MENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, BENJAMIN TURNER, of 23 Marquess Road, Canonbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS" to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of that class of spring closing
devices for doors which are usually let into the ground, the door being hung on a
pivot projecting up above the floor. The objects of my invention are to greatly
simplify the construction of this class of spring closing device, and consequently
effect a material reduction in the cost of manufacture, while at the same time by
my improved construction certain advantages in the action of the apparatus will be
obtained.
The apparatus consists in a shallow box which is let into the ground, its open
top coming flush with the level of the ground, and a plate being secured over it so.
as to close the same when the apparatus is fixed ready for use. From the bottom
of the box a cylindrical sleeve or well projects downwards and is closed at bottom.
A tube is inserted in the well and carries at top an extension by means of which it
can be fixed in any desired position for the purpose hereinafter described. A rod
or cylindrical block fits into the bottom of the tube so that it can turn therein, and
its upper end is cut off obliquely so as to form an inclined or cam surface. From
the centre of the block a spindle projects upwards passing through the plate which
closes the top of the shallow box, and the part of the spindle above this plate is
made of square or other suitable section and enters a corresponding socket formed
in the under side of the door, so that when the latter is turned the spindle and the
block at its lower end will be turned with it.
Over the block within the tube a second block is mounted, the spindle passing
freely through it, and the under side of this second block is formed so as to fit the
inclined or cam surface at the top of the first block. The second block is provided
with ears or projections on its periphery which enter grooves or slots formed in the
tube, so as to prevent this second block turning in the latter. The lower end of a
spiral spring is arranged to bear upon the upper surface of the top block, and the
upper end of such spring bears against a nut or screwed collar, working on the part
of the spindle just below the top plate, such part being screw-threaded to receive

page_text: the nut. By turning the nut or screw collar the spring will be compressed
between it and the top block, so that the tension of such spring may be regulated
as desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Upon the door being pushed or
pulled in either direction it will turn and carry with it the spindle which enters
the socket in its under side. As the spindle turns in the tube, the block at its lower
end will by means of its cam surface acting on the corresponding surface of the top
block, cause the latter to travel upwards in the tube, as its ears or projections
entering the slots in the tube will prevent it from turning in the latter. The
upward movement of the top block will compress the spiral spring between it and
the nut or screw collar on the spindle, and when the door is released the tension of
such spring exerting itself on the top block will force the same down again, and
the cam surface on its under side acting on the corresponding surface of the bottom
block will cause the latter to turn in the tube and carry with it the spindle and the
door hung or suspended on its upper end, whereby the door will be returned to its
normal position. When in this position the cam surfaces of the two blocks
exactly coincide, so as to form the limit of the downward movement of the top
block.
The means for securing the tube in a fixed position may be varied, one
arrangement consisting in making the extension at its upper end in the form of a
quadrant having a correspondingly shaped slot near its edge. One, two or more
screws pass through this slot and screw into lugs projecting up from the bottom of
the shallow box, the heads of the screws binding against the upper surface of the
quadrant so as to fix it in position. By slackening the screws the tube can be
turned in the sleeve or well in which it is inserted, and as it will carry with it the
two blocks, the spindle and the door, the latter may be arranged at any angle, so
that when the tube is again secured in a fixed position by tightening up the screws,
the normal position of the door may be either closed or partially open in either
direction, and it will always return to such position after being pushed or pulled.
When the normal position of the door is partially open, it can be closed by pushing
or pulling it and then secured by any suitable means without in any way damaging
the spring. For the purpose of diminishing the size of the shallow box, the ends of
the quadrant may be caused to work through holes formed in the back of the box.
The sides of the slot in the quadrant piece are preferably sloped inwards from the
top and the under side of the heads of the screws passing through such slot are
made conical, so as to give an increased bearing surface for the purpose of fixing
the tube in position.
Another method of adjusting and fixing the position of the tube in the sleeve or
well for the purpose above described, consists in substituting for the quadrant
shaped extension two ears or lugs projecting from the upper end of the tube and
each having a screw threaded hole near its outer end in which works a screw, the
head of the respective screws normally bearing against the opposite sides of the
shallow box. When desired to shift or turn the tube in either direction in the sleeve
or well, one screw will be first turned so that its head ceases to bear against the
side of the shallow box, and by then turning the other screw in the opposite
direction it will work outwards from its ear or lug, and its head continually
bearing against the one side of the shallow box will gradually turn the tube in the
well or sleeve until the head of the first screw is again brought into contact with
the opposite side of the shallow box, and the tube thus fixed in the desired
position.
Instead of arranging the apparatus below the ground it may be secured to the
door post, in which case the shallow box will be abolished and the well or sleeve
provided with suitable means for securing it in a vertical position on the door post,
and its periphery will be tapped with a screw hole in which works a screw, the end
of which projects inside the well or sleeve, and can be made to engage with any one
of a series of holes tapped or bored in the tube contained in the well or
sleeye, by

