US3175518A - Trough type hatch operating arrangement - Google Patents

Description

March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT THOUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 4, 1965 R m m m WILLIAM A.WARHE|T BY 454M127, afisckwed fizmmtfiwy Ilttys.

March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT 3,175,518

THOUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l '11,, III

I l pl ro t\\ m no I O /I a I Q I L f3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A.WARHEIT I {3 BY .fi/wba azmzawdhflwoy Jtt s.

March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1963 R O T N E V m WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY M, afaowvqd fi/zemmwawfiwy dw l s.

W. A. WARHEIT TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT March 30, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 4, 1963 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY ,fl/uzmawafi ria March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHEIT 3,175,518

TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. WILLIAM A. WARHEIT BY 49M, afieckwamfl/wmawaifl March 30, 1965 w. A. WARHElT 3,175,518

TROUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 4, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent 3,175,518 THOUGH TYPE HATCH OPERATING ANGEMENT William A. Warheit, Butler, Pa., assignor to Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, IlL, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 4, 1963, Ser. No. 285,274 13 Claims. (Cl. 105--377) The invention is directed to improvements in hopper cars particularly those of the type provided with elongated hatch openings and cover plates permitting simultaneous exposure of a plurality of aligned hoppers for simultaneous or continuous progressive material filling thereof. More specifically, the invention deals with new and improved operating means for a hatch cover plate especially of the type used with trough hatch arrangements wherein the cover plate is of substantial length.

Cove-red hopper vehicles, such as hopper type railway cars, include a plurality of longitudinally aligned hoppers each provided with material discharge portions at the lower ends thereof. In the use of such cars it is of course desirable to maintain at a minimum the time required for loading and unloading. Substantial advances have been made by improved hopper car designs and among these is the trough type hatch arrangement involving the use of a longitudinally continuous hatch opening in communication with the aligned hoppers at the top portions thereof, the hatch opening being covered by a single elongated plate or cover which upon removal fully exposes all of the hoppers for simultaneous or continuous progressive filling. With this type of arrangement the material delivery means, normally in the form of a movable overhead chute, can be continuously moved from one hopper to another along the length of the car (or the car moved relative to the chute) while carrying on continuous material delivery. This arrangement reduces the car loading time materially as it eliminates the necessity of selective and time consuming individual hopper hatch opening.

However, the use of a trough type hatch arrangement involves the handling of a single hatch cover plate of substantial length. The size of the cover plate is such that handling thereof without the aid of mechanical operating means can be difiicult and time consuming. Furthermore, care must be exercised in the handling of the cover plate in order to avoid contamination of the hoppers as well as damage to the cover plate thus possibly interfering with efiicient re-application thereof and adequate sealing of the hoppers.

It is an object of the invention to provide new and improved operating means for trough type hatch arrangements, the operating means permitting ready and efiicient hatch cover plate application and removal in a new and improved manner.

Another object is to provide a new and improved hopper car of the trough type hatch arrangement wherein unique hatch cover plate operating means are mounted within the hatch opening in engagement with the cover plate for mechanical positioning thereof both in the hop per exposed and hopper sealing relations.

Still a further object is to provide new and improved hatch cover plate operating means providing for positive acting mechanical movement of the cover plate into and out of hopper sealing relation, the operating means further providing for unique cover plate support in both the operative and inoperative positions thereof.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a hopper car including a 3,175,518 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 trough type hatch arrangement and the operating means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the handle and lock arrangement of the operating means of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of the trough type hatch arrangement illustrating the operating means in elevation as viewed generally along line 3-3 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the operating means as viewed longitudinally of the trough type hatch arrangement along line 44 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective viewing the trough hatch arrangement from the top thereof and illustrating the same with the hatch cover plate removed from the hatch opening;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the operating means of the trough hatch arrangement;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the hatch cover plate in raised relation during uncovering of the hatch opening;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of the operating means of the invention illustrating a portion thereof in elevation similar to the illustration of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of theG operating means taken generally along line 99 in F1 .8;

FIG. 10 is a transverse section of the operating means taken generally along line 10--10 in FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is a composite elevation of an adjustable handle means attachment forming a part of the operating means.

