Patent Publication Number: US-6698806-B2

Title: Plug door handle bolt seal locking device

Description:
This invention relates to bolt seal locking devices used on rail car plug doors, and more particularly, to a seal and plug door handle protector for locking the door handle closed. 
     CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PATENTS 
     Of interest are commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,393 and 5,347,689, both in the name of Georgopoulos et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,604 in the name of Stone et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,036,240 and 6,010,166 both in the name of Hamilton et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,731 in the name of Emmons et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,989 in the name of Stevenson et al., all of which relate to bolt seals and which are fully incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,989 discloses a releasable bolt seal in which both the shank and locking body are reusable, the locking body being releaseably attached to the bolt seal shank. 
     Cargo shipping vehicles and containers, and in particular, rail cars, are subject to widespread tampering due to the value of the cargo. One type of rail car employs what are known as plug doors. Such doors are attached to the side of a rail car and displace in two orthogonal directions. The door moves in translation toward and away from the rail car side wall to close and open an opening in a side of the rail car. The door is attached to wheels mounted on a wheel truck by keeper bars. The truck wheels ride on rails extending along the side of the rail car side wall. The keeper bars rotate and include a crank portion. The crank portion displaces the door in and out of the opening as the bars are rotated. 
     When the door is outside the opening, it can then be displaced parallel to the side wall via the wheels and rails to expose the opening. A crank mechanism is provided on the door side to rotate the keeper bars to open and close the doors. An elongated handle is connected to the crank mechanism for operating the mechanism, which is typically a gearing arrangement. The mechanism is enclosed by a cover or covers. Different mechanisms have somewhat different covers and handles. 
     A yoke assembly is attached to the door adjacent to one end of the handle. The yoke assembly includes a pivoted yoke that captures the handle one end. A padlock may be secured to the yoke to lock the handle and prevent it from being rotated to the open position. Such padlocks have exposed shackles and may be opened by tampering using bolt cutters and the like. 
     Padlock protectors are known. Also, bolt seals employing shanks with heads on one end and a locking body on the other shank end may be used to lock some latches. Examples of such bolt seals are disclosed in the aforementioned commonly owned patents for example. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,393 illustrates a one time use bolt seal and a tool for breaking the shank at the head end of the shank. The tool engages the head and manually bends the shank which breaks due to serrations in the shank. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,149, a container hasp protector is disclosed. A metal box-like body has a top plate, a bottom plate, right and left side plates, an open rear face and a front face. A shield plate is on the front face and extends between the side plates forming a top opening in the face between the shield plate and top plate and a bottom opening in the face between the shield plate and the bottom plate. The body is arranged to protect the hasp from intentional breakage. 
     The shield plate has an aperture which cooperates with aligned apertures in a hasp to receive a breakaway security seal. The problem with this device as recognized by the present inventors is that this device is not useful with plug door handles and latches. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,443 discloses a security lock that employs a locking pin. The lock employs interengaged keepers with aligned through apertures which receive the pin. One of the keepers has a through pilot hole in the face thereof so that the pin can be cut apart with a heavy duty power drill for use by an authorized person. The only way for the lock to be opened is by destroying the pin. This device is not satisfactory for use with plug door handles. 
     Padlock protector devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,898,008, 4,033,155, 5,146,771, and 5,477,710. These also are not satisfactory for cargo shipping containers or rail cars because the shackles are readily exposed for destruction by a tamperer. Further these devices are not disclosed as operative with bolt seals of the type described above. 
     The present inventors recognize a need for a cost effective seal and latch protection device for use with plug door handles and latches. They recognize a need for a protection device which precludes access to the bolt shank which is vulnerable to tampering. For this purpose, they recognize that the reusable bolt seal of U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,989 is advantageous in that the bolt shank can be substantially protected from tampering while permitting the bolt seal to be released. 
     A handle lock and seal protector according to the present invention is for a rail car plug door handle and latch, the handle for rotation about a pivot to open and close the latch, the door including at least one appurtenance extending therefrom, the protector for use with a bolt seal having a head, a shank and a lock body for locking the protector to the handle. The protector comprises a casing defining a chamber and a longitudinal axis, the chamber for receiving the handle and enclosing the pivot, the casing having a plurality of bolt seal apertures for receiving the bolt seal shank to lock the casing to the received handle with the bolt seal. Displacement inhibiting means are secured to the casing for engaging the at least one appurtenance to preclude the rotation of the received handle relative to the door and for precluding axial removal of the secured casing from the handle. 
     In one aspect, the casing includes a pair of spaced members extending therefrom, the members having the apertures. 
     In a further aspect, the members comprise a pair of spaced legs each depending from a casing side wall. 
     In a further aspect, each leg includes a tubular member aligned with the apertures for receiving and protecting the bolt seal, the tubular member extending transversely the axis outwardly from the corresponding side wall, the tubular member and apertures being positioned so that the received handle is between the received bolt seal and cover wall. 
