SLIDING DOOR FOR THE FACADE OF A SHIP

Abstract

 It is described a sliding door (10) for the façade of a ship able to slide with respect to a fixed frame (14). The door comprises an oscillating V-shaped lever (66) formed by two arms (68, 70) rotatable about a fulcrum (X), wherein an arm (68) is equipped with a wheel (62) sliding on the fixed frame and the other arm (70) is liftable to rotate the lever and, by pushing the wheel on the guide, to lift thereby the door,
An electric drive (20) to push the said other arm is mounted inside the door, thereby allowing a comfortable use.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sliding door for the facade of a ship, e.g. a cruise ship.

[0002] Among the various models of doors that from the cabin of a ship give access to the balcony or to a bridge there is one being widely used. The door with respect to a bearing frame first lifts and then moves laterally thanks to an oscillating lever having two V-shaped arms arranged above the door. On one arm of the lever there is mounted a wheel, so that it ends up resting and sliding on a guide of the frame, while the other arm is connected to a handle operable by the user.

[0003] This type of door is quite heavy to move, and therefore awkward to use for children or elderly. Also it does not lend itself to engaged cabins for disabled people.

[0004] Obviating to at least one of these problems is the main object of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims, wherein the dependent ones define advantageous variants.

[0005] In particular it is desired to solve the problem of facilitating the opening of the sliding door.

[0006] It is therefore proposed a sliding door for the façade of a ship able to slide with respect to a fixed frame, comprising:

an oscillating V-shaped lever formed by two arms rotatable about a fulcrum,

wherein one arm s equipped with a wheel sliding on the fixed frame and

the other arm is liftable to rotate the lever and, by pushing the wheel on the guide, to lift thereby the door,

further comprising an electric drive to push the said other arm.

[0007] The door has the advantage of not requiring effort during its lifting, it can be operated at a distance and represents an important help for people with disabilities.

[0008] As preferred variants, alone or in combination, we cite:

• the electric drive is housed inside a hollow frame which delimits the perimeter of the door. (easy to install and to couple to the lever, and it remains in an extended position); and/or
• the electric drive is housed inside a vertical upright of the hollow frame (to better adapt it to an existing door and shorten the mechanical connections to the lever); and/or
• the electric drive is a linear actuator with a movable piston connected by a rod to said other arm (to avoid mechanisms for converting the rotary motion into linear motion); and/or
• there is a second electric drive to move laterally the door with respect to the fixed frame. (to automate also the opening movement); and/or
• the second electric drive is integral with the fixed frame; and/or
• there is an electronic control unit adapted to detect a signal of an electrical sensor mounted for detecting an angular end-of-travel limit of the said other arm (to ensure maximum safety of the movement); and/or
• the electrical sensor is a switch mounted so that its runner can be activated by the said other arm. (simple but effective and durable solution);
• the lever is rotatably pivoted on two supports integral with the hollow frame.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a sliding door mounted on the facade of a ship,
wherein the door is slidable with respect to a fixed frame and comprises:

an oscillating V-shaped lever formed by two arms rotatable about a fulcrum,

wherein one arm is equipped with a wheel sliding on the fixed frame, and

the other arm is liftable to rotate the lever and, by pushing the wheel on the rail, to lift thereby the door.

[0010] The method comprises the step of actuating by means of an electric drive said other arm.

[0011] Another aspect of the invention relates to an assembly method for a sliding door mounted on the facade of a ship. The sliding door has the characteristics defined above, and the method comprises the step of mounting an electric drive inside the door, the drive being destined to actuate the door.

[0012] The advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of sliding door, making reference to the attached drawing wherein

Figure 1 shows a portion of the door in three-dimensional view;

Figure 2 shows the portion of Figure 1 with some external components removed;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the circle C1 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows the portion of Figure 2 with different angle;

Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of the circle C2 in Figure 4.

[0013] In the figures, same numbers indicate same or conceptually similar parts, and the door is described as in use.

[0014] A door 10 comprises a frame 12 (partially shown), for supporting a glass V, and a bearing frame 14, e.g. a section bar, which delimits the opening to be closed by the door 10.

[0015] Adjacent to the section bar 14 there is a lever 66 oscillating about a horizontal axis X.

[0016] The lever 66 is hinged on supports 15, for example L-shaped plates, fixed to the frame 12 (Figure 1).

[0017] The lever 66 is V-shaped, and has two arms 68, 70.

