US3075478A

US3075478A - Adjustable loader beam

Info

Publication number: US3075478A
Application number: US21543A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin C Elsner
Original assignee: Aeroquip Corp
Current assignee: Eaton Aeroquip LLC
Priority date: 1960-04-11
Filing date: 1960-04-11
Publication date: 1963-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-29

Description

Jan. 29, 1963 E. c. ELsNER ADJUSTABLE LOADER BEAM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April l1, 1960 UH|||||||| UIIIITWIIMW INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Oiice 3,075,478 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 3,075,478 ADJUSTABLE LOADER BEAM Edwin C. Elsner, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to Aeroquip Corporation, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 21,543

7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-369) This invention relates to a device for use in cargo bracing, and the device is particularly adaptable for use in railroad box cars, although it will be obvious that it has great utility wherever iirm, adjustable cross-bracing is required. v

lts particular advantage is that it is capable of infinite adjustment, so that when it is used for cargo bracing, it may be adjusted accurately to lit a more substantial face of the cargo to be braced, even if such face 4is irregular. Furthermore, if greater rigidity is required than `can be furnished by a single beam, the `iniinite adjustment feature of the device may be utilized to bring a plurality of beams into rm contact along their entire length, thereby sharply increasing the strength and rigidity factor of the bracing. Other uses which take advantage of the unique infinite adjustment features of the device of the present invention will be suggested by the detailed description which follows.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for bracing or partitioning which is rugged in construction, but at the same time capable of infinite lateral positioning without damage to the vehicle or storage compartment in which it is installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loader beam, a plurality of which may be mounted in full contact along their entire length.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracing assembly which may be easily installed and readily removed, without damage to the walls `or partitions on which it is mounted.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a loader beam with adjustable mounting elements which may be readily and inexpensively manufactured and assembled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consistsof the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a plan view of the inside of a railroad freight car with the device of the present invention installed therein.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device, partly cut away. y

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the device, also partly cut away. j

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, detailed plan View of one end of the device.

`FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a plan vview similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the device 4mounted olf-center.

FIGURE 7 is a view taken on the line 7-7 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken on the line 8--8 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 9 lis a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE l0 4is a view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG- URE 2.

-A hollow beam l10 is provided, which preferably is of rectangular cross-section, but may be of other configuration. When the device is used for heavy cross-bracing, as in a railroad box car, the beam is generally made of steel of heavy gauge, but it will be understood that the anticipated use of the device will dictate the character and strength of the material to be used in constructing the beam. It will also be clear that although a hollow beam is herein specified, if desired, only the ends thereof need be hollow.

Mounted internally in said beam 10 adjacent the end thereof and at opposite sides of said beam 10 are matching elongate retaining plates 20, which have fla-t surfaces 21 immediately adjacent the end of said beam 10. Each of said plates has an elongate, internally protruding flange 22 at the opposite end thereof, and an elongate groove 23 is provided intermediate the ends of each lsuch flange 22. 5

Said plates 20 may be rigidly secured to said beam 10 by any suitable means, such as by nuts and bolts 24.

An aligned bore 25 is cut through said beam 10 and said plates 20 adjacent the end of said beam 10.

An elongate hollow tongue is axially disposed in the hollow end of said beam 10 and protrudes therefrom. Mounted adjacent the internal end of said tongue 30 is a cross-plate 31 having

bent end portions

32 and 33 extending 4in one direction, and overlying said cross-plate 31 is a second cross-plate 34 having

bent end portions

35 and 36 extending in the opposite direction, said

bent end portions

32, 33, and 36 serving as rocker arms, and being disposed so as to .abut against the internal side of beamlt), and permit the oblique turning of tongue 30 in beam 10 as hereinafter described.

Said

cross-plates

31 and 34 have slotted openings 37 therein, disposed so as to slidably receive plates 20 `at their groove portions 23, and so that longitudinal movement of said cross-plates and tongue 30 will be confined by the limits of said groove portions'23.

Dual cross-plates

31 and 34 are suggester for manufacturing standardization purposes, but it will be readily understood-that in lieu of dual cross-plates 3'1 and 34, a single cross-plate may be substituted, said single crossplate having abutting rocker arms on the ends thereof, disposed in opposite directions, as are the

rocker arms

32, 33, 35 and 36 of

dual cross-plates

31 and 34.

