IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING DOORWAYS OR OPENINGS CLOSE AND TIGHT, APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS, VESSELS, CASES, OR OTHER RECEPTACLES REQUIRING DOORS OR OPENINGS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton
Buildings, London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF
AND MEANS FOR MAKING DOORWAYS OR OPENINGS CLOSE AND TIGHT,
APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS, VESSELS, CASES, OR OTHER RECEPTACLES
REQUIRING DOORS OR OPENINGS." A communication from abroad by George
Bowman Thompson, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1880.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING DOORWAYS OR
OPENINGS CLOSE AND TIGHT, APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS, VESSELS, CASES, OR
OTHER RECEPTACLES REQUIRING DOORS OR OPENINGS." [A communication from
abroad by George Bowman Thompson, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.]
The improvements relate to the means for tightly closing doorways and similar
openings, and are specially applicable to doorways of vessels, buildings, cars for
railroads, refrigerators, provision safes, show cases, show windows, book cases,
wardrobes, receptacles for powder or other explosives, and generally to make doors
of a general angular form to close tightly where such close fitting is desirable,
whether for retarding the sinking a vessel by isolating the damaged compartment,
or to retard the burning of any compartment of a building by preventing access
of air through said doors or openings, or for only admitting fire hose through
said doors, or for other purposes where tight fitting doors or openings are required.
The primary application of the Invention is to the doorways, window openings,
and hatchways of steam ships and other large floating craft, to prevent or retard
the sinking of the same in case of collision or other accident causing a leak. I will
hereafter refer to them by the term "vessels."
Heretofore it has been common to guard against the sinking of a vessel in such
cases by providing it with bulkheads dividing its lower portion or all that part
below the main passenger deck in passenger vessels into a series of water-tight

page_text: compartments; but such compartments in the upper portion of a vessel, or in
passenger vessels above and including the passenger deck, are either wholly
omitted, which is the rule, or are made too large to properly divide the risk.
The limitation of the number and location of water tight compartments is owing
to the difficulty that has been experienced in making the communicating doors
water-tight without preventing their ready operation, and for the same reason but
few doorways are made through the bulk heads, while such doors as are provided are
difficult to operate and involve high sills, which obstruct the doorway more or less.
If sufficiently numerous doors are not provided, or if the doorways are thus
obstructed, inconvenience is experienced in communicating between the compart-
ments and doors, the closing and securing of which demand more than ordinary
force and skill must obviously be very limited in number to render their operation
at all certain in cases of emergency, while ordinary swinging doors are liable to be
kept open in such cases by an opposing stream of inflowing water.
The doorways and other openings above named are commonly of a general
angular form in order to facilitate the passage of persons and things through them
as well as to economize space and expense of construction. They should further-
more be adapted to be opened, closed, and secured quickly, and with but little
effort. This operation has been materially interfered with by the cumbersome
fastening devices rendered necessary to secure the doors heretofore employed for
the purpose named, and a leaky joint has been liable to be caused by the expansion,
contraction, warping, sagging, or settling of the co-acting parts, or of the general
structure, and the corners belonging to said doorways and openings are peculiarly
difficult to pack or render tight.
This Invention, without materially changing the form of the said openings or
lessening their present advantage, but with adaptation to meet the said requirements
and to overcome the said difficulties, consists primarily in a simple and inexpensive
construction of hinged or swinging doors, transoms, windows, and window-shutters,
with their frames, and hatchways and hatches, whether the latter be hinged or
not, and in the combination therewith of elastic packing in peculiar manner as
hereinafter set forth, which provides for tightly closing doorways and similar
openings so that they may be opened and closed as readily as if ordinary unpacked
doors, etc., were used, and without interfering with their ordinary uses by
obstruction, cumbersome fastening devices, or otherwise.
The Invention consists further in a combination of two doors with a double
frame to operate automatically so as to insure closing the principal doorways, as
hereinafter specified.
It also consists in providing a temporary or permanent opening into a building
or vessel, or into apartments thereof, through which to introduce fire extinguishing
agents without opening the door, such openings being made perfectly tight when
not required for this purpose in the manner described.
Applied to vessels as aforesaid, my Invention provides for tightly closing all the
doorways and similar openings, or as many thereof as may be necessary to render
the ordinary subdivisions or the principal ones water-tight compartments, as well
as the usual compartments between the bulkheads, besides furnishing a still more
effective means for closing the principal doorways.
As applied to both vessels and buildings, the Invention provides an effective
means for extinguishing or retarding internal fires, and at the same time for
preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases, for preventing the
passage of dust, drafts, gases, sounds, cooking and other odours, also to prevent the
noise of slamming and rattling doors, and to keep them from sticking in their
frames.
