Abstract:
A freight car door securing device which is incorporated into the structure of the freight car door to prevent the rotatable door handle, the rotation of which latches and unlatches the car door in a closed or locked position, from being rotated. The securing device is movable from a position wherein it is out of interference with the movement of the rotatable handle, thereby permitting the door to be opened, to a position in which it is fixed to prevent the handle from rotating, thereby preventing the handle from being operated to open the door.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates in general to locking devices and, in particular, to a locking device which is constructed to be a part of the loading door of a railroad freight car. More specifically, but without restriction to the particular use which is shown and described, this invention relates to a locking device which is secured to the sliding loading door of a railroad freight car for maintaining the door in a locked position, but which is actuable to release the door opening mechanism for opening the door when desired. 
     As is known to those in the railroad industry, one type of access or loading door frequently used on railroad freight cars and through which the contents of the freight car are loaded and removed, is carried by the freight car so that the door will slide parallel to the sides of the car permitting an unobstructed access for loading and unloading. These sliding doors are latched in a closed position by rotation of an opening handle operating through a gear box secured to the door of the freight car. Rotational movement of the handle, through operation of a gear train, releases a latching mechanism permitting the freight car door to be slid out from a closed position for loading or unloading. 
     Because freight cars are generally unattended and frequently are stored in and move through unpopulated areas, pilferage of the contents can occur if the loading doors are not locked against unauthorized entry. It is, therefore, desirable that a locking device be provided which will be rugged enough to withstand the working environment associated with freight cars, and the loading and unloading thereof, while functioning as a deterrent against the unauthorized entry into the freight car. It is also a desirable feature that such a lock be securable in a fixed position, when not securing the freight car door, so that it does not engage accidentally or become a hazard to other operations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of this invention to improve the construction of railroad freight car doors by incorporating a securing device into the door structure. 
     Another object of this invention is to facilitate securing a railroad freight car against the unauthorized entry thereinto. 
     A further object of this invention is to secure the rotatable handle of a freight car opening mechanism, through which access is gained to the interior of the car, in a fixed position to prevent the movement thereof thereby preventing the unauthorized opening of the freight car loading door. 
     These and other objects are attained in accordance with the present invention wherein there is provided a freight car door securing device which is incorporated into the structure of the freight car door to prevent the rotatable door handle, the rotation of which latches and unlatches the car door in a closed or locked position, from being rotated. The securing device is movable from a position wherein it is out of interference with the movement of the rotatable handle, thereby permitting the door to be opened, to a position in which it is fixed to prevent the handle from rotating, thereby preventing the handle from being operated to open the door. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Further objects of the invention, together with additional features contributing thereto and advantages accruing therefrom, will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is shown in the accompanying drawings with like reference numerals indicating corresponding parts throughout, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the locking device of this invention incorporated into the structure of a freight car loading door and locked in a position to prevent rotation of the door handle, the operation of which controls movement of the loading door and, thereby, entry into the freight car; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the locking device of FIG. 1 with the device held in a position out of interference with the rotational movement of the rotatable handle, thereby permitting the rotation thereof to move the loading door for access into the freight car; 
     FIG. 3 is a top elevational view of the invention showing the locking device positioned out of interference with the rotational movement of the rotatable door handle, with phantom lines showing the device when in the securing position; 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 3 with portions broken away to better illustrate the structure thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the invention illustrated in FIG. 4 taken along lines 5--5; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the locking device of this invention incorporated into the structure of a freight car loading door and locked in a position to prevent rotation of the door handle; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the alternative embodiment of the locking device of FIG. 6 with the device held in a position out of interference with the rotational movement of the rotatable door handle; 
     FIG. 8 is a top elevational view of the alternative embodiment of the invention showing the locking device positioned out of interference with the rotational movement of the rotatable door handle, with phantom lines showing the device when in the securing position; 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the invention shown in FIG. 8 with portions broken away to better illustrate the structure thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a top elevational view of the portion of the locking device which is secured to the box car door, to better illustrate the manner in which the lock in held in either an open or closed position; 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the securing portion of the locking device shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the portion of the locking device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 with portions broken away to better illustrate the structure thereof; 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the portion of the locking device illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a top elevational view of the swing lock portion of the locking device that pivots relative to the securing portion for locking the box car door handle; 
     FIG. 16 is a frontal elevational view of the swing lock portion, with a portion broken away, as shown in FIG. 15; 
     FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the swing lock portion with the pivot pin partially projecting through the bight of the swing lock portion; and 
     FIG. 18 is a bottom elevational view of the swing lock portion. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1-5, FIG. 1 illustrates a locking device 100 secured to the sliding freight door 10 of a railroad freight or box car. As is known to those skilled in the art, the opening mechanism of the freight car door 10 is actuated through the rotational movement of a door handle 11, which permits the car door to be slid between open and closed positions. In FIG. 1, the locking device 100 is illustrated in a locked position which bars the door handle 11 from being rotated by fixing a swing lock portion 110 of the locking device in a position which interferes with such rotational movement, as illustrated. In FIG.2, the locking device is shown with the swing lock portion 110 positioned out from interference with the rotational movement of the door handle 11, thereby permitting the door handle to be rotated for opening and closing the door 10. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, the locking device 100 is secured to the door 10 of a railroad freight or box car as by, for example, welding a base plate 101 of a securing portion 105 to the car door. The base plate 101 must be welded to the door 10 at a position whereby the swing lock portion or plate 110, pivotally attached thereto, will be out of interference with rotational movement of the door handle 11 when held in the unlocked position illustrated in FIG. 2, but upon pivotal movement to a position perpendicular to the base plate 101, the locked position, the swing lock portion 110 will interfere with such rotational movement as shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the base plate 101 must be spaced from the gear box 14 of the freight car door opening mechanism a sufficient distance to permit the swing lock plate 110 to be raised for effecting movement between the locked and unlocked positions in a manner to be discussed hereinafter in more detail. 
