WO1992014022A1

WO1992014022A1 - Improved door assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1992014022A1
Application number: PCT/GB1992/000135
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Hastings Cox
Original assignee: Rowlands, Anthony, Taylor
Priority date: 1991-01-23
Filing date: 1992-01-23
Publication date: 1992-08-20
Also published as: GB9315339D0; GB2268214A; AU1180292A; GB2268214B; GB9101448D0

Abstract

In order to allow a fire door to close despite the presence of an obstruction, e.g. a fire hose passing through the door opening, the invention provides a door assembly comprising a first panel member (1) which constitutes the major portion of the assembly, and a second panel member (2) which is pivotally connected to the first panel member. The pivot axis for the second member extending across substantially the entire width of the first panel member. Pivoting of the second member allows the door assembly to close despite the presence of the obstruction.

Description

Title: Improved door assembly

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a door assembly. More particularly, the present invention relates to a door assembly primarily, but not exclusively, for use as a fire door.

Fire doors are extremely well known and, as the name implies are intended to inhibit, or at least retard the spread of a fire. For this reason, the fire door is intended to be closed at all times except when people are passing therethrough. For this reason, all fire doors are provided with self-closure mechanisms. Fire is, of course, a major hazard. Accordingly, regulations exist, particularly in respect of public buildings, with respect to the required location of fire doors and the so-called "rating" of such doors. The "rating" is, in the main, an indication as to how long the door can prevent the spread of the fire.

Whilst conventional fire doors are, in general terms, perfectly adequate for the purpose for which they are intended, namely that they do restrict the spread of fire and, perhaps more importantly, the spread of smoke and poisonous fumes, they do suffer from one major disadvantage. If a fire occurs, however, the fire must be put out. Conventional hoses used for fire-fighting have a diameter of 45 or 70mm. When an attempt is being made to extinguish the fire, the hose must be run from the water source to the site of the fire. Invariably, it is necessary to run the hose through one or more of the fire doors, including the door closest to the seat of the fire. Conventional fire doors are made in one piece. Accordingly, although the fire door can be opened by the fire- ighters, it cannot be closed after they pass therethrough, because the hose forms an obstruction. Accordingly, as soon as the fire door is opened, the smoke and poisonous fumes are no longer restricted. This is obviously a major health hazard to any persons remaining in the vicinity of the fire door, particularly the fire-fighters.

The present invention seeks to provide a door assembly which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantage. More particularly, the present invention seeks to provide a door assembly which permits a door to be closed even if an obstruction, such as a hose, is located in the doorway or extends therethrough.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a door assembly comprising a first panel member capable of being pivotably mounted about a vertical axis and a second panel member pivotally connected to the first panel member, the pivot axis for the second panel member extending at least partially across the width of the panel member.

In one embodiment the pivot axis extends across substantially the entire width of the first panel member.

It is, of course, known to cut a rectangular aperture in the bottom of the door. A pivotable flap member covers the aperture thus formed to provide a so- called "cat flap". The door itself is, in such an arrangement still made in one piece. Moreover, the "cat flap", which is usually made of a thin sheet of metal, does not match the external appearance of the door and is therefore usually unsightly.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a door assembly comprising a first panel member capable of being pivotally mounted about a vertical axis and a second panel member movably mounted relative to the first panel member, the secured panel member extending upwardly and inwardly from the lower outermost corner of the door assembly relative to the vertical pivot axis.

The second panel member extends a prescribed distance upwardly and inwardly. The panel member may extend inwardly up to substantially the entire width of the first panel member or only part way across the width of the first panel member. Preferably, the second panel member is pivotally connected to the first panel member. The pivot axis may be vertical but preferably it is in a direction across the width of the first panel member. The pivot connection of the second panel member may be in a direction which allows it to swing towards one and/or the other faces of the door assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a door assembly comprising a first panel member capable of being pivotably mounted about a vertical axis and a second panel member movably connected to the first panel member, the second panel member having a first position in which it forms at least the lower outermost corner of the door assembly relative to the vertical pivot axis, and in which the second panel member is moveable from that first position to generate an aperture at least at said lower outermost corner.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, means are provided for ensuring, under normal circumstances, that the two panels of the door define a substantially continuous planar surface. Thus in those circumstances the second panel member fits below the first as a continuation thereof to form the bottom edge of the assembly. Desirably, such means comprise magnetic materials which are provided in or on the adjacent and opposed faces of the two panels of the door. Alternatively spring means may be utilised, possibly operating through a chain link or other flexible strapping. Further preferably, intumescent strips incorporating smoke seals are provided on or in the adjacent and opposed edges of the two panel members. Further advantageously, a roller member is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed in the region of the lower free end edge of the second panel member. In such an arrangement, it is preferred if the axis of rotation of the roller^' is disposed in a vertically extending elongate slot. If desired, brush seals may be attached to the opposed major surfaces of the second panel member or to the lower free end edges thereof.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a door assembly in accordance with the present invention comprising first and second pivotally connected panel members, the second panel member being shown in a first position of use,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the second panel member in its second position of use, and Figure 3 is a front view illustrating alternative embodiments of a door assembly according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a door assembly comprising two panel members 1 and 2. The upper panel member 1, only part of which is shown, constitutes the major portion of the assembly. The panel member 1 is pivotally mounted on conventional door hinges (not shown) so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis. The second, lower, panel member 2 constitutes the lower portion of the door. In the embodiment shown, the height of the lower panel member is of the order of 140mm. The lower panel member 2 is pivotably connected to the upper panel member 1 by a suitable hinge 3 so as to permit the bottom panel member 2 to pivot about a horizontal axis relative to the panel member 1. The hinge extends across substantially the entire width of the panel members 1 and 2. As can best be seen from Figure 2 , the bottom edge of the panel 1 and the top edge of the panel 2 are rebated. Into these rebated portions are inserted intumescent strips 4, 5, 6 and 7 which incorporate smoke seals. These edges are further rebated in their regions remote from the hinge, which further rebates received magnetic strips 8 and 9. In the lower end region of the panel 2, a roller

10 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 11. The axis 11 is displaceable in a vertically extending, elongate slot 12. The curved surface 13 of the roller 10 projects downwardly beyond the lower free end edge 14 of the panel 2. The roller is so dimensioned that the lowest point thereof lies adjacent the floor level 15.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, brush seals 16 are fixed to the lower edges of the panel 2 and brush the ground. These brushes 16 are made of any suitable materials such as Neoprene (Registered Trade Mark) .

