US3300897A

US3300897A - Automatic sliding swinging door

Info

Publication number: US3300897A
Application number: US436030A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lance A Wikkerink
Original assignee: Republic Industries Inc
Current assignee: Republic Industries Inc
Priority date: 1965-03-01
Filing date: 1965-03-01
Publication date: 1967-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-31
Also published as: SE307750B; GB1080634A; DE1584189B1

Description

1967 A. WIKKERINK AUTOMATIC SLIDING SWINGING DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1965 L. A. WIKKERINK 3,300,897

AUTOMATIC SLIDING SWINGING DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 31, 1967 Filed March 1, 1965 1 llillillaml WI A um F I HQM I i 1 iwriaii III .1

Jan. 31, 1967 A. WIKKERINK 3,300,397

AUTOMATIC SLIDING SWINGING DOOR Filed Max ch 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet s ZZZ Jan. 31, 1967 L. A. WIKKERINK 3,300,897

AUTOMATIC SLIDING SWING ING DOOR Filed March 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mmxw I United States Patent 3,300,897 AUTOMATIC SLIDING SWENGING DGOR Lance A. Wikirerink, Grcendale, Wis, assignor to Republic Industries, Inc, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinols Filed Mar. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 436,030 7 Claims. (Cl. 4913'7) This invention relates to a building access or interior door of the automatic, hydraulically-actuated type which normally operates in a sliding mode, although there is provision for manual swinging of the door as an emergency measure in the event of power failure or malfunction of the automatic mechanism.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel door arrangement in which the door is automatically slid to, or more properly, rolled linearly between the open and closed positions by power mechanisms actuated by a person stepping upon a conventional mat switch or touching a control lever or button, or interrupting a light beam or the like, and in which the door can be manually swung about pivots so as to 'be opened or closed in the event of malfunction of the sliding mechanism, or when pedestrian traffic through the doorway is light.

An additional object is to provide a novel door arrangement of the above character in which no means of support at the free edge of the door is required when the door is in either the closed or open positions, or at any intermediate position in either the sliding or swinging mode.

An additional object is to provide a novel mechanism of the above type which provides for adjustment of the door relative to the door opening to accommodate for any tendency of the door free edge to sag.

Still another object is to provide a novel door system of the above type in which the door is normally latched against swinging when in the closed position and conditioned for sliding operation, but in which the latching mechanism breaks free under load if an attempt is made to swing the door in a certain direction, and in which the latching mechanism thereafter does not interfere with free swinging movement of the door until the door is again closed and opened in the sliding direction, whereupon the latching mechanism relatches automatically.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved door system having the above characteristics in which the door cannot automatically he power actuated to slide in the opening direction if the door is open in the swinging direction.

Still another object is to provide a novel low cost hydraulic mechanism having appropriate damping characteristics -for the actuation of a sliding door.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in which similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top view of a pair of doors embodying features of the present invention shown in their installed relationship to the building;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one of the door installations of FIG. 1, showing the mechanism in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the door and the major portion of its mechanism drawn to larger scale than FIG. 2, and with portions of the structure broken away to reveal underlying structure, and to reduce the overall size of the drawing;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the upper portion of the mechanism, and may be considered as taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view which may be considered as taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 (A and B) is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the hydraulic power cylinder mechanism used for operating the door of FIGS. 1 to 6; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows substantially along the line 88 of FIG. 7.

Automatic doors as ordinarily arranged consist of a swinging door suspended near one edge between top and bottom pivots and some power actuated mechanism, usually hydraulic or pneumatic, for swinging the door about its pivots. Control of the .power mechanism for the door is ordinarily exercised *by any of several arrangements, all of which'have the common feature of indicating when a person desires to pass through the door opening. The most common arrangement is use a rubber mat on the approach side of the door, which mat contains electrical contacts that are closed whenever the person places any appreciable weight upon the mat. When the contacts are closed in this fashion, an electrical circuit is energized which causes the operation of the door opener. One scheme which has proved to be eminently successful for this purpose is described in United States Patent No. 2,739,808, and this general scheme is adapted for operation as a part of the present invention.

In general, whenever the contacts of the mat switch on the approach side of the door are closed, an electrical circuit is energized which causes the energization of a hydraulic pump which supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to a piston-cylinder combination which expands under the influence of the pressure and swings the door to open position. Usually the motor continues to run so as to hold the door in open position so long as the person stands upon the approach mat. Usually, also, there is a mat on the egress side of the door which acts to hold the door in open position as the person passes through the door opening and until he steps oft" the egress mat. Such egress mats can also be wired to prevent the door swinging if someone approaches from the wrong side. Thereafter, when the egress mat is left and the contacts in the egress mat open, the hydraulic pump stops, and a vent opens to permit the hydraulic fluid in the door actuator to return to a sump under the influence of a spring actuated door return mechanism connected to one of the door pivots.

