US1957634A - Means for ventilating stock cars - Google Patents

Description

y 8, 1934. I. v. EDGERTON 1,957,634

MEANS FOR VENTILATING STOCK CARS Filed Dec. 9, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1934. 1. v. EDGERTON MEANS FOR VENTILATING STOCK CARS Filed Dec. 9. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ImfeTflO R frae/ @9152 I. v. EDGERTON 1,957,634

MEANS FOR VENTILATING STOCK CARS Filed Dec. 9, 1932 s Sheets-Sheet 5 May 8, 1934.

Patented May 3, I934 QFEE.

MEANS FOR VENTILATING STOCK CARS Israel V. Edgerton, Winnetlra, 111., assignor to North American Car Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 9, 1932, Serial No. 646,454

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in live-stock cars, and more particularly to an improved means for ventilating railway cars of this type.

While this invention might be applied to other types of vehicles, it is particularly adapted for use in double-decking railway cars of the type designed for transporting small live-stock such as sheep or hogs. Each of the two decks of the car is similarly constructed and equipped, being provided with longitudinally extending ventilating openings in the two side walls thereof, these openings usually being covered with screens or similar means for preventing escape of the animals while permitting a free circulation of air therethrough. According to the present invention, flexible closures are mounted inside of these openings, said closures being slidable from a vertical position over the openings to a substantially horizontal position beneath the roof of the car compartment. Means operable from outside the car is provided for simultaneously moving all of the closures from open to closed position, or vice versa, said means comprising a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally of the car and provided with a hand wheel at one outside end of the car, and cables extending from the shaft to the several flexible closures.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved ventilating for livestock cars, of the type briefly described hereinabove and disclosed more in detail in the specifications which follow.

Another object is to provide an improved form of adjustabl closure means for use in live-stock cars.

Another object is to provide improved means for moving the closures to open or closed position, said means being operable from outside the car.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of apparatus constructed and operating according to the principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the car, looking at the end thereof provided with the closure-opcrating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through approximately one-half of the car, the view being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the car. The left-hand half of this figure is taken substantially on the line 3ac-3ac of Fig. 2, whereas the right-hand half is taken substantially on the line 3y-3y of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial transverse vertical section taken substantially on the line 4l of Fig. 2, this view being on a larger scale.

Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail vertical section on an enlarged scale through a portion of the operating shaft and a cable connected therewith, for example as seen in the plane of Fig. 3.

Fig. '7 is a detail vertical section through a portion of one of the flexible closures, showing the hinge connections, this view being taken for example in the plane of Fig. 3 but showing the parts on a larger scale.

The railway car is of a usual type comprising end walls 1, side walls 2, a floor 3, and supporting structure indicated generally at 4. The roof 5 is supported by a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending beams 6. An intermediate horizontal floor or partition 7 supported by cross beams 8 divides the car into an upper compartment 9 and a lower compartment 10 which are in all material respects substantial duplicates of one another and are similarly equipped. The same improved closure mechanism and operating means therefore is provided in each of the compartments 9 and 10 and a description of one will suffice for both. Exteriorly positioned slide doors 11 are provided substantially midway of each side wall 2 of the car. Between each side of these central doors 11 and the adjacent ends of the car, a longitudinal series of openings are provided between the upright studs 12, these openings being covered by the continuous longitudinally extending screens or grilles 13. These openings may extend from a convenient intermediate height substantially to the roof of the compartment. The movable closures indicated generally at 14 are of a flexible type somewhat similar to those used in the ordinary rolled-top desk. There are four of these closures, two at each side of the car, each closure being adapted to cover all of the openings between one of the side doors 11 and one end of the car. It might be stated at this point that the closures for the upper compartment 9 are shown in the drawings in closed position, whereas the closures for the lower compartment 10 are shown in open position, although ordinarily all of the closures would be in the same position at any one time.

Each closure 14 consists of a plurality of parallel longitudinally extending planks or slabs 15 which are beveled on their inner edges as indicated at 16 so that the closures may be bent through a curved path between their closed vertical and open horizontal positions, The planks 15 are connected by suitable flexible hinge members 17 (see Fig. '7), these hinges being preferably mounted on the outer sides of the planks so that the animals cannot rub thereagainst. Any suitable type of hinge members may be used which have sufiicient play or lost-motion therein to provide the necessary flexibility. In the type here shown, looped links 18 extend through elongated slots 19 formed in bracket members 20 secured to the outer sides of the slabs or planks 15.

