Improvements in Door Springs and Door Closing Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov:, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Door Springs and Door Closing Apparatus.
We, SAMUEL HILL, of 260 New John Street West, Cabinet Bar Fitter, and
GEORGE MACKIE, of 114 Sand Pits, Insurance Manager, both in the City of
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the manner in which we construct and arrange
door closing springs and appliances, the object of the invention being to provide
an efficient and simple door closing apparatus capable of being adjusted to suit
any particular pressure or thrust which may be required to close the door.
In carrying our invention into effect we attach or secure to the architrave or
door casing, a bracket having a double plate lever or long open jawed lever
mounted thereon shaped in a peculiar manner to permit of another single lever
connected to its outer or free end to work between its jaws or between the two
peculiarly formed plate levers. The single lever thus connected to the double
plate or jaw lever we attach to the axis of a coiled spring which we mount within
a box mounted upon the upper rail of the door. This spring box we form in a
peculiar manner preferably providing it with bearings or capped ends into or
through which the spring axis may work, the spring itself being contained and
coiled within a loose case mounted between these two capped ends upon the spindle
or axis in such a manner as to provide for the tightening or slackening of the
spring for the purpose of increasing or decreasing its tension. The outer portion
of the spring case we provide with teeth into which a ratchet or catch mounted on
the spring box bracket fits or falls so as to hold the box with its encased spring
at any desired position. The end of the spring we connect to an eye or lug inside
the case and we provide two caps or ends fitted with collars through which the
axis or lever passes.
The single lever mounted upon the spring box axis we provide with a small or
short end to which we connect a rod running to a bell crank or other lever which we
mount upon a bracket also secured to the door or preferably formed in one with
the plate carrying the spring box; this bell crank lever we attach to a piston rod
or plunger rod projecting from the cylinder of any ordinary hydraulic or pneumatic
kind used for the purpose of checking door closing apparatus in the well known
manner. We mount the cylinder upon the door in a manner preferably providing
for the slight movement of the cylinder upon its end attachment so that when the
bell crank lever is pulled the cylinder may move to one side or the other to
suit the path of the lever to which the piston or plunger rod is connected, a
suitable stuffing box and gland being provided through which the rod may work.
When the door is opened the levers which are connected at one end to the fixed
bracket on the door architrave and at the other to the moving spindle of the
spring, open out, the tension of the spring being greatest at the closed portion of
the path, and we modify the shape, configuration and length of our levers to suit
any desired opening which may be required for the door and to suit any other
requirement.
The check cylinder we make preferably hydraulic, attached to a pin or hook
plate at one end and we mount the plunger within the cylinder having a perforation
for permitting the oil or liquid to flow freely when drawn up, but to be checked
or retarded when the piston is pressing down so that the oil or liquid can only
escape to the top portion of the cylinder slowly through the vent or passage
within the piston. We form the top cap of the cylinder with an extra socket

page_text: having a screw for tightening the stuffing or packing up within it to prevent
leakage.
We do not limit the application. of our invention to any particular form of
pneumatic or air cylinder, but we modify the details of attachments and levers
to suit the particular conditions under which they may be required to work, in 5
closing various doors.
Dated this 7th day of November 1803
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Door Springs and Door Closing Apparatus.
We, SAMUEL HILL, of 260 New John Street West, Cabinet Bar Fitter, and
GEORGE MACKIE of 114 Sand Pits, Insurance Manager, both in the City of
Birmingham, 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 has reference to the manner in which we construct and arrange
door closing springs aud appliances the object of the invention being to provide
an efficient and simple door closing apparatus capable of being adjusted to suit
any particular pressure or thrust which may be required to close the door.
In order that our invention and the method of carrying the same into effect
may be the more readily understood we append hereunto two sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is an elevation showing one general form of our improved door spring
and door closing apparatus, and the method of fixing the same.
Figure 2 is a plan showing the spring box, bracket, and levers.
Figure 3 represents a modified arrangement of our apparatus, whilst Figure 4
illustrates the method of adjusting the spring, and Figures 5 and 6 are detail
views of the spring with its box or casing.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, we attach or secure to the architrave or
door casing a bracket such as A, having a double plate lever or long open jawed
lever B mounted thereon shaped in a peculiar manner to permit of another single
lever such as C connected to its outer or free end to work between its jaws or
between the two peculiarly formed plate levers. The single lever C thus
connected to the double plate or jaw lever B we attach to the axis of a coiled
spring which we mount within a box D mounted upon the upper rail of the door.
This spring box we form in a peculiar manner preferably providing it with
bearings or capped ends into or through which the spring axis may work, the
spring itself being contained and coiled within a loose case or ring D¹ mounted
within the spring case in such a manner that it may be turned or revolved when
required. The outer portion of the case or ring we provide with teeth as shown
at Figure 1 and also at Figures 4 and 5 Sheet 2, into which teeth, a ratchet or
catch E Figure 5 pivotted on the spring box fits or falls so as to hold the case
with the contained spring at any desired position. The outer end of the spring we
connect to an eye or lug d inside the case D' and arrange the inner end to form
a core through which the axis passes, its square central portion engaging with the
spring and causing it to partake of the movement imparted to the axis.
The single lever C, Figures 1 and 2, mounted upon the spring box axis we provide
with a small or short end C¹ to which we connect a hooked rod F running to a
bell crank or like lever G which we mount upon a bracket also secured to the door
or, preferably formed in one with the plate, or base of the spring box; this bell
crank lever we attach to a piston rod or plunger rod H projecting from the

