US1394038A - Car-loading system - Google Patents

Description

G. P. MARINIEH AND E. E. CHRYSLER. CAR LOADING SYSTEM. I

APPLICATION FILED 001115.15919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

umTBDffSTATE-IS GILBERT R MARINIERANn EDWARD 1E. CHRYSLER, OE PONTIAC, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoRs TO-GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OE DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A

CORPORATION. OE DELAWARE.

vi.mia-LOADING SYSTEM.

" Lseeoae.

T all'wlioml t vmay concern.'

. Beit known that we', GILBERT P. MARL .NIER' and EDWARD E. CHRYSLER, citizens of theUnited States, and residents ot Pontiac', Oakland county,- State .of Michigan, have invented certain Anew .and useful 'Improvements in aS-Car-Loadi'ng System; of which the following is a` specification;

` f Qur invention relatesto the packingor loading of automobiles .and similar vehicles intol -freight cars with the .end in 'view of p lacing as many-.such vehicles as. possible vwithin thefcar randfastening the' same se` Curely in place, 'so that they will not move about andbeinjured 'during transportation; i and fthe object thereof" is to proyide animprovedcarloadi-ng system inwhich'the. .ve-

hicles may be more conveniently placed in two tiers one abovefthelother, and more; se-

curely held in place during the transporta;v

i Y loading 'systems'. l'

.4 provide. a car loadingsysteml in which the systems as theyv are Acommon y called.l

furtherobjec't of our invention isnto provide a ear loadingsystem'whereinthe elements madeuse of therein aremore simi 1 ple in 'construction than has heretoiore com- A. further object of our: invention is to supports or struts-.which support the automobiles, and "the braces which cooperate I :with the struts as Awill hereinafter appear,

are vof such form and construction that-.they

' :xterial .necessary in cases where carloads otA .maybe used a plurality 'of times; thus et- :tectinglva materialy saving in lumber and mamotor vehicles are frequentlyshipped to the same destination, it being contemplated that the receiver -will return the struts, braces and other members employed in securing the A vehicles properly inplace within the car.

A further object ot our invent-ion is to provide a carloading system wherein the struts'-`v braccsyand other-'elements which coo'peratet'o support the vehiclesand prevent movement thereof relativeto one;V another Ina-'y be more conveniently fastened to the sides and-bottonifot the 'car,.and.more etfectively held in-place vand braced against Spccation'of Letters Patent.4 Pltnted Oct. 18, 1921. *application led October 15,' 1919. "Seriali No. 330,933.

longitudinal movement, than has heretofore .Commonly been the case.

lilith the above and other objects ot inven- .tion in viewr` our -invention consists in the` vscope of the concluding Claims,` 'as will be obviousgto those skilled in the art to which our invention relatesf 4 i In. 'the drawings .wherein kthe preferred' embodimentof our invention is illust-rated:

Figure 1 is a view showing a freight car inoutline, and illustrating the positions in which vehicles are held therein relative to one .another lin the practice ot' our improved carv loadingsystem.- y f Fig. 2'is a fragmentary view showing the manner in which ay vehicle is supportedirom the floor ot the car, and the. method of :bracing the supporting 'members'.or'struts' against movement.longltudmally o t the car. Fig. 31s a fragmentary .perspective view showing the upper end of a supporting strut, and a brace cooperating therewith.

Fig. 4 is a 'detail perspective view showing .the lower end of a supporting member or strutl` and the manner inwhich it may .be

secure-d4 to a car fioor.`

is a perspective view showing an 4"anchor plate'whereby the free. end'otl a. tieX-iy"ble brace member .may-be anchored, to the floor oi' the car. Fig. (itis a view showing a modified form -of anchor plate. y Fig. Tis a fragmentary perspective view showinga modified form ot supporting` 'mem-ber orcap for receiving-the hub ot the vehicle being shipped.

Fig. 8 is a view showing still another form ot anchor plate.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a detail'ot con'- struction .and operation ot our invention.

