Importance

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Abstract

A rail car having an interior cavity and an end opening for loading and unloading lading is provided with a pair of door assemblies, each of which includes a plurality of panels, each pivotally movable with respect to the other for closing at least a portion of the end opening. Pivot means comprising a shaft for mounting each of the door assemblies are provided to move the door assemblies between their respective open position and closed position. The pivot means are mounted for movement toward and away from the interior of the rail car on a track to permit storage of the door assemblies within the rail car when their panels are folded back upon one another. The shaft is manually driven by means of a housing. A rack and a source of rotational power including a cooperating pinion mounted on the shaft act to guide, move and lock the door. The housing has a cavity into which one or more enlarged lever ends are inserted and secured before assembly of the housing to the shaft. The levers may be stored parallel to the shaft to conserve valuable space when not in use but can be moved transverse to the shaft to increase the mechanical advantage and therefor power applied through the housing to the shaft during use. A spring biased pawl controlled by a cam surface on the housing normally prevents rotation of the pinion and, therefore, normally locks the door assemblies in the storage position. Manual rotation of the shaft axially cams the housing and creates rotation of the pawl to permit rotation of the pinion and movement of door assembly out of the storage position.

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First Claim