Drive linkage for swinging doors
Crocker 1 Apr. 22, 1975 DRIVE LINKAGE FOR SWINGING DOORS [75] Inventor: Samuel Lincoln Crocker,  
 Farmington, Conn.  
 [73] Assignee: The Stanley Works. New Britain.  
 Conn.  
  22 Filed: Jan. 25, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 436,503  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 49/326; 49/346; 49/139 [51] Int. Cl E05f 11/00 [58] Field of Search 49/326, 346. I39  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 388.965 9/1888 Gorrcll et al. 49/346 3.510.984 5/l970 Kalog et al 49/346 X Primary E.\&#39;uminerKenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Prutzman. Hayes, Kalb 8L Chilton [57] ABSTRACT A drive linkage is provided for connecting a bi-swing door to a pivotable drive spindle offset from the pivot axis of the door on one side thereof. The linkage comprises an L-shaped armature connected at one end to the drive spindle for pivotal movement therewith and at the other end to a fixed guide track member secured to the door and having a guide track extending outwardly from one side thereof. The guide track consists of a pair of guide track legs converging at an apex offset from the spindle and the door. The armature is provided with a roller assembly for constantly and captively engaging the guide track and for movement along the legs thereof toward and away from the apex during full bi-swinging movement of the door to provide powered or manual operation in one direction with controlled powered return and manual operation in the other direction with controlled powered return.  
 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEE APR 221975 lll l FIG. 2  
 DRIVE LINKAGE FOR SWINGING DOORS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to swinging doors and is more particularly concerned with a new and improved drive linkage connecting such doors to a pivotable drive spindle offset from the door as in surface mounted applications.  
  Automatic power-operated doors that swing inwardly during normal operation are used today in many commercial establishments. These doors are driven between their normally closed and normally opened positions by an electromechanical door operator thatmust be capable of permitting manual opening of the door in an outward direction in the event of an emergency. In order to achieve this outward or reverse opening of the door it has been necessary to utilize a door having a biswing capability and provide means for effecting emergency release of the door from the operator. This release has been accomplished by suitable disconneect mechanisms such as the structure described in the Ferguson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3.2l0.067. Where such disconnect systems have been employed. it is. of course. necessary to reset the mechanism in order to render the power operator effective once again for performing its normal door opening and closing functions.  
  More recently the Kalog et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3.510.984 has described a control linkage wherein it is not necessary to disconnect the operator from the door upon reverse movement of the door under an emergency condition. However. the linkage described in that patent involves a complex multi-link system wherein the initial opening movement of the door is accomplished at about the same speed as the operator. Additionally the system requires the incorporation of a slide track within the body of the door along the top edge thereof thus necessitating a special door or a substantial modification of an existing door.  
  Accordingly. it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved drive linkage for swinging doors that obviates the necessity for disconnecting the operator from the door during reverse opening thereof in either an inward or outward direction while simultaneously simplifying the drive linkage connection between the door and the operator and desirably increasing the initial opening speed of the door in order to provide greater initial door clearance in a more rapid manner without changing the speed of the operator.  
  Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved drive linkage of the type described that is particularly well suited to automatic poweroperated swinging doors wherein the drive spindle of the power operator is offset from the pivot axis of the door and the guide track extends transversely to the face of the door and outwardly therefrom permitting easy installation and efficiency of torque transfer to the door.  
  Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved linkage of the type described that permits constant interconnection between the door and the drive spindle thereby eliminating the need for resetting the linkage after reverse opening of the door. Included in this object is the provision for increased initial door speed and decreased terminal door speed during constant operator speed in a normal door opening operation.  
  A further object is to provide a new and improved drive linkage of reliable smooth operation and sturdy. durable yet light-weight construction that is adapted to rapid and facile installation on a wide variety of existing doors without modification thereof.  
  Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in more detail hereinafter.  
  These and related objects are accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a drive linkage for connecting a bi-swing door to a pivotable drive spindle offset from the pivot axis of the door on one side thereof. The drive linkage comprises an armature connected at one end to the drive spindle for pivotal movement therewith and a fixed guide track member secured to the door and having a guide track extending outwardly from one side thereof. The guide track consists of a pair of guide track legs converging at an apex offset from the spindle and the door. The armature is provided with a track follower on the end thereof opposite said one end for constantly engaging the guide track and for movement along the legs thereof toward and away from the apex during full biswinging movement of the door.  
  A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing which set forth an illustrative embodiment indicative of the way in which the principles of the invention are employed.  
 A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:  
  FlG. l is a fragmentary elevational view of the top portion of a power-operated bi-swing door including a drive linkage embodying the eatures of the present invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating in full line the position of the linkage when the door is in a closed position and in phantom line the positions of the armature when the door is in its full open positions:  
  FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 illustrating the interconnection between the track and track follower of the drive linkage; and.  
  FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form ofa track suited for use in the present invention.  
 DESCRlPTlON OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT It will be understood that the present invention has equal application to both a normally inwardly opening door and a normally outwardly opening door. However. for ease of illustration and clarity of description the invention will be described primarily with respect to a normally inwardly opening door.  
