EP1096094A1 - Jack apparatus for the opening/closing of a door wing - Google Patents

Abstract

The opener/closer for a door or gate turning about a hinge with axis (20) fixed to a support (1) consists of a power cylinder (5) with a slideway and slider assembly. The slideway (7) is able to rotate about a first pivot (8), while the slider (9) travelling in it is fixed by a rigid connector (6) to one end of the power cylinder. The slider has a lug (14) which is maintained by guides (10, 11, 12) on a trajectory which adjusts the speed of the door or gate movement according to its angle.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to automated mechanisms opening and closing of leaves and pivoting doors, such as for example gates, and in particular a jack mechanism opening / closing of a door leaf with variable speed.

State of the art

Automated door and door opening mechanisms more common, such as those found in portals automatic garage, use cylinders that control the pivoting of the leaf or door in the direction of opening and closing.

In general, these mechanisms have a speed opening or closing which is constant due to the speed itself cylinder constant. This is the case for most cylinders hydraulic or electric. However at the beginning or at the end of the race, in a opening but also closing phase, it is often preferable to spare the mechanical parts which are stressed at within the structure, ensuring a slowing down of the speed of leaf rotation while, on the contrary, in the central part of the race we are rather looking for a higher speed in order to reduce the total opening / closing time. When the speed of rotation of the leaf cannot be modified, which is the case for the majority of existing cylinder mechanisms, we are constrained - and it's a disadvantage of known solutions - to limit the speed of rotation of the leaf in the central part of the race to that which is imposed by the safety limits of the mechanism when it reaches the end of race. This results in a significant increase in the overall time of maneuver since, if the start and end of race phases are necessarily slow, the central part of the race, or the bulk of this race is also.

This drawback can be overcome by employing a technique which consists in resorting, for the supply of electric cylinders, to a electronic system for regulating electric power in order to vary the speed of progression of the jack as a function of the angle leaf opening / closing. In this way we manage to do slow down the opening or closing movement at the start and end of race to increase safety, and to maintain a higher speed important in the central part of the race to ensure a fast overall maneuver. But there are many situations where you do not want - where one cannot - employ these techniques, if only when we wish to equip already existing mechanisms with customers or when the type of electric motor to be used or used does not allow voltage or current regulation.

Patent application EP 0826 859 describes a describes a device actuation of a movable closing leaf articulated on a fixed structure, entirely mechanical, which allows the effect of slowing down at the start of gate opening or closing. This device uses a rotary motor arranged on the leaf, and a set link arm.

But such a structure remains complex. Besides, there is no adaptation possible to the fleet of portals already installed for customers and using cylinders. It is therefore desirable to be able to equip these the latter, when they do not have a retarding device for the start and end of the opening / closing phase.

Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an automated mechanism, simple and inexpensive, opening / closing of a pivoting leaf, which mechanism ensures, at the start of the leaf stroke and when approaching the end of stroke of the leaf, a speed of rotation of the leaf less than the speed of rotation of the leaf in the central part of its stroke.

This technical problem is solved by the object of the present invention which relates to a jack device for opening / closing a leaf one end of which is mounted for rotation about an axis integral with a support. The device comprises a slide / slide assembly comprising a slide movable in rotation about a first pivot and receiving a slide fixed by a rigid link to the second end of the jack. The slide has a lug which cooperates with guide means, which hold the lug on a trajectory determined so as to print a variation in speed leaf opening / closing depending on the angle of the leaf.

• une bielle montée sur un second pivot solidaire du support et disposée entre la coulisse et le support de l'axe de rotation du vantail, laquelle bielle comporte une lumière dans laquelle peut se déplacer ledit ergot et deux ressorts sollicitant chacun l'ergot vers la partie centrale de la lumière, l'effet combiné de la bielle et des ressorts provoquant le guidage dudit ergot sur une trajectoire médiane qui est un cercle centré sur ledit premier pivot ;
• au moins un moyen de butée destiné à venir bloquer le mouvement de translation du coulisseau à l'intérieur de la coulisse à partir d'une position angulaire déterminée du vantail, de manière à produire, dès cette position atteinte, un changement de la trajectoire de l'ergot imprimée par ladite bielle résultant en un déplacement relatif de l'ergot dans la lumière ainsi qu'une modification de la vitesse de rotation du vantail.

