Method and means for securing lading on railway flat cars

Claim 2

A railway flat car comprising, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient means anchored to the sides of the car and spaced along the length of the car at predetermined intervals, lading of a generally rectangular cross section supported on the car, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient means extending over the lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated resilient means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other over the upper surface of the lading to provide a double banding over the lading whereby upon drawing of the end portions taunt for pretensioning of the banding a mechanical advantage of two to one is obtained and said resilient means deflect to provide the pretensioning of the banding, means securing the overlapping end portions of the banding over the upper surface of the lading after pretensioning of the banding, and means to release the tensioning of the banding; said means comprising a fluid cylinder operatively connected to said banding adjacent each side of the car and having a movable seal therein, and releasable securing means connected to said seal to hold said seal in one position during pretensioning of the banding, said securing means upon release effecting actuation of said seal within said cylinder and a relatively gradual movement of the seal to provide a gradual release of tensioning in the banding.

Claim 3

A railway flat car comprising, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient means anchored to the sides of the car and spaced along the length of the car at predetermined intervals, lading supported on the car, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient means extending over tHe lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated resilient means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other adjacent the outer surface of the lading to provide a double banding over the lading whereby upon drawing of the end portions taunt for pretensioning of the banding a mechanical advantage of two to one is obtained and said resilient means deflect to provide the pretensioning of the banding, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, and means securing the overlapping end portions of the banding over the adjacent outer surface of the lading after pretensioning of the banding; said banding being positioned over the lading in the following steps: first passing a continuous strip of metal banding over the lading, then passing the ends of the metal banding about resilient means for maintaining a pretensioning in the banding and thence about the lading with end portions of the banding overlapping, next drawing the ends of the banding tight and pretensioning the banding a predetermined amount, and then securing the ends of the banding together while under the pretensioning load.

Claim 4

A railway flat car comprising, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient means anchored to the sides of the car and spaced along the length of the car at predetermined intervals, lading supported on the car, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient means extending over tHe lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated resilient means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other adjacent the outer surface of the lading to provide a double banding over the lading whereby upon drawing of the end portions taunt for pretensioning of the banding a mechanical advantage of two to one is obtained and said resilient means deflect to provide the pretensioning of the banding, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, and means securing the overlapping end portions of the banding over the adjacent outer surface of the lading after pretensioning of the banding; said banding being positioned over the lading in the following steps: first passing a continuous strip of metal banding over the lading, then passing the ends of the metal banding about resilient means for maintaining a pretensioning in the banding and thence about the lading with end portions of the banding overlapping, next drawing the ends of the banding tight and pretensioning the banding a predetermined amount, and then securing the ends of the banding together while under the pretensioning load.

Claim 5

A railway flat car as set forth in claim 2 wherein means are provided to release the pretensioning of the banding, said means comprising a link pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end of said resilient means and having a support axis about which said banding extends in a looped fashion, said link being pivoted in a direction parallel to the length of the banding past a dead center position with respect to its pivotal axis to a releasably locked position when the banding is pretensioned and secured about the lading, said link being rotated manually back past the dead center position for unlocking of the link to release at least a portion of the pretensioning in the banding.

Claim 6

A railway flat car as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means securing the overlapping end portions comprise a crimped slice, and means are provided to release the pretensioning of the banding, said means to release the pretensioning comprising a separate untensioned loop of banding having spaced ends secured to the banding whereby upon a cutting of the banding between the ends of said separate untensioned loop said separate loop becomes taunt and restrains movement of the cut banding ends in the event the banding is under a pretensioned load.

Claim 7

A railway flat car comprising, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient anchor means mounted at spaced intervals along the sides of the car, lading supported on the car, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient anchor means extending over the lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated pair of resilient anchor means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other adjacent the outer surface of the lading to provide a double banding over the lading, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, and means securing the overlapping end portions of the banding over the adjacent outer surface of the lading; said banding before the securement of the overlapping end portions being positioned over the lading and pretensioned by the following steps: passing the ends of the metal banding about the resilient anchor means and thence about the lading with end portions of the banding overlapping and positioned closely adjacent but laterally spaced from the initial banding pass over the lading, drawing the overlapping end portions which are positioned over the lading taunt to deflect the associated pair of resilient anchor means generally around two inches in length to obtain a pretensioniNg load of generally around three thousand or more pounds in the banding, and crimping a connector over the overlapping end portions while under the pretensioned loading.

Claim 8

A railway flat car comprising, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient anchor means mounted at spaced intervals along the sides of the car, lading supported on the car, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient anchor means extending over the lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated pair of resilient anchor means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other adjacent the outer surface of the lading to provide a double banding over the lading, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, and means securing the overlapping end portions of the banding over the adjacent outer surface of the lading; said banding before the securement of the overlapping end portions being positioned over the lading and pretensioned by the following steps: passing the ends of the metal banding about the resilient anchor means and thence about the lading with end portions of the banding overlapping and positioned closely adjacent but laterally spaced from the initial banding pass over the lading, drawing the overlapping end portions which are positioned over the lading taunt to deflect the associated pair of resilient anchor means generally around two inches in length to obtain a pretensioniNg load of generally around three thousand or more pounds in the banding, and crimping a connector over the overlapping end portions while under the pretensioned loading.

Claim 9

A railway flat car as set forth in claim 5 wherein a pair of laterally spaced protectors are mounted over the lading at the high frictional areas and said laterally spaced double banding fits over the associated protectors thereby to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise.

Claim 10

A railway flat car as set forth in claim 5 wherein said resilient anchor means each comprises a coil spring having a pair of opposed yokes mounted therein for movement in opposite directions upon tensioning of the banding, each yoke having a follower abutting an end of the spring thereby to compress the associated spring upon said tensioning of the banding.

Claim 11

A railway flat car as set forth in claim 5, a side sill extending along each side of the car, support means mounted on the outer surface of the associated side sill adjacent each resilient means and supporting the resilient means in a stored inoperable position.

Claim 12

A railway flat car comprising, a deck, a side sill extending along each side of the deck, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient means anchored to the side sills and spaced along the length of the car at predetermined intervals, lading supported on the deck, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient means extending over the lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated pair of resilient means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other over the lading to provide a double banding over the lading, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, a crimped connector securing the overlapping end portions of the banding about the lading, and a separate untensioned loop of banding having spaced end portions secured to the banding whereby upon a cutting of the tensioned banding between the end portions of said separate untensioned loop said separate loop becomes taunt and restrains movement of the cut banding ends.

Claim 13

A railway flat car comprising, a deck, a side sill extending along each side of the deck, a plurality of transversely aligned pairs of resilient means anchored to the side sills and spaced along the length of the car at predetermined intervals, lading supported on the deck, metal banding for each transversely aligned pair of resilient means extending over the lading in an endless fashion, the banding forming loops connected to the associated pair of resilient means in such a manner as to permit slipping of the banding lengthwise and having end portions overlapping each other over the lading to provide a double banding over the lading, said double banding being laterally spaced at least at the maximum frictional contact areas between the lading and the banding to facilitate the slipping of the banding lengthwise, a crimped connector securing the overlapping end portions of the banding about the lading, and a separate untensioned loop of banding having spaced end portions secured to the banding whereby upon a cutting of the tensioned banding between the end portions of said separate untensioned loop said separate loop becomes taunt and restrains movement of the cut banding ends.