US2158417A - Closing and checking unit - Google Patents

Description

y 1939- I F. c. GARRISON 2,158,417

CLOSING AND CHECKING UNIT I Filed April 13, 1938 5 Sheets- Sheet 2 y 1939- F. c. GARRISON 2,158,417

CLOSING AND CHECKING UNIT Patented May 16, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFis Oscar C. Rixson 80., tion of Illinois Chicago, 111., a corpora- Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,672

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a. mechanical unit designed for closing and checking the opening and closing movements of hinged elements such as doors.

5 The principal purpose of the invention is to provide a simple construction of that class without needless complications, yet having the required action for either right or left opening doors or swinging doors opening in both directions to check the motion at the ends of opening and closing movement and to assure the return of the door to its fully closed position. A further purpose of the invention is to provide for taking up play so that the door is always under checking resistance against either direction of motion, even when in its fully closed position, yet will be exactly centered in that position by the door closing mechanism.

The objects of the invention are accomplished by means of the construction illustrated in the drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a side view of the door closing and checking unit showing the unit applied as a lower hinge to a door. The door and its supporting 25 frame structure are shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View in side elevation of the door check and closer partly broken away and partly in section with the mechanism in that relation when the door is in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but shows the mechanism as it would appear when the door is extending at right angles to its closed position.

Fig. 4 is a cam detail showing the relation of a pair of cams when the door is in closed position.

Fig. 5 shows the same cam detail as Fig. 4, but in changed relation as the cams would appear when the door has been closed from the opposite direction to that in which it is closed according to the showing in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, are horizontal sections as indicated by the section lines on Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a sectional detail taken on the line H-ll of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 shows a vertical longitudinal section of a modification, adapted for use with a compression closing spring instead of a torsion spring as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 13 shows the same mechanism as shown by Fig. 12, but in changed relation with the spring partly compressed as this mechanism would appear when the door is swung 90 away fromits closed position.

Figs. 14 and 15 are transverse sections as indicated by the lines l4 and I5 on Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a spring carrier shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the art to which this invention relates, many door closers and checks are unduly limited as to adaptability for varying requirements. There is sometimes a difference in the construction for doors that have a right or left opening movement, or for doors that are both right and left moving, and also for doors that are intended for swinging in arcs of Varying degree. The 1111- proved construction now disclosed meets a wide range of conditions without change therein, and is generally more universally applicable than most door checks or snubbing devices known to applicant.

The principal characteristic of this construction is a particular coacting relationship between a pair of cams and a coacting door and spring actuated spindle and with a checking plunger. The cam relationship changes slightly, depending upon the direction of motion of the door in a manner to provide a definite checking resistance to closing movement of the door from its open position in .either direction, and to free the mechanism of any back lash at all times, and to compensate for wear.

Two forms of the construction are illustrated, the one shown by sheets I and 2 employs a torsion door closing spring. This spring l is bent at its upper end 2 to engage a slot 3 in a spring carrier t and is bent at its lower end to engage a slot 5 in a spring carrier 6. These spring carriers loosely fit a door-operated spindle l. The spindle F has a squared head 8 at which point it is clamped to the door, as illustrated in Fig. 11, and centrally between the spring carriers the spindle has a transverse pin 9 fast therein and with a projecting head it in position to engage a shoulder H on spring carrier i and a shoulder i2 on spring carrier 6, as shown in Fig. 8. This figure shows the normal relationship according to the closed position of the door. Thus, if the door is moved in one direction it will tension the spring through the upper carrier and if moved in the opposite direction will tension the spring through the lower carrier.

The carriers are free to rotate from their home position one in one direction and the other in the other, but each is stopped from moving away from that position in an opposite direction by an abutment in the form of a pin it, Fig. 6, for carrier 4, and pin I4, Fig. 7, for carrier 6. These pins engage shoulders 15 and it on their respective carriers. A centering collar or bearing element [1 engages a groove H3 at the lower end of spring carrier 6. This collar fits the inner wall of the cylinder 19 formed by the casing 20. The bearing element I1 is perforated to allow for the passage of oil. Longitudinal motion of spindle I is prevented by its shoulder 21 and the bearing 22 at the upper end of casing 20.

The checking piston operating cam 23 is secured to the lower end of the spindle 1 by a pin 24 passing through the hub of the cam. The cam is formed with an opening 25 for receiv ing the spindle 1. This opening is somewhat tapered at each end so that the cam. may have a limited oscillatory motion around pin 24. This provision is made so that the cam may have a perfect adjustment for transmitting thrust to a cooperating cam surface on a checking plunger. Cam 23 operates a checking plunger 26 to depress that plunger against a restoring spring 27 when the door swings from a setting to either its fully opened or fully closed positions. Such downward motion of the plunger is resisted by oil flowing from the lower end of cylinder i9 passing a flow restricting valve 28, Fig. 10, to the part of the cylinder above plunger 26. Upon upward motion of the plunger the lower end of the cylinder is refilled by oil passing by check valve 29.

The checking plunger has a limited rotational motion around its axis for cooperating with the oscillating cam 23 in the purpose of allowing the door to become exactly centered in its closed position and yet afiording a measured resistance to motion of the door at that point. This rotational movement of the plunger 26 is provided so that the points of the cams will not be in exact alignment when the door is closed. Without that improvement the points of the cams would be subject to greater wear and possibly wear round at their tips. In that case there then would be less downward movement of the plunger 26 and consequently insufficient checking resistance near the closed position of the door.

