GB2553266A - Sliding assembly for doors - Google Patents

Sliding assembly for doors Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2553266A
GB2553266A GB1611098.3A GB201611098A GB2553266A GB 2553266 A GB2553266 A GB 2553266A GB 201611098 A GB201611098 A GB 201611098A GB 2553266 A GB2553266 A GB 2553266A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
door
sliding
support assembly
assembly according
doors
Prior art date
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Application number
GB1611098.3A
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GB201611098D0 (en
Inventor
James Monaghan Michael
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Priority to GB1611098.3A priority Critical patent/GB2553266A/en
Publication of GB201611098D0 publication Critical patent/GB201611098D0/en
Publication of GB2553266A publication Critical patent/GB2553266A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • E05D15/063Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top on wheels with fixed axis
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • E05D15/0643Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top on balls or floating rollers
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • E05D15/0647Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top on sliding blocks
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • E05D15/0652Tracks
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05DHINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
    • E05D15/00Suspension arrangements for wings
    • E05D15/06Suspension arrangements for wings for wings sliding horizontally more or less in their own plane
    • E05D15/0621Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides
    • E05D15/0626Details, e.g. suspension or supporting guides for wings suspended at the top
    • E05D15/0656Bottom guides
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05FDEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F17/00Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05FDEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
    • E05F17/00Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously
    • E05F2017/005Special devices for shifting a plurality of wings operated simultaneously for sliding wings

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Support Devices For Sliding Doors (AREA)

Abstract

A support assembly for sliding doors comprising at least a first and second guide track mounted on a support structure; at least a first sliding member displaceably mounted on a first guide track 11A and coupled to a first door; and at least a second sliding rail displaceably mounted on a second guide track and coupled to a second door. The sliding member is displaced by rolling elements, preferably a cassette of recirculating balls (fig 16), and coupling means is a bracket 9,10. The movement of first and second doors is at least partially linked, preferably by a pulley system wherein a cable is looped around two pulleys mounted on a first door, and clamped to a stationery bracket and a bracket on the second door, allowing the doors to move in synchrony. One door moving at half the speed of the other. Preferably the second guide track is arranged to be longitudinally parallel and displaced in a horizontal plane and optionally displaced in a parallel vertical plane, with respect to the first guide track. The bottom of the doors may have fixed and moving guides (figs 10/11). Alternatively the doors are linked by latching means (44, fig 14).

