IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF CLOSING APPLIANCES, AND CHECKS FOR DOORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I ROBERT ADAMS of 17 Blackman Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SELF CLOSING APPLIANCES, AND CHECKS FOR DOORS," to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved means and appliances
for operating upon, closing, and checking doors.
The closing of the door is effected by means of a spring or springs acting on
cylinders or portions of cylinders with helical surfaces, one such surface being fixed
and the other moveable; and the checking of the door is effected by means of a
specially formed piston as described in my specification of Patent No 1264484
and therein shewn in figs. 8, 9, 10 & 11 and with slight modifications thereof, in a
cylinder, pressed upon or against air, oil or other fluid, or by means of a vacuum,
or partial vacuum in such cylinder, produced by the motion of the piston.
In some cases I combine the inclined plane or helical surfaces and door check in
one construction, and in others they are formed separately.
The appliance for closing the door, (hereinafter for the sake of brevity called the
"helix ") may be fixed to or in the transom or door frame; or in the floor, under
the door, or in the place of one of the hinges, or between the upper and lower
hinges at the side of the door, or it may be affixed to or in the door itself at or
Dear any of such positions; and the door check (hereinafter called the "check ")
may be fitted in suitably close proximity to the helix, when it does not actually
form part thereof.
The helix consists of one or more cylinder or cylinders, or portions of cylinders,
having surfaces in contact with each other which are helical; such surfaces con-
sisting of a portion of a helix, or of a complete helix, or a number of threads, as
in a screw, or of two portions of helices running in opposite directions. These
surfaces are formed with a sufficient relative length of pitch, to cause one of them
to receive rotational force, when pressed together in a longitudinal direction, and
this pressure may be applied either by a spring only, or by a weight only, or by a
spring and weight combined, such weight or a portion thereof consisting (in some
cases) of the door itself; in which case the check is combined therewith.
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page_text: The helix is sometimes constructed in the form of a butt or double butt hinge,
and so applied to the door.
The contact surfaces of the helix are sometimes provided with anti-friction
rollers, or balls, to reduce the friction to a minimum, and the end of the active
portion of the helix is in like manner so fitted. In some cases the helical surfaces
work in oil.
The check is formed with a cylinder and piston, suitably packed to prevent
leakage with piston rod, or its equivalent, and connecting rod.
The check is sometimes mortised into the door; but it is obvious that it may he
placed in any suitable position where it will act with efficiency.
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self Closing Appliances and Checks for Doors.
I, ROBERT ADAMS of 17 Blackman Street, Southwark, in the County of Surrey
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to manufacture improved means and appliances
for operating upon, closing, and checking the closing of doors; and also to further
improve some of the appliances described in my former Specification No 12,644 84.
And in order that my said Invention may be particularly ascertained and
described, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In some cases I fit check pistons working in cylinders, and operated by the lever
arms b, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In 4. g is the cylinder fitted with a piston,
and in Figure 5, the two cylinders g g are fitted in a similar manner to that shewn
in Figure 40 of N° 12,64484
In carrying out my present invention with the forms of door checks shewn in
No 12,644 8, the check is sometimes combined as shewn in Figure 6, in which the
spindle c forms part of or is united with the spindle of the check.
In Figure 0 the general form and arrangement of the cylinder, spindle, helical
groove, spring and piston, are shewn in section; with a novel method of checking
the flow of the air oil or other fluid or liquid contained in the cylinder. h is the
cylinder, i is the cover, is the helical block having a sleeve ; the upper part
of the sleeve is fitted with a cap and perforated flange . The cap forms a
stuffing box and is packed at 12. m is an ordinary cup leather. n is a leather
washer and a metallic washer, both held up by the spring n which washer n¹
and spring are sometimes dispensed with. The piston may also be otherwise
packed.
