Center support and sliding door assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a central support (10) for a sliding sash (104), comprising a base part (12) and a guide part (16) slidably guided in the base part (12) along a displacement axis (14), wherein the guide part (16) is displaceable along the displacement axis (14) between a retracted mounting position relative to the base part (12) and an extended operating position relative to the base part (12), wherein a roller (20) is rotatably mounted at the free end (18) of the guide part (16) about a pivot axis (22), wherein the displacement axis (14) and the pivot axis (22) are parallel or congruent to each other. A sliding door assembly (100) with such a central support (10) is shown.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a central support having the features of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a sliding door arrangement having the features of the independent claim.

[0002] Center supports for sliding sashes of door and window assemblies are well known in the art. For sash widths of 2,000 mm (millimeters) and more, center supports are necessary to ensure the tightness of the sliding sash relative to the fixed frame, for example, in the event of wind loads. Such center supports are typically attached to the top of the sliding sash and engage with a guide rail attached to the fixed frame to provide support.

[0003] EP 1 916 374 A2 discloses a guide slider for attachment to a sliding sash and for engagement with a guide rail. The guide slider has a disc-shaped base and a guide pin extending therefrom. The guide slider is constructed as a single piece or from permanently connected individual components.

[0004] DE 10 2018 100 550 A1 discloses a guide slide made of plastic with a base part and a carriage which is displaceably guided on the base part and has a sliding section for engagement in the guide rail.

[0005] Further prior art known to the applicant for a fitting of the GU 934 / 937 model with a P 903 top guide is the use of a so-called safety guide in the form of a one-piece sliding guide, which is attached to the top side of the sliding sash and is designed to engage with a guide rail attached to the fixed frame. To install the safety guide, it is necessary to lift the sash together with the safety guide and thread it into the guide rail, which requires considerable force for large and heavy sashes. An alternative installation method is to place the sash with its carriages on the guide rail. The guide rail must be pivoted together with the sash toward the fixed frame and screwed to the fixed frame.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of facilitating the assembly of a central support or a wing equipped with a central support using simple structural means. It is desirable that disassembly is also facilitated.

[0007] The center support is designed and / or intended for a sliding sash, in particular a lift-and-slide sash. The center support comprises a base part and a guide part that is displaceably guided along a displacement axis within the base part.

[0008] The guide part can be displaced along the displacement axis between a retracted position or assembly position relative to the base part and an extended position or operating position relative to the base part. At the free end of the guide part (facing away from the base part), a roller, preferably a roller with roller bearings or ball bearings, is mounted on the guide part for rotation about a rotation axis. The displacement axis, along which the guide part can be displaced relative to the base part, and the rotation axis about which the roller is rotatably mounted on the guide part are oriented parallel or congruent to one another. The roller can be rotatably mounted on a journal section of the guide part.

[0009] The proposed center support contributes to comparatively simple installation (low installation effort and short installation time). The center support can be installed in the sash in the assembly position (guide part retracted relative to the base part). The sash can then be placed on the guide rail with the carriages and then pivoted toward the fixed frame. The center support is then moved into the operating position by extending the guide part relative to the base part. The guide part then engages the guide rail with its roller.

[0010] When removing the sliding sash, the center support simply needs to be moved into the installation position by retracting the guide part relative to the base part. The sliding sash can then be pivoted away from the fixed frame and lifted out of the track. This simplifies installation and disassembly.

[0011] Within the scope of a preferred embodiment, at least one actuatable clamping element can be provided, acting between the base part and the guide part, by means of which the guide part can be locked in its position (i.e., assembly position, operating position, and in between) along the displacement axis relative to the base part. This allows a previously made adjustment of the guide part relative to the base part to be secured, e.g., securing the guide part in the assembly position (retracted) and / or operating position (extended). Preferably, two such clamping elements can be provided.

[0012] At least one groove for interaction with the clamping element can expediently be formed in the guide part, wherein the central longitudinal axis of the groove extends along or parallel to the displacement axis. This provides a defined effective area for the clamping element. In other words, the groove can represent a clamping surface on which the clamping element can act to secure the guide part relative to the base part. Preferably, the number of grooves corresponds to the number of clamping elements provided. If two clamping elements are provided, preferably two grooves are present on the guide part. The grooves can be formed at the edge, in particular on a flat side, on the guide part and / or oriented parallel to one another.

