IMPROVEMENTS THE MODE OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO DOORS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew McMillan, of Thornliebank, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, Joiner, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
THE MODE OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO DOORS."
IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew MoMillan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st May 1881.
ANDREW MCMILLAN, of Thornliebank, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Joiner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO
DOORS."
This Invention has for its object to apply springs to doors in an improved,
simple, inexpensive, efficient, and durable manner, and the improved arrangements
are well adapted for doors which swing or open both ways, as well as to doors fitted
to open in only one direction.
In the case of a swinging door, the door is hung by any suitable known kind of
double-acting hinges, or in any other known manner, so that the door in opening
turns on an axis which is to one side or the other of the middle of the back edge
of the door according to the direction in which the door is being opened, the acting
axis being in each case to the side towards which the door is opening. With this
arrangement the middle of the back edge of the door necessarily moves from the
door frame in whichever direction the door is turning, and in carrying out the
Invention this movement is used to extend or strain a spring, the reaction of which
closes the door when let go.
In carrying out the Invention, according to one modification a helical metal
spring is placed in a groove or recess formed in the top edge of the door, the outer
end of this spring being fixed to the door, whilst its other end has attached to it a
chain or wire cord, which passes between two small rollers at the back end of the
When the
groove or recess, and has its end fixed to a point in the door frame.
spring is arranged in this way it is quite out of sight and not liable to be tampered
with or easily injured. The recess containing the spring may be covered and the
spring may be placed in a recess formed horizontally across any convenient part of
the door, but it is preferred to place it at the top, as when the spring is in that
position its tension assists in supporting the overhanging weight of the door.
When the door is opened the chain or cord bears on one or other of the rollers
according to the direction of opening, and when the door is arranged to open in
only one direction only one of the rollers will be required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew McMillan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th November 1881.
ANDREW MCMILLAN, of Thornliebank, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, Joiner. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF APPLYING SPRINGS TO
Doors."
"
My said Invention has for its object to apply springs to doors in an improved,
simple, inexpensive, efficient, and durable manner, and my improved arrangements
are well adapted for doors which swing or open both ways as well as to doors fitted
to open in only one direction.
In the case of a swinging door, the door is hung by any suitable known kind of
double-acting hinges, or in any other known manner, so that the door in opening
turns on an axis which is to one side or other of the middle of the back edge of
the door according to the direction in which the door is being opened, the acting
axis being in each case to the side towards which the door is opening. With this
arrangement the middle of the back edge of the door necessarily moves from the
door frame in whichever direction the door is opened, and in carrying out my
Invention this movement is used to extend or strain a spring, the reaction of which
closes the door when let go. In carrying out my Invention a helical metal spring
is placed in a groove or recess formed in the top edge of the door, the outer end of
this spring being fixed to the door, whilst its other end has attached to it a chain
or wire cord which passes between two small rollers at the back end of the
groove or recess, and has its end fixed to a point in the door frame. When the
spring is arranged in this way it is quite out of sight and not liable to be tampered
with or easily injured.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the samo
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and showing my improved mode of applying springs
to doors.
Figure 1 on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings is an elevation of the upper
part of a door and its door frame, Figure 2 is a horizontal section of the door
frame with the top edge of the door shown in plan, and Figure 3 is a sectional
elevation; Figures 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged views of the spring and its fittings. In
these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In the example delineated the door 7 is arranged to swing or open both ways,
being attached to the door frame S by double-acting hinges 9. A groove or
recess 10 is formed along the top edge of the door 7 from the back to a sufficient
distance for the length of spring employed. At the outer end of the groove 10
there is fixed a hook 11, on which is hooked the outer end of the helical metal
spring 12, and the other end of this spring has hooked to it a chain 13, which
passes between two antifriction rollers 14, and has its back end jointed to a metal
plate 15, which is fixed in the door frame 8. The antifriction rollers 14 are
titted in a metal mounting 10 which is fixed to the upper back corner of the
door.
The recess 10 containing the spring 12 may be covered, and the spring may be
placed in a recess formed horizontally across any convenient part of the door, but
I prefer to place it at the top, as shown, as when the spring is in that position its
tension assists in supporting the overhanging weight of the door. When the door
is opened the chain or rod 13 bears on one or other of the rollers 14 according to
the direction of opening, and when the door is arranged to open in only one direction
only one of these rollers 14 will be required.

page_text: Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
The improved mode of applying springs to doors, according to which a helical
metal spring placed in a groove or recess formed in the door is connected by a
chain or cord to a fixed point in the door frame, the said chain or cord passing
between a pair of antifriction rollers in the case of swinging doors, and in contact
with at least one antifriction roller in the case of other doors, and the parts being
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew McMillan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ANDREW MOMILLAN. (L.S.)