US2730965A - Dump door mechanism for a railway car - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 17, 1956 G. B. DOREY DUMP DOOR MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. ,5- DO/Pfl,

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Jan. 17, 1956 DQREY 2,730,965

DUMP DOOR MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 17, 1956 G. B. DOREY DUMP DOOR MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR. 660596 5 flongg, BY

Jan. 17, 1956 G. B.'DOREY 2,730,965

DUMP DOOR MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 Q QGW) Q Q\ 3 Li!) flilili Q Him RQ lllil IN V EN TOR.

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DUMP DOOR MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Q BY United States Patent DUMP noon MECHANISM FOR A RAILWAY CAR George B. Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 24, 1952, Serial No. 311,285

14 Claims. (Cl. 105-289) The invention relates to an improved dump door mechanism for a railway car and is more particularly for use in connection with a pivoted door which is movable from an upwardly inclined closed position to a downwardly inclined opened position.

The objects of the invention, among others, are: To provide a mechanism suitable for use in connection with V-shaped hoppers having the doors pivotally mounted at a location adjacent the apex of each hopper which will allow the placement of the mechanisms at the ends of the doors and out of the hopper discharge areas; to provide for operating in unison the facing inner doors of a pair of V-shaped hoppers having aligned longitudinally extending V-shaped hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill; to provide for operating the inner facing doors of V- shaped hoppers from a shaft located between the vertical webs of the center sill; and, more specifically, to provide an arm pivotally mounted at one end on the car structure and having at the opposite end a winding connection with an intermediate connection to the door.

The invention further resides in certain details of construction associated with the special hopper construction identified with the mechanismand in the details of the latter.

For further comprehension of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a portion of a car illustrating so much of the structure as is necessary to show one hopper incorporating the improved operating mechanism; I

Figures 2A and 2B, taken together with Figure 2A to the left of Figure 2B, are vertical cross-sectional views taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the lower portion of the hoppers with one of the side doors and the facing center opening doors in closed position and with the other of the side opening doors in open position;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through a portion of the hopper on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and having a portion of the flooring broken away to illustrate the fulcrum bracket for supporting the operating arms;

Figure 4 is a fractional sectional view taken through the bafile plate adjacent the supporting fulcrum bracket on line 4-4 of Figure 2B;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken adjacent the end of the hopper on line 5-5 of Figure l; t

Figure 6 is a detached plan view of one of the doors as viewed from the underside thereof;

Figure 7 is an end elevational view of the door shown in Figure 6 as viewed from right to left;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of one of the operating arm assemblies;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a detached plan view of one of the bracket strap members employed in connection with an operating arm assembly; i a

Figure 11 is a side elevational View of the bracket strap shown in Figure 10; t l

2,730,965 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 Figure 12 is a view, similar to Figure 2B, showing a modified form of operating assembly.

In said drawings the car body structure is shown as including a longitudinally extending center sill 10 formed of a pair of Z-shaped beam members each including a vertical web 11, an inwardly directed upper flange 12 and an outwardly directed lower marginal flange 13.

Spaced outwardly from the center sill 10 on each side thereof are the car side walls 14-14 each including a vertically extending wall plate 15 and a lower reinforcing angle member 16. Extending transversely between the side walls 14-14 are longitudinally sloping floor plates 17-17 which slope towards each other and extend downwardly on each side of the center sill 10 to meet with outer and inner sloping side walls as indicated at 18 and 19 to form therewith a four-sided upper hopper structure.

The outer walls 18 slope downwardly from the car side walls 14 and at their lower margins are reinforced by angle members 18 which are preferably disposed with a horizontally extending flange 20 in alignment with the lower flange 13 of the center sill 10. The inner side Walls 19 extend from the upper portion of the center sill 10 to the outer margins of the lower center sill flanges 13 and are welded thereto as at 21. A surmounting ridge 21a of inverted V-shape caps the center sill 10 and serves to divide the car into two separate longitudinally extending self-discharging hoppers.

Extending transversely beneath the longitudinally sloping floors 17 are beams 01' bafile plates 22, Figure 3, which are of generally channel shape with vertically disposed webs 23, upper inclined flanges 24 underlying the sloping floors 17 and secured thereto, and lower marginal flanges 24a. Secured to the ends of the baflle plates 22 are gusset members 25 which are riveted thereto at as and flanged at 27 to underlie the outer side sloping floors 18 and riveted thereto at 23.

The baflie plates 22 are spaced lengthwise of the car from each other and extending between them are doors 29-29 arranged in V-shaped relation when in closed position. Each pair of doors 29-29 is pivotally mounted on a hinge rod 30 which extends through the baffle plates 22 at the ends of the hoppers and through bearing members 31, the latter being disposed on the outer side of the respective bafile plate 22. Each door 29 extends upwardly at an incline and, when in closed position, the inner door of each pair of doors 29-29 abuts the adjacent marginal flange 13 of the center sill 10 and the companion doors abut the lower flanges 20 of angle members 13'.

