US3656666A

US3656666A - Removable lower cover for hopper discharge outlet structure

Info

Publication number: US3656666A
Application number: US3858A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard H Dugge; Garth R Smith
Original assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Current assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Priority date: 1970-01-19
Filing date: 1970-01-19
Publication date: 1972-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-04-18

Abstract

A lower cover for a bottom discharge outlet structure of a hopper, particularly for a covered hopper railway car, positioned beneath a butterfly valve which controls the discharge of lading from the hopper. A locking arm is pivotally carried from the underside of the cover and a cam type lock is effected between the ends of the locking arm which extend beyond the cover and coacting lugs on the adjacent housing whereby upon rotation of the arm in one direction when the cover is beneath the bottom discharge opening the cover is drawn tightly against the housing in generally air-tight relation to releasably lock the cover in position. Upon rotation of the locking arm in an opposite direction, the cover is released and may be pivoted to an open position remote from the discharge opening to permit the gravity unloading of lading.

Description

United States Patent Dugge et al. [451 Apr. 18, 1972 541 REMOVABLE LOWER COVER FOR 3,298,323 l/l967 Becker et al 105/280 HOPPE DISCHARGE OUTLET 3,030,093 2/1962 Dorey ..302/52 STRUCTURE 3,403,943 10/ 1968 Stine et al ..302/52 Inventors: Richard II. Dugge, St. Louis County; Garth R. Smith, Maryland Heights, both of Mo.

Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York,

Filed: Jan. 19, 1970 Appl. No.: 3,858

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane AttorneyEugene N. Riddle [57] ABSTRACT A lower cover for a bottom discharge outlet structure of a hopper, particularly for a covered hopper railway car, positioned beneath a butterfly valve which controls the discharge of lading from the hopper. A locking arm is pivotally carried from the underside of the cover and a cam type lock is effected between the ends of the locking arm which extend beyond the cover and coacting lugs on the adjacent housing whereby upon rotation of the arm in one direction when the cover is beneath the bottom discharge opening the cover is drawn tightly against the housing in generally air-tight relation to releasably lock the cover in position. Upon rotation of the locking arm in an opposite direction, the cover is released and may be pivoted to an open position remote from the discharge opening to permit the gravity unloading of lading.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAFR 181972 SHEET 1 [1F 5 FIG.

FIG. 7.

INVENTORS. RICHARD H. DUGGE GARTH R.v SMITH QM 22 m ATTORNEY PATENTEDAPR 18 I972 SHEET 2 0F 5 FIG. 2.

REMOVABLE LOWER COVER FOR HOPPER DISCHARGE OUTLET STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a releasable locking arrangement for a lower cover which is positioned beneath the closure for a bottom discharge outlet. The releasable locking arrangement comprises an elongate locking arm pivotally supported intermediate its length to the lower surface of the cover. The arm extends beyond the outer circumference of the cover and has a lug at each end thereof adapted to engage coacting lugs on the adjacent housing which supports the coverfor pivotal movement between open and closed positions. The coacting lugs on the housing comprise cams for the arm and upon rotation of the arm in one direction atterthe coacting lugs are engaged for closing of the cover, the arm and cover are drawn tightly against the adjacent housing. Rotation of the arm in an opposite direction easily releases the cover for pivotal movement to an open position.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is aside elevation of a covered hopper railway car having the present invention thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of a bottom outlet structure shown removed from the railway car of FIG. 1 and indicating the pneumatic and gravity discharge means;

FIG. 3 is a section taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and indicating the lower cover in closed, position beneath the closure of the bottom discharge opening; I

FIG. 4 is a section taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3' and indicating the lower cover in a closed position and forming a portion of the bottom of the pneumatic discharge conduit;

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the lower cover with the releasable locking means thereof securing the lower cover in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is an elevation similar to FIG. 5 but showing the locking arm moved to an unlocked position to permit pivotal movement of the cover to an open position removed from beneath the bottom discharge opening; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the lower cover moved to an openposition to permit a gravity discharge of lading from the bottom discharge opening.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of;

this invention, a covered hopper railway car is indicated generally 10 and includes a plurality of hoppers 12. A bottom discharge outlet structure generally indicated 14 is provided at the bottom of each hopper 12 to control the flow of lading therefrom. Hatch covers 16 permit the loading of hoppers 12.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, bottom discharge structure 14 has an upper flange 18 adapted to contact a mating flange 20 for securing bottom outlet structure 14 beneath superjacent hopper I2. Slope sheets 21 of outlet structure 12 slope downwardly to a bottom discharge opening indicated generally 22. To control the flow of lading from opening 22, a butterfly valve 24 is mounted on an operating shaft 26 and forms a closure for opening 22. Shaft 26 extends outwardly of outlet structure 14 and a handle 28 is mounted on the outer end thereof for manual actuation of butterfly valve 24. A housing 30 receives shaft 26 of butterfly valve 24 and has a ratchet 32 adjacent handle 28. A detent 34 on an end of lever 35 pivotally connected at 36 to handle 28 is adapted to engage notches in ratchet 32 thereby to permit movement of valve 24. Lever 35 is biased into engagement with ratchet 32.