Although the above relates generally to one type of automatic door, there are other types using pneumatic cylinders and air compressors, and other types of sensing mechanisms may be used in place of the mat switches, such mechanisms commonly being of the interrupted light beam and photocell type, or they may consist of a handle on the door, or close to the door, which completes an electrical circuit in thesame manner as does the mat switch whenever it is lightly touched. Still another system may make use of ultrasonic frequencies.

The present invention is not concerned specifically with the particular electrical circuitry or the hydraulic pumping mechanism to "be used for the operation of the door of this invention, and the previously referred to patent may be inspected by anyone who is interested in any such details. It will 'be assumed, however, that there is a hydraulic pumping mechanism which will act to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure whenever an electrical control circuit is completed and which will act to permit the return of the hydraulic fluid to a sump when the control circuit is interrupted.

The invention does include a specific type of hydraulic power cylinder which will be described in detail presently which is hydraulically connected to the pumping mechanism.

One of the disadvantages of the above described automatic swinging door system is that swinging doors require more room for their accommodation than do sliding doors, at least in certain types of situations.

There is, of course, nothing new basically in providing a sliding door with a power actuated means for sliding the door to open position and permitting it to return to closed position whenever a control circuit is actuated. The problem with such doors is that if the automatic mechanism malfunctions for any reason, the person approaching the door will find that there is no convenient way of opening the door under these emergency conditions.

To meet this situation, there have been provided some door mechanisms in which the door is automatically slid to open position by hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism, and in which the door can be swung in an emergency if the automatic mechanism fails with the door in closed position. All schemes of this type that I am aware of have the serious drawback that it is necessary somehow to support the door at its free edge so as to prevent its sagging against the floor. Sometimes this is accomplished by a roller on the bottom of the door which rolls on the floor, and sometimes much the same effect is accomplished by securing the free edge of the door at the top by means of some sort of hook to the overhead structure. Some arrangements combine these features, so that ordinarily the door at its free edge is suspended from above so long as its opening movement is of the sliding type, but in which, when this latching connection is broken by swinging the door, the door drops downwardly so as to bring a roller beneath its free edge against the floor surface, this roller then rolling in an are as the door is swung.

The present door system is such that although the door ordinarily is latched in a central plane and is opened and closed by rolling the door to and fro, it nevertheless does not have and does not require any support at its free edge. This door therefore can be swung to the open position in an emergency, or, as an option, when traffic is light, and can thereafter, for an extended period, act in the manner of an ordinary swinging door under the control of a hydraulic door check mechanism. Thus it will be seen that although the door is ordinarily operated in the rolling fashion, its activity in the swinging mode is identical to that of a conventional swinging door, and this is not true of any prior schemes that I know of.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, doors are indicated at in the closed position. These doors, when actuated, automatically slide in an endwise direction into a hollow wall 12 in overlapping relation so as to save space. In an emergency, the doors can be swung as indicated by the dotted line positions 14. Whether they can swing in both directions, as shown, will depend upon the specific arrangement at the desire of the user. Mat switches 16 are placed upon the floor on the approach side of the doors such that whenever anyone steps upon one of these mat switches, the appropriate door is slid to open position. As explained previously, mat switches can also be placed upon the egress sides of the doors for the purpose of holding the doors Open until the person completes his passage through the doorway. These egress mats have not been shown since they are not necessary to an understanding of the present invention and since their use is well understood. Furthermore, they may not be necessary, since a person clears the doorway quickly, and approach from the wrong side is not dangerous as it is with swinging doors.

In FIG. 2 of the drawings an overhead track structure has been indicated generally at 18. A trolley member 20 has a length approximately equal to the width of the door plus the width of the door jamb 22 and the intervening space 24. This trolley carries grooved rollers or wheels 26 near each end which ride upon a rail formed as a portion of the track 18 so that the trolley is free to move longitudinally along the track. The door jambthe construction of which will be described in greater detail presentlyextends downwardly from one end of the trolley almost to the floor, or threshold strip if one is provided, and at its lower end is connected to an offset bracket member 28 which carries a lower pivot 30 for the door. The upper end of the door is supplied with a pivot 32 in alignment with the lower pivot 30, this upper pivot being connected to a hydraulic checking door closer 35 housed within and fixed to the trolley structure 20.

The frame, consisting of the trolley 20 and jamb 22, is therefore free to roll in a lengthwise direction, and this frame structure carries along with it the door member 10. Also, it will be seen that, when the door is rolled into its closed poistion, it is free to swing relative to the

frame members

20 and 22 about the

pivots

30 and 32, it being swung closed when released by the door closer 35.

By referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 it will be seen that the track-providing and supporting structure is a box section 34 made u of aluminum extrusions, for instance, which has a slot 36 through its bottom surface and a depending track hanger 38 formed as a portion of the top structure. This hanger has an offset 40 which is provided in its upper surface with a groove 42 into which a slightly flattened brass tube 44 is pressed. The upper surface of this tube acts as the track for the wheels 26 which carry the weight of the door. The track structure is formed in this manner so that, if at any time the track exhibits excessive wear, the brass tube 44 can be peeled out of slot 42 and replaced by a new piece of tubing conveniently and at low expense.

The trolley 20 consists of a sturdy L-shaped extrusion 46, one flange of which 48 extends horizontally in a position beneath the track 44. The upper surface of this flange 48 is connected to a pair of upstanding wheel brackets 50 which carry grooved rollers 26 on antifriction bearings 54 mounted upon axles 52. The grooves in the rollers are fitted over the track formed by the tube 44, and these rollers are prevented from jumping the track and canting of the troiley is prevented by a pair of suprplementary control rollers 56 journaled on pins 58 secured to the bracket 50 in a position with the rollers 56 beneath the track element 44. These control rollers 56 need not quite touch the offset portion 40, but they should be rather close. Preferably a wear stri 60 is secured to the bottom face of the offset 40 where it is engaged by the control rollers 56 so as to prevent the rollers 56 from running directly against the aluminum surface.

To provide for adjustment of the height of the door relative to the track, shims 62, as required, may be inserted between the top of the flange 48 and the bottom surface of the roller bracket 50, these elements being secured together by cap screws 64. Since over a period of time it can be expected that the rollers 26 will collect dirt, it is preferred to encompass a portion of the top surface of these rollers with a felt strip 66 held in light frictional engagement with the rollers by an overlying spring metal strip 68.

The trolley structure just described, and as will be clearly apparent from the drawings, is quite rigid and will roll freely along the track in a smooth fashion. Furthermore, any tendency of one end of the trolley to be lifted off the track by a canting force will be resisted by the underlying control rollers 56.

The door jamb 22 is of composite structure and, in general, extends downwardly at one end of the trolley and is quite rigidly connected to the trolley, even though, as will be pointed out presently, there is provision for slight angular adjustment of the jamb relative to the trolley so as to permit precise adjustment of the door relative to the door frame. At its lower end the door jamb carries the previously mentioned offset bracket 28 which has an upstanding antifriction bearing pivot 30 which fits into a socket forming member 74 secured within the bottom edge of the door 10. Although the lower pivot and the manner of connecting it to the door may be entirely conventional, I prefer to use a quick disconnect system generally of the type which forms the subject matter of Patent No. 3,145,414.

The upper pivot 32 extends downwardly from the housing of the door check mechanism 35 which, as previously mentioned, is secured within the trolley structure 20. A suitable hydraulic door closer and checking mechanism for the purpose forms the subject matter of Patent No. 3,149,366 which may be referred to for details. This upper pivot is connected to the door 10 by any suitable control arm, the specific arm shown at 70 being of the adjustable quick disconnect type which forms the subject of Patent No. 3,089,183.

When the door is in closed position and is thus freed to roll linearly, it can move into a slot in the wall indicated by the numeral 76 (FIG. 1). During such rolling movement of the door, the upper edge is of course guided by the trolley on the track 44 while the lower edge of the door is prevented from moving transversely by a pair of softsurfaced rollers 78 attached to the door jamb 22 on each side by means of brackets 80 and pivots 82. The axis of rotation of these rollers is vertical, and they are fitted within a troughlike track 84 secured to the floor 86. The position of these rollers relative to the door jamb and the track 84 is such that when the door is closed, they do not quite run off the end of the track. They therefore prevent transverse movement of the door jamb at all positions of the door between and including the open and closed positions.

The door jamb, indicated generally by the numeral 22, consists of a length of rectangular relatively heavy extruded aluminum tubing 88 cut to proper length. The upper end of this tube, and a length adjusting spacer 89 if necessary, is slid over a downwardly extending tapered stem 90 having blocks 91 on each side at the top secured thereto by pins 93. The upper end of the stem is rigidly secured to the trolley by screws 92. At its upper end the tube 88 closely fits the external surfaces of the blocks 91 so as to be held in wedged relation thereto. The stem 90 extends downwardly into the tube 88 approximately one-third of the way or so, and at its bottom end is drilled and tapped to receive the upper end of a threaded rod 94. This rod extends downwardly almost to the lower pivot bracket 28, and is secured to the pivot bracket by means of a heavy fiat head screw 96 which extends upwardly through the bracket 28 and is threaded into a recess in the lower end of the rod 94. In order to prevent relative movement between the bracket plate 28 and the lower end of the rectangular tube 88, the bracket 28 is provided with four locating pins 98 which extend upwardly so as to fit snugly into the four internal corners of the tube 88. The door jamb therefore is comprised of the tube 88 and spacer 89 which are held in compression between the trolley and the pivot bracket 28 by means of the stem 90, rod 94, and screw 96 in tension.

