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(11) | EP 1 681 413 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Selvage for secondary wing of fire doors |
| (57) A selvage (1) for secondary wing of fire doors which is fully reversible, of the
type which comprises a body provided with gears associated with respective vertically
sliding sliders (19), gears associated with an antipanic opening handle, which comprise
two contoured and superimposed plates (13) which can slide axially within the selvage
(1) and are contoured at one end so as to form a pusher (15), an angular spring (M)
which has one arm which rests on the rear wall (3) of the selvage (1) and another
arm engaged on an element which is rigidly coupled to the plates (13) in order to
keep their end faces rested respectively against the upper wall (4) and the lower
wall (5) of the selvage (1), two lever arms (12), which are rigidly coupled to the
bits (11) and rest against elements which are rigidly coupled to the plates (13).
The body is symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane which passes through the
centerline and is provided with two symmetrical bits (11), each individually adapted
to engage the antipanic handle. The elements rigidly coupled to the plates (13) are
rockers (24), which are pivoted substantially at their centerline to the respective
plate (13) and in which the end that lies opposite to the contact end for the lever
arms (12) can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate (13).
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[0002] Fire prevention standards are intended to prevent the occurrence of fires, contain their expansion and stop their reaction by means of rapid extinguishing actions. Prevention therefore includes protection activities aimed at containing the effects of the energies released by a fire in space and time by reducing the flame propagation rate and extending the ignition induction time.
[0003] Fire doors are part of this field, as they must in fact: separate contiguous spaces and prevent the passage of fire and superheated gases from the space at risk to the adjacent space; prevent the propagation of the fire also by heat radiation, i.e., have sufficient thermal insulation capacities; allow, even during the fire, the escape of people who have remained in the space in which the fire has developed, and always open easily at least in the intended direction; after opening, fire doors must close automatically from any position, therefore even from the fully open position at 180°, in order to prevent fire propagation rapidly; fire doors must be installed with a preset "escape direction", from the space at risk outward or toward lower-risk spaces.
[0004] In addition to the wing, details such as the antipanic handles, which ensure opening by simply pushing on the handle and ensure escape from the space in which the fire has developed, are particularly important.
[0005] In a two-wing door, it is necessary to make a distinction between the main wing, provided with an opening handle (with an antipanic function) and normally used to access the space, and a secondary wing, which is provided with an antipanic handle and is usually closed. The secondary wing is provided with the selvage associated with the latch provided in the lock of the main wing.
[0006] Fire doors are installed in such a way as to ensure flow from the space at higher risk of fire toward the space at lower risk: for this reason, both the main door and the secondary door can be installed according to the two different possible opening directions, depending on the installation characteristics.
[0007] From the constructive standpoint, the drawback linked to this solution is the need to produce two different products in order to accomplish the task of allowing flow in the two possible directions.
[0008] For main doors, fully reversible locks are currently known which ensure the universality of the door on which they are fitted (such door, depending on how it is installed, can in fact open in either direction).
[0009] The aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-mentioned drawbacks and meet the mentioned requirements, by providing a selvage for secondary wing of fire doors which is fully reversible, so as to ensure universality of installation of the door on which it is fitted.
[0010] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a selvage which has a simple structure, is relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.
[0011] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by the present selvage for secondary wing of fire doors, of the type which comprises a body provided with gears associated with respective vertically sliding sliders, which are adapted to engage within corresponding receptacles, one in the threshold and one in the lintel of the installation opening of said door, gears associated with an antipanic opening handle, which comprise two contoured and superimposed plates which can slide axially within said selvage and are contoured at one end so as to form a pusher, an angular spring which has one arm which rests on the rear wall of said selvage and another arm engaged on an element which is rigidly coupled to said plates in order to keep their end faces rested respectively against the upper and lower walls of said selvage, two lever arms, which are rigidly coupled to said bits and rest against elements which are rigidly coupled to said plates, said body being symmetrical with respect to a horizontal plane which passes through the centerline and being provided with two symmetrical bits, each individually adapted to engage the antipanic handle, elastic means being further interposed between said sliders and said gears, characterized in that said elements rigidly coupled to said plates are rockers, which are pivoted substantially at their centerline to the respective plate and in which the end that lies opposite to the contact end for said lever arms can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate.
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the selvage according to the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a selvage for a secondary wing of fire doors, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a partially sectional side view of a first embodiment of the selvage according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partially sectional side view of a first embodiment of the selvage according to the invention, actuated for opening;
Figure 3 is a partially sectional side view of a second embodiment of the selvage according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a partially sectional side view of a second embodiment of the selvage according to the invention, actuated for opening;
Figure 5 is a partially sectional side view of a third embodiment of the selvage according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a partially sectional side view of a third embodiment of the selvage according to the invention, actuated for opening.
[0013] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a selvage for a secondary wing of fire doors.
[0014] Each one of the selvages 1 is provided with a front wall 2, a rear wall 3, an upper wall 4, and a lower wall 5: the four defined walls are delimited between two lateral faces 6 (only one of which is visible in the figure).
[0015] The front wall 2 is provided with a central opening 7 for the passage of a latch 8 of a lock 9 associated with the selvage 1.