Each door 29, Figure 6, on its underside is reinforced by longitudinally extending beam members 32 and 33, the latter being disposed adjacent the front or swinging edge of the door and the member 32 adjacent the hinge edge. Cooperating with the beam 32 are a plurality of hinge members 34 which consist of plates bent to present looped sections 35, Figure 7, which embrace the hinge rod 30. The hinge members 34 on one of the doors 29 intercalate with the corresponding hinge members 34 of the companion door 29 thus forming a continuous piano type of hinge structure.

The doors 29-29 at each end have upwardly extending flanges 36 and in substantial alignment with said flanges there are provided depending walls 37 on the underside. Each wall 37 is preferably one of the flanges of an angleshaped bracket 38 which is secured to the: door beams 32 and 33 by rivets 39, and outwardly of each flange 37 there is provided a hinge strap 40 which overlies the depending wall 37 and is riveted thereto at 41. The outer ends of the straps 40 are deflected outwardly at 40a to provide a jawlike structure for receiving the end of a door supporting link 42. The door supporting link 42 is pivoted to the door at 43 and extendsupwardly for pivotal connection with an operating arm assembly, 44, Figure 8.

The operating arm assembly 44 is disposed at each end of each door 29 and is pivoted at one end on a pivot pin 45, Figures 3 and 4, on a fulcrum bracket 46, and at the opposite end connects with an eye bolt 47 which is threaded into a clevis 47 connected to flexible connections 48, Figures 2A and 2B, for the center doors, and 49 for the side doors, as will be described. Each operating arm assembly '44, Figure 8, preferably includes an angle-shaped body section 50 having one flange i vertically disposed and having secured thereto a hinge block 52 at the hinge end of the assembly for receiving the pivot pin 45. The body section 50 of the operating arm assembly 44 is reinforced by a member 53, Figures and 11, including a plate-like portion 54 having three integrally formed bosses 55 apertured to receive rivets 56 whereby the said member is secured to the vertical flange 51 as shown in Figures 8 and 9. The bosses 55 operate to space the plate portion 54 from the flange 51 a sufficient distance to receive the upper portion of link 42 and the eye bolt 47. The intermediate boss 55 forms the pivotal support for the link 42.

The operating arm assemblies 44 in addition to their function as door lifting arms also operate as auxiliary baffling elements to bridge the space intermediate the ends of the doors 29 and the main baffle plates 22 to prevent flow of lading between them and the ends of the doors.

Each sloping floor 17 is extended beyond the associated baffle plate 22 for an appreciable distance beyond the operating arm assembly 44 as shown in Figure 4 and thence downwardly vertically to present an end wall 57 reinforced at the lower margin by an angle member 58 bent to conform substantially to the shape of the V-shaped hopper formed by the doors when in closed position. The extension of each sloping floor 17 and depending end wall 57 thus form a housing section which effectively protects the operating arm assembly 44 therebelow and related door connections 48 and 49. i

The fulcrum bracket 46 supports a pair of operating arm assemblies 44. It includes a base wall 46, Figure 3, overlying the web 23 of the bafile plate 22 and is secured thereto by rivets 59 which also extend through the bearing member 31 lying on the outer side of the bafile, as shown in Figure 4. The fulcrum bracket 46 is formed at its lower end with a bearing portion 60 which encircles the hinge rod 30. The fulcrum bracket 46 is thus supported directly by the baffle plate 22 and by the hinge rod 30. The fulcrum bracket 46 includes a centrally disposed web 61 extending lengthwise of the hinge rod 30 and centrally thereof and on each side of said web adjacent the upper part thereof there are lugs 62 spaced from the base wall 46 a sufficient distance to accommodate the hinge block 52 therebetween. The pivot pins 45 extend through the lugs 62 and base wall 46. In order to provide adequate support for the pivot pins 45 and permit ready removal and insertion thereof from the rear of the baflie plate 22, elongated hubs 63, Figure 4, which encircle the pivot pins 45 are extended through the baffle plate 22. The pivot pins 45 are maintained against axial displacement by means of rivets 64 which extend through thepivot pins 45 and hubs 63.

The center opening doors are arranged to operate in unison by means of a centrallytdisposed winding shaft 65 journalled within the center sill 10 and having sheaves 66 non-rotatably mounted thereon on which the flexible connections 48 wind. The-operation of the shaft 65 may be effected by any suitable mechanism (not shown) 7 which preferably consists of worm and gear arrangement rotatable by a cross-shaft.

