EP1128016B1 - Drive for a movable building closure, belt transmission and guide rail for use therein and method of assembing the same - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a guide rail for a translational movement of a building closure driving drive according to the preamble of the appended claim 1, as shown in DE 19 42 634 A is known. This document will be discussed in more detail below. Furthermore, the invention relates to a traction mechanism with such a guide rail and a drive for a gate with such a traction mechanism or with such a guide rail.

The invention is in the technical field of drives for movable building completions, such as gates, in particular garage doors, doors and windows, with a guide rail and driven in the guide rail back and forth movable cam member to which the building closure is connected. More particularly, the invention relates to a guide rail for a drive driving a translational movement of a building closure drive, in particular a guide rail for acting as a driver driving carriage of a garage door. Furthermore, the invention relates to a traction mechanism for such a building closure drive, with such a guide rail, guided in the guide rail for reciprocating driver element, arranged in the guide rail traction means, which is connected to the driver element for driving the same, a deflection wheel for the traction means in a first end region of the guide rail, and a drive wheel for the drive means connectable to a drive unit at the second end region of the guide rail. Such a drive, such a traction mechanism and such a guide rail are for example from the WO 98/12407 known. Reference is expressly made to this document for further details, that is, their disclosure content is also part of the disclosure of this invention. Finally, the invention relates to a method for assembling such a Zugmittelgetriebes.

For more details, such as translational drives for building closures of the type in question and their items, especially the guide rail and the guide rail having traction mechanism are constructed and fastened, is expressly on the DE 297 18 396 U1 , the DE 297 18 397 U1 , the DE 197 42 406 A1 , the WO 98/13570 , the WO 98/13569 , the WO 98/12405 , the WO 99/19590 and all references cited in the related search reports. The present invention is based in its disclosure on each individual word and all removable from the accompanying drawings features of all of these documents and each of these removable from said Duckschriften features is also applicable to the invention or incorporated into this.

Guide rails of translatory drives such as garage door operators must be designed to be correspondingly long, depending on the distance to be traveled (translational drive path), which makes them and thus provided drives accordingly unwieldy.

From the EP 0 485 294 A1 is a door drive for driving a building completion, namely a garage door with a guide rail and a guided in the guide rail driver element in the form of a drive carriage known. The drive carriage can be connected to the building closure. Next, an electric motor is present as a drive unit, wherein the rotational movement of the electric motor is converted via a transmission in a reciprocating motion of the guided in the guide rail drive carriage. As transmission no Zugmittelgetriebes but a spindle gear is provided. In order to facilitate handling of the known door drive during transport, the known guide rail is divided into several individual pieces, with a corresponding number of spindle sections is present. To assemble the guide rail from the individual pieces, the spindle pieces are coupled to each other via L-shaped coupling ends and the individual pieces of the guide rail are bolted together via plate-like tabs.

From the above-mentioned DE 1 942 634 A is a drive for a building closure, namely a garage door, with a drive unit and in a guide rail reciprocally guided drive carriage, which is coupled to the garage door, known. The rotational movement of the drive unit is converted by means of a traction mechanism, which includes the guide rail, in the reciprocating motion of the drive carriage. To create a small packing unit in which the door drive can be transported pre-assembled, there is the guide rail of the DE 19 42 634 A known gate drives of several, alternately up and down articulated sections. This results in a folding movement to unfold the guide rail parallel to the vertical longitudinal center plane of the guide rail and thus in a plane perpendicular to a plane of movement of the drive carriage.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a guide rail referred to in the preamble of the appended claim 1 type with improved flapper.

This object is achieved by a guide rail with the features of the attached patent claim 1.

A such a guide rail using traction mechanism for a door drive and a such a guide rail or such a traction mechanism using door drive and a mounting method are the subject of the dependent claims.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the guide rail is divided into at least two individual pieces fastened together by a flap device.

