Year: 1888

page_text: I, THOMAS SPENCER BEALS of 46 Holborn Viaduct, in the County of Middlesex,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from
abroad by Charles Otis Kemp of 59 Fifth Avenue, New York, Merchant) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:→
This invention relates to an improved device for closing doors easily and without
danger of slamming.
The invention consists in the combination with a door and its frame of a door-
check in which the inward stroke of the piston is controlled by compressed air and
which is provided with an arm whereby its piston rod may be operated, a guide rod
whereby the stroke of its piston may be controlled; a pivotal connection between the
said arm and the guide rod, links connecting the said arm with the piston rod and
suitable devices for the attachment of the said arm, guide rod and door-check to the
door and its frame.
On the opening of the door, the door check is, oscillated and its piston moved
outwardly in the cylinder, compressing a spring in the cylinder and drawing in air
through a valve behind the piston. Owing to the links the door may be opened to
any extent even far enough to become parallel with the door frame. When the door
is released the spring will force the piston inward and the air will thus be compressed
so as to form a cushion which will resist the closing of the door, and the door will
close only as fast as the air can leak out of a vent in the head of the cylinder, the
door-check and the controlling guide rod being at same time returned to their normal
positions.
The invention also consists in the combination with the door check, its piston rod,
an arm for operating its piston and a guide rod whereby the stroke of the piston may
be controlled, of an adjustable device for the attachment of the arm to the door, the
object of this device being to enable the apparatus to be applied to doors and door
casings of different thicknesses.
The invention also consists in the combination with the door check of a vent, a

page_text: valve controlling the vent and a device whereby this valve may be operated after a
door has been partially closed to allow the door to afterwards move to its place
quickly.
In the accompanying drawings figures 1 and 2 show in perspective the door check
applied to a door which in figure 1 is represented as being closed and in figure 2 as
being open. Figure 3 is a vertical section of the adjustable device for compensating
for doors and door frames of different thicknesses. Figure 4 is a section of one end
of the door check, the section being taken longitudinally of the door check and
illustrating its vent and valve.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the door frame or casing, A' the door hinged thereto, A² the cylinder of the
door check, B the piston and A³ the piston rod. The cylinder A2 is pivotally secured
at one end by its cap or cover to the plate which is screwed or otherwise attached
to the door frame or casing.
E is a spring which is arranged in the cylinder A² between its outer or free end
and the piston B. This spring as shown is a spiral spring.
A is an arm connected by links a with the end of the piston rod so as to be
capable of swinging independently of the latter. It can also swing to a certain extent.
with the cylinder and piston. Its outer end is provided with a pin or bolt a¹ carrying
at the lower end a plate C which is notched or ratcheted on its under face to engage
with the similarly notched or ratcheted surface of a bracket (2 which is screwed to
the door. A set screw & passing through a slot in the horizontal arm of the bracket
serves to hold the plates in any position in which they may be adjusted. This adjust-
ment serves to compensate for different thicknesses of doors and door casings or
different projections of the door casings beyond the doors. The arrangement of the
check may, if desired, be reversed, that is to say, the plate with the cylinder may be
attached to the door and the arm A2 to the frame or casing.
D is a guide rod whereby the stroke of the piston in the door check may be
controlled. At one end this guide rod is pivotally connected to the plate band at the
outer end it is pivotally connected to the arm A.
The cap or cover of the door check cylinder which is pivotally connected to the
plate is provided with a vent, for the escape of the air, consisting of a screw h²
which is screwed into a hole tapped in the cover of the cylinder, but fitting so
loosely that air may escape between it and the hole. A is a washer placed between
the head of the screw and the cover of the door check cylinder and controlling the
escape of the air. This washer is made of leather or equivalent compressible material
and by varying its compression the freedom with which the air may escape past it
can be regulated. By this means the opposition to the action of the spring of the
door check may be varied and the door caused to close more or less gently as may be
desired. The screw is hollow and the end 5 of its cavity ¹ is conical and fitted with
a conical valve H having a stem / which extends through the smaller cavity 16 in the
head of the screw. The valve is prevented from moving inwards too far by a cross
pin and its stem protrudes through the head of the screw so as to contact with a
spring H on the plate b.
The operation is as follows-On opening the door the arm A is swung outwardly,
the cylinder of the door check and the controlling guide rod D also swinging in the
same direction. The guide rod controls the extent to which the piston may be moved
within the cylinder of the door check. The links a permit the arm A to swing
further than it otherwise could and hence renders it possible for the door to be swung
wide open. During the opening of the door air enters past the valve H and fills the
cylinder behind the piston which compresses the spring E in the cylinder. As soon
as the door is released the spring causes it to close, the piston compressing the air in
advance of it and closing the valve H. The door will then only close at such a speed
as the freedom with which the air can leak through the vent past the washer h³, will
permit until the protruding valve stem comes in contact with the spring H. When
this happens the valve will be opened, the air in the cylinder permitted to escape
freely and the door caused to complete its closing rapidly.

page_text: 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.
1. The combination with a door and its frame, of a door check in which the inward
stroke of the piston is controlled by compressed air and which is provided with an
arm whereby its piston rod may be operated, a guide rod whereby the stroke of its
piston rod may be controlled, a pivotal connection between the said arm and the guide
rod, links connecting the said arm with the piston rod and suitable devices for the
attachment of the said arm, guide rod and door check to the door and its frame,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with a door and its frame of a door check in which the inward
stroke of the piston is controlled by compressed air and which is provided with an
arm whereby its piston rod may be operated, a guide rod whereby the stroke of its
piston may be controlled and an adjustable device for the attachment of the arm to
the part with which it is to be connected, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
3. The combination with a door and its frame of a door check in which the inward
stroke of the piston is controlled by compressed air and which is provided with an
arm whereby its piston rod may be operated, a guide rod whereby the stroke of its
piston may be controlled, a vent, a valve controlling the vent and a device for
opening the valve when the door is partially closed, substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
1000
T. S. BEALS.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London,
Patent Agents.