Ir- PROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Adams, of 16, Gladstone Terrace,
Battersea Park, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "Ir-
PROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Adams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th April 1870.
I, ROBERT ADAMS, of 16, Gladstone Terrace, Battersea Park, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention applies to the hinges employed for causing doors to
close when they are opened in either direction, and which are generally
known as spring hinges; these are usually sunk or let into the sill of
the door to which they are applied, the spring closing apparatus being
enclosed in a box under the level of the sill or tread.
Now the object of my Invention is to construct the hinge so that the
door when closed or in its middle position is firmly held notwithstanding

page_text: wear. That this middle position can be conveniently adjusted by
altering the circular position of the box, and repaired without unhinging
the door, the construction which I adopt is as follows:-The pivot or
vertical axis of the hinge (working in bearings so that it can freely turn
more than a quarter of a revolution either way) is squared at the upper
part to receive a lever or shoe which is affixed to the lower angle of the
door, which thus turns on and with this pivot as an axis. The pivot or
axis is mounted with a projecting lever in which are made two vertical
grooves, one on either side of the said projecting lever. These grooves
receive the two ends of a spring or springs. The springs are contained
in a box nearly a circle in form, this box also contains a vertical fixed
pin with grooves corresponding to those in the projecting lever of the
pivot. Across the fixed pin I make a slot through which the projecting
lever on the pivot passes either way horizontally. The ends of the
springs facing cach other closing tightly together are inserted in the
grooves of the fixed pin and the grooves of the projecting lever of the
pivot, thus bringing all the grooves and pivot or axis in one exact
position and at rest. Now when the pivot or axis is made to turn either
way by the door or lever, the spring will be expanded by the projecting
lever of the pivot and leave the groove of the fixed pin on one side or
the other. When the lever or door is let free the spring will bring it
again to its original position and at rest. For the purposes of adjust-
ment I make the box in a circular form, so that it can be turned in its
place to adjust the door to any given point desired. On the top of the
box I make a rim in which are made slots for nuts to slide either way,
these nuts are to receive screws for the purpose of fixing a plate or
cover to cover the whole spring apparatus and for fixing the same to
the sill or floor.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Robert 30
Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th October 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ADAMS, of 16, Gladstone Terrace, Battersea Park, in the County of
Surrey, send greeting.

page_text: of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Adams, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Adams, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Adams, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPRING HINGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Adams, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters.
Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Adams, 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 applies to hinges employed for causing doors to close
when they are opened in either direction, and which are generally
known as spring hinges; they are usually sunk or let into the sill of the
door to which they are affixed, the spring closing apparatus being enclosed
in a box below the level of the sill or tread. With doors opening in either
direction there is generally a slackness arising from wear at its closed
position; this slackness which is continually increasing allows the door
to move to and fro, the springs having no power to prevent it; thus
when the doors are double a gap is caused instead of facing each other
firmly. Again, as such hinges are usually made, the hinge box once
fixed into the sill cannot afterwards be conveniently adjusted or repaired,
without removing the box or internal machinery contained thereon. For
this purpose the door must be unhung, and remain so until a new box
or machinery has been replaced.
Now the object of my Invention is to construct the hinge so that the
door when closed or in its middle position is firmly held, notwithstanding

page_text: wear, that this middle position can be conveniently adjusted by altering the
circular position of the box, and to repair it without displacing the box.
The principle of my Invention may also be applied in any other
position in connexion with the door to cause it to close, or to any other
object working on its axis requiring to. be closed.
The construction which I adopt is as follows:-The pivot or vertical
axis of the hinge working in bearings, so that it can freely turn more
than a quarter of a revolution either way, is squared at the upper part to
receive a lever or shoe which is affixed to the lower angle of the door,
which thus turns on and with this pivot as an axis. The pivot or axis is
mounted with a lever or levers in which are two vertical grooves, one-on
either side of the said projecting lever or levers. These grooves receive
the two ends of a spring or springs; these springs are contained in a
box, part of a circle in form, which also contains a fixed pin or bar with.
vertical grooves corresponding to those in the projecting lever or levers.
of the pivot.
I do not limit myself to any particular mode of fixing these vertical
grooves, or any other position they are to occupy in the box, or otherwise
fixed in any position of the door, or to whatever else it may be affixed
requiring to be closed, but I prefer fixing them at the back; by this
arrangement the springs encircle the pivot or axis, and a fixed stop to
determine the distance the door is to be opened by the said projecting
lever coming in contact therewith in the fixture, pin, or bar, to which I
attach or on which I make the vertical grooves; I make a slot or slots
through which the projecting lever or levers on the pivot passes either
way horizontally. The ends of the springs facing each other closing
tightly together are inserted in grooves fixed in the box, or any other
fixing desired, thus bringing all the grooves fixed in the box or otherwise.
and the grooves on the pivot in one position and at rest. Now when the
pivot or axis is made to turn either way by the door or lever the springs
will become expanded by the projecting lever of the pivot, and leave
the fixed groove on one side or the other of the box, when the door or
lever is let free the spring will bring it again into its original position
and at rest. For the purpose of adjustment I make the box in a circular
form, so that it can be turned in its place to adjust the door to any given
point desired. On the top of the box I make a flange in which I sometimes
make slots to receive nuts to slide either way, these nuts are to receive
Ecrews for the purpose of fixing a plate or cover to cover the whole spring

