IMPROVE- MENTS IN DOOR CHECKS, OR CLOSERS AND ANNUNCIATORS
Year: 1885

page_text: I DENIS DOYEN of Rue Jacquemars-Giélée N° 40 bis, in the City of Lille
(France) Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DOOR CHECKS, OR CLOSERS AND ANNUNCIATORS to be as follows:-
}.
This invention has reference to the description of automatic door checks or
closers characterised by a cylinder containing a piston the rod of which has
attachment at the meeting of two arms thereto the other extremities of which
arms are attached one to the door and the other to the door frame or part applied
thereto a spring being placed between the piston and its abutment acting to close
the door whilst the air collected under the piston being only able to pass out
from the chamber formed by the piston, cylinder and cylinder end very gradually
through a suitably regulated valve the spring is prevented from too sudden action
and noise resulting is avoided, also the breaking of glass in the case of a glazed.
door.
This apparatus according to this invention is especially characterised.
1° By the admission and discharge of the air which forms the cushion taking
place through one and the same valve arranged in the cylinder case so as to be
readily detachable for inspection and for regulation of the air passage as may be
desired.
2° By a constant and automatic lubricating device.
3° By the application or adaptation of an annunciator adapted to give sound
once or other number of times successively whensoever the door may be opened.
The apparatus as improved consists of two levers having jointed connection the
one at one end to the door to be controlled the other at one end to a fixed point
which may be the frame of the door or a part applied thereto the other ends of
these levers or arms are articulated and connected to a rod which passes through
the head or end of a cylinder with capability of sliding therein and is connected
at its other end to a piston fitting hydraulically or liquid-tightly into said cylinder
the end of the cylinder being closed by a cap which carries centrally a valve for
entrance and exit of air which forms the cushion between the piston and this end
of the cylinder, a spring around the rod between the piston and the abutment end
of the cylinder exercising normally a thrust on the piston tending to draw the rod
within the piston and with it the ends of the two hinged arms thereby to effect
the closing of the door.
The packing of the piston may be effected by means of a leather of circular form
clamped between two screwed plates.
The valve end of the cylinder is formed with a projection which is hinged and
attached to the door frame or plate attached thereto and which serves as a centre
of motion for the cylinder to swing upon in the motion of the parts.

page_text: The valve controlling ingress and egress of air to the cushion space is held closed
by a spring capable of adjustinent by screwing in or out of a part which more or
less compresses it and is wholly removeable at will by unscrewing it from the
cylinder cap. The operation of this valve is as follows-when the door is opened
the point of attachment of the door lever is moved and the frame lever which with
it is connected to the piston rod operate together to draw that rod out of the
cylinder swinging the latter on its hinge drawing up the piston leaving a space
behind it which becomes filled with air which gains access under a washer around
a pin in the valve covering holes formed in the valve whence the air passes into
the cylinder space thus formed. The moment the door is let go the piston pressed
by the spring returns forcing the air which had entered and closing the valve so
that the air is imprisoned and forms an elastic cushion moderating the violence of
closing the door whilst the air is permitted slowly to leak out of the valve by a
small adjusted opening.
According to one modification in the construction of this valve a plate of steel
applied internally of the cap of the cylinder is attached thereto at one end by
screwing and at its other end carries a leather or other suitable washer or pad
which serves, when pressed upon from within to close an ingress hole for air
formed in that cap.
Another screw serves to regulate this spring washer so that whilst air is freely
drawn in its exit is rendered slow and gradual.
Or, this valve may consist of a larger screwed piece within which slides a valve
controlled by a spring and formed with a central opening regulated by a screw,
the larger opening serving for inlet and the smaller opening when that is closed for
exit of air.
Lubrication of the piston rod is maintained by means of oil or other suitable
lubricant soaked into cotton or otherwise applied in a chamber formed in the head
at the abutment end of the cylinder and closed by a screwed or other closing piece
removeable to admit of inspection of the interior when required. The cotton
being kept moist with oil by capillary attraction lubricates and keeps clean the
piston rod as it works to and fro in the chamber.
The construction of the lubricating cap may be modified in its mode of appli-
cation by being slidden on and locked by screws instead of being screwed itself
and be closed by a cap or closing piece from the interior access for application of
lubricant being obtained externally by means of openings closed by screws arranged
so that whatever be the present position of the apparatus one of these openings
shall be accessible.
A rod attached to the cap or abutment end of the cylinder carries a bell which
at each movement of the door for opening is caused to receive one or a succession
of strokes from a hammer actuated so as to be oscillated to and from the bell for
striking by means of an escapement suitably operated by the movement of the
piston rod with the aid of spring to cause return-During the closing movement
of the door a part operates to prevent the hammer striking the bell.
For annunciation by a succession of sounds the hammer catch is successively
operated upon by a series of projections applied to or formed on a wheel forming
part of the escapement operated by the moving part actuated by the movement of
the door check.

