Revolving door

Claim 2

A collapsible revolving door adapted to be positioned in a doorway having a floor and a roof, the door being rotatable about a vertical axis and comprising: a. upper and lower collapsing mechanisms; b. upper and lower bearing means coupled to the respective upper and lower collapsing mechanisms: c. means attaching the upper bearing means to the roof so that the upper bearing means is suspended from the roof with the upper collapsing mechanism located for rotation about said vertical axis; d. means mounting the lower bearing means in the floor with the lower collapsing mechanism located for rotation about said vertical axis; e. a plurality of door leaves; f. means coupling the door leaves independently to the collapsing mechanisms, the door leaf coupling means comprising an upper means connecting the door leaves to the upper collapsing mechanism and a lower means connecting the door leaves to the lower collapsing mechanism, the upper and lower connecting means being independent of one another so that the structural combination of the door leaves and the means coupling the door leaves to the collapsing mechanisms is the only structure provided to limit rotation of one of said collapsing mechanisms relative to the other of the collapsing mechanisms; and g. the collapsing mechanisms including means releasably locating each of the door leaves in an uncollapsed position in which the door leaves are spaced angularly about said vertical axis, each of the door leaves being releasable upon the application of panic forces on the door leaf whereby the door leaf moves into a collapsed position providing direct access past the door.

Claim 3

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of said collapsing mechanisms comprises: a generally cylindrical housing positioned concentrically about said axis and comprising: end wall means having slots therein, each of the slots being associated with a respective one of the door leaves and each slot extending radially outwards; a plurality of cam followers in said housing, each of the cam followers being associated with a respective one of the door leaves; said housing further comprising means engageable with the cam followers to limit radial inward movement of the cam followers; pawl means coupled between each of the cam followers and the housing for normally holding the cam followers in positions corresponding to the uncollapsed positions of the door leaves, the cam followers then being in engagement with the housing limiting means and in radial alignment with the respective slots; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower at a position adjacent an inner end thereof, each leaf pin projecting through a corresponding one of the slots in the end wall and terminating in a portion adapted to be coupled to a corresponding one of the door leaves with the door leaf aligned with the corresponding cam follower; and the pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force transmitted thereto by a turning force applied to one of the door leaves and transmitted through a corresponding leaf pin and cam follower, to release such cam follower for movement inside the housing whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate the corresponding leaf pin and cam follower in the housing until rotation of the cam follower is checked by interference with other parts of the mechanism whereupon further force on the door leaf rotates such door leaf and cam follower and also forces the leaf, cam follower, and associated leaf pin to move radially outwards with the leaf pin guided by a corresponding one of the slots.

Claim 4

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the collapsing mechanisms comprises: a housing positioned concentrically about said axis and comprising: a central cam concentric with said axis and an end wall fixed to said cam and having slots therein, each slot being associated with a corresponding one of the door leaves and extending radially outwards from the cam; a plurality of cam followers in the housing, each cam follower being assiciated with a corresponding door leaf and having an inner end portion normally in engagement with the cam and extending radially outwards in alignment with a respective one of the slots; pawl means coupled between each cam follower and the housing for normally holding the cam followers in positions corresponding to the uncollapsed positions of the door leaves, the end portion of each cam follower then being held against the cam; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower at a position adjacent an inner end thereof, each leaf pin projecting through a corresponding one of the slots in the end wall and terminating in a portion adapted to be coupled to a corresponding one of the door leaves with the door leaf aligned with the corresponding cam follower; and pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force transmitted thereto by a turning force applied to one of the door leaves and transmitted through a corresponding leaf pin and cam follower to release such cam follower for movement inside the housing, whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate the corresponding leaf pin and cam follower in the housing until a side of the cam follower meets the cam, further force on the door leaf then continuing to rotate the door leaf and cam follower and also forcing the leaf, cam follower, and associated leaf pin to move radially outwards with the leaf pin guided by a corresponding one of the slots.

Claim 5

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cam has a cam profile face substantially parallel with said axis, said profile face having a radial depression associated with each cam follower, and a lobe between each pair of depressions, each said end portion of said cam followers being rounded to fit within a corresponding one of said profile face depressions and the said side of the cam follower engaging a corresponding one of the lobes when the cam follower is released.

