Claims
- 1. A hatch assembly for railcars having at least one opening therein extending in a longitudinal direction, comprising:
- a plurality of covers, each having lateral sides and a first and a second longitudinal end, said covers being arranged in a longitudinal series along the longitudinal direction and oriented in a common manner such that said longitudinal ends have the same orientation for each of said covers, adjacent covers having associated longitudinal ends in proximity to each other in closed position to therefore define at least one set of adjacent longitudinal ends;
- hinge means selectively permitting pivoting of each of said covers from its closed position in overlying relation to said opening to a partially open position in a generally vertical plane, and further to a fully open position providing access to said opening, said pivoting being about an axis substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction; and
- opening assist means for permitting free movement of a first of said covers from said closed to said partially open position, and for causing opening movement of an adjacent one of said covers to said partially open position in response to continued movement of said first cover to said fully open position,
- said assist means including a rotary coupling member movable with said first cover and extending generally longitudinally therefrom, said member having operating means engageable with said adjacent one cover when said first cover reaches said partially open position for effecting said opening movement of said adjacent one cover as the first cover continues movement to its fully open position.
- 2. The hatch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means securing said rotary member to said first cover adjacent said axis, said operating means cooperating with the hinge means of said adjacent one cover to cause said opening movement thereof.
- 3. The hatch assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said operating means is offset from said axis.
- 4. The hatch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second hinge means for said covers selectively permitting opening and closing movement thereof about a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to said first-mentioned axis, and means releasably securing said rotary member to said first cover adjacent said first-mentioned axis to permit separation of said first cover from said member when the first cover is swung open about said second axis.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/948,116, filed Sep. 21, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,808, which is included herein by reference.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0265170 |
Jan 1965 |
AUX |
0621743 |
Jun 1961 |
CAX |
1104985 |
Apr 1961 |
DEX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
948116 |
Sep 1992 |
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