EP1196679A1

EP1196679A1 - Device for guiding machine elements

Info

Publication number: EP1196679A1
Application number: EP00945769A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Arno Klein
Original assignee: Cardo Door Continental BV
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems Production Netherlands BV
Priority date: 1999-06-19
Filing date: 2000-06-17
Publication date: 2002-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-17
Also published as: DK1196679T3; WO2000079090A1; EP1196679B1; DE50013817D1; AU5974400A; ATE347014T1; DE19928211A1

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to create a device for guiding machine elements (2) along a guideway (8), especially a rail, chain or cable, which is improved by the provision of a simple construction and a protection against overloading. To these ends, a detent connection having at least one detent element (12, 13) is provided on the machine elements (2). Said detent connection is arranged between the machine element (2) and a guide element (20) that engages inside the guideway (8), whereby the detent element(s) (12, 13) positively engage(s) inside recesses (10, 11) located on the machine element (2).

Description

Device for guiding machine elements

The invention relates to a device for guiding machine elements along a guideway, in particular a rail, chain or rope.

Such a device is known for example from DE 196 25 215 AI, which relates to a high-speed door for deep-freeze houses. The known roller door has a flexible door leaf for closing building openings in cold stores, the door leaf being guided laterally in m guides. With such a gate, vehicles may pass through before the gate is fully opened. Greater damage to the door and to the vehicle can be avoided if the door has flexible guide elements that release the door in the event of a side impact. In the prior art it is therefore proposed to provide for this purpose laterally resilient guide elements on the lower crossbeam which yield when a force is exceeded. A disadvantage of resilient guide elements is that the spring travel is limited. With particularly strong deflections, irreversible damage to the gate occurs.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for guiding machine elements which, with a simple structure, offers reliable protection against overload and can be easily reset to the initial state after an overload case.

The object is achieved in that at least one latching connection on the machine elements a locking element is provided, which is arranged between the machine element and a guide element engaging in the guideway, the locking element or elements engaging in a form-fitting manner in recesses on the machine element.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that it requires only a few components, is simple in construction and requires only a small installation space. In the event of hard, rapid impacts, such as can occur in the case of a rolling door due to the impact of a vehicle, the invention ensures that the components are safely separated, while it provides high resistance to continuous loading, for example as a result of wind pressure on the door leaf. After disengaging, the snap connection can be snapped back in a few simple steps. With a corresponding design, the force required for disengagement can be predetermined and adapted to the requirements. In addition, the invention allows a variety of embodiments, depending on the type of machine element and guide element.

In a first advantageous embodiment it is provided that two locking elements at the ends of two legs of a U-shaped bracket

Locking connection are provided and a clamp, screw, rubber element or spring is provided which pulls the legs together or presses them apart with a predetermined force. The pressure force, which also determines the force required for disengagement, can be preselected in a simple manner by choosing an appropriate spring or clamp or by tightening the screw to a greater or lesser extent. In particular in the embodiment with screw, this can be used for Restoring the initial state can be solved to enable easier engagement of the holder on the machine element. Then the screw is tightened again until the desired contact pressure is reached.

In a second preferred embodiment it is proposed that two latching elements are provided at the ends of two legs of a V-shaped holder of the latching connection and a spring joint is provided at the connection point of the legs, which pulls the legs together or presses them apart with a predetermined force. This embodiment is particularly simple since the two legs and the spring joint can be designed as a prefabricated structural unit which can be assembled in a few simple steps.

In order to ensure an exactly adjustable disengagement force, it is proposed to design the ends of the holder and the recesses with a round or hexagonal cross section. This measure results in less wear on the surfaces in contact, in particular if the locks out frequently.

In an alternative, particularly inexpensive to produce, the legs are designed as sheet metal parts and the locking elements as angled ends of the legs.

In another embodiment of the invention it is recommended that two jaws connected by a hinge are attached to the machine element or the guide element, which are pressed together with a screw and a T-shaped holder attached to the guide element or machine element Clamp a recess in such a way that it can be released in the event of an unusual momentary load. This embodiment is particularly stable with a simple structure.

The invention can be further improved by the measure that a microswitch connected to a motor control is provided in a recess of the machine element or of the guide element intended for receiving the latching elements, in order to stop a drive motor after it has disengaged. In the case of motor-driven machine elements, it is desirable that the drive is switched off immediately after the disengagement occurs.

In a modification, a plug connection connected to the motor control can also be provided between the machine element and the guide element, which is disconnected when disengaged and stops the drive motor by means of the motor control.

To prevent damage to the connector when disengaging, especially if

Socket and socket strip are tilted, it is proposed that a socket or socket strip of the plug connection is elastically suspended in a holder connected to the guide element.

An arrangement in which the plug or connector strip of the plug connection is attached to the machine part has proven to be particularly advantageous.

Especially in the case of gates that are made of laterally rigid, interconnected hinges

Elements exist, a bolt can be provided to secure the gate outside of the operating times be, which prevents the latching connection from snapping out, in order to thereby offer effective protection against burglars.

