Improvements in or Connected with Turnstiles and Gates for Free Exit of Persons.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Turnstiles and Gates for Free
Exit of Persons.
I, ALFRED AIRD of Helmet Court, Strand, Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to a novel method of fitting or arranging a turnstile so that
the arms or wings can be folded down and the pillar be swung towards the wall, the
table being formed like a fall down flap, to enable a clear passage to be made for the
easy and unobstructed exit of people from a place of entertainment.
In proximity to my collapsible or shiftable turnstile and moveable appendages I
arrange or employ a gate or a swinging panel, which may be released simultaneously
with the turnstile by ono movement of a lever, spring, or appliance, the freeing of the
gate enabling a very wide opening or passage to be formed.
I purpose fitting electrical or some equivalent mechanism to register the incomers.
Dated this 5th day of December 1887.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Alfred Aird.

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Turnstiles and Gates for Free
Exit of Persons.
I, ALFRED AIRD, of Helmet Court, Strand, Middlesex, Gentleman, 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-
This invention relates to a novel method of fitting or arranging a turnstile, so that
the arms or wings can be folded down and the pillar be swung towards the wall, the
table being formed like a fall down flap, to enable a clear passage to be made for the
easy and unobstructed exit of people from a place of entertainment.
In proximity to my collapsible or shiftable turnstile and moveable appendages I
arrange or employ a gate or a swing panel, which may be released simultaneously
with the turnstile by one movement of a lever, spring, or appliance, the freeing of the
gate enabling a very wide opening or passage to be formed.
1 purpose fitting electrical or some equivalent mechanism to register the incomers.
My invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings at Figure 1, which is a view
of the several parts in position, such as when persons have to pass through a
turnstile and Figure 2 is a view of the turnstile and the gate or panel folded back
into spaces provided for them for giving a clearance through a passage.
The turnstile is composed of four lower arms A, A, see Figures 3 and 4, jointed
to lugs of a pedestal B, said turnstile having also four upper arms C, C, connected
to the lower ones by distancing bars D, D. The upper_arms C, C, are also pivotted
to lugs of the pedestal and are supported by links E, E, set at an angle, the lower
ends of said links E, E, being pivotted to a sliding block F which is free to move in
a siot made in the pedestal between the two sets of arms A, C, when the two
catches G, G, are forced inward by a cup H pressing upon them with a downward
pressure under the action of a sliding plate I which can be pulled along by a rod
and chain J from any convenient part of the building.
At Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the handle K suspended from a pivotted
lever L, which when operated draws the curved plate 1, shown separately in Figure 5,
said plate having a curved end with a slot in which rides a button to guide the
cup in its up and down movement. The plate is returnable by a spring M.
When the two spring catch plates G, G, are drawn together by the action of the
cup H, the weight of the block I will draw the two catches G, G, down the hollow
portion of the stem B and as the block F drops, the arms C and also the arms A
drop into the position indicated at Figures 2 and 6, so that the passage hitherto
occupied by the projecting arm of the turnstile is enlarged and has no obstacle to
prevent persons passing through in either direction.

page_text: The pedestal B is pivoited in a socket or step piece N and a shoulder of the
pedestal is provided with a series of notches, into which a spring paul P can
engage, so that when the arms A, C, are up and the apparatus acting as a turn-
stile, persons can only pass through in one direction at the will of an attendant, who
presses his foot on the lever Q to take the paul P out of gear.
The turnstile is carried by a pivotted frame R, so that when the handle K is
pulled, the turnstile arms not only fold down but they, with the frame R, swing
to the wall and preferably into a chamber under the action of springs or by an
unequal set of the pivot pins S and occupy a position indicated at Figure 2, the
flap or money receiving table T being hinged, so that it falls down simultaneously
with the movement of the turnstile, thus a much wider exit is formed for the free
passage of persons who may pass through three or four abreast.
I purpose attaching to the chain J another chain U, so that the same handle K
will, by means of the chain U draw a catch V out of a notch of a bolt W, the
spring of which will draw the bolt upwards and release itself from a swing panel,
or swing gate X pivotted to the wall on the opposite side of the passage, which
panel or gate, by means of springs, or by an unequal set of the pivots Y will fold
into the wall, as indicated at Figure 2, whereby a still wider passage is formed, which
according to the breadth of the panel, or gate, the passage could be madé sufficiently
wide for twenty or more people to pass abreast, whereby a building in case of fire,
panic, or other causes would have free exit for the people.
In Figure 1, I have shown a single gate but the gate may be in two or more folds,
such as is seen in the diagram, Figure 7, in which case the additional width Z of the
gate X would be fastened by the spring bolt W, which when released, the double
gate X, Z, would be free to fold back and occupy a position indicated by the diagram,
Figure 8, consequently the width of the passage would be immaterial as the gate X
may have several folding pieces capable of being simultaneously released with that of
the turnstile for folding into their niches.
a,
The mechanism, by which the turnstile catch plates G, G, are operated, is enclosed
in a box a and I purpose arranging on the top of the pedestal B and within the box
a wheel with say, four teeth, sec Figure 9, against which a lever c presses, so that
each time the turnstile is operated, the lever c presses a plate d into contact with
another plate e to complete an electric circuit with any indicator mechanism, which
may be fitted in any part of the building for electrically checking or registering the
number of persons passing through the turnstile, so that the number so passing can
be checked with the amount of money taken at the entry.
The cup H before spoken of is guided vertically by two small ribs f₁f, see Figure 10,
but any other arrangement can be adopted.
The small wheel & may have in connection, a ratchet wheel, which by means of a
paul, would prevent the turnstile arms and pedestal being turned in the wrong
direction.
Within the box a and forming part of the rod J is a spring bolt V₁, Figure 11,
which when the frame R is thrown outwards for the turnstile to be used, shoots into a
catch W fitted on the underside of the flap T to retain the frame R; but when the
release of the arms A, C, D, takes place, the bolt V is simultaneously operated, so
that a clearance of the passage with regard to the turnstile is effected and if the bolt V
be in connection by its chain U, the gate or panelling will be also released and so
make a wide passage.
The invention above described is applicable to Theatres, Music, Concert, or Public
Halls, from which a clear and unobstructed passage can be formed by simply pulling
a handle or other ready means by which the chains I and U, singly or combined, may
be operated, such as in the case of a panic created by fire, disturbance, or other cause.
It is also applicable for use at ordinary times for enabling the audience of a
Theatre, Music, or Concert Hall, or place of Assembly, to rapidly leave the
building.
I have described a turnstile as being in conjunction with folding gates or panels
but where it is arranged that the public can leave a building by a passage, separate

page_text: to that at which they entered, the folding panels or gates alone may be fitted, which
at the close of the performance can open by pulling the handle K to release the
caich V, W.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In connection with a reducible or collapsible turnstile, a swinging frame, which
when released has a free motion to increase the width of an opening for the unobstructed
passage of persons as described with reference to the annexed drawings.
2. In connection with a swinging frame and collapsible turnstile, hanging panels,
or gates, which can be simultaneously released as and for the purpose described.
3. Hanging panels, or gates, at the exits of Public places of amusement, which
when the mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described, is released, a clear and
unobstructed passage can be formed as described.
4. The particular arrangement of mechanism comprising the parts I, G, H, J and
their operation by which collapsible arms of turnstiles can be released, whether in
combination with a swinging frame of a turnstile, or with swinging panels or gates
for a simultaneous release of the same as set forth.
The 5th day of October 1888.