US1998445A - Journal box - Google Patents

Description

G. F. COUCH April 23, 1935.

JOURNAL Box Filed Nov. 16, 1951 3 sheets-sheet 1 y f SWIM I, 7 i. WN W 9l M \w\ MNMW llll -L atten/441 G. F. COUCH April 23, 1935.

JOURNAL BOX Filed Nov. 16, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. F. coUcH JOURNAL BOX April 23, 1935.

Filed Nov. 1e, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 dhtml/q Patented Apr. 23, 1935 PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL Box Glenn Couch, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to The Symington Company,` New York, N. Y., a. corporation ofv Maryland' `Application November 1s, 1931, serial No. 575,393

7 Claims.

This invention relates to journal boxes and, more particularly, to lids for closing journal boxes. f

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, isto provide. an articulated lid comprising a cover memberor lidY proper, a

. spring retainer, hood or spider, an actuating lever, and resilient means. for urging said lever into engagement with the hinge lug of an associated box for holding the lid in open or closed position.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an articulated journal box lid comprising a spring retainer with a cover and a lever pivoted thereto at different points, and spring means with one endV engaging the free end of thel leverV and the other engaging the retainer adjacent the pivotal connection with the cover, the pivotal connection between the retainer and the cover, if desired, comprising a pivot pin with a resilient or rubber bushing thereon and in en-V gagement with an apertured lug on the 'cover for deadening vibration between the'parts.

A further object of my invention is the provision of la. journal box lid, the lower lend of which is extended below'a part. normally engaging the lower edge of the. journal box opening and formed with a `rearwardly opening pocket adapted to receive a packing hook. l Other objects'and advantages of the inventionV relating to the particular arrangement and" construction of 'the Various parts will becomeA apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring tothedrawings illustrating my in@ vention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended clain1`sz`` Figure l is' a front elevational View of Ya jour"- nal box lid made in accordance-with one em' i bodiment of my invention,a portion of the hood 3-3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of they arrows. j Y Y Figure 4.is a fragmentary detail showing an elevational view of the packing hookpocket adjacent. the. lower end of the lid, approximately as shown in Figure l. y

liigureS-is a vertical sectional view on the linel 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

Figures 6 and 7 are viewscorresponding, re-

Figure'3 is a vertical sectional View on the line spectively, 'to Figures 4 and l, 5, but showing a modification. i rFigures 8 and 9 are views corresponding, respectively, to Figures l and 3, but showing another embodiment of vmy invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated '"by like reference characters, and rst considering'the embodimentof my invention illustrated in Figuresl to 5, inclusive, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a journal box I provided upon its roof ortop wall 2 adjacent the forwarder outer edge 3 thereof with a hinge lug 4 whichgisapertured, as indicated at 5, toireceive a hinge pin or pintle 6 for connectingthe articulated lid or lid fassembly 'I thereto. f Said lug'isurther provided withV faces 8 and 9 by which, 7through the cooperation of parts hereinafter described, the lid assembly 'I is maintained in'either closed or open po'- sition. Said lid assembly comprises a cover or closure portion III, a spring retainer or spider I I, a lever or lid-actuating member I2, in the form of a simple or generally straight, as distinguished from a bell crank, lever, anda spring or resili# ent means I3 for energizing said lever'.U

The cover or lid proper VI 0 is preferably formed as a substantially flat, suitablyreinforced plate, the marginal edges I4 of which are adapted to overlie the Vmarginal edges of the journal box opening' I5. The lower end of the cover I0 is desirably extended below the lower edge of the journal box, as indicated vat I6, and formed with av rearwardly opening pocket I'I dened by a rearwardly' extending vflange I3 and formed by upwardly embossing the lower extension of the lid, as shown mosticlearlyin Figures 3 and 5. In order to 'guidean associated packing hook, the lower edge of the journal box lid is formed with a notch or groove I9. f l

The peripheral edge of the cover or lid proper I0 is rigidied by iianges 20 which overlie the box at the sides and upper edge of the opening. At the hinge lug, where the overlying flange is necessarily omitted, as shown most clearly in Figure 3, the strength'ofthe lid is maintained by a similar outstanding flange 2| substituted for the overlyingrlange. The outer face of the lid proper I0 is Yformed with an outstanding apertured lug 22 receiving a pivot pin 23 which normally extendsA through correspondingly apf CII apertured lug portions 25 on the spider. The pivot pin 6 is normally retained in position by the overlying side portions 26 of the hood portion 21 of the lid I 3.