Similarly the side opening doors are independently operated by winding shafts 67 journalled at one end in bearings 68 and at the opposite end journalled in a worm and gear housing assemblies indicated conventionally at 69. The bearing 68 and housing 69 are carried by the side gusset plates 25. Winding sheaves 70 are non-rotatably mounted on shafts 67 and extending between each set of sheaves and related operating arm assembly 44 are flexible connections 49.

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood by reference to Figures 2A and 213 wherein the right-hand side opening door is indicated in open position and the left-hand side door is shown in closed position. It will be understood that the operation of the center opening doors is identical with the operation of the side doors except that the pair of facing center opening doors is operated in unison.

In Figure 12 there is shown a modificationof the mechanisms interconnecting the flexible connections 48 and 49 and the doors 29. Lever arms 7171 are pivoted at 45 and are provided with longitudinally extendingrslots 72"i'2 for receiving the ends of rods 7373 which are secured to and project from the beam members 3333 at each end. The outer ends of the lever arms 7171 have the flexible connections 48-49 connected thereto in the manner described previously for the lever assemblies 44. When the lever arms 7171 are swung upwardly about the pivots 45, the rods 73 slide inwardly and at the same time move upwardly with the doors 29 to close the same.

What is claimed as new is: g

1. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, an operating mechanism for raising and lowering the door including a lever pivotally mounted at one end on thecar at a location spaced from the pivotal axis of the door and extending outwardly therefrom towards the swinging edge of the door, means operatively interconnecting said door and said lever, means for raising and lowering said lever including a rotatable shaft disposed adjacent the swinging edge of the door, and a flexible connection between the shaft and lever, said lever supportingly engaging the door throughout its range of movement.

2. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, an operating mechanism for raising and lowering the door including a lever pivotally mounted at one end on the car at a location spaced from the pivotal axis of the door'and extending outwardly therefrom towards the swinging edge of the door, means for raising and lowering said lever including a rotatable shaft disposed adjacent the swinging edge of the door, a flexible connection between the shaft and lever, and a link pivoted at one end to the lever and at the opposite end connected to the door.

3. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, said door being swingable to an inclined closed position and swingable downwardly to an inclined opened position; an operating mechanism for raising and lowering said door including a pivotally'mounted arm at each end of the door adjacent the pivotal axis thereof and extending toward the swinging edge thereof, a rotatable shaft extending along the swinging edge of the door, and flexible connections extending between each arm and the shaft and adapted to be wound on the latter upon rotation thereof; and a connection between each arm and the door including a link pivoted at one end to the door and at the opposite end to the arm.

4. In a car of the character described, the combination with side walls and a center sill'comprising side walls and an open bottom and V-shaped hoppers on opposite sides of the center sill with side and center doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the hopper, the center doors being movable in unison, of an operating shaft. rotatably mounted between said walls of said center sill, lever arms pivoted at each end of the doors above the lower portion of the hopper and adjacent the pivotal axis of said doors and extending toward the swinging edges thereof,

a flexible connection extending between the opposite end of each lever arm and the operating shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to each arm intermediate its fulcrum pivot and the flexible connection and pivotally connected at the opposite end with one of said doors, said levers being raised and lowered by rotation of said operating shaft.

5. In a dump car having a V-shaped hopper including a pair of doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the hopper and adapted to assume an inclined closed position and movable to a downwardly inclined open position, a hinge rod on which said pair of doors is pivotally mounted, a beam of appreciabledepth extending transversely along each end of the doors and forming a support for said hinge rod, a hopper end wallhaving a portion spaced from the beam and overlying said doors of each end, a bracket disposed between said end wall and beam and lying above said hinge rod, a lever for each door pivoted on said bracket, each lever extending outwardly towards the swinging edge of the respective door, means operatively interconnecting each lever and its respective door, a shaft rotatably mounted adjacent the swinging edge of each door, and a flexible connection between each shaft and its lever, each lever intermediate its ends supportingly engaging its door.

6. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a pair of doors arranged in V-shaped relation for closing the opening, a rod hingedly mounting said doors adjacent the nadir of the hopper, said doors in closed position extending upwardly at an incline from their pivotal axis and being movable downwardly to an inclined opened position, a beam extending transversely at each end of the doors and forming a support for each end of the rod, a hopper end wall having a portion overlying the doors at each end and spaced from the transversely extending beam, means for raising the doors including a lever disposed at the end of each door between the end wall and transverse beam and pivoted on the latter and extending towards the swinging edge of its door. a rotatable operating shaft mounted adjacent the swinging edge of each door, a flexible connection between the outer ends of the levers and the related operating shaft; and link connections between each door and its levers.

