IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR DOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES, AND IN CHECKS FOR PREVENTING SLAMMING
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT ADAMS of 17 Blackman Street Southwark in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRINGS FOR DOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES, AND IN CHECKS FOR
PREVENTING SLAMMING, to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct springs for swing and other doors
and analogous purposes in an improved manner.
"
In applying my invention to doors I fit a spindle or pivot into the shoe of the
door, the lower end and the body part of such spindle works in and is supported
by suitable bearings in a box sunk in the floor. If the spring is double acting this
pivot has two cam lugs fitted to, or forming part of, this pivot ;-if only single
acting, one such cam lug is sufficient-The cam lugs are so placed as to act upon
one end of a curved lever, the other end of which is formed so as to supply an
ordinary fulcrum, but I prefer to use a shifting fulcrum.
The swing end of the lever is pressed against the cam lug by the spring next
hereinafter described--Provision is made for regulating the position of the door by
means of a set screw or screws acting on the lever or levers.
The central portion of each bent lever is formed to receive the thrust block of a
spiral spring. This spiral spring is supported by a short cylinder. The spring is
suitably compressed between two flanges, one at each end, with adjusting screws
to regulate the amount of compression. The spring is further compressed in action
between the lever and one portion of the box or other provision where a recess is
made for receiving the end of the rod upon which the traversing regulating nut is
screwed. The spring is capable of oscillating upon its two terminals, in such a
manner as to accommodate the force to the direction where the thrust is required;
the several parts being arranged in such a manner as to reduce the leverage as the
door is opened, and equalize or diminish the force required to move the door.
Single acting doors require but one lever and spring.
In some cases the traversing nut is only used to regulate the compression of
the spring, and in other cases it also acts as a piston, valved, to retard the motion
of the door, by means of air, water oil or other fluid.
My Invention is applicable to single and double action doors, windows, casements,
trap doors, gates, and analagous purposes.

page_text: One spring may be used to act with greater power than its fellow spring, in
order to counteract an external or other force of wind. Where no such inequality
of pressure arises, a single spring may be adapted for double action or swing
doors The door may also be made to stand open, when desired.
In some cases I may arrange the cam lugs in such a manner as to take the
thrust of the springs without the intervention of levers and thereby dispense
with the latter adjuncts.
In some cases I also find it convenient to make the cylinder traverse the nut
and also to regulate the compression simultaneously by means of worm and wheel
gear for increased accessibility.

page_text: I, ROBERT ADAMS, of 17 Blackman Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRINGS FOR DOORS AND OTHER ANALOGOUS PURPOSES, AND IN CHECKS FOR
PREVENTING SLAMMING," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved means and appliances
for operating upon, closing, and checking the closing of doors.
My invention consists of the application of springs and levers to the closing of
doors, the springs being used either in tension or compression; and also of the
application of springs, screws, levers, connecting rods, and pistons, in checking,
governing, and controlling the closing of doors, in order to render such closing
automatic and silent.
The closing and checking appliances may be used in combination; or either of
such appliances may be used separately or in combination with other appliances
for effecting the same objects, such other appliances not being necessarily those
comprised in this invention; that is to say, the closing springs may be fitted to
doors with other devices for checking the operation of closing and preventing
slamming, or my checking appliances may be fitted to doors having other forms of
springs; or, lastly my appliances may be combined, or one or more of them only
used and applied to the door, as preferred.
My arrangement of springs and levers, as applied to the closing of doors, may
be described generally as the application of a lever of the third order, in which
the power (the spring) is placed between the fulcrum and the load or weight to be
resisted; and the direction of the leverage is so arranged that, as the power of the
spring is increased (either by tension or compression) the leverage is lessened and
continually approaches a vanishing or neutral point or quantity; the result being
that the greatest power of the spring or springs is exerted when the door is closed,
and the least when it is widest open.
In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is hereby made, similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a double acting set of springs, arranged for operating
upon an ordinary swing door, in which view the cover plate is removed to shew
the internal mechanism. Fig. 2 shews the same arrangement partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the spring box. Fig. 4 is a view of the underside of the
same, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 1-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a partial section
on the line 3-4 of Fig. 5. Figs 7 to 16 are views of some of the details. a is
a metal box which is placed in the floor in the usual manner, and is fitted with a
pivot to which the shoe of the door, or a lever or other equivalent device is
attached, for causing the door to close. bis the pivot to which the shoe is attached.
This pivot is also shewn in detail in Figs 12, 13, 14 and 15. Fig. 13 is a section
on the line 5-6 of Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 is a section on the line 7-8 of Fig. 14.

