US2044040A - Journal box lid - Google Patents

Description

June 16, .1936. G. A. wooDMAN Filed Dec. 29, 1955 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 16, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to journal box lids of the kind used on railway equipment and the primary object is to forcibly hold the lid in box closing position by spring tension which may be relieved when the lid is being attached or detached from the box to thereby facilitate installation and removal of the lid.

Further objects of' the invention are to provide a novel journal box lid which may be effectively held in open or closed positions by a replaceable spring; which will be self-adjusting so as to conform to any irregularities in the box and effectively close the open side thereof to prevent egress of grease or the like and ingress of a foreign matter such as dust and the like; which may be installed or removed by ordinary readily available tools; and which will include a spring-urged lever for distributing the spring effect to insure proper functioning of the lid. t

A selected embodiment of the invention is illus- 'trated in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is an elevational View of the lid and in which 4certain parts of the lid are broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 on Fig. l and showing the lid in box closing position;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the lid in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view taken substantially on the line 1 4 on Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective detail View of a lever employed in the lid.

The preferred embodiment of my novel journal box lid illustrated in the accompanying drawing is shown with a fragmentally illustrated journal box 5 which has a medially located boss l on the upper side thereof. The lid includes a plate 8 adapted to close the open side of the box 6 and this plate is provided with a depending peripheral flange 9 adapted to overlie the margins of the outer sides of the box 6 and preferably the flange is slightly spaced from the outer sides of the box to insure seating of the lid against the front edges of the box.

Spaced bosses I0 and I I are provided along the upper edge of the plate 8 and have elongated openings l2 (Fig. 4) therein. An opening I3 is provided in the boss I and a pintle I4 neatly passes through the opening I3 and this pintle also passes through the elongated openings I2. The openings I2 are elongated substantially transversely of the open side of the box 6 and the normal dimension of the openings I2 is substantially equal to the diameter of the pintle I4. Thus, the plateB Vis so mounted that it may be swung to and from closing position relative to the open side of the box 6 and it is movable relative to the front edges of the box and therefore the plate may adjust itself to any irregularities in the box to tightly close the open side of the box and this permissive relative movement combined with the peripheral flange 9 insures against egress of grease or the like from the box and at the same time prevents ingress of dust or the like into the box. Preferably one end of the pintle I4 is headed as indicated at I6 and this headed end, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, engages the outer side of the boss II. The other end of the pintle is peened over as indicated at I'I and this peened end engages the outer side of the boss I0, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. A handle I8 is provided along the edge of the lid opposite that on which the bosses IE) and II are provided to facilitate movement of the lid to and from closing position.

It is desirable that the plate 8 be rmly held against the open side of the box 6 but it is also necessary that the plate 8 be arranged to be movable from this position so as to afford access into the box to permit inspection, replacement of grease and the like, and when the lid is moved into open position it is advantageous to retain it in such position. I therefore provide yieldable means for holding the lid both in open and closed position and this yieldable means includes a lever against which a spring acts and this lever serves to so distribute the effect of the spring that the lid is effectively held in either its open or closed positions.

A lever of this kind is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5 and is indicated generally by I9. A foot portion 20 is provided at one end of the lever I9 and this foot portion is adapted to rest against the boss l. The lever also includes upstanding ribs 2l and 22 and arms 23 and 24 are respectively provided on these ribs adjacent the end of the lever opposite that provided with the foot portion 20. An opening 25 is provided in the body of the lever intermediate the ribs 2| and 22 and in subistantial alignment with the arms 23 and 24.

A pocket 26 is provided substantially medially in the plate 8 and a flange 2l (Fig. 2) overlies the lower margin of this pocket. A lug28 projects outwardly from the bottom of the pocket 26 and is adapted to pass through the opening 25 in the lever I9 when this lever is mounted on the plate 8 with the end portion 29 thereof (located at the end of the lever opposite the foot portion 20) arranged in the pocket 26 below the flange 21. An opening 30 Vis provided in the lug 28 and a 2mal cotter pin 3| is adapted to be passed through this opening 28 so that the lever I9 will be held between this cotter pin 3I and the bottom of the pocket 28.

The spring which acts on the lever I9 is mounted on this lever prior to the time the lever is fastened to the lid. The spring is generally indicated by 32 and is made from a single strip of material which is bent to provide a medially located substantially U-shaped portion, the bight 33 of which portion is rested in a groove 34 in the lever I9 at the inner end of the foot portion 20. The limbs of the U-shaped portion of the spring terminate in coils 35 respectively disposed about the arms 23 and 24 on the lever I9. The springalso includes arms 36 which extend substantialy parallel with but which are spaced from the plate 8 and these arms terminate in rounded end portions 31.