Referring now to the drawings. thereterence numerals 9, 1() designatetwo inclined Supporting vor strut members extending upwardly Jro1n `the {ioor ot' the car within .which the vehicles are to be placed. and inward trom the sides Ot' the'car. as best shown in Fig 1; two such. siqiporting or strut members beingv used to support the toi-ward axle and two other such supporting members 4being used to support the rear 'axle of lOG each motor vehicle packed within the-car, and as many vehicles being arranged one in front of the other and longitudinally of the car as the length of the car will permit.

- hicles, both the upper and lower tiers may be supported by supporting elements differing from one another only as regard their length or size, as clearly shown 1n the Fig. 1 of the drawing. In case the upper.-

tier only is supported in accordance with our improved car loading system, then the vehicles of the lower tier may vrest directly upon the floor of thev car, and may be secured in place by cleats engaging the wheels thereof, or in any other manner effective for the end to be attained.

The vehicles to be supported are support-l ed through or by the outer ends of the hubs of the several wheels thereof, the upper endsof the` strut members beingl adapted to support the said hubs and being shaped or provided with means for engaging the underside of the hubs, so that the weight of the vehicle is transmitted through the supporting or strut members to the floor of the car.

The strut members are commonly in the form of wooden bars of appropriate size. and strength and are provided with metallic base members 11, 12; said base members being preferably formed from al suitable sheet metal blank and having flanges13, see Fig. 4, in order that -the lower ends of. the strut members may be secured to the car Hoor b screws, nails or other fasteningA devices. will be appreciated that these screwsor nails may be comparativelyhshort, because of the thinness 'of the flanges 13,thereby providing a scheme in which'the lower ends of the strut members may be more readily secured tothe floor of the car, and with less injury to the car, than would be the case if the lower ends of the struts `were secured by nails long enough to pass diagonally downward through the lower end thereff and into lthev Iioor of the car. l The upper ends of the strut members may fit in beneath anddirectly support the hubs of the wheels of the vehicle, should such a method of construction and support be desired. Ille prefer, however, to provide the upper ends of the supporting or strut members each with a metallic cap member as shown at 14, 15,'Fig. 1; said cap members being secured to the upper ends of the strut members and having each a seat within which the hub of the vehicle-rests when the vehicle is in place and supported by supporting members. These cap members may be formed from sheet metal blanks by- In the form or cap member Shownin F ig.'`

3 the blank from which the cap is formed is provided with portions adapted to be bent upward to form arms 17, whereby a seat is provided between the said arms within which the end of the hub of the vehiclek rests, as shown in Fig. 9, a :suitable protect. ing lining 18 being preferablyemployed to prevent the ma1ring'of`'the hub. vIn the"A form ofour invention shown i n Fig.,7 the integral cap 16 isprovided with a semi-circular seat 19 for receiving the hub' of the vehicle, this seat being commonly provided with a lining, the same as shownV in Fig.

to prevent injury to the hub.

The weight of the' vehicle being supported is carried by the four inclined supporting,` 'i

or strut members as will be appreciated. In order to prevent sidewise movement of the upper ends of these members, brace members 20, 21 are provided, one coperating with .each strut member, and which brace members extend fromthe sides of the car inward and are connected with the upper ends ofthe strut members. These brace members lie substantially in vertical planes passing through the strut members and through the axles ofthe vehicle, and their inner end-s are preferably provided with hollow brackets'22, 23'1having` ears 24, through which bolts 25 extend, asbest shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The 4arrangement of the parts as best shown in Fig. 3 is preferably such that' theA bolts 25 pass through the ears'24, the cap `meinbers at the upper ends of the strut members, and the upper ends of the strut mem-V berst'hemselves, thereby holding all of said elements together when the parts are assembled, as will be appreciated.

The outer ends of the brace members are provided with hollow bracketsA 26, 27 quite i .similar to the base members 11, 12, ofthe supporting or strut members, and they have' flanges similar to the flanges 13 for facilitating the fastening of the ends of the braces to the sides ofthe car, although, the said brackets are smaller vthan the base members because of the fact that the braces are commonly smaller in cross-section than the inclined support or strut members.