The use of a door assembly in accordance with the present invention will now be described. The assembly is shown in its normal position of use in Figure 1. In such position, the assembly resembles a conventional door. In other words, the major surfaces of the panels 1 and 2 lie in substantially the same vertical plane. The hinge 3 is in its folded state and the two panels 1 and 2 are retained in position by the magnetic strips 8 and 9. The intumescent strips 4, 5, 6 and 7 lie closely adjacent to one another and the assembly thus acts as a fire door.

It will now be assumed that a fire-fighter wishes to pass through the door whilst carrying a hose 17. It will further be assumed that the fire-fighter is moving from right to left as shown in the drawing. The fire¬ fighter, carrying a hose 17, opens the door in a conventional manner. At this stage, the respective major surfaces of the panels 1 and 2 remain in alignment with one another as shown in Figure 1. After the fire¬ fighter has passed through the door, the automatic closure mechanism (not shown) will cause the door to commence to shut. The major portion of the hose will, of course, be lying on the ground behind the fire¬ fighter. As the door closes, the curved surface of the roller 14 will strike against the hose 17. As the hose 17 continues to be pulled, the roller 14 will rotate and, moreover, will move up the elongate slot 12. It will be readily apparent that, once the roller axis reaches the upper end of the groove, the continuing exertion of a force by the hose 17 and/or the closure of the door will cause the lower panel portion 2 to be pivoted, in a clockwise direction, with respect to the panel 1. In Figure 2, the panel 2 has been pivoted through 90° with respect to the panel 1. It will, however, be appreciated that the amount through which the panel 2 is pivoted with respect to the panel 1 depends upon the diameter and location of the hose 17. Ho specific means are provided for retaining the panel 2 in its pivoted position. Accordingly, it will continually rest on the hose 17. However, any possibility of snagging of the hose 17 on the panel is prevented because the only portion of the assembly which remains in contact with the hose is the roller 14.

It will therefore readily be seen that the door will close after the fire-fighter has passed therethrough with the hose passing underneath the upwardly pivoted lower panel portion 2. This provides numerous advantages. Firstly, although the door no longer forms a complete barrier to the spread of the fire, the only point of escape of the gases and noxious fumes is at the bottom of the door assembly, that is to say, beneath the panel member 2. The assembly therefore still has a reduced fire retardant effect. In addition, the smoke and noxious fumes can only escape underneath the door. It will, in general, be appreciated that smoke and fumes tend to rise and, accordingly, if any means of escape are present for the smoke and fumes, the least dangerous location of such escape route is at the lowest possible level.

Various minor modifications can be made to the assembly of the present invention without departing from the scope thereof. Thus, for example, the preferred embodiment described hereinbefore discloses a single door. It will be readily apparent that the invention can be simply modified for use in a double- door assembly. Similarly, the assembly of the present invention could simply be adapted for use in connection with doors which are intended to open in two directions as opposed to the single direction described hereinbefore.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of door assembly in which the second panel member 2' occupies only the lower outermost corner region of the door assembly, ie. at the corner opposite to the vertical pivot axis XX of the door assembly. The first panel member is shown at 1 with a cut-out to receive the second panel member 2' . In one embodiment the panel member 2' is pivotally connected along its upper edge and has horizontal pivot axis 3a. In another embodiment the panel member has a vertical pivot axis 3b. In the latter case the edge E of the second panel member may incorporate the afore-described roller assembly and/or brush seals.

In a yet further embodiment the second panel member extends the full width of the door and has a vertical pivot axis aligned with that of the first panel member and is normally constrained to pivot with the first panel member. When an obstruction is present the constraining means is overcome.

Claims

1. A door assembly comprising a first panel member capable of being pivotably mounted about a vertical axis and a second panel member pivotally connected to the first panel member, the pivot axis for the second panel member extending across substantially the entire width of the first panel member.

2. A door assembly comprising a first panel member capable of being pivotally mounted about a vertical axis and a second panel member movably mounted relative to the first panel member for movement therewith in normal opening and closing of the door, the second panel member extending upwardly and inwardly from the lower outermost corner of the door assembly relative to the vertical pivot axis.

3. A door assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which the second panel member extends only part way across the width of the first panel member.

4. A door assembly as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the second panel member is pivotally connected to the first panel member.

5. A door assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which means are provided for ensuring, under normal circumstances, that the two panels of the door define a substantially continuous planar surface.

6. A door assembly as claimed in claim 5 in which such means comprise magnetic materials which are provided in or on the adjacent and opposed faces of the two panels of the door.

7. A door assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which intumescent strips incorporating smoke seals are provided in or on the adjacent and opposed edges of the two panel members.

8. A door assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 3 and any one of claims 5 to 7 when appendant to claim 1 or 3 in which a roller member is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis disposed in the region of the lower free end edge of the second panel member.

9. A door assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which the axis of rotation of the roller is disposed in a vertically extending elongate slot.

10. A door assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which brush seals are attached to the opposed major surfaces of the second panel member or to the lower free end edges thereof.

11. A door assembly constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.