US1659823A - Car-door hanger - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,823

E. F. JAGER CAR DOOR HANGER Filed ma v 192s 3 sheets-sheet 1 l Na m www W arf y Jger .w.. www.

E. F'. JAGER CAR DOOR HANGER Feb. 2l, 1928.

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 7,

Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

tINl'IEQSIAIFS PATEN'l1 OFFICE..

EARL F. JGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, 0F ONE-HALF TO FRANK JAGEB, OF DESPLAIES, ILLINOIS, ANDONE- HALF 'IO-ELIZABETH J. SPRAY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAR-DOOR HANGER.

Application filed .Tuly 7, 1923. Serial No. 650,006.

This invention pei'tains in general to sliding doors, and while its principles may be embodied indoors for various structures, the invention as shown here, for purposes of illustration, is embodied in a car door adapted for use on box cars, and the like.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a door carrying mechanism whereby the door will be supported uponball bearings so asto move easily, and the track upon which the balls travel will be protected from the weather' so as to preclude an accumulation of snow, sleet, or othei foreign matter on the track.

Another purpose is to provide a novel spacing member in which the antifriction balls are mounted, and to connect this spacer to the door so that it will be permanently associated with the door, but will be capableof longitudinal sliding movements relatively thereto.

Another and important obj-ect is to provide a door carrying mechanism whereby the movement of the door is checked as it approaches the limits of its opening and closing positions. i

A further object of this invention is-to provide 'a door carrying mechanism including anti-friction members interposed be tween the door and its support in which the anti-friction members are connected Vto the support in a manner which will permit a limited sliding longitudinal movement between the door and said members, this relative movement being checked near the final movements of the door as the saine approaches its open or closed position in order to interpose a frictional checking action `between the door and support tothereby prevent violent slamming of the door against its stops. i.

Another feature of the invention resides in improved means for forcing the door inwardly as it approaches the limits of its travel, and for automatically locking the door in both fully opened and fully closed position so as to preclude the same from slamming back and forth `when the, car is in transit. 'Other objects and vadvantages of this invention should be readily appreciated as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings: j

F ig.` 1 is a fragmentary side elevation 0f a. car equipped with my invention;

Q Fig. 2 is a detail of one of the door locking devices; Y

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the door shownin Fig. l;

Figli is a similar view of a inodiied construction;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of my improved` spacers;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 7 is a` view similar to Fig. 5 of a inodiied form of spacer;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof; and

Fig. 9 is an inside view of the supporting track.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, reference character 11 indicatesl generally the side wall of a car provided with the usual door opening, and the customary front and rear door stops 12 and 13, respectively. A door 14 is adapted to close the door opening, and ismounted to slide back and forth paiillel with and outside of the car side wa To the lintel 15 of the car there is fixedly attached by bolts 16, or otherwise, a door supporting track which in the form illustrated in Fig. `3 comprises an angle bar 17, mounted with the horizontal flange projecting inwardly toward the side wall of the car. A similar angle bar 18, providing a hanger, is fixed tothe inner face of the door 14, and has its horizontal `flange projecting outwardly over the horizontal flange of the track. Between the horizontal flanges of the track and hanger are disposed a plurallity of antifriction balls 19, adapted to travel Yze braclret members 22 are attached, preferably by rivets 23. These brackets are also apertured so that the balls project downwardly to engage the track. 1t will be apparent, therefore, that the balls are maintained in predetermined spaced relation by this spacer, which travels together with the balls longitudinally of the track, as the door is opened and closed. The door being carried by the balls 19, it will ordinarily move relatively to the spacer at the same rate and in the same direction as the spacer moves relatively to the track.

The spacer bar 21 and the balls 19 are 'connected to the hanger `in a manner which will permit a limited sliding longitudinal movement between the door and said balls. @his relative mo'vei'nent is checked, as will be explained, near the lin'al movements of the door as the Asame approaches its `open or closed position, in order to interpose a frictional checking action between the door and Ltrack to thereby 'prevent vio-lent slamming of the door against its stops. To this end Vthe spacer bar 21 vis provided between the balls with an elongated slot 24, through which a bolt 25, depending from the horizontal flange 26 of the hanger projects. rllhe head of this bolt being wider than the slot 24, serves to attach the spacer to the hanger, but at the same time a limited amount of sliding movement of the spacer relatively to 'the hanger is permitted, said boltv being adapted to abut the ends of the slot 211 near the final movements of the door to check such relative movement of the spacer. ldlhen the relative movement between the balls and the door i's checked, the balls instead of functioning as antifrictional members between'the hanger and the track, will introduce a Vfrietional checking action therebetween, resulting in a retardation of the finalv movements of the door.

