US1799138A - Folding door for elevators and the like - Google Patents

Description

March 31, 1931."

# e. c. STAEHLE FOLDING noon FOR ELEVATORSAND'THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1931.; G.'C.\STAEHLE 1,799,138v

' FOLDING 130011 FOR ELEVATORS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Slfeet 2' Patented Mar. 31, 1931 GILBERT C. STAEI-ILE, 0E CFEICAGG, ELLINQIS, ASSIGNGR TO PAUL H. MACMAHON 'FF ECE FOLDING DOOR FOB. ELEVATORS AND THE LIKE Application filed February 25, 1929. Serial No. 342,414.

The invention relates to folding doors for is fixed to plate 18. The outer faces of beams elevators and the like. 12 of the lower track are fixed to a plate '14 One object of the invention is to provide a and to an angle bar l of the floor frame of door which is composed of a series'of hinged the cab respectively. Bar 14c is lined to an o leaves'whicln'when turned intoaligiied rela angle bar 14 which is secured to plate 14. 55

tion, usually form a continuous or complete A series of guide brackets or runners 15 are closure, and which are adapted, when shifted mounted to travel on and between beams 11 to an open position, to be collapsed into a of the upper track, and a corresponding se-- small space. The invention contemplates the ries of guide-beams or runners 16 are mount-- it!) use of hinged leaves to form the closure','as' ed to travel on and between the beams 12" of contradistinguished from diagonally crossed the lower track. Each of said brackets is" bars, such as are now in generaluse on elecomposed of a pair of members which arosevators. v g cured together in spaced relation by spacing Another object is to provide an improved blocks 18 and 19 between them, and each 1 door structure which comprises a' series of member has outwardly extending fianges'1'7 at horizontally turned leaves which, when sepathe top and bottom thereof to lap thefiaing rated, will be successively guided into alignof the'track beams. Each flange 17 has a rement to form a closure for an opening and cess in which is confined an anti-frictionball which, when turned into atransverse position 20 which is adapted to roll in the contiguous I and moved out of the opening, willbe serially groove in one of the track beams. These re collapsed andshifted into contact relation. balls are provided between the top and be Other objects of the invention will appear tom faces of the upper-andlower flanges of from the detailed description. i the track beams so the bracketswil l be hori- The invention consists in the severalnovcl zontally and rectilinearly on the tracks; 1 features hereinafter set forth and more'par- These brackets extend verticallythrough-the ticularly defined by claims at the conclusion spaces between the track beams- 7 hereof. I A door leaf 21 extends between and con- 111 the drawings: Fig. l-is a vertical longinectseach vertical pair of brackets 15 an'd16- tudinal section of a structure embodyin'gthe so the said brackets will travel uniformly on invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionjon the upper and lower tracks and pivotally line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is asection on line support the door leaf between them; Each 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig.4; is a section on line-1+4 leaf 21 is connected at itsbottointo a bracket of Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 16 by apivot pin 22 which extendsinto the of Fig. 2. a 7 socket in the block 19 of said bracket and into The invention is exemplifiedin an elevator a socket in the bottom bar 21 of the door cab which is provided with an upper track or leaf and has a ball 22 to space said-bar from runway 11 which comprises a pair ofchanneh said bracketl Each bracketlo is similarly beams 11 which are spaced apart and haveconnectedto the top: bar 21 of a door leaf horizontal flanges 11 formed with longi- 21' by a pivot pin 21 whichis coaxial with tudinal grocves or recesses 11 on the top and the pin 22 at the bottonr o'f said'leaffi Each T bottom faces of the flanges. The cable; also door leaf ispreferably formed of bars provided with a lower tracker runway 12 21 and 22 and asheet metal"covering22fl so winch comprises a pair of channel beams 12 thatwhcn the leaves are extended message-- which are spaced apart and have horizontal to edgerelation;theywvill form a substaniianges formed with longitudinal grooves or tially continuous or imperf-orate closure;- 7 races 12 on the top and bottom facesof the The end wallsof'the leaves are" preferably flanges The outer faces of-beams 11 are inclined transversely sothat whent hele aves fixedly secured to aplate- 1'3 and'an angle bar aligned, the contiguous ends willlapor 13 respectively of the cab structure; Angle abut against eachother. The pivots between 5O: bar'13 is secured toan angle bar'13 which the upper and the lower brackets and the 1 tally into edge-to-ec entire noor opening versely crosswise of the tracks leaves are to be collapsed to clear ing. The upper bracke *a are nected by a pair of var cally swingin gle links 2i and 25. The upper bra l connect d to permit the brackets to move together into close relation whe the leaves are swung into transverse position, ant, so that they will successively draw the succeeding bracket outwardly when the door is to be closed. "ons consists Each of these conneu a pair of ertically swinging toggle links. ihe lower 0' ckets 1b are similarly connected he outer end of each pair eted to bracket and ti eir inner e ds are pivoted to each other so they can fold together when the brackets are pushed together, and so that when the brackets are pulled outwardly they will cause the n t bracket to be moved outwardly. One link of each pair is provided with a stop prevent the links from pr sing into deadcenter locking relation. 0 ets 15, 16, similar in construction to brackets 15 and 16, is provided in advance of the first leaf 21, and these brackets 15, 16 are rigidly secured to a vertical a1 gle bar 27 which is provided with a handle for operat ing the door structure. Brackets 15, are respectively connected to the first brackets 15, 16 of the series by single links 32. The upper margins of the leaves 21 are con fined between and guided by the horizont l flanges of a pair of angle bars 29 and 29, and their lower margins are confined between a similar pair of bars 30 and 3o when the leaves are positioned in the door openir z The horizontal flanges of these bars are cut away or inclined, as at 31 and 31", so that as the leaves are pulled into the door opening 23, they will swing and be guided into e'dge-to-edge relation, and will be free to swin reversely when they are pushed out of the opening 23. A housing 33 is provided to enclose the leaves when they are collapsed to clear the door opening.