page_text: Improvements in Door Checks or Closers and Annunciators.
I DENIS DOYEN, of 28 Boulevard Des Ecoles, in the city of Lille (France),
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
DOOR CHECKS, OR CLOSERS AND ANNUNCIATORS 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 that description of automatic door checks or.
closers characterized by their being provided with a cylinder containing a piston.
the rod of which has attachment at the meeting of two arms thereto the other
extremities of which arms are attached one to the door and the other to the door
frame or part applied thereto a spring being placed between the piston and its
abutment acting to close the door whilst the air collected under the piston being
only able to pass out from the chamber formed by the piston, cylinder and cylinder
end very gradually through a suitably regulated valve the spring is prevented from
too sudden action and noise resulting is avoided, also the breaking of glass in the
case of a glazed door.
This apparatus according to this invention is especially characterised.
1° By the admission and discharge of the air which forms the cushion taking
place through one and the same valve arranged in the cylinder case so as to be.
readily detachable for inspection and for regulation of the air passage as may be
desired.
2° By a constant and automatic lubricating device.
3° By the application or adaptation of an annunciator adapted to give sound
once or other number of times successively whensoever the door may be opened.
The apparatus as improved consists of two levers having jointed connection the
one at one end to the door to be controlled the other at one end to a fixed point.
which may be the frame of the door or a part applied thereto the other ends of
these levers or arms are articulated and connected to a rod which passes through
the head or end of a cylinder with capability of sliding therein and is connected
at its other end to a piston fitting air-tightly into said cylinder the end of the
cylinder being closed by a cap which carries centrally a valve for entrance and exit
of air which forms the cushion between the piston and this end of the cylinder, a
spring around the rod between the piston and the abutment end of the cylinder
exercising normally a thrust on the piston tending to draw the rod within the
piston and with it the ends of the two hinged arms thereby to effect the closing of
the door.
The packing of the piston may be effected by means of a leather of circular form
clamped between two screwed plates.
The valve end of the cylinder is formed with a projection which is hinged and
attached to the door frame or plate attached thereto and which serves as a centre
of motion for the cylinder to swing upon in the motion of the parts.
The valve controlling ingress and egress of air to the cushion space is held closed
by a spring capable of adjustment by screwing in or out of a part which more
or less compresses it and is wholly, removable at will by unscrewing it from the

