Box car anti-pilferage device

Abstract

A box car anti-pilferage device is adapted to be mounted on a railway box car having a sliding door a sufficient distance above the rail whereby the device is usually beyond the reach of thieves standing on the ground adjacent the rail. The device includes a door post having a transverse extension including a portion adapted to be engaged by a box car sliding door in closed position. A hasp locking member is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis upon either the box car sliding door or the door post extension. A tripped position plate is mounted upon the box car sliding door or the post extension, upon which the locking member is mounted. A locking plate is mounted on the other of the sliding door and the door post extension. The hasp locking member in locked position engages the locking plate. The hasp locking member is manually movable from the locked position to an open position out of engagement with the locking plate. A stop is provided for maintaining the hasp locking member in open position during initial movement of the sliding door from a door closed position toward a door open position. Gravity automatically moves the locking member from the open position to a tripped position engaging said tripping plate after the sliding door has moved a predetermined distance toward open position. The locking member includes a cam surface which causes the locking member to automatically assume a locked position engaging the locking plate when the box car sliding door has assumed the closed position.