The upper part of the spindle is fitted with a leather washer o, a hardened
metallic washer o¹, which is prevented from turning in the cover by a nib at any
part of its circumference; and another similar washer o² which is caused to turn
with the spindle by a nib o³. By means of these three washers motion and wear
of parts are provided for and leakage is prevented; these washers may however be
dispensed with.
The spindle p is bored through its length or a portion thereof, and cross parts p¹ pl
are made, as shewn. A valve spindle p is fitted, and is turned by the head p³,
whereby the passage of the fluid from below is regulated as required. But other
passages for the oil may be substituted.
When the block, and piston attached thereto, are drawn upward by the motion
of the spindle (as described in No 12,644 8+) the downward flow of the oil or other
fluid is permitted by the opening of the passages 12 but when the piston is pressed

page_text: downwards, these passages are shut by the washers n and n¹, or their equivalents,
and the fluid can only gain access to the upper part of the cylinder by the ports p¹
governed by the valve p². qq (Figures 9. 10. 11. 12 and 13) are guides formed in
both sides of the cylinder, whereby the block is prevented from revolving on its
centre. Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of the cylinder h. Figure 11 is a top
view of the same, shewing the flanges h¹² screwed to the door post (in section).
Figure 12 is a section on the line 1-2 of Figure 10, and Figure 13 is a section on
the line 3-4 of Figure 10. It is obvious that these guides q q may be made helical
and thereby cause the block / to rotate, or to assist the spindle to revolve.
In applying this door check to doors without the addition of the springs shewn
in Figures 4 to 5, it is usually fitted as shewn in Figure 17, where is one of the
flanges fitted to the door post, and ³ is the flange screwed to the door. This
flange 3 is formed in one with the collar 4, the latter being united to the spindle
by a screw as shewn at x in Figure 25 or otherwise. In figure 18 one of the
friction wheels is shewn at q² and a pin q³ works in the inner groove to prevent
the slamming of the door. One or more friction wheels, or their equivalents may
be fitted to the spindle, as preferred. In Figure 9 the cam block is shewn single
acting and in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 18 my double acting cam is shewn, applicable
to swing doors; the construction is very similar to that shewn in Figure 10, except
that the cap is provided with a set nut 13, and the flange is separate from
the sleeve and also provided with a set nut, which arrangements may be
transposed.
Figure 6 shews the manner in which the door check his united with the spring
boxf, being a portion of the door.
Figure 7 shews the application of the door check in cases where it is incon-
venient to sink an apparatus in the floor, in consequence of the close contiguity of
an iron girder, or other obstruction. The cylinder is provided with a flange h³,
screwed to the floor; the flange being screwed to the door post, and the flange h³
to the door, or their equivalents.
Figure 8 shews the application of the check h to an ordinary back-of-door spring
for closing and checking doors.
In some cases the action of the spindle is communicated to the door by means of
bevel gear, where the springs or checks are placed horizontally or diagonally.
Figures 19 and 20 shew two metho is of tightening and regulating the com-
pression of the springs, by turning the plate ; the cover plate i (Figure 19)
being removed for that purpose. The same operation may be performed by means
of a pinion driving a spur wheel fitted to or formed in one with the plate , or by
a worm and worm wheel or by set screws or equivalent devices. In Figure 19 the
spindle valve rod p² is shewn recessed, as an improvement upon that shewn in
Figure 18 of No 12644 84. The head of p³ may however be covered as shewn in
Figure 21 of No 12044 when necessary.
In Figure 22 of N° 12,644 ** a door check is shewn, and Figures 21 and 22 of
this Specification represent a modification of the same, which will be readily under-
stood from the drawings. In Figure 21 the door is shewn closed, and, in Figure 22
partly open.
is the cylinder pivoted to the lintel at r in which I sometimes place a spring
as well as the piston.
s is the piston rod, t is a connecting rod the end t¹ of which slides in a guide t
fitted to the door. u is an arm fitted to the spindle in connection with which
I sometimes use a spiral or other spring also fixed in or to the lintel or door frame
either under or outside or inside the same.
