GB2201998A - Pivot assemblies for windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A window pivot assembly; in which a bearing assembly is arranged to urge components 16 and 17 towards a bearing plate 19 therebetween to provide controlled frictional resistance. A bearing member 12 is adjustably clamped between members 11 and 13 so as to be progressively and evenly radially expandable to provide further controlled frictional resistance to relative pivotal movements between components 16 and 17 of the pivot assembly. One component 16 or 17 has a recess 55 and the length of the recess can be selectively restricted by a blocking element 64 so that a retractable retaining plunger 51 has restricted movement to limit relative arcuate movement. <IMAGE>

Description

0 % 1 1 1,- 2201998 PIVOT ASSEMBLIES FOR WINDOWS This invention concerns

pivot assemblies, for windows and like openable closure members, which are hereinafter generally referred to as "windows", for mounting the windows upon frames or like supports, which are hereinafter generally referred to as "frames"; and means for use in such pivot assemblies.

Pivot assemblies are known of a kind which comprises two relatively movable components respectively connectable to a frame and a window, connected by a bearing for movement about the axis of the bearing.

Pivot assemblies are known which incorporate f ric tion- dampers. For example, there are disclosed in British Patent Specification No.

1393671 pivot assemblies, which are referred to generally as "hinges", and which each comprise a hinge comprising two relatively rotatable components which respectively are for securing to a fixed frame and a movable member, and a bearing assembly about which either one or both of the components are rotatable, the bearing assembly being adjustable 20 to vary the frictional resistance to such relative rotation. the bearing assembly comprising a bearing member formed of a resiliently deformable material, a clamping member engaging with the bearing -o the clamping member, ard clamping means for applying an axial load t member and the bearing member, the clamping member and the bearing member each having a plurality of interengageable wedge clamping faces inclined to the axis of the bearing assembly and arranged to interlocate the clamping member and the bearing member against relative rotational movement, the plurality of wedge clamping faces being arranged so that when an axial load is applied by the clamping means the bearing member is urged in an axial direction relative to the clamping member and the interengaged wedge clamping faces transmit forces to the bearing member to radially expand the bearing member by resilient deformation to increase the aforesaid frictional resistance to relative rotation of the two hinge components.

in Figure 3 of that specification there is shown a bearing

0 k 2 assembly which is of a kind comprising an axially hollow radially expansible bearing member disposed between two clamping members, and clamping means to urge the two clamping members axially towards each other to engage and cause the bearing member to expand radially; and in which the bearing member provides two angularly offset oppositely directed sets of wedge recesses, which sets extend from axially opposite ends of bearing member to receive wedge projections provided on the clamping members; and which is hereinafter referred, to as a bearing assembly "of the kind described". This shown bearing assembly has several inherent disadvantages, for example, uneven expansion of the bearing member, need for frequent adjustment of the clamping means, and severely limited friction generating capability.

In order to enable said disadvantages to be reduced or avoided, there is disclosed in our co-pending Application No. 8705639 a bearing assembly of said kind having any one or more of the following characteristics:- (a) each wedge recess extends, in the axial direction, across the median portion of the bearing member, so that said median portion is interrupted by both sets of recesses through its axial length; (b) each wedge projection has a nose portion which projects, in the axial direction, in cantilever manner, beyond the remainder of the clamping member; (c) each wedge projection and wedge recess has a maximum included wedge angle which is less than 30 degrees; (d) each wedge projection and recess has a maximum extent which is less than 40% of its axial length at the periphery thereof; and (e) each wedge recess extends across at least 60% of the axial length of the bearing member.

In such a bearing assembly, noses and ends of the recesses are preferably rounded. The portions of the recesses traversing said median portion preferably have little, if any, divergence in the axial direction. End faces of the or each clamping member disposed circumferentially between the wedge projections may be normal to or inclined to the axis; and end faces of the bearing member between 3 said recesses may be normal or inclined to said axis. The wedge projections and recesses are preferably arranged so that there is interengagement therebetween for a major proportion of the axial length thereof when the bearing member is embraced by the clamping members. The radial extent of the bearing member, at least throughout said median portion, is preferably constant between an arcuate inner surface and the peripheral surface thereof. Each clamping member preferably provides a hub radially inwards of the projections, which hub terminates short of the noses and provides arcuately curved surfaces between said projections; which surfaces may be part10 cylindrical or part conical.

Such a bearing assembly is particularly suitable for incorporation into a pivot assembly, for a window.

