AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSER AND DOOR CHECK
Year: 1886

page_text: I DAVID THOMAS WINTER, of Peabody in the State of Massachusetts, one of
the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for an "AUTOMATIC DOOR CLOSER AND DOOR CHECK" and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
:
My invention relates to a special construction and arrangement of devices, in
which I employ a novel feature of a rising and falling lever connected at one end
to the door, and also connected near its other end to a rod movably secured to the
stationary door frame.
The particulars of the invention will appear from the following description.
Figure 1, represents one form of my invention in which the lever and rod are
used with a weight-piston and an upright hinged air cylinder, showing the position
of the parts when the door is closed.
Figure 2. shows the same devices in the more upright position they assume when
the door is open.
Figure 3. a front view the door being closed.
Figure 4. an enlarged view of the lever, detached.
Figure 5, one of the ears for the lever journal, detached.
Figure 6. the bottom of the air cylinder, its cap being removed.
Figure 7. an end view of the same.
Figure 8 a sleight variation from figure 7.
Figure 9 a partial vertical section, showing a disk valve.
Figure 10. views of disks with central holes of different sizes.
Figures 11, 12 and 13. detail views of a cup valve.
Figure 14. shows a coiled spring and cylinder, instead of a piston and cylinder.
Figure 15. a view in which the weight is dispensed with; and in which a spring
is substituted for the weight and cylinder.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3.-A. represents part of a door, and B. a part
of the door-frame. A rigid rod 1. is hung to the frame above the door by a ball or
equivalent joint 1* which will permit this rod to be turned in any direction. On
this rod is hung or connected by a ball or equivalent joint, a lever or lever brace 2:
and which is hinged or centred at its inner end or ends 3. to the door, and at its
outer end 4. it is provided with a weight 5. the force of which as it descends from
the raised position shown in Figure 2. to its lowered position in Fig. 1, exerts a
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page_text: constantly increasing power upon the door until the latter closes: this being due to
the steadily increasing leverage power of the weight, as the lever brace 2. moves
downward from its nearly vertical to a nearly horizontal postion.
From the above it will be seen that the weight on lever 2. when used as a mere
door-closer (independently of any door-check) may be of any form, either cylindrical,
ball form, or otherwise.
But in most cases, I prefer to utilize this lever and weight, and their rising and
falling movements for checking as well as closing: and for this, the cylindrical
form is the better one: the same serving as a piston, fitting or working in an air
cylinder 6: the weight itself not fitting too tightly in such cylinder.
The cylinder is provided at its lower end with a cap 7, presently to be described,
and which is hinged or pivoted at 8. to the door or to any suitable projection thereon,
so that the air cylinder and the weight may both during the movements of the door
be permitted a range of motion (incident to the movements of the lever 2.) from a
substantially vertical position when the door is open, as in Figure 1, to the inclined
position when the door is shut, as in Figure 2: the extent of this inclined position
being limited and determined by the lever 2. when in its lower or horizontal
position.
The cylinder 6. is open at its top, and the air within it serves as a cushion for
the gravitating weight.
There is no hole or valve in the side of this air cylinder 6. for the escape of air
during the operation of the devices: .but for the regulation and control of the
amount of air in the cylinder, according to the size of the weight, and to the size
and weight of the door, I provide the following means.
The cap 7. screws upon the cylinder, and is provided with a very low or half
thread 9. while the cylinder itself has a full thread 10, (or the full thread may be
on the cap and the low thread on the cylinder): a leather or rubber washer 11. is
placed within the end of the cap: and by turning the cylinder into its cap to the
extent desired until the proper escape of air has been obtained to suit any particular
case, the requisite amount of air in the cylinder is secured: and the set screw 12.
in the cap being tighened up, this amount of air in the cylinder is preserved until
a new adjustment may be wanted.
This affords a simple and perfect regulator.
Or a cup valve 13. of rubber or leather may be made on the end of the weight
[see figures 11, 12 and 13.]; this allows the air to come into the cylinder, but when
it is under pressure, it cups and holds the air against the cylinder; thus allowing
the air to force past its sides when the weight is pulled out, but holding it down
when pressed down.
I make this cup nearly solid, by filling in its cup part with leather washers of
graduated diameters shown at, 14, and instead of using oil for lubricating, I use
black lead, thus making a perfectly dry plunger or cup, and which will not congeal
in cold weather like oil, and work stiff, but will, work as freely when cold as when
warm, and allow a quick action for closing the door in cold weather. An iron
washer 15. and nut 16. which may be all in one piece, and fitting on a threaded
projection 17. on the lower end of the weight, serve to secure the cup and leather
washers to place.
A file cut 18. may be made in the bottom edge of the cylinder and also up across
its screw-threads, and by turning or screwing the cylinder more or less into its
cap 7. as desired, the ; escape of air through this file cut may be controlled or
stopped.
:
An outlet 20 may be made, at any convenient point through the cap 7. and a thin
metal washer 21. having a small puncture therein of less size than such outlet 20.
may be inserted in the cap; preferably with a leather or rubber perforated washer 22.
and in order to regulate the escape of air, a set or series of these metal washers 21,
each having a puncture of different, size, may be provided, and by removing the
cap, one of these may be readily substituted for another having a larger or smaller
puncture,
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page_text: The outer surface of the tube or cylinder 6. may near its lower end be milled or
made with small teeth as at 23, and the set screw 12. in the cap 7 or in an ear 7"
on such cap, may be so applied that its inner end shall engage with the milled or
roughened part 23: by tightening this screw, the cap is kept in its proper position
relatively to the cylinder, so as not to be shifted, through friction or jarrings.