  Referring now to the drawing in greater detail wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures. a door 10 is shown as mounted within a door frame 12 for bi-swing pivotal movement about the pivot 14. A suitable power operator (not shown) is mounted on the header 16 on the door frame 12 and includes a drive spindle l8 offset from the pivot 14 of the door but in alignment therewith on one side of the door. The drive spindle 18 is drivably connected to the door through a drive linkage comprised of an armature 20. a track 22 and a track follower 24 interconnecting the armature and the track for moving the door clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 about the pivot 14 from its normally closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 toward its normally opened position.  
  The elongated. generally L-shaped armature 20 of the drive linkage is connected to the drive spindle 18 through an upstanding hub member 26. The elongated drive armature 20 is comprised of a short connecting arm portion 30 that is interfittably connected to the hub member 26 and a substantially longer operator arm portion 32 secured to the connecting arm portion 30 by means of a short integral cylindrical spacer 34. As shown in FIG. 2 the arm portions 30 and 32 are disposed at approximately a right angle to each other but are disposed within spaced parallel planes due to the separation provided by the integral spacer 34. Thus the connecting arm portion 30 is located within a plane above the top of the door panel while the operator arm portion 32 of the armature is positioned within a plane that intersects a portion of the door panel.  
  As best shown in FIG. 2 the operator spindle l8 and the door pivot 14 are aligned within a plane that is generally parallel to the face 36 of the door jamb and the hub connecting arm portion of the armature is of sufficient length relative to the thickness of the door so that as the door moves in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 to the open position shown in phantom. the elongated operator arm portion 32 of the armature is pivotably displaced so as not to interfere with the swinging movement of the door.  
  The drive linkage also includes a guide track 22 which preferably takes the form of a solid rod secured to the interior face of the door 10 by the mounting brackets 38. The track is of V-shaped configuration and includes a pair of leg portions 40, 42 of substantially equal length that are interconnected at an apex 44 so as to be disposed at an angle of about 90 relative to each other. In the embodiment illustrated the legs of the guide track are provided with mounting extensions 46, 48 which are angularly disposed so as to rest against the door 10 and fit within the mounting plates 38. Preferably the extensions 46, 48 are covered with plastic sleeves, such as vinyl sleeves, to permit slight pivotal movement of the track apex 44 in a generally vertical direction thereby permitting adjustment of the linkage to slight variations in the installation level or height of the armature 20.  
  As mentioned, the elongated armature 20 of the drive linkage is interconnected with the guide track 22 by means of a suitable track follower 24 mounted on the end of arm portion 32 opposite the end joined to the&#39;spacer 34. In the specific embodiment illustrated. the arm 32 is provided at its end with an aperture 52 fitted with a suitable bearing member 54 for pivotably connecting the roller assembly 24 thereto by means of a threaded pivot pin 56. The roller assembly 24 includes a plate-like roller carriage 58 having a central threaded aperture 60 for threadably receiving the pivot pin 56 and a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 64 on opposite sides of the central aperture 60 for receiving a pair of roller mounting screws 66. The rollers 68 rotatably supported by screws 66 are of thimble-like configuration and are each provided with a central bushing 70 to permit smoother rolling action relative to the retaining and mounting screw 66 secured to the roller carriage 58. Each retaining screw 66 of the roller assembly is provided with an enlarged or shouldered head portion 72 that acts against washer 74 or similar spacer to maintain the rollers in assembled relationship on the roller carriage 58. The roller assembly is further provided with a carriage cap 76 having a pair of recesses 78 arranged so as to be in registry with the enlarged or shouldered head portion 72 of the roller retaining screws 66 to fully encapsulate the head portion and provide a smooth and neat appearance to the underside of the roller assembly. As best shown in FIG. 3 the rollers 68 are spaced so as to receive the track 22 between the arcuate centrally grooved surfaces 82 thereof and captively engage the track to assure a positive direct driving engagement therebetween in response to pivotal movement of the power spindle 18.  
  As will be appreciated, the drive linkage of the pres ent invention can be installed easily and quickly by initially mounting the armature 20 on the drive spindle 18 so that the roller assembly 24 contacts the face of the door 10 for properly positioning the guide track 22. Although the guide track may then be mounted directly to the door, it is preferred that one roller 68 of the roller assembly 24 be removed and the track 22 be mounted between the concave surfaces 82 of the assembly in the manner shown in FIG. 3. In this way it can be assured that the track 22 is properly located relative to the armature 20 with the roller assembly 24 positioned at the apex 44 of the track when the door is in its fully-closed condition. When thus assembled. the drive linkage is effective to drive the door clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 through an arc of 90 to a fully open position. As will be appreciated. the power operator is also effective to drive the door to its fully closed position regardless of whether the door is power operated or manually moved to its open position in either an inward or outward direction.  
