EP2007963B1 - Closure device with a curtain having flexible lateral edges - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device comprising a curtain (2) having flexible lateral edges (4) with a thick region (4'), this curtain (2) being provided with a cable or several juxtaposed cables (21) incompressible in the direction of their length and extending parallel to the lateral edges (4) of the curtain in such a way as to enable a pushing force to be applied to them in their longitudinal direction to move the curtain towards its closed position, the cable or cables (21) being situated in the neutral surface (24) of the edges (4) which is formed when the edges (4) flex, and the cable or cables (21) being fixed non-removably relative to the curtain (2); the thick region comprising a flexible band (8) of elastic material in which are incorporated the cable or cables (21) and two belts (9, 10) situated opposite each other on each of the faces of the curtain (2).

Description

The invention relates to a device comprising a curtain having flexible lateral edges provided with an extra thickness extending in the longitudinal direction of the lateral edges, this extra thickness being guided by guideways thus making it possible to move the curtain between a position closure and an open position.

This device can be intended for closing a door or window bay, the loading volume of a vehicle, such as a truck or a boat, the recovery of a pool, etc.

The difficulty in developing such a device is that it is always necessary to find a compromise between the flexibility and the rigidity of the lateral edges of the curtain to prevent the various layers from which they are generally formed from tearing apart or dissolving during the opening. and closing the curtain.

In particular, when the curtain is driven towards its closed position by the action of a thrust force on the lateral edges of the curtain, the pressure exerted in the longitudinal direction of the latter, following the friction in the guideways, can be relatively important. This is particularly the case for a curtain with a large area or for a curtain exposed to the wind. In order to prevent the lateral edges from locking up in the guide paths or being disengaged from them, it is important that these edges are sufficiently rigid and incompressible in their longitudinal direction while being sufficiently flexible and deformable by torsion. .

This is not the case in the device covered by the document WO 03/048497 . Indeed, this device comprises at these lateral edges a bead moving in a guide path which, on the contrary, is compressible in its longitudinal direction.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the side edges of the curtain are flexible to allow them to emerge from the guideways when a certain force is exerted on the curtain, to prevent it from being damaged. During the reintroduction of the lateral edges in the guideways, these must be able to deform elastically and / or flex without being damaged and without the curtain or the guideways being damaged.

In addition, the lateral edges must have a reduced friction compared to the guideways and be able to undergo a large number of cycles of opening and closing of the curtain, pe from one to two million, without degradation of their physical characteristics, such as their rigidity and flexibility.

It is also important that the side edges can bend elastically in a substantially continuous curve, i.e. arc-shaped, without forming discontinuities, as p.e. folds. Indeed, the curvature of the lateral edges, which would have formed in an elastic manner, eg during the reintroduction of the lateral edges in the guideways, must vary in a continuous manner, otherwise the curtain or its lateral edges risk to be damaged. This problem often arises in today's soft curtain closing devices.

Since the curtain of the closure device, according to the invention, is designed to be moved at a very high speed, of the order of 1 to 3 m / sec, between the open position and the closed position, it It is important that the side edges are very light.

In this respect, it is known, in particular from the document WO 03/048497 , in particular by the embodiment shown in FIG. figure 4 , to provide a frame 17 in a drive belt 10 forming part of a toothed belt 11. It has been found that after a number of cycles of opening and closing of the curtain, this frame 17 comes out and detaches of the drive band, which makes it unusable.

The document WO 02/25048 shows, in FIG. 37, hooking means formed by two flexible ribbons 62 and 63 known under the trade name "Velcro" by which a metal strip 19 is removably attached to the lateral edge of the flap 1. Also, after a number of opening and closing cycles of the flap, the ribbons 62 and 63 detach from the metal strip 19 thus requiring expensive repairs.

In addition, the metal strip 19 can not twist, which is a great disadvantage for the case where this band should be able to disengage from its guide path due to an accident.

