US2915022A - Hopper door operating mechanism for the discharge-outlet of railway hopper cars - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1, 1959 G. a. DOREY HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE DISCHARGE-OUTLET 0F RAILWAY HOPPER ems 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 26, 1952 N/ QQ NhhiM Q Q Q INVENTOR. 660C965- Dan /y, W

Dec. 1, 1959 e. B. DOREY 2,915,022

HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE DISCHARGE-OUTLET 0F RAILWAY HOPPER CARS Original Filed March 26, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 1, 1959 G. B. DOREY HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE DISCHARGE-OUTLET OF RAILWAY HOPPER was 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed March 26, 1952 INVENTOR. Gao/fgefl 270/129, M

Dec. 1, 1959 cs. B. DOREY 2,915,022

HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE DISCHARGE-OUTLET 0F RAILWAY HOPPER CARS Original Filed March 26, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 E mglvmk. Q 60 25.

Dec. 1, 1959 e. B. DOREY 2,915,022

HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR THE DISCHARGE-OUTLET 0F RAILWAY HOPPER CARS Original Filed March 26, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 7 2, 1 2; HOPPER DOOR OP'ERATING MECHANISM FOR THE iDIscrrAR E-oUrLEr F RAILWAY HOP;

PER

George B. .Dorey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Enterprise Railway Equipment Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois W V Original application March26, 1952, Serial No. 278,605, now Patent No. 2,859,707, dated November 11, 1958. Divided and this application March 17, 1958, Serial No. 721,863

' '8 Claims. Cl; 105-282) The invention relates to a discharge outlet for a load containing hopper and is of a type employing sliding gates for closing the hopper opening. This application is a division of application Serial No. 278,605, filed March 26, 1952, now Patent No. 2,859,707, dated Nov. 11, 1958.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a structure wherein a single opening is closed by a pair of gates which operate independently of each other instead of utilizing a large single gate as is now established prac tice and the present improvements contemplate toggle acting mechanism to provide greatly multiplied power for initiating release of the gates and also for forcing the gates to tightly closed position.

T Other objects of the invention are to provide mechanism insuring uniform translatory movement of the respective sides of the gates and to make provision for adjustment in the position of the toggle mechanism mounting to insure tightly fitting relation between the meeting edges of a pair of sliding gates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a longitudinally movable and rotatable keyshaped sealing boltstruc'ture which is mounted to have limited longi tudinal movement coaxially with a shaft and having means compelling insertion of the bolt prior to assembly of the shaft in its bearings.

Still further objects of the invention are: To provide a rectangular frame around the hopper opening with another lower frame secured thereto and providing a discharge chuteyto mount rail members on depending side walls of the .framefor forming a part of the lower frame and slidably mounting a gate or gates; and to form the chute in part by inwardly sloping transverse walls interconnecting the rail members.

The invention further resides in certain details of construction as will be pointed out hereinafter.

The improvement is shown in the drawings as applied to a hopper car having discharge outlets for directing 1ad ing to a location between the rails.

In said drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical side elevational view of a portion of a hopper showing the improved discharge outlet withone of a pair of gates in closed position and showing the other gate of thepair in fully opened position.

Figure 2 is a vertical end elevational view of the struc ture shown in Figure 1 as viewed from right to left.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figure I with certain parts of the hopper flooring removed to better illustrate the construction. I v 1 Figure 4 is a detached plan-view of the gate, with a portion broken away to show certain details of con- 8 struction.

Figure 5 is a side elevational viewof the gate shown in Figure 4.

Figure :6 is a fractional end elevational view of the end ofthe gate showing the position of the sealing bolt during its insertionprior tovthe application'of the shaft in the bearing of the gate; I

Figure -7 is a view similar to Figure -6 with the shaft positioned inthe bearing and illustrating the limitation in rotatable movement of the sealing bolt due to the presence of the shaft.

Figure '8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the gate and frame at a location corresponding generally to line 8-8 of Figure 2 and showing the position of the parts-with the gate in slightly open position.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 except that the opening movement of the gate is advanced beyond that shown in said Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a detached plan view of the frame with the runways in assembled relation.

Figure 1d is a side elevational view of the frame assembly shown in Figure '10.

