US3585938A

US3585938A - Automatic journal box lid operator

Info

Publication number: US3585938A
Application number: US795462*A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin G Fisher; Luther L Bollinger Sr
Original assignee: READING CO
Current assignee: READING CO
Priority date: 1969-01-31
Filing date: 1969-01-31
Publication date: 1971-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1988-06-22

Abstract

The invention relates to mechanism for automatically closing or opening the lids of journal boxes for lubricating railway cars. A bottom carriage is provided movable parallel to a railroad track, and by engaging an abutment by the car, the bottom carriage is caused to bear a predetermined relation to the journal box door. On the bottom carriage there is a top carriage moving toward and away from the track. The top carriage supports manipulator means, which opens or closes the door and operates on the trailing edge of the door. A limiter is provided to prevent excessive opening of the door. The manipulator means is supported on trunnions and the trunnions are slidable against spring restraint to go over an obstruction.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors Franklin 6. Fisher 1,332,797 3/1920 Brink 104/26 (R) wyomlsging; 3,155,191 11/1964 Nelson 184/2 Luther L. Bolllnger, Sr., Reading, Pa. 3,425,513 2/ 1969 Fisher et a1. 184/2 [21] Appl. No. 795,462 3,429,469 2/1969 Peterson 214/6 (K) (22] Filed Jan. 31, 1969 2,927,770 3/1960 Erickson et a1. 254/84 [451 Patented June 22, 1971 2,988,237 6/ 1961 Devol, Jr. 214/11 [73] Assignee Reading Company 3,034,675 /1962 Quayle 214/730 7 Philadelphia, Pa. 3,106,305 10/1963 Gehring.... 214/730 Continuation-impart or application Ser. No. 3,361,280 1/ 1968 Traver 214/650 (SG) 760,812, Sept. 19,1968, now abandoned. 3,390,798 7/1968 Dixon 214/730 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point "*P iii?!32321551133313.1232...es

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[52] U.S.C1 104/26 R, I w A 49/3l49/262' 104/1 104/18 104/51- ABSTRACT: The invention relates to mechanism for auto- 105/34], 105/349 l [84/ 2314/42 matically closing or opening the lids of journal boxes for 220/24 254/84 308/45 lubricating railway cars. A bottom carriage is provided movallll. "B616 ble to a railroad track and engaging an abutment Eosf 13/02, Fmm by the car, the bottom carriage is caused to bear a predeter- Fkldofscardl 49/262, 31; mined relation to the journal box door o he bottom cap 214/1 1, 650 S6, 730, 6 K, 42 R, 53, riage there is a top carriage moving toward and away from the 104/11 26; 105/] 349; 184/1 2; track. The top carriage supports manipulator means, which 220/24 J; 308/45 opens or closes the door and operates on the trailing edge of the door. A limiter is provided to prevent excessive opening of {56] References Cited the door. The manipulator means is supported on trunnions UNITED STATES PATENTS and the trunnions are slidable against spring restraint to go 1,009,072 11/1911 Johnson 214/42 over an obstruction.

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ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN22 l97l SHEET 10 0F ATTORNEYS AUTOMATIC JOURNAL BOX LII) OPERATOR DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION present application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Ser. No. 760,812, filed Sept. 19, I968 for Automatic Journal Box Lid Closer, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to automatic closing or opening mechanism for use particularly on the standard American Railway Association journal box to close or open the lid after or before inspection or lubrication.

A purpose of the invention is to center a carriage moving with a railway car at the proper position with respect to the center of the journal box by engaging a suitable part of the car, preferably the car wheel, and thus reliably position a closer or opener for the lid of a journal box.

A further purpose is to move a bottom carriage supporting the closer or opener with the railway car as the car travels on its track.

A further purpose is to maintain the closer or opener cocked in the trailing direction from the vertical, to more the closer or opener on a top carriage to a position beneath the journal box lid while it is still so cocked, to move the closer or opener head to its starting position if necessary, to bring the closer or opener to an erect position adjacent the lid, to move the closer or opener in the operative direction to manipulate the lid, then to rock the closer or opener into cocked position to move the closer or opener down if desired, and retract the top carriage.

