EP1270866B1 - Fall arrest device for rollable closure - Google Patents

Abstract

The shutter is wound around a reel (2) which rotates on a fixed shaft (3) and is connected to it by a compensation spring (4) between two sides (5,6) of the reel. The spring internal end (4a) is fixed to the shaft whilst its outer end (4b) is fixed to a locking element (7) movable on the reel. In the event of spring failure the locking element engages a static part (9) integral with the fixed shaft. The locking element is composed of a finger interposed between the two reel edges and is externally connected to a pressure spring (10). The internal part (7b) is connected to the outer end of the compression spring. The finger is able to displace axially along a parallel axis (X,X') to that (Y,Y') of the shaft between unlocking and locking positions.

Description

The present invention relates to an anti-fall device of a flexible structure closing apron capable of being wound around a substantially cylindrical support system and mounted to rotate around a fixed shaft, generally above an opening to condemn.

The invention finds a particularly advantageous, but not exclusive, application in the field of vertical erasure closures equipping the accesses of industrial and commercial buildings.

This is for example metal garage curtains or storefront grilles.

It should be noted that throughout this text, the terms curtains or apron more generally designate any means capable of closing an opening, that is to say a plate, a blade assembly, a grid etc ...

The structural flexibility necessary for the winding of this organ can come directly from the intrinsic nature of the material constituting it and / or joints linking the different parts of the component.

In the case of a fixed-shaft closure, the winding of the deck is traditionally performed around at least one spool mounted to rotate on said fixed shaft.

Each coil is also connected to the fixed shaft by means of a spiral-type compensation spring, wound inside said coil itself.

This elastic return means is responsible for counterbalancing at least partially the weight of the apron by restoring during the opening phase, the stored energy in the form of torque during the closing phase.

Like all vertical erasure closures, roller curtains around a fixed shaft are subject to a number of regulatory and prescriptive requirements.

Among these, the French standard NF P 25-362 replaced by the European standard EN 12604: 2000, having the status of a French standard, taking effect on January 20, 2001, concerns the safety of users in case of failure of the closing.

It states in particular in its paragraph 4.3.4c, that in case of "failure in the suspension system of the door, the leaf must be immobilized after a possible downward movement (or a fall) of 300mm maximum and be maintained in this position safely as long as no new intervention is performed. "

However, an apron has a relatively large weight, generally ranging from several tens to several hundred kilograms. Combined with a high fall speed, this mass is a real danger for users.

Very few safety devices are known from the state of the art capable of stopping the fall of a fixed-tree closing apron, in case of rupture of at least one of the compensation springs used.

The request for French Patent No. 2,739,656 however, discloses a plurality of retainers capable of performing this function. Schematically, the locking principle is identical for each embodiment described. It consists essentially of positively coupling to the fixed shaft, the coil whose spring has failed, after a given angular displacement, of said coil, with respect to specific locking means. This movement, controlled by a return element mounted between the coil and the locking means, will then allow said locking means to control the movement of a locking piece to a fixed ratchet wheel forming a stop, thus achieving the immobilization of the deck relative to the shaft of the roll-up closure.

But whatever the embodiment chosen, the implementation of each of these retaining devices appears extremely complex, because of the large number of additional parts required and the profound structural and functional changes that entails. This complexity is obviously a major drawback in terms of reliability and cost. As regards more particularly this last aspect, it is necessary to take into account the cost price of the retaining device itself, but also and above all, the important cost of its adaptation on the roller closure. As a result, the additional cost required for the installation of such security systems can become a deterrent for the potential user.

In order to remedy all of these disadvantages, the applicant has described in her French Patent No. 2,756,319 filed November 28, 1996 and N ° 2,772,070 filed December 9, 1997 , a roller shut-off retainer with an apron suitable for being wound around at least one coil mounted for rotation about a fixed shaft, each movable coil being connected to the fixed shaft via a spiral-type compensation spring, a retaining device being associated with each compensation spring so as to to block the descent of the deck in case of failure of said compensation spring; retaining device that would avoid the problems of the state of the art including providing a high reliability and a low cost compared to that of the retaining device closure itself as that of its adaptation to said closing.

According to the patent N ° 2,772,070 mentioned above, the outer end of each compensation spring is integral with a locking element mounted to move on the corresponding coil, the locking element being able to move in the direction of a static member integral with the shaft fixed to cooperate by locking with a stop portion of said static member, said locking member being kept away from the static member by the restoring force exerted by the compensation spring.

