EP2932010B1

EP2932010B1 - Turnstile

Info

Publication number: EP2932010B1
Application number: EP13820943.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen John BATES
Original assignee: Gunnebo Entrance Control Ltd
Current assignee: Gunnebo Entrance Control Ltd
Priority date: 2012-12-12
Filing date: 2013-11-20
Publication date: 2017-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2033-11-20
Also published as: EP2932010A1; ES2624491T3; ITMI20122116A1; AU2013356956B2; ZA201504979B; CN105143587B; AU2013356956A1; CN105143587A; WO2014091338A1

Description

The present invention generally relates to access control systems and in particular to a full-height turnstile used to regulate or restrict access of people to stadiums, public places, subway stations and the like.
Known access regulation systems comprise a cage structure and a rotor with a vertical axle comprising a plurality of arms extending horizontally therefrom in radial directions. This type of access regulation system is commonly known in the field as "full-height turnstile" and is generally used whenever a high safety level is necessary in unmanned places.
The arms of the rotor are spaced apart along the rotor axle and are grouped on a plurality of angularly spaced radial planes, for example three planes arranged at 120° from each other or four planes arranged at 90° from each other, thus defining a plurality of doors.
The cage structure generally includes a first vertical wall, for example having an arcuate shape, arranged proximate to the free ends of the rotor arms. An opening suitable to allow passage of one or more persons at a time is thus defined between the vertical wall and the rotor axle. The opening is periodically closed by the doors formed by the rotor arms aligned on the different radial planes.
The cage structure further generally comprises a second vertical wall formed by a plurality of bars having a size and shape that are similar to those of the rotor arms. The bars are for example restrained to a vertical upright from which they extend horizontally toward the rotor axle. In order not to interfere with the rotor during its rotation, the bars are spaced apart along the vertical upright and are respectively equidistant from consecutive rotor arms, so that during rotation of the latter they are periodically interlocked with its arms. This configuration allows to obtain a turnstile comprising a single passage, wherein the rotation direction of the rotor determines the one-way direction for people crossing passage.
Known full-height turnstiles comprise rotors wherein the arms are mounted on the axle e.g. in correspondence of suitable openings or seats by way of screws or bolts. Examples of this type of turnstiles are described in patents US 2170192 , US 3318045 and US 3839825 .
The possibility to release the arms from the axle provides the advantages of reducing the overall size of the rotor during transportation and allowing to disassemble the arms in case of emergency, e.g. when a person is stuck in the passage of the turnstile.
Despite the numerous types of full-height turnstiles known in the field there still exists the need to improve their structural and functional characteristics, which is an object of the present invention. Said object is achieved with a full-height turnstile whose main features are specified in the first claim, while other features are specified in the remaining claims.
An idea of solution underlying the invention is to provide a full-height turnstile wherein the rotor axle is not formed as a single piece, but comprises a plurality of modular sectors that are mountable with each other.
The main advantage provided by the invention is therefore the complete modular structure of the rotor, that is the possibility to assemble and disassemble not only the arms but also the axle, which allows to facilitate transportation of the rotor, as well as to make turnstiles having different heights very easily and at a low cost by using different amounts of modular sectors and arms.
According to the invention, the rotor arms are arranged between subsequent or consecutive modular sectors which perform the function of spacers between the arms, thus considerably simplifying assembling and disassembling operations of the rotor and drastically reducing the time they take. The modular sectors may advantageously comprise seats suitable to facilitate the mutual orientation of the rotor arms and their alignment on the respective radial planes.
In order to further facilitate assembling operations, groups of rotor arms intended to be arranged at a same height in the different radial directions may advantageously be pre-assembled together, i.e. assembled with one another before they are assembled on the rotor.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention groups of arms intended to be arranged at each height are assembled with one another by using a joint wherein a plurality of radial openings are formed. The joint is configured so as to be fitted and hidden between consecutive hollow sectors, so that the assembled rotor is substantially identical to a rotor of a traditional type.
Further advantages and features of the full-height turnstile according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a full-height turnstile according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows the rotor of the full-height turnstile shown in Figure 1;
Figures 3 to 9 are perspective views showing subsequent assembling steps of the rotor of the turnstile of Figure 1;
