The active use of various kinds of automation in garage door control mechanisms facilitated their operation, but complicated the installation technology. This is most true for sectional, roll-up and rotary-sliding structures. It allows the use of automatic mechanisms and the installation of sliding gates, but this system still retains the basic features of classic designs with minimal dependence on complex electrical elements.
General information about sliding gates
The combination of compactness, simplicity of device and functionality can be attributed to the features of this type of gate. Unlike the same sectional and roll structures, they do not require the installation of complex mechanisms that would allow the prefabricated canvas to be pushed under the ceiling niche. Highera photo of a sliding gate device is presented, which demonstrates an example of the operation of this design with a departure away from the opening used. Although it requires additional space, it can be used in an unexploited area. With regard to functionality, in relation to controlled mechanics, the full range of possibilities, characteristic of all other types of modern doors, is preserved. A drive part with a remote control and a set of control options is also 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 supporting foundation. If in the case of small-sized structures it is possible to confine oneself to a complete metal ditch with concrete pouring, then massive canvases with frames require a capital 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, standard release formats are extremely rare. As a rule, future owners order designs with individual parameters. Again, compared to roller shutter and segmental doors, sliding models provide more options in terms of individual adjustment to a specific opening.
Principal 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 endures mechanical stress and contact with moisture. High-strength plastic inserts and elements can be used in separate functionalparts and consumables, such as stoppers and grips. The power device of the sliding gate base is represented by the following components:
- Frames. Stiffening ribs, load-bearing elements and rods that act as a coupling between the canvas and supporting elements.
- Canvas. The base of the gate, which is made of thin sheet steel and is placed in the openings between the stiffeners and profile structural elements. The simplest variations without a canvas with profiled metal ribs are also in demand.
- Reference elements. Bearing pillars 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 sliding gate device assumes that the lining of the leaf (sandwich panels, corrugated board, chain-link mesh) will be lightweight, and the working mechanics will be wear-resistant and reliable. The most stringent strength requirements are imposed in relation to the supporting elements and frames. It can be a channel, pipe metal or a corner. The main thing is that the power skeleton of the gate copes with the imposed loads from the leaf and does not overload the movable fittings.
Additional accessories
Basic equipment can be expanded both with structural components and with newfunctional inclusions like an electric drive. The first group includes reinforcement elements, auxiliary pads to reduce friction, etc. In the expanded version, the Dorkhan sliding gate device, for example, also provides for the presence of a speed bump. Moreover, this part is also calculated to facilitate the laying of power supply wires. No chasing is required, as the design of the "policeman" has a special channel protected by high-strength artificial rubber.
More widely in modern sets of gates is a functional filling. Most often you can find automatic controls 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 the alarm complex, 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 gearbox for sliding gates is usually implemented according to the standard scheme with a rotor and a brush assembly, however, the power may be different. Both foreign 24-volt and domestic gearboxes for 220 V are presented on the market. Which one should be preferred? Low voltage models are suitable in cases of stable voltage without a step-down transformer. Low power can result in equipment overheating due to increased amperage, so use suchreducers should only be used in a well-established network. As for drive systems designed for 220 V, they are optimally suited for Russian single-phase networks, and voltage drops are easily compensated for by conventional stabilizers. The only drawback of this solution is the increased power consumption.
Tools and materials for installation
The specific list of elements for gate assembly, tools and consumables is determined by the installation conditions and design parameters. The following set can be considered as a typical set of technical means for installation:
- Punch.
- 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 (Bulgarian).
- Sets with screwdrivers and wrenches in different formats.
- Construction level.
- Construction plummet.
- Rope.
- Marking devices.
- Step-ladder (if necessary).
- Riveter.
Construction equipment may also be required in the work on the base of the sliding gate - both for excavation and for the preparation of cement mortar. The same applies to earthworks, although with a small structure, creating a trench can be limited to an ordinary shovel.
The minimum gate assembly kit must contain the following items:
- Metal sheet orgrid.
- Upper compound catcher.
- Lower catcher.
- Channel for catchers.
- Upper limiter.
- Plug.
- Embedded elements.
- Channel for roller support.
- Roller support.
- End roller.
- Rails mating with the canvas.
- Hardware with nuts.
