Patent Application
20120024190
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hatch latching system, and, more particularly, to a hatch latching system for a slideable hatch.
2. Description of the Related Art
Bulk cargo carrying railroad cars often have openings along the top that are opened for the loading of materials and closed for transportation. Many bulk cargo railroad cars are utilized without any cover system. It is desirous to protect the materials carried in the interior of the railroad car from damage, which may be caused by weather or other environmental sources, such as particulate or biological material contained in the air. It is also desirous to prevent the bulk material from being dissipated by transportation due to the movement of air over the bulk material while it is in transit.
During the filling of the railcar, it is desirable to have the top of the railcar open so as to provide an easy way of loading the bulk material cargo from a delivering device, such as an overhead hopper. It is known to have railroad car hatches that are hinged and which are opened by releasing the latches on one side and pivoting the covers to the other side, thereby exposing a portion of the top of the railroad car so that the bulk cargo material may be loaded therein. It is also known to utilize latch systems that require the connection of the hatch to the framework or other structural elements surrounding the hatch. This is typically accomplished by having some portion extend from the framework to the hatch or from the hatch to the framework to engage in an interference type connection, thereby latching the hatch in place.
What is needed in the art is a hatch latching system that holds the hatch in position yet is easily released for opening or closing of the hatch.
The present invention is directed to a hatch latching system for a sliding hatch and, particularly, for a hatch system associated with a railcar system.
The invention consists, in one form thereof, of a railcar hatch cover latching system including a sliding mechanism and a latching apparatus. The sliding mechanism is attached to a moveable portion of the hatch cover. The latching apparatus is associated with the hatch cover. The latching apparatus includes a biased assembly, a bar, and at least one profiled stop. The bar extends through the biased assembly. The biased assembly is configured to allow the bar to pass through the biased assembly with a first force requirement. The at least one profiled stop is positioned on the bar to encounter the biased assembly and to thereby require a second force requirement to move the bar past the at least one profiled stop. The second force is greater than the first force.
An advantage of the present invention is that the latching system is primarily connected to the moveable hatch for easy assembly/disassembly.
Another advantage of the present invention is that movements of the slideable hatch in directions other than the latching direction do not substantially effect the latching force applied by the biasing assembly.
Another advantage of the present invention is that an automated opening and closing process of a passive nature can be utilized to overcome the latching force to thereby slide the hatch cover to either an open or a closed position.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrates one embodiment of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Now, additionally referring to
Latching system 24 additionally includes a biased assembly 30, a bar assembly 32, and an alignment assembly 34. Alignment assembly 34 includes a male portion 36 and a female portion 38 that interact with each other as covers 20 close. In the embodiment illustrated, there are two latching systems 24 for each rail cover 20, one having a male portion 36 and the other having a female portion 38. As can be seen in the figures this allows each railcar 20 to be identically configured and, since one is rotated at 180° relative to the other, the interaction of portions 36 and 38 allow for the engagement of covers 20 in a self-aligning manner as covers 20 are closed. The male portion 36 has a tapered feature allowing engagement with the female portion 38 to thereby assure alignment between covers 20.
Bar assembly 32 additionally includes a bar 40 having profiled stops 42 connected thereto. Profiled stops 32 are illustrated as having a rounded, triangular profile. However, other profiles are other contemplated and, although symmetrically shown and is utilized as such in the main embodiment, non-symmetrical shapes, such as other triangular configurations and curvilinear shapes are also contemplated. The shape of profiled stops 42 interact with bias assembly 30 to cause the force required to move bar 40 through bias assembly 30 to vary depending upon the interaction of the biasing mechanism, the surface encountering profiled stops 42, as well as the shape of profiled stops 42. Profiled stops 42 are illustrated as being on the topside of bar 40, although other configurations are also contemplated. Generally, profiled stops 42 will have to be oriented in order to properly interact with the biasing features of bias assembly 30.
Biased assembly 30 includes a biased cassette 44 having a lower bearing surface 46, an upper bearing surface 48, springs 50, and an adjustment mechanism 52. Biased cassette 44 is slid into bracket 28, which allows cassette 44 to move up and down in bracket 28 as various vibrations and movements of railcar 12 occurs without significantly altering the latching force provided by cassette 44. Additionally, bar 40 is narrower than the opening in cassette 44, allowing latitude for bar 40 to move side-to-side, again, without altering the latching force provided by the interaction between biased cassette 44 and the combination of bar 40 and profiled stops 42. Bearings 46 and 48 may be rollers having bearings connected to portions of cassette 44, or bearings 46 and 48 may themselves be a rolling sleeve, or bearing surfaces 46 and 48 may be fixed, having inherent sliding features of their own.
Springs 50 bias upper bearing 48 toward lower bearing 46 and may be stopped having a minimum distance therebetween. Bar 40 has a force required to slide it in a longitudinal direction through cassette 44 by way of the force from springs 50 as it is conveyed to bar 40. As cover 20 is moved, profiled stop 42 encounters upper bearing 48, which is part of the biasing features of bias cassette 44, causing a greater force to be required to move bar 40 as profiled stop 42 interacts with the biased nature of bearings 46 and 48 so that a deliberate greater force is required to move cover 20 past stop 42.
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Applicant's invention provides for sliding a bar through the biasing assembly 30 with a first force until encountering the profiled stop 42 connected to bar 40. Continued sliding of bar 40 past stop 42 requires a second force, the second force being greater than the first force. Although it is understood that it is profiled step 42 that passes between biased cassette 44's bearings 46 and 48 that the force is reduced once it reaches the top of profiled stop 42.
Now, referring to
While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