The Invention is also applicable in part to the doors of passenger cars, etc., to
make noiseless, and to keep out dust, rain, and cold, and to prevent drafts; to the
doors of refrigerators, refrigerator cars and vessels, provision safes, cars and
magazines for transporting or containing powder and other explosives to make
them close tightly; to the doors, etc., of show cases and show windows to prevent

page_text: injury to the contents by rain, moisture, dust, or coal-gases; to the doors of book
cases, wardrobes, etc., for excluding dust, and generally whenever it is desirable to
close tightly a door way or similar opening of a general angular form, or having
one or more straight sides, for any useful purpose.
In the accompanying Drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, Figure 1
may represent an elevation of an open door and its frame, or the bearing parts or
joint between a transom, window, or window-shutter and its frame (the sheet being
held on edge to make it a view of a transom), or it may represent a plan view of
the bearing parts or joint between a hatchway and hatch constructed and packed
according to this Invention. It also represents a covered opening through the centro.
of the door, through which to pass the nozzle of a fire hose so as to introduce fire
extinguishing agents without opening the door. Figure 2 represents a transverse
vertical sectional view of Figure 1 in the line a, a, with the door closed; Figure 3
represents a transverse horizontal section of the same in the line b, b, with the
door closed. A perspective sectional view of one corner of the same on a large
scale is illustrated by either of the doors and its seat in the frame in Figure 8..
Figure 4 represents a perspective view of a central section of the door on a larger
scale, showing the hinged spring cover X closing the opening provided for intro-
ducing the nozzle of a fire hose; Figure 5 is a perspective view representing a
vertical section of the same, showing a portion of the opening through the door, a
section of the tubular packing ring Z, and sections of the spring cover X on each
side of said door; Figure 6 represents the elastic packing Z for the spring cover on
each side of the door to close against. It may be made by cutting from a piece of
soft rubber tubing of the proper size a piece a little longer than the thickness of
the door, so that its end will project on each side of the hole through the door that
must be made to receive it, and where it may be secured by tacks, screws, glue, or
cement. Figure 7 represents a horizontal section of two partly closed doors and
their double frame, illustrating the combination for closing the principal openings;
and Figure 8 represents a perspective sectional view of one corner of the same,
which at the same time presents both a vertical and horizontal section.
It being evident that the joint or bearing parts of doors, transoms, hinged
windows, window shutters, and hatches with their frames are substantially the
I will for brevity term the principal parts shown in the Drawing as "doors
and their frames."
same,
A, A, in the several Figures represent doors; B, B, their frames; and C, C,
elastic packings..
I preferably make a packing C, especially for this use, of round rubber tubing by
cutting from unvulcanized tubing a piece a little shorter than the perimeter of the
door for which it is intended, causing it to contain more or less air or other elastic
fluid, generally preferring an ordinary atmosphere such as it will contain if not
flattened; then hermetically sealing its ends together, and finally vulcanizing it in
a mould, which may be made to receive an assortment of sizes; or it may be
vulcanized without a mould by having one or more small openings from the
exterior to the interior of the hollow ring for the passage of the air, so as to equalize
the pressure, and prevent bursting or collapse. These openings or air passages may
be made by inserting a hollow needle, or a small section of small light metallic tubing,
and letting it remain until the ring is vulcanized, when it should be removed, and
a plug or patch of rubber may then be cemented into or over the hole or holes.
One or more very small section or sections of the hollow ring may be made of
unvulcanizable gum, and by making said air passages through these it is easier to
close them after the ring is cured than if the said part was vulcanized. I do
not restrict myself to this mode of making the hollow rings or packings; they may.
be made by any process known to rubber manufacturers. Similar packing may
be made from other vulcanizable compositions of rubber or analogous gums, or
from tubing composed of such materials after it is vulcanized, by joining the ends
with glue, cement, stitches, clips, or otherwise, but it is best to form it complete,
and then cure it. However made it should have such materials in its composition
.

page_text: as to make it wear well, and best fit it to resist the action of the elements to which
it will be exposed. It should be made of heavy or light tubing, or tubing of such
weight that it will be more or less rigid, according to the pressure it is to bear.
The size of the tubing must be determined by the size of the door and the pressure
to be put upon it. Tubing having an inside diameter of one fourth of an inch, and
outside diameters ranging from five sixteenths to half an inch (to an inch) will
be suitable in most cases.
A door frame B is constructed with all its corners round that form the bearing
for the door and without the usual rabbet or stop, having instead a smooth bevelled
seat D extending along the still as well as along the lintel and side posts within
the frame. A round cornered door A is made with a continuous bevelled edge F
matching the seat D and grooved as shown at F to receive the packing ring C.