A further purpose is to mount the closer or opener on a piston rod in a cylinder, and to spring urge the cylinder toward a position at which the closer or opener can make its operative stroke and manipulate the journal box lid while permitting the closer or opener to deviate from its normal path against the action of the springs in order to escape interference with parts of the journal box or the lip, and to guard against shock.

A further purpose is to retract the manipulator away from the railway car and move the bottom carriage back toward its initial position as the bottom carriage approaches the end of its stroke.

A further purpose is to move a limiter into the path of the lid ahead of the opener in order to restrict the extent of opening of the lid, the limiter preferably absorbing shock.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claims.

In the drawings we have chosen to illustrate two only of the numerous embodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the forms shown from the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory operation and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

While many aspects of both manipulators are the same, FIGS. I to 6 inclusive are directed particularly to the closer, the remaining figures showing features of the opener in so far as it may differ from the closer.

FIG. I is a diagrammatic elevation looking toward the side of the track of the closer, showing mechanism on the bottom carriage for raising a roller, but in position below the track.

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing the roller erected to engage a railway car wheel.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the closer device of the invention, lined up and moving forward with a railway car, shown diagrammatically, with a diagrammatic illustration of the journal box lid, illustrating particularly the bottom carriage and top carriage and the closer itself in elevated position.

FIG. 3a is a fragmentary vertical section showing a typical construction of a hinge of a journal box lid.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the closer of the invention, showing the closer remote from the car and in lowered position.

FIG. Sis a diagram ofthe fluid system of the closer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the electrical system of the closer.

FIGS. 7 to 10 relate particularly to the opener.

FIG. 7 is a vertical section, parallel to the rail, showing the opener cylinder erect and the opener engaging the lid from the trailing edge, preparing to open the lid.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the axis of the car wheel, showing the lid open and the limiter absorbing the shock.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section, parallel to the rail, showing the lid open and the limiter absorbing the shock.

FIG. 10 is an electric circuit diagram for the opener.

In the prior art delay and labor is involved in lubricating journal boxes on railway cars, both passenger and freight. Automatic lubricators have been developed which will insert lubrication into the journal box. It is still, however, necessary in many cases to close and open the journal box lids manually and this requires stopping the train.

The problem is complicated by the fact that some cars are equipped with roller bearings which do not have lids capable of being opened.

The problem is further complicated by the fact that many railway cars have an obstruction, such as a step, in front of the open lid of the journal box, which prevents moving straight in toward the car to close it.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to permit the car or the train to advance adjacent lubrication point and after encountering the lubricator, to close the lids of the journal boxes automatically while the car is in motion, or before encountering the lubricator to open the journal box lids automatically. When reference is made to lubrication herein, it will be understood that in some cases it may be accompanied by inspection and in some cases the function may be one of inspection rather than lubrication.

It will be evident that in normal operation, journal box closers and openers will be used on both sides of the track, but it will be sufficient to describe one closer or opener, it being evident that the closer or opener on the other side of the track will usually be similar.

First describing the closer, the railway cars are moving on rails 40, it being evident that the cars have trucks provided with axles 41 carrying car wheels 42, the axles being provided with journals 43 shown diagrammatically, and having journal boxes 44 which have bottom walls 45, sidewalls 46, and at the outer ends upwardly sloping walls 47 to a lubrication opening 48.

The lubrication opening is closed by a lid 50 which in open position sticks almost straight out as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, is hinged by a hinge 52 which is of the well-known type which has built-in spring means to hold it open when it is open and to hold it closed when it is closed, and to bias it toward either position when it passes an intermediate point.

A typical construction of the hinge of a journal box lid is shown in FIG. 3a. There the hinge turns about a hinge pin 53, and the lid carries a lever-type spring 54 mounting at the outer end of the lever a roller follower 55 which rides a cam 56. The cam has corresponding to a midposition of the lid a nose 57 and has sharply diverging side faces 58 and 60 each of which is adapted to actuate the lid toward one limiting position (either open or closed) when the roller follower has passed over the nose 57 in that direction.

It will be evident that other types of lid hinge construction as well known in the art are equally effective to bias the lid toward open or closed position as the case may be.

