US2019084A - Closure member - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 29,1935. w G, R 2,019,084

CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 23, 195 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

w. G. MILLER CLOSURE MEMBER Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed D80. 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Mun/ 4/7/415? ATTORNEY.

1935- 1 w. G. MILLER 2,019,034

CLOSURE MEMBER Filed Dec. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'TOR. 44 44 677/1 14-79 ATTORNEY.

W. G. MILLER CLOSURE MEMBER I Get. 29, 1935.

Filed Dec. 23, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTGR. Mam/l4 Mum ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CLOSURE MEMBER ration of Michigan Application December 23, 1931, Serial No; 582,889

13 Claims,

This invention relates to improvements in closure members. It is common practice to provide a steel shutter for closure members of a building, such as windows or doors that are adjacent another building which constitutes a fire hazard,

tion and which is provided with a winding reel operable from the interior of a building to raise the shutter and which is so designed as to permit the shutter to be lifted by hand.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a device of this character having one end of the drum on which the shutter is wound provided with a winding spool and a flexible tape or cable having one end connected to the spool and its other end connected to a hand operated winding reel positioned at a point remote to the winding spool, and means in the winding spool for maintaining tension on the winding tape to permit the shutter to be lifted by hand.

Another object of the invention is in the pro:- vision of a device of this character which may be placed in the wall above the closure member to be protected or which may be placed on the face of the wall and which is relatively simple in construction and which will operate with a maximum degree of efficiency and which will not easily get out of order in operation.

These objects and the several novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects are attained is shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a shutter placed on the outer face of a wall, in its lowered position.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line i-'i of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the winding spool.

Fig. '7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the shutter placed in the wall.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end view of a modified form of door structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 11 is an elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the door or shutter I is composed of a plurality of interlocking 5; plates of any desired type and the edges of the shutter are slidably positioned in the guide 2 secured to the outer face of the wall 3 by means of the bolts 4. The shutter I is adapted to close the opening 5 in the wall in which the win- 101 dow 6 is positioned, the same being of any desired type. The upper edge or the shutter is secured to the member. 1 rigidly attached to the sleeve or pipe 8. The bracketsS and H) are positioned one adjacent each edge of the shut- 15* ter and are provided with the respective bearing portions II and I2 for supporting the sleeve 8. A bushing I3 is pressed or otherwise secured in one end of the sleeve 8 and forms a bearing for the shaft M. A spring l5' has one end connected to the shaft l4 and its other end connected to the sleeve 8 by means of the bolt I6 extending therethrough and the outer end of the shaft I4 is preferably pinned to the retaining wheel I! the same being held from rotation by the pin l8 extending through the stationary bracket l9 and insertible in one of the sockets 20 provided on the face of the retaining wheel H. The bushing I3 is formed with the extension 2| which extends through the bearing portion I2 in the end plate l0 and the portion extending beyond the outer face of the end plate It is provided with a key slot for receiving the key 22.

A winding spool 23 is formed of the end plates 24 and a hub 25 positioned therebetween and se cured thereto by the rivets 26. The hub 25 is formed with an aperture 21 of a diameter equal to the diameter of the apertures 28 in the end plates 24. A keyway 29is formed in the end plates 24 and the hub 25 to permit the winding spool to be secured to the portion 2 I. The end plates 24 are each provided on their inner face with the reduced portions 30 forming the annular shoulders 3! for positioning the annular ring 32 loosely between the reduced portions 30 of the end plates 24, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 6. A relatively light flat spiral spring 33 has its inner end provided with a loop 3 3 through which a pin or rivet 35 passes, the pin 35 extending through the end plates 24 to securely fasten one end of the spring to the winding spool 23. The opposite end of the spring 33 is secured to the ring 32 by means of the rivets 35, this feature being more clearly shown in Fig. '7. A winding tape or cable 3! is likewise secured to the outer face of the annular ring 32 by means of the rivets 36. By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the tape or cable 31 passes over the idler' roll 38 and thence down through the conduit 39 positioned on the outer face of the wall and has its lower end connected. to the-winding reel 40 mounted upon the shaft 4| extending a through the wall 3 having a squared extension 42 for receiving the removable crank 43.

