GB2479906A - Apparatus for use on cable pulling system of a sliding door to selectively oppose pulling of the cable - Google Patents
Apparatus for use on cable pulling system of a sliding door to selectively oppose pulling of the cable Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2479906A GB2479906A GB201007097A GB201007097A GB2479906A GB 2479906 A GB2479906 A GB 2479906A GB 201007097 A GB201007097 A GB 201007097A GB 201007097 A GB201007097 A GB 201007097A GB 2479906 A GB2479906 A GB 2479906A
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- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- cable
- door
- sliding door
- route
- pulling
- Prior art date
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- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 44
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 9
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003111 delayed effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 14
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 10
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 230000005611 electricity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F1/00—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- E05F1/002—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass controlled by automatically acting means
- E05F1/008—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass controlled by automatically acting means by time control
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F1/00—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
- E05F1/08—Closers or openers for wings, not otherwise provided for in this subclass spring-actuated, e.g. for horizontally sliding wings
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F3/00—Closers or openers with braking devices, e.g. checks; Construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices
- E05F3/22—Additional arrangements for closers, e.g. for holding the wing in opened or other position
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05F—DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05F11/00—Man-operated mechanisms for operating wings, including those which also operate the fastening
- E05F11/02—Man-operated mechanisms for operating wings, including those which also operate the fastening for wings in general, e.g. fanlights
- E05F11/04—Man-operated mechanisms for operating wings, including those which also operate the fastening for wings in general, e.g. fanlights with cords, chains or cables
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
- E05Y2201/00—Constructional elements; Accessories therefor
- E05Y2201/40—Motors; Magnets; Springs; Weights; Accessories therefor
- E05Y2201/47—Springs
- E05Y2201/49—Wrap springs
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/10—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for buildings or parts thereof
- E05Y2900/13—Type of wing
- E05Y2900/132—Doors
Landscapes
- Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)
Abstract
Apparatus comprising a first system and a second system; wherein the first system is for operating at or proximate a point on a route of a cable 12 of a cable pulling system of a sliding door; the first system may be changed between a first condition which permits pulling of the cable by the cable pulling system 6 and a second condition which opposes the pulling of the cable; the second system is arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition after a time period. In use the cable pulling system 6 may be a spring wound drum 6 arranged to retract the cable 12 after manually opening the door; the apparatus may be arranged to hold the door open. The first system preferably comprises a brake lever which (32, fig.4) which opposes rotation of a pulley and prevents the cable being retracted by the winding mechanism 6. The braking system has a clutch to allow unimpeded opening of the door. The second system may comprise a mechanical timer which is wound up by opening the door and upon expiry of time rotates cam (30, fig.4) to release the brake achieving delayed closing of the door. An override lever may be provided to release the brake when the door is manually closed and slack is detected on the cable (fig.7).
Description
DOOR APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for door closing devices, e.g. for use with sliding doors.
BACKGROUND
Self-closing devices for sliding door assemblies are known. For example, the doors of some cold rooms and industrial freezer have a self-closing feature.
These features provide that the doors of such facilities are not left open for extended periods of time. This tends to reduce energy loss and cost, and also tend to provide a stable environment inside the facility.
It is often necessary to leave a door of such a facility open for a period of time, e.g. to move goods into and/or out of the facility. Many conventional door closing devices close the door before such a task has been completed.
Conventionally, this problem is solved by users of the facility over-riding the door closing device from the door (which may lead to door being opened for longer than is necessary), or by the use of expensive electronic timed door closing devices (such devices tend to be relatively expensive to produce, relatively expensive to install, only work with certain types of door, and/or require a power supply).
S
S
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
S **S
In a first aspect the present invention provides apparatus for use with a sliding door, the sliding door being suitable for human and/or vehicular access, the apparatus comprising a first system, and a second system, wherein the first system is for operating at, or proximate to, a point on a route of a cable, the route is from a cable pulling system to either the sliding door or an anchor point, the first system may be changed between a first condition and a second condition, the first condition substantially permits pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system, the second condition substantially opposes the pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system, and the second system is arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition after a time period.
In a further aspect the present invention provides a sliding door mechanism comprising a first system, and a second system, wherein the first system acts on a door closing cable extending from either (i) a cable pulling system to a sliding door, or (ii) a fixed anchor point to a cable pulling system attached to the sliding door, the first system is arranged to provide a first condition and a second condition, the first condition substantially permits the door to be closed by the cable pulling system, the second condition substantially opposes the movement of the cable by the cable pulling system, and the second system operates to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition.
In a further aspect the present invention provides apparatus for use with a sliding door, the apparatus comprising a first system, and a second system, wherein the first system is for placing on or near a route of a cable, the route of the cable is from a cable pulling mechanism to either (i) a point on a sliding **.*** 20 door, or (ii) a fixed anchor point with respect to which the sliding door is moveable, the first system may be changed between a first condition and a second condition, the first condition substantially permits the cable to be pulled by the cable pulling mechanism such that the sliding door is moved closer to the fixed anchor point, the second condition substantially opposes movement of * *. 25 cable caused by a force exerted on the cable by the cable pulling mechanism, and the second system is arranged to change the condition of the first system.
In a further aspect the present invention provides apparatus suitable for use with a sliding door, the sliding door being suitable for human and/or vehicular access, the apparatus comprising a first system, and a second system, wherein the first system is placing on a route of a cable, the route is from a system that exerts a pulling force on the cable to one of the following: (i) a sliding door, (ii) a point on a wall, the sliding door is moveable with respect to the point on the wall, the first system may be changed between a first condition and a second condition, the first condition substantially permits the system that exerts the pulling force to pull the cable and close the sliding door, the second condition substantially opposes the pulling of the cable by the system that exert the pulling force, and the second system changes the first system from the second condition to the first condition after a certain time period.
In any of the above aspects, the pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system may provide automatic closing of the sliding door.
In any of the above aspects, the cable pulling system may be a winding io mechanism for winding the cable.
In any of the above aspects, the winding mechanism may be arranged to automatically wind the cable.
In any of the above aspects, a maximum value of the time period may be predetermined or selected.
