Patent Publication Number: US-11384579-B2

Title: Sliding door arrangement

Description:
This application is a 371 of PCT/EP2018/060262 filed on Apr. 23, 2018, published on Nov. 1, 2018 under publication number WO 2018/197373, which claims priority benefits from Swedish Patent Application No. 1730116-9 filed on Apr. 25, 2017, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a guiding assembly for guiding a door leaf. More preferably the present invention relates to a guiding assembly for sliding doors and a sliding door assembly comprising said guiding assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The use of automatic sliding doors is commonly known to facilitate access to buildings, rooms and other areas. 
     Conventional sliding doors are driven by a drive unit mounted at the door frame for driving a bracket along a rail via a driving belt. The bracket, in turn, is attached to the sliding door leaf, whereby the sliding door leaf is driven by the drive unit. 
     In some cases the sliding door serves as a barrier which in many cases requires a heavier door. Usage of sliding doors as sealing or hermetic barriers brings about several issues. Conventional sliding door arrangements using sealing brushes may not provide a sufficient sealing effect in a closed position. However, if the sealing is too tight e.g. by the door leaf being pushed to tightly towards the sealing members of the door fame, the movement of the sliding door leaf is negatively affected due to the increased friction. There is thus a need to find a balance between sufficient sealing and easy movement of the sliding door leaf. 
     For providing appropriate closing of the sliding door the horizontal moving sequence, when approaching the closing end position, normally changes to a three-dimensional motion in which the sliding door not only moves the last horizontal distance, but also moves downwards and inwards, to close against the underlying ground or floor, as well as towards the frame. When opening the door the opposite motion is required. 
     Sliding doors configured to close in the above described manner thus require a greater starting force in the opening cycle as the door actually needs to be lifted in the vertical direction. Standard drive unit are normally not dimensioned to provide such high force. 
     An actuator is therefore often used in conventional automatic sliding doors system to provide assistance during the initial opening. After the door has accelerated from the closed position the torque of the main drive unit is enough to drive the door leaf in the horizontal direction, whereby the actuator is deactivated. The provision of the additional actuator leads to a more costly, larger and complex drive assembly for a sliding door arrangement. 
     It would therefore be beneficial to provide a solution which is less complex and does not require any additional actuator or power device to achieve the initial opening sequence of the sliding door while at the same time provide an improved sealing. 
     SUMMARY 
     An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution to the above-mentioned problem, reducing the disadvantages of prior art solutions. 
     A guiding assembly for guiding a sliding door leaf along a sliding door rail is provided. The guiding assembly comprises a bogie having a first end being provided with a first steering member and a second steering member, and an opposite end comprising at least one guiding element being engaged with the sliding door rail, wherein the bogie is connected to the sliding door leaf. The guiding assembly further comprises a guiding rail having first end section and a second end section. The bogie is configured to pivot relative the sliding door leaf as the second steering member travels along the guiding rail. 
     The guiding assembly allows for a reduction of the complexity of the associated door operating assembly. Furthermore, the guiding assembly allows for efficient sealing when the sliding door leaf is in a closed position, i.e. at the end of the opening cycle, and for retrofitting to existing sliding door arrangements. During closing, the door is moved in a downward and inward direction by the use of the guiding rail. Hence, an effective seal is achieved for doors being of different weights and having different dimensioned gaps between the door leaf and the door frame. 
     According to second aspect of the invention a method for providing a sliding door assembly for operating a sliding door leaf driven by a drive unit along a sliding door rail is provided. The method advantageously comprises positioning the door leaf relative the sliding door rail, positioning a guiding rail relative the sliding door rail and connecting a bogie to the drive unit and the door leaf. In accordance with the aforementioned embodiments, the bogie has a first end being provided with a first steering member and a second steering member, and an opposite end comprising at least one guiding element being engaged with the sliding door rail. The bogie is configured to pivot relative the sliding door leaf as the second steering member travels along the guiding rail. 
