EP0587572A1 - Parois amovibles se telescopant verticalement. - Google Patents

Parois amovibles se telescopant verticalement.

Info

Publication number
EP0587572A1
EP0587572A1 EP92906630A EP92906630A EP0587572A1 EP 0587572 A1 EP0587572 A1 EP 0587572A1 EP 92906630 A EP92906630 A EP 92906630A EP 92906630 A EP92906630 A EP 92906630A EP 0587572 A1 EP0587572 A1 EP 0587572A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
trains
members
diamonds
wall
panels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP92906630A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0587572B1 (fr
Inventor
Miles Peterson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Railtech Ltd
Original Assignee
Railtech Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/675,549 external-priority patent/US5062464A/en
Application filed by Railtech Ltd filed Critical Railtech Ltd
Publication of EP0587572A1 publication Critical patent/EP0587572A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0587572B1 publication Critical patent/EP0587572B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
    • E06B9/262—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B3/00—Window sashes, door leaves, or like elements for closing wall or like openings; Layout of fixed or moving closures, e.g. windows in wall or like openings; Features of rigidly-mounted outer frames relating to the mounting of wing frames
    • E06B3/92—Doors or windows extensible when set in position
    • E06B3/94—Doors of the bellows type
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B2009/2423—Combinations of at least two screens
    • E06B2009/2447—Parallel screens
    • E06B2009/2458—Parallel screens moving simultaneously
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
    • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
    • E06B9/262—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
    • E06B2009/2627—Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a wall partition system, and more particularly to a rigid wall partition system which is vertically upwardly movable into storage position and vertically downwardly movable to form a wall.
  • Movable wall partition systems have many applications, particularly to divide areas of a building and form smaller areas out of larger ones.
  • Convention halls and large rooms in hotels, school gymnasiums and work areas in factories are only a few types of interior building spaces in respect of which movable partition walls are often used to divide them into smaller spaces.
  • Such walls may be formed merely from fabric or other like material, and take the form of curtains which may be drawn or withdrawn.
  • Other, more durable types of movable wall partitions are made of rigid material, extending from floor to ceiling and having heat and/or sound insulating materials between a rigid wall-forming exterior.
  • known wall partition systems of the rigid-type conventionally move horizontally.
  • These types of movable walls usually require storage space (in plan) to accommodate the wall panels when not in use.
  • the wall panels may be very heavy and hence the loads imposed on the support structure (ceiling of the room, roof of the building, etc.) are not constant as the panels are moved and increase as the wall panels are tracked towards their storage positions.
  • Such horizontally movable rigid walls are presently available in three basic types:
  • Individual panels can be put in place one at a time, either manually or mechanically. Paired panels must be put in place manually. Continuously hinged panels can be put in place either manually or individually. Individual panels have no hinges as they are not joined together and must be moved one at a time, for example on rails embedded in the ceiling or roof of the space in which they operate. Paired panels and continuously hinged panels have exposed hinges which may be unsightly and limit the applications to which they may be applied.
  • One type of track-carried horizontally movable wall partition system of background interest to the present invention is an accordion door system offered by Moderco Partitions Inc. , in which a multiple pantograph construction is suspended from rollers on tracks in the ceiling and alternative vertically oriented panels of flexible material are secured to spaced portions of the panto-graph structure so that, as the pantograph is expanded laterally, the partition closes providing a finished corrugated-like appearance.
  • pantograph structure suggested in that construction of accordion doors is similar to that for instance found in baby gates, in which a series of beams are pivotally linked together in spaced fashion to provide a series of similar diamonds along the length of the frame.
  • a pair of beams of similar size are pivotally linked at their midpoints. Their ends on one end are pivotally linked to the ends of a corresponding pair of beams of similar length, similarly pivoted at their midpoint, and so on.
  • the midpoints of the beams are aligned and form opposed corners of diamond shapes, the other opposed corners of which are formed by the pivotally secured ends of adjacent pairs of intersecting beams.
  • the pantograph structure expands longitudinally, in a direction parallel to the axis formed by the aligned intersection points of the beams, and contracts in a similar fashion.
  • the pantograph structure in engineering applications, is useful because it causes forces applied longitudinally, in the direction of expansion and contraction of the structure, to be transmitted evenly throughout all of the beams of the structure.
  • all of the apexes of the diamonds formed by the points of intersection of the beams, as the structure is contracted will arrive at their final, fully contracted position at the same time, meaning that the apexes of diamonds at the outer end, which are moving towards the other end during contraction, will move at a much greater speed than the apexes of the diamonds at the inner end.
  • a rigid wall partition which is vertically upwardly movable into storage position and vertically downwardly movable to form a wall.
  • the partition comprises a support frame of similarly constructed, vertically aligned trains of elongated members.
