GB2391040A

GB2391040A - Door lifting and gliding means

Info

Publication number: GB2391040A
Application number: GB0216896A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart Mcandrew
Original assignee: MANGANESE BRONZE COMPONENTS LT; Manganese Bronze Ltd
Current assignee: MANGANESE BRONZE COMPONENTS LT; Manganese Bronze Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-20
Filing date: 2002-07-20
Publication date: 2004-01-28
Also published as: GB0216896D0

Abstract

A door assembly in which a door 10 when moving from its closed to its open position moves across the door opening to one side of the frame 14. The door 10 then also moves angularly so as to lie transversely to the plane of the door opening and face across the door opening, has drive means for effecting lifting of the door 10 as a first stage of its opening movement before it moves angularly. This enables the door to clear an inclined floor in the door area of a vehicle such as a bus or coach. The drive means may include arms 24, 35, lead screw 32 connected to a motor 37 via a drive member 31. The door 10 may be lifted by the rotation of door support member 33 about guide member 34 caused by rotation of pin 41 acting on helical cam surface 44. This in turn moves arm 47 vertically upwards and thus lifting the door 10 via link member 48 and connected stop member 51.

Description

2391 040

Title: Doors Description of Invention

This invention relates to doors.

Doors in accordance with the invention are intended for use most commonly in public service vehicles such as buses and coaches, although it is to be appreciated that they would be usable elsewhere if required. The doors are of the type sometimes known as "glider doors". A door assembly in a vehicle may comprise two individual doors (most common on buses where a .. wide door opening has to be provided) or only one door (most common on coaches). Assuming the door opening is provided in a side of the vehicle, when closed the or each door lies substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening (i.e. the side of the vehicle) so as to block the door opening, and as it opens a first edge of the door moves across the door opening (lengthwise of the vehicle) to one side thereof while the other edge of the door moves inwardly of the vehicle. When the door has fully opened it has moved angularly so that it lies to one side of the door opening and transversely to the plane of the door opening, and the surface of the door which faced the inside of the vehicle when the door was closed faces generally lengthwise of the vehicle, across the door opening. The first edge of the door (which edge, when closed, was remote from said side of the door opening) lies adjacent said side of the door opening, and preferably the entire door lies within the envelope of the vehicle. In a door assembly comprising two doors, the inside surfaces of the doors, when fully open, face each other across the door opening. Such a door assembly will hereafter be referred to as a door assembly of the kind specified.

This opening movement of each door may be achieved by supporting it from a vertical or substantially vertical post disposed adjacent the side of the

door opening, the post being angularly movable about its own longitudinal axis.

Two arms extend transversely from the post and are pivotably connected to the door at the top and bottom thereof, about an axis which is more or less halfway between the two vertical edges of the door. Guide means for one of the edges of the door, at the top and/or the bottom thereof, ensures that as the door opens and closes it follows the required path of movement and changes its orientation as required.

One problem which now arises in connection with the doors of public service vehicles particularly buses is that access thereto for disabled persons, e.g. a person occupying a wheelchair, must be facilitated. Thus the vehicle floor surface in the area of the door of the vehicle should have no step in it and therefore such floor surface immediately adjacent the door frequently is inclined downwardly as it approaches the door opening, for example at an angle of up to about 5 . Any door part which moves inwardly of the vehicle in the course of opening must be arranged to clear such an inclined floor surface. At the same time, when the door is closed there should be as good a fit as possible with the structure surrounding the door opening so it is as draught-proof as possible. The sort of draught-resistant sealing devices commonly used at the bottom edges of bus doors are not effective if the gap is too great.

Accordingly it is broadly the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of a vehicle door which enables the requirements for clearing an inclined floor surface, and for effective draught-proofing, to be met as nearly as possible.

According to the present invention, we provide a door assembly of the kind specified comprising means for effecting opening and closing movement of the door between said open and closed positions thereof; characterized by means for effecting lifting movement of the door as a first stage of opening movement thereof from said closed position, prior to angular movement of the door.