     Thus, a less costly and less complex method for providing a sliding door assembly is obtained, since it does not require any fitting of additional actuators and provides for easy individual alterations for each desired size and weight of the door leaf to gain a sufficient seal. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention a method for operating a sliding door leaf driven by a drive unit along a sliding door rail is provided. The method preferably comprises providing a door operating assembly according to any of the previously described embodiments, as well as driving said drive unit from a first to a second position, whereby in the first position the bogie is configured to be engaged with the sliding door rail by the first steering member and the guiding element, and in the second position the bogie is configured to be engaged with the sliding door rail by the guiding element and engaged with the guiding rail by the second steering member. Thus, the door is lowered and moved inwards towards the door frame in the end of the closing cycle, allowing for the door leaf to be sealed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described in the following; reference being made appended drawings which illustrate non-limiting examples of how the inventive concept can be reduced into practice. 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a sliding door assembly comprising a door operating assembly according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a guiding assembly according to one embodiment, for use e.g. with the sliding door assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the guiding assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4 a - d    are schematic side views of different embodiments of a guiding track in a guiding assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the guiding assembly shown in  FIG. 2  when in a first position corresponding to an not closed position of an associated door leaf; and 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the guiding assembly shown in  FIG. 2  when in a second position corresponding to a closed position of an associated door leaf. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     An example of a door operating assembly  100  will be described in the following. With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2  a sliding door assembly comprises a sliding door leaf  101 , a drive unit  112 , a sliding door rail  110 , and a door operating assembly  100  for driving the sliding door leaf  101 . The sliding door leaf  101  is driven by the drive unit  112  along the sliding door rail  110  which is fixed relative a door frame  102 . 
     The door leaf  101  may be made of wood, metal, plastic, glass or other suitable materials. The door leaf  101  may also be a fire proof door having a fire resistant core made of various suitable materials generally known in the art. Fire resistant door leafs are typically constructed to prevent or delay transfer of thermal energy, i.e. heat, from one side of the door leaf  101  to the opposite side  101 . Due to its construction these door leafs  101  are often comparatively heavy. 
     The door leaf  101  is slidingly connected to the sliding door rail  110  for example by means of at least one bogie  130 . The bogie  130  is preferably engaging with the sliding door rail  110  via at least one low friction wheel allowing the sliding door leaf  101  to move into a closed and open position along the horizontal sliding door rail  110 . 
     Several applications for an automated sliding door assembly require the sliding door leaf  101  to serve as a barrier minimizing any transfer of mediums between the rooms separated by the sliding door assembly. For such applications the sliding door leaf  101  may be provided with sealings adapted to be pushed against the door frame  102  and/or the ground when the sliding door leaf  101  is in a closed position. 
     Further referring to  FIG. 1 , the sliding door assembly may comprise a drive unit  112  which may be of any conventional type. Typically, the drive unit  112  comprises an electric motor and a reduction gearing providing the necessary torque to move the sliding door leaf  101  between the open and closed position. According to the present example a belt drive arrangement connects the drive unit  112  with the bogie  130  which works as a drive member. Advantageously, the drive unit  112  is adapted to be connected to the door frame  102  of the sliding door assembly, or even mounted within the interior of the upper part of the door frame  110 . 
     The bogie  130  is connected to a belt  171  driven by the drive unit  112 . The drive belt  171  is preferably a synchronous endless drive belt extending between two driving wheels  175  and  176 . The driving wheel  175  is directly driven by the drive member  112  and the second driving wheel  176  is rotationally supported by a console  108  being fixed to the door frame  102 . The driving wheels  175 ,  176  may be cogged wheels. 
     Due to the weight of the sliding door leaf  101  it is difficult to provide sufficient sealing between the door leaf  101  and the floor as well as between the door leaf  101  and the door frame and/or between a further door leaf  101 . To enable a sufficient sealing a guiding assembly  300  is provided. As will be explain in the following, the guiding assembly  300  comprises the bogie  130  and an associated guiding rail  140 . 