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Sliding assembly for doors Abstract Title: A support assembly for sliding doors (57) A support assembly for sliding doors comprising at least a first and second guide track mounted on a support structure; at least a first sliding member displaceably mounted on a first guide track 11A and coupled to a first door; and at least a second sliding rail displaceably mounted on a second guide track and coupled to a second door. The sliding member is displaced by rolling elements, preferably a cassette of recirculating balls (fig 16), and coupling means is a bracket 9,10. The movement of first and second doors is at least partially linked, preferably by a pulley system wherein a cable is looped around two pulleys mounted on a first door, and clamped to a stationery bracket and a bracket on the second door, allowing the doors to move in synchrony. One door moving at half the speed of the other. Preferably the second guide track is arranged to be longitudinally parallel and displaced in a horizontal plane and optionally displaced in a parallel vertical plane, with respect to the first guide track. The bottom of the doors may have fixed and moving guides (figs 10/11). Alternatively the doors are linked by latching means (44, fig 14).
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Application No. GB1611098.3
RTM
Date :27 November 2017
Intellectual
Property
Office
The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document:
Nylon
Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo
SHding Support Assembly for Doors
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to sliding support assemblies for doors and particularly recirculating ball sliding support assemblies arranged to provide a linked sliding movement of a plurality of doors.
Background of the Invention
Conventional sliding support assemblies based on rollers running inside a guide track are known in the art to slideably suspend a single door or a plurality of doors. The doors may be arranged to move independently from each other, or with a synchronous movement. Further the doors may be operated manually or operated automatically with a motor.
However, these systems are known to suffer from very high movement forces when used for applications that require heavy doors, which restricts their satisfactory use when the door is required to be manually operated. In domestic, office and hospital environments where single heavy doors, such as large doors with glass inserts, may be expected to be frequently opened and closed, expensive power assistance is normally required. When two or more said doors are arranged to move in a synchronous manner to optimise the opening width, the movement force required is correspondingly higher than with a single door, further limiting their applicability for manually operated heavy door applications.
Further, roller based assemblies are known to be inconvenient to maintain during routine service or for component replacement after initial installation due to restricted component access. This is made more difficult with heavy doors that may require machinery or several people to remove or manoeuvre to provide access to other components, where the time and difficulty of disassembly required would be an important factor in the lifetime cost of an installation.
Sliding support assemblies based on re-circulating ball slides for a single door or a plurality of independent collinear door applications are also known in the art, for example as disclosed by WO 2015/173581. Sliding support assemblies of this type have been adapted for single heavy door applications, where low movement forces are required.
However, there are no known recirculating bail based sliding support assemblies that support a plurality of heavy doors adapted to have synchronous movement.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sliding support assembly for a plurality of heavy doors with at least partially linked movement that can be operated with a low movement force.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sliding support assembly for a plurality of heavy doors that is compact, easy to install and easy to maintain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses these needs by providing a sliding support assembly comprising:
At least a first and second elongate guide track each defining at least one longitudinal running surface adapted to receive at least a pair of recirculating roiling element cassettes, such that a plurality of rolling elements is positioned between each cassette and the respective guide track and arranged to follow an endless track within the cassette.
Preferably the cassettes can only be mounted to and dismounted from the guide track via the ends of the guide tracks with the rolling elements removed.
The elongate guide tracks may be constructed from aluminium, steel or any suitably rigid material and may be extruded, pressed, rolled or machined. The surface may be treated to alter the friction, wear or corrosion properties, such as anodising, zinc plating or painting.
The roiling elements may be of cylindrical or spherical shape or any other shape with a suitable axis of rotation and constructed from a suitable rigid material such as steel or a polymer such as POM or nylon or a combination of such materials.
The recirculating roiling element cassette may be of extruded or machined construction and manufactured from any suitable rigid material such as aluminium, polymer or steel or a combination of such materials and fixing means.
A support beam of a substantially hollow box construction, adapted to provide a means to secure the at least first and second guide tracks. The support beam may be supported by a frame consisting of a horizontal beam with load bearing vertical posts fixed to each end. Alternatively, the support beam may be fixed directly to a building wall.
The support beam may be manufactured from extruded aluminium or formed steel.
It is apparent that the guide tracks may be formed as an integral part of the support plate.
The guide tracks are arranged to have the longitudinal running surfaces parallel to and extending outwardly from the supporting beam. They may further be arranged to be offset from each other in the vertical and horizontal planes, whereby the outer most guide track is positioned higher than the inner most guide track. This arrangement provides for each guide track to be accessible from the front to facilitate easy installation and maintenance and further provides an accessible space for the sequencing assembly.
