US796448A - Fire-curtain for theaters. - Google Patents

Description

{PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

' L. POTTHOFF.

FIRE CURTAIN FOR THEATERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.18, 1904.

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ANDREW, s. amuum co. PNOj'O-LIYHOGRAPNERS, WASN\NG\ON 'B. a

LOUIS POTTHOFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FIRE-CURTAIN FOR THEATERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed January 18, 1904. Serial No. 189,455.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS POTTHOFF, aciti- Zen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Curtains for Theaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to fire-curtains for theaters, &c., and has for its object to provide an apparatus which can be controlled from a distance and which automatically closes and prevents the passage of flames and gases from one side to the other.

In theaters and other places where large numbers of persons assemble it is necessary to provide a fire-curtain of refractory material which can be operated quickly to shut off the auditorium from the stage in case of emergency and which when not in use will be out of sight. The use of flexible curtains for this purpose is objectionable, as they yield to any sudden rush of air and are likely to be torn or else stick in the guides, and thereby become useless.

According to this invention I provide a curtain of corrugated sheet metal or other material, made up of two or more sections, which can be brought together by suitable mechanism to form a rigid wall, completely shutting off the space on one side from that on the other. In one form which I have illustrated the screen is composed of four sections. two of which are movable and two fixed and constructed to form tight joints when brought together. In devices of this nature the operating mechanism is of great importance, as it must be easily manipulated, and simple in construction, so as not to get out of order. With this object in view I connect the movable sections by a cable or chain and weight the top section, so that as it falls the lower section will rise. Suitable latching means is provided for holding the sections apart, which may be controlled from a distance by any suitable means, as air-pressure, magnets, or mechanical means.

Another feature of the invention resides in a variable counterbalance for the movable sections, so that they will start quickly and move gradually slower as they approach each other. In order to accomplish this, there is considerable difference in the weights of the sections, and the lower section carries aseries of weights whose ag regate weight is slightly less than the difference between the weights of the secbelow the floor, respectively.

tions. Asthe lower section rises it lifts more of the weights, and consequently the sections move slower as they approach.

The invention will be more particularly described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of a stage, partly in section, showing the curtain in open position. Fig. 2 is an end view showing the sections closed. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the section open; and Fig. i is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, through one of the sections. Fig. 5 is a view of a modification. Fig. 6 is a detail view of Fig. 5.

1 represents the stage-opening, having the proscenium-arch 2, floor 3, and side walls 1 4.

. Mounted on a shaft 5, carried in suitable hangers, are pulleys 6, over which run chains 7, attached to the movable sections 8 9. 1O 11 are sections fixed to the building at the top and The proscenium-arch is usually higher at the back of the stage-opening than at the front, and the upper fixed section 10 can be designed to fit this space and not be visible from the front. The lower section 11 is made in the same way, so as to come close under the floor-level. The sections 10 and 11 have, projecting ledges 12, preferably curved, which act as stops in conjunction with similar ledges 13 on the movable sections 8 and 9. In many cases the fixed sections may be dispensed with, as where there is a complete fire-wall with only the stage-opening to be protected by the curtain. One of the movable sections carries flanges 14 on its edge, which are flared outwardly to act as guides when the sections meet and also to form a tight joint between the sections. Each section is composed of corrugated material, such as wrought-iron or heavy sheetasbestos, having the corrugations running vertically, and is provided with a channel-shaped frame 15 around its edge to stiffen it and allow of the convenient attachment of the operating devices. By having the corrugations run vertically the channels can act as flues, thus permitting currents of air to circulate and cool the surface of the section and preventing it from becoming overheated. For this purpose the corrugations may be made very deep and close together, so as to give a large amount of cooling-surface. Each movable section runs in grooves 16 in the wall and has guiderollers 17 to run on the sides of the groove. Attached to the lower movable section 9 are I chains 18, carrying adjustable weights 19.

The weights of the sections are so disposed that when the sections start to move the weights will remain on the floor, but as the sections approach each other more and more weights will be lifted, each additional weight lifted causing the sections to move slower, so that their impact will be cushioned.

