US1918176A - Speed regulator for revolving doors - Google Patents

Description

July 11, 1933.

R. L BLANCHARD SPEED REGULATOR FOR REVOLVING DOORS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filgd Oct. '15, 1930 INVENTOR FaberZ'L. Blanchard BY W ATTORNEYS r IIIIIIIIIII Ill/I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJ July 11, 1933. L BLANCHARD 1,918,176

SPEED REGULATOR FOR REVOLVING DOORS Filed Oct. 15, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Robertll Blanchard v'r BY M ATTORNEYS WITNESSES July 11, 1933. R. L. BLANCHARD SPEED REGULATOR FOR REVOLVING DOORS Filed Oct. 15, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS WITNESSES Patented July 11, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE ROBERT L. BLANCHARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO'VAN KAN NEL REVOLVING DOOR COMPANY, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SPEED REGULATOR FOR REVOLVING DOORS Application filed October 15, 1930. Serial No. 488,976.

This invention relates to revolving doors, and has particular reference to a mechanism for controlling the speed of rotation thereof.

While revolving doors possess many advantages over swinging doors, they are open to the one serious objection that there is no effective means for limiting their speed of rotation, thus allowing them to be spun or revolved so rapidly that users thereof in some in instances are compelled to either wait until the speed is gradually reduced by loss of momentum or else risk possible injury in attempting to manually retard the speed of rotation of the door. V

It is, therefore, the broad object of the present invention to provide a mechanism which functions to preclude the rotation of a revolving door above a predetermined speed while permitting of a free turning of the door at any speed less than said predeter-.

mined speed.

The invention further comprehends a speed controlling mechanism for a revolving door,

which serves to retard the speed of rotation 22' thereof when the speed reaches a predetermined maximum, without actually bringing the door to a stop and in which said mechanism instantly functions to render the speed retarding means inactive when it drops below 38 the predetermined maximum.

In view of the fact that revolving doors are usually mounted to admit of shifting movement of the same laterally to a folded out-of-the-way position, the present invention comprehends a speed controlling means which does not interfere with the shifting movement.

As a further object, the invention resides in the provision of a speed controlling mechanism for revolving doors which includes means by virtue of which the maximum speed may be regulated.

Other objects of the invention reside in the comparative simplicity of construction and mode of operation of the mechanism, the economy with which it may be produced and installed and the general efliciency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in

define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 1s afragmentary plan View of a revolving door equipped with a speed controlling mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at 22 inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3of Figure 1, 1llustrating the mechanism in its normal inactive condition. I

Figure 4 is a similar View illustrating the mechanism in its active position for retard- 1ng the speed of rotation of the door.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse fragmentary sectional view taken approximately onthe line indicated at 55 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the door carriage ally with respect to the speed controlling mechanism. 7

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, Adesignates generally the usual carriage, from which the revolving door B is suspended for rotation on a depending shaft C, the carriage being In order to provide means for-retarding provided with. rollers D movable over the overhead tracks E 7 extending transversely of the opening in shifted lateri the speed of rotation of the door, any suitable form of brake may be employed, which in the control the application of the brake band to *present instance is generally indicated 'by the braking surface of the drum 10, for the purpose of retarding the speed of rotation of the door B.

In order to provide means operable by the rotation of the door B when it reaches a predetermined rate of speed for effecting the application of the brake, a governor is employcd, which is designated generally by the reference character G, and said governor-is installed alongside of thecarriage tracks E and is enclosed in a casing or housing 14. The governor is of the ordinary centrifugal type, including a stationary shaft having a non-slidable rotary head 16 and a slidable rotary head 17 with weight arms 18 fulcrumed to the non-slidable head 16and provided at the free ends with weights 19, while links 20 are connected respectively to t weight arms '18 and the slidable head 17, so

that upon rotation of the head at a given speed, the weight arms 18 will move radially outward by centrifugal force to slice the slidable head 17 toward the non-slidable head 16.

Rotation is imparted in the present instance to the governor head 16 from the revolving door by a friction sheave 21, which is suitably secured tothe revolving door' shaft C and which engages with a friction wheel 22 mounted withinthe governor casing or housing 14, while the friction wheel 22; in turn engages with a friction sheave 23 secured to the head 16. The periphery of the friction wheel 22 is normally urged into contact with the grooved periphery of the friction sheave 21 through a slot 24 in the side of the casing or housing14, by means of a coiled contractile spring 25 which is secured respectively at its oppositeends 26 and 27 to the casing and to .the free end of a bracket arm 28 fulcrumed at 29 to the casing, the friction wheel 22 being mounted for rotation on a depending spindle 30 of the bracket arm. The bracket arm is guided and limited in its movement by a guide strap 31 on the casing or housing 14.

