US2069883A - Lock for the door of a refrigerator truck or car - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1937. c. R. HENNICKE LOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCK OR CAR Filed July 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 9, 1937. c. R. HENNICKE LOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCK OR CAR Filed July 2, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I C M2 R'TW qfi i mwgew Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNHTEE STATES PATENT GFFEE LOOK FOR THE DOOR OF A REFRIGERATOR TRUCK 0R CAR tion of Connecticut Application July 2, 1935, Serial No. 29,501

13 Claims.

This invention relates to latch mechanism adapted not only to secure a closure to a frame, body or the like, but also to shift the closure by the operation of the mechanism itself. The invention relates furthermore to protection against unauthorized access past the closure by a lock which will automatically secure an actuating member of the latch mechanism in looking position when the operator shuts the closure and turns the actuating member to locking position. The invention has particular utility for securing the door of a refrigerator body in closed position.

Latch mechanisms having one or more bolts which are reciprocated into engagement with the frame of the door or other like closure are not well adapted for closures for refrigerators unless the mechanism is so arranged that the bolts exert a pressure inwardly on the closure. Latch mechanisms of this type, when used on the closures of refrigerators, have usually been mounted on the outside of the closure. Some sort of linkage or lever action has generally been necessary to provide for exerting the necessary inward pressure on the closure. This has resulted in a complicated mechanism involving numerous working joints and rods which not only are unsightly on the outside surface of the closure, but interfere with the lettering or decorative work which is frequently used on refrigerator bodies of the vehicle type.

While attempts have been made to place the latch mechanism on the inside of the refrigerator body, such attempts have not been successful for the reason that more release of the latch mechanism is frequently not enough to bring about opening of the closure. The latter becomes frosted in place; and it is a common occurrence to find the closure held tight by the frost.

I have overcome this difficulty by providing a mechanism, placed for the most part on the inside of the refrigerator body, which exerts an inward pressure on the door in closing, and reverses itself in opening so as to pry the closure loose in case the latter should have become frosted. The inward pressure in closing makes sure that the packing around the closure shall be placed under pressure and make a tight seal. The pressure in the reverse direction, which is brought about during opening, pries the closure loose even though the frost tends to hold it tight.

A further difficulty in connection with the closing of refrigerator doors and the like, especially when mounted as a part of a truck or other vehicle, has been the reluctance on the part of the operator to go to the trouble of properly locking the door or other closure during intervals when the operator is not loading or unloading the refrigerator. Heretofo're, it has been customary to provide the latch mechanism with a padlock to prevent thievery due to unauthorized opening of the door or other closure. Even though the padlock or the like might be ample protection when used, such an arrangement has not proved satisfactory because the operator is unwilling to take the time to insert the padlock and make sure it is securely locked. The use of the padlock complicates rapid opening and closing of the door when a delivery is being made by the driver of a refrigerator truck; and it customarily happens that the driver, of his own accord, fails to use the padlock provided. Thefts of the merchandise carried are of course a frequent result of such laxity.

I provide a lock-controlled catch which cooperates with the actuating member of the latch mechanism to secure said member in locking position. This catch automatically drops into locking position when the actuating member is thrown by the operator, and it is not necessary for him to go to the trouble of inserting a padlock. Accordingly, as the action of the catch is automatic, he cannot close the door without locking the same. It is a simple matter to insert the ey and by a single movement open the closure by turning the actuating member from looking to releasing position.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention,

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the latch mechanism and cooperating lock as applied to a closure, such as a door of a refrigerator body, the closure being indicated by chain lines and the latch mechanism, even the parts which would be hidden by the closure, being shown in full lines;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views illustrating a bolt of the latch mechanism in closed position and in opening position respectively; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a keeper to be mounted in the frame to cooperate with a bolt.

The latch mechanism has one or more bolts 8 for engaging each a keeper 9 mounted in the frame F. The bolt 8 is fixed on the outer end of a rod I I, being secured thereto as by rivets. Bolt actuated from a central casing l2 mounted. on the inside of the closure C. This casing contains a rack 14 meshing with the gear teeth of an actuating gear l5 (see Fig. 1). 'In the parage causes arcuate, movement of the bolt in mov-' ing into and out of its keeper.

' and from locking position.

ticular. embodiment shown, there are oppositely arranged rods II and bolts 8; and accordingly a second rack I4 engages the opposite side of the gear l5, thus balancing the forces when the bolts are actuated. It is obvious, however, that the.

