US2818195A - Quick opening door - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 31,1957 J. A. SCARLETT QUICK OPENING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28, 1956 I/j/VTOR.

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7 J. A. SCARLETT 2,818,195

QUICK OPENIINC DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1956 Arm/2,0675.

United States Patent QUICK OPENING DOOR John A. Scarlett, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 28, 1956, Serial No. 612,611

4 Claims. (Cl. 220-57) This invention relates to closures and is particularly directed to a novel door construction adapted to provide a quick opening, fluid-tight closure for fluent material treating machines, such as mulling machines, and high pressure vessels, such as retorts and the like.

The principal object of the present, invention is to provide a hinged door of extremely simple construction which can readily be swung between an open and closed position; and can easily be locked and firmly held in a closed position to provide a fluid tight closure for the door opening.

More particularly, the present invention is predicated upon the concept of pivotally mounting a door adjacent to one end of an elongated rotatable handle member. In addition to the door the handle member carries a plurality of locking fingers adapted to cooperate with a like plurality of spaced, stationary, camming lugs surrounding the door opening. The elongated handle is.

loosely mounted at an intermediate portion on a hinge pin about which the handle is rotated to swing the door toward and away from the door opening. Suflicient play is provided between the hinge pin and handle to facilitate pivoting the handle for effecting engagement of the locking fingers with the camming lugs. The cooperative engagement of these members causes the door to be tightly seated in the door opening and provides a firm lock for holding the door in that position.

In a preferred embodiment, the door opening is formed in a plate constituting one part of a door unit. This plate is adapted to be bolted or otherwise secured to a chamber wall; and includes an inwardly extending annular flange adapted to fit snugly within the wall opening. This annular flange surrounds an inwardly tapered door opening adapted to receive a similarly tapered circular door. In the preferred embodiment, when the door is fully closed, the inner face of the door and surrounding annular flange reside flush with the wall of the chamber.

The outer face of the door carries an outwardly projecting pin which is rotatably journaled adjacent to one end of an elongated handle member. This end of the handle member also carries a plurality of radially projecting locking fingers adapted to pass between the lugs formed on the outer surface of thebase plate when the door is shifted between an open and closed position. After the door has been substantially closed, the handle is adapted to be rotated about its pivotal connection with the door to pivot the locking fingers beneath the camming lugs and thereby apply substantial closing pressure to the door forcing it against its tapered seat and forming a fluid-tight seal. When the door is opened, the handle is first pivoted about the door pin to disengage the locking fingers from the lugs. The handle is'then rotated outwardly about the hinge pinto withdraw the door from the opening and shift it to a position removed from the chamber wall.

One of the principal advantages of the present door 2,818,195 Patented Dec. 31, 1957 ICC construction is that it is extremely simple to operate. A workman can close the door by grasping the elongated handle and rotating the handle about its hinge to bring the door into registry with the door opening. The workman then merely pivots the handle in a second plane, engaging the locking fingers and lugs, to tightly close the door and lock it in its closed position. The door is readily opened by reversing this operation.

Another advantage of the present invention is that by merely pivoting the door until the locking fingers engage abutments formed on the lugs, a workman can be certain that the door is closed with exactly the same closing pressure each time that it is operated.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the door is of extremely simple construction and can readily and economically be manufactured. The door unit includes a minimum number of parts requiring very little machining. Moreover, the machining required is of an extremely simple nature, i. e.: turning and facing, so that no expensive jigs or tooling setups are necessary.

A still further advantage of the present door construction is that it incorporates means for readily adjusting the closing pressure on the door to compensate for wear in the door or other parts, such as the locking fingers and cams. In the present construction, the closing pressure can readily be increased by disengaging the door and handle and inserting one or more washers or other shim members between the door and handle.

The present door construction also provides particular advantages when used in connection with mullers and similar equipment. As indicated above, the present door and the surrounding portions of the base plate are adapted to reside in flush relationship within the inner wall of the muller so that the door does not interfere in any way with the operation of the muller rollers and scrapers and does not cause any damage to these members.

A still further advantage of the present door when applied to a muller or other apparatus where a door is apt to become worn after extensive use is that the door unit can readily be replaced in the field. By loosening the bolts or other securing means the base plate handle and door can quickly be removed as a unit from a machine and replaced with a new base plate, handle, and door unit.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description of the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a partial elevational view of a door constructed in accordance with the present invention, the door being shown in the closed and latched position;

Figure 2 is an elevational view shown of a door in a closed but unlatched position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 1.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 4, one form of door unit 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention is adapted to enclose a circular opening 11 formed in a wall 12 of a chamber 13. The present door can be used in conjunction with many types of apparatus; for example, a muller of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 412,713 for Muller. In such an installation the door is mounted beneath the bottom wall of the muller and provides a closure for the material discharge opening. The present door is also adapted to be used in conjunction with various 59 .5, of pressure vessels; such as, retorts, tanks and the like.

