SELF-CLOSING DOOR SEALING STRUCTURE

Abstract: A self-closing door sealing structure which is provided at a suitable portion thereof with a member for keeping a sliding fire door having a self-closing force in close contact with a three-sided frame in a passage. A conventional slid­ ing door can prevent the spread of a fire but not the outflow of the smoke which is the most dangerous in time of fire. The present invention is designed to solve this problem. In this self-closing door sealing structure, a unit A formed so that a sliding door (1) can be moved horizontally so as to be brought into close contact, when the sliding door is closed, with the three-sided passage frame via a side post (18) in the passage frame and inclined guides (4A), (5), (6) which are disposed at the upper and lower portions of the sliding door (1), a retractable support frame (47) provided within a side post (46) in the passage frame, and a unit B formed so that, when the sliding door (1) is closed, it press-contacts an auxiliary frame (36) in three directions in the passage, which auxiliary frame (36) is made retractable from an inverted L-shaped hook frame (32) by an inclined guide member provided behind the sliding door (1) are all suspended from a suspension wheel so that they can be rolled. This self-­ closing door sealing structure is attached to the sliding door (1), which can be opened by hand only, and which always has a predetermined speed of self-closing force except when the sliding door is opened to a full extent and held by an electromagnetic release (E) which is operatively connect­ ed to a smoke and heat sensor. In its normal service, the sliding door (1) is fully opened and held by hand to enable a person to pass through the opened position. When a fire occurs, the electromagnetic release (E) is unlocked manu­ ally or by the operation of the smoke and heat sensor to close the sliding door (1) automatically. During this time, the sealing structure adapted to hermetically seal the three-­ sided frame in the passage immediately before the sliding door has been closed is actuated to completely close the passage.

Description: The present invention relates to a self-closing sealing structure in which, when a sliding door is completely closed, a three-sided passage frame is hermetically sealed thereby to create a smoke-shielding function. Such structures have previously been disclosed. A sliding fire door is described in the specifications of Japanese Patent No. 9858/1980 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 107577/1980 wherein opening of the door is confined to manual operations, retrocession is automatically effected with such an immutable force as to adjust a returning speed of an elastic device when closing the sliding fire door, and a self-closing action begins to be performed the instant that a restraint is released by interlocking a smoke sensor or a heat sensor when the sliding fire is entirely opened. A suspension door merely invested with a self-closing function only is know from the specification of Japanese Patent No. 123236/1979, and a sliding fire door is also described in the specification of Japanese Patent No. 138692/1984 wherein a smoke-shielding plate is perpendicularly provided toward a ceiling. The above-described sliding fire door and suspension door, however, have less security in terms of protecting people from fire, because they are incapable of shielding an outflow of harmful smoke in time of their being closed, this constituting a problem or defect which renders such doors unsuitable for smoke-shielding uses. The aforementioned sliding fire door is also unsuitable for being put into practice because harmful smoke can leak out from a space formed at each end of the door or in the vicinity of a suspension wheel. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to obviate the conventional defects of sliding fire doors and to provide an inexpensive sliding fire door (hereinafter referred to as a sliding door) having a sealing structure absolutely indispensable for the protection from fire. The sliding fire door is arranged such that, in order to cope with an emergency of fire and noxious smoke spreading in advance, the sliding door has a secondary door which can be opened manually at a normal time when people are present, whilst the sliding door, which performs a self-closing action upon automatically sensing smoke or heat, comes into sealing contact with a three-sided passage frame to block the passage smoke under no existance of people, whereby not only the spreading of fire is hindered, but also smoke-shielding effects are yielded for the purpose of protecting the lives of people from the most dangerous factor, ie. smoke, when a fire occurs. The self-closing door sealing structure according to the present invention includes a sliding door movable between an open position and a closed position and means for sealing a passage closed by the door when in the closed position against fire and smoke, characterised in that the structure comprises a three-sided frame arranged around the passage and means for bringing the door and the frame into sealing contact as the door moves into the closed position, the said means comprising either inclined guide members disposed on the frame and/or on