US3080623A - Railroad car floor panel latch - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1963 H. M. THOMAS RAILROAD CAR FLOOR PANEL LATCH Filed April 25. 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A m mm March 12, 1963 H. M. THOMAS RAILROAD CAR FLOOR PANEL LATCH s Sheets-Shet 5 Filed April 25, 1958 MENTOR.

Harry M. Thomas BY 3,080,623 RAILROAD CAR FLGGR PANEL LATCH Harry M. Thomas, 1554 Oakland Ava, Piedmont, Calif. Filed Apr. 25, 1958, aer. No. 731,590 6 Claims. (Cl. 20-924) This invention relates to an improved latch to hold the floor panels of railroad cars and the like in an open position adjacent the wall of the car. Reference is made to my copending application Serial No. 633,225, filed January 9, 1957, now abandoned, of which the present ap plication is a continuation in part.

in many railroad refrigerator cars there is provided four or more floor panels hinged to the wall of the car and arranged to swing upwardly and inwardly against the wall of the car. conventionally such panels are upwardly of twenty feet in length and are as wide as onehalf of the width of the car. The floor panels, therefore, comprise considerable weight and often a faulty latch will allow the floor panel to accidentally fall thus aifording a continuous hazard to workmen.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple latch mechanism with a pivotally mounted bolt connected to the floor board panel arranged to swing downwardly from the floor board while the panel is in the down or closed position and further arranged to engage with a lock bolt cavity inset in the wall of the railroad car when the floor panel is in the open position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pivotally mounted tumbler which swings downwardly to lock the bolt in the lock bolt cavity and a keeper to hold the tumbler in bolt locking position so that it is virtually impossible for the bolt to be accidentally disengaged from the lock bolt cavity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modification of the latch mechanism in which the bolt may be mounted to project laterally from the edges of a shelf like object so it is restrained against upward movement whereby the latch can be employed to support the shelf like object from a wall surface with the tumbler and keeper functioning to prevent the bolt from being accidentally removed from supporting engagement with the bolt lock cavity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a latch which is foolproof in operation and yet extremely simple both in operation and in structure.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

H6. 1 is a perspective view of the latch with a portion cut away to show the interior structure thereof and shown mounted to fragmentary portions of a railroad refrigerator car flOOi' panel and wall section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 taken at line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view of a railroad refrigerator car showing the relative location of the floor panels;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a modification of the invention employed to support a shelf like object from wall surfaces;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another modification of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional View of the modification of FIG. 5.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is arranged for use within railroad cars A of the general type as viewed in FIG. 3. Such cars generally comprise four floor panels 15 pivotally mounted in pairs adjacent the wall '16 by ice hinges 17 so they may swing upwardly against side wall 16 with the face 18 of the floor panel juxtaposed wall 16. The latch of this invention has a bolt assembly B pivotal-ly mounted on the stringer member 21 of floor panel 15 which is arranged to lock with a bolt lock cup assembly C within the Wall of side walls 16.

In greater detail cup assembly C is countersunk in wall 16 in a complementary hole 28 and comprises a ring member 25 formed with a back plate 26. The cup assembly is secured to wall 16 by screws 29.

Bolt assembly B comprises a bolt arm 22 pivotally mounted on an axle 33 journaled on a bifurcated mount 34. Mount 34 is secured to stringer 21 of floor panel 15 under the top floor face 18 by mounting screws 35. Floor face 18 is notched as at 36 to allow bolt arm 22 to swing upwardly to protrude above the floor face and engage bolt lock cup assembly C.

A latch in the form of a vertical cavity 23 is formed in back plate 26 by a generally U-shaped protuberance formed by two horizontal legs 31 joined by a horizontal web 32. Bolt arm 22 is made of square stock formed in an annulus 40 at one end by which bolt arm 22 may be pivotally mounted on axle 33 and a flanged tip 38 on the other end dimensioned to fit into cavity 23. When the flange 3g is in cavity 23 web 32 restrains the bolt arm from both relative downwardly and lateral movement.

A bolt keeper or tumbler 45 is provided to lock flange 38 in cavity 23. Tumbler 45 is pivotally mounted on a pin 46 attached to ring member 25 above lock bolt cavity 23 and is gravity urged to swing laterally downwardly from pin 46 to a position juxtaposed back plate 26 whereat the tumbler is disposed to lock bolt arm 22 within lock bolt cavity 23. Tumbler 45 is formed with a straight length 47 with the lower end bent or flanged outwardly as at 48 and thence upwardly as at $9., Bottom flange 48 provides an enlarged bottom tumbler surface which lies above bolt arm 22 to prevent bolt arm flange hook 38 from being lifted out of the lock bolt cavity 23 while the tumbler is in the bolt locking position.

