Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: SLIDING WALL
Description
The invention is directed to a sliding wall with a plurality of laterally
displaceable wall
elements which are guided by means of running rollers at a carrying profile
arranged above the
wall elements. At least one of these wall elements is constructed with a drive
unit for actuating
the wall element as a rotating leaf, the drive unit being arranged so as to be
stationary with
respect to the displaceable wall element. Actuating means which can
automatically operate or be
inactive by means of a rod linkage when the wall element is displaced are
provided between the
drive unit and the rotating leaf.
A sliding wall with a plurality of laterally displaceable wall elements that
are
displaceable by means of running rollers along a sliding rail is described in
DE 199 59 825 C1.
At least one wall element is constructed as a rotating leaf that can be
actuated by a door closer.
A sliding rail rod linkage which automatically couples or uncouples is
arranged between the door
closer and the wall element that serves as a rotating leaf. The arrangement of
the individual wall
elements with respect to one another is realized by means of fittings. This
means that when
moving the sliding wall with all of its elements, these elements must always
be moved in their
entirety. This imparts a correspondingly high stability to the elements of the
sliding wall with
respect to one another. Further, there is a locking member by means of which
the rotating leaf
can only be actuated when the entire sliding installation is in the closed
position. The rotating
door drive unit which is mounted in a stationary manner is released in this
position. Due to the
design of the suspension of the rotating leaf, that is, due to the fact that
the suspension is not
arranged at the displaceable and rotatable wall element, the suspension is
relieved because the
weight of the drive device is structurally absorbed.
It is the object of the invention to further develop the prior art in such a
way that a drive
unit according to DE 199 59 825 C1 can be used in any type of sliding wall.
This object is met in that a sliding wall comprising individual wall elements
which are
movable manually or by motor has a bottom guide which is guided, particularly
in a wall
element formed as a rotating leaf, at the upper end and lower end of the leaf.
Further, the
rotating leaf has a first swivel pin and a second swivel pin in order to
impart corresponding
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stability to the rotating leaf during a rotating movement. Further, the
individual wall elements
are automatically coupled with one another at the moment that they form a
closed front, so that
the rotating leaf can swivel without risk.
The above-stated object is met according to patent claim 1 through the
characteristic
features indicated therein. The subclaims show advantageous further
developments of the
invention.
In order to form a first and second swivel pin, the rotating leaf is outfitted
with at least
one lever arm. Further, the rotating leaf is guided in an upper and a lower
end area by means of
the above-mentioned guide elements in a bottom rail and a top carrying rail.
Due to this
arrangement according to the invention, the rotating leaf swivels around the
lever arm as well as
around the guide elements which are moved in an upper, additional guide rai(
as the swiveling of
the door leaf element progresses. In so doing, the main closing edge of the
rotating leaf travels
an elliptic path. Sufficient stability is imparted to the swiveling movement
by means of a three-
point bearing support, namely, in that it is guided in the upper area and the
lower area of the wall
element.
The lever arm can be articulated at an upper and a lower door leaf end.
However, it is
also possible that the rotating element has only an upper lever arm or only a
lower lever arm.
In order to provide a particularly compact construction, the lever arm or
lever arms of the
wall element (rotating leaf) is or are preferably arranged in a cutout
provided in a leaf profile.
A running rail is particularly preferably arranged in a suspension profile. A
running
carriage is preferably introduced into this running rail so as to be movable.
The running carriage
is preferably connected to the rotating leaf of the wall element by means of a
pendulum
mounting. It is noted that this construction of the wall element according to
the invention
comprises the door leaf as well as the suspension profile and the leaf profile
which is connected
directly to the leaf.
A locking device which is constructed as a coupling member and locking member
simultaneously is provided in order to achieve a secure rotating leaf element.
In this way, the
wall element according to the invention can be locked with an adjoining wall
element without
the conventional locking arrangement in the base. This ensures a reliable
actuation of the door.
In order to generate as little additional loading as possible during the
swiveling of the
rotating leaf, the guide elements of the rotating leaf are arranged in the
rails approximately
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midway along the width of the door leaf. Accordingly, there is also a center
of gravity in the
center of the door leaf when the door leaf is swiveled.
