The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2001
Michael K. Burke, Wheaton, IL (US);
Walter J. Peach, South Elgin, IL (US);
Jake C. Pedersen, Wheaton, IL (US);
ZefTek, Inc., Montgomery, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention reveals a lubricant-free door lock for railroad cars and particularly auto rack railroad cars, which eliminates the need to use grease or other lubricants to lubricate the door locks. The lubricant-free door lock generally includes a stainless steel cylindrical tube or housing and a cylindrical replaceable plastic bushing mounted in the housing the prevent the steel-on-steel contact between a locking pin and the inner walls of the housing. A washer or plate connected to the bottom end of the housing maintains the bushing in the housing. The door lock also includes a spring mounted in the housing between the bushing and an end cap positioned over the locking pin. A stop extends transversely through the housing, end cap and locking pin to limit the movement of the locking pin. The bushing eliminates the need for a lubricant between the steel locking pin and the steel inner walls of the housing.