US2019085A

US2019085A - Governor for closure members

Info

Publication number: US2019085A
Application number: US582890A
Authority: US
Inventors: William G Miller
Original assignee: RC Mahon Co
Current assignee: RC Mahon Co
Priority date: 1931-12-23
Filing date: 1931-12-23
Publication date: 1935-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1952-10-29

Description

Oct. 29, 1935. w, MlLLER 2,019,085

GOVERNOR FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed Dec. 23, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Maw/7 /7/zz/e ATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1935. w 5. MlLLER 2,019,085

GOVERNOR FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed Dec:' 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Mam/7 5, M445 2 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1935. w. G. MILLER GOVERNOR FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 25, 1951 INVENTOR M1 Z/A/I /z 45,?

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ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE".

William G. Miller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The R. C. Mahon Company, Detroit, Mich.,- a corporation of Michigan Application December 23, 1931, Serial No. 582,890

6 Claims.

This invention relates to escapement governor mechanism for closure members and is more particularly adapted for use with rolling steel fire shutters and the principal object and feature of the invention is in the provision of a device of this character which will automatically govern the speed of descent of the closure member to prevent injury to anyone who might be caught beneath the lower edge of the door as it lowers.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a closure member provided with an escapement governor for regulating the speed of descent of the door and latching means for holding the, door in its open or raised position and thermally controlled means whereby the latchmeans is disengaged to permit lowering of the door in the presence of fire.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of means for positively disengaging the latching means to permit descent of the door.

These objects and theseveral novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in Which- Fig.,- 1 is an elevational viewof myimproved door in-the closed position.

Fig.2 is a section taken on line 2--2 of Fig-.; 1. Fig.3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig.5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55 of Fig-.3.

Fig-.- 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, the shutteror door I is formed of a plurality of interlocking plates 2 the edges of the same being guided in the channels 3 secured to the face of the wall 4 having the opening 5 therein adapted to be closed by the door I. A tube or pipe 6 has the spaced members 1 suitably secured thereto and the upper edge of the door is suitably secured to these respective members. The end plates 8 and 9 are secured to. the face of the wall 4 by means of the bolts I and the plate 8 is positioned adjacent one end of the pipe 6 while the plate 9 is positioned adjacent the opposite end. They end of the pipe 6 adjacent the :end plate 9 has the bushing or bearing H pressed in one end thereof and is provided with the longitudinally extending aperture the extremeouter end of the rodhas the adjust-- ing wheel, l secured thereto by means of the pin IS. The adjusting wheel I5 is formed with the spaced sockets ll and a pin I8 carried bythe stationary bracket l9is positioned in one of the sockets and holds j the adjusting wheel from rotation.

The inner end of the rod I3 is bifurcated at to receive one end-of the spring 21, the same being heldin the bifurcation by means of the bolt 22. The opposite end of the spring 2| is held by the bolt 23 extending through the pipeli. 1

It will thus be seen that by removing the pin l8 and rotating the adjusting wheel l5 any desired tension may be set up in the spring 2i and then by placing the pin I8 in one-of the sockets I! the spring, 2| will be prevented from unwinding, 15 except as later described. The end of the pipe 6 adjacent the end plate 8 has the ring 24 pinned or otherwisesecured therein. A sleeve like member 25 is formed with the shoulder 26 which abuts the inner face of the ring 24. The intermediate portion of the sleeve is supported in the bearing 21 formed in the end plate 8 and the extreme outer end of the pipe has the adjusting wheel 28 suitably secured thereto, the same being provided with a plurality of sockets 29 in one of which the 25 pin 30 is inserted the same being carried-by the bracket? secured: to the end plate 8. The inner end of the sleeve 25is provided with a pin 32 to which one end of a spring 33 is secured, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the ring 30 34: secured to the rod 35, the rod extending through the sleeve 25 and the outer end of the rod having the serrated disc 36 secured thereto. The disc 36 is provided on its periphery with the notches or serrations 31 and on its outer face with the-socketsor pockets 38.

