July‘zô» 1932-
A. E. MACKEY
ADJUSTABLE LOADING BRAGEv FOR RAILWAY CARS
1,868,638
July 26, 1932.
1,868,638
A. E. MACKEY
ADJUSTABLE LOADING BRACE FOR RAILWAY CÁRS
Filed March 10. 1931
4 ¿Sheds-Sheet
AUBERT
I QBKY
.
2
ACKEY
Z7
ATTC NEYS
July 26, 1932.
A. E. MACKEY
1,853,638
ADJUSTABLE LOADING BRACE FOR RAILWAY CARS
Filed March 1o. 19:51‘
4 sheets-sheet
s
INVENTOR
fk B11-‘RT E MAC/ffy,
ATTORNEYS
'July 26, 1932.
A. E. MACKEY
1,868,638 '
ADJUSTABLE LOADING BRACEFOR RAILWAY CARS
Filed March l0, 1951
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INVENTOR
ALBERT E MACKEY
www
ATTORNEYS
Patented July 26„- 1.932
» .1,888,638:
UNITEDSTAJTES PATENT oFF: CB
ALBERT E. MACKEY, 0F BATAVIA, NEW `YORK
ADJUSTABLE LOADING BRACE FOR RAILWAY CARS
\ Application ñled March 10, 1931. Serial No. 521,489.
This invention relates to loading braces` used to secure the braces to the sides of the
for railway freight and express cars, and par
cars.
ticularly to adjustable loading braces of .
Various attempts have been made hereto
which some elements at least may constitute fore to provide adjustable loading braces
permanent parts of the car.
having sullicient flexibility of adjustment to
In loading cars with goods for shipment take care of loads of varying character, but
it is very important that the goods be so
none of these attempts has quite solved the
placed in the car and so held in place that problem presented. In the first place, it is
there will be no opportunity for substantial important to avoid permanent projections
10 movement with respect to each other or with
into the car from the lining of the car, since
respect to the car while in transit. The im such projections are apt to cause damage to
portance of thus loading cars applies both to the goods being shipped if they happen to
express shipments where there is compara be where the goods engage them. In the
< tively little switching of the express cars but
15 where the goods are usually more valuable second place, a loading brace construction of
suñicient flexibility of adjustment to take
or more easily injured, and to freight ship care of loads of varying character must be
55
60
ments where the car forms part of a train so constructed and arranged that it will not
that is added to and subtracted from by interfere with the convenient loading of the
switching at various points along its route.
goods into the car and that it may readily
20
With goods which are shipped in full car be brought into bracing position after the
load lots it is possible to effect bracing against >goods have been loaded into position to be 70
substantial 4movement by packing the goods braced. In the third place, a loading brace
so closely throughout the car that the goods construction for cars adapted to handle a
brace
themselves against the sides of the car. wide variety of loads and a wide variety of
25
This, of course, involves packing across the classes of goods must have such complete 75
car doors and makes both the loading and the flexibility of adjustment as to adapt itself
. unloading -of the car somewhat inconvenient. not only to loads of every height in the car,
When goods are shipped in less than carload but also to loads of varying height in the
lots, however, and particularly when these
less than carload lots are made up of pack
ages of various sizes and shapes, 1t is neces
c sary to brace the load to prevent its move
same car as, for example,- two tier loads of
different tier extent lengthwise of the car. 80
Moreover, such flexibility of adjustment
must include such Íineness of adjustment as
ment toward unloaded parts of the car. This will insure positive bracing of the load
' bracing problem is one that has not hereto against substantial shaking orshifting.
35
fore been solved to the satisfaction of both
A general objectof the present invention
is to provide an adjustable loading brace of
One of the most common methods of brac such flexibility of adjustment, of such con
ing loadsin railway cars has been -to use . venience of manipulation and of such strong
the shippers and the railroad companies.
ordinary pieces of timber such as 2x4’s or and durable construction and so located and
4 X 43s and to toe-nail them into the sides and arranged in the car that not only does it
floors of the cars, frequently with compara answer all of the conditions of a satisfactor
’ tively large spikes, the removal of the braces loading brace hereinabove set forth, but that
40
it will continue to perform its functions sat
isfactorily throughout the life of the car.
