US3762098A

US3762098A - Collapsible revolving door having removable wings

Info

Publication number: US3762098A
Application number: US00161552A
Authority: US
Inventors: A Sheckells
Original assignee: International Steel Co
Current assignee: International Steel Co
Priority date: 1971-07-12
Filing date: 1971-07-12
Publication date: 1973-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-02
Also published as: CA967431A

Abstract

A collapsible revolving door having removable wings, each operatively connected to the door center post by a hanger bar rigidly connected to the wing frame and pivotally connected to a respective hanger disc secured to the end of the door center post. A detent assembly is selectively mounted in either the hanger bar or hanger disc to releasably hold the respective wing in normal operative position but permitting collapse of the wings in case of panic or when it is desired to fold the wings for clearing the doorway. The hanger assembly is provided with removable portions to facilitate the removal or disconnection of the door wing from the center post.

Description

Oct. 2, 197 3 COLLAPSIBLE REVOLVING DOOR HAVING REMOVABLE WINGS [75] Inventor: Amuel E. Sheckells, Evansville, Ind.

[73] Assignee: International Steel Company,

Evansville, Ind.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1971' (Zll Appl. No.: l6l,552

52 us. Cl. 49/44 [51] lnt. Cl E0511 15/02 [58] Field of Search 49/43, 44, 45

{56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS l,9l4,237 6/1933 Blanchard 49/44 3,495,25l 2/1970 Lowe t. 49/44 Primary ExaminerKenneth Downey AttorneyRupert J. Brady et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A collapsible revolving door having removable wings, each operatively connected to the door center post by a hanger bar rigidly connected to the wing frame and pivotally connected to a respective hanger disc secured to the end of the door center post. A detent assembly is selectively mounted in either the hanger bar or hanger disc to releasably hold the respective wing in normal operative position but permitting collapse of the wings in case of panic or when it is desired to fold the wings for clearing the doorway. The hanger assembly is provided with removable portions to facilitate the removal or disconnection of the door wing from the center post.

13 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures :5 l 27 i i if PAIENImum 2:975

SHEET 10F 6 ["1 I PRIOR ART PATENTED 2 7 sum 2 or s PATENTEDUBT 2 m SHEET 3 BF .6

PATENTEDUBI 21915 3.762.098

SHEET 8 BF 6 i MM 21 HE. ll

I COLLAPSIBLE REVOLVING DOOR HAVING REMOVABLE WINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of revolving doors have been proposed which include a plurality of wings extending radially from a'vertically extending shaft or center post and connected thereto by suitable hardware which permits collapse of the wings in case of panic where efforts are made to revolve the doorin reverse directions'simultaneously, or in cases where it'is desired to fold the wings of the door for clearing the doorway. The hardwareemployed for mounting each wing on the center post usually included a bifurcated bracket secured to the door wing and pivotally connected to a disc secured to the center post, the wing being held in normal operative position by a spring biased detent extendingbetween the bifurcated bracket and-the disc. While these doors have been satisfactory for their intended purpose, they have been subject to certain objections. One objection raised against the conventional hardware employed in revolving doors is the hardwares obstruction of the glass panel area of the door which does not conform to todays architectural designs which require thin, straight, uninterrupted frames and panels.

Another objection raised against the conventional hardware is the difficulty of removing or disconnecting the wings from the center post disc when it was necessary to repair or replace a wing.

