U.S. patent application number 10/760749 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for air hose strap assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pennsy Corporation. Invention is credited to Murphy, Wayne H..
Application Number | 20040155005 10/760749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32713555 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040155005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murphy, Wayne H. |
August 12, 2004 |
Air hose strap assembly
Abstract
A support assembly suspends the end of an elongated flexible
member such as the end of an elongated railroad air brake hose in a
predetermined elevation. The assembly includes an elongated
suspension strap having spaced apertures which are elongated
lengthwise of the strap and resilient wire attachment clips, each
formed of a single piece of wire. One of the clips attaches the
strap to a fixture on the end of the rail car and another attaches
the strap to the end of the air hose. Each clip has a first end
terminating in a hook which is dimensioned to pass through a
selected strap aperture when the clip is angularly positioned
relative to the length of the strap but which is retained within
the aperture when the clip is oriented lengthwise of the strap. The
clips further comprise a first arm which extends from the hook, and
a second arm which is joined to the first to form a U-shaped
portion which is capable of being grasped by the hand of a worker.
The two are resiliently biased away from one another but are
sufficiently flexible so that the second end may be relatively
easily squeezed towards the first and captured by the hook at the
end of the first leg. A loop at the end of the second arm is
depressible by the thumb of the hand of a worker gripping the
U-shaped portion to facilitate capturing the end of the second arm
within the hook.
Inventors: |
Murphy, Wayne H.;
(Pottstown, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SYNNESTVEDT & LECHNER, LLP
2600 ARAMARK TOWER
1101 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
191072950
|
Assignee: |
Pennsy Corporation
West Chester
PA
19382
|
Family ID: |
32713555 |
Appl. No.: |
10/760749 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60441427 |
Jan 21, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
213/76 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B61G 5/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
213/076 |
International
Class: |
B61G 005/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A support assembly for suspending the end of an air hose on the
end of a rail car in a predetermined elevated position, said air
hose having an end coupling connectable to an end coupling of an
adjacent car, wherein said end couplings have apertured attachment
members and said support assembly comprises: an elongated
suspension strap having apertures spaced lengthwise thereof, said
strap being suspended from an end of the rail car in overlying
relation to said air hose; an attachment device for securing the
strap to the end coupling of said rail car, said attachment device
comprising a resilient wire clip, said clip comprising first and
second interconnecting arms biased to an open position diverging
away from each other and being manually relatively movable toward
one another to a closed position, and defining an elongated loop
interconnectable to the aperture of said end coupling, said first
arm having a bent over end forming a hook, said hook being
dimensioned to pass through a selected one of the apertures in said
strap and being shaped to capture said second arm when said arms
are manually relatively moved from said open position to said
closed position.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said apertures are
elongated in the direction of the strap long axis, said apertures
and said hook being relatively dimensioned to allow for passage of
said hook through a selected aperture when the arms of the clip are
angularly disposed relatively to the long axis of the strap and to
block passage of the hook when the arms are co-axially in alignment
with the long axis of the strap.
3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second clip arm
terminates in a second looped portion sized to be depressed by the
thumb of a worker manually grasping the clip arms, said depression
of said second loop allowing for disengagement of the second arm
from the clip.
4. An assembly according to claim 3, wherein said apertures are
elongated in the direction of the strap long axis, said apertures
and said hook being relatively dimensioned to allow for passage of
said hook through a selected aperture when the arms of the clip are
angularly disposed relatively to the long axis of the strap and to
block passage of the hook when the arms are co-axially in alignment
with the long axis of the strap.
5. A support assembly for suspending the end of an air hose on an
end of a rail car in a predetermined elevated position, said air
hose having an end coupling connectable to the end coupling for an
end of an air hose of an adjacent rail car, said assembly
comprising: an elongated suspension strap having a plurality of
spaced apertures, said apertures extending through said strap; a
pair of resilient attachment clips, each formed of a unitary piece
of resilient strip material; one of said clips being attached to
one end of said rail car; the other of said clips being attachable
to the air hose adjacent the end thereof; each said clip having a
first end terminating in a hook, said hook being shaped to be
passed through one of said plurality of apertures and dimensioned
when passed through to clear the surface of the strap by a
predetermined amount, the clip having an elongated looped portion
extending from said hook shaped end, said looped portion being
comprised of a first leg extending from the shank of the hook, said
first leg terminating in a reverse bend, said reverse bend being
followed by a second leg extending beyond said hook, said clip
being flexible and resilient for relative movement of said legs to
allow the end of said second leg to be yieldably captured by said
hook, the predetermined clearance being established by insertion of
said hook through a selected one of said apertures, each said
aperture dimensioned to allow for passage of the hook when the hook
is in a first position, the end of the second leg being thereafter
movable into interlocking interengagement with the hook.
