Folding Doors (Research Paper) - 1925 Words

Folding Doors (Research Paper Sample) Content: Folding DoorsBy Students NameCourse code+nameProfessors nameUniversity nameCity, StateDate of submission Folding DoorsIntroduction A folding door also referred to as an accordion partition is a door that is able to open by folding back in sections. This type of door has remained popular in many areas where one does not need to open a full door. For instance, in buses, kitchens and basement doors it considered useful because it helps in saving space. Accordion door may exist as a single or a paired opening. The presence of a curved track enables the door to open easily just with a simple pull. Folding doors operate under various mechanisms such as an open-drive mechanism used in the buses without the source of air pressure. Technology has made it possible to have a variety of folding doors.Currently, there are both interior and exterior folding doors made of glasses, wood, steel, fibre glasses or a combination of any of these materials. Consequently, it has enhanced e fficiency by sound attenuation and saving of both time and space. However, some disadvantages associated with the development of folding doors make it quite unreliable as some people are now shifting to the other types of doors. Merits Folding doors have many advantages that make them marketable today. To begin with, the installation process of a folding door because it has similar dimensions as that of a conventional door. Secondly, a folding door has panels that make it strong and steady. Vinyl folding doors can be washed and maintained for durability. Folding door can fit in narrow corridors and passages.Thus, it saves on space. It can also be locked from both sides and in either open or closed position. Finally, it ensures silent shutting by the use of a special sealer that insulate sound and air in the door frame. These benefits have enabled folding doors to be acquired for use in almost every closet area.Demerits Although the folding doors are beneficial in some way the follow ing disadvantages discourages people from using them. Some folding doors are very expensive to buy and to maintain. For instance those made of glass can easily break especially if installation was not done properly. Moreover, folding doors may cause accidents for example when a finger is trapped on a moving folding door. Folding doors are the best doors that every home, office or vehicles should not do without. This is seen with the number of advantages outweighing those of the disadvantages. However, to reduce the advantages list enough precaution must be considered. For example, when cleaning the folding doors made of glass the cleaner should not use ammonia based acid. In addition, all the edges of the mirror surface must be dried. Finally, proper installation should be done to help reduce the breaking of the mirrors in glass folding doors. Moreover, an ideal folding door should be selected when buying one. When one opts to buy folding door made of glass then he or she should go for the glass with a good quality. Moreover, a folding door should be used where other such as hinge doors fail to work.Working mechanism of a folding door A folding door has some special features that enable it to open in either direction. It has a panel leaves that perform many functions. The door is made to fold by a mechanism built by the upper edge of the leaf and the upper jump of the door frame. Latching operation on the upper edge of this leaf ensures that the door is closed without using a lock. Thus, the door is kept closed and does not sag while in this position. This feature has been employed in constructing doors of cars in large cities prevalent with parking problems. Doors are made to fold beneath the car for the passenger or the driver to alight or to board it. The design aimed at reducing the space in which the door could swing wide open. Opening and closing of the door should not be done with a lot of ease by making use of the couple of forces at the links. The for ces cause the door to rotate freely at the hinges.A Sample Diagram of Folding Door
Figure1 This diagram illustrates how a folding door works on the mechanism of pivot system. A centralized hinge connects the door and the door frame. The closing and the opening of a folding door depends on the force applied on the door by the user. The hinges form a great portion in the functioning of a folding door. It is noted that the folding doors may open automatically or by a mechanical means. For instance a bifold door may be powered by electricity, spring or by an individual.Components of a folding door Folding doors consist of the following components for an efficient closing and opening operations.First door panel that is supported at one position of an opening door by a rotating slide pin.Second door panel.A hinge that connects the two door panels.Guiding rail that is fixed on the door to be opened.Slider that is mounted on the second door panel.Rotary damper that dampens the movement betw een slider and the second door.Doorframe sealer that ensures silent shutting.Principle of operation The first door panel is moved by inserting the rotating pins in the provided holes on the doorframe. Folding doors are designed in such a way that they can open and close smoothly. The door is sealed by the increasing the modulus of the sliding pins at the hinges. The insulation of the hinges between the door opening and the door closing is useful in this process.Moreover,the positioning of the pins both at the lower and the upper sides of the door opening facilitates the folding of the door. The rotary damper mounted on the slider enables the door to fold outwardly and inwardly smoothly. The axis of rotation of the hinges depends on the direction in which the door is to be moved.Opening of the door When a force is applied on the door, the hinge pushes the first door panel and the second door panel to fold in different directions. The slider moves at an inclined angle towards the fixi ng rotating pin on the first door panel. The slider does not rotate but the fixed bar on the second door panel pivots and the door opens. The angle of inclination shifts and the rotary damper changes its direction too. When the user leaves the folding doors, both first door panel and the second door panel move back to their initial positions and take a plane form. This movement restores the power of the hinges and the angle changes to the opposite direction. To avoid a banging sound while opening the door, a damping force is triggered on the rotary damper which ensures smooth movement. The rotary damper