U.S. patent application number 10/947922 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-21 for auto parts snugger system.
Invention is credited to Bell, Edward A., Thomson, Stuart H..
Application Number | 20050084358 10/947922 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34393054 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050084358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomson, Stuart H. ; et
al. |
April 21, 2005 |
Auto parts snugger system
Abstract
A loading restraint and engaging system. The system includes a
plurality of rails that are mounted to the side walls of a box car.
Each rail is positioned using a locator pin that extends into the
car end wall and engages the rail. An end cap or rub rail ramp is
provided adjacent the box car door for assisting in moving lading
into the car. Wall and floor anchors are provided. Lading
restraining nets are provided which engage wall anchors and the end
face(s) of the lading.
Inventors: |
Thomson, Stuart H.; (Downers
Grove, IL) ; Bell, Edward A.; (Munster, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BARNES & THORNBURG
P.O. BOX 2786
CHICAGO
IL
60690-2786
US
|
Family ID: |
34393054 |
Appl. No.: |
10/947922 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60505673 |
Sep 24, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
410/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D 45/001 20130101;
B60P 7/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/097 |
International
Class: |
B61D 045/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for engaging and restraining the movement of lading in
a railroad car having: a pair of opposed and elongated sidewalls,
with a door-like opening in each sidewall; a pair of opposed end
walls, one end wall at each end of a sidewall and joining the
sidewalls; and a floor joined to each sidewall and end wall for
supporting said lading; said system comprising: a. plurality of
anchor members, each secured to a sidewall, arranged in
substantially vertical rows on each sidewall with rows positioned
adjacent the end wall, and a second set of rows positioned adjacent
each door-like opening. b. a lading restraining assembly
constructed to extend between the sidewalls of the car and rows
adjacent the end walls of the car and rows adjacent each door-like
opening, and engage and restrain the lading, and including a
plurality of vertically arranged and substantially horizontally
positionable straps, and each strap having a pair of ends, each end
terminating with an anchor engaging member and each strap including
a tightening mechanism positioned between the strap ends, whereby
the lading restraining system can engage and restrain the
lading.
2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said lading restraining assembly
further includes a net constructed to be secured to each strap.
3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said engaging and restraining
system can be secured to an end wall, said securement system
including, a. at least one securement point associated with each
end wall and b. straps secured to the lading restraining assembly
and constructed to be secured to each end wall securement point for
hanging the lading restraining system therefrom.
4. A system as in claim 1 wherein there is provided an additional
plurality of wall anchors, each secured to a sidewall between the
first plurality of anchors and the door opening, said anchors
arranged in a substantially vertical row with one row positioned
adjacent the door-like opening.
5. A system as in claim 1 wherein there is provided at least two
lading restraining assemblies, one assembly associated with the
anchor system adjacent the end wall and the other lading
restraining system associated with the anchor system adjacent the
door opening.
6. A system as in claim 1 which includes: a. a plurality of spaced
and elongated lading engaging side rails mounted to each sidewall
and extending substantially horizontally between the door opening
and adjacent the end wall; and b. a plurality of rail locator
members associated with each end wall and each rail for positioning
the rail vertically.
7. A system as in claim 6 wherein each locator member is a pin.
8. A system as in claim 7 wherein each rail cooperates with an
external channel and each locater pin is constructed to fit within
said channel.
9. A system as in claim 7 wherein each rail includes a groove and
each locator pin is constructed to fit within said groove.
10. A system as in claim 1 wherein each rail adjacent a door
opening is provided with a ramp like cap which includes a sloped
portion extending between the sidewall and the rail.
11. A system as in claim 6 wherein said anchors are positioned
between said rails and the lowest most anchor is positioned between
the lowest most rail and the floor.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the priority of
U.S. Provisional Application 60/505,673 filed Sep. 24, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a load securement system, and more
particularly to a system for modifying existing general purpose
rail or box cars for use in carrying racks or bins of lading such
as auto parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] General purpose box cars are well known in the art. The cars
usually have bare walls with external supports or posts and bare
floors. These cars are commonly equipped to carry boxed or
commodity type lading. Some cars are equipped with floor anchors
and wall anchors for use in holding or securing lading in position
in the car so as to minimize movement or shifting during
transit.
