CA1224402A

CA1224402A - Industrial door

Info

Publication number: CA1224402A
Application number: CA000450427A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Douglas B. Taylor
Original assignee: COPPER CLIFF DOOR Manufacturing 1980 Ltd
Current assignee: COPPER CLIFF DOOR Manufacturing 1980 Ltd
Priority date: 1984-03-23
Filing date: 1984-03-23
Publication date: 1987-07-21

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A pressure differential compensating door includes a curtain for closing a doorway having a first upper end, a second lower end and side edges and a curtain winding mechanism having the first end of the curtain attached thereto for raising and lowering the curtain. In addition there is a pair of spaced apart guide channels in which side edge sections of the curtain are movable. These side edge sections are sealingly engagable with the channels. A door pressure releasing mechanism connects the door in sealing engagement with a door surrounding structure. The releasing mechanism is operable to move the door away from the door surrounding structure prior to the curtain being raised and to release any pressure differential existing on opposing sides of the door.
Special friction reducing members are fixed to both of the side edge sections and extend therealong to reduce the amount of friction between these sections and their guide channels.

Description

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The present invention relates to doors and more particularly to overhead doors which are employed in industrial applications including mining applications.
It is known to construct an industrial door structure which includes a curtain for closing the doorway and a curtain winding mechanism for raising and lowering the curtain. Such a door structure is disclosed in South AErican patent no. 80/0440 wherein the inventor is Glenn R.
Palmer. This known door is advantageous in that damage is minimal if the door is struck by a vehicle which must pass through the door on a regular basis. The curtain is made of a rubber composition and it is thicker along its side edges so that it is normally retained at the side edges in guide channels. In many mining applications, there is often a pressure difEerential on opposing sides of the door and the edges of the curtain are designed to sealingly engage the guide channels in order to maintain the pressure differential.
In applications where doors, including flexible curtain doors, have to be maintained closed to maintain a predetermined pressure within an environment, experience has shown that differential pressure building up on opposing sides of the door can make it extremely difficult if not impossible, to open the door.
The preferred pressure-differential compensating door disclosed herein can be readily opened when different pressures exist on opposing sides of the door. The ~:24~

pressure-differential compensating door i5 also a damage-minimizing door which can be readily repaired and maintained subsequent to impact by vehicular traffic.
It should be understood that the expression "door surrounding structure" referred to herein and in the appended claims means a frame or that portion of a wall to which the door is mounted.
According to the present invention, a roll-up door comprises a flexible curtain for closing a doorway having a first end, a second lower end, and side ed~e,~ and a curtain winding mechanism having the first end of the curtain attached thereto for raising and lowering the curtain. This door includes a pair of space-apart guide channel means with side edge sections of the curtain being movable in the guide channel means and engagable therewith.
Friction reducing members are affixed to both of the side edge sections and extend therealong to reduce the amount of friction between the side edge sections and their respective guide channels.
In one preferred embodiment, the curtain is made of rubber or synthetic rubber and the friction reducing members comprise plastic strips. The plastic strips are made of ultrahigh molecular weight plastic and are affixed to both the front and the back of each side edge section.

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Further features and advantages will be apparent Erom the following detailed description given by way of example, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fxont elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the door of figure 1 secured in sealing engagement to the door surroundin~ structure.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a door taken along the line III-III of Fi~ure 1.

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Figure 4 is a side elevation of the upper portion only of the door structure wherein the door has been moved away from the door surrounding structure.
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken at line V-V of :Eigure 1.
E`igure 6 is a sectional view taken at line VI-VI
o figure 1 showi.ng one side edge of the curtain and its respective guide channel and :illustrating how the side edge section can be pulled from the channel under impact.
Figure 7 is a front detail of the side edge section of the curtain.
Figure 8 is a detail view illustrationg the bar on the bottom of the curtain.
Referring to figures 1 to 4 there is shown a pressure-di~ferential compensating door 10 which is also a damage minimi~ing door suitable for use in mining application. The door 10 includes a flexible curtain 12 having a first upper end 14 attached to a curtain winding mechanism which includes a spring barrel 16. The spring barrel 16 is a well known feature of overhead doors and further description of this barrel and the mounting therefor is deemed to be unnecessary. A shaft 17 projects from each end of the barrel and is mounted in a vertical support plate 19.
' An idler barrel 18 is located below the spring barrel and is attached to the support plates or end brackets 19 by inserting a shaft 21 on either end of the idler barrel into holes provided near ~he base of each support plate 19. The curtain winding mechanism includes a door lift power unit 22 which is attached to the upper - 6 - ~22~