Preferably, the guide means comprise:

• a connecting rod mounted on a second pivot integral with the support and disposed between the slide and the support of the leaf's axis of rotation, which connecting rod comprises a light in which said lug can move and two springs each urging the lug towards the part central light, the combined effect of the rod and the springs causing the guide of said lug on a median trajectory which is a circle centered on said first pivot;
• at least one abutment means intended to block the translational movement of the slide inside the slide from a determined angular position of the leaf, so as to produce, from this reached position, a change in the trajectory of the lug printed by said connecting rod resulting in a relative displacement of the lug in the light as well as a modification of the speed of rotation of the leaf.

Thus, the particular connecting rod-slide-stop arrangement of the invention provides a reliable and entirely mechanical solution to problem of variation of the rotation speed as a function of the angle of the leaf. It does not require an additional electronic device and complex for controlling cylinders.

In addition, this mechanism is very easy to integrate into a already existing installation to provide the deceleration function at the start and at the end of the race to a mechanism which was devoid of it the origin.

According to a second embodiment, the means for guiding the lug include a pendulum and counterbalance device, composed of a set of two cranks. More specifically, a first crank has a first end rotatably mounted around a first fixed axis. A second crank presents a first end which is rotatably mounted about a second axis fixed. The first and second crank have a second end which each has a movable pivot. A connecting rod is rotatably mounted around the two movable pivots and maintain their constant spacing. The the connecting rod is also rotatably mounted on the lug of the slide, so as to guide it as the opening of the leaf. In this way, the opening speed is progressive at start and end of leaf opening / closing.

In this second embodiment, the stop means and the springs are no longer necessary.

Description of the drawings

The invention will be particularly described in relation to the figures below:

FIG. 1A respectively illustrates the general structure of the mechanism according to the invention when the leaf is in a closed position (0 degree).

FIG. 1B shows the detail around the lumen 17 of the connecting rod 12 of the structure corresponding to FIG. 1A.

Figure 2A shows the mechanism in half-open position or semi-closed (45 degrees).

FIG. 2B illustrates the detail of the arrangement of the assembly connecting rod slide in the position corresponding to FIG. 2A.

Figures 3A and 3B respectively show the structure general and the detail of the particular arrangement of the whole connecting rod slide when the leaf is fully open (95 degrees).

Figure 4 shows the detail of a second embodiment of the lug guide system, based on a balance device and counter balance.

Description of the embodiments of the invention

The general structure of a first embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1A. This shows the general structure of a pivoting automatic leaf. It is important however to observe that the mechanism of the invention can be perfectly adapted to other structures and other situations in which it is advantageous to be able to have a speed of slowed down rotation at the start and end of a leaf or any rotating panel. If we look more closely at the Figure 1A, we see a leaf 2 in the closed position which is mounted rotation about a vertical axis 20, generally fixed on a support 1 such as a pole. The closed position of leaf 2 therefore results in a opening angle close to 0 degrees while the "open" position corresponds to an angle of 95 degrees which is that conventionally employed in art. Leaf 2 has, on its "inside" side a fixing lug 3, which has a vertical axis or pivot 4 on which is mounted the free end of the piston or rod of a jack 5. The jack 5 is a any cylinder, for example electric, hydraulic or pneumatic. The body or cylinder of the jack 5 is securely fixed by means of a rigid connection 6 to a slide 9 which cooperates with a slide body 7, and this slide 7 is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 8. The slide can be, for example, in the form of a tube square which penetrates inside the slide 7, also of section adequate square so as to allow a translation without play. As indicated previously, the connection 6 between the jack and the slide is a rigid link, without the possibility of rotation or translation, so that the axis of the jack 5 always remains aligned with the axis of the assembly slide / slide and pivot 8 of the latter. Note that in a particular embodiment, the body of the jack may be used to directly make the slide, which will ensure a set compact.

