GB2140863A - Device for controlling the movement of a door - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for controlling the movement, particularly the closing movement, of a door (11) hingedly connected to a frame (10) comprises an arm (24) rotatable about a pivot (23) of a door closer device (22), the pivot being biassed to rotate in the closing direction of the door. The arm is rotatable against said biassing force to a position in which it is held against return movement by a pawl (43) of retaining means (30) which include an electro-magnet (33) and a keeper plate (34) which is secured to a flap (36) to which the pawl is pivoted. In use the arm (24) is normally held by the retaining means with the electro-magnet operated to hold the keeper plate and flap against releasing movement. In the event of a fire, however, the door must be closed and the electro-magnet is de-energised. The arm is thus released and rotates under the action of the biassing force. In one embodiment the arm (24) will contact the door to move it from an open to a closed position. In another embodiment, release of the arm (56) will allow rotation under the biassing force, of further arms which are attached to the door and thus close it. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Device for controlling the movement of a door This invention relates to a device for controlling the movement of a door, hingedly connected to a frame in the conventional manner and is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with the automatic closing in the event of a fire, of a door which is normally either unrestrained or held open.

In hospitals, old-peoples homes and other similar establishments it is desirable that, if possible, doors are free-swinging, namely they are not controlled by conventional door closer devices which automatically return them to a closed, latched position after opening. This is because it is wished to relieve aged or infirm people in such establishments of the effort required to open a door against the force of a door closer device.

If a door is free-swinging, it will remain in that state if it is not moved to its closed latched position after use. However this is unacceptable as far as the possibility of fire is concerned, since unclosed doors will allow any fire the opportunity to spread. It is thus desirable that any open door is automatically closed should a fire occur. Naturally similar considerations apply with doors normally held open by a holding device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for controlling the movement of a door in a simple and effective manner.

According to the invention there is provided a device for controlling the movement of a door hingedly connected to a frame, comprising an arm rotatable about a pivot and biassed to rotate in one direction, and retaining means which can be operated to hold said arm at rest against said biassing force, but which are also operable to release said arm to allow it to pivot, by virtue of said biassing force, in said one direction, the arrangement being such that, in use, the retaining means and the pivot are mounted at one of the door and the frame, and the arm is normally held at rest by said retaining means, operation of said retainig means to release the arm, with the resultant rotation thereof under said biassing force, causing the arm directly or indirectly to move the door towards a closed or open position.

Preferably said retaining means comprises an electro-magnet engageable by a keeper, which is attached to a flap, which flap is horizontally pivoted for movement with said keeper towards or away from said electro-magnet and at its lower end has a horizontally pivoted pawl movable independently of the flap to allow said arm to move past it in one direction, the arm then being held against return movement by said pawl until said electro-magnet is de-energised, whereupon said keeper is released from the electro-magnet and the arm forces said flap with said pawl to move together together about the flap pivot to release the arm, which is under the action of said biassing force.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a device of the invention shown secured to a door frame adjacent the top of an associated door hingedly connected to said frame; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the Figure 1 arrangement, with the door and an arm of the device also being shown in alternative positions, and Figure 3 is a part sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front view of a device constructed according to a second embodiment of the invention shown secured to a door frame in a manner similar to the Figure 1 embodiment, Figure 5 is a top plan view of the Figure 4 arrangement, Figure 6 is a top plan view like Figure 5, but showing the door and arms of the device in an alternative position, and Figure 7 is a part sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

The Figures show a conventional door frame 10 to which is connected a door 11 by hinges 12 in the conventional manner. Along the top of the inside of the door is secured, by countersunk screws 15, a flat roller track 13, the upper surface of which lies flush with the horizontal top surface 17 of the door, as can be seen from Figure 3. The one end of the track is spaced slightly from the vertical edge of the door which is hinged. This track is for a purpose to be described.

Secured by further countersunk screws 15 to the frame 10 with its lower surface 20 flush with the lower horizonal surface of the frame is a rectangular plate 21. Secured to the upper part of the plate 21 by bolts 21a is a door closer device 22. This has the conventional arrangement where a vertical spindle, in this case a downwardly directed veritcal spindle 23, projects from the closer and can be rotated in one direction against the force of a biassing spring, but is rotated in the opposite direction by the force of said spring of the door closer. In this invention the speed of such rotation caused by the force of the spring, is restricted by the usual restrictive flow of oil in the closer. As is known, the damping action is relieved just prior to the closed position of the door, to give added impetus to the door to ensure full and positive closing over the latch.

