US3910200A

US3910200A - Container pedestal and holddown latch

Info

Publication number: US3910200A
Application number: US466004A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert R Girard
Original assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Current assignee: ACF Industries Inc
Priority date: 1974-05-01
Filing date: 1974-05-01
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07

Abstract

A latching arrangement is provided having a latch which comprises a latch portion having a latch nose mounted on a radius about a generally vertical pivot axis. A generally constant force resilient device urges a base portion of the latch into the inward or engaged position with a container. Since the moment arm of the latch portion about the generally vertical axis is generally constant, the respective entry and exit forces for engaging and removing containers from the latching arrangement are generally constant, and can be varied by altering the entry and exit incline of the nose portion.

Description

United States Patent [191 Girard Oct. 7, 1975 CONTAINER PEDESTAL AND I-IOLDDOWN LATCH [75] lnventor: Robert R. Girard, St. Charles, Mo.

[73] Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated, New

York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: May 1, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 466,004

[52] U.S. Cl 105/366 C; 105/366 D; 105/464;

248/119 R [51] Int. Cl. B65J 1/22; B61D 45/00 [58] Field of Search 105/366, 368 R, 368 T,

105/369 A; 280/179, 179.1; 296/282, 35.1; 248/119 R, 361 A; 292/74, 76

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,565,013 2/1971 Terlecky 105/366 D 3,815,516 6/1974 Girard 105/366 D Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firml-Ienry W. Cummings [57] ABSTRACT A latching arrangement is provided having a latch which comprises a latch portion having a latch nose mounted on a radius about a generally vertical pivot axis. A generally constant force resilient device urges a base portion of the latch into the inward or engaged position with a container. Since the moment arm of the latch portion about the generally vertical axis is generally constant, the respective entry and exit forces for engaging and removing containers from the latching arrangement are generally constant, and can be varied by altering the entry and exit incline of the nose portion.

50 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 of 5 3,910,200

US. Patent US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,910,200

l llll FIG. 5

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 4 of5 Shet 5 of 5 Oct. 7,1975

US. Patent CONTAINER PEDESTAL AND HOLDDOWN LATCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Container pedestals for railway flat cars care disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,565,013 and in application Ser. No. 257,981 filed May 30, 1972, assigned to the same assigne as the present application. This patent and application are directed to the concept of the pedestals being movable longitudinally along the car deck to openings wherein the pedestals are folded downwardly into the openings and become part of the surface of the car deck so that highway trailers may be driven thereon and transported on the flat cars held in place by appropriate hitches. Such flat cars are known TOFC-COFC cars.

In this patent and application the container latch is pivotally mounted upon the lower portion or plate of the pedestal and swings back and forth within a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car. In the engaged position the latch fits within an opening in the container and holds the container upon the pedestals.

Other similar arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,630,155; 3,667,401; 3,719,794; and 3,774,551.

However, in these arrangements the latch only moves back and forth within this plane. There is some play for longitudinal movement but this is limited. Particularly when containers approach the latch mechanism by virtue of longitudinal movement there is danger that the container may harm the latch mechanism.

Also, tolerance variation in the pedestal construction and container construction can result in varying entry and exit forces for the containers. For example, when the latch pivots about point 58 in prior art FIG. 1B herein, the entry and exit forces vary depending upon how near wall 52 containers C engage the latch in entering and leaving the pedestal. The horizontal distance fr m wall 52 which the containers act on nose 70 is the approximate movement arm which applies the forces about pivot point 58. Thus greater or lesser forces are applied to pivot point 58, depending on how near wall 52 the containers engage respectively entry and exist contours 72 and 74.

Thus the entry and exit forces used in this arrange ment cannot be fixed because the operator cannot consistently hit the same point on entry contour 72, or control where in applying the vertical exit load how far from wall 52 the container will engage contour 74.

