Improvements in Bulkhead and like Doors.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bulkhead and like Doors.
HENRY HANKS Engineer 32 Terrace Road Plaistow E. FRANK SEPTIMUS
DEVONTEAUX SCOTT Engineer Savoy House, Savoy Street Strand W.C. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
A door or shutter of steel iron or other suitable material is constructed to resist
the pressure of water steam or air consisting of a series of locking bars actuated by
a central spirally grooved rotary disc secured by a central cap slotted to allow the
locking gear to move truly and so arranged that one movement of the locking
lever or key not exceeding one turn of the said lever or key drives completely
home the whole of the locking bars from the central gear into their various places so
that instantaneously the door or shutter becomes perfectly secure against any
external pressure of such forces as water steam air or fire.
The four or more locking bars move from a common centre and are bevelled at
the head so as to fit into the flange of the framework of the door or shutter as described
below the said locking bars being dovetailed at the sides sliding into corresponding
grooves made for that purpose so that they may be accurately shot home into the
bevelled flange of the door frame.
The frame of the said door or shutter is suitably constructed of cast steel or
other material so as to withstand the highest external pressure and bevelled inside
so that when the bevelled bar locks are actuated the wedge shaped bevels of the
frame and bar locks meet causing an instantaneous jam against rubber asbestos
fireproof or other suitable parking thus hermetically sealing the door or shutter
when locked.
Dated then and Amunt 1905
HENRY HANKS.
FRANK S. D. SCOTT.
Improvements in Bulkhead and like Doors.
We, HENRY HANKS, of 32 Terrace Road, Plaistow, in the County of London,
England, Engineer, and FRANK SEPTIMUS DEVONTEAUX SCOTT, late of Savoy
House, Savoy Street, Strand, but now residing at 25 Upper Bedford Place,
Russell Square, in the County of London, aforesaid, Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a door or shutter which will hermetically
close the aperture in ship's bulkheads, fireproof compartments in buildings, and for
all other purposes where water or steam-tight doors or shutters are required to
prevent either ingress or egress of water, steam, smoke, or other gas or gases.
Now according to our invention we construct the door or shutter to slide in
suitable guides or grooves, or swing on hinges. Around said door, at the edge, is
a flange or angle-iron, which flange, angle-iron, or other suitable portion of the
door, bears against a strip or strips of india rubber or other suitable material
[Price 8d.]

page_text: attached around the aperture to be closed. The door or shutter is secured by means
of wedge bars entering into and engaging with correspondingly shaped grooves
formed by the bulkhead frame. The wedge bars being actuated by a suitable
handle which rotates a spirally grooved disc arranged in a suitable casing upon the
door or shutter and cause said bars to slide either inwardly or outwardly.
But in order that our invention may be better understood we will refer to the
accompanying sheets of drawings, in which
Figure 1, represents a hinged bulkhead door and frame constructed according to
this invention.
Figure 2, shews a portion of the bulkhead with the door in the closed position.
Figure 3, is a sectional view.
Figure 4, is an elevation of the spirally grooved disc.
Figure 5, is a section of same.
Figures 6 and 7, are fragment detail views of the wedge bars.
Figures 8 and 9, are views of the hand lever for actuating the disc.
Figure 10, shews the application of the invention to sliding doors.
Figure 11, is an enlarged section of a portion of one end of the sliding door.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts where they occur in all the views.
In the drawings (A) represents the bulkhead, (B) the door, having a flange or
angle-bar (C) around the edge portion, (D) (D) (D) and (D) are the wedge bars
bevelled on the outer end as shewn at (E). The inner ends of said bars are
provided with projections (F) which rest in spiral or volute grooves (G) formed in
the disc (H) which is free to rotate in a casing (1) attached to the door (B). Said
disc is carried by a spindle (J) the ends of which are made square or of any other
suitable shape to receive a key or turning handle similar to (K) (Figures 8 and 9)
by means of which the disc may be rotated.
Each of said wedge bars slides in suitable guide pieces (L) attached to the door,
and also in holes in the disc casing I.
