US616987A - Fireproof door for theaters - Google Patents

Description

No. 616,987. Patented Jail. 3, I899. F. 8-. STEWABD.

FIREPBOOF' DOOR FUR THEATERS.

(Application filed Aug. 2, 189B.)

2 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 6l6,987. Patented .Ian. 3,1899. F. S. STEWARD.

FIREPBOOF DOOR FOR THEATERS.

- (Application filed Aug. 9, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shae! 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFron.

FIREPROOF DOOR FOR THEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,987, dated January 3, 1899. Application filed August 2 1898. Serial No. 687,491. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. STEW- ARD,of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fireproof Doors for Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding fireproof doors for closing the proscenium-arch open ings of theaters; and it consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to produce a door of the character described which effectually cuts off communication between the auditorium and the stage, which may be easily and quickly opened or closed, and which is of simple, strong, durable, and inexpensive construction.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- I Figure 1 .represents an elevation, partly in section, showing my improved door as closing the proscenium-arch opening of a theater, concert-hall, or other building. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the slotted floor of the stage partly broken away to disclose the tracks beneath by which the door is supported. Fig. 4 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, to illustrate more clearly the means for operating the door and the fireproof construction of the latter. Fig. 5 is a vertical central cross-section.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the valance of a proscenium-arch opening, and 2 a horizontally-arranged channel-bar of substantially inverted-U shape which reaches from side to side of the proscenium-opening at the lower margin or border of the valance.

3 designates pockets or chambers which are provided at opposite sides of the proscenium-opening and also at the stage side of the same, so as to be out of sight of the audience and therefore not interfere with the decoration or ornamentation of the auditorium side of the wall in which the prosceniumopening is formed.

4 4, 5 5, and 6 6 are parallel slots in the stage-floor, but so narrow that they are hardly observable. The slots 4 4 extend outward through their respective chambers 3 and have their inner ends about meeting in the center of the proscenium-opening. The slots 5 also extend outward through their respective chambers 23 and have their inner ends termi nating at suitable distances apart and equal distances from the center of the stage. The slots 6 G also extend outward through their respective openings 3 and have their inner ends disposed a certain distance apart and equal distances from the center of the stage.

If the door comprise two members, each consisting of three sections, as shown in the accompanying drawings, there will be provided floor-slots equal in number to the sections composing the members. Consequentlyin thisinstance there are provided just six slots. Vertically below the slotted portion of the floor is a substantial wall 7, preferably of brickwork or masonry, and secured upon the same vertically below said slots is a track which may be composed, as herein illustrated, of a plurality of T-irons 8 8, 9 9, and 10 10*, arranged, respectively below slots 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6.

Referring now to the door proper, it will be noticed by reference to Fig. 2 and from a foregoing statement that the door is composed of a plurality of sections, and as each of these sections is of precisely the same construction except in a detail hereinafter mentioned a description of one will suffice for all. Each section, therefore,is constructed as followsthat is to say, 11 11 designate two similar plates of galvanized iron or its equivalent which are riveted or otherwise secured together,with asbestos 12 placed between them, and in order to stiffen this structure suitable braces, as at 13, will be arranged at intervals between said plates. The main elements, however, which serve to stiffen and solidify the structure are the marginal irons, which extend from the bottom to the top of the section. All of these marginal irons except one preferably are of angle-iron,the one exception at the innermost margin of one:of the innermost sections being of T-iron, as shown at 14, in order that the flange of said iron projecting toward the other member of the door may overlap the same, and thereby form a joint which cannot be penetrated by light-rays. 'The joint may-be rendered air-tight in any suitable manner. As

above stated, all the other marginal irons are form ed of an gle-iron 15,and the angle-irons of each section are oppositely disposed to each other, so that the arms extending vertically of the prosoenium'arch opening shall embrace opposite sides of plates 11 (see Fig. 2) and their other arms the edges of said plates and at the same time project beyond the inner and outer faces of the same for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