To permit pneumatic discharge of lading from hoppers 12, an elongate pneumatic tube or conduit generally indicated 40 has a removable cap 42 adjacent each end thereof. For unloading pneumatically, a suitable pneumatic hose or the like may be attached to an end of pneumatic conduit 40 after removal of cap 42, and lading may be unloaded pneumatically upon opening of butterfly valve 24 by rotation of shaft 26.

Forming a portion of the bottom of pneumatic conduit 40 is a cover generally indicated 46 and positioned beneath butterfly valve 24 in vertical axial alignment therewith. Cover 46 has an extension 48 secured to a pin 50 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement on bracket 54 fixed to conduit 40 thereby to support cover 46 for pivotal movement between open and closed positions in a horizontal'plane beneath pneumatic conduit 40. A cotter 54 retains pin 50 on bracket 52. An extension 56 on an opposite side of cover 46 has an upstanding lug 58 with an eye 60 therein. A bracket 62 secured to a side of conduit 40 has an elongate slot 64 therein adapted to receive'lug 58 as shown in FIG. 5. A suitable seal or the like (not shown) may be inserted within eye 60 in the closed position shown in FIG. 5 thereby to indicate any tampering with cover 46.

Mounted for movement about pivot 76 on the underside of cover 46 is a releasable locking arm generally indicated 78. Locking arm 78 extends beyond the outer circumference of lower cover 46 and has an angle-shaped lug 80 at each end thereof which forms an upper inturned leg 84. Pneumatic conduit 40 has a bottom opening 86 therein as shown clearly in FIG. 7 and an annular housing 88 extends about opening 86 and is secured to conduit 40. Housing 88 extends outwardly at 90 from opposite sides of conduit 40 and forms inclined upper surfaces 92 thereon as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Inclined surface 92 has a rim 93 thereon to provide a seat for arm 78 as shown in FIG. 5. An extension 94 on locking arm 78 has an opening 96 therein. Opposed cutout portions 97 of annular housing 88 provide clearance for lugs 80 on the ends of arm 78 thereby to permit a vertical movement of arm 78.

To maintain locking arm 78 in proper position for closing, a positioning pin generally indicated 98 has an elongate head 100 thereon and spring 104 continuously urges pin 98 downwardly. Housing 88 has an extension 106 with a pair of spaced lugs 108 thereon having inclined upper surfaces facing in opposite directions. Pin 98 extends within opening 96 of extension 94 in the closed locked position of cover 46.

Thus, to release cover 46 for movement to an open position from the closed position shown in FIG. 5, head 100 is gripped manually and rotated 90 for positioning on the upper surfaces of lugs 108 thereby to maintain pin 98 out of opening 96 for unlocking of arm 78. In this position, locking arm 78 is manually rotated about pivot 76 to move legs 84 over rims 93. Legs84 are then received within cutout portions 97 which allows arm 78 and cover 46 to move downwardly out of opening 86 as shown in FIG. 6. In this position, cover 46 and arm 78 may be rotated to a position of FIG. 7.

To close cover 46, cover 46 and arm 78 are rotated to the position of FIG. 6 and arm 78 is then moved upwardly until legs 84 engage the upper inclined surface 92. In this position, arm 78 is rotated to draw cover 46 tightly against the pneumatic conduit. Then, head 100 may be rotated 90 off of lugs 108 to permit pin 98 to enter opening 96 for releasably securing arm 78 and cover 46 in position.

It is to be understood that a locking arm similar to arm 78 could be employed with other types of covers. For example, a locking arm could be used with a generally rectangular cover beneath a sliding gate closure, if desired. Further, in some instances, it might be desirable to employ more than one arm.

What is claimed is:

l. A bottom outlet structure adapted to be mounted beneath a hopper for unloading lading and comprising, a plurality of connected walls sloping downwardly to a bottom discharge opening, a closure for said bottom discharge opening movable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, a housing below the closure to provide a generally vertically extending conduit for the lading upon opening of the closure, a removable generally circular cover on the outlet structure in generally vertical axial alignment with the closure and positioned below the closure, means mounting the cover for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between open and closed positions, an elongate locking arm beneath the cover, pivot means on said cover supporting the arm intermediate its length for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal direction from a position generally beneath the center of the cover, said locking arm having generally angle-shaped end portions extending beyond the outer circumference of the cover with an upper horizontal leg of said end portions extending inwardly, and means on said housing adjacent the cover having inclined cam-type surfaces adapted to engage the upper legs of said end portions to direct the arm upwardly for drawing the cover tightly against the housing upon rotation of the arm in one direction about said pivot means when the arm is positioned for closing the cover, the rotation of the am is an opposite direction about said pivot means effecting a release of the arm and cover for pivotal movement of the cover about said vertical axis from a closed position to open position.

