US3390715A - Grain car door closure - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 196s 6.1: MURPHY 3,390,715

GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet l July 2, 1968 G, T. MURPHY 3,390,715

GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE 7'. 62,0023@ ecease, .Jr-674e Zecw/r July 2, 196s G. T. MURPHY 3,390,715

GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 2, 1968 G, T, MURPHY 3,390,715

GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE Filed Nov. 4. 1964 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 2, 1968 G. T. MURPHY GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed NOV. 4. 1964 gg J2 umn..

July 2, 1968 G. T. MLJRPl-Y GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 4, 1964 f HUI N J w 1 HHB-H July 2, 1968 n G. T. MURPHY 3,390,715

GRAIN CAR DOOR CLOSURE Filed Nov. 4, 1964 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 ill/rl! Hummm 30 5 6:20198 Tw50@ecea6ea f J7-'eze my 5E-caja United States Patent O 3,390,715 GRAIN CAR DR CLOSURE George T. Murphy, deceased, late of Waukegan, lll., by

Irene M. Murphy, executrix, 312 Grand Ave., Waukegan, lll.

Filed Nov. 4, 1964, Ser. No. 409,014 7 Claims. (Cl. 160-368) This invention relates generally to railway cars and the like and particularly to grain car doors for preventing grain, and the like, from flowing through the doorway, and especially to an improved grain door for airailway car and method of installation thereof in a railway car door, and the grain door for a railway car is an irnprovement over my earlier patent for carloading retaining strip and lock therefor, filed June 24, 1954 and granted as U.S. Patent No. 2,890,747 on lune 16 195,9.

In general, grain doors of the type herein involved are secured in the doorway of the car structure prior to the filling thereof with grain, and as the usual freight car has two doors, one on each side of the car, two grain doors per car are required. Previously grain doors have been formed from wood, metal, or other relatively rigid material and have been in use over a long period of time, one of the most commonly used doors at the present time is constructed of paper and metal straps or strips which are tensioned across the doorway. Grain doors of this latter type are illustrated in Patent No. 2,116,260 issued on May 30, 1938, to H. Corkran and Patent No. 2,310,860 issued on Feb. 9, 1943, to I. M. Moon. Both of the grain doors illustrated in these patents utilize a plurality of metal straps which extend across the doorway and are fastened at their ends to the car structure, operative to retain the paper or other material in operative position across the doorway, the metal straps acting primarily in tension. Other forms which grain doors have taken are such as disclosed and claimed in Hummel et al. 1,895,625 granted Jan. 31, 1933; Brandon et al. 2,483,523 granted Oct. 4, 1949 for a Door For Bulk Commodity Railroad Cars; Weiss 2,581,991 granted Ian. 8, 1952 for Load Retaining Door Having Center Support; Suess 2,689,608 granted Sept. 21, 1954 for Flexible Grain Door For Closed Cars; Suess 2,738,006 granted Mar. 13, 1956 for Flexible Closure for Cars and the Like; Martin 2,739,- 920 granted Mar. 27, 1956 for Method of Making Grain Doors; I. M. Gerrard 2,803,299 granted Aug. 20, 1957 for Grain Door for a Railway Car. which his earlier Patent 2,890,747 of June 16, 1959, assigned to the same asignee, A. I. Gerrard & Company as that of Gerrard et al. and over which my present invention is an improvemeut with respect to grain car doors for railway cars.

My present invention is also believed to be an improvement over Fullerton 2,871,937 granted Feb. 3, 1959, for a Grain Car Door; Ford et al. 2,599,443 granted June 3, 1952, for Closure Means for Grain Car Doorways; Ford et al. 2,686,341 for a Barricade for Grain Car Doorways; Ford 2,722,982 granted Nov. 8, 1955, for a Grain Door.

Ever since the inception of railroading on the American Continent, the handling of grain and grain products has been one of railroads greatest sources of revenue. Paradoxically the same commodities have been the cause of railroads largest loss and damage claims. These losses occurring principally through the car doorways.

In the beginning and for many years following, each shipper was obliged, not only to seal the doorways of the cars to be loa-ded but also to furnish the material to do the job, resulting in as many different ways of barricading car doorways as there were cars shipped and as exemplified by the selection of the above-identified patents. When the American Railroad Association came into being, one of its first undertakings was to standardize the method of barricading car doorways for bulk shipments. Later the carriers were required to furnish the grain doors by Congressional action. Thus the present day wood grain door came into use.

In the early 1900s, the so-called wood grain door was adopted as standard by the American Railroad Association. These are fully described in pamphlet No. 36, Bulk Grain (July 1950) published by the association of American Railroads, 59 East Van Buren Street, Chicago, Illinois. Another publication of this Association is No. 537, Recommended Methods lfor Loading Bulk Grain in Closed Cars (Mar. 1, 1961).

The tariff requires the carriers to furnish these barricades free to the Abulk shippers of all grain and grain products. Through custom, over a period of years, the Western Trunk Line carriers have been furnishing these same Wood door sections free to all bulk shippers of other products, such as the various minerals and chemicals. While the tariff requires the originating carrier to furnish these barricades free, they only retain title to their property if they can recover it. If the carriers go off line" the doors becomes the property of the delivering carrier. inasmuch as these doors can be reused, provided they are not damaged, and inasmuch as the general iiow of grain is from West to East, the Eastern carriers always capture an excess of grain doors over their own requirements. They generally have a surplus to re-sell to the Western Carriers who had originally purchased them.

Pilferage of the wood grain doors had become common and wide spread, as they were suitable for use where any wood boards were used. It was rather common to find these doors used as side walks, in the construction of many farm buildings, such as hog houses, cattle sheds, ences, etc. Many of the grain loading carriers estimated that their loss through pilferange alone, amounted to a minimum of 100,000 grain doors yearly.

With regard to paper grain doors of the so-called Signode type, the applicant originated these first paper grain doors in 1946 while employed by the Signode Steel Strapping Company. As exemplified by certain of these Signode doors, this type of barricade consisted of a series of steel straps, spaced according to load requirements and laminated between two sheets of Kraft paper, forming a grain door 6' high and 7 wide `with an 8" floor Hap to prevent leakage under the bottom of the door. This type of paper grain door was a decided improvement in many ways over the old wooden type especially in reduction in cost, the car set, reduction in dunnage, reduced handling cost, reduction in investment, and reduction in overall investment for inventory and in addition pilferage was eliminated completely. The grain door known as the Ford Grain Door as exemplied by certain of the references set forth above was quite similar to the Signode door in that the same number and size of steel straps was used but paper board was used instead of Kraft paper, and furnished their door in 3 high sections instead of a one-piece unit as was the case of Signode. The Ford type door has been moditied several times but primarily always using the steel straps for their basic strength. The Ford Grain Door was purchased by International Paper Company and in this type of door, as produ-ced by International Paper Company there has been embedded the steel straps in a double-faced corrugated board. With this latter type door, the completion between Signode and Ford has placed both types of doors upon a substantially equal footing.

The objections to these steel strap type :grain doors will be summarized and these objections apply equally to the commercial forms as identified above. The principal objections are:

(l) Personalinjuries inherent in the use of steel straps- 'i jagged strap ends when the barricades are cut open for unloading.

(2) Loose steel straps left dangling from open car doors after unloading.

(3) Steel straps scattered around yards and docks.

(4) Large number of nails required to fasten the straps to the car door posts or side walls. (Average 200 nails per car). Due to the predetermined spacing of the steel straps the nails are always driven in the same place, thus chewing large sections from the car door posts, necessitating frequent replacing of these car door posts.

(5) More time required to cooper cars with the steel strap doors. (45 minutes compared to 20 minutes for wood grain doors and l5 minutes for grain doors of my invention).

'(6) More time required to clean the steel strap grain doors Ifrom the unloaded cars. (About the same ratio as coopering).

(7) The accumulation of the used steel strap as destinations, resulting in many serious personal injuries from rusted steel straps.

(8) Excessive bulging of the steel strap type grain doors, causing lon-g delays in sampling yards and at unloading docks.

(9) Necessity of grain samplers to carry ladders to enter and leave cars.

(10) Diiculties encountered in closing outside Vcar doors when the steel strap type doors are bulged against the car doors before opening. This bulge always increases after the support of the car door is removed. The sarnplers are not required to close stubborn car doors, thus necessitating a special crew, with power devices, to close these doors, in inclement weather.

The present invention, therefore, has among its objects the production of a grain door, constructed of suitable sheet material, comprising a pair of outer plies and an inner ply of woven and/or cross strands of glass fiber in the form of a diamond-shaped mesh, together with an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length bers and bands of strands of a predetermined number and arrangement across the width of the sheet material so that atreither edge of the sheet material there is a predetermined number of strands along with the predetermined arrangement intermediate the edges of the sheet material, and the inner ply embedded in an asphalt coating and adapted to be secured contiguous its side edges to the doorway of a freight car or other vehicle used in the transfer of bulk commodities. The relatively flexible laminated sheet material with the inner ply of woven and/or cross strands of glass ber in a diamond-shaped mesh and the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass iibers being fabricated into a relatively exible sheet material with a diagonal and/or diamond-shaped mesh prefer-l ably in an apparatus identified as Weaver Ser. No. 281,61()k led May 20, 1963 now Patent No. 3,321,348. It is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention that other forms of apparatus may be used without departing from the scope of the invention if the flexible laminated sheet material comprises a pair of outer plies and inner plies preferably of a diamond mesh in the form of an overlay and an overlay also of additionally longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers embedded in a suitable adhesive and the outer plies laminated together by the adhesive in which the glass ber inlay is embedded.

It is also within the scope of the invention that the grain door of this invention may also be constructed from suitable sheet material such as paper, plastic or the like and which is so designed that it may be easily installed and removed in a minimum amount of time and which permits the use of random nailing in its enclosure, thus reducing car damage.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the 4: j inherent faults of the other commercial 'forms of grain doors, as follows:

(l) No metal is used in the grain door.

(2) No excess bulging, no leaks.

(3) Completely disposable, everything burns7 nothing to be returned for credit, although 75% of the hard wood beams and boards are reusable.

(4) Gnly thirty-six (36) nails required to cooper a car set, 6 high.

(5) The wood beams are a perfect ladder for entering or leaving the car for inspection purposes.

(6) When installed in 6 wide car doorways no cross brace required,regardless of height of load.

(7) Solid door posts are not required in order to use this grain door, due to the l2 inch extension beyond each car door post. If a car can be used at all for grain loading, this barricade will do a better job than any other including wood doors.

Another object of the invention is the production of a grain door which primarily does not use any metal members, thus facilitating disposal following use and which is readily adjustable for different sized freight cars and diferent sized doorways, the only metal being used 4being primarily in certain forms of a grain body by additional strength if necessary or in bulk loading of other products such that it is necessary to use preferably metal uprights and wire cross ties.

