EP0898037B1 - Motorized drive arrangement with remote control for a garage door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a motorized drive device with remote control for door, shutter or the like suitable for ensure opening and closing as well as locking and unlocking the opening of said door or the like.

The present invention will find its application when it is ensure the locking of an opening, the latter presenting in particular in the form of a door, a portal, a shutter or the like. However, the technical area in which such a locking device will find, more particularly, its usefulness relates to garage doors which are opened and closed by a motorized drive device.

If, for many years, considerable efforts have been deployed to develop locking fittings intended to equip entry doors, windows and others similar openings, to prevent a burglar from penetrate the interior of a dwelling through this, it is note that secondary openings, such as garage or the like are not the subject of such a Warning.

However, if such garage doors do not allow always access the interior of the dwelling, such garages often contain valuables such as motor vehicles, motorcycles or motorcycles, bicycles, in particular electric tools, or more drinks.

In fact, such garage doors arise, in the most cases in the form of a juxtaposition of blades especially made of plastic, arranged inside a metal frame resulting from the assembly of profiles in light material. Such a design then makes it possible to make use of low return force springs or reduced counterweight allowing handling easy opening. This also allows, when used a motorized type drive device of this opening, to use an engine with more modest performance and, therefore, less expensive.

It will be noted that the substantial reduction in the weight of such a opening is done, obviously, at the expense of the rigidity of the door which then becomes easier to deform especially when attempted burglary by an operating burglar, by example, using a simple crowbar. Also, with a view to limit such break-ins, garage doors have been fitted with more or less efficient locking devices and having a number of drawbacks.

In particular, in the case of openings fitted with a electric motor, we will notice that it is the latter which locking device office. Indeed, such engines are provided with an irreversible type which allows, in the event of non-operation, to ensure the blocking of opening it.

In order to ensure such blocking, motors are known electrics equipped with a type braking system electromagnetic operating by lack of current. The operation of such a braking system consists in that, when the door reaches its closed position, the electromagnetic brake, under the influence of breaking power supply to said motor, is engaged which keeps the sash applied against the frame of the door.

However, such a locking device turns out partially ineffective because a burglar applying a number of successive shocks to said garage door is likely to slide the brake. This has the effect of take off, at least partially, the opening of the frame then authorizing the introduction of a tool such as a foot doe between said opening and said frame obviously facilitating attempted break-in.

In order to overcome such a drawback, it could, obviously, it is conceivable to resort to motors whatever little oversized whose brake is then more substantial and more efficient. In this case, we run into problems of security of another kind and which concern, this time, the protection of persons, in particular children, susceptible to be sandwiched between the opening and the sleeping frame and for which protection is ensured by limiting the engine power, this in a fully standardized way. So we got the current electric motors, intended to drive lighter and lighter doors and better and better balanced, are of size and performance more and more reduced which obviously aggravates the problem of the break-in.

In addition, it will be noted that the action of these motors on opening it, through their means of training, is exercised on a very localized point. Thus, it is common to place a such motor at the ceiling of a garage which allows audit driving force, through a drive system of the worm or chain type, substantially in the plane median and on the cross member of the tilting opening. In that case particular, locking the sash is only effective in its upper part.

There are also known electric motors capable of take a position, directly, on the opening which is connected to the sleeping frame by means of one or more arms of maneuver on which act such motors. Now in the in the case of an opening with a gate, a motor positioned so it can only act on one arm aforementioned maneuver. This opening is therefore effectively blocked that on one of its lateral sides while the other side is likely to allow a break-in, this being all the more facilitated as the lever arm resulting from the unique and offset blocking is important. This translates, well obviously due to a lack of security due to such garage door design.

Also, the present invention aims to be able to provide a solution to the aforementioned drawbacks through a device particularly easy to operate. In addition, the effectiveness in resisting attempted break-ins and the good working condition are guaranteed by a user information in case of any malfunction.

To this end, the present invention relates to a device remote-controlled motorized drive unit for garage, suitable for opening and closing as well as locking and unlocking of the opening of said door garage, characterized in that it comprises, in combination, at least one locking device with electrical operation capable of ensuring locking auxiliary of said opening in the closed position and brought into unlocking position when ordering operation of said motorized drive device, it further comprising visual signaling means and / or audible signals of the non-functioning of the locking comprising, on the one hand, detection means, either holding in the unlocked position or good locking of the locking device after closing of opening it through the drive device and, on the other hand, a visual and / or audible signaling device constituted by the opening capable of adopting a disturbed movement controlled by a processing unit capable of interpreting the information transmitted by said detection means, this through an operation management unit of said motorized drive device.