Sliding gate foundation installation
Construction of the foundation 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 appropriate loads on the reinforced structure. The design of the supporting platform is made of concrete in a trench with a reinforcing frame. From the elements of the gate at the same stage, it is necessary to prepare the supporting pillars and frames for welding to the reinforced formwork. Immediately it is necessary to plan the dimensions of the trench, since they depend not only on the size of the structure, but also on the type of ground layer. On clay and sandy soils, the foundation of a sliding gate is carried out at a depth of about 1.5 m, and on dense and reliable soil, it can be limited to 0.7-1 m. For greater reliability, in both cases at the bottom it is necessary to provide an extension for concrete pouring the base.
Work begins with the development of the pit. You should get 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 to the installation of the reinforced frame. For this, metal rods with a diameter of 1.5-2 cm are used.in essence, it will be a power skeleton of a cement pour, previously placed in the trench formwork. The formwork is made of ordinary boards, but the foundation for sliding gates based on a fixed form of expanded polystyrene is not excluded. This solution is advantageous in that formwork dismantling is eliminated and the insulating function of the carrier platform is increased. At the final stage, the prepared frame in the formwork is poured together with pre-installed support posts, which are spaced at a distance of 1.5-2 m.
Assembling the door leaf
For convenience and safety, it is recommended to carry out this installation on a horizontal surface - a slipway or a large-format locksmith's workbench. The assembly instruction in accordance with a typical sliding gate device involves the following operations:
- Profile preparation. The bottom and top profiles can be adjusted to the dimensions of the web, if necessary, by cutting. Sawing is done at a 45-degree angle.
- A frame is assembled from profiles using a T-shaped connection. The gate shield is forming.
- Profiles are connected to racks. To do this, holes are made with a diameter of about 4-5 mm with indents up to 75 cm. Fastening is performed with rivet hardware.
- Corner joints of the canvas are mounted. The side profiles are connected to the lower and upper corners. It should be emphasized that the principle of sliding gates completely excludes technological and other gaps. Therefore, the docking of the main bearing profiles is carried out as tightly as possible inconnection points with other components.
- With the help of rivets to the main profiles, diagonal profiles are also fixed at the corners. They are needed to give the structure rigidity.
- The door leaf is superimposed and mounted with rivets in increments of 20-25 cm. Sandwich panels with insulating material are sometimes used as a construction shield. This applies to cases where installation is carried out in the opening of the garage.
Mounting the rack
This element provides a mechanically controlled movement of the gate structure along the rail. The rail is mounted in a special cornice of the lower rail, from which this stage of work should begin. The profile of the cornice is fastened along the entire length of the lower frame of the canvas through holes in increments of about 25-30 cm. Fixation is usually done using self-tapping screws or rivets. It is very important to control the accuracy of the profile position relative to the horizontal of the carrier with a level. Next, covers and decorative plugs are installed to cover the cornice from the side.
Now you can proceed to the installation of the gear rack. In a standard sliding gate device, this component is supposed to be mounted on brackets to a previously installed cornice profile. That is, holes of the desired format are pre-formed. There may be several rails. In this case, the calculation of the attachment points is done on the basis that at each end of all rails a fixation unit must be provided. The use of continuous long rails, with all the advantages of mounting, is not alwaysjustified, since the slightest deformation will lead to the need to replace the entire line. In addition, it is more difficult to maintain geometry accuracy with long profiles, as the risk of out-of-flat bends increases.
Installation of load frame
By this time, the foundation and supporting pillars should be ready for installation activities. For subsequent work on the installation of a web with load-bearing profiles, it will be necessary to create a vertical and horizontal power base. The vertical arrangement of the pillars of the sliding gates assumes that load-bearing 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 poles 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 poles are not provided in principle in the kit, then you can use masonry structures or rolled metal rods 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, one should also not forget about the free space for the speed bump, if it is included in the package. In the device of suspended sliding gates, an additional upper mount on the beam is also provided. This is a heavy constructionwhich 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 holding the canvas.
Mounting videos
Work begins with the integration of the roller bearing. They are installed on the grover nuts, with which the power frame was twisted on the lower platform. At least 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, the horizontal position of both the web itself and the line of movement along the supports should be checked. Also in the device of the sliding gate rollers, a supporting link is provided on the sides with a catcher. This fitting 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 post. Orient the groove of the catcher so that it faces directly to the rollers, and the fixing equipment with the profile does not interfere with the entry line.