The weight of the door hanging between its upper and lower pivots will, of course, tend to cause the free edge of the door to sag downwardly somewhat by slightly bowing the lower end of the door jamb away from the door opening. This is counteracted by the adjustment mechanism indicated generally at 100. This mechanism includes a reenforcing and bearing plate 102 secured to the inside of the tube 88 just above the lower end of the stem 90. A hole is drilled through the tube and through this plate and is tapped to receive a set screw 104. A second plate 106 is secured against the inside surface of the plate 102 and braced by wings 107 at each side which extend across -to the opposite side of the tube 88, so that plates 102 and 106 are rigid with the tube 88.

The second plate 106 is drilled and countersunk on the side toward the plate 102 to receive a flat head screw 108 which is threaded transversely into the stem 90. As will be best seen in FIG. 3, the head of the screw 108 is flush or slightly recessed with respect to the outer face of the plate 106, and the head of this screw has a diameter which is considerably larger than the hole for the set screw 104. Preferably both the screw 108 and the set screw 104 are adapted to receive Allen type wrenches.

With the above adjustment mechanism in mind, it will be seen that if the set screw 104 is removed and the wrench is extended through the set screw hole and into the head for the screw 108, the screw can be rotated so as to pull the tube 88 toward the stem 90, or, if rotated in the opposite direction, to push the side of the tube toward the door away from the stem 90. The pulling action referred to will of course be developed because the tapered surface of the screw operating in the countersunk recess in the plate 106 acts to pull the plate toward the stem 90. Pushing action is developed when the screw is rotated in the opposite direction because as the screw is backed away from the stem 90, the outer face of the screw head will bear against the inside surface of the plate 102 and push the tube away from the stem 90. In any event, the screw 108 is turned in one direction or the other so as to move the lower end of the tube 88, and of course the bracket 28, in one direction or the other relative to the upper end of the tube 88 until the free edge of the door is adjusted to the desired level above the door. When correct positioning has been achieved, the set screw 104 is entered into its hole and tightened against the head of the screw 108, thereby locking the adjustment mechanism in place.

It will be appreciated that the adjustment described above swings the lower end of the tubular column 88 in one direction or the other relative to the trolley 20. This motion is accommodated for by slight bending or bowing of the vertical rod 94, but, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the

length of this rod is such that the lower end thereof can be moved relative to the lower end of the stem considerably without setting up any appreciable strains in any of the elements comprising the mechanism.

The arrangement so far described provides the track, the trolley which rolls along the track, a rigid jamb which extends downwardly from one end of the track, the door hinged thereto, and an adjustment for the height of the door (shims 62), and an adjustment mechanism fortilting the door pivots relative to each other slightly, as'

is necessary to position the free edge of the door an appropriate distance above the floor surface. No support for the free edge of the door independently of the

pivots

30 and 32 is therefore required.

As is best seen in FIG. 4, the trolley adjacent'the free edge of the door is provided with a latch plate 108 pivoted about a pin 110, such that the pin is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the trolley. The latch on its lower edge has a detent member 112 notched on both and swing the latch plate 108 upwardly in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot 110. Thereafter the door is free to swing under the influence of the door check mechanism 35. Depending upon the nature of the door check mechanism 35, and upon whether door stops are used, this swinging action can be either in one direction only or in both directions. In any event, it will be appreciated that the activity of the latch 108 is to hold the door in alignment with the door jamb 22 unless the door is purposely swung to one side. Some appreciable force will be required to break the'door loose in the swinging direction in the first instance, but thereafter it will operate in the manner of any swinging door which is under the influence of a conventional hydraulic checking type door closer.

The upper edge of the latching mechanism 188 is connected to an upwardly inclined finger 116 which extends to the left, the free end of which is rocked downwardly when the latch 108 is swung to the door releasing position. A ram-p type structure 118 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is mounted within the box-shaped housing 18 in a position which is in alignment with the end of the finger 116 in a position slightly toward the door jamb 22. Thus, if the door is swung in an opening direction so as to swing the latch 108 upwardly, thereby swinging the end of the finger 116 downwardly, and thereafter the door is permitted to swing closed and center under the influence of the door check 35, and subsequently the power mechanism is actuated to slide the door in an opening direction, the end of the finger 116 will strike the ramp 118, and in the process of running up the ramp, will swing the latch mechanism 108 downwardly so that it enters its detent 112 between the clips 114. Thus, if the door has been swung open and subsequently returned to the closed position, and then is subsequently opened in the sliding direction, it will be automatically relatched into the same plane as the door jamb 22, where it will remain until, for some reason, the door is again opened in the swinging mode.

In FIG. 3 it will be seen that the ramp 118 is symmetrical, although only the side of the ramp toward the right in FIG. 3 is actually active in the above described manner. The reason for providing this double ramp is simply that it facilitates use of the same part in right and left hand door installations.

