Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct – Anchor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-13
2001-03-13
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Load lashing retainer or load lashing adjunct
Anchor
C710S100000, C710S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200079
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention pertains to an apparatus for winding and storing railcar load tie-down belts.
BACKGROUND
Railcar load tie-down systems are used to securely ship loads such as lumber, pipe, etc. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,465 issued Oct. 24, 1995 discloses one such system which employs a plurality of spaced-apart belts, each of which are anchored at one end to one side of the railcar. Each belt can be routed over the load and wound upon a winch provided on the opposed side of the railcar. The winch is then tightened to tension the belt against the load.
It is relatively common for railcars to make “empty” return trips after delivery of a load to a destination, or to travel “empty” to a location at which a load is to be placed upon the railcar. Storage and handling of the aforementioned belts can be problematic during such “empty” trips.
It is known to provide a belt storage box on the railcar for each belt. The storage boxes are located near the points at which the respective belt ends are fixed to the railcar. If a belt is not required for load securement as aforesaid, a belt winding tool is used to wind into a tight coil all but the last few feet of the belt near the belt end fixed to the railcar. The coiled belt portion is then stuffed into the storage box provided for that belt. This prior art technique is timeconsuming and inefficient. The present invention improves upon the art by facilitating in situ winding and storage of railcar load tie-down belts.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with the invention, a belt winding and storage compartment is fixed to an outward facing railcar surface. An aperture is provided in a front wall portion of the compartment. A belt winder having belt-receiving means is removably insertable through the front wall aperture to coil at least a portion of the belt inside the compartment.
Advantageously, the belt winder incorporates first and second rods which are fixed at a right angle. A spaced-apart pair of members are fixed to and extend outwardly from an upper end of the first rod, parallel to the second rod and in a direction opposite to the direction at which the second rod extends relative to the first rod.
In one embodiment, an aperture is provided in the railcar surface, in alignment with the front wall aperture. The aligned apertures rotatably support opposed ends of the belt-receiving means as the belt is coiled inside the compartment. In an alternative embodiment, a belt winder support and belt guide plate is fixed to the outward facing railcar surface. An aperture is provided in the plate in alignment with the front wall aperture. The aligned apertures rotatably support opposed ends of the belt-receiving means as the belt is coiled inside the compartment.
The belt winder support and belt guide plate is preferably spaced apart from an opposed front wall portion of the compartment by a distance which is just sufficient to accommodate a width dimension of the belt between the belt winder support and belt guide plate and the front wall portion. This prevents the belt edges becoming jammed against the front wall and/or railcar surface.
Preferably, the compartment has a removable cover to prevent penetration of water, snow or ice inside the compartment.
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Gordon Stephen T.
Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala
Westran Holdings Limited
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