IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOOR SPRINGS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Timings and Samuel Timings of Birmingham
in the County of Warwick Stampers and Piercers for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOOR SPRINGS"
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Timings and Samuel
Timings at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July
1883.
DAVID TIMINGS, and SAMUEL TIMINGS, of Birmingham in the county of
Warwick, Stampers and Piercers, " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
DOOR SPRINGS
"
Our Invention relates to the common or ordinary barrel door springs used for
closing doors seperating different rooms compartments or passages, or a gate door to
a passage as the case may be, the construction of these springs in the ordinary way
is such that the strength or force of the said springs cannot be regulated or reduced
consquently they have to be made in different sizes where different strengths are
required necessitating the fixing of separate sized springs to the different doors
or gates some of them requiring great force to close them others very little as
for instance in cases where the door is partly glazed or consisting of light
framework,
These defects are entirly obviated by our invention which consists of a simple
arrangement whereby the strength of the spring can be regulated according to
requirement to suit any size or description of door or gate This we effect in the
following way viz by using the ordinary square spindle to which one end of the
volute spring is attached, the other end being rivetted to the bar which presses
against to door when in use in the ordinary way. Instead of the spindle being
secured in square holes top and bottam to the ears fixed to the back plate by
which the spring is attached to the door, theby keeking the spindle in a fixed
position, we make the holes in the ears round or other shape to permit the spindle
to revolve freely in them and at or near the top end of the spindle (between the
spring and the ears) we pass on and fix to the spindle a suitable toothed wheel,
In the top ear we form a hole or holes so that by applying a key or spaner, to the
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page_text: spindle with a hole in it of the same shape as the spindle the spring can.be wound
up to any convenint strength according to the sizes or description of door to
which it is to be attached, and when so wound up a cotter or other suitable check.
can be inserted through the hole or holes in the ear and which takes or passes
into one of the teeth or serrations in the toothed wheed below, therby securely
fixing the spring at the desired strength, Should the strength of the spring from
constant use or other causes be found to weak for the purpose, this can be
easily remedied by furthur winding up the spring and securing it in position as
before described.
Thus it will be seen that by our invention we can fix the spring to the door
without being wound up and easily alter or adapt the strength or force to any
ordinary requirment, Also if desired the whole strength can be removed by
simply removing the cotter or check which causes the spring to resume its normal
or unwound condition.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said David Timings and Samuel Timings in the Patent Office on the
9th January 1884.
DAVID TIMINGS and' SAMUEL TIMINGS of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Stampers and Piercers IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOOR.
SPRINGS
Our invention relates to the common or ordinary barrel door springs used for
closing doors separating different rooms compartments or passages or a gate or
door to a passage as the case may be, the construction of these springs in the
ordinary way. is such that the strength or force of the said spring cannot be
regulated or reduced consequently they have to be made in different sizes were
different strengths are required necessitating the fixing of separate springs to the
different doors or gates, some of them requiring great force to close them others
very little as for instance in cases were the door is partly glazed or consisting of
light framework.
These defects are entirely obviated by our invention which consists of a simple
arrangement whereby the strength of the spring can be regulated according to
requirement to suit any size or description of door or gate. This we effect in the
following way namely by using the ordinary square spindle to which one end of
the volute spring is attached the other end being secured to the bar which presses
against-the door when-in use in the ordinary way but left unwound.
:
Instead of the spindle being secured in square holes top and bottom to the ears-
fixed to the back plate by which the spring is attached to the door thereby keeping
the spindle in a fixed position. We make the holes in the ears round to permit
the spindle to revolve freely in them and at or near the top end of the spindle'
(between the spring and the ear) we pass on and fix to the spindle a suitable
toothed wheel or its equivalent. In the top ear we form a hole or holes so that
by applying a key or spanner to the spindle with a hole in it of the same shape as
the spindle the spring can be wound up to any convenient strength according to
the size or description of door to which it is to be attached and when so wound up
a cotter or other suitable check can be inserted through the hole or holes in the
ear and which takes or passes into one of the teeth or serrations in the toothed
wheel below thereby securely fixing the spring at the desired strength. Should the
strength of the spring from constant use or other cause be found too weak for the
purpose, this can be easily remieded by further winding up the spring and fixing
it in position as before described.
