US2501494A - Articulated journal box lid - Google Patents

Description

March 21, 1950 n. n. BRYANT 2,501,494

ARTICULATED JOURNAL BOX LID Filed Oct. .13, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 21, 1950 o. D. BRYANT 501 5 I ARTICULATED JOURNAL BOX LID Filed 001;. 13. 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21, 1950 D. D. BRYANT ARTICULA'IV'ED JOURNAL BOX LID 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Oct. 13, 1947 Patented Mar. 21, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIOULATED JOURNAL BOX LID Donald D. Bryant, Huntington, W. Va.

Application October 13, 1947, Serial No. 779,608

20 Claims.

1 This invention is a novel articulated lock-seal lid adapted to be fitted to journal boxes of standard freight car, passenger car, electric car or rolling stock, which boxes contain a journal brass, packing and oil, the journal box being mounted upon a wheeled axle. The present invention is an improvement upon the lock-seal lid shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 688,723, filed August 6, 1946, now Patent No. 2,498,245 dated February 21, 1950.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an articulated journal box lid embodying certain novel features of construction hereinafter set forth.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several practical embodiments thereof, to enable others familiar with the art to adopt and use the same; and will summarize in the claims the novel features of construction, and novel combinations of parts, for which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section on the line l-l Fig. 2 through the outer end of a journal box, showing my novel articulated lid applied ther to and showing the lid in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the lid open.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the projection lock detached.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the projection lock, shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modification of the articulated lockseal lid.

Fig. '7 is a vertical section on the line l--'l, Fig. 6.

The drawings show my novel articulated lockseal lid applied to a journal box for illustrativ purposes only.

As shown in Fig. 1, the standard journal box J has a rough-cast open outer end, over which opening my novel articulated lid is hingedly mounted, the opening being usually formed during the casting operation and left unfinished. Journal box J is provided with a standard hingelug J l on its top above the open end, said hingelug J l being provided with a bore J2 for a pintle pin 2 for the lid, the top face of lug J l sloping inwardly and downwardly substantially normal to the open outer end of the journal box, as indicated as J3 (Figs. 1 and 3), while the front face Jo or lug J l slopes substantially vertically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. standard construction as nearly all journal boxes have lugs formed in the above manner, and hence the journal box J forms no part of my present invention.

Hingedly mounted upon the pintle pin 2 of the lug J l is a Y-shaped member I, adapted to overlie the opening at the outer end of journal box J, said Y-shaped member I consisting of a resilient strip la disposed centrally of the opening of the journal box lid, the same having a T-shaped head lb disposed at approximately the center of the opening of the journal box J, and having upwardly extending legs lc at the ends of the head lb, which legs lc terminate at their upper ends in outwardly and downwardly extending loops ld, which loops terminate in cylindrical eyes le through which the pintle pin 2 extends, the eyes le being disposed at opposite sides of the lug J I By the above construction, the Y-shaped member I is hin edly mounted upon the pintle pin 2, the loops ld resiliently urging the Y shaped member l toward the opening of the journal box J when i the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to maintain the Y-shaped member in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower end of the member la has a return band I terminating in an eye lg, the outer end of which extends downwardly as at l h to form a hand-grip for unlocking the Y-shaped member I. Upon the outer face of journal box J, below the opening therein, is an L-shaped projection lock 3 (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5) preferably welded thereto or cast thereon, said projection having a downwardly extending lip 3a adapted to overlie the eye lg when the Y-shaped member I is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a roller 4 being journaled in the eye lg of Y-shaped member I so as to readily engage and disengage, from below, the lip 3a of projection lock 3. By the above construction, when the Y-shaped member I is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the roller 4 will underlie the lip 3a and will maintain the Y-shaped member l yieldably across the opening of the journal box J assisted by the resiliency of the loops Id at the upper end of the legs lc of the Y-shaped member I. When, however, the handle lh is pulled outwardly (to the right, Fig. 1), the resiliency of the member Ia will permit the roller 4 to roll under the lower end of lip 3a and thereby unlock the Y-shaped member I from its normal closed posi tion, so that the member I may be swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein same is disposed at an angle of substantially to the ,The above lug Jl is open end of the journal box to permit ready packing or servicing of the journal box J.

