Auto-rack railroad car door locking assembly splice

Abstract

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides an door locking assembly splice including an extension tube having opposing top and bottom ends, a lock rod connection assembly connected to the top end of the extension tube, a handle connection assembly connected to the extension tube between the top end and the bottom end of the extension tube, and a cam assembly connected to the bottom end of the extension tube, that enables a damaged door rod locking assembly to be easily, quickly, and efficiently repaired.

Claims

1. A locking assembly splice connectable to a portion of a lock rod having an inner surface defining an inner passage, the splice comprising: (a) an extension tube having opposing top and bottom ends; (b) a lock rod connection assembly connected to the top end of the extension tube and partially insertable into the inner passage through a bottom end of the portion of the lock rod, the lock rod connection assembly including a cylindrical lock rod connection tube defining aligned spaced apart fastener openings configured to enable a fastener to be inserted through the fastener openings to connect the cylindrical lock rod connection tube to the portion of the lock rod; and (c) a cam assembly connected to the bottom end of the extension tube.

2. The locking assembly splice of claim 1, wherein the extension tube includes a cylindrical elongated wall having an inner surface defining an inner diameter of the extension tube, an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the extension tube, a top end having an upper edge, and a bottom end having a lower edge.

3. The locking assembly splice of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical lock rod connection tube includes a cylindrical elongated wall having an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube, a top end having an upper edge, and a bottom end having a lower edge.

4. The locking assembly splice of claim 3, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube is smaller than the inner diameter of the extension tube such that bottom end of the lock rod connection tube fits into the top end of the extension tube.

5. The locking assembly splice of claim 1, further comprising a handle connection assembly connected to the extension tube between the top end and the bottom end of the extension tube.

6. The locking assembly splice of claim 5, wherein the handle connection assembly includes two spaced apart side walls and an upside down U shaped connection wall.

7. The locking assembly splice of claim 1, wherein the cam assembly includes a lower cam structure including a tubular central body, a lower locking tongue connected to and transversely extending from one side of the tubular central body, and a rear lug connected to and transversely extending from an opposite side of the tubular central body.

8. The locking assembly splice of claim 1, wherein the locking assembly splice is installed on a vehicle.

9. The locking assembly splice of claim 8, wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle.

10. A locking assembly splice comprising: (a) an extension tube having opposing top and bottom ends, the extension tube including an elongated wall having an inner surface defining an inner diameter of the extension tube, an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the extension tube, the top end having an upper edge, and the bottom end having a lower edge; (b) a lock rod connection assembly connected to the top end of the extension tube, a top end of the lock rod connection assembly configured to be directly connected to a bottom end of a remaining portion of a lock rod; (c) a cam assembly connected to the bottom end of the extension tube; and (d) a handle connection assembly connected to the extension tube between the top end and the bottom end of the extension tube.

11. The locking assembly splice of claim 10, wherein the lock rod connection assembly includes a cylindrical lock rod connection tube including a cylindrical elongated wall having an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube, a top end having an upper edge, and a bottom end having a lower edge.

12. The locking assembly splice of claim 11, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube is smaller than the inner diameter of the extension tube such that bottom end of the lock rod connection tube fits into the top end of the extension tube.

13. The locking assembly splice of claim 10, wherein the handle connection assembly includes two spaced apart side walls and an upside down U shaped connection wall.

14. The locking assembly splice of claim 10, wherein the cam assembly includes a lower cam structure including a tubular central body, a lower locking tongue connected to and transversely extending from one side of the tubular central body, and a rear lug connected to and transversely extending from an opposite side of the tubular central body.

15. The locking assembly splice of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly splice is installed on a vehicle.

16. The locking assembly splice of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle.

17. A locking assembly splice comprising: (a) an extension tube having opposing top and bottom ends, the extension tube including a cylindrical elongated wall having an inner surface defining an inner diameter of the extension tube, an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the extension tube, the top end having an upper edge, and the bottom end having a lower edge; (b) a lock rod connection assembly connected to the top end of the extension tube, the lock rod connection assembly including a cylindrical lock rod connection tube including a cylindrical elongated wall having an outer surface defining an outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube, a top end having an upper edge, and a bottom end having a lower edge, the outer diameter of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube being smaller than the inner diameter of the extension tube such that bottom end of the cylindrical lock rod connection tube fits into the top end of the extension tube, a top end of the lock rod connection assembly configured to be directly connected to a bottom end of a remaining portion of a lock rod; (c) a cam assembly connected to the bottom end of the extension tube, the cam assembly including a lower cam structure including a tubular central body, a lower locking tongue connected to and transversely extending from one side of the tubular central body, and a rear lug connected to and transversely extending from an opposite side of the tubular central body; and (d) a handle connection assembly connected to the extension tube between the top end and the bottom end of the extension tube, the handle connection assembly including two spaced apart side walls and a connection wall.