  • the trains are spaced horizontally over a predetermined distance.
  • the members of each train are arranged in a single pantograph construction to form a single row of similar sized vertically stacked diamonds aligned parallel to a desired wall line of the wall.
  • the trains are expandable to a lower, wall-forming position and upwardly lif able to an upper, raised storage position.
  • the diamonds of the trains from one train to the next form horizontal rows of diamonds, the diamonds in each horizontal row being of similar size and shape.
  • each train similar pairs of elongated members intersect and are secured pivotally together centrally between their ends to form adjoining vertically disposed apexes of adjacent diamonds.
  • Corresponding ends of these pairs of intersecting members pivotally connect to the ends of other pairs of intersecting members to form at those ends laterally disposed apexes of the diamonds so that when the rows are all contracted and the vertical apexes of the diamonds are drawn together, the diamonds are collapsed about their lateral apexes.
  • Associated with each of the diamonds is a pair of similar-sized elongated panel supporting members.
  • the panel supporting members are pivotally secured at one end of each to each other and at their other ends to a member on one side of the pantograph opposite respective vertically disposed apexes of that diamond.
  • the panel supporting members are of a length such that they are vertically oriented when the trains are expanded to a predetermined limit. Similar rigid panels are provided, each panel secured to a panel support member of each train at the corresponding height in a horizontal row, with different panels being secured at different heights, so that the panels extend laterally and provide a continuous wall surface when the panel support members are in vertical orientation.
  • a first horizontally oriented beam member joins the trains at their bottom and a second horizontally oriented beam member joins the trains at their top.
  • a mechanical means associated with the first horizontally oriented beam member is actuable to cause the first beam member to lift while maintaining its horizontal orientation, with the diamonds collapsing at the same rate as the first beam is lifted to upper, storage position.
  • similar panel support members and panels are similarly secured to both sides of the pantograph trains to provide a continuous wall surface on both sides of the pantograph trains when the panel support members are in vertical orientation.
  • the vertically movable wall partition system is essentially made from parallel rigid panels mechanically joined together as a type of pantograph. As the pantograph trains are collapsed upwardly, the wall is moved upwards and folds like an accordion. Since the rigid panels are connected to each other, the wall, as a whole, can be fully automated. Further, the connections and hinges are, because of the construction used, made invisible to the eye from the wall side or (in the case of the double wall embodiment) sides. Because the rigid wall panels move vertically rather than horizontally, storage space (in plan) is not required since the wall folds and stores at the ceiling elevation above the location of the wall. In other words, the wall does not relocate laterally. Thus, a significant advantage achieved by the present invention over prior art horizontally movable rigid wall partitions is that the loads imposed on the support structure are constant. The weight of the wall remains the same whether the wall is up or down (open or closed) .
  • FIGURES 1 and 2 are schematic perspective partial views, partially broken away, of a rigid movable wall partition system according to the present invention respectively, in half-lowered and in lowered, wall forming position;
  • FIGURE 3 is a schematic perspective partial view of one of the pantograph trains of the system of FIGURE 1, without panels, for greater clarity, in collapsed storage position;
  • FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective partial view of the lower portion of one of the pantograph trains of the system in expanded position, without panels, detailing part of the lifting and lowering mechanism;
  • FIGURES 5A and 5B are partial side views of a portion of the pantograph and panel support members of the system respectively in raised, storage position and lowered, wall-forming position;
  • FIGURE 6 is a partial view in section along line VI-VI of FIGURE 3 but with the pantograph in lowered wall- forming position illustrating the pivotal connection of the joined ends of a pair of panel support members;
  • FIGURE 7 is a view along line VII-VII of FIGURE 6;
  • FIGURES 8A and 8B are schematic views from the side of a series of adjacent panel support members in vertical, wall-forming position, respectively illustrating improper and proper orientations of relative pivot points of the members.
  • FIGURES 1 and 2 there is illustrated respectively in half-lowered and lowered, wall-forming position, a vertically movable, rigid wall partition system 2 according to the present invention.
  • the system essentially comprises a skeletal framework, along the center line of the wall to be formed, of elongated members 4 in single pantograph form with the pantograph oriented to be vertically expandable.
  • panel support beams 6 rigid panels 8
  • lower pantograph support beam 10 upper pantograph support beam 12
  • a mechanical power system 14 for raising and lowering system 2.
  • Upper pantograph support beam 12 is maintained in fixed, horizontal position at the top of the area where the wall is to be formed.
  • System 2 may be, as illustrated, housed within a storage well 16 in the ceiling of the building in which it is installed and will have overall dimensions such that, when it is in lowered, wall forming position, it will form a unitary wall across an area to be enclosed.
  • FIGURES 3 to 7 A more detailed understanding of the construction and operation of system 2 is provided in FIGURES 3 to 7.
  • elongated members 4 form a series of vertically aligned trains 20, these trains being spaced in the horizontal direction over a predetermined distance as illustrated.
