In Drait Bars for such Cars.
Year: 1884

page_text: In Drait Bars for such Cars.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature of said.
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC FRAMES FOR CARS AND PLATFORMS
AND IN DRAFT BARS FOR SUCH CARS (a communication to me from abroad by
James Thorn Goodfellow of Troy in the State of New York, Engineer, and Robert
Manley Cushman of Franklin Park in the State of New Jersey, Car Builder, both
in the United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to the construction of car platforms in
which there are metal tubes running longitudinally, the special features of invention
consisting in the details of the construction of parts composing such platform
frames; also to the construction of the draft bar.
The longitudinal tubes are employed in pairs one above the other, or they may
be more numerous; they are connected together at suitable intervals and firmly
held by clip pieces and bearing blocks. Each bearing block has about a quarter
circle recess at each of its ends and holes transversely through it. Two of these
bearing blocks are set together so that the two quarter circles make almost a semi-
circle and said blocks are placed between two of the longitudinal tubes. The clip
pieces set over the tubes and the ends of said clips come at the sides of the bearing
blocks and bolts pass through the clip pieces and through the bearing blocks; by
tightening up the bolts the tubes are clamped very firmly between the clips and
bearing blocks, and these bolts can be drawn up from time to time if necessary,
because the bearing blocks do not touch each other in the middle where they set
back to back.

page_text: The clips have bearing ledges or lips which interlock with similar ledges upon
the bearing blocks, so that the strain in clamping the tubes does not come laterally
against the bolts but is taken upon the shoulders and ledges aforesaid. It is to
be understood that these bearing blocks and clips are to be applied to all the
longitudinal ranges of tubes at the required distances apart so as to connect thei
firmly.
Usually four ranges of longitudinal tubes, with two tubes in each range are
employed, but the number of ranges and of tubes in a range may be varied.
There are longitudinal sill pieces at the sides of the longitudinal tubes for the
reception of the flooring, and to support these sill pieces, brackets are provided that
extend out horizontally from one or both sides of the upper clip pieces; the sill
pieces rest upon these brackets and are bolted or otherwise secured to them.
These brackets are not required upon those clips that are applied to the lower
tube of the range but upon those lower clip pieces which are near the middle of the
car there are struts extending downwardly and ribbed to obtain the required
strength; these struts are made in one with the clip pieces and they receive at
their lower ends the connecting bars and longitudinal bolts that form truss braces
to the car platform, jaws are cast at the lower end of these struts for the reception
of the inverted T shaped tie bars that run transversely of the car: the struts and
T shaped tie bars are bolted together. Longitudinal truss bolts pass down beneath
.the'tie bars and up over the transom beams and through the end plates of the car
platform.
..
The longitudinal truss bolts occupy vertical planes and they lie upon the transom
beam at the inner sides of the longitudinal tubes and the struts before mentioned
are inclined so that their lower ends are above such truss bolts to receive the strain
and form direct struts or braces between the lower tubes and the truss bolts.
.
Said struts and tie-bars are braced by bolts that pass from saddles upon the
bearing blocks of the outer ranges of longitudinal tubes down to the point of
attachment of the struts of the inner ranges of tubes with the transverse tie-bars-
The lower ends of said brace bolts are provided with eyes for the attaching bolts
and their upper ends are screw threaded and pass through holes in the saddles,
which saddles are placed outside the bearing blocks at the places where the
struts are applied and nuts on the ends of said brace-bolts secure their upper and
outer ends.
The bearing blocks where these saddles are applied have transverse holes
through them for a bolt that passes from one side of the car to the other and also
through central holes in the saddle and there are tube sections around said bolt
and between one pair of bearing blocks and the next so as to firmly connect the
bearing blocks.
The clips, bearing-blocks, struts, tie-bars brace bolts and transverse bolts, before
referred to, compose a rigid transverse truss that connects the longitudinal tubes
and supports the frame-work by resting upon the longitudinal truss bolts. There
will usually be two such transverse trusses near the middle portion of the car
platform, if the platform is long, but with short cars only one such transverse truss
will be required.
In constructing the transom beam, bearing blocks are made use of that have lips
to extend above and below the edges of the transom beam; usually there are bars
or plates of iron at each side of and partly enclosing the wooden transom beam.
These bearing blocks are provided with half circle recesses in their inner faces for
the passage of a bolt that runs parallel with the longitudinal tubes and passes
through the bearing blocks and through the transom beam to secure said beam in
place.
