EP2140094B1 - Thermally insulating door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a thermally insulating door according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the case of rooms to be thermally insulated, such as cold rooms, there is always the problem that openings should only be opened for a short time in order to keep the temperature inside the cold room energy-efficient. Swinging doors, such as from the US 2,942,660 A known, are not suitable for this purpose in the rule. On passable cold stores, sliding doors are in use that open and close at high speed. The door leaves are cold-insulated in this case to reduce the loss of cold in the cold room.

In use are different versions of such sliding gates. A first embodiment uses rigid door leaves made of a sandwich element, i. double-sided cover shells made of sheet metal or the like, which are filled in the core with Polyuhrethandämmstoff. The frame-side seals are made using sealing rubbers, which are heated over the frame to prevent freezing in the freezer.

The advantage of the rigid door leaves is the tight connection to the door frame with the associated frame heating. The disadvantage, however, is that too fast passage, eg with forklifts, the door leaf is often permanently damaged.

In order to avoid this disadvantage, flexible door leaves are in use in a second embodiment. These flexible door leaves require due to the loose connection to the frame an extremely strong frame heating and ventilation to prevent freezing. Such gates are for example from the US 2004/0134128 A1 known.

The object of the invention is to propose a thermally insulating door for rooms to be insulated, in particular freezer rooms, which on the one hand enables a good, frame-side connection with the associated advantages and at the same time avoids or at least reduces the above-mentioned damage during rapid transit.

This object is achieved on the basis of a refrigerator sliding door according to the preamble of claim 1 by its characterizing features.

The measures mentioned in the dependent claims advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are possible.

Accordingly, a door according to the invention is characterized in that the door leaf has at least one rigid area and at least one flexible area according to claim 1.

In this way it is possible to avoid the disadvantages of the two mentioned in the prior art embodiments.

A good frame connection of the door leaf is possible through the rigid area of the door leaf, while the flexible area reduces or avoids the damage caused by passing through too quickly, for example by forklifts or the like.

For this purpose, in the sliding door according to the invention, the rigid area of the door leaf is formed such that it extends over the entire width of the door leaf at the top. In this way, the bearing means can be effective over the entire width of the door leaf in the rigid area.

The flexible area is arranged on the passage side of the door leaf which points towards the intended passage opening in the opened state. In this area of the door is mainly the above-mentioned risk of damage in case of too fast passage, so that in flexible design of this area of the door leaf, the advantages of a flexible design are particularly used.

The rigid area of the door leaf is designed so that it extends to the bottom of the door leaf. This expansion of the rigid area is preferably carried out on the outside of the door leaf, where the above-mentioned risk of damage in too fast passage does not exist. The extension of the rigid area to the bottom of the door leaf has the advantage of ensuring a good frame connection on the outside of the door leaf.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door is designed as a single or multi-leaf sliding door, wherein the door leaves in the case of a two-leaf construction centered close and are pushed apart on both sides when opening. In this way, a sufficiently large door opening can be opened and closed at high speed.

The bearing means for supporting the door leaf or the door leaves are preferably attached to the rigid area in order to improve the connection to the door frame.

Furthermore, the width of the flexible area is preferably increasingly formed toward the underside of the door leaf. This decision takes into account the fact that the greatest risk of damage during transit, at least for forklifts in the ground area is present, since the height of a before a pallet carried pallet usually does not occupy the entire door height. The danger of collision therefore exists especially near the ground. When reaching the sliding door by the vehicle with its vehicle body this is usually already open so far that the entire vehicle can easily pass.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the flexible region may extend over approximately the entire width of the door leaf. Also in this embodiment, the flexible area is placed under the rigid area. Different contours for the two areas are conceivable. Thus, oblique or curved transitions from the rigid area as well as in the flexible area in question, such as a straight, horizontal transition, in which z. B. both areas may have the contour of a rectangle.

Advantageously, a cover is also provided on the passage side of the flexible region. This cover protects on the one hand the flexible material in the event of collisions and also allows the attachment of functional elements, such as heating elements or the like.

Such a cover is preferably formed as a rigid profile, for example as a U-profile, which covers the flexible material of the door leaf not only the front side, but this also surrounds the edge side in the case of a U-profile on both sides.

As already mentioned, a heater is preferably provided on the edge side on the door leaf for use in a cold room, at least partially, in order to prevent the door from freezing. This peripheral heating is preferably accommodated in the flexible area of the door leaf in the peripheral cover.

Furthermore, advantageously at the edge of the door leaf at least partially provided a seal. This seal ensures good thermal insulation when the door is closed.

Preferably, a security element is provided in addition, which can serve the protection of persons. If such a person (or an object) is in the door opening while it is closing, such a dangerous situation is detected by the security element and communicated to the door control. The closing movement can then be stopped and the door reopened. An injury caused by bruising or destruction of an object by bruising is thus prevented. In addition, an overload of the door drive is prevented by blocking caused by a person or an object.

The security element may be designed deformable and provided with a sensor which detects such deformation. In combination with or without deformable security element, all sensors are suitable which are suitable for detecting the dangerous situation. In addition to mechanical switches, for example, inductive, capacitive, electromagnetic and / or ultrasonic sensors come into consideration.

The security element is formed, in particular in the case of a deformable element, as a strip which is mounted on the inner narrow side, that is the passage side of the door leaf, in particular the flexible area. The attachment can advantageously be made on a provided on the passage side cover of the flexible area as stated above.

The security element may additionally overlap the seal to protect the seal from damage. In addition, such a security element in the manner of a labyrinth seal additionally increases the insulating effect of the seal.