This device thus described has the advantage of being of extremely simple design since this security system requires the cooperation of only two parts, namely, a movable locking member and a static member. Therefore, and contrary to the antecedents of the prior art previously mentioned, the adaptation of such a retaining device requires only minor changes in the intrinsic structure of the winding closure. In Indeed, these transformations are essentially limited to simply secure the outer end of the compensating spiral spring to a locking member mounted movably in displacement on the corresponding coil. This does not call into question the classic mechanism of closure, whether from a structural and / or functional point of view. For all these reasons, the described retaining device has increased reliability as well as a particularly low cost compared to equivalent systems already known.

If the restraint system is structurally extremely simple, it is obviously the same with regard to its implementation. The compensation spring is indeed the only part controlling the immobilization or displacement of the locking element with respect to the coil. In other words, it alone ensures the immobilization of the blocking element in the passive position, it also controls only the movement towards the static member, and finally it guarantees only the maintenance in the active position; the passive and active positions being those in which said blocking element and said static body are respectively at a distance and in contact with each other.

The position of the locking element with respect to the static member therefore depends solely and especially directly on the state of the compensation spring.

Under normal conditions of use, the compensation spring is constantly stretched due to excessive winding of the coil constituting it, and this regardless of the position of the deck. As also its internal end is fixed, the restoring force is only felt at its outer end. It is indeed the only one likely to move, for the double reason that it is secured to the locking element mounted movably moving on the coil on the one hand, and that said coil is itself mounted mobile in rotation around the fixed shaft on the other hand. The only restoring force thus makes it possible to advantageously maintain the blocking element in the passive position, that is to say at a distance from the static body. This balance remains perfectly stable as long as the compensation spring retains its original mechanical properties.

When a failure occurs at the compensation spring, the break occurs systematically at the point where the stresses are maximum, that is to say where the curvature is the strongest. The part concerned corresponds, of course, to the internal end of the compensation spring, and more generally to the entire zone located near the attachment point on the fixed shaft. The compensation spring is thus released from the inside, from any mechanical stress so that the restoring force disappears.

Since the compensation spring is wound on itself when the closure functions normally, the volume it occupies inside the coil is very much lower than that which it has at rest, that is to say when not subject to any winding stress. Also, after rupture, it will tend to resume naturally its original form. In the event of a failure, there is therefore a substantially radial expansion of the compensation spring which tends to deviate at most from the axis around which it was wound. This movement continues until the deployment of the spring is stopped, due to the limited space inside the coil.

When the compensation spring is released, the most mobile end of the compensation spring is very logically subjected to a spiral movement because of the intrinsic nature of said spring. This movement is oriented along the winding direction of the turn, from the inside to the outside since the break occurs at the inner end of the spiral spring. At the end of the run, the inertia generated by this movement causes a slight rotation of the compensation spring because the latter is not completely maintained at this precise moment. Although secured to the locking element, its outer end is indeed likely to move. Moreover, the rotational movement in question is directed in the same direction as the displacement of the internal end previously described.

When no longer subjected to the restoring force exerted by the compensation spring, the locking element is therefore free to leave its passive position and move relative to the coil on which it is mounted, in the direction of the static organ. This obviously implies that it can be driven on the move through a moving body. This is precisely what happens when the compensation spring breaks then animates the double movement of radial extension and rotation previously described. The locking element, secured to the outer end of the compensation spring, is then moved to the active position in which it cooperates by locking with the static member.

Once this extreme position is reached, the blocking element is held in contact with the static member by virtue of the fact that the radial expansion of the compensation spring is limited by the small volume available inside the coil, and that thus said spring comes very quickly to lock against the apron portion surrounding said coil, thereby immobilizing said locking member.

Furthermore, the retaining device comprises guide means adapted to direct the movement of the locking element towards the static member, in case of rupture of the compensation spring; the envisaged displacement occurring between the passive position in which the blocking element is at a distance from the static body and the active position in which the said blocking element is in contact with the said static body.

After a break, the compensation spring is driven by a complex movement resulting substantially from the combination of radial expansion and rotation in the winding direction of the turn. Also, it is particularly advantageous to control the movement of its outer end so that the movable locking element is safely and effectively directed towards the static member. The purpose here is above all to avoid the risk of attachment of the compensation spring and / or the locking element with any element, present inside the coil, other than the body static. Advantageously arranged guiding means advantageously make it possible to achieve this objective.

The devices described in the aforementioned patents No. 2,756,319 and No. 2,772,070 do not have any particular disadvantage that the invention intends to solve.

On the contrary, it is based on the principles that have just been stated, which have so far given complete satisfaction.

