US1473655A - Hatch cover and means for supporting and locking the same - Google Patents

Description

Nova 13 3923.

E. A. SWEELEY HATCH COVER AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LOOKING THE SAME Y Mf NOV' 13 m23 E. A. SWEELEY HATCH OOvEH ANO MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LOOKING THH SANO@J Filed Oct. 5, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 31a/uente@ OH. @SHN MN Q MMT NOV. 13, i923. '119473,@55

. E. A. SWEELEY HATCH COVER AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING AND LOCKING THE SAME 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /y/fz Patented Nom 113, i923,

,y entre stars 1 WAYPPLIANCE CO., OIF

entrent oneven.

'TO THE WKNE RML- A CORPORATION OIF GENIO.

HATCH COVER ND MEANS EUR SUPPORTING AND LOCKING 3HE application met eerder a, 1922. serial no.

To all wftolm t may con cem.'

Be it known that. EDWARD A. SWEELEY, a citizen of the United States oi" America, residing at Alexandria, in the county of Arlington and State of Virginia, has invented certain new and useful lmproveinents in Hatch (lovers and Means tor Supporting and Locking the Same, ing is a specification.

My invention relates to nevi7 and useful improvements in hatch covers and means for supporting and locking the same, and is es pecially adapted for use on freight cars of the refrigerator type.

As is Well known to those skilled in the art. refrigerator cars are provided at each end with hatchesthrough which the ice is passed into the car, and over which hatches are the covers together With means for lockingand supporting the same in a partly open position, to provide yproper ventilation i'or the car while in transit. y

ln most instances, these hatches have a small rim or upstanding wall over which the hatch covers are designed to fit and, due.

to the manner in `which the ice is often handled, their walls become battered or partly destroyed so that the hatch cover does not tit tightly over the same when closed.

Furthermore, many different arrangements are provided for supporting the hatch covers in a partly open position but due to the motion and rocking and jolting of the cars, they become loose or inoperative, or in other words, do not function as designed.

Again, in a number oi'l devices now in. use, pins or short rods are used with a supporting rod which in time wear loose, making it then impossible to support the cover at. the desired position.

@ne of the objects, therefore, ot the present invention is to rovide a trame formed ot metal which willptightl tit over the upstanding wall around the hatch so that the same will not become battered or partly de.

stroyed by the continued insertion otJ ice, and will, at all times, form a relatively tight tit for the hatch cover.v

Still another object of the device is to provide a hatch cover in which is a wall to lit over the alcove frame and on which cover is to be located a part of the supporting and owhich the follow.

locking device for the said hatch cover; further to provide another portion of the supporting and locking device which is to e attached tothe forward end of the hatch frame; these two latter parts co-operating to form thehatch supportim, and locking device which will allow the liatch to either be locked or unlocked, or supported in any one of a number of positions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hatch cover and a supporting device therefor wherein a link is secured to the hatch frame through which, inturn, will pass the main supporting arm and which may be moved to support the hatch cover in any one of a number of positions alter the link on the hatch traine has lirst been thrown.

Y Still another object of the invention is to provide a hatch cover and a locking and supporting device therefor comprising a link pivotally mounted on the hatch cover and a supporting arm pivotally secured on the hatch frame, which supporting1 arm may he withdrawn from the link when the door is fully opened so that the arm may be swung to the right or lett and lie iat on the car root'. Y

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hatch cover and a locking and supporting device therefor, together with a hatch trarne; the supporting device bein quickly and easily operated to hold the hatch cover in its desired position, which is attained by simply throwing; the link, raising the door to itsV desired height, and lettin1 it settle slightly within the link.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel features or construction and combination ot parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and set out in the claims.

vReferring; now to the drawings showing' a )referred embodiment of my invention,

Jig. l is a view oi my improved hatch cover and supporting end locking device therefor, the` cover losing shown in section andthe supporting and locking device be ing shown in elevation; the cover losing in its closed and locked position,

Fig. 2 is a similar view, hut showing the until the supporting arm locks l een titl

hatch cover in a partly raised and supported osit-ion; the locking and supporting link be- 1n shown in section,

ig. 3 is a top plan view of the locking and supporting link,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front elevatlon of the locking link and the supporting arm,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view hinges of the hatch cover,

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of frame in its assembled position,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of one of the corners of the frame,

Fig. 8 is a sideielevation of the corner of the frame, the latter being tilted for the sake of clearness of illustration,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on line9--9 of Fig. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of the corner similar to Fig. 7 but before the two parts are in their final set position.

