ITRM20080621A1 - DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND DAMPING THE MOVEMENT OF A SLIDING DOOR AND ITS INSTALLATION METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (5) for closing and dampening a sliding door (1), said sliding door (1) comprising a traverse (2), an abutment upright (3) and at least a wing (4) having a front lateral edge and a rear lateral edge, said wing (4) being slidingly coupled with said traverse (2) and having an opening position and a closure position, in correspondence of which said front lateral edge is close to said abutment upright (3), said closure and dampening device (5) being characterized in that it comprises wing (4) closure means (6, 61, 62), interacting with said wing (4) so has to exert a force suitable to make it passing from said opening position to said closure position; and means for dampening the closure stroke of said wing (4). The present invention also relates to a method of installation of said device (5) and to a kit of a device (5) for closing and dampening.

Description

DEVICE FOR CLOSING AND DAMPING THE MOVEMENT OF

A SLIDING DOOR AND RELATIVE METHOD OF

INSTALLATION.

The present invention relates to a device for closing and damping the movement of a sliding door and its installation method.

Pi? in detail, the invention relates to a closing and damping device for a door of the aforesaid type, designed and manufactured in particular to guarantee its closure without knocks in any position.

How? It is well known that sliding doors are currently very widespread, in particular retractable sliding doors, which mainly have a door, a counterframe and sliding means.

The counter frame typically comprises a box, which replaces with its own overall dimensions a portion of the wall on which said sliding door? installed and inside which the door can? be inserted when? in the open position. Said box also includes a sliding crosspiece and a door stop upright.

The sliding means are adapted to guide the leaf of the door from an opening configuration, in which said leaf? inserted completely or partially in said box, to a closing configuration, in which said door is extracted from said box, closing the lumen of the passage of said door.

The aforesaid sliding means are generally trolleys, coupled in sliding to an upper track fixed to said sliding crosspiece, and possibly a further lower guide track, adapted to allow a guided movement of the wing.

Lately, ? The need to equip the sliding doors with motion damping systems or devices, capable of preventing the leaf of said door from slamming against the upright, generating an annoying noise, is strongly felt.

Are there already on the market? solutions to this problem, which however have various drawbacks.

A known solution concerns a device comprising a return spring, the first end of which? coupled to a fixed point, while the second? coupled to the sliding leaf, and a braking device comprising a toothed wheel and acting by friction.

This solution presents various operating problems.

In fact, if the spring does not? well calibrated, can? happen that the door does not reach the stop upright in closing, remaining slightly open.

Among other things, the springs, how? known, they are subject to wear and must be replaced periodically.

The regulation of this type of devices? very complex. Indeed, ? It is necessary to provide springs with different return force for different doors, according to the weight, the material (e.g. wood or glass) and the size.

Instead, the braking device? subject to very high wear and must be replaced frequently. Furthermore, in the event of a rather strong additional thrust, said device does not guarantee the braking of the leaf.

In light of the above,? purpose of the present invention, is to propose a closing device for sliding door leaves capable of slowing down their movement during the stroke, so? to accompany the door leaf until closing whatever the opening position, partial or total.

? It is also an object of the present invention to provide a compact closing and damping device which can also be applied to already sliding doors. installed without any closing and damping devices.

? It is also an object of the present invention that the closing and damping device is applicable to counter frames.

Therefore, the specific object of the present invention is a closing and damping device for a sliding door, said sliding door comprising a crosspiece, an upright and at least one door having a front side edge and a rear side edge, said door being coupled in sliding to said cross member and having an open position and a closed position in which said front lateral edge? approached to said abutment upright, said closing and damping device being characterized in that it comprises: means for closing the door, interacting with it so as to exert a force capable of making it pass from said opening position to said closing position ; and means for damping the closing stroke of said door.

Always according to the invention, said damping means can be integral with said door, or are provided independently of the door itself.

Still according to the invention, said damping means can comprise a cylinder, a piston movable slidably in said cylinder, defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber of the cylinder, and connected to said leaf by means of connection, provided above said cylinder. , and a one-way valve, provided on the end? of said cylinder opposite to that of connection of the piston with said leaf, which allows the exit of air from the lower chamber of said cylinder only during the descent stroke of the piston along the cylinder.

