US3190637A

US3190637A - Control device for doors or panels, notably for closing open spaces and the like

Info

Publication number: US3190637A
Application number: US31178A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kummerman Henri
Original assignee: INTERNAT MACGREGOR ORGANIZATIO
Current assignee: INTERNAT MACGREGOR ORGANIZATIO; International Macgregor Organization (imgo) Saint Charles
Priority date: 1958-01-14
Filing date: 1960-05-23
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 22, 1965 H. KUMMERMAN 3,190,637

CONTROL DEVICE FOR DOQRS 0R PANELS, NOTABLY FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 14, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 H. KUMMERMAN June 22, 1965 CONTROL DEVICE FOR DOORS OR PANELS, NOTABLY FOR CLOSING OPEN SPACES AND THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 14. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Nov mo United States Patent 3,190,637 CONTROL DEVECE FQR DOGRS 0R PANELS, NGTAELY FQR CLGSENG OPEN SPACES AND THE LIKE Henri Kunimerman, Paris, France, assignor to International MacGi-"egor Qrganization (LR LE9.) Saint (Jharles, Monte Carlo, Monaco, a body corporate of Monaco Original application Jan. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 7 08,834.

gitiilld and this application May 23, 1960, Ser. No.

Claims priority, application France, Jan. 24, 1957, 730,260, Patent 1,165,282; July 8, 1957, 742,736, Patent 1,178,231

2 Claims. ((Zl. 268-75) This invention is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 708,834 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a device for controlling the opening and closing movements of hingedly-mounted doors or panels adapted to be folded in a vertical or horizontal position and designed notably for closing open spaces such as shiphold hatchways, railway cars and the like, of the type comprising control members either incorporated in said panels or pivotally mounted about fixed axes for opening and closing said space.

This device is remarkable notably in that it comprises a control member, for example of the hydraulic or fluidactuated jack type, which is pivotally mounted on a fixed pivot pin independent of the panel to be operated and an assembly consisting of at least two links, one of these links being pivoted on the one hand on the jack rod or the like and on the other hand on the panel to be operated, whereas the other link acting as a crank rod is pivoted on the one hand on the first link and on the other hand about a fixed fulcrum also independent of the panel to be operated and spaced a fixed distance apart from the aforesaid jack fulcrum, this link assembly being located in the vicinity of the hinge axis of the panel to be operated.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that by using a single jack or motor per pair of hinged panels, in combination with very simple linkage means, a usually very delicate control movement, especially in the case of heavy and cumbersome panels as in the case of shiphold panels or hatchway covers, can be effected in a reliable manner.

Of course, the link arrangement is designed to provide the requisite folding and spreading effort.

Thus, in the spread or closed position, the first link of the aforesaid arrangement and the traction and/ or thrust element are substantially aligned along an axis passing above the hinge axis interconnecting the panels.

In this closed position, the other link lies above the aforesaid axis of alignment and is preferably slightly inclined relative thereto.

The jack being fulcrumed at a point belonging to a stationary member such as a hatch-coaming, frame, deck or the like, the panel can be rotated through an angle of 180 and laid flat.

Preferably, care will also be taken that in both open and closed positions of the panel the initial direction of the thrust or traction exerted by the jack or jacks or the like forms with the axis passing through the pivot point of the hinged mounting of the panel on the edge of the space to be closed and the pivot point on the connecting-rod on the aforesaid lug an angle of about 90 so as to take advantage at the beginning of the opening and closing movements of a maximum lifting torque.

It has already been proposed for operations of this gen Zi,l%,637

"ice

eral character to use pivotally-mounted jacks acting on the panels in the vicinity of their hinged points. However, hitherto known devices of this character are unpractical in that they are too cumbersome and/ or require too complicated mechanisms and involve an exceedingly high power consumption so that they do not constitute economical solutions. Now, the device forming the subject matter of this invention has none of these inconveniences, as both its construction and operation are very simple.

