US2043198A

US2043198A - Fusible door holder

Info

Publication number: US2043198A
Application number: US709606A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl L Heverly
Original assignee: Yale and Towne Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Yale and Towne Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1934-02-03
Filing date: 1934-02-03
Publication date: 1936-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1953-06-02

Description

.Bune 2, 1936. E. L. HEVERLY I 8 FUS IBLE DOOR HOLDER Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENTOR 32 vy/5.44%

ATTORNEY their ends holding discs.

Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES- FUSIBLE DOOR HOLDER Earl L. Heverly, Chicago, 11 1., assignor to The Yale & Townc Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application February 3, 1934', Serial No. 709,606

12 Claims.

I This invention relates to a holding device for doors, and more particularly to a holding device adapted for use in combination with a door closer, and adapted to be released by means fusible when exposed to heat.

More particularly, it is the object of my invention to provide a holding device for a fire door closer assembly, wherein the usual pair of arms of the assembly carry a pair of discs pivotally rotatable relatively to one another, and adapted to be rotated to a position wherein the discs will jam frictionally against each other and against a spacer member, which in turn, is held in operative position by a fusible link element. The operation of the device is such that when the fusible link gives Way under heat, the spacer member will be withdrawn from operative position, and the frictional engagement between the discs will berelieved so that the door closer of which the arms form a part, willmove the door to a-closed position.

I appreciate that the art of fusible link closer armshas been very highly developed. However, the holding device constituting my invention, is adapted to allow for a very positive and quick release-which is extremely desirable in the art. While, therefore, my invention is ina relatively narrow field when considered in view of the prior art, it is nevertheless of considerable importance in that field, and it is my intention to claim rather broadly the particular combination I will disclose below.

More in detail, my invention comprises, in one of its modifications, a pair of arms having at One of the discs is screw threaded relatively to a shaft while the other disc is slidably mounted on this same shaft, but is non-rotatable relatively thereto. At the end'of the shaft there is a limiting nut and between this limiting nut and one of the discs,

relatively to one another, will force the two discs together and against the spacing membersand solidly against the end limiting nut. In this relation of the parts there will be a binding or jamming relation of the various surfaces so thatthe holder arms will be held in a position in which the door will be maintained open. 7

It is a further feature of my invention, that cam'meansare provided preferably between the endlimiting nut andthe lever spacing members, although such cam means may be present elsewhere, or may be eliminated in favor of spring devices or other means, these cam means acting to force the lever spacing members laterally out of binding relation to the elements on the said shaft. For preventing the two lever members from flying out of binding relation, I utilize a fusible link in combination with a series of levers which are arranged: to overcome the considerable force tending to move the: spacing members out of binding relation. However, should the fusible link giveway as under heat, the spacing members will be adapted to move laterally and will. release the binding engagement between the two discs of the closer arms, and'the door closer will be allowed to move the door to a fully closed position.

I also apply my invention to a further door 7 holding combination in which the discs of the two' door closer arms are arranged in pivotal relation rather than in'screw-threaded relation to one another, the two discs having cam surfaces whereby they may bind relatively to one another and the spacing levers and end limiting device on a pivotal shaft, as the closer arms rotate relatively to each other on theshaft.

For a detailed description of my invention I shall now-refer to the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates a door and closer assembly to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a topview of the pivotal door holding assembly of my invention while Fig. 3'is a cross section along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the parts of Fig. 2 showing the discs and lever spacing members in binding relation to the end limiting nut. Fig. 5 is a view'similar to Fig. 2 showing the relation of the parts when the fusible link gives way. Fig. 6 is a further view of the parts of Fig. 5 showing the relation of the various parts after the holding relation of the arms, discs and lever spacing members has been re leased so that the door closer arms may'move into a closed position. Fig 7 is a side view of the parts of Fig. 6 but showing the discs modified for operation with a plain shaft having limiting means on both ends, and where the binding accloser I!) is applied-will be actuated into a closed position by cooperation of the arm I3 secured to the shaft II with the arm I4 secured to the frame I5 of the door.

The closer arm I3 has at one end a disc I6 slidably but not rotatably mounted on the square portion I! of a stud shaft I8. The door closer arm I4 has secured thereto a disc I9 which is screw threaded on the stud shaft I8 and in such a manner that relative rotation of the arms I3 and I4 will tend to move the disc I9 into frictional engagement with the disc I6 as will be quite apparent.

There is provided a nut 29 threaded onto the stud shaft I8 which functions as an end limiting device against which the rotation of the disc I9 on the screw threads forces the disc I6, so that there may be a binding action between the nut 29, the disc I6, and the disc I9, where only a simple door holding action is required. However, since in the present invention, it is required that a fusible releasing mechanism be provided, further means in the form of the lever spacing members 2| are provided.

These lever members are best illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, and 6 and are shown as pivoted at points 22 on the upper disc I6. Each lever spacing member 2| is equipped with a cam surface 23, this cam surface cooperating with the under face of the nut 20 so that when the two arms I3 and I4 are moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 2, and also in Fig. 3, there will be a binding between the discs I6, I9, the lever spacing member 2|, and the end limiting nut 20, this binding or jamming relation of the parts being suflicient to overcome the. action of the spring of the closer I so as to maintain the door I2 in an open position.

