Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.L.M.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the spring mechanism which closes the door and to the
check mechanism which prevents the door from slamming.
The coiled spring is contained in a casing or box and a spindle passes through and
is free to turn in both and carries upon one end an arm to whose outer end is jointed
one end of a short link whose other end is jointed to a second arm jointed in turn to
a bracket screwed to the door frame.
In each end of the box or casing is a sleeve which fits round the spindle and is
recessed to receive one end of the spring in such manner that if the sleeves be
turned in opposite directions or if one of them be fixed and the other turned in the
appropriate direction the spring will be wound up to some extent. Stops are provided
upon the spindle arm both ends of the casing and upon one of the sleeves; the
other sleeve at the end of the spindle remote from the arm has holes in it to
accommodate a pin and there is also a collar with a stop to it upon the spindle at
that end.
In use the bracket is screwed to the door frame and the box or casing to the door the
sleeve with the holes in it is turned till the requisite tension is placed upon the spring
and the pin is then inserted in one of the holes and resting against the stop of the
casing prevents the spring from uncoiling. The other end of the spring is held by
the first sleeve whose stop engages with the stop on the spindle arm. As the door is
opened the stop upon the spindle arm engaging with the stop upon the sleeve forces
the sleeve and with it the spring round thus winding up the spring still further, while
the other end of the spring is held by the second sleeve and its pin as already explained.
When the door is released the spring closes it but the effect of the arms and link
is such that the pressure upon the door instead of being stronger when the door is
open and the spring wound further up is if anything rather less than when the door is
closed.

page_text: Should the door be hung from the other side the movement of the spindle is reversed
and the spring as the door opens wound up from the other enil but of course in the
same direction.
The improvement in the check mechanism relates to the joint whereby the piston
rod is connected with the bracket which is screwed to the door. This joint has
previously consisted of two frictional surfaces which when screwed together held the
piston rod rigidly in a certain position; the improvement consists in combining the
friction surfaces by which the position of the rod can be adjusted, with one or more
springs which allow of the rod being turned but always bring it back to the position
set by the friction faces. A convenient way of doing this is to provide upon the rod a
head with a flat side to fit against the bracket and a recessed side into which fits the
conical projection of the spring box the two forming the friction faces.
The spring box is recessed upon its other side to receive the coiled spring whose
ends project past a stop upon the box and engage with another stop upon the bracket;
a pin or bolt passes through both sides of the bracket the spring.-box and the piston
rod head and when screwed up tight presses the friction faces of the spring box and
the head together securely locking them and establishing the position of the piston
rod. The spring box and head however though united can be turned in the bracket
against the spring which pressing against the bracket stop at one end while its other
end is moved round by the stop upon the spring box, brings back the rod to its set
position when released. The spring may be protected or secured by a cover or guard
in the box.
One modification would be by employing a bent spring and a cross piece upon the
head with screws in the cross piece so that by adjusting, these the angle of the rod
could be varied. In this instance the friction faces might be dispensed with
altogether.
Rubber blocks may if desired be used as the springs:

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, M.I.M.E.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
These improvements relate to the spring mechanism which closes the door and to
the check mechanism which prevents the door from slamming.
The closing mechanism consists essentially of a spiral or coiled spring capable of
acting on a spindle which passes through a casing fixed to the door. The spindle is
connected by jointed arms with the frame of the door and when the latter is opened
the arms are extended and the spindle caused to revolve in the casing against the force
of the spring which, as soon as the door is released, tends to resume its original state
and in so doing re-acts on the spindle and closes the door.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the apparatus as
seen when in position, the door being closed. The back of the casing has been removed
and the spring is shown in section for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan of figure 1
and Fig. 3 a view from underneath. Fig. 4 is a plan similar to figure 2 the
door being shown partially open. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of this part
of the invention and are respectively elevation and plan corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2.
Like letters refer to similar parts in the different views.
A is the box or casing which is screwed to the door A¹ by means of screws a passing
through flanges A². A stop piece a', a' is formed on each end of the casing and the
ends are bored or have openings cast therein to receive sleeves B B¹. The sleeve B is
formed with a nose or projection b which comes in contact with the stop piece a¹ and
the sleeve B' is perforated or has holes & formed in it radially into any one of which a
pin can be inserted the projecting end of which will bear against the stop piece a².
The ends of the sleeves which pass into the box or casing are grooved or slotted to
receive the inwardly bent ends of a spiral or coiled spring C which fits over the ends
of the sleeves and fills the interior of the casing. Both ends of the spring being thus
connected to the sleeves it follows that if the sleeves, bo turned in opposite directions
or if one of them be fixed and the other turned in the proper direction the spring will
be wound up to some extent. It is to permit of this winding up of the spring that the
removable pin & is employed in connection with one of the sleeves instead of a fixed
projection such as b; the perforated sleeve B' can be turned by means of a suitable
wrench until the requisite tension is put upon the spring and the pin b² is then inserted
in the hole nearest the stop piece a against which it will bear when the wrench is
removed and the spring tends to uncoil. The arrows on the drawing indicate the