6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said apertures have an
oblong shape with a length allowing for passage of the hook when
the legs of the clip are disposed substantially perpendicularly to
the long axis of the suspension strap and for retaining the hook
when the legs are disposed in positions not substantially
perpendicular to the long axis of the suspension strap.
7. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second leg of the
clip terminates in a second looped portion smaller than said
elongated looped portion and lying in a plane extending
substantially perpendicularly to said first looped portion, said
second looped portion being sized for ease of depression by the
thumb of a workman for disengaging the end of the second leg of the
clip from the hook.
8. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said elongated looped
portion is of sufficient length to be conveniently gripped by the
gloved hand of a worker.
9. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein said suspension strap
has side walls of a sinuous profile, the width of the strap being
greater proximal to each aperture than between the apertures.
10. An assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cross-section of
the strap material proximal the apertures is at least as great as
the cross-section between the apertures.
11. An assembly for supporting the end of an air hose suspended
from an end of a rail car body comprising: a flexible elongated
suspension strap having a plurality of spaced apertures disposed
lengthwise thereof and extending therethrough, said strap having a
first end secured to said air hose and a second end; a resilient
wire clip, said clip including an elongated loop portion attachable
to the end of the rail car body, said elongated loop portion
including first and second angularly disposed arms resiliently
biased to a position of angular divergency, said first and second
arms being relatively movable from said position of angular
divergency to a position in which said arms are generally parallel,
the first of said arms having a distal end portion bent toward the
second arm at a first bend angle, the distal end portion
terminating in a hook, said hook being dimensioned for selective
insertion through one of said apertures, said inserted hook
projecting beyond said aperture for capturing said second arm when
said arms are in said generally parallel position.
12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the side walls of
the strap have a sinuous profile with side wall portions proximal
to each aperture projecting relatively outwardly and side wall
portions between apertures extending relatively inwardly.
13. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein said first and
second arms lie in a first plane and said hook is formed to lie in
a second plane perpendicular to said first plane.
14. An assembly according to claim 13, wherein said second arm
terminates in a loop, said loop being formed to lie in a third
plane perpendicular to said first and second plane, said loop being
sized for depression by the thumb of a worker's hand holding the
clip arm between the thumb and the fingers.
15. An assembly according to claim 14, wherein said apertures are
elongated in the direction of the long axis of the strap, said
apertures and said hook being relatively dimensioned to allow for
passage of said hook through a selected aperture when the arms of
the clip are angularly disposed relatively to the long axis of the
strap and to block passage of the hook when the arms are co-axially
in alignment with the long axis of the strap.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/441,427, filed Jan. 21, 2003.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to air hose suspension straps for
rail cars and the like and especially to a simplified, reliable and
readily adjustable strap assembly for maintaining a flexible device
such as the end of a rail car air hose at a desired height above
the rail structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Failure to maintain rail car air hoses at a proper height
above the rail structure is a significant cause of unintended air
hose coupling separation leading to emergency braking and stopping
of the train and sometimes even derailment. Obviously, emergency
braking is a cause of time-consuming and, thus, costly train
delays, as a crew member must walk the length of the train looking
for the cause and, if it is found that there is an uncoupled air
hose, the crew member must reconnect the couplings before returning
to the engine.
[0004] To eliminate the problem, it is know to provide air hose
straps interconnected between the coupler or a frame member of the
car and the end of the air line. Known straps have a fastening
system including wire clips which have a hooked end which fits
through one of a plurality of apertures on the strap. The wire is
then looped back so that it is captured by the hook. The free end
is then fitted through an adjacent aperture in the strap.
[0005] The looped portion of one of the prior art clips extends
through an aperture in a bracket on the bottom of the rail car
coupler. The second clip is identical to the first. The looped
portion of the second clip fits through an aperture integral with
the glad hand fitting on the end of the air hose. Although these
assemblies are effective in supporting the end of the air hose, the
clips are difficult to open and close and almost impossible to
apply or remove if the worker is wearing the required work gloves.
