EP0014112A1 - Emergency sliding door - Google Patents

Abstract

Door, comprising a leaf formed by a fixed panel (3) and a movable panel (4) sliding parallel to the fixed panel (3). All of the panels are connected to a frame (1) carried by a rotary post (5) and capable of being actuated in rotation to rapidly release the entire frame (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a sliding door with emergency opening, of the type used for closing large premises intended to accommodate a large number of people simultaneously.

Such doors generally comprise a leaf, or two leaves facing each other, each leaf consisting of a panel fixed relative to a frame linked to the frame of the door, and at least one movable panel. connected to the frame via a raceway allowing the movable panel to slide parallel to the fixed panel. The movable panel is normally in the closed position, and it slides automatically into the open position when a person approaches.

However, this sliding movement is relatively slow, in order to ensure that the equipment is well maintained, and if the occupants of the room, panicking for some reason, rush onto the door, they can lean against it before it total opening, thus preventing the sliding movement from continuing.

We have sought to remedy this drawback by giving the mobile panel a degree of freedom of rotation to allow it to open like a traditional leaf, towards the outside of the room, when pressure is exerted on it. But several drawbacks remain. On the one hand, the safety regulations impose an amplitude rotation greater than 90 °, so that once the movable panel is open, it has a bulk which prevents the fixed panel from being opened in the same way. The opening obtained is therefore limited to the width of the movable panel.

On the other hand, for this operation, the movable panel must be able to swivel up and down, in particular in the floor. To make the rotary movement compatible with the normal slide movement ment, it is planned to accommodate the lower pin in a groove in the floor which allows the two movements. But, especially in public places, this groove is constantly exposed to being clogged with various detritus which compromise the functioning of the door.

The present invention aims to provide a sliding door with emergency opening which makes it possible to free up the largest possible space and has optimum reliability.

According to the invention, the sliding door with emergency opening comprises at least one leaf consisting of a fixed panel with respect to a frame linked to the frame of the door and at least one movable panel connected to the frame by the 'via a track allowing the movable panel to slide parallel to the fixed panel. This door comprises an articulation system to allow a rotational movement of at least one of the panels around a vertical axis, and it is characterized in that the sliding motor means are fixed to the frame to be driven integrally with the frame in its rotational movement.

The perimeter of the frame is entirely cleared since not only the two panels, mobile and fixed, but also the frame and the sliding motor means are affected by the rotational movement.

The clear opening is therefore maximum, both in height and laterally.

According to an improved embodiment of the invention, the door comprises a stage for controlling the motor means for automatically causing the sliding of the movable panel in the direction of opening when the leaf is rotated in the direction of opening.

Once the door is opened by rotation, the movable panel is thus brought back to the fixed panel, which halves the wind resistance and reduces the risk of breakage by reducing the size.

Preferably, the motor means control stage comprises a device for actuating the motor means at a speed lower than the normal sliding speed when the leaf is rotated in the direction of opening.

Sliding at low speed during the rotary opening of the door avoids causing injury to the rushing crowd leaning against the panels.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the door comprises elastic means for opposing the rotation movement of the leaf in the direction of opening during a fraction of the rotary stroke of said leaf close to its closed position.

After a fugitive push having caused the door to ajar, the door closes automatically by the effect of elastic means if this push is not continued.

Likewise, the door comprises elastic means for causing the leaf to rotate in the opening direction during a fraction of the rotary stroke of said leaf close to its fully open position.

Beyond a certain degree of openness, these elastic means contribute to ensuring automatically the complete opening of the door.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, all of the above-mentioned elastic means comprises a member with longitudinal sliding articulated on the one hand at a point of the frame, and on the other hand at a point of the door frame, these articulation points being arranged so as to be aligned with the axis of rotation of the leaf in an intermediate angular position of the latter.

Preferably, the member with longitudinal sliding is a pneumatic cylinder.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door comprises means for locking the frame on the frame of the door, unlockable by the action of a predetermined pressure exerted transversely to the leaf.

The door cannot therefore open accidentally, for example under the effect of a draft. Its opening requires a notable push, corresponding to a voluntary gesture.

In the case where the motor means of the movable panel comprise a screw actuated by a motor and cooperating with a nut fixed on this panel, the invention provides for having a movable bar mounted on a locking mechanism fixed to the frame, this mechanism being arranged in such a way that the bar can come to engage in a toothed wheel mounted at the end of the screw to block the rotation of the latter, which realizes the locking of the sliding movement.

Correlatively, the invention also provides for having a bolt to cooperate with the door frame, which achieves the locking of the rotational movement of the frame.

The locking mechanism is advantageously controlled by an electromagnet powered by a battery • autonomous, the locking position corresponding to the lack of current.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows.