FIG. 1 illustrates a hopper car 20 including a plurality of longitudinally aligned hoppers 21, only the end ones of which are shown. The hoppers are of known configuration including converging wall sections terminating at the bottom thereof in material discharge devices of any suitable type through which material can be withdrawn from the car either by gravity operation or by pneumatic suction tube equipment. The hoppers are closed off at their tops by side roof sheets 22 and end roof sheets 23 of any suitable arrangement, these roof sheets receiving thereon longitudinally extending running boards 24 located along either side of a trough type hatch arrangement generally designated by the numeral 25. Both FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate the arrangement 25 as comprising an elongated, generally rectangular hatch opening defined by a peripherally continuous upstanding sealing rim 26 and a hatch cover plate 27 of configuration conforming to the opening and rim. At spaced intervals along the trough hatch arrangement 25 special operating means 28, including the external handle and lock assemblies 29 of FIGS. 1 and 2, are mounted for use in controlling operational positioning of the cover plate 27 between the position thereof shown in FIG. 1 in sealed relation with the rim 26 to the position shown in FIG. 5 in horizontally translated relation thus permitting complete access through the hatch opening into the tops of each of the hoppers 21.

FIGS. 3-7 illustrate the basic components of each operating means 28 as comprising a horizontally arranged drive or gear means 30 extending transversely through a portion of the upstanding hatch opening rim 26 and projecting into the interior of the trough hatch arrangement into operative association with a vertically extending rack assembly 31 mounted to one side of the hatch opening in depending relation with the adjacent portion of the rim 26. Suitably journalled in the rack assembly 31 is a support means in the form of a horizontally extending pivot arm 32 which, as best shown in FIG. 6, extends in inclined relation transversely or diagonally across the undersurface of the hatch cover 27. A hatch cover bearing assembly 33 is carried by the pivot arm 32 generally centrally thereof and defines a pivotal connection with the center portion of the hatch cover 27.

- FIGS. 8-10 illustrate the basic components of theoperating means in greater detail. The gear means 30 includes a cylindrical gear casing or sleeve 34 suitably fixed to the rim 26 and rotatably receiving therein a special pinion gear 35 in inner end abutment with an end plate 36 of the casing 34 and formed along the inner end periphery with a plurality of circumferentially arranged gear teeth 37. As best shown in FIG. 9 the teeth 37 are interrupted circumferentially by an arcuate bearing surface 38 which engages the inner surface of the casing 34 and aids in stabilizing the gear 35 for rotation therein about its hori zontally arranged longitudinal axis. Sufficient teeth 37 are provided to permit operational rotation of the gear 35 through at-least 180, preferably slightly more than 180 to permit the type of handle locking and unlocking action to be described. This rotational travel of the gear is adequate to impart sufficient vertical movement to the cover plate 27 of operation thereof into and out of the sealing engagement with the rim 26;

The gear casing 34, as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, is provided with an opening 39 along one side thereof in which is received a vertically extending sleeve rack 40 forming a part of the rack assembly 31. The rack 40 along an outer side'portion thereof is formed with a plurality of vertically arranged, horizontally directed teeth 41 meshed with the teeth 37 of the gear 35 for vertical reciprocation of the rack 40 within the interior of the car 20. Spur gear teeth of the type illustrated are preferably used for smooth operation of the elements and it will be understood that upon rotation of the gear 35 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, the rack 40' will move vertically upwardly.

