US217054A - Improvement in spiral-spring hinges - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

1. BUOKMAN Spiral-Spring Hinge. y No. 217,054. Patented July1, 1879.

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Q IHA BUCKMAN, BY 1mm L9/Y' L LadL/4-G.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 3. I. BUKMAN Spiral-Spring Hinge. NO. 217,054. Patentedk1u|y1,1879.

A 'T' T Y 5 INAPEYERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFNER, WASHiNGYON. D CV UNITED STATES PATENT QEErcEC IRA BUGKMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPIRAL-SPRING HINGES. l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 217,054, dated July 1, 1879 application filed Jun@ 21, 187s.

To all whom it may concern.- K l Be it known that I, 11m BUOKMAN, of Brooklyn, county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful` Improvementsin Spiral-Spring Hinges; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention consists, mainly, irst, in the special construction of the hinge, by means of which it is adapted to permit the removal or insertion of a spiral spring without taking the hinge apart, second, in the special construc- Ation of the spring per sc,- and, third, in the special construction of a doubleacting hinge, by means of which the right and left hand spiral springs employed therein are made interch an geable.

It further consists in certain details of construction, all of which will be fully described hereinafter.. A In the drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of a sin gle-actin g hinge with the leaves open 5 Fig. 2, an elevation of the same with the leaves closed; Fig. 3, a top view of the closed hinge with the wrench-cap removed. Figs. 4 and 5, side elevations of the separate leaves of the hinge,- Fig. 6, an elevation of a double-acting hinge with the leaves open; Fig. 7, a partial view of the central plate; Fig. S, a top view of the hinge with the leaves closed 5 Fig. 9, a side elevation and top view of the wrench-cap detached; Fig. 10, a vertical elevation' and bottom view of the same;

11, an elevation, partially in section, of

the arbor detached; Fig. 12, an elevation of the tip and its threaded rod; Fig. 13, a view of a sectional tube for inclosing the spring;

Fig. 14,' various views of the shield or cap;

Fig. 15, sectional elevations of springs made of round and square wire; Fig. 16, a diagraln representing the transverse sectional area of the same; and Fig. 17, an elevation of a duplex spring for large doors.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe fully its construction and manner of operation.

and 3, as shown. a?, Fig. f1, represents the main portion of the leaf a, having the usual screw-holes; and a3, a projectingI portion, resembling in form one-quarter of a cylinder cut longitudinally, which is provided at each end with the knuckles a4 and the projecting Ilan ge a5, having the recess a6, as shown, the purpose of which latter will be hereinafter explained.

'lhe leaf al is constructed in a similar manner to the leaf a, with the exception that the knuckles alare located at the proper points in a vertical plane to bear against the inner surfaces of theknuckles a4 when the parts are properly in place, as shown in Fig. l.

a8, Fig. 5*, represents a recess formed in the inner sides of the knuckle al, the purpose of Which will be hereinafter explained.

B, Figs. la and 5, represent a steel bushing, which is rigidly secured in the eye of one of the knuckles and caused to project loosely into the other.

b b, Fig. 1, also represent bushings, consisting of washers, which are rigidly secured in proper recesses in the eye of the other knuckle, the internal diameters of which are large enough to permit the main bushing, B, to turn therein Without undue friction. This bushing need not be employed if hard metal is used for the hinges, or when the same are made of small size 5 but when the hinges are large and of soft metal it may be advantageously used.

C, Figs. 1 and 15, represents a spring, preferably formed of square wire, which is spirally' wound in any proper manner to form both right and left hand coils.

c, Fig. 13, represents a bent end of round or square wire, which extends across the center at each end, for the purpose of furnishing a suitable means of attachment, as will be hereinafter' described.

D, Figs..l, l, and 11, represents an arbor, consisting of the enlarged head d, Figs. 1'LL and 1l, having the central slot, all, and also the shank all, having the angular termination d3, with threaded recess d4, Figs. 1 and 11, as shown. d5, Figs. 12L and 11, represents a bearing-face of the arbor-head d, which rests, when in place, upon the face of the recess a8, these parts being accurately dressed, so that the one may move upon the other without undue friction.