Other features and characteristic advantages of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the attached drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a few typical embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FEGURE l is a diagrammatic elevational view illustrating the application of the device of this invention to the specific case of a jack fulcrumed on the deck of a ship to actuate an assembly of two hingedly inter-corn nected panels shown in their space-closing position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the panels during their folding movement; and

FIGURE 3 is a similar view showing the two panels fully folded.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES l to 3 of the drawings, a pair of panels ltil, ltlZ are hingedly interconnected at 163. The panel 1&2 is also pivoted at 104 on the edge of the hatchway 1%. This pivot point 104 is disposed for example in a box-sectioned structure 186 fixedly mounted on the deck 167 of the ship, behind the hatch-coarning 1%. Of course, any other adequate mounting may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

At its front portion the panel 1tl1 carries a pair of rollers 199 adapted to roll along the lateral edges of the hatchway. Of course, the panels may be of any other suitable type, provided they can be folded to occupy a horizontal stowing position as shown in FIGURE 3.

The device according to this invention comprises a jack 116 pivoted at 111 on the deck 197 of the ship or for example in the box-sectioned structure 156. This jack may be, for example, of the hydraulic piston-cylinder type and comprise a piston rod 112 (see FIGURES 2 and 3) slidably located in the cylinder. This rod 112 is pivotally connected to a link or control rod 113 at 114.

This link 112 is in turn pivotally connected with panel 1162 and with a further link 118. The pivotal connection with the panel 102 is achieved by a pivot pin 115 situated on'a lug 116 projecting from the panel 102 beyond pivot 104, The connection with link 118 is achieved by a pivot 117. The other end of link 118 is pivoted to a pivot 119 fixedly located in the structure 196.

In the stowing position, the two folded panels as shown in FIGURE 3 rest, for example, on a support shown at 129.

It is also evident that a special space shown at 121 may be provided to constitute the stowing place. Similarly, it will be readily understood that similar devices may be disposed on either sides of the longitudinal axis XX of the ship.

In the example illustrated, it is assumed that the panel moves laterally relative to the ship axis X-X; therefore, the hand rail is shown at 122. Of course, the same device may also be used in case the panels are stowed or moved in a direction parallel to the ship axis X-X.

The device described hereabovc operates as follows:

Assuming that the panels are in their closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, the jack 110 is firstly actuated by introducing fluid under pressure therein. The dashed lines 116' of FIGURE 1 designate the position of the lug 116 when the panels are folded.

When the pressure fiuid is admitted into cylinder 110, a thrust in the direction of arrow F is exerted on link 113. This thrust is transmitted to lug 116 and re: sults in a torque about pivot 104 in the direction of arrow F At the same time, link 113 is rotated in the same direction and is guided by link 118 which also rotates in the direction of arrow F As shown in the drawings, the dimensions and arrangement of the various members are such that the thrust exerted by the jack is initially directed nearly at right angles to the axis passing through the pivot axes 115 and 104 (the direction F being perpendicular to the link 104 115 so that the lifting moment of the panels may attain a maximum value.

The link 118 acts as a guide and as a counter-arm to the control rod 113.

The pivot 117 which is common to the

links

113 and 118 describes a circular are as shown in dotted lines, and the point 115 describes another circular are about the fixed point 104. The link 113 rotates about its pivot point 114 and occupies the successive positions shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. It is apparent that, if the dimensions of the rod 112 are appropriate, the

panels

101 and 102 can be folded and turned about an angle of 180 with respect to their initial horizontal closing positions.

The closing movement of the panels, i.e., their unfolding, takes place by virtue of a reverse cycle of operation of the jack. To facilitate this movement, ramps or cam faces may be provided for the rollers 109 to ease the lifting and the initial portion of the closing movement of the panels.

It is clear that for example in the case of a hatchway having a length of 110 meters (about 120 yards) and a width of 14.4 meters (15.75 yards) either four panels or two pairs of panels as shown at 101, 102 of a total weight of about 24 tons may be used. The lifting moment must be 24 tons/meters per pair in both opening and closing operations and under these conditions it is sufficient to use two 75 ton jacks per pair. Of course, jacks of the type shown diagrammatically at 110 may be disposed on either side of the hatchway, so as to exert a torque simultaneously on both lateral sides of each panel.

