US1595171A

US1595171A - Door closing and checking mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1595171A
Application number: US743051A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold W Shonnard
Original assignee: ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc
Current assignee: ELEVATOR SUPPLIES CO Inc; ELEVATOR SUPPLIES COMPANY Inc
Priority date: 1924-10-11
Filing date: 1924-10-11
Publication date: 1926-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1943-08-10

Description

fimgq 10 1926. 15%,171

) H. w. SHONNARD DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 11, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN, OR

Aug. 10 1926.

I H. W. SHONNARD DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug; 10, 1926.

one TATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD W. SHQNNARD, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOIR 'I'Q ELEVATOR SUP- j IPLIES COMPANY, INC., 01? HOZBOKEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF JER- SEY.

DOOR CLOSING AND CHECKING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. $13,051.

This invention relates to door closing and check mechanisms and more particularly to mechanisms of this class, especially adapted for use upon the doors of elevator hatch- Ways. Certain mechanisms of this character at present in common commercial use embody a dash pot comprising a cylinder and a piston mounted on a piston rod and operating in the cylinder and operating connections between an elevator door and one of said parts. The movement of the piston through the cylinder is controlled by oil or other suitable fluid with which the cylinder is filled, the movement of the piston being checked by the oil as the piston approaches an end of the cylinder to check the movement of the door. In one form of door operating and controlling mechanism embodying this form of check mechanism, a second cylinder is connected with the dash pot cylinder and a second piston is mounted on the piston rod and is arranged. to be operated by air or other fluid under pressure to produce movements of the door. Certain featuresof the present invention relate to means for preventing in a door operating and controlling mechanism of the latter type, the leakage of oil from the dash pot cylinder between the headof the dash ,pot cylinder and the piston rod into the second cylinder. In their broader aspects these features are not limited to a door operating and controlling mechanism havin a dash pot cylinder and a door operating cylinder but may be embodied in a simple dash pot mechanism. 1

Certain features of the invention relate to improvements in the mechanism for controlling the flow of oil or other fluid from one side of the piston to the other in a door controlling dash pot mechanism.

In door operating and controlling mechanisms of this class the dash pot cylinder is often provided with devices mounted on one side of'the cylinder to regulate the action of the dash pot mechanism audit is therefore desirable to be able to locate the dash 'pot cylinder in an angular position about its axis to render these devices always readily accessible. Certain features of the invention relate to devices for supporting the dash pot cylinder to secure this latter result.

The features of the invention will be' readily understood from the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention in its preferred form and the following detailed description of the constructions therein shown. In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in front'elevation illustrating a door operating and controlling mechanism embodying the invention applied to the sliding doors of an elevator hatch- Figure 2 is a sectional view taken in a plane containing the axis of the dash pot and door operating cylinders;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 taken in a plane at right angles to the plane ofthe latter figure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 77 of Figure 3.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings the invention is embodied in by swinging the lever 16 upwardly from the position shown; in Figure 1, and the doors may be closed by swinging the lever back to the position shown in this figure.

The mechanism for operating and controlling the movements of the doors is preferably connected with the lever 16. This mechanism embodies a dashv pot for check 'ing the movement of the doors comprising a cylinder 22 having a cylindrical chamber 24 in which slides. a piston 26 attached to one end of a piston rod 28, the other end of closed by a cap 31 having a lug by which piston.

the cylinder is pivotally supported at 32 upon a bracket attached to the door frame. The cylinder 22 is filled with a fluid preferably oil, which controls the movement of the piston through the cylinder. 'In the present embodiment of the invention the. dash pot mechanism is arranged to check both the final opening and the final closing movements of the door'and to allow; a comparatively free movement of the doors in either direction until they approach open or closed positions. The cylinder 22 is provided with a lay-pass 34 through which the oil may flow in either direction during the movement of the piston in the'outer or lower end of the cylinder. Two openings 35 .and

