EP0272733A1 - Shutter device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device having a shutter windable around a spindle and especially adapted to close a bay or other opening by the unwinding of the shutter, the same having flexible side edges which project beyond the shutter plane and which are retained with reduced friction in substantially continuous guideways during the unwinding and winding up of the shutter, that shutter edges may disengage from their guideways when subjected to a predetermined pull transversely to guideway. Each guideway has near and upstream of the shutter spindle an access passage through which the projecting edge of any shutter which has disengaged from the guideway can re-engage, as the shutter winds around its spindle, in that part of the particular guideway concerned which is disposed beyond the passage.

Description

The present invention relates to a shutter device which can be wound around an axis and intended in particular for closing a bay or another opening by the unwinding of the shutter.

One of the essential aims of the present invention is to present a device of the aforementioned type of an extremely simple design and construction and of perfect reliability.

To this end, the flap of the device according to the invention has flexible lateral edges projecting from the plane of the flap, maintained at slight friction in substantially continuous guide tracks during the unwinding and winding of the flap.

Advantageously, the projecting edges are formed by a succession of small substantially rigid and substantially identical blocks flexibly connected together, so as to allow the spiral winding of these edges around the aforementioned axis.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, means are provided, in particular at least at the height of the lower part of the opening, to allow the aforementioned lateral edges to disengage from their guide paths as soon as a certain tensile force, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the latter, in particular substantially in the plane of the flap, is exerted on these edges.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, each of the guide paths has at its upper part an access passage through which the corresponding projecting edge of the flap, which would have been released, can again engage in the portion of the guide path considered, located beyond this access passage, when the shutter is wound around its axis.

The invention also relates to a shutter device which can be wound on a drum around a tree and intended in particular for closing a bay or other opening by the unwinding thereof.

This device is characterized by the fact that it comprises a wheel wedged on one of the free ends of the rotation shaft of the drum projecting laterally with respect to the latter, this wheel having a diameter smaller than that of the drum, a counterweight cooperating with this wheel, so as to go up during the unwinding of the flap and to go down during the winding of the latter on the drum, damping means being provided to slow down the movement of the flap somewhat before the latter has reached its fully rolled up or fully unwound position.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique générale en élévation et de face, avec brisures partielles, de cette forme de réalisation particulière.
• La figure 2 est, à plus grande échelle, une vue latérale de cette forme de réalisation.
• La figure 3 est, à plus grande échelle, avec brisures partielles, une coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1.
• La figure 4 est, à plus grande échelle, une vue en élévation et de face, avec brisures partielles, d'un détail de la partie supérieure de la figure 1, avec une partie du bord du volet dégagé de son chemin de guidage.
• La figure 5 est une vue latérale avec brisures, partielles du même détail que celui montré à la figure 4, dans laquelle toutefois le volet a, pour la clarté, été omis.
• La figure 6 est une section, à plus grande échelle, suivant la ligne VI-VI de la figure 1.
• La figure 7 est une section, également à plus grande échelle, suivant la ligne VII-VII de la figure 4.
• La figure 8 est une section analogue à celle de la figure 6, dans laquelle, toutefois, le bord du volet est partiellement dégagé de son chemin de guidage.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of nonlimiting example, of a particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended drawings.

• Figure 1 is a general schematic elevation and front view, with partial broken, of this particular embodiment.
• Figure 2 is, on a larger scale, a side view of this embodiment.
• Figure 3 is, on a larger scale, with partial breaks, a section along line III-III of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is, on a larger scale, an elevational and front view, with partial broken, of a detail of the upper part of Figure 1, with part of the edge of the flap released from its guide path.
• Figure 5 is a side view with broken, partial the same detail as that shown in Figure 4, in which however the flap has, for clarity, been omitted.
• Figure 6 is a section, on a larger scale, along the line VI-VI of Figure 1.
• Figure 7 is a section, also on a larger scale, along line VII-VII of Figure 4.
• Figure 8 is a section similar to that of Figure 6, in which, however, the edge of the flap is partially disengaged from its guide path.

