US3768422A

US3768422A - Water drain structure for railway car door arrangement

Info

Publication number: US3768422A
Application number: US00236050A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Shaver; E Nagy
Original assignee: Pullman Inc
Current assignee: Pullman Standard Inc; Pullman Inc
Priority date: 1972-03-20
Filing date: 1972-03-20
Publication date: 1973-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-30
Also published as: CA965641A

Abstract

A railway car door of the sliding plug type is positioned within the door frame arrangement in the side of a car. The door frame arrangement comprises horizontally spaced side posts, an upper horizontally extending side plate structure and a lower side sill. The upper side plate structure includes a U-shaped trough which terminates adjacent corners of the door post and includes downwardly extending openings which communicate with a tubular drain at each door post arranged to drain rain water downwardly below the door opening of the car. The tubular drain element also is constructed in a manner to effectively cooperate with adjacent vertical edge structures of the door to prevent water from entering the car through the door framing structure.

Description

United States Patent [191 Shaver et al.

[ Oct. 30, 1973 [75] Inventors: William R. Shaver, Hammond;

Ernest J. Nagy, Munster, both of Ind.

[73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Mar. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 236,050

9/1950 Madland ..105/409 9/1967 Johansson 105/409 Primary ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Att0rneyHi1mond O. Vogel et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A railway car door of the sliding plug type is positioned within the door frame arrangement in the side of a car. The door frame arrangement comprises horizontally spaced side posts, an upper horizontally extending side plate structure and a lower side sill. The upper side plate structure includes a U-shaped trough which terminates adjacent corners of the door post and includes downwardly extending openings which communicate with a tubular drain at each door post arranged to drain rain water downwardly below the door opening of the car. The tubular drain element also is constructed in a manner to effectively cooperate with adjacent vertica] edge structures of the door to prevent water from entering the car through the door framing structure.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures WATER DRAIN STRUCTURE FOR RAILWAY CAR DOOR ARRANGEMENT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT The present application is related to applicants U.S. Pat. No. 3,653,153 patented Apr. 4, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of art to which this invention pertains is railway boxcars having door opening structures of a type adapted to contain a laterally movable and slidable door.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art pertaining particularly to door opening structures in boxcars is exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,522,761, Sept. 19, 1950; 2,580,804, Jan. I, 1952; 2,780,180, Feb. 5, 1957; and 3,339,323, Sept. 5, 1967.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the prime object of the present invention to provide an improved water drain arrangement for removing rain water from a door frame arrangement and for preventing the entrance of such moisture into the interior of the car. The invention is directed toward a door frame having horizontally spaced vertically extending door posts, a lower side sill and an upper plate structure defining the door opening. A sliding and laterally movable door is adapted to fit into the door opening structure and includes at opposite ends vertical edge structures of a particular configuration cooperating with the door framing structure for effectively sealing the door opening against the entrance of moisture. The door framing structure is provided with vertically extending tubular drains positioned in corners provided by the door posts, the drains being adapted to direct moisture downwardly below the car. The top plate structure is provided with a horizontally extending trough which is apertured to communicate with the tubular drains. The tubular drains also have a configuration which in cooperation with the edge structures provide a labyrinth type of shielding or sealing arrangement designed to prevent water from entering through the door opening when the door is in a closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with portions thereof broken away illustrating an improved door frame arrangement and water drain construction for a laterally movable railway car door;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of a portion of a railway car door and associated door frame arrangement;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a detail cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, a portion of a railway car body is generally designated by the reference character and includes a side wall 11 containing a door opening 12. The door opening 12 is defined by a framing arrangement which includes an upper side plate structure 13 disposed at the top of the door opening 12 and a side sill 14 positioned at the lower end of said opening. The side wall also includes a plurality of metal side wall sheets 15 which may be of conventional construction of a type utilizing in railway car structures. The door opening 12 is also defined by a pair of horizontally spaced vertically extending door posts 16, each of which has a first vertical flange l7 and a second vertical flange 18 extending outwardly substantially normal to the flange 17 to which it is connected. The point of connection of the flanges l7 and 18 forms a corner recess horizontally spaced from the adjacent door opening.