Finally, if the curtain or a ribbon of support of the latter is fixed between two strips which are more rigid than the curtain or this ribbon, it has been found that the risk exists that it deteriorates at the place and / or near where it is fixed between these two bands during a large number of opening and closing cycles. Such a situation is particularly apparent in the documents WO 95/30064 and EP 1 460 231 A2 .

More particularly, the document EP 1 460 231 A2 relates to a flexible sliding door comprising a support belt 2, which is made of a material substantially similar to that of the curtain 3 which is formed the door. It is therefore a belt 2 which is necessarily more flexible than the projecting belt 11. The latter has indeed a relatively large thickness and is made of a relatively hard composite material which, moreover, is very not very flexible It has been found that, after a large number of flexions to which these doors are generally subjected, the protruding belt 11 deteriorates to such an extent as to make them unusable.

One of the essential aims of the invention is to propose a technically and economically justified solution to all the aforementioned problems.

For this purpose, the curtain of the device, according to the invention, is provided with at least one cable, substantially incompressible in the direction of its length, extending substantially parallel to the lateral edges of the curtain in such a way as to allow applying a pushing force on these lateral edges in their longitudinal direction to move the curtain from its open position to its closed position, the neutral surface of said lateral edges formed during bending of the cable being located in this cable, this the last being fixed with respect to the curtain, close to each of the lateral edges of the latter in an immovable manner by preventing any relative movement with respect to the curtain.

Advantageously, the curtain is provided with a succession of several cables juxtaposed immobilized relative to each other and extending in a plane parallel to the plane of the curtain.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cable or cables are maintained and preferably embedded in an elastic support.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe verticale d'un dispositif à rideau en position de fermeture.
• La figure 2 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1 avec le rideau dans sa position d'ouverture.
• La figure 3 est une vue frontale de ce même dispositif, également avec le rideau dans la position d'ouverture.
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective d'une partie du bord latéral d'un rideau d'un dispositif, suivant une première forme de réalisation de l'invention.
• La figure 5 est une coupe longitudinale partielle d'une partie enroulée du bord latéral d'un rideau, suivant une deuxième forme de réalisation de l'invention.
• La figure 6 est une vue schématique en élévation et de face, avec brisure partielle, d'une troisième forme de réalisation particulière de l'invention.
• La figure 7 est une vue schématique d'une coupe longitudinale de la forme de réalisation représentée à la figure 6.
• La figure 8 est une vue analogue à la figure 4 d'une quatrième forme de réalisation.
• La figure 9 est une vue en perspective, avec brisure partielle, d'une partie d'une bande incompressible fixée à proximité des bords latéraux du rideau d'un dispositif suivant l'invention.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of nonlimiting example, of some particular embodiments of a curtain device, according to the invention, with reference to the drawings. attached.

• The figure 1 is a schematic view in vertical section of a curtain device in the closed position.
• The figure 2 is a view similar to that of the figure 1 with the curtain in its open position.
• The figure 3 is a front view of this same device, also with the curtain in the open position.
• The figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the side edge of a curtain of a device, according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• The figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section of a wound portion of the side edge of a curtain, according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• The figure 6 is a schematic view in elevation and front, with partial breakage, of a third particular embodiment of the invention.
• The figure 7 is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in FIG. figure 6 .
• The figure 8 is a view similar to the figure 4 a fourth embodiment.
• The figure 9 is a perspective view, with partial breaking, of a portion of an incompressible band fixed near the lateral edges of the curtain of a device according to the invention.

In the various figures, the same reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements.

In general, the invention relates to a device comprising a curtain which is preferably flexible and is formed by a tarpaulin, a net, etc. and which has flexible side edges with an extra thickness extending in the longitudinal direction of the side edges. In other embodiments, the body of the curtain may be formed by a succession of lamellae hinged to each other, extending perpendicularly to its direction of movement and laterally bordered by a flexible zone having the aforementioned allowance.

This extra thickness is guided in guideways thus allowing the curtain to be moved between a closed position and an open position.

