US2554399A

US2554399A - Fire-resistant door frame

Info

Publication number: US2554399A
Application number: US60305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick J Bremer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-16
Filing date: 1948-11-16
Publication date: 1951-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-22

Description

May 22, 1951 F. J. BREMER FIRE-RESISTANT DOOR FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1948 VJ] III JNVENTOR. FREDL'R/CK J BREMER May 22, 1951 F. J. BREMER FIRE-RESISTANT DOOR FRAME Filed NOV. 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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ii tion, the door and frame being mounted in a door opening in a vault wall;

Fig. 2 is a view in section, taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the door stiles and a means for adjusting the door frame and its door to and securing it in a plumb position;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the door frame and header and means adapted to co-operate with the means provided for the door frame stiles for adjusting the door frame and its door to and securing it in plumb position;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation from the vault side of one of the door frame stiles and a part of the header and sill, the rear closure plates being removed; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are views in section showing a modified construction of the door frame stiles and header and securing means therefor.

Ihroughout the drawings and specification like characters indicate like parts.

In Figure l of the drawings the front of a vault wall I is shown provided with an opening 2 therein in which a vault door frame 3 is mounted. A vault door 4 is shown hung .on hinges 5 in the door frame.

The door frame 3 and its door 4 are preferably fabricated and assembled as a unit ready forinstallation in a vault. The door 4 and its frame 3 are of the type known as high temperature fire-resistant doors. The door 4 may be of conventional fire-proof construction. The 1 frame 3 is so constructed that the time required for-installing a high temperature fire-resistant vault door is reduced to a matter of hours, as distinguished from days, and it may be installed after the wall surface surrounding the vault wall has been finished, that is, plastered and painted,

I or otherwise decorated, without in any way marring the finish of the walls.

The construction of the door frame is such that the door frame and its associated door 4 may be adjusted to and secured in a plumb position without the use of :fgrouting materials and which makes possible at any future time after installation, the readjustment of the door to a plumb position, should the door its frame for one reason or another,

' be thrown out of plumb or alignment.

' sist the heat of a fire.

Door frame 3 comprises a sill I, stiles 8 and 9 by the number of hours that the vault is to re- In forming the opening for the vault door frame and its door, the floor on which the sill rests may be made as level and smooth as it can be.

The dimensions or size of the'op'ening will be made larger than the door frame so, that the door frame and its door may be positioned within the door opening. v

The-

door stiles

8 and 9 and the header I0 are, 7

as shown, constructed in substantially the same. 'fashion, that is, the transverse section of each is substantially identical. The door stiles and the header are hollow within which safe insulation 12 may be confined. Each door stile and header is fabricated from steel plates and welded at 7 various points to each other and to the sill so that a rigid strong frame is provided. As

door stiles

8 and 9 are substantially similar, a description of one will be sufficient, similar parts in the other being designated by the same reference characters.

Door stile 8 comprises an upright l3 having a series of inclined faces and grooves therein shaped to conform to the contour of the adjacent side of door 4 for purposes well understood in this art. The inner end of the jamb I3 is of Z-shape, so as to provide an abutment or keeper 14 for a locking bolt l5. Immediately inside the jamb i3 is a member [6 of substantially L-shape, one leg of which is welded to a flange I! of the jamb member I3. It will be observed that the contour of the jamb member of stile 9 differs some from that of stile 8 to the extent necessary for it to conform to the surface of the hinge side of door 4. Stile 8 also includes an upright Hi, the forward or outer portion 29 of which is of channel shape and the inner portion 2| of which is of substantially L-shape, the two portions being joined by one side 22 of the outer channel. The front portion 20 is disposed relatively close to the adjacent wall of the opening in the vault wall while the inner portion 2| is spaced a substantially greater distance from the vault wall, to provide working space for tools employed in setting the door as will be explained later. The front of stile 8 is provided with a plate 24 which is welded or otherwise secured to the front flanges of jamb member l3 and the upright [9. This plate extends across the space between the stile and the wall at the side of the opening in the vault wall and abuts the surface of the vault wall, thereby concealing this space and closing it at the front of the door frame. The rear of the door stile members 16 and I 9 are flanged as at 25 and 2? to serve as abutments for a closure plate 28. The closure plate 28 may be secured to the flange 21 of the stile plate i9 by means of bolts 36 that are threaded into nuts 3| welded to the flange 27.