Preferably said means for lifting the door also effects movement thereof transversely of the plane of said door opening while remaining generally parallel thereto.

In a door assembly in accordance with the invention, the lifting of the door as a part, namely as a first stage, of its opening movement, and preferably also accompanied by transverse movement thereof relative to the plane of the door opening while remaining generally parallel to said plane, enables effective draught-proofing to be achieved by the use of seals which do not have to bridge large gaps when the door is in its closed position, whilst enabling the door to clear an inclined floor surface inwardly of the door opening when in its open position. It will, of course, be understood that during closing movement of the door a lowering thereof preferably also accompanied by a reverse movement thereof transversely of the plane of the door opening will occur as a final stage of the closing movement.

Preferably the door is carried by means pivotable about an axis adjacent said one side of the door opening, and pivotally connected to the door more or less midway, or generally in the mid-region, between the edges thereof.

Preferably said means comprises respective arms adjacent the top and bottom of the door, and preferably said arms are carried by an upright post which is pivotable about its longitudinal, upright, axis.

Preferably the pivotal connection between the door and each of said arms also accommodates said lifting movement of the door, so that the lifting movement takes place relative to said arms.

Preferably the means for effecting opening and closing movement of the door includes a drive member movable substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening. In the course of opening movement of the door, the drive member moves towards said side of the door opening, and in the reverse direction in the course of closing movement of the door.

The drive member may comprise a nut member movable along a lead screw rotated in the appropriate direction by e.g. an electric motor. However, other means for effecting movement of the drive member, e g. fluid pressure operated, may be utilised.

The drive member may engage a door support member which is connected to the door in the vicinity of said first edge thereof.

The door support member may be movable lengthwise of a guide member extending substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening.

Preferably the door support member is also movable angularly about said guide member to effect lifting and lowering movement of the door. To this end, the door support member may have an arm extending therefrom which arm is connected to the door by a pivotally connected link member.

Preferably when the door has been fully lifted said arm and link member assume an over-centre relationship, to retain the door in its lifted position without the necessity for continued exertion of force on the door support member in the sense of moving it angularly about its guide member.

The drive member may comprise a drive formation cooperable with a cam surface on the door support member to effect said angular movement thereof about the guide member as a first stage in opening movement of the door, followed by movement of the door support member lengthwise of the guide member. Preferably, to ensure these movements of the door support member relative to the guide member take place in the correct sequence, there is blocking means for preventing movement of the door support member lengthwise of the guide member unless it is in its angular position corresponding to having lifted the door, and holding means for preventing angular movement of the door support member about the guide member from said position in the course of said lengthwise movement therealong.

In the course of closing movement of the door, preferably the drive formation of the drive member engages a further cam surface of the door

support member after the latter has completed its door closing movement lengthwise of the guide member, to cause angular movement of the door support member about the guide member from its over-centre position, to lower the door.

These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a door assembly in accordance with the invention, in a first position wherein the door is fully closed; Figures 2 to S are views as Figure 1 but showing successive positions in the course of opening movement of the door which is fully open in Figure 5, Figures 6 to 10 are plan views of the door assembly, in positions corresponding to Figures 1 to S; Figure 11 is a view of the door assembly in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the door opening, with the door in its fully closed position; Figures 12 to 14 are views in the direction as Figure 11, but showing the door in stages of opening movement corresponding to those shown in Figures 3 to S. Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 6 of the drawings, these show, diagrammatically, a door assembly intended for a public service vehicle such as a bus or coach. A door is indicated generally at 10, comprising a peripheral frame structure 11 within which are supported one or more glass panels. The door 10 is operable to open and close a door opening in the side of the vehicle, and in Figures 1 and 6 the door is shown in its fully closed position in which it lies parallel or substantially parallel to the general plane of the door opening which is indicated at 12 in Figure 6. The door opening is defined by frame members fitted to or incorporated in the bodywork structure of the vehicle, and upright such frame members at respective sides of the door opening are indicated at 13, 14 in Figure 6. There will also be frame members extending substantially horizontally between the frame members 13, 14 at the top and

bottom of the door opening, so that the door opening is rectangular or substantially rectangular. When the door 10 is closed, a first upright edge 15 of the door 10 lies remote from the frame member 13 at one side of the door opening, whilst a second upright edge 16 of the door lies adjacent the upright frame member 13 at the side of the door opening.