D 20 There are requirements for pivoted windows to be openable from a closed position to a predetermined small limit; to be further pivotally movable beyond said limit upon release of stop means, preferably of a "child proof" kind; to be releasably retained in a position of nominally maximum pivotal displacement from said closed position; and for such pivotal movements to be damped. An object of the present invention is to provide a pivot assembly having improved damping without hindering the provision of means to meet the other requirements.

It is preferable to provide in the bearing assembly a means preventing separation of the components but such means is not necessary, because, in use a window is usually supported by a plurality thereof and will itself serve as a rigid connector preventing such separation; and such means have disadvantages of additional cost, complication, and may be a hindrance during assembly and installation of windows.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a pivot assembly comprising two relatively rotatable components and a friction bearing, wherein the latter comprises a radially expansible bearing member disposed between two clamping members, and clamping 4 means to urge the clamping members towards each other, and wherein one of said clamping members is provided by or non-rotatably engages one of said components, and the bearing member frictionally engages in a friction socket in the other component to permit' relative rotation between said components about an axis of the bearing, and wherein the clamping means is arranged so that its actuation thrust the components towards each other either to thrust confronting faces of the components into mutual engagement or to apply a clamping pressure to a bearing plate, between confronting faces of said components, so that said thrust or pressure is adjustable by means of the clamping means.

Preferably, a flange or flanges project from the periphery of the bearing member to engage a shoulder of said friction socket to thrust said other component towards said one component, e.g. to apply clamping pressure to the bearing arrangement, which may comprise one or more bearing plates.

The or each bearing plate is preferably constrained against movement relative to one or a respective one of said components, and is preferably arranged to obstruct ingress of foreign matter into the pivot assembly. 7he components and bearing plate or plates are preferably arranged so that relative movement of the components will vary the amount of area of the confronting surfaces or of the bearing plate which is rubbed by said other of the plates or components, to vary the friction therebetween.

Ihe others of the aforementioned requirements may be met by stays and or catches connecting, or operative to connect, the window and frame independently of the pivot assemblies, and such stays and catches can be sited for maximum resistance to, and mechanical advantage in relation to, the any forces applied thereto by the window, whereas any catch or detent means incorporated into the pivot assemblies must necessarily operate at a considerable mechanical disadvantage due to its proximity to the pivot axis. Various types of pivot assemblies are known which incorporate such catch or detent means, but have various disadvantages such as weakness. lack of durability, vulnerability to malfunction, cost, complexity, or 1 ? k 5 difficulty of operation. In particular, there is the disadvantage that the limited opening aforementioned is set as an angular limit, which for small windows may give an unduly restricted opening and for large windows give an unduly, or even dangerously, wide opening.

To enable these disadvantages to be reduced or avoided there is preferably provided catch means presettable to permit the angle of said restricted arcuate movement to be predetermined. Preferably, said angle can be set or varied only whilst the components are separated. The assembly preferably includes a manually actuable thrust member is slidably accommodated in a socket in one of said components, the thrust member being movable to release the catch means.

The or one bearing plate may be arranged to retain a blocking element in said recess.

In order to avoid unnecessary handing of said components. the bearing plate preferably serves as also to blank of f any formations, e.g. an aperture or apertures in one of said faces, which may be redundant in any particular version of the assembly.

An example of pivot assembly and bearing assembly in accordance with the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:- FIGURE 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a bearing assembly; FIGURE 2 shows an alternative bearing member for use in the bearing assembly; FIGURE 3 shows the bearing assembly and associated portions of two 30 relatively movable components of a pivot assembly incorporating the bearing assembly; FIGURES 4 and 5 show catch or detent means in two different positions and associated portions of the two components of the pivot assembly; FIGURE 6 shows an internal face of one of said components; FIGURES 7 and 8 show parts of said two components in a predetermined position of limited angular displacement, and in a position of 6 nominally maximum angular displacement; FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a blocking element for reducing the permitted angle of s4id limited displacement; FIGURES 10A, B and C are diagrams showing variations'of said permitted angle; and FIGURE 11 shows a bearing or spacer plate.

Referring to FIGURES 1 to 3. the bearing assembly 10 includes a fixed-end clamping member 11, a bearing member 12, which may be a one part member (FIGURE 1) or a two-part member (FIGURE 2), a free-end clamping member 13, a spring washer 14 and clamping means in the form of a bolt 15.