A particular object of the invention is to
provide an adjustable loading brace of such
simple and compact construction that the
j ectionable when employed with refrigerator essential
supporting _members of this brace
cars which have insulated linings that are may readily
and easily be moved to a position
frequently seriously damaged by the spikes
usually destroying a large part of the lum
ber used in making them andalso doing con
siderable damage to the lining of the cars.
This method of bracing is particularly 0b
50
1n which they will not interfere at all with
90
95
1,868,688
2
any of the uses to which the car may beput guideway 10 is also provided with a rack
and in which position they can be maintained bar 16 having its teeth suitably spaced to
until ready for use, leaving both the walls provide for the desired closeness of adjust
and the íioor of the car free from any projec ment of the channels 4 lengthwise of the car,
the carriages 8 being provided with dogs 18
tions in the goods-containing areas.
Other objects and important Íeaturesof adapted to engage the teeth of the racks 16
the invention will appear from the tollowmg to lock the carriages 8 in any desired posi
description and claims when considered in tion of adjustment along the guideways 10.
connection with the accompanying drawings Each carriage is provided with two of the
dogs 18 pivoted at each end of the carriage
in which
10
15
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a so that one dog engages a rack tooth to hold c
railway car equipped with loading braces em the carriage against movement in one direc
bodying the present invention, this View tion and the other dog engages another tooth
showing the interior of one half the car 1n to hold the carriage against movement in the
perspective and showing the loading braces other direction, the carriages thus bein held
in operative position, the load being omitted; positively against movement out of adjusted
15
Figure 2 is a vie-w similar to Figure 1 but
80
position.
lThe dogs 18 are illustrated in detail in
tive position with the crossbars removed and Fig. 5 and it will be noted that each dog has
the vertical supports for these crossbars sus a projection 20 adapted to be engaged by a
hook 22 as shown at the upper left part of
pended from the ceiling of the car.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 5 to hold the dog out of engagement
a part of a car having therein loading braces with the rack teeth when moving the car
showing the loading braces in their inopera
85
embodying the present invention showing riage 8 along the guideways 10, the upper
' the mode of using such braces with a two tier face of each of the projections 20 being bev
load that also comes part way across the elled as shown at 24 to engage the curved
under face of the hook 22 to lock the dog in
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional detail show its tooth-engaging position when the car
ing the inset tracks for the vertical supports riage 8, and with it the Vertical support 4,
for the braces, this View showing the upper has been moved to its desired adjusted posi
and middle tracks for the vertical supports tion on the guideway 10. This prevents the
doorways;
jar of the car when in transit, or when it is
y
Figure 5 is a vertical elevation, with parts Jeing switched, from throwing the dogs out
in section, of one of the vertical supports Jfor of their locking positions and thus permit
\' the upper tier loading braces, this view show ting the brace to move out of its bracing
for the upper tier braces;
infr the locking dog construction;
100
position.
The vertical channels or supports 4 for the
`igure 6 is a detail elevation of the lower
part of one of the full length vertical sup crossbars or braces 2 are preferably of two
ports for the crossbars, this view showing the lengths, the long channels extending trom
I end brace for use when loading across a door
way'
the upper guideways 10 to a point near the .105
floor of the car and being provided with car
Figure 7 is a detail View showing the socket riages 26 received in guideways 28, also pro
for receiving the squared end of the end brace vided with racks 16, the guideways 28 not
illustrated 1n Figure 6, this socket being having upper Íianges such as the flanges 12
located on another vertical support on the of the guideways 10, thus permitting the
110
same side of the car as the vertical support carriages 26 to be swung into and out ot' the
illustrated in Figure 6; and
guideways 28 when it is desired to move the
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 oi' vertical channels or supports 4 out of their
operative positions on the side of the car and
Figure 5.