At each of the corner recesses there is provided a vertical T-shaped drain element generally designated at 19. Each drain element 19 comprises a third flange 20 connected to the first flange l7 and extending substantially normal with respect thereto. Each drain element 19 also includes a fourth flange 21 connected to the third flange 20 and extending normal with respect thereto or substantially parallel with respect to the first vertical flange 17. Each T-shaped drain element 19 also is provided with a fifth vertically extending flange 22 forming in effect a continuation of the third flange 20. The railway car door 23 is provided with inner wall sheathing'24 and has connected thereto a plurality of horizontally extending and vertically spaced hat shaped members 25. The door 23 is of the type more specifically described and disclosed in the aforementioned patent and the operation of the same need not be described in detail in the present application. Generally, the door is provided with an upper roller and shaft assembly 26 and a lower shaft and roller assembly 27. Thus, the door 23, as shown in FIG. 1, is adapted to pivot on the

assemblies

26 and 27 with respect to the door opening 12. The rod and crank arm assembly 28 includes a rod 29 having at its upper end a roller 28 of conventional construction associated with a crank arm also conventional, which is adapted to permit the door to move laterally upwardly and inwardly with respect to the door opening. The assembly 28 is also provided at its lower ends with a suitable crank arm arrangement and roller slide assembly 31 also of conventional design. The lower end of the assembly 27 is also provided with such a suitable slide assembly 31. The door 23 also includes horizontal lock bolts 32 and vertical lock bolts 33 which are actuated by means of a door actuating mechanism (not shown) enclosed in a housing 34 which supports a handle 35 manually adapted to move the actuating mechanism to reciprocate the lock bolts for locking the door in the closed position by the lock bolts engaging suitable apertures (not shown) in the flanges 18. The handle 35 is also adapted to move a linkage assembly 36, as best described in the aforementioned patent, which in turn rotates the rod and crank arm assembly 28 by moving the door inwardly and outwardly laterally with respect to the door opening. A track 37 is positioned below the door opening 12 and is supported on the side sill l4 and supports in sliding relation the slide assemblies 31. The side plate structure l3 includes a horizontally extending flanged member 38, as best shown in FIG. 4, the same being suitably connected to a second flange member 39 also extending horizontally above the door opening. The member 39 includes a flange portion 39' and the member 38 includes a downwardly extending flange 40. A horizontally extending U-shaped trough 41 is connected to the lower portion of the flange 40 and extends across the upper end of the door opening. As best shown in FIG. 5, the trough 41 is provided at opposite ends with downwardly extending openings 42, adapted to communicate with passages 42', as best shown in FIG. 2, provided by the T-shaped drain elements 19. A horizontally extending flanged retainer member 43 is suitably connected to the flange 39' and extends across the door opening for confining the upper end of the rod and crank assembly 28 and roller 30. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the door posts 16 also include

flanges

44 and 45, the latter being suitably connected to the side wall sheets 15.

The door 23 is also provided at opposite ends with edge structures generally indicated at 46 and each edge structure includes a vertical end wall 47 projecting laterally outwardly and normal to the wall sheathing 24. Outer walls 46 are connected to the walls 47 and extend parallel to the flanges 17 and are in substantially flush relation to the door posts 16 in the closed position of the door. Sixth flanges 49 are connected to the outer walls 48 and extend inwardly substantially parallel to the flanges 18 and in close proximity thereto. The sixth flanges 49 are connected to a vertically extending inner wall 50, in turn also connected to each of the walls 47. Thus, the end structure provides a tubular or box-like section, having great strength and sealing ability. As particularly disclosed in FIGS. 2 and 4, the flanges 49 project inwardly with respect to the inner walls 50 to form vertically extending lips 51. An angle shaped seal 52 has one flange 53 connected to the wall 47 of each of the end structures and another flange 54 in sealing engagement with each of the flanges 17 during the closed position of the door.

THE OPERATION The present type of laterally movable and sliding door 23 is moved from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 by moving the handle 35 in a manner wherein the actuating mechanism within the housing 34 moves the

bolts

32 and 33 out of disengagement with the door frame consisting of the door posts 16, side plate structure 13 and side sill l4. Simultaneously the linkage arrangement 36 rotates the rod and crank assembly 28 whereupon the cranks move the door at the right hand side in FIG. 1 outwardly, the same pivoting on the

assemblies

26 and 27. The track 37 is curved from the assembly 27 outwardly and thus the door can now be moved to the right of the opening on the track 37 to an open out of the way position. This is more specifically described in the aforementioned patent.

