GB2433296A

GB2433296A - Door operator comprising resilient actuator and damping means operated by separate cams

Info

Publication number: GB2433296A
Application number: GB0624683A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nool Bernard; Philippe Saltel; Jean-Claude Civerneaux
Original assignee: LEVASSEUR SYSTEMS SA
Current assignee: LEVASSEUR SYSTEMS SA
Priority date: 2005-12-12
Filing date: 2006-12-11
Publication date: 2007-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-11
Also published as: BE1018429A5; GB2433296B; GB0624683D0; ES2321257A1; ES2321257B1; ITMI20062372A1; FR2894610B1; DE102006058056A1; FR2894610A1

Abstract

A device for opening and closing a door leaf in both directions, characterized in that it is constituted by a pivot pin 2 carrying a first cam 4 co-operating with resilient actuating means for storing energy during the opening of the leaf 1 and restoring it to permit the automatic closure thereof, and a second cam 5 co-operating with means for damping the movement of the leaf 1. The pivot pin 2, the two cams 4, 5 and also the actuating means and the damping means being built in to the thickness of the leaf 1.

Description

1. 2433296 Device for Opening and Closing A Leaf of A Swing Type Door

The subject of the present invention is a device for opening and closing a leaf of a swing type door.

Such a device permits on the one hand the manual opening of the leaf in both directions, starting from a closure position, and on the other hand its resilient return to the closure position in the absence of any stress being exerted on it.

Different devices of this type have already been proposed.

These devices as a general rule have the drawback of being bulky, sophisticated and troublesome, and of requiring recesses to be made in the floor or in a lintel specific to the door.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a door-closer device making it possible to remedy these drawbacks.

According to the invention, such a device is characterized in that it is constituted by a substantially vertical pivot pin carrying two cams of different shape mounted integrally one above the other thereon, that is: -a first cam co-operating with resilient actuating means for storing energy during the manual opening of the leaf and restoring it to permit the automatic closure thereof, and -a second cam co-operating with hydraulic means for damping the movement of the leaf between its open position and its closure position.

I 2.

The basic feature of this door-closer device is linked to the fact that its width is very small, and that consequently the two cams and also the actuating means and the damping means can be built into the thickness of the leaf.

According to a preferential feature of the invention, the actuating means are constituted by an actuating rod movable in translation in a receiving seat with substantially horizontal axis opening out opposite the first cain and subject to the action of a return spring mounted at the inner part of the seat, and also by a first roller fixed to the end of the actuating rod and maintained in permanent contact with the first cam by the return spring.

Taking into account this configuration, the first roller rolls constantly at the periphery of the first cam during the opening and closing movements of the leaf.

The geometry of the two cams, which is different, should of course be selected so as to facilitate the opening and closing movements of the leaf.

ft is advantageous in particular for the first cam to have on its periphery a concave portion forming a recess corresponding to the closure position of the leaf.

The presence of this recess makes it possible not only to represent the closure position, but also to guarantee that the leaf is correctly maintained in that position.

According to another feature of the invention, the end of the return spring opposite to the actuating rod bears on a washer, the position of which can be modified by means of an adjusting screw.

I 3.

It is thus possible to regulate the energy restored during the automatic closure of the leaf.

According to another preferential feature of the invention, the damping means are constituted by a hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder with substantially horizontal axis in which moves in a sealed manner a piston separating two chambers connected by connecting channels, that is, a working chamber and a reaction chamber. I0

The working chamber encloses a section of the pivot pin on which the first cam is mounted and also a second roller fixed to the piston and maintained in permanent contact with the second cam.

The reaction chamber itself encloses a reaction spring which tends to return the piston towards the working chamber.

According to this feature of the invention, the geometry of the second cam is selected such that it moves the piston in the direction of the reaction chamber during the movement of the leaf from the open position to the closure position.

This second cam moreover co-operates with damping members making it possible to produce a section modulus on the pivot pin during this movement and consequently to slow down the closure movement of the leaf.

According to another feature of the invention, the connecting channels for connecting the working chamber and the reaction chamber include a direct connecting channel passing through the piston and equipped with a one-way

I 4.

discharge shut-off valve which permits the passage of the hydraulic fluid only from the working chamber to the reaction chamber.

The discharge shut-off valve therefore opens automatically during the manual opening movement of the leaf in order to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the working chamber to the reaction chamber, but remains closed during the automatic closure movement of the leaf.

In order nevertheless to allow the hydraulic fluid to pass from the reaction io chamber to the working chamber during this movement, an indirect connecting channel is provided, pierced in the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder.