has an insulator containing oil that reduces friction between the doors. The direction of opening the door may be determined during the installation stage.Furthemore, the person opening the door should be careful when opening the door to prevent accidents. Closing of the Door When an individual tries to close the door by force, the damper receives an extra load and exerts a lot of pr essure. The rotor moves in an opposite direction from where it was initially causing the hole meant for the rotating pins to close. As a result a damping force is released increasing the pressure in the damping chamber. A bypass is provided in the damper in order to reduce the pressure produced. However, when the pressure exceeds the maximum level the valve is opened to remove the excessive pressure exerted. Moreover, the strength of the damper can be increased by reinforcing a spring force for the door to be able to resist pressure. Finally the first door panel and the second panel are pressed to each other and they become flat taking the form of a plane. The movement of the door towards the doorframe enhances stability and security of the closet.Why to Choose a Folding Door Numerous features and benefits have made folding doors dominant in the business. They are used in both home buildings and commercial institutions. The ability of a folding door to fix at a corridor has made man y people to go for it.Moreover, it has helped in saving space and reducing cost of installing other types of doors.Thus, it is preferred in small closets and partitioning walls.Nevertheless, the manufacturing of the folding doors has been able to cope with the new changes in technology. The use of durable materials such as steel and fiber glasses has ensured that a variety of products are availed to the customers.Consequently, valuable and aesthetically nice folding doors have been introduced in the market. Home industry has greatly improved with the volumes of high quality folding doors in the market today. For example, bathroom areas and toilets have embraced this technology. Limited space for erecting these facilities has increased the demand of folding doors by families. Popularity of folding doors has increased rapidly because of the existence of many sections that are used to suit the needs of the people using them.Furthemore, the possibility of a crisis occurring such as fire that can lead to the loss many lives when the door is shut has been reduced because a folding door is opened from both outside and inside.Technological advancement Persistent and extensive research has facilitated the development of new kinds of folding doors. Competition among the home industries have contributed towards the provision of standard doors. Therefore, for a business organization to withstand the existing stiff competition it must be able to manufacture goods that will attract many buyers. The invention of glazing aluminum folding doors has helped in the transformation of the appearance of many homes and improved the physical environment of businesses through the development of infrastructure. The introduction of thermal glazing has complimented in the decoration of many buildings. Opening and closing a door has been a very heavy task especially ...

The Nation State How Machiavelli Gave Birth To the Modern Conception of Rule - Literature Essay Samples

The ideal of a complex nation state, one that possesses a central power and does not operate in a feudal manner or under the control of the Church, came into being during a rather turbulent period of political transition. The political realities of this era provided the gateway for thinkers to advocate change in how states act, how rulers rule, and the overall significance of the centralized ÂÅ'nation state. During 1100 to 1600, the Western World experienced a plethora of challenges to the existing order of how political structures operate. These innumerable events, all of which ignited furious philosophical, social, moral, and political though, eventually gave way to the paramount thinking of Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavellis The Prince, clearly outlines the problems with the religious and feudal rule that was all to commonplace in Western societies, and offers a tangible guidebook for leaders to look to for assistance in ruling. The Prince, which is essentially a realist doct rine, discusses how a ruler should acquire principalities, should act in times of war, should treat his subjects, and most importantly‹how an ideal ruler can maximize his power and effectively rule a lasting and successful state. Machiavellis fluctuating political life and his vocational experiences largely contributed to his thinking and intellectual basis for the ideals presented in The Prince. He had been consiglieri of Florence, yet witnessed the Medicis subvert Florences government for their own dynastic needs. Prior to unification, Italy was a spread out territory, consisting of feudal City- States, perpetually engaged in conflict and often being subjugated to attacks from outside powers. In 1494 the Milanese had invited the much more powerful French to intervene in Italian rivalries as Milans ally. This eventually led to the Medicis surrendering Florence to their enemies without a fight, which then led to a popular uprising against the Medici regime. Florences repub lic was briefly restored, and it is these issues of power that frame Machiavellis The Prince.The organization of the nation state was a foreign concept to Italy. The size of Italian political organization was on a much smaller scale‹that of the city- state, regardless if the form of government was a republic, aristocracy, or oligarchy. Machiavelli is primarily concerned with how a state can maintain its independence, and how the ruler must act in order to remain in power. Italy became the pawn of larger nation states, the site of almost a century of war between the French and Spanish Habsburgs, lasting until the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis in 1559. Machiavellis The Prince, discusses the different types of principalities, classifying all of them as hereditary, new, mixed, or ecclesiastical. After establishing his definitions for each, he devotes much time to the ideal prince and the qualities he must posses. In doing so, Machiavelli consistently uses historical examples to s ubstantiate his arguments. He looks to Greek and Roman political events, and also to the political instability of his day‹both within Italy and abroad, to strengthen his arguments and to provide tangible reference points for the reader to draw upon. The following passage regarding how