The, innerend of the shaft 35 is threaded at 39*to engage the nut 40 and the washer 40' positioned in the squared recess 4| in the member 42 the same being pinned or otherwise secured go in the pipe 6. It'will thus be seen that by re- I moving the pin-3llf;rom the: bracket 3| and the socket 29 in whichit engages that the proper tension may be'placed on the spring 33 by rotating the; adjusting wheel 28 and then by placing the pin 30, in one of the sockets 29 the spring; 33 will be maintained at its proper tension and that by inserting a tool in one of the pockets 38 of oneof the discs 36 and then rotating the same the nut 40 may be properly positioned on the threaded end 39 of the rod 35. A latching member 43' is provided with an end 44 of suitable shape to engage in one of the notches 31 in the periphery of the disc 36 and the latching member isipivotally connected at 45 to a bar.

and the lower end of the latching member is formed with the enlarged weighted end 41 so that the end 44 is always in position to engage in one of the notches 31. The bar 46 is pivotally connected at 48 to the end plate 8. A member 49 is pivotally connected at 56 to .an ear 5! extending from the face of the end plate 8 and is provided with a lug or cam 52 engaging over the upper edge of the bar 46 and a portion I for engaging beneath the bar to hold the latch connected to the fusible member 60 the same being connected to the link 6| suitably secured to the ceiling of the building. A weight 62 is positioned on the rod 54 adjacent the end connected to the link 56. It will thus be seen that in case of fire that either or both of the

fusible members

56 or 60 will fuse or melt and will permit the end of the bar 54 carrying the weight 62 to drop down pivoting about the pivot 50. The lug or cam 52 will press against the upper edge of the bar 46 and move the latching member 43 downward so that the end 4| thereof will move out of engagement withthe notches 31 and will permit the closure member to lower. A casing or cover 63 of cup-shaped form is pivotally connected on the, pin or stud 64 secured adjacent the upper edge of theend wall 8. The cover is provided on its wall with a pair of spaced flanges 65 between which the

pins

56, 61 and 68 extend. A pawl 69 is pivotally mounted upon the pin 61 and is provided with a tapered'end 10 for engaging one of the notches 31 and is further prov vided with the hooked portion H to which one endof the spring 12 is attached, the opposite end of the spring being attached to the pin 66.

' The pawl 69 is further formed with an extension 13 which is adapted to strike against the pin 69 and limit the upward movement of the end 1!) of the pawl. The opposite side wall of thecover 63 is provided with a pair of spaced flanges 80 between which the pins 8|, 82 and 83 extend. A pawl 84 is pivotally mounted upon the pin 82 and is provided with the tapered end 85 for engaging one of the notches 3'! in the disc 36. A spring 86 has one end secured to the pin 8| and has its other end secured to the hooked portion 81 of the pawl. The pawl is further formed with the extension 88 which abuts the pin 83 and limits the downward movement of the tapered end 85. It will be understood, of course,

that'suitable apertures 89 will be provided in the side wall of the cover for permitting the respec- '

tive pawls

69 and 84 to extend therethrough to engage the teeth in the disc 36 and the cover will be further provided with an aperture through which the latching member 43 extends.

The operation of this portion of the device is as follows: When either of the

fusible members

56 or 68 are melted or fused the weight 62 will cause the rod 54 to drop down thereby disengaging the latching member 43 from the disc and the spring 2 I- acting on the bolt 23 will cause the-disc 36 to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction or in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig- 3 and the high point A of the disc as will strike against the end 85 of the pawl 84 and will swing the cover member about the pivot 64.