Figure 10 is a perspective view showing a joint for pre-assembling the rotor arms of the turnstile of Figure 1.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, the full-height turnstile 10 according to the invention comprises a cage structure 20 and a rotor 30 rotatably restrained thereto. The rotor 30 comprises an axle 31 which, in an operating condition, is arranged perpendicular to the ground, hence vertically, and a plurality of arms extending perpendicular thereto in different radial directions, hence horizontally when referred to the same operating condition.
The arms of the rotor 30 are spaced apart along the axle 31 and are grouped on a plurality of radial planes angularly spaced from one another. In the illustrated embodiment the turnstile 10 comprises for example three groups of arms respectively indicated by reference numbers 32, 33 and 34, which are aligned on three respective radial planes mutually spaced apart by an angle of 120°.
The cage structure 20 generally comprises a first vertical wall 21, e.g. having an arcuate shape, arranged proximate to the free ends of the arms of the rotor 30. The vertical wall 21 defines with the rotor axle 31 an opening suitable to allow passage of one or more persons at a time. This opening is periodically closed by the groups of the rotor arms aligned on the respective radial planes.
The cage structure 20 also comprises a second generally vertical wall 22 provided with a plurality of straight elements 23, for example bars having shape and size similar to those of the arms 32, 33, 34 of the rotor 30. The straight elements 23 are restrained to a vertical upright 24 from which they extend horizontally toward the rotor 30. In order not to interfere with the turnstile during its rotation, the straight elements 23 are spaced along the vertical upright 24 and are respectively equidistant from consecutive arms of the rotor 30, so that during rotation of the latter they are periodically interlocked with the arms 32, 33, 34 of the rotor 30.
In order to allow mounting of the rotor 30, the cage structure 20 comprises a base 25 adapted to allow to place and center the axle 31 of the rotor 30 at a lower end thereof and a roof 26 comprising a seat (not shown) configured to receive and rotatably hold the opposite end of the axle 31 of the rotor 30, i.e. the upper end. In the illustrated embodiment the rotor 30 comprises a driving pin 35 arranged at its upper end, which can be engaged by driving means, typically an electromechanical device, or alternatively an electric motor, housed in a container 27 arranged on the roof 26 of the cage structure 20. In the illustrated embodiment the driving pin 35 has e.g. a square cross section.
According to the present invention, the axle 31 of the rotor 30 of the turnstile 10 comprises a plurality of modular sectors that are mountable with each other. In an operating condition, the modular sectors are axially restrained to one another thus forming a single rod-like member, whose height substantially depends on the amount or number of modular sectors assembled together.
In the illustrated embodiment, the modular sectors have a cylindrical shape, whose cross section is substantially circular.
The sectors are preferably hollow in order to achieve a light overall structure of the assembled rotor 30.
It will be understood that the cylindrical shape of the sectors does not limit the invention and that the sectors could have, for example, prismatic shapes. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to sectors having a concave structure.
The arms 32, 33, 34 of the rotor 30 are arranged and restrained along the axle 31 between consecutive sectors, so that the sectors perform a retaining function of the arms, as well as a spacing function therebetween allowing to arrange the arms at different predefined levels or at different predefined heights relative to the ground. In the illustrated embodiment, the sectors advantageously comprise seats having a shape corresponding to the shape of the arms 32, 33, 34, which seats facilitate positioning of the arms, their mutual orientation on the axle 31 of the rotor 30 and their alignment on the respective radial planes.
This configuration also allows to simplify the assembling operations of the rotor 30, because the sectors and the arms are mounted sequentially on each other by exploiting their respective complementary geometries for mutual alignment.
The seats for the arms 32, 33, 34 of the rotor 30 are preferably formed at the free ends of each sector, so that the arms 32, 33, 34 are enclosed between consecutive sectors. In the illustrated embodiment the arms have e.g. circular cross-sections and the seats formed at the ends of the sectors consequently have a semicircular shape.
The assembling of the axle 31 of the rotor 30 is preferably carried out by using tie rods inserted coaxially through the sectors. Depending on the height of the axle 31 of the rotor 30, i.e. the amount of modular sectors, a single tie rod may be used, or a plurality of tie rods connected to each other.
Referring now to figures 3 to 9, subsequent assembling step of the rotor 30 will be described.
As shown in figure 2, in order to assemble a rotor 30 a first sector 36 is used intended to form the lower end of the axle 31. A first group of arms is placed on this first sector 36, in particular three arms 32, 33, 34 that are housed in respective semicircular seats formed at the end of the sector 36.
