US3440971A

US3440971A - Movable guide rail structure for railway flatcars

Info

Publication number: US3440971A
Application number: US650000A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter E O'leary; Duane V Thornton; Tom C Buckthorpe
Original assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Current assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Priority date: 1967-06-29
Filing date: 1967-06-29
Publication date: 1969-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-29

Description

Sheet April 29, 1969 w. E. Q'LEARY ET Al.

MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Filed June 29, 1967 Q\ A AL. m LL' N ATTORNEY April 29, 1969 w E. O'LEARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS sheet 2 of 1o Filed June 29, 1967 April 29, 1969 w E, OLEARY ETAL 3,440,971

MovABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Sheet Filed June 29. 1967 sheet 4 of 1o Aprll 29, 1969 w. E. OLEARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Filed June 29. 1967 April 29, 1969 w E O'LEARY ET AL. 3,440,971

MovABLE GUIDR RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Filed June 29. 1967 Sheet of 1o April 29, 1969 w E oLL-:ARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Filed June 29. 1967 April 29, 1969 w. E. oLEARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Sheet Filed June 29. 1967 Sheet 8 of l0 Apnl 29, 1969 w. E. OLEARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE HAIL STRUCTURE A FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS Filed June 29, 19e? April 29, 1969 W E OLEARY ETAL MOVABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS of l0 Sheet Filed June 29. 1967 April 29, 1969 w E, OLEARY ET AL MovABLE GUIDE RAIL STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY FLAT CARS of lO Sheet Filed Jlune 29. 1967 Lft United States Patent O Charles, and Tom C. Buckthorpe, St. Louis County,

Mo., assignors to ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 29, 1967, Ser. No. 650,000 Int. Cl. B655 1/22; B61d 45/00 U.S. Cl. 105 368 3 Claims ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A guide rail for a railway tlatcar having a plurality of rail sections arranged in end-to-end relation to form a continuous guide rail with some of the guide rail sections movable between a load support position transversely of the car and a guide position longitudinally of the car. Themovable sections have pockets on their outer ends when in the transverse position to receive load restraining means such as side stakes or the like. The sections are of a box-shaped cross section and have a slotted side to receive a tie-down structure or a support for nailing strip.

Background and description of the invention Copendngapplication Ser. No. 602,651,11ed Dec. 19, 1966, and entitled, Guide Rail Structure for Railway Flat Cars, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by this reference, discloses a guide rail structure in which guide rail sections are movable between a guide position extending longitudinally of the car for transporting roadway vehicles and a load supporting position extending transversely of the car for supporting loads, such as lumber or containers.

The present invention is directed to 'a specific guide rail section which is adapted for use with the arrangement illustrated in application Ser. No. 602,651. The guide rail section which is movable between a longitudinal and transverse position with respect to the car deck has a stake pocket on an end thereof adapted to receive a stake or the like to restrain loads supported on the rail section when in load supporting position. Further, the guide rail sections are of a generally rectangular box-shaped section with a slotted side to receive a tie-down structure or other support structures. The structures received by the guide rail sections may be adjusted at various intervals along the length of the guide rail section to accommodate Varying load conditions encountered. To secure the movable rail section of one embodiment of the invention, a hook-shaped lug on the underside of the section is received within an elongate opening or slot in the deck and upon a longitudinal movement of the section, the lug engages the underside of the deck to restrain -movement of the section. A releasable lock holds the lug in position and upon release of the lock, the rail section may be moved longitudinally to disengage the lug permitting removal of the lug from the slot to allow pivotal movement of the rail section.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of .the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

FIGURE l is a plan of railway at car employing one embodiment of the present invention in which movable guide rail sections extend longitudinally of the deck in end-to-end relation;

f. ICC

FIGURE 2 is a section taken generally along line 2 2 of FIGURE l and showing the guide rail sections extending longitudinally of the railway car for guiding and centering roadway vehicles or the like on the deck.