E, Figs. 1, 9, and 10, represents a wrenchcap, having a central opening through thev sanne, as shown in Fig. 10, which is made angular at its large end for the purpose ofengaging with the correspondingly-formed termination d3 of the arbor, as shown. The bearingface of the wrench-cap is accurately dressed, so that when the same is united to the arbor, as hereinafter described, the parts will move together upon the bearings without binding or cramping at any point.

e, Figs. 3f and 9, represents a series of holes formed in the circumference el, any one of which is adapted to receive a stop-pin, hereinafter referred to.

e?, Fig. 9, represents a hexagonal or other angular outline, by means of which the cap is adapted to receive a wrench whenit is desired to turn the same.

F, Figs. l and l2, represents a knob or tip, and f a threaded rod attached `to the same, by means of which and the threaded recess d* in the arbor the wrench-cap is securely attached to the latter. An arbor, wrench-cap, and tip are employed at each end" of the hinge, as shown in Fig. l.

The knuckles of the leaves having been properly adjusted, the arbors may first be inserted in place, and be then secured by the wrench-cap and tip. By this means, it will be observed, the. knuckles are securely tied tcgether, so that great strength is given to this part of the hinge. The hinge portion of the device is thus made complete, although the spring has not yet been inserted in place, and consequently, if desired, it may be placed upon the door in this condition. The spring, however, is readily inserted into place at any time by first slipping one end into its proper place in the case and then compressing the same in a vertical direction until the other end also will pass into the case. When the spring is in its properposition its bent ends rest in the slots of the arbors, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 11, so these parts are rigidly united together, so far as revolution is concerned. The ends, however, are not held, so far as vertical movement is concerned, and hence the spring may be readily removed at any time Without taking the hinge apart or removing it from the door.

G, Fig. 3g, represents a stop-pin inserted in any one of the holes of the series of the wrenchcap, by means of which the spring is connected at one end to one leaf of the hinge and at the other end to the other leaf in a sin gle-acting hinge. The outer ends of the pins, it will be observed, rest in the recesses a of the lian ge, by means of which arrangement the parts can be readily reached for purposes of adj ustment, no matter what may be the position of the hinge on the door-frame. These recesses also furnish proper space for the pin when the hinge is opened to its Widest extent, for, otherwise, either the movement of the hinge would be limited or the pins be crushed.

l, Figs. 2 and .14, represents a cap-plate of semi-cylindrical form, which is provided with the annular projections 7L, having' the screw holes 7L', as shown. By means of4 these annular projections a largely-increased bearing-sun face is obtained for the head of the screw, and consequently a much stronger connection is made between the parts when the same are united than would be otherwise the case.

This cap, which may be employed or not, as'- may be preferred, covers, when in place, the opening through which the spring is inserted or removed. It serves also, when in place, to tie the knuckles at the opposite ends of the hinge together, in order that it may resist lnorc perfectly the vertical strain to which they are subjected.

I, Fig. 6, also represents a cap-plate permanently attached in place, which serves, inconnection with the plate H, to entirely cover the spring.

J, Fig. 6, represents a double-acting hinge, having the main parts common to this class of hinges-that is, the outer leaves, K L, Fig. 8, and the central plate, M, as shown.

k, Fig. 6, represents the main portion of the outer leaf, K, having the usual screw-holes; and la', Fig. 8, a projecting portion similar to that previously described upon the leaf a. l

Z, Fig. 6, represents the main portion ofouter leaf upon the opposite site, which is constructed preciselylike the leaf K, an d need not therefore be particularly described.

M, Fig. 7, represents the central plate, before referred to, consisting of the main portion m and projecting portion ml on each edge, but upon opposite sides of a transverse center line, as shown in Fig. S, which portions are similar in their general form to the corresponding parts of the leaves K and L, as shown. m2 m2 represent knuckles upon the projecting portions, which are located at the proper points in a vertical plane to bear against the inner surfaces of the knuckles of the leaves when the parts are properly in place.

When the parts are properly united, it will be observed that the outer face of each leaf is in a plane which is parallel with the transverse centerline of the hinge, as shown in Fig. 8, and that the inner face,consequently, is in clined kto fit the central plate, which necessarily eX- tends in a diagonal direction from one knuckle to the other. By means of this special construction the hinges may be applied to the door and frame with perfect certainty by the use of the try-square.

The other portions of this hinge are precisely like those of the single-acting hinge already described, and hence they will not be set forth again in detail.

