U.S. patent number 3,680,492 [Application Number 05/068,186] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-01 for gondola bulkhead.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Evans Products Company. Invention is credited to Kenneth A. Weage.
United States Patent |
3,680,492 |
Weage |
August 1, 1972 |
GONDOLA BULKHEAD
Abstract
A bulkhead arrangement that may be used in gondola cars for
bracing freight during transit. Two embodiments of locking
mechanisms for the bulkhead are shown. Each embodiment includes a
pivotally supported locking member that coacts with a car mounted
rail for locking the bulkhead assembly in position. A lifting lug
is associated with each locking member and affords a means for
attachment of a hook or other device for lifting the bulkhead
assembly. The lifting lugs are pivotally supported and are
interconnected with the locking members for moving the locking
members from a locked position to a released position when the
lifting lugs pivot in response to the exertion of a lifting
force.
Inventors: |
Weage; Kenneth A. (Plymouth,
MI) |
Assignee: |
Evans Products Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
22080960 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/068,186 |
Filed: |
August 31, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/129; 292/97;
414/679; 292/26; 410/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61D
45/006 (20130101); Y10T 292/0946 (20150401); Y10T
292/0828 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B61D
45/00 (20060101); B61d 017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/5,11,26,29,30,31,97,100,101 ;105/376,366C ;214/38CA
;114/78 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wolfe; Robert L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly adapted to brace freight at
preselected positions in a cargo area comprising a freight bracing
member, locking means carried by said freight bracing member, said
locking means including a first member supported for pivotal
movement between a released position and a locked position, said
first member cooperating with cargo area locking means when in its
locked position for retaining said freight bracing member against
movement in a first direction relative to the cargo area, lifting
means carried by said freight bracing member, said lifting means
providing means adapted to receive a hook or the like for lifting
of said freight bracing member, said lifting means being movable
relative to said freight bracing member from a first position to a
second position in response to the exertion of a lifting force
thereupon, means interconnecting said lifting means with said first
member of said locking means for moving said first member from its
locked position to its released position in response to movement of
said lifting means from its first position to its second position
and a fixed locking member carried by said bracing member and
cooperable with the cargo area locking means for precluding
relative movement of said bracing member in a second direction.
2. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein the fixed locking member comprises a pin adapted to engage
a hole in the cargo area locking means.
3. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein the fixed locking member includes a plurality of teeth
adapted to engage cooperating teeth formed on the cargo area
locking means.
4. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 1
wherein the lifting means is supported for pivotal movement between
its first and its second positions.
5. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 4
further including biasing means for urging the locking means to its
locked position.
6. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly adapted to brace freight at
preselected positions in the open topped cargo area of a railway
gondola car comprising a freight bracing member adapted to be
supported in the car in a vertically oriented position, locking
means carried by said freight bracing member at its respective
uppermost corners, each of said locking means comprising a locking
member movable between a released position and a locked position,
said locking members cooperating with locking means carried by the
gondola car when said locking members are in their locked position
for retaining said freight bracing member in a selected position in
the gondola car cargo area, a pair of lifting means carried by said
bracing member at the uppermost corners thereof, each of said
lifting means providing means adapted to receive a hook or the like
for lifting of said freight bracing member, each of said lifting
means being movable relative to said freight bracing member from a
first position to a second position in response to the exertion of
a lifting force thereon, and means interconnecting each of said
lifting means with a respective of said locking members for moving
said locking members from their locked position to their released
position in response to movement of said lifting means from their
first position to their second position.
7. A freight bracing bulkhead assembly as set forth in claim 6
further including fixed locking members carried at the respective
lower corners of the bulkhead assembly and cooperable with
cooperating cargo area locking means.
8. A locking mechanism for a bulkhead assembly or the like
comprising a corner casting adapted to form a portion of the
bulkhead assembly, a first locking member, means supporting said
first locking member upon said corner casting for pivotal movement
between a locked position and a released position, said first
locking member being adapted to coact with a cooperating locking
member carried by a freight carrying vehicle when in its locked
position for restraining the bulkhead assembly in a bracing
position within the freight carrying vehicle, a lifting lug, said
lifting lug having a portion adapted to receive a hook or the like
for lifting of the associated bulkhead assembly, means supporting
said lifting lug for pivotal movement upon said corner casting from
a first position to a second position in response to the exertion
of a lifting force upon said lifting lug, means interconnecting
said lifting lug and said first locking member for moving said
first locking member from its locked position to its released
position in response to movement of said lifting lug from its first
position to its second position, and a fixed locking member carried
by said corner casting and cooperable with said first mentioned
locking member for holding the associated bulkhead assembly in
position.
