US3589305A

US3589305A - Railway flat car having stake pocket extensions

Info

Publication number: US3589305A
Application number: US824964A
Authority: US
Inventors: Duane V Thornton
Original assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Current assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Priority date: 1969-05-15
Filing date: 1969-05-15
Publication date: 1971-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-29

Abstract

Stake pockets along the sides of the deck of a flat car include a lower portion and a removable extension. Where the lower portions of the stake pockets are below the deck, the extensions or upper portions may be retractable below the deck, or else formed in the ends of pivoted guide rails above the deck, movable into transverse positions on the deck. Alternatively, each lower portion and a retractable extension therefor may be mounted side by side in the end of a pivoted guide rail section. The retractable extensions are guided between their operative and inoperative positions by runners fitted in inclined grooves, or by means of pivots.

Description

0 United States Patent 3,589,305

[72] inventor Duane V. Thornton 1,825,832 10/1931 Tatum .1 105/391 St. Charles, Mo. 1,863,364 6/1932 Anderson 105/391 5 2 Primary ExamineF-Arthur L. La Point gf 22 I97] Assistant E.mminer--Richard A. Bertsch Assignee ACF Industries lmorpomted AlmrneysSamue1 J. Snyder and Eugene N. Riddle New York, NY.

[54] RAILWAY FLAT CAR HAVING STAKE POCKET EXTENSIONS 14 Claims 18 Drawtngm ABSTRA CT: Stake pockets along the sides of the deck of a flat car include a lower portion and a removable extension. [52] [1.5. CI 105/390, where the low portions f the stake pockets are below the Os/363T Os/391'280/l43'280/145'296/43 deck, the extensions or upper portions may be retractable [51] Int.Cl 861d 3/08 below the deck or else f d in the ends f pivoted guide [50] Field of Search 280/145, rails above the deck, movable into transverse positions on the l 143; 105/380 391; 296/43 deck. Alternatively, each lower portion and a retractable extension therefor may be mounted side by side in the end of a [56] References Cited pivoted guide rail section. The retractable extensions are' UNITED STATES PATENTS guided between their operative and inoperative positions by 893,165 7/1908 Haley 105/390 runners fitted in inclined grooves, or by means ofpivots.

PATENIED JUN29 I971 SHEET 1 OF 8 INVENTOR. DUANE V. THORNTON BYM%' M ATTORNEY PATENTED JUH29 I97! SHEET 2 [1F 8 FIG. 3.

FIG. 5.

PATENTEU JUN29 |9r| sum 5 OF 8 PATENIED JUH29I971 SHEET 7 UF 8 w m m m w x z d H x \&

llllllllllllll llllllllllllll llllllllllllll ll n\\\ \/w j w m m m FIG. l6.

RAILWAY FLAT CAR HAVING STAKE POCKET EXTENSIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides side stake pockets for a flat car of sufficient height to support the stakes securely, without forming undesirable protrusions when they are not in use. In one embodiment, the stake pockets include a fixed lower portion flush with the deck and other portion stowable below the deck beside the fixed portion and slidable in inclined grooves into superposition on the lower portion. In another embodiment, the upper and lower portions of each stake pocket are similarly mounted in the outer end of a pivoted section of a guide rail for a truck trailer adapted to be carried on the deck. In another embodiment the upper portion of the stake pocket is pivoted from its stowed position to its operative position. In still another embodiment, the lower portion of the stake pocket is located below the deck and the upper portion is in a guide rail section, so that the upper portion will overlie the lower portion and form an extension thereof when the guide rail section is pivoted to a transverse position and locked against movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION IN THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a plan of a portion of a railway flat car embodying one form of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan ofa stake pocket extension.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the stake pocket extension.

FIG. 5 is a front elevation ofthe stake pocket extension.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken through a stake pocket.

FIG. 7 is a section similar to FIG. 6 but showing the stake pocket extension in extended position.

FIG. 8 is a plan of a portion ofa flat car embodying another form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged plan ofa guide rail section of the car of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a transverse section of the portion of the car shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. II and I2 are end views of a guide rail section and a portion of the side of the car.

FIGS. l3, l4 and are top, side, and end views of the outer end ofa modified guide rail having a pivoted stake pocket.

FIG. 16 is a section taken along line 1616 of FIG. 14.

