SLIDING DOOR SYSTEM FOR INSTALLATION IN A BUILDING WALL

Abstract

A sliding door system for a building wall includes first and second wall parts having opposite first and second door openings respectively and separated by an intermediate space, first and second door leaves closing the first and second door openings respectively, a door leaf carrier slidable along the intermediate space by a linear guide device and on which the door leaves are pivotably mounted by a pivot mechanism, and a coupling device converting the carrier sliding movement into a rotational movement actuating the pivot mechanism so that the door leaves pivot relative to the door leaf carrier, the coupling device including a slotted component with a slot representing a desired relationship between the sliding movement and the rotational movement and a control lever coupling the slot to the pivot mechanism, and wherein the slotted component is mounted on at least one of the first and second wall parts.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A sliding door system for installation in a building wall, the sliding door system comprising: a first wall part having a first door opening formed therein; a second wall part having a second door opening formed therein, wherein the first wall part and the second wall part are arranged opposite one another such that the first door opening is opposite the second door opening and the first wall part is separated from the second wall part by an intermediate space; a first door leaf for closing the first door opening; a second door leaf for closing the second door opening; a door leaf carrier slidable along the intermediate space by a linear guide device and on which the first door leaf and the second door leaf are pivotably mounted by a pivot mechanism; and a coupling device that converts a sliding movement of the door leaf carrier into a rotational movement actuating the pivot mechanism such that the first door leaf and the second door leaf are pivoted relative to the door leaf carrier, wherein the coupling device includes a slotted component having a slot formed therein that represents a defined relationship between the sliding movement and the rotational movement and the coupling device includes a control lever coupling the slot to the pivot mechanism, wherein the slotted component is mounted on the first wall part and/or on the second wall part.

16. The sliding door system according to claim 15 wherein the slot has a straight first slot section, a straight second slot section, and a curved third slot section for guiding the control lever, wherein the third slot section is arranged between the first slot section and the second slot section and/or transitions into the first slot section and the second slot section.

17. The sliding door system according to claim 16 wherein the first slot section and the second slot section are oriented obliquely to each other.

18. The sliding door system according to claim 16 wherein the slotted component is mounted on the first wall part and/or on the second wall part such that the first slot section extends parallel to a sliding direction of the door leaf carrier.

19. The sliding door system according to claim 15 wherein a geometry of the slot includes a straight first track section, a curved second track section and a straight third track section that direct the first door leaf and the second door leaf each to: follow the first track section when the door leaf carrier slides between an initial position, in which the first door opening and the second door opening are open, and a first intermediate position; follow the second track section when the door leaf carrier slides between the first intermediate position and a second intermediate position in which the first door leaf is opposite the first door opening and the second door leaf is opposite the second door opening; and follow the third track section, that is orthogonal to the first track section, when the door leaf carrier slides between the second intermediate position and an end position in which the first door leaf closes the first door opening and the second door leaf closes the second door opening.

20. The sliding door system according to claim 19 wherein the second track section is at least partially clothoid-shaped.

21. The sliding door system according to claim 15 wherein the pivot mechanism includes a plurality of torsion bars, each of the torsion bars being rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis thereof in the door leaf carrier, and a plurality of pivot levers, wherein each of the pivot levers is fixedly connected at a first end to an associated one of the torsion bars and at a second end articulatedly mounted to an associated one of the first and second door leaves.

22. The sliding door system according to claim 21 wherein the control lever is fixedly connected at a first end to a first of the torsion bars and is articulatedly mounted at a second end in the slot.

23. The sliding door system according to claim 22 wherein: the first door leaf is connected to the first torsion bar by at least a first of the pivot levers, and is connected by at least a second of the pivot levers to a second of the torsion bars; and/or the second door leaf is connected by at least a third of the pivot levers to a third of the torsion bars, and is connected by at least a fourth of the pivot levers to a fourth of the torsion bars.

24. The sliding door system according to claim 23 wherein: the first torsion bar, the second torsion bar, the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever form a first parallelogram guide for pivoting the first door leaf; and/or the third torsion bar, the fourth torsion bar, the third pivot lever and the fourth pivot lever form a second parallelogram guide for pivoting the second door leaf.

25. The sliding door system according to claim 23 wherein: the first torsion bar is coupled to the third torsion bar such that a rotational movement of the first torsion bar results in a counter-rotating rotational movement of the third torsion bar; and/or the second torsion bar is coupled to the fourth torsion bar such that a rotational movement of the second torsion bar results in a counter-rotating rotational movement of the fourth torsion bar.

26. The sliding door system according to claim 23 wherein: the first torsion bar is coupled to the second torsion bar such that a rotational movement of the first torsion bar results in a co-rotating rotational movement of the second torsion bar; and/or the third torsion bar is coupled to the fourth torsion bar such that a rotational movement of the third torsion bar results in a co-rotating rotational movement of the fourth torsion bar.

