US1416247A - Expansion shoe for elevator doors - Google Patents

Description

B. WEXLER.

EXPANSION SHOE FOR ELEVATOR DOORS. APPLICATION mar? SEPT. 1, 1921.

i L; /T

Patented May 16, 1922.

entree stares BENJAMIN wnxnnn, or BROOKLYN, new Yonn, Assreivon no man, PEELLE COM- PANY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. eonronnrron" on NEW YORK.

EXPANSION SHOE FDR ELEVATOR DOORS.

Application filed September 1, 1921. Serial No. 497,470.

To all "whom it may concern:

Be it known that 'I, BENJAMIN WEXLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the borough ofBrooklyn, in the city of New York, county o'l 'Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansion Shoes for Ele vator Doors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlng, which forms a part thereof.

My invention relates to expansion shoes for elevator doors, and moreparticularly to a type thereof adapted for use in fireproof elevator doors.

Heretofore in this art, it has been a common practice to provide expansion guide members upon the side'rails or bars of the metallic frame of a fireproof elevator door, such a guide member being shown in Letters Patent No. 1,237,430 granted to me under date of August 21st, 1916. In-this typeiot guide member, a portion of the flame angle carried by each side rail or bar of the frame of the door had a slit cut so as to permita portion of one flange or" this flame angle to be bent outwardly toward the wall rail so that in the event of expansion of the trainee-t the door under heat, this guide member will yield under the lateral stresses and thus prevent the'binding of the door between the guides to an extent which will prevent the operation of: the door in the event of fire. Said guide memberis held against displacement with relation to the side bar by suitable means.

The construction shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent, while meeting the requirements for which it was intended, has not been found entirely satis'faetoryin use, since in the ordinary iii'uictioning of the door, it is guided in its movement through its cooperation with the flanges of the wall angle and with a guide angle secured thereto, between the inwardly projecting flange of which and the parallel. flange oi the wall angle, said member has movement. This condition not only necessitates a special construction of the guides for the elevator doors but entails considerable difficulty when mounting these rails, and under ordinary conditions results in excessive elear- I ance between the guide and the rails tending'toward looseness in the panels of the,

doors under normal conditions of use;

Furthermore, guide members ferried in tegrally with the flame angle of the door entail considerable difficulty in their pro,- ductlon, and are subject to disarrange'ment of parts during shipping and installation of the doors, as wellas during their use;

With the above conditions in mind, I have produced anexpansion shoe which, when ap Specification of Letters ?atent.' Pate t d m 16 1922 vent binding of the shoes upon the guides or a displacement of the in the event of fire.

WVhile a shoe embodying my invention under normal working conditions is substantially rigid, it is slidably mounted upon the flame angle of the door and provided with supporting members collapsibl when subjected tostresses resulting from expanQ I sion of the door. 7

The manner of slidably mo'untingthe shoe upon the flame'angle is suchthatin the event of the collapse of its'supports, it will recede toward the door with a rectilinealmovement so as to minimize any tendency toward a binding of the shoes between the guide rail and the supportsfor the shoe.

guides by the door,

The invention consists primarily in an expans-ion shoe for elevator doors embodyingftherein a forked 'n'ieinber adapted to straddle the guide rail for adoor, a flame angle carried by'thed'oor, means whereby said forked member is slidably mounted upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door, whereby in the event of expansion of the door from heat, the stresses deveploped will collapse said sup port and permit said shoe to have movementon the flame angle" towards the door; and in such other novel features of construction and combination. of partsas are hereinafter metal frame f of elevator doors embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of one side of one OfiSa-ldClOOIS, showing a shoe embodying my invention in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a front view thereofyand Fig. 4: is an GillfllgGLl view similar to 1* 1g.

2, showing the construction of the shoe and the co-operating wall and guide angles.

, Like letters refer tolike parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, a indicates the upper, and b the lower panel of a pair of vertically movable panels of a door embodying my invention, which pannels are connected'by the sus pension meansc to have simultaneous verti cal movement in opposite directions.

type of door is more extensively used than a single panel door, although-my invention is equally applicable to the-latter type of door.

Mounted upon opposite sides of the vari ous door openings in the shaft, is'avertically extending wall angle (Z, one flange of which is attached to the wall of" the shaftand the other flange of which extends inwardly at right angles to-said' wall. Se-' cured to the last named flange of the wall angleis a guide angle 6, one flange ofwhich is used for securing it to the flange of the wall angle, and the other flange of which extendsparallelwith the wall and serves as a guide rail for the elevator doors.