To overcome the above-noted disadvantages experienced with the conventional revolving door hardware, the assembly of the present invention has been devised which comprises, essentially, a hanger bar secured to a respective wing frame, the hanger bar having pins pivotally connected to a hanger disc secured to the end portion of the door center post, the wing being held in normal operative position by a spring biased detent mounted between the hanger bar and the disc. The hanger assembly of the present invention is constructed and arranged in such a manner that the hanger bar and disc are disposed in a plane extending through the thin frame of the door wing carrying the glass panel, whereby the revolving door will be architecturally coordinated with the building within which it is mounted. In order to facilitate the removal or disconnection of the door wing from the center post, the wing hanger assembly is provided with removable portions. In one embodiment, the removable portion consists of a shoulder bolt threaded into the disc, in another embodiment, a peripheral portion of the disc is detachably mounted thereon, and in a further embodiment, one of the pivot pins, carried by the hanger bar, is threadably secured thereto.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a revolving door having the conventional hardware for mounting the wings on the door center post;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a revolving door employing the hardware of the present invention for mounting the wings on the door center post;

FIG. 4 is a' view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view'taken alongline 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along line 88 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 9, wand 11 are fragmentary top plan views, partly in section, of the hanger disc and hanger pivot pins, with the hanger bar and associated wing shown in phantom, illustrating the removal of the door wing from the hanger disc;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIGS. 9, l0 and II but illustrating another embodiment of the invention wherein a peripheral portion of the hanger disc is removed to facilitate the disconnection of the wing from the center post;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the removable peripheral portion of the hanger disc as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of the hanger disc and hanger bar showing a further embodiment of the invention to facilitate the removal of the wing from the disc wherein one of the hanger bar pivot pins is threadably secured to the hanger bar, the steps of disconnecting the wing from the disc being illustrated in phantom;

FIG. 15 is a view taken along line l5-15 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of another embodiment of the removable pivot pin similar to pin illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a view taken along line 17I7 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partly in section, of the hanger assembly of the present invention similar to FIG. 3; however, showing the detent assembly mounted within the hanger disc;

FIG. 19 is a view taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary, elevational view, partly in section, illustrating another embodiment of the hanger assembly of the present invention at the lower end of the door center post;

FIG. 21 is a view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a view taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a framentary, elevational view, partly in section, illustrating another embodiment of a detent assembly employed in the hanger assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a tube for housing portions of the spring and ball employed in the detent assembly illustrated in FIG. 23. 1

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, a revolving door 1 is illustrated which includes a plurality of wings 2, 3 extending radially from a center post 4, it being understood that another pair of wings would extend radially from the center post and disposed with respect'to wings 2 and 3. Each of the wings includes a peripheral frame 5 in which a glass panel 6 is mounted. Each wing of the revolving door shown in FIG. 1 is secured to the center post 4 by conventional hardware which includes bifurcated brackets 7, 8 secured to the top and bottom edge portions, respectively, of the wings and connected to respective discs 9 and 10 secured to the center post. The revolving door illustrated in FIG. 1 employing the conventional hardware would not conform to the architecture of the building in which it is mounted if the building is characterized by today's architecture of thin, straight uninterrupted frames and unobstructed glass panels. In order to conform revolving doors to todays architecture and to coordinate the door to the building within which it is mounted, the hardware of the present invention has been devised which provides unobstructed glass panels together with thin peripheral frames enclosing the panels. This is accomplished, as will be seen in FIG. 2, by positioning the hanger bar or brackets 1 1, 12 within the confines of the peripheral frame and mounting the hanger discs 13 and 14 in close proximity to the lintel and bottom, respectively, of the passageway containing the revolving door. By this construction and arrangement, the hanger bars and hanger discs are disposed in substantially the same planes containing the peripheral frame 5.

The details of the lower hanger assembly are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein it will be seen that the hanger bar 12 comprises a right-angle bracket in which one leg 12a is secured to the vertically disposed portion of the wing frame 5 by bolts 13 and the other leg 12b is secured to the horizontally disposed portion of the wing frame by bolts 15, this portion of the frame also having a suitable seal 5a depending therefrom. The portion of the hanger bar where the legs 12a and 12b intersect is formed with a divergent head portion 12c from which pins 12d, l2e and 12fdepend, the pins cooperating with a grooved portion 14a formed in the hanger disc 14 whereby the door wings are mounted for guided, independent, realtive swinging movement with respect to the center post 4 to which the hanger disc is secured by keys l6 and set screws 17.