Other means of confining the inner end of tongue 30 -in beam 10 may be utilized, and one suggested method is to eliminate the cross-plate and rocker arm construction and to substitute in lieu thereof a pin spanning beam 10 on which the inner end of tongue 30 may be pivotally mounted. However, the construction herein 'illustrated and described has been `found preferable to other means for each of manufacturing and assembly, as well as adaptability for the purposes intended.

. Intermediate the ends of said tongue 30, preferably adjacent the protruding portion thereof, and aligned with bore 25, is an elongate, lateral opening 40. Freely disposed internally in` tongue 30 is a oat member 41, which is preferably of modified elliptical contour to allow a wider range of movement, as hereinafter described. A threaded bore 42 is provided intermediate the ends of said float 41, and an externally threaded stud 43 is mounted in said aligned

bores

25 and 42. The ends of said threaded stud 43 may be provided with sockets 44 for receiving a Wrench, or may be provided with any other suitable external means for turning said stud 43.

The internal end of said oat 41 may be provided with a protruding sppr 45 on which is mounted a spring 46,. The other end'of spring 46 may be mounted on cross'- plate 31. Spring 46 will bias tongue 30 outwardly from beam 10.

Adjacent the protruding end 50 of tongue 30 and on opposite sides thereof are identations 51 and 52, and adjacent said indentations 51 and 52, angle irons 53 and 54 are mounted on opposite sides of said tongue 30 and disposed so as to act as handholds. Although only one indentation is utilized in operation of the device, two indentations are illustrated and provided so that in assembly of the device, either side of tongue 30 may be utilized for the seating operation hereinafter described.

A track 60 has a series of slotted openings 61 of suicient dimension to readily accommodate end 50 of tongue 30. Said slotted openings 61 are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance, and it has been found advantageous to space said openings 61 so that the maximum lateral travel of tongue 30, as hereinafter described, is always somewhat greater than the width of one slotted opening 61 plus the width of a space between adjacent slotted openings 61. Said track 60 is humped at the center thereof so as to form a hollow portion of said track 60 and provide ample space in back of slotted openings 61 to accommodate end 50 of tongue 30.

In use, several sets of tracks may be provided at varying heights along opposite sides of the cargo space. After cargo is stowed away in a portion of the cargo space, and when it is desired to firmly brace said cargo against movement in said cargo space, a beam is brought into position at a selected height adjacent said cargo. The length of said beam 10 will be something less than the distance between tracks 60 on opposite sides of the cargo space.

A slot 61 in one track 60, as close to said cargo as is feasible, will then be selected, and one end of beam 10 will be brought into close proximity therewith. The tongue 3) protruding from said end' of beam 10 will then be inserted in the selected slot 61 untily indentation 52 is aligned' with said slot 61 and the lower edge of said slot 61 is seated in indentation 52.

Beam 10 will then be brought up against the cargo and into close proximity with the corresponding track 60 on the opposite side of the cargo space, and an appropriate slotl 61 in said track 60, as close to said cargo as is feasible, will be selected. It will be understood that tongue at that end of beam 10 will be biased outwardly by the action of spring 46. Tongue 30 will be moved inwardly, against the biasing action of saidl spring 46, by exerting pressure onhandholds 53y and 54, until tongue 30 is properly aligned withy slot 61', whereon pressure on handholds 53 and 54 willbe relaxed, and end 50f of tongue 30 will enter slot 61, andV ultimately slot 61v will be seated in indentation 52 of said tongue 30.

Assuming that the cargov facel is not exactly at right angles to the. sides of the cargo space, it may be necessary'v to. adjust' the position of beam 10 after it has been mounted, asv hereinafter described.` Infinite adjustment can be. made at either or both: ends ofbeam 10 by manipulation of threaded stud 43, which will cause tongue 30 to move obliquely in relation to beam 10, by movement of fiat 41 along the threads of stud 43 in the desired direction, and by the rocking movementof overlying. crossplates 31 and 34 on rocker arms 32 andl 33,.

anda

35 and 36, on the inside lateral surfaces of beam'10;

Furthermore,y if itis desired to add rigidity and. strength to beam 10, a second beam 10 maybe similarly' mounted in closev parallel relationship tol said first beam 10, and firm contact can be. made along the entire length of both beams 10 by proper manipulation of studs43 of saidlbeam assemblies.

Although` I. have herein shown and. described: my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferredf embodiment, it is recognized: that departures may bemade therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein butis to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and. all equivalent structures and methods.