36 are provided leading from the by-pass into the central chamber in the cylinder and the flow of oil through the opening 34 is controlled by adjustable check-valve 38. This check valve is cut away at 39 back of its head to allow the free flow of oil through the portion of the by-pass across which the valve extends. During the downward movement of the piston in-the lower end of the chamber 24 the opening-36 is closed by a spring-pressed ball valve. 40. This valve is mounted in a tubular holder 42 having openings 44 to permit the oil to flow into the same and through its pressure on the ball assist in holding the ball in closed positioii during this part of the movement of the During the downward movement of the piston in the chamber 24 which occurs during the closing movement of the door the movement of the piston is comparatlvely free until the piston reaches the opening 35. As the piston continues its downward movement the opening 36 is closed by the'ball valve 40 and the oil is forced to flow from the by-pass 34 between the head ,or check valve 38 and the wall of the opening 35 into the chamber 24, thereby checking the oil flow and causing a slow and gradual movment of the piston. During the upward movement of i the piston in the cylinder which occurs during the opening movement of the door, the movement of the piston is comparatively free until the piston approachesthe upper end of the cylinder when the flow of the oil in the cylinder is checked in substantially the same manner as during the movement of the piston in the lower portion of the cylinder thereby checking the last part of the-upward movement of the piston. During the first part of the upward movement of the piston in the cylinder the a series of grooves 43 so that the movement of the piston through the central part of the cylinder is substantially unretarded.

The upper'portion of the cylinder is provided with a bypass 45 connected by an opening 46 with a by-pass 48. The by-pass H 48 is connected with the chamber 24 by an opening 50 and said by-pass opens at its lower end into the by-pass 45. The flow of oilthroughthe opening 46 is controlled by a spring pressed check valve 52. During the upward movement of the piston in the chamber 24t-he by-pass 48 is closed by a ballvalve 54.

' During the upward movement of the p stonin the cylinder the movement of the piston is comparatively free until the piston passes the lower end of the=-1by pass 45. As the piston continues its upward movement the by-pass 48 is closed "by the ball valve 54 and the oil from the chamber 24 is caused to flow through the opening50, across the upper end of the latter b y-pass between the check valve 52 and the wall of the opening 46, and then downwardly through the bypass 45 into the chamber- 24 on the other side of the piston. Thus the last part of the upward movement of the piston is checked to check the final closing movement of the doors. As the piston moves downward from the upper part of the cylinder. the ball valve 54 is lifted by the pressure of the oil beneath the same, allowing the oil to flow freely from the chamber 24- through the lower end of the by-pass 45 and through by-pass 48 and opening 50 back into the chamber on the other side of the piston. Thus the movement of the piston at this time is comparatively free. a

The check valve 52 is slidably mounted in a barrel 53 and is acted upon by a coiled spring 55 interposed between the valve and a block 57 also slidably mounted in the barrel. The block 57 is adjusted to adjust the tension of the spring by means of an adjusting screw 59.

To the upper part of the cylinder 22 is I connected a second cylinder 56 preferably threaded into the cylinder .22 and .having a cap 58 forming a head for the same, through which the piston rod 28 passes.

Mounted within the cylinder 56 is a door -upon their release.

spring is limited by a pin 64 lpassing through tie piston rod. The door osing spring is compressed upon openingkthadoors and will actuate the piston rod to close the doors end to a collar 68 mounted to slide longi- .movement of the doors. comprises a piston operating in the cylinder 56 and arranged to be actuated by air tudinally on the sleeve 63'. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the position occupied by the collar 68 when the doors are closed, the collar then being located at some distance from the cap on the cylinder 56; As the doors are openedthe collar 68 engages the cap 58 during the latter part of the opening movement of the doors, thereby compressing the coiled spring 66. When the doors are released the force of the coiled spring 66 is added to that of the spring 60 during the first part of the closing movement of the doors. The continued movement of the piston rod in the closing movement of the doors, however, at a certain point, disengages the collar 68 froni'the cap 58 with the result that the final closing movement of the doors is produced by the action of the spring 60 alone.