The spider II is formed generally as two side portions 28 which flare away from each other adjacent the upper ends, said upper ends receiving the pivot pin 6, andthe lower ends receiving the pivot pin 23, as previously explained. Adjacent the apertured lugs 24, the side portions 28 are connected by a transverse portion 29 which is preferably concave inwardly to provide a seat for the coils 3D of the torsion actuating spring i3. The upper portions of the side members 28 of the spider are vdesirably connected and rigidiiied by a second transverse portion 3I.

The actuating lever l2 desirably has outstanding trunnions 32 pivotally mounted in inwardly and upwardly opening bearings 33 formed adjacent the upper ends of the side portions 28 of the spider H,'saidrtrunnions preferably having flattened sides 34 so that they may be inserted in place inthe slots 35 in theV bearings 33 of the spider when the lever I2 is positioned in other than normal position, as Will be understood., Thelever I2 is desirably rigidified by side flanges 36 and formed with an outstanding lug 31 over which the loop portion 38 of the torsion spring I3 hooks when assembled, as shown most clearly 'in Figure 3. Y f

In order to prevent loss or undesired removal of the pivot pin 23, the spider-desirably has portions 39 extendingbeyond the apertured lugs 24 and notched, as indicated at 40, to provide seats for the lower ends of the torsion spring I3, ,said notches being so disposedl that the ends of the spring I3 are heldinepo'sitionadjacent the ends of the pin'23 so as to be engaged upon axial movement of said pin to hold the latter in place.

From the foregoing disclosure, it is thought the manner-of assemblyand the operation of thelid will oe apparent. It might be added, however,

that the lever I2 is inserted and assembled withv lever with the retainer or spider I I, the pivot pin 23 is desirably positioned to pivotally connect the spider and lid proper. The spring I3 is then positioned so that the lower ends thereof serve as retainers for the pin 23, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 3, the upper end of said spring hooking over the lug 31 of the lever I2. It will be seen that when the parts are assembled, as shown, for example, in Figure 3, the flange 2|V performs the double function of rigidifying the upper edge of the lid adjacent the hinge lug 4 and'acting as a stop for the lever I2 after the spider is assembled with respect to the cover, the clearances being such that the spider and assembled lever can be inserted in place with respect to the cover It! before the pin 23 is positioned. After assembly, it will be understood that the spring i3 urges the lever against the hinge Vlug 4 and the faces 8 and. 9 thereof to alternately hold the lid assembly 1 in either closed or open position. Referring now to the embodiment of my 'invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, a slightly modified form of packing hook pocket I1a is disclosed in which the flange IBa defining the same is extended rearwardly beyond the inner surface of the lid ma and the lidis, therefore, not necessarily lever I 2b, and an energizing spring I3b.

embossed outwardly to the extent of the first embodiment. 'Ihe lower edge of the lid is formed with a notch I9a for guiding the packing hook, as in the previous embodiment. Except as specilically described in connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with that of the preceding embodiment, the lid reinforcement, however, being illustrated as slightly different.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, a construction is there disclosed involving an articulated lid .or lid assembly Ib comprising a cover or lid proper 10b, a spring retainer or hood IIb, an actuating As in the previous embodiment, the retainer is pivoted to a hinge lug 4b by a pivot pin 6b, and the lower end of the retainer IIb receives a pivot pin 23h passing through an apertured lug 2?b extending from the outer face of the lid Ilib, a resilient or rubber bushing 4I'b'eing mounted on the pin 23b and disposed between the same and the lug 22b for deadening vibration and minimizing wear between the retainer and lid.

' As in the preceding embodiment, a torsion spring I3b is'employed, the coilsof which seat on the retainer, which, in the present embodiment, is also a hood', and the lower ends of which engage seats on said retainer, but do not,'as in the preceding embodiment, act yas retaining means for the pin 23h, which is shown as having its ends riveted over, or one end headed and the other riveted over, as indicated at 42. The upper orlooped end 38b of the spring I3b desirably hooks over a lug 31b on the lower end of the lever I2b, which lever, as in the previous embodiment, is desirably reinforced by side flanges 361.