In order that the wings may be held in normal operative position relative to the center post, a detent assembly 18 is provided which comprises a ball 18a engaging a spherical seat 19 formed on the peripheral portion of the hanger disc 14, the ball being biased against the seat by a compression spring 20 which engages a nut 21 threadably mounted on a stem 22, the stem being threadably mounted within a sleeve 23 secured to one end of a cylindrical housing 24 by suitable screws 25, the opposite end of the housing 24 having a reduced inside diameter for retaining the ball therein, the detent assembly thus forming a cartridge which is insertable within the leg portion of 12b of the hanger bar and contained therein by a set screw 26 (FIG. 4) and plug member 27. The biasing force of the spring is varied by adjusting the position of the nut 21 on the stem 22, a fine adjustment of the biasing force is accomplished by changing the position of the stem 22, carrying nut 21, relative to the sleeve 23.

In lieu of mounting the detent cartridge in one leg of the hanger bar as shown in FIG. 3, it can be mounted in the hanger disc 14 as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In this arrangement, the head portion 120 of the hanger bar is provided with a depending flange 28 formed with a seat portion 28a which engages the spring biased ball 18, the detent cartridge being held in the disc 14 by a set screw 29. Also in the arrangement shown in FIG. 18, in lieu of the bolts 14 securing the leg portion 12b of the hanger bar to the frame 5 as shown in FIG. 3, the leg portion 12b can extend the width of the wing and be secured to the vertical frame portion or molding of the wing by a bolt 30.

In the operation of the revolving door, thus far described, the detent assemblies maintain the door wings in a normal operative radial position relative to the center post 4; however, in case of panic or when it is desired to fold the doors for clearing the doorway, a force is applied to the door wings overcoming the biasing force of the detents, thereby allowing the wings to pivot about pins 12f, 12d and 122 carried bythe hanger bar. This collapse or folding of the wings is illustrated in phantom in FIG. 4 wherein it will be seen that the initial pivoting of the wing is about pin 12f until pin l2e or 12d, depending upon which direction the wing is being collapsed, slides on the disc grooved portion and enters the circular recess portion 14b of the disc groove, whereupon the pivoting of the wing is about pin l2e or 12d.

An important feature of the present invention is the relative ease with which the wings may be disconnected from the hanger discs 11 and 14 for repair or replacement of the wing. As will be seen in FIG. 4, the hanger disc 14 is provided with a plurality of shoulder bolts 31 threadably mounted therein and being positioned adjacent a respective recess 14b in the disc groove. These bolts limit the extent to which the wing can be folded since the pins l2e or 12d would ultimately abut the shoulder bolts when the wing is pivoted to its folded or collapsed position. The disconnection of a door wing is illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, wherein it will be seen in FIG. 9 that the door wing is pivoted about pin l2e to a folded position to thereby render one of the shoulder bolts 31 accessible for the removal thereof from the disc. The wing is then pivoted in the opposite direction about pins 12f and 12d, respectively, as shown in FIG. 10. The pivoting of the wing about pin 12d is shown in FIG. 11 and allows pins l2e and 12f to become removed from the disc. Since the shoulder bolt adjacent the pin 12d has been removed from the disc, the pin 12d is allowed to follow the path shown in phantom whereby the door wing becomes disconnected from the disc.

Another embodiment of the door removal feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 wherein, in lieu of the shoulder bolts 31, the disc 14 is provided with a removable peripheral portion 32 positioned on the disc by a dowel pin 33 and secured to the disc by suitable bolts 34. To remove the door wing, the peripheral portion 32 is removed from the disc and the wing is pivoted about pin 12f to a position where the pin l2e is removed from the grooved portion of the disc, thus permitting the door wing to be removed from the disc as shown in phantom in FIG. 12.