     In a still further aspect, the inhibiting means includes an end wall for precluding axially displacement of the casing relative to the received handle along the axis in a first direction and further means for precluding axial displacement of the casing in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     The further means may comprise a projection extending from the casing for engaging the at least one appurtenance, the projection for precluding the rotation and axial displacement of the casing relative to the handle in the second direction. 
     In a further aspect, the displacement inhibiting means comprises a member extending outwardly each the side wall for engaging the at least one appurtenance, the end wall and member for cooperatively precluding axially displacement of the casing in opposing directions along the axis. 
     An end wall at one casing end and a bottom wall at the one end may cooperatively enclose the one end, the inhibiting means may include the enclosed one end and a member extending transverse the axis from one of the side walls distal the end wall for engaging the at least one appurtenance. 
    
    
     IN THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a plug door handle, latch and latch mechanism cover assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the assembly of FIG. 1 locked with a bolt seal and protector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the protector of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the protector of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional side elevation view of the protector of FIG. 4 taken along lines  5 — 5 ; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional end elevation view of the protector of FIG. 4 taken along lines  6 — 6 ; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a bolt seal used in the embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional end elevation view of the Protector of FIG. 2 similar to the view of FIG. 6 showing the handle locked by a bolt seal. 
    
    
     In FIG. 1, plug door  2  is normally vertical for enclosing an opening in the side of a rail car. The door  2  is cranked open and closed in directions  4  by crank assembly  6 . Once the door is cranked open, it is displaced along the side of the rail car on wheels (not shown) in directions  8  normal to directions  4 . 
     Crank assembly  6  comprises a crank mechanism, which may be gears and the like (not shown), enclosed by cover  10  secured to outer side of the door  2 . An elongated handle  12  is connected to and for operating the crank mechanism by a shaft  14 . The mechanism operates links (not shown) extending transversely from the cover  10  in directions  8 . The links are connected to keeper bars (not shown) having crank arms at their ends. 
     The crank arms are pivoted in wheel trucks (not shown) mounted on rails that run along the rail car side. When the crank arms are rotated, the door  2  is translated in a selected one of directions  4 . When the door is opened, it can then be rolled in one of directions  8  on the rails to expose the opening. The door  2  is referred to as a plug door. 
     Secured to the side of door  2  is a latch  15 . Latch  15  comprises a yoke  16  pivoted about axis  18  to stanchion  20 . Yoke  16  has a pair of arms  22  forming a space therebetween for receiving end  24  of handle  12 . Arms  22  each have a hole  26  (one being shown) for receiving a padlock shackle (not shown) or bolt seal shank. The padlock or bolt seal lock the yoke  16  to the position shown preventing the handle from rotating about its axis  28 . 
     When it is desired to open the door  2 , the yoke  22  is pivoted to free the handle  12  for rotation about axis  28 . The problem with this arrangement is that the lock shackle or bolt seal shank are exposed to tampering tools such as bolt cutters and cutting torches and so on. 
     While one type of handle  12  and mating link operating mechanism cover  10  is shown, these may vary from rail car to rail car somewhat. In some arrangements, the mechanism may be formed in several layers including a circular cylindrical cover (not shown) overlying the cover  10  adjacent to the handle for enclosing certain gear arrangements and the like. Generally, there is always a rectangular cover similar to cover  10  and an elongated handle similar to the handle  12  in the various rail car plug doors. 
     In FIG. 2, handle lock and seal protector  30  encloses the handle  12  and pivot shaft  14 . Protector  30  receives a bolt seal  32 , FIG. 7, for locking the handle in the locked position shown. The bolt seal  32 , FIG. 7, includes a shank  34 , a head  36  secured to one shank end and a locking body  38  containing a lock mechanism (not shown) for locking the body selectively to the shank  34  via grooves  40  in the shank. 
     In other bolt seals as described in the aforementioned commonly owned patents such grooves are not essential. Preferably seal  32  is releasable and reusable as shown and described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,989 incorporated by reference herein. The protector  30  in cooperation with the yoke  16  and cover  10  substantially encloses the bolt seal shank  34  (not shown in FIG. 2) and prevents rotation of the handle about axis  28 . 
     Protector  30 , FIGS. 2-6, comprises an elongated casing  42  defining a longitudinal axis  44  and a chamber  46 . The casing  42  comprises a preferably planar cover wall  48  and two parallel spaced planar side walls  50 ,  52  depending from the cover wall  48 . The side walls  50 ,  52  have transversely aligned rectangular notches  54 . The notches  54  accommodate those mechanism covers which include a further cylindrical or other shaped mechanism covers (not shown) over the cover  10 . The casing is preferably sheet steel. 
     The cover wall  48  terminates in a U-shaped sheet metal member  56  at end  58  of the casing  42 . Member  56  comprises an end wall  60  normal to the cover wall  48  and a bottom wall  62  parallel to the cover wall  48  and juxtaposed therewith. The bottom wall  62  terminates at one end at edge  62 ′ interior the chamber  46  and at its other end at end wall  60 . The side walls  50  and  52  terminate at edge  64  spaced from the end wall  60  forming space  66  between edge  64  and end wall  60 . A portion of the bottom wall  62  overlies a portion of the cover wall  48 . The various walls are preferably welded to each other at their respective abutting edges. 
