Crossbar Carries Closure And Serves As Closure Fastener Patents (Class 220/314)
  • Patent number: 5517925
    Abstract: A hatch cover system for a railroad car employs a longitudinally extending series of end-to-end main hatch covers wherein each adjacent pair of covers has proximate, concave ends defining a circular port that permits access to the interior of the car when the covers are in their closed positions. A relatively small, circular cover is provided for each port and, in its closed and locked position over the associated port, also serves as a batten to hold the adjacent main covers closed. For operations not requiring that the entire hatch be open, the ports provide easy access to the interior of the car without the need to raise the heavy main covers and swing them to their open positions. The number of hinges required by the cover system is significantly reduced by the use of a special hinge device adjacent each port that serves as a mount for the associated port cover and both of the adjacent main covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Aero Transportation Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Early
  • Patent number: 5353945
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in converting solid thermoplastic material to molten thermoplastic material includes a tank which receives the solid thermoplastic material and holds a body of molten thermoplastic material. A housing encloses the tank. The tank and housing have openings through which solid thermoplastic material enters the tank. A rim extends along the periphery of an upper wall of the housing. The rim has an upper edge portion which is disposed above the upper wall of the housing to enable the rim to block wash water and/or other liquids from flowing along the upper wall of the housing into the tank. A cover assembly is connected with the housing and is movable between an open condition and a closed condition blocking the open upper end portion of the tank. The cover assembly includes an inner cover which sealingly engages the upper edge portion of the rim and an outer cover which cooperates with the housing to enclose the inner cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Paul S. Frates, Charles P. Ganzer, Kenneth E. Rothrauff, Luis F. Pareja
  • Patent number: 5329971
    Abstract: An apparatus for sealing the central opening in a conventional closet flange extending perpendicular to a drain pipe. A generally disk-shaped sealing member is connected to the lower end of a threaded shaft screwed through an intermediate hub in a diametrically extending mounting body. A pair of L-shaped retaining arms are pivotally connected to corresponding ends of the mounting body. Heads on the lower ends of the retaining arms may be inserted through diametrically spaced key-shaped slots in the closet flange and engaged with the underside of the flange. A handle connected to the upper end of the shaft may be turned to screw the shaft downwardly. This firmly presses an elastomeric boot on a convex underside of the sealing member against an inner edge of the central opening in the closet flange. This seals the opening in the closet flange to permit pressure testing of the drain and its associates sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventor: Duane R. Condon
  • Patent number: 5255815
    Abstract: The cap is for use in closing the end of an opening as may be provided in a container. The cap has an elastomeric top which is deflectable by a presser plate urged toward the top and opening by a biasing spring. Deflection of the elastomeric top enables the cap to seat and adjust around the opening and accommodate variances therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignees: Carol Ann Mackay, Helen Lou Kurtz
    Inventors: Richard J. Renk, Richard M. Ebert
  • Patent number: 5211433
    Abstract: A dome clamp arranged for mounting to the lid plates of a truck tank-trailer arrangement includes a plurality of confronting L-shaped legs mounted to a support beam, with the support beam including a slot having a slot clamp slidably directed therethrough to provide for clamping of the structure to the lid plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Inventor: Alan E. Gumbs
  • Patent number: 5158022
    Abstract: A hatch cover assembly includes a vent passageway through a hatch cover for venting the interior of a railroad hopper car, or the like, to the environment. The hatch cover is held in closed position by a locking strap, and the vent passageway is located directly beneath the locking strap to help prevent rain and other environmental contaminants from passing through the vent passageway. An inexpensive baffle assembly is releasably clipped into the vent passageway beneath the locking strap and is comprised of a two piece molded plastic structure with a mesh screen held therebetween to further protect the vent passageway from contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Dugge, William U. Casseau, John A. Krug
  • Patent number: 5148938
    Abstract: A pressure vessel arrangement including a lid with shiftable lock arms and a vent combination operating simultaneously. The lock arms passing through openings in the vessel housing sidewall when the lid is in the closed position. As the lock arms are shifted into a locked position a vent shaft into the vessel housing is sealed for pressurization of the vessel. Upon opening, the vent shaft is unsealed prior to disengagement of the lock arms to vent any residual pressure is the vessel safely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Inventor: Howard W. Morgan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5064089
    Abstract: A vented hatch cover for an enclosed vessel having a cover body sized to overlie and cover a hatch opening defined by an upstanding coaming. A pair of air passages are defined by the cover body and a pair of hoods connected thereto. The hoods define air inlet opening and a plenum which communicates with air outlet openings in the interior of the cover body. The air passages permit air flow in sufficient volume to vent the vessel and to empty the vessel by high speed vacuum unloading. A filter is removably retained on the hoods in the air inlet openings. A filter screen on the interior of the cover prevents contamination of the air passages from the inside. A latching arm provides downward pressure on the hatch when in a sealing position and the capability of pivoting the hatch cover together with the latching arm when it is moved. The cover is floatingly engaged in the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Salco Products Inc.
