Abstract:
A locking arrangement for the side dump doors of a hopper car includes a pair of actuating levers projecting downward from the car engaging suitable trips mounted adjacent to the tracks which provides for longitudinal movement of a pair of latch bars which disengage a plurality of latches longitudinally disposed on the car between the hopper slope sheets and the swinging doors. Safety locks are provided to provide inadvertent opening of the latch mechanisms.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to side dump railway hopper cars and more specifically to an improved locking and latching mechanism for latching swinging doors in a locked position and for disengaging the latches by means of a ground operated tripping mechanism. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art contains a variety of mechanisms for operating the discharge gates of railway hopper cars. The present invention improves upon these various arrangements. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The railway car of the present invention includes an open top hopper having at its lower end, on opposite sides thereof, side discharge openings. The side discharge openings are closed by means of outwardly swinging discharge doors. Cars of this type discharge their materials by gravity upon unlocking of the doors. When the car has reached its destination and has been dumped the car doors are again closed by means of gravity by side of track camming devices for assisting in the closing of the doors. By virtue of the heavy loads encountered and the gravity discharge of the materials it is necessary to provide a strong lock arrangement which when the load is to be dumped is readily operable and which after dumping will securely again lock the doors in position by gravity or other means. Locks of this type therefore must be sufficiently strong to carry the loads which are encountered, must include safety features and must be easily actuated for release of the load to a dumping position. In the present invention a plurality of individual locks are provided at the lower portions of the hopper discharge openings and the associated doors, the locks being spaced at intervals of four to six feet apart along the length of each of the doors or gates which may extend the continuous length of the car on both sides. Each of the latches or locks of the present invention includes a hook shaped latch member which is pivotally mounted on the doors of the car. The latch member has a hook shaped end which in the closed position of the door projects through a slot or opening provided in a plate secured to the underneath side of the slope sheet of the hopper adjacent to a discharge opening. The hook shaped latch or lock in its locked position engages a vertical projecting ledge of an elongated bar which extends the length of each of the doors. During the locked position the projection on each bar engages the hook shape portions of the latch in a locked position. When the car reaches the dumping destination suitable trip cams are provided adjacent the railway track and these are engaged by vertically extending pivoted levers. The levers are mounted on the car for pivotal movement and are pivotally connected to the latch bars to move the same longitudinally whereupon the vertical locking projections of each of the bars is removed from underneath each hook shaped latch member and the latches are free to disengage. The doors are swung outwardly by gravity and the load is dumped. Each of the longitudinally extending latch bars is spring actuated so that immediately after disengagement by means of a trip lever the latch bar is again moved to its original position whereupon closing of the doors after dumping again provides for engagement of the latching elements with the projections of the latch bars to again lock the doors in the closed position. It should be particularly noted that the use of a single locking bar on each side of the car insures that all latches engage and disengage simultaneously preventing unequal loads and consequent structural damage to the gate. 
     The invention also provides for a pawl pivotally positioned on the hopper structure above each of the latch bars and this provides a safety lock which drops down and engages each hook shaped latch element to prevent it from being raised out of engagement with each longitudinally extending latch bar so that a safe secure lock is provided in each instance. The pawls are moved to an out of the way position when the hook shaped latching elements enter into locking relation relative to the longitudinal locking bar. Immediately however after engagement of the latch hook shaped locking element or latch the pawls are moved by gravity into the locking arrangement. A spring actuated pawl may also be provided for this purpose. 
     A modification of the invention includes longitudinally extending locking bars which are trip actuated and which have connected thereto the spring actuated pawl which is moved to one side of the hook shaped locking element for disengaging the same from locked condition and which when returned to the initial position again achieves locking of the hook shaped latch element after the load has been discharged from the hopper car. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view partially in section of a railway hopper car embodying the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the car disclosed in FIG. 1 having portions broken away to disclose a plurality of locking arrangements for the side discharge doors of the car; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the car showing a trip mechanism and locking arrangement for the side doors of a railway hopper car; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 5--5 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 6--6 of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a spring actuated pawl arrangement; 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational view partially in section taken substantially along the lines 8--8 of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a modified form of actuating or latch bar arrangement; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 10--10 of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing an unlocking condition of the locking mechanism and; 
     FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 12--12 of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 disclose a railway hopper car 10 having conventional car sides 11 and car ends 12. The car 10 is supported on a center sill and underframe structure generally designated at 13 which is provided at opposite ends with conventional couplers 14. Conventional wheel trucks 15 support the underframe structure 13 on a suitable railway track designated at 16. The railway car 10 includes a central divider 17 extending substantially the length of the car to provide a pair of elongated side by side hopper structures generally designated at 18. Each of the hopper structures 18 is provided with suitable slope sheets 19 adapted to direct materials from within the hopper laterally outwardly through discharge openings 20 to the side of the railway track. Each of the discharge openings 20 is adapted to be closed by means of elongated door structures 21 which extend on opposite sides the entire length of the car. Each door structure comprises an upright panel 22 and a lower diagonal panel 23 for closing the discharge opening 20. The upright panel 22 includes hinge brackets 24 suitably connected to the sides of the hopper car along longitudinally spaced intervals. 
