US1594721A

US1594721A - Operating mechanism for shutter-doors, etc.

Info

Publication number: US1594721A
Application number: US526817A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gilmore Millard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1922-01-03
Filing date: 1922-01-03
Publication date: 1926-08-03
Anticipated expiration: 1943-08-03

Description

Aug- 3 -,'19zs. 1,594,121

M. GILMORE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SHUTTER DOORS, ETC

Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet :11

Aug. 3 1926.

- ,594,721 M. GILMORE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SHUTTER nooas, 2T0

Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 sheets-sheer 2 K I I flvezzm JZIz' Z/a'rv/ gi/mof Aug. 3 1926.

M. GILMORE OPERATING macrmmsm FOR SHUTTER moons, mc

Filed Jan. 5. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 3, 1926.5.

nmrn' stares EPATE-NT 1,594,721 OFFICE .MILLA-RD eILMonE, or on PARK, .ILLrNoIs.

OPERATINGMECHANISM FOR SHUTTER-DOORS, ETC.

Application filed January controlling the movements of a fire-door, or

firecurtain,1ot the vertical 'litt type, and especially the well known shutter door "type.

The invention is illustrated in "its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a view mainly in elevation, but partly in section showin'g a shutter-door and its operating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2, a broken vertical sectional view taken as indicated at lineQof F ig. 1; Figure 3, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig, 1; '13 igure 4, a view, diagrammatic in its nature, showing the electric circuits o-fthesoleno'ids and brakedevi ce employed; Figure '5, a view oft a dial employed for indicating the position of the plungers of the solenoids; and Figure 6, a broken sectional view showing a modification of the invention.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, A represents a wall provided with a door-opening, or win c'lowppeni-ng, A B, a hood mounted on the Wall "above the door opening; C, ashaft journaled in said hood and having a projecting end equipped with a rigidly-secured sheave, -or winding-drum KT; D, a drum 'journaled on said shaft; E, a torsion spring located in said drum and connected at one *end with the shaft and at the other end with 'the drum; F, a shutter-door, or shutter-curtain mounted on the drum; and G, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of the shutter-door.

The hood B is shown provided with bearings 1 for the shaft C. The drum D is provided atone end with arigidly secured plug 2 which has 'a central perforation journaled on the shaft. One end of the spring E is connected, as indicated at 2 with the plug or end wall 2 of the drum. The other-end out the spring is connected, as indicated at3, with a collar 3 secured on the shaft.

The shutter-curtain :or door F is ot the usual construction. It has one end secured to the drum ED and is adapted to be rolled upon "the drum. The shutterpasses through a guide 13 which is provided with a stop, as indicated :at 4, for the lowermost slat of the shutter.

The electromagnetic mechanism G which controls the movements of the drum and shutter comprises solenoids G and G the former being adapted to elevate the shutter, and the latter {being adapted to lower the shutter. electroanagnetically-released brake G The solenoid G is provided with a magnetic core, or plunger 5 which is connected by'a cable "5 with the winding drum C, the cable suitably solenoid 1G is provided with a magnetic core or plungerG which is conn'ected bya cable 6 with the winding drum C", the cable beirrg suitably attached to the drum. The lower Also, the mechanism includes an w attached to the drum. Also, the

ends of the cores hand '6 are equipped with nonmagnetic guide rods, such as brass rods, 7, which work throughguides 'in'a stationary member- 8. A stop 9 serves to limit the up ward movement of the cores. The guide rod of'the core 5 has attachedto its lower end a weight 5 which supplements the weighted. the core. The core 5 and the added weight "5" are sufficientto overbalaneethe core 6 and to give to the torsion spring E a su'flioierft tension to counterbalance approximately the shutter F when it is in its elevated position.

The magneticbrake G -comprises mask 10 which is secured on the shaft-C 'brakememhere 11 adapted to grip the disk 10, said brake members being held in the gripping l position by a spring 12-;"and a solenoid -13 acting upon lever arms 1 1 ot-the bralre and adapted to release the brake.

The circuit for the three solenoids mentioned comprises the main wires '14 and 1 5, i

energized from any suitable source, such as a battery 16. The wire '14 is connected, through branches 14 with the windings of the solenoids G" and G From the other end of the solenoid windings, wires '14" lead to switch points 1 7 and 18. Coac'ting with the switch pointsl'iand 18 are switches 17 and 18 'w'hich are connected with a wire =19 which leads '.to the "winding of the solenoid 13. 'lVi'th the other end of thewinding of the solenoid13' is connected the wire 15.