The slide 9 has two stops 10 and 11, respectively left and right, which limit the travel of the slide to the inside of the slide as will be explained below in detail. In in addition, the slide 9 has a lug 14 which will be better seen in FIG. 1B, and which is inside an oblong or light hole 17 arranged in a connecting rod 12, which is movable in rotation around a vertical axis 13. The axis 13 is in a remote position, intermediate between the slide 7 and the support 1. As can be seen on the Figure 1B, the lug 14 is associated with two springs intended to hold it in the middle part of the light, except when the leaf approaches extreme positions, closed or open, as we will see later. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the springs are two compression springs 15 and 16, of identical stiffness and slightly compressed when mounted in lumen 17, and which bear diametrically opposite on lug 14.

Generally, the two stops 10 and 11 are fixed on the slide 9 so as to allow the free movement of this last in runner 7 as long as the leaf opening angle remains between two thresholds of values, respectively close to limits 0 and 95 degrees. It should be noted that the value 0 degree corresponds to the closed position of leaf 2 while the value 95 degree corresponds to the classic opening value of the leaf. In the embodiment preferred of the invention, the stop 10 is positioned on the slide 9 of so as to intervene at a first threshold value of 15 degrees, while that the stop 11 is fixed so as to correspond to a second threshold, which is 80 degrees.

Thus, as long as the leaf opening angle remains between the two threshold values - 15 and 80 degrees respectively in the mode particular mentioned above - the slide is freely movable in translation inside the slide 7, so that the lug 14 is located in the middle position in the lumen 17 due to the stiffness identical of the two compression springs 15 and 16, which are high enough to overcome the mechanical inertia of the leaf. Between these two values of 15 and 80 degrees, the lug 14 moves on a middle part of the curve 30 which is represented in FIG. 1A. This middle part corresponds to an arc of a circle whose center is found on the pivot 13 of the connecting rod 12. Thus, between 15 and 80 degrees, the cylinder operation - at constant speed - results in opening or closing leaf 2 in proportion to the speed of the cylinder, but more lively because the lug, under the pressure of the springs, is constrained to move on the middle part of the curve 30, around the axis 13.

When the opening angle is less than the first threshold value, fixed for example at 15 degrees, the stop 10 abuts against the slide 7, which therefore prevents any translational displacement of the slide inside the slide 7, and to the right in FIG. 1A. It follows that the lug 14, which previously moved on the arc of circle of the middle part mentioned above, now comes follow a second portion which is another arc, distinct from the previous, and whose center is on the pivot 8 of the slide 7. So, as soon as the leaf moves within the values (0 degrees, 15 degrees), curve 30 breaks with the arc of a circle middle part. The new portion is located, as seen on the Figure 1A, "inside" the extension of the middle part, it is say closer to axis 13 than the latter. This new portion is indeed an arc of a circle whose center is the pivot 8 of the slide, which keeps lug 14 on its new, more "interior" trajectory than that of the middle part initially described when the leaf was between 15 and 80 degrees. It therefore follows that, below a opening 15 degrees, the lug compresses the spring 15 (and correlatively relieve the spring 16) so as to follow this new portion - interior - of curve 30.

In addition to the compression of the spring 15, the progression of the lug 14 on the new portion of curve 30 causes another result. In effect, if we look more closely at curve 30, when the leaf gradually closes from 15 degrees to 0 degrees, we notes that the extension of the movable part of the jack must compensate for the relatively smaller growth of ergot 14 when it follows its new trajectory which is more "interior" than that of the middle part. This compensation is naturally done at the expense of the effect existing on the other side of the jack, that is, ultimately, of the leaf speed which is slowed down. Can also simply notice that in the extreme inner portion of the trajectory, the leverage effect resulting from the presence of the connecting rod 12 very seriously diminished, which then leads to a reduction of the leaf rotation speed between the values 0 and 15 degrees. The Figures 2A and 2B respectively illustrate the arrangement of the mechanism when the opening angle of leaf 2 is 45 degrees, and, in this position, as we can see, the lug 14 moves well on the part median of curve 30.

Figures 3A and 3B show the layout respectively of the mechanism as well as a detail of the part relating to the connecting rod 12, when the leaf 2 arrives in the almost open position. In this progression zone is the stop 11, and no longer the stop 10 as before, which is called upon to intervene. Indeed, this is positioned on the slide so as to secure it as soon as when the leaf opening reaches 80 degrees. From now on, when the leaf continues to open, the lug 14 which was in position median in light 17, begins to follow a new trajectory which is that of a third circle of center the pivot 8 and not plus the middle part of curve 30. This new break in the lug 14 trajectory, which previously followed the middle portion of the curve, tends to move it along a portion which, as we see on FIG. 3A remains “exterior” with respect to the extension of the middle part of curve 30. In a similar way to what precedes, the following two effects result. On the one hand the spring 16 is compressed while the spring 15, which was slightly prestressed, is now completely released. On the other hand, and this is the most important effect, the leverage effect resulting from the existence of the connecting rod 12 tends to attenuate, which results in a slowing of the leaf progression when the leaf progresses between the values 80 and 95 degrees.

The preferred embodiment of the invention which has just been described takes particular advantage of the arrangement resulting from the connecting rod 12, fitted with a light and two compression springs which enclose the lug the lug 14 of the slide whose movement is limited by two stops intended to cooperate with the springs. It is certain that this means appeared, in use and in the phases of , particularly convenient for deporting lug 14 and cause a rupture, sometimes internal, sometimes external in the median circular trajectory. Of course, we could agree other means for guiding the lug 14 to cause this rupture in the median circular trajectory, "inside" in an almost position closed, and "outside" in an almost open position as is shown in Figures 1A and 3A, and described above. We could thus associate with the lug 14 a groove machined in a part plotted according to curve 30 having its circular middle part, and its interior and exterior end portions respectively. The sliding of the lug 14 in the groove would thus reproduce the movement equivalent to that obtained thanks to the rod-light-slide-stop assembly.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention based on a pendulum and counterbalance device. In this second mode, the slide / slide set 7 and 9 is associated with a set of two cranks, a first crank 50 and a second crank 60, each mounted in rotation, at a first end, around a fixed axis, respectively 51 and 61. The first crank 50 has a second end which comprises a movable pivot 52 and, from a similarly, the second crank 60 has a second end with a movable pivot 62. A connecting rod 55 is simultaneously rotatably mounted on the two pivots 52 and 62 and maintained by therefore a constant spacing between them. All consequently performs a Watt parallelogram. The connecting rod 55 is also rotatably mounted around a third pivot which is the lug guide which is fixed on the slide 9. In this way the latter is guided, when opening the leaf, on a curve which prints a progression in the opening speed of leaf 2. More precisely, in the closed position, the opening is made at reduced speed, and the speed increases gradually to reach an opening speed nominal and, at the end of opening, the speed tends to decrease again until the final opening. The closing phase is also progressive. In a particular embodiment, the positions of the axes 51 and 61 are respectively fixed at approximately (-160mm, -90mm) and (-40mm, -60mm) relative to the axis of rotation 20 of the leaf. Axis 8 is fixed at a position (-180mm, -120mm) and the connecting rod maintains a 120 mm spacing between the two movable pivots 51 and 61 and the lug is located approximately 65 mm from pivot 51. However, a person skilled in the art can obviously choose the length of the rod and the precise position different pivots according to the particular specifications of the opening system to design.

