Combination hatch covers

Claim 2

A combination hatch cover for railway car roofs comprising: an elongated hatch cover made from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic and non-metallic material, having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; at least one strap pivotally mounting said elongated cover for transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the roof; said strap adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said car for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one opening provided in said elongated cover; means pivotally mounting a small hatch cover on said elongated cover; said small cover adapted to move between open and closed positions with respect to said opening in said elongated cover; said small cover having a locking portion affixed thereto; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover comprising an overcenter locking lever including a locking handle and a locking ring and wherein said locking ring engages said locking portion adapted to hold said smaller cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions with said small cover remaining closed during such movement.

Claim 3

A combination hatch cover according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said smaller cover is generally transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover.

Claim 4

A combination hatch cover according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said smaller cover is in the same general direction as the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover.

Claim 5

A combination hatch cover according to claim 1 wherein said small cover locking portion comprises a hook which engages said locking ring.

Claim 6

A combination hatch cover according to claim 1 wherein said elongated cover is a continuous hatch cover.

Claim 7

A combination hatch cover for railway car roofs comprising: an elongated hatch cover made from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic and non-metallic material, having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; at least one strap pivotally mounting said elongated cover for transverse movement between open and closed position with respect to the opening in the roof; said strap adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said car for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one opening provided in said elongated cover; means pivotally mounting a small hatch cover generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover, said small cover adapted to move between open and closed positions generally transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover; said small cover having a locking portion affixed thereto; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover comprising an overcenter locking lever including a locking handle and a locking ring and wherein said locking ring engages said locking portion to hold said smaller cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions with said small cover remaining closed during such movement.

Claim 8

A combination hatch cover for railway car roofs comprising: an elongated hatch cover made from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic and non-metallic material, having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; at least one strap pivotally mounting said elongated cover for transverse movement between open and closed position with respect to the opening in the roof; said strap adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said car for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one opening provided in said elongated cover; means pivotally mounting a small hatch cover generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover, said small cover adapted to move between open and closed positions generally transverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover; said small cover having a locking portion affixed thereto; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover comprising an overcenter locking lever including a locking handle and a locking ring and wherein said locking ring engages said locking portion to hold said smaller cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions with said small cover remaining closed during such movement.

Claim 9

A combination hatch cover according to claim 6 wherein said hatch cover is made of non-metallic material.

Claim 10

A combination hatch cover according to claim 6 including elongated cover latch means mounted on the car comprising a cam locking lever which engages said strap.

Claim 11

A combination hatch cover according to claim 8 wherein said cam locking lever is affixed to a swing bolt which is mounted on the car.

Claim 12

A combination hatch cover according to claim 8 wherein a swing bolt is mounted on the car which engages said strap and a handwheel in locked position.

Claim 13

A combination hatch cover according to claim 6 wherein said elongated cover is a continuous hatch cover.

Claim 14

A combination hatch cover for railway car roofs comprising: an elongated hatch cover made from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic and non-metallic material, having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; at least one strap pivotally mounting said elongated cover for transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the roof; said strap adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said car for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one opening provided in said elongated cover; means pivotally mounting a small hatch cover generally along the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover, said small cover adapted to move between open and closed positions generally along the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover; said small cover having a locking portion affixed thereto; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover comprising an overcenter locking lever including a locking handle and a locking ring and wherein said locking ring engages said locking portion to hold said smaller cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions with said small cover remaining closed during said movement.

Claim 15

A combination hatch cover for railway car roofs comprising: an elongated hatch cover made from a material selected from the group consisting of metallic and non-metallic material, having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; at least one strap pivotally mounting said elongated cover for transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the roof; said strap adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said car for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one opening provided in said elongated cover; means pivotally mounting a small hatch cover generally along the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover, said small cover adapted to move between open and closed positions generally along the longitudinal axis of said elongated cover; said small cover having a locking portion affixed thereto; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover comprising an overcenter locking lever including a locking handle and a locking ring and wherein said locking ring engages said locking portion to hold said smaller cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions with said small cover remaining closed during said movement.

Claim 16

A combination hatch cover according to claim 12 wherein said hatch cover is made of metallic material.

Claim 17

A railway car roof for use in railway freight cars to be loaded and unloaded in upright position comprising: a roof rigidly attached to opposite sides of the car; said roof having at least one elongated hatch opening extending longitudinally of the car; a combination hatch cover made from a material selected from metallic and non-metallic materials mounted upon said roof including an elongated hatch cover having a longitudinal axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the car and adapted to close said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover having means mounted on said roof on a first side of said elongated hatch opening pivotally mounting said elongated cover for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof on a second side of said elongated hatch opening for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; means located on said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening pivotally mounting a small hatch cover on said elongated cover; said small hatch cover being moveable between open and closed positions with respect to said small cover opening; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover adapted to hold said small cover in closed position closing said small cover opening; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means, whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when said car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 18

A railway car roof for use in railway freight cars to be loaded and unloaded in upright position comprising: a roof rigidly attached to opposite sides of the car; said roof having at least one elongated hatch opening extending longitudinally of the car; a combination hatch cover made from a material selected from metallic and non-metallic materials mounted upon said roof including an elongated hatch cover having a longitudinal axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the car and adapted to close said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover having means mounted on said roof on a first side of said elongated hatch opening pivotally mounting said elongated cover for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof on a second side of said elongated hatch opening for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; means located on said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening pivotally mounting a small hatch cover on said elongated cover; said small hatch cover being moveable between open and closed positions with respect to said small cover opening; small cover latch means mounted upon said elongated cover adapted to hold said small cover in closed position closing said small cover opening; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means, whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when said car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 19

A railway car roof according to claim 14 wherein said non-metallic material is selected from inorganic compounds, fiber reinforced inorganic compounds, plastics and reinforced plastic.

