US837137A - Door-operating mechanism for drop-bottom cars. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED NOV. 271906.

B. H. SMITH. DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOTTOM CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SBPT.5.1906.

2 SHEETS-@EEET 1 lawzwtoz TAB WE /wows attuned No. 837,137. PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906. B. H. SMITH. I

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DROP BOTTOM CARS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.5.1906.

2 SHEETS-33117 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLANDON H. SMITH, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GILBERT L. ADAMS, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

' Application filed September 5, 1906. Serial No. 333,369.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLANDON H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of 5 ment of a dumping-hopper-bottom' car,-

Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Operating Mechanism for Drop-Bottom Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway rollingstock, and particularly to dumping-cars of the drop-bottom and hopper types.

To this end the invention contemplates a simple .and practical construction of dooroperating mechanism for drop-bottom cars, providing positive and reliable means for opening and closing the hopper-door and also for securely fastening the same in its closed position. v

An important requirement of door-operating mechanism for drop-bottom cars is that of reliable, positive, and strong means for holding, the door securely locked and positively preventing the opening thereof through accidental causes, such as vibration of thecar-body while in motion. To secure this necessary result is one of the important objects of the present invention, and the construction designed possesses special utility in that connection. I

A further and general object of the invention is to provide an operatin mechanism embodying few parts, while at t e same time having a free and easy operation'in opening and closing the hopper-door.

With these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and

T is designed to be arranged as an entirety cenclaimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in carrying out the foregoing objects are necessarily susceptible to structural change without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but a preferred embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanyin drawings, in which igure 1 is a sectional elevation of a fragshowing the drop-door equipped with the im proved door-operating mechanism. Fig. 2 is a projected end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are a series of plan, side, and end elevations showing the operative relation between the camming-arm and the door-actuating link. Figs. .7, 8, and 9 are similar detail views of the door-actuating link. Fig. 10 is an elevation and projected end view of the operating--shaft. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are a series of detail views of one of the camming-links associated with the door-actuating link. Fig. 14. is a detail elevation of the supplemental locking device, which may be associated with one end of the operating-shaft.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings. i The improved operating mechanism contemplated by the present invention is specially designed for use in connection with that type of cars termed drop-bottom cars, which include the class of modern-style cars termed hopper-bottom cars. In the application of'the invention to cars of this type no change whatever is required in the car structure nor in the relation of any of the usual parts thereof, so for illustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings a fragment of the body portion 1 of a drop-bottom or hopper-bottom car provided with the usual discharging hopper or chute 2, the delivery-opening 'of which is designed to be covered and uncovered by the drop-door 3, hinged at its upper edge, as at 4, in the usual manner, at the upper ed e of the deliveryopening of the hopper or c llute.

'The improved door-operating mechanism associated with the car elements referred to the peculiar form and relation of these several elements, and, referring to the drawings, it will be observed that the door-actuatlng link 5 is provided with a main straight shank door 3 o? the car bottonn' portion 8, pivotally connected at one end, as at 9, to the swinging portion of the drop- At'the end oppo- -site its pivotal connection the main shank I guard-lug 12. In addition portion if the door-actuating link is formed with an obliquely-deflected head 10, formed at one side of'the angle between the same and the main shank portion with a laterallyofiset supporting-shoulder 11 and at onecorner said shoulder with a projecting to this element thesaid head is provided in the wide end thereof-with a transversely-disposed arcuate play-slot .13, receiving therein the adjustingpin 14, carried by the free end of the curved camming-arm 6, mounted fast on the operating-shaft 7. In order to secure an effective action, a pair of the camming-arms 6 are preferably employed," the same being arranged, respectively, upon opposite sides of the head 10,'and the operating-shaft 7, to

- which said arms are to the sides thereof.

I parts shown in Figs. 1 and 5 when; the drop-door is closed the lateral yoffset supporting-shoulder 11 of the door-acthereby plemental loc the shaft 7 in the direction merit a catch-notch 18in ga'gement with thewheel 15 through theme drum of a pivotal cam-button 17,mounted inthe sideof-the car-body. I

As plainly indicated bythe position of of the drawin s,

tuating ever extends partially about and hangs directly upon the operating-shaft, .eifectually bracing and supporting the door in its closed position. To open the door, it is simply necessary to release the'suping means 15 16 17.and turn theadjusting-pin '14 to the slot/13 in the link-head, an in this movethe operating-shaft takes over the guard-lug 12.0f the link-head, andlthereby serves to 1 check the strain imposed onthe'doorrincident to the release thereof, thereby easing up the j o ening of the door. and preventing such a sud as would .tend to wrench, strain, or break the operating mechanism.

.1 Another feature of the inventionresidesin the employment of an auxiliary unlocking or release device which facilitates. the 'op'eni-ng I of the door and insures the safety of the olper- .ating mechanism when moved with a oad upon the car.

. lease-lever 19,

The auxiliary unlocking or release device essentially consists of a repivotally hung beneath the a suitable ivotal support or ed or bent about hopper-floor by supports, as at.-20, and are usual operating-crank which will'carry,- u(pper end of the den opening jcatch notch o cainming-arm carried by the shaft and h'avthe plane of the operating-shaft 7 as at 21 I so that the long arm of'the lever normally extends at an inclination following that of the hop er bottom or floor. the liaver is formed at its free end with a handle portion 22, while the short arm of the lever (designated by the number '23 and dis posed at the opposite side of the pivotal point 20) is angularly bent so as to engage beneath the camming-arm 6. By reason of this constructicn and mounting of release-lever a slight pull upon the handle end 22 thereof will cause the short en aging arm 23 to lift the camming-arm 6 an gradually facilitate the opening of the door when the shaft 7 is turned Without undue strains or shocks;

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, action, and advantages of the hereinrdescribed mechanism will be readily further description.

apparent without claim 1. In a dumping-car, the combination with the car-body and the drop-door thereof, of the door-operating mechanlsm comprising an operating-shaft, a swinging arm carried by said shaft, a door-actuating linkpivotally connected at one end with the door and at its other end havinga sliding connection with the arm, said link being further provided at an intermediate point with a supportingshoulder adapted to engage over the operating-shaft. v

2. In a dum in -car, the combination with a the car-body an the drop-door thereof, of the dooroperating mechanism comprising an operating-shaft having "a catch-notch, a, swinging arm carried by the shaft and a dooractuating link with the door andat 1138 other end having a This long arm ofv I 00 I pivotally connected at one end sliding connection with the free end of the am, said link being: further provided at an intermediate oint'with a guard-lug ada ted to be engaged with the catch-notch o the shaft during theturningof the latter.

3. In a dumping-car, the combination with the car-body and the drop-doortherefor, and the door-operating mechanism comprising an operating-shaft having a catch-notch there:

111, a door-actuatinglinkpivotally connected at one'end with the door and. provided at its jothergendwith a head having an arcuate slot therein, saidlink being further provided at shoulder engaging over the shaft an with a guard lug ada" 'tedto be engaged by the theshaft, and a'swinging an mterm'ediate point with a supporting-y ing an adjusting-pin working in the slot of crating-shaft, a swinglng arm carried by the shaft, a door-actuating link pivotally connected at one end with the door and at its other end having a sliding connection with the free end of the arm, and an auxiliar release-lever pivotally hung beneath the 0pper-floor and having a short engaging arm arranged to engage beneath said swinging arm.

BLANDON H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GILBERT L. ADAMS, NORMAN E. GEE.

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