US3618159A - Device for closing doors and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A DOOR CLOSER AND THE LIKE. ELONGATED HOUSING MEANS HAS SPACED ENDS. SLIDE MEANS IS LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLE IN THE HOUSING IN THE REGION OF ONE OF THE ENDS BETWEEN AN OPERATIVE AND AN INOPERATIVE POSITION. SHAFT MEANS IS CONNECTED WITH THE SLIDE MEANS AND CAN BE CONNECTED WITH A DOOR SO AS TO MOVE THE SLIDE MEANS TO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED RODS ARE COUPLED TO THE SLIDE MEANS FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE SAME AND EXTEND TOWARDS THE OTHER END OF THE HOUSING. BIASING SPRING MEANS PERMANENTLY URGES THE SLIDE MEANS TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION. A CROSS-HEAD IS MOUNTED ON THE ENDS OF THE SHAFTS ADJACENT THE OTHER END FOR MOVEMENT WITH THE SHAFTS. A DASHPOT HAVING A STATIONARY AND A MOVABLE COMPONENT IS MOUNTED INTERMEDIATE THE SHAFT FOR DAMPING MOVEMENT OF THE SLIDE MEMBER TO ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION. CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTS THE CROSS-HEAD WITH THE MOVABLE COMPONENT OF THE DASHPOT.

Description

3mm m 9 NOV 9 19W D. JENTSQH DEVICE FOR CLOSING DORS AND THE LIKE Film1 Supt. 1l, 1969 mm m Q t Serres U.S. Cl. 116-55 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF 'I'IIE DISCLOSURE A door closer and the like. Elongated housing means has spaced ends. Slide means is longitudinally slidable in the housing in the region of one of the ends between an operative and an inoperative position. Shaft means is connected with the slide means and can be connected with a door so `as to move the slide means to its operative position when the door is opened. A pair of transversely spaced rods are coupled to the slide means for movement with the same and extend towards the other end of the housing. Biasing spring means permanently urges the slide means to its inoperative position. A cross-head is mounted on the ends of the shafts adjacent the other end for movement with the shafts. A dashpot having a stationary and a movable component is mounted intermediate the shaft for damping movement of the slide member to its inoperative position. Connecting means connects the cross-head with the movable component of the dashpot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a device for closing doors and the like, and more specifically to such a device wherein a slide member is movable longitudinally within a housing, being urged to a rest position by biasing means and being moved from its rest position in response to turning movement of a shaft with which it is associated and which in turn is connectable with the door or other element which is to be closed by the device.

Such devices are already known. They utilize some type of attenuating means for attenuating the return movement of the device when the same closes the door or other member, hereafter for the sake of convenience referred to as the door, so that the door should not slam." A known device of the type in question utilizes a cam for controlling the attenuating means, this cam being arranged on the shaft which actuates the Slide means. This, however, is not advantageous because it requires a relatively bulky--with respect to the diameter-construction of the device which is frequently undesirable because of inadequate space availability. Other constructions known from the prior art suffer from similar disadvantages, and many of them are quite expensive because they are quite elaborate. In still others it is at least difficult and sometimes impossible to properly adjust the force of the biasing means, which is also disadvantageous because it makes it impossible to utilize one or a small number of different closing devices for a wide variety of doors and other members which are to be closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of the present invention to provide a device of the type identified here before which is not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide such a device wherein the control of the 3,6IS,I59 Patented Nov. 9, ISWI attenuating means is effected in a novel manner, but wherein at the same time adjustment of the biasing force of the biasing means is regulatable precisely and without any difculties.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device which, because of its particular structural features, requires less space than heretofore necessary and which is relatively simple in its construction.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a device which does not require access to the interior of the housing for adjustments in the biasing force of the biasing means.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others, which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the novel device resides, briefly stated, in the provision of elongated housing means having spaced ends, with slide means being mounted in the housing means longitudinally slidable in the region of one of the ends between an operative and an inoperative position. Shaft means are connected with slide means and arranged to be connected with a door for moving the slide means to the operative position in response to opening of the door. Of course, a window or other member can also be controlled with the device.