From the foregoing, it appears that the brake G normally locks the shaft When either of the

switches

17 or 18 is closed,

the "brake is released by the solenoid 13, so that when either of the solenoids G or G is operated, -the brake is automatically released to permit such operation. The operation of the mechanism is as follows. Normally, the plunger 5avi-th-the ad.

weight of the depending portion of the shutter causes the shutter to descend to close the door-opening. This action may be obtained by a comparatively small movement of the plungers of the solenoids, as a comparatively small loosening of the tension of the spring permits the curtain to descend. By closing the switch 18 the solenoid G is'operated which winds the spring up sufliciently to cause it to turn the drum and elevate the curtain. The switches 17 a and 18* are normally thrown open by springs 17 b and 18.

It will be understood that the circuits of the several solenoids --may be arranged as may be desired. Also, it will be understood that the electro-magnetic mechanism may be varied otherw1se, if desired. For example,

the solenoid G2 which serves to lower the -wire 20 to form a short circuit past the winding of the solenoid. The wire 20 is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. -With this modified arrangement, when the switch 1'? is closed, the brake is released without affecting the solenoid G. This permits the torsion spring E to turn the-shaft G in a direction .to unwind the spring sufficiently to disturb the balance and permitthe shutter to descend to the closed position. The shutter may be elevated to the open position by closing the switch 18 which. causes the solenoids 13 and G to be energized, thusflreleasing the brake and causing the shaft G to be turned in a direction to wind up the spring sufficiently to elevate the curtain. Obviously, by manipulating the switches in a simple manner, the door may be stopped in a partially open position. if desired.

The solenoids G and G are located in a suitable casing 21. This casing may be provided with an opening equipped with a transparentcover plate 22; and'the

plungers

5 and 6 may be equipped with

pointers

5 and 6, so that the position of the plungers may be noted with reference to an indicator- I line 28, as shown in Fig. 5.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, D represents the drum; E the torsion'spring; C the shaft; and F the shutter-curtain. In this case, the shaft is equipped at one end with a wheel 24 which is engaged by catch 25 in accordance with the known practice, the shaft being thus held in position'to place the spring E under suflicient torsion to hold the shutter in elevated condition. The drum D isequipped at its other end with a hollow shaft D upon which is secured a winding drum D A pair of solenoids Gr and G equipped with plungers 26, serve to operate the drum D. The

plungers 26 are connected by cables 26 with the drum 23. Thus, by operating one of the solenoids, the drum may be turned to lower the curtain, and by operating the other solenoid, the drum may be turned to raise the curtain.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, however, is one in which the solenoid or solenoids operate to wind or unwind the torsion spring through the medium of the shaftC. I

In case of fire, it is desirable to employ means associated with the electro-magnetic shutter-operating aneans, for causing the shutter to be automatically closed. In the illustration given, a weight H is employed which, in case of fire, isadapted to release the grip oflthe brake device G and permit the shaft C to turn and release the tension of the torsion spring-D, so that the shutter will be permitted to drop. The weight H is held in elevated position by a trigger H controlled by a fuse-link H. In case of fire, the fuse-linkv is melted, releasing the trigger and thereby permitting the weight H to fall. The weight H is attached to a chain H which is connected with an arm 11 of the brake device, so that when the weight falls, it will effect release of the brake. The chain H should, in practice, be short enough to effect release of the brake before the weight can strike the upper end of the plunger 6, which, it will be understood, is in elevated position when the shutter is in elevated position.

In practice the controlling switches may be located. at any convenient position; and by suitably manipulating the switches, the door may be closed completely, may be opened completely,or may be stopped at an intermediate position.

, Obviously, they improved curtain-operating means may be employed to actuate or control the position of any kind of a curtain, or flexible shade which is adaptedto roll up, as, for example, a window shade, an awning or the like, which is adapted to be rolled up or lowered in a manner analogous to a fire-curtain.

It may be ad led that in the case of a properly counterbalanced, freely moving shutter, a turn, or less, of the shaft is sufiicienttoIso change the tension of the spring as to raise or lower the shutter, as the case may be. .Moreover, since the spring approximately counterbalances the shutter in any'position, itis obvious that the shutter may be operated by hand, if desired, without releasing the brake.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness 10f understanding ionly, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should :be construed *as broadly as :permissible in view of the :prior art.

%W;hat I regandnsnew, and .desire-tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In means of the character set :forth, the combination of a :revoluble drum, 'a curtain mounted thereon, "a shafteritending into said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaft an'cd drum, a releasable brake device ifor said :s'haft serving to 'hold said spring normally under counterbalancing tension, acable connected with said shaft, and anelectro-magnetic device for turning zsaid shaft through theimedium of said cable. and :thus varying the tension of said spring.

