WO2012131469A1

WO2012131469A1 - Hinge with a force regulator for fireproof doors

Info

Publication number: WO2012131469A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/000611
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rosella Maggi; Mario Maggi
Original assignee: Maggi S.R.L.
Priority date: 2011-03-31
Filing date: 2012-03-26
Publication date: 2012-10-04
Also published as: ITMI20110529A1; EP2691588A1; RU2013143730A

Abstract

A hinge (11) for fireproof doors associated with a second hinge (10) which automatically closes fireproof doors by means of a torsion spring, wherein the hinge (11) comprises a frame- side portion and a door- side portion, equipped with respective tubular sections which, aligned with each other, define a housing seat of a hinging group which comprises a cam force regulator group (23, 31, 50, 57). The cam force regulator group comprises a cam block (50) facing a ball -holder body (57) which houses a pair of balls (54), the cam block (50) comprising a surface facing the balls (54) provided with a double half-groove (53). Each half -groove (53) comprises a first portion ascending towards an apex (55) for a first angle and a second portion descending from the apex for a second angle, the angles extending for a total of 180° so that, in a return phase of the door, the loading of the spring (61) is opposed to the return force of the torsion spring of the second hinge (10) along the second angle and is added to said return force along the remaining first angle).

Description

HINGE WITH A FORCE REGULATOR FOR FIREPROOF DOORS

The present invention relates to a hinge with a force regulator for fireproof doors.

Fireproof doors and, in general, doors that are self-closing by means of a torsion spring, when passing from a closed condition to total aperture (180°) cause the return spring to be loaded.

Once the door is released, it recloses and the force of the spring is unloaded. In this return movement to the starting phase, as the spring has been loaded to the maximum of its opening possibilities, the door acquires a considerable accelerating speed and slams with great violence.

If the door is particularly heavy, as in the case of fireproof doors, the rapid return can cause dangerous conditions especially for children, youngsters or elderly people who are more liable to be negatively subjected to the impact of this type of door .

It should also be taken into consideration that the spring must exceed not only the weight of the door to be reclosed, but also the friction caused by the spring-holder pin with its hinging seat.

The springs must in any case be capable of bring the door panel back into a closed position, when released by the user.

All of this, as already mentioned, without dangerous accelerations and without causing an unpleasant and harmful slamming.

In view of what is specified above, many attempts have been made in recent years for finding a solution to the problem, but the problem is still of primary importance .

A general objective of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art mentioned above in an extremely simple, economical and particularly functional manner.

A further objective is to provide a hinge with a force regulator for fireproof doors which prevents a violent return to a closed position due to the loading of the spring, under both closing and opening conditions .

Yet another objective is to provide an improved hinge for fireproof doors in which it is actually possible to regulate the closing movement by delaying or accelerating the door.

In view of the above objectives, according to the present invention, a hinge with a force regulator for, fireproof doors has been^: conceived, having the characteristics specified in the enclosed claims. i . The structural and functional characteristics of the^■ resent invention and its advantages with respect to the known art will appear even more evident from the following description, referring to the enclosed drawings, which, among other things, show a schematization of an embodiment ' of a hinge for fireproof doors produced according to the same invention. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows a schematic and synthetic view of a fireproof door equipped with a hinge according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a partially sectional plan view of the hinge according to the invention in an open position with the spring loaded;

- figure 3 is a view from above of the hinge as shown in figure 2 according to the arrow F;

figure 4 is a partially sectional exploded view of the internal part of the hinge shown in figure 2 ;

figure 5 is a perspective view of a detail consisting of a cam block inside the hinge which causes a restraint or contrary force in the closing phase of the door panel;

figure 6 is a view of details shown in figure 4 assembled in the two component parts;

- figure 7 shows a plan view from above of the cam block which allows a contrary force for the closing and slow-down of the door panel in a rotation for passing from an open door panel to a completely closed door panel;

- figure 8 shows a raised view of the upper part of the block shown in figures 5 and 7.

With reference to figure 1, this illustrates a schematic view which shows a fireproof door in which a real panel or door 14 is assembled on a wall 12 inside a frame 13 or stile.

A hinge, for example the upper hinge, is produced according to the present invention and is indicated as a whole with 11.

The upper hinge 11 is associated with a lower hinge 10 which automatically closes the panel of the fireproof door 14 by means of a known torsion spring which is not shown in the figures. Said torsion spring is almost unloaded when the door panel is closed according to a rotation angle of 0° with respect to the frame 13 and is completely loaded in the maximum opening position when it reaches a rotation angle of 180° with the door panel completely open (maximum operative loading of the return spring) .

Once the door panel 14 is released, said lower hinge 10 allows the panel 14 to reclose by activating the return torsion spring for its whole return run from 180° to 0°.

The upper hinge 11 comprises a frame-side portion 15 and a door-side portion 16, both made of a thick 5 metal sheet, for example in galvanized steel or another suitable metallic material.

The frame-side portion 15, U-shaped in a raised view, comprises a fixing plate 17 which extends integrally into a pair of tubular sections 18, folded 10 at the ends of the fixing plate 17.

As can be more clearly seen in the figures, a square-folded connection zone 19 is envisaged between the fixing plate 17 and tubular sections 18.

The side-door portion 16, also shaped as visible in 15 a raised side view, comprises a fixing plate 20 which extends into a folded tubular section 21. A square- folded connection zone 22 is envisaged between the fixing plate 20 and tubular sections 21.

The three tubular sections 18 and 21 aligned with 20 and facing each other, as shown in figure 2, define a housing seat of a force-regulator and supporting hinging group according to the invention. Said force- I regulator and supporting hinging group comprises, as in the housing sequence in the tubular sections 18 and 21, [25 a supporting group and a force regulator group with an adjustable force in relation to the specific requirement .

The supporting group comprises a cylindrically shaped sleeve or bucket 23, blocked in a first tubular section 18 by means of a bead 67 screwed into a respective threaded hole 68 situated in the tubular section 18. It should be noted that the bead 67 has a faceted cylindrical tip with six supporting surfaces on one of three sloping slots 69 (when not rotating, it is therefore unlosable with vibrations) . A bearing arrangement housed therein is thus created.

This arrangement allows the adjustment of the position of the bucket 23 inside the tubular section 18 and consequently the regulated positioning of the bearing arrangement housed therein, in addition to a regulation on the vertical axis.

A stopper 26 closes the section 18 in which said sleeve 23 is positioned in the side facing the outside. In the side facing the interior, the bucket 23 envisages a groove 27 for housing balls 28 with a relative withholding cage 29 for forming a bearing with a second groove .

A second groove 30, facing the first groove, 27, is in fact situated on ai short cylindrical body 31, which is inserted blocked in the tubular section 211 of the door-side portion 16 of the hinge.

The groove 30 of the cylindrical body 31, the withholding cage 29 of the balls 28 and the groove 27 of the bucket 23 form an axially supporting bearing in the hinge positioned between the frame-side portion 15 and door-side portion 16 of the hinge.

A cam force regulator group for the rotation of the hinge acting for a certain rotation angle starting from the completely open position at 180° of the door, is envisaged, aligned with the small cylindrical body 31. There can be any slow-down angle and that described and represented hereunder is only a non-limiting embodiment.

The cam force regulator group i for the rotation of the hinge comprises a cam block 50, also cylindrical, in which a pass-through threaded hole 51 is axially situated and a further threaded hole 52 positioned radially which intersects with the hole 51. As already indicated and as can be clearly seen in figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the surface of the cam block 50 opposite that facing the small cylindrical body 31 (in the figure the upper surface) , comprises a cam surface divided into two symmetrical halves which forms a double half -groove 53 for the sliding of the two balls 54, which culminates with apexes 55. The presence of the balls 54 facilitates the sliding between the ; parts thanks to the rolling friction. Each half-groove 53 rises towards the apexes 55 thus causing the maximum distancing between the parts engaged when the balls 54 reach the apexes 55 of the half-groove 53. The apexes 55 can also have any form.

The balls 54 are arranged in housings 56 situated in a further ball-holder body 57, also cylindrical and hollow, aligned with the others and at least partly contained in the second tubular section 18 of the frame-side portion 15. Alternatively, said housings 56 can pass into a wall 58 and are kept in position by the base of the spring or by a further stop washer (not shown) such as that indicated hereunder with 62.

The hollow ball-holder body 57 is tubular and closed by a glass-like closing wall 58 at the end, where the housings 56 are situated. A pass-through hole 59 is also axially positioned in said closing wall 58, for a screw 60 which is screwed into the axial threaded hole 51 of the cam block 50.

The screw 60, preferably with an embedded hexagonal head, is housed inside the ball-holder body 57 in the hole 59,: after receiving a spring 61 and a head stop washer 62 of the spring 61 at the embedded hexagonal head of the screw 60. The cam block 50 and balls 54 of the ball -holder body 57 are therefore kept engaged by the compression spring 61 and by the screw 60 whose position can be regulated, which forms the elastic force regulation means .

A bead 63, inserted through a radial threaded hole 64' situated in the tubular section 18 of the frame- side portion 15, is then inserted in a hole 64 of the hollow ball -holder body 57 blocking the latter with respect to the tubular section 18 of the frame-side portion 15.

It should be noted that in the tubular section 21 of the door-side portion 16, there is a slit 65 in which a flat-tipped bead 66 is free to move axially, which can block the screw 60 once the latter has been screwed according to the prefixed depth inside the pass-through threaded hole 51 of the cam block 50. The bead 66 not only fixes the regulation of the screw 60, being housed in the slit 65 of the tubular section 21, but also allows the body 50 to move in a clockwise and anticlockwise direction together with the tubular section 21 forming part of the door-side portion 16 of the hinge. Furthermore, the greater or lesser screwing of the screw 60 causes a lesser or greater loading of the spring 61 and consequently a greater or lesser elastic force to be overcome by the raising of the cam block 50 with its rotation.

The functioning of a hinge with a force regulator according to the present invention is as follows.

When the door panel, from a closed position shown in figures 1 and 7, is rotated on pivots and brought to an open position with a rotation of 180°, a double action is actuated. In a first phase, the movable part of the hinge, including the block 50, follows a rotation angle a, for example a rotation angle of about 100°. With this rotation, the cam block 50 brings its apexes 55 into engagement with the balls 54 that are moving upwards on the slope of the groove 53 along the angle a. Once the balls 54 have reached the apexes, a second descent phase is initiated for an angle: β, for example of about 80° passing from 100° to 180°, and the door panel 14 springs to a complete opening, trying to remain blocked thereby (on the left in figure 7) .

From this position, if prompted by a hinge with a lower spring 10 which is continuously loaded passing from 0° to 180°, for example assembled as second hinge on the door, when returning to a closed position, a slow-down or contrary force is created _;in at least a first return phase of the door panel 14.

In the first rotation degrees of the angle β, in fact, from a completely open position, the groove 53 of the cam block 50 runs on the balls 54 which rise back up the slop of the groove 53 present until reaching the proximity of the apexes 55. In this phase, a certain resistance or contrary force is created with respect to this sliding movement caused by the spring 61 which, with its elastic force, opposes the elastic force of the torsion spring of the lower hinge 10. There is therefore a deceleration of the rotation of the door panel 14. After passing the apexes 55, towards 100°, the return to the closed position of the door at 0° is facilitated as the force of the return torsion spring of the lower hinge 10 is added to that of the spring 61, if only for this remaining part of the run. The accelerations present in normal doors where said hinge with a force regulation according to the invention is not present, are therefore avoided.

Figure 7 shows a plan view from above of the development of the two half-grooves 53 which collaborate with the balls 54 exerting the same double function that extends from 0° to 180° to pass from a closed position of the door panel to a completely open position. In this phase from door closed to door open, the cam block 50, as; shown in figures 7 and 8, rotates by 180° in a clockwise direction. Figure 7 also shows how, in a closed : phase of the door panel 14 for the first angle β of the 180°, the rising slope towards the apex 55 slows down the panel thanks to the presence of the spring 61. Once the apex 55 has been reached, the presence of the descending slope ensures that the force of the spring 61 is added to the residual return force of the torsion spring of the second hinge 10 for the remaining second angle a of the 180°.

The hinge according to the invention therefore creates a force regulating mechanism which determines the closing velocity of the door.

This hinge allows the closing velocity of the door to be controlled, in particular heavy fireproof doors, which are closed with a torsion spring.

It is therefore evident how the technical problem of avoiding violent slamming causing danger to users, is solved.

The presence of the bearing group 27, 28, 29, 30 ensures that said hinge is also not only of the supporting type and with a facilitated rotation capable of considerably reducing friction, but also allows regulation on the vertical axis.

i A hinge according to the present invention therefore adjustably dampens the return closing force of the door and at the same time advantageously carries the weight of the door per se, thanks to the particular arrangement of the bearing and relative assembly parts of the same .

The arrangement of the invention allows the door to slide gently, decelerating towards a closed position, almost completely annulling the rolling friction on the pin, with the use of balls.

The objective mentioned in the preamble of the description has therefore been achieved.

The forms of the structure for producing a hinge of the invention, as also the materials and assembly procedures, can naturally differ from those shown for purely illustrative purposes in the drawings.

The protection scope of the present invention is therefore delimited by the enclosed claims.

I i i !

Claims

1.: A hinge with a force regulator for fireproof doors associated with a second hinge (10) which automatically closes said fireproof doors by means of a torsion spring and which is loaded from 0° to 180°, wherein the hinge with a force regulator (11) comprises a frame- side portion (15) , fixed to a frame (13) of the door, and a door-side portion (16), fixed to a panel (14) of the door, said portions (15, 16) being equipped with respective tubular sections (18, 21) which, aligned with each other, define a housing seat of a hinging group (23, 31, 50, 57), wherein said hinging group comprises a cam force regulator group for the rotation of the hinge acting for a certain rotation angle starting from a completely open position at 180° of the door associated with a supporting bearing group, said cam force regulator group comprising a cam block (50) facing a ball-holder body (57) which houses a pair of balls (54) , the cam block (50) comprising a surface facing the balls (54) provided with a double half- groove (53) with an inclination rising towards two apexes (55) , said cam block (50) and said balls (54) of said ball-holder group (57) being engaged by a spring (62) equipped with regulation means of the elastic force, i characterized in that each half-groove (53) comprises a first portion ascending towards said apex (55) for a first angle (a) and a second portion descending from said apex (55) for a second angle (β), said angles (α, β) extending for a total of 180° so that, in a return phase of the panel (14) of the door in a closed position, the loading of said spring (62) is opposed to the return force of the torsion spring of the second hinge (10) along said second angle (β) and is added to the residual return force of the torsion spring of the second hinge (10) along the remaining first angle (a) .

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic force regulation means comprise a screw (60) , equipped with a head stop washer (62) of the spring (61) , that can be screwed into a threaded hole (51) axially positioned in said cam block (50) .

3. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that inside said cam block (50) , there is a threaded hole (52) which intersects the hole (51) containing, in its interior, a flat-tipped bead (66) which blocks the screw (60) , when screwed according to a prefixed depth into the pass-through threaded hole (51) of the cam block (50) , and which is also housed in a slit (65) of the tubular section (21) of the door-side portion (16) of the hinge . s

4. The hinge according to claim i 3, characterized in that said bead (66) is positioned inside said hole (52) passing into a slit (65) situated in said tubular section (21) of the door-side portion (16) .

5. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that said first angle (a) has a value of around 100°, whereas said second angle (β) has a value of around 80° .