,ferring now to Fig. 1, and to the invention in general, there is shown by dot and dash, a front portion of a refrigerator car 1, provided with the usual hatch 2, having the wall 3 extending above the car roof 4. Tightly fitting over main frame 5 which will be referred to more in detail as the specification proceeds. The hatch cover 6 is shown made up of the two layers of wood, which extend in the oppo# site direction, and extending completely around the four sides thereof and slightly below the bottom surface of the same are the angle irons 7 which form an enclosing rim, which rim is bolted in placeby passing the bolts 8 through one leg of the angles.

ln the two views, FigsV 1 and 2, the distance between the outer edge of the frame 5 and the inner surface of the rim 7 is slightly exaggerated for the sake of clearness and it is to be understood that the hatch cover will fit snugly over the frame 5, enough space, of course, being allowed between the last two mentioned surfaces, so that the cover will not bindV when opened or closed.

A handle 9 is secured to the hatch coverV and may be of any standard form or size.

Secured te the rear of' the hatch cover and near' each side thereof are the hinge leaves 10 which may be bolted to the cover, and are pivotally secured in the brackets 11 formed on the rear strip 12 of the frame 5 shortly to be described.

To the forward end of the hatch cover, and centrally thereof, is secured the bracket 13, on which is pivotally mounted the locking and supporting link 14 which is provi ed with the outstanding lugs 15`which serve as handles. rlhe rear wall 16 of this link is curved as may be clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and is further provided near the hatch of one of thetightly locking the this wall 3 is the invests its upper end with the cross-web 17 which extends slightly below lthe bottom of the sides of the link as may also be seen in the two figures referred to.

Cooperating with this link and `adapted to pass therethrough, is the main supporting arm 18 which is loosely mounted at its lower end on the yoke 19 which yoke, in turn, is secured to a base 2O formed on the forward strip 21 of the main frame 3.

This main supporting arm is curved downwardly and inwardly at its lower end as at 22 and is provided on-its under surface with a plurality of notches 23.

When' the hatch cover is in its closed position as shown in Fig. l1, the arm 18 will extend through the main supporting link 14 and the rear wall 16 of the link will impinge against the portion 22 of the arm 18 and will prevent the hatch cover from being raised, as the arm 18 cannot be raised due to the arrangement of the pivotal axis until the link has been thrown to. an upright position as shown in Fig. 2; thus hatch cover in its-lowermost position until such time as the link is thrown. l

After this link has once been raised to its upright position by grasping the had dle 9, the hatch cover may be lifted so that the web 17 will fall in any one of the notches 23 rind the upper end or `rear vwall 16, of`

the link 14 bind on the upper surface of the arm 18, and thus supporting the hatch cover in any one of the 'four desiredpositions.

To close the hatch cover, of course, it is simply necessary to slightly elevate the arm 18 and allow the arm to slide through the link rather than let the cross-web 17 slip within one of the notches.

Should it be desired to throw'the hatch cover all the. way open, the arm 18 will be slipped without the link 13 so that the arni 18 may be then moved about its pivotal point on the yoke 19 and be allowed to lie fiat on the roof of the car and out of the Way.

Referring now more in detail to the main frame 5, it will be seen that it consists of the rear strip 12 and the front strip 21 tcgether with the two side pieces 24 all of which pieces are designed to be 'riveted together at the four corners. Fach of said pieces is also provided with an upstanding flange wall25, the top wall 26, and the relatively smalll downwardly extending wall 27. rlhese flanges are designed to register to tit tightly over the wall of the hatch 3, the corners of the front and rear pieces being slightly offset-as at 2T so that the end pieces lill) may tit thereunder to form an unbroken l hatch, and

imacat to fit within the groove 29 so that when the frame is assembled it will provide in eect a unitary structure. n

he Yoperation of the device should be clearly understood from the above description but to reiterate hatch cover it is simply necessary to first throwA the swinging link 14 forwardly after which the hatch cover may be elevated quickly and readily to any desired -position by simplygrasping the handle 9, raising the letting it settle until the cross- .web 17 slips into any one of the desired notches.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided, first; a .frarhe which'tightly lits and protects-thewooden wall of the hatch. Secondly; that I have provided a hatch cover having a downwardly extending rim which nicely tits the metal frame, just described. Thirdly; I have provided a Simple and eiiicient means for locking the hatch cover in its closed position, and fourth; the locking means acts asa supporting means for the hatch cover when it is desired to support the Vsame in one of a number of positions. p

Furthermore, no pins or rods are used which are not secured either to the frame or to the cover so that it is impossible for any of the parts to device tromA properly functioning.

It will also be seen that the locking and supporting device is exceedingly simple in construction and may be quickly and easily operated and consists of but two parts.

Many slight changes might be made without vin any way departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover pivotally mounted on said frame, means pivotally secured to the hatch cover, supporting means pivotally secured to the hatch frame and the two said means frictionally cooperating to lock the hatch cover on said trame and to permit said hatch cover to'be supported in one of a number of positions when both of said means are operated.

