IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES FOR DOORS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sanders Stevens Janus Works Queens Road
Battersea in the County of Surrey London and Charles George Major of
34 Freke Road Battersea in the County of Surrey London for an Invention
of IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES FOR DOORS.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sanders Stevens and
Charles George Major at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
29th December 1883.
JOHN SANDERS STEVENS Janus Works-Queens Road Battersea in the County
of Surrey London and CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR of 34 Freke Road Battersea in
the County of Surrey London IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES FOR DOORS
This Invention bears reference to, and is an improvement upon an invention for
which we obtained letters Patent No 5281 dated Nov 8th AD 1883. It has for
its object the construction of an improved form of combined door hinge, closing
spring, and buffer check, in which the mechanism is simplified; and also the
improvement of sundry matters of detail. The heel of the door is fitted with a
shoe and pivot, as described in our former specification No 5281 dated Nov 8th
AD 1883 the pivot being provided with two arms as before. One cylinder, cover,
piston, piston rod, & spring, are provided generally as already described, in our
previous specification, but with the following differences.
The piston is securely fixed to the piston rod. The cylinder is placed with
its closed end toward the pivot of the door, and with the piston rod pointing to the
back of the enclosing box. The outer end of the piston rod is pivotted to a pin in
the back of the box.
The cylinder is not pivotted, or in any way secured to the box, but is free to
move within it. The cylinder has at its closed end, two external ears, one at each
side, fitted with kuuckle joints pivotted to pins through the ears. Two short
connecting rods, jointed to the arms of pivot of door; pass through the knuckle
joints, and are restrained from withdrawal by nuts screwed on the rods behind the
knuckle joints. The rods are free to pass further through the knuckle joints,
though they cannot be withdrawn. The action is as follows

page_text: When the door is at rest, the nuts of both rods take a bearing upon the knuckle
joints and prevent the cylinder from receding further from the pivot of the door,
which it endeavours to do under the influence of the partially compressed spring.
If the door is opened in either direction, the pivot with arms is turned; and must
carry one of the rods, and therefore the cylinder, away from that end of the box
to which the piston rod is secured. The spring is compressed between the piston
and the cylinder cover, and therefore closes the door as soon as the latter is released.
The connecting rod which was inoperative, is thrust slightly through the knuckle
joint, and then folded up between the cylinder end and the arms of the pivot. When
the door closes under the influence of the spring, the free rod is returned to its
normal position, and then by its restraining action prevents any further movement
of cylinder or pivot, and the door is therefore held in the closed position till again
pushed open by hand.
Were the door opened in the opposite direction, the action would be generally
similar, the one difference being that the connecting rods would have their
respective motions and duties interchanged-The device is therefore double acting,
though it has but one spring and cylinder
The buffer or check action is similar to that described in our specification before
referred to
Should the door not be mounted on the spring in a truly central position, it may
be adjusted by tightening or slackening one or other of the connecting rods
The strength of the spring may be regulated by shortening or lengthening both
of the rods which will respectively increase or decrease the initial compression of
the spring
It will be seen that in the above described arrangement, and also in those
described in the specification No. 5281 before referred to the door may be shut
quickly by hand; leaving the spring to follow up slowly, as permitted by the buffer
check. It follows that it may be closed by the wind more quickly than by the
spring. Again the spring is at first comparatively unimpeded by the check,
which acts with greatest strength at the end of the travel. A heavy door may
consequently acquire an impetus during the commencement of the spring's action,
which will enable it to completely close, and probably slam; even though the spring
itself be perfectly checked
We prevent this independent motion of the door, by coiling two spiral springs
round the short connecting rods, (in the above arrangement) between the knuckle
joints and the arms of the pivot. If now the door has any tendency to overtravel
the cylinder, it can only do so by thrusting the connecting rods further through the
knuckle joints, and in so doing it meets with the resistance of the small springs.
In the arrangement described in specification No 5281 we coil similar springs
around the piston rods between the cylinder covers and the knuckle joints
In some cases instead of constructing the cylinder with an open cover, allowing
the check liquid free passage to and from the enclosing box, we fit a close cover,
confining the liquid within the cylinder, and pass the piston rod through a packed
stuffing box We do not confine ourselves to the bell mouthed or taper form of
cylinder, for allowing the fluid to pass the piston. For this purpose we sometimes
cut grooves in the side of a parallel cylinder; or in the edge of the piston; or holes
are provided through the piston; or a tube or port may be carried outside the
cylinder, connecting its back and front ends or the fluid is made to flow to, and
from, the cylinder, through holes pierced in its sides, and closed gradually by the
passage of the piston over them; or the fluid may be admitted through the piston
rod, by an opening which is gradually closed by the motion through the cover; or
in any of the methods the flow of the fluid may never be checked, but allowed to
go on at a suitable rate throughout the motion
Another method consists in so arranging a plunger within the piston as that the
to and fro action of the door shall cause the plunger to open and close ports
provided in the piston thereby enabling a greater or less quantity of fluid to pass
piston, and so checking the closing of the door

page_text: The check cylinders may be used in connection with simple door springs which
are not necessarily hinges, or they can be constructed in combination with hinges,
but without springs. In the latter case any form of independent closing spring
may be used
A further modification consists in reversing the position of short connecting
rods, pivotting them upon the cylinder instead of upon the arms and allowing
them to be thrust through knuckle joints, attached to the arms instead of to the
cylinders.