page_text: direction in which the parts to which they are applied would turn if free to
do so.
Through the sleeves B and B passes a spindle D having an arm D¹ at one end and
a collar at the other firmly fixed thereon by a pin or screw. To the outer end of
the arm D is jointed one end of a short link D³ whose other end jointed to a second
arm D jointed in turn to a bracket D' which is screwed to the door frame. At the
top of the spindle where it joins the arm D¹ is a shoulder d from which a finger or
stop piece projects downwardly or in such manner as to over-hang the edge of the
sleeve B and to be capable if the spindle were turned in the right direction of bearing
against the flat face of the stop b. When the apparatus is fixed as shown in the
drawings figures 1, 2 and 3 this stop d' is not brought into requisition the opening of
the door tending to carry it away-from-the-stop-b-The reverse of this however takes
place at the other end of the spindle or at what may be termed the bottom of the
box or case. A stop or finger d projecting from the collar I2 bears, when the
door is opened, against the stop or pin on the sleeve B¹ and causes the sleeve
to revolve thereby winding up the spring or putting increased tension thereon, the
re-action of which when the door is released serves to close it.
Whilst the door
is being opened the spring is prevented from following the spindle bodily by the
contact of the stop a¹ on the case A and projection on the sleeve B.
.
The door indicated in the drawing is hung on the left hand of the observer; it
might however be hung on the opposite side and the apparatus would be equally
applicable... Supposing the hinge to be at a, figure 2, the arm D would then be
on the opposite side. of the arm D₁ and when the door opened the spindle D would
revolve in the reverse direction or, the stop d' instead of moving away from the stop
would press against it and causing it to revolve would wind up the spring from the
other end. and in this case it would be prevented from following the spindle by
the contact of the stop a² and pin at the bottom of the box or case." It will
thus be seen that in whichever way the spindle D is caused to revolve within the
case A by the opening of the door the result of its motion is to wind up or increase
the tension of the spring and the door is closed by the spring uncoiling itself:. This
adaptation of the apparatus to work equally well in either direction constitutes an
important part of the invention.
which
Another feature consists in the arrangement of the jointed arms D', D' in such
manner that the pressure upon the door shall be equal for any position or if not equal
shall be greater when the door is nearly closed than when it is wide open although the
tension of the spring must necessarily vary in the reverse manner. In figure
represents the position of the arms when the door is closed it will be observed that
both arms are close together and perpendicular to the door and when so arranged the
pressure requisite to open the door against the force of such springs as are ordinarily
used is greater at the commencement of the opening motion than afterwards and the
difference must be still greater during the closing motion when to the power of the
spring is added the momentum of the door. That the resistance should be greater on
commencing to open the door than when the door has been opened to a considerable
extent is the reverse of what might have been expected seeing that the tension of the
spring must increase the further it is wound up, but this apparent anomaly may be
partially explained by the fact that the spring is wound up more quickly during the
early part of the opening than afterwards and consequently during the closing motion
the final movement of the door is the result of a considerable unwinding of the
spring.
The modified form of apparatus illustrated in figures 5 and 6 is only intended to act
in one direction and is therefore somewhat simpler than the one above described as the
link D³ is dispensed with, the arm D being bent so that when jointed to the arm D'
the two may still be parallel when the door is closed. The sleeve Bänd the stops a'; b, d¹
are also dispensed with the spindle D being enlarged at its upper end d³ where it is
channelled or grooved to receive one end of the spiral spring C. The other end of
this spring fits as before described in a recess in the sleeve B which is perforated to
receive the pin 2. The collar at the bottom of the spindle is unnecessary-and a pin

