Rollers for sliding gates: features and installation

Convenient sliding gates are used not only in a residential area, but also at the entrance to the territory of the enterprise, which solves the problem of organizing an effective access control. In addition, such constructions show the level of technical and general culture of a particular organization.

Fail-safe operation of sliding gates, smooth and silent movement, shockless stopping at the end of the movement - all this, first of all, is provided by rollers, more precisely a roller system.

The supporting parts take on the entire load from the weight of the door, therefore, they must meet the basic requirements:

• The dimensions should not increase the dimensions of the carriage.
• High wear resistance.
• There must be good access for maintenance or replacement.
• The material of the roller rim must ensure silent movement along the guides.

The sliding gate mechanism consists of a set of parts that, when assembled, ensure smooth movement, as well as reliable shockless fixation at the end of movement.

Most designs necessarily have the following details:

• The guide beams of the working profile, which are fixed at the level of the passage. They provide a stable target position during movement.
• Adjustable limiting rollers (usually two pairs) and catchers as part of a metal support, which hold the gate structure in an upright position, which excludes their vibrations, tilt or fall.

• End rollers allow the gate to slide smoothly into the catches.
• Above and below the posts, catching portals are placed, which take part of the load from the weight of the gate.
• The rubber plug protects the rail from rain and dirt.
• Roller bearings are matched to each type of door.
• Carriages or supports for sliding gates. The door carriages must be precisely positioned on the supporting beam. The subsequent trouble-free and smooth operation of the entire circuit depends on their high-quality installation.

• Carriage with rollers included.
• End rollers or knurled rollers require a protective cover in the form of a rubber plug.
• The entire structure can be controlled electrically or manually.

The carriage is mounted on a plate, which is attached to the door foundation through the technological holes. On the bracket (like a rocker arm) there are 6 to 8 rollers connected in pairs. The arrangement of these parts allows the carriage to have constant contact with the inner surface of the guide rails. Roller bearings must be lubricated to ensure smooth sliding at all temperatures.

The dimensions of the carriage base may vary. It all depends on the possibilities of attaching it to the foundation (through anchors or by welding to steel embeds in the foundation) after all reconciliations and adjustments of the position of the main structural parts. Technological holes of the carriage allow you to adjust its position.

Varieties and designs of sliding gates include carriages with rollers. The type of these elements determines the frame, canvas, drive, foundation, racks, as well as the order of installation work.

There are several options for sliding gates.

This type of gate usually has two carriages with four pairs of rollers, along which a guide beam with a supporting part attached to it moves. It is also connected to the frame and door leaf.

The guide bar can be located in the middle of the web or on top of the frame. It depends on the operating conditions of the sliding gate. In the open position, the fabric of the structure enters the bracket with stops, and then rests on the fixing element.

In such structures, the reinforced guide profile rests on the door posts or is mounted in the opening of the garage wall, and the roller system is held on the upper beam. In this case, the rollers themselves are positioned along the edges and center of the frame.

In these variants, the blocks of carriages are fixed on the lower beam of the frame, and the rollers move along a guide beam or rail. Such simple sliding gates require constant maintenance of the contact surfaces.

To ensure long-term and reliable operation of all sliding gate assemblies, it is necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of the main assembly - a carriage with rollers. This block creates the conditions for a silent, smooth and effortless movement of a heavy structure.

When choosing a sliding gate system, it is recommended to follow the following criteria:

• Place of installation of a support with a roller carriage.
• On what type of bearings was the set of rollers assembled?
• What material are the roller kits made of?

• How was the process of hardening the material of rollers or wheels carried out?
• What bearings are installed in the supports.
• Country, firm, manufacturing company of a specific batch of blocks.
• The price of blocks or the whole set, the amount of work and payment for the services of the masters.

The strength of the assembled sliding gate depends on the fulfillment of certain requirements:

• The structure must be able to withstand the total weight of the structure.
• The dimensions of the opening must ensure the safe passage of a certain type of transport to a private territory or yard, warehouse, garage of the enterprise.
• The height of the installed flaps should not interfere with the movement of vehicles.
• It is necessary to use durable and lightweight materials that support the fulfillment of all requirements at the level of quality standards.

Fencing and gates are an integral part of the security system. Its durability and trouble-free operation depends on how the installation of all parts is carried out, especially the pillars connecting the fence with sliding structures. Pipes serve as the basis for the gates. It is better to use elements that have been in use - they will be cheaper, but they will not be inferior in strength to new ones. After the cladding, it is no longer possible to determine what is inside.

• The diameter of the pipes is coordinated with the total load, which will act on the pillars from the weight of the gate, as well as wind and snow effects.
• The length of the prepared foundation depends on the chosen nature of the door system to be installed.
• The choice of material for the foundation should be especially strict, because for many years it will experience all kinds of loads: weight, wind and weather. Water that gets inside freezes and poses a particular danger to the concrete of the foundation.

The carriage with rollers is fixed in different ways - by installation on anchors, on studs and by welding to the embedded strips.

• The anchors are installed as accurately as possible.
• The holes in the base plate make more adjustments possible.
• The studs are placed in the embedded plates after marking with a carriage support and threading for them.

Installation on anchors and studs provides the ability to replace the carriage if necessary, although the subsequent adjustment process can be quite time-consuming.

The carriage base plate must be welded after all alignments. These works should be carried out in places convenient for welding work, as well as in cutting areas, if necessary.

For amateur craftsmen, it is recommended to connect the carriage to the foundation support by welding. If you are installing an industrial carriage with rollers, then it is better to attach it with pins.

Installation sequence:

• A guide beam is attached to the finished door frame (welding).
• We adjust the position of the carriage with rollers, install adjusting elements under the supports.
• We put the finished structure on the rollers of the support carriage ..

• We put the end roller and the clamp-limiter against lateral vibrations.
• We check the smoothness of the movement of the entire structure, the noise level.
• We mount (welding) trapping portals.
• We control the correctness of the installation of all nodes.

During the installation process, it is necessary to use a quality tool, as well as building levels to control horizontal and vertical. All welds should be cleaned and primed. Corrosion protection measures and painting should be done carefully, providing protection and respecting aesthetics. Of course, the money issue plays an important role, but reliability and durability are more important, therefore, when choosing materials and knots for your gates, the issue of quality should dominate.

Skillful maintenance of sliding gates ensures a long service life.

They are rated for 50,000 cycles (close-open) and this can guarantee operation for decades. Rollers for sliding, overhead and sectional doors along the rail are under heavy loads and need to be lubricated. The use of liquid and grease lubricants is impractical, as dust and dirt adhere to them, which is why you will often have to clean the parts of street structures.

It is better to use dry lubricant - it significantly reduces rolling friction and is easy to use. This mixture is inexpensive and can be purchased at technical outlets. More often, however, these lubricants are sold in shops selling bicycles and bike parts.

When deciding the issue of installing sliding gates, try to use more parts and blocks of industrial production. Ready-made roller carriages of many well-known brands will serve trouble-free for many years.

Leave the alignment of all sizes, the installation of carriages and guide beams to experienced craftsmen. The maintenance of the gate should be taken care of, preventive maintenance should be made a regular activity. This will significantly increase the turnaround time.

When installing homemade sliding gates, you must have good skills as a welder and builder, as well as be able to understand the drawings. If you have confidence in your abilities and familiar experts, then feel free to start working.

Do-it-yourself gate installation, see the video below.