Csx Transportation, Inc.

Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company

Leonard A McLean

This invention relates to grab irons and more particularly to two-piece, adjustable grab irons. The grab iron consists of a handhold-shape containing a mounting flange portion and a rod member as well as a grabfoot-shape containing a mounting flange portion and a base portion having a ring with a hole sized to receive the rod member of the handhold-shape. The rod member possesses a series of holes that are spaced along at least a portion of the rod member, and are formed at the same angle as measured from a horizontal vector. The base portion has a single pin hole having a size and angle that permits alignment with any of the pin holes in the rod member. The two pieces are secured together by the use of a metal fastener such as a steel expansion pin or a screw that is placed through both the pin hole in the base member and the appropriate hole in the rod member. The excess portion of the rod member extending past the grabfoot-shape is cut off. Furthermore, the base ring hole is formed by drilling or casting the grabfoot-shape, producing a torus shaped base portion, and resulting in a secure fit between the rod member and the base portion ring.

Adjustable grab iron

An unlocking device for a rotary coupler on a freight car including a bail rotatably mounted adjacent the open end of the car center sill and adapted to be selectively swung from a rest position to an action position in contact with a rotor element on the locklift assembly linkage of the coupler. An operating rod rotatably mounted on the end of the car is interconnected through a mechanical linkage arrangement to the bail. As this rod is manually turned from the side of the car a mechanical advantage is achieved and force is applied through the bail against the rotor element to cause the knuckle of the coupler to open.

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Jacksonville, FL, United States of America

Leonard A McLean