The curtain is characterized in that it is provided with at least one substantially incompressible cable in the direction of its length extending parallel to the lateral edges of the curtain. Preference is given to a series of cables extending next to each other in the same plane and parallel to the lateral edges of the curtain. This plane is parallel to the plane of the curtain in such a way as to make it possible to apply a thrust force on these lateral edges in their longitudinal direction to move the curtain from its open position to its closed position.

By "plane of the curtain 2" is meant the flat surface of the curtain unrolled in rectilinear guideways.

Another essential feature of the invention is that the plane or the neutral surface of said lateral edges formed during the bending of these edges is located in the cable or cables themselves. These must also be fixed relative to the curtain near each of the lateral edges of the latter in an immovable manner. This or these cables can therefore be at the lateral edges of the curtain or at a relatively small distance thereof.

"Neutral surface of a curtain edge" means the plane in which no compression or elongation in the longitudinal direction of this edge takes place when this edge is subjected to forces which tend to bend it. The portions of this edge between the neutral surface and the center of curvature are in compression and shorten, while the portions on the other side of this neutral surface are stretched and elongated.

The Figures 1 to 3 show very schematically a device in which the present invention, as defined above, is applicable.

In this case, this device is mounted opposite a door bay 1 and comprises a curtain 2 cooperating with a drum 3. The lateral edges 4 of this curtain 2 are guided in guideways 5.

In the figure 1 the curtain 2, after being unrolled from the drum 3 in the direction of the arrows 6, is brought into the closed position, while the figures 2 and 3 show the curtain 2 in the open position after having been wound on the drum 3 in the direction of the arrows 7.

The figure 4 relates to a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the lateral edges 4 are formed by an excess thickness 4 'which is guided in guideways, not shown. This extra thickness 4 'comprises a flexible flat strip 8 made of an elastic material, such as polyurethane, into which are incorporated a series of parallel cables 21 extending in the neutral surface 24 along the longitudinal direction of this strip. This band 8 is substantially incompressible in the direction of its length and, possibly, its width and is fixed in a manner irremovable on one of the faces of the curtain 2 at the location of the lateral edges 4. It is formed by the cables 21 and a support 22 for the latter and is very little or not flexible in a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction and parallel to its large faces. The band 8 may preferably be twisted about a longitudinal axis.

Thus, by applying a pushing force on these lateral edges 4 in the direction of the arrows 6, as indicated in FIG. figure 1 the curtain 2 can be moved from its open position to its closed position.

On the face of this strip 8, opposed to that facing the curtain 2, is glued a toothed belt 9, while on the other side of the edges 4, facing the strip 8, is glued a not-notched belt 10 .

The figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the two belts 9 and 10 have teeth 11 respectively 12 which engage with each other in the wound position of the curtain 2.

When bending the strip 8, as shown in FIG. figure 5 , the neutral surface 24 thus obtained is located in the cables 21. This is very important to prevent the belts 9 and 10 can be detached from the curtain after a large number of cycles of opening and closing thereof. It is, indeed, as it is, in the context of the present invention, a curtain which must be able to undergo between one and two million cycles of opening and closing.

The Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the automatic setting of a curtain device after one of the side edges has cleared from its guide path 5. These two figures clearly show the torsion at which the edge 4, comprising a succession of blocks 19, is subjected during its reintroduction in the corresponding guide path 5.

In the figure 7 the edge 4 without an incompressible band is shown in full lines, while the case where such a band is incorporated in this edge 4 is shown in broken lines.

In the embodiment without incompressible band, the parts of the curtain between the blocks 19 deform in an uncontrolled manner, with the consequence that at the moment when the blocks 19 must engage in the guide path 5, these cling to it at the location indicated by the arrows 27.

Another problem that can arise if the curtain does not have an incompressible band is that the side edge can enter the free space between the drum and the entrance of the guide tracks when the curtain moves to its position. closing.

Thanks to the fact of providing an incompressible band near the lateral edge of the curtain, which is less flexible than the latter, a much less pronounced deformation of the parts of the edge 4 between two successive blocks and a uniform curvature, without discontinuities, is obtained. last when reintroduced into the guideway.

