Hatch cover

Claim 2

A hatch cover structure for a railway hopper car comprising, a hatch cover adapted to be positioned over a hatch opening on the car and movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening, a hold-down strap having one end mounted on the car for pivotal movement adjacent one side of the hatch cover and an opposite free end adjacent the opposite side of the hatch cover having an open slot therein, means connecting the hatch cover to said strap for pivotal movement therewith, a bracket fixed to the roof of the car so as to extend through the slot in said strap, a lever mounted on the bracket having a pair of horizontal projections extending from opposite sides thereof for engaging the slotted outer end of said strap, said lever having a footplate extending outwardly and a cam surface extending inwardly and adapted to be engaged by the free end of said strap, whereby closing said hatch cover causes said strap to cam said lever outwardly to permit said hatch cover to fall to a closed position, said lever being responsive to stepping on said footplate for moving said projections over the upper side of said strap to an overcenter position and camming said strap downwardly to lock said hatch cover tightly closed.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said cam surface of the lever at the point initially impacted by said strap is notched to reduce the recoil of the lever upon impact.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cam surface of said lever is engaged by the inner edge of the slot of said strap.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lever has a stop for preventing turning of said lever after said projections reach a predetermined overcenter position.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hatch cover has a flexible gasket on the bottom thereof for sealing the hatch opening and adapted to be compressed when the hatch cover is tightly locked.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the slotted ends of said strap are in the form of bent down lips against the upper sides of which said projections lodge to hold said cover closed before said footplate is stepped on.

Claim 8

A hatch cover structure for a railway hopper car comprising: a hatch cover adapted to be positioned over a hatch opening on the car and movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening; a hold-down strap having one end mounted for pivotal movement adjacent one side of the hatch cover and an opposite free end adjacent the opposite side of the hatch cover having an open slot therein and extensions on either side of said slot; a lever mounted on the roof of the car having a fulcrum and generally horizontally extending projections on opposite sides thereof, a cam surface extending inwardly from said fulcrum and adapted to be engaged by the slot portion of said strap, and a weighted portion extending outwardly from said fulcrum, whereby closing said strap causes said strap to cam said lever outwardly and permit said strap extensions to fall below said projections, the weighted portion of said lever causing said lever to move inwardly with said projections engaging said extensions whereby said strap is prevented from moving upwardly by said projections and said cover is held closed; said lever also having means thereon for moving said projections relative to said extensions to cam said strap to a locked position holding said hatch cover tightly closed.

Claim 9

A hatch cover structure for a railway hopper car comprising: a hatch cover adapted to be positioned over a hatch opening on the car and movable between open and closed positions relative to the opening; a hold-down strap having one end mounted for pivotal movement adjacent one side of the hatch cover and an opposite free end adjacent the opposite side of the hatch cover having an open slot therein and extensions on either side of said slot; a lever mounted on the roof of the car having a fulcrum and generally horizontally extending projections on opposite sides thereof, a cam surface extending inwardly from said fulcrum and adapted to be engaged by the slot portion of said strap, and a weighted portion extending outwardly from said fulcrum, whereby closing said strap causes said strap to cam said lever outwardly and permit said strap extensions to fall below said projections, the weighted portion of said lever causing said lever to move inwardly with said projections engaging said extensions whereby said strap is prevented from moving upwardly by said projections and said cover is held closed; said lever also having means thereon for moving said projections relative to said extensions to cam said strap to a locked position holding said hatch cover tightly closed.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7, including means for stopping the lever when said projections move inwardly to a predetermined overcenter position.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein cam surface of the lever at the point initially impacted by said strap is notched to reduce the recoil of the lever upon impact.

Claim 12

A hatch cover structure according to claim 7 wherein said strap is affixed to said cover.

Claim 13

A hatch cover structure according to claim 7 wherein said strap is mounted on the car.

Claim 14

A hatch cover structure according to claim 7 wherein said hatch cover has a flexible gasket on the bottom thereof for sealing the hatch opening and is adapted to be compressed when the hatch cover is tightly closed.

Claim 15

A hatch cover structure according to claim 7 wherein the means for moving said projections relative to said extensions is a foot plate.

Claim 16

A hatch cover structure according to claim 7 wherein said extensions comprise bent down lips upon which said projections lodge in the closed position.

Claim 17

A hatch cover structure according to claim 14 wherein said extensions further comprise a horizontal portion upon which said projections lodge in the locked position.