It will be quite obvious that when the parts are jammed together there will be considerable force exerted between the end limiting nut 29 and the lever spacing members 2| through the intermediary of the cam surfaces 23 of the lever members. Incidentally, while I have provided cam surfaces on both the end limiting nut 29 and the lever spacing'members 2|, it should be understood that the cam surfaces may be located between the discs and the lever members or between any of the other parts in the assembly, or that even other means, such as springs tending normally to urge the lever spacing members out of spacing position may be provided.

In order to overcome the considerable force of the cam surfaces tending to move the lever spacing members 2| in a horizontal direction out of their jamming relationship to the several devices mounted on the stud shaft I8, I utilize a lever member 24 pivoted at 25 to one of the lever members 2|, and carrying a further lever 26 pivoted at 21 thereto. This auxiliary lever 26 cooperates with a pin 28 on the lever member 2| for holding thev two spacing members 2| in the position of Fig. 2 in which they are in a position wherein they will bind with the discs I6 and I9 against nut 20 to hold the door in open position.

There is provided a springy rod member 29 pivoted at 30 to the leverJnemb er 2| which maintains the auxiliary lever 26 in holding relationship relatively to the pivot or stud 28. This rod member 29 is in turn held in its holding position by a fusible link member 3| cooperating at its other end with the first mentioned lever 24. It is necessary to use this rather unusual system of levers in order that the relatively weak fusible link 3| will be enabled to maintain the two spacing members 2| in binding position against the force exerted on the cam surfaces 23, this force being very considerable. If the fusible link member 3| were used directly to overcome the force exerted against the cam surfaces 23, it would have to be of such heavy construction that it would lose its sensitivity.

It is quite easily seen that should heat be applied to the fusible link 3|, it will give way, allowing the

lever members

24 and 29 to swing as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, releasing the lever spacing members 2| as illustrated in Fig. 6, and withdrawing them from the binding engagement shown in Fig. 3, so that the entire binding or jamming relation of the parts of Fig. 3 will be relieved and the parts allowed to move in the direction illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the closer arms I3 and I4 are shown already moved into a more fully closed relation than in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a composite figure illustrating the re lease of the binding relation in Fig. 6 between the lever spacing members 2| and the end limiting nut 29. It also illustrates a pair of discs which bind due to their cam relation rather than due to a screw threaded relation similar to that of Fig. 3. It is quite easily seen that the surfaces of the discs I6 and I9 in Fig. 7 are such that relative rotation will act to bind the two together against the bottom limiting nut 32 and the upper limiting nut 20.

It will be of interest also to note that in Fig. 4, I show the upper and lower discs slightly tapered rather than at direct right angles to their axis of rotation. This is done so that the binding will be on merely part of the surfaces of the discs rather than on their entire surfaces, thus giving 35 a more resilient binding action. The binding action first takes place on a part of the surfaces of the two discs, and then upon further forceful opening of the door, will take place on more of the surfaces of the two discs than shown in Fig. 4. This gives a very desirable commercial result.

I now claim:

1. A doorholding device comprising a pair of arms, a pivotal mounting for said arms, additional means in said pivotal mounting so arranged relatively to said arms that predetermined relative pivotal movement of said arms will act to jam said means and arms about said pivotal mounting so as to maintain them in a door holding position, a lever constituting one of the elements of said additional means and itself held in said frictional jam, means under the influence of the jamming action tending to force said lever laterally out of its jammed position whereby to effect the release of the arms on the mounting, and a fusible link adapted to maintain said lever in its jammed position against the force of said second named means.

2. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms, a pivotal mounting for said arms, additional means in said pivotal mounting so arranged relatively to said arms that relative pivotal movement of said arms will act to jam said means and arms about said pivotal mounting so as to maintain them in a door holding position, a lever constituting one of the elements of said additional means and itself held in said frictional jam, a cam surface on said lever cooperable with a second cam surface on one of the elements in said jamming frictional assembly, said cam surfaces being arranged so that said lever is continually urged out of its jammed position, and a fusible link adapted to maintain said lever in its jammed position against the action of said cams.

3. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms and a shaft whereby the armszmayimove' pivotally relatively to one? another: as the door movesto and from-its closed position, additionalmeans' associated with saidshaft and: arranged to jam frictionally with portions ofsaid arms when:

said arms have moved. to a predetermined posi'- tion corresponding to. an open: position. of the relatively. to: said shaft, a camxsurface on said door, whereby to maintain the door in said open position, a member forming one of the additional means in the frictional jam and itself'fheld fric-- tio-nally in. said jam, means whereby the jamming action t'endsto move said member out of jammed position, and a fusible element adapted to hold said member in said jammed position.

4. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms and a shaft whereby the arms may move pivotally relatively to one another as the door moves to and from its closed position, additional means associated with said shaft and arranged to jam frictionally with portions of said arms when said arms have moved to a predetermined position corresponding to an open positionof the door, whereby to maintain the door in said open position, a member forming one of the means in the frictional jam on said shaft and itself held frictionally in said jam, a cam surface forming one of the surfaces of said member cooperating with the other means in said jam and acting to cam said member out of its jammed position, and a fusible link adapted to hold said member in its jammed position against the action of said cam surface.

5. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms and a shaft whereby the arms may move pivotally relatively to one another as the door moves to and from its closed position, additional means associated with said shaft and arranged to jam frictionally with portions of said arms when said arms have moved to a predetermined position correspondingtoan open position of the door, whereby to maintain the door in said open position, a pair of members forming part of said frictional jam and. themselves held frictionally in said jam, a cam surface on each of said members cooperating with surfaces of the other elements in said jam and acting to cam said members out of their jammed position, and a fusible link adapted to hold said members in their jammed position against the action of said cam surfaces.

6. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms, a stud shaft forming a part about which said arms may rotate relatively to one another, a limit device on said shaft, and a member acting as a spacer element on said shaft but mounted so as to move laterally relatively to said shaft, said arms and spacer member being adapted to jam against said limit device as said arms rotate relatively to each other in moving to a predetermined position, said spacer member being operable to loosen said jam if moved laterally relatively to said shaft, and a fusible link adapted to maintain said lever against such lateral movement.

7. A door holding device comprising a pair of arms, a stud shaft forming a pivot about which said arms may rotate relatively to one another, a limit device on said shaft, and a member acting as a spacer element on said shaft but mounted so as to movelaterally relatively to said shaft, said arms and spacer member being adapted to jam against said limit device as said arms rotate relatively to each other in moving to a predetermined position, said spacer member being operable to loosen said jam if moved laterally member" cooperable withanother surface on' ithe pivotaliassembly and exerting. a pressure on said member tending continuously; to: move it 1 laterally relatively to said shaft, and a fusible link adaptd: 5 to maintainfsaid memberagainst lateral move? ment. I 7 ,1

8. A door holder comp-rising 'a' pair of armshav'-c ing holding portions inthe form .of discxsurfacea pivotally mounted about a shaft, alimit device on: 1402 said shaft,. a spacer member onv said-shaft:- and: mounted so asito move: laterally relativelythre; to, said disc surfaces being in the form of inclined cams whereby when they rotate relatively to one another, they jam one another and the 15 spacer member against said limit device and into a firm holding relationship, a cam surface on said spacer element tending to cam it laterally out of jammed relation to said discs and shaft limit device whereby to release said arms from said hold- 20 ing relationship, and a fusible link adapted to maintain the spacer member in its position against the force of said cam;

9. A door holder comprising a pair of arms having holding portions in the form of disc surfaces 25 pivotally mounted about a shaft, a limit device on said shaft, a spacer member on said shaft and mounted so'as to move laterally relatively thereto, said disc surfaces being in the form of inclined cams whereby when they rotate relatively to one another, they jam one another and. the spacer member against said limit device and into a firm holding relationship, means tending continuously to force said spacer member laterally and out of jammed relation to said discs and shaft limit device whereby to release said arms from said holding relationship, and a fusible link adapted to maintain the spacer member in its position against the force of said'means.

10. A door holder comprising a pair of arms 40 having holding portions comprising disc surfaces pivotally connected through the intermediary of a shaft, a limit device on said shaft, a pair of spacer members pivoted on one of said arms and adapted to act as spacers on said shaft and to lie between said limit device and said disc surfaces, 7 said spacer members being pivotally movable laterally out of said position whereby to leave a space on said shaft, said disc surfaces being in the form of inclined cams whereby when they rotate relatively to one another on the shaft they jam one another andthe spacer members against the shaft limit device and into a firm holding position, means tending continuously to force said spacer members laterally on their pivots out of jammed 5 relation to said discs and shaft whereby to release said arms from said holding relationship, and a leverage system connecting said spacer members through the intermediary of a fusible link and functioning to maintain the members in their jammed position against the force of said means.

11. A door holder comprising a pair of arms having holding portions in the form of disc surfaces, a stud shaft upon which one of said discs is screw threaded, and upon which the other disc is slidable, a limit device on said shaft, a spacer member on said shaft and mounted so as to move laterally relatively thereto, said discs when rotated relatively to one another being adapted to jam one another and the spacer member against said 1imit70 device and into a firm holding relationship, cam means tending to cam said spacer member laterally out of jammed relation to said discs and shaft limit device whereby to release said arms from said holding relationship, and a fusible link adapt- I ed to maintain the spacer member in its operative position against the force of said cam means.

12. A door holder comprising a pair of arms having holding portions in the form of disc surfaces,a stud shaft upon which one of said discs is screw threaded, and upon which the other disc is slidable but not rotatable, a limit device on said shaft, a pair of spacer members pivoted on one of said arms and adapted to act as spacers on said shaft and to lie between said limit device and said disc surfaces, said discs when rotated relatively. to one another being adapted to jam one maintain the spacer members in their jammed po- 10 sition against the force of said means.

EARL L. HEVERLY.