US3618534A

US3618534A - Container bracket arrangement for railway car

Info

Publication number: US3618534A
Application number: US883059A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Gramse; Bradford Johnstone
Original assignee: Pullman Inc
Current assignee: Pullman Standard Inc; Pullman Inc
Priority date: 1969-12-08
Filing date: 1969-12-08
Publication date: 1971-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-09

Abstract

A railway car readily interchangeable for container and traileron-flat-car operations is provided with a container bracket arrangement having a plurality of slots in the deck of the car which permits container brackets to be longitudinally adjusted to accommodate different length containers carried by the car. The container brackets are movable into nonoperating positions within apertures which extend transversely of the slots when the car is utilized for trailer operation. The brackets are also provided with arms connected at one end with slider elements positioned in the slots and the other ends of the arms are adjustably connected to the container bracket by means of latch elements which permit the container brackets to be adjusted transversely of the slots for accommodating different width containers.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Harold E. Gramse Chicago Heights; Bradford Johnstone, Blue Island, both of Ill. [211 App]. No. 883,059 [22] Filed Dec. 8, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 9, I971 [73] Assignee Pullman Incorporated Chicago, Ill.

[54] CONTAINER BRACKET ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.5. CI 105/366 D, 105/366 C [51] Int. Cl. B61d 45/00 [50] Field of Search 105/366 R, 366 D; 248/1 19 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,439 5/1935 Owens 105/366 D Pulcrane et a1 Primary Examiner-Drayton E. Hoffman Attorneys-Hilmond 0. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: A railway car readily interchangeable for container and trailer-on-flat-car operations is provided with a container bracket arrangement having a plurality of slots in the deck of the car which permits container brackets to be longitudinally adjusted to accommodate different length containers carried by the car. The container brackets are movable into nonoperating positions within apertures which extend transversely of the slots when the car is utilized for trailer operation. The brackets are also provided with arms connected at one end with slider elements positioned in the slots and the other ends of the arms are adjustably connected to the container bracket by means of latch elements which permit the container brackets to be adjusted transversely of the slots for accommodating different width containers.

PATENTEU NOV 9 I97! SHEET ,1 BF 3 INVENTORS BRADFORD JOHNSTONE PATENTEUnu'v 9am 3618,53 1

SHEET 3 [IF 3 INVENTORS ATT' Y.

CONTAINER BRACKET ARRANGEMENT FOR RAILWAY CAR SUMMARY It is a prime object of this invention to provide a container bracket arrangement which not only will accommodate the support of diflerent length containers on the deck of a railway flat car but will also be adjustable to a plurality of laterally spaced positions on the deck of the flat car so as to accommodate different width containers carried thereon.

The object of the invention is achieved by a container bracket which includes a container support seat adapted to engage the comers of a container in supporting relation. The bracket also includes at its lower base suitable lug means extending downwardly into transversely spaced apertures provided in the floor of a railway car, whereby the container bracket may be secured in a plurality of laterally adjusted positions. The bracket further includes arms which project outwardly from the bracket and extend downwardly into connected relation with respect to slide blocks which are disposed in longitudinally extending slots and which permit the adjustable movement of the brackets to a plurality of longitudinally disposed positions for accommodating different lengths of containers. The arms are connected to the container bracket in an adjustable manner by means of latch means carried on the brackets and removably engageable with said arms so as to permit movement of said bracket on the railway deck to to a plurality of laterally adjustable positions to accommodating various width containers which may be carried by the railway car.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of one-half of a railway car showing a container bracket arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the deck of a railway car taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a railway car taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, a railway flat car is provided with a flat deck 11, having at opposite ends conventional trailer hitches 12 schematically illustrated. A container bracket arrangement 13 supports containers 14 when the car 10 is used for container operations. The railway flat car 10 also comprises at opposite ends bolster structures 15 of conventional design.

The flat deck 11 is provided with a plurality of guideways 16 which extend along opposite edges of the flat deck 11 in a longitudinal direction. The guideways 16 are disposed adjacent side sills 17 disposed on opposite sides of the railway flat car 10. The guideways 16 are in communication with a plurality of recesses 17 formed in the flat deck 11 as particularly shown in FIG. 1. Applicant's patent applications filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 774,272, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,l 18 issued Apr. 13, 1971, and Apr. 25, I969, Ser. No. 819,370, also show guideways or slots provided in the deck with suitable recesses or apertures spaced therealong longitudinally to provide storage pockets or recesses for container brackets which in the erect position support containers on the flat deck of the car 10. The guideways are formed by channel-shaped stringers 18 and longitudinal slots 19 in the deck 11.