The latter being stretched and sprung into place is retained entirely or mainly by
its own elasticity. It should project from its groove about one half its diameter or
sufficiently to pack effectively against the bevelled seat D. Two or more packings
may be held in parallel grooves in the same edge as illustrated in one of the doors
in Figures 7 and 8. The sharp corners on each side of the groove should be slightly
rounded to prevent injury to the packing,
By making the door and the frame with bevelled seat without rabbet or stop, I
avoid having any part of the door bear against any part of the frame, concentrating
the pressure upon the packing, and adapting the door to move to a greater or less
depth in its seat with increasing compression of the packing; while the door,
however tightly it may be wedged shut, is adapted to open readily, and any injury
to the packing by rabbets and sharp edges is precluded. The round corners of the
door and frame render the latter less liable to stick in the frame, and the bevelled
edge and bevelled seat adapt the parts to accommodate themselves to each other
when distorted or affected by expansion, contraction, or settling of the parts or of
the general structure. They also facilitate packing the corners and relieve the
latter from cutting edges. The round corners also prevent collapsing the tubular
packing and allow the air or other elastic fluid contained in the latter to
circulate freely therein, the door operating automatically to force the said elastic
fluid from a given side or point where the space is least, to the sides or points where
it is greater, thus equalizing the pressure at all points, and aiding in the accom-
plishment of my purpose,
Apart from the features above specified, the door and its frame may be of any of
the ordinary forms and of any approved construction and materials.
This part of the Invention is easily applied to an old door, as the space occupied
by the packing and the filling of the rabbet and corners to form the bevelled seat
in the frame fully compensate for all the material of the door that it is necessary
to remove from its corners and edge.
In lieu of the tubular packing an endless cord of rubber may be carried in the
groove or grooves, or a band of rubber or other suitable elastic material may be
used upon the bevelled edge of the door, and a band of rubber may be secured upon
the seat in the frame to co-act with that upon the door-edge; or the main packing
of either form may be glued, cemented, or otherwise attached to the said seat or
within grooves that may be made therein. I prefer however to carry the packing
upon the door edge alone, as I am thereby enabled to make it bear upon a sill of
ordinary form and height without having the packing in the way of injury; and I
prefer to use the tubular packing, as it is more elastic and accommodates itself better
to the varying space between the door and frame, as set forth.
may
The tubular packing may be glued or cemented within its groove in the door-
edge or to plugs of rubber or other suitable material set therein, or it be
secured in other known ways. It will be best in some cases to so attach it at
points near each side of each corner to relieve it of any tendency to flatten on the
corners and also at one or more places on each of the longer sides if the door be
large.
Independently of the packing, new and useful results are effected by constructing

page_text: the bearing parts of the door and its frame as herein specified, as it causes the
former to enter the latter on the principle of the wedge without being stopped or
prevented from making a close joint by the corners of the door or by any rabbet or
door-stop, thus allowing it to move to a greater or less depth in its seat to com-
pensate for expansion, contraction, or settling; and further, by the application of
this principle not heretofore found in doors or door-like structures of this character
a tighter joint is made with a given amount of pressure against the door than is
accomplished by any construction heretofore used. Packing other than that
described may obviously be used with such doors successfully. It also renders the
door if packed more effective for the purposes described in case the packing should
get displaced or out of order than is the case with any other packed door. To this
end the bearing parts should be so proportioned and bevelled that the door will
not pass through the opening if the packing is displaced, but that it will stop
against the bevelled seat in the frame. If packing is wholly omitted in any case
the door should be made enough larger to make up for the space ordinarily occupied
by the packing.
Each of the two doors A shown in Figure 7 with its seat D in the frame B and
its packing C is preferably of the construction and operation first above specified.
The Invention shown in this Figure is of great importance, especially upon vessels.
It consists in hanging within one door way a pair of doors, each of which is capable
of completely closing the same and making it water-tight or air tight, or nearly so,
one opening inwardly and the other outwardly from opposite faces of the same
frame, each operating independly of the other, and both arranged to be closed
automatically, so that in case of a leak or fire occurring upon either side of said
door way the floor current pressure or draft of the water or fire is made to assist
in closing and securing one or the other of said doors.
In applying the Invention to an ocean steam-ship for carrying passengers and
freight "double doors," as shown in Figure 7, should be used in the bulkheads
where the compartments communicate. Each compartment on the upper or
passenger decks formed by extending all or part of the bulkheads up through them
and other large apartments should be subdivided, and the "double doors" should
be used between the principal subdivisions. The doorways of state-rooms and
other small apartments may have either "double doors" or single doors. Transoms
constructed and packed on the same principle as the doors should take the place
of the usual openings at the tops of state rooms and similar subdivisions of the
vessel, and they may be either double or single, as the doors.
Window openings
and hatchways may be closed in like manner, the former with hinged windows or
shutters, or both, and the latter by either hinged or loose hatches, all having edges
and seats, and all preferably packed, as above described.
In ferry-boats, river steamers, barges, and such other craft as are usually without
water-tight compartments or bulk heads," double-doors" should be used at all
principal doorways, and either double or single doors at minor points, the risk
being thereby greatly divided and reduced. While it is intended to apply these
doors, etc., to old vessels in constructing new ones, passenger decks and other parts
should be arranged and subdivided with a special view to the attainment of the
best results in the use of these means.
