Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1177331
The invention relates to a securing element having a baseplate and
a securing stop for securing the position of tracked and/or wheeled vehicles
on rail wagons having a wooden loading surface, in which element a portion of
the baseplate forms a support for a track, or for a wheel, shifting of the
track, or wheel, in one direction being limited, in the secured position, by
the securing stop, projections being located on the underside of the baseplate.
A securing element of the abovementioned type is known, this element
being intended to secure vehicles against being shifted transversely, in which
element the underside of the baseplate is provided with a large number of
blade-shaped projections, the apical lines of these projections being mutually
displaced, in each case, through 90~. Experience has shown that the known
securing element is incapable of providing completely satisfactory service, in
so far as the large number and the shape of the blades lead, on the one hand,
to serious damage to the wooden floor of the rail wagon, whilst failing, on
the other hand, to guarantee that slipping between the wooden floor and the
securing element is absolutely prevented. Apart from these facts, the cost
of manufacturing the blades can be kept within tolerable limits only when the
securing element is designed in the form of a heavy casting with integral
blades.
The object underlying the invention is to produce a securing element
of the type under consideration, which firmly fixes the vehicle to be secured,
in the position in which securing is to be effected, whilst at the same time
considerably reducing the damage to the wooden floor of the rail wagon. This
object is achieved, according to the invention,in that ~he projections form
spikes which can be pressed into the loading surface by the dead weight of the
vehicle which is to be secured, these spikes possessing a constant cross-
section over that portion of their length which initially projects from the
t
~r
11'77331
baseplate, and possessing a cross-section which tapers to a point
over a second portion of their length, contiguous with the first
portion. For best results the length of the portion having a
constant cross-section is less than the length of the portion
having a tapering cross-section.
The securing element according to the invention offers
the advantage that the spikes are driven downwards into the wooden
planks of the rail wagon, in a manner similar to nails, and the
portion of the spikes which possesses a constant cross-section
provides the securing element with a firm mechanical grip on the
floor of the wagon.
The number of spikes should not exceed four, the spikes
preferably being offset with respect to one another in the direc-
tion in which securing is to be effected. If it is desired to
increase the friction between the securing element and the base-
plate, it is advisable to provide the baseplate with a coating
having a high coefficient of friction, on its side bearing the
spikes.
For the purpose of further restraining the securing ele-
ment, the baseplate can be provided with an extension-piece, which
carries a retaining stop at its end which faces away from the
securing stop, this retaining stop being expediently formed by
the end of the extension-piece which is bent over in the direc-
tion of the spikes.
In order to secure vehicles in the transverse direction,
use should be made of securing elements having a securing stop
with a stop-surface extending approximately vertically. In con-
1177331
trast to this, securing elements having stop-surfaces extending
at a shallower angle offer advantages for securing vehicles in
the longitudinal direction. These advantages result from the
fact that it is necessary, during loading of the vehicle, for the
latter to temporarily drive over the securing elements which come
to be positioned at the front of the vehicle, in both the forward
and reverse directions, in order to place the rear securing ele-
ments in position. According to a further proposal, a single
securing element may be provided with securing stops having a
-2a-
1177331
variable inclination with respect to the base surface.
Purther details and features of the invention are evident from the
following description of several illustrative embodiments which are represented
in the attached drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a first securing element;
Figure 2 shows the plan view of the securing element according to
Figure l;
Figure 3 shows the rear view of the securing element according to
Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a side view of a second securing element, which possesses
a main part and an accessory part;
Figure 5 shows the plan view of the second securing element;
Figure 6 shows a rear view of the securing element according to Fig-
ures 4 and 5;
Figure 7 shows the accessory part, separated from the main part of
the securing element according to Figures 4 - 6, in a perspective representa-
tion;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third securing element having
two securing stops and one retaining stop;
Figure 9 shows, diagrammatically, the side view of a securing element
having a retaining slot, it being possible to alter the distance of this stop
from the securing stop;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a spike having an X-shaped cross-
section, and
Figure 11 shows, diagrammatically, the arrangement of eight securing
elements, each possessing two securing stops, serving to secure the position
of a tracked vehicle.
--3--
1177331
The securing element represented in Figures 1 to 3 comprises a
securing stop 1 and a baseplate 2. Four spikes 3 are attached to the base-
plate 2, these spikes having a constant cross-section over a portion 4 of
their length, and having a cross-section which tapers to a point 6 over a
portion 5 of their length. At the same time, the length of the constant
cross-section portion 4 is smaller than the length of the portion 5 having
the tapering cross-section. Satisfactory results have been achieved by designs
in which the length of the portion 4, having a constant, circular cross-
section, is approximately equal to a third of the length of the portion 5
having the tapering cross-section.