    Inventor: Francis R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 5054610
    Abstract: A disposable single-use contact lens conditioning package having two pairs of adjacent open-topped containers of a size for accommodating a contact lens to be conditioned, a contact lens sterilizing solution or cleaning member in one container of each pair, a solution for counteracting the sterilizing solution or rinsing away a lens cleaning liquid in the other container of each pair, and a cover sealed over the pairs of containers over the tops thereof and capable of being peeled off the containers for opening the tops of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Marc Ajello
  • Patent number: 4997101
    Abstract: A single handle-actuated lid opening, closing, and locking mechanism for a large capacity pressure cooker having an open-top cooking vat and a counter-balanced lid shiftable vertically between a vat open and a vat closed position. The mechanism comprises a pair of slotted hook arms mounted to either side of the vat. A cam bar extends transversely of the vat lid and is provided with a forwardly extending arm near each of its ends. The forward ends of the arms are joined by a bar constituting a handle in parallel spaced relationship to the cam bar. The ends of the cam bar support rollers receivable within the slots of the hook arms. The cam bar is manually shiftable by the handle between a forward lid locking position and a rearward unlocking and lid engaging position. In its forward lid-locking position, the cam bar assumes an over-center orientation with its rollers bearing upwardly against the upper surfaces of the hook arm slots and the cam bar body bearing downwardly against the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Henny Penny Corporation
    Inventors: James D. King, Stephen D. Werts
  • Patent number: 4944233
    Abstract: A hatch cover assembly (1) for a railway car (C). A hatch cover (7) is hingedly mounted to a roof (R) of the car for pivotal movement of the cover to open and close a hatch. The axis about which hinging movement occurs is perpendicular to the center line (CL) of the car. A locking strap (31) is rotationally mounted to the cover for movement between a cover locking position and a cover unlocking position. The longitudinal axis of the strap when the cover is in its locking position is also perpendicular to the center line of the car. A latch mechanism (61) adjacent the cover latches the strap in its cover locking position to prevent movement of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard H. Dugge, John W. Coulborn
  • Patent number: 4934877
    Abstract: A gate for attachment to the hopper of a railway car or other vehicle which carries particulate material. The gate has a pair of sloping walls with facing surfaces, and the lower ends of the walls are spaced apart to permit the particulate material to be discharged into a trough below the spaced ends from which the particulate material is removed by a vacuum hose. A pair of separately operable, rotatable valves of arcuate cross-section are disposed at the space between the ends of the walls to block or permit particulate material flow into the trough. Pneumatically operable agitators are mounted on the walls to prevent bridging of the space between the wall ends of the material during removal thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Ellcon-National, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace F. Haverick, Daniel J. Tearpock
  • Patent number: 4920747
    Abstract: The heater dump assembly comprises an inlet port; an exhaust port; and a bypass port disposed between the inlet port and the exhaust port. The bypass port may be selectively sealed with a closure assembly to route the exhaust gasses from the exhaust manifold to a muffler to reduce engine noise, or the closure assembly may be removed to allow exhaust gasses to bypass the muffler to reduce back pressure and improve engine performance. The closure assembly may be installed upon the bypass port and sealed thereon with less than one rotation of the handle. Alternately, the closure assembly may be removed from the bypass port with less than one reverse rotation of the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Inventor: Billy L. Haney
  • Patent number: 4915253
    Abstract: A center-point compression sealing lid member for use on containers of all sorts is described. The lid member is completely removable from the container. The lid member comprises a cover with a spacer positioned in its approximate center, a force transfer bar permanently positioned over the spacer and extending across the cover with means on one extremity to engage a retaining means on the container, and a lever bar pivotably mounted on the force transfer bar's second extremity to engage a second retaining means on the container. When the lid member is properly positioned over the container's opening with the means on the first extremity of the force transfer bar and the lever bar aligned with the retaining means found on the container and downward force exerted on the lever bar, the force is transmitted through the spacer to the cover. Substantially equal force is exerted by the cover's peripheral edges onto edges of the container's top opening to form a liquid-tight seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Inventor: Bruce R. Sharp
  • Patent number: 4889056
