Improvements in Apparatus for Closing Doors, Gates, Casements, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing Doors, Gates, Casements, and
the like.
I, DAVID MORGAN, of 76, Broad Quay, Bristol, General Smith and Gas Fitter,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In carrying out this invention I provide a suitable bracket or box to carry
a cross spindle upon which is secured one end of a coiled spring, the other end
being secured to bracket; upon the spindle is secured a quadrant arm by one
end, the other or working end, is connected to the free end of another quad-
rant secured to the door or gate to be controlled. The quadrants are connected
by chain or gearing to enable the opening of the door to slightly coil the
spring.
Dated this 5th day of April 1899.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Closing Doors, Gates, Casements, and.
the like.
I, DAVID MORGAN, of 76, Broad Quay, Bristol, General Smith and Gas Fitter,
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; -
!
This invention refers to improved apparatus for automatically closing doors.
gates, casements and the like, the principal objects being to provide an improved
apparatus of simple construction, not readily liable to get out of order and
wherein the accumulated force of the spring or springs, obtained or increased
by the opening of the door, is transmitted for the purpose of closing the door
in such manner that a more equal force is applied than heretofore throughout
the whole travel of the said door during the closure.
I will described my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings,
whereon, Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a section plan of my improved
apparatus adapted to close a door which is capable of being opened in two oppo-
site directions, the apparatus being shown in the position which it would occupy
when the door is closed, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view shewing the position
of the mechanism when the door is opened.
According to my invention I provide a frame or casing A, which is to be located

page_text: in a recess beneath the bottom of the door, this casing carries bearings to
support a vertical spindle B, which is fitted immediately beneath the axis upon
which the door hinges and the upper end of the spindle B, is squared and takes
into a bracket piece in the bottom of the door and may in fact form the lower
centre upon which the door pivots.
'
Upon the spindle B, there is securely fixed a collar C, above which and loose
upon the spindle B, is a curved arm D, having a projection E, against which
a projection on the collar C, acts in order to turn the arm D, when the spindle B,
is itself turned. The outer end of the curved or quadrant arm 1), is pivotted to
one end of a chain L, the other end of which is pivotted to a second quadrant
arm F, which latter is fixed upon a vertical spindle G.
This spindle G, is arranged vertically, has bearings in the upper and lower
parts of the casing A, and has fixed to itself one end of a coiled spring H, the
other end being fixed to a stationery pillar J. A, is a fixed stop, its office being
to allow the arm D, Fig. 2, to move only in the direction of the arrow.
By this mechanism when the door is moved and the spindle B, is turned in
the direction of the arrow-Fig. 2, bringing the parts into the position shewn
at Fig. 3, it will be observed that the spindle G, will have been slightly turned
and the tension of the spring H, increased.
.I .. ... J...
Upon the door so opened being released from control the tension of the
spring will bring the parts back into the position shewn at Fig 2; and the
door will be closed.
.1.
Such are the principal elements of my door closing mechanism, but as the
above described only act to close the door when opened in one direction I
provide a similar set of mechanism to close the door when opened in the opposite
direction if so required. To this end I loosely mount upon the spindie, B, a
second segment arm ', connected by chain L to segment arm F, fixed upon
spindle G, controlled by a second spring J, this set of mechanism being brought
into action by a collar U, fixed on the spindle B, the collar having a projecting
part which acts against a projection E, on the arm D.
In this manner when the door is opened in one direction, one of the springs H,
is brought into action, while the opposite set of mechanism and the spring H',
remains at rest, and vice versa.
When it is desired that the motion of the door shall diminish in speed as the
act of closing finishes, I provide a break constructed as follows.
Upon the spindle B, I fix a crank arm M, the pin M of which passes through
a slot in one end. of a lever N, the latter turning on a fixed pin N', carried by
the casing A, the pin N', passing through a slot in the lever N. The opposite
end of the lever N, is pivotted to the head of a piston rod P', the piston upon
which works in a cylinder R. This cylinder R, is provided with a small-air
escape passage and the cylinder itself turns on a pivot R¹, carried by a bracket
from the casing. By this arrangement the door having been opened the piston
rod drawn out and the mechanism for example in the position shewn at Fig. 3
the door will automatically close and pass through a portion of its course before
any inward thrust is given to the piston rod P, but towards the finish of the
closure of the door the mechanism will force in the piston rod and a breaking
action will thereby be produced.
In the drawings S, is an oil cup to lubricate the lower end of the spindle B,
and T, is a cover plate for the springs, which plate has been removed at Fig. 2.
The segment arms F, and F, are fixed to the spindles G, G¹, by set screws,
and the latter spindles have squared ends so that by releasing the set screws,
the springs may be tightened when required.
Upon consideration of the positions of the mechanical parts of Fig. 3, where
the door is supposed to have been opened it will be observed that while the force
which has been accumulated or increased in the spring H, is at its maximum,
it acts with but small mechanical advantage as regards the closure of the door,
whereas, as the closing of the door proceeds the mechanical advantage with

page_text: which the spring acts will be increased and will tend to equalise the diminishing
power of the spring.
The second set of mechanism consisting of the arms D¹, F¹ &c. is only fitted
when it is required that the closure of the door shall be effected in both directions
but where the door closes in one direction, only one set of mechanism is
required and the arm D, may be fixed to the spindle B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An apparatus for closing doors, gates, casements and the like, comprising
a spindle connected to or forming the aids upon which the door turns, à lever
arm on the door spindle, a lever arm fixed to a separate spring spindle
a. chain or the like connecting the free ends of the lever arms
and a spring connected to the aforesaid spring spindle and placed in
tension by the opening of the door, the two lever arms being so relatively
set that the leverage acting on the door spindle to close the door is least when
the door is open, and the spring at greatest tension, the said leverage gradually
increasing as the door becomes closed and the tension of the spring lessened
substantially as set forth.
!
2. In apparatus for closing doors and the like, the combination of a spindle
mounted in bearings fixed to or forming the axis of the door a curved or quad-
rant arm fixed to the spindle, a chain connecting the end of the quadrant arm
to a second quadrant arm fixed on a spring controlled spindle, substantially as
described.
3. The particular combination and arrangement of parts composing my im-
proved apparatus for closing doors and the like, constructed and acting substan-
tially as and for the purpose described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
.
D1 1.
108 1
1
1000
FREDERIC PRINCE,
37, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, Agent for Applicant.