Improvements in and connected with Water-tight Doors, Fire Shutters and other analogous Structures.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1900-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1900
Improvements in and connected with Water-tight Doors, Fire
Shutters and other analogous Structures.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., Fel.Ch.Iust.P.A., F.I.Inst.,
practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the Administrative County of London, Engineer and Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from Frank Julian
Sprague, of New York City, in the Borough of Manhattan, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America, Francis Tiffany Bowles, of the
Borough of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, City and State of New York,
United States of America, and George Henry Hill, of East Orange, in the County
of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United States of America) to be as follows:
The invention is applicable to water-tight doors, fire shutters and other analo-
gous structures. It is designed expressly for water-tight bulkhead doors for
ships, and will for convenience be described with express reference thereto.
The general scheme is to provide a suitable water-tight door, electrical and
manual means for operating it locally from both sides of the bulkhead, electrical
means for operating the doors singly or in groups from a distant point, as from
the bridge or engine room. or from several such points, and to provide means
local to each doorway for taking control of any individual door from the operator
at a distant point, so that any door may be operated individually, locally and
independently of the concurrent operation of the other doors of the set. As illus-
trated and described, the system is arranged so that the doors may be opened and
closed by the local operating means, but are only operated to be closed by the
means located at points distant from the doors.
Provision is also made for giving a return signal at the point where the distant
operating meaus is located, so that the operator may know that the doors are
closing properly.
The invention resides in the construction of the doors, the means provided
for operating them, the manner of mounting such means, and the electrical cir-
cuits through which the operation of the doors is controlled.
•
In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bulkhead, with a door, and apparatus for
moving the door properly mounted thereon, together with the means for local
control of the door.
of Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a section through the bulkhead on the line
Figure 3 is a top view of the limit-switch box with the cover removed.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the same on the line
of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a front view showing the relays, the contacts which they control,
and how these parts are mounted in their hox.
Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a top view of the main-switch and fuses and the box in which they
are mounted, with the cover removed,

page_text: of Figure 7.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the same on the line
Figure 9 is a front view of a junction-box with the cover removed.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of the same on the line
Figure 11 is an outside view of the controlling switch box.
Figure 12 is a front view of the same with the cover removed.
of Figure 9.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the same on the line of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a front view of the emergency switch with indicator, one door
being open.
Figure 15 is a top sectional view of the same on the line
of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side view of the same on the line 16 of Figure 14.
Figure 17 is a diagrammatic representation of the system arranged for operat-
ing doors singly, showing the electrical means for operating the door locally and
from distant points, means for taking away control from the distant points, and
the means for giving a return signal at the distant points.
Figure 18 is a diagrammatic representation on an enlarged scale, showing the
local means for operating the doors electrically, and the connections to a distant
point.
Figure 19 is a diagrammatic representation of the system applied to operating
a group of four doors, in which each door can be operated singly, independently
of all the other doors, and in which all four of the doors, or so many as are not
being operated individually and locally, can be operated from either one of two
distant points, with appropriate return signals.
The construction and manner of operating each door locally will first be
described, and then the means by which the doors can be operated from a distant
point will be described.
In Figures 1 and 2 the door 1 is shown about half-way open. The
door is shown as moving vertically, but it is equally possible to move it hori-
zontally, or at any desired angle. The door is intended to fit the edge of the
doorway with a water-tight joint To accomplish this a frame 2, which will be
called the rear guide, is bolted to the bulkhead around the four sides of the door-
way, on one side of the bulkhead. This rear guide is fitted against the bulkhead
with a water-tight joint. Its outer surface, against which the door is intended
to bear, is a plane surface, and the surface around the rim of the door on all
four sides, which contacts with this rear guide, is also a plane surface, so that if
the door is forced back against this rear guide, it will close the doorway with
a water-tight joint. To accomplish this there are provided guides which will be
called the front guides. There are two vertical front guides 3, 3 and also a
front guide 4 which extends along the bottom of the doorway. These front
guides are properly distanced from the rear guide by distancing pieces 5, which
are collars upon the bolts whereby the guides are bolted to the bulkhead. The
two vertical front guides 3, 3, are inclined slightly from top to bottom, with
respect to the vertical portions of the rear guide, the front and rear guides being
further apart at the top than at the bottom. Along the vertical portions of the
rim of the door next to the front guide are a number of raised bosses 6, intended
to engage with the front vertical guides. These bosses have inclined surfaces
which are parallel to the surfaces of the front vertical guides with which they
engage, and the contacting surfaces of the bosses and these front vertical guides
are planed to fit. By this construction the door is free to move up and down
between the rear and front vertical guides, but when the door is closed these bosses 6
will bear against the front vertical guides 3, 3, with the result that the door,
because of the wedge shape of the contacting surfaces, will be forced back against
the rear guide 2. This provides for forcing the door back along the vertical por-
tions of its rim. To force the rim at the hottom of the door against the rear
guide, lugs 7, 7, are attached at the bottom of the door, having wedge surfaces
which, at their top, when the door is closed, engage the front guide 4. They are
pointed at their bottom so as to cut through any material, as coal, which may
be lodged on the door sill. The front guide 4 at the bottom of the doorway is

page_text: set at an angle to the rear guide 2, being closer to it above than below, so as to
prevent the accumulation of material between the guides at the bottom of the
doorway, and to permit any material, such as coal, which may accumulate there,
to be pushed out from between the guides by the door in closing. To facilitate
this, the distancing pieces between the guides at the bottom of the doorway have
knife edges at their tops. To force the portion of the rim at the top of the
door against the rear guide, there is provided at the top of the door, and
on either side of the middle vertical axis thereof, wedge surfaces 8, 8, tapered
from the top downward, which are intended to run underneath rollers 9, 9,
mounted on a shaft 10 extended across the top of the doorway, as will be more
fully described hereafter. Thus, engaging wedge surfaces are provided around
the entire rim of the door and doorway to force the door back against the rear
guide and make a water-tight joint when the door is closed.