In any of the above aspects, there may be at least one pulley on or proximate to the route of the cable.
In any of the above aspects, the second condition may be provided by a braking mechanism that is applied to substantially prevent the pulley from allowing the cable to be moved along the route by the cable pulling system.
In any of the above aspects, the braking mechanism may comprise a * ** brake lever. * * * *.. .
In any of the above aspects, when the route is from a cable pulling system to the sliding door, the cable pulling system may be mounted on a wall.
In any of the above aspects, when the route is from a cable pulling system to the anchor point, the cable pulling system may be mounted on the sliding door.
In any of the above aspects, the second system may comprise a timer for timing the time period.
In any of the above aspects, the timer may begin to time the time period once the cable has been moved along its route by a certain extent in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system.
In any of the above aspects, the cable may be moved along its route by a certain extent in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system by an action of opening the sliding door.
In any of the above aspects, the timer may be a mechanical timer.
In any of the above aspects, the timer may be set by being by the action of the cable moving along the route in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system.
In any of the above aspects, the time period may be dependent on an extent of travel of the cable in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system.
In any of the above aspects, the cable may be moved by a first extent of travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system, and after being moved by the first * extent of travel, the cable is moved by a second extent of travel in the direction S...
opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system, and a time period corresponding to the first extent is different to a time period corresponding to the second extent. S..
* In any of the above aspects, the time period corresponding to the first extent may be greater than the time period corresponding to the second extent.
*. 25 In any of the above aspects, the time period corresponding to the second extent may be zero.
In any of the above aspects, the cable may be moved by an extent of travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system by an action of opening the sliding door.
In any of the above aspects, the cable may comprise metal cable strands.
In any of the above aspects, the cable may be a chain.
In any of the above aspects, the sliding door may be suitable for access to one or more of the following (i) a cold room, (ii) a refrigerated room, (iii) a freezer room, (iv) a refrigerated lorry.
In any of the above aspects, the apparatus may further comprise an override system arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition dependent upon an amount of tension in the cable. The override system may comprise a spring loaded lever arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition when the tension in the cable falls below a given level.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a sliding door closing device comprising apparatus according to any of the above aspects.
In a further aspect, the present invention provides a sliding door assembly comprising a sliding door for human and/or vehicular access, and a door closing device according to the above aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
S.....
* 20 Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of a top of a door closer; S..
* Figure 2 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a top-down view of the door closer 1 showing components of the door closer 1 below a plane parallel to a top surface of the door closer; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of the components of the door closer 1 shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the door closer 1 showing components of the door closer 1 below a plane that is parallel to, and below, that used for Figures 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a cross section of the door closer 1 taken through a plane indicated in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of the bottom of the door closer 1; Figure 7 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing certain details of a system for overriding the braking mechanism when the door is closed before a timer has unwound; and Figure 8 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) showing the override system of Figure 7 in a different state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, terminology such as "top", "bottom", "above", "below" etc. is adopted to describe elements of the described devices. It will be appreciated by the skilled person that such terminology is not limiting and is used merely to refer to the position of one element relative to other elements.
Figure 1 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of an embodiment of a timed door closing device, hereinafter referred to as "the door closer 1". Figure 1 shows a view of the top of the door closer 1.
The door closer 1 comprises a chassis 2, a cover 4, a spring balance 6, S.....
* 20 and a timer 8.
In this embodiment, the chassis 2 and the cover 4 provide a housing for the components of the door closer 1 that are described in more detail later i.::' below with reference to Figure 2 to 5.
In this embodiment, the chassis 2 and the cover 4 are made of sheet steel. Also, in this embodiment the dimensions of the chassis 2 are 250mm by 120mm.
The cover 4 comprises a hole 10 through which a cable (not shown in Figure 1) runs from the spring balance 6 of the door closer 1, out of the door closer 1, and attaches to a sliding door (not shown), for example a door of an enclosed sliding door assembly for a drop track sliding door (e.g. a door as described in US Patent Application 2007/0227074 Al, which is incorporated herein by reference).
In this embodiment, the spring balance 6 is mounted through the cover 4 and retained by the cover 4 and chassis 2 at one side of the door closer 1. The spring balance 6 is a conventional spring balance comprising a helically wound cable (not shown in Figure 1). One end of the cable is secured within the spring balance 6. Another end of the cable is fed through a timing mechanism (which comprises the timer 8 and is described in more detail later below), out of the door closer 1 via the hole 10, and attaches to the sliding door.
In this embodiment, the timer 8 is mounted through the cover 4 and retained by the cover 4 and chassis 2 at a side of the door closer 1 opposite the spring balance.
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a top-down view of the door closer 1 showing components of the door closer 1 below a plane parallel to a top surface of the cover 4.
For the purposes of clarity and ease of understanding, Figure 3 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of the components of the door closer 1 shown in Figure 2. In other words, Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the door closer 1 showing components of the S.....
* * door closer 1 below a plane parallel to a top surface of the cover 4.
The cable of the spring balance is indicated in Figure 2 by the reference . numeral 12. In Figure 2, part of the cable 12 is indicated by solid lines, and, for : ease of seeing the path, or route, of the cable 12, a further part of the cable 12 25 is shown as a dotted line. * S.
In this embodiment, the cable 12 passes from the spring balance 6 around a portion of a first pulley 14.
In this embodiment, the first pulley 14 is mounted on a first shaft 16 as follows. The first pulley 14 is coupled, e.g. by a process of riveting, to a first half of a slip-clutch (not shown in Figures 2 or 3). A second half of the slip clutch is coupled to the first shaft 16. Also, a first sprag bearing, or sprag clutch, (i.e. a unidirectional bearing, or a gearing that rotates in only one direction), hereinafter referred to as the "first sprag" (not shown in Figures 2 or 3), is positioned inside the second half of the slip clutch. The functionality of the first sprag and the slip-clutch are described in more detail later below, and are also shown in Figure 5.
In this embodiment, a first end of the first shaft 16 passes through the cover 4 and is connected to the timer 8 (shown in Figure 1) on a top surface of the door closer 1. Also, a second end, opposite the first end, of the first shaft 16 is connected to a mechanism for setting the timer 8. This mechanism for setting the timer 8 is positioned on a bottom surface of the door closer 1 and is described in more detail later below with reference to Figures 5 and 6.