9. A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means
interconnecting the lifting lug and the locking member comprises an
actuated rod pivotally connected to said lifting lug and to said
locking member.
10. A locking mechanism set forth in claim 9 further including
biasing spring means energizing said actuating rod and biasing said
lifting lug to its first position and biasing said locking member
to its locked position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a gondola bulkhead and more particularly
to an improved locking mechanism for such a bulkhead.
Bulkhead assemblies are employed for bracing freight in various
types of freight transporting vehicles such as highway trailers and
railroad cars. Normally the bulkhead assembly is movable to a
plurality of freight bracing positions and has a locking structure
for locking the bulkhead assembly in such positions. Heretofore
separate operating mechanisms have been provided for moving the
locking structure between its locked position and a released
position whereby the bulkhead assembly may be moved to a different
position. In certain applications, the bulkhead assembly is
supported for movement along a fixed path by means of a supporting
track and trolley arrangement. In other types of bulkhead
assemblies, the bulkhead assembly is lifted by a crane or other
similar device for its movement between various positions. In each
type of bulkhead assembly, it has been the common practice to
provide a separate release mechanism for the locking structure.
This separate release mechanism adds some cost to the bulkhead
assembly.
It is, therefore, a principle object for this invention to provide
an improved locking structure for a bulkhead assembly that does not
require a separate release mechanism.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a bulkhead
assembly wherein the lifting structure for permitting movement of
the bulkhead assembly also incorporates an automatic release
mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A freight bracing bulkhead assembly embodying this invention is
adapted to brace freight at preselected positions in a cargo area.
The bulkhead assembly is comprised of a freight bracing member,
locking means carried by the freight bracing member and lifting
means carried by the freight bracing member. The locking means is
movable between a released position and a locked position in which
latter position the locking means cooperates with a cargo area
locking means for retaining the bracing member in position. The
lifting means provides means for attachment of a hook or the like
whereby the bracing member may be lifted and moved to a different
position. The lifting means is supported for movement from a first
position to a second position when a lifting force is exerted upon
it. Means interconnecting the lifting means with the locking means
for moving the locking means from its locked position to its
released position in response to movement of the lifting means from
its first position to its second position.
A further feature of this invention is adapted to be embodied in a
locking mechanism for a bulkhead assembly or the like. Such a
locking mechanism includes a pivotally supported locking member
that is movable between a released position and a locked position.
The lifting lug is adapted to be operatively connected to the
associated bulkhead assembly and provides means for attachment of a
lifting hook or the like thereto. The lifting hook is movable from
a first position to a second position in response to the exertion
of a lifting force upon it. Means interconnect the lifting lug to
the locking member from pivoting the locking member from its locked
position to its released position in response to movement of the
lifting lug from its first position to its second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with a portion broken away, of a
railway car embodying this invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view taken generally in a
direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3--3 in
Figure 2.
FIG. 4 is a view, in part similar to Figure 3, showing the locking
mechanism in a released position as it appears when the bulkhead
assembly is being moved.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line
5--5 in Figure 2.
FIG. 6 is a view, in part similar to Figure 3 and on a larger
scale, showing another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to the embodiment of Figures 1 through 5 and
specifically to Figure 1, a railway freight car embodying this
invention is identified generally by the reference numeral 11. The
call 11 is of the gondola type and includes spaded side walls 12
and 13 and spaced end walls 14 and 15 that defined an open topped
cargo receiving area, indicated generally by the reference numeral
16. It is to be understood that, although this invention is
described by reference to a gondola railroad car, the invention is
susceptible of use in other types of railroad cars and other types
of freight carrying vehicles. This invention, however, has
particular utility in connection with open topped cargo areas, for
a reason which will become apparent as this description
proceeds.