`A further object of the invention is the production of a grain door which is so formed that it may be partially mounted, leaving the upper portion of the door free whereby the effective height of the dor is temporarily reduced for loading purposes, etc., and following which the door may be extended to its full height, and in which the wood beams provide a ladder for entering or leaving the car for inspection purposes.

A further object of the invention is the production of a grain door which is provided with novel means forming a cross-tie connection |between the grain doors on opposite sides of the car structure, whereby the unsupported span of the grain door is substantially halved and improved cross sections for the cross ties which are aiiixed thereto.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a grain door, utilizing an improved cross-tie harness l between opposite doors Iwherein the cross-tie structure is suitably positioned irrespective of the eiective width of both the doorway structure and the means for mounting the grain door to the car structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved single sheet grain door construction which may be simply fabricated, packaged for shipment and erected or installed in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a double sheet grain door `for increased strength for the bulk loaded materials within the car and which may be readily fabricated, packaged for shipment and installed.

A further object of the invention is the production of a grain door having the above advantages, which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and eicient for the purposes intended, and which at the same time, may be readily packaged in the form of a compact roll for shipping purposes, etc., prior to use, so that the sheet material comprising the door is not sharply folded and causing weakening by creasing or the like.

Another robject of the invention is to provide a car door barricade completely adaptable for |mechanical car unloaders, so that the entire structure pulls way when the car is tilted and the barricade is dumped inside the car when the ram is withdrawn.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure structure which is disposable and is substantially injury-proof to personnel handling erection of the closure structure and the detachment thereof from the car door way of the railway car being unloaded.

'A particular feature of the invention is to provide a grain car door structure or flexible closure structure for railway car doors and the like fabricated from one or more sheets of preferably laminated sheet material with a crossed diagonal or diamond-shaped mesh Within a predetermined diagonal fiber spacing of the glass fibers, and an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers arranged in bands of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers within predetermined spacings, and with a band of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers at each edge of the sheet material, and with the intermediate bands so arrangedv that if desired the sheet material may be fabricated in one or more Widths of a predetermined size of grain door and if desirable one or more widths of a predetermined size of retaining strip, and the grain car door strip or flexible closure may include'a diagonal or diamond-shaped mesh and an overlay of longtudinally extending machine length glass fibers arranged as to be more particularly described as the sheet material is felted from a paper slurry simultaneously on opposite sides of the diamond-shaped mesh and overlay of longtudinally extending machine length glass fibers arranged'in a predetermined pattern as the sheet material also may ibe felted from a paper slurry.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a grain I car door or flexible closure structure for railway car doors and the like fabricated from one or more sheets of laminated sheet material with an intermediate Fiberglas scrim fabricated into a predetermined pattern of a diagonal or diamond-shaped mesh including an'overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers arranged in bands of predetermined spacings permitting the sheet material to be severed in predetermined widths of the laminated sheet material for different widths of grain car doors or if desirable retaining strips in which each of the severed portions of the laminated sheet material has bands of an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers at each edge of the severed sheet material.V

Still another feature of the invention is to provide an improved grain car door closure or flexible closure strueture, which may be for-med from one or more strips of reinforced paper or the like material, depending upon the load of grain or bulk commodities retained by the grain car door closure and/ or flexible closure structure.

This paper or the like material, depending upon the load of the bulk commodities retained by the grain car door and/ or flexible closure structure is preferably formed from one or more sheets of laminated sheet material for barricading box car doorways 7, 8, and 9 wide and is available in heights of from 18 to 120".

In accomplishing the various objects and features of my invention it is preferred to use a material for a grain car door closure and/ or flexible closure structure of relatively flexible sheet material comprising a kraft reinforc- 4 ing paper with a woven -and/or cross diagonal and/or diamondshaped mesh substantially Withinpthe diagonal fiber space 3% x l, l x l, 1" x 2", 1" x 3, and l x 4 of glass fibers-Within the range of substantially 37 ends l/O and 150 ends 1/0, and an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers within the range of from substantially ends l/O and 150 ends l/O, said reinforcing paper being laminated with asphalt and the glass fibers embedded therein `and being substantially within the range of the following bases Weight: 140 1bs.-30 x 80 x 30; 150 lbs- 40 x 70 x 4() with a l" x 1" woven diagonal and/or diamondshaped mesh; 170 ]bs.- 40 x 90 x 40 with a x 1" Woven and/ or overlay diagonal and/ or diamond-shaped mesh; 190 lbs.- 40 x x 40 with 3%" x l" woven and/ or overlay diagonal mesh and/or diamond-shaped mesh, and said overlay of longitudinally. extending machine length fibers including 12 strands within the range of from substantially 75 through 150 ends l/O at 1A" spacing, and said overlay within the range of from substantially 75 through 150 ends 1/0 for 6 Widths of sheet material adapted for forming 6 high flexible enclosure structures with a total of 108 Istrands for 6 high barricades including 12 strands at 1A apart along each longitudinal edge, 24 strands at 1/4 apart and at every 24 and 48" from either edge an additional l2 strands substantially at 1A" apart at a spacing of 12", 36" and 60 from either edge of the sheet material so that the 72 width flexible sheet material is adapted for dividing if desirable into barricades as described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 356,674 filed Apr. 1, 1964 now Patent No. 3,351,122 for a Car Door Ba-rricade and which is equally adapted for use with flexible closure structures such as grain door closures and in turn may be used for barricades in order to reduce inventory. It is preferred to fabricate the flexible sheet material forming the barricade of my invention with the machine of the type of Richard O. Rupp, Ser. No. 281,- 610, filed May 20, 1963. Although it is preferred to use the flexible sheet material for the improved barricade construction of my invention wherein the pattern of the glass fibers including the diagonal -and/ or diamondshaped mesh and the overlay of machine length fibers arranged as will be particularly disclosed and claimed by the Weaver of the aforementioned application, it is also within the scope of my invention to use a prefabricated scrim of glass fibers arranged in a diagonal shape and/ or diamond-shaped mesh of glass fibers, and the predetermined pattern arrangement of the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers so that the resultant flexible sheet may be slit for the fabrication of 24, 36, 48 and 72" sheets for barricades and also for flexible door closures, and may also include a 60 sheet for barricades and flexible door closures of the same size with a predetermined number of strands at the opposite edges of the longitudinal flexible sheet material for each of the predetermined grain car door closures, barricades and/or retaining strips or other preferred widths which may be readily fabricated.

A preferred form of sheet for grain car door closures, flexible closure structures andthe like is wide for preferably grain doors for 8 wide car doors. Fiber glass yarn ends in 3 strands (150/3) with a total tensile strength of 11 lbs. minimum 12 strands per inch except Where noted as will be described later with regard to a preferred form of this sheet material.

The high strength flexible sheet material is cut to the preferred size for grain car door closures and/or flexible closure structures, eg., car load retaining and/ or barricade strips or other package or bulk car door structures, and as set forth, in part, above, the reinforced paper is entirely new in the fabrication, has strong reinforcing in all directions, with triple strength bands of reinforcing added at all pressure points. If it is desired to have a barricade for bulk commodities, such as grain and chemical material which require greater strength than that provided by one strip of fabriacted material or even for a car loading retaining strip and/or barricades for packaged commodities, it is within the scope of the invention to use one and/ or two strips depending upon the load to be retained across an open car door area such, e.g., in use for la single sheet grain door and/ or a double sheet grain door. It is also Within the scope of the invention to provide not only the separable form of retaining strip for bulk commodities as well as the form of retaining strip and/or barricade for bulk commodities, such as grain products and malt, chemicals and minerals, but also separable car loading retaining strips and/or divided barricades for packaged materials which was particularly disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application for Car Door Barricades, Ser. No. 356,674 filed Apr. l, 1964. In this form of grain car door closure and/ or flexible closure structure, the pressure of the bulk material is restrained by cross ties connecting the opposite supporting door structures placed in the car door opening.

Hard wood beams and the hign tensile paper, both preferably extend substantially 12 beyond each door post, thus utilizing the pressure of the lading to make a complete leak-proof seal. Pre-drilled nail holes are provided in each end of the hard wood beams thus affording a rapid and simple installation. The grain door is so constructed that it can be installed only in the right way, therefore taking all guess work out of the installation. Due to the thin section of the beveled ends of the 2" x 3" hard wood beams, only two 12 penny nails are required to hold the beams in place. When used in barricading 8 and 9' wide doorways, a vertical braced post and cross wires are provided to help prevent any excess bulging due to sharp impacts or extra high loads. These grain doors are cornpletely weatherproof and are entirely disposable.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a car doorway with a grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure embodying the present invention mounted therein;

FIG. 2 is a view of one side of a car doorway with the car door closed, and illustrating the beginning of the erection of the cross beam through the car doorway;

FIG. 3 is a view of the cross beam and bottom beam and the grain car door closure assembled in position for completing the installation of the grain car door closure as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a cross beam;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the cross beam of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the chipboard for sealing the grain car door closure, as used in the erection of the cross beams of FIG. 2 and for sealing the grain car door closure as illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of the bottom cross beam, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the bottom cross beam of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the completion of the installation of the chipboard seal, and as finally installed in FIG. 1, and wherein the cross beams may be used as supports for the installer;

FIG. 10 is a view of a door opening and illustrating the exterior of the completed installation of the grain car door closure of FIG. l;

FIG. 11 illustrates the single sheet grain car door closure unwrapped as packaged for shipment, and illustrating the chipboard as positioned in the wrapping and the bottom board assembled to the bottom of the grain door closure ready for assembly to the grain car door opening after the chipboards have been mounted in place as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the cross tie beams also having been removed from the package;

FIG. 12 illustrates a preferred form of package for a single sheet grain car door closure, with the chipboard strips within the package and the cross tie beams as shown with the package suitably bound by wire ties and/ or other form of securing means;

FIG. 13 illustrates the grain car door closure with the bottom cross tie in elevation as it would be erected in place at the grain car door opening and with the remainder of the grain car door closure broken away as it is unwrapped and ready to be raised in position as illustrated in FIG. 1 for installation;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the grain car door closure with the bottom cross tie assembled in position at a grain car door opening and with the upper part of the grain car door assembled to the top board as it would appear in being raised to its final position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to complete the installation from its position as illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged View in cross-section taken along lines 15-15 of FIG.k 13 looking in the direction of the arrows of the attachment of the bottom of the grain car door closure to the bottom cross beam and also illustrating the chipboard seal;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 13 and looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the assembly of the grain car door closure at its upper end to the top board;