In a further advantageous embodiment it is provided that the recesses in their lower

Area have a stop. This prevents the guide element from slipping unintentionally in the recess and thereby ensures that the components are held together continuously.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, further advantageous details being given in the description and the drawings.

The figures show in detail:

Figure 1: a disengageable device for guiding

Machine elements in a first embodiment;

Figure 2: a disengageable device for guiding machine elements in a second embodiment;

Figure 3: a disengageable device for guiding machine elements in a third embodiment;

Figure 4: a disengageable device for guiding machine elements in a fourth

Embodiment;

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a roller shutter with a disengageable device for guiding machine elements; Figure 6: a representation like Figure 5 of a gate with articulated, rigid panels;

FIG. 7: a sectional partial view according to line BB of FIG. 1;

Figure 8: a detail C of a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

The roller door shown in Figure 5 has a flexible curtain 1, which can be rolled up or down by means of a motor drive, not shown, with a guide rod 2 attached to the lower end of the curtain 1 moving up or down and opening or opening 3 is closed. The guide rod 2 is guided horizontally displaceably in lateral guide rails 4, 5. At the side ends of the

For this purpose, guide rods 2 are provided with guide elements β, 7 which engage in the guide track 8 of the guide rails 4, 5.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of an automatically opening gate, in which rigid panels 9 made of metal or lightweight panels etc. are each guided in the guideways 8 of the guide rails 4 ^" , 5 with lateral guide elements 6, 7, which protrude laterally beyond the panel dimensions The guide rod 2 or the panels 9 represent machine elements which are guided along the guide track 8 with the device according to the invention.

Figures 1 to 4 each represent different embodiments of the invention in a representation according to section A-A of Figure 5.

In Figure 1 you can see the guide rod 2, which here represents the machine element to be guided. The guide rod 2 has two at one end Recesses 10, 11, m engage the two locking elements 12, 13 in a form-fitting manner. The locking elements 12, 13 are arranged at the ends of two legs 14, 15 of a U-shaped bracket 16. The two legs 14, 15 of the U-shaped support 16 are connected to one another by a connecting bridge 17.

As indicated in FIG. 1, a joint 18, 19 can be provided between the connecting web 17 and the two legs 14, 15. Instead of the joint 18, 19 would also be an elastic one

Connection made of rubber possible. If the material of the connecting web 17 and the legs 14, 15 is elastic enough, the three components mentioned can also be designed in one piece.

On the connector 17 of the bracket 16 is a

Guide element 20 attached, which engages with its free end 21 m, the guide track 8 of said guide rail 4.

The latching elements 12, 13 of the U-shaped bracket 16 together with the recesses 10, 11 of the guide rod 2 form a latching connection. The side force required to disengage the latching connection, which acts on the guide rod 2 from the direction indicated by arrow 48 in FIG. 1, depends on the force with which the two latching elements 12, 13 are pressed against the recesses 10, 11. The contact pressure required for this is essentially generated by a screw 47 which passes through the two legs 14, 15 and pulls them together. To generate less strong contact forces, the screw 47 can also be provided with a suitable spring, as shown in FIG. Instead of the screw 47, of course, an elastic rubber element, which is connected to the two legs 14, 15, or a clamp be provided. The screw 47 can also be completely replaced by a spring or, as shown in FIG. 8, by an eccentric 50.

A socket strip 22 is arranged in the space enclosed by the U-shaped holder 16 and is suspended in the holder 16 by means of an elastic connection indicated by symbolic springs 23. A plug connector 24 which can be inserted into the socket connector 22 is fixedly attached to the guide rod 2. The elastic suspension of the socket strip 22 ensures in the event that the latching connection is disengaged that the contact pins 25 of the plug strip 24 are not bent. As soon as the socket strip 22 disengages from the

Plug strip 24 is disconnected and the electrical contacts are interrupted, a motor control, not shown, which is connected via a cable 26 to the socket strip 22, immediately stops the drive motor, not shown, in order to avoid any damage to the roller door.

The right end of Figure 1

Guide rod 2 also has

Recesses 10, 11 which are intended to engage a second U-shaped holder, not shown. In order to ensure that the drive motor s stops even when the right latching connection is disengaged, the recess 11 is provided with a microswitch 27 which is connected to the plug strip 24 via a cable 28. On

Actuating element 29 of microswitch 27 protrudes into recess 11 from behind. In the latched state of the latching connection, the actuating element 29 is pressed in the direction of the microswitch 27 and thereby closes one Contact of the microswitch 27, not shown. When the latching connection is disengaged, the actuating element 29 m enters the free space of the recess 11 em and thereby interrupts the contact of the microswitch 27, which is connected via the cable 28, the plug connection 22, 24 and the cable 26 Motor control, not shown, acts and immediately interrupts the motor drive.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, when necessary, for example during breaks in operation or during the night, the latching connection can be prevented from being disengaged by means of bolts 30, which establish a rigid connection between a panel 9 and the lateral guide rails 4, 5.