After a motor vehicle has been elevated within al car and supported in proper position by four inclined supporting or strut members the free ends of the arms 17 ybetween which the hubs of the vehicle lie, are bent downward over the hubs, as shown in Fig. 9, and fiexible tension members 28, 29,

one associated with each of said strutmeinbers inA the preferred use of our system,are

passed from the floor of the car upward and'Y about thehubs of the vehicle, and then down'- ward to the floor ofthe car; the free .ends of thesaid members being secured to the `floor ofthe car at points spaced apart fromone another and located one to the lfront and the other t0 the rear of the Alower Aend of said strut members, as best shown in Fig. 2.

These tension members therefore actto .hold the hubs in place relative to the upper ends of the supporting or strut members, and at the Sametime prevent longitudinal or fore and aft movement of Vsaid upper Lends 'because of the bracingaction due tothe positions in which their lower ends are fastened to the floor of the car. tension members are in the form `of double strands of twisted wire', the endsof which Y are secured to the floor of the carl -by means of anchor plates having holes to receive lag or other screws, and another hole 31. to receive the endsv of the wire. form offiexible memberhas been passed over the hub of the vehicle,' ears 32 extending from the arms orl sides 17 ofthe supports for the hubs may be"bent down over the flexible member, as shown in Figs. ,1 and 9, and the flexible member then tightened by twisting the strands of the double wire as by means of 'astick 33 shown in Fig. 2,.

during which operation the hubs will beA drawn tightly into the, seats provided for their reception and. a stiff and rigid bracing fory preventing fore and aft movement of the upper ends for the supporting or strut 1 members willbe secured. The free ends of thesticks contact with the'strut members to thereby prevent the flexible-members from' untwisting, as -will be understood, after the said members have been twisted to tlie`extent necessary. to secure a siiiiicientl holding l 4and bracing action.

Fig.' 6 shows a form of our invention in which a single flexible tension member 34 is employed, the saine being connected with an eyelbolt 35 extending throughza .hole in the end'of a slightly modified form of anchor plate36, thereby providing a constructionin which the tightening of the tension-nieniibers is accomplished from the floor of the car by screwing up thenut37 of the eye bolt.`

Instead' of passing the flexible tension members over the-hubs of the vehicle. as

shown in Figs. 2 and '9, we may hold the Y' li'ub ofthe vehicle in place by means ofla bolt extending through the' arms 17 of thc forni of cap shown in Fig. 3, or through upwardly extending sides SiS-of the cast metal form of head shown iii Fig-L7. In this last nientiohed ease two tension members are 'preferably used in connection with each sup-` porting or-strut member, the upper end of said members being vfastened by passing Preferably these After such a' themthrough holes 39 and twisting their vfree ends around the Said members the. same ,as is illustrated in Fig. G. The bolt above referred to is shown at 40 in Fig. 7, and, while it' is shown as usedonly in. connection with a cast metal form or head, it may beA .used in connection' with the form of head shown iii-Fig. 3 as above pointed out.

Fig. S showsia form of anchor made from a flat piece of metal the ends 41,42 of which are made to over-lie one another, thereby providing a loop 43, to which the lower ends of the flexible brace members may extend, the same as iu the form of our` invention sho-wn in Fig. Q.

In view of the foregoing premises it will vbe appreciatedthat the strut. members and brace members may be readily assembled witli'one another and secured together, as

by'means ofv the boltf above referred to: and the metallic base members and hollow brackets at the ends of said members securedto the bottom' and sides of the car: the securing of the said ends being accomplished by the use of comparatively small lag or Yother screws or nails thereby providing a construction in which the car is not injured and by the same bracing means held in place .relativev to the upper ends of the strut menibers; and. these tension members, again. are of such form andv construction that they may be'readily"attached to and detached'from the floor of the car and used repeatedly.