FIG. 17 is a view of the grain car door closures, partly broken away illustrating the beginning of the rolling of the grain car door as it is packaged for shipment;

FIG. 18 is a view, partly broken away, of the grain car door closure as it is being further rolled up for packasma;

FIG. 19 illustrates a preferred form of 120 wide sheet for grain car door closures for 8 wide car door, and illustrates schematically the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers which is laminated between sheets of kraft paper for providing a flexible sheet material of the grain car door closure;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of the diagonal and/or diamond-shaped mesh of glass fibers and overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass bers which is laminated between sheets of kraft paper for a flexible sheet material forming an improved embodiment of the grain car door closure of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a vertical elevational view of a double sheet grain car door closure and/or double sheet flexible closure structure;

FIG. 22 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 22-422 of FIG. 2l, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the installation of the double sheet grain car door closure of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 23-23 of FIG. 21 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the double sheet grain car door closure installed in a grain car door opening;

FIG. 24 is a vertical elevational view of a double sheet grain car door closure of that of FIG. 21, but being viewed from the interior of the grain car after installation;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged corner view of a modified form of construction of the wrapping of the double sheet grain car door closure, and looking from the interior of the grain car, of the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 illustrates Van embodiment of the single sheet grain car door closure preferably for 9 and 10 grain car door opening and illustrates a cross tie assembly and/or harness including metal uprights for metal cross wires between the opposite single sheet grain car door closures installed in opposite car door openings, and as viewed from the exterior of the grain car;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged vertical elevational view of the metal upright of the cross tie assembly and/or harness construction of the single sheet grain car door closure of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 284-28 of FIG. 27 and looking in the direction of the arrow of the metal upright;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged view of a slot provided in the metal upright for the cross tie assembly of FIG. 26 for latching a cross tie wire, as illustrated in FIG. 26;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the metal upright and cross wire latched thereto with respect to one of the cross tie wires, as illustrated in FIG. 26;l

FIG. 31 illustrates a modified cross tie assembly and/ or harness for 9 and 10' wide railway car doors, illustrating a Z-bar metal upright and a modified latching construction of the cross tie wires at each end;

FIG. 32 is a horizontal crosssectional view taken along line 32-32 4of FIG. 31 looking in the direction of the 9 arrows, illustrating the cross section of the Z-bar upright and the latched construction at the end of the cross wire ties;

FIG. 33 illustrates the grain car door closure of the grain car door closure embodiment of FIG. 26 as applied to 9 and 10' railway car doorways, and showing a wood upright construction for a cross tie assembly, and a modified latch construction for each end of the cross wire ties;

FIG. 34 illustrates a modified cross tie assembly and/ or harness including a modified metal upright and in which the cross wire -tie is clamped at each end by the load and horizontal cross beam contiguous thereto;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged elevational view illustrating the cross tie assembly of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 illustrates the cross tie assembly of FIG. 26 as applied to a single sheet grain car door closure of the embodiment of FIG. 1. And illustrating the single sheet grain car door closure applied to opposite car door openings and the cross tie assembly and/or harness axed between the oppositely arranged gram car door closures.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional `View illustrating the latching means of the cross tie of FIG. 36, FIG. 26 and FIG. 30;

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 38-38, of FIG. 39 and looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a modified form of cross tie assembly including a modified metal upright and a modified latching construction for the wire cross ties; and,

FIG. 39 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the center line of the modified metal upright of the embodiment of the harness construction of FIG. 38 and illustrating another embodiment of a latching means for a cross wire tie as aixed t the metal upright.

Referring to FIGS. 1-20, a preferred form of grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure and securing means therefor for aixing to a car door opening, will be described. A conventional railway car construction having opposite doorways 11 and 12, adapted to be closed by doors 13 and 14, which for the purpose of the disclosure of this invention, the opening 11 shall be considered as being closed by the door 13, and either the loading or unloading of the car shall take place through the opening 11, after which `the sliding car doors `14 will be closed upon completion of the loading. In applying the grain cai door closure and/0r flexible closure structure for bulk commodities, and more particularly for grain, malt and/or chemicals or ore, it is preferred to rst apply a single sheet grain car door closure and/ or iieXi-ble closure structure .15, which extends across the opening 11 formed by the vertical parts or jambs 16 and 17. Although the grain car door closure and/or exible closure structure of this invention may be formed from a single fabricated member 18, the sheet-like material forming the flexible closure structure and/or grain car door closure may valso be formed from multiple layers of two or more sheets as described in my aforementioned Patent 2,890,747 of June 16, 1959 and that of my co-pending application Ser. No. 356,674 filed Apr. 1, 1964. It is also within the scope of the invention that the number of plies used depends upon the lateral force of bulk commodities to be restrained at the doorway of a railway car, and `the lateral force of the packaged commodities set up in transit when the material forming the flexible closure structure of this invention is salvaged from the preferred sheet-like material, either from the waste of fabricating of 4the flexible closure structures or from the same material to reduce inventory costs. As the width of railway ca-r doors varies from 6 to 8', and in certain larger grain car doors-9 and 10', it is preferred to fabricate each exible closure structure for the respective car door widths for economy in fabrication, though it is within the scope of the invention that the flexible closure structures and/or grain car door closures can be fabricated to minimize inventory for at least two sizes of railway car doorway openings. It is also preferable to fabricate flexible door closures for each size of doorway because of the cost of the number used in the bottom pryboards, the intermediate cross bars and the top board.

In the embodiment of FIGS. l-20, the grain car door closure 15 includes a sheet of material y18 of a size to extend across the respective doorways 11 and 12. and overlie the door posts 16 and 17 thereof, such sheet preferably being of laminated construction and, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, comprising an inner sheet 19, an outer sheet 20, and an intermediate ply 21 of an overlay of glass fiber strands to be more -particularly described later with respect to FIG. 19 and in the embodiment of FIG. 20 an overlay of glass fibers together with a diagonal and/or diamond-shaped pattern of glass strands in accordance with the disclosure of my co-peending application, Ser. No. 356,674 filed Apr. l, 1964. In the embodiment -of FIG. 20, the diamond-shaped mesh 22 further increases the strength of the grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure under greater lateral forces of bulk commodities to be restrained at the doorway of a railway car particularly with loadings of greater height and in railway cars with wider doorways and relatively smaller ones of 6', 7 and 8'.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20, the sheets y19 and 20 may be formed from a suitable kraft paper, plastic or other suitable material While the intermediately ply 21 of FIG. 19 and 22 of FIG. 20 is preferably formed from strands of any suitable material having the desired characteristics of flexibility, tensile strength, etc., to achieve the desired results. The sheets 19 and 20 and intermediate -ply 211 and 22 are secured together by a suitable adhesve material 23 as, for example, a combination of asphalt and latex, suitable plastics or the like. Very satisfactory results may be obtained by constructing the strands 21 and 23 of glass fibers. The particular arrangement of the strands 21 of FIG. 19 and 21 and 22 of FIG. 20 will be more particularly described later.

As illustrated in FIGS. l-lO, 14, l5 and 16, the preferred form of single sheet grain door construction will be described and further with regard to the packaged single sheet grain door with reference to FIGS. 1l, 12, 13 and 18. A packaged grain door as illustrated in FIG. 12, comprises a single sheet grain door 1S, two chipboard seals 24, 25, cross bars 26 and 27, bottom plyboards 28, top board 29 and seal 30 of chi-pboard which have been preferably Prefabricated as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 13 and packaged for shipment as shown in FIG. 12.

The single grain door embodiment will be preferably described with reference to a 6' wide X 6 high single g-rain door, Model No. l; 'a grain door, Model No. 2, 6 wide x 8' high; a grain door Model No. 3--8' wide X 6 bigh, and a grain door Model No. 4 8 wide X 8 high. With respect to the four different models, the same reference characters with regard to the installation and the parts will be the same as that of the embodiment illusit-rated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 20 except as otherwise particularly pointed out. The 6 wide x 6 high grain door Model No. l uses four boards, the bottom pryboard 28, the cross bars 216 and 27 and the top board 29. The bottom pryboard 28 of all the models is preferably fabri- Gated as illustrated in the erected 4positions of FIGS. 1 and 3, as particularly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, as assembled as shown in FIG. 13 and also in the erected position of FIG. 14 and the enlarged View of FIG. 15. The bottom board Z8 of FIGS. 7 and 8 is preferably 2 x 4" standard lumber x 76 long and tapered -as illustrated at 31 and 32. In .the erection or installation thereof as shown in FIGS. l, 3, 14 and 15, the pryboard 28 is placed tight at the bottom on the car oor 33, with the 4" side against the car wall and then nailed as illustrated in FIG. 1. The cross bar 26 is formed from 2" x 3" standard lumber and 7'6" long and tapered at 34 and 35 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. In the grain door Model No. 1, the cross l I bar 26 is placed and nailed pre-ferably 14" above the 2" X 4" pryboard 2S with the 2 side against the car wall as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and 10. The upper cross bar 27 is also formed from 2 X 3 standard lumber and is similarly 7'6" long as the other member and also tapered at 34 and 35 as the lower cross bar 26 and as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. This upper cross bar 27 is preferably placed 16" above the rst cross 'bar 26 and nailed as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and also with the 2" side against the car Wall. The top board 29, FIGS. 1, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18 for the grain door Model No. 1 is preferably formed from 1" X 6" X 8 standard lumber but is not tapered. This top board 29 is assembled to the grain car door closure as preferably illustrated in FIG.

V16 and wrapped as shown and stapled with suitable staples 36 in FIGS. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17 and 18. In the iinal installation, FIGS. 1, 9, and 10, the top board 29, is drawn tight at the top with the 6" side against the car Wlall and nailed as illustrated.

The 6 wide X 8 high grain door Model No. 2 is similar to that as described with respect to the grain door Model No. 1 but tive 'boards are used instead of four. Instead of the two cross bars 26 and 27, a third cross bar 27a is used as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 26, FIG. 31 and FIG. 33, as illustrative eXamples. Other reinforcing necessary for the higher 8 grain door as compared to the 6 high grain door. In this example, the first `2" X 3" cross bar 26 is nailed 14" above the 2 X `4" pry -bar `28. rl`he second cross bar 26 is then nailed 16 above the 2" X 3 cross bar 26. The third 2 X 3 cross bar 27a is then nailed 16" above the cross bar 27.

An 8 wide X 6' high grain door"ModeliNo- 3 requires the use of four boards as described above with reference to the grain door Model No. 1. These boards respectively, cross bars 26 and 27 and top board 29 are placed and nailed as illustrated in FIG. 1 and as described with reference to grain door Model No. 1. In this embodiment, the pryboard 28 would be 2" X 4" X 96 long and tapered similarly as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. The cross bars 26 and 27 in this embodiment are both 2 X 3 X 9'6" long and tapered similarly as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The top board 29, in this embodiment, is 1 X 6" X 10 long and not tapered and it is similarly farbricated as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 9 and 11.