the door for guiding the door longitudinally along the passage, or resiliently movable portions which are arranged on the frame and are automatically brought into sealing engagement with the door as the door moves into the closed position, the door being held in the open position by an electromagnetic release which, when released in response to actuation of a smoke sensor or a heat sensor, automatically moves the door into the closed position at a constant speed. Preferably the three-sided frame comprises a side frame having a retractable support frame which sealingly abuts against the leading edge of the door in the closed position, and an inverted L-shaped hook frame having an auxiliary frame which is automatically brought into sealing abutment with the door when the door is brought into the closed position by the means of induction members having inclined guide surfaces mounted on the door. Preferably a pass-through door is provided in the sliding door. Hence, according to the present invention, multiple sensors such as a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, or the like are activated in response to a fire which could occur day or night; the passage to be closed is shut off by immediately releasing the constraint of the sliding door (which is intially opened to a full extent) regardless of the existence of people; and at the same time, the three-sided frame in the passage is brought into sealing contact with the sliding door to seal the passage thereby hindering an outflow of harmful smoke and a spread of the fire. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive show a unit A in which a sliding door comes into sealing contact with a three-sided frame in a passage by virtue of a parallel movement just before closing. More particularly; Fig. 1 is a schematic elavation showing a configuration of the arrangement as a whole; Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view; Figs. 3, 4, 5 are partially cutaway side views of a part of the emodiment of Fig. 1, Figs. 3, 4 showing the position when the sliding door is closed, Fig. 5 showing the position when the sliding door is open; Fig. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective general view. Figs. 7 to 16 inclusive show a unit B wherein, owing to parallel movement just before closing, the sliding door is brought into sealing contact with the three-sided frame in the passage by means of a resilient biassing. More particularly; Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement thereof when the sliding door is in an open position; Figs. 8, 9 are plan views, Fig. 8 showing the arrangement when the sliding door is open, Fig. 9 showing the arrangement when the same door is closed; Figs. 10, 11 are expanded views of a principal portion with parts broken away, Fig. 10 showing it just before the sliding door is closed, Fig. 11 showing it when the same door is fully closed; Fig. 12 is an assembly perspective view of the principal portion of the arrangement; Figs. 13, 14 are exploded perspective views of a press-contact member thereof; and Figs. 15, 16 are expanded elevations, Fig. 15 showing a state in which a guide member of the principal portion comes into contact with a roller immediately before the sliding door is closed, Fig. 16 showing it when the same door is completely closed. A unit A according to the present invention will herinafter be described more fully with reference to the accompanying Figs. 1 to 6. Initially, the contruction of the sliding door employed for the present invention will be explained with reference to Figs. 1, 2 as follows: A supporting bracket is provided on the upper side of the sliding door 1. This supporting bracket includes a roller which is rollable along a rail R to suspend the supporting bracket 2, the rail R being fixedly provided at the upper portion of a fixed wall surface. A wire W retractable from a door-closing-speed adjuster B disposed elsewhere is inserted through a wire stopper 3 which is vertically installed on the upper side 1C of the sliding door 1 and further extends from a fastener V to be linked to another wire descent preventer D. The above-described fastener V engages with a stopping hook provided within an electromagnetic release E which is connected to a smoke sensor or a heat sensor (not illustrated) and is interlocked therewith. The sensor is disposed elsewhere. At the time illustrated in Fig. 1, ie. when the sliding door 1 is completely open, the closing action is prevented. When the fastener V is released from the stopping hook, ie. when the electromagnectic release E is actuated by manual operation, or the instant that the electromagnetic release E automatically functions in accordance with the operation of the sensor actuated in response to the occurrence of a fire, the fastener V pulls in the wire stopper 3 in the closing direction, thereby maintaining a door-closing until the sliding door is completely closed. The sliding door 1 retrocedes at a constant velocity. Just before the sliding door 1 is closed, an angular surface of the leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 comes into contact with a plurality of inclined guide members 6 which are fixed to the upper and lower portions of a side frame 18. The side frame 18 forms part of a three-sided