US1486949A - Car-door-operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 18 1924.

A. CAMPBELL.

CAR DOCK OPERATING MECHANISM March 18 v19.24.

A. CAMPBELL CAR DOOR OPERATING MEOHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fraz/antan rgyle mpl Patented Mar. i8, 1924.

lati;

RATON OF ILLINOIS.

Application `filed `December To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that .-I, ARGYLECAMPBE a citizen of tlieUnited States, residing at Chicago, in -theicounty of Cook and4 Stateof 5 Illinois, have-inventeda certain ineweand useful Improvement in -Car-DoorfQperating Mechanism,

clear, concise, and exact description, refer,-V

ence beingl had, .to `the `accompanying drawl ings, forming, partV of .this specification.

This invention. relatesI to improvements.l in car door operating` mechanism.

In certain types ofdnmp; cars, it is customary .to employ deepfbellied. side sills or l girders, thus makingjit exceedingly diiicult to employ any of thefusual types ofl door mechanism satisfactorily on `.account ofthe inaccessibility of theparts.

One object` of my invention. is to provide 20 a simple and` efficient door lifting and llocking arrangement for.. dump cars which is especially adapted for those types ofcars having deep .side ,sills and 'pivoted floor doors between the sills ,and wherein the V mechanism mustnecessarily be operated at the side of the car.

Another object of my invention is to provide a safety device `foradoor operating mechanisms, which safety device is auto- 30 matically operable to prevent damage to the parts when the doors are suddenly released underl load, which damage might otherwise occur by reason of carelessness or ignorance of theoperator in releasing lthe doors.-

InV the drawin speciicatioii,Figiiie 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, `sectional view of a portion of a dump car showing my improvements in connection therewith, .the section being taken in a plane inside oftheside wall and side sill of lthe car `and looking toward the center sill of the cai'. FigureQ is a top plan view` ot the construction shown. in Figure 1 but with the iixed` fioorboards omitted and the doors indicated conventionally by dotted lines, in order to better illustrate the door operating mechanism and its relationto the parts ofthe-.car underiirame.-V Figure 3 is a vertical, `transverse,@sectional view oli-the CFI ofwhich thei'ollowing is a full,

gs forminga part of this structure illustrated in kFigures 1 and 2 and proved safety device in connection therewith.- --In this ligure, the parts are shown in the position,l assumed. when the-shaft is docked. -..Figiire 5 is a` view similar to Figure ..14 but-illustrating the-position ,assumed-b ,theiparts when theishaft is released. and the safety feature operative. And Figure 6 is a vertical,sectional view orn the sidesill of Y thecar taken at the right of Figure 4 and showing the structure illustrated in Figure .4, in edgeelevation.

In said drawings, the-car is shown as providedwith a deepebellied side sill 1 upifcenter sill 1l, side .walll diaphragins orneedle beams 13, 111, and 16.-I In the` particularrtype4 of car shown, eight pivotedloor doors would be employed, four on each side of `the centervsill, the four `,doors on one side being arranged in pairs separated by xed- Hoor sections. Only one pair oit-such doors is illustrated in the drawings, Vit being understood that therewill be a corresponding pair transversely alined therewith` buton ythe opposite side of the center .sill and that. the operating mechanism which l have shown,` is adapted for simultaneously operating. foundoors. The fixed floor sections are indicated at 17, 18 and 19, theiixed floor section 18 being.` intermediate the two pivoted doors v2() and 21, shown in `the drawings. The floor section Y18 bridges `the space betweenthetwo relativelyA shallow needlebeams l-i and 15, thus affording a suitable cover and protection for the operatingshaft and other parts ot the mechanism associated therewith. Thedoor 21 is pivotallyi supported-'by suitableibrackets 22 secured to the deep Aneedle beamI 13 and the doorf is similarly Isupported bybrackets 22 secured to the shallow needle: beam 16. It will Ybe `noted thatthe doors-20 and 21 arc adapted :to '..swing about axes extending transversely of the car and; that the free edges of the/.doors are extended toward each .other and engage under floor platesy 25%23 securedto theedges of the ixed iioor sec- ,.tion 18.* I

In .carrying out `myinventicm,lV employ a transversely extendingnoperating lshaft 24 "whichamounted in suitable'bearings cai'- l,ried bytheside-sill 10 and center sill 11, it being understood-that thevshaftQ/l extends 2, and pressed `ENTFR-PR-ISE- RAILEVA'Y O, builtn in;

. from sideto sideofthe car. On at least one side of the car, the 'shaft 24CV is extended f; through the vside-sill and provided with a square or other non-circular end 25 by which to closed position.

it may be rotated by means of a claw bar or other suitable tool. For each pair of doors 2O and 21, the shaft is provided with a pairA of chain or cable winding drums 2G-26, the drums being rigidly secured to the shaft. Each of said drums is provided with right and left helical grooves 27 to accommodate the oppositely extending cables or chains indicated conventionally at 28--28 in Figure 1.

