons 26 run for a short distance inwardly to reinforce the corner area supporting the corner brackets for attaching the bulkhead to the car.

The bulkhead Width is just suflicient to fit between the bulbs S and 14 of the bulb angle side rails and move longitudinally along the car, extending crosswise of the car.

Within the bulkhead shown in the modification comprising FIGS. 6 and 7, the core is formed of corrugated strips 11 extending horizontally from side to side of the bulkhead. The corrugated strips 11 are secured along one edge to the rear cover plate 14 and along the other edge to one face of the straps 16 as seen in FIGURE 7. The other face of straps 16 is welded to the front cover plate 12 through the plug holes or openings 13' therein. The openings 13 are randomly spaced within the limits of the width of the straps 16, as shown in FIGURE 6, thus providing an extremely strong bulkhead panel to resist concentrated loads caused by lading tending to shift thereagainst. To prevent the bulkhead from buckling on a horizontal line between an adjacent pair of the corrugated strips, there are provided reinforcements 15 extending between the front and rear plates of the bulkhead. Rein-forcements 15 are also spaced throughout the bull head, and the space between each pair of adjacent corrugated strips 11 is provided with at least two such reinforcements. More of these reinforcements 15 are located in and around the center of the bottom of the bulkhead where the greatest forces are exerted thereagainst, and consequently obtain the highest efficiency of the unit and the best advantage of loading conditions.

In both modifications approximately midway of the top edge of the bulkhead is secured a clevis 28 lfOl' convenient attachment of the hook of a chain hoist or crane in lifting the bulkhead into or out of the car.

At the upper outer corners of the bulkhead are roller supporting bracket housings indicated generally at A. Each housing is a fabricated structure comprising a no tang'ular plate 3% which is secured to and covers the upper margin of the end of the bulkhead 12. The plate 3% is wider than the thickness of the bulkhead 12, extending laterally therebeyond and in FIGURES 1-5 is braced by diagonal :plates 32, each fixed along one edge to the edge of the plate 3%, and along the other edge to a side of the bulkhead inwardly from the end thereof. Braces 32 are unnecessary in the modification of FIG. 6. Plate 36 forms the back of the housing A. The ends of the housing are flat parallelogram shaped plates 34, one end edge of each of which is secured to the edge of plate 39'. The front and top of the housing comprises an angular plate having a vertical flange 36 spanning the space between the forward edges of the ends 34- of the housing,

and a substantially horizontal flange 38 issuing from the top of the flange 36 and extending to the plate 3%. The bottom of the housing is a flat plate, indicated at which plate is 6-shaped as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. At the rear edge of the cut-out portion of the plate 4%} is secured so as to extend upwardly normal thereto the plate 42. The front Wall 36 and plate 42 are provided with registering holes through which extend the ends of a cylindrical bar or shaft 44 upon which is rollably mounted a roller 46 which rolls in the flange 7 of the bulb angle belt rail. Thus there is provided a fabricated roller housing open at the bottom only sufliciently for the lower segment of the roller 4-5 to extend therethrough and contact flange 7. The housings A are identical in structure and when the bulkhead is mounted in the car as shown in FIG. 1 the bulb angles support the entire weight of the bulkhead and provide the rails on which it rolls.

At the lower outer corners of the bulkhead are provided similar housings B, identical in all respects to housings A except that housings B are not provided with rollers. These housings B are positioned at the lower outer corner areas of the bulkhead, are composed of like fabricated parts, with the exception that the rollers are omitted, and the bottom of each housing is a rectangular plate. These housings B are located so as to project over the lower bulb angle web 12 as shown in PEG. 1. The respective parts of the housings B, which are identical to like parts of housings A, are given the the same reference numerals and are not described here as it would be mere duplication.

