US2544372A

US2544372A - Door check and closer

Info

Publication number: US2544372A
Application number: US5059A
Authority: US
Inventors: Willy W Werner
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-01-29
Filing date: 1948-01-29
Publication date: 1951-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-06

Description

March 6, 1951 w. w. WERNER DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Filed Jan. 29, 1948 INVENTOR WILLY W. WERNER l0 32 BY 3., 2 M yWa ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE DOOR CHECK AND CLOSER Willy W. Werner, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 5,059

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a door and, in particular, it relates to a spring actuated door check in combination with an adjustable brake shoe for controlling the rate of movement of the mechanism.

Conventional types of door checks frequently use hydraulic means for cushioning the energy of spring returns. In other cases, elaborate arrangements are utilized in which encircling brake bands operate in conjunction with brake drums. I have found that a simplified door check can be formed by utilizing a short segment of a brake shoe in combination with a drum and in which actual tensioni'ng of the brake shoe may be easily adjusted.

I also provide means for easing the tension of the brake mechanism at that critical point which occurs when the door has reached its closing point. This is desirable because as a door reaches its closing point it usually requires an extra effort to completely close the door because of the door latch and other frictional engagement between the door and the door frame. Furthermore, when the door is in closed position the energy of the spring is at its weakest point. By providing a clearance portion on the brake drum at that critical point when the door reaches its closing position, the tension between the brake shoe and the drum becomes all or partially relieved, thus allowing the full action of the energy of the spring toclose the door energeti'cally at this point.

It is a further object of my invention to proyide an adjustable screw which controls the pressure exerted against the brake shoe and against the brake drum. Operation of this screw makes it possible to readily'and accurately-adjust the tension of the door check in a wide range pf resist'ai lcev against the action of the. return "spring; In addition, I provide an equalizing spring positioned between the adjusting screw and. the brake shoe for the purpose of obtaining, still further, an accurate pressure of the shoe against the drum so as to overcome any variables, such as. irregularities in the drum surface or variations which may be. due to temperature 01' humidity.

A still further object. of my invention is the provision of means for maintaining the door in open position. This is effected. by a spring supported ball which latches with the movable portion of the door check when the door is moved to a completely open position. This means is that the door may be closed from its fixed open position by merely moving, the door firmly in .the direction of its closed position.

It is, therefora'among the objects of my invention to provide a door check which will function effioiently throughout a long span of continuous service; to provide a door check which may be easily and quickly adjusted in respect to tensioning. which controls the rate at which the door is closed; to provide a door check in which tension is relieved. at about the moment the door is closing so as to permit a full action. of the spring to elfect a proper and. complete closing. of. the door; to provide a door check which, when a door is pushed completely open, will. remain in such. open position. until manually closed; and, to provide a door check which will operate efficiently throughout a wide range of variables, and which can be manufactured economically. These and other objects and advantages will appear more fully in the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure I is a plan View of an assembly of a door check representing a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a View, in section, of a. portion of the door check taken along. lines llI-I:I of Figure 1;

Figure'3 is a plan view, in section, taken along lines III-III of Figure 2; and,

Figure 4 is a plan view, in section, of. a portion of the door check mechanism illustrating a modificatio-nof my invention.

With reference tov the drawing and, in particular, to Figures 1. and 2, Isholw an embodiment. of my invention comprising a main bracket l, a housing 2, and an arm 3 extending from the housing. A link .4 is pivotally connected to the; arm 3 by means of a stud 5,. and. an adjusting screw 5 joins with the link 4 and is pivotally connected to a bracket 1 by means of a stud 8.

It is intended that the main bracket 5 be fastened at the top of a door near that edge of the door which is hinged to the frame. The bracket 1 is fastened. to the door frame and sufiiciently above the door so as. to permit its passage thereunder. In other Words, thelocatlon of the door check, as provided herein, is similar to the location at which. most conventional door checks are positioned.

The bracket I is provided with. supporting ribs 9, and also includes a central post it and an axially projecting shaft H. is. formed betweenv the post H] and, the shaft H. Positioned radially from. the; post lll a drum A shoulder l2 I3, also an integral part of the bracket I. It is to be understood that the bracket I and its associated parts, such as the post It] and the drum I3, may be formed of separate components assembled together in attaching relationship. However, I prefer that these parts be formed of a single unit, such as a casting or die casting made, preferably, of aluminum. The housing 2 includes a sleeve Hi which fits over the shaft II and forms a stop with the shoulder I2. A machine screw I5 holds the housing in pivotal relationship with the frame I.

