EP0501082A1 - Obstacle detection device - Google Patents

Obstacle detection device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0501082A1
EP0501082A1 EP91440016A EP91440016A EP0501082A1 EP 0501082 A1 EP0501082 A1 EP 0501082A1 EP 91440016 A EP91440016 A EP 91440016A EP 91440016 A EP91440016 A EP 91440016A EP 0501082 A1 EP0501082 A1 EP 0501082A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
microswitch
pusher
cable
tension
obstacle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91440016A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Daniel Prat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP91440016A priority Critical patent/EP0501082A1/en
Publication of EP0501082A1 publication Critical patent/EP0501082A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H3/00—Mechanisms for operating contacts
    • H01H3/02—Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
    • H01H3/022—Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions
    • H01H3/0226—Emergency operating parts, e.g. for stop-switch in dangerous conditions operated by a pull cord

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for detecting contact between two movable bodies relative to one another, in particular between a movable object and a fixed obstacle.
  • a device finds its application, for example in the detection of the presence of an obstacle such as a vehicle or a person on the closing or opening path of an automatic door, for example a garage, in to prevent any accident, material or physical, by automatically interrupting said opening or closing upon such detection.
  • automatic door systems such as garage overhead doors, operate by automatic movement when the vehicle is detected, for example by cutting off a light beam striking a photoelectric cell.
  • This type of system does not include security, its setting in motion continuing as soon as it is triggered, even accidentally, that is to say for example by unexpected passage of an animal. This results in an accident risk if, at the same time, an obstacle is found on the closing path, for example a stationary vehicle or a child.
  • the invention relates to a very simple system ensuring complete security by immediately stopping the movement of the door as soon as any obstacle is detected.
  • This system essentially consists of a microswitch interposed in the circuit for controlling the tilting of the door, and a sliding pusher under the action of an obstacle sensor, so as to trigger said microswitch by cutting said circuit as soon as detection of said obstacle.
  • said probe is a cable stretched over the path of possible obstacles, and brought together under constant tension to said pusher, so that both the breakage of this cable and a tension exerted on it, determine the displacement of said pusher and the triggering of said microswitch, by interrupting the movement of the door.
  • An interesting aspect of the device according to the invention lies in the constitution of the pusher controlling the microswitch.
  • said pusher is in the form of a volume sliding in a housing while remaining subjected, on the one hand to the action of a return spring, on the other hand to the action of the aforementioned cable, this volume comprising a recess with opposite walls bevelled in the sliding direction of the pusher, and located, in a position of equilibrium, plumb with the control finger of the microswitch, so that, if the cable undergoes an overvoltage, it will move this volume in one direction, in opposition to the spring, and if the cable undergoes a rupture, it is the spring which will move the volume in the other direction, and in each case the finger of the microswitch
  • the location and the mounting method of the device are arbitrary and depend only on the nature of the obstacle to be detected and on the mobile object whose movement must be controlled.
  • a pusher 1 slidably mounted in a housing 2 and subjected to the action of a compression spring 3 bearing on a fixed stop 4, on the one hand and on the other hand to the action of a cable 5 stretched between two points 6 and 6 'so as to detect any obstacle liable to be encountered between these two points.
  • a bowl 7 In the upper part of the pusher 1 is a bowl 7, the depth of which corresponds to the length of the control finger 8 of a microswitch 9 inserted in the control circuit 10 of the movement of a mobile object, for example a door automatic such as that of a garage.
  • the pusher 1 In the state of equilibrium, shown in the figure, between the normal tension exerted on the feeler cable 5 and the force of the spring 3, the pusher 1 is in the position where the bowl 7 is located plumb with the finger 7 , so that, the microswitch 9 not being engaged, the circuit 10 operates normally, and controlling at the times chosen by the users the movements of the mobile object, for example the opening and closing of an automatic door.
  • this obstacle will, initially, exert pressure on the 6-6 'portion of the cable, which will result by an overvoltage on said cable which, being greater than the force of the spring 3, will move the pusher 1 to the left.
  • the bowl 7 therefore also moving to the left, its inclined right wall will cause the finger 8 of the microswitch 9 to sink, which will cut the circuit 10, by interrupting the movement of the door. If, for example the obstacle was a child appearing in front of said door, who would have injured it by opening or closing, the danger is immediately averted.
  • the system can be installed inside a rubber section, replacing the pneumatic section.
  • the major advantage of the system according to the invention is that it does not include any costly or fragile element, such as an electrical circuit, cell, etc. It requires only a simple, foolproof, practically wear-free adjustment since it does not include any part operating continuously.