Mounted in an articulated manner upon the Y-shaped member I is a separate lid member 5 of shape corresponding with that of the opening of journal box J, the same being preferably of somewhat larger area than said opening and having inturned peripheral flanges 512. On the underside of lid 5 is a gasket retainer frame 6 of substantially the same shape as the lid 5 but of smaller size, frame 6 being preferably welded as as to to the lid 5. Frame 6 is provided with an out-turned lip, as shown, extending towards the flanges 5c, and a replaceable gasket I of a yieldable oil-resistant rubber-like material or other oil-resisting and pliable, yieldable material of shape corresponding to that of frame 6 is stretched over the frame 6 and positioned between the flanges 5a of lid 5 and the flanges of frame 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The gasket I is thus so disposed on the lid 5 that same will squarely contact the walls of the journal box J around the opening therein, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 to effect an oil-tight seal notwithstanding the rough finish of the box J around the opening. Gasket 'I is retained by the flanges 5a and the flange of frame 6 so thatit'will remain in place when the lid is raised, but gasket I is readily changeable or replaceable when the lid is open without removing the lid'from the journal box J.

In order to secure lid 5 to the Y-shaped member I, a connecting .plate 8 is provided, substantially of rectangular shape, plate-S overlying the T-shapedhead Ib and the upper end of member I a of the Y-shaped member I, said plate 3 having its four corners depressed as at 8a, rivets 9 passing through the depressed corners 8a and through the lid 5, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2. By the above construction, the central portions of the plate 8 are spaced from the lid 5 sufliciently to'permit the upper end of leg Ia and the T-shaped head lb of Y-shaped member I to loosely fit between the plate 8 and the lid 5, so that the lid 5 is susceptible of appreciable lateral, longitudinal, and angular movement with respect to the Y-shaped member I, limited by the clearance between the central portion of plate 8 and lid 5. thus permittin the lid 5 to articulate with respect to the Y-shaped member I.

The npper'end of plate 8 is offset outwardly to form a hood 8b, and its upper'end extends be tween the legs 10 of Y-shaped' member I, but is spaced therefrom; and in the closed position of lid 5 (Fig. 1) the upper end of same slightly overlaps the upper face J3 of the hinge-lug J I but is spaced above said upper face J 3. Below the hood portion 81) of plate 8 is a flat spring Ill, having a reverse bend Illa at itslower end securedby rivets I I or the like to the outer face of lid 5, said spring I 0 having its upper outer end rounded as at Illb and lying opposite but slightly spaced from the outer vertical face J4 of hinge-lug JI when the lid 5 is in closed position shown in Fig. 1. When however lid 5 is raised into position shown in Fig. 3, the rounded upper end It?) will ride over the upper end of outer face J4 of hinge-lug J I and will yieldably contact the upper face J3 of hingelug J l, as shown in Fig. 3, the spring It being flexed upwardly in such position so that the spring I ll, having its outer end flexed and seating upon the upper face J3 of hinge-lug JI will hold the lid 5 in its raised position shown in Fig. 3, thereby eliminating the necessity of the serviceman from having to hold the lid 5 open in order 4 to grease and check the condition of the journal box J.

In order to pivot the lid 5 on the Y-shaped member I the lid 5, at approximately its central point, is provided with an ofiset or raised button 51, which underlies the T-shaped head Ib of Y- shaped member I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said button 53: constantly contacting the underside of said T-shaped base Ib and serving as a pivot point so that the articulated lid 5 may assume diiferent positions having a slight angularity with respect to the plane of the Y-shaped member I. Thus the articulated lid 5 has a central button or bearing point 5m; also the Y-shaped member I extends over this central button 53: and crosses the lid 5 itself, and forms the handle for raising or locking closed the lid 5. When the lid 5 is closed the loops Id of hinges Is at the top of the Y-shaped member I force the lid 5 shut, and the handle Ih looks it by means of roller 4 at the front, this action permitting the middle section of the Y-shaped member I to rest on the center button 5a: formedor pressed outwardly in the lid 5, and thus permits the lidl5 to articulate under car movement; also to articulate in event the open face of the journal box becomes worn, or is not cast true or square with the pintle pin hole J2 of lug J also to articulate in event the lug J is not cast true or square with respect to the end face of journal box J; or to articulate by reason of other casting irregularities which would prevent the lid 5 from properly seating itself. To overcome these slight casting flaws or faults, articulation of the lid 5 is desirable. Should a casting face be slightly out of square or true, the lid 5 by articulation, i. e. tilting slightly about its central point, will seat itself to the irregular face to eiiectively seal the journal box opening.

Air holes 571. may be drilled or punched in this lid 5 as desired by the purchaser, the holes being drilled or punched through the lid 5 proper and covered by the hood 8?) which acts as a cover or shield for the air holes to prevent dirt or moisture from entering the journal box J, yet allowing air to circulate from the journal box under the hood 8b to the atmosphere. The hood interior may be filled with hair or fiber to act as a dust filter if desired.