The operation will be as follows: When the door is collapsed, the leaves 21 will be disposed in the housing 33, and extend transversely with their faces close together, as shown at the right hand of Fig. The upper and lower guide brackets will be in substan tial abutting relation. To close the door, the operator will pull handle 28 and bar 27 across opening 23. This will cause brackets 15, 16, through links 32, to draw the first pair of brackets 15 and 16 and the first door leaf which is pivoted thereto outwardly, and as the toggle links, connected to said brackets 15 and 16, are extended, the first leaf will be separated from the succeeding leaf,so the former can swing horizontally from its transverse position. Each succeeding pair of brackets, with the leaf connected thereto, will be similarly separated from the next succeeding pair of brackets and leaf as the toggle links are extended, and when extended, the links will commence to pull out the following pair of brackets and the leaf carried thereby. This successive separation of the brackets separates the leaf pivots so each leaf may, in succession, swing horizontally into the plane of the door opening. Each vertical pair of brackets will draw the succeeding pair with its leaf outwardly and away from the collapsed leaves until all of the leaves have been pulled out. As the leaves are thus pulled, they successively pass between the inclined surfaces 31, 31" of guide bars 30 and 30. which will swing them into the plane of opening 23 and guide them into the space between said guide-bars so their edges will abut and so the leaves will form a continuous closure for the opening 23. Said guide-bars will also prevent the turning of the leaves while they are in the door opening. A spring 35 is secured to housing 33 to engage the trailing sides of the leaves and insure their turning into alignment with one another as they pass into the constricted space between guide bars 30, 30 and thus insure the turning of the leaves into alignment with one another. When the door is to be opened, the operator will push the bar 27 toward the housing 33 and, as the lea pass between guide surfaces 31 and 31", they will be successively rel ased and turned to extend crosswise of the track, whereupon the toggle links between the brackets to which they are connected will fold together so that the brackets will successively pass into abutting relation until all of the leaves have passed into the housing and opening 23 has been cleared. As each leaf passes to its transverse position, the succeeding leaf will strike it and be deflected out of its lonigtudinal position and into its transverse position.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to s cure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves mounted to travel longitudinally of the tracks, coaxial pivots at the top and hot of the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another, longitudinally of the tr ck and permit them to swing transversely of he track, serial connections for shifting the leaf-pivots which permit them to be spread apart and moved into close relation, and means to control the pivotal movement of llllj I the leaves so they will pass into alignment when the leaf pivots areseparated and into transverse position when the leaf-pivotsare moved toward one another.