[0016] The lateral faces 6 are provided with two respective openings 10, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the centerline of the selvage 1 and in which the shaft of the actuation handle can engage. The handle must be fitted to the selvage 1 so that it is aligned with the handle fitted on the lock 9: the choice is dictated, therefore, by the type of fitting of the lock 10 and of the selvage 1 on the fire door.
[0017] The shaft of the actuation handle inserted within the opening 10 (the upper or lower one, depending on the type of fitting) engages within a bit 11, which is provided with a lever 12, by means of which any angular rotation of the bit 11 is transferred, as a vertical translational motion, to a pair of plates 13.
[0018] The plates 13 have, at an end portion thereof, an expansion 14: each plate 13 has a pusher 15 along one of the sides which delimit the expansion 14. Each plate 13 has, at its ends, a slot 16, in which a pawl 16a is engaged, said pawl being fixed on the face 6 so as to guide the plate 13 during translational motion.
[0019] The pusher 15 is engaged within a small recess 17 of the plate 13 and is associated with a respective slider 19, which can slide axially within suitable receptacles of the door and has an end which is adapted to engage in a receptacle of the threshold or of the lintel (depending on the direction of installation of the selvage 1).
[0020] The end portion of the slider 19 is associated with an element 20, which is designed to lock said slider in the retracted position and to release it when the jamb of the door is adjacent to the inclined surface 21. The element 20 locks by elastic forcing the sliding of the slider 19 inside it thanks to the presence of a guiding groove 22, within which a tooth 23 slides which is rigidly coupled to the slider 19; the action of the jamb against the inclined surface 21 eliminates forcing and allows the free vertical translational motion of the slider 19 within the element 20.
[0021] When the sliders 19 are retracted, by means of the action of the handle, which by turning its shaft entails a rotation of the bit 11, i.e., a translational motion of the plates 13 with consequent movement toward the center of the pushers 15, said pushers remain locked in this position in order to prevent the door from locking in the open position due to the interference of any otherwise protruding portion of a slider 19 with the floor or ceiling.
[0023] First of all, units, not shown in the Figure, for locking the slider 19 can be arranged in the retracted position: each unit comprises a tubular element, within which one of the sliders 19 slides, a small spring which is adapted to tilt the tubular element with respect to the slider 19, locking its sliding, and a button the retraction of which, as a consequence of the contact of the door with the lintel or threshold, disengages the small spring from the tubular element, releasing the slider 19.
[0024] Within the box-like body formed by the faces 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, rockers 24 are provided, which are rigidly coupled to the plates 13, are pivoted substantially at their centerline to the respective plate 13, and in which the end that lies opposite with respect to the contact end for the lever arms 12 can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate 13.
[0025] In a first embodiment, shown in Figures 1 and 2, said opposite end can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate 13 by means of a pin 25, which can be engaged in a respective hole 26 of each rocker 24.
[0026] The pin 25 is accommodated in the hole 26 in a radial direction with respect to the pivoting axis of the rocker 24.
[0027] A protrusion 28 of the respective plate 13 is comprised stably between the pin 25 and the end 27 of the rocker 24 in order to rigidly couple said plate to the rocker 24.
[0028] The pin 25 and the hole 26 provided in the rocker 24 can be threaded in order to ensure firm mutual coupling.
[0029] In a second embodiment, shown in Figures 3 and 4, said opposite end can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate 13 by means of two pivots 29, which are engaged in respective holes 26 of each rocker 24.
[0030] The pivots 29 can move from a configuration in which they protrude from the rocker 24, which corresponds to the locking of the rocker 24 on the respective plate 13, to a configuration of complete insertion within the rocker 24 and disengagement of the rocker 24 from the respective plate 13.
[0031] Each pivot 29 is accommodated in the respective hole 26 in a radial direction with respect to the pivoting axis of the rocker 24.
[0032] The protrusion 28 of the respective plate 13 is comprised stably, when the pivot 29 is in the configuration in which it protrudes from the hole 26, between the pivot 29 and the end 27 of the rocker 24, rigidly coupling the plate 13 to the rocker 24.
[0033] The pivots 29 are threaded and the respective holes 26 also have a thread which is shaped complementary with respect to the thread provided on the pivots 29.
[0034] In a third embodiment, shown in Figures 5 and 6, said opposite end can be rigidly coupled selectively to the respective plate 13 by means of an orientable lug 30, which is rotatably engaged in a respective hole 26 of the rocker 24.
[0035] The portion of the lug 30 that lies outside the hole 26 is eccentric with respect to the axis around which it can rotate: the lug 30 can rotate from a first configuration, in which it substantially interferes with the protrusion 28 which protrudes from the respective plate 13, the first configuration in which the plate 13 and the rocker 24 are rigidly coupled, to a second configuration, in which it is separated from the protrusion 28 and in which the rocker 24 is disengaged from the plate 13.
[0036] The operation of the invention is as follows. Since the selvage 1 is completely symmetrical, it can be fitted both to a door which turns clockwise when pushed and to a door which turns counterclockwise when pushed. The different installation depends exclusively on how the selvage 1 is oriented, and is provided so that the antipanic handle is at the same height as the handle that is present on the door coupled thereto, on which the lock 9 is fitted.