The connection device mentioned above can comprise two partial elements
corresponding
to one another, each partial element being integrated at or in two abutting
wall elements.
For this purpose, for example, a first partial element comprising a flat arm
in the form of
a coupling element can be integrated in a wall element that can not swivel.
The coupling
element has, at its end, a coupling pin which cooperates with the second
partial element that is
contained in the wall element to be swiveled. A second partial element of this
type can be a
fixing element and a locking element at the same time.
When there are two wall elements which move toward one another, one of them
being
arranged in such a way that it contains a rotating leaf while the other is
constructed exclusively
as a wall element, locking is carried out only when a movement of the rotating
leaf is initiated
after the two wall elements have been moved together by pressing on the
rotating leaf or by
means of the drive unit described above. Locking of the rotating leaf is
carried out by means of a
lever arm with the adjacent wall element. A locking element of this kind can
substantially
comprise a connection element which is provided with a bore hole in which the
coupling pin of
the adjacent wall element catches when actuation (rotation of the rotating
leaf) is carried out. In
order to achieve an exact alignment, there is an adjusting screw which makes
it possible to adjust
the connection element.
In order to lock the two leaves together, a coordinating element is provided
which has
one or two locking bevels in an end area. These locking bevels are so designed
that the bevels
slope toward the outer edges and there is a plane unlocking surface in their
center area. The
adjusting screw also functions simultaneously as a releasing element for the
locking element
because the end of the adjusting screw rests on the unlocking surface. When
the rotating leaf is
caused to swivel, the adjusting screw slides down at one of the locking bevels
which
simultaneously lowers the connection element. Therefore, in the correct
position, the coupling
pin can penetrate into a bore hole inside the connection element; this means
that the two adjacent
wall elements are connected to one another immediately when the rotating leaf
is swiveled even
slightly. In order to facilitate interlocking with the lever arm, this lever
arm is provided with a
conically tapering opening at its end so that the coupling pin is
automatically moved into the
correct position.
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Further, the coupling pin also performs the function of fixing the wall
elements to one
another, specifically in such a way that an oppositely located end of the
coupling pin can be
inserted into a coupling opening of the coordinating element. This coupling
opening has a
conical shape which tapers toward the back. After a certain depth, however,
the coupling
opening widens, namely so as to provide an adequate possibility for the
coupling pin to exit from
the coordinating element again when the pin is swiveled as described above.
In another construction of the invention, the lever arm has a second locking
possibility at
its opposite end at which the locking element is located. This comprises a
half circular element
having in its central area a notch that cooperates with an element that is
connected to the lower
profile of the rotating leaf so as to be stationary. The purpose of this
locking arrangement is to
hold the lever in its rest position when not coupling with an adjacent wall
element.
A sliding wall of the type described above, as a wall system, can be moved out
of a
parked position into the use position automatically without additional
manipulation. At the same
time, actuation of a rotating leaf can be carried out in the use position
without manual force. The
position of a rotating leaf of this kind depends on whether or not a
corresponding automatic drive
unit is installed in the top area. An automatic drive unit of this kind can be
installed at
practically any location of the installation. This increases the flexibility
of such sliding walls
enormously.
The construction of the wall elements according to the invention is used
particularly in
wall elements made of glass. However, such designs are, of course, also
possible with wall
elements made of wood, metal, plastic or the like. Because of the integral
construction within a
sliding wall through rotatable wall elements, a wall element of this kind can
already be
completely preassembled in the factory, so that only a little assembly work is
necessary on the
installation site. Accordingly, it is only necessary to insert the door
element into the upper guide
rail and lower guide rail on site.
The invention will be described in the following through an embodiment example
with
reference to the drawings. The drawings show an embodiment example
schematically. Details
not relevant to the invention and not contributing to an understanding thereof
are omitted.
