US2053969A - Cargo container - Google Patents

Description

37 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. OLDS CARGO CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 26, 19

Sept. 8, 1 936.

- INVENTOR Ma/"gd/ O/as llllllllllllllln ATTORNEY Sept. 8, 193 6. OLDS 2,053,969

CARGO CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 t: INVENTOR Mam/m- 0/6 5 w Q U, BY u ill/ W1 U 8, 1936. QLDS I 2,053,969

CARGO CONTAINER I Original Filed Oct. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Sept. 8, 1936. M. OLDS CARGO CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mam/7a 0M5 a ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES CARGO CONTAINER Marshall Olds, Mountainside, N. 1.

Original application October 26, 1927, Serial No.

228,822. Divided and this application February 21, 1933, Serial No. 657,782. Renewed February 14, 1936 12 Claims. (in. 214-38) In a copending application Serial No. 228,822, filed October 26, 1927, now Patent No. 1,900,867, March 7, 1933, I have described method and apparatus for handling cargo and among other things have disclosed therein a container having tracks on the top thereof of equal gauge extending both longitudinally and transversely and disposed at right angles to one another, suchtracks being adapted to serve as guides for one or more superposed containers having rollers, casters, or other rollable anti-friction Supp rting means on the bottom thereof located at points corresponding to a square, Whose gauge is equal to that of tracks secured to the top of the container. In the prior application, I have also disclosed a locking or positioning means located at diagonally opposite corners and means operable from any accessible corner of the container for simultaneously actuating both looking or positioning means. My prior application also disclosed means whereby a plurality of containers having tracks on their tops and anti-friction rollers on their bottoms could be bridged so as to facilitate rolling one or more upper containers either longitudinally or transversely over the tops of a plurality of juxtaposed lower containers. The four-square casters are also adapted for engagement with tracks crossing at right angles and located on ships, railway cars, motor trucks, freight platforms, etc.

The instant application is a division of my former application and is directed generally to the features above briefly referred to, as will be clear from a reading of the appended claims.

For a more detailed disclosure of the present invention, reference is to be made to the accompanying drawings in connection with the following detailed description, which exemplifies embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of container embodying certain features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 of a corner of a container illustrating features of construction;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail section on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a lock for preventing shifting of the container;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan of certain parts shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan of one complete container and parts of several adjacent cargo containers showing container supporting tracks carried thereby and bridge members spanning the spaces between some of the adjacent containers;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing modified bridge one another when bridge members of Fig. 8 are not used;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section showing a combined lifting stanchion and locking device for a container;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the locking device of Fig. 12 illustrating how it coacts with a socket member provided on a common carrier or on another container;

Fig. 14 is a section on line I 4-44 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a detail view in vertical section showing a modified form of locking coupling adapted to prevent shifting of the container;

Fig. 16 is a plan of part of the locking device shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail illustrating a roller bearing caster with which my improved container is provided;

Fig. 18 is a diagram illustrating the manner in which my improved container is adapted to be transferred over tracks carried by freight platform and diiierent types of carriers such as railway cars and motor trucks and the like.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the container of my invention is adapted in some cases to be grappled or lifted by a chain, sling or tackle, such as indicated at 96 and having hooks 98 which engage members I00 secured to the container (Figs. 10 and 11). It is also contemplated, however, that the container may be slid along on its supporting casters by means of suitable pulling tackle adapted to be engaged with suitable fittings H0, shown for example in Fig. 11.

The container is substantially rectangular in plan and is provided on top with tracks I02 extending longitudinally thereof and tracks I04 extending transversely. The spacing between the two tracks 12 and tracks I04 is the same gauge so that regardless of which way the container is stowed away, the track gauge will be uniform. On the underside, the container is provided with four roller bearing casters I 66 which are located at points corresponding to corners of a square defined by the center lines of the tracks I02 and I44 on top of the container. As thus arranged,

6 it is apparent that the spacing of the rollers I06 on one container will be of a proper gauge to ride on either transverse or longitudinal tracks I02 or I64 of another container. The tracks III2 and I64 are of substantially U or channel shape in 10 cross-section as indicated in Figs. 8 to 10. These tracks terminate short of the ends of the container and are preferably bevelled as indicated at III to coact with the bevelled portions III of the bridge members I I2 which are adapted to engage l the members Ill soas tospan thespacesbetween adjacent containers and to furnish a continuation of the container track over which another container may be moved, for example, when storingthesameonboardship orin awarehouse.

I The roof or top of each container is preferably slightly pitched or canted so as to'sbed water, the highest point of the roof preferably not being higher-than-the uppersurface of the rails ortracks I62 and I64. Suitable openings II4- will beprovidedinthetrackstopermitdrainage or escape of water while the containers are in transit either on railway or motor truck.