A further embodiment of the door removal feature of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 wherein the hanger bar pivot pin 12d is provided with a threaded portion 35 extending through the hanger bar portion 12c, and having a slotted head portion 35a. By this construction and arrangement, the door wing is disconnected from the hanger disc by pivoting the wing to the position designated as 36 in FIG. 14 to thereby disengage the pin 12d from the disc grooved portion 14a. While in this position, the pin 12d is unscrewed from the hanger bar and the wing is pivoted in the opposite direction to a position, designated as 37 in FIG. 14, whereby the pin l2e is disengaged from the disc grooved portion 14a, thus freeing the wing for removal from the hanger disc. Suitable indicia 38 is inscribed on the hanger bar head portion 12c adjacent the bore through which the pin 12d extends to that when the pin is reinserted into the hanger bar, the head portion 35a can be set to the position whereby the proper surface of the pin 12d conforms to the grooved portion of the hanger disc, the adjusted position being maintained by a set screw 39.

Another embodiment of the removable pin is illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 wherein, in lieu of the alignment indicia 38 shown in FIG. 14, the threaded portion of the pin 12d and the adjacent surface of the tapped bore in hanger bar head portion 12c are formed with aligned axial slots for receiving a locating key 40 held therein by a set screw 41.

While the hanger bar assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 shows the leg 12a integrally connected to the horizontally disposed leg 12b of the right-angle bracket, and the detent assembly being inserted within an enlarged portion formed integrally on the leg 12b, the assembly illustrated in FIG. shows an embodiment wherein the vertically extending leg and detent assembly are bolted to the horizontal leg of the right-angle bracket. In this arrangement, the vertically extending leg 42 is secured to the horizontally disposed leg 43 by a bolt 44 and the capscrews 45 (FIG. 21), the bolt 44 having a flanged portion 44a and a head portion 44b which extends into the grooved portion of the disc 14 and provides a pivot point equivalent to the pivot pin 12f shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The capscrews 45 are disposed adjacent the bolt 44 in such a manner that when tightened, they shear partof the flanged portion 44b to thereby lock the bolt 44 in the leg 43 whereby loosening of the bolt is prevented when the door is collapsed.

The detent mechanism employed in the hanger bar assembly of FIG. 20 comprises a cylindrical housing 46 secured to the horizontal leg 43 by dowel pins 47 (FIG. 21), set screws 48 and bolts 49; one of the set screws having an end portion 48a extending within a slot 50 formed within the upper surface of a plunger 51 slidably mounted within the housing. One end of the plunger is provided with a beveled portion 51a adapted to engage a similarly shaped notch 52 formed in the hanger disc 14. The opposite end of the plunger is engaged by one end of a coil spring 53 the opposite end of the spring engaging a plug 54 threadably mounted within the end of the housing 46. By this construction and arrangement, the biasing force of the spring 53, urging the beveled end of the plunger into the notch 52, may be varied by adjusting the position of the plug 54 in the housing 46; and the set screw portion 48a prevents the plunger 51 from being forced out of the housing when the door is collapsed.

Another embodiment of the detent mechanism is shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 wherein a tube 55 is mounted within the housing 46 and is secured therein by a set screw 56 having an end portion 56a extending within a helical slot 55a formed in the wall of the tube. The end of the tube is provided with notches 55b for receiving a suitable tool whereby the axial position of the tube within the housing may be adjusted. A ball 57 extends from one end of the tube and engages a spherical slot 58 formed on the periphery of the hanger disc 14, the ball being biased against the seat by coil spring 59 abutting the plug 54.

