Improvements in Revolving Doors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Mar., 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
[Communicated from abroad by THEOPHILUS VAN KANNEL, of the City, County
and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in Revolving Doors.
We, THE VAN KANNEL REVOLVING DOOR CO., LIMITED, of 40 and 42, Scrutton
Street, Finsbury, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in revolving doors of the kind which
comprise a number of wings which radiate from a central pillar and are capable
of rotating between curved, are shaped, polygonal or similar screens or walls.
The invention has for its object a revolving door the wings of which all remain
in the radial position under ordinary conditions, but fold together and are
retained in such folded position so as to form a free emergency exit, when extra-
ordinary pressure, such as would be likely to occur in the event of a panic in
a crowded building, is exerted upon them.
According to our invention each of the wings of the rotary door is formed
in two widths, one of which is broader than the other. The narrower width is
pivoted to a central pillar and has the broader width hinged to it. These wings
are provided with means whereby they are normally retained in their radial
position, but which permit them upon receiving any extraordinary pressure,
to fold together, and retain them in such folded position.
The curved, arc, polygonal or similar shaped walls or screens have their outer
parts on the outside or on both sides of the door arranged so that the exertion
of extraordinary pressure from within will cause them to fold outwardly so as
to afford a free passage through the door.
According to one form of construction the central pillar from which the wings
of the door radiate, has a disc at each end and has its ends journalled (preferably
by means of adjustable pivots) in the floor and the roof of the door structure
respectively.
The door wings each comprise a narrow width and a broad width or main
portion of the wing. The narrow widths are pivoted to the discs at the ends of
the central pillar and also to pivots arranged on said pillar at a point between
the ends thereof. The broad widths or main wings are hinged to the narrow
widths, and the edges of the said narrow widths and main wings that are hinged
together are bevelled or V-shaped so as to permit the main wings to turn at an
angle to the narrow widths when the door is folded as hereinafter described.
Radiating from, and fixed to, the disc at the upper end of the central pillar,
are arms corresponding in number to the wings of the door. Each of these
arms is provided at its outer end or at other convenient point, with a gravity
latch which projects downwardly and is provided with a projection at either
side.
The main wings are each provided with recesses with which one of the said

page_text: gravity latches engages so as to retain the said spring in position under ordinary
conditions. The narrow widths are each provided with a spring bolt the end of
which is rounded and projects into a conical or similar recess in the upper disc
carried by the central pillar. Under ordinary conditions these spring bolts
retain the narrow strips in their radial positions, but the said bolts are adapted
to give way under extraordinary pressure so as to allow the said strips to turn
on their pivots.
The door wings are retained in their folded position by a pair of drop arms
which are pivoted above the roof of the door and maintained in their raised
position by spring pawls or equivalent means. Passing through the upper disc
carried by the central pillar, are tripping pins corresponding in number to the
number of door wings. The lower ends of these tripping pins rest respectively
in recesses or cam ways formed in the top edges of the narrow widths of the door
wings, and the upper ends of the said tripping pins project above said upper disc
and operate one end of a spring lever the opposite end of which is adapted, (by
means of suitable connecting rods and guides), to release the spring pawls of
the drop arms and permit the latter to drop through the roof so as to retain the
door wings when folded as hereinafter described.
Under ordinary conditions pressure at the outer part of the door wings causes
the said wings together with the central pillar and its discs and the radial arms
to rotate about the adjustable pivots and between the walls or side recesses as is
well understood. Upon sudden or undue pressure being applied to a main wing
at a point nearer where it is hinged to its narrow width, the spring bolt retaining
such narrow width in position gives way. The narrow width then turns on its
pivots, thereby drawing its main wing out of engagement with the gravity bolt
in the corresponding radial arm, and thus releasing the said wing and permitting
it to move towards the next wing, on one side. This released wing then strikes
a projection on the gravity bolt of the next wing and so releases the said next
wing the spring bolt for retaining the narrow width of this next wing also
giving way. In this manner all the wings are rapidly folded together. When
the narrow strip of the first wing is released, the cam way or recess on the upper
edge of said narrow width raises a tripping pin, thereby operating the spring
lever and releasing the drop arms so that the latter project downwardly through
the door roof. The projecting parts of these drop arms are each provided with
an incline, so that as the wings are brought together they strike the inclined
surface on one or other of said drop arms, raise said drop arm as they pass, and
come to rest in a space between the drop arms, thus leaving a free passage
through the door. To readjust the door wings, the drop arms must be raised
and the wings turned into their correct relative positions. The spring, bolts of
the inner widths then engage with the conical recesses in the upper disc, the
gravity bolts engage with the main wings and the tripping pins fall into the
cam ways or recesses so as to release the spring lever and permit the spring pawls
to retain the drop arms in their raised position.
According to a modified form of construction the central pillar has its ends
suitably pivoted in the floor and roof of the door structure respectively. Attached
to this pillar, concentrically therewith, are three discs or their equivalent one
at or near each end thereof and one in a middle or intermediate position. To
these discs the door wings are pivoted so as to be capable of a limited vertical
movement and the middle disc is provided with a number of radial grooves
corresponding to the number of door wings, and also with a number of grooves
parallel to the said radial grooves but not themselves radial.
The narrow widths are each made in two pieces which are pivoted to the said
discs and arranged one above the other in the same vertical line. The main wings
are hinged to the said narrow widths as before.
The middle disc passes transversely between the upper and lower narrow
widths and into recesses in the main wings, the vertical distance between the
upper and lower narrow widths, and the depth of the said recesses, being sufficient

page_text: to normally leave a space below the said disc, a similar space being also formed
below the upper disc, for a purpose hereinafter explained.
The main wings may be connected to the pivoted widths by any required
number of hinges, one of which is preferably situated at the lower end of the
upper and another at the upper end of the lower narrow widths, so that hinges
are situated immediately above and below the middle disc. The bottom edge of
each of the upper narrow widths and the top edge of each of the recesses in the
main wings are of V or similar shape, and round these ✓ shaped edges the ends
of the leaves of the said hinges are preferably turned so as to conform thereto.
These shaped edges of the narrow widths and upper edges of the recesses.
in the main wings, normally engage with the radial grooves in the middle discs
and are there retained by the weight of the wings, so that the door revolves with
the central pillar. When any extraordinary pressure is however put on the
door, these V shaped edges rise out of engagement with the radial grooves in
the middle dise (the aforesaid spaces below this disc and the upper disc, being
sufficient to allow this). The narrow widths are then free to turn on their pivots
and the door wings are free to turn on their hinges, so that all the wings of the
door may be folded together and a free passage formed through the door struc-
ture. When thus folded the V shaped edges take into the parallel grooves in
the central disc and thus tend to retain the wings in their folded position. To
re-adjust the wings, they are turned into their correct relative positions where
they again drop into the radial grooves in the middle disc.
A section on the outside or on both sides of each of the side screens or walls
between which the door revolves, is hinged and provided with means whereby
it is normally retained in position but which enable it, upon receiving unusual
pressure from inside, to open outwards so as to form a free and wide exit. Such
means may conveniently consist of a roller or its equivalent carried by the out-
side jamb of the hinged section and so arranged that it normally engages with
a recess in the floor but that when the hinged section is pressed with sufficient
force from the inside, it rises and allows the said section to move outwardly upon
its hinge.
The said roller may be carried by a vertical bolt which is pressed downwardly
by a spring, which spring also tends to move the bolt angularly about its longi-
tudinal axis. When the roller is forced out of engagement with the recess in
the floor as aforesaid, the bolt rises and the spring turns a knob or projection
on the bolt into a recess in the bolt case, so that the said roller and bolt are
retained in their raised position. To release the roller and bolt the said knob
or projection is turned out of engagement with said recess when the spring again
forces the roller into engagement with the recess in the floor.
8712
T1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in
We, THE VAN KANNEL REVOLVING DOOR Co., LIMITED, of 40 and 42, Scrutton
Street, Finsbury, in the County of London, 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 improvements in revolving doors of the kind which

page_text: comprises a number of wings that radiate from a central pillar and are capable
of rotating between curved, arc-shaped, polygonal or other screens or walls.
The invention has for its object such a construction and arrangement of the
wings that they all remain in the radial position under ordinary conditions,
but fold together and are retained in such folded position so as to form a free
emergency exit, when subjected to extraordinary pressure, such as would pro-
bably occur in the event of a panic in a crowded building.
.
According to this invention each of the wings of the rotary door is formed of
two members or widths, one of which is broader than the other. The narrower
member or width is pivoted to a central pillar and has the broader member or
width hinged to it. These wings are provided with means which normally retain
them in their relative radial positions, but which permit them if subjected to
any extraordinary pressure, to fold together, and means are provided to retain the
wings in such folded position. The curved polygonal or other walls or screens
have hinged sections on their outer parts on the outside or on both sides of the
door, arranged so that the exertion of extraordinary pressure from within the
door will cause said sections to fold outwardly so as to afford a free passage
through the door.
Each of these hinged sections is retained in position by a bolt which normally
engages with a recess in the floor. This bolt is pressed downwardly by a spring,
which tends to move the bolt angularly about its longitudinal axis so that when
the bolt is forced out of engagement with its recesses in the floor, it rises and the
spring turns a projection on the bolt into a recess in the bolt case, so that the
said bolt is retained in its raised position until released.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
-
· Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the upper and lower parts, and
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section of a revolving door constructed according
to our invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line A-A. Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section on line B-B Figure 1.
. Figure 5 is a plan of the docr wings, the dotted lines showing the position
assumed by the said wings when folded.
Figure 6 is a plan of a part hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is a section on line C-C Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a partly sectional front view drawn to a larger scale of the spring
bolt at the lower end of each of the hinged sections of the side walls.
Figure 9 is a plan of the recessed floor plate with which the bolt shown in
Figure Sengages.
Figure 10 shows a modification hereinafter referred to.
a is the central vertical rotary pillar to which the wings of the rotary door
are pivoted. The lower end of the pillar a is conical or pointed and the upper
end of said pillar is provided with a conical recess. is a vertically adjustable
bearing piece or step for the lower conical end of the pillar a.
This bearing
piece is externally screw-threaded and is provided with longitudinal grooves cc.
is the screw-threaded socket which is fixed in the floor and with which the
bearing piece b engages. e is a circular plate, shown in plan in Figure 6, which
is provided with projections f f engaging with the grooves ee in the bearing
piece b.
is a screw for normally retaining the plate e in position. hare
holes in the plate e, which holes are adapted to receive a wrench whereby the
plate e may be turned in order to vertically adjust the bearing piece b, when
the screw is removed. ii are the narrower members or widths of the door
wings and are the broader members or widths of said wings. kk are plates
which are secured to the pillar a by set screws 17 and which carry pivots m m
to which the wing members ii are hinged, as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 4.
nn are hinges by which the wing members ii and jj are connected, the adjacent

page_text: edges of these wing members being suitably bevelled or V-shaped to permit
of their being folded as hereinafter described. o is a vertically adjustable pivot
which is adapted to fit the conical recess at the upper end of the pillar a and
engages with a suitable screw socket carried by a bracket p secured to the roof
or ceiling of the door structure; a suitable hole or opening being provided
in the centre of the roof 7, for the pillar a to pass through. r is a metal disc
or bracket fixed to the top of the pillar and situated just below the roof or
ceiling q. ss are hinges connecting the upper edges of the wing members i i
and j. j. The wings of the hinges which are attached to the wing members i i,
are provided with pivots which engage corresponding sockets in the bracket r
and constitute the top pivots on which the wing members turn. u are
spring bolts or latches which slide in suitable sockets carried by the bracket r
and have their downward movement limited by pins which pass through
longitudinal slots in the bolt casings. The ends of the bolts are pointed or
conical shaped and project below the bracket and engage respectively with
conical recesses in one of the wings of the hinges ss, and thereby normally pres
vent the wing members ii turning upon their pivots and m.
are radial
arms which have their inner ends secured to the bracket and which correspond
in number to the wings of the door. These arms are sufficiently resilient
to permit of a limited amount of vertical movement at their outer ends, but are
sufficiently rigid to resist lateral movement. ,, are latches secured near the
outer ends of the arms for the purpose of securing the wing pieces to the
arms c.
Each of these latches a comprises two inclined lateral projections having
a space between them, in which space a wing member j is normally situated.
yy are stay rods having their ends at one extremity respectively secured to the
latches and their ends at the opposite extremity passing through a flange on
the bracket and secured in position by means of nuts which are normally
locked by wedges 1, 1. These rods y limit the vertical movement of the arms in
the downward direction, and their length may be varied by adjusting the nuts .
2,2 are vertical tripping pins which pass loosely through holes in the bracket r.
The lower ends of these tripping pins 2, 2, rest respectively in recesses or cam-
ways 3, 3, formed in the wings of the hinges s that are secured to the wing
members, and the upper ends of these tripping pins project above the bracket r
and are adapted to co-operate with one arm 4 of a crank lever which passes
through the central hole or opening in the roof, g. This crank lever is pivoted
to the roof or ceiling and has a cross piece 6 passing loosely through its other
arm 5. The ends of this cross piece 6 are respectively connected by means of
knuckle joints 7, 7, to rods 8, 8. The free ends of these rods 8, 8, are adapted to
slide through guides 9, 9 attached to the roof q. 10, 10, are drop arms which
are pivoted in a suitable frame above a slot 11 in the roof q and are provided with
suitable stops to limit their downward movement. 12, 12, are spring pawls
adapted to normally rest upon plates forming the bases of the guides 9 and to
retain the drop arms 10 in their raised position. When the drop arms are raised
the spring pawls 12 are in close proximity to the free ends of the rods S.