page_text: which means the tube can be first moved to any required position in the latter, and
then fixed by the screw. In this case the door frame will be recessed so as to fit
over the well or sleeve, and the socket to receive the spindle will be arranged in the
shoulder formed by thus recessing the frame.
The shallow box or the top end of the well or sleeve will form a receptacle for
oil or other suitable lubricant, which by passing down into the well or sleeve and
also inside the tube will always keep the whole of the parts on which there is any
friction efficiently lubricated.
It will be seen that my improved spring closing device will permit of the door
being turned in almost a complete circle, that is to say, it can be turned so as to
lie flat against either side of the wall or other part to which the door is attached.

page_text: I, BENJAMIN TURNER, of 23 Marquess Road, Canonbury, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS" 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 an improved construction of that class of spring closing
devices for doors which are usually let into the ground, the door being hung on a
pivot projecting up above the floor. The objects of my invention are to greatly
simplify the construction of this class of spring closing device, and consequently
effect a material reduction in the cost of manufacture, while at the same time by
my improved construction certain advantages in the action of the apparatus will
be obtained.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical section; Fig. 2 another vertical
section taken at right angles to Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a plan view of my spring closing
device.
It consists in a shallow box A which is let into the ground, its open top coming
flush with the level of the ground, and a plate being secured over it so as to close
the same when the apparatus is fixed ready for use. From the bottom of the box A
a cylindrical sleeve or well B projects downwards and is closed at bottom. A tube C
is inserted in the well and carries at top an extension D by means of which it can
be fixed in any desired position for the purpose bereinafter described. A spindle E
is inserted in the tube C and has its bearing in a toe-step in the bottom of the
well B. The upper end of spindle E passes through the plate closing the shallow
box A, and is made square or of other suitable section to fit a corresponding socket
in the under side of the door, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Near the bottom this
spindle E carries a small roller F mounted so as to be free to revolve on a pin
inserted in the side of such spindle. Above the roller F a block G is placed in the
tube, the spindle E passing freely through such block, the lower surface of which
is inclined or in the form of a cam, and rests upon the roller F. The block G is
provided with ears or projections G¹ on its periphery, which enter grooves or
slots formed in the tube C, so as to prevent it turning therein. The lower end
of a spiral spring H is arranged to bear upon the upper surface of the block G, and
its upper end bears against a cap I fitting loosely over spindle E, and having ears
or projections I' on its periphery, which also enter the grooves C² in tube C. By
means of nuts J, J¹, working on a screw-threaded part of spindle E just below the
top closing plate, the position of the cap I can be adjusted so as to regulate the
compression of spring H between it and block G.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Upon the door being pushed or
pulled in either direction it will turn and carry with it the spindle E which enters
the socket in its under side. As the spindle E turns in the tube C, the roller F at
its lower end will by acting on the cam surface of the block G, cause the latter to
travel upwards in the tube, as its ears or projections G³ entering the slots C¹ in the
tube C, will prevent it from turning in the latter. The upward movement of the
block G will compress the spring H between it and the cap I surrounding spindle E,
and when the door is released the tension of such spring exerting itself on the
block G, will force the same down again, and the cam surface on its under side
acting on the roller F, will cause the spindle E to turn in the tube C and carry