A sheet metal housing 44 is secured to theend plates 9 and ID for covering the shutter I in its raised or rolled position. The end of the sleeve 8 adjacent the end plate 9 is formed with the bearing 45 in which the member 46 is positioned and a rod 41 is positioned in the member 46 and the outer end of the same has secured thereto the serrated disc 48 and the outer end of the member 46 is secured to the hub of the retaining wheel 50 the same being prevented from rotation by means of the pin 5| extending through the stationary bracket 52 and into one of the sockets 53 provided in the periphery of the retaining wheel 56.. The spring 54 hasone end attached to the member,

I 46 and has its other end inserted in the aperbe inserted in one of the sockets.

or governor 56 is pivotally mounted upon the stud turein'the ring 55 positioned on the shaft 41. It'will thus be seen that the tension of the spring 54 may be. adjusted to any desired tension by rotating the retaining wheel 56 and that the spring l5 may, likewise be adjusted to any desired tension by rotating the retaining wheel I1. It will be understood, of course, that the locking pin for the retaining wheel will first be removed and when thedesired tension is secured the pins will again An escapement 51 secured in the end wall 9 and is designed to prevent a too quick dropping of the shutter when the sameis released. r

A bar 60 is pivotally connected at 6| to the outer face of the end plate 9 and the opposite end has connected thereto one end of the chain 62 the intermediate portion of the chain passing through the aperture 64 provided in the wall of the building and the opposite end of the chain being secured to V the hook 65 positioned on the inner face of the wall. A fusible link66 is provided in the chain 62 at a point adjacent the connection of thechain tothe bar 60 so that the link is outside of the building and in the event that heat to a dangerous degree is applied to the exterior of the building the fusible link 66 will melt and allow theshutter to fall, ,as will 'be more fully described. A locking member 61 is pivotally mounted upon the bar 60 intermediate its ends and the upper end thereof is tapered or beveled to fit in one of the serrations provided'upon the serrated disc 48 It will thusv approximately horizontal that the locking member 61 :willprevent rotation of the disc 48 and will hold the shutter in'its raised position. In the event that fire causes the 1ink66 to melt the bar 60 will swing down about its pivot 6| and will release the locking member 61 from engagement with the serrated disc 48 and will permit the spring 54 to rotate the sleeveB thereby lowering the shutter I The escapement mechanism 56 will prevent'to rapid lowering of the shutter thereby preventing injuryto anyone who happens to be beneath the shutter at the time of lowering.

In 1 the event that it is desired to raise the shutter after it has been closed by fire it is only necessary'to, grip the handle'on the bottom of the shutter and raise the same or by placing a crank 43 on the squared' end 42 and rotating the crank the shutter will likewise be raised.

'R eferring againto Fig. 7 it will beseenthat 7 when the shutter is in its open or raised position that the spring 33 will be practically unwound but will not be all the way unwound as the same is not'of sufficient strength to overcome the friction of the tape passing over the idler rolls and around the winding drum '40. As the shutter is lowered the hub portion of the winding spool 23 will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction and since the looped end 34 of the spring is carried by the pin 35 the spring will befwound up and will then rotate the ring 32 also in a counterclockwise direction and will wind the tape 31 from the reel onto the ring 32 and when the shutter is completely lowered the spring 33 will unwind part way until all of the tape has been unwound fromthe reel 40 and since the end of the tape is. fastened to the reel 40' any'further rotation of the ring 32 is'stoppe-d. If now the shutter is lifted by hand'the spring 33 will again .be unwound practically all the way but inasmuch as the tendency of the spring in unwinding is to'move "the ring 32in a counter-clockwise direction no appreciable amount of movement will be imparted to the ring thereby permitting the winding tape to. retain its coiled position around the ring 32..

If, however, when the shutter is lowered it is desired to raise the same by operation of the crank 43 the winding drum 35 will be rotated in a clockwise directionthrough the spring 33. It will thus be seen that the. shutter, when lowered, may be either manually lifted or lifted through opera-' tion of the crank 43 and the spring 31. This cannot beaccomplished if the ring 32 was formed integral with the winding spool 23 as then the tape or cable 31 will simply unwindrfrom the ring 32 and loop or twist with the danger of having the same entangle with some of the mechanism and prevent operation of the shutter.