Advantageously according to the invention, said cylinder can be to be ? arranged substantially vertically and coupled to said rear side edge of said door by means of coupling means, such as a pair of fixed supports.

Further according to the invention, said closing means can comprise a counterweight, slidingly coupled to said cylinder, and further motion transmission means, such as a first cable, having one end? fixed to said counterweight and another end? fixed to said sliding crosspiece at a first fixing point, and passing through transmission means, such as a pulley, so that when said leaf passes from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, said counterweight exerts a force causing the closure of said door.

Always according to the invention, said first fixing point can? being in an intermediate position between the projections on the sliding crosspiece of said front lateral edge and of said rear lateral edge of said door, when the latter is in said closed position.

Still according to the invention, said device can? comprising a pair of supports suitable for slidingly coupling said counterweight to said cylinder.

Further according to the invention, said connection means can be constituted by motion transmission means, such as a second cable, having one end? fixed to said plunger and an? other end? fixed to said sliding crosspiece in a second fixing point, and passing through transmission means.

Advantageously according to the invention, said motion transmission means can comprise a return channel obtained in a return block substantially located at one end? of said sliding crosspiece, and a pulley, located at a further extremity? of said cylinder.

Always according to the invention, said door can? further comprising a counterframe having a box coupled to said sliding crosspiece, said leaf entering through said rear lateral edge wholly or partially inside said box in said opening position.

Still according to the invention, said device can? comprising means, preferably a magnet, suitable for keeping said leaf in the open position, which can be fixed to said cylinder or to one of said fixed supports.

Further according to the invention, said magnet can? be coupled to the metal bottom of said box.

A further object of the present invention is a method for installing a device as defined above, comprising the following steps:

- disassemble the door and the relative sliding carriages from said sliding crosspiece;

- inserting the return block having said return channel in said sliding crosspiece;

- push said return block to the end? rear of said sliding crosspiece;

- fixing the magnet to the second lower support 12 arranged below;

- fixing said pair of supports of said cylinder to the rear lateral edge of said door;

- re-installing said sliding carriages and said wing to said sliding crosspiece;

- place said door in the open position, in which? maintained thanks also to the coupling action of said magnet with the metal bottom of said box;

- pull said first cable up to completely raise said counterweight placing it in proximity? of the second upper fixed support;

- fix the end? free of said first cable to said first fixing point;

- arranging said leaf either completely open or in an intermediate closing position, in the position in which it is desired that it begins to slow down when it is in the closing phase;

- pull said second cable until it is stretched and fix the end? free of the same in said second fixing point; And

- cut the excess of said cables.

Always according to the invention, said sliding crosspiece can? be provided with a? slot in which? the return block can be inserted.

Another specific object of the present invention is a closing and damping device kit, as defined above, comprising: a cylinder provided with fixed supports which can be fixed to one edge of said leaf and a valve at one end; a plunger movable slidably in said cylinder, a cable having one end? fixed to said plunger and an? other end? it can be fixed to said sliding cross member, passing through transmission means, such as a pulley and a transmission channel; a counterweight, slidingly coupled to said cylinder; and a cable, having one? fixed to said counterweight and another end? it can be fixed to said sliding crosspiece and passing through transmission means, such as a pulley. Always according to the invention, said kit can? include a magnet.

The present invention will come now described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the attached figure, which shows a longitudinal sectional view of a counter frame having a sliding door in which? installed the closing and damping device.

Referring to the attached figure? It is possible to observe a door, generally indicated by the numerical reference 1, of the type comprising a counter frame, provided with a box, a sliding crosspiece 2 and an upright 3.

The door 1 also comprises a leaf 4, slidingly coupled to said sliding crosspiece 2, by means of carriages, sliding (not shown in the figure) on a track (not shown in the figure) which are not a specific part of the object of the invention.

The door 1 includes a closing and damping device, generically indicated with the numerical reference 5, to allow the door 4 to close in any position it is, allowing it to reach the upright 3 in a slowed way, accompanying its motion. .

The closing and damping device 5 comprises a counterweight 6, which slides vertically, when said door 4 passes from the open to the closed position and vice versa, capable of producing the thrust which determines the closure of the door 4.