I have also found it advisable to have a magnetic switch 119 mounted in the trolley near the free edge of the door and to have a steel plate in the top of the door opposite this magnetic switch, such that the magnetic switch closes a set of contacts when the piece of magnetic materia1the steel plate, for instancesecured to the top edge of the door is brought into proximity to the magnetic switch. This switch needs no special description, since switches of this type are well known. This switch is simply wired in series with the electrical circuit of the mat 16 for the particular door, so that if a person steps upon the mat 16 when the door is partly opened in the swinging mode, the power mechanism for sliding the door will not act to slide the door until the door has swung closed so as to be in alignment or approximate alignment with the door jamb 22. As soon as the door finishes its closing movement, the iron armature in the top of the door will be in suflicient proximity to the magnetic switch 120 to cause this switch to close its contacts, thereby permitting the power mechanism to open the door whenever anyone steps upon the mat 16.

The hydraulic mechanism for opening the door will be described presently, and the actuator or push rod for this mechanism is connected to an L-shaped bracket 120 secured to the upstanding flange 50 of the carriage. As is seen in FIG. 3, this bracket 120 is secured near the end of the carriage which is above the door jamb 22.

The hydraulic power cylinder mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral 122, and this mechanism lies within the box-shaped housing 34 alongside the trolley and extends to substantially the opposite end of this housing. Its total length, therefore, is approximately that of the width of the door plus slightly more. Its point of attachment to the trolley is indicated in FIG. 3, the remainder of the mechanism being eliminated from this figure in the interest of clarity of illustration. The opposite end of this hydraulic mechanism also appears in FIG. 4, and the mechanism is shown in detail in FIGS. 721ml 8.

7 Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the bracket 120, previously mentioned, is connected to the end of a push rod 124 by means of a nut 126, and that this nut clamps the bracket in turn against a group of shims 128 of appropriate thickness, which in turn bear against a spring follower plate 130 clamp in turn against a shoulder 132 on the rod 124. The rod 124 extends through an opening in a cylinder head 134 having an appropriate seal to be described presently, and into a cylinder 136 formed by a tube 138. At its opposite end the tube 138 is sealed to a closure and valve seat providing member 148 secured in a second cylinder head 142.

A second larger tube 144 encloses the tube 148, and this second tube is also secured at one end in the cylinder head 134, and at its opposite end within the cylinder head 142. Within the cylinder head 142 a passage 146 connects the annular space 149 between the tubes 138 and 144 with the back of the cup-shaped valve seat forming member 140, and the opposite sides of this valve seat forming member are milled away so as to form slots 148 which provide communication between the passage 146 and the interior 150 of the valve seat forming member. This valve seat forming member is equipped with a poppet type check valve 152 which opens to permit flow from the annular space 149 between the tubes 138 and 144 through the passage 146, through the slots 148, and around the poppet 152 into the cylinder 136 at the right hand end of the cylinder of FIG. 73. Flow therefore enters the cylinder 138 to the right of a piston 154 which is secured to the right hand end of the push rod 124.

As is seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the piston head 142 has means providing for the attachment thereto of the ends of four tension type coil springs 156, the opposite ends of which are secured to the spring follower plate 130 previously mentioned. These springs, therefore, act to keep the piston and cylinder combination collapsed so as to maintain a minimum overall length for the hydraulic power motor mechanism, which is representative of the closed position of the door.

The cylinder head 134 is provided with an annular bushing 158 which closely fits the push rod 124 and which is grooved around its outer periphery so as to contain an O ring 160 over which the cylinder forming tube 138 is slid, thereby effectively sealing these members together. The fit between the push rod 124 and the bushing 158 is close, but not tight enough to cause any appreciable friction between these elements. A small amount of leakage between the rod 124 and the bushing 158 can therefore be expected. Such leakage as does take place passes into an annular chamber 162 which is connected by drilled passages within the cylinder head to a fitting 165 (FIG. 8), connected in turn to a return line leading back to the hydraulic reservoir associated with the pumping mechanism. Beyond the chamber 162 the rod 124 passes through a seal of the soft rubber or plastic friction 'type indicated at 164 which acts to prevent leakage of hydraulic fluid to the outside. Note that leakage around this seal can be expected to be extremely slight, since there is substantially no pressure differential across the seal inasmuch as the intervening chamber 162 is vented to the hydraulic reservoir, and therefore is substantially at atmospheric pressure.