The Invention is applied to either a vessel or building for the purpose of
extinguishing or retarding fires in a similar manner, the double doors being applied
to principal openings and the single doors to minor sub-divisions. Transoms,
hinged windows, window shutters, and hatches are of the same style, and all
preferably packed. Openings having glazed windows should also have solid
shutters constructed and packed as described, as glass is liable to be broken by the
heat of a conflagration. Flues, smoke stacks, chimneys, and ventilators should be
provided with dampers by which they could be quickly and tightly closed. By
these means fires may be smothered out or retarded until these means may be
supplemented by other fire extinguishing agents, such as water, steam, or chemicals,

page_text: which should be introduced through the smallest openings practicable in order to
avoid giving the fire a draft or a free supply of air, which would support or hasten
combustion. For this purpose a hole is made through the door shutter, transom,
hatch, or other convenient part leading to the apartment in which the fire is
located. This hole should be just large enough to introduce the nozzle of a fire
hose. This may be temporary; for instance, it may be bored through by the
fireman, or it may be permanent and provided with a suitable cover or stopper.
I prefer that these openings should be permanently provided through the doors,
and that they should be packed and closed with spring covers, as shown in
Figures 1, 4, and 5. I do not restrict my claims to only the openings and covers
shown, as the principle may be carried out in many simple ways.
The general
structure and its subdivisions should of course be tightly constructed. Then in
case of a fire starting in one or more apartments all persons should be got out, the
doors, shutters, dampers, transoms, hatches, etc., belonging to them closed and
secured, and if the fire is not thus smothered out it will be retarded, giving time
for the introduction of the said fire extinguishing agents through the said small
openings through the doors, etc., as described.
To hang the door, any suitable hinges, fastenings, and operating devices may be
used, but I prefer to use such as may be attached to the flat faces of the door and
frame, so as not to interfere with the bearing parts or packing. Keyholes passing
through the door should be dispensed with, or, if used, should be provided with
tight covers. I prefer in most cases to use spring hinges or their equivalents, such
as door springs, weights, or the like, so that the door will stand closed. When used
upon vessels too much dependence should not be placed upon fastening devices, as
it is difficult to quickly close and secure a door, so as to hold the edge tightly in its
seat against an opposing stream or pressure of water; therefore, single doors, if used,
should be so hung upon such side of the doorway that they would probably have
a favorable pressure in such case, and if this is difficult to determine, the double
doors should be used instead, unless the filling of such compartment should be
unimportant.
The Invention will generally be used for other purposes in the form of single
doors or door-like windows or shutters, as illustrated by Figure 1, but without the
central opening, except when applied to vessels, buildings, and cars.
If in any
case hinges are applied with the leaves in the joint, the leaf that is attached to the
edge of the door should be grooved to correspond with the door edge, and the leaf
that is attached to the frame should be made flush and smooth with the frame, so
as to afford a bearing for the packing without having any rough or sharp projections
that would injure the same.
I am aware, first, that a round port-hole has been closed by a tapering stopper
ground into a corresponding seat and provided with packing. Said port-hole
stopper is not adapted to be operated in the same manner, nor to perform the same
functions, as an ordinary swinging door or the like, or such as is required to close
an opening of an angular form, or having one or more straight sides or edges. It
does not therefore meet the difficulties overcome by my Invention. Second, I am
aware that door ways and similar openings of a general angular form have
heretofore been provided with elastic packing in various ways other than between a
continuous bevelled edge and a matching seat constructed with round corners, and
without rabbet or stop, as herein specified, and that such packing has been carried
by the door or door-like structure, and also that tubular packing is old. Third, I
am also aware that a fire proof safe has been provided with a door of a general
angular form, having all its corners rounded, and its edges in part corrugated to
form a retreating series of continuous rounded steps or shoulders, the door frame
being constructed with a matching seat "to ensure a close fitting joint." But said
steps operate as stops, and do not permit the door to move to a greater or less
depth in the seat, so as to accomplish the aforesaid wedge-like action of a round
cornered door constructed with bevelled edges and fitted to a corresponding seat

page_text: without any stop according to my Invention. Moreover, the perimeter of said
safe door fits within a deep rabbet forming sharp edges, which would preclude or
obstruct closing the door tightly in the event of warping or sagging, and thus
render it unsuitable for the uses to which my doors, &c., are intended. Said port
hole stopper packing, separately considered, and safe door are not included in my
Invention, and are hereby disclaimed.
I also disclaim the broad idea of hanging two doors to opposite faces of the same
frame, but know of no anticipation of such doors constructed and operated as
herein specified, for the purpose of closing a doorway water-tight or air-tight, and
arranged so that one of them will be acted upon by a favorable current or pressure.
of water or air so as to insure so closing the doorway for the purposes herein set
forth.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
June 1881.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, Patent Agent, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR MAKING DOORWAYS OR
OPENINGS CLOSE AND TIGHT, APPLICABLE TO BUILDINGS, VESSELS, CASES, OR
OTHER RECEPTACLES REQUIRING DOORS OR OPENINGS." A communication from
abroad by George Bowman Thompson, of Pittston, Pennsylvania, United States of
America.