18. The locking assembly splice of claim 17, wherein the locking assembly splice is installed on a vehicle.

19. The locking assembly splice of claim 18, wherein the vehicle is a rail vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of one known type of auto-rack railroad car configured to transport a plurality of vehicles, and showing the doors at the end of the auto-rack railroad car and the known door rod locking assemblies.

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of the known auto-rack railroad car of FIG. 1, and showing the doors at the end of the auto-rack car and the known door rod locking assemblies.

(3) FIG. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of the top of the known auto-rack railroad car of FIG. 1, and showing the top portions of the doors at the end of the auto-rack railroad car and the top portions of the known door rod locking assemblies.

(4) FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of the bottom of the known auto-rack railroad car of FIG. 1, and showing the bottom portions of the doors at the end of the auto-rack railroad car and the bottom portions of the known door rod locking assemblies.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the door locking assembly splice of one example embodiment of the present disclosure.

(6) FIG. 6 is a front view of the door locking assembly splice of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the door locking assembly splice of FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 8 is a top view of the door locking assembly splice of FIG. 5.

(9) FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the door locking assembly splice of FIG. 5.

(10) FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of the bottom of the auto-rack railroad car of FIG. 1, showing the bottom portion of one of the inner door rod locking assemblies removed.

(11) FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary end perspective view of the bottom of the auto-rack railroad car of FIG. 1, showing the bottom portion of one of the inner door rod locking assemblies removed and replaced with the door locking assembly splice of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) The door locking assembly splice of various embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated in a form of an auto-rack car door locking assembly splice configured to be employed in conjunction with a known auto-rack railroad car such as the auto-rack car 10 described above and shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, and 11. It should be appreciated that the door locking assembly splice of various embodiments of the present disclosure can be employed with other railroad cars, and with other vehicles or containers.

(13) Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, the auto-rack door locking assembly splice of one example embodiment of the present disclosure is generally illustrated and indicated by numeral 100. This example auto-rack door locking assembly splice 100 of the present disclosure is particularly configured for auto-rack cars such as auto-rack car 10. However, it should be appreciated that the door locking assembly splice 100 can be employed in or with other devices such as other containers. The door locking assembly splice of the present disclosure may sometimes be referred to herein for brevity as the door locking assembly splice, the locking assembly splice, or the splice; however, such abbreviations are not meant to limit the present disclosure.

(14) The illustrated example auto-rack door locking assembly splice 100 generally includes: (a) a hollow member such as extension tube 110 having opposing open top and bottom ends 112 and 114; (b) a lock rod connection assembly 130 connected to the top end 112 of the extension tube 110; and (c) a handle connection assembly 150 connected to the extension tube 110 between the top end 112 and the bottom end 114 of extension tube 110. As generally shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 and as further described below, the lock rod connection assembly 130 is configured to be connected to a free end of a severed lock rod such as lock rod 70a of a damaged door rod locking assembly (after the damaged portion of the lock rod 70a has been removed as shown in FIG. 10) to enable the damaged door rod locking assembly to be easily, quickly, and efficiently repaired.

(15) More specifically, in this illustrated example embodiment, the hollow extension tube or member 110 is in the form of a cylindrical tube that includes a cylindrical elongated wall 120 having an inner surface 122 defining an inner diameter of the cylindrical extension tube 110, an outer surface 124 defining an outer diameter of the cylindrical extension tube 110, a top end 112 having an upper edge 113, and a bottom end 114 having a lower edge (not labeled). In this illustrated example embodiment, the outer diameter of the extension tube 110 is the same or substantially the same as the outer diameter of the lock rod 70a. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the outer diameter of the extension tube or member 110 may vary. In this illustrated embodiment, the hollow extension tube or member 110 is made from dom steel tubing; however, it should be appreciated that it can be made from other suitable materials.

(16) In this illustrated example embodiment, the lock rod connection assembly 130 is connected or configured to be connected to the top end 112 of the cylindrical extension tube 110 and to the bottom free end of the remaining portion of the lock rod 70a as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The lock rod connection assembly 130 includes a hollow lock rod connection tube or member 132 that that includes a cylindrical elongated wall 134 having an inner surface 136 defining an inner diameter of the lock rod connection tube 132, an outer surface 138 defining an outer diameter of the lock rod connection tube 132, a top end 142 having an upper edge 143, and a bottom end (not shown) having a lower edge (not shown). In this illustrated example embodiment, the outer diameter of the lock rod connection tube 132 is smaller than the inner diameter of the extension tube 110 such that bottom end of the lock rod connection tube 132 fits into the top end 112 of the extension tube 110 as generally shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the outer diameter of the lock rod connection tube or member 132 or parts thereof may vary. The lock rod connection tube or member 132 has or defines two spaced apart opposing fastener openings on opposite sides of the lock rod connection tube 132 between the top end 142 and the bottom end (not shown). The lock rod connection assembly 130 further includes a fastener such as fastener 148 that is configured to extend through the two spaced apart opposing fastener openings on opposite sides of the lock rod connection tube 132 and also through two spaced apart opposing fastener openings (that are drilled into opposite sides of the bottom section of the lock rod such as lock rod 70a a shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 as further discussed below). In this illustrated embodiment, the lock rod connection tube or member 132 is made from dom steel tubing; however, it should be appreciated that it can be made from other suitable materials. The bottom section (not shown) of the lock rod connection tube 132 is suitably connected to the top section 112 of the extension tube 110 by welding or other suitable mechanisms (not shown).

