Apparatus For Operating Swing Doors

Abstract

Apparatus for operating swing doors or other members through a predetermined angle in which one member of a linear motor is mounted on a stationary frame extending horizontally above the door, a pin or roller on the door engaging a slot in the moving member of the motor to pivot the door from an open to a closed position and visa versa with limit switches and limit actuators at each end of the stroke of the moving member to cut off and reverse the motor.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for operating swing doors or other members through a predetermined angle.

The object of the invention is to open and close swing doors by means of a linear induction motor in a manner in which it can easily be adapted to existing doors and can be supplied in a kit form, also to operate any similar mechanism.

According to the invention one member of a linear motor is mounted on a stationary member of a door and the moving member in a frame or chassis mounted above the door, a pin or roller on the door engaging a slot in the moving member to pivot the door from the open to the closed position and visa versa, limit switches and limit actuators being provided at each end of the stroke of the moving member to cut off and reverse the motor.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings showing the invention applied to a swing door:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan showing the door closed;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are similar views showing respectively the door partly open and fully open;

FIG. 4 is a part elevation partly in section on line 4-4 FIG. 5 of a door operated by a linear motor;

FIG. 5 is a plan of same;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section of same;

FIG. 7 is a detail section to a larger scale of part of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram showing limit switches for the door in the closed position operated by two push buttons;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing relays for the un-energized condition of the switches operated by a single push button.

A door A is hinged on a door post B and closes onto a jamb B.sup.1.

A frame or chassis 4 is mounted horizontally on the wall above the door and houses rails 3 engaged by rollers 20 supporting rotor plates 19, 27 forming the moving members of a linear motor reciprocated by the stationary coils (not shown) of the motor 17. A roller pin 7 is mounted on the door A on a plate 10 with the pin 7 engaging a cam slot 29 in the plate 19.

The shape of the slot 29 is substantially sinusoidal and increasing the length of the slot compared to the movement distance gives a higher mechanical advantage.

The ends 29a of the slot 29 are parallel to the motion of the rotor plate 19, so that movement of the door will not occur whilst the the roller pin 7 is in these portions of the slot 29, thus the meter switch off point is not critical.

The roller pin 7 can be easily disengaged from the rotor plate 19 in the event of an emergency and disengagement may be effected from either side of the closed door by means of pull rings 14 which directly pull the roller pin 7 down from the slot. The roller pin 7 may be kept disengaged by a ratchet 25 and pawl 26 and thus the door A can be operated manually. When being operated automatically the roller pin 7 is kept engaged in the slot 29 by means of a compression spring 13 (FIG. 7).

Control equipment housed in a container 12 is housed so that it can be an integral part of the unit.

Two limit switches 6 and 28 are so positioned to switch off the motor 17 when the door has either closed or opened, and are adjustable by means of slotted brackets 5.

Operation of the door is effected by relays and push buttons P2, P3 which may be carried out in many configurations, two will be described. The first shown in FIG. 8 has a push button or buttons to open the door and another button or buttons to close the door which can then be parked open.

The second shown in FIG. 9 shows the door operated by a single push button P1, the door automatically closing after a delay. This could be operated by foot mat or photo cell unit in place of the push button P1.

The linear motor 17 connections are different in each case, but either connection is possible by alteration of the relay contacts and connections.

For double push button operation (FIG. 8) when push button P2 is pressed a relay RL2 is energized via contact RL3B, button P2 and limit switch 28 from an A.C. supply. A contact RL2A holds the relay RL2 energized and contacts RL2B, RL2C energize the linear motor 17 to open the door A. A capacitor C3 in conjunction with the linear motor 17 gives the correct direction of movement in known manner. When the door is open the limit switch 28 is operated to de-energize the relay RL2 and hence the linear motor 17.

The push button P3 can now be operated to close the door since the limit switch 6 closes as soon as the door starts to open. As shown in FIG. 7 switch 6 is operated by a roller bearing arm 6' engaged by linear motor member 19, 27. A similar operating arm is provided on switch 28.

A relay RL3 is energized via the buttons P2, P3 and the limit switch 6; a contact RL3A maintaining the relay RL3.

The linear motor 17 is energized via the contacts RL3C and RL3D in the opposite direction and the door A will close; the limit switch 6 de-energizing the relay RL3 and hence the motor 17 when the door is closed.

Should, however, the door require opening whilst closing, operation of button P2 will de-energize the relay RL3 and when the relay RL3 is fully de-energized the relay RL2 will energize to open the door via contact RL3B, button P2 and limit switch 28. A contact RL3B is provided to ensure that both relays RL2 and RL3 are not energized at the same time.

For single push button (FIG. 9) only one relay is required, and when push button P1 is pressed relay RL1 is energized by a D.C. supply from rectifiers D1-D4 and is held energized when P1 is released, due to the charge on a capacitor C1.

The relay contacts RL1A and RL1B energize the motor 17 from the A.C. supply to open the door A via the limit switch 28; a capacitor C2 ensures the correct direction. The motor 17 is de-energized by means of the limit switch 28 when the door is open. The door will stay open until the capacitor C1 discharges and when the relay RL1 de-energizes to energize the motor 17 via contacts RL1A and RL1B and the limit switch 6, which is now closed. The door A will now close and the limit switch 6 will de-energize the motor 17 when the door is closed.

Resistors R1 and RV1 are provided to adjust the time delay before re-closure of the door A.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for operating pivoted swing doors comprising a frame adapted to be mounted adjacent the door, rail means extending longitudinally of said frame, a linear electric motor carried by said frame and having a reciprocable door actuating member comprising a slotted element, roller means on said member engaging said rail means for guiding movement of said member relative to the door, the slot in said element being adapted to receive a pin movable with the door to be operated, said pin upon operative movement of said member being adapted to travel along said slot to swing the door between open and closed positions, and an actuating electrical circuit for said motor comprising spaced limit switches positioned to be opened by said reciprocable member to deenergize said motor when said member reaches opposite ends of its movement.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said limit switches are adjustably mounted on said frame.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises selective means operable after the door has been opened for reversing and energizing said motor for closing said door.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises means operable after the door has been opened for automatically reversing and energizing said motor for closing the door after a predetermined time delay.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said circuit includes means actuated by a push button for starting the motor, and associated operating relays which hold the circuit closed during door movement until the motor is deenergized by a limit switch.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5, wherein means is provided in said circuit for selectively reversing said motor during closing movement of the door.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said reciprocable motor member is a slotted plate, the slot extending angularly with respect to the direction of movement of said member and terminating in end regions parallel to said direction.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 1, in combination with a swinging door on which the pin is mounted for selective disengagement from said slot.