Door lock assembly for freight vehicles

• US 4,815,773 A
• Filed: 02/17/1987
• Issued: 03/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard L. Merrell
• Original Assignee: Richard L. Merrell
• Inventors: Merrell, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nicholson, Eric K.
• Application Number:
  US07/015,043
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 292/150, 292/175, 292/144, 292/163, 292/57, 292/60, 292/169.14, 292/169.15, 292/341.16, 292/341.15, 292/DIG. 32, 292/4, 70/128, 105/310.1, 105/308.1, 105/309
• US Class Current: 292/60
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0052 Locks mounted on the "frame" cooperating with means on the "wing" E05B47/0046, E05B65/0829, E05B65/0847, E05B65/0882 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/18 with arrangements independent of the locking mechanism for retaining the bolt or latch in the retracted position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/10 Hydraulic or pneumatic hydraulic or pneumatic circuits E05B81/52
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 1/04 with operating handle or equivalent member rigid with the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/32 Freight car door fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0867 Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1028 Sliding catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 Motor controlled

Abstract

A door-locking assembly for securing the door of freight transporting compartment includes a bolt which is movable between a first, door-locking position and a second, door-unlocking position, and is additionally movable into a third, door-unlocking position which provides additional restraint against motion of the bolt into the first or second positions. The assembly also includes catch means for selectively and alternatively either blocking or clearing the movement of the bolt between the first and second positions and between the first and third positions.

Claims

1. A door locking assembly for securing the door of a freight transporting compartment or the like comprising:

a bolt member movable between a first, door-locking position;

a second, door-locking position, and a third, positively restrained door-locking position; and

catch means movable separately from said bolt member for selectively and alternatively either blocking or clearing said movement of said bolt member between said first and second positions and between said first and third positions; and

positive retaining means for maintaining said third position without manual action.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising spring means for biasing said bolt member in said first, door-locking position.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bolt member comprises an elongate rod and said movement comprises axial reciprocation of said rod between said first and second positions.

4. The assembly according to claim 3 wherein said movement into said third position comprises rotation of said rod about said axial reference of said reciprocation.

5. The assembly according to claim 3 wherein said rod comprises a laterally projecting catch pin for engagement with said catch means.

6. The assembly according to claim 5 wherein said catch means comprises a movable stop member engageable with said catch pin to provide said blocking of said bolt member reciprocation.

7. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein said stop member is engageable below said catch pin to block movement of said bolt from said first position to said second position.

8. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein said stop member is engageable above said catch pin to block movement of said bolt from said second position to said first position.

9. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein said stop member is biased for normal position obstructing movement of said catch pin and said bolt member reciprocation.

10. The assembly according to claim 6 wherein said catch means further comprises drive means for displacing said stop member from said obstructing position to a clearing position enabling said bolt member movement.

11. The assembly according to claim 10 wherein said stop member is mounted on a movable, supporting catch frame biased to locate said stop member in said obstructing position, and wherein said drive means comprises a fluid actuated reciprocating piston for selective displacement of said frame to move said stop member into said clearing position.

12. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said bolt member comprises a gripping member for enabling manual movement of said bolt member into said third position.

13. The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said gripping member comprises a gripping pin laterally projecting from said bolt member.

14. The assembly according to claim 13 wherein said bolt member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof for rotation of said bolt member into said third position.

15. The assembly according to claim 12 wherein said retaining means engageable with said gripping member for retaining said bolt member in said third position.

16. The assembly according to claim 15 wherein said retaining means comprises a plate having an aperture through which said gripping member projects in said third position.

17. The assembly according to claim 16 wherein said aperture comprises at least first and second partitioned portions thereof through which said gripping means alternatively projects in said respective second and third positions of said bolt member.

18. The assembly according to claim 17 wherein said partitioned portions of said aperture are joined by a passageway portion thereof through which said gripping means is selectively moveable between said partitioned portions.

19. The assembly according to claim 16 wherein said assembly is supported on said plate.

20. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein said catch means provides clearance for said movement between said second and third position.

21. The assembly according to claim 1 further comprising remotely actuated drive means enabling displacement of said movable catch means from a blocking position obstructing movement of said bolt member to a clearing position allowing movement of said bolt member into said first, door-locking position under force imposed by means for biasing said bolt member into said first position.

22. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the same position of said movable catch means obstructs both removal of said bolt member from said first, door-locking position and also obstructs entry of said bolt member into any door-locking position.