Door closing arrangement for double doors

Abstract: A closure sequence control arrangement for turnable double doors, in which the double doors are provided with a first door closer unit (4) and with a first pull arm (5) for closing a first door leaf (1) and with a second door closer unit (6) and with a second pull arm (7) for closing a second door leaf (2), with a guide rail (8) or the like for guiding the distal end (5a,7a) of the pull arms (5,7) with regard to the door closers, and with closure sequence control means (9) which include connection means (10-12) for transferring the effect of the distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) to the closure sequence control means (9). The closure sequence control means (9) are arranged to prevent movement of the end (7a) of the second pull arm (7) in the guide rail (8) until the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) has affected the closure sequence control means (9) through the connection piece (10-12) so that they allow closing of the second door leaf (2). The distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) and the connection means (10-12) include members for transmitting pulling force therebetween, whereby the effect is accomplished by pulling force which the distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) transmits by means of the connection means (10-12) into the closure sequence control means (9).

Description: This invention relates to a closure sequence control arrangement for a double door having first and second door leaves hinged to opposite sides of a frame, the arrangement being according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates also to a method for controlling the closure sequence of the door leaves of a double door according to the preamble of claim 8. Conventionally in order to lock together the door leaves of a double door one of the door leaves is typically provided with a spring-loaded latch bolt having a bevelled guide surface. As a consequence, it is necessary for the door leaves to be closed in a certain order so that the door leaf provided with the latch bolt is closed last. In this manner, because of its bevelled guide surface, the spring-loaded latch bolt is urged into the lock casing in the door leaf as the door leaf in question is pivoted into its fully closed position. As the door leaf reaches its fully closed position, the latch bolt, urged by a spring, again moves into its protruding position in which it locks the door leaves together. One known closure sequence control arrangement for door leaves which is suitable for this purpose is disclosed in EP-A-0458034. However this known arrangement is complicated in construction and its installation is rather cumbersome. Finnish patent publication FI 102100 discloses another known closure sequence control arrangement for turnable double doors. In this known arrangement the double door is provided with door closer units and swing arms and with a guide rail or the like for guiding distal ends of the swing arms with regard to the door closer units. Sequence control means are arranged to cooperate with the guide rail and include a connection piece arranged in the guiding rail between the ends of the swing arms and movable against the force of a spring, a support element stationarily supported to the guide rail, and a movable stop member. In use the sequence control means are arranged, in cooperation with the other ends of the swing arms during the end phase of the closing movement of the door leaves, so that said stop member prevents movement of the end of the swing arm of the second door leaf in the guiding rail until the end of the swing arm of the first door leaf has, through the connection piece, acted on the stop member so that the blocking member allows closing of the second door leaf. Pressure is exerted by means of the end of the swing arm through the connection piece against the force of the spring of the closure sequence control means, whereby the stop member can move so as to allow opening of the second door leaf. DE-A-195 45 402 discloses a closure sequence control arrangement for a double door comprising the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 5. An aim of the present invention is to provide a novel arrangement for turnable door leaves of a double door which ensures the desired closure order for the door leaves, is of simple construction, is reliable in operation and is easy to install and to adapt to double doors of different widths. It is also an aim of the invention to provide an arrangement by means of which a successful sequence control for doors is secured under all conditions. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure sequence arrangement for a double door as claimed in the ensuing claim 1. In this specification the term "allowing direction" means the direction away from the hinge side of the frame to which a door leaf is hinged and the term "blocking direction" means the direction towards the hinge side of the frame to which a door leaf is hinged. In accordance with the invention the closure sequence control means are arranged to prevent movement of the end of the second pull arm in the guide rail means until the end of the first pull arm has affected the closure sequence control means through the connection means so that they allow closing of the second door leaf. The connection means are conveniently arranged in the guide rail means between the ends of the pull arms to be pulled against the force of a spring, and the closure sequence control means