     Now turning to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a guiding assembly  300  is shown comprising a bogie  130  and a guiding rail  140 . The bogie  130 , being provided as an elongated arm member, has one a first end portion  132  being provided with two steering members  136 ,  138 . The two steering members  136 ,  138  are arranged on opposite sides of the bogie  130 . In one embodiment, the two steering members  136 ,  138  are in the form of a first steering wheel  136  and a second steering wheel  138 . 
     The bogie  130  further comprises a second end portion  134  being opposite of the first end portion  132  of the bogie  130 . The second end  134  is provided with at least one guiding element  122  engaging with the sliding door rail  110 . The guiding element  122  may be one guiding wheel  122  or two guiding wheels being arranged opposite each other on the bogie  130 . 
     The bogie  130  is pivotally connected to a door leaf attachment element  120  which is attached to the door leaf  101 , so as when the bogie  130  moves the door leaf  101  moves correspondingly. The connection between the bogie  130  and the door leaf attachment element  120  may for example be done by attachment means  124  arranged on the bogie  130 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-3  the bogie  130  comprises three attachment means  124 , however it should be understood that the bogie  130  could comprise any suitable number of attachment means  124 . Preferably, the door leaf attachment element  120  may be easily movable on the bogie  130 , so as to allow the guiding assembly  300  to be adaptable to different door leafs and door frame  102 . By altering the position of the door leaf attachment element  120  the arrangement  100  can account for different sized gaps which are to be sealed. The attachment means  124  may be screw holes and the door leaf attachment element  120  may be a fork shaft. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2-3  the door leaf attachment element  120  is arranged close to the second end portion  134  of the bogie  130 . However, the door leaf attachment element  120  could also be arranged in the middle of the bogie  130  or closer to the first end portion  132  of the bogie  130 . 
     The bogie  130  may be pivot between a first position A (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and a second position B (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). In the first position A the at least one guiding wheel  122  and the first steering wheel  136  are engaged with the sliding door rail  110  whereas the second steering wheel  134  is running freely, not being engaged to any rail. When the bogie  130  is arranged in the second position B the at least one guiding wheel  122  is engaged with the sliding door rail  110  and the second steering wheel  134  is engaged with a guiding rail  140  extending substantially parallel with the sliding door rail  122 . Hence, the first steering wheel  136  is engaged with the sliding door rail  110  until the second steering wheel  138  engages with the first end section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140 . The different positions will be described more in detail with reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In position B the bogie  130  has pivot in the horizontal plane relative when in position A. 
     The guiding assembly  300  provided herein has several benefits. First of all, the guiding assembly  300  can be used for all kinds of door leaf weights to provide a sufficient seal. Since the assembly can be used for heavy doors while still providing a good sealing effect, the arrangement of a bogie  130  and a guiding rail  140  is especially useful for fire doors. Additionally, thanks to the fact that the door leaf  110  is attached to the bogie  130 , the amount of noise during opening/closing of the door leaf is reduced. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the guiding rail  140  comprises both a bottom rail  142  and a top rail  144 , where the top rail  144  is arranged above the bottom rail  142 . In this way the second steering wheel  138  is fitted against the top rail  144  so as to ensure that the seal is sufficiently pressed against the floor and/or the door frame regardless of the weight of the sliding door leaf  101 . This is especially beneficial when the door leaf  101  is lightweight, since the mass of the door may not be enough to press the sealing by itself. 
