US578634A - Door-check - Google Patents

Description

(No Modell.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. S. GOODING 81; V. BEAUREGARD.

l :DOOR CHECK.

No. 578,634. Patented Mar. 9, 1897.

Mgg' i ATD@ aims rsvzns w, Mnovumo., WASHINGTON. D. z:A

(Fo Model) 2 Sheets-heet 21 C. S. GOODINGZSz V. BEAUREGARD. DOOR CHECK.

No; 578,634. l y Patented Mar. 9,1897.

UNITED STATES RATENT OFFICE.`

CHARLES S. GOODING, OE BROOKLINE, AND VICTOR BEAUREGARD, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DOOR-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,634, dated March 9, 1897.

i Application filed April 2, 1896. Serial No. 585,925. (No model.)

and useful Improvements in Door-Checks,-

of which the following is a specification.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved liquid doorcheck of such construction that a plunger arranged in operative connection with acylinder or vessel is adapted to enter and entirely leave a compression-chamber constructed in the cylinder or vessel in juxtaposition to and communicating with an overflow-chamber therein in such manner that when the plunger enters the compression-chamber the liquid therein overflows therefrom into the overfiowchamber through a restricted passage for the purpose of checking or retarding the movement of the door, and when the plunger leaves the compression-chamber the latter is in free or unobstructed communication with the overflow-chamber from which the liquid instantly iiows into the compression-chamber.

The invention also has forits object to provide a liquid door check or retarder of such construction that the use of a valve, one or more, in a piston and specialpiston-rod packings are avoided, and the confined liquid is effectually prevented from being forced to the exterior of the liquid-containing cylinder or holder as the door is moved to its closed position, which occurs in prior door-checks wherein a cylinder is lled or nearly filled with liquid, and a piston works therein.

The invention also has for its object to provide a new and improved liquid door check or retarder, which will check or retard the door, both when it closes to avoid slamming and when itis opened a little more than ninety degrees to prevent the door strikingthe wall.

The invention also has for its object to provide new and improved means for operating the plunger, which cooperates with the liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel.

The invention consists, essentially, in a door check or retarder composed of a cylinder or vessel provided internally with a liquidcompression chamber and a liquid-overdow chamber and a plunger which is adapted to enter into and leave the compression-chamber, whereby when the plunger enters the compression-chamber, the liquidtherein overiiows therefrom into the overflow-chamber through a restricted passage about the exterior of the plunger, and when said plunger leaves the compression-chamber the latter is in free or unobstructed communication with the overflow-chamber, from which the liquid instantly flows into the compression-chamber.

The invention also consist-sin a door check or retarder composed of a cylinder or vessel containing liquid and having internally a compression-chamber and au overiiow-chamber and a plunger which is movable into and out ofthe compression-chamber and which, when entirely withdrawn therefrom, establishes free communication between the two chambers and when moved into the compression-chamber provides a restricted passage through which the liquid is forced from the compression-chamber to the overflowchamber. l

The invention also consists in the combination, with a cylinder or vessel containing liquid and a plunger working in the cylinder or vessel, of a lever for actuating the plunger and a roll which travels back and forth in contact with and moves the lever first in one direction and thenin the opposite direction by passing from one side to the other of the lever-f ulcrum.

The invention also consists in the combination, with a cylinder or vessel containing a liquid and a plunger Working inthe cylinder or vessel, of a lever foractuating the plunger, a roll-track provided onthe plunger-actuating lever, a roll which travels back and forth on the roll-track, and suitable lneans for mov in g the roll over the track to move the'plunger first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

