EP2538010B1 - Position return device, in particular for sliding doors - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for returning a movable device part in a specific position, for example, for position feedback of a sliding door member in a predetermined closed position.

If device parts are movable relative to one another, it may be desirable to ensure, by means of a suitable device, that a certain relative position is automatically assumed in certain situations. For example, it may be desirable to position a sliding door element, ie the sliding sliding door wing, relative to firmly mounted fitting parts as a second device part in a very specific closed position, flush in the lateral door element edges with other sliding door element edges or furniture or building walls. If the user pushes the sliding door element inaccurately or releases it before completion of the movement with a residual swing, which is not designed precisely for the residual movement to the desired position, such a position feedback device can make a corresponding Postionsjustage.

Such position feedback devices are known in connection with sliding doors, for example from the WO 2006/056606 , There, a device for damping the movement of a sliding door element is shown before reaching an end position of the moving distance, in which a loaded on train coil spring pulls the sliding door element in the end position.

Furthermore, with the EP 2 333 218 a damping device has become known which can dampen and release relative movements in two opposite directions. In this prior art, two coil springs are provided, which are both coupled in the opposite direction of force with a slider, which in turn is coupled to a sliding door member.

The state of the art also includes the DE 20 2010 007 230 U1 or identical to the EP 2 390 448 A1 , which is based on the preamble of claim 1.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved position feedback device with extended applications.

To achieve this object, the invention relates to a device for position feedback of a displaceable in two mutually opposite directions driver in a desired position according to claim 1, with the slidable driver, two counter-one-way reset clutches and two elastic elements, each via a respective one of the reset clutches are connected to the driver, wherein each return clutch coupled with a displacement of the driver from the desired position in a respective direction of the driver to a respective one of the elastic elements so that the driver is subjected to force in the sliding movement by the elastic element in the direction of the desired position, and in a displacement of the driver in the other direction no coupling between the driver and this elastic element produces, so that the driver for displacements in both directions in each case by a respective one of the elastic Elem ente in the direction of the desired position and is released from the respective other elastic element, and wherein on the one hand the driver and on the other hand not connected to the driver to be coupled end of the two elastic elements are each connected to one of two relatively movable device parts, wherein a the compounds is mediated via a damping clutch and this damping clutch is designed for establishing a frictional connection between the corresponding device part and one end of a damper, wherein another end of the damper is connected to the other device part, so that the damper in the closed state of the damping clutch a relative movement between attenuates the two device parts, and wherein the damping clutch has a slide which is movable along a sliding distance and in angled end pieces of the sliding distance, which end pieces of a release position of Dämpfu ngskupplung correspond, characterized in that the driver forms a part of the slide, which is arranged in the movement in the angled end pieces on the opposite side of the occurring during this movement tilting axis within the slide, as well as a correspondingly equipped sliding door fitting and a correspondingly mounted sliding door and a corresponding use of the position feedback device.

The position feedback device according to the invention thus operates in two directions and can return the displaceable driver or a further element coupled thereto, for example a sliding door element, in the direction from the desired position (or, conversely, a device part with the position feedback device relative to move a fixed reference point, which is coupled to the driver). For this purpose, not only two elastic elements are provided, each of which has the task of providing the force necessary for the return in one of the two directions. In addition, two corresponding counter-rotating one-way reset clutches are provided, each of which produces or releases a coupling between the driver and a corresponding elastic element (in this sense "one-way" clutches) depending on the direction. Thus, the driver is thus coupled to a deflection in a certain direction by one of the two return couplings to one of the elastic elements, while the other return clutch releases the driver.

If this is the case of two return couplings, this does not necessarily mean that they must be structurally completely separate. You can also have common components; essential is the described directional release or coupling.

Accordingly, the invention offers the advantage of being able to individually provide the elastic element for the particular direction. So it can be designed individually as desired. For example, it could be connected in one direction with equal deflection distances with greater restoring forces than in the other direction or also show a direction-dependent individual force-distance relationship. Alternatively or additionally, the possibility can be used to bias elastic elements. This has the advantage that with small deflections as a result of the bias already significant restoring forces occur. Namely, if the provision takes place only over a single elastic element, for example one that is claimed in one direction to compression and in the other direction to elongation, so are the restoring forces in the environment of the non-linear force-displacement relationships Target position small. Accordingly uncertain or inaccurate is the position determination. This advantage also applies to the use of two elastic elements without corresponding one-way clutches. For then the forces of both elastic elements add up, which ultimately leads to a joint force-displacement relationship, which in turn in the vicinity of the desired position accordingly includes small restoring forces (because in the desired position an equilibrium of forces must prevail).