The pressure fitting for supplying hydraulic fluid to the actuating mechanism is indicated at 166. Fluid supplied to this fitting under pressure flows through passages 168 within the cylinder head to the annular space 149 between the tubes 138 and 144. It therefore communicates by way of this annular space with the passage 146 in the cylinder head at the opposite end of the structure, as previously described. I

In a power door opening structure of this type it is desirable, that whenever hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied to the actuating mechanism, for the mechanism to go into action immediately and to accelerate the door rapidly up to the full traveling speed so as to clear the doorway as quickly as possible. It is also important that as the door reaches either its closed or open positions, the entire system be rapidly but smoothly decelerated, and that the final positioning of the door in either the closed or open positions is accomplished on a slow creeping basis. The desirability for this is dictated by the fact that the structure is relatively heavy and coniparatively high inertial forces are involved. The present invention provides a very simple arrangement for accomplishing this activity.

The cylinder tube 138 is provided with a plurality of spaced drilled passages through its top side, these passages being indicated by the numeral 170. In the present representative embodiment of the invention, these drilled ports have a diameter of about .025" and are approximately one and one-half inches, or so, apart. Passages 170 therefore provide individually for limited communication between the interior of the cylinder 136 and the annular space 149 between the tubes 138 and 144.

The operation of the hydraulic motor mechanism is as follows. As a starting point it can be assumed that the annular space 149, and the spaces within the cylinder 136 on both sides of the piston 154 are filled with hydraulic fluid, but are under no appreciable pressure, and that therefore the mechanism is collapsed under the influence of the springs 156. The door is therefore closed. When a person steps upon the mat 16, thereby energizing the hydraulic pumping system, hydraulic fluid is supplied to the fitting 166 under pressure. Pressure is therefore applied to the space 149 between the tubes 138 and 144. This pressure is communicated through the ports 170 to the left hand side of the piston 154 as seen in FIG. 7, and also to the opposite side of the piston. The piston therefore moves toward the left because of the differential area as between the right hand face of the piston 154 and the left hand face thereof less the area represented by the rod 124. The cross-sectional area of the rod is of course essentially an area maintained at atmospheric pressure because of the atmospheric chamber 162.

As the piston 154 moves toward the left as seen in FIG. 7, thereby pushing the rod 124 to the left and moving the door toward open position, hydraulic fluid flows from the cylinder 136 on the side to the left of the piston 154 outwardly through the ports 170 into the annular space 149. At the beginning portion of the stroke, there are a large number of these ports which permit ready escape of the fluid, thereby permitting rapid travel of the piston 124. As the piston progresses toward the left however, thereby passing successive ports 170, there are fewer ports remaining ahead of the piston, so that as the piston approaches the opposite end of its stroke the rate of movement slows. As the piston passes the next to the last port indicated specially at 170, the fluid can escape through only the last remaining port 171)" such that the piston, and of course the door, at this point in the travel of the mechanism is relatively slow. As the piston passes the last port 170", the only escape for hydraulic fluid is leakage around the piston 154 and leakage around the rod 124 through the bushing 158. The door therefore creeps slowly to its final resting position in the door open condition. The last port 170" is positioned quite close to the face of the bushing 158 which acts as a stop for the piston 154.

When it is desired to close the door, the hydraulic pressure at the fitting 166 is released, and the tube connected to this fitting is vented to a hydraulic reservoir. Under these conditions the springs urge the rod 124 back into the cylinder and start the door moving toward closed position. Movement of the door under the influence of the springs is relatively rapid, but under complete control since, although the check valve 152 closes, there are a controlled number of ports 170 permitting the escape of hydraulic fluid from the right hand side of the piston 154. The fact that at the beginning of the closing movement there are no ports giving access to the left hand side of the piston 154, and that during the immediately following portion of the piston travel only a few ports are uncovered, has no appreciable influence upon the motion of the piston because the hydraulic pressures involved are of course so high as compared to atmospheric pressure that the springs 156 will have sufficient capacity to simply evacuate the space to the left of the piston 154 at the beginning of this closing action. Subsequently, during the closing stroke, as more and more ports are uncovered to the left of the piston 154, hydraulic fluid will find more and more free access to the cylinder 136 to the left of the piston, and thus, before the piston reaches a position near the closing end of its stroke, the left hand portion of the cylinder 136 will be completely refilled.

As was true during the door opening activity of the device, as the piston nears the completion of its closing stroke, there will be fewer and fewer ports 170 uncovered, and finally only one port, through which the fluid can be expelled from the cylinder to the right of the piston. Thus, the closing movement of the door is damped as the door approaches the closed position, and finally, as the last of the ports 170 (indicated at 170') is passed, rate of movement will be confined to the rate of leakage around the piston 154 and around the valve poppet 152. The door therefore creeps the last short distance to its final closed position.

This entire motor assembly is held together by a pair of side plates 178 which are secured at both ends by means of screws (not shown) to the opposite side faces of the

cylinder heads

134 and 142.