The closer of the present invention involves a bottom carriage which is slidably mounted on spaced horizontal longitudinal guides 71 supported at opposite ends at the side of the railway track by beams 72. It will be understood that the guides 71 extend parallel to the track. The bottom carriage 70 is mounted in slidable relation to the guides 71 by sliding bearings 73, suitably ball bearings, as well known.

Mounted on the bottom carriage 70 is a journal 74 which journals a stub shaft 75, which has, suitably keyed thereon, an arm 76, which at the outer end carries a shaft 77, which rotatably mounts a roller 78 which in raised position has its axis parallel to the axis of the car axle and in contact with a car wheel slightly above the track, while in lowered position the roller is out of the way and will not engage the car wheel.

The stub shaft also has keyed thereon an arm 30 which makes pivotal connection at 81 with a piston rod of a piston and rod combination 82 which is manipulated by a fluid cylinder 83 pivotally mounted at 84 on a bracket 85 on the bottom carriage 70. The cylinder has a fluid connection at 86 to cause it to raise the roller and a fluid connection at 87 to cause it to retract the roller, the operating medium conveniently being air under pressure.

Mounted on the bottom carriage 70 as best seen in F168. 1 to 4 and extending at right angles to the direction of the railway track, there are spaced horizontal guides 88 held at the ends in brackets 90 mounted on the bottom carriage 70. Slidable bearings 91, suitably ball bearings, on the guides 88 position a top carriage 92 in slidable relation to the track.

The top carriage 92 includes spaced upwardly extending trunnion bearing guides 93 which laterally restrain and guide trunnion bearing blocks 94, each of which is urged by a helical compression spring 95 in one of the trunnion bearing guides toward the position which will retain the closer against moving away from the journal box lid, but will yield against the action of the springs to let the closer travel over a lip or projection 96 at the outer end of the lid. Each trunnion bearing block 94 journals a trunnion 97 on an axis slightly inclined to the horizontal in the direction to make the upper part of manipulator cylinder 98 supported thereon more remote from the track. One trunnion block 94 on one side is spring urged upward and the other on the other side is spring urged downward.

Manipulator cylinder 98 manipulates a piston and rod combination 100 under fluid pressure. Pressure to raise the piston is introduced by fluid connection 111) and pressure to lower the piston is applied by fluid connection 111, the operating medium being preferably air under pressure. At the upper end of the piston rod there is mounted a lid closer 112. This has an arm 1 13 extending in the direction of forward car motion so as to reach over the lid from the side, and the arm 113 engages the lid first from above by a rotatable roller 1 14.

The manipulator cylinder 98 when in inactive position is inclined or canted in the trailing direction with respect to car motion by a cocking fluid cylinder pivotally mounted at 131 on the top carriage, and manipulating a piston and rod combination 132 which is pivotally connected at 133 to the closer cylinder 98. The cocking cylinder 130 has a fluid connection 134 at the end which moves closer cylinder 98 into cocking position, and a fluid connection 135 at the end which erects closer cylinder 98.

A piston and rod combination Ml operates in a fluid cylinder 141 energized suitably by air under pressure from connection 142, the opposite end of cylinder 141 being connected constantly to the atmosphere at 143. The cylinder is pivotally mounted at M4 in a bracket 145 on the base. The piston and rod combination operatively connects to the bottom carriage to retract it.

The bottom carriage at the outer end has a bracket 146 which mounts a fluid cylinder 147 having opposite fluid connections 1418 and 150 and positioning a piston and rod combination 151, the rod at the outer end connecting to the top carriage at 152. Fluid pressure such as air under pressure operates the piston.

In FIG. 5 we show a fluid diagram for operating the closer of the invention, illustrating a fluid pressure (suitably air) line and an exhaust line 161. Fluid cylinder 83 for raising and lowering the roller is actuated by a plunger-type solenoid valve 162 in a cylindrical casing 163 having fixed ports 164i and 165 connected to exhaust and fixed

ports

166 and 167 connected to fluid pressure. At the opposite side a fixed port 168 corresponding in position to port 165 and a fixed port 171) corresponding in position to port 166 are connected to the retracting side of cylinder 83 to move the roller 78 into its position above the track. Fixed port 171 opposite to and corresponding in position to port 164 and fixed port 172 opposite to and corresponding in position to port 167 are connected to the end of the cylinder 83 to advance the piston and thus retract the roller 73 beneath the track. All of the fixed ports in this and the other valves are equally spaced.