The term "elastic element" is generally for components that provide a restoring force for returning to the desired position after a certain Kraftweg context. It is not only in the classical sense of the linear force path context "elastic" elements come into consideration. Preferred are elastic elements made of elastomers (such as elastics), gas springs and especially helical springs and other classic metal springs.

Particularly preferred manner coil springs are claimed to train and, preferably also already biased to train.

Furthermore, the invention is basically directed to Positonsrückführvorrichtungen with at least two directions, but preferably to those with exactly two directions that are opposite to each other. Above all, the invention relates to directions in the straight linear sense and accordingly also directions of movement in the sense of a longitudinal displacement. In the most general sense is here of directions but also in the sense of directions of rotation and correspondingly opposite rotational movements the speech.

Slidably guided carriages may be provided on the return coupling-side ends of the elastic members which may form part of these couplings.

In this context, or independently thereof, the reset clutches can advantageously be configured with a one-sided system, ie by two elements abut each other in the one relative direction of movement and can be solved in the other relative direction of movement, for example by engagement of a pin in a recess open on one side.

The position feedback device according to the invention can be used for a wide variety of device parts, but is preferably directed to Schleubtürsysteme. Also conceivable are applications such as worktops z. As table tops, or other movable furniture parts. In this context, as already mentioned, damping devices are known. The position feedback device according to the invention is to be combined with a damper. For this purpose, the corresponding ends of the damper on the one hand to couple with the driver of the position feedback device and on the other hand with the two ends of the elastic elements, which are not coupled to the driver. Of course, more than one damper, especially two dampers, can be used.

In particular, reference is made to the already cited above EP 2 333 218 , As there, a clutch (hereinafter referred to as a damping clutch) is used, which can establish and release a frictional connection between a corresponding device position (the two relatively moving parts of the device) and one end of the damper. (This damping clutch is in the present Not to be confused with the reset clutches.) In this form, as described in the cited EP publication, in the vicinity of a middle (as opposed to end position) position, in particular a sliding door damping can be effected and this damping can be combined again with the feedback function according to the invention. Incidentally, in this connection, disengagement of the damping clutch is not compulsory (because the working range of the one or more dampers could correspond to the total travel distance) but is preferred.

According to the invention, an embodiment of the damping clutch is provided with a slide which moves along a sliding distance and releases in angled end pieces of the sliding distance. Furthermore, in the present context, a fork-like design of the slider for interaction with a stop element is preferred, wherein the fork-like shape surrounds the stop element in a movement along the sliding distance, but releases in said end pieces by the fork shape is tilted accordingly. For the abovementioned embodiments in connection with the damping and the damping clutch, reference is additionally made to the cited EP publication.

With regard to the combination of the position feedback device with the damper, a fixed connection of the driver already mentioned more often with the damping coupling part is preferred, which remains connected to the damper when releasing the damping clutch, ie in particular with the slider. Here, a one-piece design can be particularly useful.

The driver represents thereby an extension of the slide beyond an internal tilting axis. The internal tilting axis is intended to describe the rotational component of the movement of the slide in the angled end pieces, so that the driver is tilted in opposite directions.

A practical and simple embodiment of the one-way Rücksetzkupplungen may consist in a pin-receiving mechanism between the already mentioned slide at the end of the elastic members and the driver, as the embodiment illustrated. For example, a flat round pin can engage in an approximately U-shaped and thus unilaterally open depression.

As already explained, sliding door elements can be advantageously mounted with the position feedback device according to the invention in combination with the damping device. Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a sliding door fitting with these elements or at least with the position feedback device. In this way, the performance characteristics of the sliding door system in the sense of position determination and feedback and the damping change advantageous, so that the sliding door system as a whole is the subject of the invention.

Figur 1

zeigt in den Einzeldarstellungen a bis k in einem vereinfachten Prinzipschema das Funktionsprinzip des Ausführungsbeispiels.

Figur 2

zeigt in den Einzeldarstellungen a bis f eine konkrete Realisierungsform im Ausschnitt.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment, wherein the individual features may be essential to the invention in other combinations and refer to all categories of the invention.

FIG. 1

shows in the individual diagrams a to k in a simplified schematic diagram, the principle of operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 2

shows in the individual representations a to f a concrete realization form in the section.

