Screening or Protective Device for Wall Apertures The invention relates to a screening or protective device for wall apertures according to the preamble to claim 1. 5 In previous devices of the type named, such as are for example described in DE 43 18 618 Al, the panels are actuated by means of chains or ropes, the ropes co operating simultaneously with a plurality of panels. 10 This on the one hand leads to an unsatisfactory mobility of the panels, and on the other hand by this means wall apertures cannot be covered whose width is several metres, for example 10 or 20 metres. 15 A further device of this type is described in DE-AS 1 099 900. In this case the actuating means (ropes), are located at the ends, so that only panels with a relatively short length can be used. 20 Proceeding from the above prior art, the object underlying the invention is to provide assistance here. The set purpose is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. 25 The invention will be seen to be realised when the device preferably has a plurality of traction elements, e.g.
2 ropes, chains, belts, motors, springs, hydraulic cylinders or the like, each traction element respectively co-operating with only one panel, or with one pair of panels articulated together, so that in this way a 5 controlled folding procedure can be carried out. In this case the traction elements are detachably connected to panels. By means of the individual co-operation of the ropes with the panels, on the one hand a controlled transfer of the panels from one end position into the 10 other end position is achieved, and on the other hand thinner ropes may be selected, which can be accommodated between the adjoining panels. Further appropriate and advantageous developments of the 15 invention will become apparent from the sub-claims. In order with the device to be able to cover wall openings of almost any width, in an appropriate development of the invention, the connecting members 20 connect the adjacent panel sections securely together. By means of this measure on the one hand transport of the panels is simplified and on the other hand the resistance to breaking of the panels is increased, especially if these consist of glass. Within the scope of this 25 inventive idea it is particularly appropriate if the connecting members are designed in the form of bolts or groove-spring connections, so that the adjacent panel 3 sections can be disposed next to one another without spacing, or by the length of the bolts. Furthermore, in a particularly appropriate development of 5 the invention, the panel sections of the panels co operate with respective actuating means. Within the scope of this inventive idea it is appropriate if two respective adjacent panel sections of a panel co-operate with a common actuating means. In order that the 10 actuating means should affect the appearance as little as possible, in a particularly appropriate development of the invention, the actuating means are in the form of ropes, cords, chains, etc., these actuating means being capable of co-operating with winding devices located in 15 the area of the ceiling of the room. In order to be able to initiate the actual folding procedure of the device with a minimum application of force, in an appropriate development of the invention the 20 bolts are located roughly in the central region of the narrow sides of the panel sections. These measures can be taken in such a way that the bolts each co-operate with a respective actuating means and if 25 necessary have guide means for at least one further actuating means. The guide means can extend parallel to the actuating means which may be in operational 4 connection with other bolts. The purpose of the bolts is on the one hand securely to connect the adjacent panel sections together, and on the other hand to fulfil the role of an attachment means for the ropes. Therefore it 5 is appropriate if the bolts each have at least one rotary member, which is rotatable about the axis of the bolts, and in which the guide means are formed. The bolts can have, in the area of their axial end faces, screws which may be screwed to the narrow sides of the panel sections. 10 If a device is involved in which the panels are flexibly connectable together by means of hinges, then it is appropriate if the actuating means engage the panels in the area of their hinges, or in the area of the hinge 15 axes. In such an embodiment of the invention it is appropriate if the actuating means engage the panels in the region of their forward or rear sides, in such a way that the actuating devices co-operating with one side of the panels are in effective connection with stationary 20 winding devices, while the actuating devices co-operating with the other side of the panels are in effective connection with winding devices movable transversely to the panels. In the case of devices whose panels have a length of several metres, e.g. 20 to 40 metres, it is 25 appropriate if a plurality of winding devices are provided, located at a spacing apart, which are co- 5 ordinated with one another so that proper mobility of the panels is ensured. In order to achieve a situation, when the device is in 5 the closed position, in which all the panels lie on a common plane, in a further appropriate development of the invention means for vertical alignment of the panels are disposed in the hinge area. 10 Due to their simplicity, freedom from wear and reliability, ropes, chains or belts are regularly chosen as actuating means; however motors, springs or hydraulic cylinders may also be used, which in addition have the advantage that alignment of the panels in the extended 15 condition of the device can be effected simply. With regard to the utility of the invention it is appropriate if doors, particularly emergency doors, windows or the like are built into the panels. 20 If the device is to be used as sound protection, then it is appropriate if two devices located in parallel and spaced apart are provided as walls. 25 Two embodiments of the invention given by way of example are shown schematically in the drawing, and will be described in more detail in the following. Shown are: 6 Figure 1: a screening device in the effective condition, Figure 2: the screening device shown in Figure 1 in a 5 partly extended condition, Figure 3: the device shown in Figure in the retracted, inoperative conditions, 10 Figure 4: the portion identified by IV of Figure 1, shown on an enlarged scale, Figure 5: a further device in the extended condition, 15 Figure 6: the device shown in Figure 5 in a partly extended condition, Figure 7: the device shown in Figure 5 in the retracted, inoperative condition, 20 Figure 8: the portion in Figure 7 identified by VIII, shown on an enlarged scale, and Figure 9: a screening device in which the adjacent panel 25 in the horizontal direction encloses a different angle.
