IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DOORS AND TO MEANS FOR HANGING AND CLOSING THE SAME
Year: 1885

page_text: Closing the same.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DOORS AND TO MEANS FOR
HANGING AND CLOSING THE SAME" and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
.
This invention relates to improvements in devices for hanging and closing doors,
sometimes known also as door checks; and its object is to provide a durable and
efficient means which will permit the door to be opened in either direction and will
close the same with certainty but without violence.
The improved device is set into the floor below the door, and one part of it serves
as a pivot upon which the door may turn, the upper end of the door being also
secured upon a pivot, whereby the usual hinges may be dispensed with.
The said invention may be fully understood from the following description,
reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a plan view of a door illustrating the application of the invention
thereto.
Figure 2 is a top view or plan, the door being shewn in section.
Figure 3 is a top view or plan of the same drawn to an enlarged scale, the door
being omitted.
"
Figure 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same.
Figure 5 is a section of same on the line a, b of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section on the line -d Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a side elevation.
Figure 8 is a top view of a modification of one portion of the invention, and,
Figure 9 is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of piston.
A denotes the door of any suitable construction hung upon the pivots B, C the
former being of well known form, and the latter constituting an element of my
invention and being seated in the casing D, which is located directly below the

page_text: door and in line with its width when closed. The casing is of convenient size and
outline, and is let into the floor so that its upper surface is flush with the surfaces
surrounding it, being there secured by screws passing through the flanges a. Within
the casing D is formed the longitudinal chamber or bore E, containing the operative
parts of the device, the ends of the chamber being closed, when in use, by plugs F
screwed into place, or otherwise secured as may be found convenient.
In the upper surface of the casing D, at about, say, the centre of the chamber E
is formed an aperture G adapted to be closed by a screw plug H, the purpose of
which will be hereinafter mentioned; and in the rear end of the casing at its upper
surface, is provided the opening I constructed to admit the introduction into the
casing of the pivot C and being closed by a removable cap J; the said cap being
supplied with an aperture K through which the upper portion of the pivot C
projects, as indicated in figures 4 and 6. That portion of the pivot C projecting
above the casing D is tapered on opposite sides and enters a correspondingly formed
aperture in the lower edge of the door, in the present instance the aperture being
in the metal bar L which is set into the lower edge of the door and there secured
by screws M.
Below the cap J the pivot C is provided with an annular shoulder N, between
which and the cap is placed a leather or other flexible washer, forming as nearly as
may be, a fluid tight joint; and below the shoulder N the pivot C has upon one
of its sides the segmental toothed rack O, of suitable proportions as hereinafter
specified, which is enclosed on opposite sides by the sliding yoke P arranged to
have a longitudinal movement within the casing when actuated by the rotation of
the pivot on its seat Q. The yoke consists of a transverse bar R and the longi-
tudinal arms S, which latter extend rearward therefrom and are provided on their
inner faces with the teeth T wbich engage the teeth of the segmental rack O at the
proper time, as hereinafter specified. Upon the rear ends of the side arms of the
yoke P are the inwardly projecting lugs V, which prevent the yoke from passing
beyond the segmental rack O when the device is in use. The length of the side
arms S is slightly in excess of that of the arc of the segmental rack O; and the
distance between them is preferably sufficient to permit a longitudinal movement
of the yoke without obstruction when the segmental rack is turned toward the
front end of the casing D, substantially as indicated in Figure 5.
In the cross-bar R of the yoke P is secured by a pin W one end of the piston
rod X, upon the other end of which is firmly attached the piston Y which is
adapted to have a longitudinal movement in the chamber Ẻ of the casing D,
and between which and the metal washer Z, acting as a stop, is arranged upon
the piston rod the coiled spring e, the purpose of which is to exert a constant
pressure against the piston head Y. The washer or stop Z is inserted into the
chamber E from the front end of the casing, and is supported by pins f, illustrated
in Figure 5. In assembling the parts of the device, the plugs or caps F having
been removed, the washer Z may be first inserted into the chamber E, as above
specified, and then the spring e. and piston Y, the rod of the latter being inserted
through the spring and washer, after which the yoke P is introduced into the
chamber E from the opposite end of the casing and secured to the end of the
piston rod X by a pin W. The plugs or caps F may then be screwed into place,
the pivot C inserted through the opening I, and the cap J secured. The device
may be used in this condition for the purpose of hanging and closing single or
double acting doors, but in order to prevent any violent action of the door I prefer
to constantly check the force of the spring e by filling the chamber E, after the
working parts of the device have been inserted, with a suitable fluid, such as oil,
which during the opening and closing of the door will pass from one side of the
piston Y to the opposite side thereof, as bereinafter described. The fluid may be
poured into the chamber E through the opening G, which is afterwards closed by
the plug H.
When the door is closed the parts of the device will rest in substantially the
positions illustrated in Figure 5. Upon the door being opened the pivot C will be

