Spring Hinges.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
'
Spring Hinges.
I, CLAUDE KENNEDY MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communi-
cation to me from Charles Frederick Hanington, of No. 73, West 105th Street,
Borough of Manhattan, in the City, County and State of New York, in the United
States of America, Inventor), and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The invention relates to various new and useful improvements in spring hinges.
The improved spring hinge is especially adapted for use in connection with a
door provided with a checking device, though manifestly it is not limited to such
use, but may be employed in connection with any type or style of door, gate or
other closing device. The particular feature of novelty in the improved spring
hinge is the provision of an operating spring combined with means of any charac-
ter whatever by which when the door is opened and the operating spring placed
under increased tension, the movement of the door to its full open position does
not result in a corresponding effect upon the spring. In other words the improved
spring hinge is so arranged that during a portion of the opening movement of the
door, the spring will be placed under increased tension, but during any further
movement of the door towards its open position, the spring will be maintained
under such tension, without, however, exerting any force tending to close the
door. When, however, in the closing of the door the latter is moved to that
position at which in opening, the further compression of the spring ceases, the
spring will be automatically released and will exert its tension in the closing
of the door. This fundamental and underlying feature of novelty in the inven-
tion results in the production of a spring hinge having manifest practical advan-
tages. It has been observed that in a very large majority of cases a person passing
through a doorway opens the door only to about one-half of its extent of move-
ment. In the first place then, with the improved spring hinge. forming the
subject of the present application a device is provided which under the normal con-
ditions of operation makes use of an operating spring of only the required size,
instead of, as is now the case, providing a spring of a sufficient capacity to operate
under the effect of any opening movements of a door. In the second place, such a
spring is particularly adapted for use in connection with a check, since whether
the door is open to a normal or to an abnormal extent, the closing force remains
practically the same, so that undue strains are not imposed upon the checking
mechanism. With ordinary hinges, the springs of which are so adjusted as to
give the desired closing stress when the door is open to its normal or usual extent,
the closing stress which will be exerted when the door is open to an abnormal
or unusual extent will be so great as to strain, if not injure, the checking
mechanism. A spring hinge possessing the feature of novelty above referred to
may be so arranged that after the spring has been placed under tension and
retained in that condition, and when the door has been thus moved beyond its
normal extent, it will remain in that position, there being no tendency for it to

page_text: close. In some instances this would be desirable, as will be obvious. Instead,
however, of employing such an arrangement, a second or supplementary spring
may be used, which comes into play when the door is moved beyond its normal
extent and which may exert upon the door only sufficient stress to move the door
to its normal position, at which point the main spring comes into use for effecting
the final closing movement. When a main and supplementary spring are thus
employed, the device possesses the manifest advantage that a main spring is used
so adjusted and of such size as will be adapted to close the door from its normal
position, while the supplementary spring very seldom comes into play, and when
it does operate, serves only to move the door from an abnormal to the normal open
position. Preferably the improved spring hinge is so arranged that when a
secondary spring is used, its tension may be adjusted in a very simple and con-
venient manner. By preference also the main operating spring is provided with
an adjusting device comprising a worm wheel and worm, by which a very delicate
and accurate adjustment of the spring may be effected. The operating spring.
or springs and their cooperating elements are preferably arranged entirely within
the hinge barrel, whereby a very neat and attractive device is secured.
In carrying the invention into effect, within the hinge barrel is placed a main
operating spring, preferably a coiled spring, which may surround the pintle.
