US3897094A

US3897094A - Lock arrangement for box car doors

Info

Publication number: US3897094A
Application number: US508500A
Authority: US
Inventors: James J Schuller
Original assignee: Pullman Inc
Current assignee: Pullman Standard Inc; Pullman Inc
Priority date: 1974-09-23
Filing date: 1974-09-23
Publication date: 1975-07-29
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-29

Abstract

A lock arrangement for locking the sliding door of a box car includes a keeper element mounted on a stationary portion of the box car side adjacent the door opening. The keeper is of a type which includes a socket for receiving the cam end of a hasp, the hasp being attached to a portion of the door for swinging movement. The keeper includes a housing through which a wedge element may be driven for securely attaching the cam hasp end to the keeper. The improved hasp of the present invention includes a conventional slot at one end thereof through which a hinge pin projects from the door. At one end of the hasp adjacent the slot there are provided ramps which extend from the flat surface of the hasp in inclined relation outwardly to merge with a flat surface provided by an enlarged rim formed at the end of the hasp. The hinge pin connection to the hasp end also includes an enlarged head. As the hasp is longitudinally moved toward the keeper, the head engages the ramps in camming relation whereby the hasp then is drawn inwardly adjacent to and in contiguous relation with respect to the door to which the pin is connected.

Description

United States Patent [191' Schuller [451 July 29, 1975 [5 LOCK ARRANGEMENT FOR BOX CAR [57] ABSTRACT DOORS A lock arrangement for locking the sliding door of a {75] inventor. James schuner, creterml box car includes a keeper element mounted on a stationary portion of the box car side adjacent thedoor [73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago,111. Opening The keeper is f a type which includes a t [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1974 socket for receiving the cam end of a hasp, the hasp Appl. No.: 508,500

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard J. Myers being attached to a portion of the door for swinging movement. The keeper includes a housing through which a wedge element may be driven for securely attaching the cam hasp end to the keeper. The improved pin connection to the hasp end also includes an en- I larged head. As the hasp is longitudinally moved toward the keeper, the head engages the ramps in camming relation whereby the hasp then is drawn inwardly adjacent to and incontiguous relation with respect to the door to which the pin is connected.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUL29 197s mm mm mm VIE w mm m mm F3 EOFE LOCK ARRANGEMENT'YFO-R BOX CAR DOORS CROSS-REFERENCE TO'RELATED APPLICATION The present application is related to 'U.S'. Pat. application Ser. No. 334,522, filedFeb. 22;l973, now ULS. Patent No., 3,869,162 issued Mar.4, I975.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of'the Invention "The .present invention relates to" railway cars, and more particularly to locking mechanisms for locking a sliding door in position over a door opening.

2. Description of the PriorArt The prior art is well disclosed in US. Nos. 2,788,995, Apr. 16, 1957; 3,045,295, July 24, 1962 and 3,279,839, Oct. 18,1966. The prior art is also disclosed in one of the figures of the drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a locking mechanism for the' locking of a sliding door to the car sideiirthe closed position. The invention, however, is equally applicable to the interlocking of a pair of sliding doors which might be disposed over a large door opening and which might be individually opened relative to eachother. In the present invention a keeper is mountedon the door frame adjacent the door, the said keeper'including upper and lower housing mem-bers which are apertured to receive a wedge which is driven vertically downwardly through the apertures for the purpose of locking the cam end of a lock hasp in positionhThe keeper also includes a socket portion at one endthereof whichreceives the cam end of a hasp wedgingly locked in position, as described.