a ruler maintains a colony, clearly displays Machiavellis use of furthering his ideas with the assistance of a then contemporary example:If the old territories and the new have similar customs, the newSubjects will live quietly. Thus, Burgandy, Brittany, Gascony, And Normandy have for long quietly submitted to France. Although they do not all speak exactly the same language,Nevertheless their customs are similar, and they can easily put Up with each other (Machiavelli 8).One of Machiavellis main focuses within The Prince is his construction of the ideal ruler. He delves into the specific characteristics that will enable a leader to flourish. Machiavelli begins writing specifically about the i deal ruler in chapter 15. His prince must posses the qualities that will secure the success of the state. Chapter 16 is devoted to the qualities and overall generosity that the prince should posses. Pope Julius II, King Louis XII, and King Ferdinand of Spain are all then evaluated on the basis of their generosity. Additionally, an example from ancient Rome is utilized to validate Machiavellis statements on the topic. Chapter 16 concludes briefly:So it is wiser to accept a reputation as miserly, which people despise But do not hate, than to aspire to a reputation as generous, and as aConsequence, be obliged to face criticism for rapacity, which people Both despise and hate (Machiavelli 50-51).Each chapter follows this pattern of logical reasoning, and as previously noted, each statement is presented and then scrutinized in a historical context. Of those chapters describing the desirable qualities of a prince, the most striking deal with aspects of cruelty. Machiavellis theory is that cruelty as an abstract quality is fundamentally undesirable, yet in practice can have its own virtues. He asserts that while cruelty for its own sake is not admirable, cruelty employed by a wise ruler for the preservation of the state is warranted. This reasoning reinforces Machiavellis overall notion that the well being of the state always supersedes any other concerns the ruler may be dealing with. Similar statements are made through out The Prince concerning the deceit and duplicity a ruler must resort to if he plans on maintaining a functional state. Through out The Prince, any actions that facilitate the preservation of the state are looked upon favorably, while any conduct that jeopardizes it, however well grounded in principle, must be avoided at all cost. Machiavellis intended ideal ruler can easily be contrasted with the ideal ruler, or philosopher king, that is presented within Platos Republic. Both Plato and Machiavelli have a set vision of the ideal leader. In both Platos kallipolis and Machiavellis ideal principality, the supreme goal is some form of the common good. Platos common good is maximizing the good for all citizens, while Machiavellis is simply the conservation of the state institution, which in turn acts to protect the rights of the citizens. While these ideas are similar, Machiavelli and Plato offer radically different notions of the ideal leader within a given political structure. Machiavelli manifests such differences by stating:I am concerned it may be thought presumptuous for me to write on this asWell, especially since what I have to say, as regards this question inParticular, will differ greatly from the recommendations of others. ButMy hope is to write a book that will be useful, at least to those who read itIntelligently, and so I thought it sensible to go straight to a discussion of How things are in real life and not waste time with a discussion of animaginary world. For many authors have constructed imagi nary Republics and principalities that have never existed in practice and never Could, for the gab between how people actually behave and how they oughtTo behave is so great that anyone who ignores everyday reality in order to To live up to an ideal will soon discover he has been taught how to destroyHimself, not how to preserve himself (Machiavelli 48-49). Many political trends that we have witnessed throughout both the present and the past can be seen within The Prince. Machiavellis attitudes towards colonization and imperialism can be applied to a multitude of events in recent time. The establishment of puppet states in conquered territories, as described in The Prince, can be easily related to the emergence of Cold War satellite states. The conception of ÂÅ'well-used cruelty to further the goals of the state can be related to perhaps the most notorious tyrants in modern history. From Stalins purges, to Maos Cultural Revolution, Machiavellis almost prophesied words are so f ar reaching, universal, and easily identifiable. In addition to Machiavellis The Prince, other texts were born out of similar settings, circumstances, and attitudes towards the existing system of rule. Outside of Italy, many similar socio-political events, and the responses to them were slowly bringing in a set of renewed ideas that led to the intellectual basis for the conception of a strong nation state. During this period, France witnessed significant religious strife between the Catholics and the Protestant Huguenots. In effect, the existing French monarchy was nearly torn apart by civil war between these two factions of competing noble families. These events led French philosopher and lawyer Jean Bodin to address the destructive nature of the Huguenot wars in his defining work, Six Books of the Commonweal (1576). Bodin wrote that in order for a state to survive, a sovereign monarchy was imperative. Bodin advocates that the monarch must posses a monopoly on power to defend and maintain the state, while still respecting the individual rights of his subjects. Even though France had begun as one of the early nation states, it was not until the monarch could prevent unruly nobles from fighting against each other and the interests of the central government could nation states really be considered developed. Bodins conception of sovereignty, the definitive authority as a means to rule within a given political system, furthered the overall strengthening of the nation state. Machiavellis The Prince was born out of an era of widespread political turmoil. His ideas presented within draw heavily from the failures of the past and his present, yet in turn led to a hauntingly real vision of the future role of political structures. Machiavellis thought provided the blueprint for the modern day nation state. Subsequent thinkers, such a Jean Bodin, added to Machiavellis model of change from existing reliance on feudal, religious, and local governments‹to th at of a strong nation state.