Abstract: A swingable and slidable vehicle door assembly opened by an initial laterally outward swinging movement followed by a sliding movement along the exterior side of the vehicle. The vehicle door assembly is supported at three points with a suspension mechanism on the leading edge combined with a lateral guide mechanism to produce the aforementioned lateral movement of the door, followed by sliding movement. A pivotal support member is mounted on the side of the door opening adjacent the door's leading edge and has rollers mounted thereon adapted to engage track means on the door. The pivotal member rotates from an initial closed-door position characterized by substantial fore and aft alignment with the plane of the door to a laterally outward position, thereby moving the leading edge of the door laterally outward from the vehicle body to permit subsequent sliding movement.

Abstract: The door comprises at least one sliding leaf which is capable of engagement and disengagement transversely within the door-frame, two separate toothed racks being mounted on each leaf and each associated with a pinion supported by a guided carriage, the two pinions being coupled by means of a coordinating shaft. Operating means comprising a motor and a mechanism for driving the pinions are rigidly fixed to at least one of two crank-arms, each crank-arm being pivotally connected to a carriage and to the door-frame.

Abstract: A double door installation for a railway box car includes a lever and locking bolt mechanism for one of the doors. The lever is moved to slide the locking bolt which in an unlocked position interconnects both doors by means of a latch arrangement for conjoint movement.

Abstract: A sliding wing door, as used in railway and similar installations, is disclosed, of the kind in which the door, as it is opened, is first thrust out of its doorspace and slid alongside the vehicle body, the improvement consisting in that one of the component parts of the telescopable guide of the door panel is secured to the movable members of at least two linear ejectors intended to thrust the door panel out of the doorspace. Advantageously, the axes of the two (or more) linear ejectors are inclined through an angle of from 45.degree. to 90.degree. relative to the door space plane. A vertical shaft, mounted parallel and adjacent to the door post provides the initial movement of the door in a direction parallel to the ejector axes: the angle of rotation of the shaft is appropriately limited consistently with the necessity. Certain translation movements of component parts of the mechanism are aided by sets of rollers sliding on specially provided rolling paths.

Abstract: Apparatus for operating sliding plug-type railway car doors, of the type in which the front end of the door track is curved toward the car side, the front portion of the door is mounted directly on a track-mounted carriage, and the rear portion of the door is mounted via cranks on a track-mounted carriage, comprises longitudinally movable rack and pinion means on the car side adjacent the door, and mechanism on the door, actuable by longitudinal movement of the rack and pinion means for unlocking the door, rotating the door mounting cranks to swing the rear edge of the door in and out of the door opening, and moving the door longitudinally of the car into and out of registry with the door opening therein.

Abstract: A box car anti-pilferage device for plug doors mounted a sufficient distance above the rail whereby the device is usually beyond the reach of thieves standing on the ground in a railroad yard. The device includes a first plate having at least one opening therein mounted upon the door, and a second, movable plate having at least one opening therein mounted upon the plug door operating rod. The second plate obtains a position adjacent but spaced from the first plate when said box car door is in closed position. A locking member is mounted upon one of the first and second plates, and is biased toward a locked position passing through the openings in the first and second plates. The locking member is manually movable from said locked position to an open position out of engagement with one of the openings. A stop maintains the locking member in the open position during initial rotation of said operating rod from a door closed position toward a door open position.