[0013] Advantageously, the at least one clamping element can be designed as a threaded pin (with an external thread, for example, which can be actuated by means of a tool) which is received in at least one through-bore with a corresponding internal thread, wherein the at least one through-bore is formed in a side wall of the base part. This provides a structurally simple, robust and space-saving clamping element. If the threaded pin is screwed in, the guide part is fixed relative to the base part. If the threaded pin is at least partially unscrewed, the guide part can be moved or displaced relative to the base part. Preferably, two clamping elements, thus two threaded pins, can be provided. Optionally, the side wall in which the one or more through-bores are formed can have a greater thickness than the parallel and opposite side wall.Due to the comparatively longer through hole with internal thread, this contributes to a longer screw-in length and therefore to a stable clamping.

[0014] Within the scope of a preferred embodiment, at least one spring, in particular a compression spring, can be arranged between the base part and the guide part, by means of which the guide part is preloaded into the operating position (i.e., toward the operating position or from the assembly position to the operating position). A displacement of the guide part from the assembly position (retracted) to the operating position (extended) is thus at least assisted by the at least one spring. This facilitates the actuation and assembly of the central support.

[0015] Advantageously, a recess can be formed in a side wall (long side) of the base part and a depression, in particular a slot, can be formed in a side surface of the guide part facing the recess, wherein the recess is dimensioned such that the depression is already or even then accessible through the recess when the guide part is in the assembly position, e.g. by means of a tool, in particular a slotted screwdriver. In other words, the depression in the guide part is accessible through the recess not only when the guide part has been moved away from the assembly position, but already in the assembly position itself, wherein accessibility is preferably provided continuously right up to the operating position. The guide part can therefore be moved between the assembly position and the operating position in a simple manner, namely by using a tool, e.g.A screwdriver, such as a slotted screwdriver, is inserted into the slot and the guide part is moved into the desired position. Preferably, the recess is formed in the same side wall of the base part as the at least one through-hole for the clamping element or the threaded pin. This contributes to easy operation and assembly of the center support, since the clamping element(s) or threaded pin(s) and the slot are located on the same side of the center support.

[0016] Advantageously, the base part can have a recess at its free end facing the roller, which is designed such that, when the guide part is in the assembled position, it accommodates at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least 90% of the roller along the displacement axis (thickness of the roller measured along the displacement axis). This contributes to a space-saving and compact design of the central support. The recess can be open towards the side walls (long sides) of the base part, so that the roller can protrude beyond the side walls or long sides of the base part. Thus, the base part itself can be comparatively compact and yet a comparatively large roller can be used.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the base part can have a fastening section with fastening passages for fastening the base part to the sliding sash at its end facing away from the track roller. This allows simple and stable fastening of the central support to a sliding sash. In addition, this facilitates the retrofitting of existing sliding sashes with the central support, for which the sliding sash does not have to be removed from the frame, but only needs to be pivoted relative to the frame far enough that the groove (fitting groove or longitudinal groove) on the upper sash cross member is accessible. The central longitudinal axes of the fastening passages can be oriented parallel to the sliding axis. Preferably, two fastening passages are provided, whereby these are located (in plan view, i.e. seen along the sliding axis) outside the section or walls of the base part in which the guide part is slidably guided.This contributes to good accessibility of the fastening passages. A first fastening passage is preferably located at one end of the fastening section and the second fastening passage at the other end of the fastening section.

[0018] Advantageously, the fastening section can comprise two parallel wall sections that are spaced apart from each other such that the guide part can penetrate into a gap between the wall sections in the assembled position. This contributes to a compact design of the central support, as the overall height of the base part with the fastening section can be kept low.

[0019] Specifically, the base part can extend orthogonally to the sliding axis along a width of more than 20 mm (millimeters), preferably more than 21 mm, and less than 22 mm. This facilitates a suitable installation in a longitudinal groove of a sliding sash.

[0020] The base part and / or the guide part can each be advantageously designed as an investment casting, preferably made of stainless steel (stainless steel investment casting), to achieve high corrosion resistance. This contributes to a stable construction of the components, which can be efficiently manufactured using an investment casting process.

[0021] The object mentioned at the outset is also achieved by a sliding door arrangement having the features of the independent claim.

[0022] The sliding door assembly comprises a (stationary) fixed frame and a sliding sash of a window or door that can be raised relative to the fixed frame and moved in the raised position. The sliding sash has at least one central support with one or more of the aspects described above.

[0023] Regarding the advantages, please refer to the relevant comments on central support.

