US2192440A - Railway car refrigerator hatch closure mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1940- A. w. L. HARTBAUER RAILWAY CAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSURE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 2' F, 5 y. INVENTOR.

IQ, v BY 1 ATTORNEY.

March 5,1940. A. w. 1 HARTBAUER 2,192,440

RAILWAY CAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSURE MECHANISM Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 a; 3 55' I2 4 4 l 45 allv n H A R 1/ 5 v I 1, o 5 l 4' Z////Z/////////////////4/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 5, 1940 RAILWAY OAR REFRIGERATOR HATCH CLOSURE MECHANISM August William Louis Harthauer, Chicago, Ill. Application December 21, 1936, Serial No. 116,875 Claims. (01.98 7) The invention relates toa hatch closure mech- 1 anism and particularly for use on railway refrigerator cars,

Hatch closure mechanisms in general use have 3 {I} an operating lever for setting the hatch cover but are not usually adapted to aid in releasing the tightlywedged plug of, the hatch closure. In many cases, however, the operating lever is utilized as the ventilating bar. In many cases [10, also the operating lever is attached to the car parts by a staple type of fastener. This method of fasteninghas a number of objections because it offers little or no guide means to control the movement of the operating lever in release posi tion, and therefore the operating lever may assume any number of positions including the fouling of the hatch opening. This presents a condition where the operator of the hatch closure mechanism is required to inspect the position of the hatch closure parts to be certain that the hatch opening is clear before attempting to swing the hatch closure toward its closed position.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide hatch closure mechanism which is adapted to release the hatch closure to facilitate opening thereof, to support the hatch closure in any of the positions required for the various stages of ventilation of the car and also to move the hatch closure to its ultimate closed position.

A further object of the invention is to position the hatch closure mechanism approximately parallel to the face of the hatch cover and to provide guide means to automatically regulate the release position of the movable parts, thereby eliminating any possibility of fouling the hatch closure, car appliances, or roof parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hatch closuremechanism adapted to be used in general refrigerator car servicein which the ly described in connection with the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodi- 5- ment of the invention, but it will be understood use of the ventilating bar is required, and also cover 5 by the bolts 8, 8.

that I do not limit myself to the exact con-- st-ruction shown and illustrated, but in the claims hereinafter set forth, I intend to cover all variations and modifications of the invention.

In the drawings: 5

Figure l is an elevation side viewshowing one form of hatch cover with the ventilating bar supporting the hatch closure in wentilating position.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view showing the hatch closure operating mechanism and a 10 part of the hatch frame and cover with the cover moved to initial release position by the operating mechanism. a v

Figure 3 is a'front elevation of the closing link showing the details thereof and particularly the 16 FigureflA is a side elevation of the body brack et showing the details and particularly the interlocking feature. Figure ,4 is a front elevation of the body brack- -et showing the details and particularly the interlocking feature. 25

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the operating lever illustrating the .trunnions'and the slotted bearing for the closing link and also the relative position of the closinglink with the said operating lever at the instant of assembly, 30 the closing link being shown in dot and dash lines.

Figure 6 is'a plan view of a refrigerator car hatch closureshowing the operating, closing and ventilating mechanism in their relative tions with the hatch fully closed.

- Figure 7 is an end elevation view showing the operating, closing and ventilating mechanism in relative positions with thehatch fully closed.

Figure 8 is an elevation view of a portion of the hatch closure showing the closing link en-' gaging one of the hatch cover bracket flanges and the operating lever positioned tomove the hatch closure to ultimate closed or locked position.

As illustrative of the invention, there is shown a portion of a car roof and a'hatch opening with car framing I forming the sides and ends of the hatch'opening. I The ceiling 2, the roof sheet 3 and thehatch' frame 4 complete the car parts.