The valve 162 is actuated by an electric solenoid 173, surrounding an armature on the valve, to urge it to the position in which annular movable valve passage 1741 will connect port 166 having fluid pressure to port in order to retract the piston, and annular movable passage 175 in valve 162 will connect the opposite end of the cylinder to exhaust through ports 171 and 164. The valve 162 is biased in inactive position by helical compression spring 176 and in this inactive position, as shown, fluid pressure through port 167, passage 174 and port 172 actuates the piston to lower roller 78 below the rail, while the opposite end of the valve piston at connection 86 is connected to exhaust through port 168, passage 175 and port 165.

Top carriage actuating cylinder 147 is operated by electric solenoid valve 180 having a housing 180' which has at one side equally spaced

stationary ports

181, 183, 183 and 184, and at the other side respectively

opposite ports

185, 186, 187 and 188. The source of fluid pressure 160 is connected to

ports

181 and 182. The exhaust is connected to ports 183 and 18%.

Ports

185 and 188 are connected to the end of top carriage actuating cylinder 147 (connection 148) which advances the piston when connected to fluid pressure. Ports 1% and 187 are connected to the end of top carriage actuating cylinder 147 (connection 150) which retracts the piston.

in deenergized position, solenoid valve 180 provides fluid pressure 161) from port 182 through annular valve passage 191, port 186 and connection 150 to the end of cylinder 147 which retracts the piston. From the other end of the cylinder exhaust is provided by connection 148, port 188, annular valve passage 1911, and port 184 to exhaust 16!. Valve 180 is biased to inactive position by helical compression spring 193.

When solenoid 194i is energized, it acts on the armature to shift valve 180 to activated position. In this position fluid pressure 160 is effective through port 181, annular valve passage 191, port 185 and connection 148 to shift the piston in cylinder M7 to advance position. Exhaust from the other end of cylinder 147 is accomplished by connection 150, port 187, annular valve passage 190 and port 183 to exhaust 161.

Solenoid plunger valve 220 in cylindrical casing 221 has a fixed port 222 opposite and cooperating with a fixed port 223, a fixed port 224 opposite and cooperating with a fixed port 225, a fixed port 226 opposite and cooperating with a fixed port 227, and a fixed port 228 opposite and cooperating with a fixed port 231). The ports are equally spaced. Fixed ports 222 and 228 connect with fluid connection 11.0 at the end of manipulator cylinder 98 which is adapted to admit fluid pressure to advance the piston, and fixed

ports

224 and 226 connect with fluid connection 111 at the end of manipulator cylinder 911 which is adapted to admit pressure to retract the piston.

Fixed ports

223 and 225 are connected to fluid pressure at 1611, and fixed

ports

227 and 230 are connected to exhaust at 161. Valve 220 is biased by helical compression spring 231 toward the inactive position shown, in which annular passage 233 connects fluid pressure to connection 111 to move down the piston in manipulator cylinder 93, and annular passage 232 connects opposite fluid connection 110 of manipulator cylinder 93 to exhaust.

When electric solenoid 2341, surrounding an armature on the valve, is energized, valve 221) is shifted, so that movable annular passage 233 connects fluid pressure to connection 110 at the end of manipulator cylinder 98 to raise the closer, while movable annular port 232 connects connection 111 at the opposite end of manipulator cylinder 98 to exhaust.

A cocking valve 245 is in a cocking valve cylinder 246 having on one side stationary ports 247, 248, 251) and 251 respectively opposite

stationary ports

252, 253, 254 and 255.

Ports

252 and 255 are connected to the end 135 of cocking cylinder 131) (connection 135) in which fluid pressure will cause the closer to erect and ports 253 and 254 are connected to the end 134 of cocking cylinder 130 in which fluid pressure will cause the closer to cock. Ports 247 and 248 are connected to the source of fluid pressure 160 which will energize the cylinder, and ports 250 and 251 are connected to exhaust 161.