After passing around a portion of the first pulley 14, the cable passes around a portion of a second pulley 18. Thus, a path of the cable 12 describes a S'-shape within the door closer 1.
The second pulley 18 is mounted on a second shaft 20. In this embodiment, the second pulley 18 is coupled to the second shaft 20 such that rotation of the second pulley 18 causes rotation of the second shaft 20 and vice versa.
In this embodiment, a first end of the second shaft 20 is secured to the S..
cover 4 at a top surface of the door closer 1 via bearing. Also, a second end, opposite the first end, of the second shaft 20 is secured to the chassis 2 at a bottom surface of the door closer 1 via a bearing.
After passing around a portion of the second pulley 18, the cable 12 , 25 passes out of the door closer 1 via the hole 10 where it is attached to a sliding S door.
In this embodiment, a first gear 22 is mounted on the second shaft 20 above the second pulley 18. In this embodiment, the first gear 22 is coupled to the second shaft 20 such that rotation of the first gear 22 causes rotation of the second shaft 20 and vice versa.
The first gear 22 meshes with a second gear 24. In this embodiment, the gear ration between the first gear 22 and the second gear 24 is 1:3. The second gear 24 is mounted on a third shaft 26. In this embodiment, the second gear 24 is coupled to the third shaft 26 such that rotation of the second gear 24 causes rotation of the third shaft 26 and vice versa.
In this embodiment, a first end of the third shaft 26 is secured to the cover 4 at a top surface of the door closer 1 via bearing. Also, a second end, opposite the first end, of the third shaft 26 is secured to the chassis 2 at a bottom surface of the door closer 1 via a bearing.
In this embodiment, a wheel, hereinafter referred to as the "brake wheel 28", is mounted on the third shaft 26 below the second gear 24. In this embodiment, the brake wheel 28 is coupled to the third shaft 26 via a second sprag (one-way) bearing (not shown) as described in more detail below with reference to Figure 4.
In this embodiment, the brake wheel 28 has teeth around its edge, however, for reasons of clarity the teeth are not shown in the Figures. The functionality of the brake wheel 28 will be described in more detail later below with reference to Figure 4.
As described above, upon exiting the door closer 1, an end of the cable 12 is attached to a sliding door.
**IS4S * In this embodiment, the chassis 2 of the door closer 1 is attached to a wall proximate to the sliding door. The sliding door is moveable (i.e. to open and close the door) relative to the wall. Thus, the chassis 2 of the door closer 1 * * is positioned at an anchor point, or a fixed point, and the sliding door is :s 25 moveable relative to this anchor point. In this embodiment, the door closer 1 is **.
* attached to the sliding door via the cable 12, at the end of the cable 12 that exits the door closer 1 via the hole 10, such that the door is pulled towards the spring balance 6 if the spring balance 6 is not hindered. The door closer 1 is attached in this way such that when the sliding door is opened, the cable 12 is pulled in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 2 and indicated by the reference numeral 29.
In this embodiment, as the cable 12 is pulled out from the door closer 1, the second pulley 18 rotates in a clockwise direction (when viewed from above, as is the case in Figure 2).
Also, as the cable 12 is pulled out from the door closer 1, the first pulley 14 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction (when viewed from above, as is the case in Figure 2). This anti-clockwise rotation of the first pulley 14 causes an anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16. This anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16 winds the timer 8. Once the timer is fully wound, the slip clutch (shown in Figure 5 below) operates so that further clockwise rotation of the first shaft caused by extrusion of the cable 12 does not over-wind the timer 8. The function of the first sprag is such that the timer 8 is wound only by the rotation of the first shaft in an anti-clockwise direction (when viewed from above), i.e. only by the opening of the door. When the door is closing (as described in more detail later below), the first sprag disengages the first pulley 14 from the timer 8, thereby preventing the timer 8 being back wound (or unwound) by the clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16.
Thus, the cable 12 is unwound/extruded from the spring balance 6 by the opening of the sliding door.
As the sliding door is opened, the spring balance 6 attempts to wind the cable 12 into the door closer 1, i.e. to pull the portion of the cable 12 that was unwound during a process of opening the sliding door back into the spring balance 6. Thus, the spring balance 6 attempts to close the door as the sliding * S..
* door is opened to a desired position. During a process of opening the sliding door, a force applied to the door to open it (i.e. in the direction of the arrow 29) :. 25 is larger than the force applied by the spring balance 6 to rewind the cable 12.
* ** In this embodiment, this closing of the door as soon as it is opened to a :.:. desired position is prevented by a braking mechanism of the door closer 1. The S..
braking mechanism is described in more detail later below with reference to Figure 4.
The braking mechanism of the door closer 1 is engaged (i.e. it prevents the return of the cable 12 to the spring balance 6 and thereby prevents the closing of the sliding door by the door closer 1) until the timer 8, that was wound by the opening of the door as described above, unwinds.
In this embodiment, the timer 8 begins unwinding when it is no longer being wound. For example, the timer 8 may begin unwinding after it has been fully wound by the opening of the door, or the timer 8 may begin unwinding after it has been partially wound by the opening of the door by a distance that is insufficient to cause the timer 8 to be fully wound. In this embodiment, the amount of time that it takes the timer to unwind from its fully wound state may advantageously be adjusted, as described in more detail with reference to Figure 6.
After the timer 8 has fully unwound, the braking mechanism is disengaged and the spring balance 6 is free to rewind the cable 12 into the door closer 1, i.e. to its original position, thereby closing the sliding door.
Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the door closer 1 showing components of the door closer 1 below a plane that is parallel to and below that used for Figures 2 and 3. Figure 4 shows certain details of the braking mechanism of the door closer 1. The braking mechanism comprises the brake wheel 28, a cam 30, and a brake lever 32.
