Improvements in Hinges or like Mechanism for Controlling the Action of Fall Down Doors.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Chief Examiner, of the 23rd day of March 1898.
Date of Application, 21st May, 1906
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1897-Accepted. 24th Apr. 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1897-Accepted. 24th Apr.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hinges or like Mechanism for Controlling the
Action of Fall Down Doors.
I, HAROLD HYDE, of 121, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to the fall-down doors of railway
wagons, and similar fall-down doors, but it may be applied to other doors if
desirable.
According to an effective method of carrying out my invention, I make the butt
through which the hinge pin passes, to fit between the sides of a double lugged
bracket, which in the case of a railway wagon, may be secured to the cribrail and
the sole.
Upon the periphery of the butt I form or affix one or more cam-like projections
or eccentric surfaces according to the nature of the operation it has to accomplish.
The bracket is constructed to contain in its lower portion, a coiled spring placed
upon a pin which is screwthreaded upon its lower end, and is screwed into the
bottom of the bracket and is secured by a nut upon the outside of the bracket.
The same screwthreaded part of the pin inside the bracket is provided with an
adjusting nut and strong washer upon which the lower end of the spring rests.
Upon the top of the said pin is a tappit head having a longitudinal movement
upon the pin and passing through a hole in the bracket between the sides of the
double lug before mentioned, by which it is guided and supported laterally.
Its upper face is preferably hollowed to fit against the periphery of the butt of
the hinge, and against which it is held by a slight pressure which the spring is
arranged to exert when in its normal condition.
Thus it will be understood that in the arrangement described the butt and the
double lug of the bracket form the knuckle of a hinge, and that when the door to
which the butt is secured, is opened or closed the eccentric projections come in
contact with the tappit head and by forcing it down compress the coiled spring,
and produce frictional resistance to the movement of the door.
I propose to surround the joint-pin with a metallic sleeve for the purpose of
renewal when worn, and I may arrange the coiled spring so that it may be expanded
instead of being compressed.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Hinges or like Mechanism for Controlling the
Action of Fall Down Doors.
I, HAROLD HYDE, of 121, Stamford Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference more particularly to the fall down doors of railway
wagons, but it may be applied to other doors if desired...
The object is to counteract the effect of gravitation when opening and lowering
such doors, and to assist when the door is being raised.
This is attained by the use of controlling hinges which may form the principal
hinges for supporting the door or they may be auxiliary hinges which do not
necessarily support the door.
I have illustrated the several methods of constructing such hinges, which I
prefer, but it will be apparent that the details of construction may be varied while
retaining the principle of the invention.
Fig. 1, is a front elevation and Fig. 2, a side elevation of a hinge made according
to my invention.
Figs. 3 & 4, are similar elevations of a controlling hinge of different con-
struction.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures in which
they may occur.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a railway wagon, for example, and
as shown in Figs. 1 & 2, A is the strap portion of the hinge, B is the butt, C is
a bracket which carries the parts A & B, and the controlling spring D, and is
preferably affixed to both the cribrail E and the sole F.
The butt B, is made to fit between the two sides of the bracket C, and it may be
made solid, with the joint pin passing through it, or it may be divided as shown
into two members, and be supported and carried by the two axes or joint pins G,
screwed into or made solid with the sides of the bracket C.
Upon the periphery of the butt, I form or affix one or more cams, cam like
projections, or eccentric surfaces, the one shown marked .H, being solid with and
connecting the two sides of B. The cam (or cams) is arranged upon the butt in
such a position that it will accomplish the work it is intended to perform, thus for
example, for a fall down wagon door I prefer to arrange the cam so that the
spring will exert its greatest controlling power when the door is half open, or in a
horizontal position.
Within the sides of the bracket is a rocking tappit I, passing through a guide J,
and supported with its concaved head against the cam H, by an adjustable spring D,
having its opposite point of resistance against a nut K, screwed upon a screw-
threaded sleeve L, screwed into the pivotted support M, and secured by the
aut N.
The support M, rests in the slots O, from which it can be readily removed when
required.
Thus when the door is being opened, the cam H, descends and forces down the
tappit I, compressing the spring D, and causing frictional resistance to the
movement of the door, the greatest resistance being when the door is horizontal
and its gravitating power the heaviest.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3 & 4, the butt B2, is formed upon or
constitutes the head of a bolt B, which passes through the cribrail E, and the

page_text: sole F, of the wagon as shown, and I prefer that it shall pass through a simple
form of bracket C2, which is secured at its bottom extremity to the sole and may
be provided with a rubber plug or cushion P, to receive and neutralise any
concussion from the swing of the door, or the lower part of the bracket may be
extended and formed to act as a check for the door when hanging vertically.
The strap A², I propose to make by stamping it to the form shown in Figs. 3
& 4, or thereabouts, that is a flanged channel section, terminating at the joint end
with two lugs Q, with outside flanges which form a semi-circular recess to receive
and support the head R, and washer R2, of the joint pin G, which passes through
the lugs and the butt. Upon the periphery of the butt B, I form or affix in
any desired position a cam like or eccentric surface or projection as before
described.
Within the interior or the channel of the strap I fix a plate or block S, forming
the point of resistance for a spring D2, connected with a tappit I, preferably
having means K2, for adjustment of the spring power, the head of the tappit being
pressed against the periphery of the butt B, as before described.
Although I have shown and described the springs as being used under com-
pression which I prefer, it will be readily seen that this action may be reversed.
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. A hinge for controlling the action or movement of fall down doors, provided
with an adjustable spring, which when the door is opened and closed is com-
pressed or extended as the case may be, by the action of an eccentric surface, cam,
or their equivalent, formed upon, affixed to, or in connection with the butt of the
hinge, and thereby setting up frictional resistance to the action of the hinge as
hereinbefore described and set forth.
2. A hinge or like appliance for fall down doors provided with a spring carried
by one part thereof, and arranged to be compressed (or extended) by the action of
an eccentric surface, or cam, or equivalent device carried by the other part, and so
arranged in relation to the axis of the hinge that the greatest frictional resistance
is set up when the door is horizontal, and gravitation strongest, as hereinbefore
described and shown in the annexed drawings.
3. The combination with a hinge for controlling the gravitating action of fall
down doors, of a spring, carried by the fixed part of the hinge, and compressed or
extended by the movement of the other part, in such a manner as to offer the
greatest resistance to the action of the hinge when the door is horizontal, as
hereinbefore described and as shown in Figs. 1, and 2.
4. The combination with a hinge for controlling the gravitating action of fall
down doors, of an adjustable spring carried by the moving part of the hinge,
acting upon a tappit in connection with the eccentric periphery of a fixed butt, as
herein before described and shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
Dated the 20th day of Vunah 1807
ROBT. F. DRURY
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.