US1710501A - Welded cross brace - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1929. K. GARDNER WELDED CROSS BRACE Filed Dec. 1927 Y i6? M r 0 24 ATTORNEY6.

Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KENNETH c. GARDNER, or GREE VILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIe oR 170 THE GREEN- VILLE srnnn CAR COMPAHY, or GREENV LLE, PE NSYLV NIA, A conronA'rIo OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WELDED cnoss BnAen.

i Application filed December a, 1927. Serial No. 238,529.

This invention as 'ind-icated'relates to a cross-brace for railway car bodies and the like. More particularly it comprises a crossbrace having a central portion formedof elongated metal plates folded along a central median line so as to provide a rounded upper edge and side portions approaching each other and having said meeting edges united to each other, preferably by means of electric welding. The invention also contemplates the supporting of said central member on end plates of suitable gauge by welding the same to said end plates to provide a substantially integral structure. It also has in view the modification of the lower edge of the folded central structure so as to provide for an increase of the amount of metal along said lower edge whereby. the central portion of the structure will be rein.-

forced so as to withstand stresses applied at points removed from the supported ends of said structural member, forming in effect a truss at such point. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlyp'ointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description setforth in detail certain structure embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various structural forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

.In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewv showing one end portion of the cross-brace embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of construction; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the central member showing a modified form of welded lower edge.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the preferred form of device comprises a central member 1 preferably formed of an elongated metal plate folded along a central median line so as to provide a rounded upper edge 2 preferably of substantially semi-circular cross-section and having side portions 3 inclined toward each other and united at their lower edges by means of a welding operation which provides a seam of additional metal don the under side of said central member. The side portions may be substantially flat and at an angle to each other affording maximum strength for a minimum weight of material. The central member is provided at each end with a supporting plate 5 at right angles thereto, being integrally united to said plates preferably by are weld-' ing whereby the ends of the central member and plates willbe held united over an area 6 at the meeting point of said end plates and central member providing afillet. and in turethe central member 11 is formed from a strip of metal'having thickened edges 12 at its'margins along its lower central portion, but which may extend the full length of the central member, if desired. The stock used to form said member may comprise a standard channel member which is bent downwardly with the'cflange portionsfolded outwardly so as to provide an outer surface presenting substantially flat sides 13 approaching each other from the folded upper portion 141 of said central member which provides an upper edge of substantially semicircular outline. The thickened lower edge of the central member, as stated, may be ex tended throughout the length of the same but preferably is cut away adjacent each end to provide-an endportion 15 of said central member of substantially the cross section of the central member 1 shown in Fig. 1. The meeting edges of the central member may be Weldedthroughout their length or the end portions 15 of said central member alone may be welded and the central portion of the brace be free of such weld, the reinforced lower edge of the same being relied upon to provide suflicient rigidity to said member, owing to the distribution and greater amount of metal at such point. The

brace having a central member of the form lllustrated in Fig. 2 may be united to the end plates at its respective ends 1n a manner 'similarto that of the form shown in, Fig. 1,

the flat end plate 16 being joined to the end of the brace member by a'welding operation, preferably arc welding, which provides a somewhat increased amount of metal at the meeting point 17 of said members;

. Thus the central member 2i shown in Fig 3 is formed of a metal plate folded in the manner of the structures shownin Figs. 1 and 2 to provide a rounded upper edge 22 and substantially flat sides 23 approaching each other and the lower edges of which are united at spaced intervals by means of welds 24. The central member is united at its respective ends to the end plates in a manner similar to the other two members heretofore described by means of a welding operation, preferably arc welding.

It will be noted that the widened upper portion and the inclined lower sides of the cross-brace serve to space hooks and loading equipment from the lower edge of the brace in such a manner that but slight possibility of interference with the loading equipment occurs. H I

v Other modes of, applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of theone explained, change being made as regards the structure herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such statedmeans be employed,

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

lrAn article of the character having in combination: a central brace member comprising a metalsheet folded along a central median line, and having its lower described;

edges integrally united, and end plates integrally connected with each end thereof.

2. An article of the character described having in combination a central brace mem-' ber comprisn'ig a' metal sheet folded along-a.

central median line, and having its lower edges integrally united over aportion of their length, and'end plates integrally connected with each end thereof.

3. An article of the character described largement adjacent its lower edges, and

means integrally uniting said lower edges over a portion of their length, and end plates integrally connected to the respective ends of said central member. a 5. An article of thecharacter described having in combination a central bracemember comprising a metal sheet folded along a central median line, and having an enlargement centrally of its lower edges, and means integrally uniting s'aid lower edges over a portion of their length, and end plates integrally connected to the respective ends of Se-1a ;:e m w m1membe i I V A V Signed by me this 5th day of December, 1927. I

KENNETH Cl GARDNER.

Images