Claim 6

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing includes a generally cylindrical outer wall fixed to said end wall, the outer wall being concentric with said axis, and in which said cam followers extend substantially to said outer wall when the door leaves are in their uncollapsed positions, said pawl means being coupled between the outer wall and outer ends of the cam followers.

Claim 7

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 5 wherein said end wall provides a smooth bearing surface, and each cam follower has a smooth bearing surface to facilitate movement of said cam followers in said housing upon moving the door leaves between said collapsed and uncollapsed positions.

Claim 8

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 6 wherein said pawl means comprises: a spring in each said cam follower, a ball retained in each cam follower and urged outwardly by said spring to a position in which the end of said ball projects beyond said cam follower, and depressions in said outer wall in which said balls are normally seated when said door leaves are in said uncollapsed position.

Claim 9

In a collapsible revolving door positioned between a roof and a floor for movement about a vertical axis, and having door leaves normally extending radially in an uncollapsed position for rotation about said axis, the improvement comprising: upper and lower housings respectively coupled to the roof and floor and positioned concentrically about said axis, each said housing comprising: a central cam concentric with said axis, said cam having a substantially axial cam profile face divided into a concave depression for each door leaf and lobes, there being one lobe between each adjacent pair of concave depressions; and an end wall fixed to said cam and having radial slots therein associated with said cam profile depressions, each said slot extending outwardly from a position adjacent a corresponding cam profile depression; and a substantially vertical outer wall fixed to said end wall and having a cylindrical inner face concentric with said axis; a plurality of cam followers in each said housing, each cam follower in each housing being associated with a respective one of the door leaves, each cam follower having a rounded end portion at an inner end thereof and of a shape to fit within a corresponding one of said cam profile depressions; pawl means in each housing and coupled to each cam follower therein for normally holding said cam followers in an uncollapsed position with the end portion of each cam follower located in a corresponding one of said cam profile face depressions with the body of the cam follower extending radially outwardly from such depression and in alignment with a corresponding one of said slots in said end wall; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower adjacent the end portion thereof, each leaf pin extending vertically through a corresponding slot in said end wall; coupling elements fixed to respective leaf pins at positions outside said housings, each coupling element extending radially outwardly from said axis in alignment with a corresponding one of said cam followers; each leaf including means connecting the leaf to a coupling element from said upper housing and to a coupling element from said lower housing thereby connecting such leaf to associated cam followers in the upper and lower housings for movement therewith; said pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force thereto caused by force on a door leaf acting with associated upper and lower coupling elements, leaf pins and cam followers coupled thereto to release such cam followers for movement inside cam housings whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate its associated leaf pins and cam followers inside said housings until said cam followers strike said lobes on said cams, continued force then moving said leaf pins radially outwardly in associated slots; means coupling said upper housing to said roof with said upper housing above said leaves, said coupling means comprising: suspension means attached to said roof; and means rotatably connecting said suspension means to said upper housing for rotation of said upper housing about said axis independently of said lower housing; and a draft excluder coupled to said upper and lower housings for co-operation with inner edges of said door leaves to limit air movement past said inner edges.