Although any suitable mounting scheme can be used for securing the hydraulic motor mechanism within the box structure 18, I prefer to use the scheme shown in FIG. 7. Here necked screws 172 are secured to the upper portion of the box 118so that they project downwardly, these screws being so positioned that they extend into recesses 174 in the cylinder heads, the attachment being completed by conical ended set screws 176 threaded through the heads horizontally so that their ends bear against the shoulders of the screws 172, thereby wedging the cylinder heads tightly upwardly against the inside surface of the box section 18 when the set screws are tightened.

In normal operation of the door, therefore-assuming at the start that the door is closeda person actuates the door by stepping upon the mat 16 or activates some other door control mechanism. This closes anelectrical circuit, including the contacts in the door position sensing switch 119, and activates the hydraulic pumping mechanism (not shown). Hydraulic fluid under pressure is therefore supplied to the fitting 166, and passes into the annular space 149 and, in the manner previously described, causes the push rod 124, acting by way of the bracket 120, to roll the door to open position.

As the door rolls toward open position, it is guided at the top by the trolley 50 running along the rail 44, and at the bottom by the rollers 78 which engage the vertical side walls 84 of the track 86.

When the person steps off the mat 16, the electrical circuit to the pumping mechanism is-interrup'ted, the pump stops, and hydraulic fluid drains from the fitting 166 back to the hydraulic reservoir (not shown). The door therefore closes under the influence of the springs 156.

During operation of the hydraulic mechanism, any leakage of hydraulic fluid around or through the bushing 158 finds its way into the atmospheric chamber 162, and thence drains to the reservoir by way of the fitting 165, so that practically no hydraulic fluid escapes past the seal 164.

If at any time the hydraulic mechanism fails to operate, pressure upon the left hand side of the door 10 (as seen in FIG. 4) swings the latch mechanism 108 upwardly so that the door is permitted to swing freely. Swinging of the door is under the control of the hydraulic door closer 35, and therefore this swinging action is substantially identical to that of a conventional door. After once being swung open, -the door is free to swing in either direction so far as the latching mechanism 108 is concerned, and whether it swings in one direction only or in both directions will depend upon the presence or absence of door stops, and also upon the design of the specific door closer mechanism 35. Although the latch 108, as shown in FIG. 4, is designed to break free when the door is pushed from the left side, it will be ap preciated that this mechanims is reversible so that the door will break free in the other direction. In reversing the mechanism, the ramp or cam 118 is shifted to the opposite side of the box 34, and as was mentioned previously, this is the reason the ramp 118 is shown in FIG. 3 as being symmetrical.

If the door has been swung open and the hydraulicmechanism has then been restored to activity, the hydraulic mechanism will not operate until the door has returned to closed position so as to actuate the automatic position sensing switch at 119. If the door has been swung closed and the automatic mechanism actuated, the door will roll open, but before it has traveled more than a few inches, the latch detent 112 will have been reengaged between the fingers 114 so as to hold the door centered.

The mechanism is installed by securing the box section 34 into place and by installing the track 86 into its proper position within the wall slot 76. After the remaining portion of the mechanism has been hung from the track and the door is in position, the set screw 194 can be removed and the screw 108 adjusted, as necessary, to raise or lower the free edge of the door so as to align the door with the opening. When this has been accomplished, the set screw 104 is reinserted and tightened to lock the adjusting mechanism in place.

Although the door of this invention is intended for use primarily in the automatic sliding mode of operation and the swinging feature is supplied mainly because of the possibility that the hydraulic mechanism may fail, it should be observed that in the swinging mode of operation of the door it so exactly approximates the conventional swinging door that it is entirely feasible to turn oil the power to the hydraulic mechanism and use the door in the swinging mode under conditions where traflic is light. This is particularly so, because the door both releases for swinging and relatches for sliding automatically, and there are no rollers needed beneath the door nor is any overhead suspension needed for keeping the door free edge from sagging.

It will be appreciated that the above description of a specific embodiment of my invention is for purposes of illustration, and that changes in the mechanism may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention and that the scope of the invention is to be determined from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechanism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, a swinging door closer mechanism secured to said trolley and providing a top door pivot near said jamb, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported between said pivots and adapted to swing about an axis through said pivots under the control of said door closer mechanism, adjustment means for shifting the lower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end thereof to shift the position of said bottom pivot relative to the position of said top pivot and to fix said jamb in adjusted position to align the door, said adjustment means comprising a member fixed to said trolley and having a portion adjacent a portion of said jamb at a position spaced from said trolley, adjustment means acting between said portions for adjusting the spacing therebetween to adjust the angularity of said jamb relative to said member and relative to said trolley, guiding means for the lower portion of said door jamb to maintain said jamb vertical, and power means connected for rolling said trolley and said door jamb as a unit along said track.