page_text: or cotter is put through the spindle to prevent its withdrawal. To adjust this.
apparatus the case A and bracket D' are screwed to the door and framework after
which the spring is wound up by means of a key or wrench applied to the per-
forated sleeve B and the pin inserted as soon as it has acquired the proper
tension.
'
In conjunction with the foregoing or other apparatus for closing the door the check
mechanism is frequently employed consisting of a piston, the rod of which is attached
to a door, and the head of which enters a bell mouthed cylinder fixed to the door
frame, the whole forming an air cushion which prevents the door from closing too
.violently.
The improvements in this check mechanism relate to the joint whereby the piston.
rod is connected with the bracket which is screwed to the door and they are illustrated.
in figures 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawing.
The joint has previously consisted of two. frictional surfaces which when screwed
together held the piston rod rigidly in a certain position, the improvements consist in
combining with the joint one or more springs which will allow of the rod being turned
but will always bring it back to the position previously determined by the adjustment
of the friction-faces or other adjusting device.
Fig. 7 represents a sectional plan of the joint and bracket taken through dotted
line 1, 2, of figure 8 and the latter figure is a vertical section taken through line 3, 4,
of figure 7.
The bracket consists of a flat plate E which is screwed to the door and two leaves.or
lugs E to support the parts forming the joint. F is the piston rod which is provided
with a flattened head F¹ one side of which rests against the leaf of the bracket whilst
the other side is recessed to receive a conical projection G formed on the underside of
a spring box G₁ the recessed head F and the projection G forming the friction
faces.
The spring box consists of a heel or boss having a deep annular groove g formed
on one face to receive a coiled spring H whose ends are parallel and project through
openings in the side of the box and engage with a stop J on the bracket E. A pin or
bolt K passes through both sides of the bracket the spring box and the head of the
piston rod and when screwed up tight presses the friction faces of the spring box and
the head together securely locking them and establishing the position of the piston
rod. The spring box and head however though united can be turned in the bracket
against the spring H which pressing against the bracket stop J at one end whilst its
other end is moved round by the lug g' upon the spring box (this lug being preferably
a portion of the outer rim of the spring box) brings back the rod to its normal position
when released. The spring may be protected or secured within the box by a cover or
guard but I have not thought it necessary to show this in the drawing. In the modi-
fication shown in figure 9 the friction box is dispensed with and a cross head Fis
formed on the end of the piston rod. Through one arm of the cross head passes a
screw F³ the end of which bearing against the bracket plate E limits the movement.of
the piston rod in that direction. Between the end of the other arm of the cross head
and the bracket plate is placed a spring L which tends constantly to keep the end of
the screw F in contact with the plate E but permits the piston rod to move in one
;direction, that is towards the spring, when the cylinder closes upon the piston.. A
helical spring is shown in the drawing but a flat spring would answer equally well.
Both of the methods shown have the advantage of ensuring a definite position for the
piston rod independent of the action of the cylinder and of permitting this position to
to be varied after the apparatus is fixed to the door until the best position is
arrived at.
It must be borne in mind throughout this specification that although certain parts
are spoken of as being fixed to the door and other parts to the frame, these conditions
may be reversed whenever it is found convenient or desirable to do so.
A further improvement in the check mechanism consists in forming the cylinder
separate from the foot or bracket which supports it as this bracket varies in shape
according to the position in which it has to be fixed. If fixed to the vertical face of

page_text: the door or casement it is made in the form shown at M in figures 10 and 11 whilst if
fixed under the horizontal top frame or lintel it is made in the form shown in figure 12.
In each of these separately constructed brackets I make a groove m in the bottom of
which is or may be a hole or slot m¹ for a bolt n (figure 13) to pass through. On the
outside of the cylinder N is cast a rib N¹ having a tongue N' which fits into the
groove m and is securely fixed by the screw or bolt n. By this means the cylinder
can be used in any position in conjunction with a suitable form of bracket and the
provision of the slot m' enables it to be adjusted so as to cause the piston to pass a
greater or less distance into its interior.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a spring mechanism for closing doors the combination with a box or
case containing a spring, of two sleeves such as B B₁ adapted for winding up and
retaining the said spring in a state of tension independently of the spindle and levers
substantially as described.
2. In a spring mechanism for closing doors, in which two sleeves such as B B¹ are
employed for putting tension on the spring the combination with the central spindle D
of two fingers or projections d'each, adapted to engage with and turn one of
the said sleeves their action being in opposite directions substantially as described.
3. In a spring mechanism for closing doors the combination with the spindle D and
its arm D of the arm I jointed to D₁ by a link such as D³ substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. The complete reversible door spring mechanism constructed substantially as
described and illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a spring mechanism for closing doors the combination with a spring and outer
casing of a spindle such as D enlarged at one end d³ and grooved to retain one end of
the spring and a sleeve such as B' for winding up and retaining the spring at the
other end in manner substantially as described and illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
6. In a spring mechanism for closing doors the combination of a spindle and arm
such as D D with an arm D bent substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The complete spring mechanism for closing doors constructed substantially as
described and illustrated in figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
8. In a door check the joint for the piston rod F consisting of two parts F1 and G
fixed together when adjusted by a bolt or screw K and controlled by means of a
spring such as H. contained within a recess or groove in the part G and bearing with
its two ends against lugs or stops g¹ and J substantially as described and illustrated
in figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In a door check the combination with the piston rod F of a cross head F2 having
a screw F³ passed through one end thereof and a spring L adapted to bear against the
other end for the purpose of ensuring a definite position of the piston rod substantially
as described and illustrated in figures 9 and 13 of the accompanying drawings..
.10. .In a door check the cylinder N with a rib N' and tongue N2 formed thereon for
attachment to a supporting bracket substantially as described.
11. In a door check the method of fixing the cylinder by screwing or bolting the
same to a grooved bracket, substantially as described and illustrated by figures 10, 11, 12
and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of December 1887