The first sector 36 is closed at one end by a base that comprises an axial hole adapted to receive a post 40 for attachment of a tie rod 41, for example a threaded post. The post 40 inserted into the hole formed in the first sector 36 protrudes beyond the arms 32, 33, 34 in the axial direction, allowing to mount the tie rod 41. The tie rod 41 may be fixed to the pin 40 directly, or, as in the illustrated embodiment by way of a threaded sleeve 42 or equivalent coupling means well known to those skilled in the art.
Once the tie rod 41 has been mounted a second sector 37 is assembled and placed on the first group of arms 32, 33, 34. A second group of arms 32, 33, 34 is then mounted on the second sector 37 and assembling proceeds in this way by alternating further sectors 37 and further groups of arms 32, 33, 34 until a desired height of the rotor 30 is achieved.
Once the assembly of the modular sectors 37 and of the groups of arms 32, 33, 34 is completed as explained above, a sector 38 is mounted on the upper end of the axle 31 of the rotor 30, for example a sector having a shape similar to the sector 36 that forms the lower end of the rotor 30. The driving pin 35 may be mounted on the sector 38.
In the illustrated embodiment, the sectors 36 and 38 which respectively form the lower and upper ends of the axle 31 of the rotor 30 have a height lower than the sectors 37 used to make the portion of the axle 31 of the rotor 30 arranged between its ends. However, it will be understood that this aspect does not limit the invention and that further sectors having a shape similar to that of sectors 37 might also be used to form the rotor ends.
According to a further aspect of the invention, in order to further facilitate the assembling operations, the groups of arms 32, 33, 34 intended to be arranged at a same height along the axle 31 of the rotor 30 in different radial directions may advantageously be mounted with one another.
Now referring to figure 10, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the groups of arms 32, 33, 34 of each level or height are assembled with one another by way of a joint 50 comprising a substantially cylindrical body wherein a plurality of radial openings configured to receive the arms 32, 33, 34 are formed.
The body of the joint 50 is configured so as to be fitted in the cavities formed in the hollow sectors 36, 37, 38, so that the overall appearance of the assembled rotor 30 is substantially identical to the appearance of a rotor of a traditional type. The joint 50 is provided with a central bore 51 configured to allow passage of the tie rod or tie rods 41 used to assemble the rotor 30.
The joint 50 is preferably made in two halves that may be assembled together, which allows to simplify its manufacturing because problems of undercut are substantially absent and the joint may be made of plastic materials by way of an injection moulding process. As shown in figure 10, assembling of the two halves of the joint 50 and of the arms 32, 33, 34 placed therein may e.g. be made by way of screws.
The arms 32, 33, 34 are not connected to the rotor 30 directly, but through respective supports 60 of the turnstile 10 configured to be fitted into the joint 50 described above. This solution is advantageous because it allows to mount on a same support, and hence on the joint and the rotor, arms having different shapes and/or made of different materials, thus increasing the level of modularity of the whole full-height turnstile. Furthermore, this solution allows to quickly replace an arm in case of deformation or breakage without being obliged to disassemble the whole rotor.
As shown in figure 10, each support 60 comprises a plate 61 adapted to be fitted in a seat formed in the joint 50 and having a corresponding shape. The support 60 also comprises a counter-plate 62 adapted to rest against the outer surface of the rotor 30 and having a shape corresponding thereto. An attaching member 63 configured to receive an arm is secured to the counter-plate 62. The attaching member may for example comprise a pair of flanges between which an arm of the rotor may be inserted and fixed.
Although in figure 10 the counter-plate 62 and the attaching member 63 are shown as separate components, it will be understood that they could also be made as a single piece.
In an assembled configuration, the plate 61, the counter-plate 62 and the attaching member 63 are preferably fixed by way of a screw 64 inserted in the attaching member 63 and engaging a threaded hole formed in the plate 61.
As shown in the figure, in an assembled configuration the plate 61 and the counter-plate 62 are spaced apart radially. In order to avoid deformation of these components when tightening the screw 64, a spacer 65 may advantageously be fitted between the plate 61 and the counter-plate 62. In the illustrated embodiment, the spacer is e.g. integrally formed with the counter-plate 62.
The embodiments of the invention herein described and illustrated are only examples susceptible of numerous variants. For example, alternatively to the use of a joint 50, the arms 32, 33, 34 of each group might be fixed together by welding, thus simplifying the overall assembling operations and making the structure of the rotor 30 cheap. Moreover, alternatively to the tie rods 41 the sectors 36, 37, 38 might be assembled together by using threaded bolts and corresponding threaded holes restrained thereto at their ends.

