Battery box

May 16, 1939.

A. G. DEAN

BATTERY BOX

2,158,784

Filed March 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2158784A_D0001.tif" />

May 16, 1939.

A. G. DEAN

BATTERY BOX Filed March 12, 1938

2,158,784

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2158784A_D0002.tif" />

Patented May 16, 1939

2,158,784

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,158,784

BATTERY BOX

Albert G. Dean, Narberth, Pa., assignor to Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania

Application March 12, 1938, Serial No. 195,527 (Cl. 105—51) carry part of the load, a reinforcing beam 13, shown in Fig. 1 as of laterally flanged channel section, pressed from sheet metal, extends Underneath the box substantially in the plane of the hanger strap 8 and secured through the lateral 5 flanges and at its ends to such strap.

In practice, this beam would be located at a point substantially midway between the rails of the track, and there is therefore ample clearance between this beam and the road bed. 1®

In cases, however, where the car is low swung, and especially on road beds where third rails are employed, it is found that there frequently is not enough clearance to permit the use of another beam similar to 13 adjacent the outside of the ¹⁶box, in the plane of the hanger 9, as would be desirable.

In order to carry the load on this part of the box, therefore, I have devised the following construction. ²⁰

The door 6 is pivotally connected at its lower edge to the bottom of the box by suitable hinge means 14, so that it may swing from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. While a plurality of separate hinge members 25 spaced apart along the length of the door might be used, I preferably employ what is known as a “piano” hinge extending continuously along the entire lower edge of the door, as shown in Fig. 3. In any event, whether separate hinges or a con- 30 tinuous “piano” hinge be employed, the essential thing is that the hinge means be distributed along the length of the door so that the load is transmitted through such hinge means from the bottom of the box to the door. Thus when the door is in 35 closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, it acts as a girder and serves to carry the load transmitted to it through the hinge means. _z

In order to still further stiffen and strengthen the door, I secure to the outer side thereof one 40 or more reinforcing beams (5 and 16, as illustrated in Fig. 1, also shown as of channel section and formed of sheet metal, these beams extending lengthwise of the door, and the beam 15 being disposed parallel with and adjacent the hinge means 14 at the lower edge of the door. These beams also assist in carrying the load.

In order to hold the door in closed position, I provide a pair of hasps 17, one at each end of the box, these hasps being constructed to swing about a vertical pivot 13. Corresponding staples . |9 are secured to the outside of the door, and when the door is closed, the hasps are placed over the staples and locked in position by means of 35

Claims.

This invention relates to battery boxes, and more particularly to boxes of the type commonly suspended beneath rail cars.

The general object of the invention is to provide 5 an improved box construction by means of which a greater clearance is provided between the outer side of the box and the road bed, without sacrificing the strength and rigidity of the box.

More specifically, the invention contemplates a 10 construction in which the outer side of the box is Ringed along its lower edge to constitute a door, and in which this door serves as a girder to assist in carrying the load.

In order that the invention may be readily 15 understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through my improved battery box, complete, the door being 20 shown in dotted lines in its open position, and parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking in a direction opposite to that of Fig. 1, the door being shown in full lines in its open position;

ok Fig. 3 is a plan view of the box as it appears in ²⁵ Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail showing in elevation the upper right hand corner of the box as viewed from the outside, with the door removed, 30 one of the supporting beams being shown in dotted lines.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved box is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises a bottom I, on which is laid a suit35 able floor l^a of wood or the like, a top 2, end walls 3 and 4, a rear or inner side wall 5, and an outer or front side wall 6, constituting the door and also provided with a suitable lining or floor 6^a of wood or the like.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a terminal box 7 is mounted on the upper forward portion of the end wall 4.

A pair of hanger straps 8 and 9 is provided, each strap extending around underneath the box and 45 being secured thereto, one being located near the rear or inner side of the box and the other being located at the front or outer side thereof, adjacent the door 6. Secured to the upper ends of these straps 8 'and 9 are hanger angles 10, as 50 clearly shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4, and bolts 11 pass through holes in the ends of straps 8 and 9 and the superposed hanger angles 10, to secure the hangers to one of the transverse beams 12 of the car framing. ...

In order to stiffen the bottom of the box and

2,168,784 pins 20, (see Fig. 4) adapted to be Inserted in the staples.

In order to hold the door in open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and full lines 5 in Figs. 2 and 3,1 provide brace rods 21 pivotally connected at their ends to eye-bolts 22 and 23 set into the top of the box and the door respectively. These rods 21 are preferably made in two sections, pivotally connected at the middle as by a 10 link 21% in order to permit the rods to fold when the door is closed.

When the door is open, it will be seen that the upper surface of the lining 6^a, which constitutes a floor, lies in the same plane as the upper sur15 face of the floor i^a, so that the batteries may be slid in or out of the box and temporarily supported on the door 6. Under these circumstances, the reinforcing beams 15 and 16 of course impart to the door sufficient longitudinal strength and 20 stiffness to enable it to support the batteries.

It will therefore be appreciated that the door, with its reinforcing beams, when in its open position, is capable of sustaining the weight of the batteries and when in its closed position serves 25 as a girder to carry the load which is transmitted to it through the hinge means 14.