An Improved Door Hinge.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Door Hinge.
I, CURT ROTHKEGEL, of Neisse, in the Empire of Germany, Architectural
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved door hinge which enables a door fitted
therewith to be readily opened and also to close afterwards by itself.
In carrying out the invention I form the working surfaces of the two hinge
parts in the shape of a spiral and I insert between them a number of small
anti-friction balls.
The two parts of the hinge are constructed as usual to work upon a centre
pin, and in addition thereto I form a socket upon one of the parts adapted
to receive the end of its counter-part and to prevent the balls from escaping
sidewise from between the race.
I prefer to provide a projection at the inner end of the race on one or on
both parts adapted to follow behind the balls and carry them upwards.
An Improved Door Hinge,
I, CURT ROTHKEGEL, of Neisse, in the Empire of Germany, Architectural
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to hinges for doors and is especially suitable for heavy
doors, as it greatly diminishes the friction and thereby facilitates the action
of opening the door, and also causes it to close automatically.
It consists of the introduction of a ball race between the working surfaces
of the hinge which are caused to slope spiral fashion, and of a jacket or sleeve
to prevent the escape of the balls.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. is a front elevation of the improved door hinge with the sleeve shewn

page_text: Fig. 4 shows a modification of the improved door hinge.
Fig. 5 is a sectional plan of the latter with the upper half removed.
From the drawing it will be seen that the improved door hinge, as compared
with ordinary hinges, is, cut at its working surfaces between the parts a and b
in the form of a 'spiral, that is to say resembling a portion of a screw thread,
having arranged between them a number of balls. By these means the door
hinge works with great ease. To keep the balls in place the parts a and b are
enclosed by a sleeve c.
The cutting of the parts a and b in the spiral form causes the door when
being opened to rise by the upper part travelling up the incline upon the lower
or counterpart and taking with it the balls and so reducing the friction between
these parts, the door being thus carried on the balls. The door after having
been opened closes again automatically by action of gravity as it naturally
tends to return to its position of rest namely the normal position.
In order to ensure the balls at all times and even when lubricated, being
carried along with the upper part a it is desirable to form a projection at the
lower end of the upper part of the hinge, which projection moves upwards as
the hinge works and bearing against the balls forces them upwards. The
balls naturally return at the closing of the door.
L
A similar projection is made in the lower part of the half of the joint to
keep the balls from rolling down.
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:-
:-
A door hinge with skew or spiral formed working surfaces, said surfaces
forming a ball race inside which balls are placed, and having a projection for
forcing said balls upwards as the hinge works, said ball race being enclosed
in a sleeve to prevent escape of the balls, as herein described and set forth.
71
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S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 33, Cannon Street, London, E.C.