Nonparallel bi-part partition and related components and methods

An automatic fire-resistant bi-part partition system, comprising:

• a first door configured to extend and retract along a first direction, the first door having a first lead post including a male protrusion extending from the first lead post;
• and
• a second door configured to extend and retract along a second direction, the second door having a second lead post including a female receptacle, the female receptacle having a size and shape configured to receive the male protrusion of the first lead post therein along an insertion direction, wherein the male protrusion is oriented on the first lead post and the female receptacle is oriented on the second lead post such that the insertion direction is substantially parallel to one of the first and second directions and is substantially perpendicular to the other of the first and second directions;
• an electro-mechanical system operatively coupled with each of the first door and the second door and configured to extend and retract the first door and to extend and retract the second door, the electro-mechanical system comprising:
• a first motor operatively coupled with the first door and configured to extend and retract the first door;
• a second motor operatively coupled with the second door and configured to extend and retract the second door;
• and
• a control system operatively coupled with and configured to control each of the first motor and the second motor, the control system configured to close the bi-part partition system by extending the second door to predetermined extended position and, thereafter, move the first door to insert the male protrusion into the female receptacle while the second door remains substantially stationary;
• and
• at least one sensor coupled to the control system, the at least one sensor configured to indicate to the control system a position of the first door and a position of the second door.

A method of operating a fire-resistant bi-part partition system, comprising:

• extending a first door along a first direction, the first door having a first lead post including a male protrusion extending from the first lead post;
• and
• extending a second door along a second direction, the second door having a second lead post including a female receptacle, the female receptacle having a size and shape configured to receive the male protrusion of the first lead post therein along an insertion direction;
• and
• positioning the second door at a predetermined extended position and, thereafter, moving the first door to insert the male protrusion into the female receptacle along an insertion direction while the second door remains substantially stationary at the predetermined extended position, wherein the insertion direction is substantially parallel to one of the first and second directions and is substantially perpendicular to the other of the first and second directions;
• wherein the bi-part partition system further comprises an electro-mechanical system operatively coupled with each of the first door and the second door and configured to extend and retract the first door and to extend and retract the second door, the electro-mechanical system comprising:
• a first motor operatively coupled with the first door and configured to extend and retract the first door;
• a second motor operatively coupled with the second door and configured to extend and retract the second door;
• a control system operatively coupled with and configured to control each of the first motor and the second motor, the control system configured to close the bi-part partition system by extending the second door to predetermined extended position and, thereafter, move the first door to insert the male protrusion into the female receptacle while the second door remains substantially stationary;
• and
• at least one sensor coupled to the control system, the at least one sensor configured to indicate to the control system a position of the first door and a position of the second door;
• wherein the method comprises actuating the control system to cause the extending of the first door, the extending of the second door, the positioning of the second door, and the moving of the first door.