Elevator. doors ofthe type to which my" invention relates are formed of an angle constituting the oppositely disposed parallel top and bottom rails of the door and the vertical side rails thereof, the opening in this frame being closed either by a 'metal sheathed, wooden panel or by a corrugated-metal panel.

, Such, doors are used extensively 1n con- ,nection :with elevator equipment of warehouses and are of large dimensions, so that in the event of fire the heating of the frame will have a tendency to materially expand same, the expansion of the top and bottom I rails resulting in a su'liicient' enlargement of the lateral dimensions of the door. so that if the guide shoes carried thereby have a sufliciently close fit with the guide rail 6, to; normally insure free movement of the door,- without looseness, t-his'expansionwill result in a binding of the door which will make its operation diflflcult if not impossible. To avoid this condition, as well as to ensure a smooth running, of thedool' under normal conditions, a shoe-embodying my inventionis used. l

A, multiple panel door is shown because this Secured to each side rail of a door panel tending angle bar 9, one flange g of which extends between the guide rail and the parallel flange of the wall angle, so as to eifectively close any gap at opposite edges of the door to prevent the escape of flames and smoke from the floor of the building to withinthe shaft, or vice versa.

Carried by the flange g of at least one of said flame angles 9 are a plurality of shoes embodying my invention, said shoes consisting of a forked member 71. substantially corresponding in dimensions and configuration with the guide shoes commonly used upon doors ofv this type, except as to the manner of mountingsame-with relation to the door. This forked member is adapted to'straddle the guide rail: 0 and have a sufliof slots lY-ii, which slots extend substan-' tially horizontally and receive the bolts 5-2, said slots being formed in extensions of the arm of the forked member positioned between the guide rail 6 and the wall angle d. Said extensions are reduced in thickness so as to position the heads of the belts or rivets i-z" out of a, plane of contact with the guide rail e.

Disposed. between the forked member /i and the flange g of the flame angle 9 is a suitablegasket j of paper, fusible metal or other material which, if subjected to heat, will disintegrate sufficiently to ensure freedom of movement of the member It with relation to its supporting bolts or rivets and the flange g.

In addition to the slots h7i and the co-operating bolts or rivets 'i, the member It is secured with relation to the door frame to the flame angle 9, by means of collapsible supports 70-70 which will enthe flange g of the flame angle socured to the side rail of the door section.

Under normal conditions looseness of the shoe is prevented by so proportioniug the length of the slots /t7z'- that the bolts or rivets 2'2" will engage the end thereof adjacent to the door and thus hold the supports K'fl-ii in the desired intimate engagement with the said flame angle flange.

It is apparent that the particular construction of flame angle shown in the drawing, need not be employed, and that the supports 70-70 will have exactly the same operative effect if they engage the sidebar of the door directly instead of through the medium of the flange of the flame angle.

Any desired number of shoes may be so cured to the side rail of the door, preferably two shoes being ordinarily used.

While the use of expansion shoes upon one sideonly of the door, would avoid bind ing of the door incase of expansion as a result of fire, it is generallyrequired, and preferable, to apply such shoes to the oppo site side of the door, which, however, merely involves a duplication of parts.

The operation of the herein described shoe is substantially as follows': 1 r

In elevator doors embodying expansion shoes made in accordance with my invention, the shoes may be attached to the doors in the factory, or shipped to the point of installation separate from the door' structure. If the latter practice be followed, the flame angle will be pierced at the proper points to receive the bolts or rivets ii thus facilitating the assembling of thedoor structure, while the door is being installed, since this involves merely the mounting of the forked member it upon the flame angle 9, the dimensions of the collapsible supports lc-Zc, being such as to ensure the proper locating of the slot 72/-h with relation to the rivet openingsin said flame angle.

It is the common practice to provide the guide rail structures for fire proof elevator doors with removable sections to facilitate the mounting and removal of doors from the guide rails.

In the event of wear upon the expansion shoe of my invention, such removablesections of the guide rail may be used to permit a rapid and convenient removal of a worn shoe and the substitution of a new shoe therefore.

The gasket between the member k and the flame angle and the location of the bolts or rivets 2'-e" at the end of the elongated slots h7z towards this door section will ensure the desired firm seating 0f the member while permitting looseness of said member in the event of the destruction of the gasket when subjected to high tempera tures.

Under normal conditions, the member it will function solely as a guide shoe the reduced extensions of the inner arm of the forked member so positioning the bolts or rivets iz" as to prevent such contact thereof with the rail, as might interfere with the free running of the door.

