Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
3~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to flexible strip curtain doors and
more particularly to a power operated bi-Eold strip curtain door.
Flexible strip curtain doors are finding ever increased use
at open doorways to keep warm or cooled air inside the closed area.
One problem with such strip curtain door installations is the applica-
tion to vehicle access doorways wherein the plastic strips ~re subject
to excess wear and damage by heavy traffic patterns found, ror
example, in car wash installations, enclosed parking garages, indus-
trial plants, etc.
Thus, the invention herein relates to a flexible strip
curtain power operated bi-fold vehicle door assembly which provides
extended service life together with solving other problems and limi-
tations of prior strip curtain doors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention herein contemplates a power operated bi-folding
strip curtain door assembly that insures against hot or cool air losses
or energy losses at vehicle access doorways. The door comprises at
least a pair of rigid folding inboard and outboard sections hinged
together in a side-by-side manner. Each section supports a group of
flexible hanging strip curtains in overlapping relation to each other.
A feature of the invention resides in the juncture of adjacent groups
of strip curtains being sealed by means of an overlapping flexible
outermost strip that is reinforced along its upper horizontal edge.
The outermost reinforced strip thus projects laterally in the plane
defined by its associated curtain strips. Upon operation of the door
actuator, the reinforced strip curtain border is moved into overlapped
engagement with -the outermost strip of a neighboring group of strip
curtains so as to provide a seal therewith.
The sections are hinged together in side-by-side relation
r~ y
- ~ i
, ~ ~ J~,
i~" ,,` .. ..
for movement between door -forming unfolded or extended poritions and
door folcled positions wherein the doorway is open. The inboard
section is supported from an overhead track by a carriage. rhe out-
board secti.on is pivotally connected at its outermost end to an
upright member defining one side of the doorway space. A cy.linder
and piston actuator has its blind end pivoted on the upright member
with its piston rod free end pi.voted to a mid portion of the adjacent
outboard section.
Thus it is a feature of the present invention to provide a
strip curtain bi-fold door assembly for use i.n a door space defined
by an overhead track, a floor and a pair of spaced apart uprights,
with the assembly comprising at least a pair of laterally positioned
rigid inboard and outboard support sections hinged together at
opposed adjacent ends by first hinge means, each of the support
sections including means for suspending therefrom a group of elongated
flexible strip curtains in overlapping relation adapted to close at
least a part of the door space.
It is a further feature of the present invention to provide
a strip curtain bi-fold door assembly of the aforementioned type
wherein second hinge means are provided for connecting ~he free end
of the outboard section to one of the uprights and carriage means are
provided which are adapted to guidingly engage the track for travel
therealong between the uprights, with the carriage means including
pivot pin means for suspending the inboard section adjacent its free
end from the track for pivotal movement during travel of the carriage
means.
A still fur~her feature of the present invention is to
provide a strip curtain bi-fold door assembly of the aforementioned
type wherein fluid actuator means are connected between the outboard
section and the one upright for moving the sections and their associated
--2--
~ ~t~
groups of -flexible strip curtains between an extended position across
the door space and a folded position adjacent the one upright.
Another -feature of the present invention is to provide a
strip curtain bi-fold door assembl~ of the aforementioned type whe-lein
regulating means are provided for supplying pressurizecl fluid fo-r
energizing the fluid actuator means; control means are provide~l for
operating the regulating means including first switch means operating
the actuator means causing the inboard and outboard sections to be
moved to their folded position and including second switch means
operating the actuator means causing the inboard and outboard sections
to be moved to their extended position.
Still another -feature is to provide a strip curtain bi-fold
door assembly wherein the outboard section has a terminal strip
curtain vertical border portion extending laterally a predetermined
distance beyond the opposed adjacent end thereof and means reinforcing
the upper horizontal edge of the terminal strip curtain so that its
border portion is maintained in the plane of its associated group of
strip curtains carried by the outboard section whereby upon the inboard
and outboard sections being in an extended position the terminal strip
curtain border portion overlaps the next adjacent terminal strip
curtain of the inboard section such that a lap seal is provided at the
juncture of the groups of flexible strip curtains.
A further feature of the present invention is to provide a
bi-fold strip curtain door assembly wherein the inboard and outboard
sections when in the folded position have a V-shaped configuration
with first interior sur-faces of the sections facing inwardly in
opposing relation and second exterior surfaces of the sections facing
outwardly, with the fluid actuator means being in the form of a piston
and cylinder device, with the cy]inder thereof having one end pivotally
connected to the one upright and having an extensible and retractable
--3--
t~
piston rod extending from the other end thereof and being pivotally
connected to an intermediate second surface portion of the outboard
section whereby -the axis of the cylinder and piston rod is disposed
substantially parallel to the outboard section seconcl surface when
the sections are in either the folded position or the extended position.