12. In means of he character set forth, the combination sof a revolub-le drum, a shuttercurtain mounted thereon, a shaft extending into :said drum, n .tors'ionlspring connecting the shaft and drum, a cable serving to turn said shaft to vary the tension of said spring, a pair of solenoids provided with cores secured to the ends of said cable, and circuitcontrolling means connected with the circuits of said solenoids.

3. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaft and drum, a cable having an intermediate portion adapted to turn said shaft, an electro-magnet having a movable member connected with one end of said cable and serving to turn the shaft to relieve the spring tension, another electro-magnet having a movable member connected with the other end of said cable, means being associated therewith for holding said spring under normal tension to hold the shutter-curtain in elevated position, and circuit-controlling means adapted to cause either of the electromagnets to operate said shaft at Will.

4:. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journalled in said drum, a spring connecting said shaft and drum, and means controlling the movements of said drum, including an electro-magnetic device for actuating said shaft, an electromagnetically controlled brake for said shaft, and a fuse-controlled device adapted to effect automatic lowering of said shuttercurtain.

5. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum, a spring connecting said shaft and drum, means controlling the movements of said drum, including electro-magnetic devices for varying the tension of said spring and actuating the drum and associated :means for holding :said spring under iinitial tension, and a fuse-controlled device iaidapted .to automatically lower the shutter-nur- :tain'.

combination c'ogf a :drum, a shutterscnrt'ain mounted .thereon,-:a shaft journaled Fin zsaid drum, :a :spring connecting said shaft and drum, means controlling *the movements :of said lit-U111 including a cable adapted tofturn said shaft and thereby vary the tension of said spring, solenoids having cores connect- 18d'WltllithGBlIClS of said scabies, zone of ithe cores being xprovidedawith means for planlnzmeans OfltllB .characterltset fonthfitlre 7 'ing said spring under initial tension itoz hol'd 530 :the shutter in elevated ,position, circuit-controlling means adapted :to cause either sole- :no'id to be energized, and 21a fuse-controlled weigl1t adapted \to disturb the balance and cause automatic "lowering Z'Ofsaid shutter.

combination of a drum, a shutter-curtainmounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaft and drum, a solenoid provided with a movable core, a cable connecting said core with said shaft, a normally set brake serving to hold said shaft, an electro-magnet adapted to release said brake, and a circuit common to said solenoid and said electro-magnet provided with circuit-controlling means, whereby when the solenoid is energized the brake is released.

9. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a drum, a shutter curtain mounted thereon, a shaftjournaled in said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaft and drum, a pair of solenoids equipped with movable cores, cables connecting said cores with said shaft and adapted to actuate the shaft in either direction, a normally set brake, an electro-magnet adapted to release said brake, and a circuit common to said solenoids and said electro-magnet and equipped with two circuit-controlling devices, each of said circuit-controlling devices controlling the circuit of one solenoid and the circuit of said electro-magnet.

10. In means of the character set forth, the combination of a drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaft and drum, a normally set brake holding said shaft in position to place said spring under initial tension to hold the shutter in elevated position, an electro-magnetadapted to release said brake, a solenoid provided with a core connected by a cable with said shaft, said solenoid being adapted to turn the shaft in a direction to increase the turn of the spring and elevate the shutter, and an electric circuit common to said solenoid and said electro-magnet, saidcir- 'cuit having one switch adapted to cause the electro-magnet only to be energized and having another switch adapted to cause both .the electro-magnet: and the solenoid to be energized. t r

'11. In means of the character set forth;

the combination of a. drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaledin said drum,.a spring connecting said shaft and drum, and means controlling the move-' Zments of said drum, including an electrlc device for actuating the shaft to vary the tension of said spring-and associated automatically releasable means for holding said spring under initial tension;

, 12-. Inmeans of the'character set forth,

the-combinationof adrum, a shutter curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum,-a torsion spring connecting said shaft and drum, an electric device'adapted to actuate said shaft and vary'the tension of said spring, a brake adapted to control 1 the movements of said shaft, an electro magnet controlling said brake, and circuits for said electric device and said electromagnet having a common controlling switch.

13. In means of the character set forth. the combination of a drum, a shutter-curtain mounted thereon, a shaft journaled in said drum, a torsion spring connecting said shaftand drum, an electric device for actu-' I MILLARD GILMORE}