At the ends of the longitudinal tubes there are thimbles, that are screwed into
the internal thread of the tubes or otherwise secured in place.
Each thimble has either a polygonal head for a wrench or holes for a turn key,
by which it is screwed into the tube, and each thimble has a hole through it and
L.

page_text: with a recess for the reception of the head of a bolt, and it also has projecting
fingers that are bent down over the head after the bolt has been inserted in place..
- There are end sockets adapted to receive the ends of the longitudinal tubes and
the projecting ends of the thimbles and there are holes in said sockets for the
thimble bolts to pass through and said bolts also pass through the end sill whose
interior shape conforms to the exterior of the sockets, and nuts applied to the
bolts outside the sill pieces firmly secures the, tubes sockets and sill piece
together.
It is to be understood that the bolts are inserted in the thimbles and the fingers
turned down before the thimbles are screwed into the tubes and that the recess in
each thimble for the bolt head is to prevent the bolt turning when the nut is
applied to secure the longitudinal tube to the end sill.
If the car is to be provided with sides, or with sides and roof, the following
devices are added to the platform and its frame.
For connecting the wooden sides to the platform, shoe pieces are employed.
These shoes are applied at the proper places beneath the longitudinal sill pieces
and beneath the upper tubes of the outer ranges of longitudinal tubes. The portion
beneath the sill is flat and curved beneath the longitudinal tube, and a bolt passing
through the sill and through the shoe has a head beneath the shoe.
Where there are sides, such as in a gondola car, the upper ends of the bolts just.
referred to, will be flattened and screwed, rivetted or otherwise secured to the
woodwork of the sides. . When the bolts are used with enclosed passenger or freight
cars, the bolts will usually pass through the timbers and roof plates, the shoe
remaining unchanged. The sides of the car are provided with wooden studs ;
these are bolted to the sides of the longitudinal tubes by screw clips the curved
portions of which pass around the tubes in the form of straps and the end screw
portions are horizontal and pass through clamping plates. Sometimes two of these
clips are applied to each post but usually only one; in the latter case the screw
portions of the clip pass through the post and through two plates at the back and
front respectively of the post. The back and front plates are notched at their
edges and have vertical ribs. There are two side plates that have projections
entering the notches in the front and back plates and the edges of the side plates
set behind the aforesaid vertical ribs, so that the four plates are firmly interlocked,
and form a box for firmly holding the lower part of the post. This box is applied
at the top longitudinal tube and the lower end of the post rests against the lower
tube. The back plate has a semi-circular flange to receive the side of the upper
tube. When a diagonal tie bolt is required for the upper part of the car, the
same is formed with an eye at its lower end to set over a hook cast upon the said
side plate, and if a wooden brace is used the side plate has a rest or triangular
socket for the lower end of the brace. In freight cars the door is usually suspended
from a track at the upper part of the car, and a stop is applied to prevent the door
swinging outwardly.
According to this Invention the stop is made of metal with a hook shaped end
that comes up outside the lower edge of the door and it sets against the side of the
upper longitudinal tube, and there is a strap shaped projection that passes over
said tube and is bolted to the top of the longitudinal sill piece. A. vertical bolt.
passes through this door stop, through the flooring near its edge and through a piece
of iron that is applied to the edge of the flooring at the doorway. There may be
more than one of these stops to each door.
The draft bar is constructed as follows:-Between the transom beam and the .
end beam or sill there are two parallel tubes with bolts passing through them and
through the transom beam and end beam and nuts hold the parts firmly together.
The draft frame is provided with a buffer head to receive the link or other
coupling.
-
At the inner end of the draft frame is a bolt that passes through two plates.or
cross beads the ends of which are made with semi circular recesses to slide upon the

page_text: parallel tubes before referred to and there is a cross pin or head to this bolt and a
helical spring around such bolt-Around each of said parallel tubes are two abut-
ment tubes with enlarged ends or collars, one tube being between the end beam or
sill and the front cross-head and the other tube being between the rear cross-head and
the transom beam. By this construction the spring is compressed between the two
cross-heads when the train is in motion and the abutment tubes between the end
sill and the front cross head resist and prevent motion of said cross head, but when
the buffer is pressed inwardly it carries with it the front cross-head and compresses
the spring, the rear cross head remaining unmoved, and supported by the abutment
tubes between said rear cross head and the transom beam.
