Anti-spin/anti-drift module

Abstract

An anti-spin, anti-drift module for a railroad car plug door locking mechanism of the type having a gear segment, connecting bars and pipe assemblies operated by rotation of said gear segment, a main bearing plate, a bearing cover plate and an operating handle. The module includes a pinion shaft, a pinion gear mounted on the pinion shaft for movement along and rotation with the pinion shaft. Spring washers are positioned on opposite sides of the pinion gear with the spring washers exerting thrust against the pinion gear to retard its rotation. A tubular housing receives the pinion shaft, pinion gear, spring washers and a friction disk and thrust disk acted upon by the spring washers. Bushing caps enclose the tubular housing. An arcuate slot sized to receive a portion of the gear segment is formed in the tubular housing in meshing engagement with the pinion gear. An arm is attached to the tubular housing to secure the tubular housing against rotation.

1 . An anti-spin, anti-drift module for a railroad car plug door locking mechanism of the type having a gear segment, connecting bars and pipe assemblies operated by rotation of said gear segment, a main bearing plate, a bearing cover plate and a operating handle, said module including: 
 a pinion shaft having inner and outer ends,    a pinion gear mounted on said pinion shaft for movement along said pinion shaft and for rotation with said pinion shaft, and    at least one spring mounted on said pinion shaft and engaging said pinion gear to restrain rotation of said pinion gear and said pinion gear shaft relative to said main bearing plate and said bearing plate cover.    
   
   
       2 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 1 , in which said spring is a spring washer.  
   
   
       3 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 1 , including a pinion shaft inner bearing cap mounted in said main bearing plate and receiving said inner end of said pinion shaft and; 
 a pinion shaft outer bushing cap mounted in said bushing cover plate and supporting said pinion shaft adjacent said outer end thereof.    
   
   
       4 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 1  in which said at least one spring includes a first spring washer located on one side of said pinion gear, a second spring washer located on the opposite side of said pinion gear with said spring washers exerting thrust against said pinion gear to retard rotation of said pinion gear and said pinion gear shaft.  
   
   
       5 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 4  in which said pinion gear and said first and second spring washers are located in a tubular housing with said bushing caps closing the ends of said tubular housing.  
   
   
       6 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 5  in which said bushing caps are fastened to said tubular housing to absorb the thrust of said first and second spring washers.  
   
   
       7 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 5  in which an arcuate slot is formed in said tubular housing and said pinion gear is aligned with said arcuate slot.  
   
   
       8 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 7  in which said arcuate slot is sized to receive a portion of said gear segment in meshing engagement with said pinion gear.  
   
   
       9 . The anti-spin, anti-drift module of  claim 5  in which an arm is attached to aid tubular housing with said arm attached to said plug door to prevent rotation of said tubular housing.