FIG. 1 shows in the first detail representation 1a a symbolically represented wall 1 with a stop element 2, here in the form of a simple pin. Practically, one can imagine this pin mounted in a mounting rail of a sliding door system, cf. for example in the EP 2 333 218 Below is an assembly, namely a position feedback device according to the invention combined with a damping device provided (to which, strictly speaking, the pin 2 still belongs). This has two counter-rotating pneumatic linear damper 3 and 4, to which reference is made to the cited WO document. Further, reference is made to the two dampers 3a and 3b in FIG FIG. 1 and 3 and the corresponding dampers in the other figures except Figure 6a and b of the EP document. Between the dampers 3 and 4 is a sliding gate guide 5 with a driver 6. This is connected to the ends of the piston rods of the damper 3 and 4 and in a straight Sliding guide track longitudinally movable between a in FIG. 1 a shown and an opposite position in the Figure 1d and e is almost reached. This driver 6 has recesses into which carriages 7 and 8 can engage. These slides 7 and 8 are in turn displaceable in straight slide sliding guides, but each only half (and in each case a different) the length of the guide of the driver 6 amount, as indicated in the drawing. This assembly can be imagined accordingly mounted on a sliding door element. It therefore moves with the sliding door element.

In FIG. 1 a is a vertical bar 9 is located below the stop element 2, which is only symbolic of a stop element 2 enclosing the damping coupling, which interacts indirectly with the driver 6. This is based on FIG. 2 explained in more detail. Incidentally, reference is made to the operation of the damping coupling in addition to the frequently cited EP document and there specifically to the figure 5.

If one now in the order of the individual representations in FIG. 1 the differences between them, one recognizes first in the sequence of the representations a to d, a movement of the assembly, ie the sliding door element, from right to left.

In the situation referred to as b, the pin 2 is located above the carriage 7, and the coupling 2, 9 (not shown here and in the following for the sake of simplification) is already coupled to the carriage 7. A tension coil spring 10 stretched between the carriage 7 and a distal end point of the damper 4 pulls the carriage 7 and thus the driver 6 and thus the sliding door element relative to the pin 2. The clutch 2, 9 engages in a reference FIG. 2 yet to explain, as soon as the pin 2, the position of the carriage 7 and the driver 6 far left (in FIG. 1 a) reached.

This movement continues until the carriage 7 reaches the end of its travel distance. It can be seen that the driver 6 can then detach from the carriage 7, but on the other hand couples with the second carriage 8 and this in front of him pushes. Accordingly, the assembly of damping device and Positonsrückführvorrichtung in Figure 1c to h in terms of top-bottom assignment drawn twisted, namely to make it clear that now the pin 2 is coupled to the carriage 8.

The movement to the position indicated by d is intended to illustrate that the in FIG. 1a with impetus sliding door element overshoots slightly beyond the target position, namely into the in the FIGS. 1d and e shown position. In Figure 1e is shown by the two arrows on the left, that is complementary to the coil spring 10 second coil spring 11 is now greatly stretched and begins to contract. Accordingly, the sliding door element moves in the individual representations e, f and g to the right and is in the representation g in the desired position, namely the center, arrived. The two dampers 3 and 4 have ensured that the kinetic energy of the sliding door element has been dissipated and the sliding door element has remained standing in the situation g.

The second sheet with the Figures 1h to k illustrates a reverse process, here a deflection from the center position to the right, in which the user pushes the sliding door member against the force of the spring 10 and the damping force. In the situation j, the damping clutch 9 releases and the sliding door member is released, as k shows.

Based FIG. 2 , With the individual representations A to F, the middle part of the device according to the invention is explained in more detail, in a concrete representation. As far as possible, the same reference numbers are entered as in FIG. 1 , It can be seen a plastic body 5 of the assembly, the slide sliding guides for here specifically illustrated slide 7 and 8 and the driver 6 therebetween recognizable. Furthermore, this plastic body 5 has a sliding gate guide for the fork-shaped slide 9 as part of the damping coupling. Reference may be made to the exemplary embodiment in the multiply cited EP document in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 for this slide 9, its guide and the related design of the plastic body 5 and, moreover, to the visible front and rear adjoining dampers and not shown here from the local representation here are the two springs 10 and 11 are not simply permanently coupled with an extended Habelarm the slide 9 but on the already explained one-way reset clutches. These are better can be seen in the individual representations b, c and d, in which individual parts are omitted. In particular one recognizes in Figure 2c a U-shaped receptacle 12 in the driver 6 and in Figure 2d a flat round pin 13 on the carriage 8. It can also be seen that in FIG. 2b a complementary and downwardly facing pin engages the carriage 7 in the receptacle 12. Conversely, the driver 6 below contains a complementary and not visible here recording for the pin 13th FIG. 2e shows how the driver 6, the slider 9 and the carriage 7 are moved to the left front from the center position, while the spring 10 is stretched in addition to its tensile prestress. Conversely shows FIG. 2f how the slider 9, the driver 6 and the carriage 8 are deflected to the right rear and while the spring 11 is stretched. (The drawing is simplified in the drawing insofar as the springs 10 and 11 in FIGS. 2e and f Of course, they are stretched naturally, compare the representations in FIG. 1 and in the EP publication, Figure 4.)

