Year: 1897

page_text: I, FREDERIC DOSSOGNE of 32, Courte Rue d'Argile, Antwerp, Belgium, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an automatic door closing apparatus in which a piston
sliding in a cylinder, returns the door into its closed position by the action of a
spring which pushes back the piston, the rod of which is connected to the door by
means of a system of levers and is moved with it, whilst the cylinder is jointed to
the door frame. Inversely, the cylinder may be jointed to the door and the piston
rod be jointed to the door frame. In this kind of door closer, the piston should
have a tightness sufficient to allow of the air remaining above the same, so as to
act as a brake when the door is left to itself, and thus prevent the door from closing
with noise.
My invention has for object to insure this tightness in a permanent manner,
whilst allowing of easy and regular working of the rubbing part of the piston.
To the above mentioned air brake, there may be added an oil brake of which I
also claim the invention, and its application to the automatic door closer, as I shall
describe in the course of the present description. My invention is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows the apparatus fixed
to a door. Figure 2 is a plan showing the arrangement of levers for
transmitting the effort exerted by the door on being opened, to the rod of the
piston of the automatic closing device, and vice versa. Figuro 2 shows the same
part in elevation. Figure 3 is an elevation of the cylinder alone. Figure 4 is a
longitudinal section of the same. Figure 5 is a partial section of the same,
showing the end of the piston rod and also the latter part. Figure 6 shows the
piston in elevation. Figure 7 is a section of said piston. Figure 8' is a plan of
the said piston. Figure 9 is an underside view of said part. Figure 10 shows
in elevation the extreme part of the cylinder, with the air escape valve and with
the joint tenon. Figure 11 is a plan of the cylinder. Figure 12 is a front view
of the hinge of the cylinder. Figure 13 is a side elevation of the same hinge.
Figure 14 is a longitudinal partial section of a cylinder for automatically closing,
to which there is connected an oil brake, shewing the piston in its extreme left
hand position, corresponding to the closed position of the door. Figure 14 is a
section in the same plane, shewing the piston in its extreme right hand position
corresponding to the open position of the door.
The cylinder 1 is jointed to the upper transverse beam of the door frame by
means of a tenou 2, pivotting between the uprights 3 of the clip 4 on a pivot 5.
Гр

page_text: The clip 4 is fixed by means of screws. When the apparatus is placed on the side
on which the door opens, the cylinder will be fixed to the frame, and the lever
fixed to the door. But if on the contrary the apparatus is fixed on the opposite
side to that on which the door opens, the cylinder will be fixed to the door, and the
lever fixed to the frame. The cylinder 1 is closed at its two ends by means of a
covers 6 and 7 screwed, soldered or brazed to the cylinder. The cover 6 carries
a joint tenon 2 and an air valve 8 provided with a small regulating screw 9. The
cover 7 is formed with a central circular opening through which the rod 10 of the
piston passes. This rod terminates at its outer. end in an eye 11 by means of
which it is jointed to the system of levers hereinafter described. The inner end
of the rod 10 forms a double re-entering shoulder 12, 13, ending in a screw
threaded spindle 14. Upon the shoulder 12 there is arranged a disc 15
(Figures 6, 7 and 9) provided with a circular groove 16, and with notches 17.
The upper part of this disc is hollowed out in the form of a basin 18, the edge 19
of which is slightly smaller in diameter than the lower part of the disc. In this
basin 18, there is fitted a supple leather piece 20, suitably prepared so as not to
become creased, and formed in the shape of an inverted truncated cone. Upon the
leather is arranged a basin 21 with a central screw threaded opening adapted to
screw upon the spindle 14 and to maintain the different parts of the piston in
place. The lower part of the outer surface of this latter basin is hollowed out:
and pierced with holes 22 which establish communication between this outer
surface and the basin proper. Between the disc 15 and the cover 7, there is
fitted a coiled spring 23 which maintains in a normal position the piston against
the cover 6. The piston rod is pivotted by means of the eye 11, between the
limbs of a small fork 35. This small fork is fixed' to the upper part of a sleeve 34
(Figures 2 and 24) which is forged in one with a rocking beam 33, rocking about
the axle 0 of the bracket 31-32. The other end of the rocking beam has a fork
between the limbs of which there is fixed by means of a screw 34, the rod 28
which slides in a ring 29; fixed to the upper part of the door. A stay 36 fixed at
one end by means of a sleeve 37 to a rod 28, and at its other end by means of a fork 38
to the rocking beam 33, renders this system of levers completely rigid in its
rocking movement about the axle 0 of the bracket 31. The latter is fixed to the
door to be moved if the cylinder is attached thereto, or to the frame of said door,
if the cylinder is attached thereto, as desired, by means of screws. When the door
is opened, the rod 28 draws with it the levers 33 and 36 and the fork 35, which in
their turn move the rod 10 of the piston, and the piston itself. This movement is
readily effected because the rubbing part of the piston, that is to say, the leather
piece 20, by reason of its special shape, and its arrangement between the basins. 15
and £1. will close gently and the air will be able to pass above the piston through
the notches 17. When the door is left to itself, this said rubbing part will act as
a brake, and will prevent the door from slamming violently under the influence
of the spring 23, the arrangement being such that the air situated above the piston
will pass in part through the openings 22 of the basin 21, and will open out the
leather piece 20 so as to force it hermetically against the walls of the cylinder.
The air will therefore be able to escape only through the valve 8. By this means
tliere is ensured an easy opening of the door, and a gentle closing of the same,
avoiding all shock. For the purpose of increasing the smoothness of the motion
of the door when being closed, the apparatus may be provided with an oil brake
constructed in the following manier:-The screw threaded spindle 14 is per-
forated along its axis in such a manner as to have a cylindrical cavity extending
into the rod 10.of the piston, up to a point 48. (Figures 14 and, 14). The rod. 10
is closed at the cud of its screw threaded spindle by means of a cover 40, pierced
with a centre hole, allowing of the said cover and of its rod 10 sliding with a
tight joint upon a cylinder 39, fixed to the cover 6 of the cylinder 1. Packing
serves to ensure the tightness of this joint, and is composed of a plug of boiled cork,
caoutchouc, or any other suitable material 41, covered over by a washer of hardened.
caoutchouc 42, which is held in place by means of a metal washer 43, the whole
=

