WO1996022440A1

WO1996022440A1 - A device for a sliding door

Info

Publication number: WO1996022440A1
Application number: PCT/NO1996/000014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jonn Lereim
Original assignee: Jonn Lereim
Priority date: 1995-01-19
Filing date: 1996-01-18
Publication date: 1996-07-25
Also published as: AU4591696A; NO300389B1; NO950199D0; NO950199L

Abstract

A device for a sliding door (1), of the type where the door (1) is lifted and pulled out before it is slid away from the appurtenant door opening. The door comprises at least two hinges (2) at the upper end of the door (1), each consisting of a pivot (6) connected to the door (1), an arm (8) connected at an angle to the end of the pivot opposite the door and a support means (16-19) for supporting the hinge (2) in a track (15) or similar connected to the door opening. The pivot (6) is mounted slantingly in the door (1) and is pivotal relative to the door (1) in a plane parallel to the door leaf of the door. The door (1) also comprises lower hinges (3) and the lower and upper hinges can be forced to move in relation to one another. Furthermore, the door comprises a special operating handle which has the combined function of both opening/closing member and locking member.

Description

A DEVICE FOR A SLIDING DOOR.

The present invention relates to a device for a sliding door of the type where the door is lifted and pulled out before it is slid away from its appurtenant opening, and otherwise is as described in the preamble in claim 1.

The most commonly used type of sliding doors are doors which move along fixed guide tracks in the ceiling and floor. The door moves only in the direction of the guide tracks, and has no movement vertically or horizontally transverse to the direction of the tracks. The disadvantage with doors of this kind is that it is difficult to obtain adequate sealing between the floor and ceiling and the rest of the door opening. A certain margin must be allowed for the displacement of the door, a margin which also exists when the door is closed. If the door or door opening is equipped with sealing strips which provide adequate sealing, it will be difficult to slide the door to the side as the sealing strips will drag against the wall, ceiling and floor. This could also damage the sealing strips.

A second type of sliding door is a door which can be pulled out horizontally at right angles to the guide tracks. This door gives better sealing against the door opening, especially at the sides, but because of the need for a certain clearing from the floor, to make possible horizontal movement transverse to the guide tracks, adequate sealing vis¬ a-vis ceiling and floor will not be obtained here either.

There are also doors where the door is lifted a little before it is drawn to the side. This allows for good sealing against the floor, but the problems of sealing at the sides will remain the same. Moreover, it must be ensured that there is sufficient clearing from the ceiling or upper limit of the door opening to be able to lift the door clear of the floor.

EP-1956 makes known a sliding door of the type described in the introduction. This door is equipped at its upper end with ball bearing pivots connected to an arm which in turn is connected to an inclined pivot. An actuating mechanism causes the arm to turn on the pivot, whence the load is transmitted to the ball joint, which in its turn causes the door to be lifted and moved outward. Thus, a combined movement of the door out from the door opening and up from the floor is achieved.

Even though this door functions considerably better than the more conventional sliding doors, it does however have a number of limitations, first and foremost because the actuator mechanism which must be arranged above the door is very complex and bulky. This means that the actuator mechanism extends some way down from the ceiling, resulting in a low ceiling level in the door opening. Furthermore, the actuator mechanism is not accessible for manual operation of the function of opening the door. One is therefore dependent on the operation taking place via suitable motorised operating means. Thus, the door could not be used as an emergency exit in the case of fire, for example, when in the event of power failure, it will not be possible to open the door. Furthermore, the door is unsupported at its lower end. This might result in it being able to swing in lifted condition, especially under unfavourable conditions such as, for example, on board a ship or when subjected to wind on land. This could result in damage to both the door and the door opening.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a considerably more simple solution to achieve the same lifting and lateral movement of the door. The aim is to achieve a design where the door can cover a door opening which extends virtually from the ceiling to the floor, and that satisfactory sealing between the door and the door opening is obtained, which insulates for both heat and sound. A further objective is to enable the function of opening the door to be operated manually, should this be desirable. Another objective is also to make possible a more secure connection between the door and the guide tracks, in that this also comprises a secure hinge connection at the lower end of the door.

The foregoing is achieved by a sliding door as described in the characterising clause in claim 1.

With a door of this kind, a very simple hinge coupling between the door and the guide tracks is achieved. Since there is a rotation connection about only one axis between the door leaf and the hinge arm, there is the possibility of placing the actuator mechanism on or in the actual door leaf. It is therefore not necessary to place this above the door as is the case in the said EP publication. Furthermore, the actuator mechanism might easily be placed so that it can be reached for manual operation thereof. Moreover, the door is equipped with hinges at the lower end thereof, which also can be operated via the same actuator mechanism.