It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a container latch mechanism which will avoid damage to latch mechanism no matter from what direc tion the containers approach the latch.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism which reduces the variation in entry and exit forces which is inherent in the prior art arrangement.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of one type of flat car in which the present invention may be utilized;

FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of a prior art container pedestal latch mechanism;

FIG. 1B is an end elevational view of a prior art container pedestal latch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a flat car with the container pedestals in place illustrating how four such pedestals are mounted to hold a container in place;

FIG. 3 is a plan detailed view of one of the container pedestals utilizing the latching mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the view shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view along the lines 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the latch alone;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the latch;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the latch illustrating the angles a and ,8 referred to hereinafter;

FIG. 8A is a view along the lines 8A-8A in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a tension spring arrangement which may be utilized in the latching arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a compression spring arrangement which maybe utilized in the latching arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a torsional shear type spring which may be utilized in the latching arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a view along the: lines 11A-I 1A in FIG. 1 1.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of an alternative torsional shear arrangement which may be utilized in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12A-is a view along the lines 12A-12A in FIG. 12.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a coil spring arrangement which may be utilized in the latching arrangement of the present invention;

FIG. 13A is a view along the lines I3-I3A in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of tension spring arrangement with the spring wrapped around the cylinder to save space and allow greater spring length.

FIG. 14A is a view along the lines 14A14A in FIG. 14.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A latching arrangement is provided having a latch which comprises a latch portion having a latch nose mounted on a radius about a generally vertical pivot axis. A generally constant force resilient device urges a base portion of the latch into the inward or engaged position with a container. When engaged by the containers the latch rotates about the generally vertical axis until the latch nose engages engagement means in the containers at which time the latch nose under the bias of the constant force resilient device enters the engagement means in the containers and holds the containers in place until a predetermined force is applied to remove the containers from the latching arrangement. The latching arrangement may be a part of a container pedestal. Since the moment arm of the latch portion about the generally vertical axis is generally constant, the respective entry and exit forces for engaging and removing containers from the latching arrangement are generally constant, and can'be varied by altering the entry and exit incline of the nose portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings for a better understanding of this invention and more particularly to FIG. 1, a railway flat car is generally indicated and has a generally flat deck 12. An end guideway section generally indicated 14 is positioned between a bolster structure 16 and the adjacent end of the railway car. An intermediate guideway section generally indicated 18 is positioned between the bolster structures 16.

Guideway sections

14, 18 are formed by spaced Z-

members

20, 22 having a slot 24 therebetween as shown in FIG. 1B. Mounted in slots 24 for sliding movement therealong are container supports generally indicated 26. Supports 26 may be releasably positioned at various positions along the length of

guideway sections

14, 18 to adapt flat car 10 for carrying a plurality of containers of various lengths such 10 feet, feet, 24 feet, feet, and feet. It is to be understood that only one-half the length of flat car 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1, the remaining length of the flat car being similar to that shown in FIG. 1.

As shown particularly in FIG. 1A, deck 12 has cutout portions 28 adjacent the ends of

guideway sections

14, 18 and supports 26 are adapted to be folded to retracted positions within cutout portions 28 to form closures for the cutout portions whereby highway tractors may be driven over deck 12 when flat car 10 is employed for the transport of trailers. Each container C has a lower corner fitting or cap 30 at each lower corner thereof. Each corner fitting 30 is generally rectangular in transverse and longitudinal cross sections and comprises a bottom wall 32, an upper wall 34, outer and inner side walls 36, 38 and end walls 40. Outer side wall 36 has an elongate opening 42 therein as shown particularly in FIG. 1B. An edge 44 preferably arcuate defines the lower portion of elongate opening 42 and an edge 46 preferably arcuate defines the upper portion of opening 42. For example, arcuate edges 44 and 46 are struck from a 1 inch radius.

Container support 26 comprises a lower base 48 adapted to rest on the upper surface of deck 12. Vertical wall 68 supports an upper base or seat 50 which supports the lower corner of a container C. A pair of connected

vertical walls

52, 54 extend upwardly from seat 50. Side wall 52 and end wall 54 are arranged in a right angular relation to each other and restrain the container against horizontal movement. For further details of container support 26, reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,391,654, dated July 9, 1969, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by this reference.