conveniently include with advantage a support element stationarily supported to the guide rail means, and a movable stop member, whereby the closure sequence control means are arranged in cooperation with said distal ends of the pull arms in the end phase of the closing movement of the door leaves so that said stop member is arranged to prevent movement of the end of the second pull arm in the guide rail means until the end of the first pull arm has by means of a pulling movement affected the closure sequence control means through the connection means so that the stop member allows closing of the second door leaf. Advantageously, the hook can be stationarily connected to the first pull arm as an extension thereof. The door closer units can with advantage be fitted to the doors leaves on opposite sides with regard to the door hinges or to the opposite side relative to the opening side of the door leaves. Thus a suitable geometry can be obtained for door closure sequence control according to the invention. According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a method for controlling the closure sequence of first and second door leaves of a double door, the method being as claimed in the ensuing claim 5. The closure sequence control means include a support element, which is stationarily supported to the guide rail means, a movable stop member and a guide element fitted to the end of the connection piece on the side of the support element, whereby the support element is provided with an elongate guide opening for the stop member which is longer in the direction of movement of the end of the pull arm than perpendicular to the direction of movement. The stop member is arranged in the guide opening in the support element so that the stop member extends in its stopping position partly out from the guide opening into the path of movement of the end of the pull arm of the second door leaf. The support element includes with advantage a guide surface parallel with the direction of the guide rail means, into which the said elongate guide opening opens. The guide element is provided with a blocking member which is in cooperation with the guide rail means and the guide surface of the support element so that when the door leaves are open the blocking member is under the influence of the spring arranged at such a position with regard to the guide opening that it allows movement of the stop member into its releasing position when the end moves in the allowing direction, and so that at the same time it prevents movement of the stop member into its releasing position when the end is moving in the blocking direction or in the direction towards the hinge side of the frame of the door leaf. Several advantages can be obtained by means of the invention, i.a. closure sequence control for a double door can be carried out in a very late phase of closure, whereby the sequence control occurs also in a secure way. In addition by means of the arrangement according to invention the adjustment of speed by the door closers is no longer so important for the sequence control to succeed. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with particular reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view from above of a closure sequence control arrangement according to the invention for closing the door leaves of a double door, the door leaves being shown in an open position; Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the arrangement shown in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a partial enlargement of the closure sequence control arrangement of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partial enlargement of the closure sequence control arrangement of Fig. 2 showing closure sequence control means moving into a position for preventing closure of a door leaf; Fig. 5 is a partial enlargement of the closure sequence control arrangement of Fig. 2 showing closure sequence control means in a position allowing closure of a door leaf; and Fig. 6 is a partial enlargement of a releasing arrangement for the closure sequence control arrangement of Fig. 1. In the drawings reference numerals 1 and 2 designate two door leaves of a double door which are turnably journalled to a door frame 3 by means of hinges 3a. The door leaf 1 is provided with a door closer 4 having a pull arm 5 and the door leaf 2 is provided with a door closer 6 having a pull arm 7. The door closers are fitted to their respective door leaves on the side opposite to the hinges 3a, or on the side opposite to the opening side of the door leaves. With such an arrangement a favourable geometry is achieved whereby distal ends 5a,7a of the pull arms 5,7 first move away from the associated hinge (the allowing direction) when the door is closed and later the ends 5a,7a move towards the associated hinge (the blocking direction) during the end or final phase in the closing of the door leaves. Advantageously the geometry is arranged so that the direction of movement of the distal end of a pull arm is changed when the door is at an angle of about 15° to its fully closed position. However this can be chosen by suitable arrangement to be in the range of 15° to nearly 0°. This change in direction occurs when the fulcrum point of the arm, when the door is being closed, crosses the line drawn through the fulcrum point of the hinge 3a and the distal end 5a of the arm. By this arrangement it is possible to have a decreased closing angle for the first door leaf, whereby the closure sequence control means release the second door leaf 2 to