US3143757A

US3143757A - Hydraulic door closer

Info

Publication number: US3143757A
Application number: US109702A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bert A Quinn
Original assignee: Ideal Brass Works Inc
Current assignee: Ideal Brass Works Inc
Priority date: 1961-05-12
Filing date: 1961-05-12
Publication date: 1964-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 1981-08-11

Description

Aug. 11, 1964 B. A, QUINN HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER Filed May l2. 1961 IN VEN TOR. .BER r A. Qu//wv AT TOFPNEYS United States Patent 3,143,757 HYDRAULC DOGR CLOSER Bert A. Quinn, St. Paul, Minn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Ideal Brass Works, Incorporated, St. Pani, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 12, 1961, Ser. No. 109,702 4 Claims. (Cl. 16-57) My invention relates generally to door closers, and more particularly to improvements in such closers which utilize springs for imparting closing movements to a door and iiuid pressure for controlling said closing movements.

Door closers heretofore utilizing hydraulic means for controlling the closing of a door have necessarily used elaborate and expensive sealing means to prevent leakage of the liquid employed therein from the mechanism. Such sealing devices are subject to wear and occasional servicing. Moreover, while hydraulically controlled door closers operate more smoothly than pneumatically controlled closers, the hydraulically controlled closers have been heretofore more expensive to produce than pneumatic closers of similar general construction.

More specifically, my present invention relates to door closers of the so-called tubular type, using a pair of axially telescoping members one pivotally secured to a door frame and the other to a cooperating door hinged to the door frame, and an important object of my invention is the provision of a hydraulic door closer which utilizes a minimum of space, and in which leakage of the liquid from the mechanism is held to a minimum over extended periods of use.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a door closer, of the above type, which is smooth in its operation, and which does not require adjustment.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of novel door closer structure in which any liquid which might escape from the hydraulic cylinder is automatically utilized to lubricate other vparts of the mechanism.

. Another object of my invention is the provision of a hydraulic door closer having a minimum area through Whichliquid might leak outwardly of the cylinder in which it is confined, and of simple and inexpensive seing means for preventing leakage of said liquid from the cylinder.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a door closer as set forth which is simple and inexpensive to produce and install, which is quiet and eiiicient in operation, and which is rugged in construction and durable 1n use.

'The above, and still further highly important objects and advantages of my invention, will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the invention, and in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

FIG.- l is a fragmentary view in horizontal section of a door frame and doors hinged therein, illustrating in top plan a hydraulic door closer made in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary axial section taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a still further enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. l, conventional wall structure 1 is shown as being provided with a door frame 2 including frame members 3 and 4, to the latter of which is hingedlymounted an inner door 5, as indicated at 6,

32,143,757 Patented Aug. 11, 1964 ICC and to which is further hinged an outer door 7, as indicated at 8. The usual threshold associated with the door frame, is indicated at 9.

My improved door closer comprises an outer cylinder 1i) and an inner cylinder 11 concentric with the outer cylinder 10 and axially telescopically slidable therein. The outer cylinder 10 includes a cylindrical Wall 12 that is rigidly secured to an outer end wall forming member 13, the opposite or inner end of the cylindrical wall 12 being provided with an annular ange or ring 14 which provides the inner end wall of the cylinder 10. The member 13 provides a closed liuid tight inner end for the outer cylinder 10 and is adapted to be pivotally secured to the outer door 7 by means of a bracket 15 that is screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the door 7. The outer end wall forming member 13 is formed to provide an axially outwardly opening cup-shaped portion 16 and a reduced neck portion 17, the bracket 15 having hook elements 18 that are received within the cuplike portion 16, and other hook-like elements 19 that loosely engage the outer surface of the bottom of the cup-like portion 16 at diametrically opposite sides of the reduced neck 17. The cup-like portion 16 and bracket 15 are well known to those skilled in the art, and in themselves, do not comprise the instant invention.

The inner cylinder 11 includes a cylindrical wall 2t) and a pair of inner and outer end wall forming members 21 and 22 respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the inner end portion of the cylindrical wall 20 is diametrically enlarged to receive the inner end wall forming member 21, together with a pair of sealing washers 23 and a retaining washer 24. Both members 21 and 22 are provided with annular grooves containing sealing rings 25, the opposite end portions of the cylindrical Wall 20 being crimped, as indicated at 26, to anchor the members 21 and 22 in place, as well as to compress the sealing rings 25 suiiciently to provide a liquid tight seal. The outer end wall forming member 22 is formed to provide a lug 27 that is received in a bifurcated bracket 28 and pivotally secured thereto by means of a pivot pin or the like 29.

extending through aligned apertures in the bracket 28 and lug 27, the bracket 28 being screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the door frame member 4, see FIG. l. As is usual with door closers of the tubular type, the axis of the pivot pin 29 is parallel to the axis of swinging movement of the cup-shaped portion 16 with respect to its bracket 15, and to the axis of the door hinge 8.