page_text: correspondingly turned and during its partial revolution the rack O will engage the
teeth on one of the arms S, according to which direction the door is turned in, and
move the yoke and draw the piston toward the pivot C, whereby the spring e will
be compressed and at the same time the oil or other fluid will pass around the
edges of the piston Y (or through a valve in the piston, as indicated in Figure 9)
to the front side of same. As soon as the door is released the spring e will force
the piston and yoke to their former position, and during the movement of the
latter the pivot will be rotated in a reverse direction and close the door. During
the movement of the spring and yoke to close the door the fluid which previously
passed to the front side of the piston Y will gradually return to the rear side of
same, and the resistance offered by the fluid to the spring prevents any sudden
action of the latter, and as a consequence while the door will certainly be closed by
the spring its movement will be gradual and controlled.
: In order to permit the door to close moderately quickly for about three-fourths
of its movement, and for the rest of the distance at a lower speed, I have provided
the grooves or channels m in the walls of the chamber E, through which grooves
the fluid flows with some rapidity until the piston is nearly at the end of its stroke,
at which time the passage of the fluid is checked so that the door will move more
slowly.
When the door is opened in one direction the rack O will engage the teeth on
one side of the yoke P, and when the door is opened in the opposite direction the
rack will be turned to engage the teeth on the other side of the yoke; in either
case, however, the movement of the piston, yoke, and fluid will be the same.
In Figures 7 and 8 I show a modified form of the yoke P and pivot C; in this
instance the teeth of the yoke and segmental rack are dispensed with, and the yoke
is moved during the rotation of the pivot by the ends of the cam projection, which
takes the place of the rack O, coming into contact with the rollers n secured in the
bifurcated side arms S. I prefer the form of yoke and pivot shown in Figures 7
and 8 when no fluid is used, and when the fluid is thus omitted the casing and
piston may be discarded and the yoke and spring secured to a plate or set in a
recess in the floor.
I wish it understood that I may modify the construction and arrangement of
the apparatus herein before described without departing from the nature of my
invention, and regulate its position with relation to the door in such a manner as
best to fulfil the purposes of its production. When the device is to be used merely
as a door check it may be placed at the top or side of the door instead of at the
bottom, if desired, the connection between the pivot and the door being altered to
suit the circumstances of its employment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. In combination with a door, the pivot in connection therewith and
carrying a segment; the sliding yoke whose sides are connected and enclose
opposite sides of said pivot and segment, and are adapted to be alternately
engaged by the said segment; a spring for returning the yoke after it has been
moved by the rotation of the pivot; and a stop for the spring; substantially as
set forth.
Second. In combination with a door, the pivot in connection therewith and
carrying a toothed segment; a sliding yoke having connected toothed sides which
enclose opposite sides of the said pivot and segment, and are adapted to be
alternately engaged by said toothed segment when the pivot is rotated; a spring
for returning the yoke after it has been moved by the segment; and a stop for the
spring; substantially as set forth.
Third. In combination with a door, the casing; the pivot seated in the casing
and engaging the door; the sliding yoke adapted to be engaged and moved by the

page_text: pivot; the piston; the piston rod, the spring; the stop for the spring and a fluid
nearly filling the casing; substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In combination with a door, the pivot engaging an aperture therein and
seated in a casing D; a sliding yoke arranged in the casing and enclosing opposite
sides of the pivot; a rack on the pivot adapted to engage either side of the yoke
and to move the latter when turned; the piston and rod connected with the yoke;
a spring encompassing the rod between the piston and a stop; and a fluid nearly
filling the casing D; substantially as set forth.
Fifth. In combination with a door, the casing D; the pivot C seated therein and
engaging the door; the sliding yoke P having toothed arms S; the rack O on the
pivot and arranged between the said arms; the piston rod X; the piston Y; the
spring e; the stop Z; and a fluid nearly filling the casing; substantially as set
forth.
Sixth. In combination with a door, the pivot C engaging an aperture therein;
the sliding yoke adapted to be moved by the pivot; the piston; the piston rod;
the spring and the stop; substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The casing D having removable plugs or caps F, the cap J, and the
plug H, in combination with the pivot C having a rack O; the yoke P having
toothed side arms adapted to be engaged by the rack and having also lugs V; the
piston; the piston rod; the spring e and the washer Z; substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The door having the bar L and aperture i, in combination with the
pivot C having a tapered upper end and carrying the rack O; the sliding yoke
engaging the rack; the piston; the piston rod, the spring and the stop; substan-
tially as set forth.
Ninth. In combination with a door, the casing D; the pivot C seated in the
casing and engaging the door; the yoke adapted to be moved by the pivot; the
piston rod, the piston, the spring, the stop, the grooves m and a fluid nearly filling
the casing; substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In combination with a door, the pivot in connection therewith and
mounted in a casing; a sliding rack arranged in the casing and adapted to be
engaged and moved by the pivot when the door is opened; the spring; the piston
rod; the piston; a stop for the spring; a fluid nearly filling the casing, and a
passage for the fluid from one side to the other of the piston; substantially as
set forth.
DL: ALL 1
100K
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.