One or more bulkhead assemblies, indicated generally by the
reference numeral 17 are adapted to be supported and locked within
the cargo area 16 at spaced positions along the length of the car
11 for holding cargo against movement during shipment. The bulkhead
assembly 17 is supported at its lower ends and is held against
longitudinal movement relative to the car 11 by a locking
structure, to be described, that coacts with pairs of spaced floor
mounted tracks 18 and 19. A locking structure, also to be
described, carried at the upper end of the bulkhead assembly 17
coacts with wall mounted tracks 21 and 22 for holding the bulkhead
assembly 17 against longitudinal and vertical movement. In this way
the bulkhead assembly 17 will be firmly held in the desired bracing
position against movement in any direction.
Referring now to the remaining figures in addition to Figure 1, the
bulkhead assembly 17 includes a freight bracing member that may be
comprised of a structural frame assembly 23, which may be of any
known type, and to which is affixed facing panels 24 and 25 that
provide the load engaging faces of the bulkhead assembly 17.
The floor mounted tracks 18 and 19 each comprise channels 28 that
are adapted to be recessed in the floor of the car 11 (Figures 1, 2
and 5). Centrally disposed in the longitudinally extending channels
28 are longitudinally extending rack like members 29 that have
upstanding projections or teeth 31 with gaps 32 being formed
between adjacent of the teeth 31.
Affixed to the lower corners of the bulkhead frame structure 23 are
a pair of fixed locking pins 33. The locking pins 33 have a
plurality of depending teeth 34 that are spaced apart a distance
equal to the spacing of the recesses 32. The teeth 34 are adapted
to be received in the recesses 32 for holding the lower end of the
bulkhead assembly 17 against any movement longitudinally of the car
11 under impacted loadings.
The upper track structures 21 and 22 (Figures 1 through 4) are
comprised of angles 35 that are affixed to the respective side
walls 12 or 13 and which have horizontally disposed legs 36.
Supported upon the upper side of the legs 36 is a rack like locking
member 37 that has upwardly extending teeth or projections 38 that
define spaced recesses 39.
A locking structure, indicated generally by the reference numeral
41 is provided at the upper corners of the bulkhead assembly 17 for
coaction with the tracks 21 and 22 to lock the bulkhead assembly 17
against movement longitudinally relative to the car 11 and
vertically relative to the car. Each locking structure 41 includes
a corner casting 42 that is fixed to the respective corner of the
bulkhead frame 23. The corner casting 42 has an upwardly and
outwardly extending projection 43 that, in part, is adapted to
overlie the respective locking member 37. Secured to the underside
of the projection 43 is a locking pin 44 that has downwardly
extending projections 45 that are adapted to enter into the
recesses 39 of the locking member 37 for holding the upper end of
the bulkhead assembly against longitudinal movement.
A movable locking member 46 is supported in a recess in the casting
42 and is supported for pivotal movement by means of a pivot pin
47. The movable locking member 46 has a hook like projection 48
that is adapted to underlie the track leg 36 when the locking
member 46 is in a locked position as shown in Figures 1 through
3.
Associated with each locking structure 41 is a generally U-shaped
lifting lug or clevis 49 that is pivotally supported at its lower
end on the respective corner casting 42 by means of a pivot pin 51.
The lifting lug 49 defines a recess 52 that is adapted to receive a
hook 53 that is connected by means of a cable 54 to an overhead
crane or the like (not shown).
Each lifting lug 49 has an embossment 55 that is connected by means
of a pivot pin 56 to one end of an actuating rod 57. The opposite
end of the actuating rod 57 is connected to the pivotal locking
member 46 by means of a pivot pin 58. The coil spring 59 encircles
the actuating rod 57 and bears against a washer 61 that is affixed
to the rod 57 and a plate 62 that is affixed to the corner casting
42. The spring 59 exerts a bias on the pivotal locking member 46
that tends to pivot it in a counterclockwise direction about the
pivot pin 47 into its locked position. At the same time, the spring
59 exerts a bias on the lifting lug 49 that biases it in a
clockwise direction about the pivot pin 51 to a first position as
shown in Figure 3. In this position, the lifting lug 49 engages the
upper edge of the plate 62 to prevent further pivotal movement of
the lifting lug 49 and pivotal locking member 46.
Figures 1 through 3 and 5 show the bulkhead assembly 17 in a locked
freight bracing position within the car 11. When it is desired to
move the bulkhead assembly 17, hooks 53 are positioned in
engagement with the lifting lugs 49. A lifting force is exerted
upon the bulkhead assembly 17 through the cables 54 and hooks 53.