The cylindrical walls 12 and 2t) of the outer and inner cylinders 1t) and 11 respectively form the outer and inner walls of an annular chamber 30 in which is disposed a coil compression spring 31. The inner wall forming member 21 of the inner cylinder 11 is formed to provide a radially outwardly projecting annular flange 32 which denes one end of the chamber 30, the opposite end thereof being defined by the lange or ring 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the opposite ends of the compression spring 31 abut the flanges 32 and 14, the spring 31 yieldingly urging the

cylinders

10 and 11 toward a fully telescoped relationship, the arrangement being such that, when the cylinders 1t) and 11 are close to their fully telescoped relationship, the door 7 is in its closed position. When the door '7 is opened, the

cylinders

10 and 11 move axially relative to each other in a direction to compress the spring 31, yielding bias of the spring 31 closing the door 7 when the same is released.

For the purpose of controlling door closing movement of the cylinders 1t) and 11 imparted thereto by the spring 31, l provide a piston 33 disposed within the inner cylinder 11, and a cooperating piston rod 34, one end portion of which is rigidly mounted in the piston 33, as indicated at 35. The piston rod 34 extends axially of the inner cylinder 11 and through aligned central openings in' the inner yend Wall forming member 21, sealing Washers 23 and retaining washer 24, and axially slidable therein. As shown in FIG. 2, the extreme end portion 36 of the piston rod 34 is embedded in the outer end wall forming member 13 of the outer cylinder 19, and is anchored therein against movement relative thereto. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the. interior or the inner cylinder 11 is l'led with suitable liquid 37, said liquid 37 preferably being commercial hydraulic brake iiuid such as is commonly used in the hydraulic brake systems of automotive vehicles, and being of the type which does not change appreciably in viscosity under extreme changes in ternperature.

It will be readily seen that, the piston 33 being rigidly connected to the outer end wall forming member 13 of the outer cylinder 10, will move axially relative to the inner cylinder 11 during opening and closing movements of the door 7. The piston 33. comprises a body 38 that has a diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of theA cylinder Wall 20. The body 38 is formed to prov ide a radially outwardly opening annular channel 39 intermediate its ends, one side 40 of the channel 39 being ilat and transverse to the axis of the body 38, the opposite, side 41 of the channel being frusto-conical and diverging from the side 40 in a direction radially outwardly of the body 38. The outer cylindrical surfaces of the body 38 at opposite sides of the channel 39 cooperate with the inner wall surface of the cylindrical wall 24) to deiine annular passages 42 and 43, see particularly FIG. 3, that extend from opposite ends of the body 3S of the piston 33 to the channel 39 thereof. A piston ring 44 is contained in the channel 39, and is preferably in the nature of a conventional rubber-like y-ring, the axial dimension thereof being substantially less than the axial dimension of the radially outer portion of the channel 39, whereby the ring 44 is capable of axial movement relative to the body 38Y of the piston 33. Further, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, it willbe seen that the body 38 is provided with aligned axially extending

passages

45 and 46, the passage 45 extending4 inwardly from one end of the piston 33 and communicating with the bottom portion of the channel 39 radially inwardly of the piston ring 44, the

passage 46 extending inwardly from the opposite end ofY the body 38 and communicating with the channel 39 through a portion of the passage 45.

' It will be noted, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, that movement of the piston 33 to -the left relative to the inner cylinder 11 causes the piston ring 44 to engage the side 40 of the channel 39 whereby to operatively open the annular passage 43 and -close the annular passage 42, whereby to permit relatively free ow of the liquid 37 through the annular passage 43 and the relatively large passage 45. This movement of the liquid 37 occurs during opening movements of the door 7, and subjects theliquid 37 between the piston 33 and the inner end Wall forming member 21 to aV relatively low positive pressure not suicient to cause leakage of the liquid through the sealing washers 23 and the axial opening in the end wall forming member 21 through which the piston rod 34 extends. When the piston 33 moves to the right of FIGS. 2 and 3 relative to the inner cylinder 11, during closing movements of the door, the piston ring 42 moves axially into engagement with the frusto-conical Wall 41 of the channel 39 to operatively open the annular passage 42 and close the annular passage 43. When this occurs, the liquid 37 ows Vfrom the right hand end portion of the cylinder 11 to the left hand end portion thereof through the annular passage 42 and the passage 45 to the relatively small diameter passage 46 which restricts the ilow of liquid and effectively retards closing movements of the door 7. During closing movements of the door 7, imparted thereto by the coil compression spring 31, the pressure of the liquid 37 to the right of the piston 33 is considerably greater than that in the cylinder 11 to the left 4 of the piston 33. The snug tit between the outer end wall forming member 22 and the adjacent end portion of the cylindrical wall 20, and the sealing effect of the sealing ring 25 prevents escape of the liquid 37 from the outer end of the inner cylinder 11. Should leakage of the liquid 37 through the end wall 21 occur, the escaping liquid g will be contained within the outer cyinder 10 and act as a lubricant for the inner wall surface of the cylindrical wall 12, the spring 31, the flange 32, and the flange 14. In any event, the sealing washers 23 will prevent leakage of the liquid 37 from the inner cylinder 11 in a sucient quantity to cause escape thereof from the annular chamber 30.

