A hatch cover lock for use in combination with a hatch cover of a railcar, comprising:
- an inner flange defining an opening and a slot;
- an outer flange defining an opening at least partially aligned with the opening of the inner flange;
- a keeper at least partially positioned between the inner and outer flanges, adjacent to the inner flange, wherein
- the keeper includes a follower at least partially received within the slot of the inner flange, and
- the keeper defines an opening at least partially aligned with the openings of the inner and outer flanges;
- a handle at least partially positioned between the keeper and the outer flange, wherein
- the handle includes a projection at least partially received within the opening of the keeper, and
- the handle defines an opening at least partially aligned with the openings of the inner flange, the outer flange, and the keeper;
- a pivot member extending through the openings of the inner flange, the outer flange, the keeper, and the handle;
- and
- an adjustment plate secured to the keeper and including opposing upper and lower surfaces and at least one aperture or protrusion spaced a first distance from the upper surface and a second, different distance from the lower surface, wherein
- the handle and the keeper are configured for rotation about the pivot member with respect to the inner and outer flanges between an open condition and a closed condition,
- the keeper further comprises an arm including an inwardly extending portion and a downwardly extending portion, with a bottom end of the downwardly extending portion defining a batten bar contacting surface configured to contact a batten bar or a hatch cover tab of a hatch cover in the closed condition,
- the downwardly extending portion of the arm of the keeper
- defines at least one aperture receiving at least one fastener or protrusion for securing the adjustment plate to the downwardly extending portion of the arm of the keeper so as to provide an alternative batten bar contacting surface that contacts said batten bar or hatch cover tab in the closed condition and is spaced away from said batten bar or hatch cover tab in the open condition, and/or
- includes at least one projection received by at least one aperture defined in the adjustment plate for securing the adjustment plate to the downwardly extending portion of the arm of the keeper so as to provide the alternative batten bar contacting surface, and
- the adjustment plate is configured to be secured to the downwardly extending portion of the arm of the keeper in at least
- a first position or orientation with the upper surface of the adjustment plate facing upwardly and the lower surface facing downwardly and defining the alternative batten bar contacting surface at a first elevation, and
- a second position or orientation with the lower surface of the adjustment plate facing upwardly and the upper surface facing downwardly and defining the alternative batten bar contacting surface at a second, different elevation.