EP2077366A2

EP2077366A2 - Device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for the movement of doors, gates and the like

Info

Publication number: EP2077366A2
Application number: EP08171750A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliviero Arosio
Original assignee: GI BI DI Srl
Current assignee: GI BI DI Srl
Priority date: 2008-01-03
Filing date: 2008-12-16
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: CN101476429A; ITMO20080002A1; TW200946758A

Abstract

A device (1) for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like, comprising mechanical means (4) for the actuation of means (5) for disengagement of an automatic system (2) arranged inside a buried box-like enclosure (3) and means (6) for remote control of the mechanical means (4) which can be operated from the outside of the box-like enclosure (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for the movement of doors, gates and the like.
In particular, the present invention relates to automatic doors, gates and the like that are actuated to open/close by means of remote controls or remote buttons.
These opening and closing systems generally provide for the use of an automatic system such as a motor provided with a reduction unit, the output shaft of which is connected, for example, by means of actuation mechanisms, to each wing to be opened and closed.
The rotation of the output shaft is in fact controlled angularly in the two travel directions so that the wing sweeps a specific angle.
Each wing is alternately movable between a configuration for closing the door or gate, in which it blocks passage through such door or gate, and an open configuration, in which vice versa the jambs of the door or gate are arranged so as to allow passage through the door or gate.
The motor is generally of the type of an electric motor operated by an electromagnetic wave receiver and by a controller for controlling and actuating the opening/closure of the door, gate and the like, which in turn is activated by a transmitter that is arranged in the remote control with which the user is equipped. In case of emergency, as in an electric power failure due for example to a temporary blackout or others, it would be impossible to control the actuation of the motor and therefore actuate the door or gate connected thereto for closing and opening.
According to the applicable statutory provisions regarding installations of automatic devices, it is necessary, in order to prevent lack of electric power, to provide the door, gate and the like with a manual release device that allows manual opening and closing of the door, gate and the like in case of emergency.
These release devices are of two different types: the first type acts on the mechanical connection between the output shaft and the wing and the second one acts upstream of the output shaft in the connection between the output shaft and the motor, placing such output shaft in neutral.
In this last type, in particular, the motor with the reduction unit and the mechanical disengagement means, for example of the type of threaded elements, can be turned by at least one work tool, such as a crank or a screwdriver, which is adapted to disengage the connection between the motor and the output shaft for a manual release of the automatic system.
In particular, the threaded elements are buried in the installation pit, together with the motor, which is generally positioned beneath a wing of the door, gate and the like to be moved.
These release devices are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that in order to actuate the manual release of the wing it is necessary to remove the cover of the buried installation pit of the automatic system and operate the release element manually.
Generally, this operation entails a considerable expenditure of time and energy by the user, who in any case must possess a certain technical skill in the field.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the background art, by providing a device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like that allows to actuate easily the manual release of the door or gate in conditions of lack of electric power without requiring, for this operation, any intervention to open the installation pit.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a device that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.
Another object of the invention is to provide a device for actuating the manual release of the wing that is easy to actuate even for non-expert personnel and can be actuated easily in any condition.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like, characterized in that it comprises mechanical means for the actuation of means for disengagement of an automatic system arranged inside a buried box-like enclosure and means for remote control of said mechanical means which can be operated from the outside of said box-like enclosure.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a release device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of an automatic system that comprises the device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the device according to the invention, associated with a door, gate or the like;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the mechanical means of the device according to the invention;
Figure 5 is a partial sectional side view of a detail of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a front view of the actuation means of the device according to the invention;
Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view of Figure 6.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems, generally designated by the reference numeral 2, for moving doors, gates and the like arranged inside a buried box-like enclosure 3.
In particular, the device 1 comprises mechanical means 4 for actuating means, generally designated by the reference numeral 5, for disengagement of the automatic system 2, which are arranged inside the enclosure 3.
Further, the device 1 comprises means 6 for the remote control of the mechanical means 4 which can be operated, for example manually, from the outside of the box-like enclosure 3.
In a preferred embodiment, the control means 6 are arranged outside the enclosure 3; however, different embodiments of the control means 6 are not excluded and for example can be arranged inside the enclosure 3 in regions of easy access, as is known to the person skilled in the art, depending on the different possibilities of installation of the device 1 proximate to the door or gate or the like to be moved.
Advantageously, the mechanical means 4 comprise at least one lever system which can be operated from the outside of the enclosure 3 to activate and deactivate the disengagement means 5.
The disengagement means 5, in the preferred embodiment, advantageously comprise at least one release pin 7, which is associated slidingly with a motor body 8 of the automatic system 2 at members for motion transmission, for example, at a connection with a key C between a gear R and an intermediate shaft A comprised between the driving shaft and an output shaft 9 of the automatic system 2, from said automatic system to a wing 10 of doors, gates and the like.