    Abstract: A generally circular cover for closing a hatch opening in a railroad car hopper is connected to a diametral support bar for limited pivotal movement to provide uniform gasket loading between the cover member and the hatch coaming. One end of the support bar is hinged to the hopper roof and the opposite end includes a cam surface and laterally projecting retaining pins for engagement with a latch member. The latch member has a somewhat channel shaped portion pivotally connected to a link which, in turn is also pivotally secured to the hopper roof. The link includes opposed trunnion portions which are engageable with the cam surface to forciby engage the support bar to hold the hatch cover closed. The latch member includes open ended slots which are engageable with the retaining pins in such a way that the latch member will not disengage from the support bar when the latch member is swung to the release position if fluid pressure within the car hopper is sufficient to force the cover toward an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Trinity Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Stewart
  • Patent number: 4850600
    Abstract: A sealing device for pipe connectors discharging into a vessel includes a retaining ring having a flange and being disposed at the mouth of the pipe connector and tightly joined to the wall of the vessel. A rigid disk closes off the opening of the pipe connector. A seal is disposed between the rigid disk and the flange. Fast-action clamping elements extend through slits formed in the rigid disk and slits formed in the retaining ring. The fast-action clamping elements are supported on the disk and locked and braced on the retaining ring for securing the rigid disk to the flange with the interposition of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Erich Kaetscher, Jakob Stauner, Alexander Huemmeler
  • Patent number: 4819830
    Abstract: A vented hatch cover for an enclosed vessel having a shell member sized to overlie and cover a hatch opening defined by an upstanding coaming. It includes a peripheral seal to seal against coaming. The shell member has at least one air passage extending through it. A wall is integrally formed on the shell member and defines a plenum in communication with the air passage. The wall extends outward beyond the peripheral seal and there defines an air intake opening for admitting air to the plenum. An air filter is housed in the plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Salco Products Incorporated
    Inventor: Francis R. Schultz
  • Patent number: 4785965
    Abstract: A tank having a top surface with a top opening bounded by an upwardly extending tubular neck and a lid. A seal member on the lid is in sealing engagement with the neck inner surface so that the lid can move up and down without losing the seal. A lid retaining member is mounted on the top surface of the tank so as to retain the lid in a position in which the sealing engagement is maintained when the interior of said tank is pressurized so as to urge the lid upwardly and structure is provided for insuring against inadvertent removal of the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Hoover Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry D. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4746030
    Abstract: A latching mechanism and pressure-operated safety lock for a pressure vessel such as a pressure frier, the invention comprises an interlock system which includes a safety lock and cooperating latching mechanism which prevents opening of the pressure vessel while potentially hazardous pressure levels exist within the vessel. The latching mechanism of the interlock system includes structure which facilitates the tightening of a lid of the pressure frier both before introduction of pressure into the vessel and during the existence of pressure conditions within the vessel. The lid is tightened over the pressure frier by means of a slotted sleeve disposed on the latching mechanism which cooperates with a pin of the safety lock to allow rotation of the latching mechanism to tighten the lid while maintaining positive engagement of the safety lock to prevent opening of the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Inventors: Valentino Gabriele, Donald K. Ossmus
  • Patent number: 4721094
    Abstract: A pressure interlock means to prevent release and opening of the cover under a potentially dangerous condition. The cooking apparatus is formed including a suitable open-top pot having a top cover unit secured to open and close the pot. Cooking oil is contained within the pot to a suitable depth or level spaced from the pressure cover unit. A pressurized deep oil cooker has a cover unit and includes a clamp bar pivotally connected to one side of a cooking pot. A mechanical hook unit couples a hook member on the free end of the bar to a pin. A plate cover has a D-shaped seal in a dovetail groove and abutts the upper edge of the pot. The cover is secured to the cam by a slotted connection permitting limited movement of the cover relative to the bar. A cam unit is coupled to the bar and has a rotating cam having a release position in which limited movement of the cover is permitted and a locking position which spreads the clamp bar relative to said cover to seal the cover and set the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Gallina Corporation
    Inventor: Louis Nett
  • Patent number: 4691957
    Abstract: A tarp assembly for covering an open top of a truck trailer has a tarp with a longitudinal edge fixed to one side of the trailer. A roll bar secured to the free edge of the tarp is rotated with a crank rod to roll the tarp to an open position and unroll the tarp to a closed position. A hold bar fixed to the free edge of the tarp with a plurality of straps is adapted to engage hooks secured to a side of the trailer to hold the tarp in a closed position. The hooks guide the straps and retain the hold bar in alignment for mutual engagement with the hooks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Frontier, Inc.