In the different figures, the same reference numbers refer to the same elements.

The device according to the invention and a particular embodiment of which is shown in the appended figures, comprises a flap 1 which can be wound around an axis 2 and intended for the closing of a bay 3 or any opening or passage by the progress of this component.

By the word "shutter", it is necessary to understand, within the framework of the present invention, any element which can be wound around an axis, such as a tarpaulin, assembly of articulated strips, etc.

It should, however, be noted that a pronounced preference is given to flexible shutters formed e.g. from a tarpaulin.

The description below has therefore been limited to such an embodiment of the invention.

D; in general, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the flap 1 is provided with flexible lateral edges having a projecting part 4 with respect to its plane, the latter being maintained with slight friction in guide tracks substantially continuous 5, so as to be able to move in these paths during the unwinding and winding of the shutter 1.

This projecting part 4 is advantageously formed by a succession of small rigid and identical blocks 6 connected in a flexible manner to each other, so as to allow the lateral edges of the shutter 1 to be wound in a spiral around the axis 2.

These blocks 6 can be made of a rigid plastic material molded on a strip of fabric 1ʹ fixed on the edge of the cover, of which the flap is made, at a certain distance from one another, so as to allow two consecutive blocks to be articulated with respect to each other and thus to roll up the lateral edges of the part 1 around axis 2.

Conveniently, preference is given to blocks 6, which are formed by what is called "the mesh" of a traditional zipper.

Thus, the projecting part 4 of the side edges of the flap 1 can be formed by one of the two chains of such a zipper. This was among other things clearly illustrated in FIG. 4.

Each of the guide tracks 5 has two longitudinal edges 7 and 8 which extend on either side of the lateral edges of the flap 1, more particularly of the projecting part 4 of the latter. These edges 7 and 8 are directed towards each other, so as to partially surround this protruding part 4 which is held in the guide path 5.

In the embodiment as shown in the figures, each guide path 5 comprises two separate sections 9 and 10, extending at a certain distance next to each other, while being held by their base 11 in a support 12.

A part 13 of these sections 9 and 10 protrudes from this support 12 and has the abovementioned longitudinal edges 7 and 8.

More particularly, the two sections 9 and 10 have a cross section having substantially the shape of a Z, one of the wings of which forms the rim 7 and 8 and the other wing of which forms the base 11. The support 12 is constituted by 'a U-shaped profile, the wings of which have flanges 14 and 15 directed towards each other, so as to have the appearance of a "C". The two Z-shaped sections 9 and 10 are held by three intermediate pieces 16, 17 and 18 clamped, on the one hand, between the support 1 and the sections 9 and 10 and, on the other hand, between the latter two. By changing the thicknesses of the parts 16 and 17, it is possible to adjust the height of the part 13 of the sections 7 and 8 protruding from the support 12.

For this, it may be important that the distance d between the base of the U-shaped profile 12 and the flanges 14 and 15 of the latter is greater than the thickness of the wings 11 of the profiles 9 and 10.

The two profiles 9 and 10 are advantageously made of a plastic material, preferably self-lubricating, while the support 12 is advantageously a metal profile.

Furthermore, the part 13 of the profiles 9 and 10 of the guide path 5 has a certain elasticity, so as to allow the blocks 6 provided at the lateral edges of the flap 1 to disengage from their guide liner 5 as soon as a certain force traction, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the latter, in particular substantially in the plane of the flap 1, is exerted on these edges. This has been clearly illustrated in FIG. 8, in which the direction of this tensile force has been shown by arrow 19.

Thus, a very important security is obtained which makes it possible to prevent the device from being damaged in the event of a very strong storm and especially when a vehicle knocks the flap in its closed or partially closed position.

