US2863402A - Wedge sealing of car doors - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 B. H. FORD 2,863,402

WEDGE SEALING OF CAR DOORS Filed May 29, 1956 INVENTOR- AT RNEVS.

United States Patent WEDGE SEALING 0F CAR DOORS Barton H. Ford, Omaha, Nebr.

Application May 29, 1956, Serial No. 588,031

3 Claims. (Cl. 105-424) This invention relates to the wedge sealing of car doors, and more particularly to the sealing of dropbottom doors employed with gondola cars, and the like, which carry granular commodities.

The sealing of drop-bottom doors on railway cars such as gondola cars, hopper cars, etc., to prevent the loss of granular or flowing materials, has long presented a problem. The car doors and frames cooperating therewith are subjected to hard usage and uneven surfaces occur about the edges of the door and frame which are not effectively sealed by simply closing the door. Attempts to seal the space between the door and the frame, or between two doors, are unsatisfactory because any sealing material tends to drop from the door and while the operator is working at one side of the door edge, the material placed in the other side drops away. Even after the tedious operation of getting the packing material in place, it is found that the packing often becomes dislodged during transit and valuable cargo material is lost.

An object of the present invention is to provide an extremely simple method and means whereby sealing is accomplished in a certain manner and with a minimum of effort while at the same time the sealing material is held against dislodgement during transit. Another object is to provide, in combination with the drop-door of a car, a resilient sealing wedge having wings which lock the wedge in position, while at the same time yielding under pressure during the sealing operation. Yet another object is to provide, in combination with dropdoors, sealing wedges effective for sealing not only the bottom edge portion of the door, but also the side edge portions to effect a complete seal about the moving edge portions of the door. Other specific objects and advantages will appear asthe specification proceeds.

The invention is shown, in illustrative embodiments, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car equipped with drop-bottom doors with which my invention is employed; Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional view showing a hinged door and a sealing wedge placed between the door and the door frame when the door is in partially and almost closed position; Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door moved to closed position and the compressing of the sealing wedge; Fig. 4, a longitudinal view of the sealing wedge showing the central longitudinal scoring therein; Fig. 5, a side edge view of the wedge shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, a broken sectional view showing how the wedge may be provided with an intermediate recess for the receiving of a channel bar, or other obstruction.

7 2,863,402 Fatented Dec. 9, 1958 hinged doors for controlling the flow of granular material from the cars. The car indicated by the numeral 10 is merely set out as an example of drop-bottom cars or cars equipped with doors, and it will be understood that the invention as set out herein is applicable to various 7 types of drop-bottom cars or other door panel-controlled vehicles.

in the specific illustration given, the door panel 11 is hinged upon hinge rod 13, and suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided for the swinging of the door to open and closed positions. In the actual structures, gearoperated mechanism and other mechanism is provided for the swinging of the door to open and closed positions, but since such mechanism is well known, a description herein is believed unnecessary.

In the specific illustration given, it will be noted that there are three side edges to be sealed. There is the transverse bottom edge of the door 11 which is to be sealed, and there are the side edges of the door 11 which are to be sealed. For each of these edges, I provide a resilient wedge 14 which is V-shaped and which is bent upon itself to provide a point 15 and resilient side wings 16, the structure being such that the side wings are normally urged laterally to the positions illustrated best in Fig. 2.

I have found that a very satisfactory and effective wedge can be provided by utilizing corrugated paper, as illustrated in Figs. 4- and 5. The paper comprises a central core 17, with the fiuting running transversely of the strip, and with an outer liner 18 and an inner paper liner 19. The strip is scored along a central longitudinal line, indicated by the numeral 20 in Fig. 4, the scoring being efiected preferably by running a scoring wheel along the border so as to crush the inner core 17 along the score line, the outer and inner liners 18 and 19 being left intact. The resulting structure is strong and the tension of the liners constantly urges the wings 16 of the wedge 14 outwardly. At the same time, the board is compressible to bring about a sealing function in that the inner core 17 will collapse under pressure in its final sealing operation, while the uncrushed portions of the wedge body 14 remain extended to form a seal about the crushed portion of the board.

