Improvement in Hinges for Doors, Windows, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Hinges for Doors, Windows, and the like.
FREDERICK HOWARD COLLINS, 26, Cumberland Street, Birmingham, Brass-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By means of a specially arranged form of hinge the entire weight & transverse
stress to be borne is supported by small steel balls rolling between a shaped pin &
groove: there is no wearing surface except that on which & between which the
balls roll.
I make the hinge single jointed i.e., a wide single joint on one flap & two nar-
row joints one below & one above on the other flap.
In each end of the single joint I make a recess of proper shape to receive a ring
of hard steel balls. In the corresponding ends of the two outside joints I fix pins
the ends of which are shaped to fit inside the rings of balls which lie in the recesses
in the single joint above mentioned.
By this arrangement the vertical pressure caused by the weight of the door
and the transverse pressure against the pins are both carried by the balls & with
a rolling motion.
Dated this 20th day of May 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Hinges for Doors, Windows, and the like.
FREDERICK HOWARD COLLINS, 26, Cumberland Street, Birmingham, Brass-
founder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
I make the hinges single jointed i.e., a wide single joint on one flap & two nar-
row joints one below and one above the single joint on the other flap. In each end of
the single joint I make a recess of proper size to receive a steel cup in which a
ring of hard steel balls can revolve (or the recess may receive the steel balls directly).
In the corresponding ends of the two outside joints I fit adjustable steel pins the
ends of which are shaped to fit inside the ring of balls before mentioned. Or I
make the hinge with one short joint on each flap & form a recess in one joint for
the balls & fit a pin in the other joint as previously described.
In the drawing Fig. 1 represents a hinge constructed after my invention in
which A A are the recesses B B are the balls.
Fig. 1 is a cross section at "Z" "Z," Fig. 2 represents the modification of

page_text: same as described & Fig. 2 is a cross section at "Y" "Y" the same letters indi-
cate similar parts. I do not however confine myself to the particular shapes or
forms drawn.
From the description & drawing it is apparent that both the weight of, and
the transverse strain due to the door are carried by the balls & thus the friction
arising between the rubbing surfaces of the joints & on the central pin of ordinary
hinges is transformed entirely into a rolling motion thereby reducing such friction
to a minimum.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
The combination in a hinge or similar article of pins & balls (with or without
cups) substantially as described and drawn with the advantages arising therefrom.
Dated this 21st day of February 1898.
FREDERICK HOWARD COLLINS.