page_text: cc are two bent levers having their fulcrums at c¹ c', the power applied at c³, and
the resistance at o³.
The construction of the springs d d will be readily understood from the
drawings. I prefer to use double spiral springs, one inside the other. d¹ is a screw
which works in the flange nut &; by turning this screw the springs d can be
compressed to any suitable state of tension. The force imparted to the levers c c
at may be made equal so that the door. would require an equal force to open it
in either direction. But, it is obvious, that if a current of air, in one direction,
impinges against the door, one of the springs d may be screwed up more than the
other, and thus impart greater resistance to counterbalance a pressure of wind.
Set screws c¹ are fitted in the substance of the box a, as shewn, which take the
thrust of the spring and lever when the door is so moved as to take away the
pressure on the pivot. These screws also provide for taking up the wear and
otherwise adjusting the levers. These set screws, wedges or other equivalents may
also be fitted to the ends of the levers, if preferred.
The abutments of the springs d d work in or on suitable recesses or other
equivalent provisions at d³, at one end, and in similar provisions in or attached to
the levers cat cat the other end.
The form of the contact surfaces 6¹, of the pivot b, is shown in Fig. 2 in
contact with the roller c³, which I sometimes dispense with. Fig. 12 is a top
view of this pivot, against which the lever c presses as shown.
When the door 63 is opened, and the lever c is moved (as shewn in Fig. 17) the
leverage is decreased in consequence of the points c¹, c³, and d³, respectively
approaching towards and becoming more nearly assimilated to a straight line. At
the same time the point of pressure on the pivot b approaches nearer to the centre
of the pivot.
The contact surface of c, and c¹, is so formed that it rolls upon or against the
plate or recess in a, so that this end of the line of centres, at o¹, may be made to shift
from a¹ towards a³ (Fig. 2) and these ends of the levers c may be varied in shape
to suit the special requirements.
In fitting the foregoing arrangement to single acting doors, or doors which open
only in one direction, one of the sets of springs d and levers c may be omitted,
and a narrower box is usually applied to such doors.
The above described arrangement is applicable to doors which do not require
any special appliances to prevent slamming, or in combination with such appliances.
In order, however, to render the closing of the door a silent operation, I sometimes
carry the spindle of the pivot b downwards, as shewn in Fig. 14. The lower end
of this spindle is sometimes fitted with one or more inclined plane or planes,
acting on corresponding planes on the piston working on the pivot, but I prefer to
fit the spindle with a transverse pin or pins mounted with a roller or rollers, as
shewn in the drawings.
These rollers act upon helical surfaces, and are also acted upon by such helical
surfaces formed in the piston, as shown in Fig. 16; the underside of the piston
being there seen. e is the piston, having feathers or other guides e¹ which work
in suitable curved or straight grooves e³ formed in the sides of the cylinder f.-
This cylinder is formed in one with, or may be separately constructed and bolted
on to the box a.
The piston e is prevented from revolving in the cylinder by inclined, vertical, or
other suitable guides or stops, as represented at e¹ and e, and is pressed by the
springs d, shewn in Figs 7 and 18, in any desired direction.
Enlarged diagrams of the piston e are shewn in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11.-Fig. 8
being a vertical section of the piston e, of which Fig. 9 is a view of the upper part
with the leathers and plates removed. The upper end of the piston is made
conical at e'. e is an annular piece of leather, upon which the perforated plate et
rests. Upon this plate the perforated cup leather and perforated plate e are
laid, and secured by screws e. The several perforations e³, passing through the
plates and e, and the leather c, permit the air, oil, water, tallow, or other

