Patent GB-713274-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for fabricating sheet metal railroad cars
Inventor: SHEFFER JOHN WESLEY
IPC: B23K11/00
Filed: 1952-02-08
Abstract: 713,274. Making railroad cars. AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY CO. Feb. 8, 1952, No. 3363/52. Classes 83 (2) and 83 (4) A method of assembling the component parts of a railroad car on a rail assembly line, Figs. 1- 4, comprises rolling a pair of wheeled trucks 5 onto the line, fixing an underframe to the trucks, applying the component parts of the car to the underframe and each other by tackwelding at different stations S1-S6 along the line, and continuously welding the tacked together portions of the car in a series of rotary jigs, B, in which the car is turned so that all of the continuous welding is done from above in the direction of gravity. , At station S6 spacer devices 21 are applied to accurately maintain the width of the top of the car during further travel on the assembly line, and comprise clamps engaging the side walls and adjustable rod means extending between the clamps. Also at this station is located a stationary framework comprising girders 22-24, Figs. 3 and 18, for forcing the side units into squared-up position for tack welding. The framework carries beams 25 having rollers engaging the girders 22 and vertically movable by an electric winch 27 and counterweighted by weights 31. The beams 25, one on each side of the car, carry hydraulic clamping devices 34, Fig. 21, supported on rollers 28 from the beam and clamped into position by wrenches 39<SP>1</SP>. Air lines to the jack cylinders. 36 connect with manifolds 43, 44 on the underside of the beam. Final continuous welding of the car takes place at stations S7-9, Figs. 4, 6, 7, 8 and 11, at each station, the car being held in a jig B rotatable by an electric motor 113 driving shafts 114 to actuate cables 61. Each jig comprises a framework having end sections 52, 53, 53<SP>1</SP> and longitudinally and transversely extending beams 54-59, counterweighted at 174, and mounting a fixture in which the car is clamped for final welding. The fixture comprises columns 65, cross girders 66, and clamp-carrying beams 67 and may be adjusted longitudinally of the framework to suit different car lengths. The beams 67, preferably two on each side of framework 67, preferably two on eachside of the car, are transversely adjustable, sliding on the cross girders 66 and shoes 48 bearing on the beams 57, and carry vertically adjustable clamps for clamping the car squarely in the jig. The clamps include a lower member 71 and a pivoted C clamp 72 having shoes 73, 74. Each beam 67 has two similar jacking devices for transverse shifting thereof, each device comprising a rod 78, Figs. 12 and 17, held at one end in an anchor member 80 on the beam and having a worm portion extending through a casing on a beam 65. The worm is driven through shafting and gearing from an air motor 93, one at each end of the structure, and a four-way valve operated by a handle 101 controls the motors. The handle is also automatically actuated at the limit of retraction of the beams by a mechanism comprising racks and gears 102, 104, 107, 108, which move a control rod 109 vertically on movement of the beams 67. A roller 111 is carried by the rod 109 in a position to move the handle 101 to shutoff position when the limit of retraction has been reached. The control rod also actuates a switch in the circuit of the motor 113 to ensure that the jig cannot be rotated when the car is unclamped. To positively locate the jig in its normal position during loading or unloading of a car hydraulic plunger rods 115 engage recesses in the end ring structures and actuate a switch to prevent operation of the motor 113 while the jig is so locked. Limit switches are controlled by cams on one end section to prevent overtravel of the jig in its rotation to welding position. Other manually operated switches allow of jogging the jig.