This indirect connecting channel has a constriction which defines the damping members, making it possible to produce a section modulus on the pivot pin. I5

A locking screw may advantageously allow adjustment of the constriction of this indirect connecting channel and consequently of the damping.

The connecting channels connecting the working chamber and the reaction chamber may also advantageously include a safety indirect connecting channel also pierced in the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder and including a calibrated safety shut-off valve making it possible to suppress the damping effect when the device is subjected to an accidental overload caused, for example, by a user who closed the leaf voluntarily by imparting to it a more rapid movement than that programmed.

It is moreover advantageous to provide the pivot pin with a centring means which positions itself in a step bearing adjustable in rotation so as to adjust the angular position of the leaf. 5.

The door-closer device according to the invention may be mounted in a high position or a low position of the leaf, a dummy pivot being placed on the opposite side.

The features of the door-closer device which is the subject of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the appended non-limiting drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of the device, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view from above of the actuating means in the closure position, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view from above of the damping means in the closure position, Figure 4 is a front view of the damping means, Is Figure 5 is a section through Figure 4 according to the axis V-V, Figure 6 is a section through Figure 4 according to the axis VI-VI.

According to Figure 1, the leaf 1 is hinged at its lower part about a vertical pivot pin 2 provided with a centring means which positions itself in a step bearing 3 adjustable in rotation so as to adjust the angular position of the leaf.

A first cam 4 and a second cam 5 of different shape are respectively mounted rotationally secure on the pivot pin 2.

According to Figures 1 and 2, the first cam 4 is positioned opposite a receiving seat 6 with horizontal axis xx' pierced in the thickness of the leaf I and in which there moves in translation an actuating rod 7 subject to the action of a return spring 8 mounted at the inner part of the seat 6 so as to constantly return the actuating rod 7 towards the first cam 4. 6.

The actuating rod 7 is equipped at its end opposite to the return spring 8 with a first roller 9.

This first roller 9 is maintained in pennanent contact with the first cam 4 by the return spring 8.

The end of the return spring 8 opposite to the first roller 9 bears on a washer 10, the position of which can be modified by means of an adjusting screw 11 so as to make it possible to regulate the stress that can be exerted by the return spring 8 on the actuating rod 7.

According to Figure 2, the first cam 4 includes a concave portion 12 defining a recess representing the closure position of the leaf 1.

In this position, which is shown in Figure 2, the first roller 9 locks itself in the recess 12 in order to hold the leaf 1.

According to Figures 1 and 3, the device is moreover equipped with damping means constituted by a hydraulic cylinder 13 with horizontal axis yy' mounted above the receiving seat 6.

The hydraulic cylinder 13 has a cylinder 14 in which moves in a sealed manner a piston 15 separating a working chamber 16 and a reaction chamber 17.

The working chamber 16 encloses a section of the pivot pin 12 on which the second cam 5 is mounted. 7.

The working chamber 16 also encloses a second roller 18 fixed to the piston 15.

The reaction chamber 17 itself encloses a reaction spring 19 which tends to return the piston 15 towards the working chamber 16.

The working chamber 16 and the reaction chamber 17 are connected by a direct connecting channel 20 shown in Figures 1 and 3 and also by an indirect connecting channel 21 shown in Figure 5 and by a safety indirect connecting io channel 22 shown in Figure 6.

According to Figures 1 and 3, the direct connecting channel passes through the piston 15 of the hydraulic cylinder 13 and is equipped with a one-way discharge shut-off valve 23 which permits the passage of the hydraulic fluid only from the working chamber 16 to the reaction chamber 17 and not in the reverse direction, from the reaction chamber 17 to the working chamber 16.

According to Figure 5, the indirect connecting channel 21 is pierced in the cylinder 14 of the hydraulic cylinder 13 and has a constriction 24 that can be adjusted by a locking screw 25.

According to Figure 6, the safety indirect connecting channel 22 is itself also pierced in the cylinder 14 of the hydraulic cylinder 13; it includes a calibrated safety shut-off valve 26, the function of which will be detailed in the

continuation of this description.

Taking into account the above-mentioned configuration, when, starting from the closure position shown in Figures 1 and 3, the user opens the leaf 1 8.

manually, the first roller 9 rolls on the first cam while entraining the positioning pin 7 against the force of the return spring 8 which is thus biased.

This bias can be adjusted by means of the adjusting screw 11.

