Improvements in Fire-proof Doors, and in Apparatus for Auto- matically Operating or Closing and for Protecting the same in Case of Fire.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fire-proof Doors, and in Apparatus for Auto-
matically Operating or Closing and for Protecting the same
in Case of Fire.
I, JOHN BOOTH of Marsden Road Iron Works, Bolton in the County of
Lancaster, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 relates to improvements in fire-proof doors and in apparatus for
automatically operating or closing the same and for protecting the same in case of
fire, and is designed to make the same thoroughly fire-proof in a simple and efficient
manner. In the case of sliding doors the casing or framework is fitted on the top,
bottom, and side with a groove or channel into which the door slides. On the
opposite edge or side of the casing or framework is fixed angle iron which
operates in conjunction with the channel iron on the corresponding edge of the
door forming a double lap, thereby closing, the doorway, the edges of the door
fitting into and being protected by the channel and angle irons. In applying my
invention to swinging or hinged doors the latter are fitted so as to abut against the
rebate of the casing or framework. The outer styles of the door are constructed
to overhang, thus when the door is closed a double rebate is formed. To protect
the bottom side of a swivelling or hinged door and make up the space between the
underside of same and the top of threshold I fix a casing or channel iron in the
latter and provide the same with an oscillating plate to prevent the passage of fire
and flame. The said oscillating plate is operated by the opening and closing actions
of the door; a cam or inclined catch being set to operate at any desired point. The
operation of automatically closing the door in case of fire is effected by means of
apparatus consisting of a cylinder provided with a piston, pipes, and valves coupled
to the main water supply or other source, such as, a sprinkler installation. In case
of fire the water is set in motion and the before mentioned piston rises and releases
the door latch after which the door is immediately closed by the action of a weight
or its equivalent. Above the said door is placed a perforated pipe or pipes, from
which when the apparatus is in action-pours a continuous stream of water
thereby keeping the same cool and protecting it from the action of fire. In
case there is no sprinkler installation the pipes and other -adjuncts may be placed
in any convenient position to allow of the same being operated at will either by
water or electricity.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fi 1 Shoot 1 is a front elevation of me improvements in sliding fire-proof

page_text: apparatus for automatically closing the same and protecting such doors with water
in case of fire when closed.
Fig. 6 is a sectional plan through line E' G' in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 a side elevation of electrical apparatus to allow of the door being closed
in case of fire or at will as desired.
Fig. 8-Sheet 3-an elevation showing my invention where no sprinkler
installation is employed and where water is used or employed from an ordinary
water or town's main.
Fig: 9 an elevation of my invention wherein water is employed from the valve
which supplies a sprinkler installation.
Fig. 10 an elevation of my invention wherein the
the water itself being obtained from a separate main.
Fig. 11 a sectional elevation of operating valve, and
Fig. 12 an outside view of Fig. 11.
pressure only is employed,
In all the figures the same letters and numerals are employed to indicate
corresponding parts.
In order that my invention may be clearly. understood and carried into practical
effect I will describe each.system separately.
1st. Sliding doors as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 :-A is the sliding fire-proof door;
B channel irons; C gudgeons or hangers secured to the door A by the rivets or
bolts D.
The upper end of each gudgeon or hanger C-is-provided-with-the-slotted
piece E in which are located the centres F carrying the rollers or pulleys G. The
rollers or pulleys G are mounted on the inclined rail H-secured to the wall by
the bolts I in any convenient manner. The inclined rail H is provided with the
projection J which is employed as a stop or catch on which the latch K locks the
door A in position when open. In case a fire takes place, the valve in the valve-
box P opens and operates the gong V to give an alarm, the water from the same
flowing down, the pipe W to the cistern X, and as the latter fills the ball or float Y
rises and opens the water main Z, through which water flows up the pipe.U to the
valve M, the action of the water raising the piston L and spindle N, by which the
catch K is lifted or released from the projection J on the rail H, thus releasing
and allowing the door A to slide down into position to close the doorway. The
raising of the piston L in the cylinder M allows the water from the pipe U to flow
or pass to the pipe S from whence it is delivered through the perforations on the
underside of the latter; the water thus being directed and allowed to flow down
the door A when closed, thus keeping the same cool and preventing fire escaping
through the same. In case a person should be near at hand to a fire-proof door
or doors when a fire takes place the closing of the door A may be effected by
means of electricity in the following manner :-In any convenient position or
positions may be placed a battery B2 connected by the wires C2 to the magnets A
and by the wire A³ to the button D2-which may be placed in the office or any
other convenient place-the latter being only required to be pressed inwardly to
complete the circuit, which action causes the ends of the magnets A³ to raise the
latch K to release the same from the projection J, which action will allow the door
to slide down the inclined rail H thus closing the door-way.
In case a fire takes place the water is set in motion and actuates or lifts the
piston L in the cylinder M shown in Fig. 11; the piston spindle N rises with it
and lifts or releases the latch K from the projection J, which action allows the
pulleys or rollers G to roll down the inclined rail H carrying the door A, thereby
closing the doorway. Simultaneously with the rising of the piston L the water
passes through the valve M to the perforated pipe S and flows down the door A
in a continuous stream thereby keeping the same cool and protecting it from the
action of fire. To actuate the spindle N of the valve M the water flowing
through the pipe W from the gong V is directed to the cistern or tauk X. As
the water rises in the cistern or tank X the ball Y is lifted and opens the valve Z
coupled to the main U through which the water is directed to the valve M, the