While the hanger bar assembly of the present invention has been described for the lower end of the revolving door, it will be understood that the hanger bar assembly at the upper end portion is identical to the assembly on the lower end except that the hanger bar pivot pins project upwardly into the grooved portion of the hanger disc. When removing the door wings, the portions of the upper hanger assembly are removed which correspond to the identical portions in the lower hanger assembly.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the construction and arrangement of the hanger assembly of the present invention provides an improved assembly which facilitates the removal 'of the door wings from the center post than hitherto provided by the conventional revolving door hardware. By positioning the hanger bars within the confines of the peripheral frame of the door wings and by mounting the hanger discs in close proximity to the lintel and bottom of the passagewaycontaining the revolving door, the hanger bars and discs are thus disposed in substantially the same planes containing the wing frames, whereby the revolving door conforms to todays architecture and is coordinated to the architecture of the building in which it is mounted.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, ofexcluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In a collapsible revolving door of the type having a plurality of wings extending radially from'a center post and connected thereto by hanger assemblies disposed at either end portion of the center post, each hanger assembly including a hanger disc secured to the center post and a hanger bar secured to the respective door wing, said hanger bar having pins extending within a grooved portion formed in the hanger disc whereby the door wings are mounted for guided, independent, relative swinging movement relative to the center post for moving the door to the collapsed position; the improvement comprising, means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc to restrict the pivotal movement of the door wing between predetermined limits to the collapsed position, said means being detachable from the grooved portion of the disc to permit pivotal movement of the door wing beyond the predetermined limits, whereby the door wings can be disconnected from the center post.

2. A collapsible revolving door according to claim 1 wherein the means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc comprises shoulder bolts threadably mounted on said hanger disc.

3. A collapsible revolving door according to claim 1 wherein the means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc comprises, peripheral portions on the hanger disc detachably mounted thereon.

4; A collapsible revolving door according to claim I wherein the means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc comprises, at least one of the hanger bar pivot pins threadably mounted within the hanger bar.

5. A collapsible revolving door according to claim 1 wherein detent means extend between the hanger bar and the hanger disc to hold the door wing in a normal operative position relative to the center post.

6. In a collapsible revolving door of the type including a plurality of wings extending radially from a center post and connected thereto by hanger assemblies disposed at either end portion of the center post, each wing having a panel portion surrounded by a peripheral frame, each hanger assembly including a hanger disc secured to the center post, and a hanger bar secured to the respective door wing, said hanger bar having pins extending within a grooved portion formed in the hanger disc whereby the door wings are mounted for guided, independent, relative swinging movement relative to the center post for moving the door to the collapsed position; the improvement comprising, forming the hanger bar as an L-shaped bracket'having one leg mounted on a horizontal portion of the peripheral frame and the other leg mounted on the vertical portion of the frame, mounting the hanger discs in close proximity to the lintel and bottom of the passageway containing the revolving door, the pins on the hanger bar at the lower end of the door extending downwardly into the grooved portion of the lower disc, the pins on the hanger bar at the upper end of the door extending upwardly into the grooved portion of the upper disc, whereby the hanger bars and discs are confined substantially within the vertical and horizontal planes containing the peripheral frame, whereby the panel portion of each wing is unobstructed by the hanger assembly.

7. A revolving door according to claim wherein the detent means comprises, a cartridge having a spring biased ball projecting from one end thereof, the opposite end of said cartridge having a sleeve secured therein and a stem threadably mounted within said sleeve, a nut threadably mounted on said stem and engaging one end of a compression spring having its opposite end biased against said ball, whereby the biasing force of the spring may be varied by adjusting the position of the nut on the stem, and a fine adjustment of the biasing force by changing the position of the stem relative to the sleeve.

8. A revolving door according to claim 7 wherein the detent cartridge is mounted within the hanger bar, and the spring biased ball engages a spherical seat formed in the peripheral portion of the hanger disc.

9. A revolving door according to claim 8 wherein the detent cartridge is mounted within the hanger disc, and the spring biased ball engages a seat formed on the hanger bar.

10. A detent assembly comprising, a cartridge having a spring biased ball projecting from one end thereof, the opposite end of said cartridge having a sleeve secured therein and a stem threadably mounted within said sleeve, a nut threadably mounted on said stem and engaging one end of a compression spring having its opposite end biased against said ball, whereby the biasing force of the spring may be varied by adjusting the position of the nut on the stem, and a fine adjustment of the biasing force by changing the position of the stem relative to the sleeve.