The improvements relate to the means for tightly closing doorways and similar
openings, and are specially applicable to doorways of vessels, buildings, cars for
railroads, refrigerators, provision safes, show cases, show windows, book cases,
wardrobes, receptacles for powder or other explosives, and generally to make doors
of a general angular form to close tightly where such close fitting is desirable,
whether for retarding the sinking of a vessel by isolating the damaged com-
partment, or to retard the burning of any compartment of a building by preventing
access of air through said doors or openings, or for only admitting fire hose through
said doors, or for other purposes where tight fitting doors or openings are
required.
The primary application of the Invention is to the doorways, window openings,
and hatchways of steam ships and other large floating craft to prevent or retard
the sinking of the same in case of collision or other accident causing a leak. I
will hereafter refer to them by the term vessels.
Heretofore it has been common to guard against the sinking of a vessel in such
cases by providing it with bulkheads, dividing its lower portion or all that part
below the main passenger deck in passenger vessels into a series of water tight
compartments. But such compartments in the upper portion of a vessel, or in
passenger vessels above and including the passenger deck, are either wholly omitted,
which is the rule, or are made too large to properly divide the risk. This limitation
of the number and location of water tight compartments is owing to the difficulty
that has been experienced in making the communicating doors water tight without
preventing their ready operation, and for the same reason but few doorways are
made through the bulkheads, while such doors as are provided are difficult to
operate and involve high sills, which obstruct the doorway more or less. If
sufficiently numerous doors are not provided, or if the doorways are thus obstructed,
inconvenience is experienced in communicating between the compartments and
doors, the closing and securing of which demand more than ordinary force and
skill, must obviously be very limited in number to render their operation at all
certain in cases of emergency, while ordinary swinging doors are liable to be kept
open in such cases by an opposing stream of inflowing water.
The doorways and other openings above named are commonly of a general
angular form, in order to facilitate the passage of persons and things through them
as well as to economize space and expense of construction. They should furthermore
be adapted to be opened; closed, and secured quickly and with but little effort.
This operation has been materially interfered with by the cumbersome fastening
devices rendered necessary to secure the doors heretofore employed for the purpose
named, and a leaky joint has been liable to be caused by the expansion, contraction,
warping, sagging, or settling of the co-acting parts or of the general structure, and
the corners belonging to said doorways and openings are peculiarly difficult to pack
or render tight.

page_text: This Invention without materially changing the form of the said openings or
lessening their present advantages, but with adaptation to meet the said require-
ments and to overcome the said difficulties, consists primarily in a simple and
inexpensive construction of hinged or swinging doors, transoms, windows and
window shutters, with their frames, and hatchways and hatches, whether the latter
be hinged or not, and in the combination therewith of elastic packing in peculiar
manner, as hereinafter set forth, which provides for tightly closing doorways and
similar openings, so that they may be opened and closed as readily as if ordinary
unpacked doors, etc., were used, and without interfering with their ordinary uses
by obstruction, cumbersome fastening devices, or otherwise.
The Invention consists further in a combination of two doors with a double
frame to operate automatically, so as to insure closing the principal doorways, as
hereinafter specified.
It also consists in providing a temporary or permanent opening into a building or
vessel or into apartments thereof, through which to introduce fire extinguishing
agents without opening the door, such openings being made perfectly tight when
not required for this purpose in the manner described.
Applied to vessels as aforesaid my Invention provides for tightly closing all the
doorways and similar openings, or as many thereof as may be necessary to render
the ordinary subdivisions, or the principal ones, watertight compartments, as well
as the usual compartments between the bulkheads, besides furnishing a still more
effective means for closing the principal doorways.
As applied to both vessels and buildings the Invention provides an effective
means for extinguishing or retarding internal fires, and at the same time for
preventing the spread of contagious or infectious diseases, for preventing the passage
of dust, drafts, gases, sounds, cooking and other odours, also to prevent the
noise of slamming and rattling doors, and to keep them from sticking in their
frames.
The Invention is also applicable in part to the doors of passenger cars, etc., to
make them noiseless, and to keep out dust, rain, and cold, and to prevent drafts;
to the doors of refrigerators, refrigerator cars and vessels, provision safes, cars, and
magazines for transporting or containing powder and other explosives to make them
close tightly; to the doors, etc., of show cases and show windows to prevent injury
to the contents by water, moisture, dust, or coal gases; to the doors of book-cases,
wardrobes, etc., for excluding dust; and generally whenever it is desirable to close
tightly a doorway or similar opening of a general angular form, or having one or
more straight sides, for any useful purpose.
In the accompanying Drawing, which forms a part of this Specification, Figure 1
may represent an elevation of an open door and its frame, or the bearing parts or
joint between a transom, window, or window shutter and its frame (the sheet being
held on edge to make it a view of a transom), or it may represent a plan view of
the bearing parts or joint between a hatchway and hatch constructed and packed
according to this Invention.