Tumbler 45 is locked against back plate 26 in bolt arm locking position by keeper 5!}. Keeper 50 is pivotally mounted on back plate 26 as at 51 to swing transversely over the outside surface of length 47 of the tumbler with the bottom of the keeper arranged to nest in keeper re ceiving channel 53 formed by tumbler side 47, and flanges 48 and d9. Keeper 50, nested in channel 53, prevents outward lateral movement of the tumbler 45 and thus locks the tumbler in bolt locking position. Upwardly projecting flange 4? prevents relative lateral displacement of keeper 50 with respect to tumbler 45 and provides a handle by which the tumbler can be lifted when the keeper is displaced.

In FIG. 1 it can be seen that when keeper 50 is in locking position the bottom of the keeper rests on the top of bottom -48. The top portion of keeper 5% is formed with an outwardly projecting handle flange 52 to provide aconvenient means to remove the keeper when it is desired to unlatch bolt arm 22.

In operation when floor panels 15 are in their normal horizontal position as viewed in FIG. 3, bolt arm 22 depends downwardly below the floor panel so that there is no portion of bolt assembly B projecting upwardly from floor panel top faces 18. When a floor panel 15 is swung upwardly with face 18 in juxtaposition with side wall 16, keeper 50 is then swung out of locking position with tumbler 45 and the tumbler is swung upwardly so bolt arm 22 may be rotated to a position to fit flange 38 into lock bolt cavity 23. Tumbler 45 is then released whence it falls laterally downwardly to position flange 48 in position to lock bolt arm 22 in cavity 23. Keeper 50 is then swung transversely over length 47 and nested in channel 53' to lock the tumbler in bolt locking position.

3 It is obvious that the reverse procedure is followed to unlock the bolt.

In the modification of FIG. 4 an identical bolt lock cup assembly C is provided to support a shelf or shelf like object 60. In this embodiment bolt D is pivotally mounted on shelf 60 as at 61 but is restrained against upward movement by the shelf under surface 62. The shelf 60 may thus be installed in a horizontal plane with the web 32 arranged to prevent downward movement thereof. The bolt D is installed as above described by displacing keeper 50, lifting tumbler 45 and inserting bolt D into bolt lock cavity 23 so the shelf is supported by assembly C. When tumbler 45 and keeper 50 are in bolt lock position shelf 60 cannot be accidentally removed from engagement with the lock cup assembly. This is an important feature in rolling stock where there is considerable vibration tending to disengage conventional removable shelfs.

In another modification of the invention there is provided a cup assembly 70 for mounting in the wall of a flat car which carries a bolt lock cavity 72 and there is provided a bolt assembly 75 pivotally mounted on the stringer in the same manner as bolt assembly B in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

The bolt assembly comprises a bifurcated hinge 78 carrying a horizontal pin 79 to pivotally mount the bolt arm 80. The bolt arm is provided with a slot indicated at 81 which runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt arm so that the bolt may be slid longitudinally of hinge 78 as well as pivotally moved with respect thereto.

Bolt arm 80 is provided on its forward tip with a depending finger 82 which is adapted to fit within the walls 83 forming bolt lock cavity 72.

A tumbler 88 is pivotally mounted on a pin 89 adjacent the top portion of cup assembly 70. The inner walls of cup assembly 70 are deformed to provide two substantially parallel spaced walls 91 which form bearing supports for pin 89. One end of tumbler 88 is formed with a bead 92 which functions as a bearing for pivotal mounting of the tumbler on axle 89. The body of the tumbler is thence formed so as to provide a depending leg 95 which is bent inwardly to form a foot 96 and thence upwardly to form a flange or toe 97 which is adapted to engage rear wall 98 of cup assembly 70. Toe 97 and foot 96 are arranged of suflicient length so that leg 95 is substantially parallel to and spaced from the back surface 98 and leg 95 is of suflicient length so that the bottom face of foot 96 is only slightly above the top face of bolt arm 80 when the bolt arm is in locked position with the depending finger 82 engaged in the bolt lock cup.

In operation the floor of the railroad car is lifted to a position substantially parallel with the side wall of the car. The tumbler 88 is lifted by pivoting the tumbler upwardly about axle 89 and bolt arm 80 is positioned so that finger 82 is engaged with the bolt lock cup 72. Thereafter tumbler 88 is released so that foot 96 of the tumbler rests above the top face of bolt arm 80' thus preventing the arm from being removed from engagement with the cup until tumbler 88 is manually rotated upwardly.

