Transportation load and method of preparing the same

Oct 30, 1945.

D. F. HEDGES

2,387,902

TRANSPORTATION LOAD AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME

Filed Oct. 2, 1944

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Oct. 30, 1945. d. f. hedges 2,387,902

TRANSPORTATION LOAD AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME ‘Filed Oct. 2, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Patented Oct. 30, 1945

2,387,902

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,387,902

TRANSPORTATION LOAD AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME

Don F. Hedges, Crown Point, Ind., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey

Application October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,841

Claims. (CI. 105—367)

This invention relates to a transportation load and method of preparing the same and is especially adapted for loads of wide coils of strip metal which lie on their sides in a railroad car.

In the past, the individual coils were banded 5 to prevent uncoiling and then positioned crosswise in the car. As each row was completed, the blockers came in, measured, cut and fitted the timber blocking in place. This procedure was repeated in each row until the loading was com- 10 pleted. Since each blocker performed the job according to his judgment and experience, the jobs varied greatly and much more timber, spikes, and nails were used than necessary. Considerable trouble was experienced by the customers in 15 loosening the blocking and unloading the material. Often the material and the car were damaged when ripping the blocking out.

It is an object of my invention to prepare the load into a solid unit which may float longitudi- 20 nally of the car.

Another object is to provide skidways which will function as a cushioning medium to absorb the energy of the,impacts due to jolting and bumping. 25

A further object is to assemble the load in a standard method so that the blocking and lashing can be easily loosened and removed.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in Which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view taken on the line

I— I of Figure 3;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation on the line

II— Π of Figure 1; 35

Figure 3 is an end view with the end cleat removed;

Figure 4 is a view showing the means for preventing uncoiling of the coil;

Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 shows how the skid plates are made and fastened to the car floor.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates the wide coils of strip which are to be loaded into the car. •To prevent uncoiling, straps 4 are used for binding each coil into a tight unit. Timber members 6 and 8 are spiked together by means of spike 10 as shown in Figure 6 to form skids 12 which extend the length of the car in order that there will be no joints or cracks to prevent longitudinal movement of the load thereon. In preparing the load, skids 12 and skid plates 14, which also extend the length of the car, are placed loosely on the car floor 16 in their approximate positions and the end stop cleats 18 are laid crosswise of the car at each end of the skids and spiked to the car floor with end clearance 28 provided between each cleat 18 and the end of the car. Coils A and B are then brought into position at one end of the car between the skids and rest on skid plates 14 a short distance 22 from the stop cleats IS as indicated on the drawings. A short longitudinal strap 24 is threaded through the coils A and B, drawn taut and clamped to bind them tightly together. The outside skids 12 are then wedged solidly against the coils with cleats 28 which are braced against the car stakes 28. The inside skids 12 are wedged against the coils by the separator cleats 30 and spikes driven through timbers 8 at coils A and B to fasten the skids 12 to the car floor. A second strap 32 is threaded through coils A and B with its ends extending so that it can be used to bind the next two coils C and D to coils A and B. Coils C and D are then brought into the car and a third strap 34 passed through the openings therein with its ends extending therefrom. With the coils C and D resting on skids 12 and skid plates 14 adjacent coils A and B the strap 32 is passed through the openings in coils C and D and clamped to join the two pairs of coils tightly together. Outside skids 12 are then wedged and spiked at coils C and D. This procedure is repeated for each pair of coils progressively until the car is loaded. In planning the load, it is desirable to locate the load so that there is approximately the same amount of space 22 between the end of the load and the stop cleats 18 at each end of the car, thus dividing and limiting the end travel of the floating load on the car. To form a more solid unit and as an added measure of safety, an outside strap 36 is threaded through the openings of all the coils on each side of the load and around the outside of the objects, stretched taut and clamped. This unit load resting on the skids 12 and skid plates 14 is called a floating load since it is free to skid longitudinally within the limits of the stop cleats 18 which prevent the load from bearing on the end wall or door of the car. The friction of the floating load sliding on the skids 12 and skid plates 4 absorbs the energy and the inertia of the load when the car is bumped and jolted, so that the car does not absorb the full impact of the bumping and jolting. In unloading the car, the individual coils 2 can be removed one at a time without disturbing any other coil and after re moval of the load, the blocking is accessible

2,387,902 and can be easily removed without damage to the car.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.