RAILWAY CAR FOR TRANSPORTING VEHICLES

摘要

Disclosed is a transportation device for carrying vehicles including a body having a lower vehicle supporting floor. A plurality of longitudinally spaced upright side posts are connected to the body on opposite sides of the floor, and a deck is supported on the side posts in vertically spaced relation above the floor. The deck includes a first vehicle carrying section rigidly connected to the post, and a second vehicle carrying section, which second section has one end connected to the first section by hinge means whereupon the other end of the second section may be swung upwardly between raised and lowered positions. An improved counterbalancing arrangement for the second deck section is provided, which arrangement includes a lever having first and second ends, pivot means intermediate the first and second lever ends pivotally supporting the lever on one of the posts. Connecting means comprising a lost motion connection pivotally join the first end of the lever to the second section of the deck. Compressively loaded mechanical spring biasing means are supported on one of the posts, the biasing means including link means pivotally connected to the second end of the lever. Bracket means are on the one post and a spring is operatively interposed between and is connected to the link means and bracket means and is reactive thereagainst for exerting a force on the first end of the lever for raising the second section. Support means are provided on one of the posts for releasably supporting an outer end of the second section in the lowered position.