The support 12, which therefore consists of a U-shaped section, is freely placed in a housing 37 in the form of a channel, substantially along the axis of the latter. This housing 37 is determined by another U-shaped profile 40, more rigid and wider than that of the support 12, which is fixed by screws, not shown, or by welding to a frame 32 mounted at the edges of the opening 3 (see FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8) and which has on either side of the support 12, between its side wall 41 and the wing of the latter situated opposite this wall a certain space 38.

A clamping element 36, formed in the present case by a cylindrical metal tube, extends along the support 12 and bears in an adjustable manner at least laterally against the latter, so as to be able to control the distance between the edges 14 and 15 and thus the necessary tensile force to be able to release the projecting edges 4 of the flap 1 of the two sections 9 and 10 of the path guide 5.

More particularly, the tube therefore constituting this clamping element 36, is engaged laterally and partly to a certain depth in the space 38 of the housing 37 and is fixed by screws 39, passing right through this tube, auf bottom 42 of the housing 37. The outside diameter of the tube 36 is somewhat greater than the distance separating a wing from the support 12 from the side wall 41 of the housing located opposite this wing, so that when the screws 39 are tightened a force is exerted on the support 12, a composnate of which is oriented towards the bottom 42 of the housing 37, another component being oriented in a direction parallel to this bottom towards said wing.

In this regard, the screws 39 are fixed in an adjustable manner in tapped holes 43 made in said bottom 42 of the housing 37.

Thus, thanks to the two tubes 36 provided on either side of the support 12, it is possible, on the one hand, to fix the support 12 in a removable and adjustable manner to the U-shaped profile 40 and, on the other hand, to adjust the distance between the free ends of the flanges 14 and 15 of the support 12 and thus the distance and possibly the pressure between the sections 9 and 10 and projecting edges 4 of the flap 1 by tightening the screws 39 at least.

As shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5, each of the guide tracks 5 has according to the invention at its upper part an access passage 20 through which the blocks 6, provided at the side edges of the flap 1, which would have been released from their guide path 5, can then again automatically engage in the portion 21 of the latter located directly above this passage 20 during the movement of the flap 1 upwards, as indicated by the arrow 22 in FIG. 4 , that is to say during the winding of the shutter around its axis 2.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the access passage 20 is obtained by cutting, over a distance of a few centimeters, the part 13 of the sections 9 and 10 which protrudes relative to the support 12. In certain cases, it might be sufficient of cut only the edges 7 and 8 of the sections 9 and 10 to allow the projecting edges 4 of the flap to reengage between these sections 9 and 10.

In addition, according to the invention, to guide the small blocks 6 somewhat along the axis of the guide path 5 at the entrance to this passage 20, a V-shaped cut 23 is made in the edges 7 and 8 of the profiles 9 and 10 delimiting the lower side of this passage 20.

In the portion 21 of the guide path, located above the passage 20, the part 13 of the sections 9 and 10 is supported on its outer faces by stiffeners 24 which prevent the small blocks 6 of the side edge of the flap 1 from being emerge from these profiles under the action of a tensile force in the direction of arrow 19. This has been illustrated in FIG. 7.

It is, in fact, as if such stiffeners 24 were not provided, the sections 9 and 10 could possibly open, somewhat as shown in Figure 8 at the place where the blocks 6 enter the portion 21 of the guide path when they are reintroduced therein.

In this regard, it is useful to note that, since this portion 21 is located in the upper part of the opening 3, the risks that such a force in the direction of the arrow 19 occurs at this location are fairly minimal.

The winding of the shutter 1 preferably takes place on a drum 25, having a relatively large diameter, and therefore relatively rigid, mounted for rotation about the axis 2 in the upper part of the opening 3. The upper free end of the two guide paths 5 extends almost as far as against the cylindrical wall of the drum, so as to ensure that the flap is wound as perfectly as possible on the latter.