A plurality of container brackets 20, as shown in FIG. 1, are disposed in the container bracket arrangement 13. End of car container brackets 20' need not be adjustable longitudinally but include the elements of the brackets 20 so that they can be laterally adjusted on the deck 11. Each container bracket 20 comprises a vertical outer wall 21 which extends generally parallel to an adjacent side sill 17 in the vertical operative position and also is connected to a vertical end wall 22. A secondary vertical end wall 23, as best shown in FIG. 2, also is connected to a horizontal wall 24 forming with the walls 21 and 23 a corner seat for a container. The horizontal wall 24 is provided with a sloping wall portion 25 which may serve to guide the corner of a container onto the wall or container seat 24. Similarly, guide lugs 26 provided on the wall 21 serve as guides for guiding a container into position. The container bracket 20 is also provided with an inner wall 27 suitably connected to the horizontal wall 24 and sloping wall portion 25.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the sloping wall portion 25 is provided at its lower ends with laterally spaced

lugs

28 and 29. As indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the deck 11 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending and laterally disposed positioning recesses 30, specifically three such rows being provided adjacent each of the guideways 16. In the position shown in FIG. 3, the

lugs

28 and 29, as also shown in FIG. 4, are in engagement with the deck 11 through recesses 30.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the underneath portion of the flat deck 11 is provided, at each side of the car adjacent the side sill 17, with a longitudinally extending U-shaped channel stringer 31. The

stringers

18 and 31 are substantially parallel and coextensive. The lug 29 is adjustably disposed within the channel 31 as best shown in FIG. 3. The said channel 31 is disposed directly underneath one row of the recesses 30. A spacer 32 is provided along the length of the channel 31 wherever a crossbeam 32 is disposed, said crossbeams 32 being longitudinally spaced along the length of the car. As best shown in FIG. 2, the wall 22 is provided at its lower end with a flange 34 from which a stop member 35 projects downwardly into the recess 30 as best shown in FIG. 4. Each of the

lugs

28 and 29 is provided with horizontally extending lip portions or flanges 36 which hook underneath the deck 11 to secure the bracket 20 in the erect position.

Each bracket 20 is adapted to be shifted longitudinally and laterally, the said lateral shifting movement relative to the guideways 16 being for the purpose of accommodating different size containers. To achieve this purpose each bracket 20 is provided with a pair of laterally extending longitudinally spaced arms 37 each of which includes a horizontally extending rod portion 38. The rod portions 38 are slidably positioned within bores 39 disposed in horizontal alignment in the

walls

21 and 27. The rod portions 38 thus are slidable with respect to the bores 39 and are guided therein by means of bosses 40 projecting outwardly from the wall 27 and include bores 41 aligned with the openings 39. As best shown in FIG. 3, the rod portion 38 is provided with a plurality of bores 42 extending in the direction parallel to the guideways 16. The bosses 40 are similarly provided with aligned bores 43. Latch pins 44, which are removable, are inserted in the bores 42 and 43, as best shown in FIG. 3 to maintain the bracket 20 in the position shown.

Each of the rod portions 38 are also provided with a downwardly sloping diagonal portion 45 which is suitably connected as shown in FIG. 2 to a longitudinally extending rod portion 46. As shown in FIG. 2, the rod portion 46 is provided at opposite ends with engaging pins 47 adapted to engage arcuate seats 49 provided in slider blocks 48.

THE OPERATION The brackets 20 may be shifted longitudinally or laterally to accommodate different length and width containers. To accomplish this a bracket 20 is moved into position adjacent to an aperture 17' and the bracket is lifted whereupon the lug 35 is disengaged free of one of the recesses 30 and the

lugs

28 and 29 may be also removed from the recesses 30 so that the container bracket 20 may be shifted longitudinally to a position to accommodate various length containers. Such shifting movement takes place when the bracket 20 is moved with the spaced slider blocks 48 which are disposed within the channelshaped stringers 18 and adjustment along the length of the guide or slideway 19 is achieved. The positioning of the brackets 20 in a longitudinal direction is more concisely described in the above-mentioned patent applications, Similarly, the rotation of the brackets 20 into a recessed or nonuse position wherein the walls 21 form a continuation of the deck structure 11 also is more fully described in these applications. The recessed position is shown in broken lines in FIG. 3.