(17) In this illustrated example embodiment, the handle connection assembly 150 is connected to or configured to be connected to the cylindrical extension tube 110 between the top end 112 and the bottom end 114 of the cylindrical extension tube 110. The handle connection assembly 150 includes two spaced apart side walls or plates 152 and 154 and an upside down U shaped connection wall or member 156. The two spaced apart side walls or plates 152 and 154 and define aligned fastener openings (not labeled) for receiving a suitable fastener (not shown in FIG. 5 or 6) that secures a handle (such as handle 74a shown in FIG. 11) to the handle connection assembly 150 as generally shown in FIG. 11. In this illustrated embodiment, the handle connection assembly 150 is made from steel; however, it should be appreciated that it can be made from other suitable materials. The handle connection assembly 150 is suitably connected to the extension tube or member 110 by welding or other suitable mechanisms (not shown).

(18) In this illustrated example embodiment, the cam assembly 170 is connected or configured to be connected to the bottom end 114 of the cylindrical extension tube 110. The cam assembly 170 includes a lower cam structure including a tubular central body 172, a lower locking tongue or finger 190 connected to and transversely extending from one side of the tubular central body 172, a rear lug 192 connected to and transversely extending from the opposite side of the tubular central body 172. This lower cam structure is configured such that (after installation of the door locking assembly splice 100 as shown in FIG. 11), upon suitable rotation of the hollow extension tube or member 110, the lower locking tongue 190 coacts with a lower tongue receiver (such as tongue receiver 82a shown in FIG. 11) secured at the bottom of the door frame to provide a useful mechanical advantage to close the door and secure the door in the closed position. The cam assembly 170 further includes a cylindrical tube 176, a bottom collar 174, and a top collar 175 that facilitate connection to the section of the door. The cam assembly 170 further includes a cylindrical connection tube (not shown) having an outer surface defining an outer diameter of this cylindrical connection tube that is the smaller than the inner diameter of the extension tube 110 such that this cylindrical connection tube fits into the bottom end 114 of the tube 110 for attachment purposes. This configuration of the cam assembly also facilitates the attachment of the cam assembly and the entire auto-rack door locking assembly splice 100 to the door of the auto-rack car by a suitable bracket (not shown in FIG. 11). It should be appreciated that bracket 200 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 can be re-employed or re-used to attach the cam assembly and the entire auto-rack door locking assembly splice 100 to the door of the auto-rack car.

(19) It should thus be appreciated that if a door locking assembly is bent or damaged in use or otherwise as mentioned above, the bottom part of the door locking assembly can be replaced by the door locking assembly splice of the present disclosure. In this illustrated embodiment, the following general steps are taken to replace the damaged portion of the door locking assembly such as door locking assembly 70a. The bottom bracket 200 (see FIG. 4) holding the bottom portion of the door locking assembly 70a is removed. The lock rod 72a is horizontally cut or severed above the damaged portion, and the damaged portion including the lower cam assembly is removed. Aligned fastener holes are drilled through the lower portion of the remaining lock rod 72a a designated distance slightly above the cut or the free end. The lock rod connection tube 132 of the lock rod connection assembly 130 is inserted into the open cut bottom portion or free end of the lock rod 70a such that the top end 112 of the extension tube 110 and particularly the top edge 113 of the tube 110 abuts or is adjacent to the bottom end or edge of the bottom portion of the lock rod 70a and such that the fastener holes in the lock rod connection tube 132 are aligned with the fastener holes in the lock rod 70a. The fastener 148 is then used to secure the lock rod connection tube 132 in the lock rod 70a. The bottom bracket 200 (or another bracket) is then attached to hold the bottom portion of the door locking assembly splice 100 to the door section 44a.

(20) It should thus be appreciated that the combination of these components thus enables the door locking assembly to be readily and efficiently repaired without the need to replace the entire door locking assembly.

(21) It should also be appreciated that the door locking assembly splice of the present disclosure enables the bottom portion of the locking assembly to be replaced if the bottom portion locking assembly is bent or damaged during use without having to replace the entire door locking assembly and without having to take the auto-rack car out of service for repair in a repair shop.

(22) In an alternative embodiment that is not illustrated, the lock rod connection assembly is configured to be connected to and specifically fit over the top end 112 of the cylindrical tube 110 and/or over the bottom end of the cut lock rod 70a.

(23) It should also be appreciated that the door locking assembly splice of the present disclosure can be used for a top section of a door locking assembly.

(24) It should be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, and it should be understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the claims.