Figure 12 is an end elevational view of the outlet assembly shown in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the outlet assemblywith the pair of gates in toggle locked position and a section of the structure broken away to illustrate the sealing relation between the gates at their meeting edges. H

In said drawings 10 indicates the center sill of the car and 11 one of the side walls spaced outwardly from the center sill. Positioned intermediate the center sill 10 and side wall 11 is a four-sided hopper formed in part by oppositely sloping walls 12 and 13 which meet with inner and outer side walls indicated at 14 and 15 respectively, said respective walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 leading to a four, sided discharge opening 16. Bordering the opening 16 is a frame structure 17 which includes an upper section 18 overlying the walls of thehopper and secured thereto and. extending downwardly therefrom are side walls 19-19. a

Secured to the side walls 19-19 is a sub-hopper including longitudinally extending rail members 20 connected by transversely extending walls 21-21 which are spaced lengthwise from each other to form in combination withthe rail members 20-20 a four-sided chutelike receptacle. The rail members 20 are preferably of angle shape with one flange 22 secured to the depending walls 19 of the chute and having the adjacent flange 23 extending inwardly laterally to form uninterrupted supportsfor sliding gates 24-24-to prevent leakage of lading. g

The sliding gates24-24 are arranged to slide in opposite direction and meet, as shown inFigure 13, adjacent the centerof the discharge opening 16. The rail members v20 project beyond the frame 17 proper to form cantilevers for supporting the gates 24 in open position. The gates24 are each provided with a .toggle mechanism for moving them and retaining the same in closed position. Inasmuch as the mechanism and associated parts for each gate. are of identical construction, the description herein will be confined to only one of the gates and its related mechanism. 3

Each gate 24 is provided atits outer end with bearings 25-25, Figure 3; which lie above the flanges 23 of the rail members 20. As shown in Figure 4, the bearings 25 a each side of the framestructure 17 and is there fitted with-fixedly mounted pairs of toggle arms 27-27. Links 28 are pivotedat one end at'29' to and between the respective pairs of toggle arms27 and pivotally mounted at their opposite ends to the frame structure 17 at 31 through the medium of longitudinally adjustable threaded eyebolts 32. Each threaded eyebolt 32 is retained against longitudinal movement by means of a complementary threaded nut 33 held between a pair of spaced lugs 34--34 which, in turn are formed integrally with the frame struc ture 17. Fixedly mounted on the outer end of the shaft 26 is an operating handle 35 having a hollow socket 36 to accommodate a removable operating tool which extends outwardly from the frame 17 at an obtuse angle to the shaft 26. The link 28 includes an indented por-- tion 37 which straddles the shaft 26 when the toggle mechanism is in an overcenter locked position as seen in Figure 1 with the associated gate 24 closed thereby allowing the line of thrust which joins the axes of pivots 29 and 31 to, extend along a line 38, Figure 1; which lies, slightly below and to one side of the axis 39 of the shaft 26.

The toggle mechanism is arranged to be retained in its-overcenter locked relation by means of a sealing bolt 40 having at one end a key shaped end 41 and at the opposite end an outstanding handle 42. The bolt 40' extends through flanges 43-43 formed at the outer edges of one of the bearing 25 on the gate 24. It will be noted that the flanges 43 are each formed with a key shaped aperture 44'corresponding substantially in shape tothe key shaped end 41 of the sealing bolt 40; The apertures 44, are, so. disposed and, located as to compel insertion of the sealing bolt 40 before insertion of the shaft 26 in its bearings and to this end the apertures 44 are positioned to extend radially with respect to the axis 39 of the shaft 26 as seen in Figure 6. After assembly of the sealing bolt 40 in the flanges 43 and the insertion ofv the shaft 26in the bearings 25 carried by each gate 24, the gate assembly is applied to the frame structure17. Upon insertion of the shaft 26 in its bearings 25 the sealing bolt 40 is given a partial rotation as shown in Figure 7 to allow the handle 42 to rest on the shaft 26. The key shaped end 41 of the bolt is then out of registering alignment with the apertures 44 and cannot be accidentally lost or removed without dismantling the shaft and gate assembly. The toggle arms 27 are provided with key shaped apertures 45 for the accommodation of the; key shaped end 41 of the sealing bolt 40 therethroughand above the toggle link 28 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 thereby retaining the toggle mechanism in closed position. The key shaped end 41 of the bolt 40 isprovidedwith an aperture 46 and in alignment therewith when the bolt is fully thrown, there is an aperture 47' formed in a wall 48 of the handle 35. The said apertures 46 and 47 when in registering alignment accommodate a sealingribbon 48a. Figure 13. shows the bolts 40' overlying the toggle links 28 and thereby preventing any movement thereof or rotation of the respective shaft 26 if an attempt is. made to rotate the handle 35.

The gate 24 in its sliding movement is guidedsideways between the inner faces 4949 of the frame side walls 1919 of the frame 17. The gate 24 is further guided against vertical displacement by means of guiding plates 50, Figures 4 and 5, which are spaced from the main body of the gate on its underside to form a groove 50", the plates 50 being riveted to the gate 24 by rivets 51. As shown in- Figure 2, the grooves 50 on opposite sides of the gate 24 receive the horizontal flange 23 of the rail members 20 and thus the gates 24 are guided therealong and prevented from being displaced upwardly.

