EP2415956A1 - Device for closing and opening a construction - Google Patents

Abstract

The opening and closing device has a guiding device for guiding a door (2) e.g. garage door. A connection element (8) e.g. round strap, connects a traction system (7) e.g. sash balance, with an anchoring point e.g. orifice, of an anchoring device e.g. pulley. The anchoring point is not located in a traction axis of the connection element when the door is in a closed position. The anchoring device is connected to the door, and located in an inner space of a protection shell (19), where shape of the shell is complementary to that of the guiding device.

Description

The invention relates to a device for closing and opening a construction. More particularly, the invention relates to a closing and opening device of a construction comprising a garage door type door for tilting from a vertical position to a horizontal position to obstruct or not a passage.

It is known in the state of the art tilting doors that obstruct a passage in vertical position and tilt in a horizontal position to release said passage. These doors are for example intended for garages, private or public, and can be automated to let the cars through without forcing a driver to get off the vehicle to open and close the door. In the open and horizontal position, the door is generally parallel to a ceiling along which it tilts to free the passage.

The tilting of the door is generally obtained by sliding along lateral guide rails which are mounted on a door jamb. This switch has its origin in the ad hoc application of a tilting force by a user, for example by pulling on a handle provided on said door. This force can also come from a motor controlled by the user.

To facilitate the tilting and so that the door remains horizontal despite the weight of the door, particularly when the initial tilting force is directly produced by a user, it is used in a known manner a traction system connected to the door to counterbalance the weight of the door, for example a counterweight or a system of springs. The traction system is connected to the door via an element of link. This traction system exerts, via the connecting element, a vertical traction force on the door partially compensating for the weight of the door. This weight compensation of the door facilitates the tilting of the door by a user. In the case of a counterweight, the connecting element, for example in the form of a cable, connects the counterweight to an anchoring device provided on the lower part of the door.

However, the pulling force resulting from this traction device is vertical and does not determine the orientation in which the door will swing. Thus, without particular guiding device, the pulling force can cause the door to swing in one direction or the other, that is to say inwardly along the ceiling of the garage or outside the garage .

To avoid this, it is known to guide the tilting of the door by means of guide rails cooperating with pulleys mounted free to rotate on the same face and each side of said face of a door. These guide rails are integrated into the door frame. Generally, these pulleys also serve as means for anchoring the connecting element, said connecting element being fixedly mounted on said pulleys for example at their center.

In order to guide the tilting of the door from its vertical position to its horizontal position, it is known, for example, to use guide rails having a curved zone. Such rails cooperate with the pulleys and impose on said pulleys a path having a curved portion thus ensuring a tilting of the door according to the orientation defined by the rails. Optionally, to facilitate or provide the initial effort to tilt the door, an engine can be installed in the device. Such an engine may provide a force capable of completing or replacing the aid provided by a pulling system to tilt a door. An engine can also be a means of fully automating the tilting of the door avoiding a user having to provide the initial pulling force to tilt the door.

However, the guide rails having a curved area are complex in construction and installation. In addition, they do not help to avoid a significant effort required by the user to initially move the door from its vertical position to a horizontal position.

It is usual to ensure the tilting of the door in the desired direction by motorizing. However, such a solution is complex and adds an expensive, bulky and heavy device both in installation and maintenance. The guide rail curved part and the motorization can be associated but do not allow to solve the problems mentioned above.

The invention therefore aims to provide a closure device whose opening / closing tilting system is simple to implement and installation, the device being according to the invention requiring only few additional parts and being compact.

According to the invention, the closure device comprises a door, a device for guiding said door, a traction system, a connecting element connecting the traction system to an anchoring point of an anchoring device, said anchoring point not being located in a traction axis of the connecting element when the door is in a closed position, the anchoring device being connected to the door is characterized in that the anchoring device is located in an internal space of a shell of protection which has a complementary shape of the door guide device.

The position of the anchor point relative to the traction axis of the connecting element modifies the force exerted by the connecting element on the door. Indeed, the tensile force of the connecting element tends to place the anchor point in alignment with the traction axis, directly from the anchor point to the traction axis. That is, when an offset between the traction axis and the anchor point is present, the force exerted by the connecting element will tend to place the anchor point directly in the traction axis and ensuring the shortest possible pulling distance, thus causing a displacement of said anchor point until these conditions are obtained. This displacement of the anchoring point situated on the anchoring device, the anchoring device being itself linked to the door, exerts a rotation of said anchoring device which causes the door to tilt from its vertical position to its horizontal position guaranteeing the direction of rotation of the door. The door in the device according to the invention is thus not likely to undergo rotation by tilting it out of the doorframe.