In the double-actin g hinge, however, the manner of employing the springs is important, as will appear from the following statement:

In order to obtain the best results from a spiral spring, it should always be turned in that direction which will tend to wind it up, and never in the opposite direction, for the reason that movement in the former direction will have a tendency to increase the original set of the spring, or at least not to diminish the same, while movement in the latter will tend to impair the original set, and ultimately ldev stroy it: More power also is obtained by turning in this direction, because in one case the coils are brought closer together by the movement, and thus mutual support and rigidity are obtained, 'while in the other case the coils are separated from eachother. Byturningin the proper direction, also, the diameter of the coil is diminished, and hence more power is thus obtained, while by the opposite movement the diameter is increased and the power necessarily diminished. By the increase of diameter, also, when movement is made in the wrong direction, the spring is liable to be brought in contact with the case and be injured by fric-A tion.

In order, then, that the springs in the'hinge may always be wound in the proper direction, I employ upon one side a right-hand spring, and upon the other a lefthand, and adjust both according to a fixed and definite rule, such as, for example, the following: Adjust at the top of the hinge, and always turn toward the door; or adjust at the bottom of the hinge, and always turn from the door. The

precise rule determined upon is not important g but when adopted the hinges, if properly prepared, may always be adjusted by the rule with au absolute certainty that each spring will be turned in the proper direction. For example, if the first rule be adopted-adjust at the top of the hing'e, and always turn toward the door-the following arrangement should be made: For a right-hand door (and by a right-hand door is meant one which swings from the jamb in a direction which would correspond 'with the forward movement of the right arm' of a person occupying the place of the jamb) the hinge in the first place would be attadhed to the jambin such manner that the outer leaf would swing inward withthe door without carrying .the central plate, `,this being carried in the reverse'movement ot' the door.44 The outer-knuckles then should have a right-,

hand spring,'and the inner knuckles a lefthand one. Vhen thus arranged both springs maybe adjusted according to the rule, with an absolute certainty that each will be turned in the proper direction.

The same hinge may now be applied to a left-hand door by simply reversing the vertical position of the same, when it will be found that the outer leaf will swing inward without carrying the central plate.

The springs, however, must be in terchan ged,

the left-hand spring now being placed in the outer knuckle, and the right-hand spring in the innerf The adjustment, however, is made precisely in accordance with the rulethat is, both are turned at the top toward the door.

The operation is substantially as follows: The hinge having been properly put together, and the saine having been properly secured to the door-frame and door, the general action in opening' and closing in either direction will be similar to that of other hinges ot' this class. p

The action in detail, however, is different. B y means ofthe arbor at each end the knuckles lare securely tied together, and proper bearings are furnished for the necessary movements. The arbor at one end, it will be observed, serves asa fixed a-Xle, upon which the moving knuckle turns, and that at the other as a shaft attached to the movingl knuckle which turns ini the fixed knuckle, the latter' serving as a journal-bearing. By means of this construction it is possible to make the parts of such proportions relatively to each other as are best adapted to sustain the wear to which they are necessarily subjected.

The bearing parts upon the arbor-head, the wrench-cap, and the intermediate knucl le are accurately dressed, as before stated, so that this movement takes place with a minimum amount of friction.4

The springs are adjusted by turning either wrench-cap in the proper direction until the proper tension is obtained, and then securing it in that position by inserting the stop-pin in the proper hole. The springs may be readily removed and replaced or be interchanged, it'

desired.

It will be observed that the adjusting-caps are located. at each end of the hinge, and that the locking-pins in the caps are located on op` posite sides, by means of which construction and arrangement it is possible always to adjust the springs properly, even it' one half of one of the leaves is embedded in thejainb.

Some of the advantages of the described construction are as follows: By `means oi' the special construction it is possible to see the condition of the springs, and also to remove and replace the same, without takin the hinge apart or removing'it from the door. By the employment of a right-andleft hand springiu lthe manner described, the same may be adjusted according to a detnite rule, with absolute certainty that the spring will be wound in the proper direction. 'lhe hinges, also, may

be made up'at the factoryrom a single pat` tern, without` regard to the fact of their use upon a right or left hand door. They may, however, be specially prepared for either door by properly' arranging the springs, and when prepared may be readily changed, if circumstances require it, by simply intercha-uging its springs. i

The employment of a coiled spring formed of square wire within the cylindrical case is advantageous, because such a spring contains more material than a round-wire spring, and hence possesses more power. rlhis will ap` pear, it is believed, from the following explanation: The diameter of the coil, whether round or square wire is employed, must be the same, and cannot exceed theinner diameter of the inclosing-case, if an inclosing-case is employed. The transverse diameters .r r11/y,

Fig. 16, ofthe two wires is also the same; but in the square wire the spaces in the angles between the ends of the diameters are filled to make a square corner, as shown.