The lever I2b of the present embodiment is not formed with outstanding trunnions, as in the preceding embodiment, but rather with a beaded upper edge 32b forming trunnion means engaging confining and bearing lugs 43, 44, and 46 on the retainer I I b. The beaded upper edge 32b is of such form that it may be inserted in place when the lever is moved to abnormal angular position so'that it lies adjacent and substantially parallel to the outer wall 41 of the hood IIb, and it is subsequently interlocked therewith upon movement to the normal position shown in VFigure 9.

The assembly and operation of the articulated lid in the present embodiment, as will be understood, is' similar to that of the lid in the preceding embodiment, except that the matter of the assembly of the spring I 3b is simplified because said spring does not also serve as a retainer for the pin or rivet 231. For this reason, the spring is adapted to be placed under'a greater amount of initial tension than in the first embodiment. Except as specifically described in` connection with the present embodiment, the same may correspond with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, it being understood, however, that the retainer of the present embodiment functions as a hood, and the cover is unprovided with an integral hood. It will also be understood that the upper edge of the lid proper 10b functions Yas a limit stop for the lever I2b of the present embodiment, rather than an outstanding ange on said upper edge.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved articulated lid for journal boxes involving movably connected cover, spring retainer and lever portions, with resilient means for urging the lever into operative engagement with the hinging lug of an associated box.

Although I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and that the terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation.

1. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly mounted thereon and comprising a spring retainer with a cover and a generally straight lever pivoted thereto at diierent points, and spring means with one end engaging the free end of the lever and the other end engaging the retainer adjacent the pivotal connection with the cover.

2. In combination, a journal box having a hinge lug, a lid assembly mounted thereon and comprising a lid proper, spring retainer means respectively pivoted at its ends to the hinge lug and lid proper, and spring means disposed between said retainer means and lid proper, said spring means comprising a lever pivoted to the spring retainer, and a torsion spring with an upper loop portion engaging said lever, intermediated coil portions supported on said retainer, and lower end portions engaging lower abutment portions on said retainer.

3. In combination, a journal box having a vhinge lug, and a lid assembly for closing the outer opening in said box, said assembly lcomprising a closure member with a hood outstanding from the front face thereof and adapted to t over said lug, a spider received between said closure member and hood, a lever pivoted to said spider adjacent its upper end, a pivot pin connecting the lower end of said spider to said closure member, a torsion spring with an intermediate portion seated on said spider, an upper portion engaging said lever for actuating the same, and lower` portions engaging said spider and lying adjacent opposite ends of said pivot pin for preventing undesiredv removal thereof.

4. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivotally connected thereto, said lid including va hood, a cover and a lever, said lever being pivotally connected to the hood adjacent the upper ends of said members, a pin extending through the lower portion of said hood and an intermediate portion of said cover, a resilient bushing mounted on said pin for reducing wear therebetween, and a spring for actuating said lever, said spring having an intermediate portion mounted on said hood, an upper portion engaging the lever adjacent its lower. end, and lower portions engaging said hood.

`5. A journal box lid comprising a spring retainer with a cover and a lever pivoted theretok at different points, and spring means involving an intermediate portion seated on the retainer, one end engaging the free end of the lever and the other end engaging the retainer adjacent the pivotal connection with the cover.

6. In combination, a f journal box having a hinge lug and a lid assembly for closing the outer opening in vsaid box, said assembly comprising a closure member, a spring retainer, a lever pivoted to said spring retainer adjacent its upper end, means movably connecting the lower end of said spring retainer to said closure member, a torsion spring with an intermediate portion engaging said spring retainer, the upper portion engaging said lever for actuating the same, lower portions engaging said spring retainer and lying adjacent ropposite ends of lsaid pivot pin for preventing undesired removal thereof, and means pivotally connecting said closure member and spring retainer to said box.

7. In combination with a journal box having a hinge lug, an articulated lid pivotally connected thereto, said lid including a spring retainer, a cover and a lever, said lever being pivotally connected to said spring retainer adjacent the upper portion of said lid, a pin extending through the lower portion of said spring retainer and an intermediate portion of said cover, a resilient device mounted on said pin and engaging the surrounding portion of said spring retainer, and a spring for actuating said lever, said spring having intermediate portions mounted on said spring retainer,

an upper portion engaging the lever adjacent its lower end, and lower portions engaging abutments on said spring retainer.

' GLENN F. COUCH.

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