frame that defines and surrounds the passage to be closed. At the same time, rollers 4, 5A pivotally secured to the upper and lower portions of the trailing edge of the sliding door 1 are respectively brought into contact with the oblique surface of an upper guide member 4A fixed to a suspension plate 15 disposed on the side of a lateral frame and with the oblique surface of a lower guide member 5 which is perpendicularly provided on the side of a floor surface. As a result, the sliding door 1 moves perpendicular to the direction of its normal sliding movement, and the rear surface of the sliding door 1 is brought into sealing contact with the three sided frame defining and surrounding the passage to be closed, ie. simultaneously with the side post 18, second post 19 and a connecting portion 14 defined as the lower side of a cover fastened to an upper frame, thereby sealing the passage. The configuration of the principle portion shown in Figs. 3 to 5 when the sliding door is in a closed position and when it is in an open position will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive. Fig. 3 shows a situation wherein, when the sliding foor is closed, this door is still suspended from the rail R. The substantially L-shaped supporting bracket 2 is angularly movable and is fastened with a hinge 12 which is screwed to the upper side 1C of the sliding door 1. The supporting bracket 2 is equipped with a roller 10 that is mounted axially above the hinge. This roller 10 is located so as to be angularly rotatable with respect to the rail by sliding on the arc-shaped end surface thereof which is laterally provided on the upper frame. The reference numeral 11 indicates a barrel-like roller which is axially and rotatably secured to the supporting bracket 2 so that this roller is adjacent the lower surface of the rail R. In addition, the roller 11 acts as a stopper to prevent the roller 10 from losing contact with the rail on account of an impact or springing up of the sliding door 1; even if the supporting bracket 2 moves obliquely, since there is a slight gap formed between the lower surface of the rail R and the barrel-like roller 11, no trouble occurs when the roller 10 rolls along the rail R. An inverted U-shaped groove is formed in the lower end portion of the sliding door 1, and a roller 5A is secured to the vertical wall disposed on one side thereof. A lower guide member 5 which includes an inclined surface and is adjustable of its front and back movement is provided on the floor surface. With this arrangement, the sliding door 1 proceeds in its normal direction across the passage to be closed whilst simultaneously moving in a perpendicular direction after the roller 5A has come in contact with the lower guide member 5 along the above-mentioned inclined surface. Thereby the sliding door 1 is brought into sealing contact with the connecting portion 14 defined as the lower side of the cover 13 provided on the upper frame. It can be observed from Fig. 4 that a roller 4 which is rotatably and pivotally secured to an angle member of the upper side 1C of the sliding door 1 is vertically disposed so that it stands face to face with the inclined surface of the upper guide members 4A whose movement is adjustable in front and behind with respect to a suspension plate 15 suspended from the upper frame, this suspension plate 15 having an unequal groove configuration. The roller 4 is disposed in the same perpendicular direction as that of the inclined surface of the lower guide member 5 vertically provided on another floor surface. When the angular surface of the leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 impinges upon an inclined guide member 6, the rollers 4, 5A simultaneously abut against the inclined surfaces of the guide members 4A, 5 respectively. To create this kind of situation, the respective guide members are previously suitably adjusted to create the desired forward and backward motions; furthermore, inspection and maintenance are carried out in order that the leading and trailing edges of the door 1 move simultaneously. In Fig. 5, the sliding door 1 moves forward and is released by manual operations. The leading edge 1A is shown separated from the side post 18 and the rear surface thereof separated both from the connecting portion (defined as the lower side of the cover of the upper frame) and from the second frame 19. In this case, the size of a gap formed therein is in proportion to a distance at which it parallely moves. Under such circumstances, both the hinge 12 provided at the lower portion of the supporting bracket 2 and the roller 10 from which the sliding door is suspended are centered on the same vertical line. On the side of the lower end of the sliding door 1, a rotatable guide roller 16 (which is vertically provided on the floor surface disposed elsewhere) comes into contact with the vertical wall opposite the wall on which the roller 5A is rotatably mounted, thereby preventing any shaking caused by the forward opening of the sliding door 1. In Fig. 6, as the sliding door 1 closes it approaches the side post 18 serving as part of the three-sided frame surrounding and defining the passage and then moves in the longitudinal direction of the passage with the help of the inclined surfaces of