GB2094366A

GB2094366A - Extending and retracting a collapsible section of a sliding room-divider panel

Info

Publication number: GB2094366A
Application number: GB8107361A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SAWARD PETER COLE
Current assignee: SAWARD PETER COLE
Priority date: 1981-03-09
Filing date: 1981-03-09
Publication date: 1982-09-15

Abstract

Collapsible section 14 in one of the sliding panels is extended and retracted telescopically by mechanism 16 having jacking devices 42 to 48 spaced along the height of the extending section, the jacking devices being inter-connected to operate simultaneously. This ensures that the room divider system is under a compresive force over the whole of its height. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanism for extending and retracting a collapsible section of a sliding panel The present invention relates to a mechanism for extending and retracting a collapsible section of a sliding panel for use of part of a room divider system.

Room divider systems are known in which tracks are permanently secured to a ceiling and guide sliding panels which are supported on castors received within the tracks. The sliding panels have a substantial mass in order to act as effective sound barriers and room divider systems of this type are well known for example in hotels and conference halls to enable the space available to be used to maximum advantage.

In such a room divider system with the sliding panels, the last panel to go into place needs to be slightly smaller than the gap available if it is to be manoeuvred into position. Such panels usually have an extending section for example of an inverted U-configuration telescopically received within a channel in the end of the panel to allow this gap to be closed after the panel is in place and to allow a force to be applied to all the panels in the wall to squeeze them together and provide more effective sound insulation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for extending and retracting a telescopically collapsible end section of a sliding wall panel which comprises a plurality of inter-connected jacking devices, spaced along the length of the section whereby the section may be forceably urged against an adjoining surface over its entire length.

The invention is based on the realization that in a relatively tall wall section when only one jacking device is used the regidity of the sliding section is relied upon to apply a force to the panels over the entire height of the sliding panels and such rigidity was not afforded by the telescopically collapsible sections. Rather than strengthen the telescopically collapsible section, the invention proposes the use of two or more jacking devices to urge the end section outwards at a plurality of points along its length and thereby distribute the load more evenly.

The term jacking device is herein used to mean any device capable of urging two members apart including a screw, a rack and pinion, a cam or a wedge.

It is desirable to employ a jacking device which requires as little depth as possible to be recessed into the end of the sliding panel and it is also desirable to ensure that the telescopically collapsible section interferes as little as possible with the sound insulation properties of the panel.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the jacking devices comprise a plurality of cams and followers acting between the collapsible section and the panel and a member slidable parallel to the length of the section for simultaneously operating all the jacking devices.

Conveniently, the cams are ramps mounted on the sliding member and the cam followers are secured to the collapsible section.

In order to prevent the sliding member from being displaced as a result of the reaction force a friction brake may conveniently act to resist sliding movement of the sliding member.

In order to operate the jacking devices a rack and pinion may conveniently be provided to act on the sliding member the pinion being driven by a spindle accessible through a hole in the panel.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an exploded perspective view of a mechanism in accordance with the invention.

In the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated the end of a sliding wall panel 10 formed with a channel 12 for receiving an extendable section 14 the movement of which into and out of the channel 12 is controlled by a mechanism generally designated 16. The panel 10 is supported in a manner not shown by castors at its upper edge which serve to guide the panel in a track mounted in a ceiling.

The retraction mechanism comprises a first fixed bar 18, having welded onto its rear surface a plate 20 which supports a pinion 22. A recess 24 is formed in the channel 12 to receive the projecting plate 20 and furthermore a hole is formed in the side of the panel so that the pinion 22 can be rotated by insertion of an appropriate spanner. The bar 18 is screwed into the recess 12 by means of screws 26.

A sliding bar 30 is formed with a longitudinal slot 32 and is screwed in to the panel 10 by means of screws 34 provided with friction pads 36. The rear surface of the sliding bar 30 has a rack 38 secured to it and this is received within a recess 40 formed in the fixed bar 18 so that rotation of the pinion 22 results in the sliding bar 30 moving up and down. The friction pad 36 serve to offer resistance to the sliding movement so that once rotated the sliding bar 30 remains in position.

Triangular plates 42 formed with cam slots 44 are welded to the sliding bar 30 at spaced intervals and each cam slot 44 receives a pin 46 of a follower 48 which is in turn screwed to the extending section 14. To prevent up and down movement of the end section 14 one of the followers is provided with a pair of pins 50 which are located one on each side of a retaining projection 52 which is in turn welded on the fixed bar 18. If desired, needle bearings may be provided on the pins 46 and 50 to reduce wear during operation. It will be clear that in operation rotation of the pinion 22 results in the sliding bar 20 being racked up and down with the result that the followers 48 which are prevented by the pins 50 and the projection 52 from also moving up and down slide in and out under the action of the cam slots 44 resulting in extension and detection of the collapsible section 14.

Claims

1. A mechanism for extending and retracting a telescopically collapsible end section of a sliding wall panel which comprises a plurality of interconnected jacking devices spaced along the length of the section whereby the section may be forcibly urged against an adjoining surface over its entire length.

2. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the jacking devices comprise a plurality of cams and followers acting between the collapsible section and the panel and a member slidable parallel to the length of the section for simultaneously operating all the jacking devices.

3. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the cams are ramps mounted on a sliding bar and the cam followers are secured to the collapsible section.

4. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein in order to prevent the sliding section from being displaced as a result of the reaction force, a friction brake is provided to resist sliding movement of the sliding member.

5. A mechanism as claimed in any of Claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein a rack and pinion mechanism is provided to act on the sliding member, the pinion being drivable through a hole provided in the sliding panel.

6. A mechanism for extending and retracting a collapsible section of a sliding panel constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.