Another method consists in reversing the position of the cylinder, providing the
closed end with a lug, and pin, by which it is jointed to the back of the box, the
piston rod now points towards the arms of pivot of door, and is provided with a
crosshead to which the connecting rods may be attached in the same manner as
previously described for the cylinder.
Another method consists in making the arms of the door pivot with a continuous
curved slot from end, to end, in which the pins through the head of connecting rod
can slide, the connecting rods are attached to knuckle joints of cylinder in such
a manner as that they cannot slide through them, the action of the working
connecting rod is the same as before, but the inoperative connecting rod slides
round the slot in the arms instead of being folded up at the end of the cylinder

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Sanders Stevens and Charles George Major in the Patent
Office on the 21st June 1884.
JOHN SANDERS STEVENS Janus Works Queens Road Battersea in the County
of Surrey and CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR of 34 Freke Road Battersea in the County
of Surrey IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING HINGES FOR DOORS
This Invention bears reference to, and is an improvement upon, an invention for
which we obtained Letters Patent No 5281 dated Nov 8th. AD 1883, It has for
its object, the construction of an improved form of combined door hinge, closing
spring, and buffer check, in which the mechanism is simplified and also the
improvement of sundry matters of detail, The heel of the door is fitted with a
shoe, and pivot, as described in. Patent Specification No 5281, the pivot being
provided with two arms as before, One cylinder cover, piston, piston rod, and
spring are provided generally, as already described in before mentioned patent
specification, but with the following differences, The piston is securely fixed to
the piston rod The cylinder is placed with its closed end, toward the pivot of the
door, and with the piston rod pointing to the back of the enclosing box. The
outer end of the piston rod, is pivotted to a pin in the back of the box, The
cylinder is not pivotted or in any way secured to the box but is free to move within
it The cylinder has at its closed end, two external ears, one at each side, fitted
with knuckle joints pivotted to pins through the ears. Two short connecting rods
jointed to the arms of pivot of door, pass through the knuckle joints, and are
restrained from withdrawal by nuts, screwed on the rods, behind the knuckle joints.
The rods are free to pass further through the knuckle joints though they cannot be
withdrawn, The action is as follows.
When the door is at rest, the nuts of both rods take a bearing upon the
knuckle joints, and prevent the cylinder from receding further from the pivot
of the door, which it endeavours to do under the influence of the partially
compressed spring. If the door is opened in either direction, the pivot with
arms is turned and must carry one of the rods, and therefore the cylinder, away
from that end of the box to which the piston rod is secured., The spring is
compressed between the piston and the cylinder cover, and therefore closes the
door as soon as the latter is released. The connecting rod which was inoperative,
is thrust slightly through the knuckle joint, and then folded up between the
cylinder end, and the arms of the pivot. When the door closes under the influence
of the spring the free rod is returned to the normal position, & then by its
restraining action prevents any further movement of the cylinder, or pivot, and the
door is therefore held in the closed position, till again pushed open by hand. Were
the door opened in the opposite direction, the action would be generally similar, the
one difference being, that the connecting rods would have their respective motion,
and duties interchanged; the device is therefore double acting, though it has but
one spring, and cylinder, the buffer or check action, is similar to that described in
specification No 5281. /83. Should the door not be mounted on the spring in a
truly central position, It may be adjusted by tightening, or slackening, one, or
other, of the connecting rods. The strength of the spring, may be regulated by
shortening, or lengthening both of the rods, which will respectively increase, or
decrease, the initial compression of the spring, It will be seen, that in the above
described arrangement, and also in those described in the specification No 5281.
