EP1541794A1 - Driving device of a garage door - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a guide rail (4) for horizontally moving a carriage (3) between two ends of the rail using a chain (5). The chain is driven by two driving wheels placed at the ends of the rail, where one of the driving wheels is driven in rotation by a gear motor (2). The gear motor is cylindrical and has a longitudinal axis (XX) around which the driving wheel is rotated.

Description

The invention relates to a device for driving a garage door defined by the preamble of claim 1.

Very different forms of door drive devices from garage are known from the prior art.

Most garage door drive devices are mounted centrally to the door. The drive motor is placed in the extension of a rail, along which slides a carriage connected by an arm to the door to maneuver. This cart is the most often driven by a flexible link, whose displacement is generated by engine.

The flexible link is most often guided in the rail, but others solutions are possible, as shown in US 3,722,141.

Some garage door drive devices like this described in the utility model DE 200 09 154 U use soft links transmission, mounted parallel, on each side of the door, in guide rails.

WO 02/055824 discloses a drive device sectional garage door including a motorized tube, mounted perpendicular to the guide rails of the door and on which are wound straps tied to the door, on each side of it in its part lower. The winding tube is located at the end upper guide rails. In other devices such as this described in WO 92/09777, the winding tube is located at level of connection of horizontal rails to vertical rails guiding the door.

The constraints concerning the door drive devices of garage are relatively important: on the one hand, standards are strict rules, in particular as regards the safety of goods and people, doors to drive can be very heavy.

On the other hand, mechanical constraints are present. The Garage door drive device is most often put in place in an existing facility, not provided for this purpose. Thereby, lintel heights (between the top of the door and the ceiling) or overall lengths (available ceiling length from the door towards the back of the garage) are often weak or insufficient.

In addition, different types of garage doors exist on the market. They can be raised to allow their opening as sectional, tilting or rolling doors. They can also be moved horizontally along rails. It is interesting to provide a garage door drive device that be adaptable to the largest number of existing door types.

Patent US 4,520,684 discloses a door drive device garage. This device comprises a motor, a reducer, a rail of guiding a carriage and a flexible transmission link between a wheel of reducer outlet and the carriage, the link moving in a plane vertical.

US Pat. Nos. 2,822,166 and US Pat. No. 3,909,980 are also known. garage door drives similar to the one described in the previous patent.

These devices have the disadvantage of having a clutter (measured vertically and / or along the axis of the guide rail) very important at the level of their motor and / or their gearbox.

It is still known from patent IT 1 159 772 a tubular geared motor allowing to drive the tilting of a garage door by via a rigid element.

The object of the invention is to provide a door drive device garage to overcome the problems cited and bringing a improvement over known devices of the prior art. The invention proposes in particular a door drive device of garage allowing because of its size and its architecture to be installed to operate most existing garage doors. The small size of the device according to the invention in height allows to install it in garages with low levels of lintel and the small size of the device according to the invention according to the axis of the guide rail allows to install it in garages having short lengths. The door drive device according to the invention also has improved mechanical efficiency compared to known devices of the prior art.

The training device according to the invention is characterized by the part characterized in claim 1.

Different embodiments of the device are defined by the dependent claims 2 to 8.

The appended drawing represents, as examples, various modes of realization of devices for driving a garage door according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of realization of the garage door drive device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view from above of this device drive.

Figures 3 and 4 are top views of a drive device intended to drive a sliding garage door.

Figures 5 and 6 are side and top views of a second embodiment of the garage door drive device.

Figure 7 is a side view of a carriage of a drive device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the carriage according to plan VIII-VIII of FIG. figure 7.

A first embodiment of the training device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is intended for the operation of a sectional door or tilting. It comprises a guide rail 4 of a carriage 3. This carriage 3 is movable in translation between the two ends of the rail. He is moved by the action of a chain 5 retained by two toothed wheels arranged at the ends of the rail. The toothed wheel 8 being closest to the door when it is closed is mounted crazy in an element of guide. The other gear 7 at the other end of the rail is rotated by a geared motor 2. This geared motor to a cylindrical form, it comprises an electric motor and a reducer to epicyclic gear arranged so that the axis of the motor is confused with the axis of the reducer. The rail is fixed to the ceiling of the building at these ends. The rail can be fixed at the element level for guiding the toothed wheel 8 so as to minimize the number of installation parts.

In this first embodiment of the training device, the upper and lower strands of the chain 5 are in a vertical plane, above and below the guide rail 4. The height of the device drive garage door (excluding geared motor and taking into account of the arrow of the chain) is represented by the reference a.

The carriage 3 is mechanically linked, by an arm 9, to a garage door 10. The mechanical links between the carriage and the arm on the one hand, and the arm and the door on the other hand, are for example pivot type. When the carriage slides along the rail 4, the door 10 is pulled or pushed by the arm 9 and thus moves to an open or closed position according to a movement determined by guide means thereof.