Thegovernor'shaft15 is secured to and de pends from a slide 32, which slide is in turn carried ;for longitudinal adjustment by the bracket arni 28 and is adjusted by an adjusting screw 33 which functions to insure the proper frictional engagement of the grooved periphery of thefriction sheave 23with the friction wheel 22, said adjustment also functioning to compensate'for wear on the engaging. peripheries of the friction wheel and 'ih'eave'22 and 231 The means for movingthe brake actuating arm 12-cons1sts of a lever 35 which is fulcrume-d as at 36 on a pro ecting ear 37 of ..the casing and which extends inwardly through a, slot 38 in the casing or housing with its inner end 39 disposed in the path of movement of the terminal 40 of an adjustable actuating screw 41 which. is threaded through .one armt42iofia'bell crank 43 fulcrumcd as at 44 on an upstanding bracket 45 of the bottom wall of the casing or housing 14. A coiled contractile; spring 46 has its opposite extremities 47 and 48 respectively connected with the inner end 39 of the lever 35 and the casing or housing 14, to normally swing said end 39 into contact with the extremity 40 of the adjustable screw 41. The remaining arm 48 of the bell crank 43 is linked by a link 49 to one. arm of the belle-rank 50 whichis fulcrumed as at 51to a bracket 52 within the casing or housing 14, and the opposite arm of the bell crank 50 is connected by a rod 53 to the core 54 of a solenoid 55. The solenoid 55 is controlled by a mercury switch 56 of any of the conventional types now on the market. The mercury switch is in turn carried by the arm 57'of a bell'crank 58 which is fulcrumed as at 5910 a bracket 60 within the casing or housin 14. The bell crank is rocked through the mediumof the engagement of the forked terminal 61 of its remainingarm 62, which forkedterminal is provided with trunnions 63 engagin in the annular peripheral groove 64 of the slidable head'17 of the governor. In order to regulate the speed at which the governor will function to rock the bell crank 58 for the purpose of closing the circuit to the solenoid, a scale beam 65 is secured to the .arm 57 and is provided with an ad ustable tilt the switch 56 to close the circuit. It thus follows that rotation of the door B at the rate of fourteen revolutions per minute or any speed therebelow will not be suflicient'to rock the bell crank 62 and, hence, the door will revolve freely at all. speeds up to and in- ','cluding fourteen revolutions per minute. If

an attempt is made to revolvethe'door atfifteen or more revolutions per minute, the governor G will instantly function to rock the bell crank 58 and tilt the switch 56 sufficient to effect the closing of the circuit to the solejnoid. Thisimm'ediately energizes the solenoid and draws inwardly on the core 54 and rod 53 connected thereto and' through the medium of, the bell cranks 50 and 43 swings the lever 35 to movethe actuator arm 12 for expanding the brake hand 11 against the braking surface of the brake drum 10 to offer .a resistance tothe turning movement of the door and retard its revolutionary movement.

Instantly, the actionof the brake in retarding the speed of rotation of the door pern its the weighted governor arms 18 to slide the slidable head 17 downwardly and rock the bell crank 58 and switch 56 to break the circuit tothe solenoid and de -energizes the same 7 The spring 46 immediately swings the lever 35 to its normal position and releases the braking force of the brake. It thus follows that the mechanism described functions to restrict the speed at which a revolving door may be rotated, thereby positively precluding the possibility of spinning or rapidly rotating the same above a speed conducive of safety to the users thereof. It is also appar ent that the maximum speed may be regulated by a simple adjustment of the weight 66 on the scale beam 65, it being obvious that the greater distance the weight 66 is moved from the bell crank arm 57, the higher the maximum speed pos ible will obtain, and vice versa. The adjustment screw ll functions to permit of a regulation of the braking force to be applied. It is also apparent that due to the mounting of the friction sheave 21 and friction wheel 22, that the mechanism for controlling the speed of the door will not interfere with the lateral shifting of the door when folded, as the sheave 21 will cam the friction wheel 22 inwardly when it is moved from the open laterally shifted folded position to the active position.

lVhile there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment of the invention, no limitation is necessarily intended to the precise structural details, as

variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

lVhat is claimed is 1. The combination of a revolving door -;-.nd means actuated by a force that is inde pendent of the force applied to the door for revolving the same and rendered active by rotation of said door at a predetermined rate of speed for retarding the speed of rotation of said door.

2. The combination with a revolving door of normally inactive means actuated by a force that is independent of the force applied to the doonfor revolving the same for retarding the turning movement of the door and means operable by the rotation of the door at a predetermined rate of speed for rendering said first means active.

3. The combination with a revolving door of a normally inactive brake actuated by a force that is independent of the force applied to the door for revolving the same for retarding the turning movement of the door and governor controlled means operable by the tion of thedoor at a predetermined rate f need for rendering said brake active.

4. The combination with a revolving door of normally inactive means actuated by a force that is independent of the force applied ":o the door for revolving the same for retardi g the turning movement ofthe door, means operable by the rotation of the doorat a prede ermined li means active and means'for regulating said second means to vary the determined rate of speed for rendering said means, a door actuated governor forcontrolling said switch and a counterweight for regulating said governor.