The invention also consists in other features of construction and in certain combinations or arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a top plan View of ourimproved door-check, showing a portion of a door-frame in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation show- IOO ing portions of the door and door-frame in section. Fig. 3 is a detail central sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing the spring-containing cylinder or drum, the rocking lever, the liquid-containing cylinder, and the plunger. Fig. 4L is a longitudinal sectional view of a modiiied form of Kthe liquid-containing cylinder, showing its plunger withdrawn entirelyl from the compressionchamber. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view showing another modification of the door-check, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the same.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now describe the same in detail, referring to the drawings, wherein- The numeral 1 indicates a portion of a door, and 2 a portion of a door-frame, to which latter is rigidly attached a bracket or casting 3. A lengthwise-adjustable link 3, preferably made similar to a turnbuckle, is pivoted at one end, as at 4, between ears or lugs on the bracket or casting 3, while the other end is pivoted, as at 5, to the outer extremityofalever-arm 6. Theinnerextremity of the lever-arm is constructed with a hub 7, adapted to be rigidly attached upon the upper end of a vertical spindle 8 through the medium of a set-screw 9 or similar contrivance. The spindle is arranged centrally in a spring-holding cylinder or drum-10, having top and bottom bearings 12, in which the spindle is adapted to turn. Thedrum or cylinder contains a convolute or helical spring 13, attached at one extremity to the spindle and at the other extremity to the cylinder or drum in such manner that when the spindle is rotated in one direction it will wind the spring and place it under increased tension.

The spindle is constructed at its lower end with an angular head 14, adapted to receive a wrench or ot'hersuitable instrument, whereby the spindle may be rotated after unscrewing the set-screw 9 for the purpose of increasing or diminishing the tension of the spring to meet the conditions required.

The spindle is preferably retained in position against vertical displacement by a key 15, inserted through a transverse orifice in the spindle at a point directly under a suitable washer, as will be obvious.

The spring cylinder or drum 10, as here shown, is provided with a pendent bracket 16, on which is mounted, in any suitable manner, a liquid-cylinder 17, constructed internally with two chambers 18a7 and 19, which,

as shown in Fig. 3, are of different diameter,

the chamber 18, of least diameter, being thel compression-chamber and designed to normally hold and retain a body of liquid, such as mercury, while the chamber 19, of greatest diameter, constitutes an overfiow-chamber, into which the liquid is caused to flow through the restricted passage created around theouter surface of the lower end of a plunger 2O when this plunger enters the compression-chamber. The plunger 2O isofa diam eter approximately the sam-e as the diameter of the compression-chamber 18, the construction being such that the plunger will more or less accurately fit the chamber 18 and nearly fill the same when moved thereinto.

The plunger is so constructed and operates in such manner that it will entirely leave the compression-chamber, thereby establishing free and unobstructed communication between the two chambers, so that the liquid will instantly flow into the compression-chainber from the overow-chamber- Then the plunger enters the compression-chamber and displaces the liquid therefrom into the overiiow-chamber through the contracted passage before referred to, there is no liability whatever of the liquid being forced to the exterior of the liquid-containing cylinder or vessel through the opening in the end of the cylinder through which the plunger extends, because the overflow-chamber receives and accommodates the liquid. This result is not attained by prior liquid door-checks, wherein a cylinder is filled ornearly filled with liquid and a submerged piston works back and forth in the body of liquid, as in such constructions the liquid will or is Very liable to be forced to the exterior .of lthe cylinder through the end thereof in which the piston-rod works.

The compression-chamber 18 is shown as formed at the center of a screw-plug screwed into the lower end of the liquid-cylinder 17, a suitable packing being interposed between the head of the screw-plug and the lower end of the cylinder. XVe do not wish to be understood, however, as limiting ourselves to this particular construction, as the compression and overflow chambers may be otherwise provided to perform the functions above stated without altering the character of our invention. Forexample, the compression-chamber may be provided in a lateral or inclined tubular extension of the cylinder or Vessel, as at 19a, in the modified construction, Fig. 4c. In this iigure the -plunger is shown in its raised position, so thatv it is entirely out of the compression-chamber18, and the mercury or otherliquid has flowed backinto said chamber from the overflow-chamber.