be closed. The doors are thus closed in a correct order independent of the speed control of the door closers. Above the door leaves, supported on the upper horizontal part of the door frame 3 (not clearly shown in the drawings), there is a guide rail 8 or the like, which guides the ends 5a and 7a of the pull arms 5 and 7 during the turning movements of the door leaves. The guide rail 8 is provided with closure sequence control means 9 which ensure that the door leaf 2, which is provided with a latch bolt 18, is closed only after the door leaf 1 has fully closed. If the door leaf 2 was able to close before door leaf 1, the door leaf 1 would not be able to turn past the door leaf 2 and the latch bolt 18 into its closed position, in which the latch bolt 18 locks the door leaves to each other. The closure sequence control means 9 include a connection piece or connection means movable in the guide rail 8 and comprising an arm member 10 having, at one end, a counter piece 11 and, at the other end, a guide element 12. The counter piece 11 cooperates with the end 5a of the pull arm of the door closer of the first door leaf 1 so that transmission of pulling force is possible. The guide element 12 cooperates with a support element 13 fixed to the guide rail 8. The support element 13 includes a guide surface 13a having an elongate guide opening 13b in which a stop member 14 is received. The guide opening 13b is so formed that the stop member 14 can partly move out and project from the opening into a blocking position, shown in Fig. 3, in which it prevents movement of the end 7a of the pull arm of the door closer of the second door leaf 2 in the guide rail 8 in the blocking direction and at the same time turning of the door leaf 2 further into its fully closed position. The guide opening 13b is elongate in the direction of movement of the guide element, whereby the stop member can move in the guide opening in the direction of the guide surface. Thus the closure sequence control means 9 include the arrangement 13b,12a to allow the end 7a of the second pull arm to pass the closure sequence control means in the allowing direction, independently of the position of the guide element 12. The guide element 12 is provided with a blocking member 16 which cooperates with the guide rail 8 and the guide surface 13a of the support element so that when the door leaves are open the blocking member 16 is under the influence of a spring 15 arranged at such a position in the guide opening 13b that it allows movement of the stop member 14 into its releasing position when the end 7a moves in the allowing direction and prevents movement of the stop member 14 into its releasing position when the end 7a is moving in the blocking direction. The guide element 12 has a guide surface 12a which, together with the guide surface 13a in the support element 13 and the inner surface of the guide rail 8, guides the movements of the element 12 and the arm member 10. The guide element 12 also includes a bore 12b, in which the blocking member 16 serves as a blocking means and which, together with a spring 17, prevents the stop member 14 from moving away from the position of Fig. 3 into the position shown in Fig. 5 releasing the end 7a of the pull arm of the door closer of the door leaf 2. When the door leaves are open the spring 15 between the guide element 12 and the support element 13 retains the guide element 12 and the blocking member 16 in the position of Fig. 3 at the position of the stop member 14. In addition the guide element 12 includes an extension part 12c parallel to, and located at a distance from, the guide surface 13a of the guide element which, after movement of the guide element 12 and thus of the blocking member 16 into the position shown in Fig. 5, away from the position of the stop member 14, allows movement of the stop member 14 from the guide opening 13b into a position releasing the end 7a preventing, however, movement of the stop member 14 entirely out from the guide opening 13b. The extension part 12c extends on both sides of the blocking member 16. In addition the guide element includes a magnet 12d by means of which the stop member 14 can be retained in the releasing position of the end 7a of the pull arm shown in Fig. 5. The magnet is fitted in the extension part 12c, in the vicinity of the blocking member, and it retains the stop member 14 in its position in a controlled way and thereby it does not affect in any way the movements of the end 7a of the pull arm. The door closer 6 for the door leaf 2 is also fitted on the opposite side to the hinge 3a, i.e. on the opposite side to the opening side of the door, whereby an advantageous geometry is accomplished, in which the distal end 7a of the pull arm 7 initially moves away from the hinge as the door is closed and then, later on in the closing process, moves towards the hinge in the final closing phase. The operation of the closure sequence control means is as follows. Firstly the case is considered where both the door leaves 1 and 2 are open and an attempt is then made to close the door leaf 2, which includes the latch bolt 18, before the door leaf 1 is closed. In this case the door leaf 2 is turned anticlockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) until the end 7a of its pull arm 7 moves, as shown in Fig. 4, past the stop member 14 in the allowing direction (i.e. away from the hinge 3a of the door leaf 2). The end 7a pushes the stop member upwardly (as viewed in Fig. 4) in the elongate guide opening in the support element into the space 12c