The advantages of the present invention are that the motorized drive device which alone is supposed to ensuring the locking of a door window sees the effectiveness of this locking reinforced by the presence of a auxiliary lock acting in combination with said training device. This therefore results in an increase sensitive to the integrity of the garage door and protection increased in relation to an attempted break-in.

It will be observed that such a locking device is likely to be positioned anywhere the sash or the frame but also at the level of the masonry. This allows, on the one hand, wide possibilities location of blocking points, in particular according to constraints imposed by the masonry and / or the garage. On the other hand, the possibility is also offered of have several of these locking devices all around the opening, which obviously contributes to notable increase in security.

In addition, it will be observed that the drive device motorized is able to be controlled remotely what is done, generally, through a management unit. Also, the that such a locking device is of the type electric allows to consider its order through this same management unit. So, such a locking device can be unlocked before or at the time even the activation of the training device in view opening of the opening.

Another determining advantage of the present invention consists in in that the motorized drive device operates in combination with means for signaling the state of no operation of the auxiliary locking device. This allows to warn, or at least to raise awareness, the user of a fault or a possible malfunction of said locking device. he indeed, it should be observed that through means of remote control, the user may not go account that the auxiliary locking device (s) are, for one reason or another, rendered inoperative. That is to say that locking, for example a door garage equipped with such a motorized drive device, is not secure. It is precisely to avoid this that we uses an inventive approach to this invention, to such signaling means. In these conditions, it is ensured that the user is informed without delay in malfunction. Preferably, these means of signaling, as will appear during the description which will follow, are subject to the operation of the device motorized drive to make them even more effective.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématisée du dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention et équipant une porte de garage.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description relating to the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view of the locking device according to the invention and fitted to a garage door.

The present invention will find its application when it comes ensure the locking of an opening when the latter is in its closed position.

Such an opening can be in the form of a door, a portal, window, shutter or the like. However, the present invention will find particular interest in the field of garage doors. Also, if in the rest of the description, it will be more specifically reported on the opening of such a garage door, it is obvious that the present invention is in no way limited to it and may find its also applicable in the other aforementioned cases.

As shown in Figure 1 attached, a such garage door 1 has an opening 2 mounted, so tilting, using suitable means known but not known shown on a sleeping frame 3 having been made integral with the masonry 4 of a garage or a dwelling.

In fact, said opening 2 is capable of being put in movement via a drive device 5 which ensures the opening and closing as well as the locking and unlocking. Such a device 5 is, for example, in the form of a electric motor 6 or a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic or the like and includes drive means likely to transform the movement generated by said electric motor 6 or the like by tilting the sash 2 relative to the frame 3.

These training means can have different aspects depending on whether the motor 6, the cylinder or the like is placed on the opening 2, on the masonry 4, on or near the frame sleeping 3 or at the garage ceiling level. So such means of training can substantially adopt the form of one or more operating arms, of a type system worm, chain or the like.

It is further described in document EP-0.524.900 of the means drive from connecting the electric motor to pulleys of deflection around which are partially wound, cables ensuring the connection between counterweights and opening it.

In fact, the operation of such a drive device 5 is likely to be managed by a management unit 8 capable of be remotely controlled via a system transmitter receiver.

According to the invention, the drive device 5 comprises, in combination, a functioning locking device 9 electric capable of ensuring an auxiliary locking of opening it 2. In fact, the operation of this device lock 9 is subject to that of the electric motor 6 and is brought into the unlocked position during the phases opening and closing of sash 2. This can be controlled, in particular, by the management unit 8 of the drive device 5. The latter comprises, in combination, visual signaling means and / or sound of the non-functioning of said locking device 9.

Thus, such a locking device 9 can arise. in the form of one or more locking members 11 each intended to cooperate with a keeper 12 for the purpose of locking the opening 2. It will be observed that, so known, both the locking member 11 and the keeper 12 may be electrically operated.

In addition, one can imagine a construction where the keeper 12 is formed at the level of the sleeping frame 3 or of the masonry 4 surrounding the latter, the locking member 11, is locating, under these conditions, on the opening 2. Of course, a reverse design is also possible.

Note that it may be advantageous to use several of these locking devices 9 arranged in predetermined locations and chosen to ensure a optimal locking of the sash 2.

It should be noted that the locking device 9 can be designed in such a way that the absence of current brings it automatically in the locked position or, on the contrary, that this locking position is occupied by this device 9 under the influence of an electric current permanent. One can still imagine a device for lock 9 designed in such a way that an impulse electric is required to bring the locking device 11 to cooperate with its keeper 12 and that a new impulse electric, on the contrary, ensures unlocking therefore the clearance of the locking member 11 with respect to keeper 12.

