Improvements in Automatic Door-closing Devices.
Year: 1896

page_text: TRUVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic Door-closing Devices.
I, JHAN CUGGIA, of Boulevard Dubonchage, Nice, Departement des Alpes-
Maritimes, in the Republic of France, Contractor of Carpentry Work, do hereby
declare the nature of this iuvention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an automatic door-closing device which is equally applicable
to single or double doors whether opening in one direction only or in either direction.
The said door-closing device substantially consists of a counterweight concealed in
a groove in the vertical post of the door frame and connected to the door by a cord
suitably guided by specially arranged pulleys.
With my system the closing of the door is effected easily without concussion and
always with the same speed irrespective of the amount of opening. The door can
moreover he opened much further than is practicable with the systems heretofore
known; the door can be turned almost back upon itself.
As the counterweights are always invisiblo and as the cords are only observable
at the top when the door is open, the whole system has a far more olegant
appearance than the systems heretofore iu use.
As regards doors which can swing in either direction the advantage of my closing
device over those of the usual construction is considerable. It necessitates only
a single arrangement, occupies a minimum of space and acts perfectly without any
concussion.
The vertical standard of the door frame is provided with a longitudinal groove in
its front, in which a counterweight can be freely moved.
A pulley frame carrying a grooved pulley with horizontal axis is fixed by means
of screws to the door frame in such a manner that its outer surface is flush with
the door frame and its pulley is presented vertically to the aforesaid groove. The
door-case or jamb-lining of the door frame, when put in place, covers the said
groove and the pulley frame completely.
A second pulley frame is fixed below the horizontal part of the door frame and
carries two grooved pulleys arranged with their axes vertical.
Finally a flexible cord of any appropriate material is attached at one extremity
to the counterweight which it supports, and passes over the pulley with horizontal
nxis, then between the two pulleys with vertical axes, its other extremity being
fastened at a suitable point to the top edge of the door.
The cord in transmitting to the door the action of the counterweight or vice versa,
passes over the pulloy with horizontal axis and altornately over the one or the other of
the pulleys with vertical axis according as the door is pushed in the one or the other
direction.
For doors, which open in one direction only, the systou remains the same. The
pulley with horizontal axis and the corresponding pulley frame remain identical.
As regards tho pulley frame, fixed below the horizontal part of the door frame, the
same only carries ono pulley with vertical axis, upon which constantly travels the
cord one extremity of which is attached to the door and the other extremity to
the counterweight.
In order to increase the facility of constructing such doors with a movement in

page_text: either direction, I employ, in order to form a socket or rocess, a solid square, which I
fix to the vertical standard of the frame so as to rest upon the floor, and thereby avoid
the notching of tho latter.
The pivots of the door are carried by staples which clip the door.
Improvements in Automatic Door-closing Devices.
JHAN CUGGIA, of Boulevard Dubouchage, Nice, Departement des Alpes-
Maritimes, in the Republic of France, Contractor of Carpantry Work, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statenient :-
My invention relates to an automatic door-closing apparatus, applicable indifferently
to doors having one or two leaves, opening only to one side or adapted to move
in and out. This door-closing apparatus comprises a counter-weight concealed in a
groove in the jambs of the transom, and connected to the door by a cord suitably
guided by gnide-pulleys arranged in a particular manner.
With my system the closing of the door takes place easily without shock and
always at the same velocity, whatever may be the degree of opening. The door
cun moreover he opened much more than with any of the known systems; it can
almost be turned round upon itself.
The countor-weights being always invisible and the cords being visible in the
upper part only when the door opens, the whole of the system is much more elegant
than the systems already known.
For doors adapted to move in and out the advantage of my door-closing apparatus
as compared with those customarily employed is considerable. It necessitates only
a single device, occupies a minimum amount of space, and operates perfectly without
any shock.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a general view of a door arranged to turn in and out and having two
leaves, provided with my system of automatic door-closing apparatus, a portion of the
frame being removed to show the counter-weight and the groove in which it is
displaced.
Figure 2 is a detail showing in elevation the part of the transom in which the
groove is formed wherein the counterwoight is displaced, also showing the guide
pulley having a horizontal shaft with its fork for the fastening.
Figure 3 represents an elevation of the arrangement of guide pulleys having
vertical sliafts with their common fastening fork for doors moving in and out.
Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 3, as seen from below.
Figure 5 shows in elevation the interior face of the fork carrying the guide pulley
laving a horizontal shaft.
Figure 6, is a section taken on the line 1-2 of this Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a section taken on the line 3-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 8 shows a door having one leaf and opening one way.
Figure 9 represents the pulloy having a vertical shaft with its fastening fork for a
door adapted to open to one side.
Figure 10 is a plan, of Figure 9 as seen from below,
Figure 11 is a section taken on the line 5-6 of Figure 9.