For the purpose of the present invention, the advantages thereof are when the door is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 2. Assuming now that rain water is directed against the outer side of the railway car, any water which passes between the

flanges

49 and 18 generally will immediately drop downwardly because of the circuitous path afforded by the lips 41 and flange 22 with a very small portion if any of the moisture reaching the angle shaped seal element 52, which further is in sealing engagement with respect to the flange 17 on each side of the door. Thus, the T-shaped seal element 19 with its flange 22 in cooperation with the lip 51, provide for a maze-like, labyrinth or circuitous path for the moisture or rain so that penetration toward the sealing element 52 is largely prevented. The upper end of the door is also protected by means of the U-shaped channel 41 which catches any of the moisture or rain water which might enter into the cracks between the door and the structure 13 above the upper end of the door frame. The inner wall 24, as best shown in FIG. 4, is also provided with a flange or lip 41 which, as the door is closed, is moved into the closed position, overlaps an upwardly extending flange 42" of the channel 41 so that any moisture is directed down into the trough 41 and from there it is directed downwardly through the openings 42 into the passage 42' of the drain element which, as indicated at 53 in FIG. 1, terminates below the door opening so that the water is directed downwardly below the opening and thus will not enter through the opening into the car proper. Thus, the novel drain arrangement shown protects the upper end of the door and door opening and the drain arrangement at each of the corners of the door post protects the sides of the door and side post structure against any substantial amount of rain water or other moisture entering into the car.

We claim:

1. In a railway car having a side wall including a door opening, said opening being defined by a side sill, horizontally spaced door posts and an upper side plate structure, a track on said car below said opening, and a door slidably supported on said track and movable into said opening for closing the same, the improvement of a water drain arrangement comprising:

a first flange on each door post connected to and extending vertically with said side wall,

each first flange having one end adjacent to said door opening,

a second flange connected to an opposite end of each said first flange and extending laterally outwardly with respect to said side wall,

said first and second flanges forming recesses on opposite sides of said opening having comers at the connection of said flanges,

said door having vertically extending horizontally spaced edge structures substantially disposed within said recesses in the closed position of said door,

tubular drain elements supported on said posts adjacent said comers and extending substantially vertically the length of said openings,

a horizontally extending trough supported on said side plate structure having communication with said drain elements for draining water downwardly below said door opening,

said drain elements each comprising a member having a T-shaped cross section including third and fourth flanges respectively connected to said first and second flanges and extending vertically therewith, and

a fifth vertical flange on each said T-shaped element projecting laterally outwardly relative to said first flange and substantially parallel to said second flange,

said fifth flange extending in close proximity to an adjacent edge structure of said door.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said edge structures of said door comprising,

vertical end walls extending laterally outwardly with respect to said door opening and substantially parallel to said second flange,

vertical seal members connected to said vertical end path configuration in said recesses.

walls sealingly engaging Said first flfl g in 4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said closed Position of Said dooredge structure further including: The invention in accordance with claim Said vertical inner walls connecting said sixth flanges and edge structures of said door further includrng: said vertical end walls of Said door,

vertical outer walls connected to said vertical end walls and extending substantially normal with respect thereto, and oflter 4 an inwardly turned vertical sixth flange connected to The mvenuon accordance F f sfild said outer walls and extending substantially parallel Sixth flanges having Vemcally extendlng P p l to and in close proximity to said second flanges to a d y with respect to said inner walls. provide with said T-shaped element a circuitous said inner walls extending substantially parallel to

Claims

1. In a railway car having a side wall including a door opening, said opening being defined by a side sill, horizontally spaced door posts and an upper side plate structure, a track on said car below said opening, and a door slidably supported on said track and movable into said opening for closing the same, the improvement of a water drain arrangement comprising: a first flange on each door post connected to and extending vertically with said side wall, each first flange having one end adjacent to said door opening, a second flange connected to an opposite end of each said first flange and extending laterally outwardly with respect to said side wall, said first and second flanges forming recesses on opposite sides of said opening having corners at the connection of said flanges, said door having vertically extending horizontally spaced edge structures substantially disposed within said recesses in the closed position of said door, tubular drain elements supported on said posts adjacent said corners and extending substantially vertically the length of said openings, a horizontally extending trough supported on said side plate structure having communication with said drain elements for draining water downwardly below said door opening, said drain elements each comprising a member having a T-shaped cross section including third and fourth flanges respectively connected to said first and second flanges and extending vertically therewith, and a fifth vertical flange on each said T-shaped element projecting laterally outwardly relative to said first flange and substantially parallel to said second flange, said fifth flange extending in close proximity to an adjacent edge structure of said door.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said edge structures of said door comprising, vertical end walls extending laterally outwardly with respect to said door opening and substantially parallel to said second flange, vertical seal members connected to said vertical end walls sealingly engaging said first flanges in the closed position of said door.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said edge structures of said door further including: vertical outer walls connected to said vertical end walls and extending substantially normal with respect thereto, and an inwardly turned vertical sixth flange connected to said outer walls and extending substantially parallel to and in close proximity to said second flanges to provide with said T-shaped element a circuitous path configuration in said recesses.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 3, said edge structure further including: vertical inner walls connecting said sixth flanges and said vertical end walls of said door, said inner walls extending substantially parallel to said outer walls.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said sixth flanges having vertically extending lips projecting inwardly with respect to said inner walls.