[0037] As a consequence of the actuation of the antipanic bar, the sliders 19 retract and remain retracted due to the presence of the element 20.
[0038] The release of said sliders occurs only when the door is placed in contact with the jamb, which presses on the inclined surface 21.
[0039] The stable coupling between the rocker 24 and the respective plate 13 can be provided equally according to any one of the embodiments described in order to ensure that at least one of the two sliders 19 enters the respective receptacle of the jamb, ensuring the closure of the wing, while the other one remains disengaged, since the receptacle on the floor might be obstructed by debris which prevents its translational motion for expansion into said receptacle.
[0041] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
[0043] In the exemplary embodiments shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.
[0044] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
[0045] In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.
[0046] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2005A000013, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.
[0047] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. A selvage for secondary wing of fire doors, of the type which comprises a body provided
with gears associated with respective vertically sliding sliders (19), which are adapted
to engage within respective corresponding receptacles, one in the threshold and one
in the lintel of the installation opening of said door, gears associated with an antipanic
opening handle, which comprise two contoured and superimposed plates (13) which can
slide axially within said selvage (1) and are contoured at one end so as to form a
pusher (15), an angular spring (M) which has one arm which rests on the rear wall
(3) of said selvage (1) and another arm engaged on an element which is rigidly coupled
to said plates (13) in order to keep their end faces rested respectively against the
upper wall (4) and the lower wall (5) of said selvage (1), two lever arms (12), which
are rigidly coupled to said bits (11) and rest against elements which are rigidly
coupled to said plates (13), said body being symmetrical with respect to a horizontal
plane which passes through the centerline and being provided with two symmetrical
bits (11), each individually adapted to engage the antipanic handle, elastic means
being further interposed between said sliders (19) and said gears, characterized in that said elements rigidly coupled to said plates (13) are rockers (24), which are pivoted
substantially at their centerline to the respective plate (13) and in which the end
that lies opposite to the contact end for said lever arms (12) can be rigidly coupled
selectively to the respective plate (13).
2. The selvage according to claim 1, characterized in that said end which lies opposite the end against which said lever arms (12) make contact
can be coupled selectively to the respective plate (13) by means of a pin (25), which
can engage in a respective hole (26) of each one of said rockers (24).
3. The selvage according to claim 2, characterized in that said pin (25) is accommodated in said hole (26) in a radial direction with respect
to the pivoting axis of said rocker (24), a protrusion (28) being comprised stably
between said pin (25) and the end (27) of said rocker (24), said protrusion protruding
from the respective plate (13), rigidly coupling it to the rocker (24).
4. The selvage according to claim 2, characterized in that said pin (25) and said hole (26) provided on each respective plate (13) are threaded
in order to ensure solid mutual coupling.
5. The selvage according to claim 1, characterized in that said end which lies opposite the end on which said lever arms (12) make contact can
be coupled selectively to the respective plate (13) by means of two pivots (29), which
are engaged in respective holes (26) of each one of said rockers (24) and can move
from a configuration in which they protrude from the rocker (24), which corresponds
to locking on the respective plate (13), to a configuration of complete insertion
within the rocker (24) and disengagement from the respective plate (13).
6. The selvage according to claim 5, characterized in that each one of said pivots (29) is accommodated in the respective hole (26) in a radial
direction with respect to the pivoting axis of said rocker (24), a protrusion (28)
of the respective plate (13) being stably comprised, in the configuration in which
said pivot (29) protrudes, between said pivot (29) and the end (27) of said rocker
(24), coupling said plate to the rocker (24).
7. The selvage according to claim 5, characterized in that said pivots (29) are threaded and said respective holes (26) also have a thread which
is complementary with respect to the thread provided on said pivots (29).
8. The selvage according to claim 1, characterized in that said end which lies opposite the contact end for said lever arms (12) can be rigidly
coupled selectively to the respective plate (13) by means of an orientable lug (30),
which is engaged rotatably in a respective hole (26) of said rocker (24).
9. The selvage according to claim 8, characterized in that the portion of said lug (30)which lies outside said hole (26) is eccentric with respect
to the axis about which it can rotate, said lug (30) being able to rotate from a first
configuration in which it substantially interferes with a protrusion (28) which protrudes
from the respective plate (13), said plate (13) and said rocker (24) being rigidly
coupled in said first configuration, to a second configuration, in which it is separate
from said protrusion (28) and in which the rocker (24) is disengaged from the plate
(13).
10. The selvage according to the preceding claims, characterized in that by means of the action of said antipanic handle, said gears pass from a first configuration,
in which the respective mutually opposite and symmetrical pushers lie proximate to
the corresponding head of the selvage (1), the ends of the sliders (19) being engaged
in said receptacles, to a second configuration, in which said pushers lie proximate
to the centerline of the selvage (1), the ends of the sliders (19) being retracted
within said selvage (1).
11. The selvage according to claim 1, characterized in that said sliders (19) have respective elements (20) for locking the slider (19) in the
retracted position within the door fitted at at least one of the ends which engage
in said receptacles.