An 8 wide X 8 high grain door Model No. 4 utilizes live 'boards as does the grain door Model No. 2, respectively the pryboard 28, cross bars 26, 27 and 27a and the top board 29. The pryboard 28, for this embodiment is 2 X 4 X 9'6 long and tapered and placed in position and nailed as described with respect to FIGS. 1, 3 and the grain d-oor Model No. 1. The pry bar for gain door Model No. 4 is similarly formed as in FIGS. 4 and 5 with respect to the taper and is placed in position and nailed as described with reference to grain door Model No. 1 and FIGS. 1 and 3. The cross bars 26, 27 and 27m as illustrated in FIG. 33 are, respectively, 2 X 3" X 96 iong tape-red and placed in position and nailed as described with reference t-o grain door Model No. 2. The top board 29 for grain door Model No. 4 is 1" X 6 X 10 long not tapered and is placed in position and nailed as illustrated in FIG. 1 and described above with reference to grain door Model No. 2.

The taperingy of the ends of the 2 X 3" cross bars 26, 27 and 27a is 16 from each end as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The taper for all sizes of the 2" X 4" pry bar is 9" in from each end as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. In each end of the cross bars and pry bars, there are preferably siX pre-drilled holes 37 which snugly receive the 12d nails. It is also within the scope of the invention that in the cross bars one may use 8 holes 1%4 diameter staggered on 1%. centers with the innermost nail hole 7" from the end of the cross bar and the holes 5%" from each edge and a lateral spacing of 3A". This spacing is preferable for cross bars 90 llong for 6' door openings and 114" long for 8 door openings, and like-wise for 138l long, 4" wide cross members for 10 door openings. An alternate nailing pattern for pry bars is a five hole pattern on each end though eight holes may be used. The nail holes are preferably 1%4 in diameter. The lateral spacing is 1'l on centers and the longitudinal spacing is 2" on centers with the innermost holes 8 from each end. Such bottom wood cross members or pry bars are preferably 92" for a 6 door opening, 116" for 8 door opening and 140 for a 10 door opening. In all the cross bars and pry bars it is preferable to round off the two edges which are in Contact with the paper of the grain door.

Although the preferred sizes for the wo-od cross members have been set fo-rth above, it is also within the scope of the invention that the top w-ood cross members are preferably 96" for 6 d-oor opening, 120 for an 8 door opening, and 144 for a l0 door opening. The intermediate cross wood members are preferably for a 6' door opening, and 114 for an 8 door opening. The size for the wood cross members for a 10' door opening is preferably 138". The cross bar members are preferably 2 X 3 for 6 and 8 d-oor openings and 2 X 4 for the 10 door openings.

rl`he size of the paper for various grain door models will now be described. Grain door Model No. 1 paper size for 6 high grain doors and 6 wide car doors is preferably 96" wide X 102 high and this height includes an 8" flap. Grain door Model No. 2 for a 6' high grain door and 8 car door is preferably 96 wide and ,120" high which includes `an 8" flap. Grain car door Model No. 3-8 high for a 6 car door is preferably wide X 102 bigband includes an 8" ap. Grain door Model No. 4-8 high for an 8 car door is preferably 120 wide X 120" high and includes an 8" liap. The glass reinforced paper doors, particularly the sheets for forming them an-dA for a single sheet grain door may also be within the following dimensions: The Width for a 6' door opening is preferably 96" and a length of 96". The width for an 8 door opening is preferably 120 with a height of 120". The width for a 10 door opening is 96 with a length of 120i and in this size glass reinforced paper door, two sheets are required with a 48 lap. The widths of the sheet for an 8 door opening-120i" with a length of 96". The Width for a sheet for a 6 door opening is preferably 96" and a length of 120" for a higher single sheet grain door. The above sizes are preferably the cut sizes of the glass reinforced sheet material from which the final fabricated grain door is made including the wrapping of the top board, and the seal and flap portion afliXed to the bottom pryboard.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 9, the particular chip board seals 24 and 25 for the preferred grain door Models No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 will be identified. The chip board size for grain door Models No. 1 and No. 3 is preferably 2" X 2%6" X `6' with two required for each door. Likewise, the chip board size for grain door Models No. 2 and No. 4 is respectively 2" X 1A6 X 8 and two required for each door. These are the vertical seals 24 and 25 as described above. With reference to the chip board seal 30 as illustrated in FIG. 1l, the size for grain door Models No. 1 and No. 2 is 2" X JAG X 6. One is used with each door as illustrated in FIG. 1l and is stapled on the fold with staples 38. The application of seal 30 when erected in place is particularly illustrated in FIG. 10 in the linal erected position and mayl be seen in cross-section in the embodiments of FIGS. 33 and 34 as examples of the use thereof. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 9, the chip board seals 24 and 2S will -be more particularly described with respect to the indicia thereon for aid in the erection of the cross bars 26 and 27. A preferred chip board seal 24 and 25 for a 6 door opening and for a 6 high grain door is preferably 65 long, 2" wide and with indicium 39 and 40 imprinted thereon. The indicia 39 is preferably imprinted on the chip board and is square-2 X 2", whereas the bottom indicia 40 is 2 X 4". The lowermost indicia 39, referring to FIG. 2 is spaced 16" from the upper edge of indicia 40, and the upper indicia 39 is spaced 18" from the lower indicia 39. Chip board seals for an 8 door opening for a y6' high grain door is also preferably 65" long ibut instead of the two indicium, as shown in FIG. I6, is imprinted with a third indicia 39 (not shown). The lowermost indicia 40 is the same as placed at the bottom of the chip board and the spacing of the three indicium is 12l from the upper edge of the indicia 40 and 12" and 15" between the foremost indicia 39 :and the intermediate indicia 39. Thus the spacing is respectively 12, l2" and 15" as compared to 16" and 1'8 in FIG. l6. The chip board seal is described but not shown to be used, for example, in erecting cross bars 26, 27 :and 27a of FIGS. 26 and 31.

A chip board seal for 8 x 10 door openings and for 8 high grain door is preferably 89" long, and in addition to the pryboard would require four cross bars 'which is two more than that as ill-ustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and one more than as illustrated in FIGS. 26, 31 and 33. For this chip board seal (not shown) four indicium 39 are required in addition to the indicia 40. From the top edge of the bottom indicia 40, the spacing upwardly is respectively for the indicia 39, 12" from the top edge of indicia 40 and 14, 16 and 18 respectively from the top edges of the cross bars 26, 27 and 27a in order to position the iinal cross bar of the four cross bars. A chip board seal for a 6 car door opening for 8 high grain doors which rnay be considered as illustrated in FIGS. 26, 31 and 33 would be substantially 89 long. The three indicium 39 for the cross bars 26, 27 and 27a would be spaced substantially 16' from the top edge of the indicia 40 and then respectively 20 and 22 from the top edges of the indicia 39l for the correct spacing of the third cross bar 27a as illustrated in FIGS. 26, 31 and 33.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, y6 and 9 which may, eg., be considered as illustrating 6 grain door for a 6' car door opening with the grain door nominally 6 high. After the chip board seals 24 and 25 have been removed from the packaged 'grain door as illustrated in FIG. l1, the chip board seals 24 and 25 are tacked alongside the car door opening as shown in FIG. 2 with the bottom indicia 40 of the c-hip board placed with its bottom edge on the lioor 33 and raised vertically and nailed in place as shown. The cross bars 26 and 27 are then nailed to the wood door posts, e.g., 16d nails (1l/64 X 31/2" long) though if found desirable additional nails may be used in the nailing pattern of either ve or six nails. The grain door 15, as illustrated in FIG. 11, may then be placed in position as shown in FIG. 3, and the pry bar 28 aixed to the door posts of the car opening with the nailing pattern of 12d nails as illustrated. The chip board seals 24 and 25 have been taken down from the position as shown and the .grain door has been raised from the position as shown in FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 1 with the cross bar 29 also nailed in position as illustrated with the particular nailing pattern which may be either six nails on each end or iive, and all the nail holes may be used though a minimum of two nails at each end of the top bar 29 must be used and more generally depending upon the age of the railway car and the condition of the nailing edges of the door post. The chip board seals 24 and 2S may be nailed in place starting as shown in FIG. 1 with the top edge underneath the lower edge of the top board 29 and nailed firmly in place to seal each side of the grain door and tightly against the faces of the cross bars as illustrated. The chip board seals 24 and 25 are nailed downwardly as shown in FIG. 9 and any remaining is cut off or left free to lie on the door ap 41 which is left free and not nailed to permit the bulk material such as grain to seal the flap in place against the car floor 33 at the position of the flap. An alternate way of assembling the chip board seals is to start from the bottom so that the indicium 40 and 39 conform to the position of the pryboard and cross bars and nail upwardly and with pre-cut chip board strips to size the upper end of the chip board should end beneath the lower edge of the cross bar. The main point is that the edges of the grain door should be tightly held in place with the chip board seals with suiiicient nailing to accomplish this.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and l5, the particular con- -struction of the seal formed by the pry board 28 and the chip board seal 30 will be particularly described. The pry board 28 has been formed as described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 with the pattern of nail holes 37either six in number or five though preferably with the nailing strips of the railway car door in good condition, anly two nails may be considered necessary and the extra holes have been provided primarily yfor railway cars in which the condition of the nailing surface about the car door has deteriorated from continued use before the railway car is re-conditioned. The lower end of the grain door 15 is reversed upon itself as illustrated in FIG. 14 and FIG. l5 to provide a ap 41 substantially 8 long and extending the width of the reinforced fiber glass paper of the 4grain door. The turned back edge 42 is stapled to the wood pry bar 28 preferably on 16 centers for any one width of glass reinforced paper. This turned back edge 42 is substantially 2 high and it is preferred to staple the reinforced paper close to the upper turned edge but between the folds. In other words, the pry bar 28 is rst laid across the paper and the material to form the flap and part of the upturned edge substantially 10" is folded back to permit the stapling with 1/2" wide, 3" long 0.050" flattened wire. After the stapling the flap is turned back under the bottom edge of the pry bar as shown. The chip board 30 is then stapled in -place as illustrated in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 with preferably four staples similar to that as used in stapling the paper and arranged substantially as shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. Depending upon the size of the grain door additional staples 38 may be necessary for the wire sizes Referring to FIGS. 1, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18, the top board 29 is preferably 1" X `6 and the length depending upon the overall width of the grain door. In assembling the top board to the reinforced paper when the paper is stapled to the top board, the paper is then wrapped around the board and stapled over top of staples already in the board and the pattern may take that as illustrated in the above-identilied figures and the staples used are substantially the same staples as used in assembling the reinforced paper to the pry board 28 being preferably 1/2" wide, long and 0.050 flattened wire. As an example of the stapling for a 120" width of glass reinforced paper for a 96" door opening, the end staples are positioned 8" lfrom the tapered location similarly as the bottom stapling pattern to the pry bar 28, and in both instances the paper is stapled to the wood on 16 center-s (5 spaces). Both the nailing pattern for the top board and the pry board on each end is substantially the same, both being 10 in from the edge of the chip board seal and this for the pry bar is'substantially 8 and the nailing for five holes spaced on 2" centers longitudinally and 1" centers laterally. Although in all of the cross bars, pry bar and top board, it is preferred to fabricate the grain door with a nailing pattern for each end to simplify the installation of the grain door, it is also within the scope of the invention that these may be left out and left to the skill of the installer to properly nail the grain door in position in the car door opening.