The cam 30 is mounted upon the first shaft 16. In this embodiment, the cam 30 is coupled to the first shaft 16 such that rotation of the first shaft 16 causes rotation of the cam 30. * * ****
The brake lever 32 is mounted on the second shaft 20. In this * embodiment, the brake lever 32 is spring mounted such that when a tooth of the cam 30 is engaged with the brake lever 32, the brake lever 32 is held away from * 25 the brake wheel 28. Thus, rotation of the second and third shafts 20, 26 (which are coupled together via the first and second gears 22, 24 as described above with reference to Figure 2 and 3) and the second pulley 18, in both clockwise and anti-clockwise directions, is allowed. Furthermore, when a tooth of the cam disengages from the brake lever 32, the brake lever 32 is forced against the brake wheel 28 thereby opposing rotation of the brake wheel 28 and also the second and third shafts 20, 26. In this embodiment, a surface of the brake lever 32 comprises teeth such that when the brake lever 32 is forced against the brake whee' 28, the teeth of the brake lever 32 mesh with the teeth of the brake wheel 28. These teeth of the brake lever 32 (and those of the brake wheel 28) are not shown in the Figures for the purposes of clarity of the drawings. The use of teeth on the brake wheel 28 and the brake lever 32 tends to greatly increase friction between the brake wheel 28 and the brake lever 32 over a use of a brake wheel and lever not comprising such teeth. This advantageously tends that the braking force applied to the brake wheel by the brake lever 32 is relatively large, compared with that in systems in which the brake wheel and brake lever do not comprise teeth.
In operation, when the sliding door is opened, the movement of the cable 12 through the door closer 1 causes anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16.
This anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16 winds the timer 8 as described above. Also, in this embodiment this anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16 rotates the cam 30 such that the tooth of the cam 30 disengages from the brake lever 32.
Thus, the brake lever 32 is forced against the brake wheel 28 thereby opposing rotation of the brake wheel 28.
In this embodiment, the second sprag (not shown), via which the brake wheel 28 is mounted on the third shaft 26, provides that although the rotation of the brake wheel 28 is opposed, the third shaft 26 is able to rotate (in one direction) as the cable 12 is pulled from the door closer 1. Thus, the one-way rotation of each of the second and third shafts 20, 26, the first and second gears 22, 24, and the second pulley 18, as the cable 12 is pulled out of the door closer :. 25 1, is not opposed by the brake lever 32 being forced against the brake wheel 28. In other words, the second sprag provides that clockwise rotation of the :.:. second pulley 18 (when viewed from above) is not opposed when the brake lever 32 is engaged with the brake wheel 28. Also, the second sprag provides that anti-clockwise rotation of the second pulley 18 is opposed when the brake lever 32 is engaged with the brake wheel 28.
As the sliding door is opened, the timer 8 is wound and the cam 30 is rotated anti-clockwise such that the tooth of the cam 30 disengages from the brake lever 32. As the timer 8 unwinds, the timer rotates the first shaft 16, and therefore also the cam 30, in a clockwise direction (when viewed from above).
The first shaft 16 is rotated by the timer 8 until the cam 30 is in its original position, i.e. a position wherein the tooth of the cam 30 engages the brake lever 32. Therefore, when the timer 8 is unwound, the cam 30 holds the brake lever 32 away from the brake wheel 28. At this stage, the brake wheel 28, and the first and second shafts 20, 26 are free to rotate, and rotation of the second io pulley 18 in an anti-clockwise direction is not opposed. Thus, when the timer 8 has unwound, the spring balance 6 is able to rewind the cable 12 into the door closer 1, thereby closing the sliding door.
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a cross section of the door closer 1 taken through a plane X-X, which is perpendicular to the top surface and a side surface of the door closer 1 and passes through an axis of the first shaft 16.
The plane X-X is indicated in Figure 3 by a dotted line. Figure 5 shows in further detail how the timer 8, the first pulley 14, the first shaft 16, the cam 30, the brake lever 32, the first sprag 33, and the slip-clutch 34 are coupled together in this embodiment.
Figure 6 is a schematic illustration (not to scale) of a perspective view of the bottom of the door closer 1.
In this embodiment, the door closer 1 further comprises a knob for S.. S*S * adjusting the tension of the spring balance 6, hereinafter referred to as the "tension knob 36", and a timer adjuster 38.
The tension knob 36 may be rotated thereby increasing or decreasing * *, the level of tension of the spring balance 6. This allows for the increasing or decreasing of the force that the spring balance 6 applies to the cable 12 when S..
attempting to close the sliding door. Thus, it tends to be relatively easy to adapt the door closer 1 for use with doors of different weights. In other words, the door closer 1 tends to provide a relatively easy means of providing that the force with which a door (of any weight) is closed may be adjusted so that the door is not closed too slowly or too quickly, and that the door is closed with sufficient force to properly such the door.
The timer adjuster 38 comprises a plate that is rotatable about the first shaft. In this embodiment, the plate comprises a protrusion and a plurality of slots through which a screw may be inserted to lock the plate in position with respect to the chassis 2.
In this embodiment, a pin protrudes from the first shaft 16 at the end of the first shaft proximate the plate. The pin is positioned substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first shaft 16. As the timer 8 is wound by the door being opened, the first rotates until the pin on the first shaft comes in contact with the protrusion on the plate. At this point, the slip-clutch is dis-engaged to prevent the timer 8 from being over-wound, i.e. when the slip clutch plates are disengaged, drive through the clutch is interrupted. Thus, the position of the protrusion of the plate determines the degree to which the timer 8 may be wound before the slip-clutch prevents further winding of the timer. The position of the protrusion of the plate may be selected, e.g. by a user or installer of the door closer 1, by selecting a position of the plate around the first shaft 16. The plate is secured in its selected position relative to the chassis 2 using a screw inserted through one of the plurality of slots in the plate.
In other words, how far the timer 8 may be wound (by the above described anti-clockwise rotation of the first shaft 16) before the slip-clutch 34 operates to avoid the over-winding of the timer 8 is determined by the position S..... . * * of the plate. The position of the plate may be selected or adjusted, for example by an installer of the door closer 1. This advantageously provides that it is * 25 possible to set the amount of time that is allowed to elapse before the door closer 1 closes the door, i.e. "dwell time". This it tends to be possible for a user of the device to set a "maximum" time that they allow a door to be left open before it is closed by the door closer 1. In this embodiment, the timer adjuster 38 is set so that the sliding door may be left open for a time of up to 15 minutes, before the door closer begins to close the door.