It is also evident that the angle formed by the lug 116 with the plane of the relevant panel, as well as the initial inclination of the jack will be determined in each specific case and depend essentially on the structure of the panels, their weight and arrangement over the hatchway.

Any other suitable and equivalent member may be substituted for the link 118, provided that it performs the guiding function set forth hereinabove; thus, a ramp or cam face co-acting with a pin or roller carried by the control rod 113 may be provided.

Of course, the embodiments shown and described herein should not be construed as limiting the purpose of the present invention as many modifications and alterations may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for controlling pivotally mounted panels intended to open and close an aperture in a horizontal deck of a ship comprising at least one panel, a lug member projecting laterally from said panel, a rigid structure fixed to the ships deck adjacent the aperture, shaft means pivotally engaging said lug member and said rigid structure so that said panel may be swung thereon 180 between an aperture closing position and an aperture opening position, at least one jack means for actuating said panel to so swing it about said shaft means, said jack means being located adjacent to said shaft means and outside of said aperture and including a cylinder and hydraulically actuated pushing and retractable rod slidably movable in the cylinder, a first pivot pin located at a fixed position outside of said aperture for pivotally mounting said cylinder outside said aperture, first link means pivotally secured at one of its ends to the said pushing and retractable rod and at its other end pivotally secured to said lug member at a point spaced from said shaft means, a second link means acting as a crank arm and having one of its ends pivotally secured to said first link means intermediate the ends thereof, and a pivot pin mounted at a fixed location on said rigid structure to pivotally secure the other end of said second link means thereto, said shaft means, said last-named pivot pin and said second link means all being located above said pushing and retractable rod and said first-named link means when the panel is in the aperture closing position, and said pushing and retractable rod and said first-named link means are then aligned, and wherein in the aperture-closing position of said panel the pushing and retractable rod is fully retracted within said cylinder and the first-named link means then forms an angle of substantially with an axis passing through said shaft means and the pivotal securing point of said first-named link means and said lug member, and wherein in the aperture-opening position of said panel said first-named link means is at an angle of substantially 90 with the axis of said pushing and retractable rod which latter then extends fully outwardly of said cylinder, whereby said panel may be rotated substantially about said shaft means in a change from aperture-closing to aperture-opening positions.

2. A device for controlling pivotally mounted panels intended to open and close an aperture in a horizontal deck of a ship comprising a panel, a projecting member extending from said panel laterally from one side of said panel, a rigid structure fixed to the ship adjacent said side of said aperture, a pivot shaft pivotally engaging said member and said rigid structure so that said panel may be swung thereon 180 between a horizontal aperture closing position and an aperture opening position, at least one jack means for so actuating said panel about said pivot shaft, said jack means being located adjacent to said shaft means and outside of said aperture and including an hydraulic cylinder and a pushing and retractable rod slidable longitudinally in said cylinder with one end protruding therefrom, a first pivot pin located at a fixed point outside of said aperture and laterally of said pivot shaft for pivotally mounting said cylinder outside of said aperture, first link means pivotally secured adjacent one of its ends to said protruding end of said pushing and retractable rod and pivotally secured adjacent its other end to said projecting member at a point spaced from said pivot shaft, a second link means acting as a crank arm, pivot means securing one of the ends of said second link means to said first link means at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, and a pivot pin mounted at a stationary point of said rigid structure to pivotally secure the other end of said second link means thereto, said last-named pivot pin and said second-named link means being located above said pushing and retractable rod and said firstnamed link means and outside of said aperture when the panel is in horizontal aperture closing position, said pushing and retractable rod and said first-named link means then being axially aligned and wherein the aperture-closing position of said panel, the pushing and retractable rod is fully retracted within said cylinder and the firstnamed link means defines an angle of substantially 90 with an axis passing through said pivot shaft and the point of pivotal secural of said first-named link means and said projecting member, and wherein in the aperture-opening position of said panel said first-named link means is at an angle of substantially 90 with the axis of said pushing and retractable rod which latter then is fully extended outwardly of said cylinder, whereby said panel may be swung 5 6 substantially through 180 about said pivot shaft in 2,778,632 1/57 Mei'cier 268-66 changes from horizontal aperture-closing to aperture- 2,820,515 1/58 Aarvold 160-188 opening positions. 2,906,324 9/59 Hannigan 160188 References Cited y the Examiner 5 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS JEROME SCHNALL, NORTON ANSHER, GEORGE 2,686,078 8/54 Hale et al. A. NINAS, 111., Examiners,

