Abstract:
A mechanical disk-type door closure wherein one end of the closure is connected to a door and the other end is pivotally connected to a door jam such that when the door pivots about its hinge. The closure includes a rod upon which a rack is formed to cause a pinion to rotate in one direction and which is in mesh with a gear so as to move the pinion out of contact with the rack. When the door closes, a spring moves the pinion into engagement with the rack and the pinion turns in a direction to rotate the gear which is subjected braking pressure so as to adjust the resistance to the closing motion of the door.
Abstract:
A single or opposite direction damper hinge has a casing rotatably enclosing a rotor. The rotor has a center cylindrical portion mounting a reduced outwardly projecting intermediate portion which in turn outwardly mounts a further reduced stop portion. The casing has a main inner cylindrical surface which is interrupted by an inwardly projecting reduced engagement portion. In one embodiment, all of the rotor center, intermediate and stop portions and the casing main inner surface are coaxial. The casing reduced engagement portion, however, has a larger radius than the outwardly projecting intermediate portion of the rotor and is eccentric to the rotor outer surfaces and the casing main inner cylindrical surface. In assembly for operation, the rotor is mounted coaxially in the casing with the exception of the casing engagement portion which, in this embodiment, has the larger radius and is eccentric to the rotor intermediate portion. The rotor intermediate portion radially faces the casing engagement portion with the surfaces progressively closing due to the casing engagement portion larger radius and eccentricity, and the rotor stop portion interfering with the casing engagement portion ultimately abutting through facing steps. Further, the rotor and casing, in a second form, may be somewhat reversed, that is, the rotor having a smaller radius and eccentricity on the mating surface and the casing having the concentric mating surface, the overall result being the same. Finally, if the hinge is operable in opposite clockwise or counterclockwise directions, both of the casing and rotor are formed symmetrically with diametrically opposite and closed positions, and operable the same in either direction.
Abstract:
An oil type damper comprises a housing formed of a basic member in the shape of a blind tube and a cap, a rotating member and a braking disc adapted to rotate jointly and accommodated within the housing, viscous oil applied to the braking disc, and at least one flexible membrane opposed to the braking disc so as to allow the braking disc to be sealed in the housing as covered with the oil. In this oil damper, when the oil serving to brake the rotary motion of the rotating member connected to a given door expands in volume because of rising temperature, the flexible membrane is deformed under the pressure of the expanded oil enough to absorb the voluminal expansion of the oil and prevent otherwise possible leakage of the oil from the housing.
Abstract:
A rotation damper comprises a base member, a gear wheel rotatably mounted on the base member via a damper, a spiral spring having one end attached to a cap member and the other end attached to the gear wheel and adapted to be wound up with the rotation of the gear wheel, and a locking member for locking the spiral spring in or releasing it from the wound-up state. When the gear wheel is rotated to the neighborhood of a limit position against the spring force of the spiral spring, the spiral spring is locked in the wound-up state. The spiral spring is released from the wound-up state by further rotating the gear wheel. The rotation damper is applicable to a cassette holder of a cassette tape recorder, for instance, and permits the holder to be opened and closed under braking force while eliminating the need for a separate holder locking mechanism.
Abstract:
A rotary damper device comprises a base plate, a rotary cylinder rotatably disposed on the base plate through the medium of a damper, and a coil spring interconnecting the base plate and the rotary cylinder. The base plate and the rotary cylinder are interconnected to the main body of a device and the lid of the device. When the lid is opened or closed, the braking force of the damper and the resilient force of the coil spring cooperate to generate effective braking force and enable the opening-closing device to be opened or closed smoothly under the influence of the effective braking force.
Abstract:
An automatic door operator for a swing door supported by a door supporting frame to swing about a vertical axis. The automatic door operator includes a mechanism for opening and closing the swing door, a drive for driving the door opening and closing mechanism to open the swing door, the drive including a prime mover for driving the door opening and closing mechanism, a door closer including a resilient device for storing part of mechanical energy provided by the drive in opening the swing door and for exerting driving force on the door opening and closing means by using the stored mechanical energy to close the door, a unit for electrically controlling the drive to swing the swing door, and a sensor for sensing a body accessing the door and thereby providing an electric signal to open the door to the controlling unit.
Abstract:
A braking apparatus for the cover of a chamber in a recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a stationary plate, a shaft connected to the plate and extending in a direction perpendicular therefrom, an actuating disc arranged on the shaft for rotation in a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, a damping disc rotatably arranged on the shaft between the plate and the actuating disc, means for urging the discs simultaneously toward the plate and a silicone grease provided between the plate and the damping disc. The grease contacts both the plate and the damping disc. The braking apparatus further includes means for uniting the discs and providing simultaneous unidirectional damped rotation by the discs only when the actuating disc is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.
Abstract:
A device for controlling the opening and closing movement of a duct seal door of an automatic ice maker which requires a regulator for slowing down the closing of the door. The movement of the door about its rotational axis is transmitted via connecting linkages to the closure regulator which comprises a rotor positioned within a stator housing. The rotor's movement is coupled to the connecting linkages via a one-way clutch which decouples the rotor when the door is being opened, and causes positive coupling therebetween when the door is being closed. Disposed within the stator housing in a fixed-volume compartment is a viscous fluid, such as silicone gum. The rotor and stator include opposed rippled surfaces between which the viscous fluid is coactively disposed. The fluid acts as an impedance to the motion of the rotor, which motion occurs only upon the closing of the door, to thereby provide a controlled slow closure thereof.
Abstract:
A device includes a spring for biasing a door or other similar structure into a closed position and a fluid medium for damping movement of the door. The damping effect is achieved by compelling the fluid to pass from one chamber to another within a housing of the device by changing the volumes of the chambers, the spring itself being used to bring about the change in volume.
Abstract:
A safety device for automatically closing a door in response to a predetermined condition, such as fire, is provided by a selectively disengageable brake operatively associated with a pivotable door closure arm. The brake includes a flexible cable wrapped around a brake drum, and means to selectively tighten the cable around the drum. A crank-pin rotates conjointly with the drum and engages the door closure arm to expeditiously close the door in the event of fire.