2. In a combined rolling and swinging door mecha-' nism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, a swinging door closer mechanism secured to said trolley and providing a top door pivot near said jamb, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported between said pivots and adapted to swing about an axis through said pivots under the control of said door closer mechanism, adjustment means for shifting the lower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end thereof to shift the position of said bottom pivot rel a-v tive to the position of said top pivot and to fix said jamb in adjusted position to align the door, guiding means for the lower portion of said door jamb to maintain said jamb vertical, power means connected for rolling said trolley and said door jamb as a unit along said track, resettable breakaway latching means for releasably holding the door in alignment with said trolley, sensing means for determining when said door is in alignment with said trolley, automatic mechanism for resetting said latching means from released to latching condition when said trolley is moved along said track by said power means, and said sensing means operating to prevent actuation of said power means unless said door is in alignment with said trolley.

3. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechanism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, a swinging door closer mechanism secured to said trolley and providing a top door pivot near said jamb, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported between said pivots and adapted to swing about an axis through said pivots under the control of said door closer mechanism, adjustment means for shifting thelower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end thereof to shift the position of said bottom pivot relative to the position of said top pivot and to fix said jamb in adjusted position to align the door, said adjustment means comprising a member fixed to said trolley and having a portion adjacent a portion of said jamb at a position spaced from said trolley, adjustment means acting between said portions for adjusting the spacing therebetween to adjust the angularity of said jamb relative to said member and relative to said trolley, guiding means for the lower portion of said door jamb to maintainsaid jamb vertical, and power cylinder and piston means fixed in a position alongside said trolley and connected to said trolley for rolling said trolley and said door jamb as a unit along said track.

4. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechanism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, a swinging door closer mechanism secured to said trolley and providing a top door pivot near said jamb, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported.

between said pivots and adapted to swing'about an axis through said pivots under the control of said door closer mechanism, adjustment means for shifting the lower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end there of to shift the position of said bottom pivot relative to the position of said top pivot and to fix said jam-b in adjusted position to align the door, guiding means for the lower portion of said door jamb to maintain-said jamb vertical, apower cylinder fixed to said track in a position alongside said track, a piston in said cylinder connected to said trolley for rolling said trolley and said door jamb as a unit along said track, resettable break-away latching means for releasably holding the door in alignment with said trolley, sensing means for determining when said door is in alignment with said trolley, automatic mechanism for resetting said latching means from released to latching condition when said trolley is moved along said track by said power cylinder and piston means, and said sensing means operating to prevent actuation of said power cylinder and piston means unless said door is in alignment with said trolley.

5. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechanism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, a swinging door closer mechanism secured to said trolley and providing a top door pivot near said jamb, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported between said pivots and adapted to swing about an axis through said pivots under the control of said door closer mechanism, adjustment means for shifting the lower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end thereof to shift the position of said bottom pivot relative to the position of said top :pivot and to fix said jamb in adjusted position to align the door, guiding means for the lower portion of said door jamb to maintain said jamb vertical, means providing a cylinder fixed in a position alongside said trolley, a piston in said cylinder fitted to said cylinder, a piston rod of smaller diameter than said piston connected to said piston and extending from one end of said cylinder in sealed relation thereto, the end of said rod opposite said piston being connected to said trolley, a one-way inlet valve at the opposite end of said cylinder, said cylinder having a plurality of small perforations extending from the interior to the exterior of said cylinder, said perforations being provided at spaced intervals along said cylinder substantially from end to end of said cylinder, hydraulic fluid conduit means connected to said inlet valve and to the exterior ends of said perforations, and means for resiliently urging said piston in a direction away from said one end of said cylinder.

6. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechanism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a door jamb extending downwardly from said trolley adjacent one end of said trolley, means providing a top door pivot near said jam-b, means providing a bottom pivot secured to the bottom of said jamb in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, a door supported between said pivots and adapted to swing about an axis through said pivots, adjustment means for shifting the lower end of said door jamb slightly relative to the upper end thereof to shift the position of said bottom pivot relative to the position of said top pivot and to fix said jamb in adjusted position to align the door, said door jamb and adjustment means therefore comprising a rigid stem secured to said trolley and extending downwardly therefrom, a tube slid over said stem and extending downwardly below the end of said stem, means for supporting said tube, and means for moving an intermediate portion of said tube toward and away from the lower portion of said stem.

7. In a combined rolling and swinging door mechnism, an overhead track, a trolley adapted to run along said track, a rigid stem rigidly secured to said trolley and extending downwardly therefrom, a tube slid over said stem and extending downwardly below the end of said stem and secured at its top against substantial move ment relative to said trolley, means for supporting said tube, adjustment means for moving an intermediate portion of said tube toward and away from the lower portion of said stem, means providing a top door pivot near said tube, means providing a bottom do-or pivot secured to the lower end of said tube in substantial vertical alignment with said top pivot, and a door supported between said pivots.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,103,377 7/1914 Potter 49-505 X 1,203,437 10/1916 Urmson 20-12 3,136,538 6/1964 Dimmitt et a1. 26839 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,334,712 7/1963 France.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

I. K. BELL, Assisant Examiner.