US1835859A - System of transferring freight - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1931. H; H. FRENCH SYSTEM 0F TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Aug. 3l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l 0%@ J( gms@ @51, M@ Mz/@QM Dec. 8, 1931. H. H. FRENCH 1,835,859

SYSTEM 0F TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Aug. 3l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tim/5 B 11T-BL 31a/vanto@ Ww JK 1 attac/wmf Dec. 8, 1931. H. H. FRENCH SYSTEM OF TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed Aug. 31, 1928 7 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 W fm, www M W ///N dumm@ Dec. 8, 1931. H. H. FRENCH 1,835,859

SYSTEM OF TRANSFERRING FREIGHT Filed'Aug. 3l, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmc/nto@ f O A iF-J G gri/4% In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation transversely of an electric railway track, of the two superstructure construction, showing the relationship where the crane is idle and the passageway open for the travel of the trolley car; Fig.Y 2 is a. similar view showing the trolley car standing and the crane in an active position above it; Fig. 3 is a plan of the installation shown in Figs. 1 andr2; Fig. 4 is a detail in plan illustrating the Aswinging bridge which may span the railway car space and continue the crane trackwayfrom one.

side structure to the other, this view being in the nature of a horizontalsection onthe line 4-4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical cross'section adjacent one end ofthe bridge structure when in its active position, showing the support'for the free end of the bridge taken on line`5-5 of Fig.'4; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectiony aty right angles to Fig. 5 as indicated by the line 6 6 on Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section adjacent the hinged end of the bridge beam as indicated by the line 7 7 on Fig. 4'; Fig. ySis a diagram illustrating the signal circuits .automatically controlled by4 the bridge beams;

Fig. 9 is an end'elevationof asimple installation located atone side only of the trackway; Fig. 10 is a vertical section thereof on a plane indicated by the'line 10-10 on Fig. 9 showing the hoistin position to raisea removable body from the electric flat car; Fig. 11` isA an enlarged view in plan ofthe gearing shown in Fig.v 4 for swinging the bridge.

- As shown inFigs. y1, 2, 3, 9 and 10, A represents an electric railway'track, B the suspended vtrolley wire therefor, and- C an electric fiat car adapted to' travel on such rails by electric power; This flat car may have a cab c' as shown in Figs.`3 and 10, and a'trolley pole 0'; iD- indicates .the removable body, which is shownas linountedon the flat car in the reark ofthe cab.' This body'is preferably of'such size" that it may also readily `fit an automobiletruck, -so that the body maybe interchanged as desired between the truck and flat car. Itis provided withsuitable doors d', .and-side hooks or other means for attachment of raising cables. 1 f

Ii willirstfdescribe the construction illustrated in Figs.v 1 to 7 where the superstructure is mounted in duplicate at opposite sides of a'trackway. Thus Figs. 1,'2 and 3, show two opposed structurescarrying at an elevation somewhat -less than that ofthe trolley wire, pairs of 'aligned craneV trackway's 12 and 13, and one of these structures lcarries'a n pair of swinging bridges 2O supporting crane trackrails 24 which .may thus be caused to allgn with the rails 12 and 13 and'connect them. 30 indicates a suitable traveling crane .which may be operated on the crane track- ,way thus provided from one structure to the .other and thus placed over the trolley car and beneath the trolley wire.

More specifically, the crane structures shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprise four upright corner posts 14 shown as connected by transverse members 15 and 16 and suitable diagonal braces 17 and 18. Likewise there are horizontal beams-19 carried by they corner posts and suitably braced to support the rails 12 or 13.

A The bridge which serves to connect the crane ,'trackway 12 with the trackway 13 whenever desired, preferably comprises two beams20 hinged onvertical pivots 21 (Fig. 7) adjacent the front and rear inner corner posts -1-4 of one of the side structures, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Suitable diagonal struts 23 and vertical hinges at the lower ends thereof. brace these cantilevered beams.A Each'beam carries ai rail 24 adapted to 'alignwith the stationary rails 12 and 13 ofthe superstructures.

Normally' these bridge beams Ystand substantially parallel with the trackway A anddo not interfere 'withthe' operation of the trolley car. However, whenever it is desired' to move al body to or from 'a car standingbetween-the side structures, the bridge beams are swung transversely of the trackway'A, and in' that position their free ends rest on supports carried by the opposite side structure.