Preferably each of the guide tracks is provided with a gap at an end to facilitate assembly or removal of the recirculating element cassettes in the installed condition.
End stops may be provided at each end of the guide tracks or at the bottom of the doors, or alternatively a damping means may be provided to reduce the shock load when the doors are slammed.
A connecting means is provided from a recirculating rolling element cassette to a door such that at least one pair of cassettes in one guide track is provided for one door and the at least two doors move in planes parallel to each other.
Preferably a bracket is fixed to each recirculating rolling element cassette to provide a resilient connection between a cassette and a door. The upper part of each bracket is fixed to a single cassette by a suitable fixing means such as screws, and the lower part of each bracket is arranged to wrap around a round supporting bar that is adjustably screwed to the top surface of the door such that rotational movement is possible between the bar and the bracket In the lateral direction. A pin is provided on the bar that locates in a slot in the bracket to prevent longitudinal movement between the two parts.
The recirculating rolling element cassettes inside the upper most guide track are preferably equipped with a longer bracket than the cassettes in the lower most guide track, such that the top of the doors are at substantially the same height in the installed position. It is further preferred that the top of the doors are positioned below the lower running surface of the lower guide track.
In the preferred embodiment, a cable related device is connected between a fixed position and a first door and a second door, connected for synchronous movement,
A synchronising bar assembly comprising a cable loop arranged to partially encompass two pulley assemblies adapted to receive a cable and rotatably fixed to a support plate. Preferably the rotatable pulley assembly consists of a pulley with a peripheral groove to receive a cable, a bearing secured inside the pulley, an axle connecting the bore of the bearing with the support plate by a fixing means such as a threaded fastening arrangement. The bearing is preferably a rolling ball bearing secured inside the pulley by means of a press fit, an impingement or adhesive. The axle may be secured to the bearing bore by a press fit, adhesive or a circlip.
A clamping bracket is provided to connect the cable to a fixed position.
Preferably the clamping bracket is clamped to the cable and fixed to the support beam via screws. The ends of the cable are preferably terminated by loops secured by a crimping means, both ends being clamped to said bracket on the upper most part of the cable to form a closed continuous cable loop.
At least one pulley is provided with an adjustment means adapted to tension the cable. Preferably the adjustment is provided by a slot in the support plate, where the pulley axle is arranged to move within the slot and to be fixedly clamped in position.
The support plate is connected to a first door, preferably by fixing to the brackets that connect the recirculating rolling element cassettes to a first door. It is advantageous that this first door is the door that is slideably connected to the lower and inner most guide track.
A second door is connected by a clamping means to the cable at a position substantially opposite to the cable clamping bracket.
In a preferred arrangement, the connecting means between the second door and the cable is by means of a rigid arm, whereby a first end of the arm is equipped with a clamping head which is clamped to the cable and the other end of the arm is attached to the second door by fixing to a respective hanging bracket to provide a synchronising movement between the first and second doors with a resulting ratio of 1:2. The correct position for the arm to be clamped to the cable is set is by placing the two doors in their respective closed positions, which provides a simple assembly method on site.
It is preferable that the inner most door is wider than the outer most door to optimise the opening width with the preferred embodiment. It is apparent that the outer most door could be equal in width or wider than the inner most door.
In an alternative embodiment, the two doors are provided with at least one cooperating latch instead of a synchronising mechanism, such that the movement of the two doors are partially linked. In a preferred arrangement first and second latches are fixed to a first door on the leading and trailing edges respectably, and a first receiver is fixed to the leading edge of a second door, such that the movement of the receiver is restricted to be within the two latches. This arrangement means that when the first door is in the closed position, the second door is urged into a respective closed position by the cooperation of the second latch with the receiver. When the second door is in the open position the first door is urged into the respective open position by the cooperation of the first latch and the receiver.
Guides are provided at the bottom of the doors to slide in upturned U sections which prevents lateral rotation of the doors. A first guide is fixed to the floor and guides a first door, preferably the inner door. A second guide is fixed to a bracket which is fixed to a first door, preferably the inner door, and guides a second door, preferably the outer door. The guides can be made of a polymer such as PA or PE, or alternatively may comprise roller assemblies,
A cover plate attached to the support beam to provide a pivoting movement from a closed position to an open position to facilitate access for installation and maintenance. The cover plate is arranged to be assembled to the support beam from the front and the hinge geometry is adapted to enable seif-latching in the open position.
Brief Description of the Figures
By way of example, embodiments of sliding support assemblies for doors according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:lllustration 1 is a perspective view of a sliding door assembly installed into a building wall and shown in the closed position.