    Inventor: Hartley Ellingson
  • Patent number: 4690070
    Abstract: A plastic hatch cover is secured over a hatch opening by a hold-down bar extending across the hatch opening above the hatch cover. The hold-down bar has one end pivotally connected with a hinge bracket on the upper deck and another end engageable with a latch structure for sealing the hatch cover. The hatch cover is secured to the hold-down bar by clips on the hold-down bar adjacent the latch structure and adjacent the hinge. The clip adjacent the hinge detaches from the rest of the hold down bar when the hinge bolt is withdrawn, allowing removal of the hatch cover. Lug portions extend upwardly from the hatch cover to engage the hold-down bar to prevent lateral motion of the hatch cover with respect to the hold-down bar. The hatch cover is provided with reinforcing webs on its upper surface and on its lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Pullman Rail Leasing Inc.
    Inventor: Roy W. Miller
  • Patent number: 4685586
    Abstract: A door system for a boiler penthouse or other high temperature industrial environment is disclosed. A sufficiently large entranceway for both workmen and large equipment is provided by the door system. The access door has the capability for quick gas-tight sealing during closing. A hinged metal door plate has arcuate welding beads applied to its internal surface near its corners to produce permanent inward cupping of the door plate adjacent to its corners. Devices apply pressure to the exterior surface of the door plate during the closing thereof to flatten the inwardly cupped corners and effect gas-tight sealing of the interior surface of the door plate near its margin with an opposing high temperature resistant gasket carried by the front face of a refractory insulated door frame. A layer of thermal insulating material in a protective jacket is secured to the interior surface of the door plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Environmental Products & Services Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Lewis, Jr., J. Albert Hudson
  • Patent number: 4684418
    Abstract: A holddown bar for a hatch cover of a railroad car or the like and having opposed ends one of which is adapted to be pivotally mounted to the car and the other of which is adapted to be releasably latched to the car while a medial portion thereof intermediate the opposed ends is adapted to extend across the hatch cover and carries a sealing gasket in a channel thereof that is adapted to engage against the hatch cover. The channel is defined by a surface of the holddown bar and the gasket is secured to the surface by adhesive disposed between the surface and the gasket and being directly secured to the gasket and to the surface by the adhesive characteristics of the adhesive. An interlocking member is carried by the holddown bar and has a first part thereof mechanically interlocked to the holddown bar and a second part thereof mechanically interlocked to the adhesive to thereby mechanically interlock the adhesive to the holddown bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Kleykamp
  • Patent number: 4667701
    Abstract: In a nozzle dam assembly wherein a flange ring is affixed around a circular nozzle opening in a chamber wall, a support frame spans and is in non-threaded connection with the ring by releasable pins which carry under tension any load on the frame directed axially out of the nozzle into the chamber, and a circular dam with a sealing diaphragm disposed over it is attachable to the frame with its rim within the nozzle so that inflatable peripheral sealing means on the diaphragm effect the desired seal of the nozzle independent of the aforementioned axial load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Nuclear Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Cliff Evans, Alvaro Obligado, Louis J. Zezza
  • Patent number: 4655365
    Abstract: A railway hopper car has a hatch opening defined by its upper deck surface. A hatch cover is adapted to close the hatch opening. A hinge arrangement is connected with the upper deck surface and a locking arm extends from the hinge arrangement and across the hatch cover, being connected to the hatch cover. The hinge arrangement has a stop thereon which supports the hatch cover when it is pivoted open. The locking arm has a hatch engagement portion on the end opposite the hinge arrangement which is engaged by a latch structure connected with the upper deck surface. The latch structure includes a pivoting latch holder and latch which may be engaged with the latch engagement portion and rotated in one direction to seal the hatch cover and rotated in the opposite direction to unseal the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Pullman, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy W. Miller
  • Patent number: 4644874