2. In a door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks,'a series of leaves mounted to travel, longitudinally of the tracks, coaxial pivots at the top and bottom of the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another longitudinally of the trail: and permit them to swing transversely of the track, and serial connections for shifting the leaf-pivots which permit them to be spread apart and to be moved into close relation, and guide-bars to control the pivotal movement of the leaves so they will pass into alignment when the leaf pivots are separated and into trans-verse position when the leaf-pivots are moved toward one another.

3. In a door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves mounted to travel longitudinally of the tracks, coaxial pivots at the top and bottom '1 of the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another longitudinally of the track and permit them to swing transversely of the track, and toggle-link connections for shifting the leaf-pivots and which permit them to be spread apart and to be moved into close relation, and means to control the pivotal movement of the leaves so they will pass into alignment when the leaf pivots are separated and into transverseposition when the leaf-pivots are moved toward one another. l. In a door structure, the comblnation of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves mounted to travel longitudinally of the tracks, guides on the tracks, coaxial pivots between the top and bottom of the leaves respectively and the guides which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment,

with one another longitudinally of the track and permit them to swing transversely of the track, and serial connections for shifting the guides, which permit them to be spread apart and to be moved into close relation,

' and means to control the pivotal movement of the leaves so theywill pass into alignment when the guides are separated and into transverse position when the guides are moved toward one anothert 5. In a door structure, the combination of upperand lower tracks, a series of leaves, a series of vertical pairs of guides mounted to travel on the tracks respectively, coaxial pivotal connections betweenthe guides of each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally intoalignment with one another andtransversely to the track, and serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread apart to permit pivotal connections between the guides of each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another and trans versely to the track, serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves maybe spread apart to permit the leaves to swing into and out of alignment and permit them to be moved into close relation when they are in their transverse positions, and means to control theswinging of the leaves. 7

7. In door structure,the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves, a series of vertical pairs of guides mounted to travel on the tracks respectively, coaxial pivotal connections between the guides of each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one anotherand transversely to the track, and serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread apart to permit the leaves to swing into and out of alignment and permit them to be moved into close relation when they are in their transverse positions, said tracks comprising bars spaced apart, the guides extending between the bars.

8. In door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves, a seriesof vertical pairs of guides mounted to travel on the tracks respectively, coaxial pivotal connections between the guides of each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another longitudinally of the track and transversely to the track, and togglelinlr connections between the guides which permit their limited separation and are told able to permit the guides to move toward one another so the' pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread-apart to permit the leaves to swing into and out of alignment and to permit the leaves to be moved into close a permit them to swing horizontally into alignmentwith one another and transversely to the track, and serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread apart to permit the leaves to swing into an d out of alignment and permit them to he moved into close relation when they are in their transverse positions, said tracks each having guide-ways on the to; and bottom thereof, and said guides having upper and lower bearings for said ways.

10 In a door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves, a series of vertical p s oi'guides mounted to travel on the tracks respectively, coaxial pivotal cornections between the guidesoi each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which e nit them to swing horizontally into alignwith one another and transversely to track, serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread apart to permit the leaves to swing into and out of alignment and permit them to be moved into close relation when they are in their transverse positions, and a verical op- ":3 crating bar, connected to positively shift the gu des in which the first leaf is pivoted.

ll. in a door structure, the combination or upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves, a series ot vertical pairs of guides mounted to travel on the tracks resoectivel" coaxial ivotal connections between the guides of each vertical pair and the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another and transversely to the track, serial connections between the guides which permit their limited separation so the pivotal connections for the leaves may be spread apart to permit the leaves to swing into and out of alignment and permitthem to be moved into close relation when they are in their transverse positions, a vertical bar, and a pair of guides on the tracks to which said bar is fixed and connected to the guides in which the first leaf is pivoted.

12. In a door structure, the combination of upper and lower tracks, a series of leaves mounted to travel longitudinally of the tracks, coaxial pivots at the top and bottom of the leaves respectively which permit them to swing horizontally into alignment with one another longitudinally of the track, and permit them to swing transversely of the track, connections by which the leafpivots will be serially spread apart and which permit them to be moved into close relation, and means to control the pivotal movement of the leaves so they will pass into alignment when the leafpivots are separated and into transverse position when the leatpivots are moved toward one another, and a housing into which the leaves are movable.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day of February, 1929.

GILBERT C. STAEHLE.

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