--Having'thus described and explained our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:v

v,lfln aear loading system for use in' shipping motor vehicles in freight cars. in.- clined supporting or strut members extending upward from the floor and inward from .the sides of the car: .metallicbase niembers secured one' to thev lower end of each of vsaid strut members and provided each with a flange whereby said base membersI mayb-be fastened to the floor of vthe ear: metallic cap inembeis secured one to the upper end of each of said strut members and provided each with a seat adapted to re- -ceive and support theouter end of the hub of a motor vehicle: brace members extending from the sides of the car inward and the inner ends of which are secured to the cap members at the upper ends ot' said strut members, vand which brace members lie substantially in vertical planes extending through said strut members and through the axles of a motor vehicle supported by said strut members; and flexible tension members, one associated with each of said strut members, the middle portionsof said tension members extending over the hubs of a motor vehicle supported by said strut .members to thereby hold said hubs in the seats aforesaid, and the ends of said members being secured to the floor of the car at two points spaced apart from one another and located one in front and the other to the rearof the lower ends of said strut members.

. 2. Ina car loading system for use in shipping motor vehicles in freight cars, inclined supporting or strut members extending upward from the fioor and inward from the sides of the car; metallic base members secured one to the lower end of each of said strut members and provided each with means whereby said base members may be fastened' to the floor of the car; metallicl cap memberssecured one to the upper end of eachof said strut members and provided each' with a seat adapted to receive and support the outer end vof the hub of a motor vehicle; brace members extending from the sides of the car inward and the inner ends of which are connected one with each of said strut members adjacent itsI upper end to thereby prevent outward movement thereof; and flexible tension members, one associated with each of said strut'members, the middle portions of said tension members being connected with the upper ends of said strut members, and the ends of said flexible members being secured to the floor of the car at two points spaced apart from one another and located one in front and the other to the rear of the lower ends of said strut members.

3'. In a car loading system for use in shipping motor vehicles in freight cars, ,inl clined supporting or strut members extend-l ing upward from the floor and inward from the sides of the car; metallic base members secured one to the lower end of each of said strut members and provided each with means whereby said base members may be fastened to the floor of the car; vmetallic cap members secured one to the upper end of each of said strut members and provided each with a seat adapted to receive and support theouter end of the hub of a motor i vehicle; brace members extending from the sides of the car inward and the inner ends of which are connected one with each of saidv strut members adjacent its upper end toI thereby prevent outward movement thereof; and flexible tension members` oneassociated with each of said strut members, themiddle portions of said tension-members tures.

extending over the hubs of a motor Vehicle supported by said strut members to thereby hold said hubs in the seats aforesaid, and the ends of said flexible members being securedto the floor of the car at two points spaced apart from one another and located one in front and the other to the rear of thel lower' ends of said strut members.

4. In a car loading system for use in shipping motor Vehicles in freight cars, inclined supporting or strut members extending upward from the floor and inward from the sides of the car; means whereby the lower ends of said strut members may be fastened to the floor of the car; means at the upper ends of said strutmeinbers for supporting the outer ends of the hubs of a motor vehicle; brace members extending from the sides of the car inward and the inner Iends of which are connected one with each of said strut members adjacent its upper end to thereby prevent outward movement thereof, and which brace members lie substantially in vertical planes extending through said strut members and through the axles of a motor vehicle supported bysaid strut members; and flexible 'tension members, one `associated with each of said strut members, the middle portions of said tension members extending over the hubs of a motor vehicle supported lby said strut members and the ends of said members being secured to the floor of the car at two points spaced apart from one another, and located one in front and the other to the rear of the lower ends' of said strut members.

5. Ina car loading system for use in shipping motor vehicles in freightl cars, supporting or strut members extending upward from the floor of the car; means whereby the. lower ends of said strut members may be fastened to the floor of the car; means at the .upper ends of said strut members for supporting the outer ends of the hubs of a motor vehicle; brace members extending fromthe sides of the car inward and the inner ends of which are connect'ed one with each of said strut members adjacent its upper end to thereby prevent outward movement thereof; and flexible tension members, oneassociated withA each of said strut members, the middle portions of said tension members extending over the hubs of a motor vehicle supported by said strut members and the ends of said tension members being secured to the floor of the car at two points spaced apart from one another and located one in front and the other to the rear of the lower ends of said' strut members.

In testimony' whereof we aiiix our signa- GILBERT P. MARINIER. EDVARD E. CHRYSLER.

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