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hatch cover for hopper cars, the hatch cover being made substantially of polymeric materials. The hatch cover of the invention comprises a lid having an inside and outside surface, a rim defining the edges of the inside surface, and a locking arm fixedly attached to the outside surface. A flat piece of metal is embedded in the lid having its geometric center substantially coincident with the geometric center of the lid to provide reinforcement therefor. The locking arm is reinforced with a steel channel for rigidity. The locking arm is attached to the lid using a single bolt which connects the channel of the locking arm with the flat piece of metal of the lid. A method of making the hatch cover is provided which comprises making the lid and the locking arm in the desired shape by reaction injection molding a polymeric material around the flat piece of metal and the channel respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Kleykamp
  • Patent number: 4635979
    Abstract: A latch for holding down the hinged hatch covers of railroad hopper cars. A hinge latch plate can be swung out of the way when not in use and is provided with a latch opening for receiving a tongue projecting from the hatch cover. A pivotal latch bar engages the tongue to hold it in the latch opening. The latch bar is shaped and mounted to provide an over center effect requiring it to be swung through a pivot arc greater than 90.degree. before it releases the hatch cover. A heavy duty form of the latch has double latch plates and double latch bars and includes a roller which facilitates the latching and release operations. The latch is useful to hold down the main hatch covers and also porthole hatch covers of the type found on sugar cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Aero Transportation Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Orville E. Blume
  • Patent number: 4622902
    Abstract: The hatch of a cargo vessel, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper upon unlocking the lock. An over center locking arm has two locking detents on it which coact with two locking detents on a locking bar to selectively provide a sealed, pressure blow off and hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch to be selectively adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Inventor: Roy W. Miller
  • Patent number: 4607760
    Abstract: A door closure system for a pressurized chamber is provided. The door system includes a hinge affixed to the chamber housing which supports a transverse door beam of the door. An inner door plate is supported by a handwheel driven screw rotatably mounted to the door beam. As such, the door plate is displaceable between sealing, chamber opening confronting and open positions by the handwheel. A cam finger is provided on the door plate and the free end of the door beam is formed into latch hooks. A spring-biased swing latch is provided adjacent the chamber opening on the side of the chamber opposite the hinge means. The swing latch includes a latch bar and a recessed cam area. Accordingly, when the door plate is rotated into its confronting position and the handwheel is turned thereby advancing the door plate relative to the chamber opening, the cam finger is caused to ride in the recessed cam area of the swing latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventor: John N. Roche
  • Patent number: 4574973
    Abstract: An entrance doorway for electrostatic precipitators, bag houses, scrubbers, ductwork and breeching includes an interior metal plate door hinged to a frame plate of similar thickness whereby the interior door and frame plate will follow any warpage of the casing wall as they are subjected to the same temperatures as the casing wall. A hollow core high temperature acid-resistant resilient gasket is employed between the interior door and its frame plate. A pressure screw acting on the center of the interior door flexes it toward the interior of the casing and renders the interior door concave to form a tight seal with the gasket. An interior door retractor is provided to pull the interior door and its gasket away from the frame plate when the pressure screw is relieving pressure on the interior door, thereby preventing damage to the door gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Assignee: Environmental Products & Services Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Lewis, Jr., J. Albert Hudson
  • Patent number: 4570816
    Abstract: The hatch of a lading container, such as the hopper of a covered hopper car, is sealed by a hatch cover having a locking arrangement which prevents the hatch cover from being blown open by pressure within the hopper when the locking arrangement is unlocked. An over-center locking arm has two spaced catches which co-act with two latches on a latching arrangement to selectively provide a sealed, a pressure blow-off, and a hatch open position. A rotative adjustment is provided to enable adjustment of the sealing pressure of the hatch cover on the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignee: Pullman Standard, Inc.