While the board 14 is shown scored along the central line 20, it may also be scored at other points, as illustrated at 21 and 22 and 23 and 24 in Fig. 6, to provide a U-shaped portion for receiving a channel bar 25 or other metal obstruction located upon a door or other frame member. In other words, the board 14 may be scored at any points along its length so as to form channels for receiving reinforcing or support elements such as channel bars, so that the wedge can effectively be used irrespective of such obstructions. The score lines indicated by the numerals 21 to 24, inclusive, may be increased by providing score lines at the upper portions of the structure shown in Fig. 6 so as to form a tight fit about the channel bar or other reinforcing element of the door or frame.

Operation In the operation of the structure, the door 11 is preferably moved to a partially closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and while the door is in this position, the wedge members 14 are extended in position so as to lie between the door and the adjacent frame. While I have shown the wedge in the lower, transverse position, it will be understood that similar wedges are extended between the side edges of the door and the adjacent frame. By employing a compressible wedge, it is found that the wedge may be inserted into position with the point 15 extending through the opening while thewings retain the wedge in position, and such insertion into position may be accomplished either from the inside of the door or from the outside. In other words, the operator can compress the wings 16 together so that they clear the space between the door and the frame, and after the wedge is inside, can release them to leave them in the position shown in Fig. 2, After the wedges are in position so as to cover the bottom transverse edge of the door and also the side edges of the door, the door may be moved to closed position to effect the seal, as shownin Fig. 3. In this position, the immediate portions of the wedge engaging the door and frame are compressed, and their inner core portions yield under such pressure, while the adjacent portions of the wedge which are not under compression, remain in their expanded condition so that a very tight seal is formed, preventing escape of fine granular or flowing material. In spite of irregularities, bends, and notches in the frame and door, it is found that the wedge structure provides a highly effective seal, while at the same time the wedge, by reason of its spring arms, can be readily inserted in position and will remain in position by reason of its springy characteristic while the operator effects the final closing of the door.

While the sealing wedge is illustrated herein in con nection with a specific form of structure, it will be understood that such a wedge, with its point and spring wings, may be utilized as effectively in the sealing of other types of closures, etc.

While, in the foregoing specification, I have set forth a specific structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a drop-bottom car adapted for the handling of granular commodities, said car having a stationary door frame panel, a pair of side walls, and a hinged door panel cooperating therewith to form a downwardly-directed, bottom-openable V-shaped chamber, an elongated sealing wedge member having a compressible core included between outer liners, the core being compressed along a longitudinal line to form a pair of wings disposed in V relation, said compressed core and outer liner cooperating to resiliently urge said wings apart, said wedge member having its V-point extending downwardly and outwardly between said panels and removably lodged therebetween.

2. The structure of claim 1, in which the said wedge member is formed of corrugated paper with the flutes thereof running transversely of the wedge.

3. in combination with a drop-bottom car adapted for the handling of granular commodities, said car having a hopper defined by a stationary door frame panel, generally triangular side walls, and a hinged door panel I cooperating therewith to form a downwardly-directed,

bottom-openable V-shaped chamber, the inner face of said door panel adapted to abut an edge of said frame panel, an elongated sealing wedge member formed of corrugated board having inner and outer'liners and a crushable core therebetween with the flutes thereof running transversely of the wedge, the core being compressed along a longitudinal line to form a pair of wings disposed in a V relation and resiliently urged apart, said wedge member having its V-point extending outwardly downwardly between said panels and removably lodged therebetween and with one of said wings bearing against the inside face of the said door panel.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 513,302 Canda Ian. 23, 1894 936,235 Clay Oct. 5, 1909 1,014,768 Meissner Jan. 16, 1912 1,882,186 Hankins M Oct. 11, 1932 1,955,868 Wine Apr. 24, 1934 2,602,402 Sanford, Jr. et al. July 8, 1952 2,608,728 Montgomery Sept. 2, 1952 2,756,468 Bright July 31, 1956 2,778,072 Palisca Jan. 22, 1957

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