Along the middle vertical axis of the door a rack 11 is attached, which engages
with a pinion 12 mounted rigidly on the horizontal shaft 10. This shaft 10 is
supported in brackets mounted on either side and near the top of the doorway.
Attached to one end of the shaft 10 is a spindle 13 which operates the limit-
switches to be hereafter described.
In engagement with pinion 12 is another pinion 14, which is mounted upon a
horizontal shaft 15, also supported in brackets on either side of the doorway near
the top. This second shaft 15 carries on one end a worm-wheel 16 which meshes
with a worm 17 on the power-shaft 18. Beyond the worm-wheel 16 to the right
is an outboard bearing.
The power-shaft 18 of the system is the axle of the armature 19 of an electric
motor. The motor is mounted on the bulkhead at right angles thereto, in a
water-tight box 20, as shown in Figure 2.
Each end of the power-shaft is squared so that a crank can be fitted upon it
to operate the door up and down manually. As the power-shaft 18 extends
through the bulkhead, the door can be thus operated from either side of the
bulkhead. The spindle 21 on which is mounted the handle for operating the
local control switch extends through the bulkhead, and a handle 22 is attached
at each end, so that the door can be operated from either side of the bulkhead
electrically, as well as manually.
Conveniently disposed on the bulkhead near the doorway are water-tight boxes
in which the various pieces of electrical apparatus necessary for operating the
door electrically are mounted and protected. These are the box 23, which con-
tains the limit-switches; the box 24, which contains the relays; the
box 26, which contains a swith and fuses through which all of the
system local to the door is connected to the mains A, B; the junction-
box 26; and the box 27, which contains the local-control switch. The wires
are carried between the boxes through pipes 28. These various boxes and the
parts enclosed in them are illustrated in detail in Figures 3 to 13.
The electrical system for local control will now be described.
Figure 18 illustrates the system for operating a single door locally by means
of the local control switch. This switch is shown as closed in its middle posi-
tion upon a contact through which connection is had to the distant point of
operation, the electrical system being shown with its various parts in the position
in which it is when the door is closed.
The motor has a compound field, one field-coil 29 being in series with the
armature and the other 30 in shunt with the armature. When the motor is
operating to open the door, the series-field alone is energized. The purpose of
the shunt-field is to preserve the field-strength of the motor and cause it to
move the door more slowly in closing than in opening, and to give the motor
more power, so that it may overcome any obstacle to closure of the door.
When the local-control switch is thrown to the right-hand, in Figure 18, con-
tact is made from one of the mains A through one side of a double-pole knife-
switch, whereby the whole system can be connected to and disconnected from

page_text: the mains, thence through the switch-arm 31 and contact 32 of the local-control
switch and the upper-limit switch 33 (which is closed, except when the door is
completely opened), thence through the coil of the up-relay 34, and thence
through contacts 35 of the circuit-closer controlled by the down-relay, to the
other main B. The up-relay is thus energized. The two pairs of normally-
closed contacts 36 and 37 controlled thereby are opened, and immediately after-
ward the two pairs of normally-open contacts 38 and 39 controlled thereby are
closed. After this change is made, the circuit through the local-control switch,
the up-relay and the upper-limit switch is maintained and the following circuits
are also completed: From one of the mains A through contacts 39, through the
armature 19 of the motor, through contacts 38, through the series-coil 29 of the
field-magnet, and thence to the other main B. The motor will then start to run,
and will continue until the local-control switch is opened, thus opening the
circuits of the up-relay, or the upper-limit of travel of the door is reached, when
the upper-limit switch will be thrown, by means to be hereafter described, and
will open the up-relay circuit, thereby causing the opening of the rest of the
circuits. As soon as the door starts to open, the lower-limit switch 40 is also
closed.
If, while the lower-limit switch is closed, the local-control switch is thrown to
the left, and thereby closed on the down side, a circuit will be established from
one of the mains A through contacts 31, 41 of the local-control switch, through
the lower-limit switch 40 and down-relay 42, through contacts 36 of the up-relay,
through the series-field coils 29 of the motor, and thence to the other main B.
The down-relay is then operated, and the two normally open pairs of contacts 43
and 44 controlled thereby are closed. The motor circuits established thereby are
as follows: From one of the mains A, by one path through the shunt-field coils 30
and by another path through contacts 48 of down-relay, and thence through the
motor-armature in the opposite direction to that before stated, thence through
contacts 44 of the down-relay, and thence through the series-field coils 29 of the
motor in the same direction as that before stated to the other main. The door
will then run until the local-control switch is opened, or until the lower limit of
travel of the door is reached, when the down-relay is opened, and thereby the
motor-circuits are opened, as above described.
When the operator releases the handle of the local-control switch, or the
lower-limit switch is opened, the down-relay circuit is broken and the relay
drops, breaking the motor-circuits theretofore established, but immediately clos-
ing the motor upon itself through a circuit as follows; From the motor-arma-
ture 19 across contacts 37 and 35, through the series-field coil 29 in the same
direction that current flows when the operative down-circuits are closed, through
contacts 36 and the lower normally-closed contacts 35 of the down-relay to the
other side of the motor-armature. So long as the motor continues to move
(owing to the momentum of door, armature, etc.), current will be generated in
the motor, which flows through its own series-field coil. This causes the motor
to act as a dynamic brake, and will quickly bring the moving parts of the
system to a stop, at which time the current ceases to flow. The same action
occurs also and the same circuits are made when the up-relay circuit is broken,
either at the operator's switch or the upper-limit switch. In this case the
current generated by the motor flows through the series-field in the opposite
direction to that in which it flows when the operative up-circuits are closed
and the door is moving up, and as the time interval necessary to reverse the
field is greater than that occupied by the moving system in coming to stop by
gravity alone, practically no current flows in this case.