Figure i shows a schematic side view of a sliding wall system with a rotating
leaf
according to the present invention;
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Figure 2 shows a top view of a possible construction of a sliding wall with
two automatic
rotating leafs;
Figure 3 shows a partial section through an upper carrying profile and a lower
guide rail
and a side view of a drive unit with a rotating leaf;
Figure 4 shows a partial section of two adjacent wall elements prior to
coupling;
Figure S shows a view similar to Figure 4, but in the coupled state;
Figure 6 shows a view similar to Figure S, but with a swiveled rotating leaf
with locking
of the two adjacent leaves;
Figure 7 is a top view showing a partial section in a partly swiveled rotating
leaf;
Figure 8 is a side view showing a coupling pin in connection with a lever arm;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a coordinating element;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a lever.
A sliding wall shown in Figure 1 comprises a plurality of wall elements. In
the
embodiment example, the plurality of wall elements comprises two displaceable
wall elements 1
and a displaceable and swivelable wall element 2. 'The wall elements 1 are
arranged adjacent to
wall element 2. The wall elements 1 are arranged so as to be displaceable
inside a carrying
profile 8 by means of connections 4 by a fastening element 3 and a running
carnage 18. The
wall element 2 is similarly connected, but a suspension profile 44 is used in
the upper area
instead of the fastening profile 3. The connection to the carrying profile 8
is realized in the same
manner as that of the displaceable wall elements 1.
In the lower area of the wall elements 1, 2, there are lower closing profiles
S in which
there are bottom guides 9 and 57 directed toward the floor or Bound. The
bottom guides 9, 57
engage in a guide rail 7 which is recessed into the ground, not shown more
fully. It is guaranteed
in this way that the wall elements 1 and 2 are able to move reliably.
A lever arm 13 which has a pivot bearing 10 at one of its ends and contains a
swivel pin
1 S at another end is located inside the lower closing profile S of the wall
element 2.
A leaf profile 11 is located at the wall element 2 below the suspension
profile 44. At the
suspension profile 44 located above it, a lever arm 12 is supported at one end
at the leaf profile
11 by a swivel pin 14 at the other end by another pivot bearing 10.
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The bottom guide 57 functions at the same time as a first swivel pin which is
arranged
approximately in the center of the wall element 2. A swivel pin 19 that is
axially aligned with
the first swivel pin is located at the upper end of the leaf profile 11.
In a development of the invention, a second swiveling pin is provided for the
lever arms
12, 13 with their swivel pins 14, 15, in addition to the first swivel pin 19,
57. The swivel pins
14, 15 are likewise aligned one above the other.
The embodiment example of a sliding wall in Figure 2 shows, in the left-hand
area, a wall
16 from which a carrying profile 8 extends in any shape. The carrying profile
8 terminates
opposite from the wall in a station in which the individual wall elements 1, 2
can be parked, that
is, when the sliding wall is opened. The sliding wall is closed in the
drawing, so the individual
wall elements 1 and 2 remain in their use position. In the area where the wall
elements 2 are
arranged, there is a drive unit 55 at the top, namely, in the area of the
carrying profile 8. The
drive units SS are stationary and are not moved with the sliding wall. The
schematic views in
Figure 2 show the opening process of the wall elements 2.
It can be seen from Figure 3 how a drive unit 55 such as that mentioned above
cooperates with the wall element 2 serving as rotating leaf. The drive unit 55
which is shown in
this side view in partial section is connected in a stationary manner with the
carrying profile 8
and the running carriage 18 contained therein by mean of the connection 4 to
the suspension
profile 44. The leaf profile 11 to which the glass element of the wall element
2 is fastened is
located below the suspension profile 44. To enable rotation of the wall
element 2, the swivel pin
19 is connected to a running carriage, not shown, by a pendulum suspension
within a sliding rail
which is located in the suspension profile 44.
A sliding rail 60 having a groove 61 is located at the side of the leaf
profile 11. A pin 59,
which can also be provided with a roller, engages in the groove 61. The pin 59
is arranged at one
end of a flat arm 56 of a rod linkage, the other end of the flat arm 56 being
connected to a driven
shaft of the drive unit 55 in a frictional and positive engagement.