A pair of transversely spaced rods are coupled to the slide means for movement with the same and extend towards the other of the ends of the housing means, these shafts having end portions located adjacent its other end. Biasing spring means permanently urges the slide measn to its inoperative position. A cross-head is mounted on the end portions of the shaft for movement therewith. A dashpot has a stationary and a movable component and is mounted intermediate the shafts for damping the movement of the slide member to its inoperative position. Connecting means connect the cross-head with the movable component of the dashpot.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects andvantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top-plan view, partly in section, of a device according to the present invention, with the housing partly open;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the III-III of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the device has a housing 10 of generally box-shaped elongated configuration, this housing being flat as FIGS. 2 and 3 show particularly clearly. The housing 1t) may be closed with a cover I1, which may be supplied in separate sections if desired.

A rotatable shaft 12 is mounted in the housing in a manner already known from the art, and carries in the interior of the housing a cam 13 whose outline is shown in broken lines in FIG. 1. Arranged above and below the cam 13-as seen in FIG. l-are two plates which are connected with a pin I4 and together with the same constitute a slide means I5. Two journal pins 16 extend also between these plates and each has mounted thereon a roller 17 which is journalled in a needle bearing. These cooperate with the cam 13. A further roller 19 is mounted 3 on pin 18 in order to assure engaging cooperation between the cam 13 and the rollers 17 under all circumstances, even if the device is used under adverse conditions.

Two guide rollers 21 are respectively mounted via needle bearings on two additional pins 20 of the slide means 15. These guide rollers 21 guide the slide means 15 along the side walls of the housing in tracks 22. The plates constituting the slide means are each provided with a slotted opening 23 and the shaft 12 extends transversely through these openings 23 which are aligned with one another.

As FIG. 1 shows most clearly, two shafts or rods 24 extend in parallelism transversely spaced from one another within the housing 10. They are each connected at one end with the slide means 15 and each surrounded by a helical expansion spring 25. At their opposite ends the shafts 24 extend through bores provided in a cross-head 26 which extends transversely of the housing in the interior thereof, adjacent the opposite end, that is the righthand end in FIG. 1. The cross-head is movable in the housing in the longitudinal direction of the latter, and thereby of the shafts 24. A bridging member 28 extends between and connects the free end of the shafts 24, being secured thereto by the screws 27 or analogous connecting means. It is located intermediate the cross-head 26 and the adjacent end wall of the housing 10.

A threaded spindle 29 is threaded through a bore provided in the transverse wall 30 of the housing so as to be movable farther into and out of the housing; it extends in parallelism with the elongation of the housing and thereby the shafts 24. A head 31 provided on the spindle 29 is so configurated that it can be engaged with suitable tools, for instance with a wrench or the like, and can be turned. FIG. 2 shows that the spindle 29 is threaded into a bore provided substantially centrally of the cross-head 26 (compare also FIG. l). The springs 25, constituting the biasing means, surround the shafts 24 and abut with their opposite ends against the slide means` 15 and the cross-head 26. By turning the spindle 29 in a sense shifting the cross-head 26 towards the left-hand side in FIG. 2, the springs 25 may be compressed, thereby varying their biasing force. Of course, the reverse is also possible.

A dashpot in form of a hydraulic cylinder 32 is located intermediate the shafts 24 and the springs 25, and comprises a piston 33 which is urged by a prestressed expansion spring 34 in the direction towards the end wall 30 of the housing 10. Such dashpots are already known, and it will be evident to those skilled in the art that in the bottom wall of the cylinders 32 there are provided suitable fluid channels, some of which are provided with oneway valves and others with adjustable throttling valves, which permit inflow and outflow of the hydraulic medium filling the interior of the housing 10 and the fluid space in the interior of the cylinder 32. This is not thought to require a detailed description because it is known to those skilled in the art, as pointed out before, and further because it does not form a part of the present invention.

However, it is in accordance with the present invention that the piston 33 is coupled with the slide means 15 as well as with the shafts 24 and the bridging member 28 by a drive member or connecting member which is carried by the bridge 28. In the illustrated embodiment it is in the form of two projections or tongues 35 extending from the bridge 38 and straddling the crosshead 26 at opposite sides thereof. The front ends of these projections 35 are connected by a pin 37 on which there is mounted a roller 36. Under the biasing force of the spring 34 the piston 33 abuts against the roller 36. It will be appreciated that the projections 35 may be of one piece with the bridging member 28, or may be secured thereto in suitable manner, as by welding, riveting, screwing or the like.