The control of the doors from distant points will now be described.
Two general systems are shown for operating the doors from a distant point,
one illustrated in Figure 17, for operating doors singly, and another, illus-
trated in Figure 19, for operating all the doors of a group simultaneously, there
being a return signal for each door in both systems. These two systems are

page_text: ustrated to show that the doors may be closed from the distant points indi-
vidually or in-small groups.
In describing these systems the operator's switches at the distant points will
be called emergency switches, to distinguish them from the local-control
switches.
Figure 17 shows two independent door-operating systems and energizing
switches 46 for operating the doors independently from two distant points. The
circuits of the doors are not interrelated, and any number of doors may be
added, each having its appropriate system of circuits. The closure of an emer-
gency switch merely effects the closure of the down-relay circuit, already
described, through the middle contact 47 of the local-control switch for the
same door. It is therefore impossible to operate a door from an emergency
switch unless the local-control switch for that door is in middle position, and
any person at a door can prevent its operation from an energizing switch and
take control of it by opening the middle contact of the local-control switch.
In order that upon closure of an emergency switch the operator may know
that the system is working properly, a signal-lamp 48 for each door-system is
provided at ench emergency switch, which lights when the lower-limit switch
is operated on closure of the door. It remains lighted until the emergency
switch is open and can be relighted upon closure of the emergency switch, for
inspection. This is effected through signal-contacts 49 which are provided on
the lower-limit switch. These signal-contacts are open when the relay-con-
tacts 40 of the lower-limit switch are closed, and are closed when tliese relay-
contacts are open. The circuit through the lamp is as follows: From one of
the mains A, through contacts 31, 47, of the local-control switch, thence through
the emergency switch 46, thence. through signal-contacts 49 of the lower-limit
switch, and thence through the signal-lamp 48 to the main B.
Figure 19 shows a method of operating a set of four doors simultaneously by
closing a single emergency switch 50. The number of doors and the number of
emergency switches is not material, except that it is not desirable to operate
enough doors simultaneously to give excessive drain upon the electrical power.
There is also provided a signal-lamp 48 for each door, which lights upon closure
of the appropriate door, and remains lighted until the emergency switch is
opened. The lamp can be relighted, for inspection, by reclosing the emergency
switch. Each local door-system is connected on the down-side with a circuit-
closer 51, one side of which is in series with the middle contact 47 of the local-
control switch for that door, and the other side of which is connected to the
down side of the local-control switch. As in the system of Figure 17, a door
can be operated from the emergency switches only when its local-control switch
is closed on the middle contact. The circuit-closers 51 are separate and insu-
lated from each other, but are mounted upon a single stem which constitutes
the plunger of a solenoid 52. This plunger and solenoid, with the contacts 51,
forms what will be called a section switch. The solenoid is connected in the
circuit as follows: From the main A, through the solenoid, through each of
the emergency switches, in multiple, and thence back to the main B. When
any emergency switch is closed, all of the contacts of the section-switch will
be closed, and each of the door-systems in which the local-control switch is
on the middle point will be closed on the down side. The doors will then
move until the emergency switch is opened, or a local-control switch
is opened, or the lower-limit switch is opened, as each door reaches
the lower-limit of its travel. At this latter point each lower-limit
switch is opened at its relay-contacts and closed at its signal con-
tacts. The circuits for the signal-lamps is as follows: From the lead A,
through the midde contact 47 of the local-control switch, through the appro-
priate contact of the section-switch, thence through the signal contacts 49 of
the appropriate lower-limit switch, through the appropriate lamp, through the
emergency switch, and thence back to the main B. It will thus be seen that
'

page_text: if the operator holds the emergency switch closed long enough for all of the
doors to close, he will get a signal at the appropriate lamp as each door closes.
It thus appears that there are a set of circuits each for controlling one of
the doors, with one or more distant emergency switches, and a common section-
switch operated thereby for closing all of the local door-circuits on the down
side, and giving a signal at the emergency switches when each door closes,
together with a local control switch for taking control from, and operating ench
door-circuit independently of, the distant emergency switch.
The mechanism for closing and opening the limit-switches will now be
described. It is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 in the position which it takes
when the door is closed.
The limit-switches are operated by a spindle 13 provided with a screw-end,
whereby it may be coupled to shaft 10. This spindle passes through a stuffing-
box in the side of the box 23 that encloses the limit-switch mechanism. On
the end of the spindle inside the casing is a pinion 53, which meshes with a
gear wheel 54 mounted rigidly upon a shaft 55, upon which are also mounted
two arms 56,57 at some suitable angle. On the ends of these arms are rollers
to engage with and throw the switch-arms 58 59 of the limit-switches. These
switch-arms and the arms for operating them are mounted in different vertical
planes, so that one is operated by one of the arms and not by the other, and
The shaft 55 is revolved less than one revolution while the door
is moved through its entire path or range of travel; and the arms are set on
the shaft in such way that one of the arms 56 will engage with and throw
the upper-limit switch-arm 58 when the door reaches the upper limit of ila
travel, and the other arm 57 will engage with the lower-limit switch-arm 59
when the door reaches the lower limit of its travel; each arim 56 59, as it moves.
away from such extreme position, closing, or permitting the closure of its
appropriate limit-switch.
vice versa.