page_text: Figures 12 and 13 relate to an accessory device.
Figures 1 to 7 relate to the general case, that is to say to a door having two loaves
and arranged to be moved in and out. The mechanism is identical for each leaf,
and I will therefore proceed to describe the invention with reference to a single
leaf.
The vertical jamb a of the transom is provided with a longitudinal groove /
upon its front face, in which a counterweight o can be freely displaced.
A fork d carrying a grooved pulley p having a horizontal shaft is fixed by means
of scrows upon the transom in such a manner us to be flush with the front faco
of the latter, and to present its pulley in a line with the groove b. The frame/,
after it has been put in its placo, completely covers the groove band the fork d.
A second fork is fixed below the horizontal portion of the transom, and carries two
juxtaposed grooved pulleys pl pl having vertical shafts.
Lastly a flexible cord h of any suitable material is fixed by one end to the
counter-weight which it supports, passes over the pulley p having a horizontal shaft,
then between the two pulleys p' p, and is attached to a suitable point at the upper-
edge of the door P.
The cord transmitting to the door the action of the counterweight or reciprocally,
passes over the pulley p and alternately over one or the other of the pulleys p¹
according as the door is pushed in one or the other direction.
For doors opening to a single side (Figuros 8 to 11 of the drawing) the system
remains the same. The pulley m having a horizontal shaft and the corresponding
fork remain identical. As to the fork n fixed below the horizontal portion of the
transom, it carries only one pulley 9 having a vertical shaft, over which pulloy the
cord constantly passes, which is fixed by one end to the door P' and by the other end
to the counter-weight c'.
For increasing the facility of the inward and outward movement I use, in order
to form a bearing or thimble, a solid square (Figure 12) which I fix to the jamb
of the transom, and which bears upon the floor, thereby dispensing with the cutting of
the latter.
The pivots v and ' of the door are moreover carried by staples
the thickness of the door.
which embrace
Having now particularly described and ascertained tho nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner, the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. Au automatic door-closing apparatus, applicable indifferently to doors
having one or two leaves, opening to one side or in and out, this door-closing
apparatus comprising a counterweight concealed in a groove in the jambs of the
transom, and connected to the door by a cord suitably guided by guide pulleys
arranged in a special mannor, substantially as described.
Second. An automatic door-closing apparatus according to the first claim for
doors moving in and out with one or two leaves, comprising a connter-weight c
placed in a vertical groove b in the jamb of the transom, a fork d fixed to the
upper extremity of this jamb, and carrying a grooved pulley p having a horizontal
shaft; another fork g fixed below the horizontal part of the transom and carrying
two juxtaposed grooved palleys p' p' having a vertical shaft; and lastly a flexible
cord attached by one end to the counter-weight c passing over the pulley p, then
Lotween the pulleys p' p, and fixed to a point at the upper edge of the door in such a
manner that when each leaf is opened in one or the other direction the cord passes
over the pulley p and alternately over one or the other of the pulleys p', substantially
as described.
Third. An automatic door-closing apparatus according to the first claim, applied
to a door opening to a single side, and comprising a counter-weight cl placed in a
vertical groove of the transom, a fork with a pulley m having a horizontal shaft,.
another fork n with a single pulloy q having a vertical shaft, and a cord r attached
by one end to the counterweight, passing over the pulleys m and g and attached by

page_text: the other end to a point of the door in such a manner that the cord constantly passos
through grooves in the pulleys m and g during the opening of the door, and during its
automatic closing, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of January 1897
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.