In other embodiments, the timer adjuster comprises different components that provide the above disclosed functionality. Also, in other embodiments the timer may be set so that the door is left open for a different appropriate length of time before the door begins to be closed by the door closer.
Figure 7 and Figure 8 are schematic illustrations (not to scale) showing certain details of a system for overriding the braking mechanism when the door is closed (e.g. manually) before the timer 8 has wound down.
The system for overriding the braking mechanism, hereinafter referred to as the "override system" comprises a spring-mounted lever, hereinafter referred to as the "tension lever 40". One end of the tension lever 40 is mounted to the chassis 2 via a pivot 42. A roller 44 is mounted to the tension lever 40 at an end of the tension lever 40 that is opposite to the pivot end.
In this embodiment, the roller 44 is a pulley that is free to rotate in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions (when viewed from above as in Figures 7 and 8) as the cable is pulled along its path (in either direction, i.e. by the action of opening the door, or by the action of the spring balance 6). In this embodiment, the override system is positioned within the door closer 1 such that the roller 44 contacts the cable 12 at a point along the route of the cable between the second pulley and a point at which the cable 12 attaches to the door.
In this embodiment, the tension lever 40 is spring loaded about the pivot 42 such that a force is applied to the cable 12 via the roller 44. This force is * indicated in Figures 7 and 8 by a solid arrow and the reference numeral 46.
Figure 7 schematically shows a state of the door closer 1 when the door *.* * 25 is being opened or has been opened to some extent. In this case the cable 12 has been pulled such that it is substantially taut. The force holding the cable 12 taut, i.e. the force exerted on the door to open the door, or the weight of the door once it is opened, is sufficient to overcome the force 46 exerted on the cable 12 by the override system (i.e. by the tension lever 40 via the roller 44).
Thus, in this embodiment, the tension lever 40 is held in a substantially horizontal position (when viewed from above as in Figure 7) by the cable 12.
Figure 8 schematically shows a state of the door closer 1 as the door is being closed manually, before the timer 8 has wound down and triggered the closing of the door by the spring balance 6. In this case, as the door is closed manually, the tension in the cable 12 is released, or reduced. The force holding the cable 12 taut is now insufficient to retain the tension lever 40 in its horizontal position (as shown in Figure 7). Thus, the tension lever 40 is rotated clockwise (when viewed from above as in Figure 8) by the force 46 resulting from the spring loading of the tension lever 40.
In this embodiment, the rotation of the tension lever 40 (i.e. the movement illustrated in Figures 7 and 8) by a certain amount triggers the release of the brake lever 32 from the brake wheel 28, thereby allowing the spring balance 6 to rewind the cable 12 and close the door.
In other words, as the door is closed manually (before the timer 8 has unwound), the tension is the cable 12 is reduced. This reduction in cable tension permits the tension lever 40 of the override system to move through a certain distance. This movement of the tension lever 40 triggers the braking mechanism to unlock, permitting the cable to be wound into the door closer 1.
In this embodiment, the distance through which the tension lever 40 needs to move to trigger the release of the brake lever 32 from the brake wheel 28 may be advantageously selected by a user or installer of the door closer 1.
The above described override system advantageously tends to provide that when a door is closed before the timer 8 has unwound, e.g. by manually S.....
shutting the door, cable 12 that would otherwise be loose outside the door closer 1 is wound back into the door closer 1. This tends to alleviate problems, * 25 such as safety risks, caused by having loose cable on door assemblies.
Thus, a mechanical timed door closer is provided.
* . An advantage provided by the above described door closer is that the device is independent of the rest of a sliding door assembly. Thus, it tends to be advantageously possible to install a sliding door and the door closing device on site in a modular fashion, with inherent design flexibility, or for example allows retro-fitting of the door closing device to an existing sliding door assembly.
An advantage provided by the above described door closer is that a door is closed after a length of time set by a user. This tends to alleviates problems caused by leaving doors open for extended periods of time. For example, a problem of energy loss from and/or temperature rise in an industrial freezer if a door is left open may be alleviated.
A further advantage provided by the above described door closer is that it is possible to set a time that is allowed to elapse before the door closer begins to close the sliding door. Conventionally, a door may begin closing before a party has finished a task that requires, or it is advantageous for, the door to be open. The ability to set a delay time for the closing of the door tends to alleviate this problem.
A further advantage provided by the above described door closer is that the door closer is mechanical, i.e. no electricity is required by the door closer to provide the above described functionality. This tends to provide that the above described door closer is of lower cost (e.g. production and running cost) compared to its conventional counterparts. Also, the cost of installation of the door closer tends to be lower than it is for conventional electronic door closers because, for example because additional costs relating to complying with building and other regulations, and/or costs relating to connecting a device to a power source, tend to be avoided. Moreover, a door closer according to the above embodiments tends to work despite power-cuts, in which conventional electronic door closers tend not to. Moreover, an advantage of the device working despite a power cut tends to be particularly advantageous when the * *. device is used on a door of a freezer or cold room, as it means that the door will not be left open for an extended period in a situation where it particularly desirable to maintain the cold temperatures of the freezer/cold room for as long as possible.
A further advantage of the above described door closer is that the timer is set/wound by the movement of the cable as the door is opened. Thus, the dimensions and/or type of door with which the door closer is used tend not to have any effect of the operation of the timer. Conventionally, a plunger/button type apparatus is used to reset an electronic timer, whereby a plunger or button is pressed when a door is closed, thereby resetting a timer. Use of such a device tends to be limited to door assemblies on which a button/plunger type device may be fit. A door closer according to the above embodiments tends not to have such limitations.
A further advantage provided by the above described door closer is that the device tends to operate irrespective of the extent to which a door is opened.
For example, the device advantageously tends to work even if a door is only partially opened. This advantage is provided by the feature that the timer begins unwinding when it is no longer being wound, i.e. the timer may begin unwinding after it has been fully wound by the opening of the door, or after it has been partially wound by the opening of the door by a distance that is insufficient to cause the timer to be fully wound. This may be advantageous in situations where a door is often opened to different degrees, for example a wide door that may be opened to allow access for a vehicle, but is also partially opened to allow access for a person. Many conventional door closing devices only operate if a door is fully opened.