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Abstract

Device for detecting obstacles, in particular the presence of fixed obstacles in the path of a system in motion such as an automatic door, with a view to the immediate interruption of this motion, characterised in that it consists of a microswitch (9) interposed in the control circuit of the said system, and a feeler (5) joined to a member (1) triggering this microswitch at the instant at which the said feeler contacts the said obstacle. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne un dispositif pour la détection du contact entre deux corps mobiles l'un par rapport à l'autre, notamment entre un objet mobile et un obstacle fixe. Un tel dispositif trouve son application, par exemple dans la détection de la présence d'un obstacle tel qu'un véhicule ou une personne sur le trajet de fermeture ou d'ouverture d'une porte automatique, par exemple d'un garage, en vue de prévenir tout accident, matériel ou physique, en interrompant automatiquement ladite ouverture ou fermeture dès une telle détection.The present invention relates to a device for detecting contact between two movable bodies relative to one another, in particular between a movable object and a fixed obstacle. Such a device finds its application, for example in the detection of the presence of an obstacle such as a vehicle or a person on the closing or opening path of an automatic door, for example a garage, in to prevent any accident, material or physical, by automatically interrupting said opening or closing upon such detection.

A ce jour, les systèmes de portes dites automatiques, telles que les portes basculantes de garages, fonctionnent par mise en mouvement automatique au moment de la détection du véhicule, par exemple par coupure d'un rayon lumineux frappant une cellule photo-électrique.To date, so-called automatic door systems, such as garage overhead doors, operate by automatic movement when the vehicle is detected, for example by cutting off a light beam striking a photoelectric cell.

Ce type de système ne comporte pas de sécurité, sa mise en mouvement se poursuivant dès son déclenchement, même accidentel, c'est à dire par exemple par passage inopiné d'un animal. Il en résulte un risque d'accident si, dans le même temps, un obstacle se trouve sur le trajet de fermeture, par exemple un véhicule à l'arrêt ou un enfant.This type of system does not include security, its setting in motion continuing as soon as it is triggered, even accidentally, that is to say for example by unexpected passage of an animal. This results in an accident risk if, at the same time, an obstacle is found on the closing path, for example a stationary vehicle or a child.

L'invention vise un système très simple assurant une sécurité complète par arrêt immédiat du mouvement de la porte dès détection d'un obstacle quelconque.The invention relates to a very simple system ensuring complete security by immediately stopping the movement of the door as soon as any obstacle is detected.

Ce système consiste essentiellement en un micro-interrupteur interposé dans le circuit de commande du basculement de la porte, et un poussoir coulissant sous l'action d'un palpeur d'obstacles, de manière à déclencher ledit micro-interrupteur en coupant ledit circuit dès détection dudit obstacle.This system essentially consists of a microswitch interposed in the circuit for controlling the tilting of the door, and a sliding pusher under the action of an obstacle sensor, so as to trigger said microswitch by cutting said circuit as soon as detection of said obstacle.

Dans la pratique, ledit palpeur est un câble tendu sur le trajet des obstacles éventuels, et réuni sous tension constante audit poussoir, de manière telle que, aussi bien la rupture de ce câble qu'une tension exercée sur lui, déterminent le déplacement dudit poussoir et le déclenchement dudit micro-interrupteur, en interrompant le mouvement de la porte.In practice, said probe is a cable stretched over the path of possible obstacles, and brought together under constant tension to said pusher, so that both the breakage of this cable and a tension exerted on it, determine the displacement of said pusher and the triggering of said microswitch, by interrupting the movement of the door.