2,697,998 12/54 Jernstrom 114--202 UNITED STATES PATENT OFEICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,190,637 June 22, 1965 Henri Kummerman It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 1, line 63, for "on", first occurrence, read of column 4, line 65, before "the" insert in Signed and sealed this 21st day of December 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED PANELS INTENDED TO OPEN AND CLOSE AN APERTURE IN A HORIZONTAL DECK OF THE SHIP COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PANEL, A LUG MEMBER PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID PANEL, A RIGID STRUCTURE FIXED TO THE SHIP''S DECK ADJACENT THE APERTURE, SHAFT MEANS PIVOTALLY ENGAGING SAID LUG MEMBER AND SAID RIGID STRUCTURE SO THAT SAID PANEL MAY BE SWUNG THEREON 180* BETWEEN AN APERTURE CLOSING POSITION AND AN APERTURE OPENING POSITION, AT LEAST ONE JACK MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PANEL TO SO SWING IT ABOUT SAID SHAFT MEANS, SAID JACK MEANS BEING LOCATED ADJACENT TO SAID SHAFT MEANS AND OUTSIDE OF SAID APERTURE AND INCLUDING A CYLINDER AND HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD SLIDABLY MOVABLE IN THE CYLINDER, A FIRST PIVOT PIN LOCATED AT A FIX POSITION OUTSIDE O SAID APERTURE FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID CYLINDER OUTSIDE SAID APERTURE FIRST LINK MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE OF ITS ENDS TO THE SAID PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD AND AT ITS OTHER END PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID LUG MEMBER AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID SHAFT MEANS, A SECOND LINK MEANS ACTING AS A CRANK ARM AND HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST LINK MEANS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, AND A PIVOT PIN MOUNTED AT A FIXED LOCATION ON SAID RIGID STRUCTURE TO PIVOTALLY SECURE THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND LINK MEANS THERETO, SAID SHAFT MEANS, SAID LAST-NAMED PIVOT PIN AND SAID SECOND LINK MEANS ALL BEING LOCATED ABOVE SAID PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD AND SAID FIRST-NAMED LINK MEANS WHEN THE PANEL IS IN THE APERTURE CLOSING POSITION, AND SAID PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD AND SAID FIRST-NAMED LINK MEANS ARE THEN ALIGNED, AND WHEREIN IN THE APERTURE-CLOSING POSITION OF SAID PANEL THE PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD IS FULLY RETRACTED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER AND THE FIRST-NAMED LINK MEANS THEN FORMS AN ANGLE OF SUBSTANTIALLY 90* WITH AN AXIS PASSING THROUGH SAID SHAFT MEANS AND THE PIVOTAL SECURING POINT OF SAID FIRST-NAMED LINK MEANS AND SAID LUG MEMBER, AND WHEREIN IN THE APERTURE-OPENING POSITION OF SAID PANEL SAID FIRST-NAMED LINK MEANS IS AT AN ANGLE OF SUBSTANTIAL 90* WITH THE AXIS OF SAID PUSHING AND RETRACTABLE ROD WHICH LATTER THEN EXTENDS FULLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID CYLINDER, WHEREBY SAID PANEL MAY BE ROTATED SUBSTANTIALLY 180* ABOUT SAID SHAFT MEANS IN A CHANGE FROM APERTURE-CLOSING TO APERTURE-OPENING POSITIONS.