Another feature is to provide a bi-fold strip curtain door
assembly wherein the -first switch means is responsive to the presence
of a vehicle in the area adjacent one side of the door space thereby
operating the actuator rneans causing the inboard and outboard sections
to be moved to the folded position with the second switch means being
responsive to the presence of the vehicle in the area adjacent the
other side of the door space thereby operating the actuator means
causing the inboard and outboard sections to be returned to their
extended position.
Still another feature is to provide a bi-fold strip curtain
door assembly wherein a second pair of inboard and outboard support
sections are provided, the second pair supporting a group of elongated
flexible strip curtains and being similarly mounted and arranged on
the other upright and overhead track to provide double door assemblies
operable simultaneously by control means to open and close the door
space.
These and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon reading the following description,
of which the attached drawings form a part.
~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, with parts
disassembled and broken away, of a power operated bi-fold strip
curtain door assembly;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bi-fold strip curtain
door assembly, with parts broken away, and illustrating a pair of
--4--
inboard and outboard door sections in a folded position;
Figure 3 is a -fragmentary elevational view taken on the
line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the protective shield removed;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, with
the protective shield removed, looking in the direction of arro~,J 4
of Figure l; ancl
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of
Figure 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF lHE PREFERRED E~BODl~ENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like
numerals indicate like or corresponding elements, there is illustrated
in Figure 2 right and left hand bi-fold door assemblies generally
indicated by the reference numeral 10. The door assemblies include
bi-fold doors or door means 11, as an example in the form of strip
curtains, closing a door space or opening 12 defined by an inverted
U-shape frame 14 support on the floor 15. The frame 14 is symmetrical
and includes vertically disposed columns~ door jambs, uprights, or
upright members 18, and a hori~ontally disposed bridge portion, box
header or header member 20 spanning the uprights 18. The uprights 18
and header 20 define access opening 12 enabling pedestrians or
vehicles to pass through such opening.
Each upright member 18 includes an upper member part 16 and
a lower part member 17. The lower member part 17 is substantially
longer than the upper member part 16. Each member part is tubular
and is of rectangular con-Eiguration. The center member 20 is secured
at each end to the upper member parts 16 (Figure 2) by suitable means
such as welding or by angle brackets not shown. The upper member
part 16 is connected to the lower mem~er part 17 by means of a pair
of oppositely facing channel or angle brackets or clips 22, 23 which
are bolted together by -fasteners 21 which include bolts and nuts as
`q~v
shown in Figure 4.
An elongated overhead track or track member 24 of generally
circular Cl'OSS section is supported beneath the header member 20 by
the upper member part 16. The track member is co-extensive with the
header member 20. The track 2~ is in the form of a tu~e and has the
Eree ends thereof extending through aligned apertures in each of the
upper member parts 16. The outer ends of the tube or track 2~ may be
secured to the uprights by collars 27 or by other suitable means.
Each bi-Eold door 11 is provided with a pair of guide
rollers 28 which provides a carriage or carriage means for suspending
the bi-fold door 11 from the track 2~. Each guide roller 28 is
provided with an annular concave recess 29 (Figure 5) conforming with
the track or tube 24 to allow rolling engagement therewith.
As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, fluid powered linear
door actuators generally indicated at 30 are provided on each side oE
the doorway 12 for each right and left hand door assembly 10. It is
conceivable under certain circumstances that a single bi-fold door
assembly would be sufficient to close the doorway opening 12 but the
preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes duplicate or
double door assemblies 10, with one on each side of the doorway center
line as best illustrated in Figure 2.
It will be noted in Figure 2 that the left hand door
assembly 10 is a mirror image of the right hand door assembly 10
and the remaining parts are of the actuator means or actuators 30
and their controls are duplicates whether they are used on the left
or right hand sicle of the door. Therefore, the same numbers will be
used to represent duplicate parts of the bi-fold doors 11.
As best illustrated in Figures ] and 2, the ~luid actuator
30 in the preferred embodiment is a double-acting piston, not shown,
reciprocably slidable within an operating cylinder 3~. A piston rod
--6--
35 is connected on one end to the piston and extends outwardly throwgh
-the end wall 36 of the cylinder 34. The other end o-f the piston rod
35 is pivotally attached to the bi-fold door 11 in a manner to be
hereinaEter discussed. The cylinder 34 is pivotally mounted at its
opposite blind connected end 37 by means of an attached lug 38 joined
to a suitable clevis or bracket 39 by a pin 40. The clevis 39 is
anchored to one side (rear) of the upper member part 16. The free end
of the rod 35 has a tab formed with an eye which is joined by a pin
or other means 47 to a clevis 48. Clevis 48 is suitably -fixed as by
welding or by other means to one exterior face of the outboard section
generally indicated at 50 to be subsequently described in greater
detail.