The weight or piston 5. may be of any size and weight desired, adapted to the
size and weight of the door and to the power required to close it.
The lever or lever-brace 2 may be made in a single piece as shown in Figure 4.
having two arms or stems 24 and journals on their inner ends 3. adapted for the
ears 25. which are secured to the door.
In a raised cross piece 26 of this lever, the outer end of the rod 1. is as heretofore
stated, connected by a ball or other suitable joint: the length of rod 1. being such
that this lever 2. is prevented from dropping below about a horizontal plane when
the door is closed.
•
:
In some cases, I place a rubber or elastic band 27 around the arms of lever 2. so.
that. when the door is thrown, open this band receives the first concussion.or
pressure of the weight as the latter assumes its vertical or nearly vertical position
and thus crowds itself against this band, and which it does because of the weight
crowding the rubber into the space between the arms. The elastic band thus,
pressed against, also serves another purpose, namely: it gives a back pressure
against the weight, and imparts to it automatically an initial start on its backward
or falling movement to cause the open door to close again..
The adjustment having been made and the parts being in the position shown
in Figure 1. with the door closed, then upon opening the door, the action is as
follows, viz:
As the door opens, the rod 1. will rise in its are of motion, and carry the lever 2..
upwards with it: and if the the opening be continued this lever will rise to a
vertical or perpendicular position as seen in Figure 2, carrying the weight with it.
Thus the maximum power of the weight is exerted when down as in Figure 1 and
its minimum or zero power, when at its highest point.
When the weight serves as a piston, as well as a weight, its rising causes the
cylinder 6, as the door is opened to turn on the hinge 8. and gradually also to
assume a vertical position as shown in figure 2: the cylinder 6. being long enough
to permit the rising and falling of the weight within it, without disconnecting
them: the rod 1. also rises high enough to keep clear of the opening door and offer
no obstruction to its movements...
The weight being hung to a projection 4. on the lever, has thus, even when
raised to its highest point, a small leverage sufficient to start itself by gravity,
very slowly in commencing its motion for closing the door: this gradually draws
down the lever, which moves outward more and more away from the door, carries
the weight farther outward, constantly increasing its leverage, thereby giving a
steadily increasing force until the lever and weight shall have moved out to their
farthest point beyond the door as in Figure 1. when the door will be closed.
The air cushion within the cylinder meets and resists or rather prevents the
slamming of the door, and the latter may therefore, as the air escapes, shut slowly
and noiselessly.
The devices on the door fold or lie close to it when the door is quite open, and
hang out from it when the door is closed.
In Figure 14. I show a spring 28, instead of a weight, within the air cylinder
and which is used in connection with the air cushion: the connections with the
lever 2. and with the door being the same as above described.
In Figure 15. I show the spring connected direct to the lever and to the door,
the cylinder and air cushion being dispensed with.
In both these Figures 14 and 15. the upper end swings outward with the falling
of the lever, or inward with its rising, precisely as in the other figures: the lever
movement being the same in all,

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner it is to be performed, I would say that I am
aware that spring cushions and air cushions have been used in door checks, and
therefore make no claim for them broadly: but I declare that what I do claim is
as follows, viz.
1. In a door closer, the combination of a weighted lever 2. fulcrumed on the
door, with a rigid rod 1. connected by a ball or equivalent joint at one of its ends,
to such lever, and at its other end by a similar joint to the door-frame above the
door, the combination operating to raise the lever towards a vertical position when
the door is opened, and to substantially a horizontal position when the door is
closed substantially as set forth.
.
2. In combination with the rod 1. on the frame above the door, and arranged to
rise and fall, the weighted lever 2. on the door also arranged to rise and fall
with such rod, and the elastic band 27. on this lever as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In combination with the lever 2. and rod 1. connected together and arranged
to rise and fall with the opening and closing of the door, an elastic or yielding
connection applied to the outer end of such lever, and to the door at a point below
such lever, all as set forth.
4. In combination, the lever 2. and rod 1. both arranged to rise and fall as set
forth, an upright weight attached at its upper end to the outer end of the lever,
and an upright tubular cylinder 6. hinged to the door, and in which the weight is
free to rise and fall substantially as shown and described.
5. In combination, an upright air cylinder pivoted at its lower end on the door, and
having an adjustable air outlet at its lower end, a piston weight working vertically
or nearly so in said cylinder, bracket or lever 2. connected to such weight and
rod 1 connected to such lever and to the door frame, this lever and rod being
arranged to rise and fall, all substantially as set forth.
6. In a door-check and closer, in combination with the upright air cylinder
having a file cut in its bottom edge as set forth, the weighted piston, and the
hinge screw-cap 7 on the bottom of the cylinder, the low or half thread as set
forth, and a washer 22..of leather or rubber, the combination serving for adjusting
and regulating the amount of air admissible to the cylinder.
7. In a door check and closer the combination of the rod 1. lever 2. vertical
cylinder pivoted at its lower end upon the door, and the vertical weight adapted
to rise and fall in such cylinder and provided at its lower end with a cup valve, all
substantially as set forth.