EP0665360A1

EP0665360A1 - Movable closure for openings in buildings and like enclosures

Info

Publication number: EP0665360A1
Application number: EP94870016A
Authority: EP
Inventors: P.K. Adshead; S.G. Melhuish
Original assignee: GALEBREAKER PRODUCTS DIVISION OF FARMPLAN GROUP LIMITED; GALEBREAKER PRODUCTS DIVISION
Current assignee: GALEBREAKER PRODUCTS DIVISION; GALEBREAKER PRODUCTS DIVISION OF FARMPLAN GROUP Ltd
Priority date: 1994-02-01
Filing date: 1994-02-01
Publication date: 1995-08-02

Abstract

Device intended as a movable closure for openings in buildings and like enclosures in general, wherein at least one screen (5) of supple material is affixable at one end, preferably the upper end to a fixed structure (12) of a building or the like and is affixable at the other end, preferably the lower end, on a rolling tube (2) driven by a drive unit (1) arranged within one lateral end of the rolling tube (2), said rolling tube (2) being further guided by at least two tensioned cables (9, 9'), which are disposed laterally in respect of the screen (5) and each cable (9, 9') passing around the rolling tube (2) on a guide pulley (11, 11') fixed on said rolling tube (2).

Description

Subject of the invention

The invention concerns an electrically motorized screen (or series of screens) of supple material that can be raised or lowered which includes a permanent blocking mechanism, and avoids wear (by contact) on the material used, it is intended as a movable closure for openings in buildings and like enclosures, in general.

Background of the invention

For the last fifty years research has been carried out by different agricultural organisations. (ADAS in the U.K., CEMAGREF in France, GENIE RURAL in Belgium, WAGENINGEN in Holland, etc.) into the design of different livestock buildings (beef and dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, etc.). This research has clearly shown that all livestock need a certain amount of fresh air (called air renewal) in a building in order to maintain the livestock in a healthy condition.
A livestock building based upon the principles of natural ventilation (i.e. incoming fresh air, and outgoing stale air) will greatly decrease the incidents of respiratory diseases, environmental mastitis in case of dairy cattle, influenza, and also reduce condensation within the building.
Whilst it is important to ensure there is sufficient incoming fresh air, it is vital to avoid draughts. Draughts in a livestock building can cause influenza, coughing, and mastitis in dairy cattle, thereby increasing veterinary costs, and in the case of mastitis a reduction in income.
In the early part of the century (notably in Austria in the 1920's) different types of windbreak material were used in order to allow sufficient incoming fresh air whilst avoiding draughts.
Since the mid of 1970's, different materials have been used as windbreaks. The basic properties of all the material used has been to reduce windspeed to acceptable levels, at the same time ensuring an adequate flow of air. The materials in current use fall into three basic categories:

a. Wood
b. Perforated metal wall cladding
c. Plastic netting (scrim)
which can be:

Extruded P.V.C.
Knitted polyester
Weaved polyester
Weaved polyester with P.V.C. coating.

Research carried out in France by the CEMAGREFF and INSTITUT D'ELEVAGE (référence filets brise-vents en élevage - choix et mise en place - lère édition ISBN 2-85362-146-4) and the document "Méthode pour le diagnostic de l'ambiance dans les bâtiments d'élevage bovin" - n° 87101 réalisé par l'ITEB et l'EDE de l'année 1987, also by ADAS farm buildings development centre Reading United Kingdom (Test report 86/16/01/06/013/4) have shown that material currently used as windbreaks possess two different physical properties:

a. Capacity to reduce air speed - known as efficiency
b. the amount of air that flows through the material.

The ITEB/EDE document ISBN 2-85362-146-4 has shown it is possible to determine the amount of air renewal (i.e. incoming air and outgoing air) needed in a livestock building based upon the following criteria:

Type of animal (see ISBN 2-85362-146-4)
Static volume of the building
Area devoted to living space for the livestock
Type of building.