In fact, the object of the invention is to propose an alternative embodiment as well as a certain number of improvements made to the entire device.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an anti-fall device of a closing apron intended to be wound around at least one spool mounted to rotate on a fixed shaft and connected thereto via a compensation spring wound on itself between two blanks of the coil and whose inner end is integral with the shaft, while its outer end cooperates with a locking element mounted to move on said coil, so as to in case of failure of the compensation spring, said element comes to cooperate by locking with a stop portion of a static member integral with the fixed shaft and therefore of the apron, characterized in that the locking element cooperating with the outer end of the compensation spring is constituted by a finger interposed between the two blanks, generally parallel, delimiting the coil, an outer portion of which cooperates with an elastic thrust member and an inner portion of which cooperates with the end of the compensation spring, which finger is able to move axially along an axis parallel to that of the shaft, between two positions, one of which unlocking in which it is kept at a distance from the abutment portion of the static member, by putting the axial thrust member under stress, by the single return force of the spring at its outer end, and the other said in which the finger is no longer subjected to the restoring force of the compensating spring, in particular in case of breakage or loss of the mechanical characteristics thereof, but to the single axial force of the elastic thrust member , causing the axial displacement of the finger towards the abutment portion of the static member and consequently immobilization in rotation of the coil relative to the fixed shaft, hence the apron.

The present invention also relates to the features which will emerge during the following description, which should be considered in isolation or in all their possible technical combinations.

• La figure 1 représente en perspective le dispositif anti-chute selon l'invention en position passive.
• La figure 2 représente en perspective le dispositif anti-chute selon l'invention en position active.
• La figure 3 représente un dispositif anti-chute selon les figures 1 et 2 en cours de montage de l'élément de blocage.
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique en coupe du dispositif anti-chute selon la figure 1.
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une bobine seule avant montage du ressort de compensation et de l'élément de blocage.
• La figure 6 est une vue en perspective éclatée selon la figure 5.
• La figure 7 est une vue en plan extérieur d'un flan droit de la bobine selon les figures 5 et 6.
• La figure 8 est une vue en perspective du détail A de la figure 7.
• La figure 9 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VIII, VIIIa de la figure 8.
• La figure 10 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VIII, VIIIb de la figure 8.
• La figure 11 est une vue en plan intérieur du flan gauche de la bobine selon les figures 5 et 6.
• La figure 12 est une vue à échelle agrandie du détail B selon la coupe XII, XII de la figure 11.
• La figure 13 est une vue en plan extérieur de l'organe statique.
• La figure 14 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XIV, XIV de la figure 13.

This description given by way of nonlimiting example, will better understand how the invention can be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 represents in perspective the anti-fall device according to the invention in the passive position.
• The figure 2 represents in perspective the anti-fall device according to the invention in the active position.
• The figure 3 represents an anti-fall device according to figures 1 and 2 during assembly of the locking element.
• The figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of the fall arrest device according to the figure 1 .
• The figure 5 is a perspective view of a single coil before mounting the compensation spring and the locking member.
• The figure 6 is an exploded perspective view according to the figure 5 .
• The figure 7 is an external plan view of a right side of the spool according to Figures 5 and 6 .
• The figure 8 is a perspective view of detail A of the figure 7 .
• The figure 9 is a sectional view along line VIII, VIIIa of the figure 8 .
• The figure 10 is a sectional view along line VIII, VIIIb of the figure 8 .
• The figure 11 is an interior plan view of the left flank of the spool according to Figures 5 and 6 .
• The figure 12 is an enlarged view of detail B according to section XII, XII of the figure 11 .
• The figure 13 is an external plan view of the static organ.
• The figure 14 is a sectional view along the line XIV, XIV of the figure 13 .

The device 1 generally designated in the figures makes it possible to prevent the fall of a closing apron (not shown).

It is intended to be integrated with at least one coil 2 rotatably mounted on a fixed shaft 3 and connected thereto via a compensating spring 4 wound on itself between two blanks 5 and 6 of the coil 2 and whose inner end 4a is integral with the shaft 3, while its outer end 4b cooperates with a locking element 7 mounted movably in displacement on said coil 2, so that in case of failure of the compensation spring 4, said element 7 comes to cooperate by locking with a stop portion 8 of a static member 9 integral with the fixed shaft 3 and therefore apron.

According to the present invention, the locking element 7 cooperating with the external end 4b of the compensation spring 4 is constituted by a finger interposed between the two blanks 5, 6, generally parallel, delimiting the coil 2, an outer portion 7a of which is connected with an elastic thrust member 10 and whose inner portion 7b cooperates with the end 4b of the compensation spring 4.