FIGS. 17 and 18 are top plan and side section views of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, a railway car indicated by reference numeral 10 is illustrated in FIG. I and includes a deck 12. Side skills l4 of the underframe extend along the sides of deck 12. The underframe also includes center sill l6 and cross bearers l8. Adjacent the side sills are two series of stake pockets 20, which are further illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The stake pockets include a fixed portion 22 having side walls 24 and adjoining

walls

26 and 28. Walls 24 are provided with inclined grooves 30. A movable portion or member 32, shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, is provided with runners 34 adapted to fit into grooves 30. Movable member 32 has a rectangular cross section substantially the same as that of pocket 35 of member 22. In its retracted position, member 32 is adapted to nest in compartment 36 of the fixed member 22. The bottom of member 32 is open and truncated, as shown in FIG. 4. The outer wall 38 of member 32 has a hand-hold 40, by means of which it can be pulled from compartment 36 into superposition with the pocket 35 of fixed member 32. When in this position, the bottom of wall 38 will rest on walls 26, as indicated in fig. 7, to prevent member 32 sliding downward into its stored position. The superimposed fixed

end members

22 and 32 thus form an extended pocket for a side stake 41, which may be assumed to be a conventional wooden rectangular stake. It is evident that when stake 41 is inserted into the stake pocket member 32 is locked against lateral or vertical movement and forms with the lower pocket 35 a rigid receptacle for the stake.

Another embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 12, includes guide rail section 50 adapted to be arranged in two longitudinal rows on the of the car in the positions 52 in FIG. 8. The guide rail sections are pivotally mounted on the deck for transposition from their longitudinal location to transverse positions 54. Guide rail sections of the type herein employed are shown and described in application Ser. No. 726,127, filed May 2, I968, by Duane V. Thronton, et al., assigned to the assignee of the present application. In addition to the guide rails, one or more trailer hitches 56 are generally mounted on the deck of the car. The guide rail sections 50 have a length equal to about one-half the width of the deck, except in the vicinity of the trailer hitches 56, whereat they are of shorter length, as indicated in FIG. 8. Each guide rail section is generally channel shaped with an upper wall 58 and sidewalls 60. The guide rail section is also provided with suitable reinforcing webs 62 and 64. .An opening 66 in web 64 receives a cylindrical pivot 68 secured by welding to the deck 12. An upper circular end member 70 secured to pivot 68 provides a rim extending outwardly from pivot 68 to prevent removal ofguide rail section 50 from pivot 68. A hand-hold 72 is cut in the upper side 58 of the guide rail section to facilitate swinging it from one position to another. The outer end of each guide rail section includes a stake pocket assembly 74 similar to the stake pocket described :above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 7. Thus, stake pocket 74 includes movable portion 76 of the same configuration as member 32 and a fixed portion 78 essentially the same as the fixed stake pocket portion 22. The movable portion 76 of the stake pocket is retractable into compartment 80, or it may be placed in its operative position, shown in FIG. 10, where it is superimposed on fixed portion 78 of the stake pocket for receiving a stake 82.

The end of guide rail section 50 is provided with a fixed plate 84 having a lower projection 85, and movable plate 86 having a pair of

slots

87 and 88, in which there are

pins

89 and 90. The bottom of plate 86 is provided with a lip 92. Fixed to the deck is a plate 94 having a pair of

lugs

95 and 96 projecting outwardly beyond the side sill along each side of plate 84. When a guide rail section 50 is placed in a transverse position with the plate 84 between

lugs

95 and 96, and with the movable plate lowered into the position shown in FIG. I I, the grade rail section is effectively secured. The deck is provided with slots 98 for receiving projections 85 of plates 84 when guide rail sections 50 are in their longitudinal position.

The embodiment of the invention. illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 16 has a different stake pocket construction, but otherwise the guide rail sections may be constructed, arranged, and utilized in the same manner as those shown in FIG. 8. Thus, guide rail section 100 has

end plates

102, 104, similar to

plates

84, 86 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and is adapted to receive a wooden stake 106. At its outer end, top plate 107 of U-shaped member 108 has a cutout 110. A compartment 111 is formed by web 112, sidewalls 113, I14, bottom plate 116, and end plate 104.

Bars

117, 118 are fixed to sidewalls 113, 114, and partition 120 is welded to bottom plate 116. U-shaped channel 122 has pivots 123, 124 extending into openings in

side plates

113, 114. The bottom of channel 122 is semicircular, and stops 125, 126 are fixed to the sides of channel 122 to engage

bars

117, 118 to limit rotation of channel 122. A plate 128 is welded across the upper end of channel 122. By means of hand-hold 129, channel 122 can be pivoted into compartment 111, or raised to its operative position to form a supporting pocket for stake 106, with the aid of partition 120 and plate 128. The full complement of guide rail sections provides two series of stake pockets along the side sills. It is evident that the pivoted stake pocket construction may be substituted for the sliding construction shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 and FIGS. 8 to 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the car I has a simple fixed stake pocket 130 adjacent side sill 132 extending downwardly from deck 134. Pivoted guide rail section 136, of generally the same construction and arrangement as those shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, has a fixed stake pocket 138 at its outer end. Stake pocket 138 includes web 140 and U- shaped channel 142, having the same rectangular cross section as stake pocket 130, and adapted to be superimposed thereon when guide rail section 136 is in its transverse position on deck 134. Guide rail section 136 is locked in transverse position by

end plates

143, 144 and lugs 145, 146, as previously explained. It is evident that when guide rail section 136 is put in its transverse position, an extended rigid stake pocket is formed.