[0024] The fixed frame can have a lower frame cross member, an upper frame cross member, and two vertical frame members. A guide rail for guiding the sliding sash by means of carriages attached to the sliding sash can be arranged on the lower frame cross member. A guide rail for accommodating the roller of the center support and / or for accommodating guide elements attached to the sliding sash, in particular to the upper sash cross member, can be arranged on the upper frame cross member.

[0025] The sliding sash has a sash frame, which in turn has a lower sash cross member, an upper sash cross member, and two vertical sash rails. At least two carriages are attached to the lower sash cross member to guide the sliding sash in the guide rail of the lower frame cross member. A longitudinal groove is formed on the upper sash cross member, into which the central support with the fastening section is inserted and secured, e.g., with screws. In addition, guide elements for interacting with the guide rail can be attached to the upper sash cross member.

[0026] When installed, the sliding sash and its carriages are inserted into the guide rail on the lower frame cross member and pivoted with the upper sash cross member toward the upper frame cross member, so that the roller and the guide rail on the upper frame cross member are aligned. When the guide part is moved to the extended operating position, the guide roller engages the guide rail. This supports the sliding sash relative to the frame via the central support.

[0027] The applicant was able to verify in the course of tests (endurance tests) that an improved seal can be achieved along the sliding direction in the middle of the sash with the central support, whereby the operating forces are practically not increased due to the preferably ball-bearing roller (operating forces for sash operation are not increased in the version with central support compared to the version without central support).

[0028] In a long-term test conducted by the applicant, the installed sash was bent, meaning it had a deflection along the center of the sash that was detrimental to its tightness and visually disturbing (a distance of 2.5 mm between the sash and the fixed frame at the point of maximum clearance when the center support was omitted). Such deflection can also occur in a sash that has been in use for several years. By using the center support on this tested sash, it was possible to reduce the deflection to such an extent that the tightness was restored and the deflection was no longer visually noticeable. The operating forces were not increased due to the ball-bearing rollers.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, in which identical or functionally equivalent elements are provided with identical reference numerals, if necessary, but only once. They show: Fig.1 shows an embodiment of a sliding door arrangement with central support in a schematic side view; Fig.2 shows the sliding door arrangement from Figur 1 in a schematic sectional view, wherein the guide part of the central support is in a retracted assembly position; Fig.3 the sliding door arrangement from Figur 1 in a schematic sectional view, wherein the guide part of the central support is in an extended operating position; Fig.4a-d the central support from Figur 1 in several views, with the guide part of the central support in the retracted assembly position; and Fig.5a-c the central support from Figur 1 in several views, with the guide part of the central support in the extended operating position.

[0030] Figur 1 shows a sliding door assembly, designated overall by reference numeral 100. The sliding door assembly 100 has a stationary frame or fixed frame 102 and a sliding sash 104 of a window or door that can be raised relative to the fixed frame 102 and, in the raised position, moved along a sliding direction 103. The raising or lowering of the sliding sash 104 can be accomplished by means of a drive (not shown), for example, manually by means of a handle or via a motor. The direction of gravity is designated by reference numeral g.

[0031] In the example, the fixed frame 102 has a preferably glazed fixed panel 106, which is marked with a diagonal cross in the drawing. The fixed frame 102 has a lower frame cross member 108, an upper frame cross member 110, and two vertical frame members 112, 114.

[0032] The sliding sash 104 has a sash frame 116 which defines a sash field 118, for example a glazing 118. The sash frame 116 has an upper sash cross member 120, a lower sash cross member 122 and two vertical sash members 124, 126.

[0033] A guide rail 128 is arranged on the lower frame cross member 108. Two carriages 130 are arranged on the lower wing cross member 122, spaced apart along the displacement direction 103 and running in the guide rail 128.

[0034] A guide rail 134 is arranged on the upper frame cross member 108 (cf. Fig.1 ). In the example, the guide rail 134 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a base section 136 and two side sections 138, 140 projecting orthogonally therefrom (cf. Fig.2 ).

[0035] The sliding sash 104 is coupled at its upper sash cross member 120 to two guide elements 142 spaced apart from one another along the sliding direction 103, by means of which the sliding sash 104 is guided in the guide rail 134 (cf. Fig.1 ). The guide elements 142 can each be designed as roller guides, for example with ball-bearing rollers, or alternatively as sliding elements, for example as a so-called C-guide (not shown).

[0036] In addition, the sliding door arrangement 100 has a central support 10 which is inserted into a longitudinal groove 144 formed on the upper wing cross member 120 and is fastened there to the wing cross member 120 (cf. Fig. 2 and 3 ). The center support 10 is described in more detail below.

