The active use of various kinds of automation in the control mechanisms of garage doors facilitated the processes of their operation, but at the same time complicated the installation technology. This is especially true for sectional, roll and swing-slide structures. It allows the use of automatic mechanisms and the device of sliding gates, but in this system the basic features of classical designs are still preserved with minimal dependence on complex electrical elements.
Sliding Gate Overview
The features of this type of gate include a combination of compactness, simplicity of the device and functionality. Unlike the same sectional and roll structures, they do not require the installation of complex mechanisms that would allow the team to slide the fabric under the ceiling niche. Above is a photo of the sliding gate device, which shows an example of the operation of this design with departure away from the opening used. Although it requires additional space, it can be used in an unexploited area. As for functionality, with regard to controlled mechanics, a full range of possibilities is preserved, which is characteristic of all other types of modern gates. A drive part with a remote control and a set of control options is also being implemented.
At the same time, it is worth emphasizing the features of the installation process. The installation of the support base is not complete without the use of elements of the bearing foundation. If in the case of small-sized structures, you can restrict yourself to a complete metal ditch with concrete pouring, massive canvas with frames require a solid foundation device for sliding gates. The dimensions of the canvas in this case can be up to 8 m in width and up to 6 m in height. At the same time, typical release formats are extremely rare. As a rule, future owners order designs with individual parameters. Again, in comparison with rolling shutters and segmented gates, sliding models offer more opportunities in terms of individual adjustment for a specific opening.
The basic arrangement of sliding gates
It should be noted right away that the bulk of the elements are made of metal. Usually it is stainless steel, which confidently tolerates mechanical stress and contact with moisture. High-strength plastic inserts and elements can be used in separate functional parts and consumable elements, for example, in stoppers and hand grip pads. The power device of the base of the sliding gate is represented by the following components:
- Frames. Stiffeners, load-bearing elements and rods that act as a hitch between the web and the support elements.
- Canvas. The base of the gate, which is made of sheet steel and is placed in the openings between the stiffeners and profile structural elements. The simplest variations without a canvas with profile metal ribs are also in demand.
- Supporting elements. Bearing poles on which the frame and profile parts of the gate are held.
- Running and guiding components. Movable mechanical fittings, due to which the canvas on the frame moves.
For each of these elements, there are many technical designs that are selected in accordance with the design decision. The basic principle of the device of sliding gates suggests that the sewing of the canvas (sandwich panels, corrugated board, netting) will be lightweight, and the working mechanics will be durable and reliable. The most stringent strength requirements are imposed in relation to the supporting elements and frames. It can be a channel, rolled metal or a corner. The main thing is that the power skeleton of the gate copes with the assigned loads from the canvas and does not overload the movable fittings.
Additional items
The basic equipment can be expanded both due to structural components, and thanks to new functional inclusions like an electric drive. The first group includes reinforcing elements, auxiliary linings to reduce friction, etc. In an expanded version, the Dorkhan sliding gate device, for example, also provides for a speed bump. Moreover, this part is also calculated to facilitate the laying of supply wires. No gating is required, since the design of the “policeman” has a special channel protected by high-strength artificial rubber.
More widely in modern sets of gates functional filling is presented. Most often, you can find automatic controls that are responsible for opening and closing the canvas. The same set offers remote control and digital control of unauthorized access. For example, automation can be introduced into an alarm system, which will also interact with motion sensors and photocells installed in the opening to monitor what is happening in the security zone.
The power supply of controlled mechanics is assigned to the drive in the form of an electric motor. The device of the gearbox for sliding gates is usually implemented according to the standard scheme with a rotor and a brush assembly, however, the power can be different. Foreign 24-volt and domestic 220V gearboxes are also available on the market. Which should be preferred? Low-voltage models are suitable in cases of stable voltage without a step-down transformer. Low power can result in overheating of equipment due to the increased current strength, so use such gearboxes should only be in a clearly debugged network. As for drive systems designed for 220 V, they are optimally suitable for Russian single-phase networks, and voltage drops are easily compensated by conventional stabilizers. The only drawback of this solution is the increased power consumption.
