Previously disclosed door guides comprise, among other things, a track rail situated high above the door, in which guide wheels run for the purpose of guiding the door so that it is displaced and is kept in a parallel attitude in conjunction with opening and closing the door. This previously disclosed solution is difficult to install and work on, however, in conjunction with subsequent servicing of the door. Parallel guiding of doors is also previously disclosed with the help of guide arms, although this previously disclosed solution requires considerable lateral space.

The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problem with reliable and efficiently functioning means.

The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that pairs of piston cylinders, which are situated at a certain distance from one another, and each of which is pivotally attached at one end to its own frame component, are pivotally connected at their opposite end to the door pivot carrier arm, in conjunction with which the associated piston cylinder spaces, each of

which is situated on its own side of the pistons of the respective piston cylinders 9,10, are attached to one another in pairs in such a way that the fluid is so arranged as to be transferred between the aforementioned pairs of spaces in the two piston cylinders when the door is caused to open or to close while retaining the door in a parallel attitude.

The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a bow door; Fig. 2 shows a view from above of the bow door shown in Fig. 1 shown respectively in an open and a closed position; Figs. 2A-2C show the different line attachments of the door in the different door positions; Fig. 3 shows a further view from above the door with the door shown in two different positions; Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a door support arm with integral parallel retaining cylinders.

In accordance with the present invention, an arrangement 1, which is shown in the drawings and specifically in Fig. 4, solves the problem of parallel guidance of a door 2 on board a ship 3 in an effective manner and by simple, reliably functioning means.

The door 2, which is supported in such a way as to permit its pivotal actuation by a jack 4, is guided by a pivot carrier 5 causing it to be displaced respectively between an open I and a closed II position. The aforementioned door preferably consists of pairs of bow doors or stern doors 2 on a ferry, which are guided in such a way as to be capable of actuation causing them to be displaced in a direction respectively from 6 and towards 7 one another for the purpose of opening I and closing II them essentially perpendicularly to the centre line 9 of the ship. A door

which is situated on its own side of the pistons of the respective piston cylinders 9,10, are attached to one another in pairs in such a way that the fluid is so arranged as to be transferred between the aforementioned pairs of spaces in the two piston cylinders when the door is caused to open or to close while retaining the door in a parallel attitude.

The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a bow door; Fig. 2 shows a view from above of the bow door shown in Fig. 1 shown respectively in an open and a closed position; Figs. 2A-2C show the different line attachments of the door in the different door positions; Fig. 3 shows a further view from above the door with the door shown in two different positions; Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a door support arm with integral parallel retaining cylinders.

In accordance with the present invention, an arrangement 1, which is shown in the drawings and specifically in Fig. 4, solves the problem of parallel guidance of a door 2 on board a ship 3 in an effective manner and by simple, reliably functioning means.

The door 2, which is supported in such a way as to permit its pivotal actuation by a jack 4, is guided by a pivot carrier 5 causing it to be displaced respectively between an open I and a closed II position. The aforementioned door preferably consists of pairs of bow doors or stern doors 2 on a ferry, which are guided in such a way as to be capable of actuation causing them to be displaced in a direction respectively from 6 and towards 7 one another for the purpose of opening I and closing II them essentially perpendicularly to the centre line 9 of the ship. A door

displaced into the various positions I, II is illustrated in the drawings, in conjunction with which the door 2 and component parts attached thereto are shown respectively with solid and dotted and dashed lines to distinguish between them. In conjunction with this, the novel and characteristic feature of the present invention is that pairs of piston cylinders 9,10, which are situated at a certain distance from one another and are so arranged as to function with a fluid, preferably hydraulic oil 11, are each pivotally attached at one end 9A, 10A via articulations 11,12 to their own frame part 13,14. The opposite ends 9B, lOB of the piston cylinders 9,10 are in turn pivotally connected via articulations 15,16 to the door pivot carrier arm 5 supported around a fixed articulation 17 at a mutual distance A from one another. In conjunction with this, the piston cylinder spaces 18,19; 21,22, each of which is situated on its own side of the piston of the respective piston cylinder 9,10, are attached to one another via lines 20,23 in pairs, so that the fluid 11 is so arranged as to be transferred between the aforementioned pairs of spaces 18,19 and 21,22 in the two piston cylinders 9,10 when the door 5 is caused respectively to be opened and to be closed, at the same time as which the door 2 is effectively retained in a parallel attitude. In conjunction with this, the plus sides 24,25, i. e. the parts of the piston cylinders 9,10 which lack a transcurrent piston rod 26,27 inside them in the respective cylinder 91,101, are connected to one another via a line 20, and the minus sides 28,29 of the respective cylinder 91, 101, are connected to one another via a line 23. The effective volume and the dimension of the two piston cylinders 9,10 are identical. The door pivot carrier arm 5 is formed by an angle arm, preferably angled at a right angle. This angle arm 5 is pivotally attached at one end to the door 2 via an articulation 31, which is supported by the door 2 between its front section 2A and its rear door section

