IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE CLOSING AND SECURING OF DOORS
Year: 1887

page_text: 1 DENIS DOYEN of 28 Boulevard des Ecoles, Lille in the Republic of France,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE CLOSING AND SECURING OF DOORS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The invention which constitutes the object of the present application consists in
providing means for the utilization in a simple and effectual manner of the force of a
spring interposing the resistance produced say by a cushion of air or say by an
opposing spring for automatically closing tightly doors without producing shock or
causing noise and for securing doors closed.
I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings to describe various modifications
of the means adapted to be employed to the attainment of this end.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of the apparatus shewing the spring and air
compresser. Figure 2 is a horizontal section.
This apparatus consists of a tube or cylinder A closed at its extremities by the
covers B and C and in the interior thereof is a piston D. This piston is provided
with a washer E of leather or other suitable material of mushroom or like form, in
order to make it air-tight; it is operated by the rod or stem F which passes through
the cover B similarly tightly fitted, this rod works through a cotton or like packing
contained in the chamber G therein tightly retained by the cap G. On the rod F is
applied the connecter H, which connects this rod I to the fork I, which is connected
to the support J by the axial pin J' whereby it is permitted to turn thereon the end
of this fork J is tapped with a left hand thread whilst the end of the rod F is tapped
right handed so that upon turning the connector H the rod F is adjustably lengthened
or shortened enabling inore or less tension to be attained by the internal spring Land
thus obtain a more or less rapid closing of the door.

page_text: Within the cylinder A is a coiled spring which takes at one side on the cover C
and at the other on the piston D.
Figures 3 and 4 shew to a larger scale the cover B by longitudinal section the
second by internal view. As thus viewed this cover is furnished with a valve A¹
operated by the spring B' this is fixed by screw C¹ and forms with an opening for
passage of the rod or stem F. The valve A closely fits the hole D' which is the
opening by which air enters the cylinder. The hole F1 (see Figure 4) serves for exit
of the compressed air regulated by means of a screw entering this hole.
The apparatus is secured on one side by the cap C to the support M by means of an
axial pin M which permits oscillation; the piece M is attached to the door Z by
screws; at the other end of the apparatus the forked piece I works by the axis j
upon the piece J which is attached to the door frame Y.
On opening the door Z which is hinged at O the apparatus will follow this movement
but as it turns upon the axis J¹ which is placed outside the hinge of the door the
piston D will consequently compress the spring I which in displacement makes
opening in the opposite side that is to say in the interval space between the piston
and the cap B. The air from outside will then enter the cylinder by the hole D¹ and
lifting the valve. If the door be still pushed to its maximum of opening the spring L
will be compressed further and further by the piston D and will assume the position Z¹
shewn by Figure 5.
If at this moment the door be let go it will suddenly close because the spring L will
at once strive to extend itself by pressure at one side on the door by the cap Cand on
the other side upon the piston D which is attached to the door frame by the rod or
stem as I have explained. But the air confined in the inside will be compressed by
the piston the valve A' being closed and this will hinder the door from closing with
violence and noise. The air will only be able to escape gradually through the hole of
exit E the size of aperture of which is adjusted by a screw as desired.
As there will usually be too much resistance to overcome for closing doors
completely that is to say for making the bolt of the lock enter the frame hole I adopt
a plan of bolt hole with avoids this resistance.
Figure 6 shews a horizontal section and Figure 7 front view of this bolt hole. It
is composed of a box a in which is placed a ratchet follower or wheel with projections b
upon this wheel is applied a small ratchet wheel into which takes the click d pressed
by the spring which is applied upon a little corresponding plate i. The click d
plays in a groove m which is formed in the box and which holds it.
When the door is almost shut it is still pushed by the closing apparatus but which
at that moment has its spring extended and consequently should meet with no resistance
to its being closely shut. Then the bolt n of the lock o comes in contact with one of
the projections at a without resistance. The wheel with projections turns a certain
distance so as to cause the next projection of the little wheel to be presented instead of
the first and thus in turn; the bolt a meeting with no resistance is not forced back into
the lock consequently the least pressure given to the apparatus will shut the door
close. The wheel with projections being furnished with a ratchet is able to turn in
one direction but cannot turn in the other direction when all is in this position closed
it is necessary to make the bolt re-enter the lock that the door may be opened this can
be done by aid of the handle with which doors are commonly furnished.
•
Figure 8 shews by horizontal section and Figure 9 by front view a modification of
the above apparatus in which is also a cylinder closed at each end by one of two caps
one of which is air tight and has a valve, the piston is as in Figure 2 the rod or
stem E passing through the middle of the spring I, and through the cap C to operate
another rod Qwhich is adapted to the piece J fixed to the door frame Y. The caps B.
and Care provided with flanges R. S. by which it is fixed to the door Z.
The axis of the door is the hinge O and the rod Q with axis J¹ the piston will close
the spring whenever the door is opened. The air will be compressed by the movement
of the piston and the same takes place as has already been described in connection
with the previous arrangement,

