Improved Apparatus for Closing Doors, and Checks in connection therewith.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 5th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Closing Doors, and Checks in connection
therewith.
I JOHN RHODES of 87 Stratford Road Birmingham Shop Fitter do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for closing doors, and checks
to be employed in connection therewith as a means for preventing the slamming
when the closing is being effected. My aim and object being to construct and
combine such parts forming my invention in a simpler and more effective manner
than hitherto.
I will describe my invention thus: I provide a bracket fixed to the jamb
of the door frame, this bracket is forked and carries a spindle between the
arms of the forks, this spindle is made incapable of turning. I mount on the
spindle and between the arms of the fork a box approximately semicircular in
shape, which I call the spring-box open at the flat side, this box is capable of
partial rotation on the fixed spindle, coiled around the spindle is a spiral spring,
this spring is enclosed in the semi-circular spring box. One end of the spring is
secured to the fixed spindle and the other end to the inside of the spring-box, 80
that the partial rotation of the spring-box in one direction is accomplished against
the elasticity of the spring, which then endeavours to reverse the partial rotation
of the spring box. I provide on the spring box a socket in which is firmly secured
a rod projecting outwards from the box and at right angles to the spindle on
which the spring-box partially rotates. By means of the rod the spring box can
be partially rotated against the action of the spring.
I provide on the door and near to the edge on which the hinges are situated a
bracket, through an aperture in which the rod previously mentioned slides. I may
provide rollers to reduce the friction of the rod in the aperture.
When the door is opened the rod is compelled to move and to partially rotate
the spring box against the elasticity of the spring. On letting go the door the
spring acts on the door through spring-box, the rod and the bracket on the door,
and closes it. But to prevent slamming I provide a piston on the end of the rod
previously mentioned. This piston moves in a cylinder which is jointed to the
bracket on the door. The cylinder is closed at both ends but at the one end
nearest to the hinge of the door there is a hole of suitable size to let the air out
when the door is being opened against the action of the spring, and to let it in
again when the door is closing. At the outer end of the cylinder I provide a small
valve consisting of a disc of leather with a small helical spring. This valve allows
the air which is compressed by the action of the spring through the rod and piston,
to escape at just such a rate as will ensure the closing but not the slamming of
the door.
:
The bracket on the door and the aperture in which the rod moves with rollers,
as above described, may be detached or separated from each other by suitable
means, for instance, when the door is not required to be closed, or to facilitate
cleaning.
I am aware that air cylinders with moving pistons have already been used in
conjunction with springs for door closing, and checks but not in the manner forming
my invention.
A 1000
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.
Improved Apparatus for Closing Doors, and Checks in connection
therewith.
JOHN RHODES of 87 Stratford Road Birmingham Shop Fitter, 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:
My invention relates to apparatus to be employed in the closing of doors and as
a check to avoid the slamming at the time when the closing takes place this I
effect in a more simple and efficacious manner than the class of goods for this
purpose hitherto employed.
And in order that this my said invention may be more thoroughly understood I
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose
I shall refer to the several figures on the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
figures.
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of apparatus for closing doors, and check in con-
nection therewith constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same partly sectional fitted for and applicable to the
closing and checking of the door from the inside.
Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of same but applicable to the closing and checking
of the door from the outside.
Fig. 4. is a view of part as Fig. 2. cross section upon an enlarged scale.
Fig. 5. is a view of a door with a view in elevation, small scale of the above
invention applied thereto.
a, is the door, b the frame supporting same, c is the bracket secured to b by the
application of screws at c¹ provided with arms d, d, forked, and carries the fixed
spindle e, f. is the box which I term the spring box open at fl and this is mounted
upon the spindle e, this said f. rotates partially upon the fixed spindle e, the spiral
spring g. is enclosed in the box f and around e, one end of which is affixed securely
to said e the other end of spring 9. being securely fixed to the box f. the partial
rotation of fin one direction is accomplished against the elasticity or power of
spring g, which tends to reverse the partial rotation of box f. and this is effected
by the following arrangement of parts, on the spring box is a socket bearing
the rod i. firmly secured thereto projecting from said box fat a right angle to e..
On the door a, I fix the bracket with aperture j¹ under the roller k for reducing
the friction of rod i.
When the door a is opened or partially so the rod i is moved and propor-
tionately moves the box fand against the power or elasticity of the spring g, but
on releasing a, g acts so as to close the door a through the intervention of box f.
the rod i, and bracket; and the closing of the door a is thus effected.
To avoid the slamming of a. I employ the piston l, on the end of the rod i said l,
moving in the cylinder m, and jointed at n, to the bracket j on the door a.
This cylinder m, is closed at both ends but at one end nearest to the box fis
the hole m' which allows the escape of air when the door a is being opened and
against the action of g and also to admit air when a is closing.
At the other end of m. I construct the valve o, which is formed of a disc of
leather P, held to its seating by the power of the helical spring 9 the checking or
slamming of a, being effected by the air passing when compressed by the piston
with its rod i through a small hole, s is a cap screwed upon m.
If the valve o, is shortened the spring q can be dispensed with as p will move to
and fro by the action without any disarrangement.
The above being my invention I would observe in conclusion that I do not limit
myself to the precise details as modifications may be made without departing
essentially from the principle of the said invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. "Improved apparatus for closing doors, and checks in connection therewith."
The construction and application of parts as c, for carrying f mounted upon e
containing g, i secured to h but passing through j', of j assisted by k and receiving
working in in, with n, m provided with m' and o, with p with or without 7, but
with r, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
2nd. The general combination and arrangement of parts substantially as herein-
before described in the foregoing Specification and shewn upon the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
1000
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent.