IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Dilkes and Edward Turner, of Leicester,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS."
Sealed the 19th August 1853, and dated the 15th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Dilkes and
Edward Turner at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 15th June 1853.
We, JAMES DILKES and EDWARD TURNER, of Leicester, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of employing helical springs made of iron
wire or of brass or steel in combination with inclined surfaces; such
inclined surfaces are moved by the act of opening the doors (to which
such apparatus may be applied) by means of levers or instruments
attached to the doors, such levers or instruments having each a roller or
rollers which move against the inclined surfaces. The movement of the
inclined surfaces causes the springs to be extended or noved from their
quiescent positions; the effort of the springs will thus at all times have
a tendency to close the doors and also to keep them closed, though the
doors may at pleasure be retained open.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Dilkes and Edward Turner in the Great
Seal Patent Office, on the 15th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JAMES DILKES and EDWARD TURNER, of Leicester, send greeting.
WHEREAS IIer most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said James Dilkes and Edward Turner, Her
special licence that we, the said James Dilkes and Edward Turner, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
James Dilkes and Edward Turner, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DOOR SPRINGS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Dilkes
and Edward Turner, by an instrument in writing under our hands and
seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly de-
scribe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Dilkes and Edward
Turner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention consists of employing helical springs made of iron S
wire or of brass or steel in combination with inclined surfaces; such
inclined surfaces are moved by the act of opening the doors (to which
such apparatus may be applied) by means of levers or instruments
attached to the doors, such levers or instruments having each a roller
or rollers which move against the inclined surfaces. The movement of

page_text: the inclined surfaces causes the springs to be extended or moved from
their quiescent positions; the effort of the springs will thus at all times
have a tendency to close the doors, and also to keep them closed,
though the doors may at pleasure be retained open.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, shews a plan with the top plate removed; and Figure 2,
a longitudinal section of the apparatus, having our improvements
applied thereto; and Figures 3, and 4, show some of the parts
separately. a, a, is a box or case suitable for being let into the sill of
a door.
b, is an axis supported in bearings fixed to the box a. The
upper part of the axis b, has a square formed thercon, upon which a
square socket affixed to the door is placed, so as to give motion to the
axis b, when the door is opened in either direction. ', ', are lever
arms on the axis b, which may or may not carry friction rollers b², b²,
and when the door is opened one or other of the lever arms act against
the inclined surface c, c, on the slide d, to one end of which a series of
helical springs e, e, are aflixed, the other ends of the springs e, e, are
attached to a plate f, which is retained at the end of the box a, by
angular projecting surfaces a', so that the springs and slide may be
readily removed and replaced when it is desired to increase or diminish
the power of the apparatus by the number of springs employed. The
inclined surfaces carry friction rollers, and are supported and guided by
projecting surfaces a², on the sides of the box a; the slide d, has a recess
d', formed thereon, in order to retain the door open when opened to its
widest extent. Figures 5, and 6, shew a plan and section of similar
apparatus to that just described, with the exception that the arrange-
ment of the parts is suitable for being applied to a door opening in one
direction only; and as the corresponding parts are marked with the
same letters of reference it will not be necessary to repeat the descrip-
tion thereof, and it will be seen that in this arrangement the axis b, is
connected with the door by a lever arm g, one end having square
socket which fits over the square of the axis b, the other end of the
lever being connected to the door as shewn. Figures 7, and 8, shew a

page_text: plan and front view of apparatus suitable for being applied to the side
of a door for the purpose of closing it. The parts of this apparatus are
similar but differently arranged to those previously described.
inclined surface hinged to and carried by a slide c*, which slides in a
slot on the plate c¹, affixed to the door. d, is a bar attached at one
end to a projection on the slide c*, and at the other to the projection d',
which slides in a slot in the plate a; to the projection d', are attached
one end of each of the helical springs e, e, the other ends being attached
to the fixed projection f, on the plate a, and when the door is opened
the inclined surface c, acts against the arm and roller b, fixed on the
door post, so as to press back the inclined surface c, and cause it by the
rod d, to distend the helical springs e, which may be varied in number,
and inclosed in a case as shewn. The inclined surface c, is capable of
being adjusted by the screw c², in order to increase or lessen the action
of the apparatus; all which will be readily understood on examining the
Drawings.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, we would have it understood that we
make no claim to any of the parts separately, nor do we confine
ourselves to the precise details so long as the peculiarity of our Inven-
tion be retained. But what we claim is, the combination of parts
herein described.
In witness whereof, we, the said James Dilkes and Edward
Turner, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth
day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
(1.5.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said James Dilkes and Edward
Turner in the presence of
SAMUEL STONE,
Solicitor, Leicester.
EDWARD TURNER. (L.S.)