  • the members 4 forming each train form a single, vertically expandable and contractable pantograph, members 4 being pivotally connected at their midpoints to form central, vertically disposed apexes 22 of adjoining diamonds 24 and the ends of members 4 pivotally secured to the ends of similar pairs of members to form laterally disposed apexes 26 of diamonds 24.
  • the pantographs forming trains 20 are aligned so that the diamonds 24 lie with their planes along the center line of the wall to be formed.
  • All of members 4 are of the same length.
  • upper and lower pantograph support beams 10 and 12 are horizontally oriented, horizontal rows of diamonds 24, from one train 20 to the next, are provided.
  • Lower and upper pantograph support beams 10 and 12 are secured to the corresponding diamonds 24 respectively at their lower apex 28 and upper apex 30, in such a manner, of course, that the corresponding beams of those diamonds are free to pivot at apex 28 and 30.
  • Beams 32 and 34 are pivotally secured together by a hinge 36 (which will be hidden from view when these beams are clad with panels 8) .
  • the other ends of beams 32 and 34 are" pivotally secured to members 4 adjacent corresponding apexes 22, by hinges 38, as illustrated.
  • hinges 38 will be called “A” hinges and hinges 36 will be called “B” hinges.
  • A" hinges are essentially anchored to the pantograph structure formed by members 4 in a particular train, and the "B” hinges move in or out or "float” with respect to the plane of diamonds 24 of trains 20 during expansion or retraction of those trains.
  • each of the diamonds 24, on each side of each of the trains 20 is provided with a cooperating pair of panel support beams 32 and 34 similarly hinged with hinges 36 and 38.
  • Panel support beams 32 and 34 are of a similar length, that length being such as to ensure that beams 32 and 34 are in vertical orientation when trains 20 have been expanded fully to their wall-forming position (e.g., FIGURE 2).
  • a panel 8 secured to panel support beam 32, and another panel 8 secured to panel support beam 34, these panels being of a width, in the vertical direction, corresponding to the length of its corresponding panel support beam, will provide a wall having a solid, planar, unbroken appearance when beams 32 and 34 are in this vertical orientation.
  • Panels 8 are preferably of a rectangular construction, elongated in the horizontal direction, a single panel or a set of panels 8 being secured to all of the panel support beams 32 (or 34, as the case may be) of trains 20, which lie horizontally at the same level. It is preferred that a small spline 40 of flexible material be secured to the confronting sides 42 of panels 8 in horizontal and vertical directions so as to provide acoustical insulation between adjacent panels. To ensure that the "B" hinges joining a cooperating pair of panel support beams 32 and 34 are not visible when the panels 8 are vertically oriented in wall- forming position, a standard form of butt hinge has been found unsuitable.
  • Spur gears 52 are formed and positioned on ends 50 of beams 32 and 34 so that the engagement of the teeth of these gears maintains the beams 32 and 34 in appropriate position at all times and one of these beams swings outwardly or inwardly only at the same rate as the other during retraction or expansion of trains 20.
  • the "A" hinges for panel support beams 32 and 34 may be of any appropriate construction to achieve the desired motion of the beams. "A" hinges of course must each be secured to a portion of train 20 in the vicinity of a vertically disposed apex 22 in a manner that does not interfere with the pivotal operation of members 4.
  • hinge 38 is illustrated, in sequential configurations, on one side of members 4, in FIGURES 5A and 5B.
  • Each of the ends of cooperating beams 32 and 34 at this "A" hinge is individually hingedly secured, by means of a four-point pivot hinge 54, to one of the members 4 near the corresponding apex 22, where the members are pivotally secured to each other, as illustrated, so that as members 4 move from collapsed (FIGURE 5A) to fully expanded, wall- forming position and back to collapsed position, the confronting ends of cooperating beams 32 and 34 are prevented from obstructing each other.
  • Hinge 54 is pivotally secured to cooperating beams 32 and 34 at pivots 56.
  • Bar 57 has one end pivotally secured at pivot 58 to base 59 of hinge 54, which base is secured to the corresponding member 4.
  • a sleeve 60 To the other end of bar 57 is welded a sleeve 60, within which is pivotally secured a projection 61 secured to the main body of hinge 54 as illustrated. In this way, the four-pivot points, which provide the desired motion of beams 32 and 34, are provided.
  • FIGURES 8B when it is desired to lift trains 20 from their fully expanded, wall-forming position, to ensure that cooperating panel support beams 32 and 34 along the lengths of trains 20 do not freeze in vertical position, it is important that the "B" hinges are outwardly positioned with respect to the "A" hinges, in a vertical sense. In this way, when upward forces are applied by means of lower pantograph support beam 10 acting on the lower apex 28, the floating "B" hinges 36 will be properly positioned to commence pivoting outwardly about their corresponding "A" hinges at the other ends of the corresponding panel support beams 32 and 34.
  • a mechanical power system 14 For movement of trains 20 upwardly and downwardly into storage and wall-forming positions, a mechanical power system 14, illustrated schematically in FIGURES 1 and 2 is provided.
  • Power system 14 comprises a line shaft 64, powered by a motor 66.
  • Line shaft 64 is preferably positioned in the ceiling above trains 20 and extends in parallel fashion along the length of panels 8 as illustrated.
  • a plurality of cables 68, one for each train 20 is provided, one end of the cable being wound about a corresponding cable drum 70.
  • cable 68 is guided down to a pair of pulleys 72 secured in lower pantograph support beam 10 on either side of lower apex 28, and then up to an appropriate adjustment means 74 (FIGURE 3) whereby the length of cable 68 extending from drum 70 may be adjusted.

