LinearChain and Compacta drive used for door automation

R.A. Rodriguez has supplied a pair of space-saving but powerful Framo Morat LinearChain units driven by Framo Morat Compacta slip-on geared motors for an automated sliding door mechanism installed at the restored East Lancashire Railway Castlecroft Goods Warehouse, home to the new Bury Transport Museum. Not only did the system need to be extremely compact, but also sufficiently robust to drive a door weight of 2000kg for a distance of four metres.

The Castlecroft Goods Warehouse was built in 1848 by the East Lancashire Railway to handle local freight traffic; it remained in use for more than 100 years. Although it subsequently became the Bury Transport Museum, the deteriorating condition of the roof led to its closure seven years ago. In 2008, however, a grant funding of over 3million enabled the Grade II listed warehouse to be restored to its former glory.

This building is unusual because it has 12 large sliding doors, three in each of the four walls. All of the doors were required by English Heritage to be restored to open and function as they would have done in 1848. However, it was agreed that the sliding door that secures the main visitor entrance could benefit from modern drive technology. The problem of minimal space still presented a problem to the design team, as there was a gap of approximately 90mm between two adjacent door tracks, in which the door drive had to be mounted.

Compact installation

The Framo Morat linear drive system that R.A. Rodriguez proposed comprises a slip-on Compacta geared motor that drives a LinearChain whose specially designed chain links can push as well as pull heavy loads, with low backlash and high repeatability. A key feature of the LinearChain for the museum application is that the chain folds into a magazine to occupy a space of approximately one metre, which is small compared with the stroke of four metres.

With this system installed, the door moves at a speed of 100mm/s. It is an easy means of providing added security without the need to move the very heavy inner glass screen door that incorporates a glass wicket door and forms the normal visitor entrance.

Follow the links for more information about the Framo Morat LinearChain units driven by Framo Morat Compacta slip-on geared motors