FIRE-RESISTANT CONCEALED DOOR HINGE

Abstract

A hinge has first and second leaf assemblies pivoted on each other and a link assembly interconnecting the first and second leaf assemblies. At least one of the first and second leaf assemblies has upper and lower mounts forming a cavity in which a respective end of the link assembly is pivoted, and at least one of the mounts of the one leaf assembly is formed with a recess opening into the cavity. According to the invention a body of foaming fire-protection material is provided in the recess so that when heated the body expands and fills the cavity with fire-protective foam.

Claims

1. A hinge comprising: first and second leaf assemblies pivoted on each other; a link assembly interconnecting the first and second leaf assemblies, one of the first and second leaf assemblies having upper and lower mounts forming a cavity in which a respective end of the link assembly is pivoted, at least one of the mounts of the one leaf assembly being formed with a recess opening into the cavity; and a body of foaming fire-protection material in the recess, whereby when heated the body expands and fills the cavity with fire-protective foam.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the recess is a pocket.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, wherein the body is flush with a surface of the one mount.

4. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein both of the mounts of the one leaf assembly are formed with a respective such recess holding a respective such body of foam-protection material.

5. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the material foams at a temperature above 130° C.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the leaf assemblies are at least partially die cast.

7. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein one of the leaf assemblies is set in an edge of a door and the other of the leaf assemblies is set in a door frame.

8. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the link assembly is formed by a first and second links that are pivoted to each other.

9. The hinge according to claim 8, wherein the first link is pivoted in the mounts of the first leaf assembly.

10. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein the first and second leaf assemblies each include respective first and second housings in which ends of the link assemblies are pivoted.

11. The hinge according to claim 1, wherein, in a closed position of the hinge, the link assembly is contained in the cavity.

12. The combination of: a door panel having an edge; a frame surrounding the door in a closed position; and a hinge according to claim 1 with one of the leaf assemblies set in the edge of the door panel and the other of the leaf assemblies set in the frame.

13. The defined in claim 12, wherein the frame has a stop against which the door panel bears in the closed position, the combination further comprising: a strip of file-protection material extending along the stop and compressed between the door panel and the stop in the closed position of the door.

14. The defined in claim 12, wherein the door panel or the frame is at least partially formed of wood.

15. The defined in claim 13, wherein there are two such hinges according to claim 1 spaced one above the other and pivotally suspending the door in the frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0036] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows the hinge of this invention when installed and in the full-open position;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a section through the hinge of the sectional view; and

[0039] FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of mounts of the hinge of the invention with and without fire-protection body.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a door panel 1, a frame 2, and a hinge 3 that pivotally supports the door panel 1 in the frame 2. The frame 2 also has a stop 4 that extends in a vertical direction Z and that is engaged by the panel 1 in a closed position of the door. The stop 4 carries a fire-protection strip 5 that extends in the vertical direction Z and is thus located in a space between the stop 4 and the door panel 2 in a closed state. The fire-protection strip 5 is made of a material that expands when heated, so that when heated the strip 5 foams up and fills the gap between the stop the stop 4 and the door panel 1.

[0041] The hinge 3 has a first leaf assembly 6 and a second leaf assembly 7 that fit in respective mortises 8 in the edge of the door panel 1 and in the frame 2. In addition, the hinge 3 has a first link 9 and a second link 10 connected together for pivoting about a vertical axis D and forming a link assembly. This connection can be seen in particular in FIG. 2. The second link 10 consists of a first link element 10a and a second link element 10b that are also pivotally connected to each other for relative rotation about a vertical axis E.

[0042] The first leaf assembly 6 and the second leaf assembly leaf assembly 7 have respective upper mounts 11a and 11b and lower mounts 12a and 12b. The upper mounts 11a and 12a together form a first pocket 13a in the first leaf assembly 6 and the upper mounts 11b and 12b define a second cavity in the second leaf assembly 7 in which the link elements 9, 10 fit in the closed position.

[0043] The mounts 11a, 11b, 12a, and 12b are provided in particular for pivotally supporting the link elements 9 and 10 on the respective leaf assemblies 6 and 7. For this purpose the mounts 11a, 12a of the first leaf assembly 6 and the mounts 11b, 12b of the second leaf assembly 7 are mirror-symmetrical to each other, whereas the individual link elements 9, 10 are mounted differently. This is shown particularly clearly by FIG. 2 that is a cross-section through the hinge 3 of the invention in an isolated top view of the lower mounts 12a and 12b

[0044] From this it is clear that the mounts 12a and 12b are separate components and attached to respective housings 14a and 14b of the leaf assemblies 6 and 7. The fastening may further be provided with an adjustment mechanism that allows movement of the second leaf assembly 7 relative to the first leaf assembly 6 and, accordingly, movement of the door panel 2 within the frame 1 in a vertical direction or in a horizontal direction.

[0045] The link assemblies 9, 10 are attached to the mounts 11b, 12b of the second leaf assembly 7 so that they can pivot only, while the elements 11a and 12a of the first leaf assembly 6 each have a longitudinal groove 15 provide for longitudinal displacement of a slide 16 the first link assembly 9. The slides 16 thus can move in the respective grooves 16, and the first link element 9 can pivot in the respective slides 16.

[0046] Since the groove 15 requires that the respective mounts 11a and 12a have a certain vertical thickness, it is also possible to provide in each of them a further respective pocket 17a or 17b. A corresponding pocket 17a or 17b is also provided in each of the upper mounts 11a and 11b.

[0047] FIGS. 3a and 3b show by way of example the lower element 12a of the first leaf assembly 6 with the respective groove 15 and slide 16 as well as the respective pocket 17a. In accordance with the invention, the pocket 17a serves to hold a fire-protection body 18 made of a material that expands when heated. This element 18 is recessed in the respective element 11a, 11b, 12a, and/or 12b so it is flush with or does not project outward past the planar surface 19 (FIG. 2) of the respective mount 11a, 11b, 12a, and/or 12b of the respective housing 14a or 14b.

[0048] Each of the pockets 17a and 17b is designed in such a way that it opens into the respective cavity 13a or 13b so that, in the event of a fire, the respective fire-protection body 18 foams up from the pockets 17a or 17b into the cavities 13a and 13b and fills them. This ensures that the mechanical stability of the parts of the individual leaf assemblies 6, 7, which are made of die-cast zinc, can be retained as long as possible, so that, along with the fire-protection strip 5, there is adequate sealing and the hinge 3 holds the door panel 1 in the frame 2 for a long period of time. The fire-protection strip 5 and the fire-protection body 18 are usually made of a material that starts to foam at a temperature of approximately 130° C., so that the desired effect can occur at an early stage.