In particular, the motion transmission members are generally formed inside the motor body 8, the sliding of the pin 7 between at least one inactive configuration, in which said pin does not interact with the transmission members, and a working configuration, in which the pin 7 is retracted into the motor body 8 for interaction with the transmission elements, is suitable for mechanical disengagement of the motion transmission members.
Advantageously, the pin 7 in the working configuration is such as to disengage the gear R from the intermediate shaft A for the disengagement of the motor shaft from the wing 10, for example by means of the disengagement of the key C from the intermediate shaft A and/or the gear R.
Advantageously, the disengagement means 5 comprise means M for the elastic return of the pin 7 from the working configuration to the inactive configuration to restore the connection from the driving shaft to the transmission members.
In particular, the elastic return means M are associated with the pin 7 and/or the key C for the return of said key into engagement with the intermediate shaft A and the gear R and therefore the pin 7 in the inactive configuration.
The pin 7 is arranged inside the enclosure 3 and is associated with the automatic movement system 2, in particular, when the pin 7 is actuated and moved into the retracted position inside the motor body 8 of the automatic system 2, in the so-called working configuration, it is such as to deactivate said automatic system.
Deactivating/disengaging the automatic system is understood to mean, in view of the above, placing in neutral the output shaft 9 of the automatic system 2 connected to means for transmitting the rotary motion from said output shaft to the wing 10, as is known to the person skilled in the art.
The control means 6 comprise at least one maneuvering element, which can be operated manually from the outside of the enclosure 3, and at least one guided and substantially inextensible member, the mutually opposite ends of which are respectively associated with the maneuvering element and with the lever system.
The member, in the preferred embodiment, is advantageously of the type of a flexible member 11, such as for example a steel cable or the like.
In a preferred embodiment, the device 1 comprises a pair of flexible members 11, which operate in parallel to each other or alternately to each other, since they can be associated alternately with the control means 6, depending on the installation arrangement of said control means with respect to the disengagement means 5.
The actuation of the maneuvering element is adapted to pull the flexible member 11 to operate the lever system, in contrast with the elastic return means M associated with the disengagement means 5, to deactivate said disengagement means or restore the mechanical connection between the automatic system 2 and the output shaft 9.
In particular, the flexible member 11 has at least one flexible guide 12 of the type of a sheath that surrounds the steel cable; the flexible member 11 is for example of the type of a Bowden cable.
The lever system is advantageously a first-class lever system, which comprises at least one lever 13 which is substantially L-shaped and is pivoted for example to the motor body 8 in a central point 14.
A first end 15 of the lever system 13 is associated directly with the flexible member 11, and a second end 16 is adapted to interact with the disengagement means 5 to activate said disengagement means and therefore act on the pin 7 to move it into the retracted configuration.
In particular, the maneuvering element comprises a grip element 17, which is associated rotatably with means 18 for supporting said actuation means.
The supporting means 18, for example, can be fixed to a wall, a column or other element arranged proximate to the door or gate to be moved.
The supporting means 18 comprise a plate 19, which can be associated with a wall, column or the like, and a pivot 20 for rotational support of the grip element 17.
The flexible member 11 is jointly associated with the grip element 17 and the rotation of said grip element in the direction for pulling said flexible member is adapted to activate the disengagement means 5 by means of the rotation of the lever 13 about the central point 14.
In particular, as mentioned, the lever 13 acts on the pin 7, moving it into the retracted configuration and thus placing in neutral the output shaft 9 of the automatic system 2 and at the same time the wing 10 that is associated therewith.
The rotation of the grip element 17 in the direction for releasing the flexible member is instead adapted to deactivate the disengagement means 5, in accordance with the elastic return means M, which move the pin 7 so that it exits again from the motor body 8 of the automatic system 2 in order to restore the mechanical connection between said automatic system and the output shaft 9.
The device 1 comprises means for temporarily locking the rotation of the grip element 17 in at least one configuration for activating the disengagement means 5, in which the lever 13 acts on said disengagement means, moving the pin 7 to the working configuration, and thus to the retracted configuration, and to at least one configuration for deactivating the disengagement means 5, in which the lever 13 releases said disengagement means for the return of the pin 7 under the action of the means M for elastic return of said pin to the inactive configuration.
The locking means comprise at least one lock 21 with manual actuation, which is associated with the control means 6, for locking and releasing the rotation of the grip element 17 in the activation configuration and in the deactivation configuration of the disengagement means 5.
In particular, the rotation of the key inside the lock 21 associated with the grip element 17 is adapted to insert a protrusion 22 of the rotating element of said lock in a seat 23 formed in the pivot 20 for locking the rotation of the grip element 17 with respect to said pivot in cooperation with positioning notches 24, which are provided on said grip element and can engage alternately in at least one tooth 25, which is jointly associated with the supporting means 18 and therefore with the plate 19, for example at a fold 26 of said plate.
In the preferred embodiment there is a pair of teeth 25, which are associated with the plate 19, and a plurality of notches 24, which are formed in the grip element 17 to provide a plurality of corresponding angular positions of said grip element.
The device 1 further comprises means, for example of the type of threaded elements, for adjusting the useful stroke of the flexible member 11 within the guide 12, which are associated with the control means 6 and/or the lever 13 at the ends of said flexible member.
In the particular embodiment, shown in the figure, the adjustment means comprise first threaded elements 27 for abutment of the guide 12 which are associated with the supporting means 18, particularly with the fold 26.
The end of the flexible element 11 that is associated with the control means 6, in the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, is jointly associated with the grip element 17 by way of second threaded elements 28.
The operation of the present invention is as follows.