7 The Figures respectively show a screening or protective device 10, 11 for wall apertures with flexibly interconnectable panels 12 to 19 extending over the width of an aperture not shown in detail, said panels being 5 deformable in an accordion fashion, their forward and rear sides in the engaged operative position (Figure 3 and 7) of the device 10, 11 extending horizontally, while in the closed position of the device (Figures 1 and 5) the front and rear sides of panels 12-19 are disposed 10 vertically. The panels 12-19 co-operate with actuating means 30, 40, 50, in this case ropes, and are flexibly connected together via hinges 81. It will further be seen that the panels 12-19 extending in a horizontal direction consist of panel sections 12.1-19.1, which may 15 be connected together by connecting members 13.3-19.3 disposed in the area of their narrow sides 12.2-19.2. It will be seen that each of the panels co-operates with a separate actuating means 31, 32, 33 (Figure 4). The connecting members 13.3-19.3 connect the adjacent panel 20 sections 12.1-19.1 securely together. The connecting members in Figures 1 to 4 are formed as bolts, while in the embodiment in Figures 5 to 8 they are in the form of groove-spring connections. The adjoining panel sections 12.1-19.1 in Figures 1 to 3 are disposed at a spacing 25 apart (length of bolts 14.3-18.3); the uppermost panel 12 is only half the width of the following panels in Figure 1 or Figure 2. The panel sections in the second 8 embodiment in Figures 5 to 8 are disposed together without spacing. Figures 1 to 7 also show that two respective adjoining 5 panel sections 14.1-18.1 of panels 14-18 co-operate with a common actuating means 30, while the panel sections 13.1-19.1 of the panels 13-19 co-operate with actuating means 40 and 50. The actuating means 30, 40, 50 are in the form of ropes; they may also be designed as cords, 10 chains, etc. Figures 1 to 3 also show that the bolts 14.3-18.3 are disposed roughly in the central area of the narrow sides 14.2-18.2 of the panel sections 14.1-18.1, each bolt co 15 operating with the respective actuating means 31 and having guides 74 and 76 (Figure 4) for actuating means 32, 33. The guides 74 and 76 extend parallel to the actuating means 32, 33, which are operatively connectable to the other bolts 16.3 and 18.3. Figure 4 also shows 20 that the bolt 14.3 has a rotary member 82, which is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 86 of the bolt 14.3, and in which the guides 74 and 76 are formed. The bolts 14.3 havein the area of their axial end faces screws 84, which may be screwed to the narrow sides 14.2 25 of the panel sections 14.1.
9 The actuating means further comprise holders 60, 62, attachable in the area of the ceiling not shown in detail, said holders in the embodiment in Figures 1 to 3 comprising deflector rollers not shown in detail, which 5 simultaneously serve as a flexible suspension for the device, while the holders 60, 62 in the embodiment in Figures 5 to 8 have various functions. The holder indicated at position 62 serves exclusively as a hinge, while the holder 60 has only the deflector roller for the 10 actuating means. In the embodiment in Figures 1 to 3, the actuating means 30 are in effective connection with a winding device not shown in detail or with weights, which are in approximate 15 counter-balance with the panels, and which can be disposed in the ceiling area or outside the room. The important fact is that each bolt 14.3, 16.3 and 18.3 co operates with a separate rope, the lowermost bolt 18.3 requiring no guide and only being securely connected to 20 the rope 33, while the uppermost bolt 14.3, which is shown in more detail in Figure 4, has two guides 74 and 76 for the ropes 32 and 33 and is connected to the rope 31 by means of a screw. The guides 74 and 76 ensure that the accordion-like retraction and extension is effected 25 only in the vertical direction, and no undesirable pivoting of the device occurs. Further, Figures 1 to 4 show that the narrow sides of the panel sections 12.1- 10 18.1 carry open profiled parts with grooves 80, into which the actual narrow sides of the panel sections, particularly consisting of glass, are engaged. In this way this fragile portion of the panel section, which is 5 exposed to extreme loading, is relieved. The panels 12 18 according to Figures 1 to 4 are connected by means of hinges 81, which are disposed with respect to the individual panels in such a way that the desired accordion-like folding procedure can be initiated without 10 difficulty. In this case the hinges are alternately disposed on one side and the other of the device, so that the ropes, in the retracting and extending position of the device, are disposed on one side of the hinges, while in the vertical operative position of the device they are 15 disposed on the other side of the hinge axes, and impart rigidity to the device. In this case it is appropriate if the drive device co-operating with the ropes is resiliently mounted. Alternatively, the panels may be resiliently supported in the floor or support surface 20 area. Figures 5 to 7 show that one of the actuating devices 40 co-operates with the rear side of the device, while the other actuating device 50 is in engagement with the front 25 side of the device. In this case also, the respective actuating devices consist of rope lengths, each rope being capable of co-operating with a separate winding 11 device. Thus the ends of the ropes engage on the forward or rear sides of the device in the region of the hinges, as indicated by reference numbers 1 and 2. The actuating device 40 which consists of a plurality of respective 5 ropes, which are passed around the rollers disposed in the holder 60, and co-operate with the rear sides of the panels, is so designed that the ropes only execute vertical to and fro movements and engage the device in the axis area of the hinges 81. On the other hand the 10 actuating device 50 is so designed that it has a slide 64, extending transversely to the panels, with rollers 66 which are movable to and fro in the direction of the double arrows. In this case also the ropes 50.1 and 50.2 engage the panels in the area of the hinges, and the 15 mobility of the rollers 66 is so selected that the ropes 50 are likewise always aligned vertically, in order optimally to transmit the force. The panels shown in Figures 5 to 7 are connected together by means of groove spring connections 13.3-19.3 and hinges 82. 20 In order to ensure that the extended panels are disposed in a common vertical plane, alignment members 68 are provided which may for example be in the form of springs. 25 Finally, Figure 9 shows that the device can consist of a plurality of portions, here three walls, which are not in registry. The individual walls which, in the extended 12 position, respectively define a vertically aligned plane, respectively determine an angle, here a and S, which can be regularly smaller or greater than 180'. By means of this measure it is possible to define closed spaces. 5 10 15 20 25