In the embodiment shown, door unit 10 comprises a base plate 14 formed of cast steel, stainless steel,.-alumi-. num or other suitable material. This plate is of gen eral-ly square outline, one peripheral edge: of the platebeing slightly rounded to conform to the outer wall of chamber 13. Base plate 14 is. provided with a central opening 15, which is preferably circular in. shape. An annular flange 16 is formed on theinner face of the support plate surrounding this opening. As best shown in Figure 4, the opening formed within thisflange tapers inwardly forming a conical wall 17 adapted for cooperative engagement with closure member'18.

Annular flange 16 is preferably of the, same height as the thickness of wall 12 of the chamber so that when the base plate is installed, the inner face 20 of the flange lies flush with the inner surface 21 of wall 12. In the preferred embodiment, base plate 14is-removably secured to wall. 121 by means of a plurality of bolts 22 which threadably engage openings 23 formed in wall 12, the bolts being ground flush with the inner surface of the wall. The outer periphery 24 of flange 16 snugly fits within circular opening 15' of wall 12 so that a fluid-tight 16. The outer face of the door is provided with a central boss 26 which extends outwardly from the door and terminates in an annular shoulder 27. A pivot pin 28 extends outwardly from the boss. This pin can be formed integral with the boss or can be mounted on the boss in any suitable manner such as being press fit in an opening formed in the boss. Pin 28 includes a smooth circular bearing portion 30 disposed adjacent to shoulder 27 and a threaded outer portion 31 having a transverse bore 32 formed therein for receiving a cotter pin 33'.

Door 18 is rotatably carried by a handle member 34. This member includes an elongated handle portion 35 and a latching portion 36. The latching portion 36 of handle member 34 is provided with a central bore 37 for receiving bearing portion 30 of pin 28. A nut 38 threadably engages the end of the pin and abuts the outer face of the handle. This nut is provided with a series of grooves 4i) adapted to receive cotter pin 33 to prevent the nut from loosening in use. It is to be understood-that the nut is tightened until the inner face of latching surface 36 abuts shoulder 27 of pin 28. However, as explained below, one or more shim washers 41 may be placedover the pin between the shoulder and handle member inorder to increase the closing pressure and provide anabsolutely tight fit between the door and annular flange 16.

Handle member 34 is carried by a stationary hinge pin or rod 42 mounted upon brackets 43. These brackets can be cast or otherwise formed integral with plate member 14 or can be formed separately and joined to the plate member or adjacent chamber wall in any suitable manner, such as by welding, brazing or the like. As shown in Figures l-3, hinge pin 42 extends transversely of the handle. One end of the pin threadably'engages bracket 43 while the opposite end of the rod carries a head 44 in abutment with the other bracket. The intermediate portion of the handle is formed with a transverse. slot 45 of substantially greater width than the diameter of pin 42. In the embodiment shown, this intermediate portion of the handle is provided with a thickened area 46 for strengthening the handle adjacent to the transverse bore. The width of slot 45 must be sufliciently great to. permit the handle to pivot about pin 28 a sufficient distance to effect engagement and disengagement of locking fingers ae ator 4 v pre erably includes. relati ely st igh edge. 50 adap to abut a shoulder 51 formed in the slot of each of the lugs 48. Lugs 48 are formed integral with plate 14, or are firmly secured thereto, as by welding, brazing or the like. Each of these lugs includes an outwardly extending portion 52 and an over-hanging lip portion 53 spaced from the outer face of plate 14. Each of the over-hanging portions 53 includes a tapered inner face 54 sloping toward plate 14 from the tip 55. of the lug to shoulder 51. While four latching fingers and lugs are shown, it is to be understood that a greater number can be provided ifdesired. Itis necessary however, that the lugs be spaced apart a s ufiicient distance to. permit the latching fingers to pass between" adjacent lugs.

When the door is in the open position, the door and handle are carried and supported by pin 42. The door is adapted to be pivoted to a partially open position as shown. by. dotted lines56 in Figure 4-, or to a fully open position. in which the-handle is rotated still further about pir1 .42,j2 1nd thejdoor depends in a substantially vertical plane so thatwcentral. opening 15 is completely unobstructed.

In order to, close. the door, the workman grasps the handle portion 35 and rotates the handle about support rod 42 so as to advance door 18 toward opening 15. Since the inner face of the door is appreciably smaller than the outer face of the opening, the door is self-centering as it enters the opening. When the door is substantially in its closed position, and is partially seated within the annular flange, the operator pivots handle member 34 about pin 28. The handle swings freely relative to hinge 42 because of the clearance provided in slot 45. As the handle member rotates, each of the locking fingers 47 passes beneath an over-hanging portion of one of the lugs 48 and engages the tapered inner face of the lug.