'pair of links 20 pivoted at one end to the pin [9.

and pivoted'at the other end to a pin 2| carried by a, bracket 22 on the closure C. This bracket is'fastened to the inside surface of the closure in line with the actuating gear I5. When the gear is rotated (in a counterclockwise direction as seenin Fig. 1) the rods I l are thrust outwardly from the. chain line position of Fig. 2 to the fullline position to force the bolts 8 into the keepers 9 mounted in the frame F. When the gear is rotated in the opposite direction, the bolts are withdrawn from the keepers. The link- Toward the end of the outward movement of a bolt (when it has entered its keeper) the links tend'toward a vertical position. The bolt accordingly is swung inwardly toward the closure C and, having made contact with the keeper, pulls the closure inwardly. The reverse movement of the gear l5, and consequently of the bo1t,;causes thelatter to swing arcuately, in leavingthe keeper. The links 20 then move toward a horizontal position (see Fig. 5) and there is an outward or opening thrust exerted through the linkage against the closure C.

By reason of the reaction arising from the arcuate movement of the bolt 8 when the racks M are thrust outwardly by the gear l5, the closure is drawn tight against packing provided between a the same and the frame F. This is particularly advantageous in connection with a closure for a refrigerator body. The reaction arising from the from the frame.

'shut hard enough partially to compress the packing. Bevel 25 makes provision for. the opposite extreme when thedoor cannot be shut easily'to such a position as to allow the bolt to enter the keeper. In other words, both bevels combine to" give an increased range of pick up to the bolts of approximately the thickness of the bolt itself. So far as the essential operation 'of'the, latch mechanism is concerned, however, these bevels play no part, and they may be omitted.

The mechanism thus far described is hidden and inaccessible from the outside of the closure.

The shaft 21 on which the gear I5 is mounted, is provided with a squared shank engaged within a corresponding opening in the gear 15; and a substantial handle 28 is fixed on the shaft 21 on the outside of the closure C for rotating the gear, and accordingly operating the latch mechanism. A catch is provided at the locking position of the handle; and with this catch coooperates a keyoperated lock for controlling releasing movement of the catch. The handle is preferably a lever 'bodiment shown in the drawings), or intermediate its ends. The catch may be mounted on the i0 fixed to the shaft 21 either at one end (the emclosure itself; but I prefer to mount the catch on the frame 'F alongside the door. The handle28 carries an abutment3l] housed by a portion 3| of the handle. The catch 32 itself is mounted .on

a pivot 33 within the housing 34 of the catch bracket. The catch or trigger 32 is positioned by a spring 36 'so as to yield when its beveled nose 3'! is engaged by the abutment 30, and then drop A key-operated lock in behind the abutment 30.

39, which is preferably of the cylinder type, is T provided in the catch bracket 34; and when' this;

lock is turned by'its key a depending end'lll of the catch or trigger is engaged so as to rotate the catch and release the abutment As is usual'with such cylinder locks, the key' .catch or trigger 32. to automatically lock the e handle in such position. The housing" portion 3| of the handle 28 cooperates with the catch bracket 34 to house the catch 32 and prevent tampering therewith. This housing portion 3i includes a recess for accdmmodating, the upper end 31 of the catch 32, and furthermore includes ribs 3la which overlap the bracket 34on its exposed sides so as to prevent insertion of even a thin imple merit for forcing thelock.

.-- J.l2he mechanism just described makes it possible "for the operator to'close the closure quickly without thought as to locking the same. The handle 28, in swinging to horizontal position, forces the bolt or bolts 8 toward the closure so as to.

tightly compress the packing. The latch mechanism is so arranged that the maximum pressure is reached by the time the handle is in its horizontal or looking position; and at this time the spring-actuated catch snaps into locking engagement'with' the abutment 30 in the handle; and

it is impossible to lift the handle again without; using the key to trip the catch. Accordingly, the

operator locks the door and compresses the pack-.

ing in one continuous motion confined to a quar The relation between the latch mechanism and the spring-actuated catch as provided by my invention is an advantageous one. The gear I5 is of such a size relative to each rack I4 that a quarter turn of the gear shifts each bolt 8 from retracted position to the position in which maximum pressure is exerted tohold the closure against the frame. It is the spring-actuated catch 32 which holds the handle 28 in this position with the packing under compression. The turning of the lock and tripping of the trigger or catch 32 releases the handle which is the actuating member maintaining such pressure. Accordingly, the movement of the handle from the horizontal position shown in Fig. l to vertical position, thereby fully retracting the bolts 8, is facilitated. The arrangement has proved to be both a convenient one for rapid opening and closing, and also an effective precaution against leaving the door unlocked between stops, since the operator in moving the handle to horizontal position to close the door automatically locks the handle in such position.

