US2288155A - Car door - Google Patents

Description

F. DITCHFIELD June 30, 1942.

cm noon File June 7; 194 0 a //v VE/V roe FPHIVK BITCH/761D Patented June 3%, 1942 ares 9 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and more particularly to sliding doors for railway house cars and to lift mechanism therefor.

It is an object of this invention to provide lift mechanism for sliding car doors which will not encroach upon the established tunnel clearances irrespective of width of car and which will accordingly dispense'with the different types of lift mechanism now utilized and create a standard I lift mechanism.

A further object is to provide lift mechanism for sliding dors characterized by substantial simplification of structure, material reduction in cost, elimination of parts and enhanced ease of elevation and movement of the doors and which will allow the use of a connecting bar subject to tension rather than to compression during elevation of the doors.

A further object is to provide lift mechanism employing rollers of a diameter greater than heretofore contemplated or capable of utilization whereby the rollers of the lift mechanism are greatly simplified and permit the use of connecting bars in tension.

A further object is to provide lift mechanism embodying rollers wherein the pins upon which the rollers are mounted provide the means for elevating the doors.

A further object is to provide roller lift mechanism. for sliding doors embodying in a unitary member a roller pin, trunnions and a connecting bar attaching arm.

A further object is to provide a novel door structure adapted to receive lift mechanism of the character above set forth whereby the overall width between doors on the opposite sides of a caris'so reduced that the doors may be employed upon railway house cars irrespective of their width and not encroach upon the established tunnel clearances Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawing forming part of this specification: I 1

Fig. 1 is apartial elevation of a sliding lift door embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is. a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. dis an elevation of an integral roller supporting, door elevating and attaching arm member.

ig, 5 is an end elevation of the member shownin Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, the numeral as designates a door for a railway house car embodying 'a'metallic panel ll and horizontal corrugations t2 merging at their ends into vertical corrugations l3 and M formed adjacent to the vertical edges of the door. The door is suitably reinforced along the vertical margins thereof. The drawing illustrates a substantially channel shaped reinforced member If) secured to the front vertical margin of the door, a reinforcing angle l5 secured to the rear vertical margin of the door and a reinforcing angle ll secured to the lower horizontal margin of the door The rear vertical margin carries additionally a metallic sealing strip l3. j

The construction of the door thus far described with the exception hereinafter pointed out relatlve to the bottom reinforcing angle ll is well known. It is to be understood, however, that this construction is utilized for purposes of illustration only and that a door having a fiat metallic panel reinforced in any desired way may be utilized insofar as the instant invention is concerned.

Departure from the known construction of the. door it is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing. Adjacent each lower corner of the door the metallic panel is offset out- I wardly from the main plane thereof as indicated at l3 and 29 for a reason which will hereinafter appear. Below theseoifset portions the metallic panel is again offset outwardly to a greater extent as indicated at 2| and 22. A further olfsetting of the metallic panel to a greater extent occurs at 23 and 25. There is thus provided in effect a stepped formation by means of which provision is made, as hereinafterpmore fully explained, for the reception of rollers with a minimum extension of thedoor outwardly from its main plane.

Reinforcing plates of substantially the width of the offset portions l9 andtll are utilized to reinforce the door. The, outermost of these plates 25 is shaped to conform to the contour of the offsets provided in the door panel and the innere most plate 25 is disposed so as to lie substantially in the main plane of the panel. The reinforcing plates 25 and 26 are overlapped and secured together and to the ofiset portions l9 and 20 of the panel as by means of rivets. From this point of: securement the outer plate 25' extends downwardly and at its lower margin is offset inwardly.

as indicated at 21 to conform to the inwardly off set marginal portion 23- of the metallic panel.

These portions are secured as by means of riveting to a depending flange 29 formed by bending the horizontal leg 30 of the bottom reinforcing angle H. The inner plate 26 extends downwardly and is secured to the upstanding leg 3| of the bottom reinforcing angle preferably by means of welding.

The portions of the panel which are offset outwardly are further reinforced by means of metallic plates 32 and 33 which as illustrated have one margin disposed between metallic backing plates 34 and 35 and the metallic panel and are secured to these parts as by means of riveting. A metallic backing plate 36 extends between the reinforcing plates 32 and 33 and is secured to the metallic panel and the upstanding leg 3| of the bottom reinforcing angle I! for further stiffening the lower portion of the door.

The door is adapted to be supported upon a track 31 provided with an outer vertical depending flange 39. The depending leg 29 of the bottom reinforcing angle [1 is obtained by bending the horizontal leg 35 upon a relatively large radius as indicated at 39 so that when the door is in lowered and closed position the depending leg 29 will lie in closely proximate relationship to the depending flange 38 of the track and thereby materially improve the Weather condition at the bottom edge of the door and reduce the projection of the door from the car.

The inwardly ofiset lower marginal portions of the panel I I and the reinforcing plate 25 are offset outwardly as indicated at 40 and 4| to provide for the reception of the attaching flanges 42 and 43 of hook shaped members 44 and 45 adapted to cooperate with the depending flange 38 of the track to guide and retain the door upon the track.