section of the door 10 to provide a lift force required to lift the curtain under normal operating condi-tions. The curtain will lower to the closed position under its own weight. The preferred power unit 22 is electrical and is ~n integrated completely enclosed prime mover consisting of a worm gear ~ox, control section and electric motor (not shown). The control section can contain a solenoid operated brake, rotary limit switches and a mechanical interlock to prevent electrical operation when a manual chain hoist is engaged. Additional controls for a safety edge, radio control, time delay, etc. may be incorporated into the control section if desired. Such electrical power units for the operation of overhead doors are well known and the power unit per se does not form a novel aspect of the present invention.
The upper portion of the door structure further includes channel members 23 and 25 that extend between and connect the side support plates 19. The channel member 25 is longer than the upper member 23 to permit hydraulic jacks to be connected thereto as explained hereinafter~
The back edge of each support plate 19 is rigidly connected to a respective vertical channel member 27 which can be seen in cross section figures 5 and 6. Each of the two channel members 27 extends from the floor to the very top of the door structure. Extendin~ between and connecting the channel members 27 are horizontal channel members 29 and 31. The bottom end of each channel member 27 is pivotally secured by an anchor hinge 38 to the wall or door surrounding structure 36. The preferred door surrounding structure is one made of steel and it can for example be - 7 - ~ ~ Z ~

made from wide flanged beams. A steel surrounding structure permits easy attachment of such parts of the door structure as the anchor hinges 38 and the hydraulic cylinders 44 described hereinafter.
Turning now to the construction of the flexible curtain 12, there is provided at its lower end 24 a rigid bar 26 attached by means of bolts 33. The lower end 24 is clamped between a structural angle 35 and a flat elongate plate 37 which together make up the bar 26. The purpose of the bar 26 is to resist the bending action of the curtain and to maintain the curtain parallel with the threshold of the door. There can also be clamped between the angle 35 and the plate 37 a section of a flexible sealing strip 28.
This strip 28 which can be made of rubber provides the means to seal the curtain with the threshold when the curtain is lowered to its closed position. If desired the strip 28 can contain electrical wiring 39, forming part of a known electrically actuated safety system which provides for emergency stoppage of the downward action of the door should an obstruction be present in the opening. Such an emergency safety system is well known in the overhead door art and further description of this system in the present application is deemed unnecessary. The preferred means of attachment for the lower end 24 of the curtain is to cut V-shaped notches in ~he bottom edge to accomodate the bolts 33. In this way the curtain is less likely to be damaged under impact because the bar 26 can be pulled from the bottom edge of the curtain without tearing or damaging the latter.

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The construction of the vertical side edges of the curtain can be seen from figures 5 to 7. The side edges 30 are thicker than the remaining portion of the cuJ^tain 12 and are movable in the aforemention guide channels 20. In the preferred embodiment shown the side edges are more than twice as thick as the remaining portion of the curtain and are formed by adhering a second layer of rubber to each side edge, The inner side of the additional layer of rubber is bevelled at 41 and along the sloping surface is arranged friction reducing means in the fo~m of short plastic strips 43. Further friction reducing means are provided on the opposite side of the curtain and these means are made of long plastic strips 45. The plastic strips 43 and 45 are provided to reduce the amount of friction between the side edge sections 30 and their respective guide channels 20. The preferred plastic strips are constructed with ultrahigh molecular weight plastic which has a low coefficient of friction. It is preferable for the two strips 45 located on the hack surface of the curtain to be continuous strips in order that a seal will be provided between the side edge sections of the curtain and their guide channels. The strips 45 can be continuous without creating problems when the curtain is wound up because these strips are located on the radially outer side of the rolled up curtain. It is preferable that the strips 43 be short and spaced apart along the bevelled shoulder 41 as shown in figure 7 in order that these strips will not be bent unduly or separated from the rubber curtain as the -` result of numerous operations of the door.