FIGURE 3 is a section taken generally along line 3 3 of FIGURE l and showing the guide rail section extending transversely of the railway car and adapted to carry lading thereon;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan of a portion of the deck illustrating the movement of a guide rail section between a position extending longitudinally of the deck and a position extending transversely of the deck;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan of a guide rail section and showing a slotted upper side;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken generally along line 6 6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken generally along line 7 7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation of the guide rail section shown in FIGURES 5-7 looking generally along line 8 8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken generally along line 9 9 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of the guide rail section of FIGURES 5-9 in an unlocked and released position for pivotal movement between transverse and longitudinal positions on the railway car deck;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the slotted upper Side of the guide rail section having a tie-down structure mounted therein;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view, partly in section, illustrating another embodiment of the guide rail section in which a different locking mechanism is employed;

FIGURE 13 is a longitudinal section of the guide rail section shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a section taken generally along line 14-14 of FIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is a section taken generally along line 15 15 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a top plan of a pair of guide rail sections employing removable supports for a nailing support member such as a wooden timber, the support being mounted within the slotted upper sides of the guide rail sections; and

FIGURE 17 is a partial side elevation illustrating the nailing support member shown in FIGURE 16.

Corresponding reference characters illustrate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention and more particularly to FIGURES 1-11, a railway flat car is indicated generally at 10 and has a generally at deck 12. If desired, a collapsible trailer hitch indicated in broken lines at 14 in FIGURE 1 may be mounted on deck 12. Hitch 14 is movable between an erect position to secure the kingpin of a trailer and a collapsed inoperable position.

Mounted on deck 12 is the guide rail structure forming the present invention and comprising a pair of spaced generally parallel guide rails indicated generally at 16 and extending longitudinally of deck 12 as shown in FIGURE 1 for guiding the wheels of roadway vehicles along the deck. Each guide rail 16 includes a plurality of guide rail sections or segments 18 arranged in an end-to- 3 length of flat car 10. Bolster structure 28 is illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Segments 18 are mounted for movement between a direction extending longitudinally of deck 12 and a direction extending transversely of deck 12 as indicated by a pair of sections 18 in FIGURE l and as shown in FIG. URE 3. In the transverse position, guide rail sections 18 are adapted to support lading thereon, such as lumber, containers or the like. Fixed center sections 30 may be secured to deck 12 and form a continuation of guide rail section 18 when the sections are in transverse position.

For mounting the embodiment of the guide rail section 18 illustrated in FIGURES l-ll on deck 12, a generally triangular deck opening 34 and a pair of elongate deck slots 36, 38 are provided for each rail section 18 as shown specifically in FIGURE 4. Also, a pair of transverse abutment stops 40 and a longitudinal abutment stop 42 are secured to deck 12 and extend upwardly from the deck surface to engage and limit the movement of an associated guide rail section 18.

Guide rail section 18 is generally box-shaped having vertical sides 44, an upper side or top 46, and a lower side or bottom 48. Extending transversely of lower side 48 are reinforcing base supports 50. Mounting on one base support 50 is apivot pin 52 extending through deck opening 34.-,a'nd having a projecting lug 54 adjacent its lower end adapted to extend beneath deck 12 andathereby secure associated guide sectionV 18 to the deck. A washer 56 'and cotter'pin V58 prevent removal of pivot pin 52. Pin 52 is of a diameter substantially smaller than opening 34 and thus is free to move within opening 34 AVgas-shownvin-:broken lines in FIGURE 4, MountedV on the W55" otherehasesupportf50fand adapted to-'extend'withinopen ings 36 or 38 is a securing pin 60 having a lug 62 adapted to extend beneath deck 12 ask shown particularly in FIG- URE 6. Pins 52 and 60 are secured against rotation on base support'50. Mounted for vertical movement into and out of deck openings 36, 38 is a wedge 64. An angleshaped support 66 is secured to bottom side 48 and mounts rod 68 secured to wedge 64 for vertical movement. A cover 70 secured to the upper end of rod 68 is received Within an opening 72 of upper side 46 and is spaced from an end edge defining opening 72 suiciently to permit a pry bar or the like to be inserted within opening 72 beneath cover 70 for urging or prying rod 68 and wedge 64 upwardly from opening`36 such as indicated in FIG- URE 10. Upon the forcing of pin 68 to the position of FIGURE and the removal of wedge 64 from opening 36 guide rail section 18, the end of section 18adjacent pin 60 may be lifted to remove lug 62 from opening 36. Then, section 18 may be manually pivoted in a horizontal direction about pin 52 to align lug 62 vertically with opening 38. Thus, guide rail section 18 is pivoted about pin 52 for movement betweenv transverse and longitudinal positions relative t0 deck 12. When lug 62 is vertically aligned with opening 38, opening 38 receives lug 62 upon lowering of the tilted end of guide rail section 18. Then, guide rail section 18 may be slipped horizontally until lug 62 is disposed beneath the underside of deck 12 and pin 60 is urged against the edge of opening 36. Wedge 64 may be pushed downwardly within opening 38 thereby to prevent horizontal movement of guide rail section 18 until wedge 64 has been removed.