     Two planar sheet metal legs  68  are secured to and depend from the interior surface of respective side walls  50  and  52 . In FIG. 3, each leg  68  has a shank  34  (FIG. 7) receiving hole  70 . Holes  70  are axially aligned on an axis transverse to axis  44 . The holes  70  are spaced from cover wall  48  a distance such that the handle  12  (FIG. 2) is received in the chamber  46  between the cover wall  48  and the axis of holes  70 . A ring-like relatively short tubular member  72  is secured external each leg  68  and circumferentially about and concentric with each hole  70 . 
     An angle member  74  having two legs  76  and  78  at right angles to each other extends laterally from each side wall  50  and  52  normal to axis  44 . Member  74  may be a conventional angle iron. Legs  76  extend in a direction that is parallel to legs  68  and legs  78  are parallel to the cover wall  48 . 
     In operation, the protector  30  is slipped over the end  24 ′, FIG. 1, of the handle  12  in the axial direction  80 . Handle end  24 ′ is located between the cover wall  48  and the bottom wall  62 , FIG. 3, at casing  30  end  58 . The handle  12  is then located in the chamber  46 . Notches  54  are not essential in this combination of cover  6  and handle  12 . 
     Legs  68  preclude rotation of the handle  12  and protector  30  about axis  28  (FIG.  1 ). The cover  6  has an edge  82 , FIGS. 2 and 8. This edge serves as an appurtenance against which the legs  76  of members  74  abut or are closely spaced. The legs  76  are adjacent to covers similar to cover  10  to preclude rotation of the protector  30  for the various different handle and latch mechanisms present on different rail cars, which may comprise about 20 different configurations. 
     With the protector  30  installed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the bolt seal shank receiving holes  70 , FIGS. 3 and 6, are located in a plane beneath the received handle  12  end  24 , FIG.  8 . The seal  32  shank  34  is then passed through the holes  70 . The bolt seal head  36  is seated in the recess formed by one tubular member  72  and surrounded by that tubular member  72 , FIG.  8 . This structure precludes access to the shank  34  at the head end by tampering tools. 
     The locking body  36 , FIG. 8, is attached to the shank  34  free end  34 ′. The locking body  38  portion adjacent to the shank is surrounded by the corresponding tubular member  72  so that the shank  34  is also annularly protected from tampering tools at this location. Tampering with the protruding end of the shank  34  and locking body does not assist in easy opening of the lock with tampering tools and does not provide easy access to the shank for such tampering tools. 
     The locking body  38 , in this embodiment, is releaseably opened by a special tool adapted for this purpose. This tool is described further in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,989. However, it should be understood that other types of locking seals that are not reusable may also be employed as desired. These seals require access to the shank or head for opening the seal as disclosed in certain of the aforementioned commonly owned patents noted in the introductory portion. 
     In the position shown in FIG. 2, the latch  15  yoke  16  including arms  22  form an appurtenance that blocks the end of the protector chamber  46 . The latch  15  and handle  12  cooperate to prevent access to the shank  34  in the chamber  46  with tampering tools. The handle end  24  blocks access to the chamber  46  by tampering tools through the end of the protector  30 . The angle members  74  provide further shielding of the shank, head  36  and locking body  38  along or from the sides of the seal shank from easy access by tampering tools in the region between the cover  10  and seal  32 . The lock body  38  may abut the adjacent member  74  and shields the lock body further. In addition, the plug door appurtenance formed by the latch  15  and handle mechanism cover  10  at edge  82  also assists in blocking access to the bolt seal shank  34  in that region. 
     The protector end wall  60  cooperates with the appurtenances formed by yoke  16  and cover  10  in combination with the legs  68  and latch at edge  82  to preclude axial displacement of the protector  30  along axis  44  in opposing directions and in a direction opposite direction  80 . The locked seal shank  34  is located under the handle  12  end  24 , FIG. 8, preventing the protector  30  from being removed from the handle by lifting the protector  30 . The locked handle  12  can not be rotated, locking the door  2  closed. 
     There thus has been described a bolt seal and handle protector for securing the plug door handle and corresponding bolt seal shank from tampering tools. The protector includes shield members cooperating with appurtenances on the plug door for precluding access to the bolt seal shank, substantially enclosing the shank to preclude access by tampering tools. The protector is universal and accommodates a variety of differently designed plug door latches, handles and operating mechanisms. 
     It will occur to one of ordinary skill that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments. Such embodiments are given by way of illustration and not limitation. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, the chamber  46  is defined by rectilinear walls. However, the chamber may have other shapes. Weld joints are optional. The protector may be made from one piece sheet metal, preferably steel. The shield members are shown as angle members and tubular, but may be other shapes. For example, the tubular members may be angularly joined members. The members  74  may have any desired shape and configuration. For example, they may be solid or hollow rods or tubes, circular or rectangular in transverse section. Notches  54  are optional.