In emergency conditions, for example, due to lack of electric power or other reasons, in which it is necessary to be able to operate manually the wing 10, and thus set to neutral the output shaft 9 from the automatic system 2, it is sufficient to insert the key in the lock 21 to release the rotation of the grip element 17. In particular, the protrusion 22, by releasing the grip element 17 from engagement with the seat 23 of the pivot 20, allows the notches 24 to release the engagement with the teeth 25 and accordingly allows the rotation of said grip element.
The rotation imparted manually to the grip element 17, in the direction for traction of the flexible member 11, is such as to impart a traction force in the flexible member 11, guided within the guide 12, for rotational activation, in turn, of the lever 13 about its central point 14.
The rotation of the lever 13 allows, according to the aim and objects of the present invention, the activation of the disengagement means 5 by means of the second end 16.
In particular, the rotation of the lever 13 is such as to move the pin 7 into the working configuration, i.e., in the retracted position, in contrast with the elastic return means M.
In this configuration, by means of the lock 21 it is possible to block the rotation of the grip element 17 so as to keep the disengagement means 5 activated for the time needed for manual activation of the wing 10 to which the device 1 is connected.
To deactivate the disengagement means 5 and therefore restore the connection between the automatic system 2 and the wing 10 it is sufficient to release the grip element 17 by means of the lock 21: the elastic return means M, associated with the disengagement means 5, return the pin 7 to the inactive configuration, allowing the deactivation of said disengagement means and thus restoring the mechanical connection between the automatic system 2 and the wing 10.
At the same time, the flexible member 11 actuates the grip element 17 in the opposite direction to the one imparted earlier and in particular in the direction for release of the flexible member 11, returning it to the configuration for deactivating the disengagement means 5.
In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that it allows to activate easily the manual release of the door or gate in conditions in which no electric power is available, without requiring for this operation any intervention to open the installation pit.
Further, the device for operating the manual release of the wing is easy to operate even for non-expert personnel and can be operated easily in any operating condition.
Finally, the invention thus conceived has a structure that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and relatively low in cost.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. M02008A000002 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like, characterized in that it comprises mechanical means for the actuation of means for disengagement of an automatic system arranged inside a buried box-like enclosure and means for remote control of said mechanical means which can be operated from the outside of said box-like enclosure.
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said mechanical means comprise at least one lever system that can be operated from the outside of said enclosure to activate and deactivate said disengagement means.
The device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said control means comprise at least one maneuvering element, which can be operated manually from the outside of said enclosure, and at least one guided and substantially inextensible member, whose mutually opposite ends are respectively associated with said maneuvering element and with said lever system, the actuation of said maneuvering element being adapted to pull said member to actuate said lever system, in contrast with elastic return means associated with said disengagement means, for the activation of said disengagement means.
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said member is of the type of a flexible member.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flexible member has at least one sheath-like flexible guide, said flexible member being of the type of a Bowden cable.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lever system is of the first class, comprising at least one substantially L-shaped lever that is pivoted as a central point, a first end of said lever being associated directly with said flexible member and a second end interacting with said disengagement means for the activation of said disengagement means.
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said maneuvering element comprises at least one grip element, which is associated rotatably with means for supporting the control means, said member being associated jointly with said grip element, the rotation of said grip element in the direction of traction of said member being adapted to activate said disengagement means, the rotation of said grip element in the release direction of said member being adapted to deactivate said disengagement means in accordance with said elastic return means.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for temporarily blocking the rotation of said grip element in at least one configuration for activation of said disengagement means, in which said lever acts on said disengagement means and in at least one configuration for deactivation of said disengagement means, wherein said lever releases said disengagement means.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking means comprise at least one manually operated lock, which is associated with said actuation means, for locking/releasing the rotation of said grip element.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for adjusting the useful stroke of said flexible member within said guide, which are associated with at least one between said actuation means and said lever.
A device for manual emergency release of buried automatic systems for moving doors, gates and the like, characterized in that it comprises means for disengaging a buried automatic system for interrupting the automatic movement of at least one wing of doors, gates and the like arranged inside a buried box-like enclosure that contains said automatic system.
The device according to claim 11, characterized in that said disengagement means comprise at least one release pin, which is associated slidingly with the motor body of said automatic system at members for transmitting motion from said automatic system to said wing which are formed inside said motor body, the sliding of said pin between at least one inactive configuration, in which said pin does not interact with said transmission members, and an active configuration, in which said pin is retracted for interaction with said transmission members, being suitable for the mechanical disengagement of said automatic system.
The device according to claim 11 and 12, characterized in that said disengagement means comprise means for the elastic return of said pin from said working configuration to said inactive configuration in order to restore the connection from said driving shaft to said transmission members.
The device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said disengagement means can be actuated by said mechanical means.
A buried automatic system for moving doors, gates and the like, characterized in that it comprises a device for manual emergency release according to one or more of the preceding claims.