The end portions of each closure 14 travel in suitable guides 21 which may conveniently be formed of angle bars (see Figs. 4 and 5) secured at their lower ends 22 to the side walls of the car and supported at their upper ends by brackets 23 from the cross beams 6 or 8 of the compartments. Each guide comprises a substantially vertical portion 24 adjacent the side wall of the car, a substantially horizontal portion 25 adjacent the roof, and an intermediate curved portion 26. One or more intermediate guide members 27 may be used to provide additional supports for the central portions of the closures, these guides being in the form of brackets secured at their lower and upper ends to the side wall and roof construction respectively and. simply forming a slidable support for an intermediate portion of each flexible closure.

The closure-operating means comprises a rotatable shaft 28 extending longitudinally of the car through the upper portion of the compartment 9 or 10 and rotatably supported in suitable bearings or brackets 29 mounted on the cross beams 6 or 8. This shaft may be either solid or tubular and on one end thereof which projects through an end portion 1 of the car is mounted a hand wheel 30. A ratchet mechanism of well known type, indicated at 31, is provided for releasably preventing rotation of the shaft in the direction for lowering the closure members.

Two sets of cables, preferably metallic cables, are connected with this shaft 28 and with the lower edge portions of the several closures, the cables 32 being for the purpose of elevating the closures, and the cables 33 for the purpose of lowering the closures. In the example here shown, each cable 32 or 33 is connected at its opposite ends to the lower portions of two opposite closures 14, an intermediate portion of the cable being passed through an opening or openings in the shaft 28 so that when the shaft is rotated the two runs of the cable will be coiled on the shaft (see Fig. 6). The lifting cables 32 coil on the shaft in one direction whereas the lowering cables 33 coil on the shaft in the opposite direction. In the embodiment of the invention here shown, there are two lifting cables 32 connected with each closure member at points near the ends thereof, and one lowering cable 33 connected with the closure substantially midway of its length. It will be understood, however, that any suitable number of cables may be used.

Each of the cables passes over a direction sheave or similar guide means 34 suitably suspended in the upper corner portion of the car compartment. The lower ends of the cables 32 are connected directly with a lower edge portion of a closure 14 as indicated at 35. The vertical runs of the cables 33, after passing downwardly from the guide sheaves 34, pass around direction sheaves 36 positioned in the side walls of the car adjacent the position of the lower edges of the closures when lowered, these cables then extending upwardly and being secured to the lower edge portions of the closures at 37. The longer horizontal runs of all of the cables 32 and 33 extending to the side of the car most remote from the shaft 28 are passed over guide rods 38 secured between adjacent beams 6 or 8, or over other equivalent guide means, to prevent sagging of the cables.

In operation, assuming that the closures 14 are in the closed position shown in the upper compartment 9, if the hand wheel 30 is rotated in a clockwise direction the cables 32 will be wound on the shaft 28 and the closures 14 will be simultaneously elevated to the open positions as shown in compartment 10. t will be understood that the closures may be left in any intermediate or partially opened position, and that they will be supported in this position by the ratchet mechanism 31. During this elevating operation, the lowering cables 33 which have previously been wound upon the shaft 28 in the opposite direction will be unwound so as to pay out the cables and permit the closures to be elevated. In order to lower the closures 14, the ratchet mechanism 31 is released and the hand wheel 30 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction so as to wind up the cables 03 and pay out the cables 32. This will draw the closures 14: back to the closed position as shown in compartment 9.

It will be noted that while the closures themselves are not accessible from outside the car, they may be simultaneously raised or lowered by a mechanism accessible from outside the car at one end thereof, and the closures may be locked in any desired intermediate or partially opened position so as to secure the desired ventilation. When lowered, these closures form a substantially continuous side wall to protect the animals from the sun, wind or precipitation.

I claim:

1. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures within the car slidable vertically into and out of position to close the openings, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to open or closed positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, cables secured to the shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in one direction to elevate the closures, other cables secured to the shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in the opposite direction to lower the closures, and means mounted outside of one end of the ear and engaged with the projecting end portion of the shaft for rotating the same in either direction.

2. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures within the car slidable vertically into and out of position to close the openings, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to open or closed positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, cables secured to the shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in one direction to elevate the closures, other cables secured to the shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in the opposite direction to lower the closures, and a hand wheel mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft at one outside end of the car.

3. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures within the car slidable vertically into and out of position to close the openings, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to open or closed positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, cables secured to the shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in one direction to elevate the closures, other cables se cured tothe shaft and to the closures and adapted to be coiled on the shaft in the opposite direction to lower the closures, a hand wheel mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft at one outside end of the car, and a ratchet device for temporarily holding the shaft against rotation in the direction to lower the closures.

4. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures formed of flexibly connected sections movable within the car vertically into and out of position to close the openings and movable substantially horizontally beneath the roof when elevated to open positions, guides mounted within the car in which the closures are slidable, each guide having a substantially vertical section adjacent a side wall of the car, a substantially horizontal section adjacent the roof and an intermediate curved section, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to closed or open positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, two sets of cables secured to the shaft and adapted to be coiled thereon, one set in one direction and the other set in the opposite direction, direction sheaves in the upper side corners of the car over which the cables are passed, all of the cables being secured to the lower portions of the closures, direction sheaves mounted in the car adjacent the lower edges of the closures when in closed position, one set of the cables being passed about these sheaves, and means mounted outside of one end of the car and engaged with the projecting end portion of the shaft for rotating the same either direction.

5. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures formed of flexibly connected sections movable within the car vertically into and out of position to close the openings and movable substantially horizontally beneath the roof when elevated to open positions, guides mounted within the car in which the closures are slidable, each guide having a substantially vertical section adjacent a side wall of the car, a substantially horizontal section adjacent the roof and an intermediate curved section, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to closed or open positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, two sets of cables secured to the shaft and adapted to be coiled thereon, one set in one direction and the other set in the opposite direction, direction sheaves in the upper side corners of the car over which the cables are passed, all of the cables being secured to the lower portions of the closures, di-

rection sheaves mounted in the car adjacent the lower edges of the closures when in closed position, one set of the cables being passed about these sheaves, and a hand wheel mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft at one outer end of the car.

6. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, closures formed of flexibly connected sections movable within the car vertically into and out of position to close the openings and movable substantially horizontally beneath the roof when elevated to open positions, guides mounted within the car in which the closures are slidable, each guide having a substantially vertical section adjacent a side wall of the car, a sub stantially horizontal section adjacent the roof and an intedmediate curved section, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to closed or open positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, two sets of cables secured to the shaft and adapted to be coiled thereon, one set in one direction and the other set in the opposite direction, direction sheaves in the upper side corners of the car over which the cables are passed, all of the cables being secured to the lower portions of the closures, direction sheaves mounted in the car adjacent the lower edges of the closures when in closed position, one set of the cables being passed about these sheaves, a hand wheel mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft at one outer end of the car, and a ratchet device for temporarily holding the shaft against rotation in the direction to lower the closures.

7. In a live-stock car provided with ventilating openings extending longitudinally of the side walls thereof, screens fixed in the outer portions of the side walls and covering the openings, closures formed of flexibly connected sections movable within the car vertically into and out of position to close the openings and movable substantially horizontally beneath the roof when elevated to open positions, guides mounted within the car in which the closures are slidable, each guide having a substantially vertical section adjacent a side wall of the car, a substantially horizontal section adjacent the roof and an intermediate curved section, and means operable from outside the car for simultaneously moving all of the closures to closed or open positions, said means comprising a rotary shaft extending longitudinally of the car, two sets of cables secured to the shaft and adapted to be coiled thereon, one set in one direction and the other set in the opposite direction, direction sheaves in the upper side corners of the car over which the cables are passed, all of the cables being secured to the lower portions of the closures, direction sheaves mounted in the car adjacent the lower edges of the closures when in closed position, one set of the cables being passed about these sheaves, a hand wheel mounted on the projecting end portion of the shaft at one outer end of the car, and a ratchet device for temporarily holding the shaft against rotation J in the direction to lower the closures.

ISRAEL V. EDGERTON.

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