US985471A - Portable platform. - Google Patents

Description

W. P. TARRANT. PORTABLE PLATFORM. AI5PLI0ATI0N FILED MAY 23, 1910.

985,417 1., Patented Feb.28, 1911.

TTNTTE TAT WILLIAM 1. TARRANT, OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK.

PORTABLE PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Application filed May 23, 1910. Serial No. 562,928.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. TARRANT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Saratoga Springs, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to portable platforms especially adapted for use on tank cars, and its object is to provide a simple structure which may be readily fixed in place, and by means of which certain work in connection with cars of this type may be facilitated. This and other advantages will appear in the following specification, in which I will describe my invention, and the novel features of which I will point out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the dome and a part of the upper portion of a tank car with one of my improved platforms applied thereto. This figure also shows a pump and a device for securing the pump to the platform. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same parts. In Fig. 3 I have shown in sectional plan view the supporting frame. This section is taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a holding clamp in side elevation. In Fig. 5 another detail of construction is illustrated, this figure showing in sectional elevation a holding block and the manner in which it is secured to the platform.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

designates a tank car and 11 its dome.

12 is a pump by means of which the contents of the car may be removed.

13 designates the handle of this pump and. let its spout.

designates a frame preferably of rectangular form. This may be built up of pipe and pipe fittings as shown. Four uprights 21 are provided which are rigidly connected by lateral pipes 22 screwed into pipe fittings. Thus a rigid rectangular frame is formed of such dimensions that it may be placed over the dome and the fixtures thereon of tank car.

23 is a holding band, the ends of which are threaded and pass through one of the lateral pipes 22 of the frame. These ends are provided with wing-nuts 24. h- At 25 supporting bands or chains are provided which pass loosely about the holding band and adjacent lateral pipes. This band is somewhat flexible and is adapted to pass around the dome of the car. Two adjustable brackets are also provided which may be constructed of horizontal pipes connected by elbows with vertical pipes 31. These vertical pipes are all provided with a plurality of holes drilled through them horizontally, through which pins 32 may be inserted. The distance between the vertical pipes 31 is the same as that between the end uprights 21 and they are of smaller diameter so that they may be inserted within the latter. 7

A pair of planks 33 run transversely be tween the horizontal pipes of the two brackets a desired distance apart and are secured thereto by means of clamps 34.. The clamps are hook-shaped with threaded shanks projecting through holes in the planks which are provided for this purpose and are supplied with wing-nuts 35, by means of which they may be tightened.

15 is a holding block for the pump. This is provided with a groove 16 in which the spout let of the pump is adapted to rest. A chain 17 is secured to the sides of the block and passes over the nozzle, thus securing the pump to the block. Projecting downwardly through the block at right-angles to its under surface is a bolt 18. This runs down through a hole in one of the planks 33 and is provided with a nut 19 which holds it in place, but around which it may be turned. A hole for the reception of this bolt is provided in each of the planks.

The tops of tank cars are obviously of such forms that they do not afford good foothold for workmen. -When their contents are to be removed itis often necessary to build up a scaffold over their domes. This is also difficult on account of cylindrical forms of the car and its dome.

The device which I have invented is easily and quickly put in place and securely held by means of the band 23, the length of which may be varied to fit domes of different slzes.

The height of the platform may be raised or lowered by moving the adjustable brackets up or down and inserting the pins 32 in the proper holes.

A platform of this character is particularly desirable when the contents of the car are to be removed by a hand pump. The distance between the planks is sufficient to allow the upright portion of the pump to be let down into the car between them. Then its spout is secured to the holding block in the manner previously pointed out. The block is rotatable about its bolt so that the spout may be turned in a desired position. It is also possible to turn the spout around in the groove of the block so that the lower end of the pump may be directed to the desired point in the car. Thus the pump will be secured in position and the platform will provide a suitable stand or scaffold upon -which those working the pump may st and.

hat I claim is.-

1. A portable platform for tank cars comprising a rigid rectangular frame of uprights and laterally connecting side members, a holding band connected with one of the side members and adapted to secure the frame to the dome of a car by compressing the dome between the band and the side M member with which it is connected, and means for tightening the band; a platform supported by said frame, and means for adjusting the height of said platform relative to the frame. I

7 2. A portable platform for tank cars comprising a rigid rectangular frame of uprights and laterally connecting side members, a holding band connected with one of the side members and adapted to secure the frame to the dome of a car by compressing Q ing the height. of said platfo in relative to the dome between the band and the side member with which it is connected, and means for tightening the band; a platform supported by said frame, means for adjustthe frame, and a pump holding device on the platform.

3. A portable platform for tank cars comprising a rigid rectangular frame having upright-s and lateral connecting side members adapted to be placed over the dome of a car, a holding band connected with one of the side members and adapted to secure the frame to the dome by pressing the dome between the band and the side member with which it is connected, the ends of said holding band being threaded, and nuts on said threaded portions for tightening the band.

4. A portable platform for tank cars comprising a rigid rectangular frame of pipe and pipe fittings having four uprights and lateral connecting side members and adapted to be placed over the dome of a car, a holding band connected with one of the side members and adapted to secure the frame to the dome of the car by pressing the dome between the band and the side memher with which it is connected, the ends of said band being threaded and provided with nuts on said threaded portions for tightening the band; a platform, adjustable brackets therefor arranged to fit within the upri hts, and means for adjusting the height of the platform relative to the frame,

5. A portable platform for tank cars comprising a rigid rectangular frame of pipe and pipe fittings having four uprights and lateral connecting side members and adapted to be placed over the dome of a car, a holding band connected with one of the side members and adapted to secure the frame to the dome of the car by pressing the dome between the band and the side member with which it is connected, the ends of said band being threaded and provided with nuts on said threaded portions for tightening the band; a pair of adjustable brackets arranged to fit within the uprights, a pair of planks connecting said brackets and affixed thereto, means for holding the brackets at desired heights relative to the frame, and a pump holding device pivotally connected with either one of the planks.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W M. P. TAR-RANT.

Vitnesses W. R. NnJsoN, ETTA TUoH STEMBER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ZPatents,

Washington, D. G.

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