displaced into the various positions I, II is illustrated in the drawings, in conjunction with which the door 2 and component parts attached thereto are shown respectively with solid and dotted and dashed lines to distinguish between them. In conjunction with this, the novel and characteristic feature of the present invention is that pairs of piston cylinders 9,10, which are situated at a certain distance from one another and are so arranged as to function with a fluid, preferably hydraulic oil 11, are each pivotally attached at one end 9A, 10A via articulations 11,12 to their own frame part 13,14. The opposite ends 9B, lOB of the piston cylinders 9,10 are in turn pivotally connected via articulations 15,16 to the door pivot carrier arm 5 supported around a fixed articulation 17 at a mutual distance A from one another. In conjunction with this, the piston cylinder spaces 18,19; 21,22, each of which is situated on its own side of the piston of the respective piston cylinder 9,10, are attached to one another via lines 20,23 in pairs, so that the fluid 11 is so arranged as to be transferred between the aforementioned pairs of spaces 18,19 and 21,22 in the two piston cylinders 9,10 when the door 5 is caused respectively to be opened and to be closed, at the same time as which the door 2 is effectively retained in a parallel attitude. In conjunction with this, the plus sides 24,25, i. e. the parts of the piston cylinders 9,10 which lack a transcurrent piston rod 26,27 inside them in the respective cylinder 91,101, are connected to one another via a line 20, and the minus sides 28,29 of the respective cylinder 91, 101, are connected to one another via a line 23. The effective volume and the dimension of the two piston cylinders 9,10 are identical. The door pivot carrier arm 5 is formed by an angle arm, preferably angled at a right angle. This angle arm 5 is pivotally attached at one end to the door 2 via an articulation 31, which is supported by the door 2 between its front section 2A and its rear door section

2B, and is attached at its other end to an internal frame section 32 of the ship 2.

One of the piston cylinders 10 is pivotally attached via an articulation 33 to a pivotally attached extension part 34 at one end of the angle arm 5.

The function of the invention should have been appreciated from the illustrative embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, although it is not restricted to this function and may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. Thus, when the preferably hydraulically powered jack 4 is operating, for example when opening 6 the door 2, the hydraulic oil, which is accommodated in the cylinder 91, is forced via the line 20 to the empty cylinder space 22 in the other parallel retaining piston cylinder 10 in the aforementioned position. The hydraulic oil is similarly transferred from the cylinder space 19 in the cylinder 10 to the empty cylinder space 18 in the cylinder 9 in conjunction with closing. The internal pressure may, for example, be as much as ca. 65 bar.

Ready access to the constituent parts is easily permitted thanks to the fact that they are situated at a convenient height for servicing, among other things.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. The invention can thus be applied to a single door, for example a side door on the ship. Such a door is opened along the external extent of the aforementioned door, that is to say in parallel with the door leaf.

2B, and is attached at its other end to an internal frame section 32 of the ship 2.

One of the piston cylinders 10 is pivotally attached via an articulation 33 to a pivotally attached extension part 34 at one end of the angle arm 5.

The function of the invention should have been appreciated from the illustrative embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, although it is not restricted to this function and may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. Thus, when the preferably hydraulically powered jack 4 is operating, for example when opening 6 the door 2, the hydraulic oil, which is accommodated in the cylinder 91, is forced via the line 20 to the empty cylinder space 22 in the other parallel retaining piston cylinder 10 in the aforementioned position. The hydraulic oil is similarly transferred from the cylinder space 19 in the cylinder 10 to the empty cylinder space 18 in the cylinder 9 in conjunction with closing. The internal pressure may, for example, be as much as ca. 65 bar.

Ready access to the constituent parts is easily permitted thanks to the fact that they are situated at a convenient height for servicing, among other things.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. The invention can thus be applied to a single door, for example a side door on the ship. Such a door is opened along the external extent of the aforementioned door, that is to say in parallel with the door leaf.