DL: I
11004

page_text: -
•
and 23, for the reception of the flooring h³, and to support these sill pieces,
brackets 6¹ are provided extending out horizontally from one or both sides of the
upper clip pieces b, upon which such sill pieces rest and to which they are bolted or
otherwise secured. These brackets are not required upon those clips that are
applied below the lower tube a, but upon those lower clip pieces which are near
the middle part of the car there are struts d, extending downwardly and ribbed to
obtain the required strength: these struts are made in one with the clip pieces and
they receive at their lower ends the connecting bars and longitudinal bolts that
form truss braces to the car platform. It is preferred to cast at the lower ends of
these struts, jaws for the reception of the inverted T shaped tie bars e, the parts
being bolted together at 8.
The longitudinal truss-bolts g, pass down beneath the tie-bars e, and up over the
transom beams m, and through the end plates of the car platform. The longi-
tudinal truss bolts g occupy vertical planes and they lie upon the transom beam m,
at the inner sides of the upper tubes a, and it is preferred to incline the struts d, as
shown so that their lower ends are above such truss-bolts, to receive the strain and
form direct struts or braces between the lower tubes and the truss bolts.
The struts and tie-bars are braced by the bolts f, the lower ends of which are
provided with eyes for the bolts 8, to pass through and the upper ends are screw
threaded and pass through holes in the saddles n, which are placed outside the
bearing blocks c, at the places where the struts d, are applied and the nuts on the
ends of the braces f, secure the upper and outer ends of said braces f.
The bearing blocks c, at these saddles n, have through them transverse holes 10,
, as seen in figs. 16, and 17, and through these holes passes a bolt n', that goes across
from one side of the car to the other and also through the central holes of the
saddles n, and there are tube sections around the bolt n¹ between one pair of
bearing blocks and the next so as to firmly connect the bearing blocks, see figs. 3,
and 9. The clips c, bearing blocks, struts bars e, braces ƒ, and bolts n¹ compose a
rigid transverse truss that connects the longitudinal tubes and supports the frame-
work by resting upon the longitudinal truss-bolts g.. There will usually be two
Buch transverse trusses near the middle portion of the car platform, if the platform
is long, but with short cars, only one such transverse truss will be required. In
constructing the transom beam bearing blocks .c, are made use of that- are
provided with lips 12, as seen in figs. 14, and 15, to extend above and below the
edges of the transom beam: usually bars or plates of iron p, are employed at each
side of and partially enclosing the wooden transom beam m These bearing
blocks c, are provided with half circle recesses in their inner faces as seen at 14, in
fig. 15, for the passage of a bolt me running parallel with the tubes a, and passing
through the bearing blocks and the wood or iron transom beam to secure the same
firmly in place.
At the ends of the tubes a, there are thimbles o, that are screwed into the
internal thread of the pipes, or otherwise secured in place. Each thimble has a
polygonal head p6, as seen in figs. 26, 38, and 39, for a wrench by which it is
screwed into the tube, and this head is received into a corresponding opening
or recess in the end socket q, so that it can not turn while the bolt r, is being
screwed up. The polygonal heads pe may be dispensed with and each thimble have
holes as at p' for the insertion of a turn-key in sorewing the thimble to place.
The end sockets q, are each adapted to receive the ends of the longitudinal
tubes a, a, also the polygonal ends of the thimbles o, and the exterior form of these
end sockets at top, bottom and one side, correspond to the interior of the end sill r³,
which is formed of angle iron with holes that are in line with the bolts r. The
thimbles o, might be screw threaded on their inner surfaces for tap bolts but
usually they are of malleable cast iron, and each made with a hole through it and
with a recess for the reception of the head of the bolt and with projecting
fingers 16, that are bent down over the head. after the bolt has been inserted
into place, so as to prevent the bolt being pushed into the tube; the nut of the
bölt in this case comes outside the end sill ;

page_text: It is to be understood that a bolt is to be inserted into each thimble and the
fingers turned down upon the head, previous to the thimble being screwed into.
the pipe.
The tubular platform frame constructed in the before described manner is very.
strong and stiff and it can be easily taken apart for repairs or put together, and the
clip pieces and intermediate bearing blocks have features in common, the simple
forms being added to in order to adapt the respective parts to the particular places
that they occupy in the car and the devices that are connected with them. ·
If the car is to be provided with sides or with sides and roof, the following
devices are added to the platform and its frame.