When the term door is used both in the foregoing and below, this should be understood also to comprise doors of all types, windows, hatches and any other closure means for closing openings through walls, ship hulls, motor vehicles and similar. The door can be used alone or in a series of doors to form, for example, a partition, to divide, say, a conference room.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a frontal view of the door in a closed position;

Figure 2 a view of the door from above in a closed position;

Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the upper area of the door in a closed position;

Figure 4 shows the detail in Figure 3 with the door in an open position;

Figure 5 shows a detail of the lower portion of the door in a closed position;

Figure 6 shows the detail of Figure 5 with the door in an open position;

Figure 7 shows the connection between the hinge and the upper guide track in detail;

Figure 8 shows a detail of the connection between the lower hinge and the lower guide track;

Figure 9 shows the locking mechanism for the door in an unlocked position; and

Figure 10 shows the same locking mechanism in a locked position.

In Figures 1 and 2, a door 1 according to the invention is shown in a closed position. The door 1 in Figure 1 is in a closed position relative to the non-illustrated door opening. In Figure 2 the same door is shown in a closed position and seen from above. At the upper end thereof the door is equipped with two hinges 2, and at the lower end thereof the door is equipped with two hinges 3. Between the upper hinges 2 and the lower hinges 3 there extends in pair relation two vertical load transmission bars 4. which are connected to the hinges 2 and 3 via a universal joint 5. The universal joints 5 are connected to pivots 6 and 7 in the upper hinge 2 and the lower hinge 3 respectively. The pivots 6 and 7 are inclined in the same direction and at the same angle α relative to the vertical in a plane substantially coincident with the plane of the door.

From the pivots 6 and 7, there extends respectively an arm 8, having a first end 8b and a second end 8a, and an arm 9, having a first end 9b and a second end 9a, which are in turn connected to supports in the upper and lower guide tracks respectively. Between the vertical load transmission bars 4 there extends a horizontal bar 10, which is connected in an articulated manner to the vertical bars 4 via link arms 14 (see, e.g.. Figs 3 and 4). The horizontal bar 10 can also be in the form of a toothed bar in engagement with toothing on each of the vertical bars 4. Turning one of the vertical bars 4 thus causes the horizontal displacement of the horizontal bar 10, which in turn causes the second of the vertical bars 4 to turn, thereby turning the pivots 6 and 7. When the pivots 6 and 7 are turned about the longitudinal axis, the arms 8 and 9, which are secured to the pivots 6 and 7 at the ends 8b and 9b thereof respectively, turn about the support in the guide tracks.

In a closed position, the arms 8 and 9 will be directed substantially at right angles to the plane of the door leaf. When the door is to be opened, it is pulled outward relative to the door opening in that the arms 8 and 9 pivot from a position at right angles to the door blade to a position substantially parallel to the door blade in that the load is transmitted from the operator via the horizontal bar 10, the vertical bars 4 and the pivots 6 and 7 respectively to the arms 8 and 9 respectively. Because of the inclined position of the pivots 6 and 7 in the plane of the door leaf relative to the vertical, the pivots 6 will try to pull end 8a, opposite end 8b, of the arm 8 downward. The end 8a is in the meanwhile retained in a vertical position, and thus it will not be capable of being pulled downward. Instead the door must be lifted up. In the same way the pivots 7 will try to press the end 9a, opposite end 9b, of the arm 9 downward, which is not possible, and the door will instead have to move upward. A combined movement upward and outward of the ends 8b and 9b respectively, connected to the pivots 6 and 7 respectively, is thus achieved. The door 1 also follows this movement and will thus be moved out from the door opening at the same time as it is lifted a little up from the floor. Since the arms 8 and 9 are equal in length and all the pivots 6 and 7 rotate simultaneously, the door maintains the same orientation relative to the vertical at all times.

The same simultaneous rotation of the pivots can also be achieved by using synchronous electric motors at each hinge.