If the drive unit 55 were actuated in the position shown in Figure 3, the
driven shaft 58
would execute a rotational movement which means, at the same time, that the
flat arm 56 would
swivel the rotating leaf 2 due to its coupling with the sliding rail 60. The
control of the drive unit
SS can be realized by a manual signal or a sensor signal.
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It can also be seen from Figure 3 that during a movement of the wall element 2
in
connection with the pin 59 the flat arm 56 is automatically coupled with or
uncoupled from the
sliding rail 60. Accordingly, the drive unit 55 can be connected to the wall
element 2 so as to be
ready for use without manual actuation.
As can be seen from Figure 1, the displaceable and swivelable wall element 2
comprises
an upper actuation arm 12 and a lower actuation arm 13 which are constructed
as levers. The
upper lever arm I 2 is rotatably mounted by means of the swivel pin 14 which
is articulated at the
leaf profile 1 I . Further, the upper lever arm 12 is mounted at the pivot
bearing 10 at its other
end. This forms an axis of rotation in the suspension profile around which the
lever arm can
rotate. For the most compact possible construction, the upper lever arm 12 is
arranged inside a
free cut, not shown in more detail, in the suspension profile 44.
The wall element 2 accordingly comprises three swivel pins, namely, the swivel
pin in
the area of the pivot bearing 10 at the side of the suspension profile 44
around which the
actuation arm 12 swivels, and the actual swivel pins of the wall element 2,
namely, the first
swivel pin 19, 57 and the second swivel pin 14, 15.
The lower lever arm 13 is likewise mounted at a free end so as to be aligned
with the
pivot bearing 10 due to a coupling pin 26, described in the following, which
is located in a
coupling element 20. The lever arm 13 is connected at its opposite end to the
wall element 2 by
means of the second swivel pin 15 which was already mentioned. The lower lever
am 13 is
likewise arranged in a free cut, not shown in more detail, in the bottom
closing profile 5.
Figures 4 to 7 show how the adjacent wall elements land 2 are connected to one
another.
The displaceable wall element 1 with the coupling element 20 is shown on the
right-hand side of
Figure 4. The coupling element 20 projects out of the displaceable wall
element 1. The coupling
element 20 is constructed as a flat structural component part. Inside the wall
element 1, the
coupling element 20 is fastened in a frictional and positive engagement in a
recess 21. In the
area of the free end of the coupling element 20, the coupling pin 26 is
connected in a frictional
and positive engagement with the coupling element 20 by means of a weld 39.
The coupling pin
26 projects out of the coupling element 20 by its coupling projection 42 on
one side and by its
locking end 37 on the other side.
The swivelable wall element 2 is shown on the left-hand side of Figure 4. The
lever arm
13 is arranged so as to be swivelable inside a cutout, not shown in more
detail. A connection
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element 25 which is supported on one side is located inside the lever arm 13.
The connection
element 25 can preferably be produced from a spring steel. The coupling
element 20 penetrates
into the lever arm 13 as it approaches the swivelable rotating leaf 2 and,
therefore, the lever arm
13, as is shown in Figure 5. When the coupling pin 26 fits correctly inside a
coordinating
element 28 arranged above the lever arm 13 in the end area of the wall element
2 at the
underside, an uncoupling cutout 32 results. Figure S shows that the coupling
projection 42
cooperates with a bore hole 27 inside the connection element 25. Accordingly,
the coupling
projection 42 would penetrate into the bore hole 27 if the connection element
25 were lowered.
This would mean that the adjacent wall elements l and 2 would be connected to
one another and,
at the same time, a swivel pin would be formed in alignment with the pivot
bearing 10 in the
upper area of the wall element 2.
The coordinating element 28 is shown in a perspective view in Figure 9. In the
embodiment example, the coordinating element 28 has locking bevels 29 at one
end which are
directed away from one another and slope down toward the edge of the
coordinating element 28.
1 S An unlocking surface 30 is located in the area where the locking bevels 29
would meet. The
unlocking surface 30 cooperates with an adjusting screw 24 which is screwed
into the connection
element 25. The free end of the adjusting screw 24 projects beyond the lever
arm 13 and
contacts the unlocking surface 30 when the wall elements l, 2 are aligned.