The containers and their contents will weigh from approximately six to twelve tons, hence, it

is desirable to support the same on free running casters. l 'orthispurpose, Ihave designedacaster such as illustrated in Pig. 1'1, which includes ahardened steel ball II6, the upper part of which coaets with a series of bearing balls Ill carried a in a cage I26 formed in the caster housing I22 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the undersideofthecontainerC. Acap I24isiittedtothe lower part of the housing I22 by means of cap screws I26. A suitable gasket I26 of felt or similar yieldable material is fitted to the cap I24, so

as to exclude dirt and moisture and other foreign matter from the ball cage. The interior of the ball cage may be packed with grease or other lubricant forced, for example, through a fitting I66 bymeans of a suitable grease gun. Means are preferably provided for locking the containers against movement relative to the common carrier on which they are being conveyed such as motor truck, railway car or water craft. It is also prefo erable to provide suitable latch or latches on each container whereby several adjacent containers can be looked against movement relative to one another when they are not interlocked by the bridge members I I2.

a In Fig. 11, I have shown arrow-shaped hooks I22 pivoted at I34 having teeth I26 adapted to enga e similar teeth on a hook carried by an adiacent container. Stop pins I36 are provided to limit the downward movement of the hooks.

. This form of hook is desirable because after one container has been located in place, for example, on a freight car, another container may be lowcred down alongside of it and the teeth I26 of the respective hooks will engage so as to prevent 65 relative lateral movement between two adjacent containers.

The containers when locatedside by side and end to end as indicated, for example, in plan in Fig. 6, may be additionally locked against relative 7o movement by the bridge members II2. These bridge members I I2 as shown constitute track extensions which will enable other contamers to be pushed or pulled about on their roller casters,

it being understood that when the containers 76 are to be stowed away on board ship, suitable winches or drums not shown may be employed to furnish the power. The containers are provided with convenient pulling shackles I4II. Adjacent containers are adapted to be interlocked or coupled to one another by means of removable 3 bridge-like members I I2, as shown in Fig. 8.

Instead of bridging the space between the adjacent containers by removable bridge sections I I2, I may provide each container with a plurality of pivotally mounted extension bridge sections, such as indicated at I48 in Fig. '1. These pivoted bridge sections I48 are located tangentially adjacent the four corners of rectilinear tracks I02 and I64 and the arrangement is such that regardless of the manner in which the containers are oriented, the bridge members I48 will when swung outwardly align with the' U-shape tracks III2 and I64 of an adjacent container.

When the containers are being transported either by motor truck, freight car or ship, it is m desirable to lock them against movement relatively to such common carrier. It is advantageous to lock the container ata plurality of points so as to prevent the same from pivoting or shifting around the locking member. It is also desirable to provide means for simultaneously operating the looks from a single point. To these ends, I have devised suitable locking devices shown in Figs. 2 to 5 and 12 to 16.

Referring first to Fig. 3, the motor truck, railway car or ship is provided with a socket I50 and at diagonally opposite corners, the container is provided with vertically movable locking members I52, the lower ends of which are adapted to enact with sockets I50. The locking member I52, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, is in the form of a rod having a stop collar I54 near the lower end thereof and having an enlarged head I56 at the upper endthereof. Each head I56 is provided with a number of circular rack teeth I 66 which 0 mesh with a corresponding pinion I62 carried on the diagonally extending shaft I64. This shaft I64 is formed with a square end I66, as indicated in Fig. 2 for coaction with a hand crank I68 having a socket portion I10 by means of which the 5 shaft I 64 can be turned so as to simultaneously disengage both of the locking members I52. One end of the-shaft I64 will always be readily accessible from the space between the adjacent containers. Socket members I58 will be provided on 5 the upper surface of each container for coaction with looking portions I52 of superposed containers so that when several containers are stacked one over the other they can be readily locked against relative movement.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a modifledarrangement of container lock in which the shaft I64 carries aworm I12 which meshes with a worm wheel I14 splined on a locking shaft I16 havinga worm thread I18 secured to the lower end therem of. This thread works in a nut I8! secured to the lower corner of the container. Whenthe shaft I64 is turned, worm wheel I14 will turn the member I16 and cause the threaded member I16 to travel endwise and into engagement with a $5 threaded socket I82 secured to the truck car, ship or other carrier, or to the top of another con; tainer. In the locking device of Fig. 4, the nut I80 performs the double function of providing means for forcing the looking member longitudi- 1o nally when the same is turned and also insures that the threads of the locking member will properly line up with the threaded socket of a mating container or carrier.

The containers above described are adapted to be lifted by a suitable sling engaging the suspension members I88 near the four top corners of the same. This requires that there be a considerable head-room above the container for accommodation of the sling or other overhead tackle. The amount of head-room required can be materially lessened if the container is grappled at one point instead of at four points.