A resilient gasket 52, Figure 13, is disposed along the forward edge of each gate 24 for the purpose of sealing the closure, against leakage at their meeting edges. As shownin Figure 4, each resilient gasket 52 in the uncompressed condition, for example with one orboth gates 24 in: partly open position, projects beyond the edge'of the, respective gate which meets,: as shown in Figure 13, withthe corresponding edge-of'the other gate 24; While the juxtaposed edges of the gates;24 maynot be in con?- tact engagementv throughout; the entirejextent', the. re

silient gaskets 52 therebelow provide an adequate seal against leakage of lading therepast.

It has heretofore been customary in structures involving a sliding gate for closing an opening to provide a one piece closure. A gate of this character presenting an extended area is difficult to move with heavily compacted lading such as cement, lime, activated earth and similar materials. This invention contemplates solution of the difliculties by forming the gates in two sections and further providing for greatly multiplied mechanical advantage at the initial movement of the gate in an opening direction. The mechanical advantage referred to is obtained through the medium of the toggle acting mechanism I is in closed position as seen in Figure 1, the operator after moving the sealing bolt 40 to retracted position inserts a bar 53 in the handle 35 as indicated by conventional dot and dash lines. Upon rotation of the shaft, 26 in a counter clockwise direction the toggle joint is opened and the shaft and door are moved outwardly. The extent of'mechanical advantage derived from the initial rotary movement of the shaft 26 may be realized by reference to Figure 8 wherein the shaft rotation through an angular distance'of 45 degrees operates to move the gate a distance of only one inch. Rotation of the shaft 26 in the indicated direction is continued until the toggle mechanism is moved through the position in Figure '9 to the fully extended position as seen on the left hand part ofFigure 1'.

It will be, appreciated that the increased mechanical advantage and corresponding small movement of the gate 24 are obtained at the extremes of the range movement of the toggle mechanism and are accompanied by reduced mechanical advantage and relatively great movement at the intermediate stage of movement of the gate. Since the resistance to movement of the gates decreases after the initial breakaway stage, such reduction in mechanical advantage during this intermediate stage is not objectionable.

The toggle mechanism when in extended position, as shown in Figure 1, positively maintains the gate 24 in opened position and such retention is of importance in a railway car wherein the gate is longitudinally movable and subject to displacement under buffing shocks.

The closing operation of the gate 24 is a reversal of the opening operation, the toggle mechanism forcing the pair of gates 24 into. tight meeting relation and operating to compress the resilient gaskets 52. In order to compensate for wear and irregularities in manufacture there are provided the threaded adjusting eyebolts 32 whereby limited variations in the setting of the gates 24 is readily effected.

The gate 24 in its transitory movement as heretofore pointed out is restrained against vertical displacement by reason of the guide plates 50 and consequently the full effect of the toggle linkage is exercised to move the gate upon rotation of the shaft 26.

As shown more clearly in Figures l0, l1 and 12 the upper section 18 of the frame structure 17 is formed by transverse end walls 54 and 55 which overlie the sloping walls 12 and 13, respectively, and by side walls 56 and 57 which overlie side walls 14 and 15, respectively.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for usein arailroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a-frame=having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower por-v tions thereof and extending toward each other along op-. posite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening; means for moving said gates along said supportflanges in opposite directions to open or closed position including a shaft rotatably mounted on each gate transverse to the direction of movement thereof, an arm secured to and extending'radially from said shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to said arm; said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, and a gasket interposed between said juxtaposed edges in said closed position of said gates.

2. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening; means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position including a shaft rotatably mounted on each gate transverse to the direction of movement thereof, an arm secured to and extending radially from said shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to said arm; said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, and a gasket mounted on each gate along the respective juxtaposed edge and extending beyond the respective juxtaposed edge toward the corresponding edge of the other gate when said gates are separated.

3. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening, means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position, said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, a gasket interposed between said juxtaposed edges in said closed position of said gates; said means for moving said gates including a shaft rotatably mounted on each gate transverse to the direction of movement thereof, an arm secured to and extending radially from said shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to said arm to reciprocate the respective gate on rotation of said shaft accompanied by movement of said link transversely of said shaft.

