Method and apparatus for absorbing impact forces

Abstract

Abstract The practice of the method disclosed herein acts to absorb the effect of impact forces placed on articles shipped in a railroad car, or other moving vehicle, to prevent or minimize movement of the articles relative thereto. A strap adapted to be disposed about a package being transported is located within a cushion seal, which is subsequently crimped to interlock the strap and seal. The seal is then secured to the base of the transporting member, which will act to absorb the imposed shock loads. The impact energy on the strapped article is converted into heat due to the high friction developed tending to move the strap through the cushion seal. With the cushion seal disclosed herein, a controlled slippage of the strap and thus controlled movement of the article is obtained, which prevents the article from becoming damaged due to hitting the end of the car, or another article in the car, or from sliding into a position where it would block an unloading doorway. The holding power of the cushion seal is of lesser magnitude than the strap tensile force, so that the article will move before the strap is broken.

Inventors

• 👤 William A Meier

Bibliographic Details