While I have illustrated and described the form of my invention which I at present prefer, it will be understood that the invention may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt on the inside of the closure for engaging the frame, said bolt being movable away from and toward the closure and means having an actuating member on the outside of the closure for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions, said means forcing the bolt away from the closure against a portion of the frame during movement to the first-named position so as to tend to open the closure.

2. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt on the inside of the closure for engaging the frame, said bolt being movable away from and toward the closure and means having an actuating member on the outside of the closure for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions, said means forcing the bolt away from the closure against a portion of the frame during movement to the firstnamed position and forcing the bolt toward the closure against a portion of the frame during movement to the last-named position.

3. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame having a keeper, said mechanism comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means for actuating the bolt to released and engaged positions, and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for thrusting the closure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper to released position.

4. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame having a keeper, said mechanism comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means for actuating the bolt to released and engaged positions, and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure to the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position and for thrusting the closure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper to released position.

5. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism for shifting a movable clo sure relative to the frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt on the inner surface of the closure for engaging the keeper, and means for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions, said means including a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure to the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position, the movement of said bolt relative to said closure being arcuate and the keeper being disposed sufficiently below the center of the are so that the inward component of such movement increases as the bolt becomes engaged.

6. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to the frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means for reciprocating the bolt toward and from the keeper, and a linkage adjacent the outer end of the bolt connecting the bolt to the closure so as to cause the bolt to move arcuately relative to the closure and engage the keeper during retracting movement for prying the closure open.

7. In combination with a frame having a keeper, latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to the frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means for reciprocating the bolt toward and from the keeper, and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure to the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position and for thrusting the closure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper to released position.

8. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame having a keeper, comprising a bolt for engaging the keeper, means pivoted thereto for actuating the bolt to released and engaged positions, and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure to the frame as the bolt moves to engaged position and for thrusting the closure away from the frame as the bolt moves relative to the keeper to released position, the end of the bolt having beveled portions for engaging the keeper during locking movement of the bolt, one facing toward the closure and the other facing away from the closure.

9. In combination with latch mechanism for a closure, said mechanism having an actuating lever oscillatable in a plane parallel to the closure to locking and unlocking positions, means for securing said lever in locking position comprising a resiliently positioned catch pivoted to oscillate in a plane parallel to the closure and engageable with said lever when in locking position, a housing for said catch, and a key-operated lock for controlling releasing movement of said catch, said lever having ribs overlapping said housing when said lever is in looking position so as to prevent tampering with said catch.

10. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a frame and for securing the closure thereto comprising a bolt for engaging the frame, means for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions, said means including an actuating member on the outside of the closure swingable to locking and unlocking positions and a linkage connecting the bolt to the closure for pulling the closure against a portion of the frame during movement to engaged position, said actuating member being so connected to the bolt that the member tends to swing away from locking position because of the pressure on the bolt, and means for securing said member in looking position against torque thus imparted thereto by the bolt comprising a resiliently positioned catch engageable with said member when in looking position and a key-operated lock for controlling releasing movement of said catch.

ll. Mechanism for securing a movable closure to a frame including a securing bolt, a lever oscillatable to locking and unlocking positions, said lever having a cavity in the lower side thereof and an abutment extending transversely of the lever within the'cavity, operative connections between the lever and bolt for actuating the' 12. Latch mechanism for shifting a movable closure relative to a refrigerator body having a frame and a keeper adjoining the frame on the inside of the body, comprising in combination a' bolt on the inner surface'oi the closure adapted to cooperate with the keeper, a linkage on the inner surface of the closure mounting said bolt for swinging movement relative to the closure,

said linkage extending inward from the-closure to the bolt so as to pull the closure to the frame to make sealing engagement therewith as the bolt is pushed into its keeper, and means for moving the bolt to released and engaged positions.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the moving means includes mechanism on the inner surface of the closure connected to the bolt and an actuating member therefor on the outer side of the closure.

' CARL R. HENNICKE.

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