IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING THE CLOSING OF DOORS, AND FOR PREVENTING NOISE OR SLAMMING WHEN CLOSING
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN HOWARD of 3 Pier Road, Erith in the County of Kent Engineer' do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING THE CLOSING OF DOORS, AND FOR PREVENTING NOISE
OR SLAMMING WHEN CLOSING to be as follows:-
The apparatus I employ consists of a cylinder of Brass or other suitable material,
both ends being closed. One end being furnished with a joint or hinge so arranged
as to be easily attached to a door frame or other fixed position that may be
necessary. The said cylinder containing a piston, piston rod, and spiral spring;
the piston being fitted with a cup leather or suitable packing, and an automatic valve
or valves, so arranged that during the return stroke of the piston; the air or any
fluid, within the cylinder can only slowly pass from one side of the piston to the
other side. The piston rod has surrounding it a spiral spring, the rod passes
through a gland or opening in the cover of the cylinder and is fitted with a joint
or hinge suitable to be attached to a door.
The spiral spring presses against the top of the piston and against the inside of
the cover of the cylinder, and being compressed by the pull on the piston rod in
opening a door to which it has been attached, will when the door is released, close
it, but is prevented from doing so suddenly by the resistance offered to the return
of the piston, by the slow escape through the valve of the air or other fluid that is
between the bottom of the piston and the end of the cylinder, thus preventing
noise or slamming..

page_text: 1 JOHN HOWARD of 3 Pier Road Erith in the County of Kent, Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
AUTOMATICALLY REGULATING THE CLOSING OF DOORS AND FOR PREVENTING NOISE
OR SLAMMING WHEN CLOSING and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
I employ a cylinder A. of Brass, or other suitable material containing a piston B
a piston Rod C (which is hollow) and around which is a spiral spring. The piston
is fitted with a cup leather D or other suitable packing and has an aperture
through its centre, through which passes a tube E, perforated as shown in the
drawings at P and which acts as a relief valve, in conjunction with the aperture
through the piston.
The tube also acts as an automatic valve F allowing air to enter the cylinder
when the piston is drawn forward, and closing when the piston commences to
return.
I also in order to obtain increased resistanco to the return of the piston, attach a
disc or discs B¹ fitted with cupleather or packing D¹ to the tube which works within
the hollow piston rod; and I supply the ends of the tube with screw down caps G.
and G which act as a regulator to the escape of the air from the interior of the
cylinder. The end of the cylinder is closed by a cap H. having an aperture in the
centre through which the tube E, passes, which aperture is opened or closed by
means of a metal flange F. and washer attached to the tube.
One end of the cylinder is closed by a cap K. which acts as a guide to the piston
rod and between the inside of the cap K. and the back of the piston, the pressure
of the spring is exerted, when the piston rod is drawn forward.
The end of the piston rod is closed by a cap M' having a lug attached to it, as
is also the other end of the cylinder; these lugs have apertures N. and N¹ made in
them so that they can be attached by a pivot to the jointed hinge O. or the connection
on the door frame B³. The jointed hinge O. is attached to the door, by the
connection B and to the doorframe by the connection B'. The jointed hinge O. is
attached so that when the door is opened, so as to form an obtuse angle, with the
door frame, the force of the spring tends to keep the door stationary, When the
door is closing, the force of the spring thrusts the piston towards the end of the
cylinder, and the air between the end of the cylinder A. and the cupleather D.
also between the cap at M¹ and the cupleather D¹ is compressed and escaping
slowly through the piston and the valve tube, prevents slamming or noise in closing
of the door,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The construction of apparatus for preventing noise or slam in closing doors, the
Baid apparatus being fitted with hollow piston rod & automatic valve substantially
as described, and with such an arrangement of Jointed Hinge and attachments as
permits of the door remaining stationary and open when required.
Dated this Sixth day of May 1885.