In the event of the expansion of the door frame under heat, the collapsible supports will yield before the application of stresses to the guide rail 6, will be sufficient to permit a material binding of the shoe against same, or distortion of the guide rail. To secure this result, it is apparent that the supports 7c7c must be so proportioned as to give them a lower compression co-eflicient than that of the wall and guide rail structure.

the gasket j fromheat and the collapse of the supports la7;, this member It may slidefreely upon the bolts or rivets z", the parallel relation of the slots h7t preventing any skewing of this member 72,. The resultant rectilineal movement of said fitting will prevent possible jamming of the door so that even if thesupports lc7t" were to be collapsed otherwise than as a result of expansion of the door the only result would be lost motion laterally of the door, since the depth of the fork of the member h would. prevent disengagement of the shoe froniits rail even upon a maximum collapsing of thesaid supports. 7

1 If any fitting of the shoe be required, the. use of material stock permits a Workman to collapse or extend the supports 70-h by the use of a hammer, theslots h--7t permitting suflicient variation in the position of the member h, uponfthe flame angle to secure any desired adjustment of the shoe with relation to the guide rail 6.

The manner of mounting the guide shoe upon the flame angle avoids the presence of any gaps in this flamefangle, while permitting the desired relative movement of the shoes and the door structure in the event of fire.

The member h and the parts appurtenant thereto may be readily made of malleable adapted to straddle the guide rail for a door, a flame angle carried by the door, means whereby said forked member slidably is mounted upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door, whereby in the event of the expansion of the door from heat, stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have move ment on the flame angle towards the door.

2. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the'guide rail fora door, a flame angle carried by the door, said forked memher having a plurality of elongated slots therein, bolts carried by said flame angle projected through said slots and engaging said forked member adjacent said slots whereby said forked member is slidably of the shoes to the mounted upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door, whereby in the event of expansion of the door from heat, the stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have movement on the flame angle towards the door.

3. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the guide rail for a door, a flame angle carried by the door, a gasket of material which will disintegrate when subjected to heat interposed between said forked member and said flame angle, means -whereby said forked member is slidably mounted upon said flame angle, and a col lapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door, whereby in the event of expansion of the door from heat, the stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have movement on the flame angle towards the door.

4. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the guide rail for a door, a flame angle carried by the door, said member having a plurality of parallel horizontal elongated slots, bolts carried by said flame angle passing through said slots and engaging said member adjacent thereto whereby said forked member is slidably mounted upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door, whereby in the event of expansion of the'door'from heat, the stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have rectilineal movement on the flame angle towards the door.

5. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the guide rail for a door, a flame angle carried by the door, the arm of said forked member adjacent said flame angle being provided with extensions reduced in thickness as compared with said arm and having elongated slots thereto, bolts carried by said flame angle and. projecting through said slots and engaging the extension adjacent thereto whereby said forked member is slidably mounted upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against theside ofthe door whereby in the event of the expansion of the door from heatthe stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have movement 011 the flame angle towards the door.

6. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the-guide rail for. a door, a flame angle carried by the door, the arm of said forked member adjacent said flame angle having extensions reduced in thickness as compared with the arm, and each an elongated slot therein, said slots being parallel, bolts carried by said flame angle, projecting through said slots and engaging the extension adjacent thereto, whereby said member is slidably mount-ed upon said flame angle, and a collapsible support for said member bearing against the side of the door whereby in the event of expansion of the door from heat, the stresses developed will collapse said support, and permit said shoe to, haverectilineal movement on the flame angle towards the door.

7. An expansion shoe, for elevator doors embodying therein a forked member adapted to straddle the guide rail for a door, a flame angle carried by the door, the arm of said forked member adjacent to said flame angle having. extensions reduced in thickness as compared with the arm, and having an elongated slottherein, said slots being: parallel with each other a gasket of material which will. disintegrate when subjected to heat interposed between said forked member and said flame angle, bolts carried. by said flame angle projecting through said gasket and said slots and engaging the extensions adjacent thereto, whereby said member is slidably mounted upon said flame angle and a collapsible-support for said member bearing against the side of the door whereby in the event of expansion of the door from heat, the stresses developed will collapse said support and permit said shoe to have rectilineal movement on the flame angle towards the door.

8. An expansion shoe for elevator doors embodying therein a member adapted to slid-ably engage the guide rail for an clevator door, means whereby said member is slidably mounted upon the flame angle of a door means normally preventing movement of said member towards the door consisting of supports having a lower compression coeflicient than the guide rail structure, and a gasket formed of material which will disintegrate under heat, interposed between said member and said flame angle, whereby under normal conditions said shoe will have a substantially rigid relation to the door but will have movement toward the door as a result of the disintegration of said gasket and the collapse of said support when the door is subjected to heat.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 26th day of August, 1921, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN VEXLER.

' Witnesses FRANK T. VVENTWORTI-I,

FRIEDA KonHLnR.

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