US1504517A - Doorcheck - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12 1924.

A. SCHNITZLER DOORCHECK 1 L e e h s S l e e h S 2 2 2 9 Am h C r a M d e l 1 F lnveizifor Aug. 12 1924.

A. SCHNITZLER DOORCHECK Filed March '4, ,1922

2 Sheets-Shem 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFm DO ORCHECK.

Application filed. March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,204.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ABRAHAM 'SCIINITZLER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Roxbury, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Doorchecks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specification, like letters on the. drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is directed to spring actuated door closers or checks, and the object of the invention is to improve and perfect such apparatus and furthermore to provide means which will positively insure the closing of the door, as well as to prevent such closing by sudden slamming, jerking, or amm1ng-.

In prior spring door closers or door checks a great difficulty'has been experienced in providing an apparatus which will act efliciently and powerfully to close the door, particularly if the door is only partly opened and yet which will not produce a violent slammingi or jarring in the closing. In order to insure the positive closing of the door, all prior devices of which I am aware have required the use of a strong and powerful spring, since its action is relatively slight at the extreme door closing movement. In other words, the final movement of the door closing action was always at theweakest part of the doom closing means."

Therefore an oversize spring or power was requisite to effect this final action, and such constructions were objectionable when the door was allowed a full swing because the door check then gained such headway and momentum as to result in slamming, jarring and a noisy action.

By my invention I have eliminated these prior difficulties, and have devised novel means and mechanism for producing a strong, powerful and positive door closing action, which will be at its greatest efiiciency just at the final movement for full shutting and positively closing and latching the door, while also providing means and mechanism which will regulate the force of the spring and prevent undue slamming, jarring or noises.

With these and other objects in view I have devised my present apparatus herein illustrated in two modified forms. In order to secure a control of the door closing acas powerful a spring as desired, and prevent slamming, even when'the door has its full limit toswing from wide open to shut, and also I secure great power at the last or final few degrees of swing of the door, thus insuring a powerful but quiet closing action and actual latching of the door.

Further details of the invention, advantages and novel combinations of parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan view of my apparatus as applied to a door and door jamb;

Fig. 2 is a side View;

Fig. 3 is a longitudional cross-sectional View; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the cam control;

Fig. 5 is ,a modification showing same in plan view;

Fig. 6 being a side view of the modified form shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical plan view.

Fig. 8 is a detail, in section, through an i oil shock cylinder.

Referring to theinvention as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and 4:,my apparatus is adapted to be applied to the door jamb or other fixed part 1, and to the swinging door 2. While intended primarily for use as a door check, it will of course be appreciated that similar uses could be made of the inven tion, particularly wherein a similar action is desired. Applied or attached to the fixed part 1- adjacent the door is a plate 8 secured by screws 4 or the like and carrying a lug 5, to which is pivoted at 6 a forked member 7 having at right angles thereto pivoted connection with" a sleeve '8. This is, in

effect, a universal joint construction to prevent binding during the operation of my imtherein a cooperating arm 9, which in turn is pivoted at 1Q: to a rotatable member 12 mounted on a bolt 14 threaded into the outer end 15 of the operating arm connecting my spring and checking device attached to the movable member2 with the attachment for connection with the fixed member 1.

. The part of 'my apparatus attached to the movable member 2 consists ina cylinder 20 having threaded thereon ends 21. and 22, each end being preferably formed with a pair ofears 23 through which bolts or screws 24 are'fitted to hold the cylinder to the door 2. The topmost end 21 is formed with a central hub 25, bored to receive a stem or shaft, 30, extending therethrough and carrying on its inner end'a piston 31. A threaded bolt 32 holds the piston '31 position and the outer surfaces of thispiston are grooved to carry a t packing 33, which forms asu'bstantially airhas tight sliding joint for the pistonwithin the cylinder 20. The lowermost cap or end 22 is also formedfwith a central hub 35, recessed torreceive an air+adjusting screw 36. This screw 36 is hollowand has an outlet or opening through the interior hollow portion, po-