11. A revolving door according to claim 5, wherein the detent means comprises, a housing secured to a portion of the hanger bar, a plunger slidably mounted in said housing, said plunger having a beveled end portion adapted to engage a similarly shaped notch portion formed in the periphery of said hanger disc, a spring mounted in said housing and having one end thereof engaging the opposite end of said plunger, the opposite end of said spring engaging a plug threadably mounted in said housing whereby the biasing force of the spring urging the beveled end portion into the notch may be varied; a slot formed in the surface of the plunger, and pin means mounted in said housing and extending into said slot to thereby prevent the plunger from being biased outwardly from the housing when the door is moved to a collapsed position.

12. A revolving door according to claim 5, wherein the detent means comprises, a housing secured to a portion of the hanger bar, a tube slidably mounted in said housing, a ball mounted in said tube and protruding from one end thereof, said ball adapted to engage a spherical seat formed on the peripheral edge of said hanger disc, a spring mounted within said housing and extending within said tube, one end of said spring engaging said ball and the opposite end thereof engaging a plug threadably mounted within said housing whereby the biasing force of the spring urging the ball into the spherical seat may be varied, a helical slot formed in the wall of said tube, and pin means extending through said housing and into the helical slot, whereby the axial position of the tube within the housing may be adjusted by rotating the tube.

13. A revolving door according to claim 6, wherein bolt means connects said other leg to said one leg of the L-shaped bracket, said bolt means extending through said hanger disc and forming one of the pins in the grooved portion of the hanger disc.

Claims

1. In a collapsible revolving door of the type having a plurality of wings extending radially from a center post and connected thereto by hanger assemblieS disposed at either end portion of the center post, each hanger assembly including a hanger disc secured to the center post and a hanger bar secured to the respective door wing, said hanger bar having pins extending within a grooved portion formed in the hanger disc whereby the door wings are mounted for guided, independent, relative swinging movement relative to the center post for moving the door to the collapsed position; the improvement comprising, means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc to restrict the pivotal movement of the door wing between predetermined limits to the collapsed position, said means being detachable from the grooved portion of the disc to permit pivotal movement of the door wing beyond the predetermined limits, whereby the door wings can be disconnected from the center post.

4. A collapsible revolving door according to claim 1 wherein the means operatively connected to the grooved portion of the disc comprises, at least one of the hanger bar pivot pins threadably mounted within the hanger bar.

6. In a collapsible revolving door of the type including a plurality of wings extending radially from a center post and connected thereto by hanger assemblies disposed at either end portion of the center post, each wing having a panel portion surrounded by a peripheral frame, each hanger assembly including a hanger disc secured to the center post, and a hanger bar secured to the respective door wing, said hanger bar having pins extending within a grooved portion formed in the hanger disc whereby the door wings are mounted for guided, independent, relative swinging movement relative to the center post for moving the door to the collapsed position; the improvement comprising, forming the hanger bar as an L-shaped bracket having one leg mounted on a horizontal portion of the peripheral frame and the other leg mounted on the vertical portion of the frame, mounting the hanger discs in close proximity to the lintel and bottom of the passageway containing the revolving door, the pins on the hanger bar at the lower end of the door extending downwardly into the grooved portion of the lower disc, the pins on the hanger bar at the upper end of the door extending upwardly into the grooved portion of the upper disc, whereby the hanger bars and discs are confined substantially within the vertical and horizontal planes containing the peripheral frame, whereby the panel portion of each wing is unobstructed by the hanger assembly.

7. A revolving door according to claim 5 wherein the detent means comprises, a cartridge having a spring biased ball projecting from one end thereof, the opposite end of said cartridge having a sleeve secured therein and a stem threadably mounted within said sleeve, a nut threadably mounted on said stem and engaging one end of a compression spring having its opposite end biased against said ball, whereby the biasing force of the spring may be varied by adjusting the position of the nut on the stem, and a fine adjustment of the biasing force by changing the position of the stem relative to the sleeve.