     The present invention relates to door locking and latching arrangements which are generally designated at 25, and as shown in FIG. 2, extend along the underneath length of the car adjacent to the discharge openings at intervals of approximately 4 to 6 feet for securely locking the door structures in a closed position. The door locking arrangements include a pair of tripping levers 26, one for each of the doors on opposite sides of the car. A pair of off-car or ground mounted cams 27 are positioned adjacent to the tracks and are adapted to engage the tripping levers 26 when the car is at a position where the load is to be discharged. 
     Each of the tripping levers 26 is pivotally connected to the railway car by means of pivots 28 extending through brackets 29 suitably supported by the underneath surface of the hopper slope sheets as best shown in FIG. 3. The tripping levers 26 are pivotally connected to a keeper arrangement which includes longitudinal locking or keeper bars 30. The bars 30 are connected to levers 26 by means of pivot pins 31 extending through vertical slots 32 provided in each of the bars 30. The bars 30 extend substantially the length of the car doors so as to trip each of the longitudinally spaced latching mechanisms which are provided and which will be described. Adjacent each of the locking mechanisms there is provided a tubular guide 31&#39; which is rigidly secured to a vertical plate 32&#39; projecting downwardly on opposite sides of the center line of the car. The plate 32&#39; may be suitably connected to the downwardly extending slope sheets 19. Each of the plates 32&#39; is provided with a rectangular opening 33 for receiving a hook shaped latch or locking element 37. A latch support 34 is provided along the lower ends of the doors at spaced intervals to coincide with the openings 33 of the plate 32. The latch support 34 also is provided with a forward wall or plate 35 which includes a slot 35&#39;. The hook shaped latch or locking element 37 is connected by means of a pivot 36 for swinging movement to the latch support 34. The end of the locking element 37 includes a hook shaped portion generally designated at 38 which also includes a tapered or cam surface 39. A pair of upright plates 40 as best shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are connected to the underneath side of the slope sheet 19 and project downwardly with respect thereto. The plates 40 are suitably apertured to register with the openings provided with the guides 31&#39; to provide reciprocating movement therethrough of the longitudinal actuating bar 30. The plates 40 support thereon a gravity actuated pawl or safety lock 41 which is best shown in FIG. 5. The upper end of the pawl 41 is provided with a triangular hole 42 which at its apex hangs upon a relatively thin plate bracket 43 so that it hangs by gravity vertical in the position indicated in FIG. 6. 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 5 a spring 44 is held captive at one end by the tubular guide 31&#39; and is wrapped around the bar 30 and held captive at its other end by means of a spring retainer 45. The actuating bar 30 as best shown in FIGS. 5-8 is provided with a spaced cutout 46 which provides for an upstanding lock projection or tab 47 which in the locking position of the bar 30 engages the hook 38 to lock the latch or locking element 37 in the position shown in FIG. 6. Upon engagement of the lever 26 with the trip element 27 the bar 30 is moved to the right as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5 which thus further compresses the prebiased or compressed spring and moves the lock projections 47 to the right or laterally of the hook shaped element 37 whereupon the door is now capable of opening by gravity since the hook is no longer engaged. During the locked position as shown in FIG. 6, of the hook shaped element 37, the gravity pawl 41 is adapted to prevent any upward movement of the latch element 37 and thus retains the same in a locked position when desired. 
     In the modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the structure is substantially similar with the exception that the pawl 48 is spring actuated to maintain the vertical position shown against the stop 51. The description of the operation of the spring pawl will be further described below. 
     DESCRIPTION OF A MODIFIED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 9 through 12 disclose a modified form of the invention and where applicable the same reference characters apply. In the present arrangement a keeper arrangement is designated at 60. The keeper arrangement 60 comprises a pair of spaced plates 61 which are suitably connected to the underneath side of the hopper slope sheets 19. The spaced plates 61 have rigidly connected thereto a keeper bar 62. Aligned slots 63 in the plate 61 accommodate the sliding movement of a flat bar 64 which is similar to the bar 30 of the preferred embodiment and which is connected to a similar trip lever 26 by means of a pivot pin 65 positioned within a slot 66 in the lever 26. A spring retainer 67 as shown in FIG. 9 is provided on one of the plates 61 and engages one end of a spring 69 which is retained captive on the bar 64 by means of a spring retainer 68. A pair of ears 70 as best shown in FIG. 12 are rigidly connected to the bar 64 to slide therewith. The ears 70 support a pawl 71 for rotation on a shaft 72. A spring arrangement 73 normally urges the pawl 71 to the position shown in FIG. 10 against a stop 74. 