If the straps have not been properly installed or should the strap
material elongate over time, readjustment becomes necessary to
avoid the risk that the air hose will strike a cross tie, a grade
crossing, a switch or other track structure causing air hose
separation.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a solution to the problems
identified above by utilizing an ergonomically designed strap and
clip system which substantially simplifies application problems,
providing for easy installation and adjustment of strap length. The
clips used in the present invention are preferably provided with a
loop portion comprised of resilient legs biased angularly apart. A
clip according to the invention has a thumb release loop at the end
of one leg which makes it easy for a worker wearing work gloves to
grasp the resilient legs with one hand and open and close the clip
by depressing and/or releasing the thumb release loop with the
thumb of the same hand. The system further includes a strap
including a multiplicity of spaced apertures, preferably elongated
in the direction of the long axis of the strap, and extending in a
line running from one end of the strap to the other. Each aperture
is elongated to allow for insertion of a hook on the end portion of
one leg of the clip. The hook projects outwardly from the other end
of the aperture to capture the thumb release portion and assure
retention of the clip within the selected aperture. Preferably, the
hook can be passed through the aperture only when the clip is
angularly disposed with respect to the long axis of the strap. When
the clip is aligned with the long axis of the strap, the side walls
of the aperture block passage of the hook.
[0007] In use, a first clip is passed through the aperture of a
bracket underneath the rail car coupler. The hook end of the clip
is turned so that the hook is aligned with the long axis of the
selected aperture and then pushed through the aperture and locked
in place upon depression of the thumb release loop and slight
lateral movement so that it is captured by the hook. The second
clip is passed through an aperture in the glad hand and inserted
into a selected aperture in the strap in the manner described above
for the first clip.
[0008] In preferred form, the strap is preferably made of a
urethane or equivalent polymer material which is weather resistant,
having ultraviolet ray protection and exhibiting little or no
elongation set. Should a strap need adjusting in the field for
whatever reason, a worker can easily make the adjustment in the
field without removal of the clip from the coupler aperture and
without use of any tools. A dog-bone or like sinuous profile molded
into the side edges of the strap makes it easily gripped by the
gloved hand of a worker. The sinuous profile provides extra strap
thickness proximal to the apertures which provides extra strength
to the strap.
[0009] In summary, the rail car air hose suspension assembly
comprises a flexible elongated suspension strap having a plurality
of spaced apertures disposed lengthwise thereof and extending
therethrough, said strap having a first end secured to said air
hose and a second end; and
[0010] a resilient clip, preferably formed of a resilient wire,
includes an elongated loop portion attachable to the end of the
rail car coupler. The elongated loop portion includes first and
second arms biased to a position of angular divergency. The first
and second arms are relatively movable from the position of angular
divergency to a position in which the arms are generally parallel,
the first of the arms has a distal end portion bent toward the
second arm at a first bend angle, the distal end portion
terminating in a hook, the hook being dimensioned for selective
insertion through one of the apertures, said inserted hook
projecting beyond the aperture for capturing said second arm when
the arms are in said generally parallel position.
[0011] An important objective of the invention is the provision of
a clip and suspension strap assembly which can be installed and
adjusted without the use of tools by a worker who can make the
installation without removal of his gloves. In preferred
embodiments, the distal end of the second of the arms is configured
into a thumb loop sized to be easily depressed by the thumb of a
worker whereby said second arm is disengaged from said hook. The
elongated loop is ergonomically designed so that its arms can be
grasped by the fingers of the gloved hand of a worker who can move
the first and second arms by depression and release of the thumb
loop with the thumb of the same hand.
[0012] A further preferred aspect of the invention is the provision
of oblong apertures extending longitudinally of the strap, the
apertures permitting insertion of the hook when the hook is aligned
with the long axis of the aperture and preventing withdrawal of the
hook when the hook is out of alignment with the long axis.
[0013] How the foregoing and various other aspects and objectives
are achieved will now become apparent upon reference to the
following detailed description when taken in reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a view depicting an air hose assembly showing a
strap formed in accordance with the invention suspending the end of
the air hose from the coupler of a rail car;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the air hose strap assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1; and
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale with respect to FIG. 2
showing a preferred form of clip used with the assembly of FIGS. 1
and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] As illustrated in FIG. 1, an air hose 10 connected to train
line 11 is suspended on a trolley 12 by means of an apertured
fitting 13 suspended from coupler carrier 14. The end of air hose
10 is provided with a coupling member or glad hand 16 which couples
with a like coupling member on the end of the air hose for an
adjacent rail car.