When the valve 245 is not energized, the cocking cylinder is in cocked position due to fluid pressure 160 through port 248 and annular valve passage 257 to port 253, and connection 134 to the end of cocking cylinder 130 which causes cocking, exhaust taking place from the other end of cylinder 130 through connection 135, port 255, annular valve passage 256 and port 251, to exhaust 161.

The valve 245 is urged to inactive position by helical compression spring 258. The valve can be shifted to energized position by a solenoid 260 acting on an armature connected to the valve. When the valve 245 is energized, cocking cylinder 130 is shifted to the position to erect the closer, by fluid pressure 160, port 247, annular valve passage 257, port 252 and connection 135. Exhaust from the other end of cocking cylinder 130 occurs then through connection 134, port 254, annular valve passage 256 and port 250, to exhaust 161.

Bottom carriage retracting cylinder 141 has a connection 142 at its active end and a connection 143 at the opposite end, which is constantly open to exhaust. Connection 142 is connected to fixed port 240 in a housing 241 of valve 242, port 240 being opposite housing fixed port 243, which is connected to fluid pressure at 160. Valve 242 is biased by helical compression spring 244 to the inactive position shown. When electric solenoid 245 by its armature energizes valve 242, annular movable passage 246 connects fixed

ports

240 and 243 to admit fluid pressure 160 to connection 142 to retract the bottom carriage by moving the piston and rod.

Control of the mechanism is conveniently accomplished by the circuit shown in FIG. 6. A series of latch relays 270, 271, 272, 273 and 274 each has a relay actuating and latching coil 275, 276, 277, 278 or 280, a

relay switch

281, 282, 283, 284 or 285 closed and latched by the actuating coil, and a

relay unlatching coil

286, 287, 288, 290 or 291, which when energized opens the relay switch.

On relay 270 the energizing coil 275 is connected across

electrical leads

292 and 293 of a commercial electric power source, conveniently alternating current, through track trip switch 294 (FIG. 1) which is engaged by a wheel 42 of the railway car before the car comes to the closer, to close and latch relay switch 281 and energize and hold energized solenoid 173 connected to the power source, of solenoid valve 162 to raise rollers 78 on both sides of the track and cause the railway car to bring the closer mechanism into proper relation along the track with respect to the axis and journal box to close the lid. Switch 294 is of the type which closes and immediately opens. When time comes to unlatch the relay 270 and deenergize solenoid coil 173, this is done by unlatching coil 286 which is in series across the source with one of the poles of electrical trip switch 295 on the stationary frame, which is closed by the bottom carriage in forward motion (FIGS. 1 to 3) and which then immediately opens.

Latch relay 271 has its energizing coil 276 in series across the power source with electrical trip switch 296 (FIGS. 1 to 3) on the base which is energized by switch abutment 297 on the bottom carriage as the bottom carriage begins to move forward under the action of the car wheel using forward the roller 62.

Switch 296 is of the type which instantaneously closes and then opens. Relay 271 closes and latches relay switch 282 and energizes solenoid 194 connected across the power source, to advance the piston in top carriage cylinder 147. Relay 271 is unlatched by energizing its unlatching coil 287 by momentarily closing and then opening trip switch 301 (FIGS. 1 to 3) on the base engaged by the advance of the bottom carriage.

Latch relay 272 has an energizing coil 277 which is in series with limit switch 302 (FIG. 3) on the top carriage, contacted by switch operator 303 on the bottom carriage as it completes its inward motion toward the track. Coil 277 is energized by the power source to close and latch relay switch 283 and energize solenoid 234 connected across the power source, to cause the piston in manipulator cylinder 98 to project upward. Relay 272 is unlatched by momentarily closing and then opening limit trip switch 304 (FIGS. 1 and 2) supported on the top carriage, by engagement with the manipulator cylinder when it is upright, thus causing the closer to lower and close the lid. As the closer moves down it closes the lid and when it encounters the lip 96 on the lower end of the lid, deflects the manipulator cylinder trunnion springs and deflects the closer to permit the closer to leave the lower end of the lid without shock.