Each chain or cable 28 extends over a sheave wheel 29 rotatably supported on a heavy pivot pin 30 mounted in a pair of flanges 31-31 formed integral with a bracket 32 secured to a needle beam 14. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the flanges 31 of each bracket 32 are curved and flared toward the winding drum so as to facilitate the passage of the chain or cable through the bracket. Opposite each sheave Wheel 29, the bracket is formed with a vertically elongated opening 33 which alines with a corresponding opening 34, cut in the web of the needle beam. lt will be noted that the securing flanges of the brackets 32 reinforce the needle beams around the openings thereof and thus compensate for the metal removed.

The ends of the chains or cables 28 are attacliedto eye-bolts 35 which are horizontally adjustably mounted in anclioicastiiigs 36 secured in line therewith to the under sides of the doors. Each of said anchor castings 36 is provided with a bell mouth 37 through which the cable or chain passes.

By rotating the shaft in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, the chains orY cables from all four doors will be simultaneously and uniformly wound around the respective drums, thus elevating the doors rlhe doors will be held in closed position so long as the operating shaft is prevented against rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. fore noted, the floor section 18 covers and protects the shaft, drums, flexible connections and also the sheave wheels 29 and brackets are amply protected against injury during discharge of the load.

To lock the operating shaft, the latter has secured thereto outside of the side sill 10, a ratchet wheel 38, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The bearing for this end of the shaft is formed on a reinforcing casting 40 which is secured to the inner side of the side sill 10, as shown by full lines in Figure 6 and by dotted lines in Figure 4. Cooperable with the ratchet wheel 38 is a latch lever designated generally by the reference A. Said lever A is pivoted at its upper end on the pivot bolt 41, said bolt 41 being carried at its'inner end by said plate 40 and at its outer end by an outer cover plate 42 which isheld spaced from the side sill 10. Near As hereinbeits point of pivotal support, the latch lever A is formed with a pawl shoulder 43 adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 in such a manner as to prevent the latter from rotating counter-clockwise as shown in Figure 4. At its lower end, the lever A is formed with a suitable handle 44 and intermediate said handle 44 and the pawl shoulder 43, the side of the lever A adjacent the ratchet wheel 38 is provided with a lower curved shoulder 45 and above the latter with an inclined guiding face 4G. The cover plate 42 is also so `'shaped on its edge farthest lfrom the ratchet wheel 38, as indicated at 47, as to provide a pocket or recess, in Vconjunction with the adjacent edge of the lever A., for a cylindrical arm 48, as best shown in Figure 4. The arm constitutes an integral lateral extension from a lever 49 which 'is pivotally supported as indicated at 50 betweenV the plate 42 and the side sill of the car, it being noted that the point of pivotal support 50 is below and to one side of the normal position of the arm 48 as shown in Figure 4.

rIhe lever A is held in locked relation with the ratchet wheel 38 by a cam plate V51 pivotally supported as indicated at 52 between the cover plate 42 and the side sill 10. Said cam plate 51 cooperates with a curved cam surface 53 formed on the upper end of the lever A. Y

As is well known to those skilled in the art, when pivoted dump doors of a car are released under load, the doors fall very.` rapidly and immediately begin to spin the operating shaft and Vparts Vmovable therewith. In releasing such an operating shaft having a ratchet wheel, it frequently happens that tlie operator becomes careless or,

through ignorance, allows the locking dog or pawl 'to fall back into engagement with the ratchet wheel when the latter is spinning, with the result that the parts are frequently broken or jammed. To automatically eliminate damage arising from the causes mentioned, I have provided the peculiar shaped latch lever A and the detent lever 49. By

referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that, when the lever A is shifted to its release position A', the detent lever 49 automaticallyV falls under the influence of gravity to the position shown at 49V in Figure 5 where the arin 48V thereof engages against the curved shoulder 45 of the lever A, thus positively holding the lever in its inoperative position and preventing the pawl shoulder 43 thereof' from accidentally swinging back into en-V gagement with the ratchet wheel 38. To prevent the detent lever 49 from swinging downwardly pastthe'shou'lder 45, the plate Y 42 is formed with the shoulder 54 which enlil() liti lltl