     The securing portion 105 includes a lock plate 102, and a pivot bushing 106, each secured to the base plate 101 as by, for example, welding. The lock plate 102 extends outwardly substantially perpendicular to the base plate 101, and at the distal end thereof has a pair of holes 103 and 104 formed therein. These holes are positioned to be in alignment with similar holes 113 and 114 formed in the swing lock plate 110 when the swing lock is in the locked position to prevent rotational movement of the freight car door handle 11. In this embodiment the lowermost holes 103,113 are larger than the uppermost holes 104,114, and are the opening through which the hasp of a padlock 12 is passed when securing the swing lock plate 110 in a fixed position against the lock plate 102 to prevent rotational movement of the door handle 11. The holes 103,113,104 and 114 could be, however, the same size. The uppermost holes 104,114 are provided to receive a standard door seal 13. Such door seals 13 do not, and are not intended to, prevent the opening of the freight car door 10, but function to show that the door has been opened even if the opening was authorized. 
     A protector plate 109 is secured to the base plate 101 and the lock plate 102, as by welding, and extends outwardly from the base plate 101 substantially perpendicular thereto and perpendicular to the lock plate 102. The protector plate 109 functions to protect the hasp of the padlock 12 from being readily accessible to the blade of a hacksaw or the jaws of a bolt cutter, and like the lock plate 102 can not extend outwardly from the base plate 101 into interference with rotational movement of the door handle 11. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the pivot bushing 106 is formed with a pair of notches 107 and 108 in which the swing lock portion 110 is engaged when in the locked (107) and unlocked (108) position, respectively. To this end the swing lock portion 110 is formed with a longitudinally extending opening 111, adjacent to and spaced from a pivot rod 112, to which the lock portion is secured as by welding. As shown, the opening 111 is formed of a depth exceeding the thickness of the pivot bushing 106 and extends a length exceeding the length of the pivot bushing. In this manner the swing lock portion 110 can be raised and pivoted about the pivot bushing 106 into a position to be placed in either of the notch openings 107 or 108 depending upon whether or not the door 10 is to be locked against opening or is to freely operate. When the swing lock portion 110 is positioned in notch opening 108, the swing lock is held in a position out of the way to prevent unintentional interference with the operation of the freight car door 10, and to minimize a potential hazard in the event the swing lock plate 110 was to freely swing about its pivot. When the swing lock 110 is positioned in notch opening 107, it is adjacent to the lock plate 102 and protector plate 109, in a position for securing the freight car door against unauthorized entry. 
     Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6-18, parts similar to the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numeral, and those parts which perform the same function but with a varying structure are indicated by the same number with a subscript. 
     In this embodiment, the base plate 101a and lock plate 102a are formed as one piece, with holes 103 and 104 formed therein. Corresponding holes 113 and 114 are formed in the swing lock plate 110a, positioned in alignment for receiving the hasp of a padlock 12 or a door seal 13, respectively. The pivot pin bushing 106a, about which the swing lock 110a pivots between a locked position and an open or unlocked position, is formed with a pair of notches 107 and 108. These notches, respectively, function to receive a tab 115 of the swing lock plate 110a to hold the swing lock in either of these positions. Pivotal movement of the swing lock plate 110a is effected by a pivot pin or rod 112a secured in a bifurcated end of the swing lock plate 110a. The size of the opening 111a extending between the tab 115 and the opposed bifurcated portion is such that the swing lock plate 110a can be raised to release the tab 115 from the notches 107 or 108 to move the swing lock 110a between the locked or unlocked positions. As with the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the lock plate 102a can not extend perpendicularly outwardly from the base plate 101a a distance which will interfere with the rotational movement of the freight car door handle 11. 
     While this invention has been described and explained with reference to preferred embodiments, the structures of which have been disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the invention. In addition, many other modifications may be made to adapt this invention to a particular application. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the specification and illustrated in the drawings as the best mode presently known by the inventor for carrying out the invention, nor confined to the details set forth, but that the invention will include all embodiments, modifications and changes as come within the scope of the following claims: