US1004754A - Safety mechanism for power-operated doors. - Google Patents

Description

J. S. DOYLE. SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1909.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ic'z'u- I J. S. DOYLE. SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POWER OPERATED noons.

A'PPLIOATION FILED SEPT 16, 1909. Patented Oct 3 ww h QM 57 W 1 A M IIIIII/IIIIII/II qwi bweooeo Wm UNi TTEd ATE NT {in JAMES S. DOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BURDETTROWNTREE MillUFA TUBING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 03? ILLINOIS.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR POwERiOPERATED DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. a, raft.

' city, county, and State of New York, have Safety Mechanism made a certain new and useful Invention in for Power Operated Doors, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to safety appliances for power operated doors or other closures, and the object is to provide means which are simple and effective for automatically releasing a door or other closure from operative connection with respect to its' power actuating devices, in case an obstruction is encountered'by the door or other closure, in

closing.

more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and to the various views and reference signs appearing thereon,l igure l is a view in side elevation of a door and its frame work, showing safety devices embodying the prineiples of my invention applied, portions of the frame Work and door being broken out. Fig. 2 is a detail. view of the latch mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the front plate of the door being removed and, the shoe, spring and mounting being in part section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in horizontal section on the line 3, 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow 7 showing the shoe 'in telescoped position. Fig. 4 is a broken View in perspective, showing he detachable latch for coupling the power actuated arm or lever to the door. Fig. 5 is a broken view in section, on the line 5, 5, Fig. 4. looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a.

view similar to Fig. 4, showing the detaching lug, for disconnecting the door and its power actuated lever. Fig. 7 '18 a broken detail view in section, on the line 7. 7, Fig.-

1), looking in the direction of the arrows.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever' it occurs through the several views.

Other objects of the invention will appear In the operation of power actuated doors or other closures and similar devices, itvery frequently happens that in closing, the door or other device encounters an obstruction, which causes the closing movement of the 'door to be arrested or restrained, or else the power applied to the door to close it en (leavers to overcome the obstruction with the result, that in case the ohstructionis the arm, shoulder or other part of the body of a person, of causing serious and sometimes fatal injury. lVhere the obstruction encountered is sufficient to arrest the action of the power devices in moving the door or other closure toward its closed position, the application of the power employed to effect the closing movement of the door, continuing after the obstruction is encountered, tends to cause a continued squeeze of the obstruction between the advancing edge of the door and the door jamb, and sometimes with an increasing force depeni'ling upon the character of the door moving devices, and in anyevent, thc'withdrawal or removal of the. obstruction results in causing the door to move too rapidly toward its final closed position, therebycausing an objectionable slam.

The objections abovenoted are particularly serious in the case of the operation through power actuated devices of doors, gates'or other closures, of street, subway, elevated, passengerelevator and other cars, and the like, and especially where it is necessary for large crowds of people to use or pass through the doorways or entrances of such "cars. The dangers and objections above noted are increased where the doors are operated by pressure mediumsuch, for instance, compressed air, since :the pressure applied to close the door when once placed in commission, continues to build up when an obstruction is encountered and hence an increasing force is applied. tending to move the door'to its closed position during the time the obstruction remains in the front of the advancing edge of'the door.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide means whereby the power actuating devices for the door are automatically disconnected. from the door, in case the front or advancing-edge of the door, in closing, encounters in its path of movement an obstruction tending to arrest the furthe advancing movement of the door, and renders the same inert and harmless.

In the drawings, I have shown one form.

of an embodiment of the present invention, as applied to the operation of a sliding door, such as is ordinarilyemployed in street, subway and elevated cars. It is to be understood however, that my invention, as de fined in the claims, is not to be limited or restricted in respect to this application or Reference sigrrlO, designates the door operating lever, through the operation of which the door is moved. This lever may be power actuated in any suitable or convenient manner and from any suitable or convenient source of power. In the particular form shown, to which however, my invention, as defined in the claims, is not to be limited or restricted, the operating lever 10, is pivotally connected at one end, as at 1.1, to the end of the link 12, which is pivotally connected as at 13, to a fixed part of the ear frame. 7 A link 14, is pivotally connected at one end, as at 15, to the operating lever '10, and at its other end, as at [(3, to an arm 1.7, the latter being operated by a piston operating in the power cylinder 18. through an intermediate segment rack 19, in a well known and well understood manner. It is obvious that many other suitable or convenient forms of power mechanism may be em 1 loyed for the purposes of my invention.

