IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS AND GATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Townend, of Exeter Street, Bradford, in the
County of York, Inspector, for the Invention of "IMPROVED SELF-ACTING
APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS AND GATES."
Sealed the 27th October 1877 and deted the 4th May 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Townend at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th May 1877.
WILLIAM TOWNEND, of Exeter Street, Bradford, in the County of York, In-
spector. "IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS
AND GATES."
This Invention relates to improvements in automatically opening and closing
"swing," swivel, and other doors and gates, whereby such operations are performed
more efficaciously and simply than by the means hitherto employed. For this
purpose I form a recess under the tread of the door, in which I fix metal chests
placed on each side of the doors; in these chests work the pivots or vertical axis
of the bottom hinges, which work freely in steps formed in the bottom plates of the
chests, over the pivots, and in the chests are fitted round metal boxes, having
formed therein double angular cams or inclines; on these cams work top double
angular cams or inclines, also fitted over the pivots. The round boxes serve as oil
receivers, to lubricate the cams and pivots, and also act on the outside as pullies for
a steel endless band which is passed over the round boxes and secured to them by
set screws; the endless band actuates alternately the opening or closing of the doors
or gates.
The top cams or inclines are made with projecting top lugs, on which fit openings
made in lugs formed on brackets, to which is fitted a cross stay weight frame,.
extending from one bracket to the other; the steel endless band passes over the
sides of the weight frame; this frame is constructed with openings, in which are
placed weights. The weights are made with top flanges, and the number of weights
employed vary with the weight of the doors or gates. On the top of the pivots are
fitted the bottom hinges of the doors or gates. Set screws are fitted between the

page_text: lugs of the brackets and the ends of the weight frame to regulate the position of
the doors or gates, insuring a perfect closing of the doors or gates.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When one of the doors is opened the
action of the pivot causes the top double cam or incline to travel over the double
cam or incline formed in the round box, lifting it and also the weighted frame, at
the same time actuating the round box, giving motion to the endless steel band,
which actuates the other bottom round box, forcing up the top double incline or
cam, opening the other door at the same time as the one which is pushed opens,
but in a contrary direction; on the pressure placed on the door or gate in opening
being removed, the weighted frame forces the doors or gates to return to their
normal position, thereby closing the doors or gates. By these means I prevent
swing, swivel, and other doors or gates being blown open, and ensure great ease in
opening and closing without noise, keeping them perfectly closed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Townend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd November
1877.
WILLIAM TOWNEND, of Exeter Street, Bradford, in the County of York, In-
spector. "IMPROVED SELF-ACTING APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS
AND GATES."
The said Invention relates to improvements in automatically opening and closing
'swing," "swivel," and other doors and gates, whereby such operations are per-
formed more efficaciously and simply than by the means hitherto employed. For
this purpose I form a recess under the tread of the doors, in which I fix metal chests
placed on each side of the doors; in these chests work the pivots or vertical axis
of the bottom hinges, which work freely in steps formed in the bottom plates of the
chests; over the pivots and in the chests are fitted round metal boxes, having
formed therein double angular cams or inclines; on these cams work top double
angular cams or inclines, also fitted over the pivots. The round boxes serve as oil
receivers, to lubricate the cams and pivots, and also act on the outside as pullies for
an endless band which is passed over the round boxes and secured to them by set
screws; the endless band actuates alternately the opening or closing of the doors or
gates.
The top cams or inclines are made with projecting top lugs, on which fit openings
made in lugs formed on brackets, to which is fitted a cross stay weight frame,
extending from one bracket to the other; the endless band passes over the sides of
the weight frame; this frame is constructed with openings, in which are placed
weights. The weights are made with top flanges, and the number of weights employed
vary with the weight of the doors or gates. On the top of the pivots are fitted the
bottom hinges of the doors or gates. Set screws are fitted between the lugs of the
brackets and the ends of the weight frame, to regulate the position of the doors or
gates, insuring a perfect closing of the doors or gates.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When one of the doors is opened the
action of the pivot causes the top double cam or incline to travel over the double
cam or incline formed in the round box, lifting it and also the weighted frame, at
the same time actuating the round box giving motion to the endless band, which
actuates the other bottom round box, forcing up the top double incline or cam,
opening the other door at the same time as the one pushed opens, but in a contrary
direction; on the pressure placed on the door or gate in opening being removed the
weighted frames force the doors or gates to return to their normal position, thereby
closing the doors or gates. By these means I prevent "swing," "swivel," and other
doors or gates being blown open, and insure great ease in opening and closing
without noise, and keep them perfectly closed.
4