Consequently, as the handle is pivoted toward the latched position, shown in Figure l, in which the leading edges of the locking fingers are brought into abutment with shoulders 51 of the bayonet lugs, the latching portion of the handle member is forced inwardly toward the wall 12 of" the chamber. The locking portion of the handle member inturn forces door 18* inwardly, so that the tapered periphery of the door is wedged tightly against the tapered wall of flange 16' and a fluid tight seal is formed. Solong as the operator pivots the handle to a fully latched position with the leading edges of the locking fingers in'engagement with the shoulders of the bayonet lugs, the. same sealing pressure will be exerted on the door each time it is closed. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment the inner face of the door will be flush with theinner surface of wall 12. This is particularly important the 'rnuller, since unlessthe door is substantially flushed with the bottom. wall of the muller, the rollers or scrapers. would. be damaged.

After long periodsof: use'if the lugs, latching fingers or door wean, so; that the. door no. longer provides a fluidtight seal, the closing pressure can. readily be adjusted to again tightly seal. opening 15.. This adjustment is efiected byrernoving nut 38 and disengaging the door from handle member. Thereafter one or more shim members 41' are placed; over pin 28,. between shoulder 27 and the handle member which is; replaced over the pin and is tightly secured in place by threading nut 33 inwardly. It will readily be apparent that after one, or more shims have been inserted in this manner, when the latching Portion. of the handle, member is. forced inwardly by the camming sin-faces of the bayonet lugs, the tapered door will be forced into. opening 15 an additional amount equal to. the thickness of 12116581111118. Thus, by selecting shims of sufiicientthickness to compensate for wear of the door and latching elements, the closing pressure can readily be adjusted to, close the door tightly and thereby provide a leak proof seal for the chamber.

35 and pivots it about pin 28 in the opposite direction to that employed in closing the door. This disengages fingers 47 from the bayonet lugs. Again the handle shifts freely relative to hinge pin 42 because of the substantial play provided between that pin and slot 45. After the handle has been pivoted a sufiicient distance so that the fingers clear the lugs as shown in Figure 2, the handle is rotated outwardly about hinge pin to withdraw door 18 from opening 15. When the door is opened in this manner, the weight of the handle and door are supported by pin 42; and the door can be pivoted downwardly to a completely open position and released by the operator.

From the above description of the general principles of the present invention and the foregoing detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the invention is susceptible. For example, it is contemplated that the present door can be modified to incorporate one or more gaskets if desired. Also the door unit could be welded or permanently mounted adjacent to the wall opening if desired. It will also readily be appreciated that the present door construction is susceptible of being manufactured in an extremely wide variety of sizes without changing the basic construction of the door. These sizes range from a door a few inches in diameter adapted to serve as a peep-hole for visual inspection of a vessel, to a door large enough to provide rapid discharge of material from a large vessel.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form an inwardly tapered opening, a plurality of camming lugs formed on said base plate in spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, hinge pin supporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pin extending between said brackets, an elongated handle member having a transverse bore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, said transverse bore being of substantially greater width in a direction longitudinally of said handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handle member including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pin and a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin, said latching portion including a central aperture and a plurality of radially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagement with said lugs, a door member of substantially the same size as said opening and having a tapered periphery, and a pin carried by said door member and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture.

2. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form an inwardly tapered opening, a plurality of camming lugs formed on said base plate in spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, hinge pin supporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pin extending between said brackets, an elongated handle member having a transverse bore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, said transverse bore being of substantially greater Width in a direction longitudinally of said handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handle member including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pin and a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin, said latching portion including a central aperture and a plurality of radially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagement with said lugs, a door member of substantially the same size as said opening and having a tapered periphery, a pin carried by said door member and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture, and means for adjusting the closing pressure on said door, said means comprising a member adapted to be mounted over said pin intermediate the door and handle.

3. A door unit comprising a base plate configurated to form a tapered central opening, a plurality of outwardly extending lugs formed on said base plate in spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, hinge pin supporting brackets formed on said base plate, a hinge pin extending between said brackets, an elongated handle member having a transverse bore formed in an intermediate portion thereof, said transverse bore being of substantially greater width in a direction longitudinally of said handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handle member including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pin and a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin, said latching portion including a central aperture and plurality of radially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagement with said lugs, said lugs including abutment means for limiting relative movement of the fingers, a door member of substantially the same size of said opening and having a tapered periphery, a pin carried by said door member and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture.

4. A door unit adapted to provide a closure for a wall opening, said unit comprising a base plate configurated to form a central opening, an inwardly extending flange surrounding the opening, a plurality of spaced lugs formed on said base plate in spaced relationship about the periphery of said opening, a hinge pin mounted upon said base plate, an elongated handle member having a transverse bore formed in intermediate portion thereof, said transverse bore being of substantially greater width in a direction longitudinally of said handle member than the diameter of said hinge pin, said handle member including a handle portion disposed on one side of said hinge pin and a latching portion disposed on the opposite side of said hinge pin, said latching portion including a central aperture and a plurality of radially extending latching fingers disposed for cooperative engagement with said lugs, a door member substantially the same configuration as said opening, a pin carried by said door member and adapted to be rotatably journaled in said aperture, and means securing said base plate to a wall, said flange and door being disposed flush with the inner surface of said wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,554 Stant May 16, 1933 2,641,284 Loeffler June 9, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 500,838 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1939

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