GB2436348A

GB2436348A - Mechanism for power operation of doors or gates

Info

Publication number: GB2436348A
Application number: GB0605959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Roger Jeffery
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-24
Filing date: 2006-03-24
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-24
Also published as: GB2436348B; GB0605959D0

Abstract

A mechanism for driving a door or gate to move the door or gate from a closed position to an open position and/or from an open position to a closed position comprises a tube 1, a hinge pin 19 mounted in the tube 1 and at least one hinge mounted on the hinge pin 19. The hinge has a first part 15 secured to the tube 1 and a second part 16 pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 19. A leaf 17 is secured to the second part 16 of the hinge and extends out of the tube 1. The leaf 17 is adapted to be secured to a door or a gate. A linear actuator 7 is reciprocally mounted in the tube 1 and a plate 13 having an inclined slot 14 is secured to one end of the linear actuator 3. A pin 18 is secured to the second part 16 of the hinge and engaged in the inclined slot 14 in the plate 13. The arrangement is such that movement of the linear actuator 7 in one direction is effective to cause the pin 18 to move along the inclined slot 14 in the plate 13 and thus to cause the second part 16 of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf 17 of the hinge from a first position to a second position. Movement of the linear actuator 7 in the opposite direction is effective to cause the pin 18 to move along the inclined slot 14 in the opposite direction to cause the second part 16 of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf 17 of the hinge from the second position to the first position.

Description

Mechanism for Power Operation of Doors or Gates This invention relates

to doors and gates and is particularly concerned with a power-operated door or gate.

According to the invention, there is provided a mechanism for driving a door or gate whereby the door or gate can be moved from a closed position to an open position and/or from an open position to a closed position; said mechanism comprising a tube, a pin mounted in the tube, at least one hinge mounted on the pin, said hinge having a first part secured to the tube and a second part pivotally mounted on the pin, a leaf being secured to the second part of the hinge and extending out of said tube, the leaf being adapted to be secured to a door or a gate; a linear actuator reciprocally mounted in the tube, a plate having an inclined slot being secured to the one end of the linear actuator and a pin secured to the second part of the hinge and engaged in the inclined slot in the plate, the arrangement being such that movement of the linear actuator in one direction is effective to cause the pin to move along the inclined slot in the plate and thus to cause the second part of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf of the hinge from a first position to a second position and movement of the linear actuator in the opposite direction is effective to cause the pin to move along the inclined slot in the opposite direction to cause the second part of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf of the hinge from the second position to the first position.

Preferably, means are provided to prevent the linear actuator from rotating with respect to the tube.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube takes the form of a steel box section which is substantially square in cross-section. In this case, the means for preventing the linear actuator from rotating with respect to the box section comprise a guide pin which is secured to one end of the actuator and which extends diagonally across the section of the box section.

At least one further hinge is desirably provided. The or each further hinge preferably comprises a first part which is secured to the tube and a second part which is pivotally mounted on the rod, a leaf being secured to the second part of the hinge and extending out of the tube. The leaf is adapted to be secured to a door or gate.

The mechanism may, if desired, be housed in a post for the door or gate for which the mechanism is intended.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:-Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention showing the linear actuator in the retracted position; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the mechanism shown in Fig. I but showing the linear actuator in the extended position; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line A-A in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows to an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line B-B in Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows to an enlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. I showing the hinge in the closed position to an enlarged scale; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 showing the hinge in the open position to an enlarged scale.

In the drawings, like parts are denoted by like reference numerals.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism according to the invention comprises a tube in the form of a box section 1 which is substantially square in cross-section. A pair of lugs 2 (only one shown) are secured, for example by welding, to the inside of the box section 1 adjacent to one end thereof. The lugs 2 are provided with screw-threaded bores and a suspension plate 3 is secured to the lugs 2 by bolts 4 which engage in the screw-threaded bores in the lugs 2. The suspension plate 3 has a central bore and one end of a suspension rod 5 is secured to the suspension plate 3 by nuts 6. A linear actuator 7 is secured to the other end of the suspension rod 5 and an actuator guide pin 8 extends through one end of the casing of the linear actuator 7. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the actuator guide pin 8 extends diagonally across the box section 1. The purpose of the guide pin is to prevent rotation of the linear actuator 7 with respect to the box section 1.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows the linear actuator 7 in the retracted position in which a shaft 9 is located almost wholly within the casing of the linear actuator 7. A cam plate 13 is secured to the end of the shaft 9 and has an inclined slot 14.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the cam plate 13 also extends diagonally across the box section 1.