The prior art means to restrain the container against an upward vertical movement or lifting below a prede termined lifting force is actuated without any manual actuation being required and comprises a lock lever 56 mounted adjacent its lower end on pin 58 which forms a fixed horizontal axis. Pin 58 is carried by extensions 60 secured to base 48 and forms a fixed horizontal axis for lever 56. Lever 56 may pivot back and forth on pin 58 in a vertical plane and is biased by spring 62 into a positon to engage containers C.

It will be apparent that lock lever 56 pivots about a pin 58 within a plane which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the car as do the locking levers and locking arms in the said U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,630,155; 3,667,401; 3,719,794 and 3,774,551. These arrangements are believed to be representative of the current prior art latching arrangements which are in use. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A there is some space 58a between locking lever 56 and extension 60 which allows a small amount of longitudinal movement of locking lever 56. However, there still is a problem with this arrangement when containers are moved into the pedestal area longitudinally left to right in FIG. 1A. It will be apparent that the latch mechanism can be damaged by container movement in this direction.

Also tolerance variation in the pedestal construction and container construction can result in varying entry and exit forces for the containers. For example, when the latch pivots about point 58 in prior art FIG. 1B herein, the entry and exit forces vary depending upon how near wall 52 containers C engage the latch in entering and leaving the pedestal. The horizontal distance from wall 52 which the containers act on nose is the approximate movement arm which applies the forces about pivot point 58. Thus greater or lesser forces are applied to pivot point 58, depending on how near wall 52 the containers engage respectively entry and exist contours 72 and 74.

Thus the entry and exit forces used in this arrangement cannot be fixed because the operator cannot consistently hit the same point on entry contour 72, or control where in applying the vertical exit load how far from wall 52 the container will engage contour 74.

In accordance with the present invention a latching arrangement indicated generally at in the drawings is provided. The latching arrangement includes a latch member indicated generally at 102 comprising a base portion 104 and a latch portion 106. Base portion 104 is preferably cylindrical and is also preferably hollow having an opening 113 to save weight as shown in FIG. 7. Base portion 104 comprises a foot portion which preferably is of larger diameter than body portion 112. An upper base portion 114, preferably is also of larger diameter than body portion 112 and more preferably is of about the same diameter as foot portion 110.

Latch portion 106 comprises a generally vertically extending portion 122 and a curved horizontal portion 123 which maintains a generally constant radius R about the axis A. Horizontal portion 123 further comprises a nose portion 124. Nose portion 124 comprises a contour 126 including a generally downwardly extending inclined surface 128 and a generally upwardly extending inclined surface plane 130. If desired, inclined surfaces 128 and/or 130 may be made arcuate as shown in FIG. 8A. Surface 128 defines an angle B with the horizontal and upwardly extending surface 130 defines an angle a with a horizontal as illustrated in FIG. 8. As described in greater detail hereinafter the inclines of

planes

128 and 130 and the resulting angles 0: and [3 control the inlet and exit forces for containers to be held in place with latching portion 106.

If desired, latch portion 106 may be a casting or a forging. Alternatively, the latch portion may be fabricated.

Latch portion 106 is made integral with base portion 104. This can be done by welding as indicated at or with mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, base portion 104 and latch portion 106 may be part of an integral casting or forging.

Latch member 102 may be mounted directly on the deck of a railway flat car. However, in view of the common use of container pedestals both on container flat cars and on TOFC-COFC cars, it is preferred to mount latch member 102 in a container pedestal similar to those shown in FIGS. 1, 1A and 1B and described in said US. Pat. No. 3,391,654.

FIGS. 3 and 5 show locking member 102 mounted in such a container pedestal 132. Container pedestal 132 is provided with means 133 for holding a locking member 102 in place. This may comprise, for example, at least one retaining ring 134. Retaining ring 134 may be held in place with appropriate fasteners or by welding 136. Furthermore, an upper retaining ring 138 may be provided, preferably mounted upon horizontal seat 140 of pedestal 132. Upper retaining ring 138 again may be held in place by appropriate fasteners or welding 142.