The hatch cover 5 is'provided with hatch plug shims- :6 which are placed. between the-hatch cover 5 and the hatch plug 1. The shims 6 are fastened as the hatch plug 1 is attached to the.

posi- The peripheral sides 9 of the hatch plug 7 are padded and covered with cotton duck, or other suitable material, to present a yielding surface for contact with the hatch frame t. The hatch cover 5 is secured to the hatch frame i with hinges Iii. Brackets II are secured to the hatch cover 5 with rivets. The brackets II support the hatch cover 5 above the car roof when the hatch is fully opened. To facilitate movement of the hatch closure handheld I2 is fastened to the hatch cover. p

In connection with the hatch closure mechanism there is employed a closing link generally designated I3 which is provided with side portions Hi, I i as best shown in Figs. 3 and 3A. At one end of the closing link I3, the side portions i l, IQ are spaced apart by the round bearing I5 with the center portion I6 thereof cut away and adapted for interlocking assembly with the operating lever of the mechanism. At the opposite end of the closing link IS the side portions I4, M

are spaced apart by the web connection I1. Ex-

. tending from the web connection I! is the final stage closing lug I8 and also the projecting auxiliary closing lug IIBA.

An operating lever generally designated I9 acts in association with the closing link I3 and other parts of the mechanism. The operating lever I9 is provided with the bearing 28 and the bearing is provided with the bearing slot 2. I. The operating lever I9 is also provided with the cam surface 22 opposite the bearing 20 and the bearing slot Iii. portion of the top flange of the operating lever I9. The operating lever I9 is further provided with the flattened surfaces 23 of the trunnions 2 3 at the end of the operating lever IQ and on both sides thereof adjacent the bearing 20 and the cam surface 22. The flattened surfaces 23 are on each side of the pair of trunnions which are on both sides of the end portion of the operating lever I9. The end portion of the operating lever IE referred to. terminates in the operating lever stop 25. This construction is best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

A body bracket generally designated 26 is secured to the hatch frame 4. The body bracket 26 is provided with the bracket bearing 27 and the bracket bearing slot 28. The body bracket 26 is provided with the operating lever retaining bolt 29 and is held in place and secured to the hatch frame 4 by the rivet 30. The body bracket 28 is provided with the side members 3| and 32 and oblong openings 33 extend through the side walls 3! and 32, respectively of the body bracket The body bracket 26 with its side members 4A and 4 of the 26. are best shown in Figures 1, drawings.

The hatch cover bracket 35 is secured to the hatch cover 5 with a plurality of rivets 33. The hatch cover bracket 35 has an extendedportion 31 (see Fig. 6) having the spaced apart flanges 38 and 39. The top edge of the flange 39 is provided with a concave surface til. The concave portion 48 is positioned approximately above the longitudinal center line of the operating lever I9, and forms a bearing for the lugs I8 and I8A of the closing link In, The concave portion All is best shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7 of the drawings. Lug AI projecting from the flange 38 of the hatch cover bracket 35 is positioned between the side walls 3I and 32 of the body bracket 26 when in closed relation to the bracket 26. the drawings.

The cam surface 22 as shown, is a bracket 35 is provided with an aperture 42 for the U-shaped seal pin 53. The lug M is also provided with the ventilating bar regulating and limiting stop 44. The seal pin 83 it attached to a link chain 45. The chain is anchored to the hatch cover bracket 35 with one of the rivets 36 securing the hatch cover bracket 35 to the hatch cover 5.

The U-shaped seal pin 23 is provided at its ends with slots 6, 6 to receive the seal of the railway company upon whose car the hatch closure mechanism is mounted to maintain the selected and fixed position of the hatch closure. The hatch cover bracket 35 and its associated mechanism is best shown at the top of Figure 1, in Figures 2, 6, '7 and 8.

For means of ventilation in the car through the hatch closure, a ventilating bar t? is swingingly attached to the body bracket 26 by means of a bolt G8 which utilizes a washer 45 to prevent excessive gyration of the ventilating bar ll as the ventilating bar is moved toward full release position. The bracket 50 of the side wall SI of the body bracket 2b is adapted to support the ventilating bar i'l in release position free of any contact with the car or the parts of the hatch closure frame. The bracket 5% is provided with the upwardly projecting flange IiI spaced from the side wall 3I of the body bracket 25 and forms a guide means to prevent movement of the ventilating bar t? when in full release position. The ventilating bar 47 is provided with oblong openings 52. These oblong openings 52 are positioned along the ventilating bar l! for the several stages of ventilation required. The ventilating bar ll and the parts associated therewith are best shown in Figures 1, 6, 7 and 8.