One end of this spring is connected to an adjusting device, by which its tension
may be regulated, which adjusting device is carried by one of the elements of
the hinge, such as the stationary leaf. Within the hinge barrel, and preferably
upon the pintle, a collar is also mounted, to which the other end of the operating
spring is secured. This collar is normally locked to the hinge barrel by means
of a locking pawl or latch, so that in the opening of the door, the relative
movement of the barrel with respect to the pintle and stationary leaf rotates the
said collar and places the operating spring under increased tension. It is prefer-
able to carry upon or in connection with a relatively stationary element within
the hinge barrel, such as the pintle, a stop with which the said pawl or latch
comes into engagement and by which the said pawl or latch will be tripped
so as to release the collar when the door has moved to its normal extent. In
order to prevent the collar thus released from immediately partaking of a reverse
movement under the effect of the operating spring, a second pawl or latch is
provided which is carried by a relatively stationary element, or if by a movable
element, by the same element to which the lower end of the spring is secured, such
for example as by a collar fast to the pintle, which second pawl when carried by a
collar fast to the pintle is adapted to be released by a cam on the movable element
to engage with a shoulder on the first mentioned collar to which the upper end
of the spring is secured, such engagement taking place immediately before the
said collar is tripped by the first pawl or latch, whereby the said collar will be
locked against reverse movement and the spring thus placed under tension will
be maintained in that condition, its upper and lower ends being thus locked to
the same element of the hinge. When a secondary spring is employed, it is pre-
ferred to arrange the same in the upper part of the hinge barrel between a
relatively movable and a relatively fixed collar, and preferably between a collar
fast to the hinge barrel to which one end of the secondary spring is attached and
which will be movable therewith, and a collar adapted to engage with the
stationary leaf so as to be maintained in a fixed position and to which the other
end of said secondary spring is attached.
The special constructions and operations of these devices which comprise the
preferred embodiment of this invention will be more particularly pointed out
hereinafter and claimed.
In order that the invention may be better understood, attention is directed to
the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing the operating spring placed
under its normal tension, the pawls having operated to release the upper end
of said spring from the hinge barrel and to connect it to the pintle; Figure 2,

page_text: a similar view from the opposite side, showing the construction and arrangement
of the pawl or latch for locking the upper end of the main operating spring to
the hinge barrel in the preliminary movements of the door; Figure 3, a cross
section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and Figure 4 a perspective view of the collar
on the pintle and to which the upper end of the operating spring is secured.
In all of the above views, corresponding parts are represented by the same
numerals of reference.
1 represents the stationary leaf, and 2 the movable leaf. The stationary leaf
is provided at the top and bottom with ears or lugs 3 and 4, in which the pintle 5
is mounted. The movable leaf 2 is provided with the barrel 6 mounted upon
the pintle in any suitable way, as for example, by a collar 7 secured to said barrel
and movable upon the pintle, by a disc 8 at its upper end movable with respect
to the barrel and pintle, and by a shoulder 9 on the lug or ear 4 and over which
the lower end of the barrel is inserted. Any usual and desired means may be
employed for centering the barrel relatively to the pintle. 10 is the main operating
spring, which is preferably a heavy coiled spring and which at its lower end is
connected to any suitable adjusting device. Preferably this adjusting device
comprises a worm-wheel 11, to which the lower end of the spring 10 is secured,
and a worm 12 meshing with and rotating said worm-wheel. The worm-wheel 11
may be provided with a sleeve 13 fitting within the lug or ear 4, lateral movement
of said worm-wheel being prevented by a screw 14 engaging a recess 15 in said
sleeve. The worm 12 is provided outside of the lug or ear 4 with a square or
rectangular winding-head with which any suitable key may engage. Preferably
the ornamental knob 16 which is screwed on the lower end of the pintle is pro-
vided with a square or rectangular recess 17 adapted to engage over said winding-
head for the purpose of rotating the worm when adjustment of the operating
spring is desired. By using a worm-wheel and worm for effecting this adjustment,
the tension of the operating spring may be very delicately and accurately regu-