The door installation shown is in fact one where there are two doors which together close the door opening: a further door (17) is operable in mirror image of the door 10, in relation to the half of the door opening which is adjacent the upright side frame member 14 thereof. In the following description, the door 10 only, together with its associated parts, will be

described. Adjacent the upright side frame member 13 defining the door opening, in fact offset slightly inwardly of the vehicle from the plane 12 of the door opening, there is an upright post assembly indicated generally at 20. A part 21 of the post assembly at the top thereof is fixed relative to the structure of the vehicle whilst a further part 22 of the post assembly is movable angularly about the upwardly-extending longitudinal axis 23 of the post assembly. Two arms 24,25 extend laterally, substantially parallel to one another, from the angularly movable part 22 of the post assembly adjacent the top and bottom thereof, and these arms are connected to the door 10 mid-way, or more or less mid- way, between the first and second edges IS, 16 thereof. The connection between the arms 24, 25 and the door 10 is such that the door is able to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the arms 24, 25 and, as shown in Figure 1, the connection between the door and the arm 24 comprises a pin 26 extending downwardly from the arm adjacent the tree end thereof, the pin 26 being movable angularly and in the direction of its own length within a bush 27 secured to the door. The lower arm 25 extending from the part 22 of the post carries an upwardly extending pin 28 relative to which the door is movable upwardly and downwardly and angularly about the axis of the pin 28.

Spaced inwardly of the vehicle from the plane 12 of the door opening therein, and slightly above the level of the top of the door opening, there are means for effecting opening and closing movement of the doors as 10. The principal components of these means are a drive member 31 in the form of a nut movable along a lead screw 32 disposed parallel to the plane of the door opening. The drive member 31 engages a door support member indicated generally at 33 which is movable along a guide member 34 parallel to the lead screw 32. As illustrated the lead screw 32 and the guide member 34 are carried by an arm 35 extending inwardly of the vehicle from the fixed part 21 of the post assembly 20. The lead screw is of course carried by bearings so that it is rotatable about its own longitudinal axis, and one or more electric motors (or other, e.g. fluidpressure operable, motors) reversible in their direction of driving, are provided for effecting such rotation of the lead screw as required.

Such motor(s) may be disposed at one end of the lead screw as indicated at 36, in the centre of the lead screw as indicated at 37, or the other end of the lead screw (not shown). The lead screw may comprise two parts, which may be drivable separately from one another, each operating on one of the doors of the door assembly and respective motors being provided for each lead screw part.

The drive member 31 is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the lead screw 32, e.g. by a roller 40 carried by the drive member 31 and engaging in a somewhat U-section fixed channel extending parallel to the lead screw, as indicated at 41. Hence rotation of the lead screw causes the drive member 31 to move lengthwise of the lead screw in a direction dependent on the direction of rotation of the latter. A drive formation in the form of a pin 42 extends outwardly from the drive member 31, towards the guide member 34.

lithe guide member 34 is a rod or tube of circular external crosssectional shape, and the door support member 33 is movable angularly about the longitudinal axis of the guide member as well as being movable lengthwise thereof. A helical cam surface 44 is provided on the door support member 33,

and this cam surface is engaged by the pin 42 extending from the drive member 31. The helical cam surface 44 extends radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the guide member 34 about which the door support member 33 is angularly and axially movable, and at one end of the door support member 33 a part 44_ of the cam surface 44 is faced by a correspondingly helical wall 45 to form a radially outwardly facing groove, ending at an end stop wall 46, in an outwardly protruding part 57 of the door support member. Adjacent the end of the door support member 33 where there is the end stop wall 46, an ann 47 extends more or less radially outwardly from the door support member.