Abstract

Système de parois rigides se déplaçant verticalement vers le haut en position rétractée et vers le bas pour se déployer en un élément continu. Le système comporte plusiers panneaux (8) fixés sur des éléments qui, eux-mêmes pivotent sur des trains (20) espacés de pantographes uniques dont la contraction détermine le repli des panneaux en accordéon, et l'expansion détermine au contraire le déploiement des panneaux selon un axe vertical pour former la paroi.
EP92906630A 1991-03-25 1992-03-23 Parois amovibles se telescopant verticalement Expired - Lifetime EP0587572B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/675,549 US5062464A (en) 1991-03-25 1991-03-25 Vertically collapsible wall partitions
US675549 1991-03-25
PCT/CA1992/000122 WO1992016711A1 (fr) 1991-03-25 1992-03-23 Parois amovibles se telescopant verticalement
CA002064348A CA2064348C (fr) 1991-03-25 1992-03-23 Cloisons murales demontables verticalement
CA2064348 1992-03-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0587572A1 true EP0587572A1 (fr) 1994-03-23
EP0587572B1 EP0587572B1 (fr) 1997-09-24

Family

ID=25675052

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP92906630A Expired - Lifetime EP0587572B1 (fr) 1991-03-25 1992-03-23 Parois amovibles se telescopant verticalement

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0587572B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE158636T1 (fr)
BR (1) BR9206317A (fr)
DE (1) DE69222416T2 (fr)
RU (1) RU2090713C1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1992016711A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8327905B2 (en) 2010-10-01 2012-12-11 Railquip Enterprises Inc. Vertically collapsible barrier with improved sealing
US9045935B2 (en) 2012-10-01 2015-06-02 Railquip Enterprises Inc. Vertically folding wall partition

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2863284B1 (fr) * 2003-12-05 2007-11-23 Placoplatre Sa Dispositif pour le montage parasismique d'une cloison

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB965141A (en) * 1962-07-16 1964-07-29 King Ltd Geo W Improvements in or relating to sound proofing or sound dampening curtains
DE1784874A1 (de) * 1968-09-28 1972-01-20 Tokyo Blind Kogyo Co Ltd Zusammenschiebbare und auseinanderziehbare Schiebewand od.dgl.,insbesondere zur Raumaufteilung
DE2506469A1 (de) * 1974-02-13 1975-08-14 Gunfred Ag Ab Vorrichtung an zusammenfaltbaren trennwaenden
FR2410117A1 (fr) * 1977-11-25 1979-06-22 Planet Wattohm Sa Porte a rideau a ouverture verticale rapide
DE3248083C2 (de) * 1982-12-24 1994-02-03 Osakeyhtioe Mock Ab Helsinki Hebetür
DE3438848A1 (de) * 1984-10-24 1986-04-24 Dietmar 4174 Issum Kaczikowski Trennwand aus pvc-hohlkammerprofilen zur flexiblen unterteilung von sporthallen und anderen raeumen

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9216711A1 *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8327905B2 (en) 2010-10-01 2012-12-11 Railquip Enterprises Inc. Vertically collapsible barrier with improved sealing
US9045935B2 (en) 2012-10-01 2015-06-02 Railquip Enterprises Inc. Vertically folding wall partition

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BR9206317A (pt) 1995-11-07
EP0587572B1 (fr) 1997-09-24
DE69222416D1 (de) 1997-10-30
RU2090713C1 (ru) 1997-09-20
DE69222416T2 (de) 1998-04-16
ATE158636T1 (de) 1997-10-15
WO1992016711A1 (fr) 1992-10-01

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