Referring to FIG. 16, the reinforced paper may be stapled as shown and/or as described above. For the Wood which is to be used Afor the pry bar, the cross bar land the top board only naturally dried hardwood lumber may be used. Elm is best and ash is second best. Maple is not too successful. Mostly red oak was tested and is as good as the others if one can obtain first-class lumber. It was found that kiln-dried lumber mildewed the paper and absorbed moisture, swelling out of size. With regard to the nails used for nailing 16d and 12d have been included and either is satisfactory though it is preferable to use 12d nails for all nailing. The nails may be suitably packaged and inserted within the package so that sufficient nails are furnished to completely install any of the various embodiments of the grain door for different size heights and widths of car doorways. It is to be understood that a grain door constmction such as illustrated in FIG. l would require a minimum of sixteen nails of either 12d and/or 16d, wherein a grain door for either a wider or higher door in which additional cross bars are used, would require four extra nails for each cross bar added as a minimum number, and it is obvious that an installer would have additional nails to use whenever the car doot` post nailing surface is in poor condition, thus requiring additional nails to suitably afx the respective wood cross members.

AReferring to FIGS. 19 and 20, there will be described preferred embodiments of the material forming a grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure for use with the single sheet grain car door closure, e.g., of FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, and that of the double sheet grain car door closure in the embodiment of FIGS. 21, 22, 23 and 24. Although the preferred embodiments of the relatively flexible sheet material of reinforced paper of FIGS. 19 and 2O will be particularly described, it is also within the scope of the invention that the relatively ilexible sheet material of reinforced paper as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 356,674 iiled Apr. 1, 1964, lfor a car door barricade can be used depending upon the lateral loads of the bulk material being shipped and similarly the flexible sheet material of reinforced paper of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 may be used for car door barricades in order to conseiye any waste material from fabrication of the grain car door because of the relatively large size sheet-s being used so that there may be some waste in fabricating the smaller size of grain car door closures therefrom.

It is preferred to provide this improved form of either single sheet grain car door closure or double sheet grain car door closure from .a glass strand reinforced paper. In the embodiments to be described with respect to the various embodiments of the overlay of longitudinally extending length glass fibers permitting the relatively flexible sheet material to be fabricated from 8' Widths and for the larger sizes from l0 widths. It is preferred, however, to fabricate from l0 Widths and slit the paper for the necessary 8 widths and use the waste material for the fabrication of car door barricades as disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned copending application, Ser. No. 356,674 tiled Apr. 1, 1964. Referring to FIG. 19, there will be described a 120" wide sheet for a single sheet grain car door closure, preferably utilized for 8' wide car doors. The fiber glass yarn is 150 ends in three strands (150/3) with a total tensile strength of 1l lbs. minimum strength in each 450 end strands. It is to be understood that twelve strands per inch are `to be used except Where noted. Beginning from the top and reading downwardly, the schematic layout of the arrangement of the fibers will he described. In all the grain door models, No. 1 through No. 4 and others previously described, the longitudinal reinforcing as schematically illustrated in FIG. 19 and similarly in FIG. 20 of the intermediate ply 21 parallels the height of the freight car to which the grain car door closure and/or exible closure structure of the various embodiments is applied. The longitudinally extending overlay for the 22 wide band 43 has eight strands per inch or substantially 176 strands. Below this is a 6 band 44 which is not reinforced. There follows a 4" band 45 which has l2 strands per inch. Below this is another 4 band 46 with no reinforcing. Following this is an 8 band 47 with l2 strands per inch. The 4 band 48 is without reinforcing as is the 4" band 46 and 6" band 44. A 12" band 49 has l2 strands per inch bringing the width to the centerline 5t). From the centerline 5t) downwardly the bands ofy the sheet are symmetrically formed as the upper half and like reference characters will indicate the same corresponding bands which have the same number of strands per inch. It is to be understood other number of ends and arrangement of strands for each strand may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention and these may be within the range as previously disclosed and claimed in the above-mentioned cO-pending application.

With the above-identified relatively flexible sheet material of reinforced fiber glass yarn, it is possible not only to utilize a 10 width sheet for the fabrication of 8 door openings and 10 door openings wherein two sheets are required with a 48 lap but also 6' door openings, and it is also possible to slit therefrom a sheet 96" wide for 6 door openings and 8' door openings. The sheet also lends itself for the fabrication of various heights of barricades if found desirable.

Referring to FIG. 20, there is illustrated a preferred form of relatively flexible sheet material of reinforced paper with the longitudinally extending overlay of the pattern of glass fibers as described with reference to FIG. 19. In the embodiment of FIG. 19, this overlay pattern as described is also laminated between an inner sheet 19 and an outer sheet 20, the overlay in both instances being laid upon an asphalt coated sheet 19 coated as indicated with the asphalt 23 and the sheets laminated together under pressure. In the embodiment of FIG. 20, in addition t0 the intermediate ply 21 of the longitudinally extending glass fiber reinforcing as an overlay there is additionally formed thereon as the overlay is positioned a Woven and/or diamond-shaped mesh 22. This mesh is applied in the same manner as the woven and/or diamond-shaped mesh as in the formation of the sheet material for the car door barricade in the aforementioned co-pending application and as claimed therein.

In the embodiment of FIG. 20, the intermediate ply in addition to the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers arranged in the above-described bands of strands 43 in each of the bands of FIGS. 19 and 20 and has in addition a series of diagonal strands 51 and a series of additional diagonal strands 52. In the embodiments which have been briefly described with regard to the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers and diagonal strands of glass fibers, the preferred relatively iiexible sheet material has been described with reference to a 10 wide sheet, it is preferred to use a kraft sheet of substantially within the range of from 30 to 40 lbs. per ream weight and based on 500 sheets of paper 24l x 36, and when a heavier grain car door is desired, it is within the scope of the invention to use a kraft sheet of substantially lbs. per ream Weight. With the heavier paper the thickness of the paper is preferably 0.023" or 23 point paper, and correspondingly thinner forthe 30 lbs., 40 lbs., and 50 lbs. kraft paper which may also be used. Although Yit is preferred to use a kraft-type paper, the sheets 19 and 20 may also be fabricated from other forms of suitable material such as paper, cellophane or plastic sheets, though it is preferred to use kraft paper substantially within the range of 23 point plies or sheets 19 and 20 with the intermediate ply 21 constructed in the form of two series of woven and/or crossed strands having a series of diagonal strands 51, and a series of additional diagonal strands 52 as illustrated in FIG. 20. The crossed strands 51 and 52 provide a diagonal mesh and/0r diamond-shaped mesh substantially within the diagonal fiber spacing 5% x l, 1 x 1", 1" X 2", 1" x 3", and 1" X 4" of glass fibers, the arrangement of spacing depending upon the strength of the grain car door closure and/ or flexible closure structure and also of any barricade desired if it is preferred to use a diagonal and/ or diamondshaped mesh of 1" x 1". The strength of the flexible closure structure and the type of mesh used would also depend generally upon the type of barricade which may also be fabricated from the same sheet in order to utilize any waste material from the fabricating of the flexible closure structure. The diagonal `strands 51 and 52 are crossed with respect to each other at an angle of substantially within the range of from 60 to 65 with respect to each edge of the sheet material from which the grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure is formed. The strands 51 and 52 may be of any suitable material having the desired characteristics of flexibility, tensile strength, etc., to achieve the desired results. In the construction illustrated, the sheets 19 and 20 are secured together by suitable adhesive material 23, as for example, asphalt, a combination of asphalt and latex, suitable plastics and the like. It has been found that very satisfactory results may be obtained by constructing the strands 51 and 52 of glass fibers. The overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers forming the various bands described with reference to FIG. 19, are preferably 150 ends of three strands, 11 lb. minimum arranged twelve strands per inch expect where noted when it is preferred to utilize eight strands per inch with the bands 43 at opposite ends of the sheet material. The flexible sheet material may also be fabricated in arrangements such as described with reference to the co-pending application with respect to barricades permitting the final sheets, if barricades are desired to be formed, to be slit therefrom and if desirable to have twelve strands at each edge of the resultant sheet material forming the barricade, together with intermediate bands of twelve strands and/or twenty-four strands depending upon the size of barricade to be fabricated from the flexible sheet material forming the grain car door closure. It is also within the scope of the invention that the intermediate ply of the diamond-shaped mesh and overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers may be fabricated into what is commonly known as scrim, though it is preferred to fabricate the intermediate ply 21 with the type of machine known as Weaver disclosed land claimed in the U.S. Patent application of Richard O. Rupp, Ser. No. 281,610 filed May 20, 1963.