page_text: matter to pass downwards pass the leather e³ and the piston e to the lower end of
the cylinder f.. But when the piston is descending the passages e are closed by
the leather e³, and the leather then forms a fluid-tight piston.
The piston e is only capable of receiving descending motion when the fluid
under the same is permitted to escape. This escape is controlled by means of the
valve 1, in the passage f The valve is prevented from falling too far by the
screw pin f, or by a spring, or by a screw pin and spring combined, and the valve
is kept open and regulated by the screw tube f. This tube turns in its bearings
without longitudinal motion, and in so doing it raises or depresses the pin ƒ³,
which is prevented from turning by the screw f, or its equivalent.
.
When the piston is drawn upwards by the action of the rollers 6* on the helical
surfaces inside the piston, the fluid above the piston readily flows to the underside
both by means of the openings e and the passage f. But when the door is
returning to its normal position the descent of the piston is retarded by the
necessity of the fluid having to pass the regulated valved passage f'; and this
retardation causes the door to close quietly. The spring presses the piston in a
downward direction.
The form of the helical surface inside the piston is shewn laid out as a plane
extended surface in Fig. 19, arranged for double action: for single action it is
made in a manner somewhat resembling a threaded nut.
The passage f may be variously formed and arranged; a convenient plan being
that shewn in Figs 20 and 21 in which the passage is carried up in a diagonal
direction at f' where it terminates in the box at f8, or it may be carried through
the spindle of the pivot, as shewn in Fig. 37, where x is a screw plug governing
the exit of the oil or other fluid, through the passages x³, leading to the passage x³
below the piston.
Here a regulating screw is fitted, which can be got at by unscrewing and
removing a covering screw or cover plate at f³.
Fig. 22 shews another form of door check, which may be used in combination
with the before mentioned and described apparatus or with portions thereof. g is
a cylinder which is mortised into the door 6. g¹ is a guide, which guides the end.
of a piston rod-A piston is fixed to this rod, working in the cylinder g. h is a
plate which is screwed to the floor or transome of the door. A connecting rod h¹
is fitted to this plate and also to the head of the piston rod.
When the door is swung, as shown by dotted lines, the piston is drawn away
from the lower cover, and in so doing air is capable of entering by the regulating
valve g³, and also past the piston, which is fitted with cup leathers and valves
similar to those before described, or in a manner equivalent thereto. When the
door is closing by the power of the springs the piston is retarded by the compression
of the air or oil or other fluid which can only escape by the valve g³, the escape of
which is regulated by the screw g³.
Figs 23 to 29 shew another arrangement for effecting the closing of the door.
i is a lever, the end of which carries a pin i¹ which works in a slotted guide or in a
connecting rod, or equivalent device. The end carries a vertical pin ³. The
end has a double curved channel as shewn in Figs 23, 24 and 27. These
channels are made to receive antifriction balls. A correspondingly formed nut k.
is placed upon or over the block ³, and springs d' press upon the revolving nut k.
The whole is inclosed in the box l. The upper end of the spindle is tapped_to
receive the nut m. This nut is channelled to receive anti-friction balls n. The
box is fixed in the transome of the door, or in the floor under the door, or in the
door itself. The movement of the lever i to right or left causes the ascent of the.
nut k on the spindle 3, thereby compressing the springs d. The incidence of
the inclined surfaces cause the lever i to assume its normal position, and thereby
close the door.
Figs 30, 31, 32 and 33 are double acting cams for swung doors. is the
spindle, to which the block is fixed. Above this the block is fitted, and
above this again the block . The parallel ribs or projections oo work in slots or

page_text: guides in the box, or they may be otherwise formed, to prevent the block 2° from
rotating in one direction, and the block 7 in the opposite direction.
Fig. 30 shews the three blocks in their normal position: Figs 32 and 33 shew
the blocks raised by two opposite movements, thus compressing the springs, and
acting rotatively on the spindle.
Fig. 31 is a plan of the blocks shewn in Figs 30, 32 and 33.
In Fig. 34 the arrangement for adjusting the exact position of the door is shewn,
by means of an adjustable shoe. b is a portion of the heel of the door, in which
the shoe 63 is fitted. An adjustable bar p is inserted in the shoe, against the
inside of which it impinges at the points pl. 66 is the rectangular space for
receiving the spindle 6 (Fig. 1) and the position of the bar p in the shoe 65 can be
adjusted by the screws q q¹ and q³ as shewn; cover plates being applied where
necessary.
b
It is obvious that many modifications may be made in the herein before described
arrangements for effecting the same objects, and any one or more of the springs
may be used in tension as well as compression, an example of a spring or springs,
used in tension being shewn in Fig. 35, which may be also fitted with a piston at
its lower end for producing silent action. The cap 8 may be fitted in any
convenient manner, but I prefer to fit it with a bayonet joint; t is a revolving
screw for adjusting the tension of the springs, the nut being placed inside the
springs. The valve is regulated by the screw f6 (for internal details of adjust-
ment see Figs 42 & 43). The piston may be connected by a bent piston rod, as
shewn, or its equivalent.
Fig. 36 shews another method of producing a silent check action. Between the
springs I form a chamber by means of a cover plate t and end plate u.-Under the
cover plate two rectangular plates or pistons vv are fitted. These are united by
links, at w w, to the springs d d. When the springs move away from the chamber
the pistons are drawn asunder, and when the springs return to their normal
position, the oil in the chamber becomes jammed and retards the closing of the
door, its exit may be regulated by a slide valve, or in a manner analogous to those
herein before described.
I sometimes regulate the tension of the springs in the box a, by means of a
horizontal worm pinion, which gears into corresponding worm wheels fitted to the
screws d¹ whereby both springs can be simultaneously set to the required state of
tension or compression. A square key hole is provided in the worm pinion to be
turned by a suitable key; the opening by which access is gained to the worm
pinion is covered by a screw, when closed.
I also sometimes arrange the regulation of the flow of the oil from under the
piston by means of passages in the spindle or pivot, as shewn in Fig. 37, where b
is the spindle, 6 are the rollers, e is the piston, a is the passage, leading to the
transverse passages x²x². A regulating screw presses downwards, as shewn, by
which the passage of the oil may be regulated, or it may be pressed downwards by
an horizontal screw.
I prefer to use oil as the fluid for checking the motion of the pistons, but other
fluids may be used, if preferred, such as air, water, soft soap, glycerine, or other
suitable fluid.
Fig. 38 shews another arrangement for adjusting the pressure of the spring or
springs so as to afford greater pressure on one lever than on the other, the adjusting
screw y and travelling nut y¹ enabling the nut to be shifted as shewn.
This arrangement shewn in Fig. 38, may be very much varied in detail. C or
other convenient shaped springs may be used for shallow boxes.
The screw may be dispensed with and substituted by countersunk holes for
receiving the abutment points as shewn in Figs 1 and 2. The plate can be
likewise dispensed with, and the springs made to act directly on the levers,
which work against friction wheels fixed to the pivot instead of on the end of the
levers as shewn in Fig. 1. The set screws for taking up slackness from wear
can. be fixed in any desirable manner.