A cavity I6 is formed within the inner periphery of the housing 2 and provides a space for the reception of a brake shoe I I. Essentially, the brake shoe consists of an annular seement having an arcuate length equal to less than 90 degrees of the drum I 3, and it includes a shoe member I8 and a brake lining I9. The lining I9 may be riveted or cemented to the shoe member I8. An adjustable screw 29 is threaded through the wall of the housing 2 and includes a projecting tip 2| which engages with and supports the shoe member I8. Adjustment of the screw 2|] determines the tension applied between the brake shoe I? and the drum I3.

A helical flat section spring 22 constitutes the principal energy means for returning the door to its closed position. A slot 23 is formed in the housing 2, and a tip 2d of the spring 22 projects into the slot 23 for retention of the spring. In a similar manner, the opposite end of the spring includes a projection 25 which enters a slot 26 formed in the bracket I.

' As shown in particular in Figure 3, the drum 13, at least its outer circumference, is not a true circle, but is provided with apartially flat or relieved portion 21. This flat portion is located in such a position so that it relieves substantially all tension between th drum I3 and the brake shoe I? when the door is approximately in its closed position,

Provision is made for maintaining the door in its full open position when such is desired. This arrangement consists of a ball 21 retained in an aperture 28 in the bracket I, and supported by a spring 29 held in place by a plate 30 attached to the frame I by means of a machine screw SI. Diametrically opposite to the ball 21, as appearing in Figure 2, is a cavity 32 at the edge of the housing 2. When the door is in a wide open position the cavity 32 engages the ball 2'! and the door is maintained in its open position until it is manually closed by exerting a firm pressure against the door.

As shown in Figure 4, I illustrate a modification of my invention and show a portion of a housing 2a and a brake shoe I711. The brake shoe comprises a supporting shoe Mia and a brake lining 59a. A screw 28a having a projecting portion 2Ia engages with and supports the shoe member ISa. The essential difference between this modification and that illustrated in Figure 3 is that a flat spring 33 is interposed between the screw 29a and the shoe member Illa. The shoe member I8a is slidably mounted on the tip 2Ia of the adjusting screw 20a. The spring 33 may be attached to the shoe member 'I8a by means such as a rivet 34. By'this construction a spring tension exists between the brake shoe and the drum I3, It provides a greater degree of control and adjustability of the tension between the shoe and the drum. It also overcomes any irregularities in the drum or the brake lining, and it also overcomes any variables due to expansion or contraction resulting from heat or humidity.

In the operation of the door check, the door is opened in the usual manner. This movement, however, operates to wind the spring 22, thus storing up energy for closing the door. When the door is released, the spring tends to close the door while the tension of the brake shoe limits the speed of the closing until the door is almost completely closed, at which point the brake shoe aligns with the flat portion 21 of the brake drum, thereby allowing the full action of the spring to snap the door shut at that critical point where its energy is most needed.

As thus shown and described, it is believed apparent that I have provided a unique and efiicient device for functioning as a door check so constructed as to permit economy while providing a high degree of accurate controllability for door operation. While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is susceptible of those modifications which appear obviously within the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A door check and closer comprising, a bracket for attachment with a door, a stud projecting from the bracket, a brake drum projecting from the bracket and concentric with the stud, a housing adapted to encase the brake drum and having a central aperture for rotary engagement with the stud, means for pivotally attaching the housing to the stud, a helical spring concentric with the stud and having one end attached to the bracket and the other end attached to the housing, said housing having a recess formed in a portion of its circular wall, a brake shoe including a support and a brake lining positioned within the recess, a brake shoe adjusting screw extending through the wall of the housing, a spring interposed between said brake shoe and the adjusting screw whereby an adjustable resilient pressure is applied by the brake shoe against said brake drum, an arm projecting from the housing, a second bracket adapted for attachment to a door frame, and a connecting link pivotally joining the bracket and the end of said arm projecting from the housing.

2. A door check and closer comprising, a bracket for attachment with a door, a stud projecting from the bracket, a brake drum projecting from the bracket and concentric with the stud, a housing adapted to encase the brake drum and having a central aperture for rotary engagement with the stud, means for pivotally attaching the housing to the stud, a helical spring concentric with the stud and having one end attached to the bracket and the other end attached to the housing, said housing having a recess formed in a portion of its circular wall, a brake shoe including a support and a brake lining positioned within the recess, a brake shoe adjusting screw extending through the wall of the housing, a spring interposed between said brake shoe and the adjusting screw whereby an adjustable resilient pressure is applied by the brake shoe against said brake'drum, an arm projecting from the housing, a second bracket adapted for attachment to a door frame, and a connecting link pivotally joining the bracket and the end of said arm projecting from the housing, said brake drum having a flat portion in the path of the brake shoe whereby the ten sion between the shoe and drum is relieved at a, point when the door is approximately in closed position. Nugllieg55 WILLY w. WERNER. 6 1,678,701

REFERENCES CITED 37 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sullivan Nov. 25, 1902 Moore July 31, 1928 Hendry May 27, 1930 Mitchell Oct. 21, 1930