    Inventors: Ray L. Ferris, Donald B. Yates
  • Patent number: 4566375
    Abstract: A steam peeling or boiling apparatus for crops, such as potatoes, carrots, celery, apples and the like, or for meat, comprising a substantially cylindrical peeling vessel arranged for rotation around horizontal stub shafts, having a supply and discharge opening disposed eccentrically or non-eccentrically in one of the end faces. The opening is closable by an inwardly movable cover operated by a lever rotatably connected thereto, the other end of which is rotatably connected to the exterior of the vessel. The cover is provided with a second operating lever by means of which the cover can be displaced along the inner wall of the vessel in entirely "controlled" fashion. The second operating lever is rotatably connected to the exterior of the vessel at a location situated in the perpendicular median plane between the initial and final positions of the cover pivot of the second operating lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Assignee: Goudsche Machinefabriek B.V.
    Inventor: Peter W. C. van der Schoot
  • Patent number: 4560283
    Abstract: Described is an apparatus for closing and continuously emptying the container of a processing machine by means of a closure cover (6-9) which is arranged in the bottom (1) of the container and which is driven so that it can be moved into and out of the emptying opening (2) in the bottom (1) of the container by way of a pivotal shaft (17) acting as a lifting means on a mounting means, for example a mounting arm (16), outside the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1985
    Assignees: Paul Eirich, Hubert Eirich, Walter Eirich
    Inventors: Paul Eirich, Hubert Eirich, Walter Eirich, Erwin Goldschmidt
  • Patent number: 4543889
    Abstract: A cover for hopper car hatch openings as provided by railroad car and freight handling equipment. Each hatch opening is provided with a peripherial seal located out of and beneath the hatch opening and a pressure releasing latch for securing the cover against the seal and locking the cover upon the hatch openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1985
    Assignee: Dev-Mark, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Fritz
  • Patent number: 4519519
    Abstract: A quick opening hatch for use on a transfer tube of a nuclear reactor plant that is adapted to replace the conventional hatch on the transfer tube. A locking ring is provided with a plurality of screw openings that is adapted for connection to the transfer tube, and a hatch cover fitably received within the locking ring for closing-off the transfer tube. To lock the cover to the ring, latches are movably connected with the cover for locking engagement with the locking ring, and a sprocket with a plurality of crank arms is movably connected with the cover and the latches for movement thereof into locking engagement with a latch housing on the locking ring for locking the cover to the ring and out of engagement with the latch housing for releasing the cover from the locking ring so as to permit removal of the hatch cover from the locking ring to provide access to the transfer tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert E. Meuschke, Donald G. Sherwood, Bernard L. Silverblatt
  • Patent number: 4516859
    Abstract: An apparatus for closing a discharge opening (3) in the bottom (1) of a container, preferably a rotary mixing table of a processing machine, comprising a closure cover (4) which is arranged on a rotary shaft (5) through a support arm (6). The rotary shaft (5) and the support arm (6) are provided outside the container and adjacent the bottom thereof. A resilient means (8) is disposed between the closure cover (4) and the support arm (6) which are connected together by way of a hinge (7). Preferably the resilient means can be a rubber or plastic member which is faced with metal members (16, 19) and which is arranged between the closure cover (4) and a pivot bearing (9). The pivot bearing (9) is secured to the support arm (6) and has a bearing plate (11) with screw threaded bores (13, 14) for mounting at least one pressure screw (15) and an adjusting screw (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Hubert, Eirich Eirich
    Inventors: Adolf Spengler, Josef Hasenhundl
  • Patent number: 4515286
    Abstract: A cap and a cap opening and closing device of a liquid container for preventing a liquid evaporation is disclosed. The cap has a plurality of projections made of an elastic material on its bottom surface. The cap opening and closing device which is used in combination with the known cap or the cap mentioned above, having a shutter mechanism connected to the cap for moving the cap in cap opening and closing directions, includes a connecting member for connecting the shutter mechanism with the cap at a position remote from a center of the cap and a contact member for bringing the shutter mechanism into contact with the cap at the center of the cap, when the shutter mechanism is moved in the cap closing direction. Therefore, an easy cap opening and a complete cap closing operation can be effectively performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Ushikubo
  • Patent number: 4511057