As can be seen from the figure, said counterweight 6 moves vertically, but? forced to move horizontally in solidarity with said door (direction indicated in the figure with the arrow A).

Said counterweight 6? connected to the first end? of a first cable 61. The second extremity? of said first cable 61? fixed to said sliding crosspiece 2, in a first intermediate point of the same indicated by the numerical reference P1. Furthermore, the first cable 61 passes through a pulley 62 fixed to the leaf 4.

In the present embodiment, the point P1? preferably placed in an intermediate position between the projections on the sliding crosspiece 2 of the lateral edges of the door 4 when the latter is in the closed position, i.e. when the front edge? approached to the stop upright 3.

The device 5 also comprises a substantially vertical damping cylinder 7, parallel to the rear edge of the wing 4, with a piston 8 housed inside said damping cylinder 7 and able to slide in it. The damping cylinder 7 acts as a brake on the motion of the leaf 4, however allowing the leaf 2 to always close, regardless of the intermediate opening position in which it is located, thus counteracting the action of the force of gravity. on the counterweight 6.

Said damping cylinder 7 has a first end. 71 open upper and a second extremity? 72 lower closed by a one-way valve 9, designed to prevent the suction of air in the lifting movement of the plunger 8, whose modality? of operation will be? better specified below.

The counterweight 6? slidingly coupled to said damping cylinder 7 by means of first suitably shaped supports 10.

Said damper cylinder 7? also fixed to said door 4 by means of a pair of second fixed supports 11.

Said plunger 8? coupled to a second cable 81 fixed to the sliding crosspiece 2 at point P2 and returned by means of a pulley 83 and a channel 82. said channel 82? placed in a block of return 84 fixed at the end? rear of the sliding cross member 2 itself.

Finally, the closing and damping device 5 also comprises a magnet 12, fixed on the second lower support 12, able to hold the leaf 4 in the open position, by acting on a fixed metal element, which in the case in question can be held in the open position. be the box itself of door 1.

The damper cylinder 7? preferably made of aluminum, while the supports 10 and 11 are preferably made of plastic material, so as to allow a reduction in the overall weight of the device 5.

Preferably said cables 61 and 81 are not elastic, so as to avoid possible tearing.

In a further embodiment, the damping cylinder 7 can be be placed in different positions, for example along said sliding crosspiece 2 or in the bottom of the box.

Furthermore, different closing means can be used instead of the counterweight 6. Between these, ? It is possible to consider the use of a spring, capable of applying a constant force to leaf 4 in closing.

The latch and damping device 5 operates as follows. When door 4? in the open position, the counterweight 6? positioned at the top in the vicinity? of the second fixed support 11, therefore in a condition of maximum potential energy. Instead, the plunger 8 is located in proximity? of the second end? 72 of said damping cylinder 7.

In the event that the door 4 is at the stop, the magnet 12 will hold? the same adhering to the rear side of the metal box, preventing it from closing.

By exerting even a minimum traction to overcome the holding force of the leaf 4 by the magnet 13, said leaf 4 will be? free to close. In this case, and in all other cases of even partial opening of the door 4, the counterweight 6 will exercise? its action, giving the door 4 the necessary and sufficient thrust to give it the closing motion.

At the same time, the plunger 8 will start. its upward stroke, creating a vacuum condition in the lower part of the damping cylinder 7, between the same piston 8 and the valve 9, which is in the closed condition.

The air, therefore, flows into the damping cylinder 7, drawing only between the damping cylinder 7 itself and the piston 8. of the small tolerance between the external diameter of the piston 8 and the internal diameter of the damping cylinder 7, passer? a quantity? reduced air, cos? by slowing down the movement, the stroke of the piston 8 and consequently the closing stroke of the leaf 4, until it hits the closing stop 3.

By properly adjusting the length of the second cable 81,? It is possible to adjust the section in which the leaf 4 is braked with respect to the entire opening of the door 1, thus delaying or not the intervention of the piston 8. In other words,? It is possible to adjust the position of the leaf 4 in which the piston 8 begins to slide into the damping cylinder 7. Before that, the leaf 4 will be? free to slide, until the second cable 81 is stretched and begins to drag the piston 8 by lifting it.