*_
50
55
60
In the illustrative embodiment of the in to suspend them from the hooks 30 depende
vention, removable crossbars or braces 2, ‘ing from the ceiling of the car. The car
which may be cut from 4f’- X 4” timbers, are riages 26 are rigidly attached to the webs of
cut to such. lengths that their ends may be the channels 4 and are provided with dogs
received in vertical box channels 4 having 18 like those of the upper carriages 8 and
holes 6 drilled or punched through their with the locking hooks 22.
rlShe short vertical supports or channels 4
sides at such distances apart, for example
1”, as will permit vertical adjustment of the> have similar carriages 32 traveling in inter
crossbars 2 to bring them to any desired ele mediate guideways 34 in the sides of the car,
vation above the licor of the car. At their these guideways being of the same construc
upper ends the channels 4 are hinged to car tion as the guideways 28 whereby the car
rlages 8 arranged to travel lengthwise of the riages 32 may be swung into and out of the
car 1n guideways 10, each of these guideways guideways when it is desired to swing the
115
120
125
being provided with upper Yand lower flanges short vertical supports into inoperative posi
65
12 and 14 to hold the carriages 8 against tion and suspend them from the hooks 30 in
movement out of the guideways. Each the ceiling of the car. The carriages 82, like
130
3
1,868,638
the carriages 8 and 26, are provided with once brought into bracing` relation to the 10a-d
locking dogs 18 and hooks 22 for holding the the parts are so positively locked in their ad
justed position that the jars and shocks and
dogs in locking position.
'
The crossbars or braces 2 are held in their other incidents to the movement of the car
adjusted positions in the vertical channels with its load in transit and in the making 70
or supports 4 by pins 36 which are located in up of trains and the'breaking up of trains to
the holes 6 of the sides of the channels and remove certain cars therefrom will not cause
which are each provided in the end which îhedbrace to get out of bracing relation to the
10
extends through the channel with a piv
oted locking piece 38 swinging in a slot
oa
.
It will be seen that the comparatively close 75
spacing of the teeth of the rack 16 and the
40 in the end of the pin 36 from a posi
tion in alignment with the axis of the comparatively close spacing of the holes 6
pin to a position at right angles thereto thus in the sides of the vertical channels 4 provide
preventing the pin from moving back for such close adjust-ments as are necessary
15
through the hole 6 until the locking piece 38 to insure proper bracing of loads such as illus
is again brought into axial alignment with trated in Fig. 3, in which the crossbars or
80
the pin 36. These locking pieces 38 prefer braces 2 engage the curved surfaces of barrels
ably have heads 42 which serve as counter or‘kegs, there being provision for sufficient
20
weights to tend to hold them in the position movement of the vertical channels about
at right angles to the pins. One of these either their upper or their lower secured ends
85
pins 36 is placed below the cross brace 2 in as fulcra. So that the dogs of the upper car
each channel to support the cross brace and riage 8 may engage teeth of the rack 16 in
another is preferably placed immediately the guideway 10 that are not vertically above
above the cross >brace to prevent it from the teeth of the rack 16 in the guideway 28.
In this way an adjustment of an intermediate 90
'
When it is desired to extend a load in a car crossbar may be obtained which is a fraction
25 moving up and down.
30
across the doorway, as shown in Fig. 3 of the
drawings, it will be seen that inasmuch as the
guideways 28 cannot extend across the door
way there will be no racks 16 with which thedogs 18 on the carriages 26 can cooperate.
of the distance between successive-rack teeth.
The same is true of the short vertical sup
ports 4 as well as the long ones.
From the foregoing description and from
95
the detailed illustration of the shape of `the
To provide for bracing a load in this position, dogs18 in Figure 5 of the drawings, it will -be
end braces are provided, one on each side of _ seen that when moving the flexible loading
35
40
the car. The illustrated end braces comprise braces into bracing relation t0 a load in either
a. threaded rod 44, hinged between ears form end of the car, the dogs which would inter
ing part of a bracket 46 attached to one side fere with the free movement of the brace in
of one of the full length vertical channels that direction may be locked out of operative
near the lower end thereof, a turn buckle 48 relation to the teeth of the racks 16 with
connecting the rod 44 to an oppositely thread which they are associated. The other dogs
ed rod 50 having a squared end 52 adapted will then ride freely overthe teeth and as
100
105
to be received in a squared socket 54 in a soon as the brace has engaged the load and
45
50
U! Cil
bracket 56 on the side of `the vertical channel
normally located on the opposite side of the
doorway of the car.