Latch relay 273 has an energizing coil 278 which is energized across the power source by closing and then immediately opening limit trip switch 305, which closes and latches closed relay switch 284 which energizes solenoid 260 connected to the power source to move the piston in cocking cylinder in the direction to bring manipulator cylinder 98 into upright position. Switch 305 is closed by switch operator 306 on the manipulator piston rod. (FIGS. 1 and 2).

When the closer retracts, switch operator 306 momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 307 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which energizes unlatching coil 290 of relay 273 to open relay switch 284, deenergize solenoid 260, and shift valve 245 to actuate cocking cylinder 130 to cock the closer cylinder in the trailing direction.

Energizing coil 280 of latch relay 274 is in series across the power source with another pole of limit trip switch 295 (FIGS. 1 to 3) which momentarily closes and then opens when the bottom carriage reaches the end of its travel. Energizing coil 280 closes relay switch 285 and latches it closed, energizing solenoid 245 across the power source, so as to activate bottom carriage retracting cylinder 14].

The relay 274 is unlatched by energizing unlatching coil 291 by closing and then opening limit trip switch 308 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on the base when the bottom carriage retracts. The device is now ready for a new cycle of operation.

In operation, assuming the device is fully retracted, when a car moves along the track in the direction contemplated, each truck acts independently. The forward wheel closes track switch 294 (FIG. I) and this operates cylinder 83 in a direction to raise the roller 78 on the bottom carriage into the path of the car wheel and hold it raised. The forward car wheel encounters the roller and begins to push the bottom carriage forward with the truck. The bottom carriage is now correctly aligned to manipulate the lid on the journal box.

As the bottom carriage advances a short distance, switch operator 297 (FIG. 2) thereon momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 296 to move the top carriage toward the rails.

When the top carriage moves all the way in, to a position at which the closer can operate, switch operator 303 on the bottom carriage momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 302 (FIG. 3). Switch 302 operates manipulator cylinder 98 in a direction to raise the closer, which is cocked in the trailing direction (dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 2).

When the closer is raised to its limiting upper position, it is in line to move behind a step or other obstruction on the car to close the lid. Switch abutment 306 closes momentarily and then opens limit trip switch 305 (FIGS. 1 and 2), which operates the cocking cylinder 130 in the direction to raise the manipulator cylinder 98 upright (solid lines in FIG. 2).

When manipulator cylinder 98 is upright, it momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 304 (FIG. 2), which operates the manipulator cylinder 98 in a direction to move the closer down. As the closer moves down, its roller rolls down over the lid and closes it, deflecting the closer cylinder against the action of the springs 95 as it rides over the lower lip on the lid.

If the particular journal has a roller bearing, the closer nevertheless goes through the same procedure, without encountering the journal at all.

As soon as the closer retracts, its switch operator 306 momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 307, and this operates cocking cylinder H30 in the direction to again cock manipulator cylinder 98 in the trailing direction to the car motion. This has the advantage that if some incorrect operation occurs, the closer is less likely to be damaged by car motion.

When the bottom carriage advances further, it closes momentarily and then opens limit trip switch 30H (FIGS. I and 2), which operates top carriage cylinder 147 in the direction to retract the top carriage.

As the bottom carriage advances further, it momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 295, which energizes bottom carriage retracting cylinder MI in a direction to retract the bottom carriage. Simultaneously a second pole of switch 295 momentarily closes and then opens to operate roller cylinder 82 in a direction to lower the roller.

At the end of retraction of the bottom carriage, limit trip switch 308 (FIGS. 1 and 2) momentarily closes and then opens to release the fluid pressure from bottom carriage retracting cylinder MI.

By using compressed air to operate the cylinders, a cushioning effect is provided for in case some component fails to fu nction. Thus if the track roller is not lowered before the bottom carriage has run to the ends of its guides, the car wheel simply pushes the track roller down without damage to the device, and continues its forward motion. In normal operation there is ample time for the closer to move through its complete cycle as each car truck is passing by at moderate speed.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to It], the opener includes an opener proper 230 having a body 23R, located on the trailing side of the lid, and having a series of projections in the forward direction adapted to extend beneath the lid, including a lid engaging boss 232, a lid engaging saddle 233 and an opposing abutment 234 beyond the saddle.

On the trailing side of the body 23B there is fastened a pivot bracket 235 which pivots a limiter 236 at 237. The limiter 236 is pivotally connected at 238 to a pull rod 240 which extends through an opening 241 in a bracket 2242 supported on the manipulator cylinder 98. Above and below the bracket 242 the pull rod is surrounded by helical compression springs 2433 and 244 acting on bracket 242 from

collars

245 and 246 secured on the pull rod. Thus the pull rod is anchored by the opposed springs which can yield in either direction if shock is applied by the lid to the limiter 236. When the opener is down, there is no upward pull on the pull rod, and the limiter is in raised and inoperative position. As the opener is raised, the pull rod 240 pulls the limiter 236 to its operative position above the lid while the opener is engaging the lid from below, preventing excessive opening of the lid. In this position the lower spring 244 is somewhat compressed as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In case the opener encounters any obstruction, as for example by bumping against the journal box as the lid is opened, the springs 95 yield to prevent damage to the mechanism.

In the opener, the mechanism and operation is the same as in the closer with respect to raising the roller, moving forward the bottom carriage with the car wheel, and then moving the top carriage toward the rails.

when the top carriage moves all the way in, switch operator 303 (FIG. 8) on the bottom carriage momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 302 (which is physically located in the same position as switch 302 in FIG. 3 of the closer, but in the opener circuit (FIG. takes the place ofswitch 305 in the closer circuit, FIG. 6). This operates cocking cylinder 1130 in the direction to raise the manipulator cylinder upright so as to engage the opener below the lid to be opened. The opener is thus able to move behind a step or other obstruction on the car.

As soon as the manipulator is upright, it momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 302 which is in the same position as switch 362 in the closer electrical circuit (FIG. 6), but switch 302 is on the opener and is closed when the opener engages the lid of the journal box (FIG. 8).

If the particular journal has a roller bearing, switch 2302 never closes on that cycle.

Switch 302 when it closes, energizes the manipulator to raise the opener and open the lid. At the same time the limiter is moved into operating position above the lid (FIGS. 8 and 9) to prevent the lid from opening excessively, the limiter transmitting any shock when struck by the lid to the limiter spring which absorbs the shock.

When the opener is raised, its switch operator 306 momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 305' (which is in the same position on FIG. 9 as switch 305 in FIG. 1 on the closer, but which takes the place of switch 307 in the electrical circuit for the closer, FIG. 6). Switch 305 unlatches relay 273 and energizes cocking cylinder in the direction to cock the manipulator cylinder and cause the opener and the limiter to move to the trailing side of the journal box and the lid.

As soon as the manipulator cylinder is cocked, it momentarily closes and then opens limit trip switch 304 which is closed by cocking the opener cylinder as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. This causes the manipulator cylinder to move the opener down.

Further operation to retract the top carriage, to retract the bottom carriage, and to lower the roller, follows the procedure for operation of the closer, as explained above.

The switches employed herein are a common commercial type which when pushed in one direction against internal spring bias momentarily close and then open. When released the switches retrace while still open under their internal spring bias.

In view of our invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art to obtain all or part of the benefits of our invention without copying the structure shown, and we, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A journal box lid operator positioned adjacent the railway on which the wheels and journal boxes of the car move, comprising a secondary track parallel to said railway, a car riage mounted on the secondary track and movable there along, rail means on the carriage positioned transversely of the secondary track, a journal box lid actuator movably mounted on the rail means and makes moving said lid actuator into position adjacent to said journal box along said rail means, a trip mounted on the carriage which when the car comes into a particular position is engaged to cause the car and the carriage to proceed together, said journal box lid actuator having (a) head means to contact the lid, and (b) motor means to actuate the head means to close the lid, and means to bring the trip out of engagement with the car, so that the carriage no longer travels with the car.

2. A journal box lid operator of claim I in which the trip comprises roller means which in one position extends above the track into engagement with the car wheel.

3. A journal box lid operator of claim 1, in which the motor means brings the head into a position behind the journal box before closing the lid.

4. A journal box lid operator of claim 1, including means to return the carriage to initial position.

5. A journal box lid operator of claim I, including spring means yieldingly supporting the motor means and permitting the head means to ride over an obstruction.