The header it! comprises a jamb member 33 which is shaped to conform to the contour of the top edge of the vault door 4. To the inner end of the jamb member 33 is welded or otherwise secured a member 35 of substantially L-shape. The header also includes a structural member 36 having a front portion 31 of substantially channel shape and a rear portion 38 of substantially L-shape, the two portions being connected by a side 39 of channel 31. The structural members forming the header, as can be seen by inspection of the drawings, conform in shape substantially to the shape of the structural members comprising the door stiles B and 9. The ends of structural members of the header meet the upper ends of the structural members of the door stiles, as shown in Fig. 4, being welded or otherwise secured at their junction points. The front of the header i0 is provided with a plate 40 which is welded or otherwise secured to the front flanges of channel member 3! and jamb member 33. Plate 40 as shown, extends upwardly so as to abut the front surface of the vault wall and conceal the space between the wall of the opening in the vault wall and header member 36. As shown in Fig. 3 the inner portion 38 of the header member 36 is offset with respect to the front portion 31 so that a relatively wider space is provided be tween the vault wall and portion 38, than between the vault wall and the front, portion 31, to provide working space for tools as will later be explained. V

The header constructed as above described, is hollow within which safe insulation may be confined. The back of the header may be closed by means of a plate 42 secured to a flange 43 on offset portion 38 by means of bolts 44 threaded V s into nuts 45 which are welded or otherwise secured to the flange 43.

Fig. 4 is a rear view or a view from the vault side of the door, closure plates '28 and 42 being removed to show the hollow spaces within the header and the door stiles and that these spaces communicate with each other, and the spaces between the outer structural members of the door stiles and header and the adjacent walls at the opening in the vault wall and that these spaces communicate with each other.

The means employed for securing the door frame in the opening'in the vault wall to maintain and effectuate a confined or enclosed'heat insulating space between the door frame stiles and header and the walls at the sides and top of the opening in the vault wall, may be variously constructed and take various forms. In Figs. 2, 3 and 4 jacks are shown as a means for securing the door frame in the vault wall opening to provide the spacing of the door frame from the vault wall while in Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of securing and space-closing means.

In order that the door frame and its door may be mounted in the opening'in the vault wall without grouting the same in, as in the case of prior art doors, means are provided in conjunction with the door stiles and the header whereby the door frame may-be adjustably secured to the walls at the sides and top of the opening in the vault wall in a plumb position.

In the form of securing means shown in Figs. 2 to 4, each door stile is provided with a plurality of jacks 41 located at spaced points in the height of the door stiles in the relatively wide space at the rear thereof so that there will be sufficient room or space to apply tools thereto. The jacks may be in the form of screws threaded through nuts 48 secured to the offset portions 2i of the door stiles as by welding. The outer ends of these screws are provided with bearing heads 49 shaped to receive a wrench or suitable tool for turning the jacks during adjustment and securing of the frame. If desired, lock nuts 50 may be provided for locking the jacks in place once the door frame and its door have been adjusted to and secured in plumb position. The upper structural member 355 is likewise provided with a plurality of jacks 4?. These jacks are mounted on the offset portion 38 of member 36 and comprise screws threaded through nuts 48 which are welded or otherwise secured to the portion 38.

The ends of these screws adjacent the vault wall opening may be provided with enlarged heads 49 shaped to accommodate a wrench or other suitable tool. Also if desired, lock nuts 5!] may be employed for locking the jacks in any desired position.

