GB2089409A - Doors - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved fire door suitable for application within limited spaces includes a closure member 10 for an opening O suspended by mounting members 20, 30 having runners 21, 22 located within channels 12', 13' to guide the runners 21, 22 and hence the closure member 10, to slide in a fixed plane. Each mounting member comprises linkage members 27, 28 pivotally mounted to a bracket 26 affixed to the closure member 10. An axle 25 linked to the runners 21, 22 is pivotally mounted to the linkage members 27, 28, thereby allowing displacement of the closure member 10 in a direction inclined to said fixed plane. Four wedge shaped projections 40, 41, 42, 43 arranged on a side of the closure member 10, interact with rollers R attached to fixed brackets B when the fire door approaches and assumes a closed position, thereby effecting said displacement, appropriate for sealing the opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to fire doors This invention relates to fire doors, and it relates especially, although not exclusively, to such doors used in an environment wherein space is limited - on board ship, for example.

Fire doors are known which comprise a hinged closure member which is adapted to pivot about a vertical axis and fit sealingly within a complementary framework surrounding an opening. Such an arrangement tends to be inconvenient, particularly when space is limited, as on board a ship, for example, and in this regard a sliding door would be preferred. It has been found in practice, however, that the sliding doors known hitherto tend to be unsatisfactory for use as fire doors since they fit only relatively loosely against an opening, which then remains unsealed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of fire door.

According to the invention there is provided a fire door wherein a closure member for an opening has a mounting member which is arranged to permit sliding movement thereof, in a fixed plane, between open and closed positions, the mounting member being pivotally coupled to the closure member to also permit displacement thereof in a direction, inclined to the fixed plane, appropriate for sealing the opening.

The closure member preferably includes at least one projection disposed to bear against a relatively fixed member as the door approaches and or assumes the closed position and which is shaped to effect said displacement.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, and carried into effect, a particular embodiment thereof is now described, by way of example only, by reference to the accompanying drawings of which, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the door and Figures 2a and 2b show detailed perspective views of a mounting for the door in two modes of operation. Referring to Figure 1, the door comprises a rectangular panel 10 which is dimensioned to close an opening 0 in a wall or partition member shown at W, and is mounted so as to slide, in either an opening or closing sense, in a plane parallel to, but spaced from, the plane of the wall. The panel is suspended by two mounting members, 20 and 30, from a horizontal hanger beam 11 secured to the wall at a position above the opening 0.The beam, in this example of the invention, is of unitary construction but comprises two distinct portions, 12 and 13, which define parallel, longitudinally extending channels, 12' and 13', spaced by an intervening gap 14.

Each mounting member, 20 for example, has a pair of runners 21, 22 which are mounted freely for rotation to the ends of an axle 23 and are accommodated within the respective channels 12' and 13' of the hanger beam. These channels serve as guides for the rollers and permit the door to slide. The axle 23 has a dependent rod 24 which extends through the gap 14 and supports a further axle 25. Each mounting member also comprises a bracket 26 which is fixedly secured to the upper edge of the panel 10 and is coupled to the further axle 25 by means of flat linkage members 27 and 28. The ends of each linkage member are pivotally connected to respective, corresponding end portions of the bracket and further axle and this arrangement permits displacement of the panel towards the wall.

When, in use of the door, the linkage members assume a configuration substantially parallel to the major surfaces of panel 10, as shown in Figure 2a for example, the door then hangs in a plane substantially parallel to, but slightly spaced from, the wall and is capable of moving, in sliding fashion, in respective opening and closing senses, indicated by the direction of arrows Y and X in Figure 1.As shown in Figure 2b, however, the pivotal mounting arrangement of the linkage members 27 and 28, also permits displacement of the panel towards the wall W, in the direction indicated by arrow Z in Figures la and 2b, and such movement is effected by application to the door of a force which is directed normally to the major surface P thereof, or which contains a component which is so directed In particular, when such a normally directed force is applied substantially to the corners of the panel 10 the door is displaced towards the wall, but nevertheless remains in a plane substantially parallel thereto.In this example, the extent of this displacement is carefully controlled to ensure that the panel 10 is pressed firmly against the peripheral wall regions surrounding the opening, to effect sealing thereof, when the closed position is assumed i.e. when the panel 10 has slid in the direction of arrow X to a position entirely covering the opening 0. In this example of the invention gas tight sealing is achieved by providing, around the opening, a rubber gasket G or a similar sealing arrangement against which the panel 10 is pressed. It will be appreciated, however, that such a gas tight sealing arrangement need not necessarily be provided. In this example, the forces necessary for effecting displacement of the door are applied as the closed position is approached.This is achieved using four wedge members 40, 41, 42, 43 which are fixedly mounted to the panel, substantially at the corners thereof, and are disposed to engage steel rollers R each supported by a bracket B fixedly mounted in relation to the door. As the panel 10 approaches the closed position each roller R bears against the inclined surface presented by the corresponding wedge and so exerts thereon a force directed towards the wall. The depth and disposition of each wedge is chosen to ensure that the door is caused to seat sealingly against the gasket G as the closed position is reached and in this example the depth and pitch of each wedge is such that the door is displaced by about 5 mm during the final 1 to 12 inches of its translation in the closing sense (i.e. in the direction of arrow X).Similarly, translation in the opening sense (i.e. in the direction of arrow Y) reduces the force applied to the door which is then permitted to move away for the sealed position, the mounting members resuming the configuration illustrated in Figure 2a.

To allow unhindered translation of the door the wedges 41, 43 are mounted further from the respective upper and lower edges of the panel 10 than are the wedges 40, 42. Thus, when the door slides towards the closed position the wedges 41, 43 may pass between the rollers associated with the other pair of wedges 40, 42. For clarity Figure 1 illustrates two rollers only, each being mounted for rotation to a respective bracket B screwed to the wall W. The other rollers would be mounted to brackets screwed to the wall above the opening. Alternatively, when the fire door is intended for use on board ship the rollers associated with the wedges 40, 42 could be supported on brackets mounted to the bulkhead and the deck respectively whereas the rollers associated with wedges 41, 43 could be supported on brackets screwed to the wall, or alternatively to a frame for receiving the door.

The arrangement of the present invention provides a particularly convenient fire door which is economical in its use of space and which is capable of producing gas tight sealing.

Claims (7)

1. A door comprising a closure member dimensioned to close an aperture and capable of translational movement substantially in a plane, relative to said aperture, and including means, effective upon closure of the aperture by said closure member, to urge the closure member into firm contact with edges of said aperture, the urging force being applied substantially normally to said plane in which said translational movement takes place.

2. A door according to claim 1 wherein said urging force is applied by means of co-operative members carried respectively by said closure member and the surround of said aperture.

3. A door according to claim 2 wherein one of said co-operative members comprises a plurality of wedge members, each of which tapers in the closure direction of said translational movement, and the other of said co-operative members comprises a corresponding plurality of roller members each adapted to engage a respective one of said wedge members.

4. A door according to claim 3 wherein said wedge members are located adjacent respective corners of and on a common surface of, a rectangular closure member; those associated with one upright edge of the closure member being misaligned with those associated with another upright edge thereof.

5. A door according to any preceding claim wherein said translational movement is permitted by means of runners and a runner channel mounted above said aperture and from which said closure member is suspended.

6. A door according to claim 5 wherein the suspension of the closure member from said runner is effected by means including linkage members pivotally coupled between an axle support for said runners and the closure member itself, the pivotal movement of said movement of said linkage members being sufficient to accommodate the motion of said closure member caused by said urging force.

7. A door substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.