US695357A - Means for retaining and releasing loads on logging-cars. - Google Patents

Description

No. 695,357. v Patented Mar. ll, I902.

R. E. WHITE.

MEANS FOR RETAINING AND RELEASING LOADS 0N LOGGING CARS.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1901.) (No Model.)

i G l 9 3 NTTnn STaTns PATENT FFICE.

ROBERT E. IVIIITE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

MEANS FOR RETAINING AND RELEASING LOADS ON LOGGING-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,357, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed August 5, 1901. Serial No. 71,004. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoBERrE.Wn1rE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Retainingand Releasing Loads on Logging-Oars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in logging-car stake supporting and releasing mechanism; and it consists of a clutch, partly carried by one of the stakes of a logging-car and the remainder carried by a portion of said car, whereby engagement of said parts will retain said stake in a given position and disengagement thereof will permit of said stake being moved from such position.

It also consists of certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts,as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a supporting and releasing mechanism for logging-ear stakes embodying the features of the present invention and shown applied to the transverse end beams of a car, the same being partly broken away. Fig. 2 represents a view in side elevation of the same, parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail view of one of the stakes carrying its half of the clutch, and Fig. 4 represents a similar view of the movable member of the clutch mounted upon its squared shaft.

In the art of loading and unloading loggingcars it has been found preferable to provide stakes which may be raised to a vertical position to retain the logs upon the car or lowered to a horizontal or preferably inclined position to permit said logs being removed. This end has been attained in numerous ways; but I have found it preferable to pivotally secure a stake at each corner of a car in such man ner that it may be swung outwardly to the desired lowered position, and my present invention relates to means for retaining the stake so pivoted in any given position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 1 indicate, preferably,T-irons forming shafts extending longitudinally of a logging-car and at the sides thereof. Each of shafts 1 is provided at each end with an integral or affixed annular head or flange, as at 2 2, which is secured in any preferred manner, as by bolts 3 3, to the transverse end beams of the car, as 4 at. Each of shafts 1 is preferably secured to the floor of the car by means of suitable braces 5 5, and is formed at either end with a rounded portion, as 6, and a squared portion, as 7. Of course it will be understood that I may make the shafts 1 of any desired shape; but I prefer the T- irons, except at the points (i and 7, for the reason that this shape gives the greatest strength with a minimum of weight.

Revolubly mounted upon each of the cylindrical portions 6 is arranged one member, as 8, of a clutch, preferably of the interlocking or meshing type, which member is provided with suitable serrations in its face and carries an extension or arm, as 9. The outer free end of arm 9 is adapted to carry a logsupporting stake, as 10, which owing to the rotatable mounting of member 8 may be swung into any desired plane. Slidably mounted upon the squared portion 7 is the other member of the clutch, as at 11, which member has a correspondingly-serrated face to that of member 8, which serrations are adapted to intermesh when the two members are brought into locking engagement. Obviously I may provide as deep and large serrations as may be found desirable and necessary for attaining the best results. In order to govern member 11 in its longitudinal travel,

a groove, as 12, is formed in squared portion 7, in which moves a log, as 13, carried by said member 11.

A lever-arm, as 14, is pivotally secured to each of shafts 1 and extends to the opposite side of the car and is there provided with a suitable operating-handle, as 15. The end of each lever 14 opposite to handle 15 extends beyond its shaft 1 and is adapted to pivotally carry one end of a link, as 16, the opposite end of which link is pivotally attached to its respective member 11 for moving the same with the operation of said lever 14.. Intermediate the length of each of lovers L1 is pivotally secured a link, as 17, similar to link 16 and pivoted to its respective member 11 at the opposite end of the car to that of links 16.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the car being loaded, and it being desired to unload the same, a swing of each of levers lt longitudinally of shafts 1 will free the engagement of members 11 of the clutches from members 8, whereby stakes 10 will readily swing outwardly and downwardly away from the load of logs and permit the same to be readily removed from the car. A great advantage will be readily apparent in this lateral movement of stakes 10 in that the weight of the load will assist in operating the said stakes. It will be obvious that if the load is to be removed from one side only of the car, which is usually the case, only one of levers 14 would be operated and the desired effect would be attained, one pair of the stakes remaining in a vertical position while the other pair moved to the lowered position, the operator standing on the opposite side of the car out of danger of harm from the fallingload. To again position the stakes 10 after being lowered, the same have only to be lifted to the desired angle with respect to the car-floor and levers 14 moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus bringing the members of the clutches into locking mesh. Of course I contemplate providing any desired means for retaining levers 14 in the said position, if found desirable, the gripping effect of the two members of each of the clutches having a tendency to retain said levers in such position without auxiliary-means.