It also represents a covered opening through the centre of the door through
which to pass the nozzle of a fire hose so as to introduce fire extinguishing agents
without opening the door. Figure 2 represents a transverse vertical sectional view
of Figure 1 in the line a, a, with the door closed; Figure 3 represents a transverse
horizontal section of the same in the line b, b, with the door closed. A perspective
sectional view of one corner of the same on a larger scale is illustrated by either of
the doors and its seat in the frame in Figure 8; Figure 4 represents a perspective
view of a central section of the door on a larger scale showing the hinged spring
cover X closing the opening providing for introducing the nozzle of a fire hose;
Figure 5 is a perspective view representing a vertical section of the same showing
a portion of the opening through the door, a section of the tubular packing
ring Z, and sections of the spring cover X on each side of said door; Figure 6
represents the elastic packing Z for the spring cover on each side of the door to
close against. It may be made by cutting from a piece of soft rubber tubing of the

page_text: proper size, a piece a little longer than the thickness of the door, so that its ends
will project on each side of the hole through the door that must be made to receive
it, and where it may be secured by tacks, screws, glue, or cement; Figure 7
represents a horizontal section of two partly closed doors and their double frame
illustrating the combination for closing the principal openings; and Figure 8
represents a perspective sectional view of one corner of the same, which at the same
time presents both a vertical and horizontal section.
It being evident that the joint or bearing parts of doors, transoms, hinged
windows, window shutters, and hatches with their frames are substantially the
same, I will for brevity term the principal parts shown in the Drawing as "doors
and their frames,"
A, A, in the several Figures represent doors; B, B, their frames; and C, C,
elastic packings.
I, preferably, make a packing C especially for this use of round rubber tubing by
cutting from unvulcanized tubing a piece a little shorter than the perimeter of the
door for which it is intended, causing it to contain more or less air or other elastic
fluid, generally preferring an ordinary atmosphere such as it will contain if not
flatened, then hermetically sealing its ends together, and finally vulcanizing it in a
mould which may be made to receive an assortment of sizes; or it may be
vulcanized without a mould by having one or, more small openings from the
exterior to the interior of the hollow ring for the passage of the air, so as to
equalize the pressure and prevent bursting or collapse. These openings or air
passages may be made by inserting a hollow needle or a small section of small light
metallic tubing, and letting it remain until the ring is vulcanized, when it should
be removed, and a plug or patch of rubber may then be cemented into or over the
hole or holes. One or more very small section or sections of the hollow ring may
be made of unvulcanizable gum, and by making said air passages through these it
is easier to close them after the ring is curved, than if the said part was vulcanized.
I do not restrict myself to these modes of making the hollow rings or packings.
They may be made by any process known to rubber manufacturers. Similar
packing may be made from other vulcanizable compositions of rubber or analogous
gums, or from tubing composed of such materials after it is vulcanized, by joining
the ends with glue, cement, stitches, clips, or otherwise, but it is best to form it
complete and then curve it. However made, it should have such materials in its
composition as to make it wear well, and best fit it to resist the action of the
elements to which it will be exposed. It should be made of heavy or light tubing,
or tubing of such weight that it will be more or less rigid, according to the pressure
it is to bear. The size of the tubing must be determined by the size of the door,
and the pressure to be put upon it. Tubing having an inside diameter of one
fourth of an inch, and outside diameters ranging from five sixteenths to half an
inch will be suitable in most cases.
A door frame B is constructed with all its corners round, that form the bearing
for the door, and without the usual rabbit. or stop, having instead a smooth
bevilled seat D extending along the sill, as well as along the lintel and side posts
within the frame. A round cornered door A is made with a continuous bevilled
edge E matching the seat D, and grooved, as shown at F, to receive the packing
ring C; the latter being stretched and sprung into place is retained entirely or
mainly by its own elasticity. It should project from its groove about one half its
diameter or sufficiently to pack effectively against the bevilled seat D. Two or
more packings may be held in parallel grooves in the same edge, as illustrated in
one of the doors in Figures 7 and 8. The sharp corners on each side of the groove
should be slightly rounded to prevent injury to the packing.
By making the door and the frame with bevilled seat without rabbit or stop I
avoid having any part of the door bear against any part of the frame, concentrating
the pressure upon the packing, and adapting the door to move to a greater or less
depth in its seat with increasing compression of the packing, while the door
however tightly it may be wedged shut is adapted to open readily, and any injury

page_text: to the packing by rabbets and sharp edges is precluded. The round corners of the
door and frame render the latter less liable to stick in the frame, and the bevilled.
edge and bevelled seat adapt the parts to accomodate themselves to each other
when distorted or affected by expansion, contraction, or settling of the parts, or of
the general structure. They also facilitate packing the corners, and relieve the
latter from cutting edges. The round corners also prevent collapsing the tubular
packing, and allow the air or other elastic fluid contained in the latter to circulate
freely therein, the door operating automatically to force the said elastic fluid
from a given side or point where the space is least to the sides or points where it is
greater, thus equalizing the pressure at all points, and aiding in the accomplishment
of my purpose.