In the direction in which securing is to be effected, that is to say,
viewed in the direction of the arrow 7 in Figure 2, the spikes 3 are arranged
offset with respect to one another. The offset arrangement improves the
fixing of the securing element.
There should not be an excessive number of spikes 3. It is exped-
ient to use four spikes, or even six. As can be recognised from Figure 3, the
centre-lines of the spikes 3 extend perpendicularly to the baseplate 2. As a
result of this arrangement, the spikes can drive into the wooden bed of the
rail wagon, in a manner similar to nails, under the weight of the vehicle.
The securing element according to Figures 1 - 3 serves ~o secure
vehicles in the transverse direction. It is accordingly provided with a stop-
surface 8 extending approximately vertically. The head 9 of the securing
element is rounded off. Reinforcing webs 10 are located in the interior of
the securing stop 1. In addition, stiffening ribs 11 serve to enhance the
strength of the securing element.
In order to make it easier to carry the securing element, which is
manufactured from sheet steel having a thickness of 4 - 5 mm, the baseplate
1~7733~
of the element is provided with a cut-out 12, spaced by a hand's width from
one of the edges of the baseplate. A carrying handle 13 is thus provided.
The size of the open portion of the baseplate, namely the portion
located beside the securing stop 1, is chosen such that it provides a sup-
porting surface which corresponds to the width of a vehicle track, or to the
width of a vehicle wheel.
If it is also desired to employ the securing element represented
in Figures 1 - 3 for securing vehicles from being shifted in the longitudinal
direction of the vehicle, the securing element can be provided with an acces-
sory part, as represented in Figures 4 - 7.
In order to be able to combine the securing element according to
Figures 1 - 3 with an accessory part 14, the securing stop 1 is provid~d with
two parallel slots 15, which are spaced apart and extend from the stop-surface
8 into the region of the head 9. Supporting webs 16 of the accessory part can
be inserted into these slots 15. Spikes 17 are located at the front ends of
the supporting webs, these spikes projecting obliquely downwards and out of
the securing stop 1, which is open at the bottom.
The accessory part 14 forms an additional securing stop 18, the
stop-surface 19 of which is more steeply inclined than the stop-surface 8.
On bringing the vehicle into position, its tracks or wheels run onto
the supporting surface 19 and, in doing so, press the accessory part 14 down-
wards. The force exerted on the accessorr part 14 propagates in roughly the
direction of the spikes 17. Due to the fact that the supporting webs 16 are
guided in the slots 15, the spikes penetrate the wood of the floor of the
rail wagon and firmly anchor the supporting part in the wooden floor.
Securing elements according to Figures 4 - 7 are used whenever the
loading surface is narrow in comparison to the width of the vehicle. If the
-5^
117733~
loading surface of a rail wagon is large in comparison to the width of the
vehicle, it is advisable to use securing elements of the type represented
in Figure 8. The securing element shown in Figure 8 possesses two securing
stops 20 and 21, which are located beside one another and are contiguous with
a baseplate 22 bearing three spikes 23. The securing stop 20 possesses a
steeply inclined stop-surface 24 for securing vehicles in the longitudinal
direction, whilst the securing stop 21 is provided with a stop-surface 25
which extends essentially vertically and is intended for securing vehicles
in the transverse direction.
The underside of the baseplate 22 is provided with a coating 26,
which possesses a high coefficient of friction, is resilient, and is composed
of rubber, or of a rubber-substitute or other suitable elastomer.
The securing element represented in Figure 8 possesses a baseplate
22 having an extension-piece 27, which is provided with a retaining stop 28 at
its end which faces away from the securing stops 20, 21. Here, the retaining
stop 28 is formed by the end of the extension-piece 27, which is bent over
in the direction of the spikes 23.
A modification of the securing element according to Figure 8 is
indicated diagrammatically in Figure 9, in which the extension-piece 27 is
mounted so that it can be shifted with respect to the baseplate 22. The
shiftable mounting is produced by providing the extension-piece 27 with elong-
ated holes, through which screw-bolts 29 extend, these bolts being located
in normal circular holes in the baseplate.
In the abovementioned illustrative embodiments, the baseplates were
provided with spikes 3, which had a circular cross-section. Figure 10 shows
a spike 30 having an X-shaped cross-section.
In Figure 11, the loading surface of a rail wagon is marked 31, whilst
117733i
the tracks o a tracked vehicle are indicated by 32 and 33. Eight securing
elements serve to secure this vehicle, the construction of these elements
corresponding largely to the securing element according to Figure 8. However,
in the case of the securing elements represented, the extension-piece 27 is
dispensed with. As can be inferred from the schematic diagram~ the securing
stops 21 are in an inoperative position in the case of the securing elements
which are used for securing in the longitudinal direction, whilst the securing
function is transferred to these stops if securing is to be effected in the
transverse direction.