1in the modiiied form ofrspacer illustrated in higs. 7 'and 8, the ends of the spacer bar are turned inwardly, as indicated at 2S, providing thereby retainers for the balls, which perform thevsame function as the retaining bracket 22, previously described.

`In order to prevent theV spacer and antiffriction balls from riding too far on the track so as to prevent the-spacer from being in proper position t'o permit relative movement with respect tolthe door when the `saine is subsecpdfmtly operated, the horizontal flange of the traclr 17 is provided as shown in Fig. 9 with upwardly extending projec tions 30, which, in the present instance, are struck up from the metal of the flange itself. rlhese projections are spaced apart and relatively to the extremities of the door move- -ment so that the spacer is adapted to abut against one of such projections in the `path of the vspacer-whenever there has not been free relative movement between the spacer and the hanger. as for example, whenever the friction between the bolt 25 and the har 21 should become so great as to prevent relative movement between the spacer and hanger. rllhue, the lugs 30 insure relative moven'ient between the sp: ce' and hanger during an opening` or closing movement of the door, and also insure the proper relative position of the spacer with respect to the `hanger when the door comes to rest in open or closed position, so that relative moven'ient will be permitted between the spacer and hanger upon a Subsequent operation of the door.

At the upper cornersl of the door. and also intermediate the ciu'le` thereof, if dcsired, there are lixedly secured reinforcing plates 29, which perform the dual function of reinforcing the door and also ol' preventing the door from contacting with the outer face of the car side wall as the door is moved baci: and forth. in ordinary car conf-truction the outer face of the side wall is spaced inwardly an inch or more from the outer plane of the door opening, and as will he apparent from Fig. 3, the plates 2S) are provided with upward elvtensions 31. which, when the door in closed position as shown in Fig. 3, clear the outer face of the track 17. llilhen the door is opened` however, or duringl; its opening and elosingij movements, inward movement of the upper edge of the door into contact with the opposed side wall of the car is prevented by engagement of these extensions with the outer face of the track, which, therefore, prevent contact between the door and the side wall, and preclude scratching and other injury which would result from such conv tact.

The lower edge of the door iz: guided in any suitable manner, and in the present in stance it is shown as equipped with a -har 32, the downwardly projecting;l llange ol` which is disposed inwardly of g i'dng brackets Si by which the lower edge of the` door is held in position.

lln the modilied constriu'lion shown in Fig. il, the tra-ck 35 is shaped to extend outwa rdly beyond, instead of beingl divil'iozfed honeath, the lintel Se. ln this instance. also, the hanger Si' is of the same shane :is the track, although a hanger similar to that shown in Fig. 3 mi@` t he employed with this form of track if ilesired. Y

For the purpose o1 locking the door' in both open and closed positions, i have provided automatic lockingl means coinprining front and rear dogs Q and 39, pivo'tally d() mounted adjacent the stops 12 and 1&3 upon pivot bolts i1 and Each dog is provided intermediate its ends with a vertically disposed slot i3 through which a holt ll-ft ei;- tends into the door stop. The inner end of each dog is provided with a depending latch lll) lou

45, beveled at its side toward the door so that the outwardly projecting" flanges a6, one of which `is formed atveach end of the door reinforcingbar 47, will lift' the dogas the door approaches the limit of its movement, whereupon the latch Ll5 will ride over the flange and then drop so as to prevent reverse movement of the door; The locking dogs also serve to hold the locked edge of the door against outward movement away from the car structure, and forthe purpose of wedging the door toward the car side wall, the inner end of each dog is beveled, as indicated at 418, Fig. 2, so that the door is forced inwardly as it approaches the limit of its travel.

VIn addition to these locking devices, which are adapted to automatically lock the door in both open or closed positions, the dooris preferably equipped with a locking and sealing device, indicated generally by reference character Li9 (Fig. l), by which the car may be locked and sealed to protect the lading. This locking and sealing device may be of any preferred construction, the particular form illustrated being disclosed in a copen'ding application.` a

It is believedtliat my invention, its preferred construction, and its many advantages will'be understood from the foregoing without further description, and obviously, the structural details may be varied within considerable limits, without departing` from the l spirit of the invention, as defined in the fol lowing claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a supporting track, a sliding door, antifriction balls by, which said Ydoor is supported from the track, a spacer connecting said balls, said spacer comprising a perforated bar and perforated means for maintaining the balls in engagement with the bar, and a slidable connection between said spacer and the door, permitting relative movement between said spacer and door.