siftione d substantially as indicated at 37, to

permit a greater or less current of air therethroughand thereby control the speed of movement of the piston 31 on the interior. A ring 38 is fittedwithin the bottom cap 22 on which the piston may rest when in lowermost position, and between the same and the central hub 35, I provide a filling of oil 40. This serves'to keep the interior of the cylinder lubricated at all times. 7 V 4 A coiled spring 41 bears between the topmost cap 21 .andthe piston 31 exerting an eX- pan'sibl'e tension, and resisting the upward movement of the piston 31. The apparatus is so arranged that theopening of the door will lift the stem.30 and piston 31 against the tension of thespring 41 and at the same time 7 partially rotate the stem and piston. Thereupon, on release of the door the spring 41 expands and produces a closing action, the air outlet 37 regulating its movement to a certain extent. j

Surrounding, the stem 30 as. it projects above the cylinder, is a cam carrying sleeve v V 44 wherein a cam path 45 is cut. The rod 15 V is threaded into thestem 30 and carries also a roll 50 adapted tofit within the cam path 45 and be freely rotatablepon the rod 15, a a pin 48 holding said roll in its position; I also prefer to fitia bushing 51 around the stem 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and a pair of lock nuts 52 clamp the bushing and rod together, and said bushing 51 afiiords a rigid bearing against which the lock nuts 52 may be threaded to afford adjustment for the tension of the spring 41. This cam path 45 is so formed as to regulate or control the action of the spring, checking same until just before the final limit of movement, when the cam path 50 is suddenly released, as shown at 55, Fig. 4, thus permitting a quick, strong and the full power of the spring 41 to be exerted in its door closing action.

The operation of my apparatus will be readily understood. The same being assembled, the adjusting nut 36 manipulated to permit a quick or slow exit or egress of air to effect the speed of reciprocation of the piston 31 and the lock nuts 52 adjusted to limit the tension of the spring 41, the door is swung open and this swinging action produces a relative movement between the cam member 44, making the roll 50 mount the cam path and thereby raising the stem 30 against the tension of the spring 41, drawing the piston upwardly and causing the air to rush in underneath the same. Upon the release of the door the expansible action of the spring 41 will serve to move the stem 30 downwardly, the stem turning partially and the roll 50 following the cam path until approaching the release portion 55, at which point the regulating tension of the spring 41 is released and at this point also the door has nearly reached its completely closing action. Thereupon the cam path no longer restraining the action of the spring 41 and the piston having nearly traversed the length of the cylinder 20 the roll 50 released and the full power of the spring is allowed to exert itself on the final closing action. The universal joints at the several bearings 6 and 14 prevent binding and permit this rotation of the stem 30 and thereby produces a smooth, uniform powerful and at the end an eificient closing action.

A modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, wherein the same advantageous features of having a cam controlled action on the power of the spring regulating its door closing movement while releasing this restraining action and permitting the full power of the spring to eflect the final shutting, latching, and firm pushing of the door completely shut.

In this form the link extends to the fixed part of the door or j amb-not shown being pivoted at 61 to the arm 62, which latter is pivotally secured at 63 to a plate 65, which plate has a pair of depending portions 66 for attachment to the door or movable member. This plate has formed thereon a raised cam 70 of varying contour, which may be formed as a flange struck up from the plate 65 and extending from the position indicated at 71 to 72, leaving an opening from the end 72 which is rounded slightly, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, to a second upstanding flange 78. An arm 75 is pivoted at 78 to the lever 62 and a coiled spring 80 has one end pivotally secured at 81 to the lever 62 and its opposite end also pivotally secured at 82 to the lever 75, being coiled to exert an expansible action between these two pivot points 81 and 82. On the end of the lever 7 5 opposite to the pivot 7 8 is fitted a roll 85 in depending position and adapted to traverse the cam 7 O. This roll is of slightly larger diameter than the space between the curved end 72 of the cam 70 and the adjacent flange or stop 73.