The upper end of the cylinder or vessel is shown as provided with a cap 21, containing a packing; but this is not an essential feature of the liquid-cylinder, because the construction of the chambers is such that, although the plunger will enter and fit the compression-chamber 1S and displace all or nearly all the liquid therein, the displaced liquid overflows into the overflow-chamber and there is no danger whatever of the liquid from the overflow-chamber being forced by the action of the plunger through the opening in the end of the cylinder through which the plunger extends.

The plunger is designed to be reciprocated or moved lengthwise in both directions as the door opens and closes through the medium of IOO IIO

a rocking lever or frame 22, of any suitableV construction' and mounted in any suitable manner, so that it will be rocked bya part of the door-closing mechanism, which mechanism comprises, as herein shown, the springdrum 10, the spring 13, the spindle 8, the lever-arm 6, and the link 3a. The part which serves to rock the rocking lever or frame is a roll or roller-stud 23, which is caused to travel in the arc ofV a circle on a roll-track formed by the upper surface of the rocking lever or frame. This rocking lever or frame is shown as pivoted at opposite sides to the spring cylinder or drum 10 through the medium of pendent ears 24 and pivot-pins 25. The pendent ears'24 are shown as formed integral with the rocking lever or frame, and the pivot-pins 25 are shown in the form of set-screws having conical inner ends to tit correspondingly-shaped seats in the spring cylinder or drum.

The track of the rocking lever or frame is in t-he nature of a cam-track, in that a portion of the upper surface of the lever or frame lies approximately horizontal and a portion at an angle thereto when the parts are in their normal position, or rather when the door is closed. By this construction the cam portion 22:L of the rocking frame will normally stand above the horizontal plane of the other portion of the frame when the parts are in normal position or when the door is closed.

The rocking lever may be in the form of a plate havinga central opening to receive the upper bearing 12 of the spring cylinder or drum, and this rockinglever is provided with pendent ears 24, between which is pivoted, as at 24h, the upper end of a link 26. This link is pivoted at its lower end, as at 27, to the upper end of the plunger 20, and obviously, therefore, this plunger will be reciprocated when the lever is rocked by the action of the roller or roller-stud 23 in its traversing motion on the roll-track formed by the upper surface of the lever or frame.

The roll or ro1ler-stud 23 is shownas mounted in a stud-carrying arm 28, which is connected in any suitable manner with the spindle 8, as, for example, by forming the arm 28 with a collar 29, arranged on the spindle 8 and secured thereto by a set-screw 30. Ve do not wish to be understood, however, as confining ourselves to this particular manner of connecting the stud-carrying arm with the spindle, as the same result can be accomplished by forming the stud-carrying arm with or attaching it to the hub 7 ofthe lever 6 or to the lever 6 itself, as will be obvious without further explanation, and therefore we do not deem it essential to illustrate this variation in the drawings.

. When the track surface of the rocking frame at the lefthandside of the line d ot, Fig. 1, lies horizontal, the portion 224 will lie above the horizontal plane or at an angle of less than one hundred and eighty degrees t0 the track-surface at the left-hand side ofthe line a a; This construction makes the track in the nature of a cam, and therefore, with reference to the track-surface of the rocking frame, it may be termed, for the purposes of this description, a cam-track]y In the operation of our invention, when applied to a door and door-frame, when the door is opened in the direction of the arrow b the link 33- will force the lever-arm 6 to swing in the direction of the arrow c, Fig. 1, thereby turning the spindle 8, winding the spring 13 and causing the roller-stud 23 to travel onto the elevated part 22*L of the rocking frame 22. As this roller-stud passes across the line a a, the frame will be tilted from the position shown in full lines, Figs. 2 and 3, to the position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 3, thereby raising the plunger 20 and permitting the iiuid in the overflow-cylinder to ilow into and ill the compression-chamber 18. Vhen the door is released, the spring-closing mechanism will instantly swing it in the direction to close the same, and during the movement of the lever-arm 6 in a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow c, Fig. l, the rollerstud 23 will roll back on the part 22 of the rocking frame, and about the time that the door is closed the roller-stud will cross the line a a and thus depress the end of the frame which is connected with the plunger, so that the latter is depressed and caused to enter the compression-chamber 18 of the fluid-cylinder. lnasmuch as the plunger ltits the chamber 18 more or less tightly, the liquid contained in this chamber will be displaced and caused to iiow upwardly around the eX- ternal surface of the plunger and overflow into the overliow-chamber 19. The descent of the plunger is resisted by the liquid contained in the chamber 18, and as this liquid is gradually displaced and caused to overflow into the overflow-chamber the closing of the door is checked or retarded and slamming and noise are effectually avoided.