If desired, the load upon both sides of the
doorway may be extended over the door open
been pushed into bracing relation will auto
matically engage the teeth and hold the brace
in its adjusted bracing relation to the load.
The brace can thus readily be operated by one
110
man who can push one end of the brace at a
ing and the vertical supports may be braced time into load holding position, using both
against each other as shown in Fig. 3, or the hands on a pry bar, if necessary, to see that
load upon one side of the doorway may be the brace is tightly locked against the load
loaded in the usual manner so that the ver without having to bother himself with the
tical supports for the cross brace bars 2 will manipulation of the locking means until the
be locked by their dogs to the racks in the brace has been pushed into and automatically
lower guideway 28 and the vertical supports held in its final position of adjustment, when
for that part of the load that extends over he can, at his convenience, release the other
the doorway will then be braced against the dogs and thus lock the brace against move
115
120
ones that are already locked in position. The ment in either direction.
One advantage of the loading brace of the
turn buckles 48 permit the end braces to be
extended so as to secure the cross braces
60
present invention is that the bracing members
may be left entirely out of bracing position
tightly against the load.
From the foregoing description it will be until the load has been put in the car ready l 125
for bracing, thus leaving both the _sides and
able loading brace of such flexibility. of ad the bottom of the car entirely free from ob
justment that it can be brought into posi structions.
Another advantage of the flexible brace of
tive bracing relation to substantially any load
for which bracing is required and that when the present invention is that it is unneces
seen that this invention provides an adjust
130
4
1,868,638
sary to waste any of the material used in being bodily movable lengthwise of the car
bracing the load. The crossbars or brace and being each hinged to swing when not
members 2, which are the only wooden parts engaged by crossbars, from its operative po
of the structure, simply rest in the vertical sition against the side of the car into an 1n
10
supports 4 and are thus not injured and can
be used over and over again. Thus without
injury to the interior of the car and without
any destruction of bracing materlals sub
stantially all of the bracing effects that can
be obtained with nailed in braces are ob
operative position in the upper part of the
70
car, and means for positively holding said
supports in their different positions of ad
justment lengthwise of the car.
7. An adjustable loading brace for railway
cars comprising, in combination with the car, 75
tainable with the flexible loading brace here removable crossbars, upright supports on op
in disclosed.
What is claimed as new is:
posite sides of the car constructed to receive
the ends of said crossbars and to hold them
l. A flexible loading brace for railway cars in different positions of vertical adjustment,
comprising, in combination with the car, said supports being movable bodily length
upright supports on opposite sides of the Wise of the car, and means for positively se
lcar for removable crossbars, said supports curing said supports in different positions of
‘ being bodily movable lengthwise of the car, bodily adjustment lengthwise of the car.
and means Jfor positively securing said sup
8. An adjustable loadin brace for railway
20 ports in their diiîerent positions of bodily ad cars comprising, in com ination with the
justment lengthwise of the car, comprising car, removable crossbars, upright channel
means for automatically retaining each sup bars, bodily movable lengthwise of the car,
port in itsload bracing adjustment.
for receiving the ends of said crossbars, means
2. An adjustable loading brace for railway for securing said removable crossbars at
25 cars comprising, in combination with the car, different positions of vertical adjustment in
upright supports on opposite sides of the said channel bars, and means for positively
car constructed to receive and confine the ends securing said channel bars in different posi
of removable crossbars against movement tions of bodily adjustment lengthwise of said
both lengthwise of the car and vertically, car.
30 said supports being bodily movable length~
9. An adjustable loading brace for rail
wise of the car, and means for securing said way cars comprising, in combination with
supports positively in their different posi the car, upright channels for confining the
15
80
85
DO
95
tions of adjustment lengthwise of the car.