The relays and the manner of mounting them are illustrated in Figures 5
and 6. They are provided with iron-clad magnets. An iron core 60 projects
downward, so as to increase the attraction for the plunger 61. Each plunger
carries two contact arms of spring-sheet phosphor-bronze, insulated from it
but rigidly fastened to it. The contact studs carry adjustable carbon-blocks,
against which the contacts on the phosphor bronze springs impinge. The
box 24 in which these are enclosed has a removable glass window to provide
for inspecting the contacts and for adjusting them.
The switch and fuses illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 are contained in the water-
tight box 25. The wires from the mains are led into the casing at the bottom
and are attached to binding posts near the top, mounted on a plate of insulating
material; thence the circuit is through fuses 62 to the double-pole knife-switch,
and through the switch and switch-hinges to the wires leading to the circuits
for operating the door. The blades of the knife-switch are attached through
hinge-connections to a cross-bar 63 of insulating material. This bar is attached
to a plunger rod, one end of which passes through a stuffing-box in the cover
of the box 25 and the other end of which passes through a stuffing-box in the
back thereof to the other side of the bulkhead. By means of this rod the
switch can be operated from either side of the bulkhead.
The wires from all of the ofher boxes are lead to the junction-box 26, illustrated
in Figures 9 and 10, where the proper connections are effected. The conductors
from the motor are led into the junction-box through a pipe at the right of the
top, the conductors from the limit-switches are led in through a pipe at the
left of the top, the connections from the circuit-closing relays and contacts which
they control are led in through a pipe at the left of the bottom, the conductors
from the local-control switch are led in through a pipe at the right of the bottom.
and the conductors from the mains are led in through a pipe at the right side.
In the junction-box is a plate of insulating material with metal strins attached
thereto, and the wires are screwed to these strips to effect the connections. The

page_text: points of connection of the wires in the junction-box are indicated in the diagram
Figure 18 by dots.
The local-control switch, illustrated in Figures 11, 12 and 13, is provided with
a plate of insulating material, on which the contacts are mounted. A spindle
passes through stuffing boxes on the top and bottom of the box 27 and carries
a contact-finger 31 which is moved over the contacts by turning the spindle by
the handles 22 at either end. The end of the spindle, which passes through
the bottom of the box 27 also passes through the bulkhead, so that the switch
can be operated from either side of the bulkhead. A spring is coiled around
the spindle and the ends of the spring lie on opposite sides of two pins, one
of which is through collars on the spindle and the other of which is supported
by the casing. The spring returns the switch when released by the hand to
the middle position.
The emergency switches and signal lamps, shown in the diagram Figure 17,
are illustrated in Figures 14, 15 and 16. Each consists of a single point switch
with a push-button 66 to close it and another 67 to open it, such as is used in
electric lighting circuits, the switch being an ordinary snap-switch. It is
mounted in a suitable porcelain box 68. The porcelain boxes for two switches
are placed in a water-tight casing 69, in which is also placed the signal lamps.
Lamps might also be provided in circuit with the emergency switches while
the doors are being closed to indicate that the system is working.
" 11
1000
Improvements in and connected with Water-tight Doors, Fire
Shutters, and other analogous Structures.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., Fel.Ch.Inst.P.A., F.I.Inst.,
practising as Phillips and Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the Administrative County of London. Engineer and Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a communication from Frank Julian
Sprague, of New York City, in the Borough of Manhattan, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America, Francis Tiffany Bowles, of the
Borough of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, City and State of New York,
United States of America, and George Henry Hill, of East Orange, in the County
of Essex and State of New Jersey, United States of America) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The invention is applicable to water-tight doors, fire shutters and other analo-
gous structures. It is designed expressly for water-tight bulkhead doors for
ships, and will for convenience be described with express reference thereto.
The general scheme is to provide a suitable water-tight door, electrical and
manual means for operating it locally from both sides of the bulkhead, electrical
means for operating the doors singly or in groups from a distant point, as from
the bridge or engine room. or from several such points, and to provide means
local to each doorway for taking control of any individual door from the operator
at a distant point, so that any door may be operated individually, locally and
independently of the concurrent operation of the other doors of the set. As illus-
trated and described, the system is arranged so that the doors may be opened and
closed by the local operating means, but are only operated to be closed by the
means located at points distant from the doors.

page_text: ITOVISION 18 also made for giving a return signal at each point where the distant
operating means is located, so that the operator may know that the doors are
closing properly.
The invention resides mainly in the construction of the door, the mechanism
provided for operating it, the manner of mounting such mechanism, and the
electrical circuits through which the operation of a number of such doors is
controlled.
In the drawings filed with the Provisional Specification which form a part of
this specification:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the bulkhead, with a door, and apparatus for
moving the door properly mounted thereon, together with the means for local
control of the door.
of Figure 1.
Figure 2 is a section through the bulkhead on the line
Figure 3 is a top view of the limit-switch box with the cover removed.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the same on the line
of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a front view showing the relays, the contacts which they control,
and how these parts are mounted in their box.
Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a top view of the main-switch and fuses and the box in which they
are mounted, with the cover removed.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the same on the line
of Figure 7.
of Figure 9.
Figure 9 is a front view of a junction-box with the cover removed.
Figure 10 is a sectional view of the same on the line
Figure 11 is an outside view of the controlling switch box.
Figure 12 is a front view of the same with the cover removed.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the same on the line 3 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a front view of the emergency switch with indicator, one door
being open.
Figure 15 is a top view of the same on the line of Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a side view of the same on the line of Figure 14.,.
