EP3241965B1

EP3241965B1 - Electric device for opening and automatically closing doors with flexible and rigid leafs

Info

Publication number: EP3241965B1
Application number: EP16425040.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Luigi Murari
Original assignee: Glg Porte Industriali Srl
Current assignee: Glg Porte Industriali Srl
Priority date: 2016-05-06
Filing date: 2016-05-06
Publication date: 2019-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-06
Also published as: EP3241965A1

Description

The present invention refers to a door, with flexible or rigid leafs, equipped with an actuating device adapted to drive the opening and the closing of the leafs, the device being at the same time suitable to allow manually opening the leafs and automatically closing them again in case of block for failure and/or lack of supply of the actuating device.
Doors with flexible and rigid leafs are practical and economic solutions for insulation and handling between separate rooms, since they are opened along both directions automatically or with a push, and let people and/or vehicles, even having big sizes, pass therethrough, closing again immediately after the passage of the same. The doors are composed of a metallic frame, adapted to support even severe traffic uses, with leafs supported by mechanisms assembled on ball bearings. The cloth or panel can be flexible or rigid. As regards their actuation, the doors open due to a direct push against the leafs, or by using suitable devices. In the first case, suitable sensors detect the action directed onto the leafs and actuate a pneumatic device, supplied with compressed air, which servo-assists their opening, while in the second case said pneumatic device is started by proximity sensors or by a manually actuated push-button.
Prior art doors with reciprocating leafs have an inconvenience, since the pneumatic device needs a compressed air supply, which is not always present in installation rooms; moreover, should the pneumatic device fail or when compressed air lacks in the plant, the leafs could be opened manually, forcing the cylinder of the pneumatic device, but they would not be automatically closed, and therefore the safety required by standards in force (for example corridors of hospitals or industrial rooms which must remain thermally insulated, etc.) would not be guaranteed any more.
The document DE7821895U discloses a door according to the preamble of claim 1.
The present invention solves the above problem, by providing a door, with flexible or rigid leaf, according to claim 1, equipped with an actuating device adapted to drive the opening and the closing of the leaf, such device, which allows the push-type opening of the leaf, comprising:

first means adapted to generate the opening and the closing of the leaf through a rigid movement of a movement lever which acts on a hinge of the leaf;
second means, of an elastic type, adapted to generate the automatic closure of the leaf, when this one has been manually opened, by winning the resistance of the second elastic means;

the movement lever is adapted to act on the hinge through a pair of small arms adapted to simultaneously tighten the movement lever and the hinge, the tightening being obtained by the second elastic means;
the movement lever is adapted to act as counteracting means, to allow loading the elastic means during the step of push-type opening the leaf, the movement lever remaining blocked in a central position in case of failure or lack of supply of the actuating device.

The use of a door complying with the invention therefore allows keeping the closure of environments also in case of failure or lack of supply of the actuating device, guaranteeing the safety required by the standards in force.
It is intended that the enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.
The invention will now be described, as a nonlimiting example, according to a preferred embodiment thereof and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an automatic door with reciprocating leafs;
Fig. 2 shows the opening/automatically closing device according to an exploded perspective view;
Fig. 3 shows the assembled opening/automatically closing device closure, according to a perspective view;
Fig. 4 is a side, partially sectioned view of the device of the invention;
Fig. 5(a, b, c) show various operating steps of the device of the invention.

With reference to Fig. 1, (1) designates a door with automatic opening with reciprocating leafs (2), according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Such automatic door (1) comprises a pair of risers (3) and an upper cross-member (4).
According to a preferred embodiment, the leafs (2) comprise a panel (5), made for example of PVC, fastened along a vertical edge to the risers (3) and along the upper horizontal edge to a pair of rotating arms (6), integral with the risers (3), which are rotating around their longitudinal axis, being assembled, in their lower part, on a pair of rotating abutments (7) and, in their upper part, on a pair of hinges (8).
The described structure is known per se, and therefore it will not be further described.
The risers (3) and the upper horizontal arms (6) are made of box-shaped sheets, in order to contain therein a device (10), complying with the invention, adapted to drive the opening and the closing of the leafs (2). Such device (10) is shown according to two perspective views: exploded (Fig. 2) and assembled (Fig. 3).
The device (10) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is fastened to the rabbets of the door space through a squared plate (11), to which a horizontal plate (12) is connected, through a pair of screws (13).
The horizontal plate (12) operates as support for a motor-reducer assembly (14) on whose outlet shaft (15) a pinion (16) is keyed-in, which engages a crown (17). The motor-reducer (14) is of the worm screw-epicycle wheel type, with a screw pitch such as to make it irreversible.
Below the crown (17) and coaxial therewith, the following elements are placed:

a first bush (18), integral with the crown (17), equipped with a cam (18a) and with a groove (18b) in which a movement lever (19), equipped with a core (19a), is inserted;
a second bush (20), equipped with a first small arm (20a);
a third bush (21), equipped with a second small arm (21a) and, in its lower part, with a connection (21b);
a fourth bush (22), on which radial holes (22a) are obtained, in one of which a peg (22b) and a groove (22c) are inserted, whose function will be described below.

