EP3052729B1

EP3052729B1 - Hinge acting as a door closer or a door opener

Info

Publication number: EP3052729B1
Application number: EP14796271.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Ferraro
Original assignee: Nova-Ferr Srl
Current assignee: Nova-Ferr Srl
Priority date: 2013-10-02
Filing date: 2014-10-02
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-10-02
Also published as: WO2015049658A1; EP3052729A1; ITTO20130790A1

Description

The present invention relates to a hinge for rotatably connecting a wing of a gate or the like to a bearing structure such as a jamb or a pillar.
DE 101 20 389 A1 discloses a device for influencing the opening and the closing displacement of a door or the like, said device comprising a body in which there is rotatably supported a pin intended to be coupled to the door and to which there is fixed a transmission member. First and second resilient means are connected between respective anchoring points provided eccentrically on the transmission member and respective reaction members connected to said body, said resilient means being adapted to cause a rotation of the transmission member, said pin and the door from a first angular position to a second angular position. In this prior device, said pin and the associated transmission member are rotatable about a horizontal axis and are not fixed to the door. Thus, said prior device is clearly not a door hinge, but just a door opener/closer.
US 3 216 051 A discloses a door control mechanism comprising a body in which there is rotatably supported one end of a shaft connected to the door and to which there are coupled two transmission members which can rotate one independently of the other. Each transmission member is articulated to a corresponding rod which is biased by a respective resilient member towards a respective rest portion. When the door is rotated in one or the other direction, a cam member causes a rotation of only one or the other transmission member and the compression of only the resilient member associated with the corresponding rod and when the door is thereafter released said compressed resilient member extends, causing the door to return to its rest position.
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved hinge which, in addition to acting as a pivot, can also act as a door closing or door opening device, without requiring the installation of a special additional device such as a mechanical hydraulic device.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a hinge of this type which is easily installable and does not require frequent adjustment because of temperature variations, for example.
This and other objects are achieved according to the invention with a hinge having the features defined in claim 1.
In one embodiment, the hinge is adapted to be coupled to a wing or the like such that said first and second angular positions of the transmission member and the pin correspond to the open position and the closed position, respectively, of the wing, the arrangement being such that, when in use, the transmission member and the pin are in said second angular position, said resilient means are pre-loaded to a predetermined extent and are capable of causing the partial rotation of the transmission member, the pin and the wing from said second angular position towards said first angular position, up to a partially open position or courtesy opening position of the wing. In this embodiment, the hinge also acts as a door closing device, with a courtesy opening of the wing.
The hinge is also adapted for being coupled with a wing or the like in such a way that said first and second angular positions of the transmission member and the pin correspond to the closed position and the open position, respectively, of the wing. In this embodiment, the hinge also acts as a door opening device.
In the body or casing of the hinge there may also be provided lock means adapted to lock, in a manually unlockable manner, the transmission member and the pin in a first predetermined angular position.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a partial perspective view which shows a hinge according to the present invention, fixed to a pillar and connected to a wing of a gate or the like;
Figure 2 shows, substantially in a top view, a hinge according to the invention which also acts as a door closing device, shown in the closed door condition;
Figure 3 shows the hinge of Figure 2, in the condition in which the door is open and locked;
Figure 4 is a view of the hinge according to the invention, configured to act additionally as a door opening device, shown in the closed door condition; and
Figure 5 shows the hinge of Figure 4, in the open door condition.

In the drawings, the number 1 indicates the whole of a hinge according to the present invention.
With reference to Figure 1, a hinge 1 of this type is fixed to a bearing structure 2, such as a pier or pillar of a gate or the like. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hinge is fixed to the pillar 2 by means of a bracket 3, anchored to the pillar by means of bolts 4.
The hinge 1 comprises a supporting body or casing 5, which in the illustrated embodiments essentially takes the form of a parallelepipedal box, made of metallic material for example.
The hinge 1 further comprises a pin 6, mounted rotatably through a circular opening provided in the base wall 5a of the supporting body or casing 5 (see Figure 1).
Within the body or casing 5 there is mounted a bearing support 7 through which the pin 6 extends. With reference to Figures 2 and 3, for example, the transmission member 8, conveniently in the form of a circular disc, is fixed to the pin 6 inside the body 5, above the bearing support 7.
As shown in Figure 1, a door or wing A of a gate or the like is fixed, in use, to the pin 6 outside the body 5.
The door or wing A, the pin 6 and the transmission member 8 are rotatable as a single unit relative to the body 5 of the hinge.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the transmission member 8 conveniently has a plurality of eccentric openings 9, spaced apart angularly, respective anchoring pins 10 being fitted into two of these openings.