page_text: .cylinder cap. The operation of this valve is as follows-when the door is opened
the point of attachment of the door lever is moved and the frame lever which with
it is connected to the piston rod operate together to draw that rod out of the
cylinder swinging the latter on its hinge drawing up the piston leaving a space
behind it which becomes filled with air which gains access under a washer around
a pin in the valve covering holes, formed in the valve whence the air passes into
the cylinder space thus formed. The moment the door is let go the piston pressed
by the spring returns forcing the air which had entered and closing the valve so
that the air is imprisoned and forms an elastic cushion moderating the violence of
closing the door whilst the air is permitted slowly to leak out of the valve by a
small adjusted opening.
According to one modification in the construction of this valve a plate of steel
applied internally of the cap of the cylinder is attached thereto at one end by
screwing and at its other end carries a leather or other suitable washer or pad
which serves when pressed upon from within to close an ingress hole for air formed
in that cap.
Another screw serves to regulate this spring washer so that whilst air is freely
drawn in its exit is rendered slow and gradual.
Or, this valve may consist of a larger screwed piece within which slides a valve
controlled by a spring and formed with a central opening regulated by a screw,
the larger opening serving for inlet and the smaller opening when that is closed for
exit of air.
Lubrication of the piston rod is maintained by means of oil or other suitable
lubricant soaked in cotton or otherwise applied in a chamber formed in the head of
the abutment end of the cylinder and closed by a screwed or other closing piece
removable to admit of inspection of the interior when required. The cotton being
kept moist with oil by capillary attraction lubricates and keeps clean the piston
rod as it works to and fro in the chamber.
The construction of the lubricating cap may be modified in its mode of
application by being slidden on and locked by screws instead of being screwed
itself and be closed by a cap or closing piece from the interior access for application
of lubricant being obtained externally by means of openings closed-by screws
arranged so that whatever be the present position of the apparatus one of thesc
openings shall be accessible.
.
A rod attached to the cap or abutment end of the cylinder carries a bell which
at each movement of the door for opening is caused to receive one or. a succession
of strokes from a hammer actuated so as to be oscillated to and from the bell for
striking by means of an escapement suitably operated by the movement of the
piston rod with the aid of spring to cause return. During the closing movement
of the door a part operates to prevent the hammer striking the bell.
For annunciation by a succession of sounds the hammer catch is successively
operated upon by a series of projections applied to or formed on a wheel forming
part of the escapement operated by the moving part actuated by the movement of
the door check.
I will now aided by the accompanying drawings proceed to give more detailed
description of the arrangements which constitute my apparatus.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus furnished with an annunciator for
striking a single blow on the bell which here is shewn broken to enable the striking
mechanism to be the better seen.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken at the line A B of Figure 3. It shows on
each side of the cylinder two arms attached to the rod of the piston-these arms
being attached one or other to the door whilst the other of them is attached to the
door frame.
Figure 3 is a front elevation.
Figure 4 is another view of the annunciator for striking a single blow represented
in Figure 1 set towards the inner face of the bell.
Figure 5 is a plán view.of the same annunciator with the bell shewn.broken.
'

page_text: เ
Figure 6 shows the interior face of the bell representing an annunciator adapted
for striking several times or a series of repeated blows.
Figure 7 is.a plan view partly broken away for greater clearness.
Figure 8 represents a modification in construction of the upper cap of the
cylinder.
Figures 9 and 10 show modifications of the air valve fitted to the lower cap.
Thus it will be seen by figures 1, 2 and 3 that the piston F moving in the tube E
constituting the cylinder is furnished with a shaped leather to stop passage of air,
its rod articulates by an arm or lever I by means of a pin Z near the point J¹
where this lever moves by a second lever J. By the other end the arm I is attached
to the door and the arm J has a plate K fixed upon the door frame or tliis may be
inversely done and the manner of placing the apparatus varies according to the
disposition of the doors.
The cylinder E is closed by two seats one of which L hermetically closes the
extremity upon which it is screwed-This seat is capable of turning round the
hinges carried by the plate of attachment K to allow the cylinder to lie against
the said plate even to be parallel with it in case the door is entirely open.
The seat L carries the valve O opening inwards which is held closed by a light
spring and the opening of which is regulated at will by means of a picce P
screwed to a greater or less depth which pressing against the washer P¹ makes the
valve remain open so much as may be necessary to permit of the closing of the
door without however permitting it to shut violently and noisily.
It is easy to detach the valve for inspection because it is altogether carried by
the piece Y which is screwed in the cap L (figure 2).
The operation of this valve is easily understood. Whenever the door is opened
the point of attachment of the lever I is consequently moved this lever and the
lever J which are tied to the piston rod draw this rod out of the cylinder and at
the same time make it play round the hinge 8, it then forms a space behind the
piston but as the external air has access at the washer P¹ of the valve by several
holes prepared in the piece P the atmospheric pressure makes the valve open and
air enters the cylinder.
At the moment that the door is let go the piston goes back by the action of the
coil spring H¹, which confines the air contained in the cylinder and shuts the valve
so that it is imprisoned and constitutes an elastic cushion which moderates the
violence of the closing of the door as has been said above care must always be taken
to regulate the valve so that it may not be able to close entirely and that a portion
of the air may be free to escape this allows the door to completely close always
preventing it from doing this in too violent a manner.
The disposition of the valve may be varied as is indicated by Figure 9.
In this modification the valve is a thin plate of steel A" forming a spring held
at one side by the screw B¹ and carrying at the other face a leather washer C
which hermetically closes the hole D¹¹ made in the cap and by which the air makes
its return. In the centre is the screw E which is advanced more or less to
regulate the exit of the air. The inflow takes place at one point and the outflow
at another.
In another modification (figure 10) the valve is made with the piece Y which
screws into the cap L and which carries the valve O by which the air enters, a
spring secures its perfect adherence on the piece Y, it is pierced with a hole F" by
which the air has exit regulated at will by means of the screw G¹¹.
The lubrication is continually obtained and automatically by the following
arrangements.
The cap M (figure 2) is screwed to the end of the cylinder without however
being airtight and serves to guide the rod of the piston it forms a hollow S which
is filled with oil in which is placed a cotton washer and which is closed by a
stopper M¹ screwed from the outside which latter permits of inspection of the
interior condition when the apparatus is attached to the door. The cotton washer