Inside the coaxial holes of the bushes (18, 20, 21, 22), the upper part (23a) of a long pin (23) is inserted, on which a helical spring (24) is inserted. The upper end (24a) of the spring (24), suitably shaped, is inserted in the groove (22c) of the fourth bush (22), while the lower end (24b) of the spring (24) is inserted in a groove (25a) of a fifth bush (25) which is inserted on the lower end (23b) of the pin (23) and is made integral with the pin (23) by a peg (26) which is simultaneously inserted in a hole (26a), obtained on the fifth bush (25), and in a hole (26b), obtained on the lower end (23b) of the pin (23) .
The upper end (23a) of the pin (23) is made integral with the second bush (20) by a peg (27) which is simultaneously inserted in a hole (27a), obtained on the second bush (20), and in a hole (27b), obtained on the upper end (23a) of the pin (23).
In a threaded hole (19b), obtained on the core (19a) of the movement lever (19), finally, a bolt (19c) is inserted which, by resting with its ends on the first and on the second small arm (20a) and (21a), respectively of the second and third bush (20) and (21), has the function of regulating the position of the movement lever (19) between the first and the second small arm (20a) and (21a).
On the external cylindrical part of the fourth bush (22) the hinge (8) is assembled, which is rotatable with respect to the fourth bush (22), the rotation of the hinge (8) generating the rotation of the rotating arm (6) and, therefore, of the panel (5) of the leaf (2). The upper part (8a) of the hinge (8) is inserted between the first and the second small arm (20a) and (21a), respectively of the second and third bush (20) and (21), so that the rotation of the second and third bush (20) and (21) rotates the hinge (8) and, therefore, the panel (5) of the leaf (2).
On the end of the cam (18a), through a pin (29a), a feeler (29) is assembled, which interacts with a micro-switch (30) which stops the motor-reducer (14) when the leaf (2) goes back to its closing position.
Finally, under the horizontal plate (12), two limit switches (31) are placed, against which the leaf (2) stops at the end of its opening stroke. The stop of the motor-reducer occurs due to the effect of an electronic device of a known type (not shown), which detects an increase of the current absorption of the electric motor when the leaf (2) has reached its end-of-stroke.
The function of the helical spring (24) is tightening the first and the second small arm (20a) and (21a) against the hinge (8), as displayed by the couple of arrows F in Fig. 5a, in order to force, within the limits allowed by the stiffness of the spring (24), the first and the second small arm (20a) and (21a) to rotate together with the hinge (8). In this way, a rotation of the movement lever (19), which rotates either the second bush (20), or the third bush (21), according to the pressure of the movement lever (19), through the bolt (19c) against the first or second small arm (20a) or (21a), depending on the opening direction of the door, generate an identical rotation of the hinge (8) and therefore of the leaf (2). This situation is shown in Fig. 5b. Therefore, when the motor-reducer opens the leaf (2), the helical spring (24) does not exert particular actions on the mechanism, since it stiffly rotates together therewith.
The action of loading the spring (24) is obtained by rotating the second bush (21) many times with respect to the fourth bush (22), then blocking the connection (21b) of the third bush (21), by inserting the peg (22b), when the desired twisting moment has been reached.
If the leaf (2) has to be manually opened, by exerting a thrust on the panel (5) (Fig. 5c), the leaf (2) will be opened by winning the elastic reaction F, due to the spring (24), of the first or second small arm (20a) or (21a), according to the opening direction. The other between the first or the second small arm, (21a) or (20a) respectively, will remain blocked in the position in which it is, due to the effect of the counteracting action exerted by the bolt (19c), inserted into the core (19a) of the movement lever (19), the lever (19) remaining blocked in its position due to the irreversibility of the motor reducer (14). When the thrust on the panel (5) ceases, the elastic reaction F of the first or second small arm being affected will close the leaf (2).
In practice, the device (10) according to the invention is essentially composed of the following first and second means.
The first means comprise the motor reducer (14), the pair of gears (16, 17), the first bush (18) and the movement lever (19), which operates opening and closing the leaf (2) through a rigid movement. In fact, the movement lever (19) generates the rigid rotation of the first and second small arm (20a, 21a) and, therefore, of the hinge (8) which is integral with the leaf (2). The function of the helical spring (24), in this case, is only the one of keeping the first and the second small arm (20a, 21a) tightened against the hinge (8), thereby allowing the rigid rotation of the assembly comprising the first and the second small arm (20a, 21a), the movement lever (19) and the hinge (8).
The second means comprise the second and third bush (20, 21), with their related first and second small arms (20a, 21a), the fourth bush (22), the pin (23), the helical spring (24) and the fifth bush (25). The second means operate when the motor-reducer (14) is unmoving, allowing the rotation of one between the first or the second small arm (20a) or (21a), following a thrust exerted on the panel (5), through the elastic torsion of the spring (24), while the other one between the first or the second small arm, (21a) or (20a) respectively, remains unmoving since it is blocked by the movement lever (19) which remains fixed in its central position, due to the irreversibility of the motor-reducer (14). Substantially, the movement lever (19), remaining blocked in its central position, operates as counteracting means which allow loading the helical spring (24) during the step of push-type opening the leaf (2).
As clearly appears from the previous description, the automatic door according to the invention solves the described inconvenience since, even following a manual opening of the leafs, being necessary following a failure or the lack of supply of the actuating device, the door itself is automatically closed.