The door-checking devices aredouble-acting in operation in that they not only retard or check the door as it closes, but they also retard or check the door when it is opened about half-way, or, say, about ninety degrees, as

obviously when this occurs the roller-stud 23 will cross the line a a and depress the plunger, thereby checking or retarding the door and preventing it from striking the wall. This is very desirable in that the door when opened cannotstrike the wall with violence, which obviously would produce more or less noise.

A` desirable, important, and useful feature of our invention residesin the fact that when the plunger leaves the compression-chamber there is provided afree passage for the liquid from the overiiow chamber into the compression-chamber, and this construction does away with the valves heretofore employed to allow the liquid displaced by a piston to pass therethrough.

The lever or rocking frame for operating IOC y roll or wheel 45 will act upon the inner end the plunger enables the plunger to be operated by the passage of the roll, or its equivalent, past the fulcrum of the rocking frame, and this is in itself a feature of our invention and may be used with a dash-pot of any suitable construction. Moreover, when the rocking frame is formed with an annular track for its operating-roll, as shown, the door may be checked, not only when it is about to close, but also when it is openedv too wide.

As regards the construction of the liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel and its plunger adapted to enter and entirely leave the compression-chamberwe do not confine ourselves to any particular devices for operating the plunger, although we desire to cover and protect the devices for this purpose which are illustrated in the drawings.

In Figs. l to 4, inclusive, the plunger is designed to be reciprocated while the liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel is immovable in relation to the plunger; but, as shown in the modification, Figs. 5 and 6, we may make the cylinder or vessel movable and the plunger immovable with relation to the cylinder or vessel. In this modification 0f our invention the numeral 3l indicates a door-frame, to which a casing 32 is secured in any suitable manner. The casing is stationary and contains centrally within it the plunger 33, which is preferably attached to the upper end of the casing through the medium of a screw 34, which passes loosely through the casing and screws into the upper end of the plunger, so that the plunger is pivotally connected to the casing, as will be obvious. The liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel 35 is provided internally with the compression-chamber 36 and the overflow-chamber 37, and at its upper end the cylinder or vessel is provided with a cap 38, which accurately ts and slides upon the plunger. The lower end of the cylinder is pivotally connected, as at 39, with one end of a rocking lever 40, which is pivoted intermediate its extremities, as at 4l, on a projecting part of the casing 32, so that the lever is provided with a tailpiece, as at 42.

The door 43 is provided with a bracket 44, in which a roll or wheel 45 is journaled in such manner that when the door closes the portion 40 of the rocking lever and move the cylinder or vessel 35 along the length of the plunger 33, thus causing the plunger to `enter the compression-chamber 36, so that the liquid therein contained is caused to overflow into the overflow-chamber 37 through the contracted passage provided between the external surface of the plunger and the internal surface of the compression-chamber. This modified construction of our invention possesses the advantages of c'ompactness, simplicity, and economy.

The casing 32 is useful in that it effectually protects the working parts from the effects of rain or snow if the device is arranged on exterior doors, such as screen-doors having springs which close them after they have been opened.