page_text: is continually moistened with oil by capillary attraction rubs the rod of the piston
and constantly lubricates it in its movements to and fro always keeping it clean.
The construction of the lubricating cap may be modified in accordance with
Figure 8. The cap M which closes the upper part of the cylinder E instead of
being screwed is simply fixed by the screws Q. Qit has likewise inside a hollow
in which is a cotton washer but this hollow is closed from the inside by means of a
stopper and it is filled with oil by one or other of the passages x. x which are
closed by two screws according to the position in which the apparatus is fixed it
will always be found that one of these passages will be in an upper position and
serve for the introduction of the oil, the one below will not be required and is
closed hermetically by the screw.
There is left for me to describe the annunciating mechanism-I will first speak
of the simple annunciator that is to say of that which only makes one stroke on
the bell whenever one opens the door (see figures 1, 3, 4 and 5).
The rod carrying the bell is terminated by a foot fixed by means of a screw u
upon the cap M. of the cylinder in one or other of the notches ¹ as may be
convenient in the fixing of the apparatus. Upon this rod is placed an arm or
support fixed by a pin and in the end of which is inserted a screw j which
serves as the axis of oscillation to a piece il carrying the hammer t, that same
piece is furnished with two lugs traversed by a pin and serving for binge to a
projection m¹.
When in consequence of opening the door the rod of the piston obtrudes from
the cylinder it lifts the projection m¹ by means of a small cross rod b fixed on the
axis Z by which the rod of the piston is attached to the lever I which causes the
piece to pivot round the axis and whenever by the continuation of movement
the projection m¹ escapes the rod b the said piece ¹ returns upon itself and its
hammer t strikes upon the bell by the action of the spring 8' (figure 4).
At the moment the door is closed again the cross rod b operates the projection m¹
and passes below without producing any sound.
Now this is the mechanism of the multiple annunciation (figures 6 and 7) which
may be used instead of the simple annunciation.
Upon the rod a which carries the bell a little cylinder with catches c is capable
of turning furnished with a series of projections m to be engaged the one or the
other by the cross rod b beforementioned for the purpose of. turning the little
cylinder c. This rotary movement is communicated by means of the catches to
the wheel d which is cut with. ratchet on its periphery and with which takes in
the oscillating piece e carrying the hammer f. It is easy to understand that at the
passage of each tooth of the ratchet under the point of the piece e the hammer will
strike upon the bell in such manner that a repeated annunciation will be given
upon the opening of the door. The axis g of the piece e is carried by a support h
pinned upon the rod a of the bell.
When the door closes again the little cylinder c is thrown out of gear and no
sound is then made.
The little spring n (figure 7) is for the purpose of again engaging the little
cylinder c with the ratchet d.
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. In an automatic door closing apparatus with the aid of compressed air, the
admission and expulsion of the air by means of one and the same valve.
2. The construction or arrangement of the valve for admission and expulsion
described above and shown in figure 2.
3. The construction or arrangement of the valve for admission and expulsion
described above and shown in figure 9.
4. The construction or arrangement. of the valve for admission and expulsion.
described above and shown in figure 10,

page_text: 5. In an automatic door check or closing apparatus acting by the aid of
compressed air the constant lubrification of the rod of the piston by means of a
washer or of a packing of cotton or other suitable material soaked with oil and
rubbing the said rod.
6. The arrangement of lubricating cap described above and shown in figure 2.
7. The arrangement of lubricating cap described above and shown in figure 8.
8. The employment with automatic door closing apparatus acting by means of
compressed air of arrangements of an annunciator actuated automatically sub-
stantially as above described and making it may be a single annunciation it may
be repeated annunciation at the moment that the door is opened.
9. The mechanism for annunciation simple described above and shown in
figures 1, 3, 4 and 5.
10. The mechanism for repeated annunciation described above and shewn in
figures 6 and 7.