4. In a discharge outlet for a load containing hopper structure having a discharge opening and a two section sliding closure for the opening, means slidably mounting said respective sections of the closure to meet in abutting relation, a resilient compressible gasket carried by each section adjacent the abutting edge thereof, over center toggle acting mechanism for forcing the meeting edges of the respective sections together and compressing the gaskets as the toggle acting mechanism is moved past the center position to the over center position, said toggle acting mechanism including a shaft rotatably mounted on at least one section and being reversible to move said sections apart, and means for anchoring the toggle mechanism to the hopper structure, said means being adjustable lengthwise in the direction of movement of the sections to vary the relation between the respective sections.

5. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening, means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position, said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, a compressible gasket mounted on each gate underneath the respective juxtaposed edge and extending beyond the respective juxtaposed edge toward the corresponding edge of the other gate when said gates are separated, said edges of said gates above the gaskets mutually engaging each other and said gaskets mutually engaging each other and being compressed when said gates are closed, and an over center toggle acting mechanism reacting between said frameand a shaft on at least one of said gates to close said one gate against the other with said edges mutually engaging each other when said toggle acting mechanism moves past the center position.

6. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car havingan opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the uppersurfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening, means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position, said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, a gasket interposed between said juxtaposed edges in said closed position of said gates; said means for moving said gates including a shaft rotatably mounted on each gate transverse to the direction of movement thereof, an arm secured to and extending radially from said shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to said arm to reciprocate the respective gate on rotation of said shaft accompanied by movement of said link transversely of said shaft; flange means on the respective gate extending beyond said link when said link overlies said shaft, and a sealing bolt slidably mounted on that portion of said flange means extending beyond said link for movement along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft into and out of overlying relation to said link.

7. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening, means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position, said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, a gasket interposed between said juxtaposed edges in said closed position of said gates; said means for moving said gates including a shaft rotatably mounted on each gate transverse to the direction of movement thereof, an arm secured to and extending radially from said shaft, and a link pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to said arm to reciprocate the respective gate on rotation of said shaft accompanied by movement of said link transversely ofsaid shaft, said shaft in the gate closed position being located between the pivots of said link and to one side of a line joining said pivots; flange means on said gate extending beyond said link in said gate closed position, and a sealing bolt slidably mounted on that portion of said flange means extending beyond said link for movement along an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of said shaft into andout of overlying relation to said link.

8. A hopper discharge opening closure structure for use in a railroad car having an opening providing for the downward discharge of lading and comprising, in combination, a frame having side walls and end walls forming a discharge opening, a support flange parallel to and secured to each of said side walls adjacent the lower portions thereof and extending toward each other along opposite sides of said opening, a pair of gates slidable along the upper surfaces of said support flanges underneath the respective end wall of said frame to close said opening, means for moving said gates along said support flanges in opposite directions to open or closed position, said gates in closed position having juxtaposed edges intermediate the ends of said opening, agasket interposed between said juxtaposed edges in said. closed position of said gates, hearings on opposite sides of each gate outside of the respective end wall; said'means for moving each of said gates including a shaft rotatably mounted in the-bearings on each gate, an arm secured to and extending radially from said shaft along side of each bearing, and links pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end to the arms to reciprocate the gate on rotation of said shaft accompanied by movement of said links transversely of said shaft; flange means on one bearing on each gate extending beyond the adjacent 8 link when said adjacent link overlies said shaft, that portion of each flange means extending beyond said adjacent link andthe adjacent arm having bearing apertures aligned along an axis parallel tothe. axis of rotation of said shaft when said adjacent link overlies said shaft,

a sealing bolt slidably and rotatably mounted in said bearing apertures and overlying said adjacent link to prevent movement thereof and thereby movement of said gate and rotation of said shaft, said sealing bolt being key shaped at one end and having a radially extending handle at the other end, said bearing apertures in said flange means and adjacent arm being key shaped and offset with respect to each other and requiring insertion of said key shaped end of said sealing bolt through said adjacent arm with said handle in the space occupied by said shaft to prevent removal of said sealing bolt after assembly of said shaft in said bearings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 494,351 Thomas Mar. 28, 1893 502,584 Rettig Aug. 1, 1893 609,8.16 Kramer Aug. 30, 1898 700,580 Torrent May 20, 1902 761,550 Simonton May 31, 1904 1,081,040 Handy Dec. 9, 1913 1,098,315 Clasen May 26, 1914 1,270,005 Clark June 18, 1918 1,378,216 Christianson May 17, 1921 1,484,764 Dodd Feb. 26, 1924 1,755,077 Schellentrager Apr. 15, 1930 2,069,739 Fildes et al. Feb. 9, 1937 2,222,280 Batho Nov. 19, 1940 2,328,003 Gardes Aug. 31, 1943 2,386,702 McBride Oct. 9, 1945 2,717,093 Mautner Sept. 6, 1955

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