13, 13, are the side walls of the door structure having hinged portions 14, 14 at
their ends. 15, 15 are the usual strips of felt or similar material which are
secured to the top, bottom and side of each of the door wings and which come
into contact with the roof, floor, and side walls of the structure. The hinged
portions 14 of the side walls are normally prevented from turning about their
hinges by bolts 16, 16. Each of these bolts 16 engages with a suitable recess 17
in the floor, and is provided with a spring 18 which tends to depress it and which
also tends to turn the said bolt about its longitudinal axis for a purpose herein-
after referred to. Each bolt 16 is also provided with a knob 19 which slides in
a slot in the bolt case and is provided with a projection 20, which projection is
adapted to engage with one of a series of recesses 21 in the bolt casing."
Referring to Figure 10, the arm is not resilient and does not require a stay
rod such as y in the previous figures. The latch has inclined lateral pro-

page_text: jections as in the foregoing figures, but is arranged as a gravity latch and is
carried by an arm 22 pivoted at a point 23 in a recess 24 in the arm . This
arm 22 is capable of moving vertically, and has its downward movement limited
by a projection 25 on the arm we.
Under normal conditions when pressure is exerted approximately at the outer
side of one or more of the wing members j, the door wings with the central
pillar a, the bracket and the arms w, rotate on the pivot o and bearing piece b,
so that persons can pass through the door, as is well understood.
In the event of any sudden or unusual pressure being exerted on a door wing
at a point nearer the central axis about which the wings rotate, the spring latch u
of such wing will be forced out of engagement with the recess in the one wing
of the hinges, and the wing member i will then turn on its pivots t and m.
When the wing member thus turns upon its pivots, the cam-way 3 is moved
so as to raise a tripping pin 2. This tripping pin raises the arm 4 of the crank
lever, thereby operating the arm 5 of said lever and thrusting the rods 8; 8,
outwardly through the guides 9, 9, and thereby releasing the spring pawls 12
and permitting the drop arms 10, 10 to fall through the slot 11. As the wing
member continues to turn on its pivots it bends its hinge and draws the
outer end of the corresponding wing member j inwardly and out of engage-
ment with the space between the lateral projections of the latch on the corre-
sponding radial arm, thus releasing the said wing ; and permitting it to move
towards the next wing on one side. This released wing then strikes the
inclined surface of one of the projections on the latch of the arm of the
next wing, and so raises the said latch and releases the said next wing. In this
manner all the wings are rapidly folded together, the various wing members i
turning on the pivots t and m and the outer wing members turning on the
hinges n. As the wings swing round after being released they strike the
inclined surface of one or other of the drop arms 10 and pass into the space
between the said drop arms; all the wings being finally collected into the space
between the said drop arms and a clear passage being thus left on each side
of the collected wings, through the door structure. The tripping pins 2 remain
raised out of the cam ways 3, and the rods 8, 8 consequently remain thrust out
through the guides 9, 9, thereby preventing the spring pawls retaining the drop
arms in their raised position as the wings strike and pass under said drop arms.
To readjust the wings of the door, the drop arms must be raised and the wings
folded back into their correct positions. The latches and will then re-engage
with their respective wings, the tripping pins 2, 2, will fall into the recesses
or cam-ways 3, 3, and the arm 4 of the crank lever will fall and thus retract
the rods 8, 8, and permit the spring pawls 12, 12, to retain the drop arms 10, 10
in their raised position.
Any undue pressure exerted from inside the door structure will raise the
bolts 16, 16, out of their respective recesses 17 in the floor. The springs 18, 18
will then turn the said bolts about their longitudinal axes and cause the pro-
jections 20, 20 in the knobs 19, 19 to engage respectively with one of the hori-
zontal recesses 21, 21 in the bolt casings, and thus retain the bolts 16, 16 in
their raised position. The hinged sections 14, 14 of the side walls are then
capable of turning outwardly on their hinges so as to afford a wide exit from
the door structure.
To re-adjust the hinged parts 14, 14 of the side walls, the said hinged parts
are turned back to their normal position and the projections 20, 20 on the
knobs 19, 19 are turned out of the horizontal recesses 21. The springs 18. 18
then depress the bolts 16, 16, and cause them to engage with their respective
recesses 17, 17 on the floor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
us by our foreign correspondent, we declare that what we claim is:
1. A revolving door having radial wings pivotted to a central pillar each of

page_text: which wings comprises two parts or members hinged together; substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
2. A revolving door in which the radial wings are adapted to fold together
when subjected to unusual pressure and are retained in such folded position
by automatically operating means, for the purpose specified.
3. A spring bolt for retaining the hinged sections of a side wall of a revolving
door in position, which spring bolt is arranged to operate substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
4. A revolving door constructed arranged and operating substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated this 283rd day of March 1900.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.