page_text: cylinder J of any ordinary hydraulic or pneumatic kind used for the purpose of
checking door closing apparatus in the well known manner.
We mount the
cylinder upon the door in a manner preferably providing for the slight movement
of the cylinder upon its end attachment or pivot J' so that when the bell crank
lever is pulled the cylinder may move to one side or the other to suit the path of
the lever to which the piston or plunger rod is connected, a suitable stuffing box
and gland being provided through which the rod may work.
Thus the levers B and C of the door spring which are connected at the end
of B with the fixed bracket A on the door architrave, are connected at the end of
the short arm C¹ by means of the hooked rod F with the bell crank lever G which
is in connection with the door checking cylinder J. In this manner we combine
the action of both door spring and door check in the one convenient and effective
apparatus.
The effort of the spring in tending to unwind itself and drive around its
casing D¹, is resisted by the ratchet or catch E, pivotted upon the spring box case
or plate. When the door is at its closed position, the spring box and its levers
are in the position shown at Figure 2, and the reaction or resistance of the ratchet
or catch E is in opposition to any force tending to pull or push open the door.
As the door is opened the levers B and C open out, and the resistance to the
opening motion decreases, but sufficient resistance is maintained to cause the door
to close from any position. The hydraulic, pneumatic, or other check cylinder J,
retards the closing action of the spring and prevents slamming of the door.
The check cylinder we make preferably hydraulic, attached to a pin or hook
plate at one end and we mount the plunger within the cylinder having a perforation
for permitting the oil or liquid to flow freely when drawn up, but to be checked or
retarded when the piston is pressing down so that the oil or liquid can only escape
to the top portion of the cylinder slowly through the vent or passage within the
piston. We form the top cap of the cylinder with an extra socket having a screw
for tightening up the stuffing or packing within it to prevent leakage.
In the modified arrangement of our improved door spring and door closing
apparatus, illustrated at Figure 3 we employ a tubular connecting rod such as F,
instead of the hooked rod Fillustrated at Figure 1.
We adjust the tension of the spring to suit any particular pressure or thrust
which may be required to close the door, by turning or revolving the ring or case D
after disengaging the ratchet E, by means of the spanner and pivotted key piece
as shown at Figure 4.
We do not limit the application of our invention to any particular form of
hydraulic or other checking cylinder, and we modify the details of attachments
and levers to suit the particular conditions under which they may be required to
work in closing various doors.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The improved door closing apparatus consisting of an encased and adjustable
spring attached to the door and connected by levers and linkage with a bracket
fixed on the architrave or door casing, and with a hydraulic or other check attached
to the door, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved spring box and connections for attachment to a door, consisting
of a ring or casing with an internal spring and external ratchet teeth, mounted
within a box carrying a central spindle attached to the spring and connected by
levers with a bracket fixed on the architrave or door casing, substantially as and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In door closing appliances the construction of the improved spring box for
the reception of a coiled spring with its adjusting casing or ring, having a central

page_text: axis receiving the inner end of the spring, and an extended base or foot plate
having a pivot for mounting the bell crank or like connecting lever of a hydraulic
or other check, substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. In door closing appliances the construction of a ring or casing having an
internal lug or projection to receive the outer end of a coiled spring, and provided
with external teeth engaging with a ratchet or catch to prevent rotation, and by
which adjustment of the spring may be effected, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The improved method of connecting the piston or plunger rod of a hydraulic
or other door check, with the levers attached to the door closing spring, by means
of a bell crank or like lever, mounted upon a pivot formed with the base or foot
plate of the spring box, and a hooked or other link piece, substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The improved method of adjusting the coiled spring of a door closing
appliance by means of a spanner with a pivotted key piece suitably constructed
for engagement with the ratchet teeth of the spring ring or casing, substantially as
herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination of levers and linkage for the purpose of connecting an
adjustable door closing spring with a hydraulic or other check and with a fixed
bracket on the architrave or door casing, substantially as hereinhefore described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of Account 1004
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.