The bi-fold door 11 includes a laterally positioned or
side-by-side outboard and inboard rigid door section 50 and 52
respectively which are hinged together at their opposed next adjacent
ends by means of first hinge means in the -form of a leaf hinge 53.
Each of the outboard and inboard sections 50 and 52 are of generally
rectangular configuration as shown in Figure 5. Each section 50, 52
is made from a single piece of metal or may be made -from sections or
strips which are folded together to form a support -for the strip
curtains as will be later described.
The outermost ends of the outboard section 50 is pivotally
connected to the upper member part 16 by a second hinge means in the
form o-f a gate type hinge or pivot generally indicated at 60 IFigure
4). The pivot 60 includes a pair of lugs 61 having a vertical bore
62. The lugs 61 are spaced vertically apart and are secured to the
upper member part 16 (Figure ~). The outer end of the outboard door
section 50 carries a pivot pin or element 647 with the opposing ends
thereof mounted in the lug 61 for rotation to permit the door assembly
to fold to one side of the doorway 12 as best illustrated in Figure 2.
--7--
The bi-fold door assemblies 11 include the curtain assemblies
G6, 68, 70 and 72 as best illustrated in Figure 1. Each curtain
assembly includes a number o:E flexible elongated strips 74 which are
appropriately supported by the inboard and outboard door sections 5()
and 52. Each curtain assembly has an elongated reinforcing or mount-
ing stay bar to which the upper edges of the corresponding elongated
strips 74 are secured. Curtain assembly 66 includes stay bar 76;
curtain assembly 68 includes stay bar 78; curtain assembly 70 includes
stay bar 80; and curtain assembly 72 includes stay bar 82. Figure 5
shows that the upper edges of the strip curtain 74 do not extend as
high as the upper edge portions of the corresponding stay bar 70. The
door section 52 has an undercut 83 which receives the stay bar 70
which is in turn secured to the section 52 by means of hanger machine
bolts, rivets or fasteners 84.
Each of the elongated flexible strips 74 is preferably
:Eormed of flexible plastic material such as vinyl or polyvinyl chloride.
The strips may be in different colours or be transparent or in any
combination for safety purposes. Each strip is generally the same as
its neighboring strips and may be provided in various widths with a
typical strip 74 having a width of 12" and a thickness of .120". The
strips 74 of each curtain assembly are arranged on the appropriate
stay bar to overlap as is clearly illustrated in the drawings.
In the outboard section 50, the outermost strip 74a has its
vertical edge at the upper end thereof notched at 88. In addition,
the vertical edge portion of each strip 74a is provided with a plurality
of punched holes 90 so that such edge may be secured to the adjacent
post or member 17 by means of the elongated vertical stay bar 92,
provided with corresponding openings 94. The stay bar 92 and strip
74a are secured to the adjacent post or column 17 by bolts or fasteners
96. The notch 88 permits the corresponding curtain assembly to be
--8--
3~
mounted around the mounting brackets or elements 22 and 23 as best
illustrated in Figure 4.
In the preferred embodiment, the inter;or strips 7~ fully
and completely overlap adjacent strips as best illustrated in the
several drawings.
~ s best shown in Figure 2, the folding juncture o~ each
bi-fold door 11 is de-fined by the hinge connection 53 interposed
between the inboard and outboard door sections 52 and 50 respectively.
The inboard section 52 of each bi-fold door 11 includes either the
stay bar 78 or 80 which extends beyond the hinge 53 so as to provide
a suitable overlapping strip seal for the adjacent outboard door
section 5n.
Each bi-fold door assembly 11 is supported from the single
overhead track 24 by carriage means 100 (Figures 3 and 5) which
includes the afore~entioned pair of guide rollers 28. The guide
roller 28 o-f each carriage means 100 closest to the center line 102
(Figure 3) of the doorway 12 is provided with an axial stub shaft,
mounting element and/or bushing 10~ (Figure 5) which has a vertical
bore 106 for receiving the upstanding post or rod 108. The lower
end portion of rod 108 is journaled in a pair of vertically spaced
apart lugs or ears 110 which are carried by the inboard section 52
and secured thereby by suitable bolts or fasteners 113. The other
roller 28 of each carriage means 100 also has a stub shaft and/or
bushing 114. A connecting plate or bar 116 is carried by the shafts
or supports of the associated rollers 28 of each carriage means 100
whereby the rollers 28 move together for tracking purposes upon open-
ing and closing of the bi-fold door 11. Thus each bi-fold door 11
has a pair of suitable connected rollers 28, with one roller having
an upstanding post or rod 108 which is secured to the inboard door
section 52 (Figure 3). A brace or bar 116 connects the rollers 28
-9-
~Z~3~
together. Thus the two rollers 28 o-f each carriage means 100 move
kogether simultaneously and in tandem and it has been found that the
roller assembly tracks better than when using a single roller thcrcby
eliminating the vibrations or the wiggling actions of the b:i-fold door
that has previ.ously been encountered when using a single support
roller.