Pivotally connected to the arm 47 adjacent the free end thereof there is a link member 48. The link member 48 is of a shallow V-shape, and its end opposite to that at which it is connected to the arm 47 is pivotally connected to the frame structure 11 of the door 10. Such pivotal connection is effected by a pivot pin 50 which allows the door 10 to move angularly relative to the link member 48 about an upright axis 49 (seen in Figure 4). A stop member 51 extends laterally from the link member 48 adjacent its pivotal connection at pin 50, and is engageable with a surface 52 of the door frame structure 11 to limit the pivotal movement of the door 10 relative to the link member 48 in one direction, permitting such movement only as hereafter described.

Further provided in the vicinity of the lead screw 32 and guide member 34 there is a blocking and holding member 54 whose end is indicated at 55.

The operation of the mechanism above described will now be explained.

As above referred to, when the door 10 is in its fully closed position, in which it lies substantially in the plane 12 of the door opening, this position is shown in Figures 1, 6 and 11 of the drawings. When the door is required to be opened, the motor(s) which rotates the lead screw 32 is operated in the sense to cause rotation of the lead screw such as to move the drive member 31 lengthwise of the lead screw from the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 6 to the positions successively shown in Figures 2-5 and 7-10.

Initially the door support member 33 is not able to move lengthwise of the guide member 34 as the drive member 31 moves lengthwise of the lead screw, because the protruding part 57 of the door support member 33 abuts the end stop surface 55 of the blocking and holding member 54. Therefore the drive formation in the form of pin 42 extending from drive member 31 moves along the helical cam surface 44 of the door support member 33 causing angular movement of the door support member 33 about the guide member 34 to the positions shown successively in Figures 2 and 7, and then Figures 3 and 8. The door 10 is both lifted and moved transversely of the door opening, inwardly of the vehicle. In the course of such movement the door 10 moves upwardly relative to the arms 24, 25, this being permitted by the connection between the arms 24, 25 and the door 10 afforded by the pins 26, 28. At the same time the door 10 is kept in the illustrated orientation substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening by virtue of the engagement of the stop member 51 with the surface 52 of the door 10: It is not possible for the edge 15 of the door 10 to move inwardly of the vehicle without a corresponding movement of the edge 16 thereof. Corresponding angular movement of the arms 24, 25 and the part 22 of the post assembly 20 therewith also takes place.

When the angular position of the door support member 33 in which it is shown in Figures 3 and 8 is reached, the pin 42 has moved all the way along the cam surface 44 and part 44a thereof, and reached the end stop surface 46. At this point, the blocking end face 55 of the blockinglholding member 54 clears the edge 56 of the protuberance 57 of door support member 33. The door support member 33 is then free to move lengthwise of the guide member 34.

Also when this position has been reached, the geometry of the arm 47 and link member 48 is such that they go over-centre, so that the door support member 33 is retained in the position in which it is shown in Figure 3, under the weight of the door 10 without the necessity for any further exertion of force on the door support member 33 by the pin 42 engaging the cam surface part 44_.

Further operation of the lead screw 32 then causes the drive member 31 and with it the door support member 33 to move to the positions shown in Figures 4 and 9 and finally to the positions of Figures 5 and 10, in which latter position the door is fully open. The path of movement of the door 10 is determined by angular movement of the part 22 of the post assembly and with it the arms 24, 25, movement of the door about the pins 26, 28 relative to the arms 24, 25, and movement of the door about the axis 49 where it is pivotally connected to the link 48. The edge 16 of the door moves inwardly of the vehicle while the edge 15 of the door approaches the side frame member 13 of the door assembly. Ultimately the door lies transversely to the plane of the door opening, with the edge 15 close to the plane of the door opening. It will be appreciated from consideration of the drawings that in the course of such opening movement of the door the initial lifting thereof enables the door to clear, when fully open, an inclined floor surface (indicated at 60) of the vehicle in the region adjacent to and inwardly of the door opening.