Apart from the features above specified the door and its frame may be of any of
the ordinary forms, and of any approved construction and materials.
This part of the Invention is easily applied to an old door, as the space occupied
by the packing and the filling of the rabbet and corners to form the bevelled seat
in the frame fully compensates for all the material of the door that it is necessary
to remove from its corners and edge.
In lieu of the tubular packing an endless cord of rubber may be carried in the
groove or grooves, or a band of rubber, felt, or other suitable elastic material may
be used upon the bevelled edge of the door, and a band of rubber may be secured
upon the seat in the frame to co-act with that upon the door edge; or the main
packing of either form may be glued, cemented, or otherwise attached to the said
seat, or within grooves that may be made therein. I prefer however to carry the
packing upon the door edge alone, as I am thereby enabled to make it bear upon
a sill of ordinary form and height without having the packing in the way of injury;
and I prefer to use the tubular packing as it is more elastic, and accomodates itself
better to the varying space between the door and frame, as set forth.
The tubular packing may be glued or cemented within its groove in the door
edge, or to plugs of rubber or other suitable material set therein; or it may be
secured in other known ways. It will be best in some cases to so attach it at
points near each side of each corner to relieve it of any tendency to flatten on the
corners, and also at one or more places on each of the longer sides if the door be
large.
Independently of the packing new and useful results are effected by constructing
the bearing parts of the door and its frame as herein specified, as it causes the
former to enter the latter on the principle of the wedge without being stopped or
prevented from making a close joint by the corners of the door, or by any rabbet
or door stop, thus allowing it to move to a greater or less depth in its seat to com-
pensate for expansion, contraction, or settling; and, further, by the application of
this principle, not heretofore found in doors or door like structures of this character,
a tighter joint is made with a given amount of pressure against the door than is
accomplished by any construction heretofore used. Packing other than that
described may obviously be used with such doors successfully. It also renders
the door if packed more effective for the purposes described, in case the packing
should get displaced or out of order, than is the case with any other packed door.
To this end the bearing parts should be so proportioned and bevilled that the door
will not pass through the opening if the packing is displaced, but that it will stop
against the bevilled seat in the frame. If packing is wholly omitted in any case
the door should be made enough larger to make up for the space ordinarily occupied
by the packing.
Each of the two doors A, shown in Figure 7, with its seat D in the frame B and
its packing C is preferably of the construction and operation' first above specified.
The Invention shown in this Figure is of great importance especially upon vessels ;
it consists in hanging within one doorway a pair of doors, each of which is capable
of completely closing the same and making it water tight or air tight, or nearly so,
one opening inwardly and the other outwardly from opposite faces of the same
frame, each operating independently of the other, and both arranged to be closed

page_text: .
automatically, so that in case of a leak or fire occuring upon either side of said
door way the flow, current, pressure, or draft of the water or fire is made to assist
in closing and securing one or the other of said doors.
"
"
In applying the Invention to an ocean steam ship for carrying passengers and
freight, "double doors," as shown in Figure 7, should be used in the bulkheads
where the compartments communicate. Each compartment on the upper or
passenger deck, formed by extending all or part of the bulkheads up through
them, and other large apartments should be subdivided, and the "double doors'
should be used between the principal subdivisions. The doorways of state rooms
and other small apartments may have either double doors or single doors.
Transoms constructed and packed on the same principle as the doors should take
the place of the usual openings at the tops of state rooins and similar subdivisions
of the vessel, and they may be either double or single as the doors. Window
openings and hatchways may be closed in like manner, the former with hinged
windows or shutters, or both, and the latter by either hinged or loose hatches, all
having edges and seats, and all preferably packed as above described.
In ferry boats, river steamers, barges, and such other craft as are usually without
water tight compartments or bulkheads, "double doors" should be used at all
principal doorways, and either double or single doors at minor points, the risk
being thereby greatly divided and reduced. While it is intended to apply these
doors, etc., to old vessels in constructing new ones, passenger decks and other parts
should be arranged and subdivided with a special view to the attainment of the
best result in the use of these means.
The Invention is applied to either a vessel or building for the purpose of
extinguishing or retarding fires in a similar manner,
the double doors being applied
to principal openings and the single doors to minor subdivisions. Transoms, hinged
windows, window shutters, and hatches are of the same style, and all preferably
packed. Openings having glazed windows should also have solid shutters, con-
structed and packed as described, as glass is liable to be broken by the heat of a
conflagration. Flues, smoke stacks, chimneys, and ventilators should be provided
with dampers by which they could be quickly and tightly closed. By these means
fires may be smothered out or retarded until these means may be supplemented
by other fire extinguishing agents, such as water, steam, or chemicals, which should
be introduced through the smallest openings practicable in order to avoid giving
the fire a draft or a free supply of air, which would support or hasten combustion.