The bearing assembly 10 is incorporated releasably in the pivot assembly, which further comprises two relatively angularly movable components 16 and 17, and, optionally, a separator bearing plate 19 of a bearing arrangement therebetween.

The clamping member 11 comprises a faceted end part 20 a conical part 21, and a clamping part 22. The parts 20 and 21 closely engage in a socket 18 in the component 16 so as to be non-rotatable therein. The clamping member 13 comprises an axially short end part 23 having a dished end face 24, and a clamping part 22.

Each clamping part 22 comprises a hub 25 and a set of four wedge projections 26. Each wedge projection 26 extends and tapers, in the axial direction, at an included angle of about 20. to a nose 27 which projects beyond the hub and has a rounded leading edge 28; and has two wedge surfaces 29, subtending said edge 28. which, for most of their axial length, have a substantially constant width. The axial length of each projection is about 1.5 times its maximum circumferential thickness.

The bearing member 12 is hollow and provides two angularly offset oppositely directed sets of wedge recesses 30. which recesses extend about 2/3 of the axial length of the member so that the sets overlap in the median portion 31 of the member 12. Each wedge recess 30 is A 7 bounded by wedge faces 32 which have a substantially constant width so that the radial thickness of the member 12 between an internal curved surface 33 and a peripheral surface 34 is substantially constant throughout its axial length except beyond one end of said surface 34 whereat radially outwardly directed flanges 35 are provided. The interior of the member 12 is dimensioned to accept the hubs 25.

The bolt 15 extends through the washer and members 12 and 13 to engage in an axial internally threaded socket 36 in the member 11, and is rotatable to apply an axial clamping force to the bearing assembly.

The members 12 and 13 are accommodated in a further socket 18 in the component 17 so that the internal surface of the socket is engaged by the peripheral surface 34, and an end face on a shoulder 37 of the socket is confronted or engaged by the flanges 35 to urge the component 17 towards the component 16.

In general, the bolt 15 may be rotated to cause the bearing member 12 to apply radially outwards directed friction inducing force on the socket 18. by moving the member 13 closer to the member 11 thereby driving the wedge projections into the wedge recesses to urge the bearing member to expand radially in a substantially symmetrical manner so that said friction inducing force is applied evenly throughout the axial extent of said surface 34.

The geometrical relationship between the bearing assembly and the sockets 18 is preferably such that. when new, a sufficient friction generating force is generated only when at least one third of the axial lengths of the projections and recesses are interengaged, so that said noses are in, or proximal to the median portion 31, so as to leave portions 38 of the recesses unoccupied. The bearing member is preferably formed so that said portions 38 are non-divergent in the axial direction.

In those cases wherein the socket 18 has a sufficient conical taper, the interengagement between the socket and surface 34 will urge the components together, so that, said flanges 35 may be spaced apart 8 from the shoulder 37 when said sufficient force is initially generated. but prior thereto the flanges will still retain the components 16 and 17 together on the bearing assembly, e.g. after manufacture and during transportation of the pivot assembly.

However, where said conical taper is extremely slight or non existent, the geometrical relationship may be arranged so that the flanges exert an axial thrust on the shoulder. (Iiti- such an arrangement the clamping members may be tapered to expand the hearing member as they are forced towards each other.) In use, as the bearing member wears, the projections can be forced further into the recesses to maintain said sufficient force until a normal limit is reached.

Said limit may be determined by contact between end faces 39 and of the parts 22 and member 12, which faces are substantially normal to said axis. However, to give a reserve of expansion of the bearing member, said faces 39 and/or the faces 40 may be inclined to the axis as indicated by faces 39A and 40A; but using said reserve may destroy or wear away the flanges 35, and may give rise to an uneven distribution of said friction inducing force; and the hubs may be dimensioned to come into mutual contact at the limit of said reserve.

In all forms, the geometrical arrangement is preferably such that, at least when the normal limit is being approached, the flanges abut the shoulder so that the components embrace the plate 19 to supplement the friction provided by the bearing member.

Referring to FIGURES 4 to 10, the pivot assembly comprises (in addition to the bearing assembly 10 or some other suitable form of bearing defining an axis 41 for relative rotation of the components 16 and 17) catch means 50 to retain a window, firstly, in a position of limited opening and. secondly, in a reversed position.

The catch means comprises first and second retaining plungers 51 and 52 slidably located in respective sockets in the component 16, 1 i 9 which sockets lie on opposite sides of the axis 41 and are parallel therewith. The sockets extend from apertures in an internal face 53 of' the component to blind recesses (or closed recesses) containing springs 54 which urge the plungers 51 and 52 to project from said face 53 which abuts the plate 19.