Based upon the criteria stated above and taking into account the different physical properties of current windbreak material, it is possible to determine the amount of windbreak material used.
EG:
A = type of animals - fresh air requirements for particular animals (see ISBN 2-85362146-4)
B = Number of animals
(C)= efficiency of material (choice made in accordance with type of animals, and situation to wind exposure of the building concerned.
D = air flow capacity of material to be used as windbreak:
$A x B x (C) x D = square metres of windbreak mate rial needed to ensure adequate air renewal, and protection from draughts$
.
It has been clearly demonstrated in order to obtain optimal conditions in a building naturally ventilated (ISBN 2-85362-146--4) windbreak material should cover open areas equally disposed on both sides of the building. In practice this was not always possible. In some cases the only open space available for incoming air is a door, or passage.
Manually operated doors, with a gearbox, based on a top rolling system using weaved polyester with a P.V.C. coating screen have been in production for over ten years. Similarly spring loaded blinds using the same material have been produced for the last 13 years. Both the door, and spring loaded screens have been used to overcome practical problems of access to a building whilst maintaining good protection for livestock, grain or machinery from draughts and bad weather.
In case of doors (known as rollerdoors) there is now a demand for electrically driven models. The systems on the market use a top rolling system with side guiderails. This existing system represents three major inconveniences:

a. the need for manual/electric blocking mechanism to prevent billowing by the wind when the door is fully closed.
b. the need for manual/electric system to block the door even when partially opened to prevent billowing by the wind.

The absence of both these mechanisms in existing systems can result in damage to the rollerdoor in high winds.

c. the difficulty of fitting guiderails to certain types of building.

In case of multiple screens mounted in series there is also a demand for electrically driven systems (using switches, radio control, windspeed control or temperature control). The systems on the market use bottom rolling systems with parallel guidebars.
This system represents two major inconveniences:

a. the need for a manually/electrically operated blocking mechanism to prevent billowing in the wind (the system on the market does not have a blocking mechanism), when the screens are closed, or partially opened,
b. the need to avoid chafing of the screen material on the guidebars. This results in wear on the material causing damage to the screens/doors.

Aims of the invention

The main aim of the present invention is to avoid the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art.
More specifically the aim of the invention is to provide a motorised screen or series of screens of supple material such that when the screen or series of screens are fully or partially closed no significant billowing from the wind will occur.
Furthermore, according to the invention, wearing on the material which is used should be avoided.

Brief description of the drawings

Figs. 1, 2 & 3 represent three views of an embodiment according to the prior art of a screen illustrating the risk of wear and the billowing and riding up of the bottom of the roller.
Figs. 4, 5 & 6 are an illustration of a device in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention in a front view, Figs. 5 & 6 being detailed views on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 7 represents a device according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figs. 1, 2 & 3 represent a screen 105 in accordance with the state of the art using a bottom rolling system 102 with parallel guidebars 109. Fig. 3 illustrates how the wind force represented by the arrows 110 causes the bottom roller to ride up the guidebars and thus causing billowing of the screen 105 by the wind.
The solution proposed by the invention to avoid such billowing is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 & 6.
The invention provides a device intended as a movable closure for openings in buildings and like enclosures in general, wherein at least one screen (5) of supple material is affixable at one end, preferably the upper end to a fixed structure (12) of a building or the like and is affixable at the other end, preferably the lower end, on a rolling tube (2) driven by a drive unit (1) arranged within one lateral end of the rolling tube (2), said rolling tube (2) being further guided by at least two tensioned cables (9, 9'), which are disposed laterally in respect of the screen (5) and each cable (9, 9') passing around the rolling tube (2) on a guide pulley (11, 11') fixed on said rolling tube (2).
According to one preferred embodiment, the drive unit (1) can be a tubular electric motor. In this case, the tubular electric motor (1) when it is operated, causes the rolling tube (2) to rotate, resulting in the winding and unwinding of the screen (5). Simultaneously, the motor (1) rotates the guide pulleys (11 & 11') which will cause the rolling tube (2) to be raised or lowered due to the fixation grip of the tensioned cables (9,9') around their respective pulley (11,11').
According to this preferred embodiment, the motor (1) which is the drive unit arranged at one lateral end of the rolling tube (2) and possibly the corresponding free unit (not represented) arranged at the other lateral end of the rolling tube (2) travel on a preferred system of tensioned cables (6).
Preferably, all the tensioned cables (6, 9, 9') are steel cable and may be mounted by means of an arrangement of brackets and adjustable eyes/screws (7).
On the drive unit and possibly on the free end unit, the corresponding tensioned cable (6) pass through friction free guides (8).
The motor (1) may be operated with a manual on/off switch or with an optional radio receiver control unit (3) or according to any other control such as wind, sunlight, temperature, etc.
According to another preferred embodiment, the drive unit can be supplied as a (non electric) manually operated gearbox linked to a cranked operator handle. This system is operated via drive unit rotating the lower (preferably aluminium) tube and gathering the screen material (5).
As the screen (5) is raised, gathering in the material, the rolling radius of the lower tube (2) increases disproportionately to the static rolling radius of the cables (9 and 9') on pulleys (11 and 11'). Therefore, compression springs (10, 10') to each end of the cable (9 or 9') are preferably provided to compensate for the rolling radius difference, whilst maintaining tension on the screen material.
Fig. 7 represents another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein, a tensioning spring (20) which compensates for the rolling radii-part of the cable guidance (9) system is incorporated into the actual screen (5) via the tensioning of a top tube (12).
This would have a number of benefits:

a. to prevent the motor (1) turning with the screen (5); then this could be incorporated into the cable guidance system (9,9') negating the need for tensioning cables (6) at each end.
b. in this preferred embodiment of the invention, the now stable but free rolling lower tube (2) can be raised with a cable and manual winch (21),
c. this would allow the entire device to either be lowered from the top to the bottom, or the entire mechanism can now be inverted on to a building i.e. working from bottom to top.

Preferred screen material is P.V.C. coated polyester as a permeable or non-permeable material.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, connection of screen material to the lower tube is a formed pocket contained within a fluted aluminium tube (2) and held in place with a P.V.C. insert.
Preferred connection of the screen material at the top edge to the building is obtained by means of a two part aluminium/plastic gripper (12) in full screen lengths.
As is shown in fig. 4, the device may be used for more than one screen. Further to screen (5) a second screen (5' - only partially shown) or a series of more than two screens may be provided. Preferably, the intermediate guide pulley (11') provides not only fixation grip but also is used as a connection of individual tubes (2, 2', etc.).

Claims

Device intended as a movable closure for openings in buildings and like enclosures in general, wherein at least one screen (5) of supple material is affixable at one end, preferably the upper end to a fixed structure (12) of a building or the like and is affixable at the other end, preferably the lower end, on a rolling tube (2) driven by a drive unit (1) arranged within one lateral end of the rolling tube (2), said rolling tube (2) being further guided by at least two tensioned cables (9, 9'), which are disposed laterally in respect of the screen (5) and each cable (9, 9') passing around the rolling tube (2) on a guide pulley (11, 11') fixed on said rolling tube (2).
Device according to claim 1 wherein the drive unit is a tubular electric motor (1).
Device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the drive unit (1) arranged at one end of the rolling tube (2) and possibly the free unit associated therewith arranged at the other end of the rolling tube (2) travel on a system of tensioned cable (6).
Device according to anyone of the claims 1 to 3 wherein the tensioned cables (6, 9 and 9') are steel cables and are mounted by means of an arrangement brackets and adjustable eyes/screws (7).
Device according to any one of the claims 2 to 4 wherein the motor (1) is operated with a manual on/off switch or with an optional radio receiver control unit (3) or according to any other control such as wind, sunlight, temperature, etc.
Device according to any one of the claims 3 to 5 wherein the tensioned cables (6) pass through friction free guides (8) on the drive unit and possibly the free end unit.
Device according to claim 1 wherein the drive unit is supplied as a manually operated gearbox linked to cranked operator handle.
Device according to any one the claims 1 to 10 wherein springs (10) are provided to each end of the cable (9, 9') to compensate for the rolling radius difference, whilst maintaining tension on the screen material (5).
Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 8 wherein tensioning springs (20) are incorporated into the actual screen (5), preferably via the tensioning of a top tube (12).
Device according to claim 9 wherein the rolling lower tube (2) can be raised with a cable and manual winch (21).
Device according to any one of the claims 1 to 10 wherein a series of screens (5, 5') is provided and wherein the intermediate guide pulley (11') is used as a connection of the individual rolling tubes (2, 2').
Use of the device according to any one of the claims 1 to 11 for livestock buildings.