       FIGS. 4 a - d    schematically illustrates different embodiments of the guiding rail  140 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 a   , the first section  140   a  and the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail  140  are flat. The guiding rail  140  further comprises an intermediate section  140   c , arranged between the first and the second section  140   a ,  140   b . The intermediate section  140   c  is inclined in a negative direction. The inclined section  140   c  is tilted such that the first section  140   a  is arranged at a height h higher than the second section  140   b . When moving along the intermediate section  140   c  the bogie  130  will pivot not only in the horizontal plane, but also in a vertical plane. Such pivoting will lower the position of the attachment means relative the guiding wheel  122  such that the entire door leaf  101  will lower vertically. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 b   , the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140  is flat and the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail  140  is inclined in a negative direction. The second section  140   b  is tilted such that the first section  140   a  is arranged at a height h higher than the lowest part of the second section  140   b.    
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 c   , the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140  inclined in a positive direction and the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail  140  is inclined in a negative direction. The guiding rail  140  further comprises an intermediate section  140   c , arranged between the first and the second section  140   a ,  140   b . Here the intermediate section  140   c  is flat. The first section  140   a  is positively inclined to facilitate the disengagement of the first steering wheel  136  from the sliding door rail  110 . The second section  140   b  is negatively inclined in order to lower the position of the sliding door leaf  101 . The lowest portion of the first section  140   a  is arranged at a height h higher than the second section  140   b.    
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 d   , the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140  inclined in a positive direction and the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail  140  is inclined in a negative direction. Here, no intermediate or flat section is present. The lowest portion of the first section  140   a  is arranged at a height h higher than the lowest part of the second section  140   b.    
     Although the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 4 a - d    are shown as a guiding rail  140  comprising only a bottom rail  142  it should be understood that the same principle applies if the guiding rail  140  comprises both a bottom rail  142  and a top rail  144 . Furthermore, the geometries of the guiding rail  140  are mere examples, and other geometries may also be used. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5 and 6  a bogie  130  being in a first position A respectively a second position B is shown, the first position A corresponding to the bogie  130  being solely arranged on the sliding door rail  110  and the second position B corresponding to the bogie being arranged on both the sliding door rail  110  and the guiding rail  140 , i.e. in an opening/closing position of the sliding door leaf  101 . 
     The operating assembly  100  is arranged to move from the first position A, where the sliding door leaf  101  is in an opened position, to a second position B, where the sliding door leaf  101  is moved downwards and inwards to seal against the door frame and/or the floor when the bogie  130  moves along the sliding door leaf  101  and the guiding rail  140 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 5 , the guiding rail  140  extends partly parallel with the sliding door rail  110 . The guiding rail  140  comprises a first section  140   a  and a second section  140   b , where the first section  140   a  is the section being in proximity to the bogie  130  when it is in a first section A. The first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140  is arranged at a horizontal distance d 1  from the sliding door rail  110 , and the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail is arranged at a horizontal distance d 2  from the sliding door rail  110 . The distance d 1  is smaller than the distance d 2  in order to guide the door leaf  101  inwards. Preferably, the distance d 1  is such that it allows for easy engagement between the guiding rail  140  and the second steering wheel  138 . Hence the width of the bogie  130  and the steering wheels  136 ,  138  should be such that the second steering wheel  138  easily engages with the guiding rail  140 . 
     In the first position A, the guiding wheel  122  and the first steering wheel  136  are engaged with the sliding door rail  110  whereas the second steering wheel  138  is running freely. Moving from the first position A towards the second position B, the second steering wheel  138  engages with the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140  and moves along the rail  140  towards the second section  140   b  of the guiding rail  140 . Due to the geometry of the guiding rail  140  once the second steering wheel  138  engages with the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140 , the first steering wheel  136  is forced out from the sliding door rail  110 . Hence, the first steering wheel  136  is disengaged from the sliding door rail  110  at the same time as, or just after, the second steering wheel  138  engages with the first section  140   a  of the guiding rail  140 . 
     Hence in the second position B, the second steering wheel  138  is engaging with the guiding rail  140  so as to force the first steering wheel  136  from its position in the sliding door rail  110  to a position where it is running freely. The first steering wheel  136  may be disengaged from the sliding door rail  110  by an initial positive inclination (as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 c - d   ) of the guiding rail  140 , so as to raise the position of the second steering wheel  140   b  and thus also raise the arm and correspondingly also the position of the first steering wheel  140   a . It is important to note that the at least one guiding wheel  122  is still engaging with the sliding door rail  110 . 