In the foregoing description of the invention the. various parts of the mechanism which relate to the operating, including the opening or release, and the closing of the mechanism and also the ventilating mechanism, have been set forth. v

The operation of the mechanism will now be described and explained. In assembling the closing link I3 with the operating lever I9, the closing link I3 is moved on the operating lever I 9 with the one end of the lever positioned between the side members I4 of the closing link I3. Good views of the end of the operating lever I9 extending through the closing link I3 will be seen in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The round bar I5 extending between the two sides I4, I4 is placed in position with respect to the end of the operating lever I9 so that the cut away portion I6 will enter the slot 2| and permit the round bar I5 to be moved into position and be seated in the bearing 23 and then rotated to assembly position with relation to the operating lever I9 as shown in Figures 5 and '7 of the drawings.

After the body bracket 26 has been attached to the flange of the hatch frame 4 with rivets 30, the operating lever I9 with the closing link I3 attached thereto is assembled by registering the flattened surfaces 23 of the trunnions 2 1 (which are on the operating lever I8 adjacent the bearing 20 and the cam surface 22) with the slot 28 of the bearing 21 of the side members 3| and 32 of the body bracket- 26. The trunnions 24 are then moved into contact with the bearing 2? of the body bracket 26 and the operating lever I9 is swung downward as best shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, thus completing the interlocking assembly of the operating lever I9, the

' closing link 13 and the body bracket'26, to 'be' maintained in interlocking assembly of the closing link l3, the operating lever l9 and the body bracket 26,- operating lever retaining bolt 29 is placed in position in the bracket 26, best shown in Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8.

The operating lever stop 25 which projects from the end of the operating bar l9 adjacent the trunnions 24, is adapted to contact the operating lever retaining bolt 29. The limited movement of the closing link I3 by the assembly of .the

operating lever IS with the body bracket 26, and

the restrictive movement of the operating lever 19 with respect to the body bracket .26 by the operating lever retaining bolt 29, maintains the interlocking engagement of all said parts in service positions.

Referring now to the hatch cover bracket 35 secured to the hatch cover 5, the bracket is provided with the channel shaped portion having flanges 38 and 39 and web section 31, the channel shaped extension is best shown in Figures 2, 6, '1 and 8 of the drawings. The flange 39 has a surface 22, of a portion of the top flange of the operating lever I9 is adapted to contact the bottom of the web surface 31 of the extended chan-.

tion. Thereupon to complete the closure and to properly set the hatch closure 5 in its ultimate closed position, the operator utilizes the operatinglever IS with the closing link [3 engaging the flange 39 of bracket 35 as best shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. It will be'seen that at this time the final stage closing lug l8 of the closing link 13 is pressed against the concave surface 40 of the flange 39 of the bracket 35.

The body bracket 26 is provided with the oblong opening 33 in the side walls 3| and 32 as has been stated. These oblong openings 33 are adapted to register with the aperture 42 of the hatch cover bracket lug 4| for the application of the seal pin 43. The seal pin 43 is attached to a chain 45 and the chain is secured to the hatch cover bracket 35. The progressive stages of registry of the openings 33 and 42 are shown in Figures 2, 8,7 and 6, respectively. After the seal pin 43 has been placed in final position, it may receive the railway company seal, utilizing the slots 46, 46 for that purpose.

