AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GATES AND DOORS; ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Webster, of Washington, in the United States
of America, but temporarily of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
for the Invention of " AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GATES AND
DOORS; ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd February 1878, and dated the 31st August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Webster at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st August 1877.
WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Washington, in the United States of America, but tem-
porarily of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GATES AND DOORS; ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved apparatus or spring
for closing gates and doors, whereby the full power of the spring is utilized, thus
avoiding the loss of power which takes place in the ordinary lever or arm spring
hitherto employed. I am thus enabled to obtain the same amount of effective power
from a weaker spring, thus economizing the cost of manufacture.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cylinder, which is closed at one end,
and fixed to the face of the door or gate to be closed. In this cylinder I place a
coil spring combined with india-rubber or other suitable elastic material. In the
open end of the cylinder works a piston and plunger at one end of a piston rod,
the, other end of the said piston rod being suitably hinged or pivotted to the post
or frame of the gate or door.
In an apparatus or spring of this construction it will be understood that the
opening of the gate or door will cause the plunger to be forced into the cylinder,
and compress the spring. When the door or gate is released, the spring will at
once expand and force back the gate or door with the full power from the body of
the spring acting directly on the face of the gate or door.
This improved apparatus or spring is also applicable to other purposes, such as
for buffers, pullies, and for regulating the tension on belting for machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Webster in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th February
1878.
WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Washington, in the United States of America, but tem-
porarily of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR CLOSING GATES AND DOORS; ALSO APPLICABLE FOR
PURPOSES."
OTHER
This Invention consists in the construction of an improved apparatus or spring
for closing gates and doors, whereby the full power of the spring it utilized, thus
avoiding the loss of power which takes place in the ordinary lever or arm spring
hitherto employed. I am thus enabled to obtain the same amount of effective
power from a weaker spring, thus economizing the cost of manufacture.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a cylinder, which is closed at one end
and fixed to the face of the door or gate to be closed. In this cylinder I place a
spiral or helical spring combined with india-rubber. In the open end of the cylinder
works a piston or plunger at one end of a piston rod (which in some cases is jointed)
the other end of the said piston rod being suitably hinged or pivotted to the post
or frame of the gate or door.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed to more
particularly describe the same, and the best means I am acquainted with for
carrying it into effect by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved apparatus or spring shewn fixed on
a door or gate; Figure 2, plan of the same; Figure 3, elevation of the same, the
front of the cylinder. being removed.
Figure 4, similar view of a spring, but with the piston rod jointed.
Figure 5, view of the spring adapted for a swing door or gate.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
a is the cylinder, preferably formed of galvanized iron, the said cylinder being
closed at one end b, as shewn, and is provided with lugs c, c, by which it is screwed
to the face of the door or gate A; d is the spiral or helical spring, within which is
placed a piece of round india-rubber e; f is the piston or plunger working in the
open end of the cylinder a; g is the piston rod hinged at h, and fixed to the post
or frame B of the door or gate A.
When the spring is to be used for a gate or door which is hung on centres, the
piston rod g is articulated or hinged at i, as shown at Figure 4, so as to prevent
the piston rod being drawn away from the door or gate when opened.
In an apparatus or spring of this construction it will be understood that the
opening of the gate or door A will cause the plunger to be forced into the
cylinder a, and compress the spring d, e. When the door or gate is released, the
spring will at once expand and force back the gate or door with the full power
from the body of the spring acting directly on the face of the gate or door.
For swing doors or gates I employ two spiral springs d, as shewn in Figure 5,
and the plunger f works the springs from the middle of the cylinder so as to operate
in both directions. One of the spiral springs d is shewn furnished with india-
rubber e, as in the other Figures. In this arrangement I may dispense with the
cylinder a, and place the springs and plunger in a hole made in the back part of
the door or gate.
Amongst the advantages to be derived from the employment of my improved
gate or door spring may be mentioned economy; effectiveness; little liability to get
out of order, even when placed on doors or gates in exposed situations;
and great
facility of repairs, for even should the spring a break, or the india-rubber e become
defective, they can be removed and replaced by simply unscrewing the screw j and
withdrawing the piston f from the cylinder a.
Further, I would remark that by the combination of the spiral or helical spring d
with the india-rubber e, I obtain a powerful spring of comparatively small size, and

page_text: much more effective and regular in its actlon than would be the case if an ordinary
spiral spring only were employed. I however reserve to myself the right of using
the spiral spring without the india-rubber centre.
The modifications necessary to render my improved apparatus or spring applicable
to other purposes, such as for buffers, vehicle springs, pullies, and for regulating the
tension on belting for machinery, are so evident as to need no further description.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The general arrangement and construction of the improved apparatus for
closing gates and doors (also applicable for other purposes) operating substantially
as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any
mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The construction and employment of a spring consisting of a spiral or
helical spring in combination with india-rubber, as and for the purposes herein-
before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing,
Thirdly. The hinging or jointing of the piston rod of an apparatus or spring
constructed as herein-before described and claimed, when such apparatus is to be
used for a door or gate hung on centres.
Fourthly. The modification of my improved apparatus to adapt it for swing doors
or gates, as herein-before described, and shewn in Figure 5 of the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Webster, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
0
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South St.,
Finsbury,
London.
Wч. WEBSTER. (L.S.)