If it is desired to test the shutter to see if it is in working condition it is only necessary to release the chain 62 from the hook 65 thereby releasing. the latch 61 and permitting the shutter to drop or lower., When the shutter is again raised the chain may 'then' be fastened 'to the hook 65 putting the device in operative condition. a

Referring to' Figs; 8 and 9, I have shown a modified form ofconstruction in which the sleeve on which the shutter is rolled is positioned in an aperture in the wall and the winding reel and crank are placed on the inner face of the wall and the conduit which encases the flexible tape or cable is likewise positioned on the inner face of the wall In this construction the wall 86 is provided with an aperture 8| extending from the inner to the outer face thereof and the end or bearing plates 82 and 83 are set therein and if desired a sheet metal housing 84 of rectangular form may be positioned in the aperture 8| to close the openings in the inner and outer faceof the wall.

The outer face of the wall adjacent the opening 85 in which the closure 86 is positioned is provided with a recess 81 in which the-guides 88 are positioned; The lower edge of each of the end plates 82 and 83 are provided with the open throat 86 that aligns with the upper edge of the guides 88 to permit passage of the edges ofthe shutter therethrough. A conduit 96 encloses the flexible tape or cable 9| and is positioned on the inner face of the wall andthe lower end of the'conduit opens to a housing 92 which encases the Winding reel 33 the same being operable by rotation of the re-Q movable crank 94. The, operation of this form act-9,084

of device is identical with the device heretofore described.

Although the tensioning means is primarily for use with fireshutters nevertheless the same principle may be applied to various types of closure means such as is shown in Figs. 10 andvll'.v In thisform of structure the door I is formed of the sections IilI and I02 hingedly' connected together at I03 and the upper end: of the section IGI is hingedly connected to the frame at I04. The-lowerend of the section I02 is provided at each endwith a roller I05 each riding in one of the guide channels I05. The cables I0! and I08 are connected to the lower edge of the door one adjacent each side thereof and the opposite ends are connected to the respective pulleys I09 and .I In thesame: being mounted upon theshaft I II carried in suitable-bearings II2.

A counter-balancing spring II3 has one end connected to the shaft II and has its other end secured to some stationary portion of the door frame. This spring will be Wound up as the door is lowered and will counter-balance the weight thereof and will rotate the shaft II as the door i is raised to wind the cables I0! and I08 on their respective pulleys I09 and IIO. The tensioning device or winding spool 23 is identical with the device heretofore described. In this form of construction the shaft 4| extends through the door frame topermit the winding reel 40 to be operated either from the inside or outsideof the building in which the door is installed. It will thus be noted that the door I 00 may be lifted by hand to its open position as shown in Fig. 10, or the same may beraised when lowered by rotating the shaft M by means of the crank 43. It will be understood, of course, that various types of closure members may be used in conjunction with my improved tensioning device without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

From the foregoing description it becomes evident that I have provided a rolling steel shutter which is'so constructed as to permit the same to be raised by hand and which is mounted on a sleeve, the sleeve having a winding spoolto which a flexible tape is attached the opposite end of the tape being connected to a winding reel to permit the shutter to be raised by rotation of the winding reel and the winding spool to which the upper end of the tape is connected provided with means for holding the tape in close contact with the winding drum when the shutter is being lifted by hand.

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is-- 1, In a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor, a spring tending to turn the drum to unwind the shutter to closed position, means for latching the shutter in its rolled position, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is lowered, comprising a winding spool attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, a cable, one end attached to the winding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attachedv thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, and spring means for automatically maintaining tension on the cable at all timesto prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is raised;

2;.In.v a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor, aspring tending to turn the drum to unwind the shutter to'closed position, means for latching the shutter'in its rolled position, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means f or'rewinding the shutter on the winding drum whenthe shutter is lowered, comprising a winding spool attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, a cable, one end attached to the winding spool, a Winding reel, the opposite end of' the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating: the winding reel to wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, and spring means in the winding spool for automatically maintaining tension on the cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is raised.

3. In a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolled position, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit un- Winding of the shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is lowered comprising a two piece winding spool, one piece attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, spring means for connecting the two pieces together, a cable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to Wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, said spring means connecting the two pieces of the winding spool together designed to rotate the second piece relative to the first piece to maintain tension on the cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is lifted by hand.

4, In a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolled position; thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the: latching means to permit unwinding of. the shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the Winding drum, when the shutter is. lowered,- comprising a winding spool including a hub portion attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, a ring concentrically arrangedwith the axis of the. hub, spring means for connecting the hub and ring together, a cable, one end attached to the ring, a winding reel, the: opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means: for" manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable to raise the shutter, said spring means connecting the hub portion and the ring of: the-winding spool together designed to rotate the ring: relative tothe hub portion to maintain tension onthe'cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof when theshutter is lifted by hand.

