Railroad Tank Car Manway Assembly

Abstract

A manway assembly features a nozzle featuring a groove. A cover is attached to the nozzle and may be pivoted between open and closed positions. Retainers secure latch segments to the cover so that they may slide with respect to the cover. A latching mechanism moves the latch segments into and out of engagement with the groove of the nozzle sidewall when the cover is in the closed position. The latching mechanism may include a screw rod that is turned to move the latch segments. The nozzle may also include a nozzle rim that is provided with the manway assembly and secured to a remaining portion of the nozzle. The nozzle assembly may also include an outer cover attached to the nozzle in a hinged fashion and adapted to cover the manway cover when in the closed position to protect the latching mechanism from the environment and tampering.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A manway assembly comprising:
 a. a nozzle defining a central opening and having a sidewall with a groove;   b. a cover;   c. a hinge pivotally attaching the cover to the nozzle so that said cover may be pivoted between an open position, where the central opening is generally uncovered, and a closed position, where the central opening is generally covered by the cover;   d. a lift arm assembly mounted on a top of the nozzle, the lift arm assembly including a lift arm attached to the cover; and   e. an outer cover pivotally attached to the nozzle and configured to pivot between an outer cover open position, where the central opening is generally uncovered, and, when the cover is in the closed position, an outer cover closed position, where the outer cover is positioned over the central opening and the cover.