lated, and such adjustment will be retained without the necessity of other and
special locking devices. The upper end of the spring 10 is secured to a collar 18
movable with respect to both the pintle and barrel. This collar may be provided
with a depending sleeve 19 which will be interposed between the spring and
pintle as shown. The collar 18 is adapted to be normally locked to the hinge
barrel, so that when the hinge barrel is rotated in the opening of the door, the
upper end of the spring will be moved relatively to its lower end and the spring
will be thus placed under tension. This normal locking of the collar 18 to the
barrel is preferably secured by means of a pawl or latch 20 carried on the collar 7,
which, as before stated, is fast to the barrel. The said pawl or latch 20 is curved,
as shown in Fig. 3, so as to be concentric with the barrel. The lower end of the
pawl 20 is provided with a locking head 21, which engages a recess 22 in the
collar 18, this engagement being normally effected by means of a spring 23, which
presses down the free end of said pawl or latch. The pawl or latch 20 is adapted
to be tripped so as to release its locking head from the recess 22 in any suitable
way, as for example by means of a pin 24 carried on a collar 25 which is keyed or
otherwise secured to the stationary pintle, said pin working with respect to an
inclined surface 26 on said pawl or latch to elevate the same.. It will thus be
seen that in the opening movement of the door, the barrel will be partly rotated,
carrying the pawl or latch 20 with it, and the engagement between the locking
head 21 and the recess 22 will partially rotate the collar 18 to place the main
operating spring under increased tension, but that when the door has been
opened to its normal extent, the inclined face 26 of the pawl engages the pin 24
so as to elevate the pawl and release the collar 18 from its connection with the
barrel. In order to prevent the said collar 18 from immediately partaking of a
reverse movement under the effect of the spring, a second pawl or latch 27 is
made use of and carried by the same element to which the lower end of the spring
is connected, which second pawl will engage the collar 18, whereby the spring
will be maintained under tension but will be entirely disconnected between the

page_text: two elements of the hinge. The said second pawl is adapted to come into play
to so lock the collar 18 immediately before the pawl or latch 20 is released. The
pawl or latch 27 is pivoted to a lug 28 carried by the collar 25, and is therefore
stationary with the stationary leaf. The pawl or latch 27 is provided with a
locking head 29 which normally works in a groove 30 formed in the upper outer
surface of the collar 18, but is adapted to engage in a depression 31 in said groove
when the said collar 18 requires to be locked to the pintle. A leaf spring 32
normally presses the locking head 29 towards the wall of the groove 30 and forces
the said locking head into the recess 31 when the two are coincident, i.e., when
the movement of the door has moved the collar 18 so as to bring the recess 31
into line with said locking-head. The pawl 27 is extended at its rear end beyond
the vertical pivot 28 and is formed with an inclined cam surface 33 adapted
to engage a corresponding surface 34 on the inside of the hinge barrel, such
engagement releasing the locking head of said pawl from the recess 31 when the
door returns to its normal open position. The hinge barrel is preferably cut away
at 35 opposite the pawl 27 in order that the parts may be reached when desired,
which opening will be covered by a concentric portion 36 normally screwed in
place by means of screws 37. The space 35 which is thus cut away allows the
free or rear end of the pawl 27 to move therein without affecting the locking
engagement between the head 29 and the recess 31 while the door is moved beyond
its normal position.
In the drawings the improved spring hinge is illustrated as comprising also
a secondary or auxiliary spring 38 mounted in the upper part of the barrel for
moving the door from an abnormal to its normal open position. As before stated,
this spring is not strictly necessary and may oftentimes be dispensed with with
profit when it is desired to obtain a spring hinge by which the door may be left
in a full open position. The secondary spring 38 shown is connected at its lower
end to the collar 7 and at its upper end to a collar 39, said upper end passing
through the movable disc 8 when used. The collar 39 is movable with respect
to both the pintle and the barrel. The said collar is preferably provided with a
series of screw threaded openings 40, into any one of which a screw 41 is adapted
to he engaged. This screw is arranged to come into engagement with a portion
of the stationary leaf when the barrel has been moved beyond its normal position,
which engagement will place the secondary spring under sufficient tension to
enable it to move the door to its normal position.