The rack 40 is vertically slidably mounted in a guide sleeve or casing 42 which includes an opening 43 by means of which the same is fixed to the gear casing 34 and the gear teeth 37 are exposed to the rack teeth 41 for meshing. While the rack 40 is vertically slidable in the guide sleeve 42, rotation of the rack 40 therein is prevented by the use of horizontally straight teeth 41 thereon which in turn are meshed with horizontally extending teeth 37 of the gear 35. In this respect the teeth 41' extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the rack 40 while the teeth 37 extend parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gear 35. The sleeve rack 40 has received therein a vertically extending pivot shaft 44 including at the bottom thereof a bearing plate 45 overlapping the bottom surface of the sleeve rack, and at the top thereof having a similar bearing plate 46 overlapping the top surface of the sleeve rack thus confining the shaft 44 from vertical movement relative to the sleeve rackbut permitting rotational or pivotal movement relative thereto. The top portion of the shaft 44 has suitably attached thereto the transversely'extending pivot arm 32 thusproviding a support for one end of the pivot arm, which support permits horizontal pivoting of the arm' relative to the sleeve rack 40. With vertical operation, of the sleeve rack 40, the shaft 44 and attached pivot arm 32 move therewith. V V

The pinion gear 35 at the outer end thereof projects from the casing 34 with its projecting end being sealed by a suitable annular gasket 47 received in an annular groove and in engagement with the inner surface of the casing 34. The outer end of the gear 35 is formed with an outwardly projecting stub shaft 48 receiving thereabout an adjustment lever 49 forming a part of the operating handle assembly and an operating handle50 best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. The handle and lock assembly 29 includes a U-shaped upstanding bracket 51 suitably fixed to the roof portion'of the car 20 with the inner vertical side edges of the upstanding leg portions thereof arranged in close association with the inner end of the operating handle 50 to aid in maintaining the same and the gear 35 in proper operative position with the gear being held in the gear casing 34. The top ends of the upstanding leg portions of the bracket 51 each have pivotally attached thereto a cam lock 52 with outwardly projecting portions thereof being interconnected by a rod 53. Referring to FIG. 7, each cam lock 52 includes a lower fiat locking surface 54 joining an outer end, arcuately convex camming surface 55 designed to ride over the top edge of the operating handle 50 and cam the same downwardly upon rearward or outward pivoting of the cam locks 52 into the position shown in broken lines in FIG. 7. The operating handle 50 is arranged for arcuate movement through approximately from the hatch cover closing position shown in solid linesin FIG. 6 to the hatch cover lifting and removal position shown in broken lines in FIG.v 6. In the hatch cover closed posi tion the uppermost cam lock 52 shown in FIG. 6 engages the adjacent top edge of the operating handle 50 to lock the same and prevent rotation of the gear 35. In the openor removed position of the hatch cover the bottom cam lock 52 shown in FIG. 6 then engages an opposite surface portion of the handle 50 to prevent return rotation of the gear 35 thus holding the sleeve rack 40 in its raised position.

To release the handle 59 from one of the cam locks 52 it is necessary merely to lift up on the rod 53 with the result that a camming surface 55 will force the handle downwardly and slide across the top edge thereof to release the same. Of course the handle 50 can be forced downwardly and then the cam lock raised by'lifting the rod 53. When the handle is moved to the hatch open or closed position it will automatically move downwardly along the sloping surface portion 56 of a cam lock and pivot the same outwardly. Sufiicient downward movement of the handle will result in automatic pivoting of the adjacent cam lock back into its overriding locking position by reason of the weight of the rod 53.

FIG. 11 illustrates a Variable angular adjustment ar ran'gernent used in interconnecting the adjustment lever 49 with the operating handle 5b." The lever 49 is suitably fixed to the outer end surface of the gear 35 and receives the stub shaft 48 therethrough in projecting relation for use as a fulcrum point for the end of the operating handle 50. The projecting end portion of the adjustment lever 49 includes a plurality "of apertures 57 some of which are arranged in progressively offset relation to permit a selection for attachment of the adjust-ment lever 49 to the operating handle 50. The operating handle 50 includes a series of apertures 58 which can be selectively combined with the apertures 57 of the lever 49 to variably angularly relate the ope-ratingh-andle 50 relative to the adjustment lever 49. A suitable fastener 59 (FIGS. 2 and 6) is inserted through the selected aligned apertures 57 and 58 to fix the angular-positioning of the operating handle 5t With this particular adjustment arrangement the total arcuate travel of the operating handle 59 can be variably adjusted to a limited degree thus controlling the total vertical distance of travel of the cover plate 27.