Un aspect intéressant du dispositif selon l'invention réside dans la constitution du poussoir commandant le micro-interrupteur. Dans le but de commander son déclenchement aussi bien sous l'effet d'une simple surtension exercée sur le câble, qui déplace le poussoir dans une première direction, que de la rupture du câble par un obstacle plus important, ce qui déplace le poussoir dans une seconde direction, opposée à la première, ledit poussoir se présente sous forme d'un volume coulissant dans un boîtier en demeurant soumis, d'une part à l'action d'un ressort de rappel, d'autre part à l'action du câble précité, ce volume comportant un évidement à parois opposées biseautées ans la direction de coulissement du poussoir, et située, en position d'équilibre, à l'aplomb du doigt de commande du micro-interrupteur, de telle manière que, si le câble subit une surtension, il va déplacer ce volume dans un sens, en opposition au ressort, et si le câble subit une rupture, c'est le ressort qui va déplacer le volume dans l'autre sens, et dans chaque cas le doigt du micro-interrupteur sera repoussé le long de l'une ou l'autre des parois biseautées de l'évidement et par suite déclenchera le micro-interrupteur qui coupera alors le circuit de commande du mouvement de la porte.An interesting aspect of the device according to the invention lies in the constitution of the pusher controlling the microswitch. In order to control its triggering as well under the effect of a simple overvoltage exerted on the cable, which moves the pusher in a first direction, as the rupture of the cable by a more important obstacle, which moves the pusher in a second direction, opposite to the first, said pusher is in the form of a volume sliding in a housing while remaining subjected, on the one hand to the action of a return spring, on the other hand to the action of the aforementioned cable, this volume comprising a recess with opposite walls bevelled in the sliding direction of the pusher, and located, in a position of equilibrium, plumb with the control finger of the microswitch, so that, if the cable undergoes an overvoltage, it will move this volume in one direction, in opposition to the spring, and if the cable undergoes a rupture, it is the spring which will move the volume in the other direction, and in each case the finger of the microswitch will be pushed back along one or the other of the bevelled walls of the recess and consequently will trigger the microswitch which will then cut the circuit controlling the movement of the door.

Bien entendu, l'emplacement et le mode de montage du dispositif sont quelconques et dépendent seulement de la nature de l'obstacle à détecter et de l'objet mobile dont le déplacement doit être contrôlé.Of course, the location and the mounting method of the device are arbitrary and depend only on the nature of the obstacle to be detected and on the mobile object whose movement must be controlled.

A titre d'exemple de réalisation, on a représenté en coupe, au dessin annexé, un poussoir 1 monté coulissant dans un boîtier 2 et soumis à l'action d'un ressort de compression 3 prenant appui sur une butée fixe 4, d'une part et d'autre part à l'action d'un câble 5 tendu entre deux points 6 et 6' de manière à détecter tout obstacle susceptible d'être rencontré entre ces deux points. Dans la partie supérieure du poussoir 1 est pratiquée une cuvette 7 dont la profondeur correspond à la longueur du doigt de commande 8 d'un micro-interrupteur 9 inséré dans le circuit de commande 10 du mouvement d'un objet mobile, par exemple une porte automatique telle que celle d'un garage.As an exemplary embodiment, there is shown in section, in the accompanying drawing, a pusher 1 slidably mounted in a housing 2 and subjected to the action of a compression spring 3 bearing on a fixed stop 4, on the one hand and on the other hand to the action of a cable 5 stretched between two points 6 and 6 'so as to detect any obstacle liable to be encountered between these two points. In the upper part of the pusher 1 is a bowl 7, the depth of which corresponds to the length of the control finger 8 of a microswitch 9 inserted in the control circuit 10 of the movement of a mobile object, for example a door automatic such as that of a garage.