The preferred embodiment of the invention thus described and shown will
operate as follows:-
The locking-head 21 of the pawl 20 will normally engage the recess 22 in the
collar 18. The locking-head 29 of the pawl 27 will normally lie in the groove 30,
being maintained in that position by the engagement between its rear end and
the inner wall of the barrel. Upon opening the door, the barrel will be moved
relatively to the pintle. This movement causes the collar 18 to be partially
rotated to place the spring 10 under the desired tension. When the door has
moved to its normal position, the surface 33 of the pawl 27 will clear the surface 34
of the barrel to allow said pawl to be moved with the spring 32 and force the
locking-head 29 into the recess 31. While this movement is taking place on the
part of the pawl 27, the inclined surface 26 of the nawl 20 will be in engagement
with the pin 24, so that an instant after the pawl 27 is locked to the collar 18, the
Dawl 20 will be released from its engagement with said collar. In this position
therefore, the upper end of the spring 10 will be locked to the pintle, and since
the lower end of said spring is also locked to said pintle, the spring will be
maintained under its tension, but will be entirely disconnected from the barrel,
so that if no secondary spring is used, the door can then be moved bevond the
normal position and there will be no tendency on its part to close. If however
a secondary spring is used, as is sometimes preferable, the rotation of the barrel
will, through said secondary spring. tend to rotate the collar 39 until the screw 41
engages the stationary leaf, at which time further rotation of said collar 39 is

page_text: prevented. This engagement may take place either simultaneously with the
release of the collar 18 from the barrel, or some time before such release. In
this way the further movements of the door beyond the normal position will wind
up the secondary spring 38, whereby the secondary spring 38 will return the door
to its normal position. As the door approaches its normal position, the inclined
surface 26 of the pawl 20 will ride down on the pin 24 and allow the locking
head 21 to engage the recess 22 in the collar 18. An instant after that engage-
ment takes place the cam surface 33 of the pawl 27 will engage the cam surface 34
so as to release the locking-head 29 from the recess 31, whereby the main operating
spring will once more be connected to the barrel, and the tension of that spring
will then be exerted in the closing of the door.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
is claimed is:-
1. In a spring hinge, the combination with the movable and stationary leaves,
of an operating spring connected permanently to one of said elements, means for
connecting the other end of said spring normally to the other of said elements,
means for releasing such engagement, and means for locking the disengaged end
of the operating spring to the same hinge element to which its other end is per-
manently attached, substantially as set forth.
2. In a spring hinge, the combination with the movable and stationary leaves,
of an operating spring connected permanently to one of said elements, means for
connecting the other end of said spring normally to the other of said elements,
means for releasing such engagement, and means automatically acting immedi-
ately before such disengagement to lock the disengaged end of the operating
spring to the same hinge element to which its other end is permanently attached,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a spring hinge, the combination with the two leaves, of a main operating
spring having one of its ends permanently secured to one of said elements, a. collar
to which the other end of said spring is secured, means for locking said collar
to the other of said hinge elements, means for releasing said collar from such
engagement when the door has moved to a normal extent, and means for locking
said collar to the same element to which the fixed end of the spring is permanently
secured, substantially as set forth.
4. In a spring hinge, the combination with the two leaves, of a main operating
spring having one of its ends permanently secured to one of said elements, a
collar to which the other end of said spring is secured, means for locking said
collar to the other of said hinge elements, means for releasing said collar from
such engagement when the door has moved to a normal extent, and means auto-
matically acting immediately before such disengagement to lock said collar to
the same element to which the fixed end of the spring is permanently secured,
substantially as set forth.
5. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of a main operating spring connected to one of said leaves, a collar connected to
the other end of said spring, a pawl for normally locking said collar to the other
leaf, means for disengaging said pawl, a second pawl for locking said collar to
the same element to which the fixed end of said spring is permanently secured,
and means for engaging said second pawl with said collar immediately before the
first pawl is released therefrom, substantially as set forth.
6. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of a main operating spring connected to one of said leaves, a collar connected to
the other end of said spring, a pawl for normally locking said collar to the other
leaf, means for disengaging said pawl, a second pawl for locking said collar to
the same element to which the fixed end of said spring is permanently secured,
means for engaging said second pawl with said collar immediately before the
first pawl is released therefrom, and means for adjusting the fixed end of said
spring, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 7. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of a main operating spring having one of its ends secured to one of said leaves,
a collar to which the other end of said spring is secured, a pawl for normally
locking said collar to the other of said leaves, means for disengaging said pawl
when the door has been moved to its normal extent, a second pawl connected to
the leaf to which the operating spring is permanently secured, means for engaging
said second pawl with said collar immediately before the first pawl is released
therefrom, means for engaging the first pawl with said collar upon the return
movement, and means for disengaging the second pawl from said collar immedi-
ately after the re-engagement of the first pawl, substantially as set forth.
8. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of a main operating spring having one of its ends secured to the stationary leaf,
a hinge barrel carried by the movable leaf and enclosing the operating spring,
means for releasing the engagement between the upper end of said spring and
the barrel when the door has moved to a normal extent, and means for locking
the upper end of said spring to the stationary leaf immediately before the said
spring is disengaged from the hinge barrel, substantially as set forth.
9. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of an operating spring having its lower end permanently secured to the stationary
leaf, a hinge barrel carried by the movable leaf and enclosing said spring, a collar
to which the upper end of said spring is secured, a pawl movable with the barrel
and normally engaging said collar to place the operating spring under tension,
means for disengaging said pawl when the door has been moved to a normal
extent, a second and stationary pawl, and means for engaging said stationary
pawl with said collar immediately before the movable pawl is disengaged there-
from, substantially as set forth.
10. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of an operating spring permanently secured to the stationary leaf, a hinge barrel
carried by the movable leaf and enclosing said spring, a stationary pintle, a collar
movable on said pintle and to which the upper end of said spring is secured, a
pawl movable with the barrel and normally engaging said collar to place the
spring under tension, means for disengaging said pawl when the door has moved
to its normal extent, a second pawl stationary with said pintle, and means for
engaging said pawl with said collar to lock the same to the pintle immediately
before the movable pawl is disengaged from said collar, substantially as set forth.
11. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of an operating spring permanently secured to the stationary leaf, a hinge barrel
carried by the movable leaf and enclosing said spring, a stationary pintle, a collar
movable on said pintle and to which the upper end of said spring is secured, a
pawl movable wth the barrel and normally engaging said collar to place the spring
under tension, means for disengaging said pawl when the door has moved to its
normal extent, a second pawl stationary with said pintle, means for engaging
said pawl with said collar to lock the same to the pintle immediately before the
movable pawl is disengaged from said collar, and interfering cam sections on the
stationary pawl and barrel for releasing the stationary pawl immediately after
the re-engagement of the movable pawl with said collar upon the return movement
of the door, substantially as set forth.
12. In a spring hinge, the combination with a stationary and a movable leaf,
of an operating spring having its lower end permanently secured to the stationary
leaf, a hinge barrel carried by the movable leaf and enclosing said spring, a
stationary pintle, a collar movable on said pintle and to which the upper end of
said spring is connected, a pawl carried by said barrel and normally engaging
said collar to place the spring under tension, a stationary pin with which said
pawl engages for releasing the pawl when the door has moved to its normal extent,
à second pawl stationary with the pintle for engaging said collar immediately
before the disengagement of the first pawl, and interfering cam portions on the

page_text: stationary pawl and barrel for releasing said pawl immediately after the re-engage-
ment of the movable pawl with the said collar, substantially as set forth.
13. In a spring hinge, the combination of the stationary and movable leaves,
a main operating spring normally connecting the said leaves, means for throwing
said spring out of action when the door has been moved to a normal extent, and
a secondary spring cooperating with said leaves for moving the door from an
abnormal to a normal position, substantially as set forth.
14. In a spring hinge, the combination of the stationary and movable leaves,
a main operating spring normally connecting the said leaves, means for throwing
said spring out of action when the door has been moved to a normal extent, a
secondary spring cooperating with said leaves for moving the door from an abnor-
mal to a normal position, and means for adjusting the tension of said secondary
spring, substantially as set forth.
15. In a spring hinge, the combination with the stationary and movable leaves,
of a main operating spring normally connecting said leaves, means for disengag-
ing said spring from the movable leaf when the door has been moved to an
abnormal extent, a secondary spring connecting the two leaves and placed under
tension by the movement of the door to an abnormal position whereby the said
secondary spring returns the door to its normal position, and means for auto-
matically re-engaging the main operating spring with the movable leaf when
the door has returned to its normal position, substantially as set forth.
16. In a spring hinge, the combination with the two leaves, of the main
operating spring, the secondary spring, a collar connected to the stationary end
of said secondary spring, and means for adjusting the position of said collar with
respect to the stationary leaf, is substantially as set forth.
17. In a spring hinge, the combination of the two leaves, the main operating
spring, the secondary spring, a collar connected to the stationary end of said
secondary spring, said collar being provided with a plurality of openings therein,
and a screw adapted to engage with any one of said openings for limiting the
movement of said collar with respect to the stationary leaf, substantially as set
forth.
18. The combination with a door-closing spring, one end of which is connected
to and operates the door and the other end of which is maintained stationary with
respect to the door, of mechanism for adjusting the tension of said spring, com-
prising a worm gear to which one end of the spring is connected, and a worm
for rotating said gear, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of August 1898
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.