Claim 20

A railway car roof according to claim 14 wherein resilient means are provided to assist the operator in raising said elongated cover.

Claim 21

A railway car roof according to claim 16 wherein the resilient means comprises a torsion spring.

Claim 22

A railway car roof according to claim 16 wherein said elongated cover is a continuous hatch cover.

Claim 23

In a covered hopper railway car having trucks located at opposite ends of the car supporting a hopper car body including a pair of transversely spaced side sills and a pair of transversely spaced top chords; side sheets joining said side sills and top chords on each side of the car; at least one hopper extending longitudinally of the car defined at least in part by said side sheets; said hopper having an outlet at the lower portion thereof for unloading lading from the car while the car remains in upright position supported by said truck on a railway car track; a railway car roof rigidly attached to said top chords extending longitudinally of the car; said roof having an elongated hatch opening having a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally of the car for loading the car with lading; the improvement comprising; a combination hatch cover made of a material selected from metallic and non-metallic materials including at least one elongated cover having a longitudinal axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the car and adapted to close said elongated hatch opening; said elongated hatch cover having means mounted on said roof on a first side of said elongated hatch opening pivotally mounting the elongated cover for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof on a second side of said elongated hatch opening for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; means located on said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening pivotally mounting a small hatch cover for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said small cover opening; small cover latch means located upon said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening adapted to hold said small cover in closed position closing said small cover opening; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when said car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 24

In a covered hopper railway car having trucks located at opposite ends of the car supporting a hopper car body including a pair of transversely spaced side sills and a pair of transversely spaced top chords; side sheets joining said side sills and top chords on each side of the car; at least one hopper extending longitudinally of the car defined at least in part by said side sheets; said hopper having an outlet at the lower portion thereof for unloading lading from the car while the car remains in upright position supported by said truck on a railway car track; a railway car roof rigidly attached to said top chords extending longitudinally of the car; said roof having an elongated hatch opening having a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally of the car for loading the car with lading; the improvement comprising; a combination hatch cover made of a material selected from metallic and non-metallic materials including at least one elongated cover having a longitudinal axis extending along the longitudinal axis of the car and adapted to close said elongated hatch opening; said elongated hatch cover having means mounted on said roof on a first side of said elongated hatch opening pivotally mounting the elongated cover for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to said elongated hatch opening; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof on a second side of said elongated hatch opening for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; means located on said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening pivotally mounting a small hatch cover for movement between open and closed positions with respect to said small cover opening; small cover latch means located upon said elongated cover adjacent said small cover opening adapted to hold said small cover in closed position closing said small cover opening; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when said car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 25

A railway car according to claim 19 wherein said combination hatch cover is made of metallic material.

Claim 26

A railway car according to claim 20 wherein said metallic material is selected from steel and aluminum alloys.

Claim 27

A railway car according to claim 19 wherein said combination cover is made of non-metallic material.

Claim 28

A railway car according to claim 22 wherein said non-metallic material is selected from inorganic compounds, fiber reinforced inorganic compounds, plastics and reinforced plastics.

Claim 29

A railway car according to claim 23 wherein the combination hatch cover is made from reinforced plastic material.

Claim 30

A railway car according to claim 24 wherein the reinforced plastic material is fiberglass.

Claim 31

A railway car according to claim 19 wherein said small cover is movable between open and closed positions transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of said hatch opening.

Claim 32

A railway car according to claim 19 wherein a seal is affixed to the outer portion of said small cover which peripherally engages a portion of said elongated cover in closed position.

Claim 33

A railway car according to claim 19 wherein projections are provided on said elongated cover to protect said small cover.

Claim 34

A combination hatch cover for use on railway cars having a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof and running boards on the roof extending longitudinally along opposite sides of said opening; said cars to be loaded and unloaded in upright position comprising: an elongated hatch cover having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close said longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; said elongated cover being pivotally mounted for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the railway car roof; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; a small hatch cover pivotally mounted on said elongated cover for generally parallel movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated cover and the longitudinal axis of the rail car; small cover latch means located upon said elongated cover adapted to hold said small cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby in open position said small cover is adapted to rest upon said elongated cover, leaving said running boards unobstructed by said small cover; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when the car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 35

A combination hatch cover for use on railway cars having a longitudinally extending opening in the car roof and running boards on the roof extending longitudinally along opposite sides of said opening; said cars to be loaded and unloaded in upright position comprising: an elongated hatch cover having its longitudinal axis adapted to extend along the longitudinal axis of the railway car and adapted to close said longitudinally extending opening in the car roof; said elongated cover being pivotally mounted for generally transverse movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening in the railway car roof; said elongated cover adapted to engage elongated cover latch means mounted upon said roof for holding said elongated cover in closed position; at least one small cover opening provided in said elongated cover; a small hatch cover pivotally mounted on said elongated cover for generally parallel movement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongated cover and the longitudinal axis of the rail car; small cover latch means located upon said elongated cover adapted to hold said small cover in closed position; said small cover latch means being operable independently of said elongated cover latch means whereby said small cover may be opened and closed while said elongated cover is in closed position and whereby in open position said small cover is adapted to rest upon said elongated cover, leaving said running boards unobstructed by said small cover; and said elongated cover latch means being operable independently of said small cover latch means whereby said elongated cover may be moved between open and closed positions when the car is in upright position with said small cover remaining closed during such elongated cover movement.

Claim 36

A combination hatch cover according to claim 29 wherein said hatch cover is made of metallic material.

Claim 37

A combination hatch cover according to claim 29 wherein said metallic material is selected from steel and aluminum alloys.