For this purpose a hole is made through the door, shutter, transom, hatch, or other
convenient part leading to the apartment in which the fire is located. This hole
should be just large enough to introduce the nozzle of a fire hose. This may be
temporary; for instance, it may be bored through by the fireman, or it may be
permanent and provided with a suitable cover or stopper. I prefer that these
openings should be permanently provided through the doors, and that they should
be packed and closed with spring covers, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5. The
general structure and its subdivisions should, of course, be tightly constructed.
Then, in case of a fire starting in one or more apartinents, all persons should be got
out, the doors, shutters, dampers, transoms, hatches, etc., belonging to them closed
and secured, and if the fire is not thus smothered out it will be retarded, giving
time for the introduction of the said fire extinguishing agents through the said
small openings through the doors, etc., as described.
To hang the door any suitable hinges, fastenings, and operating devices may be
used, but I prefer to use such as may be attached to the flat faces of the door and
frame so as not to interfere with the bearing parts or packing; key holes passing
through the door should be dispensed with, or if used should be provided with
tight covers; I prefer in most cases to use spring hinges or their equivalents, such
as door springs, weights, or the like so that the door will stand closed. When used
upon vessels too much dependence should not be placed upon fastening devices, as
it is difficult to quickly close and secure a door so as to hold the edge tightly in its
seat against an opposing stream or pressure of water; therefore single doors if used

page_text: should be so hung upon such side of the doorway that they would probably have a
favorable pressure in such case, and if this is difficult to determine the double
doors should be used instead, unless the filling of such compartment should be
unimportant.
The Invention will generally be used for other purposes in the form of single
doors or door like windows or shutters, as illustrated by Figure 1, but without the
central opening except when applied to vessels, buildings, and cars. If in any case
hinges are applied with the leaves in the joint, the leaf that is attached to the edge
of the door should be grooved to correspond with the door edge, and the leaf that
is attached to the frame should be made flush and smooth with the frame, so as to
afford a bearing for the packing without having any rough or sharp projections
that would injure the same.
I am aware, first, that a round port hole has been closed by a tapering stopper
ground into a corresponding seat and provided with packing. Said port hole
stopper is not adapted to be operated in the same manner, nor to perform the same
functions as an ordinary swinging door or the like, or such as is required to close
an opening of an angular form, or having one or more straight sides or edges. It
does not therefore meet the difficulties overcome by my Invention. Second, I am
aware that doorways and similar openings of a general angular form have hereto-
fore been provided with elastic packing in various ways other than between a
continuous bevelled edge and a matching seat constructed with round corners and
without rabbet or stop, as herein specified, and that such packing has been carried
by the door or door like structure, and also that tubular packing is old. Third, I
am also aware that a fire proof safe has been provided with a door of a general
angular form, having all its corners rounded and its edges in part corrugated to
form a retreating series of continuous rounded steps or shoulders, the door frame
being constructed with a matching seat "to insure a close fitting joint." But said
steps operate as stops, and do not permit the door to move to a greater or less
depth in the seat so as to accomplish the aforesaid wedge like action of a round
cornered door constructed with bevilled edges and fitted to a corresponding seat
without any stop, according to my Invention. Moreover the perimeter of said safe
door fits within a deep rabbet, forming sharp edges which would preclude or
obstruct closing the door tightly in the event of warping or sagging, and thus
render it unsuitable for the uses to which my doors, &c., are intended. Said port
hole stopper, packing separately considered, and safe door, are not included in my
Invention, and are hereby disclaimed.
I also disclaim the broad idea of hanging two doors to opposite faces of the same
frame, but know of no anticipation of such doors constructed and operated as
herein specified for the purpose of closing a doorway water tight or air tight, and
arranged so that one of them will be acted upon by a favorable current or
pressure of water or air so as to insure so closing the doorway for the purposes
herein set forth.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that
what I claim is,—
1st. The described method and means for tightly closing a doorway or similar
opening having one or more straight sides, a swinging door or the like, and its
frame constructed without rabbet or stop and with all their corners rounded, and
constructed respectively with a continuous beveled edge and an internal beveled
seat, substantially as herein described.
2nd. The described method and means for tightly closing a doorway or similar
opening having one or more straight sides, a swinging door or the like, and its
frame constructed without rabbet or stop and with all their corners rounded, and
constructed respectively with a continuous beveled edge and an internal beveled
seat, in combination with an elastic packing, substantially as herein described for
the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3rd. The described method and means for tightly closing a doorway or similar
opening having one or more straight sides, a swinging door or the like, and its
"frame constructed with round corners and without rabbet or stop, and constructed
respectively with a continuous bevelled and grooved edge, and an internal bevelled
seat in combination with one or more rings of elastic tubular packing sprung into
the groove or grooves of said edge, and having more or less air or other elastic fluid
hermetically sealed therein, substantially as herein specified, for the purpose set
forth:
4th: The application to a bulkhead in a ship or vessel of two doors, substantially
as described, so that in whichever of the compartments divided by the bulkhead a
leak is sprung, the flow of water shall assist by pressure against one or other of
said. doors to close and make tight the said bulkhead and prevent the passage of the
water through said doorway.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
• hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.