Two fixed hinge segments 15 are secured, for example by welding, to the inside of the box section 1 adjacent to one end thereof and the box section 1 is provided with a cut-out region 11 located between the two fixed hinge segments 15. A hinge pin 19 extends through the fixed hinge segments 15 and is substantially parallel to the sides of the box section 1. A movable hinge segment 16 is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 19 between the fixed hinge segments 15 and carries a leaf 17 which extends through the cut-out region 11 in the box section 1. A pin 18 is secured, for example by welding, to the movable hinge segment 16, the pin being located in the inclined slot 14 in the cam plate 13.

Two further fixed hinge segments 21 are secured, for example by welding, to the inside of the box section 1 adjacent to its other end and the box section is provided with a second cut-out region 12 located between the fixed hinge segments 21. The hinge pin 19 extends through the fixed hinge segments 21 and a movable hinge segment 22 is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin 19 between the fixed hinge segments 21. The movable hinge segment 22 carries a leaf 23 which extends through the cut-out region 12 in the box section 1.

The hinge leaves 17 and 23 are provided with bores 24 by means of which a door or gate (not shown) can be fixed to the hinges. A control knob (not shown) is connected to the linear actuator 7 in order to control its operation. The connection may be a wireless connection, for example infra red. The linear actuator is also connected to a power source (not shown).

Figs. I and 5 show the shaft 9 of the linear actuator 7 in the upper or retracted position in which the pin 18 is at the lower end of the inclined slot 14 and the hinge leaves 17 and 23 hold the door or gate (not shown) in the closed position. In order to open the door or gate, the linear actuator 7 is activated to move the shaft 9 downwards to the extended position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The cam plate 13 is moved downwards with the shaft 9 and this downwards movement of the cam plate 13 causes the pin 18 to pivot in an anti-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 5 and 6) from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6 in which the pin 18 is located at the upper end of the inclined slot 14 as shown in Fig. 2. As the pin 18 pivots so the movable hinge segment 16 and the leaf 17 also pivot and the door or gate fixed to the hinge leaf 17 will be moved from the closed to the open position. The other hinge leaf 23 will also move with the door or gate.

The door or gate can be moved from the open to the closed position by activating the linear actuator 7 again so that the shaft 9 is moved upwards from the extended position to the retracted position. As the shaft 9 moves upwards, the cain plate 13 also moves upwards and the inclined slot 14 will cause the pin 18 to move in a clockwise direction from the position shown in Fig. 6 back to the position shown in Fig. 5 in which the door or gate is in the closed position.

A time delay may be provided whereby, after the door or gate has been moved to the open position, the linear actuator 7 is activated automatically to return the door or gate to the closed position after a predetermined period of time.

The time delay may be adjusted to suit individual user requirements.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment but variations and modifications may be without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the upper hinge may be arranged to be driven instead of or in addition to the lower hinge. More than two hinges may be provided.

Further, the hinges could be provided with separate hinge pins instead of a single hinge pin as illustrated in the drawings.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A mechanism for driving a door or gate whereby the door or gate can be moved from a closed position to an open position and/or from an open position to a closed position; said mechanism comprising a tube, a hinge pin mounted in the tube, at least one hinge mounted on the hinge pin, said hinge having a first part secured to the tube and a second part pivotally mounted on the hinge pin, a leaf being secured to the second part of the hinge and extending out of said tube, the leaf being adapted to be secured to a door or a gate; a linear actuator reciprocally mounted in the tube, a plate having an inclined slot being secured to one end of the linear actuator and a pin secured to the second part of the hinge and engaged in the inclined slot in the plate, the arrangement being such that movement of the linear actuator in one direction is effective to cause the pin to move along the inclined slot in the plate and thus to cause the second part of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf of the hinge from a first position to a second position and movement of the linear actuator in the opposite direction is effective to cause the pin to move along the inclined slot in the opposite direction to cause the second part of the hinge to pivot and to move the leaf of the hinge from the second position to the first position.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein means are provided to prevent the linear actuator from rotating with respect to the tube.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the tube takes the form of a steel box section which is substantially square in cross-section.

4. A mechanism according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the means for preventing the linear actuator from rotating with respect to the box section comprise a guide pin which is secured to one end of the actuator and which extends diagonally across the section of the box section.

5. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further hinge is provided.

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the or each further hinge comprises a first part which is secured to the tube and a second part which is pivotally mounted on the hinge pin, a leaf being secured to the second part of the hinge and extending out of the tube.

7. A mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the leaf secured to the second part of the or each further hinge is adapted to be secured to a door or gate.

8. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mechanism is housed in a post.

9. A mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a time delay is provided whereby, after the door or gate has been moved from one position to the other position, the linear actuator is activated automatically to return the door or gate from the other position to the said one position after a predetermined period of time..

10. A mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.