gages the detent lever 49 and limits it in its downward swinging to the position shown in Figure 5. rlhe arm 48 of the de- (ro-operable with said tent lever is considerably extended as best shown in Figure 6 so that it may be easily grasped and lifted upwardly and forced home to its normal position shown in Figure 4 where it will be noted the same is locked by means of the plate l2 and lever A, when the latter is in turn looked by the cam plate 51. During the winding up of the mechanism, it is of course desirable that the pawl shoulder 4-3 keep dropping into place automatically against the teeth of the ratchet wheel as the latter is rotated clockwise. To this end, the detent lever and latch lever A are so positioned and weighted that the latch lever A may be swung outwardly sufliciently to clear the teeth of the ratchet wheel 38 when the latter is being rotated clockwise without, however, the detent lever pushing the latch lever A to the full release position shown in Figure 5.

.The safety arrangement shown and described consists of few parts all of which may be manufactured at comparatively small expense in the form of castings and efficiently performs the desired function.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out the invention but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that came within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. The combination with a shaft having a latch wheel thereon; of a latch co-operable with said wheel; a detent movable under the force of gravity to a position to retain said latch in inoperative position with reference to said wheel; and means on said latch; movable therewith7 engaging said detent for rendering the latter ineffective when the latch is in operative relation to said latch wheel, and controlling the movement thereof under the influence of gravity to permit the same to move into retaining position upon disengagement of said latch from said latch wheel.

2. The combination with a shaft having a latch wheel; of a pivotally mounted latch wheel, said latch having an abutment thereon; a detent automatically movable to position to engage said abutment and retain said latch in in-operative position when the latter fully disengaged from the latch wheel; and means on said latch between said abutment and the pivot point thereof engaging said detent to retain the latter in irl-operative relation to said abutment when the latch is in operative relation with said latch wheel.

3. The combination with a door operating shaft having a latch wheel thereon; of a latch co-operable with said wheel, said latch having an operating arm; and a pivotally mounted detent supported between the arm of said latch and the latch wheel, said detent being movable, under the influence of gravity, to a position to retain said latch in inoperative position when the latter is moved to fully released position.

a. The combination with a door operating shaft having a latch wheel; of a pivotallyv mounted gravity controlled latch co-operable with said wheel; and a pivotally mounted detent having a portion thereof rslidably engaging said latch, said engaging portion being slidable downwardly on said latch under the influence of gravity, to a position to retain the latter in inoperative position when fully disengaged from the latch wheel.

5. The combination with a horizontally disposed operating shaft having a ratchet wheel thereon; of a vertically movable pivoted pawl member normally influenced under the force of gravity to move to operattive position with said ratchet wheel; and a vertically movable pivotally mounted detent engaging said pawl and movable under the influence of gravity, to a position to hold the latter in inoperative position when the same is moved to fully disengaged position from the ratchet wheel.

6. The combination with an operating shaft having a ratchet wheel thereon; of a pivotally mounted pawl member normally gravity-influenced to operative position with said ratchet wheel; a pivotally mounted detent lever cooperable with said pawl member to positively hold the latter in full release position; and means for locking said member and detent in operative position.

7. In a dump car door operating mechanism, the combination with an operating shaft having a ratchet wheel; of a pivoted pawl member cooperable with said ratchet wheel; said pawl member having a handle and a locking shoulder and normally gravity-influenced to operative relation with the ratchet wheel; a pivotally mounted detent lever normally held by said pawl member in elevated position and adapted to fall to a lower position in engagement with said locking shoulder of said member` when the latter is moved to release position.

8. In a dump car door operating mechanism; the combination with an operating shaft having a ratchet wheel; of a pivoted pawl member cooperable with said ratchet wheel; said pawl member having a handle and a loc-king shoulder and normally gravity-influenced to operative relation with the ratchet wheel; a pivotally mounted detent lever normally held by said pawl member in elevated position and adapted to fall to a lower position in engagement with said locking shoulder of said member when the latter is moved to release position; and a locking element cooperable with said pawl member to hold the latter positively in engagement with the ratchet wheel.

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9. In a device of the character described, to lock said detent lever invinoperative posiihe combination with an operating shaft tion when said member is in operative posihaving a ratchet wheel thereon; of a piivottion. Y ally mounted pawl member eooperable With In witness that I claim the foregoing I 5 said ratchet Wheel; a pivotaily mounted have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th 15 detent eooperable with said member to hold day ot December, 1921. the latter in inoperative position; and a ARGYLECAMPBELL. cover plate extending over seid member and tnessesz Y detent, said cover plate and member hav- UNA C. GRIGSBY,

'l0 ing cooperating opposed portions arranged ANN BAKER.

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