US686490A - Gang-plank. - Google Patents

Description

No. 686,490. Patented Nov. I2,` I90l.

W. F. UPHOFF.

GANG PLANK.

(Application tiled Hay 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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No. 686,490. Patented Nay. I2, |90I. W. F. UPHDFF.

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(Application led May 17, 1901.)

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UNITED STATE-s VPATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM F. UPHQFF, vOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GANG-PLANK.:

SBECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,490, dated November 12, I1901.

Application filed May 17, 1901. Serial No. 60,628. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern/ lv F Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. UPHOFF, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of- Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gang-Planks, of which the followingis a speciflcation.

My invention relates to gang-planks for bridging over the space between a car and a stationary platform, or between cars placed side by side; and the object thereof is to provide a simple, stron g, and durable plank that shall be self-adjusting to varying heights of the platforms or cars to be bridged between, which at all times'will present' at either end a slanting or graduated face to the wheels of trucks which are to be moved thereover, and which shall automaticallylock in the position in which it is placed to prevent longitudinal movement and danger of falling between the supports.

The principles of my invention are illustrated in the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a top view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same as used to bridge between two cars and also to connect one of said cars to a Warehouseplatform. Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the main portion of said plank. Fig. 4 is a side'view of the same as used to bridge between supports of substantially, equal height. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same on the line 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view of the approach shown in Fig. l looked at from right to left. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of `the same on the dottedline 7 7 ofFig. 6." Fig."8 is a crosssection thereof on the dotted line 8 8'of Fig. l. Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of one end of the main portion of the plank, showing the application of stops thereto. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of an alternative'formof stop which maybe used in connection with the main plank. Fig. 11 isa cross-section of the same. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of one end of the main plank, showing the last-named stop applied thereto and in operative position;

Further referring to the drawings, in which like letters and characters of reference denote like parts throughout, A indicates the mainy or bridge portion of my gang-plank, which may be constructed,preferably, of metal and 'is provided'with longitudinal strengthening-ribs B. The said ribs may be of different widths, and as I prefer to construct them in a plank of ordinary Width for freight-car use there may be three narrow ones with two wider ones vplaced between the central and outside ribs. The ends of the plank are rounded or sloped and should proj ect a short distance below the lower edges of the rib, as indicated at b, Fig. 9, for the purpose hereinafter set out, the width of the narrow ribs 4being determined by the amount of this projection and the Wide ribs being suitably reduced by cutting away or notching, as hereinafter described. Notches in the wide ribs are provided ,at either end, the shoulders of which, b', make a bearing against the edge of a car or platform to prevent longitudinal movement. Where the plank is used to bridge between supports of substantially equal'height, the face of the notched or cut-away portion should be substantially parallel to the face of the plank; but as the height of cars varies, both with reference to each other and the stationary warehouse-platforms, it is desirable to have the notches at one end of the plank which may be used on the higher support slanted, as shown at b in Fig. 9.

For the highest end of the plank and to give a sloping access thereto of trucks and the like and to prevent the shock which rolling or drawing thereof against the end of the plank might cause, with the resulting tendency to drive the plank out of position, I provide an approach C, which may be secured .in stationary position.. This may be made of sheet metal of suitable thickness and of such width vas will give a long and easy approach to the plank A. The edge c should be straight, so las to have an even'bearing throughout its length upon the door on which it is placed. The other edge `c""is` raised for a length corresponding to the width of the main portion of the gang-plank A, -s'oas to form a lip under which lthe same may be inserted. Supports or abutments c" may be placed underneath, if desired, to prevent the downward bending of the metal. To secure the approach in place, I provide ou the flat IOO or unraised portion thereof a latch D, which is preferably of spring metal and secured to the Iiat portion of thc approach by the rivet d, so that the other end of the latch is normally in a raised position, as shown in Fig. 8. Secured to the free end of the latch is a piu or stud E, sharp at the lower end, which is adjusted to register with the opening e in the plate to which the latch is secured. A staple e' spans the latch and protects the same against accidental injury.