A relatively narrow strip 26 of the shutter 1 is advantageously fixed by its upper edge, eg by gluing or riveting, to the cylindrical wall of the drum, along the generatrix thereof, while its lower edge is joined in a removable manner to the remaining part of the flap, eg by a zipper 27.

This can be very handy when when installing the device or when replacing the shutter.

The lateral edges of the shutter 1, presenting the blocks 6, protrude relative to the two ends of the drum 25 during the winding of the shutter on the latter. This has been shown in detail in Figure 3.

Thus, a free space 28 is provided on either side of the drum 25, in the extension of the latter.

The longitudinal axis of the guide tracks extends approximately in a vertical plane tangent to the cylindrical wall of the drum 25, on the side of the latter where the winding of the shutter 1 begins, so that the lateral edges of the flap 1, as they emerge from the upper end of their respective guide paths, during the winding of flap 1 on the drum 25, can wind freely around the axis 2 and fall back into the free space 28. This therefore makes it possible to compensate for the excess thickness at the lateral edges of the rolled up shutter.

The shutter thus remains perfectly stretched on the drum, without it being necessary to provide extra thicknesses on the face of the shutter to compensate for the difference in thickness of the blocks 6 compared to that of the shutter 1.

In fact, the axis of the guide tracks can be in a vertical plane which is tangent to the cylinder formed by half of the wound part of the flap on the drum.

If the shutter 1 is formed by a tarpaulin, the thickness of the latter being relatively reduced, the variations in the diameter of the shutter wound on the drum will also be very small, especially since the diameter of the drum itself may be relatively large.

Means for driving the shutter 1 are provided allowing at least the latter to be wrapped around the drum 25, while its lower edge is preferably weighed down uniformly over its entire length, so as to allow or thus facilitate the unfolding of the shutter, mainly under the effect of its weight.

In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, these drive means comprise a motor not shown in the figures, which is incorporated in the drum 25.

The latter is advantageously constituted by a hollow cylinder made of a hard plastic material, eg polyvinyl chloride, and thus has great rigidity while being relatively light. It is mounted in rotation on a shaft 29. The free ends of this shaft 29 protruding from the drum 25 are mounted in the aforementioned frame 32, formed by L-shaped profiles, which laterally delimit the bay 3 and on which are also fixed the U-shaped profiles 40 of the guide tracks 5, as already mentioned above.

The drive means of the shutter 1, more particularly of the drum 25, also comprise a counterweight 33 suspended by means of a chain 34 from a pinion 35 wedged on one of the free ends of the shaft 29 projecting laterally relative to the drum 25.

The chain 34 is open and is placed on the pinion 35, so as to determine two branches 34a and 34b hanging freely on either side of this pinion.

The counterweight 33 is suspended from the branch 34a of the chain, so as to be lifted during the unwinding of the shutter 1 and to descend when the latter is wound around the drum 25.

Damping means are provided for slowing down the movement of the shutter 1 somewhat before it has reached its fully wound or fully unwound position.

In this regard, in the embodiment shown in the figures, more particularly in FIG. 2, the damping means comprise, at each end of travel of the chain 34, near the pinion 35, two air dampers 53, 54 , 55 and 56 extending two by two on either side of the branches 34a and 34b of this chain 34. Each of these shock absorbers comprises a piston rod 57 moving in a cylinder and extending through the base of the latter, parallel to the branches of the chain.

Driving members 58 and 59 are provided at each of the branches 34a and 34b making it possible to act on the piston rods 57 during the displacement of these branches upwards and thus to cause the progressive braking of the movement of the flap 1.

In addition, the piston rods 57 actuated by these members 58 and 59 can act on switches 60 and 61 connected in the engine supply circuit and mounted along the tragjet of the branches 34a and 34b of the chain 34, respectively. so as to allow the power supply to the engine to be cut off when the shutter is braked by the aforementioned dampers.

In practical terms, it has been found that it is useful to cut the engine substantially at the start of braking of the shutter.