In assembling the parts of the door in their proper relative positions the upper edges of the sections are fitted into the inverted-U channel-iron 2, with the rearwardly-projecting arms of the angle-irons at the outer edges of the several sections arranged outward of the forwardly-projecting arms of the angleirons of the section next outward, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Consequently it will be seen that the inward or closing movement of the innermost section of each member will, affor it traverses a distance about equal to its own width, cause the intermediate section to partake of such movement, owing to the fact that the rearwardly-projecting flange of angle-iron 15 at the outer edge of the innermost section overlaps and is overlapped by the forwardly-projecting angle-iron 15 at the front edge of said intermediate section. After the first-named or innermost section has traversed twice its width and the intermediate section one-half said distance the rearwardly-projecting arm of the angle-iron at the outer edge of said intermediate section engages the forwardly-projecting arm of the angle-iron at the inner edge of the outermost section, and consequently moves said section likewise, all of the sections of each member moving together until the center of the proscenium-arch is reached and the innermost sections of the two members meet. The proscenium arch opening is now completely closed by an air-tight and fireproof door. In order to guide the lower ends of the sections and also to render their operation as easy as practicable, one or more brackets 16, prefer ably two, depend from their lower edges through the slots vertically below, and journaled in said brackets are rollers 17, which roll upon the tracks hereinbefore described. As thus arranged the door may be closed by hand, if desired; but in order to facilitate its movement and to time the operation so that the two members shall reach the center of the proscenium-arch opening at the same time I provide any suitable mechanism-for instance, that which is described as follows: 17 18 designate a pair of shafts extending through the track at equal distances from the center of the proscenium-opening and journaled in bearings 19 upon the supportingwall 7. A pair of winding-drums 2O 21 are secured upon each shaft. These drums may be arranged at the same or at opposite sides of the track, as shown for convenience of illustration in Fig. 5.

At points outward of the proscenium-opening the idle rollers 22 are suitably journaled in the same horizontal plane as said drums, and guided around said rollers are a pair of flexible cables 23, preferably of wire, one end of each cable extending inwardly below a drum and secured thereto, as shown at Fig. l, or in any other suitable manner. The opposite ends of said cables are secured to the innermost sections of the door members, the point of connection being near the inner edges of said sections, and preferably to lugs or eyes 24, projecting from the innermost brackets 16 thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

25 designates a pair of cables, also of wire, by preference, which at their inner ends extend over the upper sides of drums 21 and are suitably secured to the drums. At their outer ends said cables are secured to the in nermost sections of the door members, but near their outer edges preferably to the outer most brackets 10, depending therefrom, as

shown at 26.

27 designates intermeshing gear wheels upon shafts 17 18, and the latter also carries a large gear-wheel 28, driven by a gear-pinion 29 upon a shaft 30, suitably journaled. The shaft 30 preferably projects through the front wall of the stage into the auditorium and is provided with a squared end for convenient engagement by a crank or wrench in order that a person in the auditorium, if occasion should demand, could in an exceedingly short time out off communication between the stage and the auditorium. Said shaft, however, may also carry a gear-wheel 32 for connection with a motor or other source of power whereby the door may be opened or closed. By operating shaft 30 motion is imparted through the train of gearing described to the winding-drums, which operate relatively, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 4:, or vice versa. The drums on the same shaft of course turn in the same direction, but owing to the fact that their cables 23 and 25 extend from opposite sides of the drums the movement which winds cables 23 upon the drums, and thereby opens the door, causes the cables 25 to unwind at a corresponding speed, and vice versa, as will be readily understood. It is obvious, therefore, that the cables are also kept taut and in proper working condition, as it is impossible to wind up one set without unwinding the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a folding fireproof door which embodies the features of advantage enumerated in the statement of invention, and it is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion, arrangement, or detail construction of the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding fireproof door, comprising two members, each consisting of a plurality of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it is impossible to move one section independent of its adjacent section beyond a predetermined distance, and means to cause said members to move inward or outward synchronously, substantially as described.

2. A folding fireproof door, comprising a suitable track, a pair of members mounted upon Wheels upon said track, each member consisting of a series of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it is impossible to move one section independent of the adjacent section beyond a predetermined distance, substantially 'as described.

8. A folding fireproof door, comprising a suitable track, a pair of members mounted upon wheels upon said track, each member consisting of a series of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it is impossible to move one section independent of its adjacent section beyond a predetermined distance, a pair of shafts, drums mounted thereon, a pair of pulleys arranged at opposite sides of said opening, a pair of cables extending around the said pulleys and under and secured to a pair of the drums, and having their opposite ends attached to the innermost sections of the door members near their inner edges, a pair of cables attached at their outer ends to said sections near their outer edges, and extending over and secured to the remaining pair of drums, and means to op erate said shafts, substantially as and for the with overlapping parts, whereby it is impossible to move one section independent of its adjacent section beyond a predetermined distance, a pair of shafts, drums mounted thereon, a pair of pulleys mounted at opposite sides of said openings, a pair ofcables extending around the said pulleys and under and secured to a pair of the drums, and having their opposite ends attached to the innermost sections of the door members near their inner edges, a pair of cables attached at their outer ends to said sections near their outer edges, and extending over and secured to the remaining pair of drums, intermeshing gearwheels mounted upon said shafts, and a driven shaft geared to one of said shafts whereby a synchronous movement is imparted to both, substantially as described.

5. A folding fireproof door for prosceniumarch openings, comprising two members, each I FREDERICK S. STEWARD.

Vitnesses M. R. REMLEY, G. Y. THORPE.

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