In the present invention, the

container brackets

20 and 20 may also be moved laterally to accommodate different width containers. While the present deck 11 shows three rows of recesses 30 the car may be made wider if desired to accommodate additional recesses depending upon the container widths to be utilized.

In the present instance, three rows of recesses 30 have been shown and thus the container 14 may be moved from the position shown in FIG. 3 to a more outwardly disposed position. To achieve this, the pins 44 are removed from the bosses at) and the bracket 20 is then free to move to the left or outwardly as shown in FIG. 3. The pin 44 is then placed into the second or middle bore 42 and the bracket 20, or bracket 20', is then in the adjusted position with the

lugs

28 and 29 disposed in the two outer rows of recesses 30. The additional bore 42 shown in the rod portions 38 may be utilized if a wider deck arrangement is utilized.

We claim:

1. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising:

longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck,

said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each ofsaid guideways,

a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck,

each container bracket having a vertical transverse wall and a vertical longitudinally extending wall providing a seat for supporting the corner of a container,

longitudinally movable means movably connecting said container brackets to said guideways for movement to a plurality of longitudinally spaced erect operative positions,

said movable means providing for movement of said bracket into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck,

a plurality of positioning means on said deck disposed in relative longitudinally spaced relation on said deck ad jacent said guideways, each positioning means including at least two laterally spaced positioning units,

adjustable means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to each of said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of the two positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck,

couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one of two positions for the brackets,

said longitudinally movable means including a slidable member slidably guided by said guideway,

said adjustable means comprising an arm connected to said slidable member and extending transversely thereof, and

releasable means releasably connecting said arm to said bracket for movement of said arm and said bracket thereby transversely of said deck to one of the two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said releasable means including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending openings on said arm and an opening on said bracket, and

pin means mounted on said bracket and movable selectively into and out of said arm openings and said bracket opening.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1,

said bracket having an opening extending laterally relative to said guideway within which said arm is slidably supported for lateral movement 4. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprismg;

longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck,

a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck,

movable means movably connecting said container brackets to said guideways for movement to a plurality of longitudinally spaced erect operative positions,

said movable means providing for movement ofsaid bracket into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck,

a plurality of positioning means on said deck disposed in relative longitudinally spaced relation on said deck adjacent said guideways, each positioning means including at least two laterally spaced positioning units,

means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of the positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck,

couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one or two positions for the bracket,

each guideway comprising a slot in said deck,

said movable means connecting said brackets to said guideway including a slider means connected to each of said brackets and being slidably disposed within said slot for longitudinal movement therealong, and

said means adjustably connecting said bracket to said deck including arm means extending laterally with respect to said slots and connecting with said slider means and providing for guided lateral movement of said bracket to one of the two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units.

5, The invention in accordance with claim 4,

said slider means including a pair of longitudinally spaced guided members slidably disposed in said slots,

said arm means including a pair of longitudinally spaced guide members transversely slidably and adjustably connected to said bracket,

a longitudinally extending member connecting said spaced guide members, and

means on opposite ends of said longitudinally extending member connected to said spaced guided members.

6. In a railroad car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising:

longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of the deck,

said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each of said guideways,

a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck for supporting a container on the floor of a vehicle, each container bracket comprising: thereof for carrying the bracket slidingly longitudinally of the floor, and

means adjustably connecting said connector element to said bracket whereby the bracket lug means may be moved selectively to one of the plurality of laterally spaced positions on a vehicle floor.

'7. The invention in accordance with claim 6,

said connector element comprising an arm slidably carried on said bracket, and

said adjustable means comprising a latch element carried by said bracket and movable into and out of latching relation relative to said arm.

8. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprismg:

longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck,

a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck,

each container bracket having a vertical transverse wall and a vertical longitudinally extending wall providing a seat for supporting the comer of a container,

said movable means providing for movement of said bracket about a longitudinal axis into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck,

couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one of two positions for the bracket,

adjustable means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck,

the adjustable means connecting with the movable means and cooperating with the movable means in providing for a pivotal movement of the bracket about the longitudinal axis between stored and unstored positions of the bracket.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8,

said positioning means including openings in the deck which openings are laterally spaced from each other and cooperating with the couple means to adjust the lateral position of the container.

Claims

1. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising: longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck, said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each of said guideways, a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck, each container bracket having a vertical transverse wall and a vertical longitudinally extending wall providing a seat for supporting the corner of a container, longitudinally movable means movably connecting said container brackets to said guideways for movement to a plurality of longitudinally spaced erect operative positions, said movable means providing for movement of said bracket into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck, a plurality of positioning means on said deck disposed in relative longitudinaLly spaced relation on said deck adjacent said guideways, each positioning means including at least two laterally spaced positioning units, adjustable means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to each of said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of the two positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck, couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one of two positions for the brackets, said longitudinally movable means including a slidable member slidably guided by said guideway, said adjustable means comprising an arm connected to said slidable member and extending transversely thereof, and releasable means releasably connecting said arm to said bracket for movement of said arm and said bracket thereby transversely of said deck to one of the two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said releasable means including a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending openings on said arm and an opening on said bracket, and pin means mounted on said bracket and movable selectively into and out of said arm openings and said bracket opening.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said bracket having an opening extending laterally relative to said guideway within which said arm is slidably supported for lateral movement.

4. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising: longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck, said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each of said guideways, a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck, each container bracket having a vertical transverse wall and a vertical longitudinally extending wall providing a seat for supporting the corner of a container, movable means movably connecting said container brackets to said guideways for movement to a plurality of longitudinally spaced erect operative positions, said movable means providing for movement of said bracket into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck, a plurality of positioning means on said deck disposed in relative longitudinally spaced relation on said deck adjacent said guideways, each positioning means including at least two laterally spaced positioning units, means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of the positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck, couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one or two positions for the bracket, each guideway comprising a slot in said deck, said movable means connecting said brackets to said guideway including a slider means connected to each of said brackets and being slidably disposed within said slot for longitudinal movement therealong, and said means adjustably connecting said bracket to said deck including arm means extending laterally with respect to said slots and connecting with said slider means and providing for guided lateral movement of said bracket to one of the two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said slider means including a pair of longitudinally spaced guided members slidably disposed in said slots, said arm means including a pair of longitudinally spaced guide members transversely slidably and adjustably connected to said bracket, a longitudinally extending member connecting said spaced gUide members, and means on opposite ends of said longitudinally extending member connected to said spaced guided members.

6. In a railroad car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising: longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of the deck, said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each of said guideways, a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck for supporting a container on the floor of a vehicle, each container bracket comprising: thereof for carrying the bracket slidingly longitudinally of the floor, and means adjustably connecting said connector element to said bracket whereby the bracket lug means may be moved selectively to one of the plurality of laterally spaced positions on a vehicle floor.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6, said connector element comprising an arm slidably carried on said bracket, and said adjustable means comprising a latch element carried by said bracket and movable into and out of latching relation relative to said arm.

8. A railway car having a flat deck for supporting containers thereon including a container support arrangement comprising: longitudinally extending guideways adjacent each side of said deck, said deck having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures in communication with each of said guideways, a plurality of container brackets carried by said deck, each container bracket having a vertical transverse wall and a vertical longitudinally extending wall providing a seat for supporting the corner of a container, movable means movably connecting said container brackets to said guideways for movement to a plurality of longitudinally spaced erect operative positions, said movable means providing for movement of said bracket about a longitudinal axis into said aperture in a stored nonoperative position whereby one of said walls is disposed horizontally to provide a continuation of said deck, a plurality of positioning means on said deck disposed in relative longitudinally spaced relation on said deck adjacent said guideways, each positioning means including at least two laterally spaced positioning units, couple means on each container bracket releasably engageable with one of said positioning units in providing one of two positions for the bracket, adjustable means adjustably connecting each of said brackets to said deck relative to said guideways for lateral movement of each bracket to one of two positions to couple the bracket couple means with one of the positioning units to accommodate the support by said brackets of containers of various widths on said deck, the adjustable means connecting with the movable means and cooperating with the movable means in providing for a pivotal movement of the bracket about the longitudinal axis between stored and unstored positions of the bracket.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8, said positioning means including openings in the deck which openings are laterally spaced from each other and cooperating with the couple means to adjust the lateral position of the container.