page_text: But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed
to more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which,-
-
Figure 1 represents a part elevation of a pair of folding doors, to which the
improved apparatus is applied, part of such apparatus being shewn in section;
Figure 2, plan of the apparatus.
Figure 3 represents a front elevation of the band and gear.
Figure 4 represents a sectional front elevation, drawn full size, of a metal box
with double angular carus or inclines; Figure 5, sectional side elevation; and
Figure 6, plan of the same.
Figure 7 represents a frout elevation, drawn full size, of a top double angular
cam or incline, and Figure 8, side elevation of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
Under the folding doors A. are fixed iron shoes or plates B, in which are fitted the
square heads C of the pivots or spindles D, which pass through the floor to a cellar
underneath, as shewn in the Drawing (but a recess may be formed under the tread
of the doors); the bottoms of the spindles D work freely in steps E formed in the
bottom plates of the chests F, which are fixed on a wooden beam or plank G fixed
to the brickwork H; in the chests F are fitted round metal boxes I having bosses J,
through which pass the spindles D, and to which they are fixed by keys. Between
the bosses and the inside of the boxes are formed double angular cams or inclines K,
over which work top double angular cams or inclines L having bosses M, through
which pass the spindles; these top double cams work loosely on the spindles. On
the bosses are formed projections N, over which are fitted lugs O of brackets P ;
the ends of these brackets have lugs Q, through which work set screws R. The
lugs and set screws are fitted in openings S formed in the weight frames T; the set
screws regulate the position of the doors, ensuring a perfect closing. On the
brackets P are bolted the weight frames T; these frames are formed with recesses U,
in which are placed the weights V, which are made with top flanges W; the
number of weights employed is regulated according to the size and weight of the
doors. Flanges X are cast on the frames T, in which are made slot holes Y, through
which are passed bolts Z to secure the frames together; the slot holes allow the
regulating of the frames T to the width of the doors. The round metal boxes I are
made with recesses A¹, serving as oil receivers to lubricate the cams or inclines K
and L and the spindles D.
On the outside of the boxes I are fitted india-rubber
bands B', which are fixed to the boxes by set screws C₁; these india-rubber
bands pass through the ends of the boxes, which are left open, and the bands
are fitted with iron lugs D³, in which are fixed the heads E¹ of the connecting
rods F; the ends of these rods pass through lugs G¹ of small sliding brackets H₁,
in which are fitted small friction pullies I¹ which work in guides and oil receivers J.
On the opening of one of the doors the spindle causes the bottom cams or inclines K
to actuate and lift the top cams or incline L; at the same time the india-rubber
band on the round metal box I actuates, through the connecting rods F¹, the other
india-rubber band on the other round metal box I, actuating the box and lifting
the top cam or incline L, but in a contrary direction; also opening the other door
at the same time that the one is pushed in a contrary direction. The lifting of the
top cams or inclines forces up the weighted frames T; on the pressure in opening
the door being removed the weighted frames force the doors to return to their
normal position.
The apparatus can be fitted to "swing," "swivel," and other doors and gates.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement, construction, and employment of the improved

page_text: apparatus for opening and closing both parts of folding doors and gates simul-
taneously, substantially as herein-before described and represented by the Drawing
'annexed.
Secondly. The construction and employment of double angular cams or inclines
(for opening and closing both parts of folding doors and gates simultaneously,
substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Townend, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
WILLIAM TOWNEND. (L.S.)