page_text: with it the door hung or suspended on its upper end, whereby the door will be
returned to its normal position. When in this position the roller F will be at the
top of the cam surface of block G, so as to form the limit of the downward move.
ment of such block.
The means for securing the tube C in a fixed position may be varied, one
arrangement being shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and consisting in making an exten-
sion D at its upper end, in the form of a quadrant having a correspondingly shaped
slot D¹ near its edge. One, two or more screws K, K¹, pass through this slot and
screw into lugs A' projecting from the bottom of the shallow box A, the heads of
the screws binding against the upper surface of the quadrant D, so as to fix it
in, position. By slackening the screws K, K', the tube C can be turned in the
sleeve or well B in which it is inserted, and as it will carry with it the block G,
spindle E, and the door, the latter may be arranged at any angle, so that when the
tube C is again secured in a fixed position by tightening up the screws K, K³, the
normal position of the door may be either closed or partially open in either direc-
tion, and it will always return to such position after being pushed or pulled in
either direction. When the normal position of the door is partially open, it can
be closed by pushing or pulling it and then secured by any suitable means without
in any way damaging the spring. For the purpose of diminishing the size of the
shallow box A, the ends of the quadrant D may be caused to work through holes
forined in the back of the box. The sides of the slot D¹ in the quadrant piece D
are preferably sloped inwards from the top, and the under side of the heads of the
screws K, K¹, passing through such slot are made conical, so as to give an increased
bearing surface for the purpose of fixing the tube in position.
Another method of adjusting and fixing the position of the tube in the sleeve
or well for the purpose above described is shown in Fig. 4 which is a plan view,
and consists in substituting for the quadrant shaped extension D, two cars or
lugs L, L', projecting from the upper end of the tube C, and each having a screw-
threaded hole near its outer end in which works a screw M, the head M' of the
respective screws normally bearing against the opposite sides of the shallow box A.
When desired to shift or turn the tube in either direction in the sleeve or well, one
screw M will be first turned so that its head M¹ ceases to bear against the side of
the shallow box A, and by then turning the other screw M in the opposite direction
it will work outwards from its ear or lug, and its head M¹ continually bearing
against the one side of the shallow box will gradually turn the tube C in the well
or sleeve B until the head of the first screw is again brought into contact with the
opposite side of the shallow box A, and the tube C thus fixed in the desired position.
Lock nuts M may be provided on the screws M.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7, are enlarged views of block G and spindle E, showing the cam
surface on the former, and the roller F on the latter more clearly.
In Fig. 8 a modification is shown in which instead of the roller F, the spindle E
carries at its lower end a block N capable of turning with the spindle in the tube C,
and its upper surface being formed with a can surface or incline corresponding to
that on the under side of the block G, so that as the block N turns in the sleeve C
it will force the block G upwards in the same manner as above described with
reference to roller F, thus compressing the spring H when the door is opened in
either direction. If desired a roller capable of rotating may be carried by the
block N, and upon it the cam surface of the block G may bear, instead of the two
cam surfaces being in direct contact, whereby the friction will be reduced.
Instead of arranging the apparatus, below the ground it may be secured to the
door post, as shown in Fig. 9, in which case the shallow box A will be abolished,
and the well or sleeve B provided with suitable means for securing it in a vertical
position on the door post, and its periphery will be tapped with a screw hole in which
works a screw B³, the end of which projects inside the well or sleeve, and can be
turned to engage with any one of a series of holes C tapped or bored in the tube C
contained in the well or sleeve B, by which means the tube C can be first moved
to any required position in the latter, and then fixed by the screw B¹. In this case

page_text: the door frame will be recessed so as to fit over, the well or sleeve B, and the socket
to receive the spindle E will be arranged in the shoulder formed by thus recessing
the frame.
The shallow box A, or the top end of the well or sleeve B, will form a receptacle
for oil or other suitable lubricant, which by passing down into the well or sleeve B
and also inside the tube C will always keep the whole of the parts on which there
is any friction efficiently lubricated, as the block G in moving up and down inside
the sleeve C will cause the lubricant to be alternately expelled from and drawn
into such sleeve, thereby ensuring efficient lubrication of all of the parts upon
which there is any friction, and consequently preventing the noise which usually
occurs when the door is opened or closed.
It will be seen that my improved spring closing device will permit of the door
being turned in almost a complete circle, that is to say, it can be turned so as to
lie flat against either side of the wall or other part to which the door is attached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
1. The improved spring closing device consisting in a tube C placed in a well or
sleeve B secured in a fixed position, such tube containing a block G capable of
moving vertically therein, for the purpose of compressing a spring H between it
and a cap I at the top of the tube, the under side of said block G being formed
with an inclined or cam surface, and the block being moved in an upward direc-
tion by means of spindle E capable of turning freely within the tube C, and
carrying at its upper end the door to be opened and closed, while its lower end is
provided with either a roller F, or a block N with an inclined or cam surface on
its upper side corresponding to that on the lower side of block G, upon which latter
the roller F or block N acts when the door is opened in either direction, the pressure
of the spring H causing the return of the parts to their normal position when the
door is released, all substantially as described and shown.
2. The means for regulating the tension or degree of compression of the spring H,
consisting in the cap I between which and the block G the spring is confined, the
cap I being capable of vertical adjustment on the upper part of the spindle E,
substantially as described and shown.
3. The means of adjusting the position of the tube C within well B, consisting
in the slotted quadrant D, at the upper end of such tube, and the studs or
screws K, K¹, passing through a slot in the quadrant and engaging with screw-
threaded holes tapped in the bottom of the box A formed at the upper end of
well B, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The means of adjusting the position of the tube C within well B, consisting
in forming ears or lugs L, L', on the upper end of such tube, and providing
screws M, M, to work through holes in said ears or lugs, so as to cause the heads
of the screws to bear against the sides of the box A formed at the upper end of
well B, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. The means of adjusting the position of the tube C within well B, consisting in
causing a screw B¹ working through the side of said well, to engage with any one
of a series of holes formed in the periphery of the tube C, by first turning the tube C
within the well so that one of its holes coincides with the hole in the well through
which the screw B' works, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of C700%.