Advantageously, the flap device has a hinge or is formed by such a hinge. Any other flexible attachment such as textile tape, joints, etc. is also conceivable. Advantageously, the complete guide mechanism (guide rail and its associated parts such as slides, end stops, guide or drive wheels, traction means, see the references listed above for more details) and / or the door drive is already completely pre-assembled. However, end stops can also be supplied separately for installation at the construction site or other installation location. At the installation site, the collapsed guide rail is then unfolded, wherein an additional attachment takes place at the respective separation point. For this purpose, a fastening device is preferably provided on the opposite side of the folding mechanism, which may be formed, for example, as a latching device, as a screw fastening, as a screw connection with a bridge bridging the separation point (bracket) and so on.

If the flap device has a hinge joint (2), the handling and assembly is particularly simple and the guide rail nevertheless stable, since the hinge joint allows folding only in one degree of freedom, but otherwise the guide rail stable. A unfolding then leads always in the correct mounting position.

Although it is also conceivable that the flap device itself performs a self-locking in the unfolded state, so that a folding back is prevented. It is also conceivable that the unfolded in their operating position guide rail is fixed by their attachment to the installation against collapse. But easier is the assembly and the construction of the entire device by a connecting device for stabilizing the individual pieces on the flap device opposite side. The guide rail can then be opened before its attachment to its operating position, this operating position is fixed by the connecting device. It can then be the remaining attachments of the drive, in particular the motor housing with electric motor and lighting devices are mounted, whereupon the then assembled drive is attached to its mounting location on the garage ceiling or the like.

According to the invention, it is provided that the guide rail can be folded upwards and downwards by a folding movement parallel to the movement plane of the driver element, ie the folding movement is possible, for example, in a horizontal plane with respect to a door drive mounted on the garage ceiling. This is especially true of a guide rail in the WO 98/12407 mentioned type advantageous. With a possibility of folding parallel to the plane of motion, the flap device and a connection device to be attached to the flap device can be accommodated within the groove that is continuously present on the narrow outer longitudinal sides of this guide rail. The flapper and the connecting device so do not wear and can still contribute to the stabilization of the guide rail against bending or deformation of the plane of movement addition.

The connecting device is or preferably comprises a connecting piece for connecting end sections of the individual pieces of the guide rail opposite the flap end device, which connecting piece is preferably formed by a tab or plate (tongue, bow, etc.) with screw openings, so that the tab can be screwed to each the individual pieces, the guide rail is stabilized in its unfolded position.

The production of the invention is preferably carried out such that the guide rail for transport and / or distribution or sale with associated interior and / or attachments is folded down pre-assembled. Thus, the end user only has to unfold and fix the guide rail and thus immediately receives the traction mechanism for its drive, although in some embodiments possibly even the position of the end stops must be adapted to local conditions. For this reason, this embodiment is particularly suitable for distribution through hardware stores or the like for delivery to do-it-yourselfers who want to do a self-assembly of the drive for cost reasons. On the other hand, can of course also save craftsmen, as well as a craftsman has less work with the assembly of the drive according to the invention. In the folded state, the guide rail, although it provides a long drive path, can be easily adjusted, e.g. also transport in car boot. Also storage costs are savings, since the guide rail needs less longitudinally related storage space.

The inventive method for mounting a drive, a traction mechanism or a guide rail according to the invention comprises the steps of a) transport of the guide rail or a Zugmittelgetriebes formed in preassembled, folded state to the installation site and b) unfolding and mounting the guide rail or the traction mechanism on installation.

A particular advantage of a pre-assembly of the individual parts of the traction mechanism in the guide rail is that by folding a preassembled traction means can be stretched.

In a preferred embodiment, the inventive method further comprises the steps of stabilizing the unfolded guide rail by attaching the individual pieces with a fastening device, in particular by snapping and / or screwing, possibly via an integrally present on at least one of the individual pieces or to be mounted connecting plate.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivischen Ansicht, von unten und von der Seite gesehen, einer zusammenklappbaren Führungsschiene zum Bilden eines Zugmittelgetrie- bes eines Garagentorantriebes;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht auf die Führungsschiene nach Fig. 1 im in Betriebsstel- lung aufgeklappten Zustand; und

Fig. 3

eine teilweise geschnittene Draufsicht auf ein die Führungsschiene nach Fig. 1 aufweisendes transport- und/oder vertriebsfertig vormontiert zusam- mengeklapptes Zugmittelgetriebe für einen Garagentorantrieb.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view, seen from below and from the side, a collapsible guide rail for forming a Zugmittelgetrie- bes a garage door drive;

Fig. 2

a side view of the guide rail after Fig. 1 in the unfolded state in the operating position; and

Fig. 3

a partially sectioned plan view of the guide rail after Fig. 1 comprising ready-to-transport and / or ready-to-use pre-assembled traction mechanism for a garage door drive.