The stage-floor is provided with a door 20, which closes the aperture in the floor when the curtains are open. The door 20 is counterweighted and is preferably held shut by a latch which will also hold the curtains open. For this purpose the door may be provided with an eye 32, which is engaged by aspringactuated latch 21. There may be a suitable notch in the section allowing the latter to pass over the latch in one direction,but not in the other, so as to hold the curtain independently of the door 20 if desired. 34 is a cable or chain for withdrawing the latch to release the sections and the door 20. This cable or chain may be led to various parts of the house, so that the curtain can be closed by one of the attendants in case of need. 1 do not restrict myself to any particular operating means, as it is obvious that various means, as compressed-air or magnets, may be used. If desired, the door 20 may be opened by other means and the latch located wherever desired, and I do not restrict myself to any particular arrangement.

The curtains can be opened by means of a chain 22 and wheel 23 on the shaft 5. On account of the approximate counterbalancing of the sections they can be easily started and given sufiicient momentum to pass the latch 21, which will thereupon spring into the eye 32, thereby locking the door and holding the curtain open. If preferred, the latch may positively engage the curtain.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 I show a curtain made up of six sections, of which four are movable. In this arrangement the sections 26 and 24 correspond to the sections 8 and 9 and are connected by a cable 29, running over a pulley 36, fixed on the shaft 5. The upper section 26 is heavier than the lower section 24, and the latter carries the adjustable weights 19. similarly connected by a cable 30, which runs over a pulley 25, loosely mounted on'the shaft 5. 31 and 33 are stops for the sections 27 and 28, respectively. Ahand-cable and wheel is also provided for turning the shaft 5 to open the curtain. As the shaft is turned the fast pulley carrying the cable 29 is turned, causing the sections 26 and 24 to move up and down, respectively, independently of the sections 28 and 27. The latter do not move until the ledge on the section 26 engages a ledge 35 on the section 28. Continued revolution of the shaft 5 now lifts sections 26 and 28 together, allowing sections 24 and 27 to fall together. In closing the pairs of sections 24 and 26 and 27 28 start together; but the sec- The sections 27 and 28 are tions 27 and 28 stop first because their travel is less.

The operation will be clear from the foregoing description. As soon as the latch is withdrawn the sections move toward each other and remain together until separated by revolving the shaft 5.

Modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction which I have shown and described.

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

1. In a fire-curtain, the combination of two movable sections, means for moving them vertically toward and from each other, said sections having vertical air-channels of greater depth than width in their faces, whereby when the curtain is exposed to heat currents of air will be created in the channels and cool the surfaces of the sections, substantially as described.

2. In a fire-curtain, the combination ofa plurality of pairs of top and bottom sections, the top section of each pair being heavier than the bottom section, a shaft mounted above said sections, a fixed pulley on said shaft, a flexible connection running over said pulley and connecting the sections comprising the middle pair, a loose pulley on said shaft, a flexible connection running over saidloose pulley and connecting the sections forming the next pair, and means for turning the shaft to open the sections, substantially as described.

3. In afire-curtain, the combination ofa plurality of pairs of top and bottom sections, the top section of each pair being heavier than the bottom section, a shaft mounted above said sections, a fixed pulley on said shaft, a flexible connection running over said pulley and connecting the sections comprising the middle pair, a loose pulley on said shaft, a flexible connection running over said loose pulley and connecting the sections forming the next pair, means on the middle sections adapted to engage the upper section of the second pair, and means for turning the shaft to open the sec tions, substantially as described.

4. In a fire-curtain, the combination of aplurality of pairs of top and bottom sections, the top sections being heavier than the bottom sections, connections between each top section and its bottom section, said connections permitting the pairs of sections to move independently of each other, means for releasing the sections to allow them to close, and means for holding them open, said means being controllab'le from a distance, substantially as described.

5. In a fire-curtain, the combination of a plurality of pairs of top and bottom sections, having vertical air-channels of greater depth than width, means for moving the sections com v prising the middle pair for engaging and raising the section next above, whereby the top and bottom sections move away from each other, substantially as described.

6. In a fire-curtain, the combination of a plurality of pairs of top and bottom sections, the top section of each pair being heavier than the bottom section, means for moving the sections comprising the middle pair, and means on the upper section of each pair for engaging and raising the section next above whereby the top and bottom sections move from each other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

LOUIS POTTHOFF. Witnesses JULIAN S. Woos'rER, GEORGE N. KERR.

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