I received these photos a couple of weeks ago and we’ve been trying to determine whether this is a door closer, or possibly a lever-action shock for an old car. It was being used in an underwater application and needs to be replaced. Does it look familiar to you? If you know someone who might recognize it, please forward!
Thank you to Dan Shields of Delray Contracting for sending me these photos, and to Jess for helping us try to identify it.
UPDATE: I just received confirmation back from a shock absorber company that this is definitely an old lever-action shock. Thanks everyone for your input.
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The way the mounting holes are aligned it does not appear this was used to close a door, but rather some “special” design for another purpose, perhaps a roof hatch.
It doesn’t appear to have a spring, just a rack and pinion. Used to control a door, not close it.
Lori, got to thinking about this
hmm,, now that i think of it and it has been under water,(salt or freshwater??) i’m thinking maybe an overflow hatch at a water treatment facility or some form of damper to prevent the said hatch or gate from slamming when water level is low.
since the arm is not a jointed arm like a standard door closer, i have a feeling this was also a hinge on the said gate (like a one way valve to prevent water from traveling the other way in the system (if at a treatment plant or waterworks facility)
the gate itself would have been standard hung like on a submarine hatch door or maybe hinges overhead (like a huge doggy door)and this prevent the slamming.
as for mounting, this probably was mounted on the floor (like an underwater floorcloser) or on the wall next to the gate if it’s a gate with the hinges at the top (like a tailgate on a large dump truck when its dumping sand)
i made sure looking through google patents about this that its not a door closer (if it is it probably COULD be an overhead concealed or a floor closer) or a lever action shock for a Packard motor car.
but since i see that arm, i am now settling on a gate or hatch damper/hinge.
if this was found on a saltwater application (not sure if Dan has worked on boats, or in marinas, it could also be a steering or rudder stabilizer for a large boat (yacht) (did similar to those LCN closers on “black tie affair”)
just an idea………
-Jess the door closer doctor
I think it is a guide for the verticle rail in a windmill.
Hi Lori,
The item is a Lever Arm Shock Absorber. See attached link: http://www.applehydraulics.com/delco.htm
Refer to Part Number 1700-1799.
Regards,
Eyal
Thanks Eyal! You’re the best! I emailed the company and hopefully they will be able to help.
Hello Eyal and Lori,
even though my comment above Eyal’s was about a gate or underwater hatch, but before I posted that I googled around about lever action shocks and closers (google patents AND apple hydraulics site, yes, that site does look familiar to me)
when I was first approached about this (2 week before it was uploaded here) I gave same suspicion, LEVER ACTION SHOCK for a Packard or a car from pre-1940’s.
how “SHOCK”ing it is to find out it’s a shock to a car (no pun intended) instead of a closer, if this did control an underwater door or a gate before it’s removal, it’s possible that it’s original purpose is a shock but it was modified/adapted or re-purposed for said underwater purpose.
(such as in “Black Tie Affair” kinetic sculpture which uses 2 LCN closers for steering stabilizers)
nice to meet you Eyal, I’m known to Lori’s site as Jess the door(closer)doctor.
this will happen in the world of hardware, you come across the “UHAO’S” (Unidentified Hydraulic Armed Objects)
-Jess the door(closer)doctor
need information on how to add oil to corbin number4 model 131 door closer.
it was likley made in the 1930’s. We are trying to renovate some doors on a
building on historic regester.
Thanks Jim