reserved for it (Fig. 4) - in other words into the extension part - and it moves away from the position of the blocking member 16. When the movement has continued so far that the direction of movement of the end 7a is reversed back towards the hinge 3a of the door leaf 2, due to the geometry used, the end 7a hits the stop member 14 partly protruding from the guide opening 13b, whereby the stop member is moved to the position of the blocking member 16. In this case the blocking member 16 and the stop member 14 are positioned as shown in Fig. 3. The stop member 14 is prevented from moving into its releasing position by the blocking member 16. The stop member 14 thus blocks movement of the end 7a in the blocking direction (i.e. towards the hinge 3a of the door leaf 2) so the door leaf 2 remains in a partly open position. This corresponds at its largest to a turning angle of about 15°, typically from 8° to 13°, from its closed position. The elongated guide opening 13b is with advantage sufficiently long for the stop member 14 to move from the position of the blocking member 16 into the extension part 12c. In the sequence control the end 7a of the pull arm 7 goes past the head of the stop member 14 in the allowing direction of the movement. After this the direction of movement of the end 7a is changed to the blocking direction and the stop member 14 prevents the movement of the end 7a in the blocking direction, until the end 5a of the first pull arm 5 has a releasing effect on the stop member 14 by providing a pulling force to the closure sequence control means. In order to close the door leaf 2, it is necessary first to turn the door leaf 1 so that the end 5a of the pull arm 5 meets the counter piece 11 at the end of the arm member 10. The releasing arrangement for the closure sequence control means is provided by the connection parts 10, 11, 12 including the arm member 10 and the guide element 11 arranged at one end thereof. The guide element 11 has a counter attachment piece in the form of a pin 11a for connection or coupling to an attachment piece at the end of the pull arm 5 provided with a hook 5b in order to provide a selective mechanical coupling between the connection parts 10-12 and the pull arm 5. Thus as the door leaf 1 is closed further the hook 5b, which extends from the end 5a, turns or pivots as shown in Fig. 6 to couple around the pin 11a of the guide element 11 and provide an attachment between these for transmitting pulling force. The arm member 10 or an extension thereof is fitted so as to extend through a part of the support element 13 and is fixed to the guide element 12. At the same time the spring 15 is arranged, in connection with the arm member or its extension, between a part of the support element 13 and the guide element 12. The attachment piece or the hook 5b pulls the arm member 10 against the force of the spring 15, arranged between the guide element 12 and the support element 13, into the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position the blocking member 16 has moved away from the position of the stop member 14, whereby the stop member 14 can move partly out from the guide opening 13b against the extension part 12c and thus releases the end 7a of the pull arm 7 for movement in the blocking direction. The door closer 6 can thus now turn the door leaf 2 into its fully closed position, in which the latch bolt 18 locks the door leaves 1 and 2 to each other. As is apparent from the drawings the stop member 14 can with advantage be a ball. However the stop member may naturally be of different form, such as of elongate form, and when needed it may include a recess for receiving the end 7a of the pull arm. Correspondingly the end 7a of the pull arm 7 and the support element 13 at least for the part including the guide opening 13b should be manufactured of a hard and wear resistant material, for instance of hardened steel. The arrangement according to the figures includes a one piece uniform guide rail 8. In principle the guide rail could alternatively, for instance, comprise two parts so that the ends 11 and 12 of the arm member 10 are located in separate guide rails. If the arm member 10 is detachably fixed, for example by screw threads at its ends, to the counter piece 11 and/or to the guide element 12, the functional length of the arm member 10 can be adjusted in accordance with the width of the door opening and the door leaves in each case. In addition, if needed, the arm member 10 may also be shortened by truncation when the arrangement according to the invention is adapted to essentially narrower double doors. Also when desired the support element 13 can be detachably fixed to the guide rail 8, for instance by screws, whereby by changing the position of the screws simultaneously one can change the very opening angle of the door leaves when the closure sequence control means are activated. It is clear that the above described hook - pin combination in connection with the end 5a of the pull arm and the guide element 12 may in practice be implemented in many ways, for instance inside of the guide rail 8. The support element 13 can be arranged with regard to the guide element 12 such that the pulling force of the pull arm is transmitted to the spring as pulling and not as pressing as shown in the attached figures. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown but several modifications are feasible within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims: A closure sequence control arrangement for a double door having first and second door leaves (1,2) hinged to opposite sides of a door frame, the arrangement comprising a first door closer unit (4) having a first pull arm (5) for closing the first door leaf (1), a second door closer unit (6) having a second pull arm (7) for closing the second door leaf (2), guide rail means (8) for guiding ends (5a,7a) of the pull arms (5,7) with regard to the door closer units, and closure sequence control means (9) which, in the end phase of closing of the door leaves (1,2), cooperate with the ends (5a,7a) of the pull arms (5,7) and which include connection means (10-12) for transferring the effect of said distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) into the closure sequence control means (9), whereby the closure sequence control means (9) are arranged to prevent movement of the end (7a) of the second pull arm (7) in the guide rail means (8) until the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) has affected the closure sequence control means (9) through the connection means (10-12) so that they allow closing of the second door leaf (2), said distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) and the connection means (10-12) include members for transmitting pulling force therebetween, the connection means (10-12) is arranged in the guide rail means (8) between the ends (5a,7a) of said pull arms to be pulled against the force of a spring (15) and in that the closure sequence control means (9) further includes a support element (13), which is stationarily supported to the guide rail means (8), and a movable stop member (14), which is arranged to prevent movement of the end (7a) of the second pull arm (7) until the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) has, by means of a pulling movement, affected the closure sequence control means (9) through the connection means (10-12) so that the stop member (14) allows closing of the second door leaf (2), the connection means (10-12) comprises an arm member (10) and a guide element (11) arranged at one end thereof, and in that the arm member (10) and/or the guide element (11) includes a counter attachment piece (11a) for an attachment piece (5b) arranged in association with the first pull arm (5) to provide a selective mechanical coupling between the connection means and the first pull arm (5), characterised in that the attachment piece comprises a hook (5b) and the counter attachment piece comprises a pin (11a). Closure sequence control arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook or the like (5b) is stationarily connected to the pull arm (5) as an extension thereof. Closure sequence control arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door closer units (4,6) are fitted so as to be on opposite side with regard to the hinges (3a) of the door leaves, or on the opposite sides with regard to opening side of the doors. Closure sequence control arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection means (10-12) comprises a guide element (12), which can be pulled by means of a pulling movement against the spring force of the closure sequence control means (9) of the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) into a position which allows movement of the stop member (14) into a position allowing closure of the second door leaf (2). A method of controlling the closure sequence of first and second door leaves (1,2) of a double door which are hinged to opposite sides of a door framed with a closure sequence control arrangement according to claim 1, the door arrangement comprising a first door closer unit (4) having a first pull arm (5) for closing the first door leaf (1), a second door closer unit (6) having a second pull arm (7) for closing the second door leaf (2), guide rail means (8) for guiding ends (5a,7a) of the pull arms (5,7) with regard to the door closer units, and closure sequence control means (9) which, in the end phase of closing of the door leaves (1,2), cooperate with the ends (5a,7a) of the pull arms (5,7) and which include connection means (10-12) for transferring the effect of said distal end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) into the closure sequence control means (9), whereby the closure sequence control means (9) are arranged to prevent movement of the end (7a) of the second pull arm (7) in the guide rail means (8) until the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) has affected the closure sequence control means (9) through the connection means (10-12) so that they allow closing of the second door leaf (2), said effect is accomplished by means of a pulling force transmitted from the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) to the closure sequence control means by said connection means (10-12), characterised in that a change in the direction of movement of the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) is accomplished for directing the pulling effect to the closure sequence control means (9), and the pulling force is transmitted via a hook (5b) fitted as an extension of the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) and which, at the end phase of the closing of the door leaf (1), couples with a pin (11a) connected the connection means (10-12) and then, after the direction of movement of the end (5a) of the first pull arm (5) is changed, affects the closure sequence control means (9) by pulling.

Inventors: JUNTUNEN HARRI, KAERKKAEINEN VESA, JUNTUNEN, HARRI, KAERKKAEINEN, VESA, Kärkkäinen, Vesa
Applicants: ABLOY OY
Application year: 2001
Main classification: E05F5
IPC codes: E05F5