• - la Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble, en perspective, d'une porte conforme à l'invention en position fermée,
• - la Figure 2 est une vue analogue de la même porte, en position ouverte par rotation,
• - la Figure 3 est une vue en élévation de la porte, en position fermée, suivant III-III de la Figure 4,
• - la Figure 4 est une vue en plan de la porte, suivant IV-IV de la Figure 3,
• - la Figure 5 est une vue en coupe suivant V-V des Figures 3 et^.4,
• - la Figure 6 est une vue en coupe suivant VI-VI des Figures 3 et 4,
• - la Figure 7 est une vue en coupe suivant VII-VII des Figures 3 et 4,
• - la Figure 8 est une vue en coupe suivant VIII-VIII des Figures 3 et 4,
• - la Figure 9 est une vue en coupe suivant IX-IX des Figures 3 et 4,
• - la Figure 10 est une vue de détail en perspective, avec coupe et arraché partiels, de la partie inférieure des vantaux,
• - la Figure 11 est une vue schématique destinée à expliquer le fonctionnement de la porte.

In the appended drawings, given by way of nonlimiting examples:

• FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a door according to the invention in the closed position,
• FIG. 2 is a similar view of the same door, in the open position by rotation,
• FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the door, in the closed position, along III-III of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of the door, according to IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• - Figure 5 is a sectional view along VV of Figures 3 and ^. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view along VI-VI of FIGS. 3 and 4,
• FIG. 7 is a sectional view along VII-VII of FIGS. 3 and 4,
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view along VIII-VIII of FIGS. 3 and 4,
• FIG. 9 is a sectional view along IX-IX of FIGS. 3 and 4,
• FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view, with partial section and cutaway, of the lower part of the leaves,
• - Figure 11 is a schematic view intended to explain the operation of the door.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a door according to the invention comprises a frame 1 linked to the frame 2 of the door. This frame carries a fixed panel 3, rigidly connected to the frame, and a movable panel 4 mounted on a path of rolling to slide parallel to the fixed panel 3, so as to offer, in the open position, a passage approximately equal to half of the frame 2.

The frame 1 comprises a post 5 rotatably mounted on two bearings 6 and 7, placed at its two ends.

An electric motor 8 actuates an endless screw 9 carrying a nut (not shown in Figures 1 and 2) secured to the movable panel 4.

It is understood that the door can open not only by sliding of the movable panel 4, but also by rotation of the assembly of the two panels (Figure 2), this rotation also affecting the frame 1, so that the frame 2 is is then completely released, the motor 8 also being driven with the screw 9 in the rotational movement of the frame 1.

We will now describe this door in detail with reference to Figures 3 to 10.

The frame 2 comprises a lintel 11 formed of a U-shaped profile carrying an angle 12. In an orifice made in the horizontal wing of this angle passes a pin 13 secured to the post 5 to form the bearing 6. The post 5 comprises , at its base, another pin 14 cooperating with a seat plate 15 to constitute the bearing 7.

An angle iron 16 is applied on the one hand to the top of the post 5 with a square section and on the other hand to one of its faces. To this angle iron is fixed a U-shaped profile 17 with vertical core by bolts 18 , 19 (Figure 5). The bolts 19 which assemble the web of the profile 17 with the vertical wing of the angle iron 16 also hold a flat iron 21 to which two sections 22 of tube with rectangular section are welded. In these sections are housed nuts 23 which cooperate with bolts 24 to hold a reinforcement bracket 25 and a special profile 26. While the profile 17 extends over the entire length of the door and constitutes the centerpiece of the frame 1 (Figure 3), the special profiles 26 are of limited length and distributed over the length of the frame 1, each being reinforced by its square 25.

Bolts 47 (fig. 5) fix to the profile 26 an edge 27 fixed to the upper edge of a glass panel 28 constituting the fixed panel 3. This panel is provided, at its base, with an H-shaped plinth 29, on the one hand, to be embedded on it and, on the other hand, to mount a square iron 31 fixed on a flat iron 32 itself fixed at the base of the post 5.

The special profiles 26 serve to support a ball cage 33 extending over the entire length of the door, and in which slides a slide 34 at the ends of which are fixed two flat bars 36 (Figures 3 and 9) each carrying a rod threaded 37. Two nuts 38 on this threaded rod enclose a horizontal wing of a profile 39 forming the upper edge of a glass panel 41 constituting the movable panel 4.

This movable leaf comprises, at its base, a plinth 42 (Figure 9) similar to the plinth 29 of the fixed leaf 3 which straddles a rectangular profile 43 of plastic material on which it slides with gentle friction. The section 43 is fixed to an angle iron 44 fixed to the plinth 29 of the fixed leaf 3 (Figure 10).