1t is also within the scope of the invention that an embodiment of this form of material may be made by felting a suitable kraft pulp simultaneously to both sides of a Fiberglas scrim sheet having the arrangement of glass fibers as illustrated in connection with flexible sheet material having glass fiber arrangements of diagonal mesh and overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers of the arrangement of FIG. 20. Such a sheet may be simultaneously felted on such a scrim sheet having the arrangements as identified above on a suitable Fourdrinier or Oliver felting machine which has been modified so that the felting operation takes place simultaneously on both sides of such a glass scrim sheet of the embodiment of FIG. 20 in accordance with the disclosure of my U.S. Patent 2,890,747. In order to make a 120 size sheet and to have material left for its trimming it would be desirable to felt a sheet 122 wide. For these types of machines to so fabricate such a sheet, they would have to be modified though such machines would be satisfactory for fabricating the 96 wide sheet used for certain of the sheets used lfor 96" wide flexible closure structures. Also such a completed sheet material is an improvement over the glass strand reinforced paper fabricated in accordance with the disclosure and claims of Crandall, U.S. Patent No. 2,653,090 dated Sept. 22, 1952, as well as the patent to Crandall 2,699,389 of Jan. 11, 1955. When a scrim sheet is used, fabricated in accordance with the arrangement of the glass strands of FIG. 20, such a scrim sheet may be treated in the same manner as the individual strands of fiber as disclosed in the aforementioned patents to Crandall. It is to be understood that the glass scrim identified as -1/0 would have less strength than if the scrim was identified 150-1/ 3-2/ 2 when woven with a glass fiber spacing of 1/2l rather than l" for the diagonal strands. It is Within the scope of the invention that the maximum weight of lbs. bases for 3000 sq. ft. of paper fabricated in this manner has a scrim weight of substantially 38 lbs. with a pulp weight of substantially 132 lbs. The preferred range of Weights, however, is within the range of 30 x 60 x 30, 40 x 70 x 40, and 50 x 70 x 50, the 50 x 70 x 50 corresponding to the 170 lb. bases for 3000 sq. ft. of paper as described above. It has been found that a scrim with the preferred spacing permits the paper fibers to pass through the screen-like scrim to properly embed and inter-entwine the horizontal fiber overlay and the diagonal strands of the scrim. It is also to be understood that any arrangement of fiber ends to produce a glass strand of a different number of fibers may be used as is well understood in the art. For example, 150` ends may be made into strands having multiples thereof, such as 300, 450, 600, etc., and in turn the spacing may be at any preferred conventional spacing when the strands are woven into scrim sheets. When scrim of the arangement as set out above with respect to FIG. 20 is used, it is preferred to use spacing of substantially 1/2 though when fabricated with respect to the machine of the type of Weaver, it is preferred to use a 1 diagonal mesh though other diagonal arrangements of mesh may be used as set forth. It is also within the scope of the invention that the horizontal strands 43 of each of the bands described with reference to FIG. 19 may be of greater strength than the diagonal strands 51 and 52. The sheets from the felting machines, after they have been felted and calendered may be cut to the required width of preferably 96 and 120 as described with regard to the preferred form of grain car door models described above, and in length, e.g., 96" and 120 depending upon the car door width to which they are to be applied. If the completed sheets are to be used for car door barricades as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 356,674 filed Apr. 1, 1964, the sheets are then fabricated into the sizes required, depending upon whether the sheets are to be fabricated to extend completely across the car doorway or of a predetermined size `for the divided barricades and the different barricades preferably fabricated to fit a series of doorway openings. Likewise, it is to be understood if separable sheets are to be used, the narrower widths may be used. Material fabricated as described above with respect to the arrangement of the diagonal mesh and overlay of horizontal glass fibers is equally satisfactory for wood grain door backers as disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Patent 3,087,536 of Apr. 30, 1963.

Sheet-like material formed in accordance with the disclosure of the embodiments of FIGS. 19 and 20 is substantially four or five times stronger than standard kraft paper. Usually, a single sheet of either the embodiment of these figures is suitable for fabricating a retaining strip, for a grain car door sheet or for a backup sheet for Wood grain doors. However, as the widths of the door opening increase or the load -to be retained exerts a greater lateral pressure it is Within the scope of the invention to use multiples of the sheet for the grain car door construction or for the barricades or retaining strips of my co-pending application. As an example, Where increased strength is desired, for the most part a maximum of three sheets may be required assembled into flexible closure structures for grain car doors or the like which have loadings of over 80,000 lbs. per car with an 8' wide doorway, and with the grain car door, likewise substantially 8 high as has been previously described above, and in my earlier U.S. Patent 2,890,747, and likewise a maximum of three sheets may be required to be assembled into a barricade or portions thereof for an 8 wide door of my co-pending application.

Referring to FIG. 20, a preferred form of a diagonal and/or diamond-shaped mesh may have the diagonally laid strands 51 and 52 arranged so that these strands are substantially 1" apart. In another arrangement of the 1" diagonal mesh, it may be formed with strands of 75 ends- 1/0, whereas the overlay of the strands 43 are preferably formed from 150 ends-l/Ol, although the overlay of machine length ends may be 150/ 3. The sheet may be formed with a bases weight `of 140 lbs- 30 X 801 x 30 but it is preferred to use a sheet with the two kraft sheets 19 and Ztl-40 lbs. each and the intermediate ply of adhesive and glass strands forming the horizontal overlay and the diagonal mesh of SO lbs.

Other forms of flexible sheet material suggest themselves `with the l diagonal mesh formed with strands of 75 ends-l/O and the overlay of strands preferably formed from 150 ends-l/O and the sheets may be formed with the bases weight of-140 lbs.-30 x 80 x 30 though it is preferred to use a sheet with the two kraft sheets-40 lbs. each and the intermediate ply of adhesive and glass strands forming the horizontal overlay and the diagonal mesh arrangement of 80 lbs. Other weights and sizes of strands as disclosed in my aforementioned co-pending application may be utilized in order to suitably fabricate a relatively flexible sheet material which may be used satisfactorily for not only grain car door closures and/or llexible closure structures but also for car door barricades within the scope of my invention. It is also within the scope of the invention that a flexible sheet of 140 lbs. bases weight including 230 lb. kraft sheets in the arrangement 30 x 80 x 30 may be used, and if a stronger flexible closure structure is desired, 40 lbs. kraft paper providing a 160 lb. bases weight-40 X 80 X 40 may be used, wherein the two sheets of kraft paper 19 and 20 may have a weight of 40 lbs. bases weight.

Although it is preferred to form the diagonal mesh and/ or diamond-shaped mesh of the strands 51, 52 of 75 ends 1/0 and the horizontal overlay of the machine `length strands 43 of 150 ends in three strands (150/3), it is also within the scope of the invention that the diagonal mesh may be fabricated from glass fibers within the range of substantially 37 ends-l/O through 75 ends l/ 0, and the longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers 43 within the range of from substantially 75 ends 1/0, 150 ends 1/0 and 150 ends and three strands (150/3). It is also within the scope of the invention that if additional strength is desired, additional diagonal strands may be similarly placed parallel to the strands 51 and 52 and being spaced as close together as the Weaver.with a maximum spacing between diagonal fibers of 1/32 to M3". The range of the kraft sheets 19 and 20 may be within the following weights: 30 lbs., 4() lbs., 50 lbs., 60 lbs., and through a maximum of 100 pounds, though the preferred weight of sheets for flexible closure structures such as grain car door closures and railway car door barricades is preferably 40 pounds for each sheet 19 and 20. The weight for the fiberglass mesh including the horizontal and diagonal fibers, together with the asphalt is preferably within the range of from 60, 70, 80, 90 and 110 lbs., though a preferred Weight for grain car door and barricade is 4() X 70 x 40--150 lb. bases weight. The tensile strength of a flexible closure structure such as a grain car door closure and/or barricade of a double layer of 30 lb. kraft paper with asphalt adhesive and glass fiber reinforcement between the two layers is substantially 105 lbs. per lineal inch of material. It is preferred that the range of strength of the sheet material for flexible closure structures of this type be within the range of substantially 105 lbs. per lineal length, eg., material which may be used for a grain door or heavier strength barricade consisting of two layers of 50 lb. kraft paper with an asphalt adhesive and glass fiber reinforcement between two layers such that the resultant paper produces a product having a tensile strength over 200 lbs. per lineal inch of paper. With the flexible sheet material for forming grain car doors, barricades and the like of my invention, the resultant sheet material with the reinforced edge gives a strong crossed direction. It is also within the scope of my invention that sheets may be fabricated from the preferred size of flexible closure structure into various widths from 18, 36, 54 wide barricades and even in Widths of 72" and 84". With the fibers laid as described along the edges, it is preferred that the tensile strength will be within the range of from 200 lbs. for a substantially 2" wide band of longitudinally extending fibers to substantially 300 lbs. tensile strength for a substantially 3" band of glass fibers, and proportionally more with regard to 4", 8 and 22" widths. If greater strength of the edge bands of fibers is desired, additional strands of fiber may be laid substantially parallel to each of the 8 fibers and the additional fibers may be positioned within 1/32 to M3 apart with respect to each original fiber nominally spaced within the range of from M3" to 1A" apart. Although the 40 x 70 x 40 sheet is preferred it is also within the scope of the invention to produce a sheet 40 X 110 x 40. This heavier sheet 190 bases, however, is not satisfactory for cold weather use because of the greater amount of asphalt, though it is within the scope of the invention to use an adhesive which retains its pliability when used as a laminating adhesive in any cold weather which might be encountered in the use of flexible closure structures of the type of grain car door closures and/or barricades. It is preferred to fabicate the rolls after they have been formed on the apparatus on which the sheets are laminated in two lengths of yards or more depending upon the height whether 96I or 120 widths is used and the number of sheets which may be cut therefrom. The relative weight of a 300 roll for different size grain doors may be substantially 167 lbs. for a 96" width and respectively substantially 212 lbs. for a sheet. When fabricating the reinforced retaining strips from which the flexible closure structure, such as grain car door closure or barricade is produced, it is preferred to feed relatively flexible sheet material comprising the kraft reinforcing paper applying the asphalt coating 23 to a face of the sheet 19, after which the crossed diagonal mesh substantially 1" x 1" glass fiber and the overlay of the longitudinally extending strands 43 of glass fibers are applied as described above. After which is applied another sheet 20 of kraft reinforcing paper to the asphalt coated kraft reinforcing paper and the asphalt coating with the embedded crossed diagonal mesh of glass fibers and the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers. After the sheets have been through suitable laminating rolls, the sheet is run through embossing rolls for embossing the laminated retaining strips of relatively flexible sheet material to distribute the asphalt coating between the laminated sheets of kraft reinforcing paper so that the embossing causing the flexible sheet material of the flexible closure structure to be readily flexed. The overlay of longtiudinally extending machine length glass fibers 43 for the various bands of the embodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20 may also be so arranged that the resultant flexible closure structure may be adapted to be slit into one or more retaining strip widths as described with reference to the above-mentioned co-pending application. Thus an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers may be formed in each edge of the retaining strips as fabricated from the sheet material for grain car door closures and/or flexible closure structures and with the intermediate reinforcing of the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers substantially symmetrically arranged with respect to each of the retaining strips fabricated from sheet material as well as the symmetrical arrangement of the overlay between the edges of the sheet material as fabricated. The resultant flexible sheet material is not only suitable for disposable grain car doors and backup strips for wood grain car doors but also may be suitable for railway car door barricades.