A round steel ball may be fitted or otherwise seated into the raised center button 53; of the lid, so that the projecting portion of the steel ball may contact the T-shaped base lb of the Y- shaped member I facilitating articulation.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the Y-shaped locking member I is shown as applied to the lock-seal lid shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 688,723, filed August 6, 1946, similar parts being similarly numbered. In this modification, the lid'or-cover 5 is articulated with respect to the Y-shaped locking member I which latter is hingedly mounted as at Id, Ie to pintle pin 2, as in thepreceding figures, the articulating means consisting of the plate 8 which loosely embraces the base lb of the'Y-shaped member -I and is secured thereto'by the rivets '9 as'inthe preceding figures. However, the gasket securing frame 6 is omitted, but'the lid or cover 5 is provided with the peripheral flanges 5a., and the lid or cover 5 carries the spring I0 riveted thereto as in the preceding figures.

In this modification, a frame 29 (Fig. '7) of shape corresponding with the opening in'the end of journal box J is provided'across the open end thereof, the same carrying on its inner face a gasket 2| secured-thereon in any desired manner and contacting the end of the journal box around the opening, as in my co-pending application Serial No. 688,723. The frame carries on its outer face a gasket 22 (Fig. 7,) extending beyond the outer face thereof, gasket 22 being engaged directly by the inner face of the cover or lid 5 when the lid is closed, as shown in Fig. 7. Frame 20 is provided at its upper end with eyes 20a (Fig. 6) which are disposed between the hood 8b and the eyes le of Y-shaped member I, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, the eyes receiving the pintle pin- 2 and being connected with the frame it by means of strips 20b which are resilient so as to maintain the upper portion of frame 20 in firm contact with the end of the journal box around .the opening therein.

At the lower end of frame 20 is a resilient tongue 26c which enters the opening in the journal box and has its outer end 20d engaged with the inside of the journal box so as to resiliently hold the lower end of frame 20 in firm contact with the open end of the journal box around the opening therein. By the above construction, the frame 2!! will be maintained in firm contact with the journal box, and the gasket 2| will efiectively seal the joint between frame 20 and the journal box at all times. When the lid or cover 5 is in closed position, shown in Fig. '7, the gasket 22 will form a seal between the frame 20 and the cover 5.

In this modification, the projecting lug 3 shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5 is omitted.- However, the leg la of Y-shaped member 1 is formed in the same manner shown in the preceding figures, the same having the return bend l f and the handle portion ih with the roller 4 journaled therein, but roller ticulated thereto, to be raised into raised posi-,

tion, while the frame .20 will remain in the position shown in Fig. '7 in which position the frame 20 will not obstruct proper servicing of the journal box when the cover 5 is raised.

I do not limit my invention to the exact form shown in the drawings, for obviously changes may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An articulated lock-seal lid for journal boxes or the like having an end opening and having a hinge lug on its top above said opening carrying a horizontally disposed pintle pin, comprising a resilient member having resilient loops at the upper ends of its upper legs terminating in eyes engaging the pintle pin at opposite sides of the lug, said loops resiliently urging the upper end of the member towards the opening of the journal box; said member being adapted in one position to overlie said opening; means on the lower end of the member for maintaining the member positioned across the opening; a cover plate mounted on the said member for articulated movement with respect thereto and adapted in one position to close said opening; and means on the plate adapted to engage the top of the hinge lug when the plate and member are swung upwardly to hold same in such position. v

2. In a lid as set forth in claim 1, said member being Y-shaped.

lip and eye forming said maintaining means; and 7 said lower 'leg continuing downwardly below said eye.

4. In a lid as set forth in claim 1, a locking lug on said journal box below the opening having a downwardly extending lip; said lower leg of the member having a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lip, said member continuing downwardly below said eye; and a roller journaled in the eye adapted .to contact the rear face of the lip when the lid is closed; said lip and roller forming said maintaining means.

5. In a lid as set forth in claim 1, an open frame across said opening having eyes at its upper end engaged by said pintle pin, and having a tongue at its lower end entering the opening and resiliently engaging the inner wall of the journal box; the lower leg of the member having a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lower end of the frame and adapted to contact the rear face thereof'when the member is swung downwardlyacross the opening; said eye forming said maintaining means; and'said lower leg continuing downwardly below said eye.

6. In a lid as set forth in claim 1, said plate being disposed at the inner face .of the member; a connecting plate having its central portion ofiset outwardly to loosely cover the central portion of the member, said connecting plate being secured at its corners to the first plate; and said first plate having an outwardly extending button normally contacting the central portion of the member and forming the pivot point thereof.

'7. In a lid as set forth in claim 6, said connecting plate having an outwardly offset hood portion extending from'its upper edge curved to overlie the hinge lug; .and said holding means comprising a fiat steel spring secured to the first plate at its inner end beneath the hood and having its outer end adapted to engage the hinge lug only when the lid is open.