It will be noted that the rectangular plates 39 secured to the ends of the bulkhead, extend below the associated bulb angle. Secured to the sides of the lower margin of each plate 38 is a downwardly facing channel member having side flanges 59, the inner edges of which overlap and are secured to the edges of the plates 36, as clearly indicated in FIG. 1. The web 52 of this channel member is disposed parallel to the bottom of flange :12 of the associated bulb angle and spaced therefrom a distance slightly more than the height of the bulb of the associated bulb angle. The distwce between the angle and the associated bul-g angle is the dist-ancethe bulkhead may move vertically, and when they are in contact, as for example by lifting the bulkhead vertically by the clevis 28, the bottom of the rollers will be slightly above the top of the bulb of the bulb angles, and the bulkhead can then be swung about the clevis as a pivot until the roller and its housing are free from the bulb angle. The channel members under the bulb angles provide safety means to prevent the bulkhead, due to rough track or service movements of the car, from jumping ofl the track.

The horizontal flanges of the bulb angle side rails are provided with spaced openings 55 therealong to cooperate with stop blocks indicated generally at C to hold the bulkhead in a selected position along the car. These step blocks are shown as comprising a casting, but, like the housings A and B, could be fabricated. Stop blocks C are generally C-shaped in cross section and comprise spaced

flanges

60 and 62 and web 64. The ends of flange 60 are provided with upstanding reinforcements 66, and likewise the ends of the flange 62 are provided with downwardly extending reinforcements 68. The forward longitudinal edge of the spaced

flanges

60 and 62 are provided with downturned flanges 7t and 72, respectively.

Flange 70 and the bulb 8 of the associated bulb angle "are the same height. The distance between the edge of flange 7G and top of flange 62 is the least that will still permit the stop block to be applied and removed to and from the bulb angle by applying flange 71} in the throat of the bulb 8 and flange 7 of the associated bulb angle and rotating the stop block as shown in PEG. 5. The

flanges

60 and 62 are provided with spaced axially

alined holes

74 and 76 respectively, and, when any of these holes also register with a hole 56 in the bulb angle, a pin 7:;

may be applied through said registering holes and thereby hold the stop block in that position on the bulb angle. It will be noted that when the stop blocks are slid longitudinally along the bulb angles until they engage the houslugs A of the bulkhead on opposite sides thereof, and pins 73 are engaged in the registering holes, the blocks make an eflective barrier to movement of the bulkhead. Also it will be noted that when the stop blocks engage the housings A and B it is the reinforcing flanges as and 68 which engage the side walls 34 of the housings A and B and the side walls 50 of the lower channel members, respectively. This provides substantifl surface abutment, reducing the possibility of fracture, etc.

From the foregoing it should be apparent how the device operates.

The bulkhead is lifted by a crane by grabbing hook 28 and raising the bulkhead over a side into the car, with the bulkhead extending longitudinally of the car. It is then lowered until the bottom of the rollers 46 are just above the horizontal plane of the top of the bulb 8 of the bulb angles. Then the bulkhead is swung on clevis 2% as a 7 pivot, and, when the bulkhead assumes a position transversely of the car, the rollers 'Will have moved over the bulbs S of the upper bulb angles, when the crane may lower the bulkhead slightly or until the rollers are in engagement with the flanges 7 of the bulb angles. The bulkhead may then be rolled on said bulb angles to any desired position transversely of the car. To secure the bulkhead in any selected position the stop blocks may be slid on the bulb angles until they engage opposite sides of the roller housing, and then a pin 78 is inserted through the registering holes in the stop blocks and the bulb angle which eflectively holds the bulkhead in position.

I claim:

1. The combination with a freight vehicle having spaced side walls, of a bulb angle trolley track arranged longitu dinally of each side wall along the upper margin thereof with a flange vertically disposed and secured to said side wall, a flange horizontally disposed and the bulb upwardly disposed in spaced relation to said side walls, a bulkhead extending across said vehicle between said bulb angles, hollow roller housings at the upper outer corners of said bulkhead extending over said bulb angles, rollers carried within said roller housings the lower segment of said rollers projecting below said housings and reliable dong the horizontal flange between the bulb and vertical flange of the bulb angle, said horizontal flange having longitudinally spaced openin s therethrough, stop blocks slidable along said bulb angles, one on either side of said roller housing, said stop blocks comprising spaced flanges overlapping and underlapping said horizontal flange, said spaced flanges having spaced openings therethrough of different spacing than the openings in said flange, to provide Vernier adjustment with said horizontal flange, said overlapping flange having a flange issuing normally from its outer edge toward said underlapping flange, restricting the distance between said flanges to less than the width of said bulb, and means securing said stop blocks to said bulb angles to thereby prevent movement of said bulkhead therealong.