By rotating the disc (H) in one direction the wedge bars (D) are simultaneously
drawn inward, and by rotating it in the opposite direction the bars are forced
outward and the bevelled edges (E) of said bars (D) come in contact with the
correspondingly bevelled flanges (M) of the preferably Z bars or frame (N) forming
the grooves (O), and force the edge of the flange or augle-bar (C) against the
elastic or other suitable material (P) secured around the edge of the aperture in
the bulkhead or partition (A), thus forming a water, steam or gas-tight joint.
(Q) and (Q) are the double eye hinges secured to the bulkhead or other partition
and, (Q) and (Q1) are single eye hinges secured to the door, (Q3) and (Q) are the
hinge pins, the hole in the hinges through which the pins pass being oval or
elliptical to allow of the door moving a short distance towards the partition after
being swung into the closed position in order to make the flange or angle bars
bear equally at all points on the elastic material to ensure a perfect joiut.
To prevent accumulation of dirt, small coal, or other material in the bottom
groove, we form a slot (R) in the lower Z bar, or in the bottom of the lower groove
to allow such dirt or other matter to drop through.
When adapting our invention to sliding doors which move either horizontally or
vertically we construct the door as shewn at Figure 10, but in this case we prefer
to bevel the edges of the wedge bars (D) on the inside and to form a bevelled
flange (S) around the edge of the door (Figure 11) so that when the bars (D) are
moved outward, the bevel edges of same engage the bevelled flange (S) and force
the door against the jointing material.
The door is caused to slide by means of the racks (T) and (T¹), on its upper and
lower ends which gear with the spur wheels (U) and (U) keyed to the shaft (U).
A double rack (V) having two sets of teeth at right angles to each other is
arranged upon the door, so that one set of teeth, gears with the teeth formed on
the edge of the disc (H) whilst the other set gears with the spur wheel (W) keyed
to the shaft (U).
The door in Figure 10, is shewn closed and on continuing to rotate the shaft (U³)

page_text: the disc (H) will be rotated and the bars forced outwards; the wheel (U) and (U¹)
and the racks (T) and (T') being now out of gear.
When it is desired to open the door the shaft (U2) is rotated in the reverse
direction, the teeth on the rack (V) engaging the teeth on the disc (H)
which cause the wedge bars to be withdrawn.
When said bars are withdrawn the
projection (✗) on the rack (V) comes in contact with the stop (X) fixed to the door
and moves the latter forward until the racks (T) and (T') gear with the wheels (U)
and (U) and opens the door.
For doors opening vertically the shaft (U) will be horizontal, and connected to
a vertical shaft (shewn in dotted lines) by means of the bevel wheel (also shewn in
dotted lines). Both shafts are supported by suitable bearings (not shown) attached
to the bulkhead or other partition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
Firstly. In bulkhead and like doors, the combination of the wedge bars (D)
which are bevelled at (E) to engage with the correspondingly bevelled flange (M)
of the Z bars or frame (N) forming the groove (0), with the flange or angle bar (C)
and seating strip (P) of elastic or other suitable material, substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly. In bulkhead and like doors, the combination of the bevel ended wedge
bars (D) and correspondingly bevelled flanges (M) with the elliptical or oval hinge
pin holes, whereby the door is enabled to move towards the bulkhead or other
partition as herein specified.
Thirdly. In bulkhead and like doors, the combination of a shaft (U2) having
secured thereto, spur wheels (U) and (U1) gearing with racks (T) and (T') secured
to the door (B), with a rack (V) gearing with suitable teeth formed on the disc (H),
and a wheel (W) on said shaft (U) substantially as and for the purposes herein
stated.
Fourthly. In bulkhead and like doors, the combination of the bevelled wedge
bars (D) sliding in guide pieces (L) attached to the door, the inner ends of said
bars engaging with the spiral grooves in the disc (H), with the bevelled flanges_of
the Z bars or frame (N), flange (C) and elastic or other suitable seating (P),
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Date1 201
1
1000
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.