This position is also
shown in Figures 4 and 5. If the wall element 2 were swiveled slightly, the
end of the adjusting
screw 24 would slide down one of the two locking bevels 29, depending on the
swiveling
direction of the wall element 2, which would cause a swiveling of the
connection element 25 at
the same time. The swiveling is introduced as soon as the drive unit 55 causes
the opening
process of the wall element 2 after a corresponding coupling of wall element 1
to wall element 2.
The coordinating element 28 is fastened by screws 33 through bore holes 34
which ensure a
proper fit of the coordinating element 28 with the lower closing profile 5.
At its other end, the coordinating element 28 has a coupling opening 31
through which
the locking end 37 of the coupling pin 26 passes. In order to facilitate
insertion, the coupling
opening 31 has run-in bevels 35 which narrow conically, i.e., taper, toward
the center of the
coordinating element 28. At a certain point, the run-in bevels 35 continue
into run-out bevels 36
which extend conically away from one another. The run-out bevels 36 end in the
uncoupling
cutout 32.
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The cooperation of the coordinating element 28 and the connection element 25
with the
coupling element 20 and the coupling pin 26 results in a device for coupling
while
simultaneously forming a locking member which secures the wall element 2 in
the occupied
position after swiveling the wall element 2 only slightly.
Figure 7 shows a rotation and simultaneous swiveling by means of the swiveling
devices
46, 47 of the wall element 2 relative to the wall element 1. It can be seen
that a tip, not shown in
more detail, of the adjusting screw 14 projects out of the lever arm 13
through an elongated hole
in the form of an opening 45. Further, the lever arm 13 has a conical inlet 48
at its free end in
the area of the connection element 25 in order to facilitate entry of the
coupling pin 26.
Figure 8 shows the arrangement and construction of the coupling pin 26. The
locking
end 37 is inserted into the coupling element 20 and is connected to it in a
frictional and positive
engagement by means of a weld 39. There is a projection 38 above the coupling
element 20.
Connected to the projection 38 is a frustum 40 with adjoining surface 41 and
another frustum 40.
The latter passes into the coupling projection 42. The frustums serve to
facilitate entry into the
lever arm 13 and also into the coordinating element 28.
The lever arm is shown separately in a perspective view in Figure 10. The
lever arm has
the connection element 25 in its left-hand end area and an additional
possibility for locking the
lever 13 in its right-hand end area, so that this lever 13 does not exit its
use position when the
wall element 2 is displaced. The locking device comprises an end piece 50
having in its outer
area a half circular shape SO which contains a notch 52 in its central area. A
locking pin 54
(Figure 7) cooperates with the notch 52 and is contained in a threaded bore
hole 53 of an angle
49. The angle 49 is fastened to the lower closing profile S in a frictional
and positive
engagement.
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Reference Numbers
1 displaceable wall element
2 displaceable and swivelable
wall element
3 fastening profile
4 connection
S lower closing profile
7 guide rail
8 carrying profile
9 bottom guide (swivel pin)
10 pivot bearing
11 leaf profile
12 lever arm
13 lever arm
14 swivel pin
15 swivel pin
16 wall
17 station
18 running carriage
19 pin (swivel pin)
20 coupling element
21 recess
24 adjusting screw
connection element
25 26 coupling pin
27 bore hole
28 coordinating element
29 locking bevel
unlocking surface
30 31 coupling opening
32 uncoupling cutout
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33 screw
34 bore hole
35 run-in bevel
36 run-out bevel
S 37 locking end
38 projection
39 weld
40 frustum
41 surface
42 coupling projection
44 suspension profile
45 opening
46 swiveling direction
47 swiveling direction
48 conical run-in
49 angle
50 end piece
51 half circular
shape
52 notch
53 threaded bore
hole
54 locking pin
55 drive unit
56 flat arm
57 bottom guide (swivel
pin)
58 driven shaft
59 pin (roller)
60 sliding rail
61 groove