' As shown in Figs 5 and 6, an upright post 22 adjacent the corner `post 14 of Athe side structure opposite the one to which the bridge beams are pivoted and which carries the horizontal beam supportingthe trackway 13, has a downwardly stepped seat 25 adapted to sup-V port the shallower bridge beam20 with its rail 24 aligned with therails'l2 and 13. To allowA the bridge beam to swing easily `into place, notwithstanding its sagging when supported only by its pivot, I extend the top plate 25 of the seat referred. to beyond the post 22 in the direction ofthe railroad trackway and curve such extension downwardly Vas shown at 26 in Fig. 6.r Accordingly, when the bridge is beingswung-crosswise, its free end vwill strike somewhere on the downwardly extending face26 which will cam the end up so that it may readily come into its final position as show-n in Fig.

It is desirable to provide latches to lock the bridge beams in their active position. Such a lock is indicated at 50 in Figs. 5 and 6, and comprises a vertical bolt extending downwardly through the bridge beam 20 and carried by a lever 52 pivoted to the beam 20 EOC nishes means for pulling the latch upwardly manually to release the bridge beam when ever desired. The cord or rod may extend along the bridge beam to a. point near its pivot and by means of a pulley or bell crank, continued downward-to a point whereit may easily be grasped by theoperatorof the swinging mechanism as hereinafter described'.v

Any suitable mechanism may be provided ,0; to swing the bridge beams. Thus .I may for example, mount on the bridge beam concentric of the pivotV of each of them a segment (Fig. 4) which may be engaged by the pinion 61 or a train of gearingleadingfroma suit- 1'5` able operating crank, not shown. I have shown the pinion mounted on a shaft radial of the rack 60, which shaft carries a worm wheel with which meshes a worm 62 on a ver-v tical shaft to which the crank-may be attached. 26 Y The traveling crane forthe superstructure described may be of any desired type but it is preferable' that it should be quite low so that it may readily ride in the space above thev top of the trolley cark and below the trolley. To this end I prefer to employ lthe,

Connected with the nut are four cables 40 which lead parallel with the screw' toits far end, then pass laterally about sheaves 37 and then forwardly about shea-vesv 38; Two of these cables (one on each side) then pass downwardly over sheaves 39 adjacent the sheaves 38 whilethe other two cables, asindicated at 42, pass horizontally to a point near the other end of the frame thence downward- 35 ly over sheaves 41.

The hoist described provides four depending load cables all operated by the same motor. Suitable load hooks or other attaching devices on the ends of the four cables are adapted to engage the body to raise or lower it as desired. Another motor 45 on the crane (or gearing and a clutch connectedrwith the motor 34) are adapted to rotate some of the wheels 31 to progress the crane as desired.

The motors are preferably grounded to the hoist structure. They are supplied by an intake conductor which after leadingthrough a control switch is wound up on a spring .M rgel 48, Fig. 3.' From this reelV an electric cable leads to a suitable intake connection 71 carried by the superstructure adjacent its top, this intake connection being permanently connected with the main feed wire or with the trolley wire itself .as indicated at rotating by longitudinal bars 36 of the frame.

72. Thus the current for operating the hoist is derived from the trolley circuit.

I will now describe the simpler installationy illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. In this case I provide a single superstructure located at one side of the trackway A andof suiiicient size so that an automobile truck car- Y rying a movable body may be driven through inwardly facing channel beams 82. These` channel beams are'suitably supported'by diagonal struts as 83, 84 and 85 and by suitable cross bracing above them indicated at 86.

The hoisty forthe structure just described may have longitudinal side beams each carrying a number of rollers 91 tracking in the channels of the beams 82. The frame may be trussed on its upper side as indicated by the truss 93, 94, Fig. 9. The elevating mechanism of this hoist may be identical yviththat heretofore described with reference t0, Fig. 3.

In the installation being described the hoist frame may if desired be projected at the side ofthe superstructure as indicated in broken lines inI Fig. 9 beneath the trolley wire B and above the Abody D on the flat car, and in this'position the depending cables `4() are in position to engage the body D on the flat'car. .The hoist mechanism may then raise this body free from the car and the hoist frame with its load may be trolleyed within the superstructure 80 and deposited on a suitable. sup- 1 port, kas for instance, the automobile truck E.

rIt is to be understood that in the construction vjust described, the hoist trackway is of sufficient length and the hoist frame is sulficiently rigid to effectively support the hoist with its load whether the frame be over the superstructure or partially projecting to overhang the railroad track. The travel of the hoist may beeifected by an electric motor as already described with reference to Fig. 3. In the operation of my apparatus, let us suppose that a trolley car arrives at the station bringing a loaded body D, such car stopping at the side of the single structure of Figs. 9 and 10, or between the two structures of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, and that the trolley pole has been pulled down out ofthe way. In the two structure arrangement the bridges 2O are then swung transversely to form a continu-y ous hoist trackwalylover the railroad track. Now, in each construction the traversing motor of the hoist is energized and the hoist frame-brought over the Vtrolley car.