When the door is to be closed, the motor(s) which drives the lead screw 32 is caused to be operated in the opposite sense to that which has opened the door. The pin 42 engages the helical wall part 45, moving the door support member 33 back towards the position shown in Figures 3 and 8, by way of the position of Figures 4 and 9. During such movement, the door support member 33 is held, by co-operation of its protuberance with the holding member 54, in the orientation of Figures 3 to 5 and 8 to 10.

When the position of Figures 3 and 8 has been reached, the door support member 33 is free to move angularly about the guide member 34, and engagement of the pin 42 with the wall 45 ensures that such movement takes place. Once the arm 47 and link member 48 have been moved from their over-

cenke position, the door 10 is lowered and moved outwardly by way of the positions shown in Figures 2 and 7 until the fully closed position of Figures 1

and 6 is again resumed. Such final closing movement of the door 10 is controlled by the pin 42 engaging the cam surface 44.

In addition to the above described ability of the door to clear the inclined floor surface of the vehicle in the course of its opening movement, the lifting of the door as a first part of its opening movement and the corresponding lowering thereof as a final part of its closing movement, means that a draught resistant seal, e.g. of the brush type, provided at the bottom of the door does not have to cope with a large gap when the door is in its closed position. Hence relatively efficient draught-proofing of vehicle doors may be achieved.

In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of"

and "comprising" means "including or consisting of".

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A door assembly of the kind specified comprising means for effecting opening and closing movement of the door between said open and closed positions thereof; characterised by means for effecting lifting movement of the door as a first stage of opening movement thereof from said closed position, prior to angular movement of the door.

2. A door assembly according to Claim 1 wherein said means for lifting the

door also effects movement thereof transversely of the plane of said door opening while remaining generally parallel thereto.

3. A door assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said means for effecting opening and closing movement of the door includes a drive member movable substantially parallel to the plane of the door opening.

4. A door assembly according to Claim 3 wherein the drive member comprises a nut member movable along a lead screw driven by a motor.

5. A door assembly according to Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein said drive member engages a door support member which is connected to the door in the vicinity of said first edge thereof.

6. A door assembly according to Claim 5 wherein said door support member is movable lengthwise of a guide member extending generally parallel to the plane of the door opening.

7. A door assembly according to Claim 6 wherein said door support member is also movable angularly about said guide member, said angular movement effecting lifting and lowering of the door.

8. A door assembly according to Claim 7 wherein said door support member has an arm extending therefrom, said arm being connected to the door by a pivotally-connected link member.

9. A door assembly according to Claim 8 wherein, when the door has been fully lifted, said arm and link member assume an over-centre relationship to retain the door in its lifted position.

10. A door assembly according to any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein said drive member comprises a drive formation cooperable with a cam surface on the door support member to effect said angular movement thereof about the guide member as a first stage in opening movement of the door, followed by movement of the door support member lengthwise of the guide member.

11. A door assembly according to Claim 10 wherein there is blocking means for preventing movement of the door support member lengthwise of the guide member unless it is in its angular position corresponding to having lifted the door, and holding means for preventing angular movement of the door support member about the guide member from said position in the course of said lengthwise movement therealong.

12. A door assembly according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 wherein the door support member comprises a further cam surface engageable by the drive formation of the drive member in the course of closing movement of the door? to cause angular movement of the door support member about the guide member from said over-centre position thereof after the door support member has completed its door closing movement lengthwise of the guide member, to lower the door.

13. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the door is carried by means pivotable about an upright axis adjacent said one side of the door opening, and pivotally connected to the door generally in the mid-region between the edges thereof.

14. A door assembly according to Claim 13 wherein said means carrying the door comprises respective arms adjacent the top and bottom of the door, said arms being carried by an upright post pivotable about its longitudinal axis.

15. A door assembly according to Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein said pivotal connection between the door and each of said arms also accommodates said lifting movement of the door, so that the lifting movement takes place relative to said arms.

16. A door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims comprising two doors, disposed at respective sides of the door opening.

17. A door assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.