This limited rotation of the checking plunger is provided for by slotting one side of the plunger, as indicated at 30, Figs. 4 and 5, for the reception of a spline 3|. In the assembly this spline is pushed into place by a threaded plug 32 in casing 20. The lower end of cylinder I9 is also closed by a plug 33 forming a seat for plunger-operating spring 21. The oil filling of the cylinder is done through either of the openings closed by plugs 32 or 33.

The checking plunger is: in its lowermost position as in Fig. 2, only when the door is closed or approximately open. The plunger is in its uppermost position as in Fig. 3 when the door is open 90.

The modification illustrated on Sheet 3 is designed to meet the same requirements and perform the same functions as the construction above-described, but the door closing spring 34 in this case is a compression spring and the cam 35 does not rotate, but reciprocates and for that purpose has a spline 36 fitting a groove 31 in a plug 38 inserted in an opening in casing 39. This opening is closed by a screw 68. The spindle ii which turns with the door, carries at its lower end a tapered roller 42 and the spindle being prevented from moving longitudinally by its bearing 43, and a thrust collar 44 engaging packing 45, the roller moves in a horizontal path. Upon the opening motion of the door, roller 42 shifts cam 35 upwardly causing the compression of spring 36. When the door is released the spring returns cam 35 to its lower position, and the cam by acting upon the spindle roller 42 causes the spindle to return to its initial position, as shown in Fig. 12, and closes the door.

The checking plunger 46 also reciprocates under the action of its spring 41 and by the action of roller 62 on the upper cam surface 48 of the checking plunger. The checking plunger 46 may oscillate slightly as provided for by a stop member 29, depending from cam 35 into an opening 56 of larger diameter in the checking plunger. This oscillatory motion of the plunger permits uniform checking action all the way to the closed point. The shifting plunger cam permits a double acting check to be used as a single acting check without regard to the opening direction of the single acting door. The checking plunger is pushed to one side or the other so the roller 42 does not come to rest on the apex of cam surface 8. A wear-resisting insert 5| is located at the apex of cam surface 48.

The desired dash-pot action of the checking plunger is, as usual, controlled by an oil flow regulating valve 52. The return flow of oil is permitted by check valve 53. The checking plunger is shifted downwardly the maximum near the ends or the opening and closing movements of the door, as the cam surface 58 of the checking plunger has high points 5d and 55 corresponding with these positions of the door.

In the operation of the construction, the two forms illustrated are about the same in principle, as each places the door-closing spring under tension upon an opening movement of the door and at the same time permits the checking plunger to move axially under the action of its shifting spring to be at its maximum non-checking position when the door is midway between its full closed and open positions. The door is checked as it moves toward these positions by an opposite axial thrust of the checking plunger against oil resistance efiected by a roller or cam element rotating with the door spindle. The checking plunger in each case has a cooperating cam surface through which it receives the necessary axial thrust in one direction, and the plunger in both cases is so mounted as to rotate slightly on its axis whereby the apex of the cam surface does not come into a dead center position when the door is full closed. Thus, the cooperating cam surfaces both being under spring pressure are serviceable for producing a checking and cushioning effect at the end of the stroke of the rdoor, regardless of whether the door has two way or one way opening movements.

I claim:

1. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way or two-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil spring surrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindle for tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of the spindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, a checking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil res stance in said supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plunger in one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, and a cooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle.

2. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way or two-way action comprising a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil spring surrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindle for tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of the spindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, a checking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance in said supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plunger in one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, and a cooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle, said plunger actuating element being mounted on said spindle for limited oscillatory motion.

3. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way or two-way action, compris ing a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil spring surrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindle for tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of the spindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, a checking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance in said supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plunger in one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle and said checking plunger being keyed to the supporting structure for limited oscillatory motion.

4. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way or two-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil spring surrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindle for ten sioning the spring in either direction of rotation of the spindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, a checking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance in said supporting structure, a spring for actuating said checking plunger in one direction, a

cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle, and a spline connection between the plunger and the supporting structure.

5. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way or two-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a coil spring surrounding said spindle with an actuating connection with the spindle for tensioning the spring in either direction of rotation of the spindle, a cooperating spring abutment on the supporting structure, a checking plunger mounted for reciprocation against oil resistance in said supporting structure, a spring for actuating. said checking plunger in one direction, a cam surface on said checking plunger, a cooperating actuating element for the checking plunger carried by the spindle, and a mounting for said checking plunger in said supporting structure whereby the plunger is permitted a limited rotary motion as well as reciprocation under the action of said spindle cam and its restoring spring.

6. A closing and checking unit of the class described for one-way and two-way action, comprising a supporting structure having mounted therein a spindle for oscillatory motion around its axis, a pair of spring holders loosely journaled on said spindle, a spring surrounding the spindle and connecting said holders, a shoulder on each of said holders and a cooperating shoulder engaging element carried by the spindle whereby one of the spring holders will be engaged on either direction of rotation of the spindle, coacting abutment means between said spring holders and the supporting structure for preventing rotation of one holder in one direction and the other holder in the other direction, a cam carried by the spindle, a checking plunger mounted in the supporting structure for actuation by and a spring engaging the plunger for the action of said cam.

FORREST C. GARRISON.

said cam, opposing

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