It goes without saying of course that one could make use of separate members which act on the switches.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the weighted edge is obtained by a steel bar placed in a housing 50 formed at the lower edge of the flap 1. This housing can, moreover, contain below this bar a flexible cousin 51 eg in foam, making it possible to create a seal between the shutter 1 and the ground 52 delimiting the lower side of the opening 3, when the shutter 1 is in its fully unrolled position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Finally, to also ensure a seal at the upper part of the opening 3, when the shutter is in its closed position, a bead 30 extends applied over substantially the entire width of the outer face of the shutter, slightly above from the level of the linteua 62 delimiting the upper side of the opening 3, when the shutter is completely unwound (see FIG. 2).

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above or shown in the accompanying drawings, but that many variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus, for example, the small blocks 6, forming the projecting part 4 of the side edges of the flap 1, could be replaced pe by a continuous flexible bead, this- ci can be constituted by a cord fixed all along the lateral edges of the shutter, and that the guide path 5 could be a U-shaped profile with edges folded towards each other in which slides, for example, directly the projecting part 4 of the lateral edges of the shutter 1.

The drive means of the drum 25 could be constituted by a motor and a transmission located outside the drum or by a spiral spring incorporated in the drum and acting on the shaft 29, so as to arm during the course of the flap and thus facilitate or cause the winding of the latter, or even only by a counterweight.

Furthermore, the shutter device could be used not only for closing window or door openings, but for example also as a retractable partition in a room or even to cover swimming pools, close silos or tanks.

Claims (18)