Secured to the spindle 23 is one end of a cranked metal arm 24, in the form of an elongate rod of generally rectangular cross-section. The arm has a straight first portion 25 and a second straight portion 26 at approximately 45" to the first portion, the second portion 26 being directed away from the frame when the first part is directed towards the hinges 12. At the underside of the free end of the arm, remote from the spindle 23, is a cylindrical roller 27 which is freely rotatable on a pivot pin 28.

The arm 24 is disposed horizontally above the lower surface 20 of the plate 21, whereas the roller 27 extends below said surface 20 to the level of the roller track 13.

Disposed adjacent the closer device 22 and held within a cover 29 thereof are retaining means 30. The means comprise a U-shaped bracket 31, having the base 32 of the U disposed vertically, and which encloses an electro-magnet 33. The electro-magnet extends forwardly between the arms of the Ushaped bracket 31 with a clearance and also with a clearance between the arms an iron chamfered keeper disc 34 is attracted to engage the free end of the magnet 33 when it is energized. The keeper disc 34 is connected through a flexible spacer 35 to a rectangular gravity flap 36 by a bolt 37 screwthreadedly engaging in a threaded bore 38 in the rear surface of the flap 36, the bore 38 being slightly below the centre of the flap.

The flap 36 is pivotally mounted between the arms of the bracket 31 by a horizontal pivot pin 39 passing through the flap near its upper shorter surface 40, which is flush with the top of the cover 29 when the flap is vertical, as shown in Figure 3. A part 41 of the top of the cover 29 adjacent said surface 40 is cut away to allow the flap to pivot outwardly from the closer device 22, as will be described. Inward pivoting is prevented by engagement of the disc 34 against the electro-magnet 33.

At the centre of its lower surface, the flap has a small rectagular slot 42 in which is pivotally secured a gravity pawl 43, The pawl is pivoted on a pivot pin 44 extending from one side of the U-shaped bracket 31 to the other, and extends downwardly below the respective bottom surfaces of the flap 36 and cover 29.

The pawl 43 has, in its vertical disposition, a straight front surface 45 flush with the front surface of the flap 36, and a further front surface 46 which slopes inwardly and downwardly, as shown in Figure 3. The surface 46 extends to a position below the lower surface of the flap 36 and is joined by a short horizontal lower surface 47 to a vertical rear surface 48. The surface 48 is flush with the rear surface of the flap 36, but terminates spaced from it by virtue of an inwardly and upwardly sloping surface 49 which is joined to the surface 45 by an upper horizontal surface 50.

When the pawl is vertically disposed, the surface 50 engages the upper surface 51 of the slot 42 to prevent the pawl pivoting outwardly of the flap 36. It can however pivot inwardly, as will be described, until the surface 49 engages the surface 51. The underside of the cover 29 has a part 52 cut away to allow such pivoting of the pawl.

On the interior of one of the arms of the bracket 31 is a cylindrical buffer 53, disposed just below the cut away part 41 of the cover 29 and at one side of the keeper disc 34. This buffer is engaged by the gravity flap 36 when it pivots outwardly and the buffer thus limits such pivotal movement and assists in returning the flap 36 to its vertical position. Assembly of the cover on to the closure 22 and retaining means 30 is also assisted by the buffer, since this can be used to hold the flap 36, pawl 43 and attached components horizontal during assemblyofthe cover.

As described the arrangement is such that the door 11 is free-swinging so that it can be opened and closed substantially without restriction. In the normal operation of the device of the invention, the arm 24 is held at rest by the retaining means 30. This is accomplished by pivoting the arm 24 against its spring bias in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 2. The arm is rotated until it contacts the sloping front surface 46 of the pawl 43, whereupon further movement of the arm against its spring bias causes the pawl 43 to pivot inwardly towards the frame to allow the arm to pass beneath the flap 36.

Once the arm has passed clear of the pawl 43, the pawl falls back downwardly under gravity so that the position shown in Figure 3 is reached where the arm 24 is held behind the pawl 43. All this time it is assumed that the electro-magnet 33 is energized so that it is attracting the keeper disc 34, with the result that the flap 36 is held in the vertical position shown in Figure 3.

It is intended that the electro-magnet33 is operated, for example, by a relay switch, with the control circuit of the relay switch being incorporated into the fire alarm circuit of the building in which the door and frame arrangement is contained. Thus during normal use of the door the electrical circuit is operated so that the electro-magnet is energized and, as stated, the arm 24 is held at rest once it has initally been engaged with the retaining means 30.