Claim 10

In a collapsible revolving door positioned between a roof and a floor for movement about a vertical axis, and having door leaves normally extending radially in an uncollapsed position for rotation about said axis, the improvement comprising: upper and lower housings respectively coupled to the roof and floor and positioned concentrically about said axis, each said housing comprising: a central cam concentric with said axis, said cam having a substantially axial cam profile face divided into a concave depression for each door leaf and lobes, there being one lobe between each adjacent pair of concave depressions; and an end wall fixed to said cam and having radial slots therein associated with said cam profile depressions, each said slot extending outwardly from a position adjacent a corresponding cam profile depression; and a substantially vertical outer wall fixed to said end wall and having a cylindrical inner face concentric with said axis; a plurality of cam followers in each said housing, each cam follower in each housing being associated with a respective one of the door leaves, each cam follower having a rounded end portion at an inner end thereof and of a shape to fit within a corresponding one of said cam profile depressions; pawl means in each housing and coupled to each cam follower therein for normally holding said cam followers in an uncollapsed position with the end portion of each cam follower located in a corresponding one of said cam profile face depressions with the body of the cam follower extending radially outwardly from such depression and in alignment with a corresponding one of said slots in said end wall; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower adjacent the end portion thereof, each leaf pin extending vertically through a corresponding slot in said end wall; coupling elements fixed to respective leaf pins at positions outside said housings, each coupling element extending radially outwardly from said axis in alignment with a corresponding one of said cam followers; each leaf including means connecting the leaf to a coupling element from said upper housing and to a coupling element from said lower housing thereby connecting such leaf to associated cam followers in the upper and lower housings for movement therewith; said pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force thereto caused by force on a door leaf acting with associated upper and lower coupling elements, leaf pins and cam followers coupled thereto to release such cam followers for movement inside cam housings whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate its associated leaf pins and cam followers inside said housings until said cam followers strike said lobes on said cams, continued force then moving said leaf pins radially outwardly in associated slots; means coupling said upper housing to said roof with said upper housing above said leaves, said coupling means comprising: suspension means attached to said roof; and means rotatably connecting said suspension means to said upper housing for rotation of said upper housing about said axis independently of said lower housing; and a draft excluder coupled to said upper and lower housings for co-operation with inner edges of said door leaves to limit air movement past said inner edges.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pawl means includes: springs arranged one in each cam follower; balls retained one in each cam follower and urged outwardly therein by associated said springs to positions in which ends of said balls project from respective cam followers; and depressions in said outer wall into which said balls are normally forced by said springs with the corresponding door leaves in the uncollapsed positions.

Claim 12

In a collapsible revolving door positioned between a roof and a floor for movement about a vertical axis, and having door leaves normally extending radially in an uncollapsed position for rotation about said axis, the improvement comprising: upper and lower housings respectively coupleD to the roof and floor and positioned concentrically about said axis, each said housing comprising: an end wall having radial slots therein each of the slots being associated with a corresponding one of the door leaves; and a substantially vertical outer wall fixed to the end wall and having a cylindrical inner face concentric with said axis; a plurality of cam followers in each said housing, each cam follower in each housing being associated with a respective one of the leaves, each cam follower having an inner end portion and extending radially outwards in alignment with a respective one of said slots, said housing further comprising: means engageable with the cam followers to limit inward radial movement of said cam followers; pawl means in each housing, each pawl means being coupled between each of the associated cam followers and the housing for normally holding the cam followers in position corresponding to the uncollapsed position of the door leaves, the cam followers then being in engagement with the housing limiting means, the cam followers normally extending radially outwardly from the limiting means and in alignment with corresponding ones of said slots in said end wall; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower adjacent the end portion thereof, each leaf pin extending through a corresponding one of the slots in said end wall; coupling elements fixed to respective leaf pins at positions outside said housings, each coupling element extending radially outwardly from said axis in alignment with a corresponding one of said cam followers; each door leaf including means connecting the leaf to a coupling element from said upper housing and to a coupling element from said lower housing to connect such leaf to corresponding cam followers in the respective upper and lower housings for movement therewith; said pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force transmitted thereto caused by force on a said door leaf and further transmitted through a corresonding leaf pin and cam follower for movement inside said housing, whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate said corresponding leaf pin and cam follower inside said housing until rotation of said cam follower is checked by interference with other parts of the mechanisms whereupon further force on the door leaf rotates such door leaf and cam follower and also forces the leaf, cam follower and associated leaf pin to move radially outwards in said one of said slots; and means coupling said upper housing to said roof with said upper housing above said leaves, said coupling means comprising: suspension means attached to said roof; and means rotatably connecting said suspension means to said upper housing for rotation of said upper housing about said axis independently of said lower housing and a draft excluder mounted for combination with inner edges of the leaves to limit air movement past said inner edges.