The Fig. 1 shows a divided into three individual pieces 3, 4 and 5 C-shaped guide rail 1 for serving as a driver element for a driven garage door (not shown) guiding or driving carriage of a garage door drive. The guide rail 1 has according to the illustrated embodiment substantially a structure as shown in the WO 98/12407 is described, but in contrast to the known guide rail in three by means of hinge joints 2 formed flap means hinged to each other attached pieces 3-5 divided. In Fig. 1 the guide rail 1 is shown in an end stage of its production shortly before a pre-assembly, wherein already a toothed disc holder 6 is indicated for holding a drive wheel to be formed with the guide rail 1 traction mechanism 7 at one end.

In Fig. 2 is the guide rail in a side view of the in Fig. 1 rear side to see in an unfolded state for operation. The individual pieces 3-5 are provided at least at their ends to be fastened to each other by means of the hinge joints 2 with openings 10 in the narrow longitudinal sides, on which on the one hand the hinge lugs of the hinge joints 2, on the other hand a fastening or connecting device in the form of a lug or plate-like connecting piece 11 are screwed on the opposite side of the hinge joint 2. The hinge joints 2 and the connecting piece 11 each have such an extent that they fit as precisely as possible in the longitudinal grooves 12 provided in the guide rail 1. As a result, they are based on the flanges 15 delimiting the groove 12. The hinge axes A are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 1 and parallel to the narrow lateral, the grooves 12 having C-legs 13. Thus, the guide rail 1 is parallel to the plane of movement B (perpendicular to the plane of the drawing through the longitudinal central axis of the guide rail) a leading through the guide rail driver element hinged.

The rail 1 is used together with the other units of the door drive, such as drive unit (not shown) - ie an electric motor housed in motor housing, possibly with lighting device -, control parts (not shown), mechanical and electrical connections (not shown), eg in hardware stores for the self-assembly offered. At the installation site, a layman can also guide rail 1 in the in Fig. 2 fold the position shown apart. The fixation or stabilization of the individual pieces 3-5 to a straight rail then takes place via assembly of the connecting pieces 11 (which according to an embodiment not shown may also be present prefabricated on the individual pieces 3-5) in the region of the joints on the hinge joints 2 opposite Pages. This can be done by simply screwing on nut-screw fasteners.

In Fig. 3 is the complete formed with the guide rail 1 traction mechanism 7 in the folded state, in a similar manner as it leaves the place of manufacture and is offered commercially. More specifically, during transport, the single piece 5 shown slightly unfolded will be completely applied to the adjacent single piece 4.

The traction mechanism 7 comprises in addition to the three the guide rail 1 forming individual pieces 3-5, which are hinged to each other with the hinge joints 2, and the toothed disc holder 6, in which a connectable to the shaft of the drive unit driving wheel 14 is kept hidden, a through a toothed belt 15 formed traction means, a slidably disposed in the guide rail 1 as driving element for connecting the garage door serving carriage 16, which has a coupling arrangement, the toothed belt 15 is combined to form an endless loop Zahngurtverschluss 17 coupled to the toothed belt 15, displaceable on the Führungsnutberandung forming C-leg 13 held stop or limiting elements 18 or end stops for limiting the drive carriage movement, held on a Umlenkrollenhalter 19 guide roller 20 for the toothed belt 15, a pre-acting on the Umlenkrollenhalter 19 preset Zugmittelspannvorrichtung 21 and a fastening profile element 22, by means of which the traction mechanism 7 on the garage door lintel (not shown) can be fastened.