In the present embodiment of the invention mechanism is provided for actuating the piston rod 28 to produce a closing This mechanism or other fluid tinder pressure introduced into said cylinder. As shown in the drawing this piston comprises the thimble 62 upon which is mounted a flexible packing Z0, held in place on the thimble by a ring 2. closed by the "cylinder head 30 and by a ring-shaped plate 74 surrounding the head 30, as clearly shown in Figures .2 and 3. Air under pressure is introduced into the cylinder 56 by means of a pipe 76, the upper end of which is inserted in an opening in the plate 74, and the lower end of which is connected with the pipes of the air supply mechanism. Figure 2 of the drawing shows a second pipe 78 for introducing air into the chamber which may or may not be used as desired.

In order to prevent oil from being forced from the dash pot cylinder between the piston rod and the cylinder head 30, the cylinder head is provided with spaced stufling boxes separated by acatch chamber. The lower stuffing box comprises a parking 80 surrounding the piston rod and a packing holding and compressing ring 82 threaded into the cylinder head. The upper stuffing box comprises a packing 84 surrounding the piston rod and a packing holding and valves will be difiicult of access.

The lower end of the cylinder 56 iscompressing ring 86 threaded into the cylinder head. Between the two stufling boxes the cylinder head is formed, with a chamber 88 for catchin the oil forced through the lower stuffing oil in the upper part of the chamber 24. The oil forced into the chamber 88 is drained off through ducts 90 leading to an. annular groove 92, both formed in the cylinder head 30. From the groove 92 the oil is discharged through ducts 94 in the plate '74 into an annular chamber 96 in the cylinox-by the pressure of the" d'er 22, the lower end of which chamber is connected with the central chamber 24 by a series of openings 98. It will be noted from an inspection of Figure 3, that the left hand groove 48 is connected witlrthe'bypass 4:5 and also with the opening 35; by suitable passageways. It will also be noted that the grooves 43 are constructed and arranged so that when the upper part of the piston in its upward stroke reaches a point just above the lower part of the by-pass45 at which point anincrease in pressure above the piston begins, the lower ends of the grooves are exposed below the piston.

There is, therefore, never any pressure in dash pot cylinder. If the cap 31 is threaded on the end of the dash pot cylinder the angular-position of the cylinder about its axis with relation to the cap when the cap is screwed tight may be such that these .To enable these valves to be rendered readily accessible at all times it is desirable that-the dash pot cylinder should be able to be located in an unvarying position with relation to the cap when the cap is tight and that the position of the cylinder with relation to the cap should be able to be varied for differ; ent installations. To secure these results the cap=3l is attached to the lower end of the dash pot cylinder by means of a collar 100 threaded upon the cylinder and having a flange arranged to overhang the cap, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, a gasket preferably being inserted between the cap and the end of the cylinder. Thisenables the cylinder to be located in an unvarying angular position withrelation to the cap or to be adjusted angularly in different positions.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construc tion and arrangement of parts of the illustrated embodiment of the invention but that the invention ma v be embodied in other forms within the scope of the claims.

Having explained thenature and object of the invention and having specifically deto receive the fluid forced between the closure and the wall of the inner opening, and

constantly open dncts leading from said openings to a space in the cylinder in which only "low pressure occurs. 7

2. A door closing andcheck mechanism having in combination, a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a door and one of said parts, a piston rod, a quantity of fluid in said cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a closure for an end portion of the cylinder in which relatively high pressure occurs having an opening through which the rod extends and arranged to fit closely to the rod, and means for catching the fluid forced between the closure and the rod and constantly open ducts for returning the same to the cylinder at a place where only low pressure occurs. 1

3. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a door and one of said parts,

a. piston rod, a quantity of fluid insaid cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston. a closure for an end portionof the cylinder inwhich relatively high pressure occurs, having spaced inner and outer openings through which the piston rod moves and arranged to fit closely to the piston red at said openings, a catch chamber between said openings to receive the fluid forced between the closure and the wall of the inner opening, and constantly open ducts leading from said diate space in which only low pressure occurs, operating connections be tween a door and one i of said parts, a quantity of fluid in said cylinder 'for controlling the movement of the piston, a piston rod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having an opening through which the rod extends arranged to fit closely to the rod at said opening, means for retarding the movements of the fluid from said high pressure spaces during the movement of the piston fromthe central port-ion of the cylinder toward either end thereof, and means for catching fluid forced between the closure and the rod and returning the same to a .low pressure space in the cylinder.