A constant contact resilient device indicated generally at 150 is provided to engage locking member 102. This resilient device may be any suitable constant contact resilient device.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 this resilient device comprises a constant contact flat coil spring 152. Resilient retaining means 151 are provided for mounting engagement of resilient device 150 with base portion 104. For example, spring 152 may be held in engagement with base portion 104 of locking lever 102 by means of appropriate fasteners, for example, rivets 154. Fasteners 154 may extend all the way through body portion 112 as shown in FIG. 5, or they may be foreshortened and extend only into the center of hollow portion 113 as shown in FIG. 4 at 155.

Spring 152 comprises a latch engagement portion 156 and a coil portion 158. Coil portion 158 is preferably spaced from engagement portion 156 on the other side of web 160 as shown in FIG. 5. An opening 162 is provided in web 160 to allow a spring connector portion 164 to pass therethrough joining coil portion 158 with latch engagement portion 156.

In operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 in the event that a container C having an opening therein 166 vertical descends to engage latch portion 106, it will be apparent that incline 128 will provide that the component of the vertical force will act transversely to urge locking member 106 to rotate about axis A in FIG. 4. When the container has sufficiently descended the nose 126 will enter opening 166 and hold the container in place. In the event that the container approaches transversely as illustrated in FIG. 3, it will be apparent that nose 126 will be urged to pivot about the axis A. At least some vertical descent will be required for the latch to engage opening 166 but this can easily be carried out by the operator.

Furthermore, if the container approaches from left to right as shown in FIG. 3, it will be apparent that the curved portion 123 of latch portion 106 together with nose portion 126 will cause the container to pivot locking lever 102 about axis A. If at least some vertical descent is provided to the container, the nose 126 will move into the opening 166 and hold the container in the locked position. This represents a significant improvement over the prior art locking lever which pivoted only transversely with respect to longitudinal axis of the car. Thus no matter from what direction the container approaches the latch, the latch will act to cause engagement of the container and the latch.

Inclined surface 130 provides that the containers may be moved from the latch by applying an appropriate upward force on the latch mechanism. The angle alpha or in FIG. 8 corresponds to the inclination of the surface 128 and is related to the entry force required for the latch to engage opening 166. The angle beta B is related to the inclined surface 130 and is related to the force required to rotate locking lever about the axis A and permit the containers to exit. The vertical force necessary to remove the container due to inclined surface 130 has a component which acts to pivot latch 102 about axis A and thus remove the containers.

It will be apparent that with the generally constant radius R about the axis A, that generally the same entry force will be required. The moment arm is generally constant about the axis A, in contrast to the prior art varying moment arms discussed above in regard to FIG. 1B. Regardless of where the container contacts surface 128 generally the same horizontal component will be required to overcome the bias of spring 152. Finally, regardless of where the container contacts surface 130, generally the same exit force will be required to overcome the bias of spring 152.

It is then apparent that the generally constant entry and exit forces which are obtained from the latching arrangement of the present invention is a significant improvement over the varying entry and exit forces required to operate the prior art latching arrangements.

Furthwermore, the entry and exit forces can be varied by changing the incline of surfaces 128 and/or 130, i.e., change the ratio of B to a. This may be done by providing a new latch portion 106, or by remachining of previously produced latch portions to obtain the desired incline of entry and/or exit contours 128 and/or 130.

It has been found from experience that it is preferred that the entry force not exceed about 800 pounds. Preferably the entry force is at least 400 pounds so that the effect of friction is negligible in the operation of the latch. It has been found that the exit force should not exceed about 2200 pounds because of unduly straining the lifting equipment. Preferably the lifting force is at least 1600 pounds so that the containers will not dislodge under transit forces such as coupling impacts. It therefore is apparent that the ratio of beta B to alpha a should generally be within the range of 2 to 1 to about 5.5 to l.