Tools and materials for installation
A specific list of elements for assembling gates, tools and consumables is determined by the installation conditions and design parameters. The following set can be considered as a typical set of technical equipment for installation:
- Hammer drill.
- Welding machine (for independent work an inverter is desirable).
- Powerful drill / driver.
- Set with drills of different diameters (on average from 5 to 16 mm).
- Universal angle grinder (grinder).
- Sets with screwdrivers and wrenches in various formats.
- Building level.
- Construction plumb.
- Rope.
- Marking devices.
- Step-ladder (if necessary).
- Riveter.
In working activities on the device of the base of the sliding gates, construction equipment may also be required - both for the development of the pit, and for the preparation of cement mortar. The same applies to land work, although with a small size of the structure in creating a trench, you can limit yourself to a conventional shovel.
The minimum kit for assembling the gate must contain the following elements:
- Metal cloth or mesh.
- Top compound catcher.
- Bottom catcher.
- Channel for catchers.
- Upper limiter.
- Stub.
- Mortgage elements.
- Channel for support of rollers.
- Roller support.
- Trailer roller.
- Rails mating with the canvas.
- Hardware with nuts.
Sliding gate foundation device
Foundation construction should be done about a week before the installation of the gate. During this time, the concrete base will polymerize and will be ready to accept the corresponding loads on the hardened structure. The design of the supporting platform is made of concrete in a trench with a reinforcing frame. From the gate elements at the same stage, support pillars and welding frames for reinforced formwork should be prepared. It is immediately necessary to plan the dimensions of the trench, since they depend not only on the dimensions of the structure, but also on the type of land layer. On clay and sandy soils, the construction of the sliding gate foundation is carried out at a depth of about 1.5 m, and on dense and reliable soil it is possible to limit it to 0.7-1 m.
Work begins with the development of the pit. It should be a trench with a width of about 0.5 m and a length corresponding to the departure distance of the gate. At the bottom, a compacted layer of sand and gravel is made. Next, you can proceed with the installation of the reinforced frame. To do this, metal rods with a diameter of 1.5-2 cm are used. In essence, this will be a power skeleton of cement pouring, previously placed in the formwork of the trench. Formwork is performed from ordinary boards, but the foundation device for sliding gates on the basis of a fixed form of expanded polystyrene is not excluded. This solution is advantageous in that the work on dismantling the formwork is eliminated and the insulating function of the supporting platform is increased. At the final stage, the prepared frame in the formwork is poured together with pre-installed supporting pillars, which are placed with a distance of 1.5-2 m.
Door leaf assembly
For convenience and safety, it is recommended to carry out this installation on a horizontal surface - a slipway or a large-sized bench. Assembly instructions in accordance with a typical sliding gate device require the following operations:
- Preparation of profiles. The lower and upper profiles, if necessary, are adjusted to the dimensions of the blade by cutting. Sawing is done at a 45-degree angle.
- The frame is assembled from profiles using a T-shaped connection. A gate shield is formed.
- The profiles are connected to the racks. To do this, make holes with a diameter of about 4-5 mm with indents of up to 75 cm. Bonding is performed with riveted hardware.
- The corner joints of the blade are mounted. Side profiles connect to the lower and upper corners. It must be emphasized that the principle of sliding gates completely eliminates technological and other gaps. Therefore, the docking of the main bearing profiles is made as tight as possible at the junction with other components.
- Using rivets to the main profiles at the corners, diagonal profiles are also fixed. They are needed to give rigidity to the structure.
- The door leaf is superimposed and mounted by means of rivets in increments of 20-25 cm. Sandwich panels, in which insulation material is present, are sometimes used as a construction shield. This applies to cases when installation is carried out in the garage opening.