In the second shown in Figure 2

An exemplary embodiment of the connection is a V-shaped holder 31 with two legs 32, 33, at the ends of which the locking elements 12, 13 are arranged. In accordance with the first exemplary embodiment, the latching elements 12, 13 engage in recesses 10, 11 of the guide rod 2 em. Instead of a round cross section as shown in FIG. 1, the recesses 10, 11 and locking elements 12, 13 shown in FIG. 2 have a hexagonal cross section. However, a hexagonal cross section is also possible in the first exemplary embodiment and a circular cross section in the second exemplary embodiment.

The two legs 32, 33 of the V-shaped holder 31 are connected to one another by a spring joint 34. The spring joint 34 presses the two legs 32, 33 together, so that the locking elements 12, 13 are printed with a predetermined force m and the recesses 10, 11 and snap there. Of course, at accordingly modified configuration of the recesses, the snap-in also takes place by means of legs 32, 33 pressed apart, the force required for this likewise being able to be generated by a modified spring joint 34. The spring joint 34 engages in a modified guideway 35 of the guide rail 4 em, where it is guided displaceably. Otherwise, the second embodiment works in accordance with the first embodiment, so that in particular with respect to the

Arrangement of electrical Sicherheitsemπchtungen, such as connector 24 or socket 22 and microswitch 27 is referred to the above statements.

In the third m shown in Figure 3

Embodiment is also provided with a U-shaped bracket 16 connected to a guide element 20, modified latching elements 36, 37 are provided at the ends of the two legs 14, 15, which engage m appropriately designed recesses 38, 39 of the guide rod 2. The U-shaped bracket 16 shown here can be produced in a simple manner from a sheet metal strip by bending. The modified locking elements 36, 37 thus consist only of the bent ends of the sheet metal strip. This embodiment is particularly inexpensive to manufacture.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the guide element 20 is connected to a T-shaped bracket 40, in turn locking elements 12, 13 being formed at the ends of the T-shaped bracket 40. On the guide rod 2, a hinge 41 is attached, with which two jaws 42, 43 are connected to one another. The two jaws 42, 43 are by a Screw 47 pressed together, a spring 44 being arranged in operative connection between the one jaw 42 and the screw 47, which spring can be configured as a coil spring or a stack of disk springs. The two jaws 42, 43 each have recesses 45, 46 into which the locking elements 12, 13 of the T-shaped bracket 40 can be snapped. The T-shaped bracket 40 is firmly clamped by the compressed jaws 42, 43, so that a disengagement is guaranteed in the event of exceptional momentary loads.

reference numeral

Curtain guide rod drive-through opening guide rail guide rail guide element guide element guide track panel recess recess latching element latching element leg leg U-shaped bracket connecting link joint joint guide element end socket strip springs plug strip contact pin Cable microswitch cable actuator latch V-shaped bracket SchenkeJ. Leg spring joint guideway locking element locking element recess recess T-shaped bracket joint jaw cheek spring recess recess screw arrow stop eccentric

Claims

Patent claims /

1. Device for guiding machine elements (2,9) along a guideway (8,35), in particular rail, chain or rope, characterized in that on the machine elements (2,9) a latching connection with at least one latching element (12,13, 36,37) is provided, which is arranged between the machine element (2,9) and a guide element (6,7,20) engaging in the guideway (8,35), the or the latching elements (12,13,36, 37) engage positively in recesses (10,11,38,39,45,46) on the machine element (2,9).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that two locking elements (12, 13) at the ends of two legs (14, 15) of a U-shaped holder (16) of the locking connection are provided - and a clamp, screw (47), rubber element or spring is provided which pulls the legs (14, 15) together or presses them apart with a predetermined force.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that two

Locking elements (11, 12) at the ends of two legs (32, 33) of a V-shaped holder (31) of the locking connection are provided and one Spring joint (34) is provided at the junction of the legs (32, 33), which pulls the legs (32, 33) together or pushes them apart with a predetermined force.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t (16, 31) that the ends of the holder and the recesses (10, 11) are formed with a round or hexagonal cross section.

5. Device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 3, that the legs (14, 15) are designed as sheet metal parts and the latching elements (36, 37) are designed as angled ends of the legs.

6. The device of claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that on the machine element (2,9) or the guide element

(6,7,20) two jaws (42,43) connected by a joint (41) are attached, which are pressed together with a screw (47) and one on the guide element (6,7,20) or machine element (2,9 ) Clamp the attached T-shaped bracket (40) in a recess (45, 46) in such a way that it disengages in the event of an unusual momentary load.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a for receiving the locking elements (12,13) certain recess (11) of the machine element (2) or the guide element one with a motor controller connected microswitch (27) is provided to stop a drive motor after disengagement.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that between the machine element (2) and the guide element

(20) a plug connection (22, 24) connected to the motor controller is provided in order to stop the drive motor after disengagement.

9. The device according to claim 8, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a socket or socket strip (22) of the plug connection is elastically suspended in a holder (16, 31) connected to the guide element (20).

10. The device according to claim 9, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a plug or connector strip (24) of the connector on the machine part (2) is attached.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a bolt (30) is provided to prevent disengagement of the latching connection if necessary.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the recesses (10,11,38,39,45,46) have a stop (49) in their lower region.