  As the drive spindle 18 rotates in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 it will impart corresponding clockwise movement to the armature 20 which in turn will cause the roller assembly 24 to drivably bear against the track 22. In view of the fact the drive spindle I8 is offset from the pivot 14 of the door. the roller assembly 24 will tend to move along the leg of the track 22 toward the door 10 as the door and armature are moved in a clockwise direction. In this connection it is important to note that the drive armature of the present invention advantageously provides for initial rapid movement of the door out of its fully closed position shown in full line in FIG. 2 and substantially decreased terminal door speed as it approaches a fully opened condition with the drive spindle operating at a constant speed through the entire door opening operation. This is particularly advantageous since it is important in powenoperated doors to provide rapid initial opening of the door coupled with a reduced damping of the doors momentum as it approaches a fully open condition. In this connection it has been found that during the first 10 of clockwise rotation of the drive spindle 18 the door 1 0 will open through an arc segment of 13 thereby exhibiting a 30% speed advantage through the initial 10 of movement of the operating spindle. This speed advantage slowly decreases through approximately the first of spindle rotation and in fact passes a crossover point at between 40 and so that during the last 10 of spindle movement. that is. between and of rotation of the drive spindle. the door 10 moves 207: slower than the drive spindle. Typical values for each ten degrees of movement of the spindle during normal operation is set forth in following Table l.  
 but also optimizes the door travel relative to the drive spindle by increasing the initial opening speed and de- Thus it will be appreciated that the drive linkage provides a substantially simplified construction coupled with a door speed advantage during the initial portion of door opening movement and a reduction of door speed as it approaches a fully open condition.  
  It is also an advantageous feature of the present invention that the drive linkage obviates the need for disconnecting the door from the operator when it is necessary to move the door in a reverse operated direction. that is. in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 from the closed position illustrated therein. This emergency break out feature permits the door to be moved manually in the reverse open direction since the roller assembly 24 can pivot about the pivot pin 54 mounted on the arm portion 32 when the roller assembly is at the apex 44 of the track. Consequently. movement of the door in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 will cause the track follower 24 to move along the leg portion 42 of the track toward the mounting bracket 38 without disconnecting the door from the power drive spindle l8. Thereafter door closing can be accomplished by a controlled powered return of the door to its closed position by the door operator.  
  Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown an alternative track design whereby movement of the door in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 under an emergency condition will cause the roller assembly 24 to travel through less than a full 90 are segment during 90 movement of the door. The track 86 in FIG. 4 is provided with a first leg portion 88 substantially identical to leg 40 of track 22 up to and including the apex 90. The second leg 92 of the track 86 extends substantially parallel to the side of the door to provide less resistance to door opening. As will be appreciated. the door-parallel disposition of leg 92 is spaced slightly from apex 90 to assure an accurate closed door position during normal operation.  
  Other track configurations and forms can be utilized to provide the desired reversed movement of the door without effecting a disconnection between the operator and the door. It will also be appreciated that the rollers can be modified to provide sliding contact between the track and track follower and that the track could take a form other than the preferred rod configuration illustrated in the drawing so long as the desired 180 total door swing is achieved.  
  As can be appreciated from the foregoing detailed description. the drive linkage of the present invention not only obviates the need for disconnecting the operator from the door during reverse movement thereof while providing a simplified drive linkage connection creasing the terminating speed without changing the speed of the operatorv Such an arrangement permits an improved smoothness of operation coupled with an efficient torque transfer from the operator to the door and a reduced need for substantial damping of the door as it approaches its fully opened condition. Additionally it permits powered and manual operation in one direction with controlled return and manual operation in the other direction with controlled powered return.  
  As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art. various modifications. adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.  
 I claim:  
  1. A drive linkage for connecting a bi-swing door to a pivotable drive spindle offset from the pivot axis of the door on one side thereof comprising an armature connected at one end to the drive spindle for pivotal movement therewith. a fixed guide track member secured to said door and having a guide track extending outwardly from said one side thereof. said track having a pair of legs joined at an apex offset from said spindle and said door. said armature having a track follower on the end thereof opposite said one end. said track follower constantly engaging said guide track for movement along the legs thereof toward and away from the apex during full bi-swing movement of said door. said track follower being positioned at the apex of the guide track when the door is in a closed position.  
  2. The drive linkage of claim I wherein one leg of said guide track extends from said door toward said apex at an acute angle to the door and tangentially of said pivot axis.  
  3. The drive linkage of claim 1 wherein said follower includes roller means captively engaging said track for movement therealong.  
  4. The drive linkage of claim 1 wherein said armature has an L-shaped configuration.  
  5. A drive linkage for connecting a bi-swing door to a pivotable drive spindle offset from the pivot axis of the door on one side thereof comprising an armature connected at one end to the drive spindle for pivotal movement therewith. a fixed guide track member secured to said door and having a guide track extending outwardly from said one side thereof. said track being a rod and having a pair of legs joined at an apex offset from said spindle and said door. said armature having a track follower on the end thereof opposite said one end. said track follower including a pair of rollers engaging said rod for movement along the legs thereof toward and away from the apex during full bi-swing movement of said door. said follower being pivotally connected to said armature for pivotal movement at said apex.