2. A bottom outlet structure adapted to be mounted beneath a hopper for unloading lading and comprising, a plurality of connected walls sloping downwardly to a bottom discharge opening, a butterfly valve mounted across said bottom discharge opening and movable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, an elongate pneumatic conduit below the butterfly valve extending in a generally vertical direction to receive lading from the hopper upon opening of the butterfly valve for pneumatic discharge, a removable generally circular cover in generally vertical axial alignment with the butterfly valve and forming a portion of the bottom of said elongate pneumatic conduit, means mounting the cover for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between open and closed positions, an elongate locking arm beneath the cover, pivot means on said cover supporting the arm intermediate its length for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal direction from a position generally beneath the center of the cover, said locking arm having generally angleshaped end portions extending beyond the outer circumference of the cover with an upper horizontal leg of said end portions extending inwardly, and means on said pneumatic conduit adjacent the cover having inclined cam-type surfaces adapted to engage the upper legs of said end portions to direct the arm upwardly for drawing the cover tightly against the conduit upon rotation of the arm in one direction about said pivot means when the am] is positioned for closing the cover, the rotation of the arm in an opposite direction about said pivot means effecting a release of the arm and cover for pivotal movement of the cover about said vertical axis from closed position to open position.

3. A bottom outlet structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein releasable means are mounted on the housing to secure the locking arm in the closed position of the'cover.

@73 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent '%.666.666 Dated Agril 18. 1W2

lnvent fl Richard H. Duege and Garth R, Smith It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

F Coiumn 3, line 22,"'is" should be" in Column a,

line 27', "1" should be 2 Signed and sealed this 17th day of October 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSGHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A bottom outlet structure adapted to be mounted beneath a hopper for unloading lading and comprising, a plurality of connected walls sloping downwardly to a bottom discharge opening, a closure for said bottom discharge opening movable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, a housing below the closure to provide a generally vertically extending conduit for the lading upon opening of the closure, a removable generally circular cover on the outlet structure in generally vertical axial alignment with the closure and positioned below the closure, means mounting the cover for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between open and closed positions, an elongate locking arm beneath the cover, pivot means on said cover supporting the arm intermediate its length for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal direction from a position generally beneath the center of the cover, said locking arm having generally angle-shaped end portions extending beyond the outer circumference of the cover with an upper horizontal leg of said end portions extending inwardly, and means on said housing adjacent the cover having inclined cam-type surfaces adapted to engage the upper legs of said end portions to direct the arm upwardly for drawing the cover tightly against the housing upon rotation of the arm in one direction about said pivot means when the arm is positioned for closing the cover, the rotation of the arm in an opposite direction about said pivot means effecting a release of the arm and cover for pivotal movement of the cover about said vertical axis from a closed position to open position.

2. A bottom outlet structure adapted to be mounted beneath a hopper for unloading lading and comprising, a plurality of connected walls sloping downwardly to a bottom discharge opening, a butterfly valve mounted across said bottom discharge opening and movable between open and closed positions relative to the discharge opening, an elongate pneumatic conduit below the butterfly valve extending in a generally vertical direction to receive lading from the hopper upon opening of the butterfly valve for pneumatic discharge, a removable generally circular cover in generally vertical axial alignment with the butterfly valve and forming a portion of the bottom of said elongate pneumatic conduit, means mounting the cover for pivotal movement about a vertical axis between open and closed positions, an elongate locking arm beneath the cover, pivot means on said cover supporting the arm intermediate its length for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal direction from a position generally beneath the center of the cover, said locking arm having generally angle-shaped end portions extending beyond the outer circumference of the cover with an upper horizontal leg of said end portions extending inwardly, and means on said pneumatic conduit adjacent the cover having inclined cam-type surfaces adapted to engage the upper legs of said end portions to direct the arm upwardly for drawing the cover tightly against the conduit upon rotation of the arm in one direction about said pivot means when the arm is positioned for closing the cover, the rotation of the arm in an opposite direction about said pivot means effecting a release of the arm and cover for pivotal movement of the cover about said vertical axis from closed position to open position.

3. A bottom outlet structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein releasable means are mounted on the housing to secure the locking arm in the closed position of the cover.