Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Closing Spaces Beneath or Above Doors or Windows.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1801
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Closing Spaces
Beneath or Above Doors or Windows.
I, ALPHONSE MÜNCHEN, of No. 1 Boulevard du Prince, Luxemburgh, Grand
Duchy of Luxemburgh, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 improvements in apparatus having for object to
effectually close in an automatic manner the opening or space usually left at the
bottom or top of a door, when the same is shut, and thereby to prevent the passage
of cold air or dust through such opening or space. Appartus for this purpose
according to this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. I is an elevation of the apparatus;
Figs. II and III are detail views to a larger scale; and
Fig. IV is an elevation to a smaller scale than the other figures, of a door frame
with hinged door having my improved apparatus applied to the lower end
thereof.
The apparatus comprises a sheet metal box A A'A" A which is fixed to and
extends the entire width or nearly so of the door. The height of this box may be
about 6 centimetres and its thickness be about 1 centimetres. These dimensions
may however be varied according to the dimensions of the doors and according to
the space available.
This box serves to hold the several parts of the mechanism in position. This
mechanism which somewhat resembles a long lock, is shown applied to the lower
cross piece of a door in such a manner that the under part of the box corresponds
approximately with the lower edge of the door as shown in Fig. 4.
The operation of the mechanism in the box to close the opening or space below
the door can be effected either by tractive force or by pressure. The left hand
end of Fig. I and the detail view Fig. II show the construction adopted when the
apparatus is to be operated by traction and the right hand end of Fig. I and the
detail view Fig. III show the construction adopted when the apparatus is to
be operated by pressure. The particular construction adopted will be determined
according to the kind of door to which the apparatus is to be applied and
according to whether the apparatus is to be fixed internally or externally on the
door.
The same door may be provided internally with the arrangement to be operated
by traction, and externally with the arrangement to be operated by pressure or
vice versa.
The mechanism within the box AAA" A comprises a rod K which is drawn
in the direction of the small arrow a by a coiled spring R, and in the direction of
the small arrows b, either by a chain C or C' if the movement is to be effected by
traction, or by a pushing on the knob B if the movement is to be effected by
pressure.
To this rod K is pivoted two bent levers LL' turning respectively about the
pivots P and P¹ and carrying at their other ends the hold fasts or plates T and T'
respectively. To these hold fasts T and T' is fixed the part M which is a long
metallic clamp or holder of about the same length as the box and which carries a
strip H of suitable yielding material such for example as caoutchouc, felt or
leather.
When the door is closed, the entire length of the strip H comes against the
floor so as to close the opening or space left between the door and the floor.
When the door is open the rod K and the levers LL will be held by the coiled

page_text: spring R in the positions shown in Fig. 1.The caoutchouc or other strip H is
then in its raised position, and will be wholly within the box so that it cannot rub
against the floor.
Whilst the door is being shut, the chain C or C' or the pressure of the door
frame on the knob B, as the case may be will move the rod in the opposite
direction; and cause the bent levers L L' to move about their pivots and depress
the clamp or holder M thereby causing the closing, strip H to pass out of the
box AAAA and close the opening or space at the bottom of the door.
Figs. II and III show the position of some of the parts when the door is closed,
Fig. II showing the closing strip H moved sufficiently out of the box to cut off
the draught below the door, by the pull of the chain C and Fig. III showing the
strip moved down by the pressure of the door post against the knob B.
As soon as the door opens, the small chain C relaxes, or the pressure on the
knob ceases the spring R then draws the rod K in the opposite direction and
thereby causes the levers LL to draw up the clamp or holder M and cause the
closing strip H to enter wholly into the box A AAA.
The chain C or C₁ is fixed at its outer end to a screw V (Fig. II) which passes
through an eye p fixed to the door post and is fitted with a thumb nut. This
screw and nut serve to regulate the position of the several parts of the mechanism
in such a manner that the lowering of the clamp or holder M shall always take
place at the desired moment, and that it shall only move down to the necessary
extent.
When the movement of the apparatus is to be effected by pressure, the knob B
(Figs. I and III) which is screwed on the rod K, serves to regulate the position of
the several parts of the mechanism and thus performs the same functions as the
regulating screw and nut employed in the arrangement shown in Fig. II.
Automatic closing apparatus according to this invention can be constructed for
right handed doors, or for left handed doors, or for double or folding doors,
according to the position given to the springs and levers.
Apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described can be applied to the upper cross
piece of doors, and also to windows for the purpose mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
Apparatus for closing the opening or space left below or above a closed door or
window so as to exclude draught and dust, comprising a metal box adapted to be
fitted to the door or window, and containing a movable rod which causes, either by
traction of a flexible connection such as a small chain, with adjusting screw, or by
pressure on an adjustable screwed knob, the movement of bent levers carrying a
closing strip of suitable material such as caoutchouc, felt, or leather, the arrange-
ment being such that the closing strip will be automatically moved, whilst the door
is being shut, so as to close the said opening or space at the bottom or top of the
door or window, and will be automatically moved in the opposite direction by the
action of a spring whilst the door is being opened, substantially as herein before
described.
Dated this 16th day of June 1891.
ALPHONSE MUNCHEN.
By L. W., per F. B.