Thus it will be seen that by our invention we can fix the spring to the door
without being wound up and easily alter or adapt the strength or force to any
ordinary requirement. Also if desired the whole strength can be removed without
taking the said spring from the door by simply removing the cotter or check which
causes the spring to resume its normal or unwound condition. But as our inven-
tion will be more readily understood by aid of the drawings hereunto annexed we
will proceed to describe the same reference being made to the figures and letters
marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure I is a representation (in front elevation) of a door spring constructed
according to our invention. Fig: 2 is a top view of same having the upper portion
removed for better illustration, Fig: 3 is a part sectional side view of Fig: I.
Fig: 4 is a top view of Fig: 3 with the spring and bar connected to it, the bar
being broken off for convenience of space as in Fig 2 Fig. 5 is a separate view of

page_text: wheel, Fig: 7 is a modification of same. In use, the spring is taken as represented
at Fig 2, the volute spring marked. A. A. being attached to the spindle. B. B. by
the end of the steel or other metal forming same being bound securely round the
said spindle as shewn in this figure, the loose end being connected to the bar. C. C.
by the rivets. a. a. leaving the said spring. A, unwound, the toothed or perforated
wheel D. Figs 6 or 7 is passed on to the spindle. B. through the opening. f. which
being of shape corresponding to the spindle causes the wheel to work or move with
same, the spindle then passing through the circular hole... in the cars or supports.
E. E. which are connected to the back plate. F. (by which the spring is fixed in
position to the door) by the parts. b. b. Fig: 5 also shown rivetted at Fig: 3 which
also represents in section the connection of the spindle. B. the lower end of which
is secured by the washer. d. d. and position of the toothed wheel. D. the construc-
tion of the spring being thus completed it is ready for fixing in position as required,
to wind up or put the necessary force to the spring it is simply necessary to take
the key or spanner. G. Fig 8 and pass the opening. k. k., over the spindle. B. and
turn it to the left as indicated by the arrows thereby causing the said spindle to
wind up the volute spring. A. until one of the teeth or perforations. m. m. in the
toothed wheel. D. (working with the spindle) pass under or come in position.
corresponding to the hole marked. H. in the top ear or support. E. the pin or
cotter. K. is.then passed through the holes. H. and. m. securely fixing the toothed
wheel. D. and thereby the spindle. B. and spring. A. as represented at Fig: I., the
circular holes. h. h. in the ears., E. E. allowing the spindle to revolve freely,
To increase the strength of the spring it is simply necessary to further wind up the
spindle and secure it as before described also to reduce or remove the strength or
return it to its normal position.
:
Fig 9 is a perspective view drawn to a reduced scale for convenience of space,
shewing the spring in use.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and the best manner of
carrying same into effect we wish it understood that we do not purpose confining
ourselves to the exact details herein described and exhibited as the same may be
diversified and varied without departing from the spirit of our invention but what.
we claim and wish to protect by these our inpart recited. letters patent is the
general combination and arrangement of the several parts for construction of door
springs so that the strength or power of the said springs can be increased or reduced
at once according to requirements, that is to say The forming of holes in the ears
or supports of door springs so that the spindle carrying the spring may revolve
freely in them, also the connection of a toothed or perforated wheel to the spindle
by which means and by the assistance of a pin or cotter or their equivalent
(working in the aforesaid ears or supports and the said toothed wheel) the aforesaid
spindle is kept in a fixed position and thereby the spring at any desired strength
In witness whereof we the said David Timings and Samuel Timings have here-
unto set our hands and seals this twenty second day of December in the Year of
Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
Witness
i
WILLIAM H TAYLOR.
Patent Agent.
Cannon Street.
Birmingham.
DAVID TIMINGS
SAMUEL TIMINGS.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)