Improvements in Quick Folding Doors for Fire Engine Houses, Stables, and other Buildings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Quick Folding Doors for Fire Engine Houses,
Stables, and other Buildings.
JAMES CADOUX HUDSON 75 Upper Ground Street Blackfriars Road London
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In some fire engine doors at present in use, the doors are in four sections of about
equal width-thus assuming the doorway to be 10 ft. wide by 10 feet in height, the
sections will be 2 feet 6 inches wide and 10 feet high-the two outer sections are at
one side hinged," one to each door post, and at the other side are hinged to one
side of the inner section, the other sides of the inner sections meeting together at
the centre of the doorway.
Various means of quickly opening these doors are in use-in some cases weights
and pulleys and ropes being used to open and retain the doors when the bolts
locking them too, have been withdrawn and the door partly opened-or springs on
the outer sections and the door posts serve a similar office.
In my improvements I apply a form of spring hinge attached to the outer and
inner sections the tendency of this hinge is to close up or fold these sections
together until their outer faces meet. These hinges can be applied in place of the
ordinary butt hinges commonly used between the inner and outer section or can be
applied in conjunction with them.
The spring hinge is formed in two parts having tails or shanks which are bolted
to the inner face of inner and outer sections--that part forming the knuckle or
hinge has an outer jaw attached to one shank, and an inner jaw attached to the
other shank.
A pulley or drum is placed within the inner jaw and is secured to a pin forming
the centre or fulcrum of the binge-this pin is cylindrical at those parts where it
passes through the sides of inner jaw, and revolves therein, but is square at that
part where passing through the outer jaw and consequently attached thereto.
A chain is attached and wound round the pulley or drum and passes over a
pulley or roller on the outer side of shank of the hinge with inner jaw, or that
jaw in which the circular part of centre pin is. To this chain a spiral spring is
attached which is connected by screw adjustment to a bracket on the end of shank
to inner jaw. The tension or compression put on this spring and regulated by
screw, pulls on the chain and tends to turn the pulley in a direction which fold up
these shanks and the inner and outer sections of doors to which they are attached
as in closing a book and moreover when thus closed there still remains sufficient
tension on spring to retain the section in that closed position. This arrangement
of spring hinge acts to open the doors directly the bolts holding the doors shut are
released; and it is not necessary to start the door from the shut position before the
opening arrangement comes into action. I can vary the arrangement of spiral spring
and use flat springs or even a weight acting by gravity giving the tension on chain as
in a spring.
Thus I make the opening force of the doors to be applied directly on the doors
themselves which is a great advantage especially when several doors are arranged
in an engine house side by side, as each door being complete in itself does not
interfere with others near, and complications of numerous ropes, pulleys, weights and
the like are avoided.
Dated this 20th day of December 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Quick Folding Doors for Fire Engine Houses,
Stables, and other Buildings.
JAMES CADOUX HUDSON 75 Upper Ground Street Blackfriars Road London
Engineer, 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 :-
In some fire engine doors at present in use the doors are in four sections of about
equal width. Thus-assuming the doorway to be 10 feet wide by 10 feet in height,
the sections will be 2 feet 6 inches wide and 10 feet high-the two outer sections are
at one side hinged, one to each door post, and at the other side are hinged to one
side of the inner section the other sides of the inner sections meeting together at
the centre of the doorway. Various means of quickly opening these doors are in use-
in some cases weights and pulleys and ropes being used to open and retain the doors
when the bolts locking them to have been withdrawn and the door partly opened―
or springs on the outer sections and the door posts serve a similar office.
In my improvements I apply a form of spring hinge attached to the outer and
inner section-the tendency of this hinge is to close up or fold these sections together
until their outer faces meet. These hinges can be applied in place of the ordinary
butt binges commonly used between the inner and outer section, or can be applied in
conjunction with them.
The spring hinge is formed in two parts having tails or shanks which are bolted to
the inner face of inner and outer sections-that part forming the knuckle or hinge
as an outer jaw attached to one shank, and an inner jaw attached to the other shank.
A pulley or drum is placed within the inner jaw and is secured to a pin forming
the centre or fulcrum of the hinge this pin is cylindrical at those parts where it
passes through the sides of inner jaw, and revolves therein, but is square at that
part where passing through the outer jaw and consequently attached thereto.
a
A chain is attached and wound round the pulley or drum and passes over a pulley
or roller on the outer side of shank of the hinge with inner jaw, or that jaw in which
the circular part of centre pin is. To this chain a spiral spring is attached which
is connected by screw adjustment to a bracket on the end of shank to inner jaw.