[0004] However, it is desirable for particular types of lading,
such as racks or bins of auto parts and the like, to provide a
system for converting the general purpose rail cars to the specific
purpose.
[0005] It is also desirable that the conversion be easily removed
when the conversion is no longer needed.
[0006] These and other objects of this invention shall become
apparent from the following description and appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] There is provided by this invention a system for use in
general purpose rail cars for converting the cars to a specific use
such as carrying racks of auto parts.
[0008] The system includes a reusable rub rail system for mounting
to the car walls particularly the side walls. The rub rail reduces
the interior dimensions of the car to fit the rack to be carried
and provides a surface for the rack to engage during transit. An
end cap provides a smooth transition from the original wall to the
rail.
[0009] The system also includes a positioning pin insertable in an
end wall of the car for locating the rails on the side wall.
[0010] A net for engaging the end face of the lading, and for the
use of a conventional load snugger system for use with the rub rail
is also provided. This load snugger system permits the selective
placement of the load against or spaced from the endwall and/or in
or spaced from the railcar doorway.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective and diagrammatic style view of a
railroad car in which this invention is employed;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic and perspective style view of a
portion of a railcar of FIG. 1 showing load snuggers for engaging
each end face of lading and which are anchored to the railcar
sidewalls;
[0013] FIG. 2A is an enlarged view showing a pin connected to a
load snugger strap;
[0014] FIG. 2B is an enlarged view showing a single wall anchor for
cooperation with a pin connector to anchor the load snugger to a
sidewall;
[0015] FIG. 2C is an enlarged and prospective style view of a
fragment of a rub rail and a rub rail ramp;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a lading carrying
bin positioned between and engaged by load snuggers as in FIG.
2;
[0017] FIG. 3A is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2B showing a
double style anchor;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an elevational like view showing a load snugger
system, the restraining straps, and a ratched adjustment or
tensioning mechanism therefor;
[0019] FIG. 5A is a frontal view of a restraining strap as in FIG.
4;
[0020] FIG. 5B is a side view of the restraining strap as in FIG.
5A;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective style view similar to FIG. 2, but
showing the load snuggers oriented in the same direction, generally
toward the center of the car;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective style view of a fragment of a car
sidewall and floor showing single and double anchors and their
mounting systems;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view of a sidewall of a railcar showing the
anchor and rub rail system;
[0024] FIG. 8A is an enlarged view showing the pin alignment system
for the rub rail;
[0025] FIG. 8B is an enlarged view showing the mounting of the rub
rail to the side wall;
[0026] FIG. 8C is a view taken along line 8C-8C of 8B;
[0027] FIG. 9 shows a rub rail to be mounted to the car sidewall
and the rub ramp for mounting to one end thereof;
[0028] FIG. 9A is an enlarged view of a rub rail ramp.
DESCRIPTION
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a railroad boxcar 5 generally is shown.
The right rear quarter section 6 generally is shown, but it will be
understood that the entire car is similarly constructed.
[0030] A boxcar sidewall 10 is shown. The wall defines an opening
10a and a wall portion 10b.
[0031] A plurality of centrally grooved rub rails such as 12 and 14
are mounted to the wall portion 10b. Each rub rail is elongated and
extends from the door 10a to an end wall 15. The rails extend
horizontally and are spaced from each other. It is understood that
there are rails on both side walls of the car.