8. In a lid as set forth in. claim 7, a breather hole inthe first plate below the hood of the connecting plate.

9. An articulated lock-seal lidfor journal boxes or the like having an end opening and having .a hinge lug on its top above said opening carrying a horizontally disposed pintle pin, comp-rising a resilient member having resilient loops at the upper ends of its upper legs terminating in eyes engaging the pintle pin at opposite sides of the lug, said loops resiliently urging the upper end of the member towards the opening of the journal box; said member being adapted in one position to overlie said opening; means on the lower end of the member for maintaining the member positioned across the opening; a cover plate mounted on the said member for articulated movement with respect thereto and adapted in one position to close said opening; and means on the plate adapted to engage the top of the hinge lug when the plate and member are swung upwardly to hold same in such position, said plate having resilient eyes at its upper end engaged by the pintle pin and disposed at opposite sides of the hinge lug.

10. An articulated lock-seal lid for journal boxes or the like having an end opening and having a hinge lug on its top above said opening 7 a carrying a horizontally disposed pintle pin, said lug having a substantially horizontal top face, said lid comprising a-resilient member having resilient loops at the upper "ends of its upper legs terminating in eyes engaging the pintle pin at opposite sides of the lug; said loops resiliently urging the upper endlof the member towards the opening of the journal box; said member'being adapted in one position to overlie the said opening; means on the'lower end of the member for eyieldably maintaining the member positioned across the opening; a cover plate mounted on the said member for articulated movement with respect thereto and adapted in onexpcsition to close said opening; and means on the plate adapted to yieldably engage the top face of the hinge lug when the plateand member are swung upwardly to hold the plate and member in such position.

11. In a lid as set forth in claim 10, said member being Y-shaped.

112. In a lid as set forth in claim 10, a locking lug on said journal box below the opening having a downwardly extending lip; said lower leg of the member having a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lip adapted to contact the rear face of the lip when the lid is closed, said lip and eye forming said maintaining means and said lower leg continuing downwardly below said eye.

13. In a lid as set forth in claim 10, a locking lug on said journal box below the. opening having a downwardly extending lip; saidlower leg of the member having a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lip, said member continuing downwardly below said eye; and a roller journaled in the eye adapted to contact the rear face of the lip when the lid is closed, said lip and roller forming said maintaining means.

14. In a lid as set forth in claim 10, anopen frame across said opening having eyes at its upper end engaged by said pintle pin, and having a tongue at its lower end entering the opening and resiliently engaging the inner wall of the journal box; the lower leg of the member having a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lower end of the frame and adapted to contact the rear face thereof when themember is swung downwardly across the opening; said eye forming said maintaining means; and said lower leg-continuing downwardly below said eye.

15. In a lid as set forth'in claim 10, said'plate being disposed at the inner face of the member; a-connecting plate having its central portion offset outwardly to loosely cover the central portion of the member, said connecting plate being securedat its corners to the first plate; and said first plate having an outwardly extending button normally contacting the central portion of 8 the member and forming the-pivot point thereof.

16. In a lid asset forth in claim 15, said connecting plate having an outwardly offset hood portion extending from its upper edge curved to overlie the hinge lug; and said holding means comprising a flat steel spring securedto the first plate at its inner end'beneath the hood and having its outer end adapted to engage the hinge lug only when thelid is open.

17. An articulated lock-seal lid for journal boxes or the like having an end opening and having a hinge lug on its top above said opening carrying a horizontally disposed pintle pin comprising a Y-shaped resilient member having resilient loops at the upper ends of its upper legs ter-\ minating in eyes engaging the pintle pin at opposite sides of the lug and adapted in one position to overlie the said opening; means on the lower end of the member for yieldably maintaining the member positioned across the opening; and a plate mounted on the said member for articulated movement with respect thereto and adapted in one position to close said opening.

18. In a lid asset forth in claim 17, said plate being disposed-at the inner face of the member; a connecting plate having its central portion offset outwardly to loosely cover the central portion of the member, said connecting plate being secured at its corners to the first plate; and said first plate having an outwardly extending button normally contacting the central portion of the member and forming the pivot point thereof.

19. In a lid as set forth in claim 18, said connecting plate having an outwardly oifset hood portion extending from its upper edge curved to overlie the hinge lug; and said holding means comprising a fiat steel spring secured to the first plate at itsinner end beneath the hood and having its outer end adapted to engage the hinge lug only when the lid is open.

20. In a lid as set forth in claim 17, a locking lug on said journal box below the opening and having a downwardly extending lip; said lower leg of the memberhaving a return bend terminating in an eye underlying the lip, said member continuing downwardly below said eye; and a roller journaled in the eye adapted to contact the rear face of the lip when the lid is closed, said lip and roller forming said maintaining means.

DONALD D. BRYANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,259,448 Barrows Oct. 21, 1941

Images