The high point B will at this time move toward the end 16 of the pawl 69 and will strike thereagainst and the cover 63 will be swung to the right whereupon the end 85 of the pawl 84 will engage in the notch C and when the high point D strikes against the end of the pawl the cover will again be swung to the left and this continuous'cycle of operation will take place until the shutter is completely lowered. The spring 33 will be wound up as the door descends as the member '42 will be rotated with the pipe 6 and will thread the nut 40 on the rod 35 until the nut 'jams against the washer 4D in the bottom of the recess 4| as the ring 34 is secured to the rod and carries one end of the spring 33 while the opposite end of the spring is held by the stationary member 25. It will thus be noted that the shutter or door will lower relatively slow to prevent injury to anyone who-happens to be beneath the door as it descends and likewise the door may be easily held at any point in its descent and when released is free to continue its downward movement." When the door is completely lowered and in the event anyone is trapped in the building it is only necessary to grasp the bottom of the door and raise the same a distance sufificient to pass therebeneath. a

From the foregoing description. it becomes evi- 80 dent that I have provided a novel and eiiicient escapement governor for closure members which will automatically retard the speed of descent of the closure member to prevent injury to anyone caught therebelow. '85 Having thusfully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a device of the character described, a to closure member, a winding drum therefor, an escapement governor for controllingthe speed of descent of the same comprising a serrated disc attached to the drum, a pivoted support, a pair of approximately oppositely disposed latches for alternately engaging the teeth of the disc on onp'osite sides, gravity actuated latching means for engaging the serrated disc to prevent rotation thereof and relieve the escapement governor from pressure engagement with the disc, thermally controlled means for holding the latching means in engagement with the serrated disc, said means designed to release the latching means in the presence of fire to allow the latching means to fall by gravity under restraint of the escapement governor. 1 v V 2. In a device of the character described, a closure member including a, roller, a. serrated disc attached to the roller, an escapementgovernor associated with the disc and positioned adjacent one edge of the closure membenior controlling the speed of descent of the closure member, gravity actuated latching means for en gaging the serrated disc to prevent rotation thereof, thermally controlled means for holding the latching means in engagement with the serrated disc, said means designed to release thelatching means in the presence of fire to allow the latching means to fall by gravity under restraint of'the escapement governor, anda second latching means for assisting movement of the first latching means to its unlatched position.

3. In a device of the character'described, a closure member, a winding drum therefor, an escapement governor including a serrated disc, 78'

an oscillating member, a pair of escapement pawls carried by the oscillating member and successively engaging the disc as the member oscillates, means connecting the serrated disc to the winding drum whereby rotation of the drum will rotate the disc, the escapement pawls so arranged relative to the serrated disc as to govern the speed of rotation of the same, a latch device normally engaging the disc to prevent rotation thereof, and thermally controlled means for holding the latch in engagement with the disc.

4. The combination with a curtain receiving drum, a serrated element driven by the unwinding movement of the drum, an oscillating member including a dog mounted therein to intermittently engage the serrated member and permit interrupted descent of the curtain, a second dog adapted for engagement with the serrated element to hold the same from rotation and relieve the oscillating member from pressure engagement therewith, a weighted lever tending at all times to disengage the second dog, and thermally controlled means for holding the said second dog in engagement with the serrated element to prevent rotation thereof.

5. The combination with a curtain receiving drum, a serrated element driven by the unwinding movement of the drum, a member freely oscillatable at all times including a dog carried thereby to intermittently engage the serrated member and permit interrupted descent of the curtain, a pivoted lever, an additional dog pivotally mounted on said lever and movable thereby to engagement with the serrated element, a second pivoted lever tending by gravity to hold the first named lever with the additional dog out of engagement with thetoothed element, and thermally controlled means for holding said second lever in position to maintain the additional dog in engagement with the serrated element to prevent rotation thereof.

.6. In a device of the character described, a closure member, a winding drum therefor, an escapement governor including a serrated disc, an oscillating member, and a pair of escapement pawls carried thereby, means connecting the serrated disc to the winding drum whereby rotation of the drum will impart movement to the disc, the escapement pawls being so arranged relative to the serrated disc as to govern the speed of 20 serrated disc, a cam engaging the latching means 25 and operable by release of the thermally controlled means to force the latching means out of engagement with the serrated disc.

WILLIAM G. MIILER.