     The guiding wheel  122  never disengages from the sliding door rail  110 , and is arranged to carry a majority of the weight of the sliding door leaf  101 . Preferably, the guiding wheel  122  is arranged to carry 50 to 90% of the weight, and more preferably around 75% of the weight of the sliding door leaf  101 . In this way, the majority of the weight is remains on the sliding door rail  110 . The weight distribution may be controlled by adjusting the position of the attachment means  120  on the bogie  130 . 
     The first and second steering wheel  136 ,  138  are arranged to carry the remaining load of the sliding door leaf  101 . When the operating assembly  100  is in a first position A, the first steering wheel  136  carries the remaining load by itself and when the assembly  100  is in a second position B the second steering wheel  138  carries the load. In an intermediate position, i.e. a position between the first position A and the second position B where both steering wheels are engaged in a rail  110 ,  140 , the weight on the wheels is evenly distributed between the first and second steering wheels  136 ,  138 . The weight carried by the steering wheels  136 ,  138  is sufficient to press the seals against the floor and/or the door frame. 
     Thus, the guiding assembly  300  may enable the sliding door leaf  101  to move in a direction extending inwardly as well as downwardly from its open position. Accordingly, a non-complex door operating assembly  100  which allows a tight sealing towards the door frame  102  as well as the ground when the sliding door leaf  101  is in a closed position is obtained. 
     According to the above description a sliding door assembly is provided. The sliding door assembly comprises a sliding door leaf  101 , a drive unit  112 , and a sliding door rail  110 , the drive unit  112  being configured to drive the door leaf  101  along the rail  110 . The sliding door assembly  200  further comprises a guiding assembly  300  according to any of the previously described embodiments. Thus, a sliding door assembly with a more efficient sealing can be provided. Furthermore, it allows for a sliding door assembly which is cheaper to manufacture since the operating mechanism does not require adjustments depending on the size of sliding door leafs. 
     According to another aspect of the invention a method for providing a sliding door assembly for operating a sliding door leaf  101  driven by a drive unit  112  along a sliding door rail  110  is provided. The method advantageously comprises positioning the door leaf  101  relative the sliding door rail  110 , positioning a guiding rail  140  relative the sliding door rail  110  and connecting a bogie  130  to the drive unit  112  and the door leaf  101 . In accordance with the aforementioned embodiments, the bogie  130  has a first end  132  being provided with a first steering member  136  and a second steering member  138 , and an opposite end  134  comprising at least one guiding element  122  being engaged with the sliding door rail  110 . The bogie  130  is configured to by the first steering member  136  engage with the sliding door rail  110  or by the second steering member  138  engage with the guiding rail  140 . 
     Thus, a less costly and less complex method for providing a sliding door assembly is obtained, since it does not require any fitting of additional actuators and provides for easy individual alterations for each desired size and weight of the door leaf to gain a sufficient seal. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention a method for operating a sliding door leaf  101  driven by a drive unit  112  along a sliding door rail  110  is provided. The method preferably comprises providing a guiding assembly  300  according to any of the previously described embodiments, as well as driving said drive unit  112  from a first to a second position, whereby in the first position the bogie  130  is configured to be engaged with the sliding door rail  110  by the first steering member  136  and the guiding element  122 , and in the second position the bogie  130  is configured to be engaged with the sliding door rail  110  by the guiding element  122  and engaged with the guiding rail  140  by the second steering member  138 . Thus, the door is lowered and moved inwards towards the door frame in the beginning of the closing cycle, allowing for the door leaf to be sealed. 
     It should be appreciated that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the description is only illustrative and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the scope of the invention to the full extent indicated by the appended claims.