It will be understood, of course, that the size of the round wire, when its circumference iills 'the inclosing-case, cannot be enlarged; but the vacant spaces between its corners may be utilized to obtain greater power without requiring additional space. By means of the square wire, also, a spring is obtained which is more rigid than the round under vertical strain, so that, if desired, it may be used without the support of an inclosing-case and still retain its proper vertical position, without any tendency to buckle or twist out of place.

By the employment of the annular projections in the cap-plate Hit is possible to use a thin metal for the same and still obtain strength enough at the points of attachment to canse it to serve an important part in strengthening the hinge. By recessing the knuckles a perfect bearing is obtained for the head of the arbor, and also the end of the spring is caused to bear squarely upon the end of the knuckles.

Certain modifications will now be described, as follows: N, Fig. 13, represents a tube or cylinder, having one end partially closed by the annular flange n, as shown. nl also rep! resents a short section of similar tubing, having the annular iiange n2 at one end, which is adapted to slide within the tube N, as shown. O represents a coiled spring, which is adapted to iill the case, as shown.

By means of this construction the spring` may be inclosed before itis inserted in the hinge, the vertical movement necessary to its linsertion being permitted by the sliding of one tube within the other. If desired, the tube may be used in place of the cap and be ornamente'd to any desired extent.

P, Fig. 17, represents a duplex hinge for very heavy doors. This has a right and left hand spring on each side of the hinge. The inner end of each is rigidly held b v a knuckle or stud from the central plate, placed in vertical line with the knuckles, while the other ends of the springs are adjusted;v to or from the door, according to their arrangement. Both, however, are adjusted in the same way. The duplex. hinge here described is not claimed in this application, but may be made the subject of a future application.

I do notlimit myself to the precise construction shown. For example, if desired, the tipcap can be dispensed with, and the wrenchcap be secured directly to the arbor by means of a set-screw. A

Instead of the arbor, any rotating cap may be employed with the right and left hand springs, or with a spiral spring of square wire.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a cylindrical case having an opening adapted to permit the removal of the spring and the arbors rigidly iiXed, as far as vertical movement is concerned',

a removable spiral spring, substantially as described, the construction being such that the spring may be removed or insertedwithout taking the hinge apart or removing it from the door.

2. In combination with the cylindrical case, having an opening as described, and a removable spring, a removable inclosing-cap adapted toinclose the spring, substantially as described, the construct-ion being such that the cap may be removed without taking the hinge apart, removing it from the door, or removing the arbors.

3. In combination with the knuckles of the hinges, the independent arbors, each having a bearing in the knuckles of each part, substantiallyas described.

4. In combination with the knuckles of the outer leaf and central plate, the headed arbor and means, substantially as described, for securing the arbor in place, thus tying the knuckles together.

5. In combination with an arbor having a head, as described, the knuckles having a slot or recess, c", as and for the purpose set forth.

6. 1n combination with the knuckles having a slot, a8, and the arbor having the head, as

described, the spiral spring bearing upon the knuckle, as described.

7. In combination with the knuckles and the arbor, the removable wrench-cap E, having the series of holes and locking-pin, as described.

8. In combination with the arbor and wrenchcap, the tip having the threaded rod, as described.

9. A double-acting spring hinge having a right and a lefthand spiral spring, interchangeable without taking the hinge apart, removing the same from the door, or remo {ir-1g the arbors.

10. The cap-plate H, having its annnlarprojection h, as and for the purpose described.

11. In combination with a recessed arbor, a spiral spring of square'wire having a bent end, the construction and arrangement being such that the power of the spring is torsionally applied, as set forth.

12. A spring butt-hinge having a central plate with knuckles on each side, outer leaves having knuckles on their adjacent edges, a-

spring or springs located between the knuckles of a central plate, and a slotted arbor, the power of the spring being transmitted through the knuckles of the central plate and the knuckles of the outer leaves by means of the slotted arbor, substantially as described.

13. In combination with a spiral spring, the` sectional tube N al, as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 7th day of June, 1878.

IRA BUGKMAN.

Witnesses:

J oHN B. SUYDAM, G. W. KELsEY.

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