Automatic doors: brief characteristics and varieties

In country houses and new buildings, it has become fashionable to make wide doorways to access the balcony. In such cases, glass doors are installed to maintain a panoramic view. It is more convenient to open door leafs of such sizes with the help of automation.

The main types of automatic doors: sliding, swing-sliding, swing, folding and rotary.

The main functions of automatic drives: quiet and smooth opening / closing of doors. The devices are intended for servicing both internal and external doors. We can distinguish the following principles of the device:

• electromechanical (installed mainly in swing doors);
• hydraulic.

The design consists of two sensors (as opening activators), one photocell pair (to guarantee contactless reverse), a control panel.

The principle of the automatic door

The principle of movement of the door leaf using an electric motor is taken as the basis for the operation of any door model. To ensure proper automatic door opening (or closing), any model is equipped with sensors that respond to movement. In the presence of movement near the doors, the sensors give a signal to the electronic control device. And already this device starts the electric motor, which leads to the opening of the door leaf.

You can individually configure the sensor to automatically close the doors in the absence of movement for some time.

Any car door model has several modes of operation. Their precise operation is monitored by the controller. Based on the time of year, you can program the desired process. Standard equipment offers five modes of operation.

• Standard process - doors provide full movement of people from both sides.
• Winter mode - devices do not allow the door leaf to open to the end, but slightly brake the doors in the middle of the path (this reduces the loss of warm air).
• Closed mode.
• The mode is "fully open" (can be set for the summer period).
• One-way operation. Allows you to control the flow of people passing by.

Many car door models have additional functions that can be configured individually. In this way, the period when the leaves are in the open form, the distance from the person to the door when the leaves begin to open, and the speed of opening the door leaf are adjusted and set.

The security system activates the door open mode if the photocell detects an obstacle when the sash closes. That is, a person will not be hit suddenly by the sashes, if he slowly passes or lingered in the doorway.

Advantages of automation:

• convenient safe operation (guaranteed by different modes of operation and regulation of the device);
• reliability and durability;
• universality (thanks to the individuality of the order, you can equip an opening of any size);
• compatibility with various devices and systems, including the “smart home” system. Thanks to this, the doors can be equipped with an electronic lock, a video surveillance system.

The design flaws include a high price and regular maintenance.

Automatic sliding doors

This type of door is the most popular. The main requirement when installing such a model is the availability of sufficient space for the movement of the door leaves to the sides.

A separate model is an automatic sliding door equipped with anti-panic hinges. The principle of its operation is that in normal mode the door functions as standard, and in an emergency, the doors open outward from strong pressure on the leaves from the inside. This method of opening doors can still be useful in everyday life when you need to bring large objects or furniture (when opening the sash outward, you can push it as far as possible).

Manufacturers offer the following designs:

• flat (standard);
• round (semicircular). Such a model is installed in buildings whose facade has cylindrical elements;
• angular. Optimally fits into buildings with non-standard architecture. Moreover, you can order the doors, the doors of which will open at angles from 90 to 135 degrees. It is rational to install such a design in doorways located in the corners of the room.

A well-assembled round model luxuriously and perfectly decorates the facade of the house, but its cost is 2-3 times higher.

Automatic swing doors

These models are mounted in the absence of the ability to supply sliding products. Installed swing products are easily upgraded with drives. The drive can actually be attached in several places:

• on the door leaf;
• to the jumper;
• under the floor.

Hinged doors can be single and double. The positive aspects are excellent sound and heat insulation. A significant drawback of the device - when opening in front of the door leaves there should be free space.

Automatic entry doors

Such models are made only individually. The standard design of the swing door consists of a profile (aluminum) and a special glass sheet. Frames are available painted. There are products made of stainless steel. In order for the leaf profiles to be able to withstand strong wind pressures, they are made very rigid.

How to make an automatic door

Thanks to a special drive, the process of opening traditional mechanical doors can be made automatic. To do this, the drive is mounted on the rail of the door mechanism, and the electrical wiring is carried out in accordance with the attached instructions. The device allows you to configure the speed of opening / closing the door leaf, the length of the path of movement of the door, the effort of movement of the door leaf.

You can buy and install additional accessories for the automatic device: sensors, safety photo-barriers, guide pens and many other devices.
Simple maintenance of the automatic drive consists in periodically cleaning the door mechanism from dust.

Automatic glass doors are a great option for arranging wide doorways on terraces or balconies. It is most rational to install such models in houses / cottages equipped with the “smart home” system. Naturally, for their installation it is better to use the services of professionals.