2. In combination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover piif'otall mounted on said frame, a supporting link pivoted to one of mid memhsrs and a supporting arm'pivotally secured to the other of said members, and said `link frictionally engaging said arm when in one position tightly locking the hatch cover on said hatch frame, and allowing tin i position Ywhen said link and said vtion with a hatch frame, a cover pitffctaily mount/eu on said slightly, to operate t-heV be lost to thus prevent the i hatch coter to be supported in a frame, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said hatch cover and a supporting arm pivotally mounted to said lhatch frame and extending through said link, said link wedging said arm against movement when said link is in its lowermost position to thereby lock the said hatch cover on said hatch frame and said link also operating with said arm when thrown ,to supportsaid hatch cover in a partly open position.

4. In combination with a hatch frame, a, hatch cover mounted on said frame, a supporting link pivotally mounted on said hatch cover, and a supporting arm pivotally mounted to said hatch frame and passing through said link, said link impinging against the lower end of said arm when said link is in its lowermost position thereby vlocking the arm and hatch cover against movement, said arm provided with a series of notches and means extendingv across the link for fitting within said notches when said link is thrown upwardly to support the hatch cover in a partly open osition.

5. In combination with a latch frame, a hatch cover hinged to said frame, a bracket secured to said hatch cover, and a supporting link ivotally mounted at its one end on said bracket and extending beyond the hatch cover, a yoke secured to said frame and a pivotally mounted supporting arm on said yoke and passingl within said link, and curvature of the rear wall of the link and, the lower end of said arm being such that said arm is locked against movement when the link is in its lower position, said link having a cross-web therein and said arm provided with a series of notches to engagev said cross-web when .said link is thrown upwardly to support the hatch in one of a number of positions.

6. In combination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover, the said hatch cover pivotally secured to said frame, a swinging link pivotally secured to the said hatch cover, an arm pivotally secured to the front of the hatch frame and passing throughsaid link and said arm being bent at its lowermost end, the axis of the link and the arm being such that said arm cannot be 'operated when said link isl in its lowermost position; the said arm being provided with a series of notches, and the said link being provided with a cross-web, said arm being capable of being raised when the link is thrown upwardly and said cross-revela to be engaged by said arm, depending hatch cover one of said notches on upon the elevation at which the is to be supported.

T. In combination wi" hatch cover, .t l means secu cover, coi to the ha i' the link for supporting the hatch ,cover in a partly raised posrtion, andthe link and the arm so arrange-d that the armn'iay be withdrawn from said link and allowed to lie fiat within the niain frame.

8. In combination with a pivotal hatch.

cover, a pivotal link secured to said cover, an arm adapted to be pivotally mounted 1n front oi' the hatch cover and said arm passing through said link the said arm being curved at its lower end and the axis of the lilik and the arm being such that the rear wall of the link will impinge against the lower portion ot' said arin to lock the arm against movement when said link is in its lower position, and the said arm being movable when said link is thrown upwardly, `said arm provided with a series of notches and a member in said link for engaging.

any one of said notches when said hatch cover is raised lto thereby support the hatch cover in a partly open position.-

9. In combination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover pivotally mounted on said frame, a supporting arm pivotally secured beyond the hatch cover, a pivotal supporting link attached to the hatch cover, the thickness of the arm being greater than its width and the link formed so that its side walls will abut on the opposite sides of said arm when said arm is within the said link, said link jamming said arm downwardly when the hatch is closed to thereby lock the hatch in its closedposition, and the upper and lower portions of said link cooperating with said arm to support the hatch in one of a number of partly upright positions.

10. In combination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover pivotally mounted to the same, a supporting arm pivotally secured to the frame and extending up and over the hatch cover, a pivotal supportingilink secured to the hatch cover and the said arm passing through said link, the under side of said arm provided with a series of notches and the link provided with means at its lower end for engaging said notches and the upper cross wall vof said link imp-inging againstl the upper surface ot said arm when said link is in an upright position, said arm -and link arranged to allow the hatch to be lifted and to be dropped back slightly and the link thereby engaging the arm on its upper and lower surfaces, thus supporting the hatch in a partly open position.

v11. In con'ibination with a hatch frame, a hatch cover pivotally secured to the frame, a supporting arm pivotally secured to the `frame, a link pivotally secured to the cover and said arm passing within said link, the said link when in its lowermost position holding the arm in its lowerrnost position to thereby lock the hatch, the pivotal point of the link and arm so positioned that the said hatch may be freely raised when the link is swung to a nearly upright position and the inner upper and lower surfaces of said link engaging respectively the upper and lower suraces of said arm when said hatch is slightly dropped to thereby support the hatch in a partly open position.

'1n testimony whereof I afx my signature.

EDWARD A. SWEELEY.

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