In the phase of opening the door 1, the plunger 8 will be? free to descend along its seat by gravity, thanks to the fact that the valve 9, being open, allows the expulsion of the air contained in the lower part of the damping cylinder 7, during the downward stroke of the piston 8 itself.

Consider that the counterweight 6 and the plunger 8 have a weight ratio such as to allow the door to close in any position in which the door 4 is left, as well as to allow the door to close in any position. suitable for any type (weight) of commercial door.

The device 5 according to the invention, can? either to be previously installed in new sliding doors 1 or to be installed in doors 1 and counterframes that do not provide it (retrofitting).

In particular, in the following description of the installation operations of a device according to the invention, the case of a sliding door 1 comprising a box (not shown) is considered. installed, intended to replace a portion of the wall with its own bulk, and a door 4 slidingly coupled to the sliding crosspiece 2.

In this case, to install a device 5 in port 1, the following steps are performed:

- disassembly of the leaf 4 and of the relative carriages from the sliding crosspiece;

- inserting the return block 84 comprising the return channel 82 in a slot 13 of the sliding crosspiece;

- push, if necessary using a tool, the transmission block 84 up to the end? rear of the sliding cross member 2, i.e. the one located on the bottom of the compartment of the subframe box. Said referral block 84? preferably equipped with a metal spring capable of preventing it from falling into said box and of fitting said return block 84 in position. Said spring also allows said transmission block 84 to fall inside the box in case of breakage or replacement of the cable 81;

- fixing the magnet 12 to the second lower support 11 arranged below;

- fixing the pair of second fixed supports 11 of said damping cylinder 7 to the rear edge of said door 4, i.e. the one intended to be inserted in the compartment of said box. Consider that the cables 61 and 81 are already? arranged respectively coupled to said counterweight 6 and said piston 8 and passing through said pulley 62 and said channel 82;

- re-install the sliding carriages and the leaf 4 to the sliding crosspiece 2;

- place door 4 in the open position, in which? maintained thanks also to the coupling action of the magnet 12 with the metal bottom of the box;

- pull the first cable 61 until the counterweight 6 is completely raised, i.e. arranging it in the vicinity? of the second fixed upper support 11;

- fix the end? free cable 61 at point P1;

- arrange the leaf 4 either completely open or in an intermediate closing position, in the position in which you want it to start to slow down when it is in the closing phase;

- pull the second cable 81 until it is stretched and fix the end? free of the same in point P2; And

- cut off the excess of cables 61 and 81.

It can be observed that the movement damping device 5 according to the invention is always covered by the counter frame, since the rear edge of the door is hidden by the box.

The solution according to the present invention has the advantage of allowing the door leaf to be closed in any position.

A further advantage of the present invention? the fact that said device can? be easily installed even in sliding doors not equipped with a locking system.

? another advantage of the present invention, that of allowing an adjustment of the position and of the damping force of the door during the closing movement

The present invention? has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but? it is to be understood that variations and / or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection, as defined by the attached claims.

Claims (17)