Upon opening movement of the door to which the plate 65 is attached, the action of the link and lever 62 serves to compress the spring 80 by swingin the lever 75 to the left, viewing Fig. 5, forcing the roll 85 to ride upon and traverse the inner face of the cam 70. Upon release of the door the spring 80 acts in its expansible position to move the lever 62 and 65 toward the position illustrated in Fig. 5, but the action of the cam path retards this movement, said cam path being so formed as to have an increasing retarding tension during the continued action of the spring, thereby preventing the door from gaining momentum, but moving the same in a substantially uniform and even manner. However, as the door reaches its position about to close, and with the inherent strength of the spring reduced to normal, and in order to exert increased power at this critical point in the door closing action, the cam 70 is formed short of the final closing movement, with the end face 72 rounded off as shown in Fig. 5, so that the retarding action of the cam 70 is relieved, just before the final movement of the spring will close the door completely, thereby affording greater power, i. e., the full power of the spring to effect the final few degrees of swinging movement as the roll snaps into the recess afiorded by the end 72 and stop or flange 73. This construction also practically affords a holding lock or toggle to keep the door shut without latching or looking, considerable force being required to initiate the opening movement which requires the raising of the roll 85 against the beveled face 72 of the cam 70 and thereafter a relatively easy movement will complete the opening swing of the door.

In both forms of my invention 1 have secured the important advantages incident to a retarding cam, thus regulating the closing action and preventing undue momentum and slamming, while also securing an increased power of the spring just at the closing action. I believe these features to be distinctly novel in this art and I wish to claim same broadly.

I may substitute for the air cylinder 20 shown in Fig. 3, the oil or other fluid cylinder 88 shown in Fig. 8. This cylinder 88 is closed at the bottom by a screw cap 89 in which is located a plug screw 90, which, when removed, exposes a hole through which oil or other fluid may be inserted into the cylinder 88. In this cylinder 88 is a piston 91 in which is arranged a ball valve 92 controlling a passage 93 and through which the liquid, may flow to one side or the other of the piston. Secured to or formed integral with the piston 91 is a piston rod 94 that extends upward and has attached thereto the rod 15, in the manner shown in Fig. 3. A passage 95 extends longitudinally through the piston rod 9e and this passage has connected therewith a passage 96 leading to the cylinder 88 at a point above the piston 91. At the intersection of the passages 95 and 96 is formed a valve seat with which cooperates a valve stem 97 having an operating head (not shown) and by means of which the valve seat may be covered or uncovered to prevent or allow fluid to flow from the lower to the upper side of the piston 91. The operation of this modification is as follows: the valve stem 97 is adjusted relative to the valve seat to permit proper flow of the liquid, such as oil, through the passages 95 and 96, and the ball valve 92 is operated automatically to control the passage 93, which passage is of proper size to allow, in conjunction with the passage 95 and 96, a quick flow of oil or other liquid from the top to the bottom side of the piston 91.

My invention is further defined and described in the form of claims as follows:

1. Door closing apparatus of the kind described, comprising a movable link and lever, a spring permitting opening of the door against its tension and thereafter automatically acting to close said door, restraining means comprising a cam path and roll traversing the same, during its door closing action, so constructed and arranged as to relieve the restraining means just before the closing action is completed.

2. Door closing apparatus of the kind described, comprising a movable link and lever, a spring permitting opening of the door against its tension and thereafter automatically acting to close said door, restraining means comprising a cam path and roll traversing the same, during its door closing action, said cam terminating short of the complete door closing action.

Door closing apparatus consisting in spring actuated means to efiect the closing of the door having mechanism permitting increased power of the spring at the comple- I 7 tion of the door closing movement, a cylinder enclosing said spring'and oil retaining means in the face of said cylinder.

4. D00r closing apparatus consisting in spring actuated means to effect the closing of the door having mechanism permitting I increased power of the spring at the comtpleticn of the door closing movement, a

cylinder enclosing said spring and oil retaining means in the face of said cylinder, in combination with adjustable means to re 11- late the flow of fluid through said cylin er.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ABRAHAM SCHNITZLER.

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