Hinge acting as a door closer

As stated above, in the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3 the hinge 1 is also adapted to act as a door closer.
For this purpose, the hinge 1 comprises two actuating springs 11a, 11b, having respective first ends anchored to the same pin 10 carried by the disc-shaped transmission member 8. The opposite ends of the helical springs 11a, 11b are coupled to respective reaction members 12a, 12b, which press on the ends of respective adjustment screws 13a, 13b (see also Figure 1) which pass through a side wall of the supporting body or casing 5. These adjustment screws can easily be operated from the outside so as to vary the calibration of the springs 11a, 1 1b in a substantially continuous way.
A further possibility for adjustment of the characteristics of the springs 11a, 11b is provided by the possibility of fitting their anchoring pin 10 in a different opening 9 of the disc-shaped transmission member 8.
As will be more clearly apparent from the subsequent text, the springs 11a, 11b are "propulsion springs", in the sense that they serve to cause the automatic closure of the door or wing A after it has been released from the open position.
With reference once again to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, a further helical spring 14 is placed within the supporting body or casing 5, this spring having one end anchored to the other pin 10 carried by the disc-shaped transmission member 8. The other end of the helical spring 14 is coupled to a reaction member 15, whose position is axially adjustable by means of an associated screw 16 (Figure 1) which extends through the same side wall of the body or casing 5 as that through which the actuating screws 13a and 13b extend.
The helical spring 16 is a braking spring, in the sense that its action on the disc-shaped transmission member 8 tends to oppose the action performed on this member 8 by the actuating springs 11a and 11b.
In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the transmission member 8 has an outer annular rim 8a in which is formed a recess, shown in broken lines and indicated by 17 in Figure 3, in which a stop slider 18 is engageable. This slider is mounted so as to be translatable within a tubular casing 19 under the action of a thrust spring (not shown in the drawings) which is adjustable by means of a screw indicated by 20 in Figure 1.
The operation of the hinge which is described above with reference to Figures 1 to 3 and which, as stated, is also adapted to act as a door closing device, will now be described.
In Figure 2, the hinge is shown as it appears in the closed door condition. In this condition, the door or wing A is usually retained in the closed position by means of a suitable device, such as an electric lock.
In the condition of Figure 2, the disc-shaped transmission member 8 is located in what was defined in the introductory part of the present description as the second angular position, and the associated springs 11a and 11b are lightly pre-loaded. On the other hand, the helical braking spring 14 is in the extended condition and tends to cause the transmission member 8 to rotate in the anti-clockwise direction (as it appears to a person viewing Figure 2).
In the condition shown in Figure 2, if the door or wing 2a is unlocked the actuating springs 11a and 11b are extended while the helical spring 14 is simultaneously compressed, causing an anti-clockwise rotation of the disc-shaped transmission member 8. This causes a partial rotation of the transmission member 8, the pin 6 and the door or wing A up to a partially open (courtesy opening) position of this door or wing A, located for example at about 15° relative to the closed position of the door.
The door or wing A then remains in this automatic courtesy opening position, and has to be pulled manually by a user in order to reach the completely or totally open position.
When the open position has been reached, the slider 18 engages the recess 17 provided in the outer annular part 8a of the disc-shaped transmission member 8, and retains the door or wing A in the fully open position.
However, the use of the device for retaining the door or wing in the open position is not essential; this device within the hinge 1 can be replaced, for example, by devices external to the hinge for retaining the door or wing, such as ground bolt devices or magnetic retaining devices, or others.
In the open position of the door or wing A, as shown in Figure 3, the springs 11a and 11b are extended, while the spring 14 is compressed. Additionally, as stated above, the slider 18 is engaged in the recess 17 formed in the outer annular part 8a of the transmission member 8.
Starting from this condition, in order to bring about the subsequent reclosing of the door or wing A, the user simply has to exert a light force on this door or wing, so as to disengage the stop slider 18 from the recess 17, and then allow the combined action of the actuating springs 11a and 11b and the braking spring 14 to accelerate the door or wing A towards the closed position. The door A can then move past the angular position corresponding to the courtesy opening position described above, because of its own inertia, and can finally reach the closed position in which it is retained by associated known devices external to the hinge 1.