Now the raising cables are lowered by the operation of their motor and attached to the body D, and then later raised clear of the railway car. This body D is now transported laterally, by operation of the trolleying motor of the hoist, and may be deposited on an automobile truck as indicated at E in Figs. 2 or 9, or deposited on some suitable support,

as 'shown at F, F1, F2 or F8 inFig. 1. Such supports are preferably portable horses and may be placed wherever desired within either side structure.

In the case of the two structure installation if another automobile loaded or empty is ready l'for the flat car, as for instance the body D1 standing on the support F1 in Figs. 1 and 2, the crane is simply driven into position above such body and then the latter slightly raised and transported to a position above the fiat car and depositedthereon.

The double structure has a further advantage in that it may be so operated as to provide-tor several bodies side by side on either side ot theelectric railway. In this case, anyl automobile body which is between one it is desired to shift and the electric car may be transported by the hoist to the other superstructure and deposited out of the way. rFlins in Fig. 1', the automobile body D may be deposited on the support F and the body D1 shown standing on the support F1 supported across the track and stood on the support F8, then the body D2 on the support F2 iay be trolleyed over and placed on the flat car.

To prevent possible accident in case the trolley car should run past the superstructure when a bridge member is in transverse position or the hoist projected in the path ot' the trolley pole, I provide a connection to a signal system along the railway track as illustrated` in Fig. 8. In this diagram A indicates the railroad track, B the trolley wire, G1 the trolley pole, G the motor of the `car connected with the trolley pole and I-l a ground connection therefrom. J designates a suitable signal voperated bya magnet K or by a motor (not shown) controlled by such magnet. L and L1 are switches operated automatically by the swinging gates or the projecting crane oit' Fig. 9 to control the circuit to the magnet K andt-hus the signal J. As shownin this diagram. a conductor 100 leads from the trolley wire or feed line through a resistance 101 to the switch L from which a conductor 102 leads to the switch L1. From this switch a conductor 103 leads to the magnet K and Jfrom the latter magnet a conductor 104 leads to the ground. Normally the two bridge beams 20 or the switches L and L1 cause this circuit to be closed and the energized magnet K holds the signal in safety position asillustrated in Fig. 8. It either gate however is swung crosswise, the spring L orL1 operates the corresponding switch to open it, thus breaking the circuit tothe magnet K and the signal goes to danger as by its own counterweight.

It is to be understood that a similar signal system may be employed with the projecting hoist ot Fig. 9, only one switch being necessary in that case in place ot the two switches for the two bridge members. `lso the signal J shown as asemaphore may if desired be a light. In'place of a single signal, it may be part of the regularsignal system et' the railway and operate, on both distance and home signals. f c

My system is not only very simple in its apparatus, but 'it is operated very economically by using the trolleycurrent. It is well adapted for installation in locations wherev the cost of heavy swinging cranes would be prohibitive. By suitably boxing lthe motors the structure may if desired remain exposed to the weather, orth'e crane structures may be roofed, as indicated at M in Fig. 1 to better protect the mechanismof the crane. In any case, no regularvattendant is necessary, the trolley car attendants simply swing the bridges and operate the trolley hoist as necessary to remove or place a container. Such containers may bev transferred directly between Ythe `trolley car and a waiting truck or may be temporarily stored,allowing the trolley car to proceed, Should either bridge memberl or the projecting hoist be inadvert ently moved across the path ot the trolley pole before the trolley car arrives. notice thereof is given to the motorman ot' the trolley car by the signal' circuit described. Ii desired, the bridges and projecting hoist may be locked in idle position with suitable locks to which only the car attendants would have. keys.y v. l

I- claim Y l 1. The means for transferring freight to or from an electric' carlcomprising a pair of elevate-d structure opposite eachother on two Asides ot an electric railway track, and a pair ot swinging bridge Vtrackways individually and pivotally carried by one ot such elevated structures and adapted` to span the railway truck beneathrthe trolley wire and be supported at the tree end by the other structure, and said trackways being adapter to .support a travelinghoist on the elevated structure which may .move by means of said bridge trom one structure to the other.