The finger 7 is capable of moving axially along an axis parallel X, X 'to that Y, Y' of the shaft 3, between two positions A, B, the so-called unlocking one in which it is kept at a distance the abutment portion 8 of the static member 9, by putting the axial thrust member 10 under stress, by the single restoring force of the spring 4 at its outer end 4b.

In the other position B called locking the finger 7 is no longer subjected to the restoring force of the compensation spring 4, especially in case of rupture or loss of the mechanical characteristics thereof, but the only axial force of the elastic thrust member 10.

Thus is caused the axial displacement of the finger 7 towards the abutment portion 8 of the static member 9 and consequently the immobilization in rotation of the coil 2 relative to the fixed shaft 3, hence the deck.

According to a preferred embodiment, the finger 7 is cylindrical and staggered in two different diameters D1, D2 delimiting a shoulder E between them. The zone of smaller diameter D1 constitutes its inner part and that of the largest diameter D2 its external part. The retention in the locking position A, by the single restoring force of the spring 4 at its end 4b, is effected by means of the shoulder E which constitutes a stop coming against the field of said end 4b of the spring 4, when it is stretched so operational. Unlocking according to the position B of the finger 7 is effected by releasing its shoulder E, during an expansion of the winding force of the spring 4, in particular by breaking thereof, causing a development of its diameter.

The zone of larger diameter D2 of the finger 7 constituting its outer portion 7a is in connection with the elastic thrust member 10 which is constituted by a spiral spring mounted in extension between the outer end of the finger 7 and a fixed part of one of the blanks 5 constituting the coil 2 opposite that 6 facing the static member 8.

According to an improvement of the invention, which is particularly visible on Figures 11 and 12 , the inner face of the blank 6 opposite the static member 8 comprises a peripheral puncture 11 surrounding a passage hole 11A of the finger 7 in said blank 6 directed towards the abutment portion 8 of the static member 9, so as to constitute both a bearing to said finger 7 and an abutment to the compensation spring 4, avoiding any lateral displacement thereof on the rim of the blank 6, likely to cause the wedging of the spring 4 and adversely affect the operation of the device.

According to another improvement of the invention, which is particularly visible on the Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 , the inner face of the blank 5 opposite that 6 opposite the static member 9 comprises a peripheral puncture 12 surrounding the corresponding through hole 13 of the finger 7 directed towards the elastic thrust member 10 thereof, to constitute a landing.

This feature is particularly evident in the figure 9 constituting the section VIIIa, VIIIa of the figure 8 .

In this case, as in the previous, the slats 11 and 12 effectively contribute to stiffen the blanks 6 and 5 and consequently strengthen the holding of the finger 7, in the unlocked position. Indeed, in this case, its role is to maintain the end of the spring 4 which is stretched.

According to another improvement of the invention, external attachment means 14, 15 of one end of the extension spring 10, constituting the elastic thrust member, are constituted by hooks 14, 15 obtained by deformation of material of the 5, around the passage hole 13 of the finger 7. This improvement is particularly clearly visible on the figure 10 constituting a section along line VIIIb, VIIIb of the figure 8 .

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, each of the blanks 5, 6 integrate, for one 5 the attachment means 14, 15 of the spring 10 and one of the bearings 12 of the finger 7, and for the other 6 the other bearing 10 of the finger 7 and a stop of the compensation spring 4 are constituted by a single piece obtained by stamping from a flat steel sheet in a single operation.

As shown by the Figures 5 and 6 , the blanks 5 and 6 are assembled together by means of connecting bars 22 arranged between said blanks, then stapled by a deformation 23 of the end of said strips, after having passed through corresponding holes 24 of the blanks.

These bars 22 are stiffened by a hollow stamping operation whose bulge 22a is turned outwardly and they contribute to the realization of the coil 2 by reinforcing it.

On the other hand, one 22A of these bars, disposed near the punctures 11, 12 of the flanks 6, 5, supporting the gripping finger 7, of the spring 4, although identical to the other bars 22, has the particularity of to be turned so that its domed portion is turned inward and thus its recessed portion 22Aa to the outside. Note also that said bar 22A is offset peripherally inwardly relative to the others to allow the spring 4, near its end 4b, to pass over the bar 22A covering its recessed portion 22Aa turned outward, so to the spring covering it. This is intended to limit and control expansion and friction during spring breakage.