As seen in the two embodiments that come to be particularly described, the leaf opening system, panel etc ... can be made entirely mechanically, which ensures great ease of use. And besides, we can place the lug guide system, in a base frame, that we can bolt on the existing post 1. The assembly is presents as an installation kit which allows you to come and bring the variable speed function to an already existing installation which does not regardless of the type of cylinder used.

Claims (9)

Cylinder device for opening / closing a leaf (2), one end of which is mounted for rotation about an axis 20 secured to a support (1)
characterized in that it comprises: a slide / slide assembly (7, 9) comprising a slide (7) movable in rotation around a first pivot (8), said slide receiving a slide (9) fixed by a rigid link (6) at the second end of said cylinder (5), the slide having a guide pin (14); guide means (12, 10, 11, 15, 16) for maintaining the lug on a determined path so as to impart a variation in the opening / closing speed of the leaf as a function of the angle thereof . Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said guide means comprise: a connecting rod (12) mounted on a second pivot (13) integral with the support (1) and disposed between the slide (7) and the support (1) of the axis of rotation of the leaf (2), which connecting rod comprises a light (17) in which said lug (14) and two springs (15, 16) can move, each urging the lug (14) towards the central part of the light (17), the combined effect of the connecting rod (12) and springs (15, 16) causing said lug (14) to be guided on a median trajectory which is a circle centered on said first pivot (13); at least one stop means (10, 11) intended to block the translational movement of the slide (9) inside the slide (7) from a determined angular position of the leaf (2), so to produce, from this position reached, a change in the trajectory of the lug printed by said connecting rod (12) resulting in a relative displacement of the lug in said lumen (17) as well as a modification of the speed of rotation of the leaf (2). Device according to claim 2 characterized in that said guide means further comprise: a first stop (10) integral with the slide (9) and intended to block the translational movement of the slide (9) in the slide (7) when the leaf (2) reaches a first predefined angular position, which first position precedes its closing complete; a second stop (11) integral with the slide (9) and intended to block the translational movement of the slide (9) in the slide (7) when the leaf (2) reaches a second predefined angular position, which second position precedes its opening complete; the two stops (10, 11) being positioned on said slide (9) so that the rotation of the leaf outside the range between said first and second angular position, causes the coming into contact of one or the other stop (10, 11) with the slide (7), in the direction of rotation of the leaf, and consequently, the guide of the lug (14) on a trajectory which becomes an arc centered on said second pivot (8). Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the setting work of said first stop (10) causes the displacement of the lug (14) on a more internal trajectory than said trajectory median. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the setting in work of said second stop (11) causes the displacement of the trajectory of the lug (14) on a trajectory more external than said median trajectory. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the said stops are fixed on the slide (9) so as to cause a rupture of trajectory of the lug (14) when the leaf reaches the values 15 and 80 degrees. Device intended to adapt to a motorized actuator system for opening / closing a leaf (2), one end of which is mounted for rotation about an axis 20 secured to a support (1)
characterized in that it comprises: a slide / slide assembly (7, 9) comprising a slide (7) movable in rotation around a first pivot (8), said slide receiving a slide (9) fixed by a rigid link (6) at the second end of said cylinder (5), the slide having a guide pin (14); guide means (12, 10, 11, 15, 16) for maintaining the lug on a determined path so as to impart a variation in the opening / closing speed of the leaf as a function of the angle thereof . Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the said guide means include a pendulum and counter device pendulum. Device according to claim 8 characterized in that it comprises: a first crank (50) having a first end rotatably mounted about a first fixed axis (51); a second crank (60) having a first end which is rotatably mounted about a second fixed axis (61); said first and second crank having a second end on which is located a movable pivot (52, 62); a connecting rod (55) rotatably mounted around said two movable pivots (52, 62) and maintaining a constant spacing between them, said connecting rod also being rotatably mounted on the lug of the slide (9) so as to cause its guidance when opening / closing the leaf and causing a progressive opening / closing at the start and end of opening / closing.

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