Abstract: A latch assembly is disclosed for latching a leveling door used to close a leveling rod opening which is surrounded by a seal in a leveling box at the upper portion of a coke-oven door. The latching assembly includes spaced apart side flanges connected together at one of their ends by a cross web. The opposite ends of the flanges carry a rod which, in one embodiment, engage claws on arms extending from the leveling box and in a second embodiment the is pivotally connected with arms extending from the leveling box. In the first embodiment, an arm extends from a leveling door and forms a pivotal connection with retaining members that are in turn, secured to a spring plate.

Abstract: A door latch is provided for the access door of an appliance. The door latch apparatus includes bracketry for mounting at least one switch and actuating levers. The movable access door includes a catch which is engageable with one of the actuating levers as the access door is closed for sensing if the access door is in a lockable posture. Another actuating lever is pivotally operated by a solenoid actuator under control of a microcontroller-based controller to position one end of the lever into locking engagement with the access door catch and to actuate a switch for providing a signal to the controller that the access door is closed and locked.

Abstract: A latching device for overhead-type doors mounted for movement between a closed position and a raised position with respect to an opening defined by a frame. The latching mechanism includes a pivotable arm having a pivot end and an engagement end. The pivot end of the pivotable arm is mounted above the opening for pivotable movement about a substantially horizontal axis between a first position and a second raised position. The engagement end of the arm is adapted to engage a first latch portion associated with the door when the door is in a closed position and the arm is in the first position, and also adapted to engage a second latch portion associated with the door when the door is in the raised position and the arm is in an intermediate position between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A latch of the pull-up type for a cabinet door is latched and unlatched by turning the latch in one direction or the other. When the door is in latched position, rotating the latch in the unlatching direction initially causes a spring-biased shaft, which carries a latching pawl, to move axially inwardly. This inward movement of the shaft is permitted because a sleeve cam having cam slots is moved rotationally to present inwardly sloping cam surfaces to opposite ends of a cross pin which is mounted on the shaft and which functions as a cam follower. The shaft is prevented from rotating on its own axis until the cross pin, which also functions as a motion-control pin, is moved axially inwardly a sufficient distance to escape from axial motion-control slots provided in a motion-control sleeve which is mounted coaxially on the shaft.

Abstract: A door assembly for a sterilizer includes a rectangular door on which is a vertical rail assembly movable horizontally toward and away from the door on threaded posts. Nuts carried by the rail assembly are rotated on the posts by sprockets entraining a motor driven chain. The rail assembly carries spring mounted axially retractable horizontal pairs of locking bars. The bars are inserted into and removed from sockets in a doorway frame by turning angularly as the rail assembly moves horizontally. A pressure responsive locking mechanism engages the sprockets to prevent their turning when the sterilizer is above a predetermined pressure. Cables carried by the locking bars actuate a switch in an alarm circuit for indicating that any one or more bars is not engaged properly in its respective socket. Limit switches stop operation of the motor when the rail assembly reaches extremes of inward and outward movement.

Abstract: An adjustable grip latch has a slippable, friction-type drive connection provided between a shaft and a pawl which is carried on the shaft. A stop extends alongside the shaft for limiting the travel of the pawl to a range of movement extending between latched and unlatched positions. When the pawl is in its latched position it engages one portion of the stop. When the pawl is in its unlatched position it engages a different portion of the stop. The slippable drive connection transmits only a limited amount of torque from the shaft to the pawl, thereby enabling the shaft to move the pawl between its latched and unlatched positions, and enabling the shaft to rotate relative to the pawl when the pawl has engaged the stop. The slippable drive connection utilizes a wave spring washer to effect transmission of limited torque from the shaft to the pawl.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a screw-nut mechanism for clamping two work pis together. In one application the mechanism is used to clamp a cover plate over an access opening in a vehicle hull or similar member. The screw-nut mechanism is specially designed for use where one face of the hull or similar fixed work piece is inaccessible for welding or otherwise affixing the nut on the concealed face of the inaccessible work piece. I provide a screw-nut mechanism that avoids the necessity for affixing the nut to the work piece. In my invention the nut is a loose hardware item that can have a thread length proportional to the expected load, thereby avoiding strength problems associated with the formation of threads directly in relatively thin work pieces.

Abstract: A lid latch assembly (10) for a household washing machine is disclosed which incorporates safety features which prevent damage to the latch assembly regardless of when the drum access lid of the machine is closed. The assembly includes a solenoid (22) operated locking lever (60) pivotally mounted to a bracket (12). An elongated slot (68) in the bracket defines a first fulcrum (66) about which the locking lever pivots during latching movement. A switch arm (30) must be depressed downwardly by a latching hook (84) connected to the machine lid (80) before the locking lever is movable to the latched position. A blocking tab (58) on the switch arm prevents movement of the lever to the latched position prior to downward movement of the switch arm. The elongated slot allows the locking lever to pivot about a second fulcrum defined by the blocking tab.

Abstract: A protector for roof spouting or eavestroughs is formed from lengths of dark, sun-heat-absorbing plastic, secured with one edge under the lowermost shingles of a roof and the other edge overhanging the lip of the spouting and secured thereto by fastener strips fitting under the spouting lip.