Advantageously, the protective shell has an opening of complementary size of the connecting element opening on the internal space of said shell, a guide rail complementary to said protective shell serves as a guide device to the door, the device of anchoring has a freedom of rotation with respect to said shell.

A preferred embodiment provides that the guide device comprises a first vertical guide rail cooperating with the anchoring device, and a second horizontal guide rail cooperating with a horizontal guide element of the door.

One variant provides that the anchoring device comprises a pulley fixedly mounted on a fixed axle mounted on a lower inner part of the door, and the connecting means being fixed by one of its ends (opposite to the pulling means) to said pulley. .

In one embodiment of this variant, the connecting element cooperates with the pulley and wraps at least partially or in said pulley to the anchoring point.

Advantageously, in a fully open position of the door, the anchor point is located on the traction axis of the connecting element.

Preferably, the anchor point is opposite to the door relative to the traction axis of the connecting element.

In a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, the freedom of rotation of the anchoring device relative to the shell is 90 °

Preferably, the connecting element is of flexible material and substantially cylindrical in shape with circular cross section (or oval) of the type for example rope, chain, or round strap.

In an improvement, the anchor point is a complementary orifice of the connecting element comprising a locking device of the connecting element.

• les Figures 1A, 1B et 1C représentent une vue en coupe latérale partielle d'un dispositif selon l'invention :
  1. A. en position fermée de la porte ;
  2. B. entre la position fermée et la position ouverte de la porte ;
  3. C. en position ouverte de la porte ;
• La figure 2 représente une vue en perspective schématique d'une coquille contenant un dispositif d'ancrage relié à un élément de liaison selon l'invention insérée dans un rail de guidage ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue en perspective schématique avec transparence d'une coquille contenant un dispositif d'ancrage relié à un élément de liaison selon l'invention ;
• La figure 4 représente une vue en perspective d'un dispositif selon l'invention appliqué à un garage.

The present invention is now described with the aid of examples which are only illustrative and in no way limit the scope of the invention, and from the attached illustrations, in which:

• the Figures 1A , 1B and 1 C represent a partial side sectional view of a device according to the invention:
  1. A. in the closed position of the door;
  2. B. between the closed position and the open position of the door;
  3. C. in the open position of the door;
• The figure 2 represents a schematic perspective view of a shell containing an anchoring device connected to a connecting element according to the invention inserted in a guide rail;
• The figure 3 represents a schematic perspective view with transparency of a shell containing an anchoring device connected to a connecting element according to the invention;
• The figure 4 represents a perspective view of a device according to the invention applied to a garage.

1. 1. Dispositif selon l'invention
2. 2. Porte
3. 3. Extrémité basse de la porte 2
4. 4. Sol
5. 5. Extrémité haute de la porte 2
6. 6. Plafond
7. 7. Système de traction
8. 8. Elément de liaison
9. 9. Dispositif d'ancrage
10. 10. Axe de fixation du dispositif d'ancrage
11. 11. Face de la porte 2
12. 12. Point d'ancrage de l'élément de liaison sur le dispositif d'ancrage
13. 13. Axe de traction
14. 14. Centre de la poulie
15. 15. Partie inférieure de la poulie
16. 16. Rotation de la poulie
17. 17. Rail de Guidage
18. 18. Espace interne de la coquille 19
19. 19. Coquille de protection
20. 20. Demi-coquille
21. 21. Ouverture supérieure de la coquille 19
22. 22. Ouverture latérale de la coquille 19
23. 23. Premier rail de guidage
24. 24. Deuxième rail de guidage
25. 25. Elément de guidage
26. 26. Orifice de blocage
27. 27. Excroissance de blocage
28. 28. Force de traction
29. 29. Premier galet
30. 30. Deuxième galet
31. 31. Brin de l'élément de liaison 8

A list of references used hereinafter in the description and in the figures relating thereto is given below:

1. 1. Device according to the invention
2. 2. Door
3. 3. Low end of the door 2
4. 4. Ground
5. 5. High end of the door 2
6. 6. Ceiling
7. 7. Traction system
8. 8. Connecting element
9. 9. Anchoring device
10. 10. Fastening pin of the anchoring device
11. 11. Front of the door 2
12. 12. Anchorage point of the connecting element on the anchoring device
13. 13. Traction axis
14. 14. Center of the pulley
15. 15. Lower part of the pulley
16. 16. Rotation of the pulley
17. 17. Guide Rail
18. 18. Internal space of the shell 19
19. 19. Protective shell
20. 20. Half-shell
21. 21. Top opening of the shell 19
22. 22. Lateral opening of the shell 19
23. 23. First guide rail
24. 24. Second guide rail
25. 25. Guide element
26. 26. Locking hole
27. 27. Blocking growth
28. 28. Tractive force
29. 29. First pebble
30. 30. Second roller
31. 31. Strand of connecting element 8

In the remainder of the description, the terms "low", "high", "lower", "superior" are used as part of a normal installation of the device, that is to say relating to a vertical notion with respect to a flat horizontal floor.

The Figures 1A , 1B and 1 C are partial side sectional views in a vertical plane of a device according to the invention, respectively in the closed position, between the closed and open position, and in the open position of the door 2, for obstructing a garage door.

The device 1 according to the invention comprises a door 2, for example a garage door 2. Such a door 2 is surrounded by a door frame itself constituting a part of the structure in which the closing device according to the invention is integrated, for example walls of the garage. Such a door 2, in order to fulfill its office by authorizing or blocking access to the garage, is provided for slidingly tilting, generally being guided by a guiding device, for example guide rails as described below or any other system known to those skilled in the art.

In a closed position as visible on the Figure 1A , the door 2 blocks access to the garage and develops substantially vertically. In order to move from its closed position to an open position, said open position leaving free access to the garage, an initial opening force generally produced manually by a user via a pull on a handle of the door 2 is applied to the door . This force tilts the door 2 from its closed vertical position to a horizontal position, generally parallel to a ceiling 6 of the garage. The low end 3 of the door, located at ground level 4 in the closed position, is found, in the open position of the door 2, substantially at the same level as the level of the high end 5 of the door 2 in its position. closed.

In order to assist the user when opening and to tilt the door 2 the door 2 is linked to the traction system 7. Such a traction system can be for example a counterweight 7, a spring system or a motorized element. In the following description there is described a traction system 7 in the form of a counterweight 7, the latter can easily be replaced by one skilled in the art by another system producing the same effect.

Such a counterweight 7, known per se, is according to the invention linked to the door 2 by a connecting element 8. More particularly, the connecting element 8 is connected at one end to the counterweight 7 and at its other end to a anchoring device 9 (described below) in the lower part 3 of the door 2. This connecting element 8 is of the chain, cable, strap, rope or any other means known to those skilled in the art capable of connecting the counterweight and the gate 2. The connecting element 8 passes for this from the counterweight 7 on a first roller 29, or first pulley 29, and a second roller 30, or second pulley 30, to define a strand 31 of the connecting element 8. This strand 31 is, in the example, substantially vertical between the anchoring device 9 and the second pulley 30. More particularly, in the context of an anchoring device 9 in the form of a pulley and a first roller 29 in the form of a pulley too, the strand 31 develops on a tractio axis n 13 tangential both to the pulley of the anchoring device 9 and tangential to the first pulley 29. The case of first roller 29 and anchors 9 different from those shown here being easily adaptable to the skilled person .

The anchoring device 9 is mounted on the door 2 secured to and fixed with respect to the door 2. The anchoring device 9 here comprises a pulley 9 mounted integral and fixed on an axis 10 of the door 2. This device anchoring 9 may be of any form suitable for enabling the embodiment of the invention being mounted integrally with the door 2.

Advantageously, an anchoring device 9 is mounted on each side of the same face 11 of the door 2. Advantageously, these two anchoring devices 9 are mounted in the lower part 3 of the door 2. The counterweight 7 is then connected to the two anchoring devices 9 simultaneously with the aid of two connecting elements 8. It may be provided to mount several counterweight 7 individually connected to the anchoring devices 9. Next, only one anchoring device 9 connected by a single connecting element 8 to the counterweight 7 is described, the second anchoring device operating and being connected to the counterweight on the same principle.