7. In a revolving door, a brake actuated by a force independent of that applied to the door for revolving the same and effective to exert a force to retard the turning movement of the door, means normally holding said brake inactive and mechanism operable by the rotation of said door at a predetermined speed to render said brake effective.

8. A. device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to prevent rotation of the door above a predetermined maximum, and mechanism actuated by a force independent of that applied to the door for revolving the same and rendered active by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means active;

9. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including brake means actuated by a force independent of the force applied to the door for turning the same and functioning when active to prevent rotation of the door above a predetermined maximum, and mechanism operable by rotation of the door at and below said predetermined speed for respectively rendering the brake means active and inactive.

10. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means actuated by a force independent of the force applied to the door for turning the same and functioning when actuated, to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective.

11. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotationof'the lilcontrolling the electro-magnet and a centrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when revolved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch to energize the electro-ma-gnet.

12. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective, said mechanism including an electro-magnet operatively connected with the brake means and adapted when energized to effect the application of said brake means, a switch for controlling the electro-magnet, a centrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when revolved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch to energize the electro-magnet and means for regulating the governor to vary the speed of rotation of the door, at which said governor functions.

13. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the doorat said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective, said mechanism including an electro-magnet operatively connected with the brake means and adapted when energized to effect the application of said brake means, a switch for controlling the electro-magnet, a centrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when revolved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch to energize the electro-magnet and an adjustable weight for regulating the governor to vary the speed of rotation, at which the governor functions.

14:. A device for regulating the maximum speed of rotation of a revolving door, including an electro-magnetically controlled brake and a switch for actuating said electromagnetically controlled brake, said switch operable by the speed of rotation of the door.

15. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for ren dering the brake means ef ective, said mechanism including an electro-magnetoperatively connected with the brake means and adapated when energized to effect the ap plication of said brake means, a switch for controlling the electro-magnet, a centrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when revolved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch toenergize the eloctro-magnet and means for transmitting rotary motion to said governor consisting of a friction sheave on the door shaft, a fricdoor at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective, said mechanism including an electro-magnet operatively connected with the brake means and adapted when energized to effect the application of said brake means, a switch for controlling the electro-magnet, a centrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when re volved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch to energize the electro-magnet, means for transmitting rotary motion to said governor consisting of a friction sheave on the door shaft, a friction sheave on the governor and afriction wheel respectively engaging said sheaves and tensioned means forurging the friction wheel against the sheave on the door shaft.

17. A. device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a nomally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective, said mechanism including an electro-magnet operatively con nected with the brake means and adapted when energized to effect the application of said brake means, a switch for controlling the electro-magnet, acentrifugal governor operable by rotation of the door when revolved at said predetermined rate of speed for operating the switch to energize the electro-magnet, means for transmitting rotary motion to saidgovernor consisting of a friction sheave on the door shaft, a friction sheave on the governor and a friction wheel respectively engaging said sheaves, tensioned means for urging the friction wheel against the sheave on the door shaft and means for advancing the governor sheave against the friction wheel.

18. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means operable when actuated to retard the rotation of the door and mechanism operable by rotation of the t'ion sheave on the door shaft, a friction sheave on the governor and a friction wheel respectively engaging said sheaves, tensioned means for urging the friction wheel against the sheave on the door shaft, means for advancing the governor sheave against the friction wheel and a common mounting for said friction wheel and governor sheave.

19. In a revolving door of the type which includes a laterally shiftable carriage from which the door is suspended for rotation, a device for regulating the maximum speed of rotation of the door including a normally inactive brake means carried by the door carriage and adapted when actuated to retard rotation of the door, mechanism mounted on a stationary support operable by rotation of the door at a predetermined speed for rendering the brake means active and coacting means for transmitting motion from the door to said mechanism.

20. A device for cont-rolling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means actuated byv a force independent of the force applied to the door for turning the same and functioning when actuated, to prevent rotation of the door above a predetermined maximum, mechanism operable revolving the same and by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means active and means for instantly rendering the braking mechanism inefiective, when the speed falls below the predetermined maximum.

21. A device for controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including brake means actuated by a. force independent of the force applied to the door for turning the same and functioning when active to prevent rotation of the door above a predetermined maximum, mechanism operable by rotation of the door at and below said predetermined speed for respectively rendering the brake means active and inactive and means for instantly rendering the braking mechanism in effective,-when the speed falls below the predetermined maximum.

22. A device for'controlling the speed of rotation of a revolving door, including a normally inactive brake means actuated by a force independent of the force applied to the door for turning the same and functioning when actuated, to retard the rotation of the door, mechanism operable by rotation of the door at said predetermined speed for rendering the brake means effective and means for instantly rendering the braking mechanism ineffective, when the speed falls be low the predetermined maximum.

Signed at New York in the county of New York, and State of New York this 9th day of October, A. D. 1980.

ROBERT L. BLANCHARD.

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