The assembly of the traction mechanism shown 7 and the thus provided garage door drive is designed as follows. The traction mechanism is in the in Fig. 3 shown form already pre-assembled by the manufacturer and is transported in the folded state to the installation site. There, the guide rail 1 is about the hinge axes A in the in Fig. 2 shown operating position unfolded. The toothed belt 15, which in the folded transport position according to Fig. 3 partially led out through the longitudinal opening of the guide groove 9 from the inside of the guide rail 1 to be transported in a loose state without risk of damage otherwise pre-assembled, is brought in the unfolding into the interior of the guide rail. By the last step of the unfolding and the consequent prolongation of the guide rail longitudinal extent of the toothed belt 15 is then automatically tensioned.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

guide rail

2

Hinge joint (flap device)

3

first single piece

4

second single piece

5

third single piece

6

Toothed disc holder

7

traction drives

8th

C-Steg

9

Guide groove for drive carriage

10

Opening for screw connection for hinge lugs and connecting piece

11

Flap or plate-type connection piece (connection or fastening device)

12

outside longitudinal groove

13

C-leg

14

drive wheel

15

Tooth belt (traction means)

16

Drive carriage (driver element)

17

Tooth belt buckle with detachable coupling for drive carriages

18

limiting element

19

Umlenkrollenhalter

20

idler pulley

21

traction means tightening device

22

Mounting profile element

A

hinge axes

B

movement plane

K

Folding movement around the hinge axis

Claims (10)

1. A guide rail (1) for a drive driving a translational movement of a building closure, wherein the guide rail (1) is formed for guiding a pusher element (16) of a door along a movement plane (B) defined by the longitudinal extension of the guide rail (1) and the width direction, to be horizontally arranged in the intended use, of the guide rail (1), wherein the guide rail (1) is subdivided into at least two individual component parts (3, 4, 5) foldable around a hinge axis (A) basically perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the guide rail (1) and linked with each other by a folding means (2), characterised in that
   the guide rail (1) has a C-shaped configuration and includes two lateral C-legs (13) connected by a C-bridge (8), between which a guiding groove (9) is formed, and in that the guide rail (1) is capable of being unfolded and folded in a folding movement parallel to the pusher element's (16) movement plane (B) extending parallel to the C-bridge (8), the hinge axis (A) running parallel to the lateral C-legs (13).
2. The guide rail (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the folding means includes a hinge (2).
3. The guide rail (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised by
   a connecting means (11) for stabilising the individual component parts (3-5) on the side opposite the folding means (2).
4. The guide rail (1) according to claim 3,
   characterised by a connecting piece (11) for connecting the end regions, opposite the folding means (2), of the individual component parts (3-5) of the guide rail (1).
5. The guide rail (1) according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   the connecting piece (11) is formed by a tab or a plate having screw openings (10), so that by screwing the tab or plate onto the individual component parts (3-5) the guide rail (1) can be stabilised in its unfolded position.
6. The guide rail (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that,
   for transportation and/or distribution or sale, the guide rail (1, 1') is in a folded state pre-assembled with associated interior and/or additional attachments (6, 15-22).
7. A tensile means transmission (7) for a door drive, in particular a garage door drive, comprising a guide rail (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised by:

   - a pusher element (16) guided in the guide rail (1) for reciprocating movement along the movement plane (B),

   - a tensile means (15) arranged in the guide rail (1), which is coupled with the pusher element (16) for driving the same,

   - a return pulley (20) for the tensile means (15), and

   - a drive pulley (14) for the tensile means (15), which can be coupled to a drive unit.
8. A drive for a door, in particular a garage door, comprising a guide rail (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, or comprising a tensile means transmission according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   a drive unit is provided and in that the pusher element (16) driven to be moveable in a reciprocating manner in the guide rail (1) can be coupled to the door.
9. A method of assembling a tensile means transmission (7) according to claim 7 or a drive provided with the latter according to claim 8,
   characterised by
   transporting the tensile means transmission (7), provided with the guide rail (1), in the pre-assembled, folded state to the site of installation, and unfolding and assembling the tensile means transmission (7) at the site of installation, wherein a pre-assembled tensile means (15) is tensioned by the unfolding action.
10. The method according to claim 9,
    characterised by stabilising the unfolded guide rail (1) by attaching the individual component parts (3, 4, 5) by means of an attachment means (10, 11), in particular by snap attachment and/or screwing, by using, as the case may be, a connection tab (11) integrally present, or to be mounted, on at least one of the individual component parts.

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