The provision of slot 81 allows arm 80 to project outwardly beyond the floor of the railroad car so as to be in a position to engage with the cup assembly 70. In addition when the lock latch is not in use because of the sliding movement provided by slot 81 the bolt arm may be slid down to a position whereat the bolt arm is below the floor level. This feature may be important where the stringers upon which the bolt arm assembly is mounted are substantially smaller in width than the stroke required for the bolt arm.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A latching assembly comprising: a bolt; a back plate; bolt latch means mounted on said back plate to lock the bolt against lateral and downward movement with respect to said plate; a bolt tumbler pivotally mounted on an axis parallel with said plate above the bolt latch means and gravity urged to swing downwardly to lock the bolt in engagement with the bolt latch means; and keeper means mounted pivotally adjacent said bolt latch means to swing parallel to said plate to a position adjacent said tumbler to lock said tumbler in bolt latch locking engagement.

2. A latching assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said bolt is pivotally connected to a panel and said back plate is mounted on a wall surface adjacent the panel.

3. A latching assembly according to claim 1 and wherein said bolt is mounted to project outwardly from a panel, the panel restraining the bolt against upward movement with respect to the panel whereby said bolt latch means is enabled to support the panel.

4. A latching assembly to look a panel against a wall surface comprising: a bolt mounted on the panel and formed with a flanged hook on the end of the bolt; a back plate mounted on the wall surface; a bolt latch mounted on said back plate having a vertically disposed bolt lock cavity formed by a U-shaped protuberance projecting outwardly from said plate; said protuberance arranged in relative alignment with the bolt to allow engagement of the flanged hook of the bolt with the bolt lock cavity to prevent lateral and downward movement of the bolt with respect to said plate; a bolt tumbler pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to said plate above the protuberance and gravity urged to swing downwardly to lock the bolt against upward withdrawal from the bolt lock cavity; and a keeper pivotally mounted on the back plate to swing on an axis parallel to said plate to a position adjacent the tumbler to lock said tumbler in bolt locking position.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the lower edge of said bolt tumbler is formed with an upwardly extending U-shaped keeper receiving channel to receive said keeper.

6. A latching assembly to lock a panel to a wall surface comprising: a bolt pivotally mounted on the panel and movable to a first position whereat the bolt extends downwardly from the panel and to a second position whereat the bolt is aligned normal to the wall surface; a back plate mounted on the wall surface; a U-shaped protuberance mounted on said back plate forming a vertically disposed bolt receiving cavity limiting downward movement of said bolt; said bolt formed with a hook projecting downwardly therefrom when said bolt is in the second position; said bolt and said protuberance aligned so the bolt can fit into the bolt receiving cavity when the bolt is in the second position; a bolt tumbler pivotally mounted above the protuberance to swing away from and toward said back plate and gravity urged downwardly to a position whereat the bolt hook is locked against upward withdrawal from the bolt receiving cavity; and a keeper pivotally mounted on the back plate to swing on an axis parallel to said back plate to a position overlying said tumbler with reference to the back plate; said tumbler preventing outward and upward movement of said tumbler whereby said tumbler is locked in bolt locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 270,874 Brooks Jan. l6, 1883 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Hien Aug. 18, 1885 Robinson June 16, 1908 Reed Sept. 3, 1918 Bourgeois Dec. 16 1919 Hull June 23, 1925 Nampa Mar. 14, 1939 5 Haseitins Mar. 30, 1943 Keieher Jan. 2!), 1953 Nelson Mar. 24, 1953 Jones Aug. 4, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Jan. 21, 1915

Claims (1)

1. A LATCHING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A BOLT; A BACK PLATE; BOLT LATCH MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BACK PLATE TO LOCK THE BOLT AGAINST LATERAL AND DOWNWARD MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID PLATE; A BOLT TUMBLER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH SAID PLATE ABOVE THE BOLT LATCH MEANS AND GRAVITY URGED TO SWING DOWNWARDLY TO LOCK THE BOLT IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BOLT LATCH MEANS; AND KEEPER MEANS MOUNTED PIVOTALLY ADJACENT SAID BOLT LATCH MEANS TO SWING PARALLEL TO SAID PLATE TO A POSITION ADJACENT SAID TUMBLER TO LOCK SAID TUMBLER IN BOLT LATCH LOCKING ENGAGEMENT.

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