before referred to, the door may be shut quickly by hand, leaving the spring to
follow up slowly as permitted by the buffer check. It follows that it may be closed
by the wind, more quickly than by the spring, Again the spring is at first

page_text: comparatively unimpeded by the check, which acts with greatest strength at the
end of the travel, A heavy door may consequently acquire an impetus, during
the commencement of the springs action, which will enable it to completely close,
and probably slam, even though the spring itself be perfectly checked. We prevent
this independent motion of the door, by coiling two spiral springs, round the short
connecting rods, (in the above arrangement) between the knuckle joints, and the
arms of the pivot. If now the door has any tendency to overtravel the cylinder,
it can only do so by thrusting the connecting rods further through the knuckle
joints, and in so doing it meets with the resistance of the small springs. In the
arrangement described in Specn No 5281. we coil similar springs around the piston
rod between the cylinder covers, and the knuckle joints, In some cases instead of
constructing the cylinder, with an open cover, allowing the check liquid free passage
to, and from the enclosing box, we fit a close cover, confining the liquid within the
cylinder, and pass the piston rod through a packed stuffing box, We do not confine
ourselves to the bell mouthed, or taper form of cylinder for allowing the floid to
pass the piston, For this purpose we sometimes cut grooves, in the side of a
parallel cylinder, or in the edge of the piston, or holes are provided through the
piston, or a tube, or port, may be carried outside the cylinder connecting its back,
and front ends, or the fluid is made to flow to, and from the cylinder, through holes
pierced in its sides, and closed gradually by the passage of the piston over them,
or the fluid may be admitted through the piston rod; by an opening which is
gradually closed by the motion through the cover, or in any of the methods, the
flow of the fluid may never be checked, but allowed to go on at a suitable rate
throughout the motion, Another method consists in so arranging a plunger, within
the piston as that the to, and fro, action of the door shall cause the plunger to
open, and close ports provided in the piston, thereby enabling a greater or less
quantity of fluid, to pass piston, and so checking the closing of the door.
The check cylinders may be used in connection with simple door springs, which
are not necessarily hinges, or they can be constructed in combination with hinges,
but without springs, in the latter case any form of independent closing spring may
be used; A further modification consists in reversing, the position of short
connecting rods pivotting them upon the cylinder, instead of upon the arms, and
allowing them to be thrust through the knuckle joints, attached to the arms,
instead of to the cylinder. Another method consists in reversing the position of
the cylinder, providing the closed end with a lug, and pin, by which it is jointed
to the back of the box, the piston rod now points towards the arms of pivot of
door, and is provided with a crosshead to which the connecting rods may be
attached in the same manner as previously described for the cylinder
Another method consists in making the arms of the door pivot, with a continuous
curved slot from end, to end, in which the pins through the head of connecting rod
can slide, the connecting rods are attached to knuckle joints of cylinder, in such a
manner as that they cannot slide through them; the action of the working
connecting rod, is the same as before, but the inoperative connecting rod slides
round the slot; in the arms, instead of being folded up, at the end of the
cylinder.
We will now proceed to explain our invention, by means of the drawing.
Fig 1. Shews our Invention as first described, A is the door pivot, which is fixed
to heel of door C. C. are the two arms, to which the rods e, e are pivotted, these
rods are surrounded by two spiral springs j.; The rods pass through two lugs on
the cylinder, which are fitted with knuckle joints f, f, and fastened by lock
nuts d. d. The cylinder is placed with its closed end, toward the door pivot A, the
piston rod E pointing towards, and being pivotted to the back of the box at G,.
The piston rod is surrounded by a spring Ĵ, which exerts a pressure between the
piston I, and the top of the cylinder F, which is perforated with holes K. K to
admit the liquid, or fluid used as a check, to the interior of the cylinder. The action
is as follows, When the door is at rest, the locknuts d d of both rods e. e take a
bearing upon the knuckle joints, and prevent the cylinder from receding from the

page_text: pivot of the door which it endeavours to do, under the influence of the partially
compressed spring. Should the door be opened in either direction the pivot Å
with arms C. C, is turned, and must carry one of the rods., and therefore the
cylinder, away from that end of the box, to which the piston rod is secured-The
spring J is compressed between the piston I, and the cylinder cover; and by its
pull upon the arm and pivot, closes the door; as soon as it is released. The
inoperative connecting rod e, which is thrust slightly through the swivel joint, f,
and then folded up between the cylinder end; and the arms of the pivot; when the
door closes, the free rod is returned to its normal position, so that by its restraining
action the door is held in the closed position, until again pushed open by hand.
Were the door opened in the opposite direction, the action would be generally
similar, the difference being that the connecting rods would have their duties,
and motions interchanged, the arrangement is therefore double acting. The buffer,
or check action by. means of the fluid, or liquid, is the same as that explained in
our specification No 5281, 1883. It is obvious, that this arrangement is equally
applicable to doors which open in one direction only, and shut against a frame, or
rebate, In this case; one arm only is required on the door pivot, one lug on the
cylinder, and one connecting rod. Under these conditions we prefer to put nuts,
on both sides of the swivel joint f, so preventing the door from having any free
action, independently of the cylinder, the connecting rod does not then slide
through the swivel joint, and the small check spring ; upon it is dispensed with.