     In the present modification a pair of latch brackets 75 are provided on the underneath side of the door 23 to pivotally support by means of a pivot shaft 83, a hook shaped latch element 76. The hook shaped latch element 76 includes on its lower surface an arcuate depression or seat 77 which is adapted to engage in complemental relation the curved surface of the keeper bar 62. The hook shaped latch 76 is also provided with a tapering cam surface 78 and a cammed end 79. The lower end of the pawl 71 is provided with a curved portion 80 which is adapted to seat upon and engage a curved portion 81 provided on the upper surface of the hook shaped latch 76. 
     THE OPERATION 
     Referring now particularly to FIG. 5 the unlocking of the doors will be described. As the trip lever 26 engages the trip 27 the bar 30 is moved in the direction of the arrows to the right whereupon the raised lock projection 47 is displaced to the right and therefore is disengaged from the hook 38 of the locking or latch member 37. Thus as shown in FIG. 7 the latch member can now slide through the opening 33 and the load is dumped by gravity. All of the latch mechanisms disposed along the length of the car thereby are opened simultaneously by movement of the longitudinal bar in response to the tripping action of the lever 26, thus essentially obviating the possibility of structural damage to the gate resulting from unequal loading. By virtue of the springs 44 the latch bar is immediately returned to the position shown in FIG. 5 where it is now again ready to lock the latch mechanisms in position after the load is dumped. As the doors 23 now close the latch element 37 has its tapering surface 39 engage the edge 83 provided in the plate 32&#39; within the opening 33 whereupon the tapering edge provides for upward movement of the latch member 37 and through the opening 33. The tapering surface 39 also moves upwardly on top of the lock projection 47 and continues its upward movement as shown in FIG. 6 whereupon the tip portion engages the pawl 41 as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 6 to move the pawl 41 to an out of the way position. Upon this occurrence the latch elements 37 now move to the horizontal position as shown in FIG. 6 with the hook 38 also in locking engagement with the projection 47. The pawl 41 now drops by gravity to the position in the solid lines indicated in FIG. 6 and vertical unlocking movement of the latch 37 is thus prevented. Thus a safe locking arrangement is provided which cannot accidentally open. Also an effective lock results which upon closing of the doors immediately firmly locks the doors in position. 
     In the modification of FIG. 7 the operation is identical insofar as the locking procedure is concerned, the only difference being that the pawl 48 is actuated by the spring 50 to the vertical position and the action of the locking element against the pawl 48 to place it to its out of the way position is against the action of the spring. Otherwise the operation is the same as described in FIG. 6. 
     OPERATION OF THE MODIFICATION SHOWN IN FIGS. 9-12 
     Referring now to FIG. 9 as the trip lever 26 engages the trip element 27 the locking bar 64 is moved in the direction of the arrows to the right compressing the spring 69 against one of the plates 61. Movement of the bar 64 provides for movement of the pawl 71 laterally as indicated in FIG. 12, that is to one side of the locking element 76. In its locked position the locking element as shown in FIG. 10 has its curved upper surface in complemental engagement with the arcuate slotted portion 77 of the locking element. The curved edge 80 of the pawl engages the upper curved edge 81 of the locking element and the locking pawl is firmly fixed in this position by means of the spring 73 against the stop 74. Thus in this position secure locking takes place. However as the pawl is moved laterally out of the locking position with respect to the locking elements 76 as shown in the position of FIG. 12 the door is now free to open by virtue of the disengaged position of the pawl from that which is shown in FIG. 10. Thus the doors open easily and the load is dumped. 
     As best shown in FIG. 11 after the load has been dumped and the doors are again closed by gravity the hook shaped locking element 76 first engages and rides upwardly on top of the curved surface of the keeper bar 62 which in turn provides for engagement of the cammed end 79 with the pawl 71 moving the same to the position shown in FIG. 11. Continued closing movement causes re-engagement of the keeper bar 62 into the arcuate depression or seat 77 and again the pawl 71 returns to the position shown in FIG. 10 providing a firm and safe lock to prevent any disengagement of the locking element 76. 
     Thus it is believed that an effective pair of locking arrangements have been described which will provide for positive locking of the side discharge doors of a hopper car and which are easily disengaged and repositioned for subsequent locking action.