Rack mounting
This element provides a mechanically controlled course of the gate structure along the rail. The rail is mounted in a special cornice of the lower guide, with which this stage of work should begin. The cornice profile is attached along the entire length of the lower frame of the canvas through the holes in increments of the order of 25-30 cm. Fixation is usually done using self-tapping screws or rivets. It is very important that the level control the accuracy of the position of the profile relative to the horizontal of the carrier. Next, covers and decorative caps are installed that cover the cornice from the side.
Now you can proceed to the installation of the gear rack. In the standard device of sliding gates, this component is supposed to be mounted on brackets to a previously installed cornice profile. That is, holes of the desired format are preformed. There can be several racks. In this case, the calculation of the attachment points is based on the fact that at each end of all the rails a fixing unit should be provided. The use of continuous long rails with all the advantages of installation is not always justified, since the slightest deformation will lead to the need to replace the entire line. In addition, for long profile elements it is more difficult to maintain geometry accuracy, since the risk of bending with deviations from the plane increases.
Power frame mounting
At this point, the foundation and support pillars should be ready for installation activities. For subsequent installation of the web with supporting profiles, the creation of a vertical and horizontal power base will be required. The vertical arrangement of the columns of the sliding gates suggests that the supporting frames will be attached to them. They will bear the load from the lower and upper profiles associated with the door leaf. As a rule, complete posts are made of metal and have factory grooves for mounting frames. Direct fixation is carried out using brackets, which, in turn, are installed with self-tapping screws or anchor bolts. If the pillars, in principle, are not provided in the kit, then it is possible to use structures made of masonry or rods made of metal with sufficient bearing capacity.
At the lower level, where the foundation is located, a power base is also provided. This is a metal platform on which guides will be installed in the future. In front of her on the ledge should also not forget about the free space for the speed bump, if it is included in the package. In the device of the sliding sliding gate, an additional upper fastening to the beam is also provided. This is a heavy construction, for which it is necessary to mount the upper supports in order to fix the power frame at a level of 4-5 m. In this case, it is recommended to initially use two diagonal stiffeners that hold the blade.
Mounting rollers
Work begins with the integration of a roller support. They are installed on the roving nuts, with which the power frame was twisted on the lower platform. At a minimum, two roller platforms mounted on brackets are used. A cornice frame and a lower profile are installed on them. At each stage of this arrangement, it is necessary to check the horizontal position of both the web itself and the line of movement along the supports. Also, in the device of the rollers of the sliding gate, a support link is provided on the sides with the catcher. This fittings allows you to adjust the departure of the gate at the extreme points. Stoppers and blockers are also installed here. The technical basis of this mechanics is mounted on a separate profile component with four bolts to the support column. The groove of the catcher should be oriented so that it faces the rollers with its front part, and the fixing equipment with the profile does not intrude on the line of entry.
Installation of the drive infrastructure of the gate
Installation of the electric drive is carried out on the basis in a place where there is access to an electrical connection. As a rule, a sliding gate drive device is implemented in a block case with mechanics interacting with a gear rack. For laying the cable, complete pipes or corrugation are used - these channels pass through the base and are attached to it with hardware. A small gap of about 2 mm is left between the rack and pinion gear. In this case, the teeth should be coupled with the gear across the entire width without deviations. Before finally fixing the block, it is necessary to roll the gate and make sure that the mechanics work smoothly without any displacements on the sides.
Some models of electric drives also operate on the principle of automated mechanical control with reed switches, that is, magnetically controlled contacts. Such a sliding gate control device has the advantage of being independent of the electrical connection. That is, in normal mode, the mechanics are controlled through the main controller, and in the de-energized state, for example, the gate is stopped without a special command from the electronics through the action of a magnet mounted on the rail. Magnets are fixed according to the principle of limit switches at a level that does not reach the locations of the mechanical stops.