[0037] The central support 10 has a base part 12 and a guide part 16 which is guided displaceably along a displacement axis 14 in the base part 12 (cf. Fig.4a-d ). The guide part 16 is movable along the displacement axis 14 between a retracted position relative to the base part 12 and an assembly position (cf. Fig.4a-d ) and an extended position or operating position relative to the base part (cf. Fig.5a-c ).

[0038] At the free end 18 of the guide part 16 (facing away from the base part 12), a roller 20 is mounted on the guide part 16, rotatable about a pivot axis 22, specifically on a journal section 17 of the guide part. The displacement axis 14 and the pivot axis 22 are parallel or congruent to each other.

[0039] In the example, two actuatable clamping elements 24 are provided which act between the base part 12 and the guide part 16, by means of which the guide part 16 can be fixed in its position along the displacement axis 14 relative to the base part 12 (cf. e.g. Fig.4a and Fig.5a ).

[0040] Two grooves 26 are formed in the guide part 16 for interaction with the clamping elements 24, wherein the central longitudinal axes 26' of the grooves each extend along or parallel to the displacement axis 14. The grooves 26 are formed at the edge of a flat side 28 on the guide part 16 and are oriented parallel to one another.

[0041] The clamping elements 24 are each designed as a threaded pin 30 with an external thread (grub screw), wherein the threaded pins 30 are received in through-holes 32 with corresponding internal threads. The through-holes 32 are formed in a side wall 34 of the base part 12. When the threaded pins 30 are screwed in, the guide part 16 is fixed relative to the base part 12. When both threaded pins 30 are at least partially unscrewed, the guide part 16 is displaceable or relocatable relative to the base part 12. In the example, the threaded pins 30 have a hexagon socket 30' and can be actuated using an Allen key. Optionally, the side wall 34, in which the through-holes 32 are formed, can have a greater thickness than the parallel and opposite side wall 36.

[0042] Optionally, at least one spring, in particular a compression spring, can be arranged between the base part 12 and the guide part 16, by means of which spring the guide part 16 is pretensioned into the operating position (not shown).

[0043] A recess 38 is formed in the side wall 34 (longitudinal side) of the base part 12, and a recess 40, specifically a slot, is formed in the side surface or flat side 28 of the guide part 16 facing the recess 38. The recess 38 is dimensioned such that the recess 40 is accessible through the recess 38 even when the guide part 16 is in the assembly position (see FIG. Fig. 4b ), for example, using a tool, in particular a slotted screwdriver. In the example, the recess 38 is formed in the same side wall 36 of the base part 12 as the through holes 32.

[0044] The base part 12 has a recess 42 at its free end facing the roller 20, which is designed such that when the guide part 16 is in the assembly position, it accommodates the roller 20 along the displacement axis 14 (thickness of the roller 20 measured along the displacement axis 14) in the example at least to 90% (cf. Fig.4a und 4b ). The recess 42 is open towards the side walls 34, 36 (longitudinal sides) of the base part 12, so that the roller 20 can protrude beyond the side walls 34, 36 (longitudinal sides) of the base part 12.

[0045] The base part 12 has, at its end 44 facing away from the roller 20, a fastening section 46 with two fastening passages 48 for fastening the base part 12 to the sliding sash 104. The central longitudinal axes 48' of the fastening passages 48 are oriented parallel to the sliding axis 14 in the example. The fastening passages 48 are located (in plan view, i.e., viewed along the sliding axis) outside the section or walls 34, 36 of the base part 12 in which the guide part 16 is slidably guided (cf. Fig. 4d ). A first fastening passage 48 is located at one end of the fastening section 46 and the second fastening passage 48 is located at the other end of the fastening section 46.

[0046] The fastening section 46 has two wall sections 50, 52 arranged parallel to one another, which are spaced apart from one another such that the guide part 16 can penetrate into an intermediate space 54 between the wall sections 50, 52 in the assembly position.

[0047] The base part 12 extends orthogonally to the displacement axis 14 along a width 56, wherein the width 56 in the example is more than 21 mm and less than 22 mm.

[0048] In the example, the base part 12 and the guide part 16 are each designed as an investment casting, in particular as a stainless steel investment casting.

[0049] If the central support 10 is inserted into the longitudinal groove 144 formed on the upper wing cross member 120 and fastened there, the roller 20 does not protrude into the guide rail 134 when the guide part 16 is in the retracted assembly position (cf. Fig.2 ). The sliding sash 104 can then be pivoted around the guide rail 128 and lifted out of the guide rail 128 (assembly and disassembly of the sliding sash 104 is possible).

[0050] If the guide part 16 is in the extended operating position, the roller 20 projects into the guide rail 134 (cf. Fig.3 ). Thus, additional support of the sliding sash 104 relative to the fixed frame 102 is provided by the central support 10.

[0051] In summary, the center support 10 consists of the following components: base part 12 (housing), guide part 16 (slider), roller 20, and threaded pins 30. The guide part 16 and the roller 20 form an assembly that can be referred to as the "guide part assembly" or "slider assembly."

[0052] The center support 10 is constructed in such a way that the "guide part assembly" is inserted into the base part 12. The "guide part assembly" can be held in the assembly position (basic position) by the threaded pins 30.

[0053] The center support 10 in the assembly position is usually screwed into the upper longitudinal groove 144 of the sliding sash 104 in the middle of the sash width. Once the center support 10 is mounted on the sliding sash 104 and the sliding sash is inserted and secured in the fixed frame 102, the center support 10 must be moved into the operating position. The operating position is set by slightly opening the threaded pins 30, pushing the "guide part assembly" vertically into the guide rail 134 with a flat-head screwdriver into the operating position (corresponding to the maximum stroke of the guide part 16), and then tightening the threaded pins 30.

[0054] The center support 10 is installed in the sliding sash 104 in the assembly position. The sliding sash 104 can then be placed on the guide rail 128 with the carriages 130 and then pivoted toward the fixed frame 102. The center support 10 is then easily pushed into the operating position. When removing the sliding sash 104, the center support 10 only needs to be lowered into the assembly position, and the sliding sash 104 can be pivoted away from the fixed frame 102.

Claims

1. Central support (10) for a sliding sash (104), with a base part (12) and a guide part (16) displaceably guided in the base part (12) along a displacement axis (14), characterized in that the guide part (16) is displaceable along the displacement axis (14) between an assembly position retracted relative to the base part (12) and an operating position extended relative to the base part (12), wherein at the free end (18) of the guide part (16) a roller (20) is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (22), wherein the displacement axis (14) and the rotation axis (22) are parallel or congruent to one another.

2. Central support (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one actuatable clamping element (24) is provided which acts between the base part (12) and the guide part (16), by means of which the guide part (16) can be fixed along the displacement axis (14) relative to the base part (12).

3. Central support (10) according to claim 2, characterized in thatat least one groove (26) is formed in the guide part (16) for interaction with the clamping element (24), wherein the central longitudinal axis (26') of the groove (26) extends along or parallel to the displacement axis (14).

4. Central support (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (24) is designed as a threaded pin (22) which is received in at least one through-bore (32) with a corresponding internal thread, wherein the at least one through-bore (32) is formed in a side wall (34) of the base part (12).

5. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one spring, in particular a compression spring, is arranged between the base part (12) and the guide part (16), by means of which spring the guide part (16) is pretensioned into the operating position.

6. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thata recess (38) is formed in a side wall (34) of the base part (12) and a depression (40), in particular a slot, is formed in a side surface (28) of the guide part (16) facing the recess (38), wherein the recess (38) is dimensioned such that the depression (40) is accessible through the recess (38) when the guide part (16) is in the assembly position.

7. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base part (12) has a recess (42) at its free end facing the roller (20) which is designed such that, when the guide part (16) is in the assembly position, it accommodates the roller (20) along the displacement axis (14) at least to 50%, preferably at least to 70%, more preferably at least to 90%.

8. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe base part (12) has, at its end (44) facing away from the roller (20), a fastening section (46) with fastening passages (48) for fastening the base part (12) to the sliding leaf (104).

9. Central support (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the fastening section (46) has two wall sections (50, 52) arranged parallel to one another, which are spaced apart from one another in such a way that the guide part (16) can penetrate into an intermediate space (54) between the wall sections (50, 52) in the assembled position.

10. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base part (12) extends orthogonally to the displacement axis (14) along a width (56), wherein the width (56) is more than 20 mm, preferably more than 21 mm, and less than 22 mm.

11. Central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe base part (12) and / or the guide part (16) are each designed as an investment casting, preferably made of stainless steel.

12. Sliding door arrangement (100), with a fixed frame (102) and a sliding sash (104) of a window or door which can be raised relative to the fixed frame (102) and moved in the raised position, wherein the sliding sash (104) has at least one central support (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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