CLAIMS 1. Closing and damping device (5) for a sliding door (1), said sliding door (1) comprising a crosspiece (2), an upright (3) and at least one leaf (4) having a lateral edge front and a rear lateral edge, said door (4) being coupled in sliding to said crosspiece (2) and having an open position and a closed position in which said front lateral edge? approached to said upright (3), said closing and damping device (5) being characterized in that it comprises: closing means (6, 61, 62) of the door (4), interacting with it so as to exert a force able to make it pass from said open position to said closed position; And means for damping the closing stroke of said door (4). 2. Device (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that said damping means are integral with said wing (4), or are provided independently of said wing (4). Device (5) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said damping means comprise a cylinder (7), a piston (8) movable slidingly in said cylinder (7), defining an upper chamber and a lower chamber of the cylinder (7), and connected to said leaf (4) by means of connection means (81, 82, 83), provided at the top with respect to said cylinder (7), and a one-way valve (9), provided at the end ? (72) of said cylinder (7) opposite to that of connection of the piston (8) with said leaf (4), which allows the exit of air from the lower chamber of said cylinder (7) only during the descent stroke of the piston (8) along the cylinder (7). 4. Device (5) according to claim 3, characterized in that said cylinder (7)? arranged substantially vertically and coupled to said rear lateral edge of said door (4) by means of coupling, such as a pair of fixed supports (11). 5. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims 3 - 4, characterized in that said closing means (6, 61, 62) comprise a counterweight (6), slidingly coupled to said cylinder (7), e further means of transmission of the motion, such as a first cable (61), having one end? fixed to said counterweight (6) and an? other extremity? fixed to said sliding cross member (2) in a first fixing point (P1), and passing through transmission means, such as a pulley (62), so that when said door (4) passes from said open position to said closed position and vice versa, said counterweight (6) exerts a force causing the closure of said door (4). 6. Device (5) according to claim 5, characterized in that said first fixing point (P1)? in an intermediate position between the projections on the sliding crosspiece (2) of said front lateral edge and of said rear lateral edge of said door (4), when the latter is in said closed position. 7. Device (5) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that it comprises a pair of supports (10) suitable for slidingly coupling said counterweight (6) to said cylinder (7). 8. Device (5) according to one of claims 3 - 7, characterized in that said connection means consist of motion transmission means, such as a second cable (81), having one end? fixed to said plunger (8) and an? other end? fixed to said sliding cross member (2) in a second fixing point (P2), and passing through transmission means (82, 83). 9. Device (5) according to claim 8, characterized in that said motion transmission means comprise a transmission channel (82) obtained in a transmission block (84) substantially located at one end? of said sliding cross member (3), and a pulley (83), located at a further extremity? (71) of said cylinder (7). Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said door (1) further comprises a counterframe having a box coupled to said sliding cross member (2), said door (4) entering through said rear lateral edge wholly or partially inside said box in said open position. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means, preferably a magnet (12), suitable for keeping said door (4) in the open position. Device (5) according to claim 11, characterized in that said means for keeping said leaf (4) open are fixed to said cylinder (7) or to one of said fixed supports (11). 13. Device (5) according to one of claims 11 or 12 when dependent on 10, characterized in that said magnet (12)? which can be coupled to the metal bottom of said box. 14. Method of installing a device (5) as defined in claims 1? 13, comprising the following steps: - disassemble the leaf (4) and the relative sliding carriages from said sliding crosspiece (2); - inserting the return block (84) having said return channel (82) in said sliding crosspiece (2); - push said return block (84) to the end? rear of said sliding crosspiece (2); - fixing the magnet (12) to the second lower support 12 arranged below; - fixing said pair of fixed supports (11) of said cylinder (7) to the rear lateral edge of said door (4); - re-installing said sliding carriages and said wing (4) to said sliding crosspiece (2); - arrange said door (4) in the open position, in which? maintained thanks also to the coupling action of said magnet (12) with the metal bottom of said box; - pull said first cable (61) until said counterweight (6) is completely raised, placing it in proximity to it; of the second upper fixed support (11); - fix the end? free of said first cable (61) to said first fixing point (P1); - arranging said door (4) either completely open or in an intermediate closing position, in the position in which it is desired that it begins to slow down when it is in the closing phase; - pull said second cable (81) until it is stretched and fix the end? free of the same in said second fixing point (P2); And - cut off the excess of said cables (61 and 81). 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that said sliding cross member (2)? provided with a? slot (13) in which? said transmission block (84) can be inserted. 16. Shut-off and damping device kit (5), as defined in claims 3? 13, comprising: a cylinder (7) provided with fixed supports (11) which can be fixed to an edge of said wing (4) and with a valve (9) at one end; a piston (8) slidingly movable in said cylinder (7), a cable (81) having one end? fixed to said plunger (8) and an? other end? it can be fixed to said sliding cross member (2), passing through transmission means, such as a pulley (83) and a transmission channel (82); a counterweight (6), slidingly coupled to said cylinder (7); And a cable (61), having one end? fixed to said counterweight (6) and an? other extremity? it can be fixed to said sliding crosspiece (2), and passing through transmission means, such as a pulley (62). 17. Kit according to claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a magnet (12).