Self-made sliding gates
The difference between making a door with your own hands and using a factory kit is that you will need to independently prepare prefabricated elements with fittings. Installation can be performed according to the typical scheme described above.
So, in this case, we should consider the simplest device of sliding gates. With your own hands, you can implement a design of rigid metal beams, a profiled sheet and accessories for organizing movable mechanics.Of course, for the manufacture of components you will need a special power tool for metal - at least the same grinder with solid-state diamond disks. Even better, if the armament turns out to be a metal lathe.
Work activities are carried out in the following order:
- On a solid sheet of corrugated board, the marking of the future door leaf is made. For example, you can take the standard format as 120 cm in height and 170 cm in length, but in any case, you should focus on the dimensions of a particular opening.
- The blade is cut using an angle grinder.
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- The shutter stop is mounted on a fence or wall approximately 170 cm from the end of the gate in the closed position.
When assembling a structure from improvised components, one must also take into account the resource for running in the rubbing parts. Factory components are initially calculated by this parameter, which leads to their sufficiently long service life. Also, the device of home-made sliding gates should be thought out from this point of view, since the geometrical correspondence and optimal joining of individual elements does not guarantee the reliability of the structure. At a basic level, you can insure yourself against unforeseen breakdowns due to the same overload, focusing on the lightness of the canvas. It is advisable to use a thin corrugated board from 0.5 to 0.8 mm. It will be able to withstand conventional frames from a channel and even a corner, but only if it is properly assembled using high-quality fasteners.
Rules for the operation of sliding gates
After installation, the movement of the structure is checked. In the normal state, the gate moves smoothly, without vibration and creaking. Deflections of the bearing frames should not exceed 1/300 relative to the width of the profile, and the canvas in the free position should go into the catchers.
To prolong the service life of the gate in optimal working condition will allow for careful handling. All manipulations with the structure should be performed without jerking and excessive efforts in accordance with the normative load. Any sliding gate drive device does not allow the blade to move in an engaged state. Previously, the automation should be switched to the appropriate operating mode, allowing manual control of the gate.
Special attention is paid to rails and guides along which the web moves. They must be cleaned of dirt, debris and foreign objects, which can lead to impaired movement of the structure. In winter, the shear zone should also be regularly cleaned of ice and snow. For the drive and mechanical equipment may require the use of special anti-corrosion and frost-resistant mixtures.
Dismantling and modernization of sliding gates
The need for disassembly of the structure may arise for various reasons - from updating the gate to rebuilding the opening at its core. Before starting dismantling, the electric drive should be completely disconnected, other electrical appliances with sensors and devices connected to the network should be disconnected. All electrical equipment is removed from the gate operating area, after which you can proceed to the main part of the event. Dismantling is carried out in the reverse order to installation. That is, you should start with the running gear, moving to the power unit and the frame frame. Further, everything will depend on the purpose for which disassembly is carried out - whether it will be necessary to dismantle the canvas with accessories or to review the design of the foundation.
With regard to modernization, the modern arrangement of sliding gate mechanisms allows the installation of additional systems and accessories, as well as the reconfiguration or replacement of individual parts of the structure. This may be the introduction of the same automation components, connection to a security complex, installation of a lighting system, etc. In any case, manufacturers recommend the use of devices and spare parts compatible with the original design of the manufacturer.
Conclusion
Giving preference to sliding gates, it is necessary to evaluate not only their ergonomics and functionality, but also operating conditions with installation requirements. Although from the point of view of the device of the canvas this is one of the simplest solutions, the construction of the foundation base imposes a great responsibility on the performers. But in this part, it is quite possible to install sliding gates with your own hands using conventional building materials and technical means. Moreover, with the independent manufacture of the structure, you can count on serious financial savings. So, factory models with parameters of 4 x 2 m together with installation will cost 70-90 thousand rubles. Automation will also require about 20 thousand. If you solve the problem on your own, then the savings can be about 40-50%, since the costs will be spent only on the material with components and the implementation of complex electrical operations.