Figure 17 is a diagrammatic representation of the system arranged for operat-
ing doors singly, showing the electrical means for operating the doors locally and
from distant points, means for taking away control from the distant points, and
the means for giving a return signal at the distant points.
Figure 18 is a diagrammatic representation on an enlarged scale, showing the
local means for operating the doors electrically, and the connections to a distant
point.
Figure 19 is a diagrammatic representation of the system applied to operating
a group of four doors, in which cach door can be operated locally, independently
of all the other doors, and in which all four of the doors, or so many as are not
being operated individually and locally, can be operated from either one of two
distant points, with appropriate return signals.
"
The construction and manner of operating each door locally will first be
described, and then the means by which the doors can be operated from distant
points will be described.
In Figures 1 and 2 the door 1 is shown about half-way open. The
door is shown as moving vertically, but it is equally possible to move it hori-
zontally, or at any desired angle. The door is intended to fit the edge of the
doorway with a water-tight joint To accomplish this a frame 2, which will be
called the rear guide, is bolted to the bulkhead around the four edges of the door-
way, on one side of the bulkhead. This rear guide is fitted against the bulkhead
with a water-tight joint. Its outer surface, against which the door is intended
to bear, is a plane surface, and the surface around the rim of the door on all
four edges, which contacts with this rear guide, is also a plane surface, so that if
the door is forced back against this rear guide, it will close the doorway with
a water-tight joint. This rear guide is called a framing for the door way. To
force the door back against the framing, there are provided guides, which will be

page_text: called the front guides. There are two vertical front guides 3, 3 and also a
front guide 4 which extends along the bottom of the doorway. These front
guides are properly distanced from the rear guide by distancing pieces 5, which
are collars upon the bolts by which the guides are bolted to the bulkhead. The
two vertical front guides 3, 3 are inclined slightly from top to bottom, with
respect to the vertical portions of the rear guide, the front and rear guides being
further apart at the top than at the bottom. Along the vertical portions of the
rim of the door next to the front guide are a number of raised bosses 6, intended
to engage with the front vertical guides. These bosses have inclined surfaces
which are parallel to the surfaces of the front vertical guides with which they
engage, and the contacting surfaces of the bosses and these front vertical guides
are planed to fit. By this construction the door is free to move up and down
between the rear and front vertical guides, but when the door is closed these bosses 6
will bear against the front vertical guides 3, 3, with the result that the door,
because of the wedge shape of the contacting surfaces, will be forced back against
the rear guide 2. This provides for forcing the door back along the vertical por-
tions of its rim. To force the rim at the bottom of the door against the rear
guide, lugs 7, 7, are attached at the bottom of the door, having wedge surfaces
which, at their top, when the door is closed, engage the front guide 4, which is
made separate from the vertical guides 3, 3. They are pointed at their bottom
so as to cut through any material, as coal, which may be lodged on the door-
sill. The front guide 4 at the bottom of the doorway is set at an angle to the
rear guide 2, being closer to it above than below (the distance thus increasing
in the direction of motion of the door in closing), so as to prevent the accumu-
lation of material between the guides at the bottom of the doorway, and to
permit any material, such as coal, which may accumulate there, to be pushed
out from between the guides by the door in closing. To facilitate this, the
distancing-pieces between the guides at the bottom of the door-way have knife
edges at their tops, and leave clearance between the front guide and the rear
guide or framing. To force the portion of the rim at the top of the door against
the rear guide, there is provided at the top of the door, and on either side of
the middle vertical axis thereof, wedge surfaces 8, 8. tapered from the top
downward, which are intended to run underneath rollers 9,9, mounted on a
shaft 10 extended across the top of the doorway, as will be more fully described
hereafter. Thus engaging wedge-surfaces are provided around the entire rim
of the door and doorway to force the four edges of the door back against the
rear guide and make a water-tight joint when the door is closed. Moreover.
since the front guides are made of four separate parts, they may be adjusted
independently by means of distancing-pieces and liners or washers, so as to
secure proper sealing of the door along each edge.
Along the middle vertical axis of the door a rack 11 is attached, which engages
with a pinion 12 mounted rigidly on the horizontal shaft 10. This shaft 10 is
supported in brackets mounted on either side and near the top of the doorway.
Attached to one end of the shaft 10 is a spindle 13 which operates the limit-
switches to be hereafter described.
In engagement with pinion 12 is another pinion 14, which is mounted upon a
horizontal shaft 15, also supported in brackets on either side of the doorway near
the top. This second shaft 15 carries on one end a worm-wheel 16 which meshes
with a worm or other gear 17 on the power-shaft 18. Beyond the worm-wheel 16
to the right is an outboard bearing.
The power-shaft 18 of the system is the axle of the armature 19 of an electric
motor. The motor is mounted on the bulkhead at right angles thereto, in a
water-tight box 20, as shown in Figure 2, its shaft passing through the bulk-head.
Each end of the power-shaft is squared so that a crank can be fitted upon it
to operate the door up and down manually. As the power-shaft 18 extends
through the bulkhead, the door can be thus operated manually from either side
of the bulkhead. The spindle 21 on which is mounted the handle for operating

page_text: the local control switch extends through the bulkhead, and a handle 22 is attached
at each end, so that the door can be operated from either side of the bulkhead
electrically, as well as manually, through the motor-shaft.
Conveniently disposed on the bulkhead near the doorway are water-tight boxes
in which the various pieces of electrical apparatus necessary for operating the
door electrically are mounted and protected. These are the box 23, which con-
tains the limit-switches; the box 24, which contains the relays; the
box 25, which contains a switch and fuses through which all of the
system local to the door is connected to the mains A, B; the junction-
box 26; and the box 27, which contains the local-control switch. The wires
are carried between the boxes through pipes 28. These various boxes and the
parts enclosed in them are illustrated in detail in Figures 3 to 13.