27. The sliding door system according to claim 21 wherein the pivot mechanism includes at least one spur gear pair for converting a rotational movement of one of the torsion bars into a counter-rotating rotational movement or a co-rotating rotational movement of another of the torsion bars.

28. A sliding door system for installation in a building wall, the sliding door system comprising: a first wall part having a first door opening formed therein; a second wall part having a second door opening formed therein, wherein the first wall part and the second wall part are arranged opposite one another such that the first door opening is opposite the second door opening and the first wall part is separated from the second wall part by an intermediate space; a first door leaf for closing the first door opening; a second door leaf for closing the second door opening; a door leaf carrier slidable along the intermediate space by a linear guide device and on which the first door leaf and the second door leaf are pivotably mounted by a pivot mechanism; a coupling device that converts a sliding movement of the door leaf carrier into a rotational movement actuating the pivot mechanism such that the first door leaf and the second door leaf are pivoted relative to the door leaf carrier, wherein the coupling device includes a slotted component having a slot formed therein that represents a defined relationship between the sliding movement and the rotational movement and the coupling device includes a control lever coupling the slot to the pivot mechanism, wherein the slotted component is mounted on the first wall part and/or on the second wall part; wherein the pivot mechanism includes first, second, third and fourth torsion bars, each of the torsion bars being rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis thereof in the door leaf carrier, and first, second, third and fourth pivot levers; wherein the control lever is fixedly connected at a first end to the first torsion bar and is articulatedly mounted at a second end in the slot; wherein the first door leaf is connected to the first torsion bar by the first pivot lever and is connected to the second torsion bar by the second pivot lever; and wherein the second door leaf is connected to the third torsion bar by the third pivot lever and is connected to the fourth torsion bar by the fourth pivot lever.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a sliding door system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in the installed state.

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a section of the guide rail system from FIG. 1 in the closed state.

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a section of the guide rail system from FIG. 1 in the open state.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a perspectival view of a slotted component according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0058] The drawings are merely schematic, and not to scale. In the different figures, identical reference signs denote identical or similar features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a sliding door system 100 installed in a building wall 102. The sliding door system 100 comprises a first wall part 104 with a first door opening 106 and a second wall part 108 with a second door opening 110for example, in the form of wall panels or wall frameworks or a combination of both.

[0060] The two wall parts 104, 108 are arranged opposite one another so that the first door opening 106 is opposite the second door opening 110, which together form a passage through the building wall 102. In addition, the two wall parts 104, 108 are separated from one another by an intermediate space 112, which is dimensioned such that it provides sufficient space for the installation of components of the sliding door system 100.

[0061] The sliding door system 100 comprises a first door leaf 114 for closing the first door opening 106 and a second door leaf 116 for closing the second door opening 110. FIG. 1 shows the sliding door system 100 in a closed state in which both door openings 106, 110 are closed by the respective door leaf 114 or 116.

[0062] The two door leaves 114, 116 are pivotably mounted on a door leaf carrier 118, which is mounted slidably along the intermediate space 112 in a horizontal sliding direction 122 by means of a linear guide device 120for example, in the form of a roller guide or sliding guide. The door leaf carrier 118 can be arranged at least partially between the wall parts 104, 108.

[0063] The door leaf carrier 118 can be slidablefor example, by means of an electric drive (not shown).

[0064] To be able to pivot the door leaves 114, 116 into or out of the respective door opening 114 or 116 in a controlled manner as a function of a sliding movement of the door leaf carrier 118, taking into account a given assembly space, the sliding door system 100 further comprises a pivot mechanism 124 for changing a respective position and/or orientation of the door leaves 114, 116 relative to the door leaf carrier 118 and also a coupling device 126 for driving the pivot mechanism 124 as a function of the sliding movement.

[0065] In this example, the pivot mechanism 124 comprises a first torsion bar 128, a second torsion bar 130, a third torsion bar 132, and a fourth torsion bar 134. The torsion bars 128, 130, 132, 134 are each mounted in the door leaf carrier 118 rotatably about their vertical longitudinal axis.

[0066] The first door leaf 114 is connected in an articulated manner to the first torsion bar 128 via a first pivot lever 136 and to the second torsion bar 130 via a second pivot lever 138, which together form a first parallelogram guide for guiding the first door leaf 114.

[0067] In an analogous manner, the second door leaf 116 is connected to the third torsion bar 132 via a third pivot lever 140 and to the fourth torsion bar 134 via a fourth pivot lever 142, which together form a second parallelogram guide for guiding the second door leaf 116.

[0068] Each of the pivot levers 136, 138, 140, 142 can be fixedly connected at its first end to the respective torsion bar and at its second end to the respective door leaf.

[0069] The coupling device 126 comprises a slotted component 144 with a slot 146 which can be realized as a groove or recess in the slotted component 144. Here, the slotted component 144 is fixedly mounted outside the door leaf carrier 118 on an inner side, facing the intermediate space 112, of the first wall part 104 and above the first door opening 106 or the first door leaf 114. However, other mounting locations for the slotted component 144, e.g., a building floor or a building ceiling, are also possible.