2. In combination, Va railway track, a trolley wire above it, elevated structures on opposite sides tliereohjanv overhead crane runway on such structures extending transversely of the track lower than the trolley wire. there being a section ot the runway consisting ot a pair ot bridges individually and pivotally mounted on'one ofthe structures so as'to be movable with reference to the remaining part of the runway, means on t-he other structure 4for supporting the tree ends of said bridges.v mechanism for swing# ing the bridges on` their pivots tovcause this runway section to span the railway track` or clear the space above the track, and a trolley hoist movable transversely on said runway.

,3. 'Ihe combination et* two supporting structures spaced apart, each carrying a pair of parallel horizontal rails, the rails ot one structure substantially aligning with those of the other, two bridge members movably carried by one of the structures and each carrying a rail along its top adapted to be positioned to form an operating connection between corresponding rails of the two structures or to be positioned to maintain a gap between such rails and a traveling crane having four wheels adapted to rest simultaneously on the two bridge members.

e. The combination of two supporting structures spaced apart, each having a pair of rails, a pair of bridge members hinged to one of the supporting structures and adapted to form a connection between said rails, seats carried by the other supporting structure adapted to support the free ends of said bridge members, mechanism for swinging the bridge members, and a traveling crane adapted to rest simultaneously on the two bridge members.

5. The combination of two supporting structures spaced apart, each having a pair of rails, a pair of bridge members hinged to one of the supporting structures and adapted to form a connection between said rails, and seats carried by the other supporting structure adapted to support the free ends of said bridge members, each seat being formed with an inclined guide leading thereto adapted to receive and raise the bridge member as it swings into place.

6. lhe combination with a railway track, of a superstructure alongside thereof, trolley hoist mechanism having a movable support carried by the superstructure and adapted to be positioned over the railway track or clear thereof, a signal adjacent the railway track, and means whereby the movement of said support into position over the track causes the signal to go to danger.

7. The combination of a pair of superstructures adjacent each other but spaced apart, an intermediate support adapted to extend transversely and form a continuation of crane trackways on the two superstructures, means whereby the movement of saidl intermediate support toward transverse position actuates a danger signal, and a traveling hoist mechanism adapted to operate on the crane trackway. y

8. The combination with a railway track a superstructure adjacent the side thereof, a pair of crane rails carried by the superstructure, la pair of bridge members pivotally carried by the superstructure and adapted to stand substantially parallel with the track or extend crosswise thereof to form a continuation of the crane trackway, a signal adjacent the railway track, means whereby the moving of either bridge member to transverse position automatically causes the signal to indicate danger, and Va traveling crane adapted to rest simultaneously on the two bridge members.

9. An apparatus for transferring freight to and from an electric car comprising a railway track lhaving a trolley wire above it, an elevated structure alongside of the railway track, a movable member carried by the elevated structure and adapted to project laterally above the top of the railway car and below the trolley wire, mechanism for moving said member into andl out of position beneath the trolley wire, a hoist shiftable laterally on such movable member, an automof biletruck having a demountable body and means for transporting the body laterally by such hoist between the car and truck.

l0. The means for transporting freight to or from an electric car comprising elevated structures opposite each other on two sides of an electric railway track having a trolley wire above it, and a movable bridge trackway carried by one of suchl elevated structures and adapted to rest also on the other structure and span the railway track beneath the trolley wire or-to be moved laterally to clear the space beneath the trolley wire, and mechanism for so moving said bridge trackway whereby a traveling hoist kon the elevated Lstructure may travel by means ofsaid bridge from one structure to the other.

11. An apparatus of transferring freight to or from an electric car carrying a removable body comprising elevated structures opposite each other on two sides of an electric railway track,a movable bridge trackway carried by such elevated structure, mechanism for movingsaid bridge to cause it to spanythe railway track beneath the trolley wire or to be moved to clear the trolley pole, an electric traveling hoist on the elevated structure, adapted to travel by means of said bridge from one structure to the other, means connecting the motor of such hoist with the trolley circuit.

l2. The combination of an electric railway rtrack having a trolley wire disposed above it, an electric car on the track carrying a removable body, an elevated structure ad'- jacent the track having a transverse crane runway, a movable extension of the runway, mechanism for moving said extension to cause it to extend across the railway track beneath the trolley wire and above said body or to be withdrawn to clear such space, a trolley hoist on the said crane runway adapted to ride on said extension beneath the trolley wire, and means to connect the raising mechanism of the hoist with said removable body, whereby the same may be raised and transported from the car on the 'trackway n Y In testimony whereof, l hereunto aflix my signature.

c HENRY H. FRENCH.V

Images