Illustration 2 is a perspective view of a sliding door assembly shown in the open position with the cover plate removed.
Illustration 3 is a partial cross section showing the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly.
Illustration 4 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly in the closed position with the cover plate removed.
Illustration 5 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly in the closed position with the cover plate removed, viewed from a second aspect.
Illustration 6 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly in the opened position with the cover plate removed.
Illustration 7 is a perspective view of the Synchronising Bar Assembly.
Illustration 8 is a partial perspective view of illustration 7 showing the Synchronising Bar Assembly from a closer aspect.
Illustration 9 is a partial perspective view of the Synchronising Bar Assembly showing a rear view of the adjustable pulley arrangement.
Illustration 10 is a partial perspective view from underneath the doors, showing the fixed and moving guides at the bottom of the doors in the open position.
Illustration 11 is a partial perspective view from underneath the doors, showing the moving guide at the bottom of the doors in the closed position.
Illustration 12 is a partial perspective view showing the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly in the opened position with the cover plate removed, viewed from a second aspect.
Illustration 13 is a perspective view showing the sliding assembly of a sliding door assembly in the closed position with the cover plate, supporting frame and doors removed.
Illustration 14 is a partial perspective view showing a second embodiment of partially cooperative movement of the doors with the cover plate removed.
Illustration 15 is a detailed partial view of illustration 14.
Illustration 16 is an exploded perspective view of a recirculating ball cassette assembly in a guide track.
Detailed Description of the Figures
Illustrations 1 to 16 show various views of a support assembly for sliding doors according to the present invention.
Illustrations 1 and 2 show the outside of a sliding door assembly in the closed and opened positions respectively as viewed when installed in an aperture in the building wall (8). An outer door (4) and an inner door (5) are slideably suspended by a sliding assembly (51) as shown in illustration 13. Two vertical posts (1) are provided to support the sliding assembly (51) by a fixing means. A fixed panel (6) may be provided as shown to provide total closure of the aperture when the doors are in the closed position.
The frame of the sliding door assembly is shown partially enclosed and fixed within the thickness of the wall (8), however it will be apparent that the assembly could alternatively be placed on an external wall surface. It is also apparent that the support beam (2), shown in Illustration 13, could be fixed directly to a suitable surface of the wall without the need for the vertical posts (1) or the structural horizontal beam (7).
A cover plate (3) is provided to improve the aesthetics of the installed assembly and to provide protection for the sliding assembly against dust ingress and damage.
Illustrations 3, 4, 5, 6, 12 and 13 show various views of the supporting mechanism of a sliding door assembly.
An inner guide track (11 A) and an outer guide track (11B) are fixed to a support beam (2) by means of rivets or screws or other fixing means such that the outer guide track (11B) is higher than the inner guide track (11 A). The outer and inner guide tracks consist of substantially “C” shaped longitudinal rails, with at least one guide surface (41) adapted to receive a plurality of balls. At least two recirculating ball cassettes (12A) and (12B) are mounted into each guide track section via a plurality of rolling balls (42) to provide a longitudinal sliding movement.
In a preferred embodiment, two sets of recirculating balls are provided between each cassette and a guide track, arranged to provide resistance to lateral, vertical and twisting forces. However, in a second embodiment one set of recirculating balls are provided between a guide track and each cassette and are arranged such that they act only against the lateral and downwards forces to reduce cost.
The guide tracks are preferably manufactured from extruded aluminium or pressed or rolled steel. It is apparent that the guide tracks could be integrated into the support beam (2) as a single component.
The recirculating ball cassettes are preferably made from extruded aluminium with plastic end caps arranged to guide the balls around at least one endless track. In an alternative arrangement, one or more endless tracks to guide the rolling balls (42) are machined, moulded or cast into a lower cassette body (40) and an upper cassette body (50) which are fixed together by rivets or screws and adapted to receive and guide the balls.
A bracket (9) is fixed to the inner recirculating ball cassette (12A) and resiliently connected to the inner door (5) by means of a hanging bar (30) and door height adjustment screws (31). A longer bracket (10) is fixed to the outer recirculating ball cassette (12B) and resiliently connected to the outer door (4) by means of a hanging bar (30) and door height adjustment screws (31).
The bracket arrangement described enables rotational resilience in the lateral direction between a door and a bracket and corresponding recirculating bail cassette and the geometry of the bracket is arranged such that the axial centreline of the round bar is below the centreline of the rolling elements to substantially provide only vertical forces on the cassettes in normal use.
It is preferred that the guide tracks (11A and 11B) are arranged with at least one end having a gap (18) to facilitate assembly and removal of the cassettes without removal of the tracks. It is further preferred that the gaps are positioned at the end of the guide tracks furthest away from the door closed position.
Damping units (16) may be positioned at either end of any guide track or additionally fixed to a suitable surface on the lower part of the door to reduce impact forces. End stops may also be positioned at suitable positions on the guide tracks to contain the cassettes.