It was mentioned above that any suitable constant force resilient device may be utilized to bias locking lever 106 into the locked or inward position. Flat coil spring 152 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 is one such suitable resilient device.

Another suitable resilient device is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a tension spring indicated generally at 170 is affixed to a vertical bracket on the deck or to pedestal web portion 160, for example, by providing an appropriate opening therein 174 and a head 176 on the end of the spring. Spring 170 further comprises tension coils 177 and a generally transverse extension 178 similar to extension 164 illustrated in FIG. 3. Extension 178 is integrally affixed to base portion 104 of latch 106 with mechanical fasteners or welding. The operation of latch 102 biased with tension spring 170 is the same as described in regard to FIGS. 3 and 5.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 10 wherein a compression spring indicated generally at 180 is utilized. In this embodiment the compression spring 180 is again integrally affixed to a bracket 181 on the web portion 160. However, it is preferred that the compression spring be placed outwardly as compared to the embodiment in FIG. 9. Compression coils 182 are provided and the spring 180 is integrally affixed to an extension 184 which, in turn,

is integrally affixed to base portion 104 of latch 102. The operation is the same as described in regard to FIGS. 3 and 9.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 11A wherein a torsional rubber shear spring indicated generally at 190 is integrally bonded to base portion 104 of locking lever 102 and to fixed center column member 192 which may be affixed to the deck and a horizontal bracket or to pedestal 132 by welding 194.

It will be apparent that the container will cause the locking lever to pivot about the axis AA in engaging the containers as described in FIGS. 3 and 5.

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 12A. In this embodiment a resilient device 200 is integrally bonded to base portion 104 of latch member 102 and to fixed outer column member 196 and affixed to the deck or with the pedestal 132 by welding 198. It will be apparent that this embodiment is generally reverse of the previous embodiment. Containers cause the latch portion to pivot about the axis A described in regard to FIGS. 3 and 5. Resilient material 200 is thus placed in torsional shear in this embodiment.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 13 and 13A, wherein a coil spring indicated generally at 210 has one end 212 mounted in the deck or in pedestal 132 and a second end 214 affixed to base portion 104 as shown at 216. It will be apparent that container C will cause latch 102 to pivot about axis AA as described above.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 14 and 14A, wherein a wrap around spring indicated generally at 220 has one end 222 affixed to wall 160 of pedestal 132 and a second end 224 affixed to base portion 104. Again it will be apparent that container C will cause latch 102 to pivot about axis AA described above.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a wide variety of resilient devices may be utilized which apply a constant force to latch member 102. The particular resilient devices shown are by way of example only and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a wide variety of different resilient devices and assemblies could be utilized to effectively cooperate with latch member 102 and cause the same to rotate about an axis when engaged by containers.

What is claimed is:

l. A container latch assembly comprising: a container latch comprising a base portion and a latch portion integral therewith; at least one resilient device having means engaging said base portion; said latch por tion adapted to be engaged by containers which cause said latch to rotate about a generally vertical axis until said latch has rotated sufficiently for said latch portion to align with engaging means in said containers whereby said resilient device will urge said latch portion to engage the engaging means in said containers and hold the same in engagement with said latch.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resilient device comprises a coil spring.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resilient device comprises a tension spring.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resilient device comprises a compression spring.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said resilient device comprises a torsional shear spring.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said base portion comprises a generally tubular portion.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said tubular portion is hollow.

8. A container latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said latch portion is provided with a nose having an entry contour to facilitate engagement of said containers with said latch portion and an exit contour adapted to permit said containers to be removed from said latch when a predetermined force is applied to said container.

9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said base portion and said latch portion are all one piece of material.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 including retaining means to mount the assembly upon a railway flat car.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said retaining means comprise at least one retaining member to maintain engagement with said base portion.

12. A container latch assembly according to claim 1 1 wherein said retaining means includes brackets adapted to mount said container latch assembly on the deck of a railway flat car.