Fig 2. Shews a closed cylinder, with a stuffing box, no containing box is required
to hold the fluid, or liquid, when such an arrangement is used. Varying methods
of giving ingress, and egress, for the fluid, or liquid, to, or from the check cylinder
may be used.
Fig 3 Shews a section of the cylinder F, in which grooves K, K are cut, or cast,
Fig 4 Shews notches K. K in piston.
Fig 5 & 6 Holes made in piston I.
Fig 7. Port in cylinder covered by piston I, as it approaches the end of
the stroke.
Fig 8. Holes in sides of cylinder, closed by piston when nearly home; This
arrangement is specially applicable to springs for single action doors, where
the door is so coupled to spring action, as not to be able to move independently
of it, under the influence of momentum In such a case we allow the spring
to nearly close the door quickly, and unchecked only introducing the check,
when the door is almost closed a groove K is also made sometimes in the
piston rod; Fig 8. for the passage of oil, this being closed by the motion of the
rod at a suitable point
Figs 9 & 10, Shew a plunger valve, fitted to a piston, for a similar purpose, the
liquid, or fluid, forcing up the valve as the piston descends
Fig 11. Shews cylinder reversed., the connecting rods e. e being coupled to a
crosshead fitted with knuckle, or swivel joints f, f, the cross head being in one
piece, with the piston rod E, or the rod. can be screwed into it.
Fig 12, Shews a modification similar to Fig 1, but the inoperative connecting rod
in this case slides round a curved slot V in pivot.
Fig 13, Shews the last arrangement of slotted pivot, but with the connecting rods
e, e pivotted through swivel joints, to beam, or crosshead as in Fig 11.
Fig 14 shews the cylinder F fixed to containing box, instead of being pivotted to
it. The cylinder in Fig 11, is sometimes so fixed
We consider the arrangement as in Fig 14, with check springs as in Fig 1, and
with holes in sides of cylinder, as in Fig 8 to be the best for swing, or double
action doors
For single action doors also, it is preferable to fix the cylinder to the box.
Although for single action doors, one arm to pivot; and one swivel to piston rod
only are required, we prefer to provide them on both sides; The connecting rod, or
link, may then be shifted from one side, to the other, so adapting the same spring
to a right, or lefthand door. In all the drawings ordinary spiral springs are

page_text: shewn. so placed as to act in compression, It must however be obvious, that they
can be arranged to act either in compression or tension and they can also be.
replaced by springs of the volute form, arranged to act either in compression or
tension. We intend the word door as applied to this invention, to include
windows, casements, trapdoors, lids, covers, & gates
We have now described our Invention, and some modifications thereof, to the
best of our ability, we do not however bind ourselves to the precise details as
described, as a variety of modifications in detail may be made without departing
from the spirit of our improvements as herein set forth
What we consider as novel, and desire to have secured to us, by Letters Patent
is as under
1 The construction, and use of double action door spring hinges, combined with a
liquid, or pneumatic check, substantially as described.
2nd, In a combined spring binge; and check, the method of regulating the spring
by means of the connecting rods, knuckle, or swivel joints and locknuts as
described.
3rd, In a spring hinge, the method of adjusting the position of the door as
described
4th In a double action spring hinge, and check, the use of supplementary springs
to prevent the free closing of the door, substantially as described
5th The construction, and use of single action door spring hinges, combined with a
liquid, or pneumatic check, substantially as, and for the purpose described
6th In combination with any form of spring hinge, the use of fluid check cylinders,
and pistons substantially as described.
7th The construction, and use of a combined closing spring, which is not a hinge;
and a liquid check cylinder, and piston, substantially as described.
8th Construction, and use of a combined door hinge; which is not a spring; a liquid
or pneumatic check cylinder; and piston, positively coupled to a single action
door, to prevent slamming by the wind as described,
9th The use of a box, so as to form a feed tank, or reservoir, for the supply of
liquid to the cylinders, pistons, and dashpots; when enclosed therein,
substantially as described.
In Witness whereof we the said John Sanders Stevens and Charles George
Major have hereunto set our hands and seals this tenth day of June in the
year of Our Lord 1884
Witness
ALFRED SHERWIN
79. Stockwell Park Rd
S.W.
JOHN SANDERS STEVENS
(L.S.)
CHARLES GEORGE MAJOR. (L.S.)