Claim 13

In a collapsible revolving door positioned between a roof and a floor for movement about a vertical axis, and having door leaves normally extending radially in an uncollapsed position for rotation about said axis, the improvement comprising: upper and lower housings respectively coupleD to the roof and floor and positioned concentrically about said axis, each said housing comprising: an end wall having radial slots therein each of the slots being associated with a corresponding one of the door leaves; and a substantially vertical outer wall fixed to the end wall and having a cylindrical inner face concentric with said axis; a plurality of cam followers in each said housing, each cam follower in each housing being associated with a respective one of the leaves, each cam follower having an inner end portion and extending radially outwards in alignment with a respective one of said slots, said housing further comprising: means engageable with the cam followers to limit inward radial movement of said cam followers; pawl means in each housing, each pawl means being coupled between each of the associated cam followers and the housing for normally holding the cam followers in position corresponding to the uncollapsed position of the door leaves, the cam followers then being in engagement with the housing limiting means, the cam followers normally extending radially outwardly from the limiting means and in alignment with corresponding ones of said slots in said end wall; a plurality of leaf pins fixed one to each cam follower adjacent the end portion thereof, each leaf pin extending through a corresponding one of the slots in said end wall; coupling elements fixed to respective leaf pins at positions outside said housings, each coupling element extending radially outwardly from said axis in alignment with a corresponding one of said cam followers; each door leaf including means connecting the leaf to a coupling element from said upper housing and to a coupling element from said lower housing to connect such leaf to corresponding cam followers in the respective upper and lower housings for movement therewith; said pawl means including means yieldable upon application of a predetermined force transmitted thereto caused by force on a said door leaf and further transmitted through a corresonding leaf pin and cam follower for movement inside said housing, whereby continued force on such door leaf will rotate said corresponding leaf pin and cam follower inside said housing until rotation of said cam follower is checked by interference with other parts of the mechanisms whereupon further force on the door leaf rotates such door leaf and cam follower and also forces the leaf, cam follower and associated leaf pin to move radially outwards in said one of said slots; and means coupling said upper housing to said roof with said upper housing above said leaves, said coupling means comprising: suspension means attached to said roof; and means rotatably connecting said suspension means to said upper housing for rotation of said upper housing about said axis independently of said lower housing and a draft excluder mounted for combination with inner edges of the leaves to limit air movement past said inner edges.

Claim 14

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 10 wherein said pawl means includes: springs arranged one in each cam follower; balls retained one in each cam follower and urged outwardly therein by associated said springs to positions in which ends of said balls project from respective cam followers; and depressions in said outer wall into which said balls are normally forced by said springs.

Claim 15

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which said means attaching the upper bearing means to the roof comprises: a bearing; a shaft engaged in said bearing and having an enlarged upper end to restrain the shaft from moving downwardly through the bearing, the shaft projecting through the bearing and terminating in a slotted portion adapted to receive a key; said upper collapsing mechanism defining an axial opening adapted to engage over said slotted portion and defining a further slot for receiving said key whereby said upper collapsing mechanism is located against rotation on said shaft; and means locating said upper collapsing mechanism longitudinally on said shaft.

Claim 16

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which said means attaching the upper bearing means to the roof comprises: a self-aligning bearing; a shaft engaged in the bearing and projecting downwardly beyond said bearing, said upper collapsing mechanism being adapted for engagement on said shaft below said bearing; and means locating said shaft in said bearing and in said upper collapsing mechanism whereby said upper collapsing mechanism rotates with said shaft.

Claim 17

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which said upper and lower collapsing mechanisms include means locating a relatively rigid draught excluding element for co-operating with inner extremities of said door leaves to limit passage of air past said inner extremities.

Claim 18

A collapsible revolving door as claimed in claim 1 in which said upper and lower collapsing mechanisms include means locating a relatively rigid draught excluding element for co-operating with inner extremities of said door leaves to limit passage of air past said inner extremities, said element being tubular and formed of a relatively transparent plastics material.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said upper collapsing mechanism coupling means comprises: a self-aligning bearing; a shaft engaged in the bearing and projecting downwardly beyond said bearing, said upper collapsing mechanism being adapted for engagement on said shaft below said bearing; and means locating said shaft in said bearing and in said upper collapsing mechanism whereby said upper collapsing mechanism rotates with said shaft relative to said bearing.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said upper and lower mechanisms include means locating a relatively rigid draught excluding element for co-operating with inner extremities of said leaves to limit passage of air past said inner extremities.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said upper and lower collapsing mechanisms include means locating a relatively rigid draught excluding element for co-operating with inner extremities of said leaves to limit passage of air past said inner extremities, said element being tubular and formed of a relatively transparent plastics material.