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to a cap for the temporary closure of cans, often called "tin cans", which are currently one of the most used forms of containers for the distribution of drinks in general. It is essentially a rigid piece of moulded plastic, of an irregular shape, with four rigid hooked teeth protruding from its underside. Said teeth are all found on the same circumference, equal to the circular rim of the tin can, over and under which the aforesaid teeth hook. This hooking action may occur with a snap in that two of the four aforesaid rigid teeth are situated underneath a rigid bracket attached to the aforesaid rigid piece by two small, thin flexible bridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Inventor: Sergio Tontarelli
  • Patent number: 4501377
    Abstract: A manhole cover for a mobile tank for transporting flammable liquids is provided with a piston cylinder having a spring-biased ball valve having upper and lower seats. The lower seat is slotted to allow flow of non-compressible liquid in both directions when the ball is seated on the lower seat, thereby to allow the cylinder to move in both directions. The cylinder is attached to the manhole cover which lifts to a limited extent and allows venting in response to fluid pressure rise in the tank. Following venting, the manhole cover and the cylinder return downwardly to their initial positions. In the event of a sudden large surge in fluid pressure, due to tank roll-over or other emergency conditions, the force of the ball spring is overcome and permits the ball to seat on the upper seat, thereby stoppping the flow of liquid, thereby preventing upward movement of the piston cylinder, thereby preventing lifting of the manhole cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Inventor: Donald F. Palmer, III
  • Patent number: 4485936
    Abstract: An improved pressure-activated interlock system for a pressure vessel such as a pressure fryer, the interlock system includes a safety lock which cooperates with a latching mechanism to prevent opening of the pressure vessel while potentially hazardous pressure levels exist within the vessel. The safety lock includes a pin and associated solenoid actuator mounted on an arm which both mounts the latching mechanism and also serves to lift the lid of the pressure vessel. The existence of pressure conditions of a given level within the pressure vessel causes the solenoid to force the pin into engagement with one of a plurality of spaced radial slots formed in a hub portion of the latching mechanism, thereby preventing operation of the latching mechanism and thus opening of the pressure vessel. The solenoid is actuated by means of a pressure switch which directly senses the pressure within the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Inventors: Richard J. Pardo, Warren A. Pardo
  • Patent number: 4461219
    Abstract: A hatch cover opening and closing assembly which includes a hat member rockably secured to the hatch at about its center, the hatch cover being pivotably secured to the railway car coaming through the hat member at one end and the other end of the hat member being adapted to coact with a locking assembly that locks the hatch in closed, sealed, position either by means of a cam or crank acting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Norson Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Norman E. Bateson
  • Patent number: 4454686
    Abstract: A panel structure for mounting on any of various enclosures susceptible to explosions or excessive internal pressures, is formed as a self-contained unit mountable in sealing relation to a pressure-relief opening of the enclosure. Disclosed is a one-piece back plate with an integral mounting flange isolating all other frame components from the area in which a sealing function takes place. A peripheral seal on the closure panel exerts pressure against the back plate in a normal position of the closure panel, in a direction parallel to the lines along which internal pressure is exerted against the closure panel, thus providing an efficient seal about the entire periphery of the relief opening, without the necessity of precisely dimensioning the sealing gasket and frame components at the locations where they are interfaced for sealing engagement. The gasket includes side-by-side primary and secondary sealing beads, one of which projects forwardly a distance less than the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Inventor: Ralph H. Stapenell
  • Patent number: 4441431
    Abstract: A pivoting hatch cover and strap assembly has an overcenter latch assembly which is pivotably mounted upon the car roof at a location opposite the common hatch cover and strap pivot axis. This latch assembly includes a bifurcated overcenter locking handle which has a pair of cam surfaces which in closed position engage spaced wear plate surfaces located on the strap. A tab is located on the wear plate adjacent to but outboard of the cam surface on the operating handle. The tab makes a sufficient angle with the horizontal and extends upwardly and outwardly from the cam surface a distance sufficient to prevent the cam portion of the operating handle from moving longitudinally, and disengaging from the strap until pressure within the car is dissipated and thus prevents the strap and cover flying open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: ACF Industries, Incorporated