Dans l'état d'équilibre, représenté sur la figure, entre la tension normale exercée sur le câble palpeur 5 et la force du ressort 3, le poussoir 1 est dans la position où la cuvette 7 est située à l'aplomb du doigt 7, de sorte que, le microswitch 9 n'étant pas enclenché, le circuit 10 fonctionne normalement, et commandant aux moments choisis par les utilisateurs les mouvements de l'objet mobile, par exemple l'ouverture et la fermeture d'une porte automatique.In the state of equilibrium, shown in the figure, between the normal tension exerted on the feeler cable 5 and the force of the spring 3, the pusher 1 is in the position where the bowl 7 is located plumb with the finger 7 , so that, the microswitch 9 not being engaged, the circuit 10 operates normally, and controlling at the times chosen by the users the movements of the mobile object, for example the opening and closing of an automatic door.

Si un obstacle se présente à l'emplacement de cet objet, où l'on a disposé le câble palpeur 5, cet obstacle va, dans un premier temps, exercer une pression sur la portion 6-6' du câble, qui va se traduire par une surtension sur ledit câble qui, étant supérieure à la force du ressort 3, va déplacer le poussoir 1 vers la gauche. La cuvette 7 se déplaçant donc également vers la gauche, sa paroi droite inclinée va provoquer l'enfoncement du doigt 8 du micro-interrupteur 9, lequel va couper le circuit 10, en interrompant le mouvement de la porte. Si, par exemple l'obstacle était un enfant se présentant devant ladite porte, qui l'aurait blessé en s'ouvrant ou se fermant, le danger est immédiatement écarté.If an obstacle arises at the location of this object, where the feeler cable 5 has been placed, this obstacle will, initially, exert pressure on the 6-6 'portion of the cable, which will result by an overvoltage on said cable which, being greater than the force of the spring 3, will move the pusher 1 to the left. The bowl 7 therefore also moving to the left, its inclined right wall will cause the finger 8 of the microswitch 9 to sink, which will cut the circuit 10, by interrupting the movement of the door. If, for example the obstacle was a child appearing in front of said door, who would have injured it by opening or closing, the danger is immediately averted.

S'il s'agit d'un obstacle plus important, par exemple un véhicule, qui va non seulement rencontrer la portion 6-6', mais rompre la câble 5, alors c'est le ressort 3 qui va repousser le poussoir 1 vers la droite, puisque le câble 5 ne le retiendra plus. Ce déplacement va donc amener la cuvette 7 à droite du doigt 8, ce qui déclenchera le micro-interrupteur 9 et coupera le circuit 10, de sorte que, le mouvement de la porte se trouvant interrompu immédiatement, le véhicule ne sera pas endommagé.If it is a larger obstacle, for example a vehicle, which will not only meet the portion 6-6 ', but break the cable 5, then it is the spring 3 which will push the pusher 1 towards the right, since cable 5 will no longer hold it. This movement will therefore bring the bowl 7 to the right of the finger 8, which will trigger the microswitch 9 and cut the circuit 10, so that, the movement of the door being interrupted immediately, the vehicle will not be damaged.

Bien entendu, le dispositif ci-dessus n'est décrit qu'à titre d'exemple non limitatif, et pourra comporter de nombreux aménagements, en fonction de son application. En particulier, si le boîtier 2 est complètement fermé, des orifices de passage d'air 11 et 11' pourront utilement être prévus.Of course, the above device is only described by way of nonlimiting example, and may include numerous arrangements, depending on its application. In particular, if the housing 2 is completely closed, air passage orifices 11 and 11 ′ may usefully be provided.

Dans de nombreux cas, le système pourra être installé à l'intérieur d'une tranche en caoutchouc, remplaçant la tranche pneumatique.In many cases, the system can be installed inside a rubber section, replacing the pneumatic section.