When an assembled frame having a door therein, is to be mounted in the opening of a vault wall, the rear plates 23 and 42 are removed and the jacks are retracted so that the heads 49 thereof will not interfere with the walls of the vault door opening when the frame and door are being inserted into the same. A frame with its door is then slid into the opening in the vault wall from the front thereof until the marginal plates 24 and 4f] abut the front surface of the vault wall. The door and frame are then shifted until a uniform space obtains between the outer edges of the door stiles and the adjacent walls of the opening in the vault wall. The jacks of the door stiles and header are then turned until the heads thereof engage the vault walls and the door is tested for plumb with the door 4 in closed position. The door is also swung to wide open position and'the frame-and door are again checked for plumb. The jacks 4"! are then adjusted at various-pointsaroundthe door frame as may be required to attain the desired plumb condition of the door and frame when the door 4 is closed, as well as when it is wide open. When this plumb condition has been achieved the jacks are tightened uniformly until the frame is firmly secured in plumb position.

It will be apparent that as the jacks are tightened during the plumbing of the door, that stresses ancl'strains will be set up in the outer stile members and in the upper member 36 of the header. To resist this strain and to make the header and the stiles more rigid, struts '51 are provided'in the door'stiles'and struts 52 are provided in the header. These struts are secured adjacent the jacks and span the space between the inner and outer structural members of the stiles and the upper and lower members'of the header. The struts'may be welded or otherwise secured to the door stilesand header members to give sufficient rigidity.

The door frame securing means'shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is such that the portions 2| and 38 .of the stile and header members [9 and 36, respectively, need not necessarily be offset. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the

border plates

28 and 42 in conjunction with "bolts 53 anchored in the vault wall on the vault side thereof, are employed to secure the door frame and door in a plumb position in the wall opening and to'maintain the stiles and header of the frame in spaced relationship to the walls at the sides and top of'such opening. These plates serve also to close this space at the vault side of the door frame as well as the openings in the vault sides of the stiles and header.

The

border plates

28 and 42 are secured to members It and 35' cf'the'stiles and headers by bolts 32] and M as in the fornrshown in Figs. 2 to l. When so securedaspace S remains between the rear edges of spaces between "the vault'wall and the sides and top of the frame. At the outer edges of plates 28 and at the'top edge of plate 42 enlarged openings or slots 54i'niay be provided to accommodate the bolts 53. These openings are of such size and shape thatthe door frame may be adjusted to a plumb position and to'establish the spacing between the vault wall at the sides and top of the opening therein. When this adjustment has been made, the nuts on anchor bolts 53 are drawn up tightly whereby the border plates are firmly clamped to the vault wall. By tightening bolts til and 44 the necessary extent, the door frame is pulled inwardly to the extent necessary to firmly clamp the

border plates

24 and 40 against the front of the vault wall. The pressure of the front border plates on the vault wall aids holding the door frame and door in a secure position.

When the door frame is secured, a tight dea air space is effected between the door frame and the walls at the sides and top of the opening in the vault wall. This air space is an effective heat insulator. Its insulating properties appear to materially improve when steam permeates into it from the insulation confined within the header and stiles of the frame. This steam develops when the door frame is exposed to hot fire. Since the joints between the various structural members of the stiles and header are not pressure tight the steam can escape into the space.

.Athigh temperature steam or vapor can also be given off by the vault wall which partially bounds "this space.

The space between the door frame and the vault walls may also be filled with a dry 1 insulating material such as mineral wool or other V the door stiles and the header may be of any standard safe fire-resistant insulation. Materials high temperature this moisture is evaporated into steam. This steam can escape from the hollow space of the header and stiles into the confined space between the outer members of the stiles and the adjacent Walls of the vault opening and the space between the upper member of header and the adjacent wall of the vault opening. The flange plates at the front and rear of the door frame tend to confine the steam within the space between the vault wall and the door frame and this is believed to add materially to the heat insulating properties of the space between the outer stile members l9 and the upper header member 36.