the respective guide member. The leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 comes into contact with a groove wall 18A of the side post 18. Simultaneously the trailing edge of the sliding door is brought into contact with the longitudinal post 19 and the connecting portion 14 of the cover, respectively, thus sealing the three-sided frame across the passage. A pass-through door 20 is pivotally secured to the sliding door 1 together with a self-closing resilient device so that this pass-through door can be opened in one direction, ie. the direction only outside the room. The pass-through door 20 chiefly serves as an emergency passage through which people who fail to evacuate the room before the sliding door is closed can escape. Therefore, this pass-through door 20 is indispensable in terms of protection from a fire. The unit A according to the present invention is configured as described above and hence the fastener V provided at the end of the wire W is restrained by the electromagnetic release E by manually opening the sliding door to a full extent at an ordinary time. Thereafter, the sliding door 1 is held in the open position, with the opening portion serving as the passage, while opening it completely. When the restraint of the sliding door is released, ie. when the sensor functions respond to the smoke or the heat generated by the occurance of a fire and the electromagnetic E releases the fastener V, or when the restraint of the fastener V is released by a string-pulling operation of the electromagnetic release, from this moment the sliding door 1 moves forward in the closing direction by means of the constant speed returning force of the door-closing-speed adjuster B. Thereafter the angular surface of the leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 and the rear rollers 4, 5A all simultaneously abut against the inclined surface, and the sliding door 1 moves forward along the direction of the passage. Resultingly, the sliding door 1 is brought into sealing contact with the groove wall 18A of the side post, the longitudinal post 19 and the connecting portion 14 defined as the lower side of the cover provided on the side of the upper frame, ie. with the three-sided frame defining and surrounding the passage, thereby maintaining a sealed-off state through which no smoke can flow. Thus, the closing operation of the sliding door 1 is completed. Hence, the spreading of the fire blazing up in the room is prevented by the fire resistant material of the sliding door 1, and at the same time the noxious smoke which is the main factor to increase a rate of death by fire is shut off at the passage, since the smoke by no means leaked outside the room. As a result, it is feasible to minimise the damages. People who fail to escape and are left on the side of the door nearest the fire or smoke source are able to open the pass-thorugh door 20 which is pivotally installed in the sliding door and may take refuge therefrom without taking trouble to open the heavy sliding door 1 that is already closed, or may rush against the pass-through door to evade the fire accident. In this way, the present invention is helpful for avoiding a serious situation caused by fire , since the escape route for the emergency is prepared beforehand. Furthermore, if some flourescent materials are added to the pass-through door, this door is effective during night time. The unit B according to the present invention will hereinafter be more fully described with the reference to the remaining accompanying drawings. The configuration of the invention is at first explained with reference to Figs. 7, 8. A side post 46 serving as part of the three-sided frame defining and surrounding the passage to be closed is a hat-shaped longitudinal frame which internally incorporates a deck type support frame 47 which is retractable thereinto and is shaped to another recessed portion 49. A cylindrical resilient member biasses the support frame 47 outwards. Another auxiliary frame 36 is freely slideable into an inverted L-shaped hook frame 32 so that it fits therein without play. The frame 32 defines the other two sides of the three-sided frame. As shown in Fig. 8, as the sealing contact surface 36A of the auxiliary frame 36 obliquely approaches the side post 46, the auxiliary frame 36 is made to protrude further out from the L-shaped hook frame 32. On the side of the upper frame, the wire W to be taken up and rewound by the door-closing-speed adjuster B similar to the unit A is inserted through the wire stopper 3 which is mounted on the sliding door 1. By virtue of the fastener V secured to the end portion of the wire W, the sliding door 1 is prevented from moving because of its being restrained by the electromagnetic release E when the sliding door 1 is completely opened. Rolling wheels 31 by which the sliding door is suspended in the above-described apparatus B do not necessarily employ a member rotatable by the hinge utilised in the unit A, since the sliding door 1 utilised in this second embodiment makes virtually no oblique motion. The sliding door 1 shown in Fig. 9 is in a completely closed state and the parallel close contact of the sliding door 1 together with the hook frame 32 and the auxiliary frame 36 as well is therefore effected. Moreover, a