According to another characteristic of the invention illustrated by the Figures 13 and 14 , the static member 9 comprises abutment portions 8 constituted by peripheral openings open at one of their ends and closed at the other end, in the sense of the blocking to be obtained in the event of unlocking of the finger 7 which has become lodged in the 8, the pitch between two gills, corresponding to an apron drop of less than thirty centimeters.

As for the blanks 5 and 6, the static member 9 is obtained by stamping from a flat steel sheet in a single operation.

As also shown in these figures, the static member 9 is secured to the shaft 3 by means of the tabs 16 extending axially from the body of the static member 9 and which are pierced with holes 17 fixing to the tree.

As shown by figures 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 , the coil is held in place on the shaft 3 not only by the static member 9 fixed on the shaft but also, on the opposite, by a fastener 18 which is also derived from the legs 19 in which are practiced holes 20 for fixing on the same shaft 3, thus trapping the coil and the fall prevention device according to the invention.

Claims (9)

1. Fall-arresting device for a shutter apron intended to be wound around at least one reel (2) mounted such that it can rotate on a fixed shaft (3) and connected to this shaft via a compensating spring (4) wound on itself between two cheeks (5, 6) of the reel (2) and the internal end (4a) of which is secured to the shaft (3) while its external end (4b) collaborates with an immobilizing element (7) mounted such that it can move in terms of displacement on the said reel (2) such that in the event of failure of the compensating spring (4), the said element (4) will collaborate in an immobilizing manner with a stop-forming part (8) of a static component (9) secured to the fixed shaft (3) and therefore to the apron, the said immobilizing element (7) consisting of a finger inserted between the two mainly parallel cheeks (5, 6) delimiting the reel (2), an external part (7a) of which is connected to an elastic thrusting member (10) and an internal part (7b) of which collaborates with the end (4b) of the compensating spring (4), which finger (7) is able to move axially along an axis (X, X') parallel to that (Y, Y') of the shaft (3), characterized in that the internal face of the cheek (6) facing the static component (9) comprises a peripheral recess (11) surrounding a hole (11A) for the passage of the finger (7) through the said cheek (6) and which faces towards the stop-forming part (8) of the static component (9) in such a way as to constitute both a bearing for the said finger (7) and an end stop for the compensating spring (4) preventing any lateral movement thereof on the rim of the cheek (6) liable to cause the spring (4) to jam and impair the operation of the device.
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the internal face of the cheek (5) opposite the one (6) facing the static component (9) comprises a peripheral recess (12) surrounding the corresponding passage hole (13) for the finger (7) and directed towards the elastic thrusting member (10) thereof, so as to constitute a bearing.
3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that external attachment means (14, 15) for attaching one end of the extension spring (10) that constitutes the elastic thrusting member, consist of hooks (14, 15) obtained by deforming some of the material of the cheek (5) around the passage hole (13) for the finger (7).
4. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cheeks (5, 6) incorporate, one (5) of them the means (14, 15) of attachment of the spring (10) and one of the bearings (12) for the finger (7) and the other (6) the other bearing (10) for the finger (7) and an end stop for the compensating spring (4), and are each made of a single piece obtained by pressing a flat steel plate in a single operation.
5. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cheeks (5, 6) are joined together by connecting bars (22) positioned between the said cheeks, then clipped in place by deforming (23) the end of the said bars after they have passed through corresponding holes (24) in the cheeks.
6. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the bars (22) are stiffened by an operation of pressing them into a hollowed out shape with the convex curvature (22a) of which faces outwards in order to contribute towards producing the reel (2) while at the same time strengthening it.
7. Device according to one of Claims 5 and 6, characterized in that one (22A) of these bars positioned near the recesses (11, 12) in the cheeks (6, 5) supporting the attachment finger (7) for the spring (4), although identical to the other bars (22), has the special feature of being inverted so that its convex curvature faces towards the inside and its recessed part (22Aa) therefore faces towards the outside, the said bar (22A) being peripherally offset towards the inside with respect to the other bars in order to allow the spring (4), near its end (4b), to pass over the bar (22A) thereby covering its recessed part (22Aa) that faces towards the outside and therefore towards the spring covering it in such a way as to limit and control expansion and friction should the spring break.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the static component (9) comprises stop-forming parts (8) consisting of peripheral apertures open at one of their ends and closed at their other end, in the direction of the immobilization to be obtained in the event of the unlocking of the finger (7) which becomes lodged in the nearest aperture (8), the spacing between two apertures corresponding to an apron drop of less than thirty centimetres.
9. Device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the static component (9) is obtained by pressing from a flat steel plate in a single operation.

Images