Railroad boxcar and movable platform stops therefor

Claim 2

In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors: a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor, each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between a respective stop structure and the end of the car, each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having outer and inner ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop units, each stop unit having at the outer end a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop membeR of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing position.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1, and pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop unit laterally thereof, a second pair of stop units each connecting with a respective shaft for pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stop units, each of the second stop units having their inner ends weighted down to allow their respective stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop members of any of the stop units lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all the stop units to permit passage of the respective platform thereover.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2, and each shaft having key means for keying each shaft to a pair of laterally spaced stop units attendant to conjunctive pivoting of each of the stop units.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1, whereby the upper end of a respective stop member is depressible by an operator to simultaneously move the stop units from the platform obstructing position to the platform unobstructing position.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1, and a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stop units to limit upper travel of the stop units upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.

Claim 7

In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors: a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor, each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between two of the stop structures or between a respective stop structure and the end of the car, each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop member of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing portion, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side of one stop unit and a projecting ledge on the other side of the stop unit, the edge of one stop unit engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop unit on each side of each stop unit.

Claim 8

In a railroad boxcar having closed side end portions and open side central portions selectively closed by movable side doors: a pair of laterally spaced platforms movable along the car floor, each platform being locatable at a respective closed end portion of the car or in the alternative in a respective part of the open central portion adjacent the other platform, stop means pivotally mounted in the car floor for retaining each platform in the end portion or the central portion, said stop means including three stop structures spaced substantially equal longitudinally of the car from one another in the central portion of the car to accommodate either platform between two of the stop structures or between a respective stop structure and the end of the car, each stop structure including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stop units, each stop unit having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop unit being weighted at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop unit whereby the platform stop member of each stop unit is elevated above its respective inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of a platform, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop unit such that when the stop member of one of the stop units is depressed to a lowered position at the car floor level or platform unobstructed position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop unit to raise the inner end of the other stop unit therewith and simultaneously lower the platform stop member of the other stop unit to its car floor level or platform unobstructing portion, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side of one stop unit and a projecting ledge on the other side of the stop unit, the edge of one stop unit engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop unit on each side of each stop unit.

Claim 9

The invention according to claim 6, and spacer means on each stop unit providing the proper clutch alignment between the edges and the ledges.

Claim 10

In a railroad car, platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having outer and inner ends pivotaL about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stops, each stop at its outer end having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

Claim 11

In a railroad car, platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having outer and inner ends pivotaL about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stops, each stop at its outer end having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

Claim 12

In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side on one stop and projecting ledge on the other side of the stop, the edge of one stop engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop on each side of each stop.

Claim 13

In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, each clutch portion being a clutch unit including an edge on one side on one stop and projecting ledge on the other side of the stop, the edge of one stop engaging the underside of the projecting ledge of the other stop on each side of each stop.

Claim 14

In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop laterally thereof, a second pair of stops each connecting with a respective shaft and each having pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stops, each of the second stops having their inner ends weighed down to allow their respectiVe stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop member of any of the stops lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all of the stops to permit the passage of the platform means thereover.

Claim 15

In a railroad car: platform means movable along the car floor, stop means mounted on the car floor and retaining the platform in one of multiple positions along the car floor, said stop means including a pair of pivotally mounted longitudinally spaced stops, each stop having a transverse platform stop member facing outwardly of each other toward a respective end of the car, each stop being weighted down at its inner end to form a generally V-shaped stop structure with the stop member of each being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop whereby the platform stop member of each stop is elevated above its inner end, each stop member in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor level or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position, pivot means in the form of a shaft extending from each stop laterally thereof, a second pair of stops each connecting with a respective shaft and each having pivotal movement with a respective of the first mentioned pair of stops, each of the second stops having their inner ends weighed down to allow their respectiVe stop members to be in an elevated position whereby lowering of any stop member of any of the stops lowers the other three stop members and consequently raises the inner ends of all of the stops to permit the passage of the platform means thereover.

Claim 16

The invention according to claim 8, and a stop limit engageable with the upper surfaces of the inner ends of each of the stops to limit upper travel of the stops upon pivoting of the stops to the platform unobstructing position.

Claim 17

For a floor mounted movable platform means, pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having a platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, each stop member being weighted down at its inner end with the platform engaging surface of each stop member being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop member, each platform engaging surface in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

Claim 18

For a floor mounted movable platform means, pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having a platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, each stop member being weighted down at its inner end with the platform engaging surface of each stop member being elevated with respect to the inner end of each stop member, each platform engaging surface in its elevated position being adapted to obstruct movement of the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another, clutch means including clutch portions on the inner end of each stop such that when the stop member of one of the stops is depressed to a lower position at the car floor or platform unobstructing position its clutch portion engages the clutch portion of the other stop to raise the inner end of the other stop therewith and simultaneously lowers the platform stop member of the other stop to its car floor level or platform unobstruction position.

Claim 19

The invention according to claim 12, and a second pair of spaced stop members and pivot means in the form of interconnecting means being connected between each pair of stop members for pivotal movement of one stop member of one pair of stop members moving all of the stop members.

Claim 20

For a floor mounted movable platform means; pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another and having clutch means adapted to engage one another upon pivoting of either platform engaging surface of either stop member from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered platform unobstructing position, a second pair of stop members each having inner and outer ends, the outer ends having platform engaging surface, a pair of pivot shafts each connecting with one of each of the stop members of each pair of stop members, the second pair of stop members being provided with clutching means at the inner ends of the second pair of stop members and engageable with one another for lowering the platform engaging surfaces from the elevated platform obstructing position to the lowered nonobstructing platform position whereby depression of any of the platform engaging surfaces of any of the stop members engages all of the platform engaging surfaces of all of the stop members.

Claim 21

For a floor mounted movable platform means; pivotal stop means on the floor swingable from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lower platform unobstructing position for movement of the platform, said stop means including a pair of spaced stop members each having inner and outer ends pivotal about a generally horizontal axis providing for swinging overlapping relation between the inner ends of the stop members, the outer ends of each having platform engaging surface extending toward the platform means, the inner end of each of the stop members facing one another and having clutch means adapted to engage one another upon pivoting of either platform engaging surface of either stop member from an elevated platform obstructing position to a lowered platform unobstructing position, a second pair of stop members each having inner and outer ends, the outer ends having platform engaging surface, a pair of pivot shafts each connecting with one of each of the stop members of each pair of stop members, the second pair of stop members being provided with clutching means at the inner ends of the second pair of stop members and engageable with one another for lowering the platform engaging surfaces from the elevated platform obstructing position to the lowered nonobstructing platform position whereby depression of any of the platform engaging surfaces of any of the stop members engages all of the platform engaging surfaces of all of the stop members.

Claim 22

The invention according to claim 14, and spacing means for proper alignment of the clutching means attendant to raising and lowering of the stop members between elevated and lowered positions.