3. A loading brace for railway cars com
35
ends of removable crossbars against move
ment lengthwise of the car independent of the
prising, in combination with the car, upright movement of said channels, upper and lower
supports for removable crossbars, said up guides on the sides of the car, and means
40
ends and being free when not engaged by cross said guides for securing said channels, and
bars to swing from positions on opposite with them the removable crossbars, in differ
sides of the car in which they cooperate to ent positions of adjustment lengthwise of
hold the crossbars into substantially hori the car, said means comprising means for
zontal inoperative positions in the upper part automatically retaining each support in its
100
right supports being hinged at their upper carried by said channels and cooperating with
of the car.
4. A loading brace for railway cars com
45
50
55
60
65
load bracing adjustment.
10. An adjustable brace for railway cars
prising, in combination with the car, upright comprising, in combination with the car, up
supports for removable crossbars, said up right channels on opposite sides of the car,
right supports being hinged at their upper means carried by said channels for support
ends to opposite sides of the car to swing from ing removable crossbars at substantially any
positions against the sides of the car in which position of vertical adjustment in said chan
they are opposed to each other into substan
and means, including means forming
tially horizontal inoperative positions in the nels,
a part of the permanent structure of the
upper part of the car.
5. A loading brace for railway cars com
105
110
115
sides of the car, for securing said upright
channels in different positions of bodily ad->
prising, in combination with the car, upright justment lengthwise of the car.
supports for removable crossbars, said sup
1l. In adjustable loading brace for railway
ports being carried upon the sides of the car, lcars comprising, in combination with the car,
cmg bodily movable lengthwise of the car opposed upright channel bars for receiving
and eing each hinged to swing when not en removable crossbars extending across the car,
gaged by crossbars, from its operative posi~ means carried by said channel bars for sup
120
tion against the side of the car into an inop porting said crossbars at substantially any
erative position in the upper part of the car. position of vertical adjustment in said chan~
6. A loading brace for railway cars com nel bars, and means comprising tracks ex
prising, in combination with the car, upright tending lengthwise of the car for securing
supports for removable crossbars, said sup~ said channel bars in different positions of
ports being carried upon the sides of the car, bodily adjustment lengthwise of the car.
130
5
1,868,638
12. A11 adjustable loading brace for rail ing said carriages and therewith said su way cars comprising upright supports on op ports positively in different positions of posite sides of the car shaped to conñne the justment lengthwise of said car.
ends of removable crossbars against move
17. An adjustable loading brace for rail
ment lengthwise of the car independent of way cars comprising tracks extending length
said supports, connections between said sup wise of the car on opposite sides and near 70
bodily movement .of said supports length said tracks, a support for cross brace bars
wise of the car, and means for positively se suspended from each carriage to swing from
curing said supports in their diñ’erent posi a substantially horizontal position in the
`ports and the sides of the ca_r permitting the upper part thereof, carriages movable on
10
tions of bodily adjustments lengthwise of
upper part of the car to an upright cross 75
the car, comprising means for automatically bar supporting position against the side of
retaining each support in its load bracing the car, and means for securing the carriage
adjustment.
and also the lower part of the associated sup
13. An adjustable loading brace for rail port positively against movement lengthwise
way cars comprising, in combination with the of the carin the, different positions of adjust elo
car, upright supports on opposite sides of the
car shaped to receive and confine the ends of
20
25
30
ment.
~
18. An adjustable loading brace for rail
removable crossbars against independent way cars comprising upright supports on op
movement lengthwise of the car, guides on posite sides of the car constructed to receive
the sidejwalls of the car by which said'up the ends of removable crossbars and to hold
right `‘supports are guided for bodily move them in different positions of vertical adjust
ment lengthwise of the car, and means carried ment, upper and lower guides extending
by said supports and cooperating with said lengthwise of each side of the car, with which
guides for locking said supports in their guides said vertical supports are connected
different positions of adjustment lengthwise and along which they are bodily adjustable,
of the car, said means comprising means for recesses in said guides and cooperating dogs
automatically retaining each support in its connected with said vertical supports for en
load bracing adjustment.