13. A container latch assembly according to claim 1 1 wherein said retaining means is mounted upon a container pedestal.

14. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said base portion and said latch portion are separate pieces and wherein the same are held together by welding.

15. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said base portion and said latch portion are separate pieces and wherein the same are held together with mechanical fasteners.

16. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said retaining means is mounted upon a generally horizontally extending surface in said container pedestal.

17. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein a second retaining means is provided to maintain engagement with said locking lever.

18. An assembly according to claim 13 wherein a second retaining means is provided to maintain engagement with said locking lever including pedestal.

19. An assembly according to claim 18 wherein said second retaining means is also mounted upon a generally horizontal surface of said container pedestal.

20. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said entry contour makes an angle alpha a with the horizontal and wherein said exit contour makes an angle beta B with the horizontal and wherein the ratio of beta to alpha is from about 2 to 1 to about 5 /2 to 1.

21. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein resilient retaining means are provided to maintain engagement of said resilient device with said base portion.

22. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein said resilient retaining means comprise mechanical fasteners.

23. An assembly according to claim 22 wherein the axis about which said latch member pivots is located within said latch assembly.

24. An assembly according to claim 21 wherein said resilient retaining means comprise welding.

25. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein when a container engages said entry contour the force required for said container to overcome the bias of said resilient device is generally constant.

26. An assembly according to claim 25 wherein the force necessary to remove said containers from said latch assembly is generally constant.

27. A container pedestal comprising:

a lower portion adapted to engage the deck of a railway vehicle;

said pedestal having means thereon adapted to maintain in engagement with said pedestal a latching assembly;

said latching assembly comprising a latch having a latching portion adapted to engage containers and a base portion adapted to engage at least one resilient device; said latching portion adapted to be engaged by containers to rotate said latching portion in a generally horizontal direction about a generally vertical axis;

said resilient device biased to move said latching portion about said axis in a horizontal direction generally opposite to the horizontal movement caused by said containers whereby said latching portion is adapted to engage said containers and hold the same in engagement with said latch.

28. A container pedestal according to claim 27 wherein said pedestal comprises retaining means retaining the latch in engagement with said pedestal.

29. A pedestal according to claim 28 wherein the retainer means comprises at least one retaining ring which engages said base portion.

30. A container pedestal according to claim 29 wherein said retaining ring is mounted upon a horizontal surface of said pedestal.

31. A container pedestal according to claim 29 wherein a second retaining means is provided upon said pedestal to engage said base portion.

32. A container pedestal according to claim 31 wherein said second retaining means comprises a retaining ring.

33. A container pedestal according to claim 27 wherein said locking portion and said base portion are integral.

34. A container pedestal according to claim 33 wherein said portion and said latch portion are made integral by welding.

35. A container pedestal according to claim 33 wherein said locking portion and said base portion are made of the same piece of metal.

36. A container pedestal according to claim 32 wherein said base portion is generally cylindrical.

37. A container pedestal according to claim 27 wherein resilient retaining means are provided in said base portion to hold said spring in engagement with said base portion.

38. A container pedestal according to claim 37 wherein said resilient retaining means comprises mechanical fasteners.

39. A container pedestal according to claim 37 wherein said resilient retaining means comprises welding.

40. A container latch assembly according to claim 27 wherein said latch portion is provided with a nose having an entry contour to facilitate engagement of said containers with said latch portion and an exit contour adapted to permit said containers to be removed from said latch when a predetermined force is applied to said container.

41. An assembly according to claim 40 wherein when a container engages said entry contour the force required for said container to overcome the bias of said resilient device is generally constant.

42. An assembly according to claim 41 wherein the force necessary to remove said containers from said latch assembly is generally constant.