The connecting element 8 is connected to the anchoring device 9 while being anchored to an anchoring point 12. The connection between the connecting element 8 and the anchoring device 9 is made by a locking device allowing maintain the link between these two elements. For example, in the case of the use of a round strap as connecting element 8, the locking can be done by pressure exerted on the connecting element at the anchor point 12, jamming or otherwise. Via the connecting element, the counterweight 7 exerts on the anchoring device, and thus on the door 2, a traction force 28. This traction force 28 is preferably along a vertical axis of traction 13 and a direction from bottom to top as visible according to the arrow in the figures. Such a round strap 8 is made by a complex weave of tubular, circular or oval shape within which are integrated fibers of suitable material and which are collinear with the axis of the strap (in its length).

In the device according to the invention, in the closed position of the door 2, the anchoring point 12 is not located on the traction axis 13. The anchoring point 12 is located offset from the traction axis 13. The traction force 28 exerted by the connecting element 8 tends to bring back the anchoring point 12 in the traction axis 13 and this in direct connection, that is to say with the element of link 8 tending to develop over the shortest possible distance between the upper part 5 of the door 2 and the anchoring point 12.

On the Figure 1A , that is to say in the closed position of the door 2, the anchoring point 12 is located on the pulley 9 opposite (180 °) of the door 2 relative to the center 14 of the pulley 9 , and therefore offset with respect to the traction axis 13. According to the invention, the connecting element surrounds the anchoring device, and more particularly the lower part of the anchoring device, from the traction axis 13 up to the anchoring point 12. The anchoring point 12 being fixed on the pulley 9 and the pulley 9 being itself fixed on the door 2, the location of the anchor point 12 imposes on the connecting element 8 to wind around the pulley 9 on an entire lower portion 15 of the pulley 9. The pulling force 28 imposed by the connecting element 8 tends to unwind the connecting element 8 of the pulley 9. This unfolding intended to bring the anchoring point 12 in direct connection and in the traction axis 13. The traction force 28 tends to impose on the pulley 9 a rotatio 16 in a clockwise direction so that the connecting element 8 wraps around the pulley 9 as little as possible.

As visible on the Figure 1B , the pulley 9 being secured to the door 2, during a tilting of the door 2 to move from a closed position of the door 2 to an open position, the traction force 28 imposes a rotation of the pulley 9 and therefore the tilting of the door 2 in the direction of rotation of the pulley 9. The rotation of the pulley 9, causing the rotation of the door 2, thus ensures the tilting of the door 2 in the desired direction of tilting. This rotation changes the position of the anchor point 12 relative to the traction axis 13 without changing the position of the anchor point relative to the door 2. This change of relative position of the anchor point relative to the traction axis 13 decreases the distance over which the connecting element 8 surrounds the pulley 9, said connecting element 8 thus surrounding a smaller part of the pulley 9.

The figure 1C shows a door 2 in the open position. In this position, the door 2 develops parallel to the ceiling 6 of the garage, the connecting element 8 is wound more than a quarter of the pulley 9, the door 2 having a tilting of 90 °. The anchoring point 12 is here even closer to the traction axis 13 than in the Figure 1B .

The figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a shell containing a connecting element connected to a traction element according to the invention inserted in a guide rail.

According to the invention, in order to ensure the vertical guidance of the door 2 during the tilting, the anchoring device 9 is slidably inserted in a guide rail 17. The anchoring device 9 is fixedly mounted relative to the door 2, to avoid any friction or blockage during a tilting of the door 2, said anchoring device is mounted in an internal space 18 of a protective shell 19. This shell 19 slidably engages in the guide rail 17. The shell 19 is complementary in shape to the guide rail 17 in order to ensure that said shell 19 slides smoothly into the guide rail 17. The shell 19 may be made of two half-shells 20 mounted and secured together around the anchoring device 9. The anchoring device 9 being integral with the door 2, it must maintain a freedom of rotation corresponding to its rotation during a tilting of the door 2 The anchoring device 9 is thus mounted with a rotational degree of freedom in the shell 19, that is to say that, during a tilting, the relative position of the anchoring device 9 does not change by compared to the door 2 but changes with respect to the shell 19.

The figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view of a shell containing a connecting element connected to a traction element according to the invention.

