Improvements in Hand Trucks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Mar., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand Trucks.
I, JOSEPH ANNIN of 138, Herkomer Street, Brooklyn, Kings County, State of
New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention is an improvement in the class of hand trucks whose frames are con-
structed of iron or steel, and which are designed for heavy work, in warehouses,
foundries, machine shops &c. It is particularly desirable that such trucks shall be
constructed in such manner as to possess maximum lightness, strength and durability,
without involving unusual expense in manufacture.
To these ends I have devised the truck hereinafter described and shown in the
accompanying drawing. It is especially distinguished by an improved joint
connection between the side and cross bars of the frame, and in an improved form
of such bars, whereby great strength and rigidity with minimum weight of parts are
obtained.
There are also other important features of construction as will be hereinafter
pointed out.
In the drawing
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the truck-the wheels being omitted.
Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the entire truck frame, taken on
line 2-2, figure 1.
Figure 3 is also an enlarged cross section of a portion of the frame.
Figure 4 is a perspective, showing one of the cross bars detached and its connection
with the side bars.
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross section, on line 5-5 of figure 1.
Figure 6 is a perspective, giving an under-side view of a portion of the head or
"bill" of the truck and its attachment to the side bars.
For convenience the larger or main parts of the truck frame will be indicated by
letters and details by figures.
The longitudinal or side bars a, of the truck frame are constructed of angle iron,
the same being arranged with their narrower sides or horizontal members 1 uppermost
and the wider ones 2, vertical. It will be noted also that the angles of the said bars
are outward, for a purpose hereinafter explained. The inner sides, or vertical
members 2, of said bars a are provided with slots 3, (Fig. 4) to receive the tenoned
ends 4 of the curved cross bars b, which are T-shaped in transverse section; and said
slots are located below the top sides 1 of the bars a distance just equal to the thickness
of the angle plate of which the bars a are made, so that the tenons 4 of the cross
bars b, when inserted in the slots 3 will lie in contact with the under-side of the upper
members 1 of the side bars, as best shown in figures 2 and 3. Bolts 5 pass through
the said members 1, and the tenons 4 of the cross bars b, thereby securing the parts
rigidly together. The heads of the said bolts are countersunk, as shown.
The tenons 4 are formed by notching or cutting away portions of the sides of the
upper members of the cross bars, and also the end portions of the vertical or under-
side flange 6 (see fig. 4) thus leaving three shoulders-to wit, two lateral shoulders,
and one vertical shoulder, which, when the cross bars are attached, as shown in
figures 1, 2 and 3, abut, and bear against the vertical sides of the cross bars a.
the latter, not only tie the side bars a together, but, by means of the aforesaid
shoulders, serve as braces that hold the side bars rigidly apart.
Thus
It will be further noted that the tenons 4 rest or bear on the under edges of the
slots 3, so that the bolts 5 are relieved of the strain incident to support of weight
on the cross-bar: b, and thus what would otherwise be a weak and defective connection

page_text: is one of the strongest possible. Adding to this that the vertical members 2 of the
cross bars a exceed the upper members 1 in width, it becomes apparent that the
capacity of the truck frame to resist the heaviest strain, is carried to its maximum.
It is particularly important that the legs c shall be very light, yet strong, and be
so attached to the truck frame as to involve the least expense. I make each leg of
one piece of flat bar-iron, whose ends are bent laterally at a right angle (Fig. 2) to
adapt them to lie flat against the vertical members of the side-bars a, and the under-
side of the tenons 4 of the front cross bar b, so that they are not only braced
laterally by the side-bars a, but are secured in place by the same bolts that pass
through the tenons of said cross-bar. About midway of their length, both members
of the legs c are twisted axially to bring their lower portions or feet into a plane
parallel to the transverse axis of the truck frame, so that when the feet rest on the
floor, they have a bearing, as broad as the width of the legs.
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The cast steel " " bill " "
or nose d of the truck is cast with notches or sockets at 7
(see figure 6) to receive the ends of the upper members 1 of the side bars a, and also
with a pendant flange 8 (figure 5) extending along the inner sides of its horizontal
portions. The axle pedestals or bearings 9 are secured in the angle of this flange 8,
by the same bolts that secure the bill to the side-bars a and the bill has a downward
projection 10, which intervenes between the ends of the pedestals (figure 6).
By this construction, the pedestals are braced laterally by the flange 8, and end wise
by said projection 10.
Thus, at every portion of the truck frame provision is made for the strongest
resistance to both vertical and lateral as well as torsional strain, by means of parts
whose construction is such that over-weight is avoided.
I have described the preferred form of construction of the side bars, but under the
general term angle-iron, I wish to include variations that involve the same principle-
as for example, channel or T-iron. Further, I wish to cover changes of arrangement
of parts, such as would result from interchanging the side bars or transferring each to
the place of the other, so that the angles of both bars shall be inward instead of out-
ward as in the present case, and bringing the vertical members 2 on the outer side of
the bars a.
While such arrangement is not expedient or advisable, yet it involves an advantage
over certain others heretofore adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;
1. In a truck frame, the combination, with the angle side-bars having slots in their
vertical members, of cross-bars whose ends enter and have a bearing in said slots and
are bolted to the under-side of the upper members of said side-bars, substantially as
shown and described.
2. In a truck frame, the combination, with angle side-bars having slots in their
vertical members, of cross bars whose reduced ends fit and bear in said slots, and are
bolted to the under-side of the horizontal members of the side bars and whose lateral
shoulders abut the surface contiguous to the slots, as shown and described.
3. In a truck frame, the combination, with the side-bars, having slots as specified,
of the T cross bars whose ends enter and bear in said slots, the lower or under flange
of the cross bars being cut away, thus forming a vertical shoulder which abuts the side
of the adjacent side bar, substantially as shown and described.
4. In a truck frame, the combination, with the side-bars having slots as specified,
of the T cross bars, whose ends enter said slots and have both lateral and vertical
shoulders, which abut the ends of the side bars, as shown and described.
5. In a truck frame, the combination, with the angle side and cross bars, of the
legs c, made of flat bar iron, and having their upper ends bent at a right angle, and
arranged with the outer sides of the angle portions in contact with the vertical
members of said side bars and with the tenons of the cross bars, and secured by the
same bolts that pass through the latter, as shown and described.

page_text: 6. In a truck frame, the combination, with the side and cross bars, of the legs c
whose upper ends are bent at a right angle, and bolted in place, as specified, and
whose middle portions are twisted axially, as shown and described, for the purpose
set forth.
7. In a truck frame, the combination, with the angle side bars and suitable con-
necting cross bars, of the "bill," having sockets to receive the ends of said side bars,
as specified.
8. In a truck frame, the combination, with the side and cross bars, and the "bill"
having the pendant inner flange and central projection, of the axle pedestals, whose
ends are bolted in the angle of the said flange, as shown and described.
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01 1000
Witnesses :
W. H. DOUGLAS.
E. F. COLE.
JOSEPH ANNIN.