43. A container latch assembly comprising:

a container latch comprising a base portion and a latch portion integral therewithj at least one resilient device having means engaging said base por tion; said resilient means biasing said latch for generally horizontal rotary movement in a first direction about a generally vertically axis; said latch portion having an entry contour adapted to be engaged by containers exerting an entry force upon said latch to rotate said latch about said generally vertical axis in a direction generally opposite to said first direction until said latch has rotated sufficiently for said latch portion to align with engaging means in said container whereby said resilient device will urge said latch portion to engage the en-' gaging means in said container and hold said latch in engagement with said latch; said latch having an exit contour adapted to disengage the said container upon the application of a predetermined exit force to allow removal of said container from said latch, said entry and exit forces necessary respectively to cause engagement and disengagement of said latch portion with said container being substantially constant regardless of where said containers contact respectively said entry contour during engagement and said exit contour during disen' gagement.

44. A container latch assembly according to claim 43 wherein said latch assembly is mounted in a container pedestal.

45. A container latch assembly according to claim 43 wherein said entry contour makes an angle a with the horizontal and said exit contour makes an angle ,8 with the horizontal.

46. A container latch assembly according to claim 43 wherein the ratio of B to a is within the range of about 2 to l to about 5.5 to l.

47. A container latch assembly according to claim 46 wherein said entry force does not exceed about 800 pounds.

48. A container latch assembly according to claim 47 wherein said exit force does not exceed about 2,200 pounds.

49. A container latch assembly according to claim 48 the exit force is at least about 1,600 pounds.

50. A container latch assembly according to claim 49 wherein said entry force is at least about 400 pounds.

Claims

1. A container latch assembly comprising: A container latch comprising a base portion and a latch portion integral therewith; at least one resilient device having means engaging said base portion; said latch portion adapted to be engaged by containers which cause said latch to rotate about a generally vertical axis until said latch has rotated sufficiently for said latch portion to align with engaging means in said containers whereby said resilient device will urge said latch portion to engage the engaging means in said containers and hold the same in engagement with said latch.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said tubular portion is hollow.

12. A container latch assembly according to claim 11 wherein said retaining means includes brackets adapted to mount said container latch assembly on the deck of a railway flat car.

13. A container latch assembly according to claim 11 wherein said retaining means is mounted upon a container pedestal.

20. An assembly according to claim 8 wherein said entry contour makes an angle alpha ( Alpha ) with the horizontal and wherein said exit contour makes an angle beta ( Beta ) with the horizontal and wherein the ratio of beta to alpha is from about 2 to 1 to about 5 1/2 to 1.

27. A container pedestal comprising: a lower portion adapted to engage the deck of a railway vehicle; said pedestal having means thereon adapted to maintain in engagement with said pedestal a latching assembly; said latching assembly comprising a latch having a latching portion adapted to engage containers and a base portion adapted to engage at least one resilient device; said latching portion adapted to be engaged by containers to rotate said latching portion in a generally horizontal direction about a generally vertical axis; said resilient device biased to move said latching portion about said axis in a horizontal direction generally opposite to the horizontal movement caused by said containers whereby said latching portion is adapted to engage said containers and hold the same in engagement with said latch.

43. A container latch assembly comprising: a container latch comprising a base portion and a latch portion integral therewith; at least one resilient device having means engaging said base portion; said resilient means biasing said latch for generally horizontal rotary movement in a first direction about a generally vertically axis; said latch portion having an entry contour adapted to be engaged by containers exerting an entry force upon said latch to rotate said latch about said generally vertical axis in a direction generally opposite to said first direction until said latch has rotated sufficiently for said latch portion to align with engaging means in said container whereby said resilient device will urge said latch portIon to engage the engaging means in said container and hold said latch in engagement with said latch; said latch having an exit contour adapted to disengage the said container upon the application of a predetermined exit force to allow removal of said container from said latch, said entry and exit forces necessary respectively to cause engagement and disengagement of said latch portion with said container being substantially constant regardless of where said containers contact respectively said entry contour during engagement and said exit contour during disengagement.

45. A container latch assembly according to claim 43 wherein said entry contour makes an angle Alpha with the horizontal and said exit contour makes an angle Beta with the horizontal.

46. A container latch assembly according to claim 43 wherein the ratio of Beta to Alpha is within the range of about 2 to 1 to about 5.5 to 1.