[0070] The slotted component 144 can be mounted in such a way that it can be slid slightly in the horizontal direction for adjustment purposes (indicated by two arrows).

[0071] In order to couple the slotted component 144 to the pivot mechanism 124, in this example, a control lever 148 is guided at its first end in the slot 146, e.g., via a guide pin mounted therein, and is connected at its second end in a rotationally-fixed manner to the first torsion bar 128. In this way, the horizontal sliding movement of the door leaf carrier 118 can, in accordance with the course of the slot 146, be converted into a rotational movement of the first torsion bar 128, whereby the first door leaf 114 is pivoted towards or away from the door leaf carrier 118.

[0072] In order to pivot the second door leaf 116 towards or away from the door leaf carrier 118 synchronously with the first door leaf 114, the first torsion bar 128 can be coupled to the third torsion bar 132 via a simple linkage, e.g., in the form of a spur gear pair, such that the rotational movement of the first torsion bar 128 results in a corresponding counter-rotating rotational movement of the third torsion bar 132.

[0073] The second torsion bar 130 and the fourth torsion bar 134 can be coupled to one another in a similar manner.

[0074] In addition, the first torsion bar 128 can similarly be coupled to the second torsion bar 130, and/or the third torsion bar 132 to the fourth torsion bar 134. In this case, the coupling can be such that the rotational movement of the one torsion bar results in a co-rotating rotational movement of the other torsion bar.

[0075] The slot 146 can be adapted in its course such that one or more of the following criteria are fulfilled: [0076] Rapid opening and/or gentle closing of the door leaves 114, 116 is made possible. [0077] The forces that act upon the door leaves 114, 116 and/or the slot 146 during rapid opening are minimal. [0078] The movements of the door leaves 114, 116 during opening and closing are almost jerk-free. [0079] The door leaves 114, 116 do not touch the building wall 102 at any time during their movement. [0080] A gap between the door leaves 114, 116 and the respective wall part 104 or 108 in the closed state does not exceed an allowable maximum width, in order to minimize the risk of injury due to clamping.

[0081] For example, the geometry of the slot 146 can be selected as a function of a given building wall such that the door leaves 114, 116 describe a specific movement path 150 during opening and/or closing, which movement path can be characterized by a straight first track section 150a, a curved second track section 150b, and a straight third track section 150c.

[0082] As shown by way of example in FIG. 1, the first track section 150a can be oriented to be substantially parallel to the sliding direction 122 and/or substantially perpendicular to the third track section 150c.

[0083] For example, the door leaves 114, 116 follow [0084] the first track section 150a when the door leaf carrier 118 is slid between an initial position 152 in which the two door openings 106, 110 are open and a first intermediate position 154, [0085] the second track section 150b when the door leaf carrier 118 is slid between the first intermediate position 154 and a second intermediate position 156 in which the first door leaf 114 of the first door opening 106 and the second door leaf 116 of the second door opening 110 are opposite, and [0086] the third track section 150c when the door leaf carrier 118 is slid between the second intermediate position 156 and an end position 158 in which the first door leaf 114 is pivoted into the first door opening 106 and the second door leaf 116 is pivoted into the second door opening 110.

[0087] In order to ensure as jerk-free a pivoting of the door leaves 114, 116 as possible, the second track section 150b can run at least partially in the shape of a clothoid.

[0088] In addition, it is possible for the curvature of the second track section 150b to vary in its curvature as a function of the direction in which the door leaf carrier 118 is slid. For example, the slot 146 can be adapted such that opening takes place more rapidly than closing. For this purpose, the coupling device 126 can comprise a switching mechanism (not shown), which can be actuated by means of the control lever 148 as a function of the sliding direction 122, for switching between a first geometry and a second geometry of the slot 146.

[0089] A particularly advantageous geometry of the slot 146, by means of which the aforementioned effects can be generated, is shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the slot 146 can be divided into a straight first slot section 202 extending substantially parallel to the sliding direction 122, a straight second slot section 204 extending obliquely to the first slot section 202, as well as a curved or arcuate third slot section 206 forming a transition between the first slot section 202 and the second slot section 204.

[0091] FIG. 4 shows the slotted component 144 in an enlarged representation. In this example, the slotted component 144 is realized as a milled part with a milled-in slot 146.

[0092] It is noted that, on the same day as the present patent application, WO 2022/243039 A1 (EP 21173993.3), the applicant has filed two further patent applications which also relate to sliding doors. Embodiments of the sliding doors and their function elements described therein can optionally also be used in the same or similar manner in embodiments of the invention described herein. The content of the two further patent applications, WO 2022/243091 A1 (EP 21173992.5) and WO 2022/243037 A1 (EP 21173990.9), is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0093] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as comprising, including, etc., do not exclude other elements or steps, and terms such as a or one do not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above.

[0094] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.