' This particular adjustment arrangement among other things permits rack travel adjustment to accommodate any play or lost motion occurring during movement of the operating handle 50 through 180 thus assuring adequate raising of the cover plate 27 for clearance thereof relative to the rim 26 as well as clearance of the pivot arm 32 over the rim 26. v

The car roof in the area of the hatch opening is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced and transversely extending stifiener plates 60 best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Each stiffener plate extends across the hatch opening from suitable end attachments with the roof sheets 22 on opposite sides thereof. The stiffener plates are of generally upwardly opening U-shape and include along their top exposed edges directly across'the hatch opening a curved or convex baflle plate 61. Material being delivered into the hoppers through the hatch opening will be protected from damage by glancing contact with the baffle plates 61 and will not engage any sharp edges of the stiffener plates 60. Of course the baffle plates 61 also function to further stiffen the roof struc ture in the area of the hatch opening and provide means for the rigid mounting of the operating means in the hatch opening.

In the car shown in FIG. 1, three operating means are utilized for vertical movement of the cover plate 27. Each operating means 28 as best shown in FIGS. 3-5 is mounted in association with a stiffener plate 60 and baffle plate 61. The rack assembly 31 by means of its guide member 42 is fixed to one upstanding edge portion of a stiffener plate 60 and is stabilized by an angle plate 62 which straddles the horizontal portion of the stiffener plate 60, is rigidified and backed-up by the baflie plate 61 and is shaped to fixedly engage the outer surface of the rack assembly 31. This particular arrangement further aids in the stabilized mounting of the gear means as the gear casing and guide housing of the various components are fixed together as previously described.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, the pivot arm 32 centrally thereof has fixed thereto an upstanding bearing block 63 received a bearing bolt 64 therethrough, the bolt extending upwardly through the pivot arm 32 and including at the uppermost end thereof a threaded shank portion 65 receiving a locking nut 66 thereon to attach the bearing bolt to the cover plate 27. The bearing block 63 includes along the upper peripheral portion thereof an annular bearing assembly 67 of known type which mounts the pivot arm 32 and the cover plate 27 for relative rotation. To protect the bearing assembly 67 from the granular material carried by the hopper car, a depending sleeve 68 is carried by the undersurface of the cover plate 27 in downwardly overlapping relation with the bearing block 63. The inner surface of the sleeve 68 has mounted thereon an annular seal 69 which continuously engages the adjacent outer surface of the bearing block 63 and seals off the bearing assembly 67 from the interior of the hopper.

The cover plate 27 may be of any suitable configuration preferably including reinforcing plates 7t) and 71 fixed to the central portions thereof in the areas of pivot arm attachment. The cover plate illustrated is somewhat dome shaped including an outer depending skirt portion 72 carrying internally thereof a continuous gasket 73 which engages the top rounded portion of the rim 26 to seal off the hatch opening. The pivot arm 32 along the top surface thereof in spaced relation transversely of the cover plate 27 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting pin-like bearing members 74 terminating closely adjacent to the undersurface of the cover plate 27 and adjacent opposite side margins thereof. The members 74 aid in maintaining proper positioning of the cover plate as supported by the pivot arms 32 in the raised position thereof thus stabilizing the same against any substantial torsional movement relative to the bearing bolts 64 and blocks 63 defining the sole means of attachment of the cover plate to the operating means.