Fig. 12 illustrates a container having a central combined suspension rod and locking member. The suspension rod, indicated at I88, is located in the center of the container and is housed in a suitable tubing I98 secured at the top and bottom to casings I92 and I94 suitably fastened to the top and bottom walls of the container. At the top, the member I88 is provided with a lifting eye I96 adapted to be engaged by a tackle. A collar I98 secured to the member I88 is adapted to engage shoulders 288 when the container is lifted. At its lower end, the member I88 carries a locking head 282 of substantially rectangular form in plan, as shown in Fig. 13, this locking head being adapted to be inserted through a substantially rectangular opening 284 in a bracket 286 secured to a truck, railway car or other carrier. When the rod I88 is given a quarter turn, the parts will be locked against upward movement. The boss or hub 285 of the bracket 286 forms sort of a dowel for engagement with the socket 288 formed in the casing I84.

Fig. 15 shows a further modified form of lock employing a container suspension rod 2| 8 having a lifting eye 2I2 at one end and having a collar 2I4 secured thereto which is adapted to strike a block 2 I6 secured in the casing member 2 I8 when the container is lifted. The rod 2I8 carries springs 228, which press against jaw members 222 having teeth 224 adapted in locked position to engage shoulders 226 of a socket member 228 secured to a motor truck, railway car, or other carrier. The lower end of the rod 2I8 is tapered, as indicated at 238 and when the rod is in the lower position illustrated, the teeth 224 are forced outwardly into engagement with the shoulders 226. The rod 2I8 may be locked in this lower position by means of a hand clamp screw 232. Thus, the jaws 222 are locked in engagement with the socket. By releasing the clamp 232 and lifting the rod 2 I8, springs 228 will collapse the jaws and permit the container to be lifted.

The cooperative relationship described between the gauge or spacing of the casters or rollable supports on the underside of the container and the longitudinal and transverse tracks of equal gauge on the top of the container is of importance. With such an arrangement, a multiplicity or group of containers of the character described provide their own trackage system. The longitudinal and transverse tracks, which cross one another at the tops of the containers, provide means whereby upper conveyors can be conveniently moved over lower containers into ranks and files by imparting rectilinear movement to the upper containers.

The containers can of course be similarly shifted over a similar four-way track system secured to warehouse, wharf, or freight station platform and they can also be shifted from such a platform to a motor truck or from railway car and viceversa. The tracks crossing at right angles to one another and being of the same gauge, which is equal to the square spacing of the container supporting casters, provide means whereby the containers can be shifted in directions at right angles to one another without turning the container about the vertical axis.

Fig. 18 illustrates the manner of shifting the container over four-way tracks a on a platform A and onto the crossing tracks 2 secured to a railway car L. Similarly, the motor truck K can be provided with similar tracks is. To facilitate the transfer from the platform tracks to the tracks on the truck, railway car or like carrier, the bridge tracks II2 will be used in much the same manner as described in connection with the tracks on the juxtaposed containers or various locations on board ship. The container described, while not limited thereto, is extremely well suited for stowing away cargo in between decks or in different compartments of the ship structure. Such application of the invention is more specifically claimed in my companion application Serial No. 656,252, filed February 11, 1933.

Various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A shipping container of the character described including locking or positioning devices located at opposite corners of the container and means operable from one corner of the container for simultaneously actuating both locking devices.

2. A shipping container of the character described substantially rectangular in plan, locking devices located adjacent diagonally opposite corners, a diagonally extending shaft operatively connected with each of said locking devices and adapted to simultaneously actuate them.

3. A shipping container of the character described having at least two positioning members located adjacent diagonally opposite comers, means for supporting each member for vertical sliding movement and means for simultaneously moving each of said members vertically.

4. A shipping container of the character described havirig a vertically movable locking member having a multiple quick acting locking thread secured to one end thereof, a nut member coacting with said locking thread, worm gearing operable from one corner of the container for rotating said locking member so as to cause a longitudinal movement thereof.

, 5. A shipping container of the character described having a longitudinally movable locking member located adjacent the opposite corners thereof, locking threads secured to said members, worm wheel splined on said locking members, worms co-operating therewith and means operable from a corner of said container for simultaneously actuating said worms.

6. In combination with a plurality of containers of the character described having tracks on the top thereof, bridge track members arranged to span the space between adjacent containers and to couple the tracks thereof. i

'7. A container of the character described having container supporting tracks on the top thereof and track members adapted to bridge the space between adjacent containers.

8. In combination with a plurality of containers with casters on the bottom and tracks on the top thereof, bridge tracks for spanning the spaces between said containers.

9. In combination, a plurality of containers one supported directly on top of the other, each of the containers having rollable supports on their bottoms, located at points corresponding to the corners of a square and longitudinal and transverse tracks on their tops crossing at right angles to one another and whose gauge corresponds to the square spacing 01' said rollabie supports, so that upper containers are shittable either longitudinally or transversely while supported on the tracks of lower containers.

10. A container of the character described having grooved caster tracks on the top thereof adapted to cooperate with casters secured to the bottoms of other containers, the roof of said container being pitched to shed water and said tracks being apertured to provide water outlets.

11. A container of the class described having longitudinal and transverse tracks of equal gauge secured to the top thereof, and a supplemental extension track adjacent each of the four corners adapted to be positioned in coacting alinement aosaeee MARSHALL 01433.

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