My invention has been thoroughly tested, and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the objectives set forth; and, while I have shown and described a commercial embodiment of my present door closer, it will be understood that the same is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric telescoping inner and outer cylinders having closed fluid tight outer ends, each of said cylinders having a portion axially slidably engaging the other of said cylinders, means on the closed outer ends of said cylinders for con-y necting said closed outer ends one to a door frame and the other to a cooperating door hinged to said door frame,

the inner end of said cylinder having an axial openingvv portion of said inner cylinder to the other end portionA thereof responsive to relative axial movements of said inner cylinder and piston.

2. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric telescoping inner and outer cylinders having closed fluid tightk outer ends and defining therebetween an annular chamber, each of said cylinders having a guide portion axiallyV slidably engaging the other of saidy cylinders, means onY the closed outer ends of said cylinders for connecting saidl closed outer ends one to a door frame and the other to a cooperating door hinged tosaid door frame, the inner end of said inner cylinder having an axial opening-therethrough, a piston in said inner cylinder, .a piston rod extending Slidably through said axial opening and 'securedl at one end to saidpiston and at its other. end to the closed outer end portion of said outer cylinder, a coil compression spring encompassing said inner cylinder in said annular chamber, the opposite ends of said spring engaging said guide portions of said inner and outer cylinders and yieldingly urging said cylinders in directions of relative axial movement thereof toward a fully telescoped relationship and said piston toward one end portion of said inner cylinder, said inner cylinder containing liquid, and valve means operatively associated with said piston for controlling ow of liquid from one end portion of said inner cylinder to the other end portion thereof responsive to relative axial movements of said inner cylinder and piston.

3. In a hydraulic door closer, a pair of concentric tele-VV frame and the other to a cooperatingdoor hinged to said door frame, the inner end of said inner cylinder havingV an axial opening therethrough, a piston axially movable in said inner cylinder, an axial piston rod extending slidably through said axial opening and having one end secured to said piston for axial movements therewith relative to said inner cylinder, the other end of said piston rod being rigidly secured to the closed outer end portion of said outer cylinder, the inner ends of said inner and outer cylinders having annular ilanges defining opposite annular end Wall portions of said annular chamber and each having axial sliding engagement with the other cylin der whereby to maintain said cylinders in concentric relationship, and a coil compression spring encompassing said inner cylinder and interposed between said annular anges, said spring yieldingly urging said cylinders in directions of relative axial movement thereof toward a fully telescopcd relationship and said piston toward the outer end portion of said inner cylinder, said inner cylinder containing liquid, said piston including valve means for controlling flow of said liquid from one end portion of said inner cylinder to the other end portion thereof responsive to relative axial movements of said inner cylinder and piston.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 in which said piston comprises a generally cylindrical body having a radially outwardly opening circumferential channel intermediate its ends and an elastic piston ring in said channel, the

inner wall surface of said inner cylinder and the outer cylindrical surfaces of said body cooperating to dene annular passages between opposite ends of said piston and said channel, said piston ring engaging said inner Wall surface of the inner cylinder and axially movable in opposite directions relative to said body to selectively open each of said annular passages and close the other thereof, said body having a relatively large diameter passage and a relatively small diameter passage, each of said lastmentioned passages having its inner end communicating with the bottom portion of said channel radially inwardly of said piston ring and extending therefrom in a direction axially of said body to a different end thereof, said piston ring constituting a valve element.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,497 Berry Feb. 15, 1916 1,455,691 West May 15, 1923 2,948,915 Vose Aug. 16, 1960 3,028,620 Quinn Apr. 10, 1962 3,053,199 Brox et al Sept. 11, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 453,104 Canada Dec. 7, 1948

Claims

1. IN A HYDRAULIC DOOR CLOSER, A PAIR OF CONCENTRIC TELESCOPING INNER AND OUTER CYLINDERS HAVING CLOSED FLUID TIGHT OUTER ENDS, EACH OF SAID CYLINDERS HAVING A PORTION AXIALLY SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE OTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS, MEANS ON THE CLOSED OUTER ENDS OF SAID CYLINDERS FOR CONNECTING SAID CLOSED OUTER ENDS ONE TO A DOOR FRAME AND THE OTHER TO A COOPERATING DOOR HINGED TO SAID DOOR FRAME, THE INNER END OF SAID CYLINDER HAVING AN AXIAL OPENING THERETHROUGH, A PISTON IN SAID INNER CYLINDER, A PISTON ROD EXTENDING SLIDABLY THROUGH SAID AXIAL OPENING AND SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID PISTON AND AT ITS OTHER END TO THE CLOSED OUTER END PORTION OF SAID OUTER CYLINDER, AND YIELDING MEANS BIASING ONE OF SAID CYLINDERS IN ONE DIRECTION OF AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO THE OTHER OF SAID CYLINDERS, WHEREBY TO IMPART RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENTS TO SAID PISTON AND INNER CYLINDER, SAID INNER CYLINDER CONTAINING LIQUID, AND VALVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID PISTON FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF SAID LIQUID FROM ONE END PORTION OF SAID INNER CYLINDER TO THE OTHER END PORTION THEREOF RESPONSIVE TO RELATIVE AXIAL MOVEMENTS, OF SAID INNER CYLINDER AND PISTON.