L'intérêt majeur du système selon l'invention est de ne comporter aucun élément coûteux ou fragile, tel que circuit électrique, cellule etc... Il n'exige qu'un réglage simple, indéréglable, pratiquement inusable puisque ne comportant pas de pièce fonctionnant en permanence.The major advantage of the system according to the invention is that it does not include any costly or fragile element, such as an electrical circuit, cell, etc. It requires only a simple, foolproof, practically wear-free adjustment since it does not include any part operating continuously.

Claims (3)

Dispositif pour la détection d'obstacles, notamment de la présence d'obstacles fixes sur le trajet d'un système en mouvement tel qu'une porte automatique, en vue de l'interruption immédiate de ce mouvement, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste en un micro-interrupteur (9) interposé dans le circuit de commande dudit système, et un palpeur (5) réuni à un organe (1) déclenchant ce micro-interrupteur au moment où ledit palpeur arrive au contact dudit obstacle.Device for detecting obstacles, in particular the presence of fixed obstacles in the path of a moving system such as an automatic door, with a view to immediately interrupting this movement, characterized in that it consists in a microswitch (9) interposed in the control circuit of said system, and a sensor (5) joined to a member (1) triggering this microswitch when said sensor comes into contact with said obstacle. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit organe est un poussoir (1) monté coulissant et soumis d'une part à un câble palpeur (5) placé sous tension constante sur le trajet du système en mouvement et d'autre part un ressort de traction (ou de compression) (3) de manière telle qu'à l'équilibre entre la tension du câble et la tension (ou la compression) du ressort, ledit poussoir n'agit pas sur le micro-interrupteur, mais qu'en cas de déséquilibre, par surtension ou rupture du câble palpeur, ledit poussoir déclenche le micro-interrupteur (9), qui coupe le circuit de commande du système en mouvement.Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said member is a pusher (1) mounted to slide and subjected on the one hand to a feeler cable (5) placed under constant tension on the path of the moving system and on the other hand to a tension (or compression) spring (3) so that at equilibrium between the cable tension and the tension (or compression) of the spring, said push-button does not act on the microswitch, but qu '' in the event of imbalance, by overvoltage or rupture of the sensor cable, said pusher triggers the microswitch (9), which cuts the control circuit of the system in motion. Dispositif selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que ledit poussoir a la forme d'un volume monté coulissant dans un boîtier (2) et comportant un évidement (7) à parois opposées biseautées dans la direction de coulissement dudit Poussoir, et situé à l'aplomb du doigt de commande (8) dudit micro-interrupteur monté dans la paroi dudit boîtier, de telle manière qu'en cas de déséquilibre, ledit doigt (8) est repoussé par l'une ou l'autre desdites parois, en déclenchant ledit micro-interrupteur (9).Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said pusher has the form of a volume mounted to slide in a housing (2) and comprising a recess (7) with opposite walls bevelled in the sliding direction of said pusher, and located perpendicular to the control finger (8) of said microswitch mounted in the wall of said housing, so that in the event of imbalance, said finger (8) is pushed back by one or the other of said walls, by triggering said microswitch (9).
EP91440016A 1991-03-01 1991-03-01 Obstacle detection device Withdrawn EP0501082A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP91440016A EP0501082A1 (en) 1991-03-01 1991-03-01 Obstacle detection device

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EP91440016A EP0501082A1 (en) 1991-03-01 1991-03-01 Obstacle detection device

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EP0501082A1 true EP0501082A1 (en) 1992-09-02

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2779767A (en) * 1967-09-27 1969-04-03 Francis Ryan James Pendant alarm switch
GB2216723A (en) * 1988-03-25 1989-10-11 Telemecanique Electrique Cable actuated stop devices
GB2216721A (en) * 1988-03-25 1989-10-11 Telemecanique Electrique Cable controlled switch devices

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2779767A (en) * 1967-09-27 1969-04-03 Francis Ryan James Pendant alarm switch
GB2216723A (en) * 1988-03-25 1989-10-11 Telemecanique Electrique Cable actuated stop devices
GB2216721A (en) * 1988-03-25 1989-10-11 Telemecanique Electrique Cable controlled switch devices

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