A cap generally indicated by 38 is provided which covers the spring 32, lever I9 and pocket 26, and this cap also partially covers the bosses 1, I and II. The cap includes inwardly extending side walls 39 which have openings therein through which the pintle I4 is passed so that the cap 38 is mounted for pivotal movement about this pintle and corresponding edges of these side walls rest on the plate 8 when the cap is in closing position. The end portions 37 of the spring rest against the inner surface of the cap when the cap is in closing position and the spring is thereby tensioned. The front end of the cap is provided with an opening 4U and when the cap is grasped at the opening it may be pivoted away from the plate 8 so as to expose the spring 32, lever I9 and pocket 26 and when the cap 38 is so pivoted tension on the spring is relieved.

The front and top surfaces of the boss 'l are flattened as respectively indicated at 4I and 42 and the foot portion of the lever I9 respectively bears against these surfaces 4I and 42 when the lid is in the closed and open positions.

The spring 32 is tensioned when the cap 38 is in closed position relative to the plate 8 and at all other times tension is relieved on this spring and for this reason installation of my novel lid is facilitated for it is not necessary to insert the pintle against the action of the spring because the cap is held out of closing position during assembly. In assembling the lid on a journal box, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the pintle I4 is first passed through the opening in the boss II and then through the opening in one of the side walls 39 and then through the opening in the boss 1, through the opening in the other side walls 39 and the opening in the boss I0 whereupon the end of the pintle is peened over or otherwise fastened in position. Prior to this time the lever I9 and the spring 32 will have been assembled on the plate 8 but since the spring is not under tension, the lever may move freely, within limits sufficient to permit assembly. However, as soon as the pintle is fast in position the cap 38 is pivoted into closing relation with the plate 8 whereupon the spring 32 is tensioned and the spring thereupon acts on the lever I9 medially between the ends thereof with the result that the foot portion 28 is effectively urged into engagement with the surface 4I, when the lid is in closing position, and that part of the lever immediately about the opening therein engages the bottom of the pocket 26 and effectively holds the lid in engagement with the front edges of the box. When the handle I 8 is grasped and the plate 8 is moved away from the open front side of the box 6, the plate 8 and the cap 38 pivot about the pintle I 4 as a unit and the foot portion 2U slides over the surface 4I and after passing the corner at the juncture of the surfaces 4I and 42, the lid may be said to have passed over center and the spring 32 will so act that the lid will be retained in the open position, full open position being illustrated in Fig. 3. If the spring should break or if for other reason a replacement is desired, the cap 38 is pivoted from closing position whereupon the vspring 32 and the lever I9 are exposed and lthe cotter pin may be expeditiously removed to permit removal of the lever I9 and the spring 32 and it should be remembered that Vwhen the cap 38 is pivoted from closing position relative to the plate 8 the tension on the spring is relieved which facilitates removal of this spring and the lever I9.

My novel journal box lid may be expeditiously installed on or removed from a journal box for the reason that the spring tension on the lid may be expeditiously relieved but the lid is effectively held in its open or closed positions by spring tension and an over-center arrangement after installation thereof. Moreover, the spring and its cooperating parts are effectively concealed which will mitigate the likelihood of damage thereto. Furthermore, inasmuch as the lid is mounted for self-adjustment and as it includes a protecting flange, the box will be effectively closed by the lid which will prevent egress of grease or the like and ingress of dirt or the like, the advantage of which is obvious.

I have illustrated the preferred form of my invention but it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modication and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims:

I claim:

1. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid, a pintle pivotally connecting said lid to said bearing boss whereby said lid may be moved to and from closing position relative to the open side of said box, a lever, means including a removable part for attaching said lever to said lid, spring means mounted on said lever and having a part acting on said lever to hold said lid in box closing position, and releasable means for tensioning said spring, said releasable means being mounted on said pintle for movement relative to said lid, said pintle retaining said lid and said releasable means in pivotal connection with the bearing boss on said box when said releasable means is moved relative to said lid to release tension on said spring to permit removal of said lever and said spring.

2. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid, a pintle pivotally connecting said lid to said bearing boss whereby said lid may be moved to and from closing position relative to the open side of said box, a lever having one end thereof rested on said bearing boss and the other end thereof rested on said lid, means including a removable part for detachably connecting said lever to said lid, spring means mounted on said lever and having a part acting on said lever to hold said lid in box closing position, and releasable means for tensioning said spring, said releasable means being mounted on said pintle for movement relative to said lid, said pintle retaining said lid and said releasable means in pivotal connection with the bearing boss on said box when said releasable means is moved relative to said lid to release tension on said spring to permit removal of said lever and said spring.

3. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid, a pintle pivotally connecting the lid to said bearing boss whereby said lid may be moved to and from closing position relative to the open side of said box, a lever having arms thereon, means including a removable part for detachably connecting said lever to said lid, a spring including coiled portions disposed about said arms to connect said spring to said lever, said spring having a part intermediate said coiled portions engaged with said lever and having a second part extending substantially parallel with but spaced from said lid, and releasable means engageable with said second part of said spring to tension the coiled portions of said spring to urge said intermediate part into engagement with said lever and thereby hold said lid in box closing position, said releasable means being mounted on said pintle for movement relative to said lid, said pintle retaining said lid and said releasable means in pivotal connection with the bearing boss on said box when said releasable means is moved relative to said lid to release tension on the coiled portions of said spring to permit removal of said lever and said spring.

4. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid pivotally connected to said bearing boss and movable to and from closing position relative to the open side of said box, a lever, means including a removable part for detachably connecting said lever to said lid, spring means mounted on said lever and including a part acting on said lever, and means pivotally connected to said bearing boss to be movable independently of the lid and engageable with said spring means to tension said spring means and apply pressure on said lever to hold said lid in box closing position and adapted to be moved independently of the lid to be disengaged from said spring means to release the tension on said lever whereby said lever and spring means may be removed without alteration of the pivotal connection of said lid to said box.

5. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid pivotally connected to said bearing boss and movable to and from closing position relative to the open side of said box, a lever, means including a removable part for detachably connecting said lever to said lid, springs means mounted on said lever and including a part acting on said lever, and a cap mounted on said bearing boss to be movable with and independently of said lid and covering said lever and spring means and adapted to tension said spring means to hold said lid in box closing position and adapted to be moved independently of said lid and away from said lid to release the tension on said spring means whereby said spring means and lever may be removed without alteration of the pivotal connection of said lid to said box.

6. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including bearing portions, a pintle extending through said bearing portions and said bearing boss to pivotally connect said lid to said box, a lever including a part resting on said bearing boss and another part resting on said lid, the last named part of said lever having an opening therein, a lug on said lid extending through said opening, means engaging said lug to prevent displacement of said lever from said lid, a spring including coiled portions and having a part intermediate said coiled portions engaged with said lever and having parts extendingV from said coiled portions, and means engaged with the extending parts of said spring toV tension said coiled portions whereby the intermediate part of said spring acts on said lever to hold said lid in the closed or open positions thereof relative to the open side of said journal box.

'7. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including bearing portions, a pintle extending through said bearing portions and said bearing boss to pivotally connect said lid to said box, a lever including a part resting on said bearing boss and another part resting on said lid, the last named part of said lever having an opening therein, a lug on said lid extending through said opening, means engaging said lug to prevent displacement of said lever from said lid, said lever having arms thereon, a spring having coiled portions mounted on said arms and having a part intermediate said coiled portions bearing on said lever, said spring including arms, and means engaging said arms and tensioning said spring to render said spring effective on said lever whereby said lever acts to hold said lid in the closed or open positions thereof relative to the open side of said journal box.

8. In combination with a journal box having a bearing boss thereon, a lid including bearing portions, a pintle extending through said bearing portions and said bearing boss to pivotally connect said lid to said box, a lever including a part resting on said bearing boss and another part resting on said lid, the last named part of said lever having an opening therein, a lug on Y said lid extending through said opening, means engaging said lug to prevent displacement of said lever from said lid, said lever having arms thereon, a spring having coiled portions mounted on said arms and having a part intermediate said coiled portions bearing on said lever, said spring including arms, and a cap pivotally mounted on said pintle and engageable with the arms of said spring to tension said spring to act on said lever whereby said lever holds said lid in the open or closed positions thereof relative to the open side of said journal box, said cap being movable relative to said lid to permit disengagement thereof from the arms of said spring to thereby release the tension on said spring whereby said spring and lever may be removed from said lid without alteration of the pivotal connection of said lid to said bearing boss.

GEORGE A. WOODMAN.

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