1. Shutter device (1) which can be wound around a winding axis (2) and intended in particular for closing a bay (3) or other opening by the unwinding of the shutter, characterized in that the flap has flexible lateral edges (4) projecting from the plane of the flap (1), in particular formed by a succession of small blocks (6) substantially rigid and substantially identical, connected in a flexible manner to each other, these edges being maintained at slight friction in substantially continuous guide tracks (5) during the unwinding and winding of the flap (1). 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that, means being provided, at least at the height of the lower part of the opening (3), to allow the aforementioned lateral projecting edges (4) to disengage from their paths of guide (5) as soon as a certain tensile force transverse to the logitudinal direction of the guide tracks (5) is exerted on these edges (4), each of these guide tracks (5) present near and upstream of the winding axis (2) of the shutter (1) an access passage (20) by which the corresponding projecting edge (4) of the shutter (10), which would have been released, can again engage in the portion (21) of the guide path considered (5) located beyond this access passage, during the winding of the flap (1) around the aforementioned winding axis (2). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that, the guide path (5) having two longitudinal edges (7,8) extending on either side of the flap (1) and directed one towards the ature, so as to at least partially surround the projecting edge (4) of the flap (1) held in the adjacent guide path (5), the aforementioned access passage (20) is made at least in these edges (7,8) over a certain length of this guide path (5). 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the access passage (20) gradually narrows substantially in the shape of a V, at its edge opposite to that located on the side of the winding axis, by an oblique cutout (23) in the flanges (7,8), so as to allow to guide and center the projecting edge (4) of the flap (1) substantially in the axis of the guide path (5) at the time of engage in the access passage (20). 5. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the portion of the guide path located beyond the aforementioned access passage (20), on the side of the winding axis (2) of the shutter (1), is arranged so as to substantially prevent the release of the corresponding lateral edge (4) of the shutter (1) under the action of a traction force substantially in the plane of the latter. 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each guide path (5) comprises two separate sections (9,10) extending at a certain distance one next to the other , while being held by their base (11) in a support (12), a part (13) of these profiles projecting from this support (12) and having the abovementioned longitudinal edges directed towards one another (7, 8) partially surrounding the projecting edge (4) of the flap (1) guided between these two sections (9,10). 7. Device according to revendcation 6, characterized in that the two aforementioned profiles (9,10) have a cross section having a substantially Z-shaped shape, one of the two wings of these profiles forming the aforementioned longitudinal edge (7,8 ), the other wing forming the aforementioned base (11), the support (12) consisting of a U-shaped profile, the wings of which have flanges (14,15) directed towards each other, both Z-profiles (9,10) being held in the U-profile (12) by at least one insert (16,17,18) clamped in the latter between these two Z-sections (9,10). 8. Device according to either of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the two profiles (7,8) mentioned above are made of a somewhat elastic material. 9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the height of the part (13) of the two aforementioned profiles (9,10) projecting from the support (12) is adjustable. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the distance (d) between the base of the U-shaped profile (12) and the flanges (14,15) of the latter is greater than the thickness of the base (11) of the two aforementioned separate sections (9,10), so as to allow the height of the above-mentioned part (13) of the two sections (9,10) projecting from the support (12) to be adjusted. 11. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that it comprises at least one clamping element (36) extending along the aforementioned support (12) and bearing in an adjustable manner at least laterally against the latter, so as to be able to control the tensile force which is required to release the projecting edges (4) of the two profiles (9,10) of the guide path (5). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that, the support (12) being constituted by a U-shaped profile, the wings of which have flanges (14,15) directed towards each other, this support is placed in a housing (37) in the form of a groove, substantially along the axis of the latter, the aforesaid clamping element (36) being engaged at least partially in a space (38) formed between each of the wings of this support (12) and the adjacent side wall of this housing (37) and being fixed at an adjustable distance from the bottom of this channel, so as to be able to exert at least one external lateral pressure force against the edge of these wings and adjust the pressure of the flanges (14,15) provided on the latter, against the two aforementioned sections (9,10). 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the clamping element (36) consists of a substantially cylindrical bar fixed by screws (39), passing right through this bar, at the bottom of the aforementioned housing ( 37). 14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a drum (25) rotatably mounted around the winding axis (2) of the flap (1), the latter being attached to the drum (25), so as to be able to wind on or unwind from this drum (25) during its rotation around said axis (2), the aforementioned projecting edges (4) of the flap (1) projecting laterally with respect to at the two ends of the drum (25) during the winding of the shutter, a free space (28) being provided on either side of the drum (25) in the extension of the latter, the longitudinal axis of the guide tracks (5) extending approximately in a plane tangent to the cylindrical wall of the drums (25), on the side of the latter where the winding of the flap (1) begins on the drum (25), so that the lateral edges (4) of the flap (1), as and when the latter emerge from the end of their respective guide path (5), during the winding of the flap (1 ), can be wound freely around the axis (2) of the drum (5) and fold towards this axis (2) in the aforementioned free space (28). 15. A shutter device which can be wound on a drum (25) rotating around a shaft (29) and intended in particular for closing a bay (3) or other opening by the unwinding of the shutter (1), more particularly device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a wheel (35) wedged on one of the free ends of the rotation shaft (29) of the drum (25) projecting laterally relative to the latter, this wheel (35) having a diameter smaller than that of the drum, a counterweight (33) cooperating with this wheel (35), so as to go up during the unwinding of the flap (1) and to go down during the winding of the flap (1) on the drum (25), means for damping (53,54,55 and 56) being provided to slow down the movement of the flap (1) somewhat before the latter has reached its fully wound or completely unwound position. 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that, the shaft (29) being driven by a motor during the winding of the shutter (1), a switch (6a, 61) being provided to cut the supply of the motor when braking the movement of the shutter (1) by the above-mentioned damping means and before the latter has reached its fully wound or unwound position. 17. Device according to either of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the damping means comprise air dampers (53,54,55,56). 18. Device according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the aforementioned wheel consists of a pinion (35) with which meshes a chain (34), the counterweight (33) being suspended from this chain (34 ), the latter being provided, at its branches (34a, 34b) extending on either side of the pinion (35), of organs (58, 59) making it possible to act on the aforementioned damping means whatever shortly before the flap (1) has reached its fully rolled up or fully unwound position.

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