GB447354A - New or improved apparatus for automatically closing doors, windows and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

447,354. Preventing fires. LENTAIGNE, R. V., 27, Rue de l'Aviation, Le Havre, and CHARRIERE, J. G. M., 3, Route de Paris, Briare, Loire, both in France. June 12, 1935, No. 16980. Convention date, June 12, 1934. [Class 47 (ii)] [See also Groups XXV and X] In a device for automatically closing hinged or sliding doors, windows and shutters, of the kind comprising a flexible band wound on a drum under the action of a coiled spring, a centrifugal governor is provided to regulate the speed of the device when moved by the spring. The device may come into action as soon as the door is released after being opened, or holding means may be provided, to be released from a distance or by thermal or time control means. In the form shown, the flexible band passes round a guide pulley 30 (which is dispensed with in the case of a sliding door) and is wound on a drum 26 keyed on the spindle 5 of a spiral spring 3 which is stressed by the opening of the door. The spindle 5 carries a ratchet wheel 6 engaged by a pawl 7 on a toothed wheel 9 which is free on the spindle 5 and which drives a governor spindle through gears 12, 14, 15, 17, 18 ; the governor comprises a pair of friction blocks 20, connected by a spiral spring, sliding on a cross-bar on the governor spindle to engage the wall of the housing when the speed is excessive. A wheel 22, having frictional engagement with the wheel 17, has a pair of stop lugs, and a wheel 25 on the governor spindle has a pair of teeth which engage with one of the stop lugs on wheel 22 when the door is being opened, to prevent operation of the governor mechanism; the other stop lug engages the housing to hold the wheel 22 clear of the teeth on wheel 25 during the closing movement, to allow free operation of the governor. If the door is closed by hand at a higher speed than that of the device, the flexible band forms a loop, which is subsequently taken up by the operation of the device. If it is desired to hold the door open until released by distant control means, the wheel 22 is not used, and the wheel 25 is frictionally mounted on the governor spindle and is engaged by a pawl which may be withdrawn electromagnetically or mechanically to free the mechanism ; the frictional connection of wheel 25 avoids shock in case the pawl is released into engagement with the wheel when the mechanism is in motion. The pawl may alternatively be withdrawn by the action of a bimetal strip when the latter is heated either by its surroundings (e.g. in case of fire) or by a heating resistance controlled from a distance ; this method of control may also be arranged to operate when the temperature is below a predetermined value. The device may be mounted on the door or the frame, and in the case of double doors the two bands may be wound on a single drum. In the case of vehicle doors, the holding device may be interconnected with the vehicle controls to ensure closing of the doors before the vehicle is started.