‘
gaging said recesses and positively securing
14. An adjustable loading brace for rail said supports in different positions of bodily
waycars comprising, in combination with the adjustment lengthwise of the car.
car, tracks extending substantially through
19. In a construction of the class described,
out the length of the car on opposite sides a guide provided with suitable spaced notches,
85
90
95
and near the upper part thereof, a carriage >and a carriage traveling in said guide and
movable on each track, a support for re-- provided with dogs constructed to cooperate 100
movable crossbars suspended from each car with said notches to lock said carriage against
riage to swing from a horizontal inoperative movement in either direction along said ‘
position in the upper part of the car to a
40
45
vertical crossbar supporting position against
guide.
20. A flexible loading brace for railway
the side of the car, means for locking said cars comprising upper and lower tracks ex los
carriage against movement along said track, tending lengthwise of the car on opposite
and a brace member carried by said support sides thereof, carriages movable on said
for bracing the lower end of the support tracks, supports for cross brace bars, each
against movement lengthwise of the car.
mounted on upper and lower carriages and
15. An adjustable loading brace for rail movable. therewith lengthwise of said car, 110
way cars comprising upright channels on `and means for securing said carriages -and
opposite sides of the car for receiving cross therewith said supports positively in differ
brace members, tracks extending lengthwise ent positions of adjustment lengthwise of
50
of the car near the upper part of the interior
channels may be bodily7 adjusted lengthwise
of said car, and means for securing said car
55
said car, comprising oppositely acting dogs
thereof, carriages on said tracks fromwhich on each carriage arranged to engage said 115
said channels are suspended whereby said track and prevent movement of said carriage
in either direction.
.
21. A ilexible loading brace for railway
riages and said channels positively in the dif cars comprising upper and lower tracks ex
ferent positions of adjustment, comprising tending lengthwise of the car on opposite
dogs automatically retaining each support in sides thereof, carriages movable on said
its load bracing adjustment.
tracks, supports for cross brace bars, each
16. A Íiexible loading brace for railway mounted on upper and lower carriages and
movable therewith lengthwise of said car,
tending lengthwise of the car on opposite means for securing said carriages and there
sides thereof, carriages movable on said with said supports positively in different po
tracks, supports for cross brace bars, said sitions of adjustment lengthwise-of said car,
60 cars comprising upper and lower tracks ex
120
125
supports being each mounted "on upper and comprising oppositely acting dogs on each
65
lower carriages and movable therewith carriage arranged to engage said track, and
lengthwise of said car, and means for secur
means for holding one of said dogs _out of
130
6
1,868,638
operative relation to said track when the car
riage is being moved with the support int/o
load bracing adjustment.
22. A flexible loading brace for railway
cars comprising upper and lower toothed
tracks extending lengthwise of the c_ar on
opposite sides thereof, carriages movable on
said tracks, and supports for cross brace bars,
each mounted on upper and “lower carriages
10
and bodily movable therewith lengthwise of
said car, each carriage being provided “with
oppositely acting dogs cooperating with the
associated toothed track to secure said sup
ports positively in different positions of ad
’\ justment lengthwise of said car.
23. A flexible loading brace for railway
ears comprising upper and lower ' toothed
tracks extending lengthwise of the car on
opposite sides thereof, carriages movable on
20
said tracks, and supports for cross brace
bars, each mounted on upper and lower car
riages and bodily movable therewith length
wise oit said car, each carria e being pro
vided with oppositely acting ogs cooperat
25 ing with the associated toothed track to se
cure said supports positively in diiî'erent po
sitions of adjustment lengthwise of said car,
and means on each carriage for holding one
of said dogs out of operative relation to the
30 track when moving the brace into load brac
ing position.
24. A iiexible loading brace for railway
cars comprising upper and lower toothed
tracks extending lengthwise of the car on op
35
posite sides thereof, carriages movable on
said tracks, and supports for cross brace
bars, each mounted on upper and lower car
riages and bodily movable therewith length~
wise of said car, each carriage being pro
vided with oppositely acting dogs cooperat
ing with the associated toothed track to se
cure said supports positively in different po
sitions of adjustment lengthwise oí said car,
and means carried by each carriage -for hold
ing said dogs against movement out of track
engaging position.
«
, Signed at Rochester, N. Y., this 27th day
of February, 1931.
e
ALBERT E. MACKEY.
55
65