Installation of drive infrastructure for gates
Installation of the electric drive is carried out on the base in a place where there is access to the electrical connection. As a rule, a sliding gate drive device is implemented in a block housing with mechanics interacting with a toothed rack. For laying the cable, complete pipes or corrugations are used - these channels pass through the base and are attached to it with hardware. Between rail andthe drive gear leaves a small gap of about 2 mm. In this case, the teeth must be engaged with the gear over the entire width without deviations. Before finally fixing the block, you should roll the gate and make sure that the mechanics work smoothly without displacement 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 a de-energized state, for example, the gate is stopped without a special command from the electronics by means of the action of a magnet mounted on the rail. The magnets are fixed according to the principle of limit switches at a level that does not reach the mechanical stops.
Self-made sliding gates
The difference between making a gate with your own hands and using a factory kit is that you will need to prepare prefabricated elements with fittings yourself. Installation can be performed according to the typical scheme described above.
So, in this case, we should consider the simplest sliding gate device. With your own hands, you can implement a structure of rigid metal beams, profiled sheets and fittings for organizing movable mechanics. Of course, for the manufacture of components you will need a special power tool.for metal - at least the same angle grinder with solid diamond discs. Even better if a metal lathe is in service.
Work activities are performed 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 as a standard a format of 120 cm in height and 170 cm in length, but in any case, you should focus on the dimensions of a particular opening.
- Cutting the blade with an angle grinder.
- Similarly, frames are prepared from a channel or pipes. Cutting is preferably done on a lathe in order to obtain a more accurate cutting.
- The parts of the structure are assembled using brackets and self-tapping screws at pre-designated joints.
- The foundation is carried out according to the above instructions. It also houses a load-bearing base of poles to which power frames are attached.
- The mechanical part is also made on the basis of rollers and guides. The device of automatic sliding gates in this case can be implemented on the basis of a hydraulic gate. It is purchased ready-made for the format of the existing design. The main thing is not to miscalculate in correlating the dimensions of the undercarriage with the profile, rollers and rail guides.
- The shutter stopper 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 self-made components, one must also take into account the resource for running in rubbing parts. Factory Componentsare initially calculated according to this parameter, which leads to their rather long service life. Also, the device of self-made sliding gates should be thought out from this point of view, since the geometric correspondence and optimal docking of individual elements does not guarantee the reliability of the structure. At the basic level, you can insure against unforeseen breakdowns due to the same overload, focusing on the lightness of the canvas. It is advisable to use thin corrugated board from 0.5 to 0.8 mm. Ordinary frames from a channel and even a corner can withstand it, but only if it is properly assembled using high-quality fasteners.
Rules for operating sliding gates
After installation, the movement of the structure is checked. In normal condition, the gate moves smoothly, without vibrations and squeaks. The deflections of the supporting frames should not exceed 1/300 relative to the width of the profile, and the canvas in a free position should go into the catchers.
Prolong the life of the gate in optimal working condition will allow careful handling. All manipulations with the structure should be performed without jerks and excessive efforts in accordance with the standard load. Any sliding gate drive device does not allow the door leaf to move in a coupled state. Beforehand, the automation must be switched to the appropriate operating mode, allowing manual control of the gate.
Special attention is drawn to the rails and guides along which the canvas moves. They must be free of dirt, debris, and foreign objects that could cause damage.structure movements. In winter, the shear area should also be regularly cleared of ice and snow. Drive and mechanical tooling may require the use of special anti-corrosion and frost-resistant compounds.
Dismantling and modernization of sliding gates
The need to disassemble the structure may arise for various reasons - from updating the gate to rebuilding the opening at its base. Before starting dismantling activities, it is necessary to completely turn off the electric drive, disconnect other electrical appliances with sensors and devices connected to the network. All electrical equipment is removed from the gate operation area, after which you can proceed to the main part of the event. Dismantling is carried out in the reverse order of installation. That is, you should start with the running gear, moving on to the power unit and the frame frame. Further, everything will depend on the purpose for which the disassembly is performed - whether it will be necessary to dismantle the canvas with components or revise the design of the foundation.
As for modernization, the modern arrangement of sliding gate mechanisms allows the installation of additional systems and accessories, as well as 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 using devices and spare parts that are compatible with the original manufacturer's design.
Conclusion
Preferringsliding gates, it is necessary to evaluate not only their ergonomics and functionality, but also operating conditions with installation requirements. Although this is one of the simplest solutions from the point of view of the web arrangement, the construction of the foundation base imposes a great responsibility on the performers. But even 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 go only to the material with components and complex electrical operations.