The geared motor unit 2 also comprises means of management of door position, limit switches, and obstacles potential.

The length of the rail is adapted to the dimensions of the door defining the stroke of the trolley necessary for the passage of an open position of the door to a closed position.

The drive device is provided with a disengagement system manually, so that the door can be operated manually in case of power failure or malfunction of the gearmotor. Of preferably, this clutch release system is designed at the level of the link mechanical between the chain and the trolley.

As it appears clearly in FIG. 2, the structure of the device drive of the garage door 1 is asymmetrical, unlike at most known garage door drives. The Geared motor 2 has an elongate shape along an axis XX. By form lengthened, it is understood that the diameter of the gearmotor is substantially less than its length, for example the length of the gearmotor is worth at least twice its diameter and, preferably, is worth at least 3 times its diameter. The geared motor is placed perpendicularly to the YY axis of the support rail 4. Thus, it is possible to directly mount the transmission wheel 7 on the output shaft of the gearmotor without a motion transfer element, that is to say that the axis of rotation of the transmission wheel 7 coincides with the axis longitudinal axis of the gearmotor.

The longitudinal axis XX of the geared motor 2 thus being in a plane parallel to that of the door opening, the length of the device garage door drive 1 is reduced compared to conventional garage door drives for which the geared motor unit extends parallel to the axis of the rail 4. Similarly, the cylindrical shape of the gearmotor allows to limit to the maximum the height requirement of the door drive device of garage.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this embodiment of the Garage door drive device can also be used to drive sliding garage doors remaining vertical. A such door moves in slides 11 installed on the ground and on the wall.

These slides form two rectilinear guides arranged at right angles and connected by a curved guide.

The elongated shape of the geared motor makes it possible to place it in a plane horizontal, the rail, respectively the geared motor, behind the lintel as shown in Figure 3, respectively in Figure 4. The gearmotor could also be placed in a vertical position level of the connection between the two straight guides, but this solution is a priori less advantageous. She forces the chain to move in a horizontal plane while the plane of movement of the The most suitable chain is the vertical plane. The chain is indeed more apt to undergo, in this position, the tensile forces and forces due to its weight. When meshing the chain on the teeth of the wheels is done in the vertical plane, the arrow of the chain is made by the articulation of its links. It then undergoes no lateral effort.

A second embodiment of the door drive device the garage is shown in Figures 5 and 6. This second mode of embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the strands upper and lower of the chain are no longer in a vertical plane passing through the axis of the rail. Indeed, the chain is deported on the side of the rail. This particular architecture allows the use of gear wheels smaller diameter resulting in reduced gear reducing the gearbox and reducing the height of the training device represented by the reference b. The diameter gear wheels can be reduced to the extent that it is now independent of the height of the rail. Indeed, if the soft link must move in a vertical plane including the axis of the rail, the height of the garage door drive device can only with difficulty to be reduced.

The chain could be replaced by any other form of flexible link such a smooth belt, toothed belt or wire rope. We then uses, in place of the gears, pulleys. The flexible link may also include a part formed by a chain and a part formed by a cable. Only the gear wheel located near the door when in the closed position is then replaced by a pulley. The combination cable-chain is the most advantageous in term mechanical efficiency and cost. The chain part allows a easy drive by gear wheel and accurate counting. The part cable limits the relaxation of the flexible link and therefore the arrow of the soft strands. The flexible link can still be of the same type as that described in the utility model DE 94 02 813 U, that is to say comprising a part provided with teeth or notches to cooperate with a wheel drive and a portion constituted by a smooth belt.

In addition, the strand located between the carriage and the idler wheel, soft when the door is driven towards the opening, does not hang, or very little in comparison with a chain, whose weight creates an important arrow.

This configuration is enough to eliminate the risk that a soft strand of the link flexible comes rub against the outside of the door and damage when it approaches its open position.

Indeed, during the installation of a door drive device of garage, there are several criteria to consider: first, the height under lintel, which limits the space available for mechanical parts, and on the other hand, the maximum available height due to the kinematics of door. If we take the case of overhead or sectional doors sliding in a horizontal rail, the highest point of the door (ridge) follows a so-called door kinematics curve, which tends at the beginning of maneuver of opening, to rise, then to descend in a tangential to the horizontal corresponding to the top of the door in position closed.

To prevent the soft link from rubbing against the top of the door, especially because of the arrow of the soft strand and the kinematics of door, it is prudent to limit the overall height of the device garage door drive (including the rail and the flexible link, including the arrow created by the soft strand) on the entire rail, at the height between the high point of the door kinematics curve and the ceiling.

The point of attachment of the chain to the trolley is located on the lower strand flexible link in the lower part of the carriage. When the door is closed, the upper strand is stretched, while most of the strand lower is relaxed.