The present improvement is concerned with the end of a hasp which isswingably connected to a pin projecting outwardly from the car door. The present hasp includes an elongated slot, at a terminal end, which is formed in a flat portion of thehasp, the said hasp flat portion also having a peripherally extending rim projecting laterally with respect to the flat end substantially about the extent of the hasp. The slotted end of the hasp is also provided with apair of diagonally extending or sloping ramps which extend from the flat portion of the hasp outwardly to the level of the surrounding rim. As the hasp is locked in position on the keeper, it is moved longitudinally and an enlarged head portion of the pin thereby slides on the ramps forcing the end of the hasp inwardly to provide a substantially close or contiguous location of the end of the hasp relative to the car door. This provides a much improved and more favorable loading condition on the hasp pin which thereby prevents breakage and reduces maintenance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a portion of a box car side of a railway car having an improved door and lock arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of a locking arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2'.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view in an enlarged form taken substantially along the line of 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 4, showing a prior art arrangement.

' A railway car side 10, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a door opening 11 defined by horizontally spaced vertical door posts 12 connected by a top plate 13. A side sill 14 defines the lower extent of the door opening 11 and is at approximately the same level as the box car floor (not shown). A sliding door 15 is shown in FIG. 1 inthe closed position over the door opening 11. The sliding door 15 can be of conventional design of a type which is usually supported on a track (not shown) mounted below the side sill and which is moved on said track horizontally to one side of the door opening. Since the aforementioned is well known in the art, further disclosure is not believed .necessary.

The door 15 includes vertical door sheathing l6 suitably supported on vertical door frame members 17. A door locking mechanism is generally designated at 18 and includes a keeper 19 positioned on a side wall 10 adjacent the door opening 11. The keeper 19 comprises a housing 20 having upper and lower

wedge receiving chambers

21 and 21, the same being of channel shape and being separated by a front hasp receiving entry slot 23. The housing 20 also includes a hasp cam receiving pocket 24 provided in an enlarged housing portion 25 suitably connected to the housing 20.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the door 15 is provided with a vertically extending edge seal element 26 which engages portions of the vertical edges of one of the door posts 12. A hasp 27, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a flat body portion 28 having at its outer edges raised rim sides 29 and at its end, an end rim portion 30. The flat body portion 28 includes an elongated slot 31 through which a pin 32 extends from the vertical door frame member 17. The pin 32 includes an enlarged flat head 33 confining the hasp end to its connection with the pin 32. As best shown in FIG. 2, the hasp end adjacent the raised rim portion is provided with

inclined ramps

34 and 35 disposed on opposite side of the slot 31 and extending to the associated raised rim sides 29. The rear face of the rim 30 is also provided with a beveled edge 36. The hasp 27 is provided with a hasp cam end 37 having on one side thereof, as best shown in FIG. 3, a cam surface 38. The cam end 37, as shown in FIG. 3, is in a secure closed position in the cam receiving pocket 24. It is rigidly secured within said pocket by means of a wedge 39 having a head portion 40, a shank 41 and a cam surface 42. The wedge 39 may be secured in the wedged position within the

wedge receiving chambers

21 and 22 by applying a hammer blow to the head portion 40. In its locked position the wedge 39 has engaged the cam surface 38 in wedging relation to thus rigidly secure the cam 37 within the pocket 24.

The hasp also includes a downwardly projecting apertured tab 43 provided with an opening 44 which is in the closed position in registry with a slot 45 provided in the lower chamber 22. The openings through which the wedge 39 is driven within the

chambers

21 and 23 is designated at 22'. The slot 45 and opening 44 may be used for the insertion of a suitable locking means such as a car seal or other type of lock.

THE OPERATION FIG. 1 discloses a door in the closed position with the locking mechanism secured. In the drawing the locking mechanism is supported on the box car side 10, but the mechanism can equally be applied to a pair of adjacent doors of the sliding type, if desired. In the locking operation the wedge 39 has been removed from the housing 20. The hasp is then rotated to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 and is moved through the slot 23 into position wherein the hasp cam end 37 is disposed in the pocket 24. in the securement of the cam in the pocket 37, the wedge 39 is driven vertically downwardly by the operator and during this operation the hasp 27 is moved horizontally, whereupon the head 33 rides on the