"
Fig. 10, is a side view and Fig. 11, a plan of the shoe piece s, employed for the
bolts 8 that tie the wooden sides to the platform h¹. These shoes are applied at
the proper places beneath the sills h, and the upper tubes a. The portion 18, is
flat and adapted to pass below the sill h, and the portion 19, is curved to pass below
the tube a. The bolt passing through the sill h, and through the shoe 8, is
provided with a nut or head beneath the shoe.
Where there are sides, such as in a gondola car, fig. 2, the upper ends of the bolts
will be flattened and screwed, riveted or otherwise secured to the woodwork of the
sides; when the bolt is used with an enclosed passenger or freight car (fig. 1,) the
same will usually pass through the timbers and roof plates; the shoe pieces are
unchanged.
The sides of the car are provided with posts or studs t¹ of wood; these are bolted..
to the sides of the pipes A, by screw clips t, the curved portions of which pass.
around the tubes in the form of straps and the end screw portions are horizontal
and pass through clamping plates; sometimes two of these clips are used to each
post as seen in figs. 21, and 22, but usually only one as in figs. 23, 24, and 25. In
this latter case the screw portions of the clip pass through the post and through
two plates u, and u³, at the inner and outer sides respectively of the post, so as to
clamp and hold such post very firmly.
At the edges of the plates u, u¹ are notches and there are vertical ribs 20, at the
inner vertical edges. The plates v, v are made with projections 21, that pass into.
the notches in the plates u, u¹ and the edges of said plates v, vi set behind the
vertical ribs 20, so that the plates v, v¹, u, u¹ are firmly interlocked at their edges
and can not be separated except by taking off the outer plate u, after removing the
nuts of the clips f. These plates u, u, v, v¹ form a box for firmly holding the lower
part of the post or stud and it is usually preferable to apply the box at the top
tube α, and to allow the lower end of the stud or post to rest against the side of the
lower tube.
The back plate u¹ has flanges u³ at its sides extending backwardly and of semi-
circular shape at their edges as seen in figs. 23, and 33, so as to take a proper
bearing against the side of the upper tube. The plates u, u¹, v, v¹ are shown
separately in figs. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and 34.
Where a diagonal tie-bolt w, is required for the upper part of the car, the same
is formed with an eye at the lower end, and there is a hook v³ cast upon the
plate v, over which the eye is passed as seen in figs. 1, 23, 24, 25, 28, and 29, and
where a wooden brace is used, the plate v¹ has a rest or triangular socket v³ at
the side thereof to receive the lower end of the brace, see figs. 1, 24, 25, 31, 32.
The upper portions of the car that are made of wood may be of any desired
construction and do not require further description. By the foregoing, the mode of
connecting the upperworks to the metal platform frame will be understood.
It is remarked that the door k, which in freight cars is usually suspended from a
track at the upper part of the car, has to be held by a door stop at the bottom to
prevent it swinging outwardly. This stop is made of metal as seen at 30, fig. 35:
it has a hook shaped end that comes up outside the lower edge of the door and it
sets against the side of the upper tube a, and there is a strap shaped projection
running back over said pipe a, and bolted to the top of the sill h, and a vertical

page_text: bolt 31, passes through this door stop, through the flooring near its edge and
through a piece of iron 32, that is applied to the edge of the flooring at the
doorway so as to make a firm connection and to protect the flooring; there may be
one or two of these stops to each door.
Between the transom beam 'm, and the end beam 7, figs. 40, and 41, are
introduced two parallel tubes with bolts passing through them and through the
transom beam and through the end beam, and nuts at hold the parts firmly.
together.
•
The draft frame 86 is provided with a buffer head that is adapted to receive the
link or other coupling. At the inner end of the draft frame is a bolt 88 that passes
through plates 8884, the ends of which are made with semi-circular recesses to slide
upon the parallel tubes, and there is a cross-pin or head to this bolts and a
belical spring 8 around such bolt 8 and around the parallel tubes are the
abutment tubes, with enlarged ends or collars, the tubes being between 7l
and and the tubes being between the cross-heads and the transom-beam.