The figure 8 relates to an embodiment in which the excess thickness 4 'at the side edges 4 of the curtain 2 is formed by a succession of small blocks 19 mounted at a distance from each other on a bead 25 formed of textile yarns or the like which is therefore compressible in the direction of its length.

In this embodiment, the strip 8 is incorporated in a sheath formed of a fold 20 of the curtain 2 near its lateral edges 4. This allows, as is the case in the embodiment, as explained in FIG. relationship with the figure 7 , to obtain a regular, uniform and continuous bending in the form of an arc. The band 8 can be glued into the fold 20 by its two faces or by one of its faces.

To prevent this cord 25 from bending between two consecutive blocks 19, these blocks must move and be kept in a guide path, not shown in this figure 8 . The presence of an incompressible band 8 makes it possible to improve the sliding of the blocks 19 in the guide path.

In addition, thanks to the presence of the band 8, the distance between two consecutive blocks can vary between relatively large limits.

Thus, in embodiments similar to those shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 , the band 8 can also be incorporated in such a fold of the curtain.

The figure 9 shows in more detail, a particular embodiment of a strip 8, formed by the cables 21 and the support 22. In this embodiment, the strip 8 has in its face located on the side of the center of curvature of the curtain 2 in its wound position a succession of grooves 23 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cables 21, so as to facilitate the bending of the strip 8.

Advantageously, these grooves 23 extend to the cables 21.

The strip 8 is arranged in such a way with respect to the lateral edges 4 that the neutral surface 24 formed during the flexion thereof and of which mention has been made in connection with the Figures 4 and 5 , is located in the cables 21 incorporated in this strip 8.

As already mentioned in relation to the Figures 6 and 7 it is also important that, in this specific application, the strip is sufficiently elastic in torsion.

In yet another variant of the device according to the invention, the cable or cables 21 may be fixed directly on the curtain, eg by gluing, or may be incorporated in the latter in a reinforced or thicker zone.

For devices with curtains of a certain size or which require very frequent openings and closings at high speed, it is necessary to provide mechanical drive means, such as a motor 28 shown in FIG. figure 3 , making it possible to exert a thrust force on the strip 8 in its longitudinal direction for driving the latter. In the embodiment shown in figure 8 this motor can act on a toothed zone, not shown, meshing with the blocks 19.

It is important to note that the band 8 can occupy a very variable place with respect to the extra thickness. So, she can be an integral part of this last, as in the first embodiment, or be located at a small distance from this extra thickness, outside the guideways and inwardly of the curtain. Another possibility is that the extra thickness covers at least part of the web, i.e. that these overlap partially.

It is also important that, during the bending of the excess thickness 4 ', formed of a succession of blocks 19, a curved uniform continuous arc-shaped shape similar to that of the strip 8 is obtained.

This requires that the distance between the extra thickness and the strip is relatively small. In fact, practical tests make it possible for those skilled in the art to determine the maximum distance between the band and the extra thickness to obtain the desired result which is to prevent gathers from forming in the curtain, especially between two blocks. consecutive when moving to its closed position.

Another possibility to obtain this result could be to maintain the distance between the blocks 19 and the strip 8 less than the dimension of the blocks in the longitudinal direction of the lateral edges 4 of the curtain 2.

In a variant of the device according to figure 8 , the excess thickness 4 'is formed by a bead provided near the lateral edges 4 of the curtain 2.

When the curtain 2 is mounted on a drum 3, as shown in FIGS. Figures 1 to 3 , the band 8 can be attached to the curtain 2 only with its side on the side of the center of curvature of the latter. This possibility has already been mentioned in connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. figure 8 .

The cable or cables 21 preferably have a diameter of 0.5 to 4 mm. This or these cables can be trapped in separate sheaths, e.g. polyurethane, which are fixed immovably on a flexible support.

Moreover, this or these cables are advantageously formed of several twisted strands. This gives them greater flexibility than in the case where they are formed of a single rod.