Illustrations 10 and 11 show the guiding arrangement at the bottom of the door to prevent lateral rotation of the doors.
In a preferred arrangement, a fixed guide (25), is provided to guide the inner door (5) and is slideably located in an inverted “U” section channel fixed within the bottom edge of the inner door. In a preferred arrangement, the fixed guide (25) is fixed to the floor with screws and arranged to provide an additional stopping function against the door frame at the limits of door movement. A moving guide (27) is fixed to the inner door (5) by means of a connecting bracket (28) such that the moving guide is slideably located in an inverted “U” section channel within the bottom edge of the outer door (4) and further acts as a limiting stop against the door frame.
It is apparent that the fixed guide could be located in the outer door and the moving guide be located in the inner door. It is also apparent that a fixed guide could be used for both inner and outer doors.
A cover plate (3) shown in illustrations 1 and 3 can be attached to the support beam (2) by means of a longitudinal hook (32) to provide a hinge like connection. The geometry of the attachment means is adapted to allow connection with a small vertical clearance to facilitate assembly after the support beam (2) is installed. The cover plate can be locked in the open position by means of the hinge geometry, or fixed in the closed position by a fixing means to the end plates (17).
Illustrations 7, 8 and 9 show perspective views of the Synchronising Assembly (13) in a first embodiment.
The synchronising assembly is adapted to be connected to a first door and consists of a support plate (19) which is arranged to support two pulleys (21A and 21B) and a synchronising cable (20) with a terminating bracket (15). In a preferred arrangement, the support plate (19) is fixed to the brackets (9) of the inner door (5) by a fixing means such as rivets or screws.
A first pulley (21B) and an axle assembly is located in a hole in the support plate (19) and clamped in position by a clamping nut (23). A second pulley (21 A) and an axle assembly is located in a slot (24) in the support plate (19) and clamped into position by a second clamping nut (23) such that the second pulley can be adjusted in relation to the first pulley to tension the synchronising cable.
In a preferred arrangement, the support plate is a flat bar manufactured from aluminium or steel.
The two pulleys (21A and 21B) are equipped with annular grooves (34) around their periphery and are secured to the support plate (19) via axles (37) such that the pulleys are free to rotate around the axis of the axles. It is preferred that the pulleys are made from a hard material such as steel to minimise wear and resilience in use and are equipped with low friction ball bearings (38) to minimise friction forces. The ball bearings may be pressed into the pulleys or held by other retaining means, such as adhesive, a circlip or by impingement. The axles may be pressed into the ball bearings or retained by other means such as a circlip or a threaded fastener.
The synchronising cable (20) has terminating loops at each end, fixed to a bracket and partially wrapped around the pulleys, engaging with the periphery grooves. The cable is preferably 3mm diameter and made from flexible grade of multi-stranded stainless steel wire. The terminating loops at each end are formed and held by crimps (22). This arrangement allows for the advantageous use of standard terminating methods and available portable tooling enabling the assembly to be manufactured either offsite or onsite.
The cable ends are looped around screws (43), provided in holes in the terminating bracket (15) and used to clamp the cable between a clamp plate (36), a clamp guide (35) and clamping nuts, preferably positioned above the axis of the pulleys. The tension of the cable is then adjusted by moving the position of the adjustable pulley and clamping.
The terminating bracket (15) is fixed to the support beam (2), however it is apparent that this bracket could be fixed to any suitable stationary surface either above or below the axis of the pulleys.
The second door is connected to the cable on the opposite side to the terminating bracket such that the movement of the second door is linked to the movement of the io first door via the cable and that the distance travelled by the second door is substantially double the distance travelled by the first door, such that both doors move in the same direction of travel.
In a preferred arrangement, a connecting arm (14) is provided to connect the outer door (4) to the synchronising cable (20), such that a first end of the connecting arm is fixed to a bracket (10) and a second end of the arm is attached to the cable via a clamping means (33). The clamping means may consist of a clamping plate and clamping block arranged either side of the cable and clamped by tightening two screws. This arrangement allows the initial assembly and subsequent adjustment in service to be easily performed by tightening the clamp with the inner door and the outer door in the required closed positions, ensuring the correct operating position.
In a preferred arrangement, the width of the inner door (5) is greater than the width of the outer door (4) to optimise the accessible width in the open position. However, it is apparent that the doors could be made the same width as each other if required.
Illustrations 14 and 15 show a second embodiment, where the doors are provided with a limiting means such that the movement of a first door is partially cooperative with the movement of a second door.
In the preferred arrangement, a first movement limiting catch (44 ) is fixed to the rearmost upright (48) of the outer door (4) and a second movement limiting catch (45) is fixed to the foremost upright (47) of the outer door, and a catch receiver (46) is fixed to the foremost upright (49) of the inner door (5) such that the movement of the inner door is limited in relation to the outer door and that the foremost upright of the inner door remains substantially between the foremost and rearmost uprights of the outer door. This arrangement provides that moving the outer door into the closed or open positions will also cause the inner door to move to the respective closed or open positions.