The shoulders of the notches or cut-away portions ofthe wide strengthening-ribs provide means by which the plank is protected against longitudinal movement, provided the supports between which the plank is used are at the proper distance from each other. In case the said supports are ata greater distance from each other than represented by the shoulders of the notches it is important to provide against endwise slipping, and this I do by means of automatically-acting stops placed on the under side of the main plank A. One form of stop which is applicable to such use is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 9. The stop therein shown consists of a heavy weighted portion F and a tailpiece f, the whole being centrally pivoted at f to one or more of the strengthening-ribs. The construction of the stops is such that when the distance between the supports is greater than the distance between the shoulders of the stationary notches at either end of the strengtheningribs the proper stop will fall to engage the edge of the support, the stops nearer to the end of the plank being turned up out of the way beside the rib to which they are attached by contact with the floor of the support. This function of the stop is shown in Fig. 4. The form of stop just described is specially adapted for use at the lower end.

An alternative form of stop applicable to the higher end of the plank when the supports to be bridged are of unequal height is shown in Figs. l0, 11, and l2. This consists of a number of blocks G, ofT-shaped section, inclosed in a box having sides g, with inwardly-projecting flanges g', adapted to engage the projecting portions of the inclosed blocks, allowing them to drop belowthe edges of the blocks or to be freely pressed up within the same when the plank is placed in position upon a support.

The practical operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing description when the main plank only is applied to bridge between supports, as shown in Fig. 4, or between the cars, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the latter figure the space between the platform illustrated and the car next thereto the adjustable approach (shown in Fig. 1) is exhibited in section. In this use of my device the plank is placed in position, the stops at both ends automatically adjusting themselves to prevent longitudinal movement. Freight-cars as a rule are provided on the threshold, at the extreme outer edge esa-19o thereof, with a protecting-strip of metal laid on the upper side thereof. The downwardlyprojecting end b of the plank A is adapted to fit thereover and lie beyond the edge of such strip on the side within the car. The main plank having been placed in this position, the approach C is laid over the upper end of the plank within the car and the stud E driven down into the car-Hoor, so as to secure the same firmly in place. When thus adjusted, the whole makes a smooth and continuous runway, which cannot be accidentally displaced and which can be readily removed by withdrawing the pin E bya claw or other convenient means. Such pin being permanently mounted on the latch D, it is always in position for immediate application, as desired.

I have described my invention with reference to complete and operative embodiments of the same. I do not, however, limit myself to the structural forms shown; but

I claim, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, the following:

l. In a gang-plank, a platform having slanted ends and longitudinal strengthening-ribs on the under side thereof, substantially as set forth.

2. In a gang-plank, a platform having slanted ends and a longitudinal strengthening-rib, said rib having notches at the ends on the lower side thereof, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gang-plank, a platform having longitudinal strengtheningribs and slanted ends, said ends projecting below the lower edges of said ribs, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a freight-car having a threshold-strip in the doorway thereof, a gang-plank with longitudinal strengtheningribs and slanted ends, said ends projecting below the lower edges of said ribs at their proximate portion and adapted to seat themselves in the rear of said threshold-strip, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gang-plank having a platform with a slanted end, a longitudinal strengtheningrib on the under side thereof, the central portion of whose lower edge projects as far downward as the line of the slanted end, and having a notch in the lower side whose bottom is substantially parallel to the main portion of the platform, and a secondary notchwhose bottom is in aline at an angle to the main portion of the platform, substantially as set forth.

6. In a gang-plank, the combination of a main portion and an auxiliary portion, the latter being adapted to house over the end of the main portion and means for detachably securing the auxiliary portion to a stationary support, substantially as set forth.

7. In a gang-plank, the combination of a main portion and an auxiliary portion the latter being adapted to house over the end of the main portion, and having a spring-latch one end of which is secured thereto and to the other end of which is attached a stud adapted to reach beyond the lower side of IKO and a casing having internally-turned flanges to engage said blocks, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 15 hand, this 15th day of May, 1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. UPHOFF.

said auxiliary portion, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gang-plank, a platform having longitudinal strengthening-ribs and slanted ends and stops applied to the under side of said plank adapted normally to drop below the lower edge of said strengthening-ribs, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with a gang-plank, astop attached to the lower side thereof comprising a multiplicity of blocks of T-shaped section Witnesses:

ANNIE S. PHILLIPS, C. K. CHAMBERLAIN.

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