In the above embodiment, the door closer comprises a geared braking mechanism. However, in other embodiments the above described gearing between the second and third shafts (i.e. between the second pulley and the brake wheel) is not implemented. For example, in a different embodiment the first and second gears, and the third shaft may be omitted from the device, and the brake wheel may be mounted onto the second shaft, e.g. below the second pulley. The brake lever pushes against/is held away from the brake wheel * mounted on the second shaft. In such an embodiment, a rotation of the second :.:. 25 pulley through a certain angle, whilst the braking mechanism is engaged, *** * means that the brake wheel tends to be rotated through the same angle. Thus, the braking mechanism of this embodiment tends not to be as effective as the geared braking mechanism. However, as a trade-off, the door closing device comprising the relatively simple, non-geared braking mechanism tends to be easier and cheaper to produce compared to the device comprising the geared braking mechanism.
In the above embodiments, the brake wheel and the brake lever each comprise teeth. These teeth mesh with those on the other component (i.e. the teeth of the brake wheel mesh with those of the brake lever and vice versa) when the brake lever is forced against the brake wheel. However, in other embodiments, the brake wheel and/or the brake lever comprise no such teeth.
In such embodiments, a braking force supplied by the friction of the brake lever on the brake wheel tends to be less than that in embodiments comprising teeth.
Also, in other embodiments, the brake wheel and/or the brake wheel are replaced by a different appropriate releasable braking mechanism, for example a braking clamp that may clamp the brake wheel, or a retractable rod that may be inserted through a portion of the brake wheel thereby preventing its rotation.
In the above embodiments, the gear ratio between the first gear and the second gear is 1:3, i.e. the first gear is larger/has more teeth than the second gear. An advantage provided by this gear ratio is that loading on the teeth of the brake wheel and brake lever tends to be substantially reduced (by a factor of three in this embodiment) compared to embodiments in which the brake wheel is mounted on the second shaft and brake lever is applied to this brake wheel to stop it rotating. In other words, if the braking wheel were mounted on the second shaft, in order to prevent the second shaft rotating anti-clockwise (when viewed from above) by a certain distance, a force of a certain magnitude would be applied by the braking lever. Thus the loading on the teeth of the brake wheel/lever would be a certain level. On the other hand, having the brake wheel *...
on the third shaft and having the above described gearing (with the 1:3 gear ratio between first and second gears) means in order for the second shaft to :.:. 25 rotate anti-clockwise by the certain distance, the brake wheel would need to rotate by three times that distance. Thus, the magnitude of the force to prevent * *. this motion is a third of that used in the embodiment in which the braking wheel is mounted on the second shaft. Thus the loading on the teeth of the brake wheel/lever is a third of the certain level. This advantageously tends to reduce the force that is used to unlock the braking mechanism, i.e. the force that the cam 30 exerts on the braking lever (caused by the rotation of the first shaft by the timer) is reduced. -20 -
A further advantage of the 1:3 gear ratio between the first and second gears is that in order for the first gear to rotate through a certain angle, the second gear is rotated through a relatively larger angle. Thus, the braking mechanism of the above described door closer (described in more detail above with reference to Figure 4) tends to be particularly advantageous over a braking mechanism that does not implement such gearing. This is because movement of the second pulley in an anti-clockwise direction through a certain angle, whilst the breaking mechanism is engaged, tends to require that the brake wheel is rotated through a relatively large angle whilst the brake lever is forced against it. In other words, whilst the brake lever is forced against the brake wheel (i.e. the braking mechanism is engaged) a small movement of the brake wheel (e.g. if the brake wheel slips against the brake lever) translates to a much smaller, or negligible, movement of the second pulley in the anti-clockwise direction.
In the above embodiments, the door closer is used to close a sliding door, e.g. a sliding door of an industrial freezer or cold room. However, in other embodiments, the door closer may be used to close a different type of door, e.g. a shutter (e.g. a shutter on a shop front or warehouse), a sliding gate (e.g. a security gate of a commercial or private property), and so on.
Also, in other embodiments the door closer device is used in any appropriate assembly, the cable of the door closer being attached to a *::::* component of the assembly, movement of that component causes the cable to be drawn from the closer and the setting of the timer, and the spring balance * .. provides movement of the component back to its original position when the timerhasunwound.
In the above embodiments, the spring balance provides a mechanism from which the cable may be pulled, and into which the cable is returned.
* However, in other embodiments the functionality of the spring balance, i.e. allowing release of a length of cable under a force and drawing back the length of cable upon release of the force, may be provided by a different appropriate means, for example a constant force spring, or a counter-weight that acts under gravity. -21 -
In the above embodiments, the door closer 1 comprises two pulleys, namely the first pulley and the second pulley. The use of two pulleys provide that a proportion of the cable that is in contact with a pulley at any point in time tends to be greater than a proportion of the cable that is in contact with a pulley in embodiments that comprise fewer pulleys (i.e. a single pulley). This advantageously tends to increase the level of friction on the cable at any point in time, compared with the level present in embodiments in which only a single pulley is used. This increased friction tends to advantageously oppose movement of the cable around a pulley without the pulley rotating. Thus, a problem of the spring balance pulling the cable back into the door closer (thereby closing the door), whilst the braking mechanism is engaged, tends to be alleviated. However, in other embodiments the door closer comprises a different number of pulleys, for example a single pulley. In such an embodiment a braking mechanism acts to oppose movement of the single pulley and thereby is the closing of the door until a timer has unwound.
In the above embodiments, the door closer comprises a chassis and a cover which provide a housing for certain other components of the door closer.
These components advantageously tend to protect the components within the housing from dirt and/or damage, thereby tending to reduce a risk of the door closer malfunctioning. However, in other embodiments the door closer does not comprises a chassis or cover, and/or no housing for the other components is provided. This advantageously tends to reduce the cost of the door closer.
In the above embodiment, the door closer 1 comprises an override * *,. system (described above with reference to Figures 7 and 8) whereby cable is automatically wound back into the door closer if the door is closed before the S..