The thrust force, which is exerted on the cable or cables, varies between 5 and 150 kg. It is therefore important that their compressive strength be large enough to withstand this force. The advantage of having several parallel cables, as shown in the different figures, is that they allow a better winding of the curtain and good rigidity when reintroducing the lateral edges into the guideways, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 .

Yet another advantage is that a strip containing a plurality of parallel cables can hardly be deformed in a direction parallel to its large faces, as already mentioned above. However, a torsion of the lateral edges 4 around their longitudinal axis remains possible in order to facilitate the automatic reintroduction of these lateral edges 4 in the guideways.

When the curtain 2 consists of a flexible plastic sheet, such as for example PVC, which is, for example, reinforced by a fabric or a mesh of polyester fibers, or of another material, the strip 8, comprising one or more steel cables, is advantageously fixed on the face of the curtain 2 which is directed towards the outside of the roll formed during the winding of the curtain 2. Optionally, these cables are fixed directly to this side of the curtain. Indeed, the polyester fiber fabric or mesh, extending along the plane of the curtain and wrapped in said plastic material, is compressible according to the plane of the curtain, but is not substantially extensible and therefore can hardly be lying in that direction without the curtain being damaged. By fixing the strip 8 to the face of the curtain 2 which is opposite to that directed towards the center of curvature when the curtain 2 is wound, the latter is not subjected to an elongation, but is compressed somewhat in the direction of its side edges at the location of these.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above and illustrated by the accompanying figures, but that other variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus, instead of toothed belts, one could use, on the one hand, a belt having on one of its faces lugs and, secondly, a belt provided with corresponding recesses. in which these lugs can engage when applying these belts against each other.

Moreover, the extra thickness can have very varied shapes and be formed, for example, by a bead.

It is the same for the band substantially incompressible in the direction of its length. This can be formed by any elongated element of which the cross-section can be very variable and may have a circular, ellipsoidal, polygonal shape, etc.

Although the nature of the materials, of which the cable or cables are made, can be very variable, a pronounced preference is given to steel cables.

Claims (14)

1. Device for closing a doorway or other opening (1) comprising a screen (2) presenting flexible side edges (4) with an overthickness (4') extending in the longitudinal direction of the side edges (4), this overthickness (4') being guided by guide channels (5) thus enabling the screen (2) to be moved between a closed position and an open position, characterised in that the screen (2) is equipped with at least one cable (21), substantially incompressible in its lengthwise direction, extending substantially parallel to the side edges of the screen (2) so as to enable the application of a thrust force on these side edges (4) in their longitudinal direction to move the screen from its open position to its closed position, the neutral surface (24) of said side edges (4) formed on bending of the cable (21) being located in this cable (21), the latter being fixed with respect to the screen (2), near each of the side edges (4) of this screen in an unremovable way preventing any movement with respect to the screen (2).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the screen (2) is equipped with a series of several juxtaposed cables (21) immobilised with respect to each other and extending in a plane parallel to the plane of the screen (2).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are formed from several twisted strands.
4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are maintained in an elastic support (22).
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are incorporated in the overthickness (4').
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the overthickness (4') is mounted on the screen (2) in such a way as to be able to move in the guide channels (5).
7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are located near said overthickness (4').
8. Device according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that said overthickness (4') at least partially covers the cable or cables (21).
9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are attached directly on the screen (2).
10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the cables (21) are incorporated in the screen (2).
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that driving means (28) are provided, enabling a thrust force to be exerted on the cables in their longitudinal direction to enable the screen (2) to be moved towards its closed position.
12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the cable or cables (21) are incorporated in a strip (8) made of a substantially elastic material on the neutral surface (24) formed on bending of the strip (8).
13. Device according to claim 12, characterised in that, when the screen (2) is mounted on a drum (3), the strip (8) is fixed with respect to the screen (2) only with its face located on the side of the centre of curvature of the rolled screen.
14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said overthickness (4') comprises notched belts (9, 10) presenting a series of teeth (11, 12) and extending on either side of the plane of the screen (2) in the longitudinal direction of the side edges (4), the strip (8) being incorporated between said notched belts (9, 10).

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