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g Only recently has it become possible to satisfactorily bond plastic strips of the type illustrated irl figures 5 -to 7 to rubber. The process that is used is a molecular process. In the actual construction of appllcant's door, the plastic strips 43 and 45 are purchased with a -thin layer of rubber already bonded to one surface by this molecular process. Strips of this nature are sold under the trade mark RB85 by Robco Incorporated.
When these particular strips are being used, it then becomes necessary only to bond rubber to rubber, a well known operation.
The construction of the guide channels 20 can be seen readily from figures 5 and 6. In particular there is a large, elongate structural angle 47 and a smaller structural angle 49. Both the outer angles 47 extend from the floor of the door opening to the location 51 indicated in figure 2. The inner angle 49 extends from the floor of the door opening to a hinge member 50. ~ne leg of the angle 49 is bent inwards towards the corresponding leg of the angle 47 to form a sloping shoulder 51 which is engaged by the plastic strips 43 of the curtain under normal conditions. Preferably the angles 47 and 4g are constructed from ordinary mild steel of approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Such steel is flexible enou~h not to damage the rubber curtain if it is pulled from the guide channel as shown in figure 6. It will be appreciated -that under vehicular impact, the side edge sections of the curtain can be pulled from the guide channels because the bent legs of the angle 49 will flex sufficiently to enable - 10 - ~L22~

the side edge sections to come out. The angles 47 and 49 are bolted to one another by means of bolts 53 and nuts 55.
The leg 57 of the angle ~7 can be rigidly attached (such as by welding) to the adjacent channel memher 27.
Connected to each of the aorementioned hinges 50 is a relatively short angle member 48 forming an upper portion of the guide channel. The plate 48 can be pivoted about its hinge connection as illustrated in dashed lines in figure 3 to facilitate insertion of its respective side edge section into the guide channel. As illustrated, each member ~8 can be held inplace by two bolts. If desired each plate 48 can be spring biased by a coil spring located at the hinge 50 towards the position shown in solid lines in figure 3.
It should be understood that the bar 26 shown in figure 1 does not extend into the guide channels 20. This arrangement is necessary in order for the damage to the door structure to be minimal if the door is struck by a vehicle.
In mining applications for the present door structure, the door operates to seal one section of a mine off from another section of a mine. In certain instances a considerable pressure differential buildup may occur on opposing sides of the door (in the order of 8-10 tons) resulting in the curtain bending as shown in figure 5 and making it difficult to raise and lower the door even with the use of the plastic strips ~3 and 45. To overcome this problem door pressure releasing means which connect the door and se~ling engagement with the door surrounding L2Z4~

structure are employed. These releasing means are operable to move the door 10 away from the door surrounding structure 36 prior to the cur~ain being raised and to release any pressure diEferential existing on opposing sides of the door. The preferred door pressure releasing tneans includes the aforementioned hydraulic cylinders 44.
One of these cylinders is located on each side of the door near the top. A hydraulic piston member 56 is slidable in each cylinder and is connected to lugs 59 that extend upwardly from the channel member 25. Each hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected by means of lugs 61 to the door surrounding structure 36. The hydraulic cylinders are connected to a hydraulic power unit 65 in a well known manner. The hydraulic power unit is of standard construction and a detailed description of this unit is deemed unnecessary. In one preferred embodiment of the present door structure each hydraulic cylinder has a stroke of approximately nine inches.
It will now be understood that in order to overcome a pressure differential buildupl the hydraulic cylinders 44 can be actuated to push the door structure to the position shown in figure 4. The door structure pivots about the hinge anchors located at 38. As a result pressure equalizes on opposing sides of the door making it relatively easy to move the side edges 30 of ~he curtain in the guide channels. After the curtain is raised, the hydraulic cylinders 44 are returned to the position shown in figure 2 bringing the door back into engagement wi-th the door surrounding structure.