protrudent member 1D of the leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 sealingly engages with the recessed portion 49 of the support frame 47 of the side post, in order that the sliding door 1 can completely and sealingly shut off the three-sided frame defining and surrounding the passage. Thus, the sliding door 1 accomplishes the object of sealing against an outflow of smoke. To be more specific, the retractable auxiliary frame 36 which freely fits in the hook frame serving as an inverted L-shaped groove member, together with the support frame 47 which slides in the side post 46 under the influence of the biassed resilient member, forms a three-sided frame defining the passage (except for the floor). Just before the sliding door 1 is fully closed, an induction member 45 abuts against rollers 41 which are pivotally installed at the upper and lower portions on the sliding-door side of the auxiliary frame 32, the induction member having protruding inclined surfaces provided at the upper and lower portions of the rear end of the sliding door 1. The contact surface 36A of the auxiliary frame is moved away from the hook frame 32 against the stretching force of tension spring. At the same time, the semi-circular protruding member 1D secured to the leading edge of the sliding door 1 impinges upon the support frame 47 provided within the side post. Thereafter, the protruding member 1D plunges into the semicircular recessed portion of the support frame 47 while sliding laterally, and the surface of the sliding door 1 adjacent the auxiliary frame 36 elastically press-contacts the sealing contact surface 36A whilst slightly reducing the protrusion distance G of the auxiliary frame 32. Similarly, the leading edge 1A of the sliding door 1 press-contacts the support frame 47 provided within the side post. Such being the case, the three-sided frame in the passage is kept in sealing contact with the rear surface of the sliding door 1, thereby hindering the smoke from permeating out of the peripheral portions into the passage. Consequently, the aforementioned auxiliary frame 36 becomes, as shown in Fig. 11, parallel with the hook frame 32 when the sliding door 1 is closed. Accordingly, as the auxiliary frame 36 approaches the side post, the protruding portion must be so retracted as to render the auxiliary frame and door parallel, so the retracted distance (the distance G) is thus predetermined. Furthermore, the position of the recessed portion of the support frame 47 may deviate by the distance G from the central line of the protrudent member 1D of the sliding door 1 with a view to guiding the lateral sliding for the distance G. In the inverted L-shaped groove member, ie. the hook frame 32, as shown in Fig. 13, one end of each of the tension springs 34 is fastened near the upper and lower ends of the vertical portion. Recesses 35 are formed in the wall surfaces in the vicinity of the tension springs 34, into which recesses are freely inserted the induction members 45 disposed on the side of the sliding door 1. A hat-shaped receiving member 33 as shown in Fig. 12 is mounted at the end of the horizontal portion by alinging it to a small hole 43 formed in hook frame, this receiving member 33 engaging with the auxiliary frame as will be described later and being fastened on the side opposite to the side post of the passage. The auxiliary frame 36 engaging with the above-described hook frame is, as shown in Fig. 14, formed of the inverted L-shaped groove member. A guide shaft 37 equipped with a push spring can freely be inserted into the small hole 43 formed in the hook frame and into a hole formed in the receiving member 33, this guide shaft 37 being provided at the end of the horizontal portion. On the vertical portion, a roller 41 in use is brought into contact with the induction member 45 projecting from the sliding door 1 rotatably and perpendicularly fitted in a recess 39 formed in the notched side wall; and at the same time, a stop rod 40 over which the tension spring 34 secured to the hook frame 32 is put is installed between the side walls. Fig. 12 shows a state wherein the above-mentioned auxiliary frame 36 engages with the hook frame 32. As for the combination procedures, firstly in the vertical portion, the tension spring 34 provided on the side of the hook frame is put over the stop rod 40 installed on the side of the auxiliary frame. Thereafter, the guide shaft 37 disposed in the horizontal direction is inserted into a hole 33A formed in the receiving member 33 provided on the side of the hook frame; and a stop ring 42 is press-fitted from the small hole 43 in a peripheral groove formed in the guide shaft which is inserted into the rear surface of the receiving member, thus completing the engagement of the two members. Hence, after the combination has been finished, the configurations of the two members are such that, as shown in Fig. 12, the auxiliary frame 36 effectively increases in height as it approaches the end of the horizontal portion and the auxiliary frame 36 has a surface 36A inclined to the horizontal surface of the hook frame 32. The inclined surface formed at an angle α at the tip of the induction member 45 projecting on the side of the rear portion of the sliding door 1 shown in Fig. 15 