Thus, it will be considerably easier to slide the door as there will no longer be any sealing strips which drag along the floor or wall. In spite of good clearance between the door and the floor and wall respectively, good sealing is nonetheless obtained when the door is in the closed position because there will be sufficient space to equip the door or door opening with substantial sealing strips. In Figures 3 and 4, the upper part of the door with the hinge 2 is shown in more detail in a closed and open position respectively. Here, it can be seen that the outermost end 1 1 of the arm 8, which is connected to the pivot 6, is forced to move upward when the door is opened. To be able to maintain stable guiding in the upper guide track despite the variation of the angle of the arm 8 to the guide track during the opening and closing of the door, a ball joint 13 is provided in the connection between the arm 8 and the support 12 of the arm 8. This ball joint will be described in more detail below. In Figures 3 and 4 the horizontal bar 10 is also shown in the closed and open position of the door. The horizontal bar 10 causes the outward swinging of the hinged arms 14. In this direction, the hinged arms 14 are rotationally rigidly connected to the vertical bars 4, which are thereby forced to rotate about their longitudinal axes.

In Figures 5 and 6 the lower part of the door is shown in a closed and open position respectively. The hinge 3 functions in principle in the same way as the upper hinge 2. but here a somewhat simpler and weaker connection between the door and the guide track is permissible, since the lower connection between the door and the guide track must not necessarily support large parts of the door's weight, but in essence is only designed to guide the door in and out of the door opening and along the guide track.

Figure 7 illustrates the upper ball joint connection between the arm 8 and the upper guide track 15. The connection comprises a ball joint 16, a bearing 17 for laterally securing the ball joint 16, placed between two rails 24 and 25, an upper roller guide 18 for receiving the hinge 2 and the door 1 , and an adjustable connection 19 between the ball joint 16 and the rollers 18 for adjusting the height of the door 1.

The roller guide 18 bears the weight of the whole door when this is lifted up from the floor. When the door is closed, the bearing 17 will be pressed out toward the track 24 and press the door against the door opening and optionally a sealing strip positioned there. The pressure of the door against the sealing strip is adjustable by, for example. adjusting the length of the arms, adjusting the position of the rails 24 and 25, or in that the bearing is supported eccentrically relative to the ball joint 16. When the door is opened the bearing 17 will be pressed against the track 25. There must be sufficient clearing between the one rail 24 or 25 with which the bearing 17 is not in contact and the bearing 17 so that the bearing can roll unobstructed along the rail 24 or 25. Figure 8 illustrates the connection between the lower hinge 3 and the lower guide track 23. The lower guide track 23 is preferably laid into the floor to provide unobstructed passage through the door opening . The lower connection can in principle also be made in the form of a ball joint connection, but it would be an advantage to choose a construction which lies somewhat lower as this will reduce the danger of tripping or similar in the vicinity of the door. A hinge structure is therefore shown in Fig. 8 consisting of a ball bearing 27 connected to the end 9a of the arm 9. A projection 28 extends from the ball bearing down to one or more rollers 29. The roller or rollers 29 can rotate somewhat in relation to the guide track 23 so that it is possible to lift the end 9b of the arm 9 together with the door. For improved guiding of the door along the lower guide track 23, a plurality of rollers 29, for example three, can be provided where alternate rollers rest against opposite sides of the guide track 23.

Instead of the connection between the roller 29 and the guide track 23 being constructed with slack, the movement can be absorbed in the connection between the pivot 7 and the end 9b of the arm 9, as this connection can be made so that it is rotationally rigid about the axis of the pivot 7, but allows a certain movement in the other directions. For example, this can be achieved in that a rectangular hole is provided in the end 9b of the arm 9 in which the pivot 7, having a corresponding cross-section, can be received. The pivot will thus be able to move a little along its axis in the hole.

Figures 9 and 10 show the operating and locking mechanism of the door in an unlocked and locked position respectively. On the door 1 at a suitable height for operating the door, a sleeve 20 is provided secured to the door 1. The vertical bar 4 passes through said sleeve 20. The vertical bar 4 also passes through a locking member 21 which is arranged to be slideably received in the sleeve 20. The locking member 21 is designed to have preferably a rectangular cross-section at the upper end thereof, a cross-section which moreover corresponds to the internal cross-section of the sleeve 20. The lower end of the locking member 21 is preferably made round in shape so that the locking member 21 is capable of rotating relative to the sleeve 20 when the locking member 21 is in its upper position. The locking member 21 is connected with an operating arm 26 via a transmission arm 22.

By virtue of this locking device, the operating arm 26 has a double function. Vertical rotation of the operating arm 26 causes the transmission arm 22 to be lifted, and this in turn lifts the locking member 21 out of the sleeve 20. Now the locking member 21 is able to rotate relative to the sleeve 20 and the operating arm 26 can thus be rotated horizontally in order to turn the vertical bars 4 and thereby the pivots 6 and 7 respectively. When the operating arm 26 is turned as far as possible in the horizontal direction, the locking member 21 has preferably turned a quarter revolution (if the upper end has a square cross-section), and the operating arm 26 can be turned vertically downward again to lock the rotational movement of the vertical bars in the open position of the door. Thus, a locking mechanism has been obtained which not only locks the door in the closed position, but also in the open position.