This initial "cocking" of the arm can be accomplished either simply by pivoting the arm by hand or it can be carried out by opening the door 11 beyond a certain angular degree. Figure 2 shows that if the arm is free of the retaining means 30, it is biassed to the position shown at the right hand side of Figure 2, where its roller 27 engages on the roller track 13. If the door is then opened, the roller 27 is guided along the roller track until the position is reached at an angle of opening of approximately 80 where the arm 24 comes into contact with the surface 46 of the pawl 43. Further opening of the door forces the arm 24 past the pawl, as previously described, whereupon the pawl returns to its vertical position.Thus if the door is thereafter moved in a closing direction past said 80" position, the roller 27 loses contact with the roller track as the arm is retained at rest behind the pawl 43.

The usual arrangement is thus that the door is opened and closed freely, with the door remaining out of contact with the roller unless it is opened by a sufficient amount more than 80 , whereupon it will contact the roller. However as long as the electromagnet 33 is energized the flap 36 is retained in a vertical position and since the pawl 43 cannot pivot outwardly, the arm 24 is retained behind it.

However should the fire alarm be operated, the fire alarm control circuit will operate the relay switch which will de-energise the electro-magnet 33. This will result in the keeper disc 34 no longer being retained in engagement with the electro-magnet33.

As mentioned the arm is biassed in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, so that at all times in its rest position it is forced against the rear surface 48 of the pawl 43. As soon as the electro magnet is de-energized the force of the arm on the pawl 43 causes the combination of keeper plate 34, spacer 35 and flap 36 to pivot outwardly about the pivot pin 39.

The pawl 43 moves with the flap 36 with the surfaces 50 and 51 tightly engaged due to the force of the arm on the rear surface of the pawl. As the flap 36 and pawl 43 swing upwardly and outwardly, the arm 24 is thus released from engagement with the pawl 43 and the biassing force acting on the arm causes it to rotate anti-clockwise.

This rotation continues until the roller 27 engages the roller track 13. If the door is fully closed then the roller will not engage the track until it reaches the position shown at the right hand side of Figure 2 whereupon the roller 27 will engage the roller track as shown. However, if the door is partly open the roller 27 will engage a part of the roller track further to the left, in the direction ofthe door hinges, and the force of the bias to the arm will cause the arm to push the door closed by way of the roller running along the track.

Thus once the electro-magnet is de-energized and the arm is released from engagment with the pawl 43, the arm will rotate to engage the roller track and will close the door if it is not already fully closed. If the door is already fully closed it will of course be held in that closed position by its associated latch.

Thus upon an outbreak of fire occurring and the fire alarm circuit de-energizing the electro-magnet 33, the door will automatically be closed by the arm to prevent the fire spreading. In such an instance the door will be of the type known as a "fire door".

Thus there is disclosed an arrangement which allows the door to be free-swinging in normal use but which automatically operates to close the door if required.

It will be appreciated that the door closer device and the track can instead be mounted on the door and door frame respectively instead of the opposite way round as shown. The device can of course operate automatically to open a door instead of closing it.

Figures 4 to 7 show an alternative embodiment for use with a door which is normally held open. The Figures show a door closer device 54, of similar form to the closer device 22, secured to the door frame 10 with a downwardly directed vertical pivot 55, which is biassed to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 5 and 6. The pivot 55 has secured to it an auxiliary arm 56 and a main arm 57 which are angularly spaced by 90 . Pivotally secured to the end 57a of the main arm 57 remote from the pivot 55 is an end of a secondary arm 58 which is secured at its other end 58a to a bracket 59 secured to the door 11.

The door opens at the oppsite side of the frame to which the device is secured.

At its end remote from the pivot 55, the auxiliary arm is formed with a cylindrical stop 60 disposed in a horizonal plane and lying parallel to the main arm 57. The stop 60 has its one end 61 knurled and rotation thereof causes thelength of the stop to increase or decrease, with the other end 62 of the stop, which is domed, moving nearer to orfurther from the knurled end, for a purpose to be described.

The closer device 54 is similar to the device 22 and incorporates retaining means 63 of almost identical form to the retaining means 30 of the first embodiment. The same numerals will thus be used for equivalent parts of the means 63. The retaining means 63 are at the end of the closer device remote from the door hinges 12.

In use, the door can be in a closed position as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 7, with it being latched or unlatched. In this position the arm 56 is parallel to the frame 10, the arm 57 is perpendicular thereto and the arm 58 is at a slight acute angle to the arm 57.