impinges upon the roller 41 of the auxiliary frame 36, at which moment the auxiliary frame 36 rides out with the advancement of the induction member 45 whilst stretching the tension spring 34. At the same time, the previously protruding end of the horizontal portion is also forcibly pressed by the motion of the protruding member 1D of the sliding foor 1 fitting into the recessed portion 49 formed in the support frame while sliding laterally, thus entering the hook frame. Resultingly, the sealing contact surface 36A of the auxiliary frame 36, as shown in Fig. 16, becomes parallel over its overall surface with the hook frame and press-contacts the rear surface of the sliding door 1, so that the three-sided frame in the passage is completely sealed. Therefore, this permits the smoke shielding to function sufficiently. When the sliding door 1 is being closed, the induction member makes the roller fit in an undulated portion formed on the line of an angle β (slightly acute angle) of the inner surface thereof. The induction member also resists the advancement concomitant with the generation of an unexpected door-opening force, the arrangement being such that the roller 42 intensively presses against the above-described undulated portion formed on the induction member by means of the spring force of the tension spring thereby to produce an anti-slipping effect for the induction member. In the thus constructed unit B according to the present invention, inasmuch as there is a sealing effect in which each of the sealing contact surfaces of the three-sided passage frame resiliently press-contacts the sliding door 1, no compulsion and no twist are created on effecting the press contact. In addition, the sealing condition is entirely unified by virtue of the operation of the resilient device, whereby the spread of fire is certainly prevented and simultaneously the smoke-shield effects are securely procured. These factors are indispensable for the prevention of fire. The operation of the sliding door is the same as that of the unit A, namely the door is opened manually. The self-closing function works by the string pulling operation or the operation of the electromagnetic release (interacting with the sensor) and hence the smoke-shielding operation and the door closing operation are immediately carried out upon sending heat or smoke generated when a fire occurs. Accordingly, the present invention is effective in prevention of damages caused by the most dangerous smoke. The present invention yields favourable effects because a self-closing door-sealing structure according to the present invention can conveniently be readily added to a sliding fire door which is to be installed at every entrance and exit in the rooms mainly of a building or a hospital in conformity with the fire regulations. A sliding door that performs the double functions of shielding the smoke and hindering the spread of a fire is quite helpful in terms of prevention of a fire, and it is feasible to carry out a mass-production at relatively low costs by unifying the standard with respect to the sealing members for keeping the three-sided passage frame in sealing contact with the sliding foor. People who are obliged to install such sliding doors can lessen a heavy burden of costs by mass-production and thus inevitably foster its use. As a result, this highly contributes to improvement of fire safety equipment.

Claims: A self closing seal structure comprising a sliding door (1) movable between an open position and a closed position and means for sealing a passage closed by the door (1) when in the closed position against fire and smoke, characterised in that the structure comprises a three-sided frame (18, 19, 14) arranged around the passage and means for bringing the door (1) and the frame (18, 19, 14) into sealing contact as the door (1) moves into the closed position, the said means comprising either inclined guide members (4A, 5, 6) disposed on the frame (18, 19, 14) and/or on the door (1) for guiding the door (1) longitudinally along the passage, or resiliently movable portions (47, 36A) which are arranged on the frame (46, 32) and are automatically brought into sealing engagement with the door (1) as the door (1) moves into the closed position, the door (1) being held in the open position by an electromagnetic release (E) which, when released in response to actuation of a smoke sensor or a heat sensor, automatically moves the door (1) into the closed position at a constant speed. A structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-sided frame comprises a side frame (46) having a retractable support frame (47) which sealingly abuts against the leading edge of the door (1) in the closed position, and an inverted L-shaped hook frame (32) having an auxiliary frame (36) which is automatically brought into sealing abutment with the door (1) when the door (1) is brought into the closed position by the means of induction members (45) having inclined guide surfaces mounted on the door (1). A structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pass-through door (20) is provided in the sliding door (1).

Inventors: ANDO, KAZUAKI
Applicants: HOWA CO., LTD.
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A62C3
IPC codes: E06B7, E06B3, A62C2, E06B5