page_text: Figure 10 is a horizontal section which shows a third arrangement of the apparatus.
The internal spring L of Figures 2 and 8 is replaced by a plate spring Tattached
to the cranked rod Q which is likewise attached to the rod F. The plate spring T is
attached to the door frame by the piece O' the cylinder A having no interior spring it
only compresses the air it has also a valve cap as in the previous arrangement shewn.
Figure 11 shews in longitudinal horizontal section a modification of the door closer
shewn in Figure 10 which only differs by reason of the rod Q being directly attached
from the piston to the plate spring T which is attached to the door frame by a
piece O¹.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of a closing apparatus applicable to swing doors
i.c. swinging in either direction.
Figure 13 is a corresponding front view.
In this modification the apparatus also has a tube A closed at its ends by covers C. B.
inside this tube the piston 1) traverses; this piston which need not fit air tight is held
on the rod F which works through the cover B and is connected to the axis J' which
is the junction of the cranked rods J" & K. Within the tube A are two springs L
and Lone, on the one side, pressing against the cap C and the piston D and the other
spring against the other cap B and the other side of the piston."
The air tube need not necessarily be air tight so as to compress air nor need the
piston and covers be so, and a valve is not needed.
The two links K. K. figures 12 and 13 are hinged on the axis U₁ of the support U
which is fixed to the door Z the cranked arm is hinged to the axis V of the
support W fixed to the door frame Y these cranked arms are attached to the rod F
at the point J. The cap C has a hinge and hinge pin & on which it oscillates being
supported on plate a fixed to the door."
The operation of the apparatus shewn in Figure 14 will be readily understood.
The apparatus is supposed to be mounted on the closed door Z. In this position
the piston D occupies the middle of the tube the two springs L L exert an equal
pressure on each face and the door in its closed position is held in equilibrium as
regards pressure by means of the two crank rods tu attached to the piston at.
Supposing the door to be opened in direction of the arrow it will take the position
(dotted lines y) and the cranks will be moved into the position shewn by the dotted
lines the first crank t coming against the hinge or support 1" (see Figure 15) the
piston 1) compresses the spring L and extends the spring L. On letting go the
door at once the spring L' pressing more than the other pushes back the piston and
forces the door to its closed position until it is in normal closed balanced position.
Suppose the door opened in the opposite direction of the arrow it takes the
position of the lines y' the link is taking the position of the lines ("u" the link ť
(see figure 15) being checked. In this position the piston compresses the spring L
and extends the spring L'. The door let go when thus a like effect takes place to that
already described when opening in the opposite direction closes tightly.
It will be readily understood that throughout the various described modifications
the scale and proportion of parts will depend on the size and weight of doors.
My door closer apparatus can be applied with equal facility at any desired point in
the height of the door, placing the handle conveniently to the height of the hand
for effecting the opening of the door as indicated by Figure 12.
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. A door closing apparatus with compressed air operating directly by the action of
a single rod and an interior spring, the tension of which is capable of regulation by
means of a connector, arranged and operating as and for the purposes substantially as
set forth with reference to the figures 1. 2. 3. 4 and 5.
2. The ratchet follower or wheel with projections permitting the complete closing
of doors without resistance, obviating the necessity to exercise the effort ordinarily
necessary in order to throw the bolt into the follower substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. The modification of door closing apparatus with air compression operated by two
rods and an internal spring as described and shewn with reference to Figures 8
and 9.
4. The modification of door closer with compressed air comprising two rods and a
plate spring as described and shewn with reference to Figure 10.
5. The modification of door closer wherein are arranged in combination a plate
spring with but one rod as described and shewn with reference to Figure 11.
6. The combination or arrangement in a swing door closer apparatus as described
and shewn with reference to Figures 12. 13. 14 and 15 of a spring and two cranked
rods together with two internal springs counteracting each other.
7. The air inlet valve situated in one of the covers of the air tube as and for the
purpose set forth with reference to Figure 3.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.