Roll-in bulkhead

Claim 1

A cargo restraining device for a railway freight vehicle and positionable transversely of the vehicle, said vehicle also having side walls extending between spaced floor and roof units and having tie down anchor means contained therein, said restraining device including attaching strap means and associated strap accumulating ratchet members, the improvement comprising: sheet means forming bulkhead wall portion and also including a plurality of vertically spaced and horizontally extending reinforcing framing members arranged in pairs and fixedly attached to said sheet means; said restraining device having end edge portions and mounting plate means attached thereto thereby providing a mounting and attaching means for said strap accumulating ratchet members; said strap means being positioned adjacent the end edge portions and including flexible tie down strap means having connecting portions receivable within said wall mounted tie down anchor means for fixedly securing the restraining device in said transport vehicle; said strap accumulating ratchet members including spool means operatively and rotatably connected to attaching strap means, and a spool rotating extension protruding through an adjacent horizontally extending reinforcing member and having an actuating head portion; said strap gathering spool means having a ratchet gear portion and having a locking pawl means engageable with said ratchet gear of the spool means to thereby provide unidirectional strap tightening rotation of said spool means.