In the modied construction, Figs. 5 and 6, the door is checked or retarded as the door closes and opens 'in substantially the same manner as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

When the door is opened, the roll or wheel 45 acts upon the tail end 42 of the rocking lever 40, and thereby moves the cylinder or vessel 35 downward, so that the plunger 33 entirely leaves the compression-chamber 36 and permits the liquid in the overflow-chamber to instantly flow into the compressionchamber. Y

To limit the downstroke'of the cylinder or vessel 33, we provide the rocking lever 40 with a stop-lug or shoulder 46, which strikes the casing 32, when the tail end 42 of the lever is moved or thrown upward by the roll or wheel 45.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that according to our invention either the plunger or the cylinder or vessel may be made the movable part, for the purpose of causing the plunger to enter or entirely leave the compression-chamber.

Our improved construction and mode of operation render it possible to entirelyv dispense with the valve or valves ordinarily employed in the pistons of door-checks, and also render it unnecessary to provide special packing-boxes for the passage of the piston-rods to secure perfectly air and liquid tight joints.

As shown in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the bracket or casting 3 is attached to the door-frame, and the spring cylinder or drum 10 is secured to the door, and for this purpose the cylinder or drum is constructed or pro- ICO vided with a base frame or plate, which may be secured to the door by bolts or screws.

Having thus described our inventiomwhat we claim isl. A door-check, consisting of a cylinder or vessel provided internally with a liquid-compression chamber and a separate liquid-overflow chamber arranged in juxtaposition to each other, and a plunger constructed to enter into and to entirely leave the said compression-chamber, so that when the plunger enters the compression-chamber, the liquid therein overflows therefrom into the overflowchamber through a restricted passage about the exterior of the plunger and when the plunger leaves the compression-chamber, the latter is in free or unobstructed communication with the overflow-chamber from which the liquid instantly flows into the compression-chamber, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a cylinder or vessel containing liquid, and a plunger working in the cylinder or vessel, of a lever for reciprocating the plunger, and a roll which travels back and forth in contact with said lever from one side to the other of the lever-fulcrum for positively reciprocating the plunger, substantially as described.

IIO

3. The combination With a cylinder or vessel containing liquid, and a plunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, of a lever for actuating the plunger, a roll-track provided on the plunger-actuating lever, a roll adapted to travel on the roll-track from one side to the other of the lever-fulerum, and means for moving the roll over the track to move the plunger `iirst in one direction and then in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a plunger, a liquidcontaining cylinder or vessel confining a body of liquid and constructed with a compressionchamber and an overflow-chamber which is in free communication with the compressionchamber when the plunger is Withdrawn from the latter, a lever for causing the plunger to enter and leave the compressionchamber,and a roll for operating said lever vto move the plunger first in one direction and then in the opposite direction substantially as described.

5. The combination in a door-check, of a liquid-holding cylinder, and a plunger, with a lever for moving one of said parts on the other, and a roll which travels back and forth in contact with the lever and operates to swing said lever first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination with a suitable mechanisin for closing a door, of a cylinder or vessel conning a body of liquid, a plunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, a rocking lever or frame pivotally connected with the plunger, and a roll movable over the rocking lever or frame to rock the same and thereby move the plunger first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

7. The combination with suitable mechanism for closing a door, of a cylinder or vessel, a plunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, a rocking lever or frame pivotally connected with the plungerand having a cam-track, and a roll forming a part of and moved by the door-closing mechanism for rocking said lever or frame, substantially as described.

8. The combination with aspring door-closing mechanism, of a fluid cylinder or vessel confining a body of iiuid, a plunger Working in the cylinder or vessel, a rocking lever or frame connected with the plunger and having a cam-track, and an arm moved by the door-closing mechanism and provided With a roll Which travels on the cam-track of the rocking lever or frame for rocking the latter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands in presence of tivo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES S. GOODIN G. VICTOR BEAUREGARD.

Vitnesses:

WM. I-I. VARNUNL, GEO. H. CUSHMAN.

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