Door-removal device

In a device for the removal of a heavy-duty door from a door frame to which the door is normally secured by a frame-engaging latch arm swingable about a horizontal pivot stud provided with an outwardly projecting knob, said latch arm being under pressure of spring means centered on its swing axis whereby the extremities of the latch arm are urged into frictional engagement with respective lands on the door frame, the door being further provided with an axially shiftable thrust member which surrounds said pivot stud forwardly of the latch arm and has an inward extension contacting said spring means for relieving the pressure thereof upon an inward repression of said thrust member to allow a swinging of the latch arm out of engagement with said lands,

• said device including a mobile body displaceable along a base in the direction of said axis and provided with door-engaging means, hydraulic drive means anchored to said base and to said body for displacing the latter between a withdrawn position remote from said door frame and an advanced position close to said door frame, said door-engagement means being operative in said advanced position, unlatching means on said body including a gripper rod and a surrounding pressure sleeve limitedly relatively movable along said axis, said gripper rod having cam-controlled claw means engageable in said advanced position with the knob of a door latched to said door frame for obtaining a purchase on said pivot stud, said pressure member being aligned with the thrust member of the latched door in said advanced position, and hydraulic actuating means operable independently of said drive means for repressing said thrust member to facilitate a disengagement of said latch arm from said lands, said actuating means including a cylinder connectable to a source of hydraulic fluid, a piston in said cylinder, and valve means controlling the admission of hydraulic fluid from said source to said cylinder,
• the improvement wherein said actuating means forma a structural unit with said gripper rod and said pressure sleeve, said piston being rigid with said gripper rod, said cylinder constituting an extension of said pressure sleeve and forming therewith a tubular assembly around said gripper rod and said piston, said tubular assembly being anchored to said body by a flexible connection.