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It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that there are alternatives to the hydraulic cylinder shown or providing door pressure releasing means. ~or example, these cylinders could be replaced by pneumatic cylinders.
Pneumatic cylinders may however be less reliable than hydraulic cylinders. Alternatively a rack and pinion mechanism could be employed to move the door s-tructure away from the door surrounding structure. The pinion could then be operated by an electric motor.
In order to provide an air tight seal between the vertical channel members 27 and the door surrounding structure 36, flexible flaps 67 can be provided. Each flap is attached to the outer flange oE the channel member 27 by means of bolts or other suitable connectors 69.
The gap between the end 71 of the angle member 49 and the leg 57 is sized so that the curtain 12 can be pulled under impact from the guide channel without damage to the curtain. In one preferred embodiment wherein the curtain 12 is 1/4 inch thick (except for -the side edge section 30) the gap formed by each guide channel measures approximately 1/2 inch. It will be appreciated that the side edge section 30 in ~his preferred embodiment has a thickness which excseds l/2 inch so that under normal conditions the side edge section will not be pulled from its guide channel.
In applications requiring an overhead door of the present type but not requiring a door that is capahle of being open even when a pressure diEferen-tial exists, the aforementioned plastic strips 43 and 45 are still very - 13 ~ 44~

useul because of their ability to reduce friction. Thus these strips can be used on doors in above ground locations where a door pressure releasing mechanism such as the hydrauLic cylinders 44 are not required.
S It will be clear to those ~;killed in the art that various modifications and changes can be incorporated in the door structure of the present invention. All such modificactions and changes that fall within -the scope of the appended claims are intended to be covered by the present application.

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Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed axe defined as follows:

1. A roll-up door comprising:
a flexible curtain fox closing a doorway having a first upper end, a second lower end and side edges;
a curtain winding mechanism having said first end of said curtain attached thereto for raising said curtain;
a pair of spaced apart guide channel means, side edge sections of said curtain being movable in said guide channel means and engageable therewith; and friction reducing means affixed to both of said side edge sections and extending therealong to reduce the amount of friction between said side edge sections and their respective guide channels.

2. A roll-up door according to claim 1 wherein said curtain is made of rubber or synthetic rubber and said friction reducing means comprises plastic strips.

3. A roll-up door according to claim 2 wherein said side edge sections of said curtain are thicker than the remainder of said curtain and cannot be pulled sideways out of said guide channel means except under a predetermined impact force on said curtain.

4. A roll-up door according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said plastic strips are constructed with ultrahigh molecular weight plastic and are affixed to both the front and the back of each side edge section.

5. A roll-up door according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said plastic strips are bonded to both the front and the back of each side edge section and the plastic strip on one side of each side edge section is a continuous unbroken strip while on the other side there are numerous short strips that are spaced apart in an end-to-end relationship, said continuous strip being on the radially outer side of the rolled-up curtain.

6. A roll-up door according to claim 3 wherein a sloping shoulder is formed between the thinner region of said curtain and each of the thicker side edge sections and a number of said plastic strips are bonded to said shoulder, said strips being spaced apart and arranged lengthwise along said shoulder.

7. A roll-up door according to claim 6 wherein a continuous plastic strip is provided on the side of said curtain opposite said sloping shoulder along each side edge section.

8. A roll-up door adapted to operated when differences in pressure exist between opposite sides of the door, said door comprising:
a flexible curtain for closing a doorway having an upper end, a lower end, and side edges;
a curtain winding mechanism having said upper end of said curtain attached thereto for raising said curtain;
a movable door frame including an upper, horizontally-extending portion and two vertically-extending side portions;

a pair of elongate guide channel means, each connected to a respective one of said side portions of said door frame, side edge sections of said curtain being movable in said guide channel means and sealingly engageable therewith;
friction reducing means affixed to both of said side edge sections and extending therealong to reduce the amount of friction between said side edge sections and their respective guide channels; and door pressure releasing means adapted to connect said door, including said door frame, in sealing engagement with a door surrounding structure, said releasing means being operable to move said door away from said door surrounding structure prior to said curtain being raised and to release any pressure differential existing on opposing sides of said door.

9. A roll-up door according to claim 8 wherein said door pressure releasing means comprises two hydraulic cylinder-piston mechanisms, said mechanisms being connected to opposite sides of said door frame.

10. A roll-up door according to claim 9 wherein the bottom end of each side portion of said door frame is adapted to by pivotally connected to said door surrounding structure and said curtain winding mechanism is mounted on said horizontally-extended portion of said door frame.

11. A roll-up door according to claim 9 wherein said curtain is made of rubber or synthetic rubber and said friction reducing means comprises plastic strips.

12. A roll-up door according to claim 11 wherein said plastic strips are constructed with ultrahigh molecular weight plastic and are affixed to both the front and back of each side edge section.