US 6,494,338 B1 · Hatch cover gasket

Abstract

A hatch cover (10) is engageable with a hatch (11) on a railroad car (13). The hatch cover comprises a first rib (30) and a second rib (32) running annularly about the under side of the hatch cover and has an associated first coefficient of expansion. A gasket (70) having an annular shape and a U-shaped cross-section is coupled to the first and second ribs. The gasket forms a seal between the hatch and the hatch cover. The gasket has a second coefficient of expansion which is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. As the railroad car moves through different external temperature environments, the second coefficient of expansion being greater than the first coefficient of expansion allows the gasket to remain coupled to the hatch cover and maintain the seal between the hatch cover and the hatch throughout the various temperatures experienced.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A hatch cover apparatus comprising:

a hatch cover body formed with a first channel at least partially defined by a first rib, a second channel at least partially defined by a second rib, and a center channel disposed between the first and second ribs, the body having a first coefficient of expansion;
a sealing element being annularly shaped and formed with a sealing element body, a first leg disposed within the first channel, and a second leg disposed within the second channel, the sealing element having a second coefficient of expansion greater than the first coefficient of expansion,
wherein engagement of the hatch cover with a hatch operates to move a portion of the sealing element body from a first position external to the center channel to a second position at least partially disposed within the center channel, and
wherein the center channel is substantially devoid of the sealing element in the first position.

1 more element

A system comprising:

a railroad car;
a hatch coupled to the railroad car;
a hatch cover engageable with the hatch and having a hatch cover body, a first rib and a second rib coupled thereto, the first and second ribs having a first coefficient of expansion, the hatch cover body including a first channel at least partially defined by the first rib, a second channel at least partially defined by the second rib and a center channel defined by the first and second ribs;
and
a sealing element having an annular shape and having a sealing element body, a first leg disposed within the first channel, and a second leg disposed within the second channel, the sealing element being engageable with the hatch cover and having a second coefficient of expansion wherein engagement of the hatch cover with the hatch operates to move a portion of the sealing element body from a first position external to the center channel to a second position at least partially disposed within the center channel;
and wherein the center channels is substantially devoid of the sealing element in the first position greater than the first coefficient of expansion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hatch cover gasket

Life of this patent

Hatch cover gasket

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24