By this construction, the spring 80 is compressed between 83 and 8 when the
train is in motion, the abutment tubes resist and prevent motion of the cross
head & but when the buffer is pressed inwardly. it carries with it the cross-head. 8³
and compresses the spring & the cross-head & remaining unmoved and supported
by the abutment tubes
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
'I claim as the invention communicated to me is
First. The combination with the longitudinal tubes a, a, of intermediate bearing
blocks between such tubes, clips passing around the tubes, and bolts passing
through the bearing blocks and the clips, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, of intermediate bearing
blocks, clips passing around the tubes, struts below the lower clips and tie bars
or braces connected to the lower ends of the struts, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, clips, bearing blocks, and
struts, of T shaped bars connecting the lower ends of the struts and longitudinal
truss bolts, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, clips and bearing blocks,
of struts that are inclined, tie-bars connecting the lower ends of the inclined
struts, and longitudinal truss-bolts passing below the tie-bars and at the sides of 3
the longitudinal tubes, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, of clips and divided inter-
mediate bearing blocks, bolts to connect the same and bolts passing, through the
divided bearing bars, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes and clips, of divided 4
bearing blocks, bolts connecting the clips and bearing blocks, and bolts passing
between the divided bearing blocks, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the longitudinal tubes and clips, of intermediate
bearing blocks, a transom beam and bolts for connecting the respective parts,
substantially as set forth..
Eighth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes of the clips, the inter-
mediate bearing blocks, the saddle having eyes at the end portions and the
diagonal braces passing through the eyes, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes and clips and bearing
blocks to connect the tubes together, of clips passing around the tubes, vertical 5
stanchions and clamping plates for the same, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. The stanchion, the clips and plates, the longitudinal tubes and the socket
or rest for the braces, substantially as set forth.
.
Eleventh. The stanchion, the clip and plates for the same, and a hook upon the
side plate, and a tie brace having an eye for the said hook, substantially as 5
set forth.

page_text: Twelfth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, of the end bearing pieces,
the connecting bolts and the end sill of flanged iron, substantially as set forth.
Thirteenth. The shoe-piece 8, and bolt s in combination with the longitudinal
tubes and the longitudinal sill pieces and flooring, substantially as specified.
Fourteenth. The combination with the longitudinal tubes, of plugs passing into
the tubes, bolts through such plugs, and ears to hold the head of the bolt,
substantially as set forth.
Fifteenth. The thimble o, having a polygonal head, in combination with the
tube a, and end socket, substantially as set forth.
Sixteenth. The bearing blocks having recessed ends and shoulders for the
purposes set forth.
•
Seventeenth. The clips b, adapted to set over the tube a, and having shoulders
at 6, adapted to interlock with the shoulders 7, of the bearing blocks c, substantially
as set forth.
Eighteenth. The clips adapted to set against the tube a, and provided with the
struts d, substantially as set forth.
Nineteenth. The plates u¹ adapted to set against the tube and to receive the
plates u, and v, substantially as set forth.
°
Twentieth. The plates u, u, v, v having notches, projections and ribs, sub-
stantially as specified so as to interlock when set together.
Twenty first. The thimble o, adapted to receive the bolt r, and having a
polygonal head, substantially as set forth.
Twenty second. The shoe 8, having a flat portion to set against the sill and a.
concave portion to rest against the tube, substantially as set forth.
Twenty third. The saddle n, adapted to rest against the bearing block and
having the openings for the bolts, substantially as set forth.
Twenty fourth. The door stop formed as a hook at one end and adapted to set
against the longitudinal tube and provided with holes for the bolts as specified.
Twenty fifth. The abutment tubes and parallel tubes secured between the
end beam r¹ and transom beam m, in combination with the follower plates 8³ 8*,
spring and draft head, substantially as set forth.
Twenty sixth. The blocks c, and clips b, having interlocking 'shoulders 6, and 7,
and the bolts by which the parts are secured together, substantially as specified.
Twenty seventh. The combination with the block c, of clips b, having brackets 61
adapted to receiving the flooring strips h, substantially as specified.
Twenty eighth. The metal end sill 1 in combination with plate q, tubes a,
thimbles o, and bolts r, substantially as specified..
Twenty ninth. In combination with the transom, the blocks c, having a hole
at 14, and projections 12, the clips b, and the bolt me passing through the transom
and blocks, substantially as specified.
Thirtieth. The combination with the tubes a, of the plates u, u¹ stanchion t¹, and
the clips t, substantially as specified.