This embodiment of the return couplings 12, 13 has the particular advantage of being particularly easy to manufacture and at the same time insensitive to the tilting movements at the ends of the moving distance. The round pins can turn easily in the receptacles with the round contact surfaces. The tilting movements arise because the slider 9 and the driver 6 are a unitary component, the central region is guided in the plastic body 5 and in the kinking ends of the moving distance (in conjunction with the desired tilting movement of the fork of the slider 9) is rotated altogether.

Claims (12)

1. A device for restoring the position of a carrier (6) into a desired position, said carrier (6) being displaceable in two opposing directions, and said device comprising:

   said displaceable carrier (6),

   two one-way re-set couplings (7, 8, 12, 13) operating in opposing directions, and

   two elastic elements (10, 11) which are respectively connected to said carrier (6) by means of one of said re-set couplings (7, 8, 12, 13) in the desired position of said carrier (6),

   each re-set coupling (7, 8, 12, 13) coupling said carrier (6) to one of said elastic elements (10, 11) when said carrier (6) is displaced out of said desired position in a respective direction such that said carrier (6) has force applied to it by said elastic element (10, 11) in the displacement movement in the direction of the desired position, and when said carrier (6) is displaced in the other direction no coupling is established between said carrier and this elastic element (10, 11) so that said carrier (6), when displaced in both directions, respectively has force applied to it by a respective one of said elastic elements (10, 11) in the direction of said desired position and is released by the respective other elastic element (11, 10),

   and on the one hand said carrier (6) being connectable to one of two device parts that can be moved relative to one another, e.g. a wall (1), and on the other hand an end that is not to be coupled with said carrier (6) of both elastic elements (10, 11) respectively being connected to the other of the two device parts that can be moved relative to one another, e.g. a sliding door, the connection of said carrier (6) to said device part, e.g. the wall (1), being implemented by means of a damping coupling (2, 9) of said position restoring device, and this damping coupling (2, 9) being designed to establish a forced closure between the corresponding device part, e.g. said wall (1), and an end of a damper (3, 4) of said position restoring device connected to said carrier (6), another end of said damper (3, 4) being connected to the other device part, e.g. said sliding door, so that in the closed state of said damping coupling (2, 9) said damper (3, 4) damps a relative movement between the two device parts, i.e. for example between said wall (1) and said sliding door,

   and said damping coupling (2, 9) having a slider (9) which can be moved along a slide section of said position restoring device and into angled end pieces of said slide section, which end pieces correspond to a release position of said damping coupling (2, 9),

   characterized in that said carrier (6) forms a part of said slider (9) which when moved into said angled end pieces is disposed on the side opposite said slider (9) of the tilt axis occurring in this movement and which lies within said slider (9) so that said carrier is tilted, as it were, in the opposite direction.
2. The position restoring device according to Claim 1, wherein said carrier (6) can be displaced in a straight line longitudinally in both directions of movement respectively.
3. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the two elastic elements (10, 11) are helical springs and are preferably tensioned.
4. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said re-set couplings (7, 8, 12, 13) each have a carriage (7, 8) connected securely to the respective elastic element and guided displaceably.
5. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said re-set couplings (7, 8, 12, 13) each provide a one-sided contact area (12, 13) for the application of force and a release in the opposite direction by two elements of said re-set couplings (7, 8, 12, 13) abutting against one another in the one direction of movement of said carrier (6) and being able to detach from one another in the other direction of movement of said carrier (6).
6. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said damping coupling (2, 9) can detach with relative movements of the two device parts in both directions.
7. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said damping coupling (2, 9) has a stop element (2) and said slider (9) is made in the shape of a fork, said damping coupling (2, 9) being designed such that said slider (9), with its fork-like form, engages around said stop element (2) when said slider (9) is disposed in a central region of said slide section and releases said stop element (2) to an outside when said slider (9) is located in the release position in said angled end piece of said slide section.
8. The position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said carrier (6) is connected securely to said slider (9) and is preferably made integrally with the latter, said slider (9) remaining connected to one end of said damper when said damping coupling (2, 9) is released.
9. The position restoring device according to Claim 4, wherein said carriages (7, 8) and said carrier (6) are respectively coupled by means of a pin receiving mechanism (12, 13) to a pin (13) extended transversely to the directions of movement as a re-set coupling (7, 8, 12, 13).
10. The use of a position restoring device according to any of the preceding claims for a sliding door.
11. A sliding door fitting having a track for holding a sliding door element, a displacement bearing for displaceably guiding said sliding door element and a position restoring device according to any of Claims 1 to 9 for returning said sliding door element to a predetermined position.
12. A sliding door system having a sliding door fitting according to Claim 11 and a sliding door element held by said fitting and that can be returned to a predetermined position by said position restoring device.

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