page_text: apparatus, and at times for fixing the same to the sill of the door. I also
sometimes make two slots across the flange to receive two wedges, for fixing
and adjusting wedges can also be applied at the back for the same.
I sometimes adopt other means of adjustment, namely, by using
set screws in the shoe tightening against the upper part of the pivot,
which might be made in various shapes, if D-shaped, set screws to work
against the flat faces, if round, an endless screw working through at right
angles of the shoc in part of a rack on the pivot, and fixed in so that
when operated on it does not change its position longitudinally, but
changes the fixed position of the door.
Another method I sometimes find convenient is to fit a movable boss
in the shoe, squared through to receive the upper part of the pivot,
so that by the use of set screws through the shoe and against the
boss the door can be brought to any point desired. The door can also
be adjusted by set screws working against the pivot when squared at
the upper part. My hinge can also be applied to any ordinary door
working in the rabbit frame by using a shoc made to receive the pivot
in the corner instead of the center.
By this Invention a private joint is effected at the heel of the door,
and will render this spring much more useful than any other, being
applicable either to single or double-action doors. I also use this spring
to close the door in different positions of the door to cause it to close
without the use of the shoe or pivot, by applying it to a pair of v's or
vertical grooves. For doors that require to be held very firm when closed
I make the pivot or vertical axis rather V-shaped at the bottom, the cup
also to correspond, so that in opening the door it is caused to rise. By
this arrangement extra effort is required to displace it from its fixed
position.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of my improved spring
hinge, taken on the line C, D, marked in Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a sectional
plan, taken on the line E, F, marked in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse
section, on the line A, B, marked in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional plan
of an adjustable shoe with movable boss; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section
of shoe, shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan of springs and vertical grooves,
to be fixed at the back of ordinary doors to cause them to close; Fig. 7
is a sectional elevation, shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of
an adiustable shoe by an endless screw working in a rack on the pivot:

page_text: Fig. 9 is. another adjustable shoe, tightened by set screws; Fig. 10 is
another with the upper part of the pivot squared; Figs. 11 & 12, a shoc for
rabbit doors. T is the body of the of the box; q is the flange; R is the
slots; S is the slips, against which the wedges are to be driven for fixing
and adjusting the box; M is the stop to determine the distance the door
is, to be opened by the lever, on the pivot coming in contact therewith;
N is.the springs; O. is the nuts fitted in the flange for screws to hold
the top plate on W; P is the pivot on which the door turns, to which
the lever Lis attatched, which contains the vertical grooves corresponding
to those in the box shown in Fig. 2, marked V; U is the slats for nuts O,
to allow the box to be moved round regardless of the plate W'; X are the
set screws in the shoes, to adjust the shoe or lever on the axis, and to
secure it by the same; Y is the body of the shoes; Z is the screws to
secure the angle pieces a to the door or door post, which contains the
vertical grooves V, which may be applied to any ordinary door without
displacing it.
The advantages which I claim are, direct action, simplicity of con-
struction, and modes of adjustment.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
it is performed, I would have it understood that I do not limit myself
to exact size given or leverage or proportions represented on the
Drawings, as variations may be necessary to suit different sizes and
weights of doors and ranges in their opening.
In witness whereof, I, Robert Adams, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named Robert Adams, in.
the presence of
H. GRENVILLE, TANNER,
Sol.,
41, Blackman Street,
Borough.
ROBERT ADAMS. (L.S.)