6. A journal box lid operator of claim 1, including means for canting the motor means from the vertical and also for erecting the motor means into vertical position.

7. A journal box lid operator of claim 6, in which said means for canting and also for erecting will cant the motor means toward trailing the car.

8. A journal box lid operator of claim 7, in which the head means will contact the lid from the side of the lid which trails in the car in movement of the car.

9. A journal box lid operator of claim 6, in which the means for canting and also for erecting includes pivot means, and the operator also includes spring means supporting the pivot means yieldingly and permitting the head means to ride over an obstruction.

10. A journal box lid operator of claim 6, in which said head means includes roller means.

11. A journal box lid operator of claim 6, in which the means for canting and also for erecting includes pivot means and the canting is to cock the head means to avoid obstruction.

12. A journal box lid operator positioned adjacent the railway on which the wheels and journal boxes of the car move, comprising a secondary track parallel to said railway, a carriage mounted on the secondary track and movable therealong, rail means on the carriage positioned transversely of the secondary track, a journal box lid actuator movably mounted on the rail means and means for moving said lid actuator into position adjacent to said journal box along said rail means, a trip mounted on the carriage which when the car comes into a particular position is engaged to cause the car and the carriage to proceed together, said journal box lid actuator having (a) head means to contact the lid, and (b) motor means to actuate the head means to open the lid, and means to bring the trip out of engagement with the car, so that the carriage no longer travels with the car.

13. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, in which the trip comprises roller means which in one position extends above the track into engagement with the car wheel.

14. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, in which the motor means brings the head means into a position behind the journal box before opening the lid.

15. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, including means to return the carriage to initial position.

16. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, including spring means yieldingly supporting the motor means and permitting the head means to ride over an obstruction.

17. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, including means for canting the motor means from the vertical and also for erecting the motor means into vertical position.

18. A journal box lid operator of claim 17, in which said means for canting and also for erecting will cant the motor means toward trailing the car.

19. A journal box lid operator of claim 18, in which the head means will contact the lid from the side of the lid which trails in the car in movement of the car,

20. A journal box lid operator of claim 17, in which the means for canting and also for erecting includes pivot means, and the operator also includes spring means supporting the pivot means yieldingly and permitting the head means to ride over an obstruction.

21. A journal box lid operator of claim 12, which includes limiter means on the head means capable in one position of motion into the path of the lid on the opposite side of the lid from the point at which the head means is to contact the lid, and means for moving the limiter means into limiting position when the motor means is opening the lid.

22. A journal box lid operator of claim 21, which includes resilient cushion means for absorbing shock imparted by the lid to the limiter.

23. A journal box lid operator of claim 17, which includes limiter means protruding and positioned to engage the lid on a side opposite to that to be engaged by the head means 24. A journal box lid operator of claim 23, which includes shock-responsive means for supporting the limiter means.

25. A journal box lid operator of claim 17, in which the means for canting and also for erecting includes pivot means and the canting is to avoid obstruction.

Claims

1. A journal box lid operator positioned adjacent the railway on which the wheels and journal boxes of the car move, comprising a secondary track parallel to said railway, a carriage mounted on the secondary track and movable there along, rail means on the carriage positioned transversely of the secondary track, a journal box lid actuator movably mounted on the rail means and makes moving said lid actuator into position adjacent to said journal box along said rail means, a trip mounted on the carriage which when the car comes into a particular position is engaged to cause the car and the carriage to proceed together, said journal box lid actuator having (a) head means to contact the lid, and (b) motor means to actuate the head means to close the lid, and means to bring the trip out of engagement with the car, so that the carriage no longer travels with the car.

2. A journal box lid operator of claim 1 in which the trip comprises roller means which in one position extends above the track into engagement with the car wheel.

5. A journal box lid operator of claim 1, including spring means yieldingly supporting the motor means and permitting the head means to ride over an obstruction.

19. A journal box lid operator of claim 18, in which the head means will contact the lid from the side of the lid which trails in the car in movement of the car.

23. A journal box lid operator of claim 17, which includes limiter means protruding and positioned to engage the lid on a side opposite to that to be engaged by the head means

24. A journal box lid operator of claim 23, which includes shock-responsive means for supporting the limiter means.