The preferred Hexible sheet material for the embodiments as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20 includes the overlay of fiber glass embedded in asphalt to provide the flexible sheet material comprising the kraft paper, out of sheets 19 and 20. It is preferred that the color of the kraft paper shall be Golden Brown though other colors of kraft paper come within the scope of the invention. The preferred reinforced exible sheet material has a 150 lb. bases Weight 40 x 70 X 40 of asphalt reinforced kraft paper with a 1" x 1 diagonal mesh and/or diamond-shaped mesh of glass fibers in addition to the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers 43' arranged in the patterns as described above. It is also within the scope of my invention that the exible sheet material as fabricated as disclosed in my aforementioned application may be used whenever they may be satisfactory for bulk loads such as may be used with the reinforcing structure of the grain car door closure and/or exi'ble closure structure of this invention. All of the preferred embodiments of the reinforced sheet material have the diagonal strands 51 and 52 spaced preferably 1 apart and at an angle of substantially within the range of from 60 to 65 to the longitudinal edge as illustrated in FIG. 20 and as schematically described in my aforementioned copending application.

The different weights of kraft paper forming the outer faces of the barricade meet all the standard tests in testing kraft paper for the preferred weights of sheets as described above. Similarly the fiberglass strands used for the diagonal and/or diamond-shaped mesh and for the overlay of longitudinally extending machine length fibers meet the standard tests for strength of glass fibers within the range of 37 to 75 ends 1/0 and 75 through 150 ends 1/0 for both the diagonal mesh and longitudinally extending machine length glass fibers respectively, and also of the preferred berglass yarn 150 ends in three strands (150/3) for a total tensile strength of 11 pounds minimum strength in each 450 end strand, and wherein it is preferred to use eight strands per inch in the opposite longitudinal edges and 12 strands per inch except as noted above per inch as described with reference to the longitudinal edges. The standard tests for strength of glass fibers are also met if other strands are used within the range of ends 150 and multiples thereof as 300, 450, 600, etc., and likewise if the patterns as described with reference to FIG. 2O of glass iibers and that of my co-pending application are first fabricated into scrim rather than fabricated on a machine of the type known as Weaven In the manufacture of the grain car door closure and/ or exible closure structures, the necessary factory equipment includes machines for slitting the reinforced sheet material, air pressure stapling machines for stapling the flexible paper to the pry board and the respective chip board seal thereof to the pry board and for stapling the reinforced sheet material to the top board as well as hand staplers where desirable. Large tables are necessary for unrolling the rolls of reinforced sheet material and the equipment may also take the form as that as described with reference to the equipment used in my aforementioned co-pending application but made larger for the sizes of reinforced sheet material for the grain car door closure and/ or flexible closure structure of this invention. Other miscellaneous tools, power saws, etc., may be required unless the wood forming the cross bars, pry board and top board is purchased cut to size within the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15 and 16, the preferred method of fabricating grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure when using some of the equipment described above is to make a fold in the grain door sheet 12" from the widthwise edge and bring the fold over the top of the sheet. Place the folded edge or turnedback edge 42 on the 2 x 4" bottom pry board 28, 2"

in from the long side of the 2" x 4" pry board. Place the chip board seal 30 on top of the paper, and staple using 3/8 stapler every 6". With regard to the top construction of FIG. 16, place the 1 x 6 top board 29 on the side of the paper 15 opposite the 2" x 4 pry board, even with the opposite edge of the paper. Staple the paper to the 6" side of the top board 29 with six staples, using the air pressure stapler. Then make a complete turn and staple every 6" on the side already covered using the air pressure Staplers. Other forms of securing the paper to the top board 29 and pry board 28 as well as the chip board seal will suggest itself to those skilled in the art and it is also within the scope of the invention that instead of stapling the reinforced iiexible sheet material forming the grain car door closure may be suitably adhered by a satisfactory adhesive which will have the same relative strength as by stapling and the like manner of securing.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17 and 18 the preferred manner of packaging the individual grain car door closures for correct installation is to place the chip board (two pieces 24 and 25 for each door) as illustrated in the dash lines of FIG. 14, together with the nails needed in a separate package. The 2" x 3" cross lbars 26 and 27, e.g., as shown in FIG. 12 may be taped to the outside of the package or may be wrapped inside. It is preferred to start at the top, e.g., as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 with the chip board seals 24 and 25 in place as illustrated in FIGS. 14, 17 and with the sheet as illustrated in FIG. 13 and rolled toward the inside. In this manner, the 2" X 4 pry bar is unwrapped first and is immediately yin correct position for installation so the grain car door closure cannot be erected incorrectly. The ap 41 may be rolled around the package to form a wrapper or a separate wrapper may be used. The package may be suitably taped with conventional glass tape or wired with at least a minimum of two ties-one at each end. However, for larger grain doors three or four ties 53 may be used as illustrated in FIG. 12. Also in order to simplify the packaging for proper erection, the floor ap 41 may be placed toward the inside of the grain car door closure 15 and then start at the top of the grain car door closure where the 1" x 6 top board 29, usually called the crawl bar, is covered and stapled, then folded and/or rolled toward the inside of the grain door to the bottom of the grain door until the 2 x 4 pry bar 28 is on top of the roll. The chip board markers 24 and 25 may be placed on top of the roll next to the 2l x 4" pry bar 28. Then bring the floor ap 41 up over the markers 24 and 25 and the 2" x 4" pry bar 28. Place the 2" x 3" horizontal beams and/or cross bars 26 and 27 on top of the floor flap 41 with the beveled edges up. Then tape and/or tie around the entire package at both ends suitable tape and/or wire ties 53 or more if desired. A package of nails necessary for the particular size of grain door may be packed inside the roll or bagged and attached to the outside of the package. It is preferred to attach the package of the nails on the outside as the nails tend to pierce the paper.

Recapitulating with respect to the installation, the packaged grain car door closure as illustrated in FIG. 12 after the seals 53 have been cut, is placed on the car floor 33 -as illustrated in FIG. 3 across the car doorway 11 or 12 whichever is to be closed first, and preferably the package is placed in front of the car doorway with the 2 X 3 cross bars 26 and 27 on top with the seals 53 cut, lay the 2 x 3 cross bars 26 and 27 aside and then fold one turn so that the floor flap 41 is turned down as illustrated, e.g. in FIG. 13. Lay aside the chip board markers 24 and 25. Center, and then nail the 2 X 4 pry bar 28 to the door posts 16 and 17 making sure the bottom of the grain door and the 2 side of the 2 X 4 pry bar 28 and flap 41 are tight against the car doorway iioor 33. The 4 side with a stapled fold of the reinforced tiexible closure structure is nailed to the side of the freight car, i.e., the door posts 16 and 17 as described with reference to FIG. 3. Then the chip board markers and/or seals 24 and 25 as illustrated in FIG. 2 are lightly nailed to the side wall of the freight car starting at the oor. Following the colored indicia 39 on the chip board seals 24 and 25, the 2" x 3 cross bars 26 and 27 `are nailed to the car door posts at intervals indicated, i.e., 14 from the oor and 16 from the first 2" x 3 as described above with reference to different grain car door closure sizes. The installer may then stand on the floor-flap di, unroll the grain car door closure 15 toward the top of the freight car, stretch tight and nail the 1" x 6H crawl bar and/or top board 29 to the car door posts 16 and 17. The chip board markers and/ or seals are then removed from their temporary position, FIG. 2, and placed over the sheet and edge of the sheet and both nailed to the freight car as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9. The installer may start at the car floor to nail the chip board and sheet or the nailing may be done as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 9 by starting underneath the lower edge of the crawl bar 29, completely nailing the chip board seals 24 and 25 along the edge of the flexible sheet material. The remaining may then be considered leftover, as illus` trated in FIGS. l and 9 or cut off at either end depending upon which way the nailing is started. The grain door is thus caulked all the way from the top to the bottom where leakage is most apt to occur. The door flap 41 is not nailed to the car floor 33 but is permitted to float since the lading holds it in place. With the grain car door closure as fabricated `and erected as described, an installer may cooper a car (two doors) in minimum time of substantially ten minutes.

In an installation of this type the installer should carefully remove all protruding nails from the side walls and the colored bands of the indicia 39 and 40 should be installed face out to indicate the location of the cross bar which may be 2" X 3 or in some instances 1 x 6" depending upon the load and is also indicated, eg., in the embodiment of FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 and 24. All the boards should be free from knots and cracks. The chip board strips and/or fiber board strips should be stretched tight to insure a grain tight seal and rooting nails are preferably used or 12" apart, and it is preferred to start nailing at the top of the strip and move downward toward the car floor and the installer must be sure to caulk over the top edge of the bottom board. With the grain car door of this construction, car door posts and side walls are saved a minimum of thirty-two nails to cooper a railway car (two doors) and depending upon the size of the grain car door. With this construction, nails are never driven in the same place and obviously no steel is used so that personal injury to the installer is reduced to a minimum. The three-directional ber glass reinforced paper is extra strong and has substantially 10,000 lbs. strength built into each. The grain car door closure of this construction is completely disposable since everything burns.

It is also within the scope of the invention that the edges of the grain car door and chip board seals may be glued and if such a construction is used it is preferred to have a crease made in the fabrication of the paper so that the grain door, depending upon the door post construction 'would lit around the edge of the door. post. In this construction, 2 to 4 would have to be added to each side of the sheet of paper in comparison with the dimensions as given above and this additional paper would then be glued to the side of the freight car, and thus nailing of the chip board would be eliminated. With the adhesive commercially available, a bond of the reinforced flexible paper to the side of the freight car could be as strong or even stronger than with nailing. Whether to use nailing and/ or aflixing by a suitable adhesive would depend upon whether the increase of the original size of paper by adding from substantially 4 to 8 to accommodate the adhering with adhesive is as cheap and as strong as when nailing including the additional cost of the support seals.