As shown in FIGURE 4, pin 52 is moved within enlarged triangular opening 34 upon movement of guide rail section 18 between transverse and longitudinal positions. To move guide rail section 18 from its longitudinal position in which opening 36 is engaged, to the transverse position in which opening 38 is engaged, pin 52 is moved from an end of opening 34 adjacent abutments 40 to its center position within opening 34 upon the horizontal slipping of section 18 after removal of wedge 64 from opening 36. In this position, abutments 40 and 42 are cleared by the adjacent end of guide rail section 18 as the section is pivoted along the arcs A indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 4. When guide rail section reaches its transverse position and lug 62is' received within opening 38, the longitudinal slipping of guide rail section 18 positions section 18 alongside abutment 42 with pin 52 being received the end of opening 34 adjacent abutment 42.

Abutments

40, 42 accurately position guide rail sections 18 on deck 12.

Upper side 46 has an elongate central slot 74 therein with enlarged portions 76 at intervals along the length of slot 74. Adjacent flanges 77 of upper side 46 deline slot 74. Mounted within slot 74 is a tie-down structure generally indicated 78. Tie-down structure 78 may be of the retractable winch-type having a chain to secure loads or the like on deck 12. As an example, reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 3,315,617 dated April 25, 1967 which shows a suitable winch-type tie-down apparatus, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by this reference. Tie-down structure 78 in operable position extends above upper side 46 and has slide bars 79 engaging the upper surface of lianges 77 on top side 46 in a raised operable position. Teeth 80 are received by enlarged portions 76 and position the tie-down structure 78 on guide rail structure 18 in addition to limiting longitudinal movement of tie-down structure 78 when in operable position. Tie-down structure 78 in inoperable position is housed within guide rail structure 18 `and is supported on bottomside 48.

Referring particularly to FIGURE 3, guide rail section 18 has a stake pocket generally indicated 81 on its outer end. Stake pocket 81 has an open top adapted to receive wooden post or stake S or the like and bottom 82 of stake pocket 81 supports the lower end-'ofpost-S; LadingL-sup portedcon'guideraiisewonslis-ltday posts ST another embodf ment of a guide rail structure is illustrated. A box-shaped Referring now to FIGURES 12"-15,

guide rail structure 84 is mounted on deck 12A for pivotal movement about pivot pin 86 extending through a suitable deck opening. A locking pin 88 having a lower T-hed lug 90 is mounted for vertical movement on upstanding bracket 92 secured to base support 93 of guide rail structure 84. A suitable elongate deck opening 94 is adapted to receive lug 90 as shown in FIGURE 15. An actuating handle 96 is secured to pin 88 for manual rotation of pin 88. A slot 98 in side wall 100 of guide rail structure 84 receives handle 96 and permits handle'96 to extend outwardly of side wall 100 for manual gripping. To release pin 88 for rotation of guide rail section 84, handle 96 is irst rotated to align lug 90 with elongate deck opening 94 and is then moved upwardly within end portion 102 of slot 98 thereby to raise pin 88 as shown in IFIGURE 15. Lug 90 is thus removed from opening 94 to permit rotato'n of guide rail structure 84.