The catch means 50 further includes an arcuate recess 55 in the internal face 56 of the component 17, a stepped socket 57 extending, from one end part of a floor 58 of the recess. through the component 17 to an outside face thereof; and a stepped thrust member 59 slidably located in said socket so that in a normal position an end f ace 60 of the member 59 is flush with said floor, and a shank 61 projects from the outside face.

The recess 55 has a shallow extension 62 at its other end to receive a flange 63 of an optional blocking element 64 which serves to restrict the effective length of the recess 55.

The plate 19 provides a portion 42 which overlies the extension 62 and flange 63 to retain the blocking element, and which portion 65 lies at one end of an aperture 42 which registers with the recess 55. The plate 19 is restrained against movement relative to the member 17.

Said internal faces 53,56 confront and embrace the bearing arrangement therebetween, or interengage frictionally if no bearing arrangement is provided.

The member 59 has small radial extension 66 which is normally accommodated in a small radial extension 67 of the socket 57.

In FIGURES 7 and 8 a nominal plane of one face of a centre pivoted window is indicated by reference numeral 68, and a similar nominal face plane of a frame is indicated by reference numeral 69.

In a closed condition of the window, said planes 68 and 69 are nominally coincident.

In use, in said closed condition, the first plunger 51 extends through the aperture 43 and into the recess 55 to abut the end face 60, and can travel along said recess as the window is opened (in the direction indicated by arrow A) until it strikes the blocking element 64, if present, as indicated in FIGURES 10A and B). or the end of the recess adjacent the extension 62 as indicated in FIGURE 1OC whereby to limit the opening on the window to a predetermined angle B. The value of said angle B may be selected, up to a maximum permitted by the recess, by inserting into the recess a selected size of blocking element to suitably restrict the operative arcuate length of the recess. It is expected that only two sizes will be required to give a selection of three such angles. e.g. 100. 15 and 20 approximately, respectively for large, medium and small windows.

When the window is to be opened further, the thrust member 59 is displaced manually to force the plunger 51 back into its socket and clear of the plate 19. In this operation the extension serves the dual purpose of preventing the thrust member entering the plunger socket and ensuring engagement with the plunger even if the latter is at the end of the recess adjacent the extension 62, i.e. is not aligned with the shank 61. Thereafter the window may be further moved until the second plunger 52 enters the recess, and during said movement the plungers 51 and 52 slidably engage the plate 19. The second plunger 52 may be similarly retracted by operation of the thrust member.

During movement of the window the separator plate 19 will be rubbed by. and serve as a bearing for, the face 53 of the component 16; and said plate 19 and face 53 are not symmetrical about said axis, e.g. are noncircular. and are arranged so that the amount of area of the plate 19 which is engaged by the face 53 will reduce quite quickly when the window is moved through and beyond said position of limited opening. Thus, during a closing movement of the window additional friction will be generated as the window nears or traverses the limited opening position to decelerate the window, and to abate the tendancy for the window to slam shut, caused by the pivot axis being offset from a parallel line through the centre of gravity of the window.

T1 J 11 The arrangement of the catch means allows the plungers and the parts of the components 16 and 17 surrounding the plungers to be of relatively solid and massive construction, to endow the catch means with substantial strength for withstanding shear loads applied by any unwanted rotational force applied to the window.

To improve the strength of the frame and window, the components are preferably not merely fastened to one face of the window and frame, but are provided with bodies 70 which can be fastened to side portions of the structural components of the frame and window between the inside and outside faces of the latter, and said bodies may provide flanges to overlie junctions between said faces and the bodies.

In the initially assemblied state of the assembly, the tendancy of the springs to drive the components apart is limited by the flanges on the bearing member, so as to prevent loss of small elements, e.g.

plungers or blocking elements. The sockets 18 for the bearing assembly are preferably identical to allow the bearing assembly to be reversed end-for-end. Alternatively if the components 16 and 17 are "handed", the conical part 21 and socket 18 in the component 16 may be omitted, and the clamping part 22 and socket 36 provided integrally by the part 16.

The components and other parts may be made of any suitable materials, but clamp members and the components 16 and 17 are preferably die-castings of a corrosion resistant metal or alloy, the plungers are preferably of steel, and the plate and bearing member are preferably injection mouldings of a wear-resistant plastics material.