In parallel, the second roller 18 rolls on the second cam 5, moving the piston 15 towards the working chamber 16 as a result of the thrust exerted by the reaction spring 19.

rn Simultaneously, the one-way discharge shut-off valve 23 opens in such a way as to permit the hydraulic fluid to circulate from the working chamber 16 towards the reaction chamber 17.

Starting from the open position, the automatic closure of the leaf 1 takes place in the following manner: The return spring 8 restores the bias energy stored during the opening of the leaf 1, and the first roller 9 rolls on the first cam 4 until it inserts itself into the recess 12 of the cam 4 in the position shown in Figure 2.

Simultaneously, the second cam 5, the shape of which is different from that of the first cam 4, moves the second roller 18, and consequently the piston 15, in the direction of the reaction chamber 17.

During this movement, the one-way discharge shut-off valve 23 is closed and the hydraulic fluid can pass from the reaction chamber 17 to the working chamber 16 only through the indirect connecting channel 21 including the constriction 24. 9.

The presence of this constriction 24 produces a section modulus on the pivot pin 2, the function of which is to damp the closure movement of the leaf!.

This damping effect may be suppressed as a result of the opening of the calibrated shut-off valve 26 mounted in the safety indirect connecting channel 22 when the device is subjected to an accidental overload caused, for example, by a user voluntarily closing the leaf 1 by imparting to it a more rapid movement than that programmed. 10.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device for opening and closing a leaf of a swing type door, permitting on the one hand the manual opening of the leaf in both directions, starting from a closure position, and on the other hand its resilient return to the closure position in the absence of any stress being exerted on it, characterised in that it is constituted by a substantially vertical pivot pin (2) carrying two cams (4, 5) of different shape, mounted integrally one above the other thereon, that is: -a first cam (4) co-operating with resilient actuating means for storing energy during the manual opening of the leaf (1) and restoring it to permit the automatic closure thereof, and -a second cam (5) co-operating with hydraulic means for damping the movement of the Ieaf(l) between its open position and its closure position, -the pivot pin (2), the two cams (4, 5) and also the actuating means and the damping means being built into the thickness of the leaf(1).

2. A device according to claim I, characterized in that the actuating means are constituted by an actuating rod (7), movable in translation in a receiving seat (6) with substantially horizontal axis opening out opposite the first cam (4), and subject to the action of a return spring (8) mounted at the inner part of the seat, and also by a first roller (9) fixed to the end of the actuating rod (7) and maintained in permanent contact with the first cam (4) by the return spring (8).

3. A device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the first cam (4) has a concave portion (12) defining a recess corresponding to the closure position of the leaf(l). 11.

4. A device according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the end of the return spring (8) opposite to the actuating rod (7) bears on a washer (10), the position of which can be modified by means of an adjusting screw (11) to make it possible to regulate the energy restored during the automatic closure of the leaf(1).

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the damping means are constituted by a hydraulic cylinder (13) having a cylinder (14) with substantially horizontal axis in which moves in a sealed manner a io piston (15) separating two chambers (16, 17) connected by connecting channels (20, 21, 22), that is: -on the one hand a working chamber (16) enclosing a section of the pivot pin (2) on which the second cam (5) is mounted and also a second roller (18) fixed to the piston (15) and maintained in permanent contact with the second cam (5), and -on the other hand a reaction chamber (17) enclosing a reaction spring (19) tending to return the piston (15) towards the working chamber (16), -the second cam (5) moving the piston (15) in the direction of the reaction chamber (17) during the movement of the leaf (1) from the open position to the closure position, and -damping members (21, 24) being provided to produce a section modulus on the pivot pin (2) during this movement and thus slow down the closure movement of the leaf (1).

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the connecting channels for connecting the working chamber (16) and the reaction chamber (17) include a direct connecting channel (20) passing through the piston (15) and equipped with a one-way discharge shut-off valve (23) permitting the 12.

passage of the hydraulic fluid only from the working chamber (16) to the reaction chamber (17).

7. A device according to either claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that the connecting channels for connecting the working chamber (16) and the reaction chamber (17) include an indirect connecting channel (21), pierced in the cylinder (14) of the hydraulic cylinder (13) and including a constriction (24) defining the damping members.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes a locking screw (25) allowing adjustment of the constriction (24) of the indirect connecting channel (21) and consequently of the damping.

9. A device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the connecting channels for connecting the working chamber (16) and the reaction chamber (17) include a safety indirect connecting channel (22) pierced in the cylinder (14) of the hydraulic cylinder (13) and including a calibrated safety shut-off valve (26) making it possible to suppress the damping effect in the presence of an accidental overload.