Referring to FIGURES 16 and 17, an additional employment of the guide rail structure comprising the present invention is illustrated in which a support generally indicated 104 for a wooden guide member is mounted on a slotted guide railsection 18A. The. -upper support 104 is adapted to tit-"onthe upper slotte'dside 106 of guide rail section 18A( and a wooden guide member 108 is nailed thereto at 109. Guide member 108 extends over a plurality of guide rail sections 18A arranged in transverse position on the deck and is adapted to restrain lateral movementof loads supported on guide rail sections 18A. Slotted side 106 has enlarged portions 110 which form flanges 112 therebetween. Support 104 includes a vertical side 114 extending above guide rail structure 18A and having nail receiving openings therein to receive nails 109. Stepped

horizontal portions

116, 118 rest, respectively, above and below lianges 112 as shown in FIGURE 17. Connecting vertical portion 120 between

horizontal portions

116, 118 extend within an adjacent enlarged slot portion 110. A vertical abutting end 122 on horizontal Y portion 118 engages the underside of liange 112. Thus,

with guide rail section 18A extending transversely of deck 12A, support 104 may be mounted within a selected enlarged slot portion 110 thereby to vary the width between wooden guide members 108 on opposite sides of a railway car. Wooden guide members 108 would restrain the lateral movement of unsecured loads, such as a unitized banded load of sheet material or the like.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway at car comprising, a side sill along each side thereof, a continuous at deck extending between the side sills, a pair of spaced, generally parallel rails extending longitudinally of the deck and projecting above the deck, each of said rails including a plurality of aligned sections arranged in a generally continuous end-to-end relation, means mounting at least several rail sections of each rail to the deck for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane over the deck between the position in which the sections extend longitudinally of the deck and a position in which the sections extend transversely of the deck, said movable rail sections being of a hollow -boxshaped cross section and of a length not substantially greater than the width of the deck, some of said sections being slotted along the upper side thereof to form an elongate slot and having a generally horizontal llange defining opposite sides of the slot, said slotted sections adapted to receive a separate structure movable between an operable position supported on the flanges adjacent said elongate slot and projecting above the associated section, and an inoperable position housed within the boxshaped cross section below said anges, said separate removable structure comprising a generally angle shaped support extending in operable position above the associated section having a horizontal portion supported on said flanges and a vertical portion extending above the associated section, said angle-shaped support including means to anchor the support on the flanges in operable position.

2. A railway at car comprising, a side sill along each side thereof, a continuous llat deck extending between the side sills, a' pair of spaced, generally parallel rails extending longitudinally of the deck and projecting above the deck, each of said rails including a plurality of aligned sections arranged in a generally continuous end-to-end relation, means mounting at least several rail sections of each rail to the deck for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane over the deck between the position in which the sections extend longitudinally of the deck and a position in which the sections extend transversely of the deck, said movable rail sections being of a generally boxshaped cross section and of a length not substantially greater than the width of the deck, some of said sections being slotted along the upper side thereof to form an elongate slot and having a generally horizontal flange defining opposite sides of the slot, and a separate support mounted on the anges of a slotted rail section movable between an operable position anchored to the anges adjacent the elongate slot and an inoperable position housed within the associated movable rail section below the anges, said separate support having a vertical portion extending in operable position above the associated rail section and adapted to have a separate load restraining member secured thereto.

3. A railway at car as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least some of said movable sections have an upwardly opening pocket therein adjacent their outer ends when in transverse position and adapted to receive a stake or the like therein for restraining loads supported on the movable sections.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,969,023 1/1961 Chapman et al.

3,070,042 12/ 1962 Dunlap.

3,092,044 6/ 1963 Reed.

3,294,354 12/1966 Batey 248-361 3,295,464 1/ 1967 Broling.

3,354,838 11/1967 Mowatt-Larssen 105-366 DRAYTON E. HOFFMAN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.