In the operation of the device according to the present invention, and when the door or other member whose closing movement is to be controlled will be opened, the shaft 12 turns and effects via the cam 13 the movement of the slide means 15 with the associated shaft 24 and the bridging member 28 towards the right-hand side in FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be understood that in these figures the device is shown in rest or inoperative position wherein the door is assumed to be closed, or wherein the device is not assumed to be connected with the door. During this movement towards the right-hand side, the springs 25 are compressed and the piston 33 follows under the influence of the spring 34, the pressure roller 36. Accordingly, the fluid space in the cylinder 32 increases as the fluid enters in wellknown manner through a suitable channel provided with a one-way valve which permits entry but not exit of the fluid, into the interior of the fluid space. When the force moving the door or other member to open position, ceases to operate, the springs 25 shift the slide member 15 with the associated shafts 24 and bridging member 28 towards the left-hand side in FIGS. l and 2. Simultaneously, the respectively cooperating pressure roller 17 and the associated cam 13 which cooperates therewith, turn the shaft 12 which in turn effects movement of the door to closed position. The speed of this movement is limited by the hydraulic damping device because the slide means 15 is connected via the shafts 24 and the bridging member 28 and further via the members 35. 36 and 37, to the piston 33 which can enter into the cylinder 32 only as quickly as fluid escapes therefrom through a conventional channel whose cross-section can be varied by the throttling means provided. The precompression of the springs 25 may be varied by turning the spindle 29 and thereby changing the position of the cross-head 26 within the housing 10.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the illustrated embodiment is exemplary only and that the invention is not limited thereto. Other possibilities will offer themselves readily to those skilled in the art. For instance, it is possible to effect the sliding movement of the slide means 15 via the shaft 12 in a manner other than that which has been illustrated. For instance, the guide rollers 21 could be eliminated and the slide means 15 could be guided by having the edge faces bounding the slots 23 cooperate with the shaft 12 for effecting a straight line movement, to thereby further reduce the length of the device. In place of the projection 35 it would be possible to use members which, while straddling the crosshead 16, would penetrate the same through suitable bores provided therein adjacent the spindle 29. Still other modifications will be evident to those skilled in the art and are intended to be encompassed as part of the present invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for closing doors and the like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A device for closing doors and the like, comprising elongated housing means having spaced end walls; slide means in said housing means longitudinally slidable in the region of one of said end Walls between an operative and an inoperative position; shaft means connected with said slide means and arranged to be connected with a door for moving said slide means to said operative position in response to opening of the door; a pair of transversely spaced shafts coupled to said slide means for movement with the same and extending towards the other of said end walls, said shafts having end portions located adjacent said other end wall; a cross-head mounted on said end portions of said shafts for movement longitudinally thereof; biasing spring means having end sections which respectively bear upon said cross-head and said slide means for permanently urging the latter to said inoperative position; adjusting means secured to said crosshead and having an adjusting portion projecting through said other end wall so as to enable by operation of said adjusting portion to eiect movement of said cross-head along said shafts from outside of said housing means a dashpot having a stationary and a movable -.component and being mounted intermediate said shafts for damping the movement of said slide means to said inoperative position; and connecting means connecting said `shafts with said movable component of said dashpot, said connecting means comprising a bridging portion connected to said end portions of said shafts intermediate said cross-head and said other end wall of said housing means and at least one connecting portion engaging at one'end to said movable component of said dashpot and at the other end thereof to said bridging portion.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, said biasing spring means comprising two helical compression springs under pretension each surrounding one of said shafts coaxially therewith.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, said portion comprising two projections straddling said cross-head and projecting beyond the same towards said one end wall of said housing and to said movable component of said dashpot.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein connecting said portion is substantially U-shaped, said projections constituting the arms of the U and said connecting portion having a section which constitutes the bight of the 3 U and which is rigid with said bridging portion.

5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said section is of one piece with said bridging portion.

6. A device as defined in claim 3, said projections having terminal portions adjacent said dashpot; and further comprising a pin extending transversely between and connected to said terminal portions so positioned as to bear upon said movable component.

7. A device as defined in claim 6; and further comprising a roller element mounted. on said pin for free rotation relative thereto.

8. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein said projections extend laterally of said cross-head beyond the same.

9. A device as defined in claim 3, said cross-head having a pair of apertures, and said. projections extending through said apertures.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,916 6/1910 Regan 16--55 3,137,888 6/1964 Blom 16-55 X 3,501,001 4/ 1970 Wharton 1'6-55 FOREIGN PATENTS 679,354 9/1952 England 16-55 998,344 7/1965 -Englaud 16--55 1,059,033 2/ 1967 England 16-55 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner P. A. ASCHENBRENNER, Assistant Examiner

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