To actuate the opening movement of the door, the geared motor rotates in a direction S1 allowing to exert a traction on the strand inferior. The lower strand portion located between the carriage and the idler wheel is relaxed. If a cable is used, the arrow of this part of the wire is minimal and does not help to increase the maximum height above of the door kinematics curve.

The upper strand is also soft, but it tends to hang in the space between the strands. His arrow is possibly limited by the strand lower on which he comes to rest. So, whatever the arrow of the strand soft, it does not add to the desired maximum height. If the strand superior relaxes to rest on the lower strand, this does not pose no problem considering the low speeds involved in the frame of garage door drive devices. In this architecture where the chain is shifted, the upper strand when it is relaxed is resting on the lower strand and not on the tubular rail. This eliminates any friction between the flexible link and the rail, these friction being sources of noise.

Conversely, in the closing movement of the door, the gearmotor rotates in a S2 direction to exert traction on the upper strand portion between the transmission wheel and the carriage. As a result, the upper strand as well as the lower strand portion between the trolley and the idler wheel, remain strained while the other part of strand lower is relaxed. As this one is at the back of the door, he there is no risk that this part of chain comes to rub on the top of the door.

The cart could also be linked to the flexible link at its strand superior. The "strained" and "relaxed" states of the strands are then inverted compared to what is described above. We can privilege the aesthetics of the device. Indeed, when the door is open the rail and the flexible link are hidden by it and, when the door is closed, the upper strand is relaxed and possibly resting on the strand lower that is stretched. Thus, whatever the state of the door the user does not never see under the device drive a strand of the link flexible having an arrow.

The carriage 3 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises an elongated body and a screed. The elongate body is traversed longitudinally by a cylindrical bore 14. This bore allows the carriage to be threaded on a guide rail of circular section and to be guided in translation by this one. The diameter of the bore corresponds to the operating clearance close to the diameter of the guide rail. Bore and rail could also present polygonal sections.

The carriage 3 also comprises a longitudinal opening 15 and opening allowing the passage of the lower part of the flexible link 5. Means of locking the link in this hole allow to ensure the mechanical connection between the flexible link and the carriage allowing the kinematic drive of the trolley by the link. One can for example use a hanging system a shuttle closing the chain.

The carriage 3 may also include a longitudinal groove 16 for guiding the upper end of the flexible link 5. This groove can it should also be replaced by a longitudinal opening opening. This orifice would provide better guidance, but would require donning one of strands of the flexible link in the carriage when installing the device. This orifice in which the chain runs could also, by action of this on its walls serve to prevent the rotation of the cart around the axis of the rail when the latter is circular. This solution would be useful in the case of using a connecting arm linked by patella at the door and the trolley or when using a flexible link arm, specific means must then be dedicated to locking the door in closed position.

The carriage 3 also has a fork connection 9. This clevis is formed by two ears 17 that can be reported by welding on the body of the carriage and having a common bore 18.

It is preferable to use the training device according to the invention a so-called "tubular" gearmotor insofar as it is intended, usually, to be mounted in the winding tube of a roller blind or rolling shutter. In this case, the geared motor does not can not be arranged vertically without modification of its system seal to prevent the flow of lubricant it contains.

The invention would also be applicable to a device for opening garage door in which the cart is guided solely by the link flexible (in the absence of rail).

The characteristics of the carriage described and represented by way of example to Figures 7 and 8 are also interesting, for example, for the holding the carriage in the plane of the rail in the case of a link arm not rigid between the carriage and the door to drive.

Claims (8)

Device (1) for driving a garage door (10) comprising a geared motor (2), a rail (4) for translational guidance of a carriage (3) and a flexible link (5) closed thereon same transmission between the geared motor (2) and the carriage (3), the flexible link being driven by a wheel (7) output of the geared motor and moving in a vertical plane (YZ), characterized in that the geared motor ( 2) has a longitudinal axis (XX) and has an elongated shape along said longitudinal axis (XX) and in that the output wheel (7) of the geared motor is disposed at one of its ends and rotatable about the axis longitudinal (XX). Device (1) for training according to claim 1, characterized in that the geared motor (2) comprises an electric motor and an epicyclic reduction gear mounted on the same axis. Device (1) for training according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the geared motor (2) is a geared tubular type usually intended to be mounted in a winding tube of a roller blind or shutter rolling. Device (1) drive according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage (3) has a bore (14) cylindrical or polygonal and is slidably mounted on the guide rail (4) having a circular section or polygonal, the dimensions of the bore (14) corresponding to the operating clearance, to the dimensions of the section of the guide rail (4). Device (1) for training according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plane in which the flexible link moves is offset with respect to the axis of the guide rail. Device (1) for training according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible link (5) comprises a portion made by a chain and a portion made by a cable. Device (1) for training according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriage (3) comprises a shape (16) for guiding the flexible link (5) in its movement relative to the carriage (3). Device (1) for training according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the garage door (10) is of type tilting or sectional or sliding.

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