Doorway Sealing Device (Patent No: 934607)

Inventor: Bakken, Maynard M.

Location: Calgary

Comments: N/A

Description: The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a structure having a wall with a doorway therein, sealing means for the doorway including:
(a) an elongated channel disposed adjacent at least one side of the doorway and located on the inside of the structure, said channel extending along the side of the doorway and opening toward the interior of the structure, said channel including an end wall adjacent the wall of the structure and two side walls, wherein a lateral flange restricting the width of the channel opening issues from the side wall of the channel that is remoter from the doorway;
(b) one or more locking members that are of such dimensions as to be able to pass through the restricted channel opening and behind the lateral flange so as to be held thereby, said locking member or members being removably held within said channel as aforesaid;
(c) a plurality of tension members attached to the locking members, extending across the doorway and secured by means provided at the opposite side of the doorway; and
(d) a diaphragm covering the tension members.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the channel is an integral member that is attached to the wall of the structure.

3. The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the side wall of the channel nearest the doorway is substantially flat and is substantially perpendicular to the end wall.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein a flange issues from the side wall of the channel nearest the doorway and extends toward the doorway.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein
(a) the flange issuing from the side wall of the channel nearest the doorway is substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the said side wall;
(b) the side wall of the channel remote from the doorway is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and the flange issuing therefrom is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure;
(c) the end wall of the channel is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure.

6. The invention defined in claim 5 wherein the channel is made of metal.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the structure is a railway boxcar used in the carriage of finely divided bulk materials, the doorway thereof is rectangular in shape and the channel is substantially straight and extends along the side of the doorway from the bottom thereof to a height above that to which the boxcar is to be loaded.

8. In a structure having a wall with a doorway therein, sealing means for the doorway including:
(a) elongated open channels located on the inside of the structure adjacent each side of the doorway, each channel extending along the side of the doorway and opening toward the interior of the structure, each said channel including an end wall adjacent the wall of the structure and two side walls, wherein a lateral flange restricting the width of the channel opening issues from the side wall of the channel that is remoter from the doorway;
(b) one or more locking members that are of such dimensions as to be able to pass through the restricted channel opening and behind the lateral flange so as to be held thereby, said locking member or members being removably held within said channel as aforesaid;
(c) a plurality of tension members attached to the locking members and extending across the doorway between the locking members; and
(d) a diaphragm covering the tension members.

9. The invention defined in claim 8 wherein
(a) the structure has a floor that is adjacent the bottom of the doorway;
(b) the tension members are flexible bands that are substantially parallel to the floor of the structure and to each other; and
(c) the tension members are imbedded in the diaphragm, and the diaphragm extends onto the floor and is lightly attached thereto.

10.The invention defined in claim 8 wherein
(a) the structure has a floor that is adjacent the bottom of the doorway;
(b) the tension members are flexible bands that are substantially parallel to the floor of the structure and to each other; and
(c) the diaphragm is positioned over the tension members on the inside of the structure, extends onto the floor and walls thereof, and is lightly attached to the floor and walls thereof.

11. The invention defined in claim 9 or 10 wherein
(a) each channel is an integral member that is attached to the wall of the structure;
(b) the diaphragm comprises one or more sheets of semi-rigid rupturable material.

12. The invention defined in claim 9 or 10 hereof wherein
(a) each channel is an integral member that is attached to the wall or the structure and is characterized by the following features: the side wall that is nearer the doorway is substantially flat and is substantially perpendicular to the end wall; a flange issues from the side wall that is nearer the doorway and extends toward the doorway, the said flange being substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the said side wall; the side wall that is remoter from the doorway is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and the flange issuing therefrom is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure; and the end wall is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure;
(b) the locking members are substantially rectangular in cross-section;
(c) the spacing between adjacent tension members decreases toward the floor of the structure;
(d) the diaphragm comprises one or more sheets of cardboard.

13. The invention defined in claim 9 or 10 hereof wherein the structure is a container for finely divided bulk materials and the construction comprising the tension members and diaphragm covers the doorway to a height equal to or above that to which the structure is to be loaded with such materials.

14. The invention defined in claim 9 or 10 hereof wherein:
(a) the structure is a railway boxcar used in the carriage of finely divided bulk material and the doorway thereof is rectangular in shape;
(b) each channel is an integral member that is attached to the wall of the structure and is characterized
by the following features: the side wall that is nearer the doorway is substantially flat and is substantially perpendicular to the end wall; a flange issues from the side wall that is nearer the doorway and extends toward the doorway, the said flange being substantially flat and substantially perpendicular to the said side wall; the side wall that is remoter from the doorway is substantially semi-circular in cross-section and the flange issuing therefrom is substantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure; the end wall is Bubstantially flat and substantially parallel to the wall of the structure; and each channel is substantially straight and extends along the side of the doorway from the bottom thereof to a height above that to which the boxcar is to be loaded;
(c) the locking members are wooden beams, substantially rectangular in cross-section;
(d) the tension members are made of metal, and the spacing between adjacent tension members decreases toward the floor of the structure;
(e) the diaphragm comprises one or more sheets of cardboard;
(f) the construction comprising the tension members and diaphragm covers the doorway to a height equal to or above that to which the boxcar 1s to be loaded with such material.