improvements in Hinges for Doors
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1396
improvements in Hinges for Doors,
I, DAVID SMITH, of Fern Cottage, West Newport, in the County of Fife,
Scotland, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in hinges for doors, the object being to
cause such doors to close automatically.
The improvements consist in forming on the pivots and on a sleeve in their sockets
half screws or duplex incline planes between which there may be balls or rollers,
their purpose being to reduce friction. The incline planes in connection with the
pivot are fixed and immoveable, while the sleeve, on which are incline planes, is so
arranged that it oscillates with the door, at the same time rising against the
resistance of a spiral spring, or falling because of its pressure; that is to say, if the
door be opened the sleeve will rotate with it about the axis of the pivot and at the same
time will be made to rise against the pressure of the spring, this pressure tending
to cause such sleeve to seek its lowest position, in so doing causing it to oscillate in
the opposite direction, thus shutting the door.
Froin the foregoing it will be seen that the force tending to close the door depends
upon the strength of the spring, the inclination of the plane, and the friction. In
some cases, where the door opens only in one direction, then a single incline plane
may only be used. The balls or rollers may sometimes be dispensed with.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1895.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41 Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.
I, DAVID SMITH, of Fern Cottage, West Newport, in the County of Fife,
Scotland, Artist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 improvements in hinges for doors, the object being to
cause such doors to close automatically.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference numerals are used
to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of the hinge:
Figure 2. is a view looking in the direction of the arrow A. (Figure 1):
Figure 3. is a part sectional elevation at B B. (Figure 4.) showing the moveable
part of the hinge at its lowest position:
Figure 4. is a plan :
Figure 5. is a cross-section at C. C. (Figure 3):
Figure 6. is an elevation of the pivot pin and
:
Figures 7. and 8. are respectively a side elevation and plan of the moveable cam
sleeve, while Figure 9. is a plan of an alternative sleeve with an elongated hole.

page_text: Figure 1. shows in isometric projection a hinge applied to a door, a portion of the
outer casing being removed to let the working parts be more clearly seen, such door
being open and at 90° to its normal position.
Figure 11. is a side elevation of a modified type of hinge:
Figure 12. is a view looking in the direction of the arrow D. (Figure 11.):
Figure 13. is a plan:
Figure 14. is a part sectional elevation at E. E. (Figure 13.) showing the moveable
part of the hinge at the highest position:
Figure 15. is a cross-section at F. F. (Figure 14.): and
Figure 16. is an isometric view of the socket.
The improvements consist in forming on the pivot 11. and on the sleeve 12. in
its socket 13. half screws or duplex incline planes 14. between which there may be
balls or rollers, their purpose being to reduce friction. In the drawings I have
shown the incline planes in direct contact and without the aforesaid balls. The
incline planes in connection with the pivot 11. are fixed and immoveable, while the
sleeve 12. on which are incline planes, is so arranged that it oscillates with the
door being constrained to do so by its casing 13-at the same time rising against
the resistance of a spiral spring 15, or falling because of its pressure; that is to say,
if the door be opened the sleeve will rotate with it about the axis of the pivot and
at the same time will be made to rise against the pressure of the spring, this pressure
tending to cause such sleeve to seek its lowest position, in so doing causing it to
oscillate in the opposite direction, thus shutting the door. 16. is a nut for keeping
the casing 13. from rising. 17. is a recess in which lubricating material may gather,
and it should be dispensed with when anti-friction balls are employed.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the force tending to close the door depends
upon the strength of the spring, the inclination of the plane, and the friction. In
some cases when the door opens only in one direction, then a single incline plane
on sleeve and pivot, may only be used. The balls or rollers, as previously pointed out,
may sometimes be dispensed with.
In some cases I may so arrange the hinge that it may, instead of being in-
corporated with the door, be placed underneath the floor. In this modification the
pivot 11. is firmly screwed into the socket 13. which is sunk in and fixed to the
Hoor. The half screws or duplex incline planes 14. are formed on the door casing 18.
and are in contact with the others on the sleeve 12. The incline planes on 18.
do not rise or fall, but are free to rotate about the axis of the pivot 11. The sleeve 12.
moves down or up as the door is opened or closed, the pressure of the spring 15, as
previously explained, tending to close the door. 16. is a nut for keeping the
casing 18. from rising.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :--
(1) The construction of a self-closing hinge applied to a door, substantially as
herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
(2) The construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts consisting
of the pivot 11, sleeve 12, socket casing 13, incline planes 14, spiral spring 15, and
nut 16, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown on the annexed
drawings.
(3) The construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts consisting
of the pivot 11, sleeve 12, socket casing 13, incline planes 14, spiral spring 15, nut 16,
and door casing 18, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown on the
annexed drawings.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.