7. In a car of the character described, longitudinally extending side walls and a center sill extending centrally between said walls, a V-shaped hopper disposed on each side of the center sill in transversely aligned relation and including a pair of doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the V-shaped hopper and extending upwardly at an angle from the hinge axis when in closed position, said doors being movable to a downwardly inclined opened position, transversely extending beams at the ends of the doors constituting baflle plates to prevent overflow of lading at the ends of the hoppers, hopper end walls conforming substantially to the shapes of the V-shaped hoppers and having portions spaced inwardly from the baffle plates, operating arms positioned in the spaces between said baffle plates and end walls and pivotally mounted on axes disposed above the door pivotal axes, each arm extending outwardly towards the free edge of the respective door, rotatable shafts extending lengthwise of the doors beyond the swinging edges thereof, flexible connections between the arms and shafts, and link connections between the doors and arms whereby the arms and associated doors move in unison.

8. In a car of the character described, a V-shaped hopper with doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the hopper, longitudinally sloping floors inclined in the direction of the hinge axis of the doors for directing lading to the hopper, said sloping floors overlying the ends of the doors for an appreciable distance and deflected downwardly to present end walls spaced inwardly from the ends of the doors to provide housings at the ends of the hopper; raising mechanisms disposed in the said housings, each including lever arms pivotally mounted adjacent and above the hinge axis of the doors and extending toward the swinging edges thereof, and links extending between the lever arms'and doors; winding shafts adjacent the swinging ends of the levers, and flexible connections extending between the levers and the shafts for raising and lowering the levers and doors by rotation of the shafts.

9. In a car of the character described, a V-shaped hopper with doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the V, said doors extending. upwardlyat an angle from the hinge axis when in closed position and swingable to a downwardly inclined open position, transversely extending beams at the ends of the doors, a hinge rod carried by said beams and constituting a hinge support for said doors; means for raising and lowering said doors including lever arms pivotally mounted at one end on the transverse beams and mechanism cooperating with the levers for raising and lowering them. said levers having an intermediately disposed connection with the doors; and brackets for supporting the fulcrum ends of the levers, said brackets being secured to the transverse beam members and having apertured portions encircling said hinge rod.

10. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, a transversely extending beam adjacent the end of the door and spaced outwardly therefrom, a hinge rod for supporting the door carried by said beam, an operating mechanism for raising and lowering the door including a lever connected to the door and pivotally mounted at one end on the transverse beam about an axis spaced above the pivotal axis of the door and. extending outwardly therefrom towards the swinging edge of the door, a shaft adjacent the swinging edge of the door, and a flexible connection between the shaft and lever, said lever being of angle shape with one flange lying adjacent said end of the door and having the adjacent flange bridging the space between it and the transverse beam to form a baflie for restricting overflow of lading between said door and beam.

11. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, said door being inclined upwardly from its hinge axis in closed position, means for raising and lowering the door including a lever pivotally mounted at one end on an axis disposed above the hinge axis of the door, a shaft adjacent the swinging edge of the door, a flexible connection between the shaft and lever for raising and lowering the lever by rotation of the shaft, a link between the door and lever connected to the latter intermediate its pivot and flexible connection, and means for connecting the link to the lever including a plate member secured to the lever having an integrally formed boss forming the pivotal support for the link.

12. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, said door being inclined upwardly from its hinge axis in closed position, means for raising and lowering the door including a lever pivotally mounted at one end on an axis disposed above the hinge axis of the door, a shaft adjacent the swinging edge of the door, a flexible connection between the shaft and lever for raising and lowering the lever and door by rotation of the shaft, a link pivoted to the door and lever, and means for connecting the link to the lever including a plate member secured to the lever, said plate member having a plurality of integrally formed bosses spacing the plate from the lever to accommodate the link and flexible connection therebetween, said bosses having securing rivets extending therethrough and one of said bosses forming the pivotal support for the link.

13. In a dump car having a discharge opening and a door for closing the same pivotally mounted adjacent one side thereof, said door being inclined upwardly from its hinge axis in closed position, means for raising and lowering the door including a lever pivotally mounted at one endon an axis disposed above the hinge axis of the door, a shaft adjacent the swinging edge of the door, a flexible connection between the shaft and lever for raising and lowering the lever and door by rotation of the shaft, a link pivoted to the door and lever, means for connecting the link to the lever including a plate member secured to the lever, said plate member having a plurality of integrally formed bosses spacing the plate from the lever to accommodate the link and flexible connection therebetween, said bosses having securing rivets extending therethrough and one of said bosses forming the pivotal support for the link, and another of said bosses forming a pivotal support for one end of said flexible connection.

14. In a dump car having a V-shaped hopper including a pair of doors hinged adjacent the nadir of the hopper and adapted to assume upwardly inclined closed positions and movable to downwardly inclined opened positions,

and operating mechanism for raising and lowering said doors including an arm pivotally mounted on said car at each end of each door adjacent the pivot axis thereof, a i 7 connection between each arm and the respective end of g each door, and raising and lowering means connected to said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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