What I claim is:

1. A railway flat car comprising two series of guide rail sections pivotally mounted on the deck of the car for rotation from aligned longitudinal positions to transverse positions; a stake pocket in each guide rail section near one end thereof, each stake pocket having a fixed portion within said guide rail section and a movable portion; and means for connecting the movable portion to the guide rail section for guiding the movement of said movable portion from a position entirely within the guide rail section to a position above and in alignment with the fixed portion to form a stake pocket of extended length.

2. A stake pocket for a railway car having a fixed member and an adjacent, normally retracted, movable member, and means interconnecting the fixed and movable members and guiding the elevation of the movable member from its retracted position into super-position with the fixed member to form a single stake pocket of extended length, said members having similarly shaped channels extending vertically therethrough and juxtaposed and aligned to form a single, uniform, long channel when said members are superimposed, whereby a stake is adapted to extend through said movable member into said fixed member and be securely held vertically.

3. A stake pocket according to claim 2, where said fixed and movable members are located side by side in their retracted positions.

4. A stake pocket according to claim 3, wherein said inter connecting means includes lateral projections on opposite sides of one of said pocket members, and cooperating ramps engaging said projections for guiding the elevation of said movable member.

5. A stake pocket according to claim 3, wherein said inter-' connecting means includes elongated inclined runners projecting from opposite sides of one of said pocket members and similarly inclined grooves for guiding and retaining said runners.

6. A stake pocket according to claim 3,-wherein said fixed and movable members are located below the deck in their retracted positions.

' 7. A railway flat car comprising first stake pocket members and means for fixing said members along the sides of the car at a predetermined level relative to the deck of the car, a second stake pocket member retractable to substantially said predetermined level relative to the deck, and means movably interconnecting said first and second members at each location thereof for guiding the second member into super-position with the corresponding first member, whereby the stakes may be inserted into superimposed first and second members.

. A railway fiat car according to claim 7, wherein each second stake pocket member is pivoted member is pivoted to its adjacent first stake pocket member.

9. A railway flat car according to claim 7, wherein said first stake pocket members are located below the surface of the deck, and said second stake pocket members are below deck in their retracted positions and above deck in their operative positions.

10. A railway flat'car according to claim 7, including a plurality of guide rail sections pivotally connected near one end thereof to the deck, each guide rail section including a pair of said adjacent first and second stake pocket members near the other end thereof.

11. A railway flat car according to claim 10, including means for locking said guide rail sections in positions transverse to the deck, said sections being pivotable into longitudinal alignment to form guide rails for the wheels of a highway trailer.

12. A railway flat car comprising a series of stake pocket members along each side of the deck of the car at a predetermined level relative to the deck; a stake pocket extension for each aid stake pocket members; and means for moving said extensions into super-position on said stake pocket members and for removing said extensions from said stake pocket members, each stake pocket and its extension having similarly shaped channels extending vertically therethrough and juxtaposed and aligned to form a substantially continuous long channel when each said stake pocket member and its extension are superimposed, whereby a stake is adapted to extend through each stake pocket extension into the corresponding stake pocket member and be securely held vertically.

13. A railway flat car according to claim 12, including means for locking said extensions in super-position on said fixed stake pocket members.

14. A railway flat car according to claim 13, wherein said means for movably connecting said extensions to the deck include guide rail sections pivotally connected at one end to the deck for movement from a longitudinal to a transverse position, said extensions being mounted in the other end of said guide rail section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 569 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,589;305 Dated June 29 1971 lnventoflx) Duane V. Thornton It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

r- Column 2, line for "walls" read wall line 10, after "32" insert from line 15, after "pocket" insert line 20, after "the (first occurrence) insert deck line 60, for "grade read guide line 65, for "and" read to Column line 18 cancel "member is pivoted (second occurrence); line 38, for 'aid" read said Signed and sealed this 28th day of December 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M .FLETCHER, JR

ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents

Claims

4. A stake pocket according to claim 3, wherein said interconnecting means includes lateral projections on opposite sides of one of said pocket members, and cooperating ramps engaging said projections for guiding the elevation of said movable member.

5. A stake pocket according to claim 3, wherein said interconnecting means includes elongated inclined runners projecting from opposite sides of one of said pocket members and similarly inclined grooves for guiding and retaining said runners.

6. A stake pocket according to claim 3, wherein said fixed and movable members are located below the deck in their retracted positions.

7. A railway flat car comprising first stake pocket members and means for fixing said members along the sides of the car at a predetermined level relative to the deck of the car, a second stake pocket member retractable to substantially said predetermined level relative to the deck, and means movably interconnecting said first and second members at each location thereof for guiding the second member into super-position with the corresponding first member, whereby the stakes may be inserted into superimposed first and second members.

8. A railway flat car according to claim 7, wherein each second stake pocket member is pivoted member is pivoted to its adjacent first stake pocket member.

10. A railway flat car according to claim 7, including a plurality of guide rail sections pivotally connected near one end thereof to the deck, each guide rail section including a pair of said adjacent first and second stake pocket members near the other end thereof.