5. A.door closing andcheck mechanism having. in combination a piston, a cylinder having relatively high pressure spaces at its opposite ends, and an intermediate space in which only low pressure occurs, operating connect-ions between a door and one of said parts, a quantity of fluid in the cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a piston rod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having an opening through which the rod extends arranged to fit closely to .the rod at said opening, by-passes through which the fluid flows from the high pressure spaces into the intermediate low pressure spaceduring the movements of the piston fromthe central portion of the cylinder toward either I of said parts, a quantity of fluid in the' cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a piston rod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having an opening through which the piston rodextends and arranged to fit the rod closely at said opening, means for-producing movements of the door comprising a second cylinder connected with the latter end of the first cylinder, a iston mounted on the rod and operating 1n the latter cylinder, means for introducing fluid under pressure into the latter cylinder to actuate the piston, and meansfor catching fluid which may be force-cl from the first cylinder between the closure'and the piston rod and returning the same to the first cylinder.

7. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination, means for checking movements of the doors comprising a cylinder, a piston, operating connections between a door and one of said parts, a quantity of fluid in the cylinder for controlling the movements of the piston, a piston rod, a closure for one end of the cylinder having spaced openings, and arranged to fit closely to the rod as said openings, means for producing movements of the doors comprising a second cylinder connected with the latter end of the first cylinder, a piston mounted on the rodand operating in the latter cylinder, means for introducing fluid'under pressure into the latter cylinder, an intermediate catch chamber .in said closure beoperatoperating in the cylinder, operating connections between a doorand one of said parts, a quantity of fluid in the cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a cap on one end of the cylinder, means for'supporting the cylindercarriedby thecap, and means for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cap and the cylinder in any desired relative angular position about the axis of the cylinder.

- 9. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a door and. one of said parts, a quantity of fluid in the cylinder for control ling the movement of the piston, a cap on one end of the cylinder, means for support ing the cylinder carried by the cap and means for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cap and cylinder in any desired relative angular position about the axis of the cylinder comprising a collarthreaded on the end of the cylinder andhaving a flange overhanging the cap. v

10. A door closing mechanism having in combination a' piston, a cylinderin which" the piston operates, operating connections between a door and one of said parts, means for stronglyv retarding the outward travel of the piston from the center toward either end of the cylinder at the end of the piston stroke while only weakly retarding the inward travel of the piston from either end of the cylinder, means for storing energy durcoiled spring.

ing the operation of the piston in one direction, said means being capablerof actuating the piston on the return stroke and being characterized by the fact that a greater part of the energy is expended during the first portion of the return stroke of the piston,

said proportion of energy beinggreater than that capable of being released by a single 11. A door closing mechanism having combination a piston, a cylinder in which the piston operates, operating connections between a door-and one of said parts,'means for strongly retarding the outward travel of the piston from the center toward either end of the cylinder at the end of the piston stroke while'only weakly retarding the inward travel of the piston from either end of the cylinder, means for storing energy during the operation of the piston in one direction, a; plurality of coiled springs arrange to be progressively compressed by the movement of the piston'in one direction, whereby the force exerted .on the piston in the opposite direction shows a high maximum during the first portion of the return stroke. v

12. A door closing and check mechanism having in combination a cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, operating connections between a door and one of saidparts, a quantity ofcfluid in the cylinder for controlling the movement of the piston, a cap on one end of the cylinder, means for support. ing the cylinder carried by the cap, and means for securing the cap to the cylinder with the cylinder in an unvarying angular position with relation to the cap.

- Signed at Hoboken, New Jersey this Sthg day of October 1924;