In order to enclose and to protect the carriage means 100
and rollers 28 :Erom dust and dirt a protective cover or shield 120
(Figure 1) is supported on the header 20. The shield 120 includes
end portions 122 secured to the side surfaces o:E each of the upper
part members 16 by fasteners or bolts 124. A suitable mounting angle
126 and clips 128 are provided to assist in the mounting of the
shield 120.
Each bi-fold door 11 is provided with a conventi.onal direct
acting shock absorber 130. The closed end of the cylinder has a lug
132 which is pivotably connected by a pin 113 to a bracket 134 carried
by the upper part member 16 directly above the mounting for the
corresponding actuator 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The rod end
136 is journaled to the U-shaped bracket 138 in the usual manner well
known in the shock absorber art. The purpose of each shock absorber
130 i.s to dampen the movement of the bi-fold door upon opening the
door and closing the door.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the
fluid actuator 30 is preferably in the form o-f an air actuated
cylinder 32 with the opposite ends 36 and 37 of the air cylinder
connected, as an example, by suitable air lines 140 and 142 to a
control valve 144. A c,ontrol arrangement is provided wherein the
valve 144 is automatically operated to control the opening and closing
of the bi-fold cur~ain doors 10. Thus 7 fluid such as air is fed from
a pressure source by suitable conduits 146 and 1~8 into the front end
--10--
of the cylinder 34 to thereby retract the piston rod 35 to the position
shown in Figure 2 wherein the door sections 50 and 52 are folded out-
wardly to form a "V" con-figuration to allow a vehicle to pass through
the doorway 12. The actuator 30 causes the pair o:E guicl,e rollers 2~
to be rolled along the track 24 in a lateral outer direction towards
upright 18 whil.e the sections 50 and 52 are pi~oted about their f:i.rst
hi.nge means 53 as shown in Figure 2. The shock absorber 130 cushions
the bi-fold door 11 upon the sections being folded into their V-shaped
configuration. The shock absorbers 130 are self contained units such
as used on automobiles and for other purposes. They dampen in both
directions.
As stated above, it is within the contemplation of the
invention that the bi-fold doors 10 can be operated automatically
with the control valve or valves 144 including solenoid valve means
to control the admission of -fluid pressure to each of the cylinders
32. The doors 10 are operated automatically, for example, upon a
vehicle entering the area adjacent the interior o-f the door space.
Such an arrangement would further include an entrace limit switch an
an exit limit swi-tch 160, each switch being of the type having a
feeler arm 1.62 engageable with the vehicle to establish an initial
electrical signal to i.nitiate operation of the solenoid controlled
valve 144 as a vehicle enters the area, such as a car wash doorway
within which the apparatus is installed. The vehicle would operate
the limit switch to energize the valve 144 and cause the strip
curtain door or doors 11 to be folded to their doorway open positio:n
as shown in Figure 2. Further travel of the -vehicle through the
doorway causes the exit limit switch 160 (Figure 2) to be energized
through actuation of feeler arm 162 to cam along the vehicle body
effecting operation of the control mechanism and reversal of the
valve 144. This extends each piston rod 35 so as to move the
-11-
bi-folding curtain door sections 50 and 52 to their ex~ended doorway
closed position as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
It is within the contemplation of the present invention
that the actuator 30 could be single acting wherein compression spring
means would normally urge the piston rod 35 into its extended posi-
tion. With such an arrangement upon a malfunction, such as loss of
pressurized fluid to the cylinder 32, the piston rod 35 would be
extended by the spring biasing means whereby the bi--fold curtain door
sections 50, 52 would be moved to their doorway closed position.
The pneumatic circuit for the fluid cylinders or actuators
30 includes a regulator panel assembly 164 mounted on one upright
member 18. The aforemerltionea air lines or conduits are suitably
connected to the regulator panel assembly 164 and to an air filter,
not shown, as is well known in the pneumatic -field.
-12-