The stop 60 is adjacent the hinges 12 and the arms are biassed to this closed position by way of the pivot 55 of the closer device. The electro-magnet 33 is assumed energised.

If the door is now pushed open by a predeter mined minimum amount, the arms 57 and 58 move to the positions shown in FigureS, where the arm 56 has rotated through just over 180 and the stop 6C has passed clear of the pawl 43, which thereafter holds the stop against return movement in view of the energisation of the electro-magnet33 and thus the retention of the keeper disc 34. As shown in this example, the door must be opened by 90 to cause it to be held open by passage of the stop clear of the pawl 43. This is the normal rest position of the arms with the door held open.

As with the first embodiment the de-energisation of the electromagnetic 33 will allow the stop 60 to be released upon upwards pivoting ofthe flap 36, spacer 35 and plate 34, and the arm 56 is then rotated by the biassing force, together with the arms 57 and 58, to their rest positions where the door is closed.

Figures 5 and 6 show how the adjustment of the length of the stop 60 allows the device to be used on door and frame arrangements having from zero head projection up to, in this example, a maximum head projection of 3 inches (7.62 cm), whilst still maintaining a 90 opening of the door at the held open position. In Figure 6 the letter X indicates the maximum projection, whilst in Figure 5 the letter A indicates the amount of adjustment of the stop 60.

There is zero head projection when the rear face of the transom rail above the door is in the same plane as the rear face of the door in its closed position, such as shown in Figure 7. The maximum stop length is used at the maximum head projection.

The device of this embodiment could also be used for opening a door and could be mounted on the door or frame as required.

Thus the device of the invention is utilizable to close a free swinging door, which is fully or partially open, and also a normally fully held open door, in the event of fire, thereby preventing or minimising the spread of the fire.

Claims (12)

1. A device for controlling the movement of a door hingedly connected to a frame, comprising an arm rotatable about a pivot and biassed to rotate in one direction, and retaining means which can be operated to hold said arm at rest against said biassing force, but which are also operable to release said arm to allow it to pivot, by virtue of said biassing force, in said one direction, the arrangement being such that, in use, the retaining means and the pivot are mounted at one of the door and frame, and the arm is normally held at rest by said retaining means, operation of said retaining means to release the arm, with the resultant rotation thereof under said biassing force, causing the arm directly or indirectly to move the door towards a closed or open position.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the retaining means include an electromagnet engageable by a keeper, which is attached to a flap, which flap is horizontally pivoted for movement with said keeper towards or away from said electro-magnet and at its lower end has a horizontally pivoted pawl movable independently of the flap to allow said arm to move past it in one direction, the arm then being held against return movement by said pawl until said electro-magnet is de-energised, whereupon said keeper is released from the electro-magnet, and the arm forces said flap with said pawl to move together about the flap pivot to release the arm, which is under the action of said biassing force.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said pivot is a shaft projecting from a door closer device which allows, in use, substantially unrestricted opening of the door and restricted closing thereof.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retaining means are incorporated with said closer device.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arm is disposed, in use, above the top of the door but includes a door engaging portion at its free end which, with the arm held by the retaining means, is disposed at the frame side of where the door is hingedly connected to the frame, so that in use the door can be freely opened without engaging said door engaging portion, whereupon release of the arm causes said door engaging portion thereof to be pivoted into contact with the door to close it.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the door engaging portion is a roller which, on release of the arm, engages a roller track, secured, in use, to the door, with the retaining means being secured to the frame, in use.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arm is cranked to allow a maximum door opening of approximately 80 before it is contacted by the roller.

8. A device as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 4, wherein said arm is an auxiliary arm spaced by a fixed angularamountfrom a main arm also rotatable with said pivot, the main arm being connected, in use, directly or indirectly to the door, so that opening of the door by a predetermined amount causes said auxiliary arm to be held by said retaining means, so that said main arm is also held against rotation by said biassing force and the door is held open, release of the retaining means causing rotation of the pivot and thus the main arm thereby to move the door to a closed position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary amd main arms are spaced by 90 .

10. A device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the main arm is pivotally secured to a secondary arm which is itself secured to the door, in use.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the auxiliary arm is formed with a stop at its free end, and said stop is adjustable lengthwise, so that for different distances, in use, between the pivot and the plane of the door, the auxiliary arm will be held by the retaining means at the same predetermined amount of opening of the door by increasing or decreasing said length.

12. A device for controlling the movement of a door, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3, or Figures 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.