It follows from what has just been said about the base of the leaves 3 and 4 that none of these leaves is in contact with the ground.

The slide 34 carries, in its middle part, a fork 45 (FIG. 6) which encloses a ball nut 46 cooperating with an endless screw 9. This screw is carried by two bearings 48 (FIG. 3) fixed to the special sections 26 and coupled to an electric motor 8 via a sleeve 51.

The motor 8 is fixed by known means not shown to the special profile 26 and it is provided with an automatic control stage 8a in itself known to cause its automatic starting in the direction of opening or closing. depending on whether, respectively, a person or a vehicle approaches or leaves the door.

In the example described, there is provision for programming the control stage to actuate the motor at a given speed, relatively high, over most of its travel and at a reduced speed in the vicinity of the limit switches of the panel. mobile 4, in order to minimize impact at the end of the stroke. This arrangement, in itself known, need not be described here in detail.

It follows from the description which has just been made so far, that the assembly constituted by the panels 3 and 4 and the frame 1, can pivot around the axis of the post 5, the door opening by following rotation arrow F (Figures 4, 5, 7, 8).

In the vicinity of the end of the door opposite the post 5, a contactor 52 is fixed on the special section 26 and comprises a movable arm 53 bearing on an angle 54 fixed to the lintel 11 (Figures 4 and 7). It is understood that, when the door is actuated in rotation, the arm 53 moves to actuate the contactor 52. The contactor is connected to the programmed control stage of the motor 8 to cause the starting of the motor 8 at slow speed in the opening direction as soon as the door starts a rotational movement in the opening direction.

A stop 55 in resilient material is fixed on a bracket 56 integral with the special profile 26 to bear on the angle 54 when the frame 1 of the door is in the closed position (Figures 4 and 7).

A latch 57 (Figure 8) comprises a captive ball 58 urged projecting by a spring 59 housed in a housing 61 to cooperate with an orifice 62 formed in a profile 63 integral with the special profile 26, the housing 61 which retains the captive ball itself fixed to an angle 64 secured to the lintel 11.

A locking device 64 (Figure 7) comprises an electromagnet housed in a housing 65 fixed to the special profile 26 via a foot 66. On the foot 66 is articulated at 67 a lever 68 connected to a core 69 of the electromagnet. This lever comprises at one of its ends a bar 71 which can come to cooperate with a toothed wheel 72 keyed onto the worm screw 9. At the other end of the lever is articulated a latch 73 whose body 74 is fixed in an iron flat 75 secured to the special profile 26.

The electromagnet is arranged so that the core 69 is pushed upwards in the event of excitation and descends again downwards, under the effect of elastic means not shown, in the event of a lack of current. In the lack of current position (Figure 7), the bolt 76 is moved upwards with respect to the angle iron 54 and the bar 71 is engaged in the toothed wheel 72. In the event of excitation, these positions are reversed, the wheel 72 is released and the bolt 76 is erased.

In the example described, the electromagnet is powered by an autonomous battery.

At the end of the door next to the post 5 is mounted a jack 77 (Figures 3 and 4) whose body 78 is articulated at 79 on the angle 12 fixed to the lintel 11 and whose rod 81 is articulated at 82 on a gusset 83 extending the angle 16 secured to the post 5.

Points 79 and 82 are arranged in such a way that they are aligned with the axis 84 of post 5 in an intermediate position of the door in its rotational movement (Figure 11), that is to say in the position 77a of the cylinder, shown in dashed lines.

The jack 77 works constantly under compression and can be spring loaded, or, as in the example described, compressed air.

In the closed position 3 of the fixed panel, the jack in position 77 (Figure 11) opposes the opening of the door, until the panel reaches position 3a (in dashed lines) corresponding to position 72a cylinder. Beyond, and up to position 3b of the panel (in phantom) full opening, corresponding to position 77b of the jack, the jack helps in opening the door.

Finally, a cover 84 linked to the lintel 11 and a cover 85 linked to the frame 1 hide and protect the mechanisms described. For clarity, these covers have been assumed to be removed in Figures 1 to 4.

We will now describe the operation of the door.

From the closing position, as shown in all the Figures (except Figure 2), the normal operation of the door consists of the sliding of the movable panel 4 parallel to the fixed panel 3, under the effect of motor 8 actuating the endless screw 9 which causes the translational displacement of the nut 46 and the same displacement of the fork 45.

The engine ₈ can be started manually, by pressing a button, or, as here, automatically by the approach of a person or a vehicle.

The same movement occurs in reverse for the closing operation.

In both cases, the movable panel moves at high speed over most of its travel and at slow speed in the vicinity of its limit switches.