The free end of the door operating lever 10, is pivotally connected as at 20, see Figs. and 7, with a slide block 21, mounted to slide upon a bar 22, rigidly connected to the door to move therewith. The slide block 21 is free to move along the bar 22, except when restrained by a latch 24, which is pivotally connected at one end to the. door and provided with a hook l1 at its other end to engage over the front edge of the block 21.

A spring serves to retain the hooked end of latch 21 in engaging relation with respect to the front. edge of the slide block. and normally presses said latch toward such ongaging relation.

At its front edge. the door is provided with a shoe 26,.mounted in yielding relation with respect to the door, and, in effect, constituting an extension of the front or ad vancing edge of the door. In the particular embodiment of my invention, sh wn 'in the drawings, but to which .my invention is not to be limited or restricted, this shoe extends the entire length of the door, and is of U shape, arranged to telescope over the front edge of the door, as most clearly shown in section, in Fig. 3. The shoe is supported upon rods 27, extending through the frontedge portion 28, of the door proper, these rods being mounted to slide longitudinally yieldingly maintain the shoe 26 offset from v the edge of the door. In the particular arrangement shown, the springs 34, bear at one end against the. guide blocks 32, and at their other end against collars 35, carried by the rods 27, the tension of said springs 34, being normally exerted upon said rods 27 in a direction to press the shoe away from the front edge portion of the door. The springs 33, bear at one end against the opposite side or end of the guide blocks 32, and at their other ends against collars 36, carried by the ends of the rods 27, the tension of these springs 33 being normally exerted in the direction to move the rods 27, longitudinally into the chamber 29.

The tensions of the springs 33, 34, oppose each other, and hence enable comparatively light pressure exerted on the front edge of the shoe to move the same telescopically on to the front edge. of the door, and I propose to so relatively proportion the tensions of these springs as to secure these results. A slide bar 37, is provided and is mounted to slide through guide blocks 38, 39 mounted on the inner surface of one of the door side plates 3]. This slide bar 37 is provided with a cam head 40. having an inclined surface designed to coi'iperate with a similar inclined surface on the hooked end 41, of the locking latch 24, to disengage the latter from the slide block 21. The slide bar 37, is provided at its opposite end with the flange 42, arranged in the path of longitudinal movement of one of the shoe supporting rods 27. A spring 43. interposed between the guide blocks 39 and flange 4L, norn'ialtv exerts its pressure upon the slide bar 37 to move the latter longitudinally in the 'direc.v tion to withdraw the inclined surface of cam head 40'. from engaging relation with the end of latch 24. When however. the rod 27 is projected endwise into the chamber 29, as for instance, when in closing, the front or advancing edge of the door. in this instance the front or advancing edge of the shoe 26, encounters an obstruction such as a passenger getting on or off the ear. the

door being impelled toward its closing position by the power actuated devices, the springs 34 yield against the pressure exerted by the shoe against the obstruction, thereby moving the rod 27 into" the chamber 29, and hence causing the end of the rod 27, to engage the flange 42, on the slide bar 37, and project the latter endwise against the pressure of spring 43, and hence carrying the inclined surface of cam head 40, into devices are automatically disconnected from the door. These two functions are accomplished by the cushion arrangen'ient on the front edge of the door. 'hen an obstruction is encountered by the front edge of the door. in closing. even when moving rapidlyunder the influence of the motor which moves the door toward its closed position, it is first cushioned. by the collapsing or telcsco )ical movement of the shoe 2G and l a thereafter the power mechanism or ii'iotor is automatically detached-from operative connection with the door, and consequently the danger of injury to passengers getting on or off the car is obviated, while permitting the power mechanism to complete its full forward stroke, leaving the door free to be moved by hand. After the obstruction has been removed from-in front of the door, the springs'M, restore the shoe to its distended position, thereby removing the 'iressure from spring43, and enabling the latter to restore slide bar 37 to its normally retracted position with its cam head 40 withdrawn from engaging relation with respect to the locking latch 24. Now, by re rersing the motor to open the door, the slide block 21, moves freely along the slide 22, and eventually the spring causes the latch 24 to snap into engaging relation with respect to the front edge of the block 21, thereby again coupling up the door with the motor or power mechanism.

Many variations and changes in the details of construction and arrangement might readily occur to persons skilled in the art 1 and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention, as defined in the claims. T do not desire therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details shown and described. But

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention, and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what it claim as new and useful, .and of my own tor, a n arm 1. The combination with a. door, of power operated devices for operatmg the door, and means operated by the door striltin an ole-- striiction, in closing for disconnecting the door and its operating devices.