From the above disclosure, it is evident that there has been disclosed a simple form of grain car door closure and/or flexible closure structure for a car doorway not requiring the conventional reinforcing steel strapping as of the prior art, which has substantially the same strength across the car doorway in retaining bulk material in carload shipments because of the improved form of reinforced kraft paper construction having the intermediate layer of high strength glass fiber in a cross diagonal mesh and/or diamond-shaped mesh, together with an overlay of longitudinally extending machine length gla-s fibers arranged as described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, though it is within the scope of the invention that the reinforced kraft paper may be formed with a scrirn sheet with the fibers arranged as described with reference to the same FIGS. 19 and 20. It is preferred to have the glass fibers in both the diagonal pattern and in the horizontal extending band as described in the preferred spacing and within the range of spacing with regard to the diagonal mesh such as a 40 x 70 x 40 sheet with a diagonal mesh 1 apart as described. The preferred form of flexible reinforced material for the grain car door closure would consist preferably of two layers of 50` lb. kraft paper with an asphalt adhesive and glass fiber reinforcement between the two layers such as described above. A resultant paper such as that would produce a product having a tensile strength over 20() lbs. per lineal inch of paper. A lower range which would be satisfactory for bulk loading of lighter materials and which would be satisfactory for fabrication of barricades of my aforementioned application would comprise a double layer of 30 lb. kraft paper with asphalt adhesive and glass ber reinforcement between the two layers of kraft paper. This would result in a material having a tensile strength of over lbs. per lineal inch of material. The intermediate layer of the diagonal mesh and horizontally arranged bers as described above are preferred to be arranged in the particular arrangement of the embodiments described, and in which the strands maybe formed of any number of fiber ends preferably in the range of 37 to 75 for the diagonal ends and 75 to 150 ends in the horizontal arrangement. Although the lb. sheets may be preferred, it is also within the scope of the invention that a lb. sheet would also be satisfactory. Other sheets of 40"., 110 x 40 wouldbe satisfactory but would offer problems in colder weather because of the greater asphalt content. One-half inch square mesh glass ber arrangement proved satisfactory, S x 1 mesh works out well as does a sheet 40 x 90 x 4() with 3%" X 1" fiber glass mesh. Other specifications of the reinforced flexible sheet as described in my aforementioned co-pending application may also be considered as satisfactory when used within the range of from light to heavy bulk material as the bulk lading, and also where it is desirable to not only have a satisfactory form of flexible sheet material for a grain car door but which may also 4be economically used for fabricating barricades as disclosed in my co-pending application in order to prevent undue waste of maerial in fabricating grain car door closures of different sizes. Although the 150 lb. sheet may be preferred, other weights may be used within the range of 120 1b. weight, 160 lb. weight with a spacing preferably of the glass fiber strands being arranged in a diagonal mesh 1 apart and in the bands as described above with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20. It is also possible to use combinations of sheets other than described with reference to FIGS. 19 and 20, wherein one sheet may be formed with kraft paper and the intermediate layer of glass strands as described with an opposite surface being of cellophane, plastic-such as vinyl or other forms of disposable sheet material of relatively high strength. Also any combinations from one or more sheets may be arranged to produce the required strength, depending upon the load of the bulk lading, and this use of multiple sheets is equally permissible not only with the barricade and/or retaining strip construction as described iu my aforementioned application, but is equally adaptable for a separable strip portion of a grain car door construction when it is desired to use multiple sheets rather than the single sheet for bulk car loading in which the weight is over 80,000 lbs., and the widths of the grain car door and the height thereof are greater than 6' as disclosed and claimed in my prior U.S. Patent 2,890,747 and also as described above with respect to the various heights and widths of the grain doors.

Referring to FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, the embodiments of a double sheet grain car door closure will be particularly described with regard to 6' Wide X 6 high, 6' wide X 8 high, 8' wide by 6' high, 8' wide X 8' high, and which will be identified respectively as Model Nos. A, B, C and D.

A grain car door Model A, 6 wide X 6' high comprises four boards, a pry board or bottom board 28', cross bars 26' and 27' and a top board or crawl board 29. The boards in FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, especially cross bars 26', 27 and the pry board 28' have been illustrated as 1" X 6" but it is preferred Vto use cross bars 26', 27' and the pry board 28' similarly formed as described with reference to the single sheet grain car door as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 Without departing from the scope. of the invention. In the double sheet grain car door, chip boards 24' and 25' with suitable indicia 39' and 40' (not shown) which may be of any color such as green would indicate the position of the horizontal boards 28', 26 and 27', and are nailed lightly to the side of the freight car as illustrated in FIG. 2. The pry board 2" X 4" X 7' 6 long, tapered as described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 is placed tight at the bottom on the car floor 33 with the 4" side against the car wall and then nailed with the nailing pattern as previously described. The cross bar 26'-2" X 3" X 7' 6" long, tapered as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 is placed 14" above the 2" X 4" pry board 28' with the 2" side against the car wall and nailed as also described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The other cross bar 27 likewise 2" X 3" X 7' 6" long, tapered as previously described is placed 16" above the 2" X 3" cross bar 26' with the 2" side against the car wall and nailed in place as previously described. The top board or crawl board 29'-1" X 6" X S' long which is not tapered is placed, e.g., as shown in FIG. 22 with the sheets 55 and 56 assembled together as illustrated forming substantially a fabricated assembly such that it may be erected as described with reference to the single sheet grain door 15. The assembled double sheet grain car door a with the pry bar 28' nailed in place with the ap 41' assembed as shown in FIG. 22 having been arranged in position similarly as the single grain car door 15 of FIG. 14 is drawn tight at the top with the top with the 6" side against the car wall and then nailed with the nailing pattern as described with reference to the single grain car door of FIG. 1.

A grain car door Model B, 6' wide X 8' high of the double sheet-type grain door utilizes live boards such as illustrated in FIG. 33 and described with reference to the single sheet grain car door of this size. For the purpose of this description, FIG. 33 is illustrative of the arrangement of the vboards 28', 26', 27', 27a' and 29', wherein the prime reference characters indicate the same or similar parts.

The boards are the same as described with reference to the grain car door Model A in that three 2" X 3" X 7'6" long, tapered 26', 27' and 27a' are used, placed in position and nailed as described with respect to single sheet grain car door Model No. 2. As with regard to the single sheet grain car door Model No. 2, the double sheet grain car door Model No. B had the rst cross bar 2" X 3" nailed 14" above the 2" X 4" pry board 28'. The second cross bar 27 which i-s a 2" X 3" also is nailed 16" above the first 2" X 3" cross bar 26'. The third cross bar 27a' which is also a 2" X 3" board is also nailed 16" above the 2" X 3" cross bar 27a'. The grain car door assembled as has been described with reference to the illustration FIGS. 21,

22, 23 and 24 is then placed in position with the pry bar 2S assembled as illustrated in FIG. 22, drawn tight at the top and with a 6" top board or crawl board 29' with the 6" side against the car wall and is then nailed in place as has been described with reference to the single sheet grain car door.

A double sheet grain car door Model No. C is similar to the single sheet grain car door Model No. 3 with respect to being 8' wide X 6 high and similar size boards being used. Four boards are used, namely, a 2l X 4" X 9',6" long tapered pry board 28', 2" X 3" X 9'6" long cross bar 26', a 2" X 3" X 9'6" long tapered cross bar 27', and the usual top or crawl board 1" X 6" X 10' long and not tapered. This model is also fabricated as illustrated in FIGS. 21, 22, 23 and 24 so that it may be packaged and erected after unrolling from the package as described with reference to the single sheet grain door of FIG. 1 and also as described with reference to the single sheet grain car door of FIG. 1 and the double sheet grain car door Model A.

A double sheet grain car door Model D is similar to the single sheet grain car door modelboth being for an 8' wide X 8' high railway car door. In this embodiment as with respect to the single sheet grain car door Model No. 4, tive boards are used and may be erected as illustrated in FIG. 3. The pry board 28 is 2" X 2" X 9'6 long and tapered. The cross bar 27' is 2" X 3" X 9'6" long and tapered as is the third cross bar 27a' which is also 2" X 3" X 9'6 long. These are placed in position as described with respect to grain car door Model A and the single sheet gra-in car door Model No. 1, and particularly with respect to the spacing of the ve boards as the single grain car door Model No. 2 and grain car door Model B. The 1" X 6" X 10 top board 29' is not tapered as the others and is also placed as described above when the assembled double sheet grain car door after having the pry bar positioned in place has been raised as previously described and nailed in place.

As described with reference to the single sheet grain car door, the cross bars are tapered and are 2" X 3" and 16" from each end as described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. All 2" X 4" cross bars, 9" are tapered from each edge as described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. For a larger sized double sheet grain car door if found desirable, a similar 21" taper could be used. In these embodiments also, siX pre-drilled holes staggered are drilled in each bevel as previously described.

The size of paper as used in the double sheet grain car door Models A, B, C and D includes an inside sheet 55 which is the larger one, and an outside sheet 56 which is a smaller one, as illustrated in FIGS. 21-24. The inside sheet is 96" wide X 102 high as the single grain car door Model No. 1 including regular reinforcing primarily a diamond-shaped scrim of glass fibers which may be in the form of scrim or woven Although it is preferred to use a diamond-shaped scrim for reinforcing or woven, it is also Within the scope of the invention, in order to provide a stronger inside sheet if necessary, to use a reinforcing pattern of longitudinally extending machine length glass iibers in order to reduce the inventory as has been described above with respect to the single sheet grain car door. The inside sheet 5S also includes, in the dimensions thereof, a 12" flap 41' which lies freely on the car floor 33. The outside sheet 56 which is the smaller one is formed from reinforced ber glass paper such as described with reference to FIG. 19 including the arrangement of the longitudinally extending machine length fibers though this sheet may also be formed as described with reference to FIG. 2() including the diamond-shaped pattern of ber glass which may be in the form of scrim and/ or woven as the machine length fibers are being laid in the preferred pattern.

The double sheet grain car door Model B is similar to that as described above with reference to the double sheet grain car door Model A except as for size. The outside

Claims (1)

1. IN A GRAIN DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS AND THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF A DOOR STRUCTURE, COMPRISING A SHEET OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, A PRY BOARD EXTENDING ACROSS THE DOOR STRUCTURE, VERTICALLY SPACED CROSS BARS AFFIXED TO THE EDGES OF THE DOORWAY, A TOP BOARD, AFFIXED TO THE SIDES OF THE DOORWAY, SAID FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF PROVIDED WITH A FOLD FORMING A FLAP FOR SEALING THE LOWER EDGE OF THE GRAIN DOOR, SAID SHEET OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL FORMED ABOUT THE TOP BOARD AND AFFIXED THERETO, WITH SAID SHEET EXTENDING FROM THE OUTER FACE THEREOF, SAID PRY BOARD AND SAID CROSS BARS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME LENGTH AND TAPERED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS, WITH THE VERTICAL EDGES OF THE SHEET OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL AFFIXED TO THE CAR DOORWAY AND SNUGLY FORMED ABOUT THE TAPERED ENDS OF THE PRY BOARD AND THE CROSS BOARD AND MEANS FOR SEALING FOR OPPOSITE VERTICAL EDGES OF THE SHEET OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL, AND MEANS EXTENDING ACROSS THE FOLDED EDGE OF THE SHEET OF RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND AFFIXED TO THE PRY BOARD FOR SEALING THE OUTER EDGE OF THE GRAIN DOOR CONTIQUOUS TO THE FLAP AT THE JUNCTION THEREOF TO THE FLOOR OF THE RAILWAY CAR, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING UPRIGHT DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID CROSS BARS AT THE EXTERIOR SIDE OF THE DOOR, AND CROSS WIRE MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE RELATIVELY FLEXIBLE MATERIAL OF THE DOOR AND SECURED TO SAID UPRIGHT, SAID CROSS WIRE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAID UPRIGHT WITH A LIKE UPRIGHT AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE CAR.

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