[0032] The end wall 15 includes a plurality of externally
positioned reinforcing channels such as 20 and 22. Each rub rail
such as 12 is mounted to the wall by a self taping screw such as 23
as seen in FIGS. 8B and 9, so as to be affixed to the wall and yet
be removable. Each rub rail is generally aligned with a end wall
reinforcing channel such as 20 and is positioned on the wall using
a locator pin 24 seen in FIG. 8A. The pin extends into the end wall
15 and the space defined by the channel such as 20. By extending
into the channel, the car interior is not exposed to the weather
outside the car when the rub rail and pin are removed. In FIG. 8A,
the pin is in the channel. It is seen that the pin 24 is both in
the groove 12a in the rail 12 and in the end wall 15.
[0033] At the end of each rub rail, such as 12, adjacent the door
opening 10a, there is provided an end cap or rub rail ramp such as
26 which is seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9A. The ramp 26 includes as
sloped portion 26a and a rail engaging portion 26b that fits into
the end of the rail. The ramp 26 provides a transition at the door
opening 10a from the wall to the rails and thus aids in movement of
the lading into the car.
[0034] Each of the rails such as 12 extend into the car about 2
inches and with rub rails or both sides of the car, its width is
reduced about 4 inches.
[0035] Wall and floor anchors such as 28 and 30 and 32 and 34 are
also provided, as seen in FIG. 7 and are arranged in vertical rows
adjacent the end walls and adjacent the door openings 10a as seen
in FIGS. such as 1, 2, 6 and 8. The wall anchor 28 receives a
single restraining pin. The anchor 30 can receive two pins or is of
the double pin type. The wall anchors 28 and 32 are provided for
use with a web/strap or snugger-type restraining system of the type
shown. The floor anchors are also provided. U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,494,651 and 6,585,466 relate to anchors and are incorporated
herein by reference.
[0036] A net assembly 36, seen in FIG. 2 is provided for engaging
the end face of a load and straps having pins such as 36a and 36b
for engaging wall anchors. See also the net 35 and strap end 35a
seen in FIGS. 2 and 2A.
[0037] In FIG. 3 an auto parts rack, such as 38, is positioned in a
box car such as 10. It is seen that the rack extends between the
end wall 15 and door opening 10a. It is to be noted that the rack
38 can be spaced from the endwall 15. A pair of lading restraining
nets such as 37 and 39 are provided at each end of the rack and
engage wall anchors such as 28 and 32. The sides of the rack engage
the rails such as 12 and 14.
[0038] Thus, in transit the rack 38 is restrained by the netting
such as 37 and 39 and can engage the rub rails such as 12.
[0039] At the destination, the rack can be unloaded and removed.
The rub rails removed by unscrewing the self-tapping screws.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 4 an end face restraining or net systems
such as 37 is shown. Each net such as 37 includes a plurality of
straps such as 38 and 40. Each of the straps include an elongated
latch portion such as 38a and a ratchet portion 38b. Each latch
portion includes an elongated web such as 38c which has a wall
mounting pin 38d at one end and a latch or tongue 38e at the other
end. The ratchet portion 38b includes an elongated web 38f having a
wall mounting pin 38g at one end and a ratchet assembly 38h at the
other end. The ratchet strap portion 38b can be seen in greater
detail in FIGS. 5A and 5B. In FIG. 4, the vertical elements such as
42, 46 and 48 are provided and can define a corner protector.
[0041] It will also be noted that the net or cargo restraint
systems such as 37 can be suspended or hung from the end wall 15 by
elongated hangar straps such as 48 and 50 that are secured at one
end to the net and have a hook such as 50a that can be inserted in
an opening 52 in the end wall 15.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, it is seen that two cargo net restraint
systems 60 and 62 are shown and each of them are positioned in the
same direction. Thus, two dissimilar loads can be carried in one
car.
[0043] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, it is seen that the lading
engaging nets such as 35 and 36 can be arranged in several
orientations, which is usually dictated by the type of lading being
shipped.
[0044] In FIG. 3, an auto parts rack 38 is positioned between the
oppositely facing nets.
[0045] Numerous changes and modifications can be made to the
embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and
scope of this invention.
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