The space between the door frame and the walls of the opening in the vault wall may be utilized as a dead air space -or.it may be used as a space for confining a dry, fibrous insulation such as mineral wool, or the like; or the insulation may be a dry vermiculite, either calcined or raw, or con- H sisting of a mixture of raw and calcined vermiculite.- After the insulation has been properly placed, the plates at the rear or vault side of the door may be mounted in place and secured to the door stiles and header.

If after the door frame and its door have been installed and the frame and door are thrown out of plumb for one reason Or another, as where the building settles, for example, the door frame can -be readjusted toplumb by the means herein dis-.

closed and described.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in this art, that various modifications and changes may be made without departing either from the spirit or the scope thereof. Therefore, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A fire resistant vault door adapted to be placed in assembled condition into a door opening in a vault wall and secured therein in plumb position without grouting the door, said door having a frame comprising a sill, stiles and .head

er all rigidly secured together, the stiles and header being fabricated from shaped steel plates to provide a hollow space therein for containing heat insulation, the rear portions of the stile plates adjacent the vault wall opening being offi set away from the vault wall to provide working 5 space for tools accessible from the valut side. screw jacks having screw thread support with the offset portions of said stiles and headers and being disposed tobe actuated at substantially right an les to the walls of the opening in the vault wall into and out of engagement with the same whereby by adjusting the relative forces exerted by said screws on the adjacent vault walls I the door frame may be adjusted to and secured in plumb position and also provide an air space between said stiles and header and the walls of the opening in the vault wall, the front and rear of said stiles and headers being provided with border plates adapted to abut the surface of the vault wall surrounding said door to close and conceal the space between the walls of the opening in the vault wall and the door frame.

2. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vault side of said stiles and header are provided with removable plates whereby access may be had to the hollow interiors thereof to fill the same with insulation.

3. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vault side of said stiles and header are provided with removable plates that abut the wall surfaces surrounding the door on the vault side to render the tool space for said jacks and the hollow interiors of said stiles accessible for adjusting the jacks and filling the stiles and header with insulation.

4. A door according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the vault side of said stiles and headers are provided with removable plates whereby access may be had to the hollow interiors thereof to fill the same with insulation, and insulation in the air space between the door stiles and header and the adjacent walls of the opening in the vault wall.

5. A fire-resistant vault door frame adapted to have a fire-resistant door hung therein, said frame having hollow steel stiles and a hollow steel header and a steel sill all secured together as a rigid structure, fire-resistant safe insulation containing moisture substantially filling the hollow space of said stiles and header, the door frame being disposed for mounting in a door opening in'a vault wall the dimensions of which are such that when the frame is placed in the opening a space between the walls of the vault wall opening and the adjacent sides of the door stiles and the top of the header is provided, border plates extending around the periphery of and being secured to the fronts of the door stiles and header, said plates extending laterally of the frame so as to abut the wall surface surrounding the opening in the vault wall and close the space between said stiles and header and the vault wall at' the sides and top of the opening therein, steel borderplates at the vault side of said frame and secured there to, said plates spanning the spaces between the door frame and vault wall and abutting the sur-' act in said opening with the sides and top thereof for securing said frame in the said opening to maintain the spacing between the sides and top of said frame and the sides and top of the vault wall opening and for adjusting at will said door frame for plumb. V V,

6. The combination with a fire-resistant-vault wall having a rectangular opening therein for a door, of a fireesistant door frame having a door hung therein, the sides and top of said door frame being provided with means adapted to coact with the sides and top of said rectangular opening for securing said frame in said opening in spaced relation to the sides and top of said rectangular opening and for adjusting at will said door frame for plumb, the door frame comprising hollow steel stiles and a hollow steel. header, fire-resistant insulation containing moisture substantially filling said stiles and header, and steel plates REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof 'this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Cahill Apr. 17, 1888 Dick et a1 Apr. 6, 1920 Dick July 29, 1924 Abbott July 8, 1930