The lift and supporting mechanism for the door embodies rollers 46 and 41 which are disposed between the inner and outer reinforcing plates 25 and 25. Each of these rollers is of a size greater than any rollers heretofore contemplated or utilized upon sliding car doors and the construction of the door hereinabove described is devised to adapt it to the employment of such large rollers. The lift mechanism illustrated is designed to secure approximately elevation of the door and to utilize rollers 12 in diameter. The ease of door operation inherent in large rollers makes possible the elimination of the costly roller or ball bearings heretofore utilized and substitution therefor of inexpensive bushings 48. The wear upon these bushings will be much less than the wear upon the formerly utilized ball or roller bearings inasmuch as the size of the roller reduces the number of revolutions they are required to make in order to move the door to open position. The wear on the bushings is accordingly reduced to about 25% of the wear on the roller bearings employed with rollers of smaller diameter which in the case of rollers for sliding car doors have not heretofore exceeded 3 A2" in diameter.

Each of the rollers embodies a hub 49, a web 50 and a rim The web and rim are inset relative to the hub as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Each roller is adapted to be rotatably supported upon a pin 52. Eccentrically related trunnions 53 and 54 extend from the pin 52 and are. journalled in the reinforcing plates 25 and 26 and 32 and 33 as more clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The reinforcing plate 25 may in turn be strengthened by means of a small plate 55 which provides additionally a larger bearing for the trunnion 53. An actuating lever 56 is mounted upon one of the trunnions 53. An arm 51 extends from the pin 52 and at its outer end the arm is provided with a stud 53. A connecting bar 59 is mounted upon the studs 58.

As more clearly appears from Fig. 1 of the drawing, the arms 51 extend downwardly from the pins 52 so that as will hereinafter appear the connecting bar 59 will be subjected to tension rather than compression upon elevation of the door. It is to be observed, moreover, that the studs 58 on the arms 51 are directed inwardly, space for this purpose being provided by the inward offsetting of the web 50 of each of the rollers. Room is thereby conserved so that the actuating lever 56 lies closer to the car and does not encroach upon the established tunnel clearances.

By virtue of the described construction, the overall width between doors on opposite sides of a railway house car has been so reduced that the door and mechanism illustrated can be utilized upon all cars irrespective of their width. A single standard door and lift mechanism is thereby created.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing the door is illustrated in its lowered position in which frictional support is established by the engagement of the lower horizontal leg 30 of the bottom reinforcing angle and the track 31. A downward pull upon the actuating lever 53 in a clockwise direction will impart rotation to one of the roller pins 52 and through the connecting bar 59 and the arms 51 similar rotation to the other roller pin 52. Since the arms 51 move in a clockwise direction it will be apparent that the connecting bar 59 is subjected to tension and not to compression.

Inasmuch as the trunnions 53 and 54 are eccentrically related to the pins 52 rotation of these pins will produce an upward component of movement of the trunnions and since these are journalled in the door will effect elevation of the door and support of the door upon the rollers. The door may then easily be moved in opening or closing direction.

It will be apparent that the roller pin, trunnions and arms can be fabricated in a single member and that the lift mechanism is an improvement upon the patent to Ditchfield, #2,103,000.

Numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended Within this invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, the web and rim of each roller being offset inwardly of the outer face of the hub of said roller, a pin for rotatably mounting each roller, eccentrically positioned trunnions extending from each pin, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm extending from each pin, a bar connecting said arms, means extending from said arms toward said offset web for securing said bar to said arms, said rollers being of a size to permit full swinging movement of said arms during elevation of said door and means for effecting rotation of said pins to elevate and support said door upon said rollers.

2. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers adapted to be positioned adjacent to the forward and rear edges of said door, the Web and rim of each roller being offset inwardly of the outer face of the hub of said roller, a pin for rotatably mounting each roller, eccentrically positioned trunnions extending from each pin, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm extending downwardly from each pin, a bar connecting said arms, means extending from said arms toward said ofiset in said rollers for securing said bar to said arms, said rollers being of a size to permit full swinging movement of said arms during elevation of said door and an actuating lever mounted upon the outer trunnion of the forward pin, clockwise actuation of said lever to elevate said door placing said connecting bar in tension.

3. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm extending from each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

4. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within and being tangent to the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm extending from each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

5. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm integral with and extending from the periphery of each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

6. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollrs, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within and being tangent to the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm integral with and extending from themriphery of each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

7. Lifting and sup-porting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web

and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, the radial distance from the hub to the rim of said rollers being substantially greater than the radius of said pins, bushings between said pins and said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm extending from each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

8. Lifting and suppporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web,

and rim, a cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, the radial distance from the hub to the rim of said rollers being substantially greater than the radius of said pins,

bushings between said pins and said rollers, cylindrical trunnion integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm integral with and extending from the periphery of each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

9. Lifting and supporting mechanism for a sliding door comprising spaced rollers, each of said rollers consisting of an integral hub, web and rim, a, cylindrical pin for rotatably mounting each of said rollers, the radial distance from the hub to the rim of said rollers being substantially greater than the radius of said pins,

bushings between said pins and said rollers, cylindrical trunnions integral with and smaller than said pins extending in opposite directions from the ends of said pins, said trunnions lying within and being tangent to the periphery of said pins, the axes of said trunnions and pins lying in vertical planes which are horizontally offset, said trunnions being adapted to be journalled in said door, an arm integral with and extending from the periphery of each pin, means connecting said arms and an actuating lever mounted upon one of said trunnions.

' FRANK DITCHFIELD.

w CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent m 2,28 ,1 June 50, 19m.

FRANK DI'ICHFIELD.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, first column, line 12, for "in said rollers" read --web--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the v same nay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of August, A. D. 1942.

. Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) A'cting Commissioner of,Patents.

Images