As the cables 54 are tightened, the lifting lugs 49 will be pivoted
about the pivot pins 51 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the
position shown in Figure 4. During this pivotal movement the
actuating rod 57 exerts a force on the locking member 46 that
pivots it about its pivot pin 47 to its released position so that
it is freed from beneath the track leg 36. At this time, the
springs 59 are compressed.
The bulkhead assembly 17 is now permitted to be moved vertically
with respect to the tracks 18, 19, 21 and 22. When the bulkhead
assembly 17 is moved upwardly, the locking pin projections 34 and
35 are freed from between the track recesses 32 and 39 and the
bulkhead assembly 17 may be moved to a new position.
When in this new position the bulkhead assembly 17 is lowered until
the projections 34 and 35 enter a new set of the recesses 32 and
39. The bulkhead assembly 17 will then be held against longitudinal
movement. The tension in the cables 54 is released and the springs
59 will pivot the lifting lugs 49 and pivotally supported locking
members 46 back to the position shown in Figure 3. As the hooks 48
move beneath the track legs 36, the bulkhead assembly 17 will be
again locked against vertical movement. The hooks 53 can then be
released from engagement with the lifting lugs 49.
Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of locking structure that
may be employed at the upper corners of the bulkhead assembly. This
locking structure is identified generally by the reference numeral
81. Where the components of this assembly are the same as those of
the previously described embodiment, they have been identified by
the same reference numerals. Since only the locking structure 81
differs in this embodiment, only the locking structure and
associated components have been illustrated and will be
described.
In this embodiment the wall mounted track comprises a structural
angle 82 having a leg 83 that is affixed to the side wall of the
car. The other angle leg 84 is disposed horizontally and is formed
with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 85, only one of
which appears in the drawings.
The corner casting 86 is affixed to the upper corner of the
bulkhead frame assembly 23. The corner casting 86 has an upwardly
and outwardly extending projection 87 that overlies the track leg
84. The projection 87 has one or more depending pin portions 88
that are adapted to enter into a like number of the apertures 85
for holding the associated bulkhead assembly against movement
longitudinally of the car.
A locking member 89 is supported for pivotal movement on the upper
end of the projection 87 by means of a pivot pin 91. A locking
member 89 has a hook like shape and includes a surface 92 that is
adapted to be positioned on the underside of the angle leg 84 when
the locking member 89 is in a locked position as shown in the solid
line view of Figure 6. In this position, the locking member 89
precludes the bulkhead assembly from any substantial vertical
movement with respect to the rails 82 and associated car.
A generally U-shaped lifting lug 93 is pivotally supported at the
other end of the corner casting 86 on an upstanding boss 94 by
means of a pivot pin 95. The lifting lug 93 is movable between
first and second positions as shown in the solid and broken line
views, respectively, of this Figure. The lifting lug 93 has an
embossment 96 that carries a pivot pin 97. The pivot pin 97
interconnects the lifting lug 93 with an actuating link 98. The
opposite end of the actuating link 98 is interconnected with the
locking member 89 by means of a pivot pin 99 so as to move the
locking member 89 from its locked position to a released position,
as shown in the dotted line view, upon movement of the lifting lug
93 from its first position to its second position. In the released
position, the locking member surface 92 is spaced from the angle 82
so as to permit vertical movement of the bulkhead assembly with
respect to the angle 82.
A coil compression spring 101 encircles the actuating link 98. One
end of the spring 101 bears against a washer 102 that is fixed to
the actuating link 98. The other end of the spring 101 bears
against a washer 103 that is slidable on the link 98 and which is
abuttingly engaged with a bifurcated member 104 that is affixed to
an upstanding projection 105 formed on the corner casting 86. The
bias of the spring 101 normally urges the lifting lug 93 to its
first position and the locking member 89 to its locked
position.
The operation of the embodiment of Figure 6 is the same as the
operation of the embodiment previously described. That is, when a
lifting force is exerted upon the lifting lug 93 it will be pivoted
from its first position to its second position and the locking
member 89 will pivot from its locked position to its released
position. Upon release of the lifting force, the spring 101 will
urge the locking member 89 back to its locked position.
It is to be understood that the foregoing description is only that
of preferred embodiments and that various changes and modifications
may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *