GB2150965A - Aircraft hangar door - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding door structure especially for aircraft hangars, having an upper part (10) and a lower part (12) hinged to the upper part by a horizontal pivot (14). The upper part is pivotally suspended from the roof of a building and is movable about its pivot (16) by an hydraulic ram (28). A linkage mechanism (36, 38, 40) constrains the lower part (12) to follow the upper part (10) when the latter is driven, thereby to open or close the door. The door panels may be constructed so as to ressemble a blank wall when closed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Folding door/wall structure This invention relates to a folding door/wall structure, for example of the kind used on aircraft hangars.

A known folding door/wall structure suitable for hangars or the like has an upper part and a lower part which are drawn upwardly, folding relative to one another about a horizontal axis, when the wall or door is opened.

The known structure is operable by a motor driven cable and pulley system, which connects with both the upper and lower parts so as to drive the two parts individually but in synchronism. The known system requires the use of a spring loaded telescopic bracing bar to lock the structure in its closed condition, secure against the force of the wind, which can be very substantial when acting on a structure having such a large surface area.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved folding door/wall structure, suitable in particular for aircraft hangars, but also being generally applicable to industrial buildings such as warehouses, large garages and the like.

According to the invention, there is provided a door/wall structure which in use folds about a generally horizontal axis and cc.m- prises an upper pivoted part operable by a primary drive mechanism and at least one lower part hingedly connected to the upper part, and a linkage mechanism which so connects the upper part and the lower part or parts that, when the upper part is driven, the lower part or parts are constrained to perform a pivotal movement causing the door/wall structure to be opened or closed.

A most important feature of distinction from the prior art is that the lower part(s) is only driven via the upper part directly driven from the prime mover. This can be enabled by a simple linkage mechanism which entirely relaces the hitherto used complicated, expensive and fault prone pulley system. Furthermore, assuming use of a prime mover, such as an hydraulic jack, which is self locking in the static condition, thereby to lock the upper part in position, the lower part(s) is also locked in position via the linkage mechanism, and the conventionally used telescopic bracing part can also be dispensed with.

A preferred linkage mechanism has a first strut pivotally connected to the upper part. a second strut pivotally connected to the lower part, and a third strut pivotally connected to a fixed point at a high level, all three struts having a common pivotal connection at a relatively low level.

The said linkage mechanism can be accommodaed wholly within the building behind the folding door/wall structure. The fixed high level pivot may be provided on a roof framework, so as to be located generally at the same level as the top of the folding structure, whilst the low level common pivot may be located, when the door/wall structure is closed, generally at the level of the hinge between the upper and lower parts. In this case, the prime mover, e.g. hydraulic ram, may be accommodated within the roof framework above the level of the door structure, having a first pivotal connection to such framework and a second pivotal connection to a bar forming an integral member of the upper part of the folding door/wall structure.

It is less desirably possible, however, to locate the primary drive mechanism outside the building, in front of a facia above the folding door/wall structure.

However, it is also practicable to dispense with such a front facia to the building, bringing the folding door/wall structure right up to the roof, by accommodating the primary drive mechanism behind the upper part of such structure. For example, in this case, the hydraulic ram may pivotally connect between said upper part and the roof.

It is a further advantage enabled by preferred practice of the present invention that.

on the outside, substantially no part of the operating system is visible so that, although in fact the structure may be considered to be a door, it presents an external appearance not dissimilar to that of a blank wall. In practice, the door structure comprises a frame carrying suitable cladding, and the present invention also readily enables the provision of spring seals along the edges of the cladding at the relatively hinged edges of the upper and the lower parts of the door, thereby to ensure a complete closure against adverse weather when the door is closed.

In practice, a single building may have a plurality of similar door/wall structures extending along one side, and these may be independently operable or operable together, possibly at choice.

Furthermore, whilst in the latter preceding paragraphs reference is made to an upper part and a lower part connected by the linkage mechanism, the invention equally extends to a structure having two or more lower parts, where each lower part is connected by a linkage mechanism, for example of the type briefly described, to the part above it.

Two practical examples of a folding door/wall structure in accordance with the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred hangar door structure; Figure 2 is a perspective view to a reduced scale; Figure 3 shows a detail of the door cladding at the hinge line; and Figure 4 shws an alternative arrangement in side elevation.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, a door structure for a hanger includes an upper part 10 and a lower part 12 hinged to the upper part about a hinge means 14 defining a horizontal pivot axis. At its upper edge, the upper part 10 is pivotally suspended at 16 from a fixed roof framework 18 which includes a front facia 20 above the door. Detail of the hinge at 16 is shown in scrap view at 22.

An inclined bar 24 fixedly carried by the upper door part 10 is in driving connection via a pivot 26 with the piston of an hydraulic ram 28 which at its other end is pivoted at 30 to the fixed roof structure. Detail at the pivot 30 is shown in scrap view at 32.

The ram 28 is operable in the push mode to open the door, driving the upper part 10 so that its lower edge at hinge 14 follows the path 34.

The lower part 12 of the door is constrained to follow the upper part 10 through a linkage mechanism comprising struts 36, 38, 40. A long strut 36 has a high level fixed pivot on the roof framework 18 at 42 (scrap view at 43). Short struts 38, 40 have pivotal connections to the upper door part 10 and the lower door part 12, respectively at 44, 46. The three struts 36, 38, 40 have a common pivotal connection at a relatively low level, at 48 (scrap view at 50). Long strut 36 can be formed in two parts, connected via a link 52 enabling length adjustment of this strut. Said link is shown in scrap view at 54 together with cross-section 56.

Due to the linkage mechanism 36, 38, 40, the lower part 12 is constrained to follow the upper part when the latter is driven by the ram to open or close the door. 58 denotes the locus of the lower edge of the lower part 12, whilst 60, 62 and 64 respectively denote the loci of the pivots 44, 46, 48. For completeness, reference 66 indicates the path of movement of the upper end of the inclined bar 24 pivotally connected to the ram 28.

The reference 68 indicates a scrap view showing a lower bolt mechanism, generally of conventional kind, provided at the bottom of the door, whilst reference 70 denotes a scrap view showing a limit switch mechanism. The limit switch 70, which is fully adjustable, controls the end positions of the hydraulic ram 28. This ram closes the door by a pull action, on its retraction stroke.

Fig. 2 shows the hangar door structure in perspective view seen from the interior of the hangar, whilst Fig. 3 shows a detail of a spring seal 72 provided along the edge of the door cladding at the hinge lines at the upper edge of the upper and lower parts of the door.

In the above-described arrangement, all working parts of the operating mechanism are located on the building interior. In a less preferred arrangement shown in Fig. 4, wherein like references to Fig. 1 are employed for analogous parts, the ram 28 is located on the outside, generally in front of the facia 20.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as hereinbefore defined. For example, the door may have a plurality of lower parts, each with a linkage mechanism whereby it is drivable via the door part above it. Again, other linkage mechanisms, conceivably projecting a lesser distance into the building interior, are also possible.

Furthermore, the door structure, which may alternatively be considered a folding wall structure, is applicable to various types of industrial building in addition to hangars.

Claims (15)

1. A door/wall structure which in use folds about a generally horizontal axis and comprises an upper pivoted part operable by a primary drive mechanism and at least one lower part hingedly connected to the upper part, and a linkage mechanism which so connects the upper part and the lower part or parts that, when the upper part is driven, the lower part or parts are constrained to perform a pivotal movement causing the door/wall structure to be opened or closed.

2. A structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising a linkage mechanism hingedly connecting the upper part to the lower part.

3. A structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linkage mechanism comprises a first strut pivotally connected to the upper part, a second strut pivotally connected to the lower part, and a third strut pivotally connected to a fixed point at a high level, all three struts having a common pivotal connection at a relatively low level.

4. A structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, including a power unit for operating the upper part.

5. A structure as claimed in claim 4, wherein the power unit comprises a hydraulic jack.

6. A building equipped withthe door/wall structure of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the linkage mechanism is accommodated wholly within the building behind the structure.

7. A building as claimed in claim 6 when appendant to claim 3, wherein the fixed pivot is provided on a roof framework.

8. A building as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixed pivot is located generally on a level with the top of the structure and the common pivotal connection is located, when the structure is closed, generally at the level of the hinge between the upper and lower parts.

9. A building as claimed in claim 8 when appendant to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the power unit is accommodated within the roof framework above the level of the door structure, having a first pivotal connection to such framework and a second pivotal connection to a bar forming an integral member of the upper part of the folding door/wall structure.

10. A building as claimed in claim 6 when appendant to claim 4 or claim 5, having a door/wall structure extending up to the roof, wherein the power unit is accommodated behind the upper part of said structure and pivotally connects between the upper part of said structure the roof.

11. A building as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, comprising a clad frame and sprung seals along the edges of the cladding between the relatively hinged edges of the upper and lower parts.

12. A building as claimed in any of claims 6 to 11, having a plurality of door/wall structures side by side, operable together or independently.

13. A structure or building as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the structure has more than one lower part, each lower part connected by a linkage mechanism to the part above it.

14. A folding door/wall structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. A building incorporating the structure of claim 14.