The door 1 can be bevelled at its upper edge and along the side edges, and the door opening can be shaped correspondingly, thereby further ensuring good sealing between the door and the opening.

The door according to the invention cannot only be used alone, but it is also conceivable to have a number of such doors placed side by side to form a wall. The doors can either be suspended in common guide tracks or in separate ones according to need. The door can be operated manually or by means of motorised actuator means. One or more spring members can also be provided which draw the door into the door opening. The spring member can, for example, be provided in connection with one of the bars 4. To hold the door open whilst it is pushed along the guide track 15, a non-illustrated stud could be provided at the end 8b of the arm 8, which engages with a track or similar when the door is pulled out. The door can be slid unobstructed along the guide track.

If it is the case that the door is to function, for example, as a fire door, automatic closing thereof can be ensured in that, for instance, a weight is provided which draws the door along the guide track in the direction of the door opening . Here, the spring member will draw the door into the opening when the non-illustrated stud on the arm 8 exits its track. The door can be held open by mean such as, for example, a magnet. Thus, the door will close automatically when the current to the magnet is cut. A series of such doors can in this way rapidly and automatically close off, for example, a factory hall, in the event of a fire breaking out.

Claims

P a t e n t c l a i m s

1.

A device for a sliding door (1), of the type where the door (1) is lifted and pulled out before it is slid away from the appurtenant door opening, comprising at least two hinges (2) at the upper end of the door (1), each consisting of a shaft journal (6) which at the one end thereof is connected to the door (1) and at the other end thereof is rigidly connected to one end (8b) of an arm (8), the other end (8a) of said arm (8) being connected to a rotary support (16-19) for supporting the hinge (2) in a track (15) or similar, characterised in that the door (1) is also equipped with at least one hinge (3) at the lower end thereof, similarly consisting of a shaft journal (87) which at the one end thereof is connected to the door (1) and at the other end thereof is rigidly connected to one of the end (9b) of an arm (9), the other end (9a) of the arm being connected to a rotary support (27-29) for supporting the hinge (3) in a track (23) or similar, and that the shaft journals (6,7) are mounted pivotally in the door ( 1 ) at an angle (α) relative to the vertical axis of the door (1).

2. A device according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the shaft journals (6) are pivotally connected to the door (1) in a plane parallel to the door leaf of the door (1).

3. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper and lower hinges (2,3) are connected to each other via a transmission mechanism (4,10,14), and that the hinges (2,3) are forced to move relative to one another.

4.

A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transmission mechanism (4) consists of at least two vertical bars which at each end are connected to their respective upper and lower hinges (2,3) via a universal joint (5) or similar, and that at least one horizontal bar (10) connects the vertical bars (4), for example, via link (14) or via toothing, the vertical bars (4) being turnable, and that the horizontal bar (10) is moveable in the longitudinal direction for the transmission of the turning motion from one of the vertical bars (4) to the other when opening and closing the door (1).

5. A device according to Claim 2, characterised in that the shaft journals (6,7) are each connected to a synchronous motor for simultaneous rotation of the hinges (2,3).

6. A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that an operating and locking means (20,21,26) is provided for opening, closing and locking the door (1), consisting of an operating and locking arm (26) which can be turned in both the vertical and horizontal direction, the turning of said arm (26) in one of these directions causing locking or unlocking of the door ( 1 ) respectively, whilst turning it in the other direction causes opening or closing of the door ( 1 ) respectively.

7.

A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the locking means consists of at least one sleeve (20) having an edged interior profile, which is secured to the door (1), a locking member (21 ) which is adapted to be received by the sleeve (20), and is designed to correspond with internal profile of the sleeve (20) at one end thereof and at the other end thereof is connected to the operating and locking arm (26), optionally via a transmission (22), for sliding movement into and out of the sleeve (20) in correlation to the vertical movement of the operating and locking arm (26), whereby turning the operating and locking arm (26) in the horizontal direction is impossible when the locking member (21) is inside the sleeve (20) with its edged profile.

8.

A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upper and lower hinges (2,3) are slideably connected to a guide track (15,23) via the support (16) in the form of a ball joint or similar.

9.

A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lower hinges (3) are slideably connected to a guide track (23), which is in a plane below the lower edge of the door (1).

10.

A device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a spring member is provided in order to draw the door (1) toward the door opening .