The electrical system for operating one of the doors locally will now be
described.
Figure 18 illustrates the system for operating a single door locally by means
of the local control switch. This switch is shown as closed in its middle posi-
tion upon a contact through which connection is had to the distant points of
operation, the electrical system being shown with its various parts in the position
in which it is when the door is closed.
The motor has a compound field, one field coil 29 being in series with the
armature and the other 30 in shunt with the armature. When the motor is
operating to open the door, the series-field alone is energized. When the motor
is operating to close the door both coils are connected in circuit. The purpose of
the shunt-field is to preserve the field-strength of the motor and cause it to
move the door more slowly in closing than in opening, and to give the motor
more power, so that it may overcome any obstacle to closure of the door.
When the local-control switch is thrown to the right hand, in Figure 18, con-
tact is made from one of the mains A through one side of a double-pole knife-
switch, whereby the whole system can be connected to and disconnected from
the mains, thence through the switch-arm 31 and contact 32 of the local-control
switch and the upper-limit switch 33 (which is closed, except when the door is
completely opened), thence through the coil of the up-relay 34, and thence
through contact 35 of the circuit-closer controlled by the down-relay to the
other main B. The up-relay is thus energized. The two pairs of normally-
closed contacts 36 and 37 controlled thereby are opened, and immediately after-
ward the two pairs of normally-open contacts 38 and 39 controlled. thereby. are
closed. After this change is made, the circuit through the local-control switch,
the up-relay and the upper-limit switch is maintained and the following circuits
are also completed: From one of the mains A through contacts 39, through the
armature 19 of the motor, through contacts 38, through the series-coil 29 of the
field-magnet, and thence to the other main B. The motor will then start to run,
and will continue until the local-control switch is opened, thus opening the
circuits of the up-relay, or the upper-limit of travel of the door is reached, when
the upper-limit switch will be thrown, by means to be hereafter described, and
will open the up-relay circuit, thereby causing the opening of the rest of the
circuits. As soon as the door starts to open, the lower-limit switch 40 is also
closed.
If, while the lower-limit switch is closed, the local-control switch is thrown to
the left, and thereby closed on the down side, a circuit will be established from
one of the mains A through contacts 31, 41 of the local-control switch, through
the lower-limit switch 40 and down-relay 42, through contacts 36 of the up-relay,
through the series-field coils 29 of the motor, and thence to the other main B.
The down-relay is then operated, and the two normally open pairs of contacts 43
and 44 controlled thereby are closed. The motor circuits established thereby are
as follows: From one of the mains A by one path through the shunt-field coils 30
and by another path through contacts 43 of down-relay, and thence through the
motor-armature in the opposite direction to that before stuted, thence through

page_text: contacts 44 of the down-relay, and thence through the series-field coils 29. of the
motor in the same direction as that before stated to the other main. The door
will then run until the local-control switch is opened, or until the lower limit of
travel of the door is reached, when the down-relay is opened, and thereby the
motor-circuits are opened, as above described.
When the operator releases the handle of the local-control switch, or the lower-
limit switch is opened, the down-relay circuit is broken and the 'relay drops,
breaking the operating motor-circuits theretofore established, and opening the
circuit through the shunt-field coil, but immediately closing a local circuit
through the armature and the series-field coil as follows: From the motor-arma-
ture 19 across contacts 37 and 35, through the series-field coil 29 in the samé
direction that current flows with the operative down-circuits are closed, through
contacts 36 and the lower normally-closed contacts 45 of the down-relay to the
other side of the motor-armature. So long as the motor continues to move
(owing to the momentum of door, armature, etc.), current will be generated in
the motor, which flows through its own series-field coil. This causes the motor
to act as a dynamic brake, and will quickly bring the moving parts of the system.
to a stop, at which time the current ceases to 'flow The same action occurs also
and the same circuits are made when the up-relay circuit is broken, either at the
operator's switch or the upper-limit switch. In this case the current generated
by the motor flows through the series-field in the opposite direction to that in
which it flows when the operative up-circuits are closed and the door is moving
up, and as the time interval necessary to reverse the field is greater than that
occupied by the moving system in coming to stop by gravity alone, practically
no current flows in this case.
The control of the doors from distant points will now be described.
Two general systems are shown for operating the doors from distant points, one
illustrated in Figure 17, for operating doors singly, and another, illustrated in
Figure 19, for operating all the doors of a group simultaneously, there being a
return signal for each door in both systems. These two systems are illustrated
to show that the doors may be closed from the distant points individually or in
small groups.
In describing these systems the operator's switches at the distant points will
be called emergency switches, to distinguish them from the local-control
switches.
Figure 17 shows two independent door-operating systems and emergency
switches 46 for operating the doors independently from two distant points. The
circuits of the doors are not interrelated, and any number of doors may be
added,, each having its appropriate systèm of circuits. The closure of an emer-
gency switch merely effects the closure of the down-relay circuit, already
described, through the middle contact 47 of the local-control switch for the
same door. It is therefore impossible to operate a door from an emergency
switch unless the local-control switch for that door is in middle position, and any
person at a door wishing to operate it himself and take all control away from the
distant points of operation, can prevent its operation from an emergency switch
and assume entire control of the door by opening the middle contact of the local-
control switch. This can be done for each of the doors individually in all posi-
tions of the doors, and without interfering with the operation, from the emer-
gency switches, of all other doors the local-control switches of which are closed
upon the contacts 47.