Figures 23, 24, 25 and 26 explain one method of utilizing the power of the
springs and applying the same to the lower edge of the door. w is the plate
screwed to the foot of the door. w is an oil hole through which the oil is injected
on to the plate w². Here it is caught by the lip w³ and passes downward through
the hole w to the runner below. Figure 24 is a section on the line 5-6 of Fig. 23

page_text: Fig. 25 is a plan view of the lever x, carrying the runner x² ² is a screw for
fixing the lever on the spindle. Fig. 26 is a plan view of the plate w, shewn in
Fig. 23.
Fig. 27 is a form of adjusting-shoe which can be made with a shortened lever
case, providing a broader boss for the pivot, and also shewing plates representing
an ordinary shoe in lieu of plain washers, as shewn in Fig. 34 of N° 12644 . One,
two, or more screws may be used to render the shoe rigid and adjustable; three
screws are shewn in Fig. 27. In Figs. 30 and 31 the modification of Fig. 27 is
shewn, where one screw only is necessary; Fig. 30 being an elevation, and Fig. 31
a plan (partly in section) of this arrangement.
Fig. 28 shews an arrangement for closing and checking a door which opens in
one direction only, shewing a guide cam y for the friction wheel.
Fig. 29 also shews an adaptation for the same purpose, the chain 2, or its
equivalent round a pulley attached to the spindle in connection with the spindle
and general arrangement of Fig. 9.
I also sometimes make and fix a combined spring and check with proper guides,
as also a check only, with a piston working in a case, with regulating arrangement
to fix in the frame, similar to that shewn in Fig. 29 or in any other position of
the door or frame.
Fig. 32 shews the application of my invention, (with obvious modifications) to
ordinary rising butt hinges, which may be made to fit in or on the floor, or in any
other position of the door, the internal arrangement of which is similar to Fig. 9,
except that the block or wheel guides or inclined planes & are made fixtures.
In Fig. 32 the block k is fixed to the lower end (inside) the cylinder h. 10 is a
flange (united to the cylinder ) screwed to the door frame 11, as shewn in plan
in Fig. 33. 12 is a flange screwed to the door 13. The piston is united to the
spindle p, and the latter is united to the head or cap, 14. The door 13, flange 12,
cap 14, spindle p, piston and wheel q², therefore rotate together, while the door
frame 11, flange 10, cylinder h, and block k remain stationary.
In Fig. 34 the hinge is shown as seen with the door partly open, the spindle and
door having accordingly risen, as shewn.
The eduction of the oil from below the piston to above the same, is controlled in
a similar manner to that shewn in Fig. 9, except that the spindle p² is pressed
down and released by turning the screw 15, the conical point of which presses upon
the conical head of the spindle p³, as shewn in Fig. 35.
The springs and checks herein before described may also be adapted and applied,
together or separately, and used with the form of levers described by Joseph Smith
in his Specification, N° 3822, A.D. 1814.
Having now. particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The manufacture and use of springs fitted and operating in combination with
door checks substantially as herein before described and shewn in Figures 4, 5, 6
and 28 of the drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of door checks constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 9 to 18 of the
drawings.
3. The manufacture and use of guide plates and levers constructed arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described and shewn in Figures 23, 24, 25
and 26 of the drawings.
4. The manufacture and use of improved adjusting shoes for doors, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 27 30 and 31 of the drawings.
5. The manufacture and use of the improved mountings and method of utilizing
pneumatic and other door springs and checks, substantially as herein before described
and shewn in Figures 21 and 22 of the drawings.

page_text: 6. The manufacture and use of rising butt hinges fitted with my improved
springs and checks substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 32
33 and 34 of the drawings.
7. The combination of my improved door checks with the form of levers
described by Joseph Smith in his Specification N° 3822 A.D. 1814.
The general arrangement of apparatus constituting my improvements in self
closing appliances and checks for doors, severally constructed fitted and operating
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
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