Lading tie anchor link with enhanced banding contact surface
AssigneeIreco, Inc.
InventorsDavid R. Early, Rudolph E. Nadherny, Barry T. Glass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-piece anchor assembly has a retainer and an interlocking link. The link is a unitary component that is formed by a single forging step. The link is secured to the floor of a railway flatcar by the retainer. A steel band is connected at one end to a load bearing surface of the link of a first anchor assembly and at another end to a load bearing surface of the link of a second anchor assembly. A tensile force is then applied to the steel banding and crimped with a clip in order to secure cargo. The load bearing surface has an enhanced banding radius, which reduces the risk of band breakage when the steel band is subjected to a high tensile force by preventing “creasing” at contact locations.
Claims16
A lading tie anchor link for a railway flatcar comprising:
- a retainer-engaging portion having a nominal cross-sectional area for interlocking engagement with a retainer on a railway flatcar;
- a large load bearing surface configured for engaging a length of metal banding and defining a convex curved surface extending for less than 360°, wherein said large load bearing surface has a cross-sectional area substantially larger than said nominal cross-sectional area and wherein said large load bearing surface includes a varying lateral, convex curvature having a minimum radius of curvature at one location along said large load bearing surface and a maximum radius of curvature at another location along said large load bearing surface;
- and
- said large load bearing surface is unitarily formed with the retainer-engaging portion into the lading tie anchor link.
A lading tie anchor link for a railway flatcar comprising:
- a retainer-engaging portion having a nominal cross-sectional area for interlocking engagement with a retainer on a railway flatcar;
- a large load bearing surface configured for engaging a length of metal banding wherein said large load bearing surface has a cross-sectional area substantially larger than said nominal cross-sectional area and includes a varying lateral, convex curvature having a minimum radius of curvature at one location along said large load bearing surface and a maximum radius of curvature at another location along said large load bearing surface, wherein the minimum radius of curvature is between approximately five and one-half inches and approximately fifteen inches, and wherein the maximum radius of curvature generally equates to a straight line;
- and
- said large load bearing surface is unitarily formed with the retainer-engaging portion into the lading tie anchor link.
A lading tie anchor link for a railway flatcar comprising:
- a retainer-engaging portion having a nominal cross-sectional area for interlocking engagement with a retainer on a railway flatcar;
- a large load bearing surface configured for engaging a length of metal banding and defining a convex curved surface extending for greater than 180° and for not more than about 250°, wherein said large load bearing surface has a cross-sectional area substantially larger than said nominal cross-sectional area;
- and
- said large load bearing surface is unitarily formed with the retainer-engaging portion into the lading tie anchor link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.