In order that upon closure of an emergency switch the operator may know the
operation of each of the doors individually, and that the system is in proper
working order, a signal-lamp 48 for each door-system is provided at each emer-
gency switch, which lights when the lower-limit switch is operated on closure
of the particular door corresponding to the particular signal-lamp provided for
that door. It remains lighted until the emergency switch is opened and can be
relighted upon closure of an emergency switch for inspection. This is effected

page_text: through signal contacts 49 which are provided on the lower-limit switch, and are
operated by the shaft which operates the door. These signal-contacts are opened
when the relay-contacts 40 of the lower-limit switch are closed, upon opening
of the door, and are closed when these relay-contacts are opened, upon the closure
of the door. The circuit through the lamp is as follows: From one of the
mains A, through contacts 31, 47, of the local-control switch, thence through the
emergency switch 46, thence through signal-contacts 49 of the lower-limit switch,
and thence through the signal-lamp 48 to the main B. In this system the signal
lamp is lighted when the door closes, whether the door is being operated from the
emergency switch or the local-control switch.
Figure 19 shows a method of operating a set of four doors simultaneously by
closing a single emergency switch 60. The number of doors and the number of
emergency switches is not material, except that it is not desirable to operate
enough doors simultaneously to give excessive drain upon the electrical power
There is also provided a signal-lamp 48 for each door, which lights upon closure
of the appropriate door, and remains lighted until the emergency switch is
opened. The lamp can be relighted, for inspection, by reclosing the emergency
switch. Each local door-system is connected on the down-side with a circuit-
closer 61, one side of which is in series with the middle contact 47 of the local-
control switch for that door, and the other side of which is connected to the down-
side of the local-control switch. As in the system of Figure 17,
a door can be operated from the emergency switches only when its
local-control switch is closed on the middle contact. The circuit-
closers 51 are separate and insulated from each other, but are mounted upon a
single stem, which constitutes the plunger of a solenoid 52. This plunger and
solenoid, with the contacts 51, form what will be called a section switch. The
solenoid is connected in the circuit as follows: From the main A, through the
solenoid, through each of the emergency switches, in multiple, and thence back to
the main B. When any emergency switch is closed, all of the contacts of the
section-switch will be closed, and each of the door-systems in which the local-
control switch is on the middle point will be closed on the down-side. The doors
will then move until the emergency switch is opened, or a local-control switch
is opened, or the lower-limit switch is opened as each door reaches the lower-
limit of its travel. At this latter point each lower-limit switch is opened at its
relay-contacts and closed at its signal contacts. The circuits for the signal-lamps
is as follows: From the lead A through the middle contact 47 of the local-con-
trol switch, through the appropriate contact of the section-switch, thence through
the signal contacts 49 of the appropriate lower-limit switch, through the appro-
priate lamp, through the emergency switch, and thence back to the main B.
It will thus be seen that if the operator holds the emergency switch closed long
enough for all of the doors to close, he will get a signal at the appropriate lamp
as each door closes. In this system, unlike that of Figure 17, the lamp cannot
light unless the emergency switch is closed. Nor can it light unless the section
switch is closed, except when the local-control switch also chances to be closed.
There is thus a test of the emergency system. As each door-system is entirely
independent of the other door-systems, each limit-switch operates to open its
door-system without interfering with any of the other door-systems, and the
signal contacts of each limit-switch are so connected that the closure of a signal-
circuit at any limit switch does not interfere with any other part of the system.
It thus appears that there are a set of doors, and an electrical system for
operating them, which includes independent door-systems or circuits, each for
controlling one of the doors, and an emergency system made up of one or more
distant emergency switches, and a common section-switch operated thereby for
closing all of the local door-circuits on the down side, and means for giving a
sigual at the emergency switches when each door closes, the signal being included
in the emergency system and not in the door-systema, together with a local-
control switch for taking control and operating each door-circuit independently of

page_text: the emergency switches or system, without otherwise interfering with the emer-
gency system.
The mechanism for closing and opening the limit-switches will now be
described. It is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 in the position which it takes
when the door is closed.
1
These
The limit-switches are operated by a spindle 13 provided with a screw-end,
whereby it may be coupled to shaft 10. This spindle passes through a stuffing
box in the side of the box 23 that encloses the limit-switch mechanism. On
the end of the spindle inside the casing is a pinion 53, which meshes with a
gear wheel 54 mounted rigidly upon a shaft 55, upon which are also mounted two
arms 56 57 at some suitable angle. On the ends of these arms are rollers to
engage with and throw the switch-arms 58 59 of the limit-switches.
switch-arms and the arms for operating them are mounted in different vertical
planes, so that one is operated by one of the arms and not by the other, and
vice versa. The shaft 55 is revolved less than one revolution while the door is
moved through its entire path or range of travel; and the arms are set on the
shaft in such way that one of the arms 56 will engage with and throw the upper-
limit switch-arm 58 when the door reaches the upper limit of its travel, and that
other arm 57 will engage with the lower-limit switch-arm 59 when the door
reaches the lower limit of its travel, each arm 56 57, as it moves away from such
extreme position, closing or permitting the closure of its appropriate limit-switch.
The relays and the manner of mounting them are illustrated in Figures 5
and 6. They are provided with iron-clad magnets. An iron core 60 projects
downward, so as to increase the attraction for the plunger 61. Each plunger
carries two contact arms of spring-sheet phosphor bronze, insulated from it, but
rigidly fastened to it. The contact studs carry adjustable carbon-blocks, against
which the contacts on the phosphor bronze springs impinge. The box 24 in which
these are enclosed has a removable glass window to provide for inspecting the
contacts and for adjusting them.
wires
The switch and fuses illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 are contained in the water-
tight box 25. The wires from the mains are led into the casing at the bottom
and are attached to binding posts near the top, mounted on a plate of insulating
material; thence the circuit is through fuses 62 to the double-pole
knife-switch and through the switch and switch-hinges to the
leading to the circuits for operating the door. The blades of the knife-switch arc
attached through hinge connections to a cross-bar 63 of insulating material.