FIG. 3 illustrates the hatch cover plate 27 in its hatch closing relation with a cam lock 52 holding down the operating handle in parallel relation with the rim 26. The cam locks 52 each include a car seal aperture 75 aligned with a similar aperture in the upstanding leg portions of the bracket 51 (FIG. 2) for use in sealing the entire operating means for car operation. The pivot arm 32 extends diagonally across the hatch opening directly under the cover plate 27 with the bearing members 74 spaced below the cover plate to provide additional support for the same in the event that any concentrated Weight is inadvertently applied to the cover plate to cause bending thereof. Basically the bearing members 74 are designed to stabilize the cover plate when the same is being removed from the hatch opening.

For loading purposes, the cam locks 52 are operated as previously described to release the operating lever 50 with the same being rotated through approximately resulting in rotation of the gear 35 and lifting of the sleeve rack 40. The pivot arm 32 rises with the sleeve rack 40 and operates to lift the cover plate 27 to an extent that the depending skirt portion 72 of the cover plate clears the rim 26 and the pivot arm 32 itself clears the rim 26. The fully raised position of the cover plate is illustrated in FIG. 7. In this position a single operator can push the cover plate in a horizontal direction to one side of the hatch opening as shown in broken lines in FIG. 7 and as illustrated in PEG. 5. In this position of the cover plate the entire hatch opening is available for material loading of the individual hoppers of the car. The cam locks 52 operate to hold the handle in the cover plate raised position and can then be released to permit resealing of the car which is carried out by a reversal of the procedure described above.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a covered hopper car wherein a plurality of hoppers which are aligned longitudinally of the car are exposed along top portions thereof for simultaneous loading through a longitudinally continuous hatch opening in communication with each of said hoppers, and a continuous hatch opening cover means extends over said hoppers in vertically downwardly sealing engaging relation with said hoppers about said hatch opening, the provision of operating means for said cover means, said operating means including lifting means mounted in said hatch opening, pivot support means engaged with said lifting means and engaged with said cover means, and means extending externally of said hatch opening and cover means and engaging said lifting means to operate the same to raise said support means and cover means from said hatch opening for movement of said cover means on said support means out of covering relation with said hatch openmg.

2. In a covered hopper car wherein a plurality of hoppers which are aligned longitudinally of the car are exposed along top portions thereof for simultaneous loading through a longitudinally continuous hatch opening in communication with each of said hoppers, and a continuous hatch opening cover means extends over said hoppers in vertically downwardly sealing engaging relation with said hoppers about said hatch opening, the provision of operating means for said cover means, said operating means including vertically operable lifting means mounted in said hatch opening to one side thereof, horizontal pivot support means engaged with said lifting means at one end thereof and engaged with the center area of said cover means at the other end thereof, and means extending externally of said hatch opening and cover means and engaging said lifting means to operate the same to raise said support means and cover means from said hatch opening for horizontal movement of said cover means on said support means to one side of said hatch opening.

3. The hopper car of claim 2 wherein said lifting means is in the form of a gear means engaged with rack means forming a part of said support means.

4. The hopper car of claim 2 wherein said support means is in the form of a pivot arm including pivot means at the opposite ends thereof defining at least a part of the end engagement of said support means with said lifting means and cover means to permit said horizontal movement of said cover means.

5. In a hopper car having a plurality of aligned hoppers provided with a continuous hatch opening which is defined by a continuous upstanding rim, and a single hatch cover plate enclosing said opening with marginal portions'thereof in sealing engagement with said rim, the provision ofwhatch cover plate operating means mounted in said opening and comprising gear means mounted inwardly of said rim for operation about a transverse horizontal axis, drive means engaged with said gear means and extending through said rim externally of the same, rack means mounted vertically in said opening and in 'engagementwith said gear means for reciprocating movement in said opening, and horizontal cover plate support means pivotally attached to said rack means for reciprocation therewith and horizontal pivoting relative thereto, said support means being pivotally attached to said cover plate between the side margins thereof to provide for vertical'raising and lowering of said cover plate upon operation of said gear means, said support means in the raised position of said cover plate permitting horizontal movement of said cover plate to one side of said opening past the rim thereof.