With reference to the operation of the ventilating bar 41 as stated, it is swingingly attached to the body bracket 26 with a bolt and washer to prevent excessive gyration as the ventilating bar is moved toward full release position. The ventilating bar 41 is supported free of any contact with the car or frame parts. Guide means prevent movement of the ventilating bar 41 when it is in full release position. The ventilating bar 41 may be positioned for the several stages of ventilation of the car by means of the plurality the hatch cover bracket 35. To position the hatch closure 5 in order to secure ventilation for the car, the hatch closure5 is moved to thelinitial open position with the operating mechanism as shown in Figure 2. The hatch closure 5 is'thereupon manually raised to the pre-determined amount :of opening and the ventilating bar 41 cent and at one side ofsaid cover, said means including an operating lever, a closing. link movable on said operating lever, a hatch cover bracket, a body bracket-in addition to said hatch cover bracket, said operating lever having a bearing for said movable closing link, said body bracket having side walls, said side walls being provided with bearings, said operating arm being provided withtrunnions on each side thereof to engage in the bearingsv in said body bracket side walls, means to maintain the assembly of said operating arm and said closing link with its respective bearing and trunnions, said operating lever being provided with a cam surface, the cam surface of said operating lever being adapted to contact the hatch cover bracketas the lever 'is moved upwardly to raise said cover, said, closing link being adapted to engage thehatch-cover bracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatchcover, said hatch coverbracket being provided with an extending lug, saidlug being provided with an aperture, said body bracket secured to said hatch frame being provided with openings in the side walls thereof, the aperture in the hatch cover bracket being adapted to register with the openings in said side walls of said body bracket, a seal pin, said seal pin being adapted to locksaid lug and said side walls of the body bracket.

2. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination of a hatch frame, an insulated cover for said frame, sealing means attached to said cover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side of said cover, said means including. an operating lever, a closing link operatively connected with said operating lever, two brackets, one of said brackets being a hatch cover bracket and the other of said brackets being a body bracket, said operating lever being provided with a cam surface,the cam surface of said operating leverbeing adapted to contact the hatch having a bearing adjacent one of its ends, said closing link having an integral bearing bar, said bearing @bar of said closing link being adapted to be assembled with the bearing of the operating lever, said body bracket also having side wall portions and bearings in said side wall portions, said operating lever also being provided with trunnions adapted to be assembled in the-bearings of the side wall portions of the bodybracket, said closing link being provided with a lug adapted to contact said hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatch cover. v

3. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination of a hatch frame, a

said cover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side of said cover, said means including an operating lever, a hatch cover bracket, said operating lever being provided with a cam surface, the cam surface of said operating lever being adapted to contact the hatch cover bracket as the lever is moved upwardly to raise said cover, said operating lever being placed in front of the cover and partially under the hatch cover bracket, a closing link movably mounted on the said operating lever, said closing link having an integral bearing bar adapted to be connected with said operating lever and to interlock with said lever, said closing link being provided with a lug adapted to contact the hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly, the said closing link being provided with a second or auxiliary ing also adapted to contact the hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatch cover.

4. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination of a hatch frame, a cover for said frame, sealing means attached to said cover, opening and closing means adjacent and at one side o-fsaid cover, said means including an operating lever, a hatch cover bracket, said hatch cover bracket having a projecting portion, said operating lever being provided with a cam surface, a body bracket having side wall por tions, said operating lever also being movably attached to the body bracket and positioned parallel to the said side of the hatch cover adjacent the opening and closing means and under said projecting portion of said hatch cover bracket, the cam surface of said operating lever being adapted to contact the projecting portion of the 9,192,440 cover for said frame, sealing means attached to hatch cover bracket as the lever is moved upwardly to raise said cover, a closing link movably mounted on the said operating lever, said closing link being adapted to engage the hatch cover bracket as the operating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatch cover, said projecting portion of said hatch cover bracket extending transversely of said operating lever, said closing link and said side wall portions of said body bracket, said transverse projecting portion of said hatch cover bracket having two parallel flanges connected by a web portion.

5. In hatch closure mechanism for a refrigerator car, the combination of a hatch frame, a cover for said frame, opening and closing means arranged in substantially parallel position with respect to one edge of said cover, the principal operating elements of said opening and closing means being secured to the body of said car, said opening and closing means including an operating lever arranged parallel to an adjacent edge of said cover and located outside of said cover in all positions of said lever, a hatch cover bracket on said cover, said hatch cover bracket having an extended portion, said operating lever extending under said extended portion of said hatch cover bracket, a portion of the upper flange of said operating lever having a cam surface, said cam surface of the operating lever contacting the hatch cover bracket extended portion as the lever is moved upwardly to raise the cover, a closing link movably mounted on the said operating lever, said closing link having contact means to engage the hatch cover bracket extended portion as the operating lever is moved downwardly to close said hatch cover.

AUGUST W. L; HARTBAUER.

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