Claims

A full-height turnstile (10) comprising a cage structure (20) and a rotor (30) rotatably restrained thereto, said rotor (30) comprising a substantially vertical axle (31) and a plurality of arms (32, 33, 34) extending perpendicularly thereto in different radial directions, wherein said arms (32, 33, 34) are mutually spaced along said axle (31) and are grouped on a plurality of radial planes angularly spaced from one another, characterized in that the axle (31) of the rotor (30) comprises a plurality of modular consecutive sectors (36, 37, 38) that are mountable with each other, whereby different amounts of modular sectors allow to make turnstiles of different heights, and in that the arms (32, 33, 34) are arranged between consecutive sectors which perform the functions of spacers between the arms (32, 33, 34).
A turnstile (10) according to claim 1, wherein the sectors (36, 37, 38) comprise seats having a shape corresponding to the shape of the arms (32, 33, 34), said seats being formed at the free ends of the sectors (36, 37, 38).
A turnstile (10) according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the sectors (36, 37, 38) are assembled by means of tie rods (41) inserted coaxially therethrough.
A turnstile (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sectors (36, 37, 38) are hollow.
A turnstile (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the groups of arms (32, 33, 34) intended to be arranged at the same height along the axle (31) of the rotor (30) in different radial directions are mounted with one another.
A turnstile (10) according to claim 5, wherein groups of arms (32, 33, 34) at each height of the axle (31) of the rotor (30) are mounted with each other through a joint (50).
A turnstile according to claim 6, wherein said joint (50) comprises a substantially cylindrical body in which a plurality of radial apertures configured to receive the arms (32, 33, 34) are formed.
A turnstile (10) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the sectors (36, 37, 38) are hollow and said cylindrical body of the joint (50) is so sized that it can be fitted into the hollow sectors (36, 37, 38).
A turnstile (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein a body of the joint (50) is made up of two halves that can be assembled with each other.
A turnstile (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a plurality of supports (60) configured to be fitted into the joint (50) and to allow mounting of the arms (32, 33, 34) on the rotor (30).
A turnstile (10) according to claim 10, wherein each support (60) comprises a plate (61) adapted to be fitted in a seat of a corresponding shape formed in the joint (50), a counter-plate (62) adapted to rest against the outer surface of the rotor (30) and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the rotor (30) and an attachment member (63) configured so as to receive an arm (32, 33, 34).