Claims (24)

CLAIMS What is claimed is:
1. A support assembly for sliding doors comprising:
At least a first and second guide track that can be mounted on a support structure;
At least a first sliding rail that is displaceably mounted via plurality of rolling elements on a first guide track and coupled to a first door;
At least a second sliding rail that is displaceably mounted via a plurality of rolling elements on a second guide track and coupled to a second door;
Characterised in that the movement of the first and second doors is at least partially linked.
2. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least first and second sliding rails each comprise a cassette with at least one endless track adapted to receive rolling elements in a recirculating motion.
3. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 2, where the rolling elements are balls.
4. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 3, in a first embodiment, further comprising a synchronising means.
5. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 4, whereby a cable relating device is connected between a fixed position and a first door and a second door, connected for synchronous movement.
6. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 5, where the synchronous means consists of a base structure fixed to said first door;
and two rotatable pulleys fixed to the base structure;
and a cable arranged to be partially wrapped around the pulleys and clamped at a stationary bracket to provide a continuous loop;
and a means to connect a said second door to the cable such that the first door moves substantially at half the speed and distance of the second door in the same direction of travel.
7. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 6, where the sequencing base structure is a flat bar fixed to at least a first bracket connected to a first door.
8. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 7, where the at least first bracket comprises a pair of brackets connecting a pair of cassettes respectively to said first door.
9. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 6, where the cable connecting means to a second door consists of a rigid arm fixed to a bracket connected to said second door and the opposing end is clamped to said cable.
10. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 6, where the stationary bracket is fixed to a supporting beam.
11. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 3, in a second embodiment the movement of the first door is partially linked to the movement of the second door by a latching means.
12. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 11, where the latching means comprises:
a first and second latch on a first door fixed substantially at a foremost and rearmost edge of said first door respectively;
a latch receiver on a second door fixed substantially at a leading edge of said second door, arranged such that the first and second latches prevent movement past both said first or second latch:
Characterised in that said latch receiver is arranged between said latches, such that the foremost edge of said first door remains between the foremost edge and rearmost edge of said second door.
13. The sliding door support assembly according to any previous claim, whereby a second guide track is arranged to be longitudinally parallel and displaced in a horizontal plane with respect to a first guide track.
14. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 13, whereby the second guide track is further displaced in a parallel vertical plane.
15. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 1, where the brackets connecting the at least first and second sliding rails with the first and second doors are adapted such that the doors are substantially vertically coincident.
16. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 15, where the brackets connecting a first pair of sliding rails to a first door are different in length to a second pair of brackets connecting a second pair of sliding rails to a second door.
17. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 16, where the said sliding rails are recirculating ball cassettes.
18. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 16, where said first door is respectively connected via a first pair of brackets to a first pair of sliding rails in a first guide track and said second door is respectively connected via a second pair of brackets to a second sliding rail in a second guide track, whereby the first guide track is positioned vertically lower than the second guide track and the first pair of brackets is shorter than the second pair of brackets.
19. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 1, where the rails are arranged to have longitudinal gaps to facilitate assembly of the sliding rails.
20. The sliding door support assembly according to any previous claim where the at least one rail is substantially C shaped and adapted to receive rolling balls.
21. The sliding support structure according to any previous claim, where the at least one rail is integrated into the support structure.
22. The sliding door support assembly according to claim 6, where at least one pulley is adapted to be adjustable.
23. The sliding door support assembly according to any previous claim, where damping assemblies are provided at the end of travel of any door.
18. The sliding door support assembly according to any previous claim, where end stops are provided at the end of any door travel
19. Any preceding claim where at least one door is guided at the bottom in the direction of sliding movement
20. Any preceding claim where at least one door is linked to an at least second door by a guide fixed to the bottom of the first door to guide the at least second door in the direction of sliding movement
22. Any of the preceding claims where the unit is powered by a motorised arrangement
23. A support assembly for sliding doors substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to as shown in the accompanying drawings
24. A synchronising assembly for sliding doors substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to as shown in the accompanying drawings
Intellectual
Property
Office
Application No: GB1611098.3 Examiner: Sally Vaughan
GB1611098.3A 2016-06-26 2016-06-26 Sliding assembly for doors Withdrawn GB2553266A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1611098.3A GB2553266A (en) 2016-06-26 2016-06-26 Sliding assembly for doors