5. In: a device of the character described, a rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor, means for latching the shutter in its rolled position, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is'lower-ed, comprising atwo piece winding spool, one'piece' attached toand rotatable by'the winding, drum, a. coiled spring, one end attached to one piece and the other attached to the second piece of the winding spool, a cable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool,

a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding cable to wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, said spring connecting the two pieces of the winding spool together, wound in a manner to rotate the second piece relative to the first piece to maintain tension on the cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is lifted by hand.

6. In a device of the character described, a

rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor,

7 means for latching the shutter in its rolledposition, thermally and manually controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit un- 'winding of the shutter, means for r'ewinding the rotating the windingfreel to wind the cablethere- 'on'toraise the shutter, the said spring connecting the hub portion of the ring and the winding spool together so wound'as to rotate the ring relative to the hub portion to maintain tension on the cable at all times to prevent buckling thereof when the shutter is lifted by hand. 7

7. In a deviceof the character described, a

/ rolling steel shutter, a winding drum therefor,

meansfor latching theeshutter in its rolled posi- 1 tion, thermally controlled means for releasing the latching means to permit unwinding of the shutter, means for rewinding the shutter on the winding drum when the shutter is lowered, comprising a two-piece winding spool, one piece attached to and rotatable by the winding drum, spring means for connecting the twopieces together, a cable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool, a winding reel, the, opposite end of the cable attached thereto,

- means for manually rotatingthe winding reel to wind the cable thereon toraise the shutter, said spring means connecting the two pieces of the winding spool together designed to rotate the second piece relative to the first piece to maintain tension on the cable'when the shutter is lifted by hand to prevent buckling of the. cable. 8.'In adevice of the character described, a

closure member, a windingspool, means operable by movement of the closure member for rotating the winding spool, spring means wound up by movement of the closure member to open position and tending to move the same to closed'position, a cable, one end attached to the winding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon to raise the closure member, and spring means for maintaining tension on the cable, to prevent buckling thereof when the closure member is lifted by hand. 7

, 9. In a device of the character described, a

' closure member, a two piece winding spool, means operable by movement of the closure member for rotating one piece of the winding spool, a coiled spring, one end attached to one piece and the other attached to the second piece of the wind-' ingspool, a cable, one end attached to the second tating the hub portion, manual means for pulling piece'of the winding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached'thereto, means for manually rotating the winding cable to wind the cable thereon to raise the closure member,

said spring connecting the two pieces of the wind- 5 10. In a device of the character described, a

closure member, a two piece winding spool, means operable by movement of the closure member for rotating one piece of the winding spool, spring means .for connecting the two pieces of the wind-= ing spool together, a cable, one end attached to the second piece of the winding spool, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable thereon'to raise the closure member, said spring means connecting the two pieces of the winding spool together designed to rotatethesecond piece relative to the first piece to maintain tension on the cable as the closure member is lifted by hand to prevent buckling of the cable.

11. A device of the character described, a closure member, a winding spool, including a hub cableattached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to wind the cable to raise the closure member, said spring means connecting the hub portion and the ring of the winding spool together designed to rotate the ring relativeto the hub portion to maintain tension on the cable 40 as the closure member is being lifted by hand to prevent buckling of the cable. I

12; In a device of the character described, a closure member, a winding spool including a hub portion, means operable by movement of the closure member 'for' rotating said hub, a ring concentrically arranged with the axis of the hub,

a coiled spring, one end connected to the hub, the opposite end connected to the ring, a cable, one end attached to the ring, a winding reel, the opposite end of the cable attached thereto, means for manually rotating the winding reel to-wind the cable thereon to raise the shutter, the said spring connecting the hub portion and the ring of the winding spool together, so wound as to rotate'the ring relative to, the hub portion to maintain tension on the cable as the closure memher is being lifted by hand to prevent buckling of the cable. Z

1 3. In a tensioning device, a winding spool including a hub portion, and a ring concentrically arranged with the axis of the hub, spring means for connecting the hub and ring together, a cable, one end attached to the ring, means for ro- 6 the cable to'unwind the same from the ring, the said spring means connecting the hub portion and the ring of the winding spool together de-- signed to rotate the ring relative to the hub portion to maintain tension on the cable at all times.

WILLIAM G. MILLER.

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