Hinge acting as a door opener

A hinge according to the present invention is also capable of operating in such a way as to act as a door opening device, as will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.
In Figures 4 and 5, parts and elements described previously have been given the same reference numerals as those used before.
Relative to the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the positions of the actuating springs 11a, 11b and the braking spring 14 are reversed in the hinge 1 of Figures 4 and 5.
Figure 4 shows the configuration of the door opening hinge 1 in the closed door configuration: the actuating springs 11a and 11b are extended, while the braking spring 14 is compressed.
In this condition, if the door or wing A with which the hinge 1 is associated is released, for example by an associated electric lock device, the actuating springs 11a, 11b cause the rotation of the transmission member 8 in the anti-clockwise direction, as it appears to a person viewing Figure 4, and the consequent rotation of the pin 6 and the door A from the closed position towards the open position.
Figure 5 shows the configuration of the hinge 1 in the condition in which the door or wing A has reached the fully open position: in this condition, the actuating springs 11a and 1 1b are compressed, while the braking spring 14 is extended.
The stop slider 18, if provided, then engages the associated recess 17 provided in the outer annular portion 8a of the disc-shaped transmission member 8, to stabilize the door or wing A in the open position.
In order to re-close the door or wing subsequently, it has to be pulled manually by a user until the closed position is reached.
As practitioners in the art will readily understand, the hinge 1 of Figures 2 and 3 can be used to act as a door opener in association with a door or wing which opens in the opposite direction of rotation to that specified for operation as a door closer.
Similarly, the hinge of Figures 4 and 5 can be used to act as a door closer in association with a door or wing which opens in the opposite direction of rotation to that referred to in the preceding description.
Although the preceding description makes reference to the use of two actuating springs, it would clearly be possible to use a single spring having suitable characteristics in place of these two springs.
The hinge according to the invention has a substantially symmetrical configuration about the axis of rotation of the transmission member 8, making it possible to provide closing torque in either the clockwise or the anti-clockwise direction by reversing the positions of the actuating springs and the braking spring.
The force of the actuating and braking springs, and of the spring associated with the stop slider, if present, can be adjusted in an extremely convenient way from the outside of the hinge support casing.
Because of the absence of any hydraulic device, the hinge according to the invention is unaffected by temperature variations, and therefore requires no adjustment for seasonal changes.
The hinge according to the invention can be mounted either on newly installed doors or wings or on pre-existing structures having conventional hinges.
Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and the details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, which have been given purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.

Claims

Hinge (1) to rotatably fasten a door or wing (A) of a gate or the like to a bearing structure (2), such as a jamb or a pillar, comprising:
- a body (5) in which there is rotatably supported a pin (6) intended to be fixed to the door or wing (A) and to which there is fixed a disc-shaped transmission member (8);

- resilient actuating means (11a, 11b) connected between a first eccentric anchoring pin (10) on the transmission member (8) and a reaction member (12a, 12b) connected to said body (5) such as to cause a rotation of the transmission member (8) and the pin (6) from the first angular position to a second angular position; said resilient actuating means (11a, 11b) comprising two helical springs (11a, 11b) having one end anchored to first anchoring pin (10) carried by the transmission member (8) and the other end coupled to the respective reaction members (12a, 12b), which press on the ends of respective adjustment screws (13a, 13b) which pass through a side wall of said body (5);

- resilient braking means (14) connected between a second eccentric anchoring pin (10) on the transmission member (8) and a further reaction member (15) connected to said body (5), and adapted to slow down the rotation of the transmission member (8) and the pin (6); said resilient braking means comprise a helical spring (14) having one end anchored to the second anchoring pin (10) carried by the transmission member (8) and the other end to the reaction member (15), whose position is axially adjustable by means of an associated movable adjustment member (16), wherein the movable adjustment member is a screw (16) which extends through the same side wall of said body (5) as that through which the adjustment screws (13a, 13b) extend;
the arrangement being such that when the resilient actuating means (11a, 11b) are caused to be extended, the resilient braking means (14) are caused to be compressed and vice versa;
in use the transmission member (8) and the pin (6) being capable of being manually brought, by a user, through the door or wing (A), into said first angular position and capable of returning, together with the door or wing (A), to said second angular position under the combined action of said resilient actuating means (11a, 11b) and said resilient braking means (14).
Hinge according to Claim 1, adapted to be coupled to a door or wing (A) or the like such that said first and second angular positions of the transmission member (8) and the pin (6) correspond to the open position and the closed position, respectively, of the door or wing (A), the arrangement being such that when in use said transmission member (8) and the pin (6) are in said second angular position, said resilient means (11a, 11b and 14) are pre-loaded to a predetermined extent and are capable of causing a partial rotation of the transmission member (8), the pin (6) and the door or wing (A), from said second angular position towards said first angular position, up to a partially open position or courtesy opening position of the door or wing (A).
Hinge according to Claim 1, adapted for being coupled with a door or wing (A) or the like, such that said first and second angular positions of the transmission member (8) and the pin (6) correspond to the closed position and the open position, respectively, of the door or wing (A).
Hinge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in said body (5) there are also provided lock means (17, 18) adapted to lock, in a manually unlockable manner, the transmission member (8) and the pin (6) in a predetermined angular position.
Hinge according to Claim 4, wherein said transmission member (8) has a plurality of eccentric seats (9), angularly spaced with respect to one another, in which an anchoring pin (10) for said resilient actuating means (11a, 11b) or resilient braking means (14) is selectively engageable.
Hinge according to Claim 4, wherein said lock means comprise a slider (18) movable within said body (5) and kept by resilient thrust means in engagement with a surface of the transmission member (8) in which there is provided a recess (17), into which said slider engages when said transmission member (8) is in a predetermined angular position.
Hinge according to Claim 6, wherein adjustment means (20) are associated with said stop slider (18).