Lock for a hopper car outlet gate

Claim 1

A discharge gate for a hopper having a discharge opening, said gate including a frame attached to said hopper at said opening, a horizontally movable closure gate slidingly supported on said frame for movement from a closed position beneath said opening to an open position to one side of said opening, an actuating shaft rotatably mounted on said frame, actuating means on said gate operated by said actuating shaft for slidingly moving the gate between said positions, said actuating shaft having at opposite ends thereof operating heads adapted to receive external operating means for rotating said shaft, the improvement comprising; a lock assembly for locking said sliding gate in a closed position including, a locking shaft, means rotatably supporting said locking shaft in laterally spaced relation on said frame, locking plate means supported on said locking shaft in a locking position engaging and blocking opening movement of said gate, and means on said locking shaft in the locking position blocking operating means access to said operating head, said blocking means being movable with said locking shaft and said locking plate means to an unlock position whereupon operating access to said operating head is achieved, said locking shaft extending substantially parallel and coextensive with said actuating shaft, said blocking means including arms projecting in U-shaped configuration from said locking shaft and being rotatable with said locking plate means to an unlock position, said arms including handle means adapted to be grasped by an operator on either side of said gate for moving said locking shaft between lock and open positions, said handle means being connected to said blocking means and projecting outwardly with respect thereto.