Plastic knuckle pin lock

Abstract

The KNUCKLE PIN LOCK is designed to fit an American Association of Railroads articulated locklift assembly's connector and up the bottom part of the attached toggle to a point where it would contact the bottom of the lock of the rail car knuckle. When the knuckle is in the closed or locked position, the knuckle pin lock when applied, would make opening the knuckle to separate a rail car from another rail car impossible. The Knuckle Pin Lock blocks the accidental or malicious disconnection of rail cars by blocking the ability of anyone or anything pulling up on the operating lever to open the knuckle. This mechanism can be made from plastic, metal, wood or any other rigid material. The thickness of the material depends on the type of material used. For instance, a plastic unit would be approx. 1/8″ thick. The larger “key” shaped holes are where fastening devices such as multi-purpose zip-ties would be threaded through and around the toggle and tightened. This secures the Knuckle Pin Lock to the locklift assembly. The smaller holes allow the device to be removed easily by breaking the plastic unit off when no longer needed on the rail car. When the unit is made from metal, the holes make it lighter and easier to handle. In this design, a more permanent fastening device such as a chain may be used.

1 . The claim being made here is for the ability to secure operating levers in the locked position by immobilizing the A.A.R. articulated locklift assemblys ability to open by using this device.