I claim:

1. An. adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having an open end; elongate retaining plates mounted internally in said hollow beam adjacent the open end of said beam; internally projecting flanges mounted on said retaining plates and disposed in opposed relationship to each other; longitudinally extending grooves in said anges intermediate the ends of said flanges; a crossplate spanning the interior of said hollow beam, loosely disposed therein between the grooves in said flanges, and confined against extended longitudinal movement in said hollow beam by said flanges; a tongue mounted on said cross-plate at substantially the center of said cross-plate and having an end of said tongue protruding outwardly from the open end of said hollow beam; and the thickness of said tongue being predetermined to allow lateral movement thereof within the open end of said beam; an externally threaded stud iixedly mounted Within said beam and spanning the open end thereof; and means forming a connection between said stud and said tongue wherein rotation of said stud moves said tongue obliquely in said beam.

2. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 1, including rocker arms on said cross-plate rockably engaging the internal sides of said hollow beam.

3. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 2, wherein said tongue is hollow and including a oat disposed in the hollow portionA of said tongue; and a threaded bore in said oat in which said externally threaded stud is disposed.

4. An adjustable loader beam as defined in claim 3, wherein said tongue is slidable on said oat', and including means' for rotating said stud so as to move the protruding end of said tongue laterally and obliquely in said beam; and including spring biasing means connected internally to the inner end of said tongue and to said float so as to bias said tongue outwardly from said beam.

5. An adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having an open end; a hollow tongue loosely confined in said beam at the open end of said beam, having an inner end and a protruding anchor-engaging outer end, and having elongate lateral openings; rocker arms secured to the inner end of said tongue and rockably engaging the internal sides of saidbeam; a float disposed in the hollow' portion of said tongue; a threaded bore in said float; and an externally threaded stud disposed in said threaded bore, passing through the lateral openings in said tongue, and spanningthe open end of said beam, so as to swing said tongue obliquely about said rocker arms.

6. An adjustablev loader beam as defined in claim 5, wherein said tongue is slidable on said float, and including means for rotating said stud so as to move the protruding end of said tongue laterally and obliquely in said beam; `and including. spring biasing means connected internally to the inner end of. said` tongue and to said oat so as to bias said tongue outwardly from said beam.

7. An adjustable loader beam which comprises: a hollow beam having an open end; a tongue loosely confined in said beam at the open end of said beam and having an inner end and a protruding anchor engaging outer end; rocker means adjacent the inner end of said tongue and rockably engaging the internal sides of said beam; and an externally threadedA stud operatively'engaging said tongue and spanning the open end of said beam so as to swing said tongue obliquelyl about said rocker arms; the protruding outer end of said` tonguefincluding an indentation for engagement with: one edgey of a slotted openingV of an anchor member.

Nampa July 4, '1950 Brown etal May 29, 1956

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LOADER BEAM WHICH COMPRISES: A HOLLOW BEAM HAVING AN OPEN END; ELONGATE RETAINING PLATES MOUNTED INTERNALLY IN SAID HOLLOW BEAM ADJACENT THE OPEN END OF SAID BEAM; INTERNALLY PROJECTING FLANGES MOUNTED ON SAID RETAINING PLATES AND DISPOSED IN OPPOSED RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER; LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GROOVES IN SAID FLANGES INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID FLANGES; A CROSSPLATE SPANNING THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOLLOW BEAM, LOOSELY DISPOSED THEREIN BETWEEN THE GROOVES IN SAID FLANGES, AND CONFINED AGAINST EXTENDED LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT IN SAID HOLLOW BEAM BY SAID FLANGES; A TONGUE MOUNTED ON SAID CROSS-PLATE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE CENTER OF SAID CROSS-PLATE AND HAVING AN END OF SAID TONGUE PROTRUDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE OPEN END OF SAID HOLLOW BEAM; AND THE THICKNESS OF SAID TONGUE BEING PREDETERMINED TO ALLOW LATERAL MOVEMENT THEREOF WITHIN THE OPEN END OF SAID BEAM; AN EXTERNALLY THREADED STUD FIXEDLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BEAM AND SPANNING THE OPEN END THEREOF; AND MEANS FORMING A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID STUD AND SAID TONGUE WHEREIN ROTATION OF SAID STUD MOVES SAID TONGUE OBLIQUELY IN SAID BEAM.