page_text: Fig. 41 shews another arrangement and method of making the piston with 2 sets
of inclined planes, one inside the other, one having a right hand and the other a
left hand thread, It will be seen that by turning the pivot b in one way or the
other the piston rises and falls, and thereby produces the check action as herein
before described.
Fig. 42 shews another arrangement, whereby the turning of the capstan adjusting
screw acts upon the spring, and whereby the spring can be charged as required,
the piston receiving its motion from that of the pivot or. lever in connection
therewith, the oil for checking the door being drawn therein and allowed to escape,
as before described. The spring is compressed between two flanges, one on the
piston rod and the other attached to the capstan headed screw. The set screw 4 is
for the purpose of fixing it, when desired..
Fig. 43 is another arrangement for applying the springs with check action, in
which the springs are placed inside the cylinder.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 The method of utilising the force of compressed or extended springs, in
combination with bent levers, arranged and operating so as to reduce the leverage
simultaneously with the increase of the force of the spring, substantially as herein
before described and illustrated in Figs 1, 2, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18 of the
drawings or any mere modification thereof.
2 The combination of the springs and other necessary gear for closing doors
with the method of producing silent action by means of the checking arrangements
and mechanism shewn in Figs 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18
of the drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
3 The method of checking and producing silent action in the closing of doors by
the aforesaid mechanism independently of or in combination with the aforesaid
spring arrangements for closing doors, or in combination with any other construc-
tion of door springs operating substantially as herein before described and shewn
on the drawings.
4 The method & means of checking and producing silent action in the closing
of doors by means of the arrangement herein before described & shewn in Fig. 22
of the drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
5 The method & means of closing doors by the modification shewn in Figs 23,
24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 29 of the drawings, or any mere modification thereof.
6 The method & means of closing doors by means of the double acting
cams shewn in Figs 30, 31, 32, & 33 of the drawings, or any mere modification
thereof.
7 The method of adjusting self-closing doors by means of the adjustable shoe
herein before described & shewn in Fig 34 of the drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
8 The method of producing silent action in the closing of doors as aforesaid, by
the pistons & chamber herein before described & shewn in Fig 36 of the drawings,
or any mere modification thereof
9 The method of fitting set screws, as at c' Figs 1 & 2 for the adjustment of the
door, when at rest, and for compensating for slackness arising from wear, or any
mere modification thereof.
10 The method of fitting set screws d¹ for the adjustment of the tension, of
springs having centre points or equivalent devices for reducing the friction,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
11 The arrangements for placing the force of the springs between centre point
mountings as illustrated at c³ and d³ of the drawings, whereby friction is reduced,
substantially as herein before described and shown on the drawings.

page_text: 12 The method and means of providing rolling contact at c¹ as shewn in Figs 1
and 2, for the reduction of friction between the lever c and the surface at o¹
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
13 The method of providing for the adjustment of the tension of the springs by
means of a key-way through the cover plate and worm gearing actuating the
adjusting screws, substantially as herein before described.
14 The method of utilising the force of a single spring, and adjusting the same
substantially as herein before described and shewn in Fig. 38 of the drawings.
15 The method of adjusting the motion of the piston, by means of a screw in
the spindle, substantially as herein before described, and shewn in Fig. 37 of the
drawings.
16 The use and application of the closing and checking apparatus and appliances'
separately or in combination with other appliances for the purposes substantially as
herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
17 The general arrangement construction and combination of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in springs for 'doors and other
analogous purposes substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
drawings.