page_text: latter releasing the catch K as before described. In case it is not desirable that.
water be poured upon the door the perforated pipe S may be dispensed with, the:
valve M being employed merely to release the catch K and allow the door A
to close.
2nd. Hinged doors as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 :-The swinging or hinged,
doors A are provided with the gudgeons B which fit or rest on the pins or
centres C secured to the casing or framework D which is provided with the
rebate E.
The outer styles F2 of the door A are constructed to overhang as shown in
Figs. 3 and 4, thus when the door A is chased a double rebate is formed. To.
protect the bottom end of the swivelling or hinged door A and make up the space
between the underside of same and the top of threshold I fix a casing or channel
iron and provide the same with the oscillating plate H2 to prevent the passage of
fire and flame. The oscillating plate H2 is operated from a vertical to a horizontal
position by the opening and closing actions of the door-being vertical when the
door is closed and horizontal when open-by means of the cam G' on which
slides or rolls the roller F2 according to the opening and closing movements of the
door A. The hinged door A when open is secured in position by the catch I
pivoted to the fixing 13 by the pin I as shown in Fig. 7. The operation of
automatically closing the hinged door A in case of fire is effected by means of the
piston rod N of the piston L located in the cylinder M rising by the motion of the
water in case a sprinkler or sprinklers are set in motion by the action of fire..
Immediately the water in the sprinkler installation is set in motion the piston L in
the cylinder M rises and lifts the catch 12 and thus releases the swinging or hinged
door A, thus allowing the same to slide or swivel down the incline G2 by means of
the roller or pulley F2 to close the door A. Above the door A is placed the
perforated pipe S, from which when the apparatus is in action pours a continuous.
stream of water through the perforations on the door A thereby keeping the same
cool and protecting it from the action of fire.
Fig. 8 Sheet 3-is an elevation of my invention wherein no sprinkler installation
is employed the water being supplied from the ordinary town's main, which flows
to and operates the piston L in the cylinder M as shown in detail in Fig. 11,
the operation of the latter actuating the said piston L and supplying water to the
perforated pipe S placed above the door A.
Fig. 9, is an elevation of my invention wherein water is employed from the
valve P which supplies the sprinkler installation. The water from the valve P is
supplied or directed to the cylinder M by the pipe Q, from whence it is directed to
the perforated pipe S placed above the door A. The valve P in this arrangement
is provided with the pipe V leading to the gong V. The valve P is provided with
the pipe V leading to sprinklers, and the pipe V³ leading from main water
supply.
Fig. 10, is an elevation of my invention wherein water is employed for operating
the lever S of the valve T by means of the spindle N' attached to the piston L' in
the cylinder M', the latter being operated from the valve P by means of water
which passes through the pipe and thus opens the valve L' in the cylinder M¹,
causing the same to open the valve T by means of the lever S', by which water is
supplied to the perforated pipe S from the main pipe U.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The general arrangements, constructions, and combinations of parts of my
improvements in fire-proof doors and in apparatus for automatically operating or
closing the same and for protecting the said doors in case of fire, as herein before
described and as illustrated in the annexed drawings.
2. The general arrangements, constructions, and combinations of parts as set
forth in Claim 1, operated by means of either the action of water-e.g. when a
sprinkler is set in motion-or by the electrical means described and shown for

page_text: operating and closing the doors and for protecting the same in case of fire, as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the annexed drawings.
3. In combination with the arrangements, constructions, and combinations of parts
for the purpose of closing the said doors-either sliding or swinging-the use of
electricity applied and operating substantially as described and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Dated the 10th day of November 1896
EDMUND CHADWICK,
Agent.