* timer has unwound. The override system of the above embodiments automatically triggers the release of the braking mechanism dependent upon a tension in the cable. This advantageously tends to provide that a person closing the door before the timer is unwound does not need to manually trigger rewinding of the cable. However, in other embodiment the door closer does not comprise an override system for the automatic rewinding of loose cable if the door is closed before the timer has unwound. Also in other embodiments, the -22 -door closer comprises a different override system. For example, in other embodiments, the door closer comprises a manual override system, e.g. a system in which a person manually triggers the release of the braking mechanism when they close the door before the timer has wound down. In yet further embodiments, automatic triggering of the release of the braking mechanism is provided dependent upon a tension in the cable, however the particular way in which the release of the breaking is provided is different to that described above.
In the above embodiments the second sprag couples the brake wheel to io the third shaft as described above. This provides that one-way rotation of the second pulley is permitted as the cable is pulled from the door closer and the brake lever is engaged with the brake wheel, and also that rotation of second pulley caused by the spring balance winding in the cable is opposed whilst the brake lever is engaged with the brake wheel. However, in other embodiments this above described functionality may be provided by a differently configured system. For example, in other embodiments the brake wheel is fixed to the third shaft and the second pulley is mounted to the second shaft via a sprag. This sprag provides that rotation of the second pulley in a clockwise direction (when view from above as in Figure 2) relative to the second shaft is permitted. Also, this sprag provides that rotation of the second pulley relative to the second shaft in an anti-clockwise direction is opposed. Thus, in such embodiments (i.e. in which the brake wheel is fixed to the third shaft and the second pulley is mounted to the second shaft via a sprag), when the brake lever is engaged with the brake wheel, the unwinding of the cable from the spring balance (i.e. the .;. 25 opening of the door) is permitted, but the re-winding of the cable back into the door closer by the spring balance (i.e. the closing of the door by the door closer) : .. is opposed.
In the above embodiments, the cable couples the spring balance to the sliding door, and allows a cable pulling system, e.g. the above described spring balance, to pull the sliding door, at least when not hindered. The terminology "cable" is used herein to refer to any type of rope, cord, chain etc. that can provide the above described functionality. For example, in some embodiments the cable 12 is a chain. In such embodiments, the first and second pulleys may comprise teeth (i.e. the pulleys are, in effect, gears) that mesh with the links of the cable/chain (this advantageously tends to reduce risks of a cable slipping with respect to a pulley). In other embodiments, the cable comprises a plurality of interwoven metal cable strands.
In the above embodiments, the terminology "path", or "route" of the cable is used. This terminology is used herein to refer to the path over which the cable travels as it is moved (e.g. by the action of opening or closing the door). In the above embodiments the route of the cable is substantially S-shaped as a result of the cable travelling around the first and second pulleys. In other words the cable's route is defined by objects (pulleys in this embodiment) that are on the route of the cable and that provide a point or points about which the route of the cable may be changed or bent. For example, in the above embodiments the first and second pulleys are on the route of the cable, the pulleys provide points at which the route of the cable is bent, and the cable passes around these pulleys such that the route of the cable describes an "S").
In other embodiments, the route of the cable may be any appropriate shape. The shape of the route of the cable in other embodiments may be defined by any number of pulleys, rollers, and/or any other appropriate component or item, placed on the route of the cable.
The terminology "placed on the route of the cable" is used herein to refer to an item that is placed sufficiently proximate to the cable to have an effect on the shape and/or direction of the route of the cable. Thus, an item or component that is on the route of a cable is one that defines the shape and/or :. 25 direction of the route to some extent. In other words an item or component that is on the route of a cable is one that, were it not present, the shape and/or direction of the route of the cable would be substantially different to the shape and/or direction of the route if the item is present on the route.
As mentioned above, in the above embodiments, the chassis of the door closer is attached to a wall proximate to the sliding door. The sliding door is moveable (i.e. to open and close the door) relative to the wall. Thus, the -24 -chassis of the door closer is positioned at an anchor point, or a fixed point, and the sliding door is moveable relative to this anchor point. Since the spring balance is fixed relative to the chassis, this provides that the sliding door is moveable relative to the spring balance (and can therefore be moved by a force applied to the sliding door by the spring balance). In other embodiments, the spring balance (or other cable pulling system) may be at an anchor point that is not on a wall. For example, the anchor point may be a point on a vehicle (e.g. a refrigerated lorry), that a sliding door (of the vehicle) is moveable with respect to. In other embodiments, the anchor point, at which the cable pulling system is mounted, is a different point with respect to which the sliding door is moveable.
Also, in other embodiments the chassis of the door closer and/or the cable pulling system may be mounted on the sliding door, and the free end of the cable (i.e. a point on the cable that is pulled towards the cable pulling system) is attached to an anchor point (with respect to which the sliding door is moveable). *..I
S S...
S
*SS.*S * * * *5 * * S **S S
S *.* * *S * S * 55* 5 * *55 a -25 -
Claims (21)
- CLAIMS1. Apparatus for use with a sliding door, the sliding door being suitable for human and/or vehicular access, the apparatus comprising: a first system; and a second system; wherein the first system is for operating at, or proximate to, a point on a route of a cable; the route is from a cable pulling system to either the sliding door or an anchor point; the first system may be changed between a first condition and a second condition; the first condition substantially permits pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system; the second condition substantially opposes pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system; and *..S the second system is arranged to change the first system from the S....' * second condition to the first condition after a time period. * S. * S I *** . * *SI*
- 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pulling of the cable along the route by the cable pulling system provides automatic closing of the sliding :. door.
- 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cable pulling system is a winding mechanism for winding the cable.-26 -
- 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the winding mechanism is arranged to automatically wind the cable.
- 5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a maximum value of the time period may be predetermined or selected.
- 6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first system comprises at least one pulley on, or proximate to, the route of the cable.
- 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the second condition is provided by a braking mechanism that is applied to substantially prevent the pulley from allowing the cable to be moved along the route by the cable pulling system.
- 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the braking mechanism comprises a brake lever.