The tension or compression put on this spring and regulated by screw, pulls on
the chain and tends to turn the pulley in a direction which fold up these shanks
and the inner and outer sections of doors to which they are attached as in closing
book and moreover when thus closed there still remains sufficient tension on spring
to retain the sections in that closed position. This arrangement of spring hinge
acts to open the doors directly the bolts holding the doors shut are released; and
it is not necessary to start the door from the shut position before the opening
arrangement comes into action. 1 can vary the arrangement of spiral spring and
use flat springs or even a weight acting by gravity giving the tension on chain as
in a spring. Thus I make the opening force of the doors to be applied directly
on the doors themselves which is a great advantage especially where several doors
are arranged in an engine house side, by side, as each door being complete in itself
does not interfere with others near, and complications of numerous ropes, pulleys,
weights and the like are avoided. In order that said invention
my
fully uuderstood and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the
drawings hereunto annexed.
may
be most

page_text: Fig. 5 is a plan of the same.
. Fig. 6 is a plan of hinge shewn partly open.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of roller or drum to a larger scale.
Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of same.
Fig. 9 is an elevation of hinge in which a weight is substituted for the spiral
spring.
Fig. 10 is a plan of the same.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 & 3 the folding doors consist of four sections (A) (A') (B) (B')
the parts (A) (A) and (B) (B') being connected to each other by my improved
hinge (C) and also by the butt hinges (D) but these may be dispensed with if necessary
and in place thereof two or more of my improved hinges may be substituted. The
parts (A) (A') and (B) (B¹) being hinged together form leaves and divide the doors
into two parts. The outer leaves (A) and (B) are firmly hung on hinges (E) (E)
attached to wall or floor of building (F) and (F) are bolts with guide brackets (G) (G)
and locks (H) (H) by means of which the doors are held in the closed position.
The locks (H) and (H) are actuated by levers (I) (I) to which are attached the
cords (J) (J) passing over pulleys (K) (K) attached to the upper part of the
leaves (A') & (B)—these cords (J) (J) are continued to a position near the coachmans
seat of the engine or to any other convenient spot. Above the doors are channel
irons (L) (L) fixed to the lintel, and at a slight inclination with the face of each
half of the door. At the upper part of the leaves (A') (B¹) are brackets (M) (M)
carrying the studs (N) (N) and guide roller (0) (0) projecting upwards and
entering the channel (L) (L) and by means of which the doors are guided to the
folded positions (P) and (P).
The manner of opening the doors are as follows; the cords (J) (J) being pulled
by the coachman or other person a movement is given to the levers (I) (I) breaking
the lock and releasing the bolts (F) (F). The action of the spring hinges (C) (C)
tends to bring together the two outer faces of the leaves (A) (A) and (B) (B);
this action being continued and the inner leaves (A') and (B) being guided by the
rollers (0) and (O) and channels (L) and (L) the two halves of the door assume
the positions (P) & (P).
G
Referring to Figs. 4-5 and 6 the knuckle or joint of the spring hinge consists of
an outer jaw (Q) attached to a shank (R) and an inner jaw (S) attached to a shank (T);
the pin (U) passing through the jaws (Q) and (S) and also the pulley or drum (V)
to which is attached one end of the chain (W) by the pins (✗) and (X).
The pin (U) is fixed to the outer jaw (Q) by the screws (Y) (Y) (Y), or if
preferred by a square, and also to the pulley or drum (V) by means of a square ;
that part of the pin (U) passing through the inner jaw (S) being cylindrical and
allowing a free movement to that part of the hinge. (Z) is a spiral spring, the one
end being connected to the shank (T) by an adjustible screw (C') the other end of
the spring (Z) is attached to a chain (W) the opposite end of which is fastened
to the pulley or roller (V). Attached to the shank (T) is a guide pulley or roller (D¹)
running freely on a pin (E') and over this pulley (D') the chain (W) passes in
connecting the spring (Z) to the pulley or drum (V).
Figs. 4 & 5 shew the hinge in its normal position in which case the doors would
be closed.
Fig. 6 shews the leaves (B) and (B¹) partly folded under the action of the
spring hinge; the tension on the spring (Z) is transmitted by the chain (W) to
the roller or drum (V) turning it in a direction to fold up the leaves (B) and (B').
Fige. 7 and 8 are enlarged views of the pulley or drum (V) shewing the means
of attaching the chain (W) by the pins (✗) and (X). In Figs. 9 and 10 the
spiral spring (Z) giving the tension on chain (W) is substituted by a weight (F')
acting by gravity. (V) is the drum or pulley, (D') the guide pulley, and (W)
the chain, as described at Figs. 4 to 8. (G!) is a chain or cord connecting the
weight (F) to the chain (W), and (H³) is a guide pulley over which the cord (G')

page_text: passes; (J) shows the position occupied by the weight (F') when the doors have
been opened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
-claim is―
Firstly. The arrangement of folding hinge applied to the joint between the outer
and inner sections of folding doors having four leaves hinged together in pairs.
The hinge acting on each pair of doors tending to fold them together when free, and
holding them together when folded. The hinge with spring or weight attachment
being formed in the manner and for the purposes illustrated and described.
Secondly. The arrangement of channel or guide in connection with bracket and
roller or slide arranged above and on the doors, controlling the position of doors
when opening until they are folded together and stand at right angles to their closed
position and retaining them there as illustrated and described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1896.