Claims

Door (1), with flexible or rigid leaf (2), equipped with an actuating device (10) adapted to drive an opening and a closing of said leaf (2), said device (10) allowing the push-type opening of said leaf (2), said actuating device (10) comprising:
- first means adapted to open and close the leaf (2) through a rigid movement of a movement lever (19) adapted to operate on a hinge (8) of said leaf (2);

- second means, of an elastic type, adapted to automatically close said leaf (2), when this latter one has been manually opened by winning the resistance of said second elastic means;
wherein:
- said movement lever (19) is adapted to operate on said hinge (8) through a pair of a first and a second small arm (20a, 21a) adapted to simultaneously tighten said movement lever (19) and said hinge (8), said tightening being obtained by said second elastic means;

- said movement lever (19) is adapted to operate as counteracting means, to allow loading said elastic means during the step of push-type opening the leaf (2), said movement lever (19) remaining blocked in its central position in case of failure or lack of supply of said actuating device (10),
wherein said first means adapted to open and close the leaf (2) comprise a motor-reducer (14), a pinion (16), a crown (17), a first bush (18), equipped with a cam (18a) and with a groove (18b) in which said movement lever (19) is inserted, wherein:
- said movement lever (19) is inserted between said pair of a first and a second small arm (20a, 21a) so that the rotation of said movement lever (19) rotates said pair of a first and a second small arm (20a, 21a) and, consequently, rotates said hinge (8);
characterized in that said crown (17), first bush (18) and movement lever are integral, and in that said door (1) has a bolt (19c), which is inserted in a threaded hole (19b), obtained on a core (19a) of said movement lever (19), the regulation of said bolt (19c) allowing to suitably position said movement lever (19) between said first and second small arm (20a, 21a).
Door (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second means of an elastic type, adapted to automatically close said leaf (2), when this latter one has been manually opened, comprise a second bush (20), equipped with said first small arm (20a), a third bush (21), equipped with said second small arm (21a), a fourth bush (22), a pin (23), a helical spring (24) and a fifth bush (25), wherein:
- the upper part (23a) of said pin (23) is inserted in said second third and fourth bush (20, 21, 22), said upper end (23a) being integral with said second bush (20) ;

- the lower part (23b) of said pin (23) is inserted in said fifth bush (25) and is integral with said fifth bush (25) ;

- said helical spring (24) is inserted on said pin (23) in the section included between said fourth and fifth bush (22, 25), so that the upper end (24a) of said helical spring (24) is inserted in a groove (22c) of said fourth bush (22) and the lower end (24b) of said helical spring (24) is inserted in a groove (25a) of said fifth bush (25);

- said third bush (21) is equipped with a connection (21b) which is inserted in the fourth bush (22), which is equipped with one or more radial holes (22a), so that a peg (22b), which is inserted in one of said radial holes (22a) and engages said connection (21b), after said helical spring (24) has been loaded till a certain value of the twisting moment is reached, prevents the mutual rotation between said third and fourth bush (21, 22), said loading determining the force with which said first and second small arm (20a, 21a) tighten said hinge (8).
Door (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said actuating device (10) is motored by a motor-reducer (14) of an irreversible type, so that said movement lever (19) remains blocked to be able to operate as counteracting means in case of a manual opening of the leaf (2).
Door (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said upper end (23a) and lower end (23b) are made integral with said second and fifth bush (20, 25) by pegs (27, 26) respectively, which are inserted in holes (27a, 26a), obtained on said bushes (20, 25) and in holes (27b, 26b), obtained on said pin (23) .
Door (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that, on the end of said cam (18a), through a pin (29a), a feeler (29) is assembled, which interacts with a micro-switch (30) which stops said motor-reducer (14) when said leaf (2) returns to its closing position.