[0018] On the arm 68 are pivoted wheels 62 which are supported and can slide, along with the arm 68, on a rail 60 integrated into and projecting from the frame 14. The arm 70 is connected to a rod 22 in turn connected to a linear actuator 20 placed inside the frame 12. To this aim, the frame 12 may be a closed-section section bar, hollow inside to house and hide the actuator 20.

[0019] To the frame 14 are fixed two brackets 44, 50.

[0020] The first supports at its free end a block 48 provided with a hole 56 with a female-thread inside.

[0021] The second supports the rotary electric motor 40 with the shaft of which a horizontal threaded rod 42 is integral (blackened in te drawings to better highlight it) and rotatably inserted into the hole 56.

[0022] The block 48 can then slide horizontally guided along the rod 42, when the latter rotates, and is connected to the support 15 fixed to the frame 12.

[0023] The motor 40 when operating the rod 42 slides the block 48 along the frame 12.

[0024] The brackets 44 and 50 have a suitable shape, e.g. L- or C-shaped, to step over and stand above the lever 66 thereby allowing it to oscillate.

[0025] An end-of-travel sensor detects the stroke end of the lever 66. E.g. as sensor there is provided a microswitch 90 which is placed in front of the lever 66 and has an activation tab 92 which protrudes towards and can be moved by the arm 70.

[0026] An electronic control unit C is electrically connected to the motor 40, to the actuator 20 and to the microswitch 90, so as to control the activation of the two drives and manage the movements of the door 10.

OPERATION

[0027] When one wants to open the door, via a handle, a button or a remote control a signal is sent to the central C. It then activates the actuator 20, which pushes up the rod 22 to lift the arm 70. The lever 66 then rotates about the axis X and the arm 68 by pushing on the rail 60 rotates around it. This movement separates from the chassis 14 the X-axis, and therefore the frame 12, which remains suspended only on the wheels 62 and is lifted until at a certain point it actuates the tab 92.

[0028] This results in a stop signal that the control unit C converts into stopping the actuator 20 and into the activation of the motor 40. The rod 42 begins to rotate and gradually is screwed into the block 48, with the result of pulling toward the motor 40 (see arrow F) the supports 15, the lever 66 sliding with the wheels 62 on the guide 60, and the frame 12 (and thus the entire door).

[0029] At the end of the stroke the control unit C stops the motor 40, and the door is open.

[0030] For the closing the phases are followed in reverse order.

OPTIONS

[0031] As variants for the door 10 one may e.g.:

• use an electric motor to actuate the rod 12, e.g. by coupling the motor to a rotating arm;
• use a belt-, chain-, rack-, steel-cable or coiled-cable system to move horizontally the frame 12,
• the power supply cables of the actuator 20 and/and for the connection of optional command buttons set on the frame 12 may be inserted into a flexible duct.

Claims

1. Sliding door (10) for the façade of a ship able to slide with respect to a fixed frame (14), comprising
an oscillating V-shaped lever (66) formed by two arms (68, 70) rotatable about a fulcrum (X),
wherein one arm (68) is equipped with a wheel (62) sliding on the fixed frame and
the other arm (70) is liftable to rotate the lever and, by pushing the wheel on the guide, to lift thereby the door,
characterized by comprising an electric drive (20) to push the said other arm.

2. Sliding door according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive is housed inside a hollow frame (12) which delimits the perimeter of the door.

3. Sliding door according to claim 2, wherein the electric drive is housed inside a vertical upright (12) of the hollow frame.

4. Sliding door according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electric drive is a linear actuator with a movable piston connected by a rod (22) to said other arm.

5. Sliding door according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a second electric drive (40) to move laterally the door with respect to the fixed frame.

6. Sliding door according to claim 5, wherein the second electric drive comprises a rotary motor whose shaft, via a threaded rod (42), is rotatably coupled with a nut screw (48) integral with the door.

7. Sliding door according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the second electric drive is integral with the fixed frame.

8. Sliding door according to any one of the preceding claims from 5 to 7, comprising an electronic control unit (C) adapted to detect a signal of an electrical sensor (90) mounted for detecting an angular end-of-travel limit of the said other arm.

9. Sliding door according to claim 8, wherein the electrical sensor is a switch (90) mounted so that its runner can be activated by the said other arm.

10. Sliding door according to any of claims 2 to 9, wherein the lever is rotatably pivoted on two supports integral with the hollow frame.

Drawing