inclined ramps

34 and 35, in turn moving the hasp end laterally inwardly toward the door post 17 and substantially in a close and contiguous relation. The head 33 remains supported on the ramps and thus the hasp end is secured against outward lateral movement relative to the door. The particular location of the hasp end is important in that the type of construction as shown in FIG. of the prior art provides for a looseness relative to the pin 32 and head 33 to such an extent that the pin may easily be bent or broken or the hasp end may be deformed during operation. By securing the hasp end in the position shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the same is avoided since a much more favorable stress and loading condition is provided on the hasp pin when the wedge is driven into position. Thus, maintenance is avoided and an effective lock is provided.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway car side having a door opening, a device for locking a sliding door in a closed position over said opening, comprising:

a keeper including a housing mounted on said side adjacent said door opening, said housing having upper and lower vertically aligned open end wedge receiving chambers.

said portions being separated by a horizontal hasp receiving entry slot terminating at one end in a hasp cam receiving pocket and said slot being open at its other end, the improvement comprising:

7 a hasp including a relatively flat body terminating at one end in an enlarged cam having a tapering cam surface,

said cam in the closed and locked position of said door being seated in said hasp cam receiving pocket with a portion of said hasp body being disposed in said entry slot,

a wedge locking pin seated within said chambers and including a bevel portion in said locked position engaging said tapering cam,

said wedge pin being adapted to be vertically forced into and out of seated relation with respect to said chambers,

said hasp body including at its other end a slot,

a connecting pin rigidly secured to said second door and projecting outwardly from said second door through said slot,

said pin having an enlarged head disposed outwardly over said slot and said slot permitting limited horizontal movement of said hasp relative to said pin,

said hasp having a flat surface adjacent said slot,

said surface terminating in ramp portion means, with said ramp portion means extending from said flat surface diagonally outwardly relative to vertical plane of said door whereby during horizontal movement of said hasp relative to said pin during wedging locking of said hasp by said wedge pin,

said head of said pin engages said inclined ramp portion means thereby forcing said hasp end adjacent said slot inwardly into substantially contiguous relation relative to said door.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said ramp portion means including ramps on opposite sides of said slot and terminating in a terminal end of relatively thick cross section in comparison to said upper and lower flat portion.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said flat body of said hasp having a peripherally extending raised rim between which said slot is centrally positioned, said ramps extending from said flat body diagonally to the height of said raised rim.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said hasp having a peripherally extending raised rim. including side and end rim portions,

said end rim portion having a beveled edge portion on a side facing said door.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4, said ramps terminating at the side rim portions.

Claims

1. In a railway car side having a door opening, a device for locking a sliding door in a closed position over said opening, comprising: a keeper including a housing mounted on said side adjacent said door opening, said housing having upper and lower vertically aligned open end wedge receiving chambers, said portions being separated by a horizontal hasp receiving entry slot terminating at one end in a hasp cam receiving pocket and said slot being open at its other end, the improvement comprising: a hasp including a relatively flat body terminating at one end in an enlarged cam having a tapering cam surface, said cam in the closed and locked position of said door being seated in said hasp cam receiving pocket with a portion of said hasp body being disposed in said entry slot, a wedge locking pin seated within said chambers and including a bevel portion in said locked position engaging said tapering cam, said wedge pin being adapted to be vertically forced into and out of seated relation with respect to said chambers, said hasp body including at its other end a slot, a connecting pin rigidly secured to said second door and projecting outwardly from said second door through said slot, said pin having an enlarged head disposed outwardly over said slot and said slot permitting limited horizontal movement of said hasp relative to said pin, said hasp having a flat surface adjacent said slot, said surface terminating in ramp portion means, with said ramp portion means extending from said flat surface diagonally outwardly relative to vertical plane of said door whereby during horizontal movement of said hasp relative to said pin during wedging locking of said hasp by said wedge pin, said head of said pin engages said inclined ramp portion means thereby forcing said hasp end adjacent said slot inwardly into substantially contiguous relation relative to said door.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said hasp having a peripherally extending raised rim, including side and end rim portions, said end rim portion having a beveled edge portion on a side facing said door.