In normal service, only the aforementioned sliding movement is likely to occur, the frame 1 being immobilized in rotation by the ball lock 57 which opposes the rotation of the panels under the effect of a simple draft or a slight accidental push.

If the accidental thrust in question is relatively strong, it can force the latch 57 and allow the door to open. But if the author of the push does not persist, the door closes under the effect of the jack 77 which opposes the opening.

If the thrust is both strong and persistent, the door continues its opening movement until it exceeds the position 77a of maximum compression of the jack and, consequently, this jack assists in the opening of the door. At the same time, the contactor 52 causes the sliding movement of the movable panel 4 in the direction of opening, at low speed. The slow speed avoids injuring people pressing against the door, while the progressive opening reduces the space swept by the rotating panels and halves the wind resistance on the panels when the rotation is complete .

In the non-use position of the door, for example at night closing, the actuation of the locking device 64 makes it possible to block the two possible movements of the door, sliding by the toothed wheel 72 and rotating by the latch 73 The locking position corresponds to the lack of current, there is an additional anti-theft effect.

In normal use, a mains power failure cannot inadvertently lock the door since the power supply to the electromagnet is autonomous.

The door object of the invention has the important advantage of completely clearing the passage defined by the frame 2, not only over the entire width, by erasing the two panels, but also over the entire height, by erasing the frame and the mechanism it contains (Figure 2).

As a result, in the event of a crowd panic, the widest space is offered for evacuation. Similarly, if the opening in rotation is required by the passage of a vehicle such as a truck, the clearance in height allows the passage of large sizes.

The use of such a door is also justified not only for the safety of people in case of panic, but also for the preservation of the door itself, if it comes into being accidentally struck by a vehicle. The fact that it easily yields in rotation makes it possible to avoid its serious damage.

It will also be noted that the panels are nowhere in abutment on the ground, but suspended from the frame. Their rotation therefore does not involve any rolling, and therefore does not require any raceway made in the ground and liable to clog.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example described, and one could conceive of numerous variants without departing from its scope. Thus, the electric motor and the screw-nut system could be replaced by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. Similarly, one could easily design a door with four panels distributed along two movable leaves in rotation, without significant modification of the embodiment described.

Claims (11)

1. Sliding door with emergency opening comprising at least one leaf consisting of a fixed panel with respect to a frame linked to the door frame and at least one movable panel connected to the frame by means of a raceway allowing the movable panel to slide parallel to the fixed panel by means of sliding motors, said door comprising an articulation system to allow a rotational movement of at least one of the panels around an axis vertical, characterized in that the sliding motor means (8, 9, 46) are fixed to the frame (1) to be driven integrally with the frame (1) in its rotational movement. 2. Door according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a stage for controlling the means (8, 9, 46) mentioned above for automatically causing the sliding of the movable panel (4) in the direction of opening when the leaf (3, 4) is rotated in the direction of opening. 3. Door according to claim 2, characterized in that the control stage of the motor means (8, 9, 46) comprises a device for actuating these motor means at a speed lower than the normal sliding speed when the leaf ( 3, 4) is rotated in the direction of opening. 4. Door according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (77) to oppose the rotational movement of the leaf (3, 4) in the direction of opening during a fraction of the rotary stroke of said leaf (3, 4) close to its closed position. 5. Door according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (77) for causing the rotary movement of the leaf (3, 4) in the direction of opening during a fraction of the rotary stroke of said leaf (3, 4) close to its closed position. 6. Door according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the elastic means comprise a member (77) with longitudinal sliding articulated on the one hand at a point (82) of the frame (1) and on the other leaves at a point (79) of the frame (2) of the door, these points of articulation being arranged so as to be aligned with the axis of rotation (84) of the leaf (3, 4) in a position angular intermediate of the latter. 7. Door according to claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal sliding member is a pneumatic cylinder (77). 8. Door according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises means (57) for locking the frame (1) on the frame (2) of the door, unlockable by the action d '' a predetermined pressure exerted transversely to the leaf (3, 4). 9. Door according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the motor means (8, 9, 46) for sliding the movable panel (4) comprise a screw (9) actuated by a motor (8) and cooperating with a nut (46) fixed to said panel (4), characterized in that it comprises a movable bar (71) mounted on a locking mechanism (64) fixed to the frame (1), this mechanism being arranged in such a way that the bar (71) can come to engage in a toothed wheel (72) mounted at the end of the screw (9) to block the rotation of the latter. 10. Door according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking mechanism (64) comprises a bolt (76) arranged to cooperate with the frame (2) of the door. 11. Door according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the locking mechanism (64) is controlled by an electromagnet (65) supplied by an autonomous battery, the locking position corresponding to the lack of current. .

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