2.V The combination of'asliding door, a

supporting track, a spacer between the door and track and extending a distance slightly greater than one half the width of the door, said spacer having angular portions near its ends each including a spaced flange, each of said portions having apertures therein in vertical alignment, one of the apertures being in the flange and ball bearings retained in said portions and projecting through the apertures to engage `the door and track and give support to the door.

3. The combination of a sliding door, a hanger therefor, a supporting track, anti friction members by which said door is slidably carried upon said track, a spacer connecting the anti-friction members, said spacer and anti-friction members being in terposed between the hanger and track, the

spacer and anti-friction members being adapted for free traveling" movement during the greater part of the door movement, means for engaging the spacer and checking the relative movement of the spacer and anti-friction members carried thereby with respect to the door `as the door approaches the limit of its opening or closing movement in either direction to thereby convert the anti-friction members into friction members and cushion the linal opening or closing `movements of the door.

ll. The combination of a sliding door, a supporting track, a hanger by which said door is suspended from the track, anti-friction balls between said track and said hanger, a spacer connecting said balls, said spacer and anti-friction balls being movable relative to the hanger and track during the greater portion ofthe door opening or closing movements, abutnients carried by the track inthe path of movement of the spacer to stop `the longitudinal movement of the spacer the door approaches the limits of its full opening or closing positions to thereby insure relative movement between the spacer and door. l

The combination of a supporting track, a slidable door, a hanger by which said door is suspended from said track, anti-friction balls interposed between said hanger 'and said track, a spacer connectingsaid balls, means for slidably `connectingsaid spacer with said hanger, said spacer having a free slidable movement relative to the hanger and track during the greater portion of the opening or closing movements of the door, means for stopping the relative movements of the spacer and anti-friction balls carried thereby with respectto the door when the door approaches its full opening or closing movements, to thereby convert the anti-friction balls into friction devices and cushion the final opening or closing movements of the door.

6. The combination of a supporting track, a sliding door, anti-friction balls by which said door is supported from the track, a spacer' connecting said balls, said spacer comprising a perforatedbar and perforated means for maintaining the balls in engagement with the bar, a slidable connection between the spacer and the door, permitting relative movement between the spacer and the door during the greater portion of the opening or closing movements of the door, means for stopping the relative movement of the spacer with respect to the door to thereby cause the balls to exert a frictional resistance between the door and the track during the continued final closing or opening movements of the door, to thereby check and cushion such final movements of the door.

7. The combination of a sliding door, a

supporting `track therefor, a hanger by which said door issuspended upon the track, said hangerfand Ytrack being of substantially -U-shaped-ormation and adapted for inter- Afitting relation, to provide a space therebetween, anti-:friction balls interposed between Vsaid :hanger and track and itting Within the space between the track and hanger, aspacer Vconnecting said balls, the spacer and balls being adapted for free relative movement during the greater portion of the door opening',v means fer stopping the relative longitudinal travel or' the spacer and balls With respect to the door las the door approaches its ft'ull `opening or closing movements, said rmeans upon a continued movement of the f'door causing frictional resist- Vance nf the balls Lbetween the hanger and -for engaging `.the spacer as the door ap-l proaohes its full open `or closed position .to change the relative movement .of the spacer with respect to the door to thereby cause :escasas the balls to introduce a -trictional resistance between the track and door.

9. The combination of a sliding door, a supporting track, a longitudinal member by which the door is connected to the track, antiifriction means by which said door is slidably carried upon said track, said means being interposed between said member and track, said means being adapted for tree traveling movement during the greater part oi the door movement7 means tor engaging said first means and changing the relative movement thereof With respect to said member as the door approaches the limit of its opening or closing movement in either direction to thereby convert tbc antiitriction means into a friction means and cushion the linal opening or closing movements ot the door.

1G. The combination o' a sliding door, a supportinfY track, a longitudinal member by which said door is connected to the track, antii'riction means between said track and member7 said means being movable relative to said member and track during a greater part of the door opening or closing movement, and abutments carried by the track in the path of movement of said means to stop the longitudinal movement thereof after the door approaches the limits of its opening or closing positions to thereby insure relative movement between said means and door.

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