If it appears, a priori, that the first solution exposed above is the safest, the fact remains that any electrical failure may be the cause of keeping this unlocked device in the unlocked position locking 9 whatever its design. So in this first solution exposed above, a disturbance electric such as lightning can cause maintenance of the supply device voltage electrically operated lock 9.

The aforementioned signaling means 10 have the function of respond to this problem by signaling to the user that such a locking device 9 is out of order and door 2 cannot be secured.

Preferably, these signaling means 10 comprise detection means 13, as the case may be, for maintaining unlocked position or correct locking of the locking 9 after closing the opening 2 by through the training device 5. Such means detection 13 can occur substantially under form of a switch-type sensor known to man of the loom and able to be operated by the device locking 9. However, such detection means 13 may still consist of simple means of controlling presence or absence of current at such a device lock 9.

These signaling means 10 are further supplemented by at at least one visual and / or audible signaling member 14 whose operation is ensured under the control of a processing 15 able to interpret the information transmitted by said detection means 13.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the unit of aforementioned treatment 15 is directly associated with the unit of management 8 of the operation of the drive device 5.

Advantageously, the visual signaling member 14 is constituted by the opening 2 itself which we just provide a disturbed movement controlled by the processing unit 15 by through the management unit 8. Thus, the movement of this opening 2 can be slowed down during opening maneuvers and / or closing or jerky.

Preferably, this movement of the opening 2 is more particularly disturbed during the opening phase. The user having controlled the operation of the drive device 5 is, in this case, must be warned of the malfunction of the or auxiliary locking devices 9.

Of course, we can still imagine calling on others types of visual and / or audible signaling devices, 14 than an indicator light, or any bell. Ways signaling devices 10 according to the invention can, in addition, have a combination of such signaling devices 14 visual and / or audio whose operation is preferably insured during the opening phase of the opening 2.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present invention makes it possible to respond advantageously to problems exposed in the introductory part.

Thus, thanks to the present invention, it is possible to equip a motorized garage door with a locking device particularly efficient auxiliary capable of reducing notably the risks of burglary or, at least of strongly discourage a burglar from getting inside from the garage.

Another advantage of this invention is that everything malfunction of said auxiliary locking device be immediately reported to the user by means signs which aim to attract his attention by an awareness message.

Claims (6)

1. Motorised driving device with remote control for a garage door, capable of ensuring the opening and the closing as well as the locking and the unlocking of the leaf (2) of said garage door (1), characterised in that it includes, in combination, at least one electrically operating locking device (1) capable of ensuring an auxiliary locking of said leaf (2) in closed position and brought into an unlocked position when said motorised driving device (5) is controlled to operate, the latter also including means (10) for visually and acoustically signalling the dysfunction of the locking device (9) including, on the one hand, means (13) for detecting either the maintaining in unlocked position or the correct locking of the locking device (9) upon closing of the leaf (2) through the driving device (5) and, on the other hand, a visual and/or acoustic signalling organ (14) formed by the leaf (2) being capable of adopting a disturbed motion controlled by a processing unit (15) capable of interpreting the information transmitted by said detecting means (13), this through a unit (8) for controlling the operation of said motorised driving device (5).
2. Motorised driving device according to claim 1, characterised in that a locking device (9) is in the form of one or several locking organs (11) each aimed at cooperating with a keeper (12) to lock the leaf (2), said locking organ (11) or, as the case may be, the corresponding keeper (12) being located at the level of the sash-frame (3) or even of the masonry (4) surrounding the latter, whereas the keeper (12) or the locking organ (11), respectively, is provided for on the leaf (2).
3. Motorised driving device according to claim 1, characterised in that the detecting means (13) are substantially formed by a sensor, such as a switch, capable of being actuated by the locking device (9).
4. Motorised driving device according to claim 1, characterised in that the detecting means (13) consist of means for controlling the presence or the absence of current at the level of a locking device (9).
5. Motorised driving device according to claim 1, characterised in that the motion of the leaf (2) is either slowed down or of a jerky type during the opening and/or closing, preferably the opening, operations, under the control of the processing unit (15) in the event the dysfunction of the locking device (9) is detected.
6. Motorised driving device according to claim 1, characterised in that the visual and/or acoustic signalling means (10) include a combination of signalling organs (14) of a visual and/or acoustic type, in the form of a leaf (2) with a disturbed motion, a signal lamp, a buzzer or the like.

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