Although I have specifically set forth one particular embodiment of the present invention, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact construction and arrangement specified, but shall feel at liberty to deviate from the precise details of the invention within its spirit and scope.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i-s

1. Logging-car stake-controlling apparatus, comprising one member of a clutch carried by one of the stakes of a logging-car, the said stake being pivotally mounted upon one side of said car and adapted to swing laterally therefrom, a second member to said clutch adapted to engage the first member for preventing the pivoting of said stake in either direction, and means for throwing said second clutch member into and out of engagement with said first clutch member, substantially as described.

2. In a logging-carstake-controlling apparatus, the combination with the front and rear transverse beams of a logging-car, of shafts extending longitudinally of said car and having their ends secured to said beams, a clutch member revolubly mounted upon each end of each of said shafts, a lo -supporting stake carried by each of the said clutch members, a locking clutch member slidably mounted near each end of each of the said shafts and adapted to engage said rotatable clutch memher for preventing rotation of the same, and means for sliding each of said locking clutch members longitudinally of its respective shaft for throwing the same into and out of locking engagement with its corresponding rotatable clutch member, substantially as described.

3. In a logging-car stake-controlling apparatus, the combination with the front and rear transverse beams of a logging-car, of a shaft extending longitudinally of said car at either side thereof and secured at either end to said beams, a clutch member revolubly mounted at each end of each of said shafts, a log-supporting stake rigidly secured to each of said revoluble clutch members, a locking clutch member slidably mounted near each end of each of said shafts and adapted to engage its respective revoluble clutch member for preventing rotation of the same, means for throwing said clutch members into and out of locking engagement with each other, the operation of the clutch members of one shaft being independent of those of the other shaft, substantially as described.

4. In a logging-car stake-controlling appa ratus, the combination with the end transverse beams of a logging-car, of a shaft eX tending longitudinally of said car at either side thereof, an annular head or flange car ried by each end of each of said shafts, means securing said flanges to said transverse beams, clutch members rotatably mounted near each end of each of said shafts, a log-supporting stake rigidly affiXed to each of said clutch members, a slidable clutch member mounted tending longitudinally of said car at either side thereof, and having their ends secured to said beams, each of said shafts being formed with a cylindrical portion at each end thereof, and a squared portion in the rear of the cylindrical portion, said squared portion being formed with a longitudinal slot, a clutch member rotatably mounted upon each of said cylindrical portions, and carrying a log-supporting stake, a locking clutch member slidably mounted upon each of said squared portions, a lug carried by said locking clutch member moving within the groove of said squared portion, and leveroperated links adapted to move the locking clutch members of one of said shafts into and out of locking engagement with their respective rotatable IIO clutch members independently of those of the positively in their adjusted position, substan- IO other shaft, substantially as described. tially as described.

6. A logging-car-stake apparatus, compris- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my ing pivoted stakes mounted on the car, a signature in presence of two Witnesses. clutch member carried by each stake, a corresponding clutch member mounted opposite ROBERT each stake-clutch, and means for moving the Witnesses:

clutch into and out of engagement with the I JAMES T. VVATSON, clutches on the stakes for holding the stakes JOHN J. KUsE.

Images