Abstract:
A system and method for sealing a door assembly to a structure is disclosed. Specifically, a sealing system is disclosed, having a press frame, the press frame having a first side and a second side. The first side is capable of connecting to a doorframe, and the second side comprises an indention. The sealing system also comprises a weatherproof material having a first portion within the indention, and a second portion extending outside of the indention.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to a system and method for sealing a door assembly to a structure. More particularly, this disclosure relates to sealing the space between a doorframe and a structure frame using an improved press frame. 
         [0002]    Sometimes a metal structure, such as a wind turbine, requires a door to be placed on the structure. Various methods exist to secure a doorframe. In one embodiment, the door assembly is welded to the structure. However, such process requires a welder, and makes the door difficult to remove. In another embodiment, the door is fastened using a steel plate system. However such system is also difficult to install and uninstall. Additionally, in such cases the material used to create the door assembly and the material to create the structure can be different. Changes in temperature can cause the different materials to expand and contract at different rates, thereby compromising the seal between the door assembly and the metal structure. It would therefore be advantageous to implement an improved method and system for sealing a door assembly to a structure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A system for sealing a door assembly to a structure is disclosed. Specifically, a sealing system is disclosed, having a press frame, the press frame having a first side a second side. The first side is capable of connecting to a doorframe, and the second side comprises an indention. The sealing system also comprises a weatherproof material having a first portion within the indention, and a second portion extending outside of the indention. 
         [0004]    Further, a method of sealing a space between a door assembly and a structure frame is disclosed. The method comprises pressing a door assembly against a structure frame, wherein the door assembly comprises a doorframe, a press frame and a weatherproof material. The press frame has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is connected to the doorframe, and the second side faces the structure frame and comprises an indention. The weatherproof material has a first portion within the indention, and a second portion extending outside of the indention until such pressing against the structure frame deforms said weatherproof material. 
         [0005]    Further, a door assembly comprising a doorframe, a press frame and a weatherproof material is disclosed. The press frame has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is connected to the doorframe, and the second side comprises an indention. The weatherproof material has a first portion within the indention, and a second portion extending outside of the indention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a wind turbine comprising a structure frame. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an expanded view of a tower base. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of door assembly. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a rear view of a door assembly. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of a door assembly mounted to a structure frame. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of a frame bracket securing a press frame to a structure frame. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Described herein is a system and method for sealing a door assembly to a structure. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0013]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a wind turbine  100  comprising a structure frame  101 . Within this disclosure, a wind turbine  100  is discussed. However such discussion is merely exemplary of an apparatus with a structure frame  101 , and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to use with a wind turbine  100 . Wind turbine  100  can comprise blades  102 , a turbine  103  and a tower  104  that can extend downward from turbine  103  to a foundation  105 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates an expanded view of tower  104 . Tower  104  can comprise a structure frame  101 . A door assembly  106  can mount to structure frame  101 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a front view of door assembly  106 .  FIG. 2B  illustrates a rear view of door assembly  106 . Door assembly  106  can comprise a door  201 , a doorframe  202 , a press frame  203 , and/or press frame brackets  204 . In one embodiment, door assembly  106  can also comprise hinges  205 . In such embodiment, doorframe  202  can circumscribe door  201 . Hinges  205  can connect door  201  to doorframe  202  along one edge of door  201 , allowing door  201  to open and close. Press frame  203  can have a press frame first side  206  that can connect to doorframe  202 . Press frame  203  can also have a press frame second side  207  that can face structure frame  101 . In one embodiment, press frame  203  can be substantially the same shape as doorframe  202 . In another embodiment, press frame  203  can be substantially the same shape as structure frame  101 . In another embodiment, press frame  203  can be substantially the same shape as an innermost shape created by overlapping doorframe  202  with structure frame  101  (for example, a convex lens shape being the innermost shape created by overlapping two circles). In another embodiment, press frame  203  is not closed form. Each press frame bracket  204  can protrude out from press frame  203 . In one embodiment, each frame bracket protrudes away from press frame  203  substantially parallel to the plane of door  201  before bending to become substantially orthogonal to the plane of door  201 . In such embodiment, a press frame bracket first end  206  can be against or within press frame  203 , and a press frame bracket second end  207  can be substantially orthogonal to the plane of door  201 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of door assembly  106  mounted to structure frame  101 . To mount door assembly  106  to structure frame  101 , a structure frame bracket  401  can connect to each press frame bracket  204  using a first fastener  301   a . Examples of a fastener  301  can include any suitable fastener  301  known in the art, and includes, but is not limited to nuts, bolds and rivets. Structure frame bracket  401  can extend from the connection point with press frame bracket  204 , in a direction substantially parallel with a structure frame inner surface  305  and in a direction away from door  201 . Upon reaching the edge of structure frame  101 , frame bracket can bend around structure frame  101 , maintaining it&#39;s substantial parallel relationship with structure frame  101 . In one embodiment, after bending around structure frame  101 , structure frame bracket  401  can bend once more to become parallel with an outer surface of structure frame  101 . An orifice  303  can exist in structure frame bracket  401  that allows a tension device  304  to be placed within press frame bracket  204 , tension device  304  extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the plane of door  201 , and towards press frame  203 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of a structure frame bracket  401  securing a press frame  203  to a structure frame  101 . In one embodiment, orifice  303  is threaded, and tension device  304  is a threaded fastener  304   a . In another embodiment, a threaded fastener receiver is placed securely within orifice  303 , and tension device  304  is threaded fastener  304   a . In another embodiment, threaded fastener receiver is larger than orifice  303 , and is placed between structure frame bracket  401  and structure frame  101 . Threaded fastener  304   a  extends through orifice  303  and then through threaded fastener receiver to structure frame  101 . In this embodiment, threaded fastener receiver  305  can be a nut, and is well known in the art. Further in one embodiment, threaded fastener  304   a  is blunted on an end making contact with structure frame  101 . 
         [0017]    A second fastener  301   b  can connect press frame bracket first end  206  to press frame  203 . In each embodiment involving threaded fastener  304   a , threaded fastener  304   a  can be screwed into threading device. As threaded fastener  304   a  makes contact with structure frame  101 , the screwing motion pushes structure frame bracket  401  in a direction orthogonal to the plane of door  201  and away from structure frame  101 . Such motion can cause tension between structure frame bracket  401  and press frame bracket  204 , pulling press frame  203  towards structure frame  101  until press frame  203  presses against structure frame  101 . 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, press frame  203  can be improved to provide an improved seal between press frame  203  and structure frame  101 . In one embodiment, press frame  203  forms an outer ridge  402  and an inner ridge  403 . Between outer ridge  402  and inner ridge  403  can exist an indention  404 . Indention  404  can be house a weather resistant material  405 . An example of weather resistant material  405  is silicone. Such example is exemplary and not limiting. In one embodiment weather resistant material  405  can be in the form of a rectangular with a circular segment removed from each side, when in its non-deformed state. A first portion of weather resistant material  405  can be bent downward and placed within indention  404 . A second portion of weather resistant material  405  can protrude upwards from rectangular empty space, out past outer ridge  402  and inner ridge  403 , such that when press frame  203  is placed towards structure frame  101 , weather resistant material  405  touches structure frame  101  before press frame  203  makes contact with structure frame  101 . As press frame  203  is forced up against structure frame  101 , weather resistant material  405  can further deform, while remaining pressed against structure frame  101 , thereby creating a barrier. 
         [0019]    Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”