    Inventors: John L. Carney, Jr., Richard L. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 4411371
    Abstract: A locking device for a hatch cover is attached to a hinged carrier bar and has a flexible lock strip pivotally attached to the upper surface thereof and movable in a horizontal plane between a locked position underlying an associated roof top mounted latch member and an unlocked position rotated away from the latch member. The locking strip includes a handle which allows it to move in cantilever fashion whereby a locking finger on the flexible strip is lifted and removed from an associated locking opening allowing the strip to be rotated away from the latch to unlock the hatch cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventors: Lyn D. Collier, Marvin Stark
  • Patent number: 4388873
    Abstract: A closed railroad hopper car for solid commodities is loaded through hatches at its top. A pivoted lid or cover on each hatch is held shut by a single quick-acting cam lever. A catch prevents pressure in the car from throwing the hatch cover open when the tension from the cam lever is released. The hatch cover cannot be opened until after the cam lever is moved transversely out of contact with the catch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Union Tank Car
    Inventors: John V. Carleton, Nick Nenadic
  • Patent number: 4387826
    Abstract: A closure device for cans having a beaded edge and a cover with a wall part to be torn-off for formation of a pouring opening, the closure device being provided at two opposite ends of a base body with flanges directed toward each other, which grip under the beaded edge of the can. One of the flanges is elastically deflectable, the other flange is formed rigid, such that the closure device can be pressed onto the can from above like a snap-on-cap. A sealing ring is guided at the base body at the side disposed opposite to the pouring opening such that this sealing ring grips around the exit opening in a compressed state upon placing of the closure device onto the can, the sealing ring being disposed tightly at the cover of the can. Selected FIG. 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Inventor: Walter Heubl
  • Patent number: 4365726
    Abstract: A closure for a large sized opening in a pressure vessel has a lid longitudinally movable between an open covering position in which it is aligned with the opening but spaced apart from it, and perpendicularly displaceable between the covering position and sealing position in which it engages the sealing edge of the opening. The lid is moved by a hydraulic or pneumatic ram between the open and covering positions and is carried by rollers mounted on shafts affixed to the lid which run on longitudinal support surfaces. The shafts are rotatably mounted in bearings fixed to the lid and are coupled together for simultaneous rotation, while the rollers are eccentric relative to the bearings. The ram applies torque to the shafts in one sense during closing movement of the lid and in the opposite sense during opening movement of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Odenberg Investments Limited
    Inventor: Michael Broderick
  • Patent number: 4364666
    Abstract: A machine for mixing and cooling batches of dry powder ingredients and water comprising, a horizontal mixing cylinder open at one end and having a rotary mixer in the cylinder. Refrigerating mechanism is provided for cooling the walls of the cylinder and for maintaining the mixing cylinder temperature in a range below 45.degree. F. and above 32.degree. F., a door for closing said one end of the cylinder. The mixing cylinder has a dry powder ingredient inlet passage extending through the cylindrical side wall at the top of the cylinder at a location spaced from said one end. The door has a mix dispensing outlet communicating with the lower portion of the cylinder and a dispensing valve for controlling flow through the dispensing outlet and the door has a water inlet communicating with the upper portion of the cylinder and a funnel at the outside of the door extending upwardly to a level above the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Beatrice Foods Co.
    Inventor: Richard M. Keyes
  • Patent number: 4351446
    Abstract: A high-security fill cap is adapted for releasable attachment to the open end of a fill pipe, connected to an underground fuel storage tank or the like. The fill cap comprises an annular cap, a plurality of latches pivotally mounted on the cap for movement between latched positions engaging the pipe and unlatched positions disengaging the pipe, an actuating mechanism, including a handle, for moving the latches between their latched and unlatched positions in response to reciprocal movement of the handle, and a key lock secured centrally within the handle to selectively rotate a cam plate thereof between its locked and unlocked positions beneath the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1982
    Assignee: Pomeco Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Madden