2. The combination with a freight vehicle having spaced side Walls, of a track arranged longitudinally along the upper margin of each side Wall, said track having a horizontally disposed flange provided with longitudinally spaced holes therethrough and a vertically disposed flange issuing from the outer edge of said horizontal flange, a longitudinally movable transverse bulkhead extending transversely of said vehicle between said tracks, means at the upper outer corners of said bulkhead overlapping and movable along said tracks and supporting said bulkhead thereon, stop blocks comprising C-shaped members slidable along said flange one on either side of said bulkhead and provided with spaced openings therethrough on different center spacing than the openings through said flange, said C-shaped members provided with a flange overlapping said vertical flange of said track, and means extendable through registering openings in said stop blocks and said flange to secure said stop blocks to said flange and against said bulkhead to thereby prevent movement of the bulkhead along said flange.

3. A movable bulkhead for a freight vehicle, comprising spaced flat outer sheets, a core between said sheets consisting of a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced, parallel, corrugated strips normal to the plane of and contacting along one of their edges one of said outer sheets, a strap welded along one side to the ot er edge of said strips, the other of said sheets provided with randomly spaced openings over said straps and plug Welds therethrough securing said other sheet to said core, flanges issuing from the edges of one of said sheets and extending to and secured to the edges of the other of said sheets and forming a top and a bottom for said bulkhead, and reinforcement strips between and normal to each adjacent pair of corrugated strips, and secured along their edges to said opposed faces of said outer sheets.

References Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Madison June 27, Kring Nov. 18,

ross Aug. 14, Gross June 3, Campbell et a1 Apr. 26, Butterworth Earn. 5, Nonbom Feb. 16, Sweeley et a1. Feb. 23, Gilpin Eune 21, Dixon Jan. 7, Koch Feb. 24, Clark May 12, Schey et a1. Feb. 17, MacDonnell Mar. 3, Newcomer et a1. July 14, Maharick Nov. 7,

Claims

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A FREIGHT VEHICLE HAVING SPACED SIDE WALLS, OF A BULB ANGLE TROLLEY TRACK ARRANGED LONGITUDINALLY OF EACH SIDE WALL ALONG THE UPPER MARGIN THEREOF WITH A FLANGE VERTICALLY DISPOSED AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALL, A FLANGE HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED AND THE BULB UPWARDLY DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID SIDE WALLS, A BULKHEAD EXTENDING ACROSS SAID VEHICLE BETWEEN SAID BULB ANGLES, HOLLOW ROLLER HOUSINGS AT THE UPPER OUTER CORNERS OF SAID BULKHEAD EXTENDING OVER SAID BULB ANGLES, ROLLERS CARRIED WITHIN SAID ROLLER HOUSINGS THE LOWER SEGMENT OF SAID ROLLERS PROJECTING BELOW SAID HOUSINGS AND ROLLABLE ALONG THE HORIZONTAL FLANGE BETWEEN THE BULB AND VERTICAL FLANGE OF THE BULB ANGLE, SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, STOP BLOCKS SLIDABLE ALONG SAID BULB ANGLES, ONE ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID ROLLER HOUSING, SAID STOP BLOCKS COMPRISING SPACED FLANGES OVERLAPPING AND UNDERLAPPING SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGE, SAID SPACED FLANGES HAVING SPACED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH OF DIFFERENT SPACING THAN THE OPENINGS IN SAID FLANGE, TO PROVIDE VERNIER ADJUSTMENT WITH SAID HORIZONTAL FLANGE, SAID OVERLAPPING FLANGE HAVING A FLANGE ISSUING NORMALLY FROM