page_text: serving to ensure the permanency and tightness of the joint. At a certain point
of its length, the cylinder 39 is pierced with two small holes 44, 44, and a little
further on with two larger holes 45, 45. Between the holes 44 and 45 a pin is
fixed to the cylinder 39, and extends diametrically through the same and serves
to limit towards the left hand the travel of a disc 46, threaded on to the
cylinder 39, and capable of sliding upon the latter: Behind the piston 46 is a coil
spring 47 bearing at its other end against the bottom 48 of the cavity. The annular
space 53 comprised between the cylinder 39 and the inner surface of the
rod.10 is filled with oil in a position shown in Figure 14 which corresponds to the
closed position of the door. In this position the piston cylinder 1 is at the end of
its left hand stroke; the disc 46 is also at the end of its stroke against the pin,
and it covers up the large holes 45, 45. On opening the door, the piston and the
rod 10 are moved towards the right by the herein before described system of levers,
and the cover 40 forces back the oil contained in 53; the spring 47, which was
compressed, expands; the oil pushes the disc 46 which, in moving towards the
right hand, uncovers the large holes 45, 45, and allows the oil to pass which then
flows into 54 and 55.
Figure 14 shows the apparatus in the position corresponding to the open posi-
tion of the door, the piston of cylinder 1 being at the end of its right hand travel.
The spring 23 is compressed. The oil from 53 has passed into 54 and 55. If the
door is left to itself, the spring 23 expands, and pushes the piston towards the loft.
The oil contained in 55 and 54, pushes back the disc 46 against the spring 47.
This disc covers up the larger holes 45-45, and the oil being no longer able to
escape, except through the small holes 44, 44, opposes to the return movement of
the large piston a resistance which constitutes a new brake ensuring the slow and
gentle closing of the door. This resistance may be regulated by means of a
piston 50, which pushes at will towards the right hand a small cylindrical block 51,
which controls the opening of the small holes 44, 44. This piston 50 is operated
by means of a rod 49, the screw threaded end of which is capable of turning in the
small tapped cover of the cylinder 39, and is operated by means of the milled
nob 52.
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) An apparatus for automatically closing a door, characterised by a piston
sliding in a cylinder, whose rod is operated by a system of levers receiving the
motion of a rod sliding in an eye fixed on the door or on the door frame, said
piston being formed by a disc provided with notches, and with an annular groove,
a leather piece in the form of a truncated cone, and a basin formed with holes for
the passage of the air on the return of the piston, thereby ensuring the tightness
of the latter as described.
(2) In the automatic door closing device above specified, the use of a system
of levers for transmitting the power from the door to the closing apparatus or vice
versa, said system of levers comprising the operating rod 28 which slides in an
eye, and is fixed to the end of a rocking beam 33, pivotting about the axis O
of the bracket 31-32 and formed at its other end with a fork in which is jointed
the eye terminating the rod of the piston of the automatic closing device.
(3) In the door closing device above specified, the addition of an oil brake for
ensuring the smoothness of the closing and constituted by the rod 10 of the piston,
with a cavity along its axis, and into which there is introduced a cylinder upon
which the rod 10 in its cover 40 can slide with tight joint, a certain quantity of oil
passing according to the movements of the large piston from the annular space 53
to the spaces 54 and 55, and vice versa, encountering by the automatic operation
of a disc 46 a resistance to its passage through the small holes 44, 44, when the
door is being closed, and thereby ensuring smoothness of said closing.

page_text: (4) An improved automatic door closing apparatus, substantially as above
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of June 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst., C.E., M.I. Mech. E.;
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70,, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.