This bar is attached to a plunger rod, one end of which passes through a stuffing
box in the cover of the box 25 and the other end of which passes through i
stuffing box in the back thereof to the other side of the bulkhead. By means of
this rod the switch can be operated from either side of the bulkhead.
The wires from all of the other boxes are lead to the junction-box 26, illus-
trated in Figures 9 and 10, where the proper connections are effected. The con-
ductors from the motor are led into the junction-box through a pipe at the right
of the top, the conductors from the limit-switches are led in through a pipe at
the left of the top, the connections from the circuit-closing relays and contacts
which they control are led in through a pipe at the left of the bottom, the con-
ductors from the local-control switch are led in through a pipe at the right of
the bottom, and the conductors from the main are led in through a pipe at the
right side. In the junction-box is a plate of insulating material with metal
strips attached thereto, and the wires are screwed to these strips to effect the
connections. The points of connection of the wires in the junction-box are indi-
cated in the diagramr Figure 18 by dots.
The local-control switch, illustrated in Figures 11, 12, and 13, is provided with
a plate of insulating material 68, on which the contacts are mounted. A switch-
shaft or spindle passes through stuffing boxes on the top and bottom of the box 27
and carries a contact-finger 31 which is moved over the contacts by turning the
spindle by the handles 22 mounted upon each end of the spindle. The end of the

page_text: spindle which passes through the bottom of the box 27 also passes through the
bulkhead, so that the switch can be operated from either side of the bulkhead.
A spring is coiled around the spindle and the ends of the spring lie on opposite
sides of two pins,,one of which is through collars on the spindle and the other
of which is supported by the casing. The spring returns the switch when released
by the hand to a definite position, viz., the middle position, thus automatically
closing and holding the switch nominally closed at contact 47, which is included
in the circuits with the emergency switches, through which the doors are operated
electrically from the distant points of control.
The emergency switches and signal lamps, shown in the diagram Figure 17,
are illustrated in Figures 14, 15, and 16. Each consists of a single-point switch
with a push-button 66 to close it and another 67 to open it, such as is used in
electric-lighting circuits, the switch being an ordinary snap-switch. It is
mounted in a suitable porcelain box 68. The porcelain boxes for two switches are
placed in a water-tight casing 69, in which is also placed tho signal-lumps.
Lamps might also be provided in circuit with the emergency switches while the
doors are being closed to indicate that the system is working.
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. The combination of a door, framing for the doorway, a driving-shaft
extending across the door, wedges on the floor and engaging rollers on the
shaft to hold the door against the framing, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a door, a framing for the doorway, wedges on the
door, and a guide to engage with the wedges, the guide being separated from
the framing by a distance which increases in the direction of motion of the
door in closing, substantially as described.
3. The combination of a door, a framing for the doorway, wedges along the
lower edge of the door, a guide along the lower edge of the doorway to engage
with the wedges, and distance-pieces between the guide and the framing, so
shaped and positioned as to leave clearance between the guide and framing,
substantially as described.
4. The combination of a water-tight door mounted in a bulkhead, and an
electric motor and suitable gearing for operating the door, the motor-shaft
passing through the bulkhead, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a water-tight door mounted in a bulkhead, an electric
motor and suitable gearing for operating the door, the motor-shaft passing
through the bulkhead, and means for operating the door manually, through the
motor-shaft, from either side of the bulkhead, substantially as described.
6. The combination of a water-tight door mounted in a bulkhead, an electric
motor and suitable gearing for operating the door, the motor-shaft passing
through the bulkhead, and means for operating the door, both manually and
electrically, through the motor-shaft, from either side of the bulkhead, substan-
tially as described.
7. The combination of a door. means for operating it electrically both locally
and from a point at a distance from the door, and means at the door for taking
control away from the distant point, substantially as described.
8. The combination of a door, a switch located at the door for operating it
electrically and means located at a distant point for operating the door clec-
trically through a contact controlled by the switch located at the door, substan-
tially as described.
9. A system of doors, means for operating them locally and individually, means
for operating a plurality of the doors together from one or more distant points,
and means at the doors for taking away from the distant point or points the
control of each of the doors individually, substantially as described.
10. The combination of a door or doors, means for operating them electrically
"

page_text: from one or more distant points, suitable circuits, and a signal at the distant point
or points to show the operation of each door, substantially as described.
11. The combination of a set of doors, means for operating them simultaneously
from a single switch, and limit-switches for opening the circuit for each door as
it closes, without interfering with the other doors, substantially as described.
12. The combination of a door, a compound-wound motor for operating it, an
operating circuit, means for opening and closing the door, and means for connect-
ing both coils while the door is closing and only the series-coil while the door is
opening, substantially as described.
13. The combination of a switch provided with suitable contacts, a bulkhead, a
box mounted on the bulkhead and enclosing the contacts, a spindle for operating
the switch which passes through the box and bulkhead, and a handle on each end
of the spindle, substantially as and for the purpose described.
14. The combination of a switch-shaft, a handle mounted on each end thereof,
suitable contacts, and a spring for holding the switch normally in a definite
position, substantially as and for the purpose described.
15. The combination of a switch-shaft, a handle mounted on each end thereof,
suitable contacts, and a spring for holding the switch normally closed at one of
the contacts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of July 1900.
HENRY H. LEIGH, C.P.A.