- 9. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein, when the route is *..S from a cable pulling system to the sliding door, the cable pulling system is mounted at a fixed anchor point.* ** 20 * * S *** . **
- 10. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein, when the route is * ** from a cable pulling system to the anchor point, the cable pulling system is mounted on the sliding door.
- 11. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the second system comprises a timer for timing the time period. -27 -
- 12. Apparatus according to claim ii, wherein the timer begins to time the time period once the cable has been moved along its route by a certain extent in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system.
- 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the cable is moved along its route by a certain extent in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system by an action of opening the sliding door.
- 14. Apparatus according to claims 11 to 13, wherein the timer is a mechanical timer.
- 15. Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the timer is set by being by the action of the cable moving along the route in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system.
- 16. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the time period is S.....* 20 dependent on an extent of travel of the cable in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling *. system. * ** ** S S.. *
- 17. Apparatus according to any of claims ito 16, wherein: the cable is moved by a first extent of travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system; and -28 -after being moved by the first extent of travel, the cable is moved by a second extent of travel in the direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system; and a time period corresponding to the first extent is different to a time period corresponding to the second extent.
- 18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the time period corresponding to the first extent is greater than the time period corresponding to the second extent.
- 19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the time period corresponding to the second extent is zero.
- 20. Apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein the cable is moved by an extent of travel in a direction opposite to the direction of travel resulting from the cable being pulled by the cable pulling system by an action of opening the sliding door. * * **..
- 21. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the cable comprises metal cable strands. * * S * S.. * a *.SApparatus according to any of claims 1 to 20, wherein the cable is a as 23. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 22, wherein the sliding door is suitable for access to one or more of the following (i) a cold room, (ii) a refrigerated room, (iii) a freezer room, (iv) a refrigerated lorry.-29 - 24. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 23, further comprising an override system arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition dependent upon an amount of tension in the cable.25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the override system comprises a spring loaded lever arranged to change the first system from the second condition to the first condition when the tension in the cable falls below a given level.26. A sliding door closing device comprising apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 25.27. A sliding door assembly comprising a sliding door for human and/or vehicular access, and the door closing device according to claim 26.28. Apparatus for use with a sliding door as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. *S.*S *SSS29. A sliding door closing device as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.S* , 30. A sliding door assembly as substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. S..
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB201007097A GB2479906A (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-04-28 | Apparatus for use on cable pulling system of a sliding door to selectively oppose pulling of the cable |
GB201010337A GB2479949B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-06-21 | Door apparatus |
GB1220946.6A GB2493317B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Door apparatus |
PCT/GB2011/000653 WO2011135299A1 (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Door apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB201007097A GB2479906A (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-04-28 | Apparatus for use on cable pulling system of a sliding door to selectively oppose pulling of the cable |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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GB201007097D0 GB201007097D0 (en) | 2010-06-09 |
GB2479906A true GB2479906A (en) | 2011-11-02 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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GB201007097A Withdrawn GB2479906A (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-04-28 | Apparatus for use on cable pulling system of a sliding door to selectively oppose pulling of the cable |
GB201010337A Expired - Fee Related GB2479949B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-06-21 | Door apparatus |
GB1220946.6A Expired - Fee Related GB2493317B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Door apparatus |
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GB201010337A Expired - Fee Related GB2479949B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2010-06-21 | Door apparatus |
GB1220946.6A Expired - Fee Related GB2493317B (en) | 2010-04-28 | 2011-04-28 | Door apparatus |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3156574A1 (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2017-04-19 | Frinova GmbH | Assembly with a sliding door and having a fixed part, on which the sliding door can be moved |
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DE3148481A1 (en) * | 1981-12-08 | 1983-06-23 | Lothar 7209 Aldingen Stemke | Time-controlled window closer |
JPH07247756A (en) * | 1994-03-09 | 1995-09-26 | Kurogane Kosakusho:Kk | Device for temporary stoppage for automatically closing door |
US6167654B1 (en) * | 1995-04-13 | 2001-01-02 | Michael Wolf | Device for operating hinged or guided closures |
DE10207003A1 (en) * | 2001-02-19 | 2002-10-31 | Michael Wolf | Mechanical window/door closer has a draw cable linked to a timer, which draws in the cable after a time delay in an automatic action according to the open position |
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FR2486140A1 (en) * | 1980-07-02 | 1982-01-08 | Griesinger Gabriel | Automatic window closing drive - uses timer to activate reel which closes window via cable |
DE3117193A1 (en) * | 1981-04-30 | 1982-11-18 | Lothar 7209 Aldingen Stemke | Time-controlled window closer |
US20070227074A1 (en) | 2006-04-04 | 2007-10-04 | Terry Frank | Enclosed sliding door assembly |
-
2010
- 2010-04-28 GB GB201007097A patent/GB2479906A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-06-21 GB GB201010337A patent/GB2479949B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2011
- 2011-04-28 WO PCT/GB2011/000653 patent/WO2011135299A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-04-28 GB GB1220946.6A patent/GB2493317B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE3148481A1 (en) * | 1981-12-08 | 1983-06-23 | Lothar 7209 Aldingen Stemke | Time-controlled window closer |
JPH07247756A (en) * | 1994-03-09 | 1995-09-26 | Kurogane Kosakusho:Kk | Device for temporary stoppage for automatically closing door |
US6167654B1 (en) * | 1995-04-13 | 2001-01-02 | Michael Wolf | Device for operating hinged or guided closures |
DE10207003A1 (en) * | 2001-02-19 | 2002-10-31 | Michael Wolf | Mechanical window/door closer has a draw cable linked to a timer, which draws in the cable after a time delay in an automatic action according to the open position |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3156574A1 (en) * | 2015-10-15 | 2017-04-19 | Frinova GmbH | Assembly with a sliding door and having a fixed part, on which the sliding door can be moved |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB201007097D0 (en) | 2010-06-09 |
GB201010337D0 (en) | 2010-08-04 |
GB2479949B (en) | 2015-01-14 |
GB2493317A (en) | 2013-01-30 |
GB2493317B (en) | 2015-03-25 |
WO2011135299A1 (en) | 2011-11-03 |
GB2479949A (en) | 2011-11-02 |
GB201220946D0 (en) | 2013-01-02 |
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