To minimise tooling and component costs, the components or parts of the components may be identical, plugs, blanking pieces and/or the separator or bearing plate 19 being used to blank-of f redundant formations, e.g. the socket or recess 74 and material saving voids 71.

The plate 19 preferably has a locating projection 73 on one side to engage in the recess or socket 74 or a saving void 71 component 17 12 to prevent rotation therebetween, and may have a protuberance 72 on the other side which is engaged by or part 75 of the component 16 when the latter is in and close to the position of limited opening e.g. to supplement the additional friction to abate slamming of the window.

The invention includes and provides an assembly having any novel feature. function, part or arrangement disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawings, or any novel combination of such features, functions, parts or arrangements.

The terms and details used and disclosed herein are by way of example, the invention is not confined thereto, and includes within its scope any functional equivalent thereof, or modification thereof. For example, in the catch means one component may provide the recess 55 and a second possibly smaller recess 74, and the other component may have only one plunger engageable in either recess dependent upon the positions of the components. The thrust member may be omitted, and its function assumed by a manually actuable shank provided on the or each plunger, which shank may extend through the spring and through an outer face of the component.

The bearing arrangement may comprises a plurality of bearing plates, e.g. the plate 19 on the component 17 and a second, similar, plate l9a (indicated partially in broken lines in FIGURE 5) on the component 16. 7he plate or plates 19 or 19A may be positionally retained by a wall at the periphery of said internal face 53,56, e.g. as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6 by reference numeral 19B, which wall 19B has a height slightly less than the thickness of the respective bearing plate.

Where the bearing arrangement is omitted the face 53 may serve to retain the blocking element in the recess, e.g. the face 53 may include surfaces provided by upstanding webs 71A in the voids 71. as indicated in broken lines in FIGURE 6.

The invention includes a window assembly in which a window is mounted on a frame by means of a pair of the pivot assemblies.

1 13

Claims (14)

1 A pivot assembly comprising two relatively rotatable components and a friction bearing, wherein the latter comprises a radially expansible bearing member disposed between two clamping members, and clamping means to urge the clamping members towards each other, wherein one of said clamping members is provided by or non-rotatably engages one of said components, and the bearing member frictionally engages in a friction socket in the other component to permit relative rotation between said components about an axis of the bearing, and wherein the clamping means is arranged so that its actuation thrusts the components towards each other either to thrust confronting faces of the components into mutual engagement or to apply a clamping pressure to a bearing arrangement, between confronting faces of said components, so that said thrust or pressure is adjustable by means of the clamping means.

2. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a flange or flanges project beyond the periphery of the bearing member and is or are movable by the clamping member to engage and thrust said other component towards said one component.

3. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein a bearing plate of the bearing arrangement is constrained against movement relative to one of said components, and is arranged to obstruct 25 ingress of foreign matter into the pivot assembly.

4. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3 arranged so that relative movement of the components will vary the amount of area of one of the components or the bearing arrangement which is rubbed to 30 vary the frictional resistance to relative movement of the components.

5. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the bearing member is radially expansible by the clamping members and clamping means, to increase friction in the friction bearing.

6. A pivot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the 1 1 14 bearing member and bearing socket are conically tapered to permit said thrust or pressure to be varied by actuation of the clamping means.

7. A pivot assembly as claimed in any preceding'claim wherein the clamping 'means is arranged to act directly upon the two components after actuation of the clamping means to compensate for a predetermined amount of wear of the radially expansible bearing member.

8. A pivot assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 comprising catch means openable to retain said components in a predetermined relative position or to permit restricted. relative arcuate movement therebetween.

9. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claims 8 wherein the catch means is presettable to permit the angle of said restricted arcuate movement to be predetermined.

10. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said angle can be set or varied only whilst the components are separated.

11. A pivot assembly as claimed in Claim 9 or 10 wherein a manually actuable thrust member is slidably accommodated in a socket in one of said components, the thrust member being movable to release the catch means.

12. A pivot assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11 having antislam means to provide additional resistance to relative motion of said components when said components are in or close to a predetermined position.

13. A pivot assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the bearing plate is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGURE 11 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A window assembly comprising a window pivotally connected to a frame by a pair of pivot assemblies as claimed in any one of Claims 1 1 to 13.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 65171 High Holborn, London WClR 4TP. Purther copies may be obtained from The Patent Offtee, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques Itd, St. Maxy Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.