.6- The hopper car of claim wherein said drive means externally of said rim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through an arc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means. '7. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said drive means externally of said rim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through an arc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means, said handle means being provided with adjustment means to permit variable setting of the angular relation of said handle means relative to the axis of operation of said gear means to control the vertical travel of said rack means.

8. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said drive means externally of said rim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through an arc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means, and lock means on said car adjacent said handle means and comprising a pair of spaced cam locks mounted on said car for pivoting about an axis paralleling said handle means, said cam locks being located in opposite directions from the axis of operation of said gear means for alternate engagement thereof with said handle means, each cam lock including a camming surface to engage an edge portion of said handle means to hold the same in substantially parallel relation with said rim, and means for pivoting said cam locks into and out of handle means locking position.

9. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said drive means externally of said rim includes handle means paralleling said rim and operable through an arc of approximately 180 to drive said gear means, said handle means being provided with adjustment means to permit variable setting of the angular relation of said handle means relative to the axis of operation of said gear means to control the vertical travel of said rack means, and lock means on said car adjacent said handle means and comprising a pair of spaced cam locks mounted on said car for pivoting about an axis paralleling said handle means, said cam locks being located in opposite directions from the axis of operation of said gear means for alternate engagement thereof with said handle means, each cam lock including a camming surface to engage an edge portion of said handle means to hold the same in substantially parallel relation with said rim, and means for pivoting said cam locks into and out of handle means locking position.

10. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said rack means is in the form of a sleeve mounted in guide means for vertical reciprocation in response to rotation of said gear means, said support means including a pivot shaft journalled in and supported .by said sleeve for pivoting relative thereto.

11. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said rack means is in the form of a sleeve mounted in guide means for vertical reciprocation in response to rotation of said gear means, said support means including a pivot shaft journailedv in and supported by said sleeve for pivoting relative thereto, said sleeve including flatted teeth means intermeshing with teeth means on said gear means and arranged to prevent rotation of said sleeve in said guide means. I I

12. The hopper car of claim 5 wherein said support means is in the form of a horizontal pivot arm extending substantially transversely of said cover plate in the opening enclosing position thereof, said pivot arm including longitudinally spaced cover plate bearing means in close association with said cover plate for added support thereof. a

13. The hopper car of claim 15 wherein the pivotal attachment of said support means with said cover plate in cludes a bearing block provided with a peripherally continuous sealing means protecting the area of pivotal attachment of said bearing block with said cover plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,899,912 8 /59 Jeneczko l05-377 3,019,743 2/62 Stiefel et al. l05377 LEO QUACKENBUSH, Primary Examiner. I

Claims (1)

1. IN A COVERED HOPPER CAR WHEREIN A PLURALITY OF HOPPERS WHICH ARE ALIGNED LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CAR ARE EXPOSED ALONG TOP PORTIONS THEREOF FOR SIMULTANEOUS LOADING THROUGH A LONGITUDINALLY CONTINUOUS HATCH OPENING IN COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OF SAID HOPPERS, AND A CONTINUOUS HATCH OPENING COVER MEANS EXTENDS OVER SAID HOPPERS IN VERTICALLY DOWNWARDLY SEALING ENGAGING RELATION WITH SAID HOPPERS ABOUT SAID HATCH OPENING, THE PROVISION OF OPERATING MEANS FOR SAID COVER MEANS, SAID OPERATING MEANS INCLUDING LIFTING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID HATCH OPENING, PIVOT SUPPORT MEANS ENGAGED WITH SAID LIFTING MEANS AND ENGAGED WITH SAID COVER MEANS, AND MEANS EXTENDING EXTERNALLY OF SAID HATCH OPENING AND COVER MEANS AND ENGAGING SAID LIFTING MEANS TO OPERATE THE SAME TO RAISE SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND COVER MEANS FROM SAID HATCH OPENING FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID COVER MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS OUT OF COVERING RELATION WITH SAID HATCH OPENING.

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