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1611098.3A GB2553266A (en) 2016-06-26 2016-06-26 Sliding assembly for doors

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201611098D0 GB201611098D0 (en) 2016-08-10
GB2553266A true GB2553266A (en) 2018-03-07

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GB1611098.3A Withdrawn GB2553266A (en) 2016-06-26 2016-06-26 Sliding assembly for doors

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GB (1) GB2553266A (en)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110199077A (en) * 2019-04-28 2019-09-03 佛山市理想卫浴有限公司 The concealed shower doors of pulley assembly

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DE19952264A1 (en) * 1998-10-29 2000-06-08 Geze Gmbh Modular system for door or window drive mechanisms
EP1498382A1 (en) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 ThyssenKrupp Aufzugswerke GmbH Lintel for an elevator door
KR20140119416A (en) * 2013-04-01 2014-10-10 (주) 세진도어텍 A bracket for fixing drive belt of multiplex sliding automaticdoor
US20150020453A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-01-22 Pemko Manufacturing Company, Inc. Telescoping door integrated hardware
WO2015173581A1 (en) * 2014-05-14 2015-11-19 Accuride International Limited Re-circulating ball sliding support assembly

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2833346A (en) * 1956-01-30 1958-05-06 Acme Appliance Mfg Company Sliding door assembly
DE2554097A1 (en) * 1975-12-02 1977-06-16 Heinz Georg Baus Screening partition for baths and showers - with panels hung eccentrically and provided with magnets along bottom edge to hold against seal
DE19952264A1 (en) * 1998-10-29 2000-06-08 Geze Gmbh Modular system for door or window drive mechanisms
EP1498382A1 (en) * 2003-07-18 2005-01-19 ThyssenKrupp Aufzugswerke GmbH Lintel for an elevator door
US20150020453A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2015-01-22 Pemko Manufacturing Company, Inc. Telescoping door integrated hardware
KR20140119416A (en) * 2013-04-01 2014-10-10 (주) 세진도어텍 A bracket for fixing drive belt of multiplex sliding automaticdoor
WO2015173581A1 (en) * 2014-05-14 2015-11-19 Accuride International Limited Re-circulating ball sliding support assembly

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"Flat Track Barn Door Hardware", available on or before 8.04.2015. Available at: http://hangingdoorhardware.com/pocketdoors/barn_door_track/flat%20track%20barn_door_hardware.html [Accessed: 23.11.17] *

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN110199077A (en) * 2019-04-28 2019-09-03 佛山市理想卫浴有限公司 The concealed shower doors of pulley assembly
WO2020220153A1 (en) * 2019-04-28 2020-11-05 佛山市理想卫浴有限公司 Shower door having pulley assemblies concealed

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