The shell 19 has an opening 21 on its upper part. The anchoring device 9 being mounted in the internal space 18 of the shell 19, this opening 21 is intended to allow the passage of the connecting element 8 through the shell 19 to the anchoring point 12. this, this opening 21 is of complementary size of the connecting element 8 and opens on the internal space 18 of the shell 19. Similarly, the shell 19 has a lateral opening 22 ensuring the passage of the axis 10 until to the connecting element 9.

The figure 4 represents a perspective view of a device according to the invention applied to a garage.

The device according to the invention ensuring the direction of tilting of the door 2, it is not necessary that the guide rail has a curved section as in the state of the art. The device according to the invention comprises only a first vertical guide rail 23 and a second horizontal guide rail 24. The first guide rail 23 which develops vertically cooperates with the shell 19.The second guide rail 24 cooperates with a guide member 25. This guide element is identical to the guide pulleys installed in the upper part of a door as in the state of the art.

In the examples shown, only the lower part 3 of the door 2 comprises on either side of the same face 11 an anchoring device 9 according to the invention connected to the counterweight 7, the upper part 5 comprising an element of guidance 25 of any known type of the state of the art. It is however possible to guide the tilting of the door 2 with any combination of guiding elements 25 and anchors 9 according to the invention related to one or more counterweight 7. Similarly, it is possible to place the connecting elements 9 more or less high on the door 2.

In a particular embodiment, provision can be made to position the anchoring point 12 in the lowest part of the pulley 9 when the door 2 is closed. Such positioning places the anchoring point 12 at 90 ° of the door 2 with respect to the center 14 of the pulley 9. Such a positioning means that, in the open position of the door 2, the anchoring point 12 is located on the traction axis 13 of the connecting element 8. Preferably, in this particular embodiment, the connecting element 8 then does not surround at all the anchoring device in the open position of the door 2 .

In order to ensure a 90 ° rotation of the door 2 and the anchoring device 9, the degree of freedom of rotation of the anchoring device 9 with respect to the shell 19 can be limited to 90 °. by any means of blocking or limiting the known freedom of rotation.

In order to ensure better anchoring of the connecting element 8 on the anchoring device 9, the anchoring point 12 may be composed of an orifice 26 complementary to the connecting element 8. The connecting element 8 is inserted in this orifice 26. The insertion of the connecting element 8 imposes twists on said connecting element 8. These twists themselves constitute a blockage of the traction element in the orifice 26. A locking device 27 of the connecting element 8 can complete this blocking for example by means of a pinching of the connecting element 8 inside said orifice 26. This clamping can be achieved by a locking protrusion 27 . The embodiment presented above is given by way of example, the device as described above being easily adaptable by those skilled in the art to the needs of different installations, sizes of doors, garages or other simple variation the position of the axis 10 of which is mounted the anchoring device 9 relative to the door, the size or the position of said anchoring device 9 with respect to the door 2, of the element type link 8 or other.

Claims (10)

Closing device comprising - a door (2), a device for guiding said door, a traction system (7), a connecting element (8) connecting the traction system to an anchoring point (12) of an anchoring device (9), said anchoring point not being situated in a traction axis of the connecting element when the door is in a closed position, the anchoring device being linked to the door, characterized in that the anchoring device is located in an inner space (18) of a protective shell (19) which has a complementary shape of the door guide device. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that : the protective shell (19) comprises an opening (21) of complementary size to the connecting element opening into the internal space (18) of said shell, - A guide rail (17) complementary to said protective shell serves as a guide device to the door, - The anchoring device has a freedom of rotation relative to said shell. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guiding device comprises: a first vertical guide rail (23) cooperating with the anchoring device, - A second guide rail (24) horizontal and cooperating with a horizontal guide element (25) of the door. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchoring device is a pulley fixedly mounted on an axis (10), said axis being fixedly mounted on a face (11) of the door at the bottom (3). of said door. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the connecting element cooperates with the pulley surrounding said pulley to the point of anchorage. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a fully open position of the door, the anchor point is located on the traction axis of the connecting element. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchor point is opposite to the door relative to the traction axis of the connecting element in the closed position of the door. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the freedom of rotation of the anchoring device relative to the shell is 90 ° Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element is a round strap. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anchoring point is an orifice (26) complementary to the connecting element comprising a locking device (27) for the connecting element, the connecting element being blocked by this locking device inside said orifice.

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