[0018] According to the invention, the end of the air hose is
suspended at a predetermined height above the rail structure by
means of the strap assembly illustrated more particularly in FIG.
2. The strap assembly includes a strap member 18 provided with
spaced apertures 19 extending along its long axis. It is preferred
that the apertures be elongated in the lengthwise direction of the
strap as best seen in FIG. 2 for reasons to be explained below.
Gripping of the strap is facilitated by means such as molded-in
sinuous undulations 18a in its side edges. As can be seen in FIG.
2, the sinuous undulations maximize the material cross-section
proximal to the sides of the apertures to provide increased
strength to the strap.
[0019] The invention further provides a pair of resilient
attachment clips 20, one of which is shown in FIG. 3 in an enlarged
form with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. According to the invention,
each clip 20 is preferably formed of a single piece of resilient,
formable wire. As can be seen in FIG. 1, one of the clips is
attached to the rail car body by passage of one end of an open clip
through an aperture in a fitting 22 typically provided on the
underside of coupler 23; the other clip being attachable at or near
the end of air hose 10 as, for example, by passage through the
aperture of a fitting on the glad hand coupling member 16.
[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, each wire clip comprises an
elongated loop portion formed by a pair of resiliently diverging
arms 24 and 25 each extending from a reverse bend portion 26. Arm
24 terminates in an end section 27 which has a first bend of about
90.degree. with respect to the axis of leg 24. The end is then
turned back upon itself forming a hook 28 which lies in a plane
which is at an angle of about 90.degree. relative to the plane of
the first bend. The hook is relatively dimensioned so as to only
fit through a selected strap aperture 19 when oriented so that it
is aligned with the long axis of the selected aperture. The width
of the apertures is selected so that once the hook is inserted and
moved out of alignment with the long axis of the strap, the hook
cannot be accidently withdrawn. Leg 25 is provided with a looped
end portion 30 configured to be conveniently engageable by the
thumb of a worker gripping the two arms with the fingers of his or
her hand. The arms are long enough to provide sufficient leverage
so that when gripped by the gloved hand of a worker of average
strength, they can be readily compressed together. When the hook is
pressed through the selected aperture and the arms of the clip are
compressed to move them into a substantially parallel position,
relieving thumb pressure will allow the leg 25 to be captured by
the hook.
[0021] In summary, a clip is passed through the aperture on the
coupler and held with the hook 28 in alignment with the long axis
of a selected strap aperture near one end of the strap. The hook is
passed through the aperture and the clip rotated slightly so that
the hook is captured within the aperture. The looped end portion 30
is then depressed until the leg 25 is brought into alignment with
the opening of the hook 28. Thumb pressure is released, and due to
the biasing forces, the legs of the clip spread apart causing the
leg 25 to be captured within the confines of the hook 28. The clip
at the opposite end of the strap is passed through the aperture in
the fitting at the end of hose 10 and is fastened to the strap in
the manner just described.
[0022] Readjustment of strap length can be readily accomplished by
lining up the upper clip with the long axis of its aperture,
depressing the thumb release loop 30 to first move arm 25 out of
the confines of hook 29, using the thumb release to move the arm
slightly to the side whereupon it is free from the hook, aligning
the hook with the long axis of the aperture, selecting the
appropriate aperture and, with the hook aligned with the new
selected aperture, inserting the hook until it projects through the
aperture. Once the hook is fully inserted, use of the thumb release
will place the leg 25 within the hook, thereby completing the
readjustment process.
[0023] The thumb release portion of the clip makes it easy to open
and close the clip during installation or when readjustment becomes
necessary. The clip does not need to be removed from the coupler to
adjust the height of the air hose, simplifying and speeding the
adjustment operation. The oblong apertures contribute to ease of
adjustment of the clip and positively lock the clips in place once
the hook end is inserted in a selected aperture. The sinuous
undulations in the side edges of the strap allow for a firm grip
even when heavy work gloves are worn. No tools are required for
application or removal of a strap.
* * * * *