2. The combination with a door, and power actuz'ited-dei'ices for moving the same, of means operated by the door strikingan obstruction in its path, in closing, for antoiiiatically disconnecting the power op ei'ated devices from the door.

3. The combination with a door, and power operated mechanism therefor detachably connected thereto, of neans carried by the door and operated by encountering an obstruction, in closing. for detaching said power actuated mechanism from the door.

4. The coii'ibiiiation' with a door, and power operated devices for moving the door,

of yielding means carried by the door and operating when encountering an obstruction in the path of the closing ii'iovement of the door to detach. the power operated devices from operative connection with the door.

5. The combination with a door, and power operated iiiecliaiiisi therefor, of means (win-trolled by an encountered obstruc tion to the closing movement of the door, for detaching the power operated mechanism from the door, without arresting the operation of said power operated mechanism.

(3. The combination with a door, a motor, and detachable connections between the den... and motor for moving the door, of means for controlling said connections. said means crating ii'lien an obstr etion is encountered in the closur niorciiient of the door to disconncct said connections and door.

H Ti 3 t; 4|; 1' i. It .oai inii ioii iii. 1 .i sitin other. an operating motor ti'ierefor, and detach able connections lietivceii the door and. mo- -'tor, of a yielding nii-inibei carried by the door at its front edge, and means operated by the yielding increment of said member for detaching the connections between the door and its operat root or.

8. The combiiiatiwith a door a motor, an arm UPC! coni'iected to the ooor, gage said arm to and i'neans ope g ing an ol'istriicticn in cits. said hitch.

9. 'ihe coii'ihinatioii a door, of a ma arranged to be moved by the motor a latch carried by the door a id ranged to enga said arm to couple the to the door, and met ca ried y the door at its front edge opera by encoun tering an obstruction in the closing movement of the door, detachin 3 from engaging relatii'in with the I 10. The combination with a door having a bar mounted thereon, a block mounted to slide on said bar, an arm connected to said nd arranged to en- .he same to the door, door SHCLlIIl YQP 1 by the motor, a latch,

mg, for releasing block, a motor for operating said arm, a latch connected to the door to engage said block, and means carried by the front edge of the door, and operated by encountering an obstruction in the closing movement of said door for detaching the latch from said block.

11. The combination with a door, and a motor, having detachable connections therewith for moving the same, a member carried by the door at its tront edge, and mounted for movement relative to the door,

and means operated by the yielding movement of said member for detaching the eonnections between the door and its operating motor.

12-. The combination with a door, of a inotor for operating the same,-a yicldingly mounted cushion carried by the front edge of the door, and means operated by the yielding movement of the cushion, when encountering an obstruction in the closing lnoven'ient of the door for detaching the connections of the motor and door.

13. The combination with a door, of a motor, and connections between the door and motor for operating the former, a shoe arranged at the front edge of the door, and yieldingly mounted for movement relatively to the door, a slide bar arranged to be engaged. and moved when the shoe is moved relatively to the door, and means operated by the movement of the slide for detaching the connections of the door and motor.

14. The combination with a door, of a motor, operating conne -tions between the door and motor, a shoe arranged at the front edge or the door, a rod carried by the door and eonnectml to the. shoe.a spring acting on said rod to yieldingly'press the shoe away from the door, and means operated by the yielding movement of the shoe toward the edge, ol the door for detaching the motor connections with the door.

15. The eombinatimi with a door, of a motor, connections between the. motor and door for operating the latter, slide rods carried by the door and extending through the front edge thereof, a shoe carried by the slide rods and telescoping over the front. edge of the door, springs acting o. saidrods, whereby said shoe torms a yielding cushion for the front edge oi. the door, and means operated by the yielding movement oi the shoe for detaching the motor cor. :eetiens from the door.

Ill. The combination with a door, of a mo tor, an arm operated by the motor, a latch carried by the door to engage said arm to couple the saineto the door, a slide bar mounted on the door and arranged, when projected, to engage said latch and detach the same from engaging relation witlrthe arm, means for yieldingly maintaining said slide bar retracted from engaging relation with respect to said latch, a yielding cushion for the t'ront edge of said door, and. connections operated by the yielding moven'ient of the cushion to project: said slide bar.

17. The combination with a door, of 'a motor, detachable conneetimis lwtaveen the motor and door, a cushion device carried by,the front edge of the door, and mechanism operated by the yielding movement of the cushion for detaching said connections.

ln testimony whereo'l' l have hereunto set my hand in the. presence of the subscribing witnesses. on this llth day of September JAN ES 8. DO YLE.

\Vit nesses:

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