In addition, in this case, the rigid area also comprise a floor guide element, whereby a reliable wall-parallel guidance of the door leaf in the sliding movement can be realized.

The rigid area of the door leaf can be configured like previous rigid refrigerator sliding gates, e.g. as a sandwich element with cover shells on both sides of a core of insulating material, for example Polyuhrethan insulation.

The flexible area is advantageously also formed with an insulating material, e.g. in the form of flexible insulating mats. Advantageously, a closed-cell insulation material is used, which on the one hand is a good cold insulation, on the other hand, however, in comparison to open-cell insulation insensitive to moisture and dirt.

For the mechanical stabilization of the flexible door leaf area advantageously flexible stiffening elements are provided. such Stiffening element can be incorporated as deposits in the flexible insulating material. In question, for example, flexible rods, tapes or the like. Particularly advantageous in this context is the use of spring steel, which is extremely robust and dimensionally stable and thus can ensure a level alignment of the door leaf in the resting state without applying force in the flexible area of the door leaf.

In a development of the invention, at least the flexible region of the door leaf is provided with a flexible surface covering. On the one hand this provides additional protection of the flexible area against dirt and moisture, but on the other hand also for an improved view. This flexible cover can also be extended into the rigid area of the door leaf, resulting in an overall unified view of the door leaf.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the flexible region of the door leaf is provided with a flexible insulating material, which is covered by means of a flexible cover plate as a surface covering. Such a cover plate offers, in addition to the improved exterior view, the possibility of constructively improving the door leaf, for example by connecting this plate to corner elements, e.g. is welded to form a stable and optionally closed outer structure, especially in the corners. Such a flexible plate may for example be a PVC plate in the wall thickness of a few millimeters, for example 4mm. However, other plastics are suitable for this purpose.

As already mentioned, the flexible region is preferably stiffened with stiffening elements. A further improvement of the door leaf arises when such Stiffening elements are anchored in the rigid area of the door leaf. As a result, a reliable dimensional stability can be ensured not only in the transition area, but the entire flexible area.

If the stiffening elements extend far into the flexible region, which in the extreme case can be the case up to the opposite wall, the dimensional stability of the flexible region is significantly improved here.

Also, an angled arrangement of the stiffening elements may provide benefits to counteract the gravity acting on the flexible area flexible materials. As a result, for example, the "flow" of a plastic or the like can be prevented or reduced, so that the flexible area can not or only slightly deform down.

The flexibility of the door leaf in the flexible area can be adjusted by different measures. In addition to the appropriate choice of material, a layer structure can also be provided, with corresponding layers or layers possibly being displaceable relative to one another.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, two layers of such a flexible region are mutually displaceable, so that the desired flexibility can result even with a corresponding thickness of the door leaf.

In addition, when using flexible materials there is a risk that in the course of time during operation, a permanent bulge in one direction or the other. To counteract this, for example, tension elements can be provided in a flexible area, which in certain areas, for example, in the lower inner corner area and in the rigid area are fixed. By applying a train to these tension elements, the flexible area can be effectively brought into the desired shape. Preferably, such tension elements are designed to be adjustable, so that subsequently can easily be reoriented according to the invention a door leaf in the flexible area.

A further advantageous embodiment provides that the flexible area is detachably fastened to the rigid area of the door leaf. Such a detachable design, for example with the help of belt locks or the like as a fastener offers benefits for damage, since in this case, only the flexible area must be replaced. Even with special hygiene requirements, this results in advantages, since after a corresponding period of operation, the flexible area can be exchanged for a new area.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a sensor for object detection is provided on at least one side of the door leaf. Such a sensor device can serve to open the gate when the sensor is triggered in order to avoid a collision. In conjunction with a flexible Torblattbereich according to the invention, only one such sensor arrangement is sufficient on one side of the door. If a collision occurs from the opposite side, the flexible door leaf area can be bent until it triggers the sensor. Since cooling devices are generally very fast opening gates, even in the event of a collision from the side opposite the sensor, the gate can be opened so quickly by triggering the sensor that no destruction can occur when starting up.

An advantageous embodiment of such a sensor is the use of a light curtain, in the interruption of which a signal is triggered. In this way, the door leaf is monitored areally. With a correspondingly large light curtain, for example, the entire door surface can be monitored.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS.

Figur 1

eine Frontansicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Kühlraumschiebetür in geschlossenem Zustand,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine Flügeltür gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine Detailvergrößerung der Bodenführung einer Tür gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 4

eine Detailvergrößerung eines Querschnitts durch eine Tür gemäß Figur 1,

Figur 5

zeigt eine Schnittdarstellung durch ein Torblatt gemäß Figur 6,

Figur 7

eine Schnittdarstellung durch den flexiblen Bereich eines Torblatts und

Figur 8

eine Draufsicht auf eine öffnungsgemäße Schiebetür mit Sensorvorrichtung.

Show in detail

FIG. 1

a front view of a refrigerator sliding door according to the invention in the closed state,

FIG. 2

a plan view of a hinged door according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

an enlarged detail of the floor guide of a door according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4

an enlarged detail of a cross section through a door according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5

shows a sectional view through a door leaf according to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7

a sectional view through the flexible area of a door leaf and

FIG. 8

a plan view of an opening according sliding door with sensor device.

The refrigerator sliding door 1 according to FIG. 1 consists of two door leaves 2, 3, which are closed in the position shown and can be opened in the direction of the arrows P. The open position of the door leaves 2 ', 3' is shown in dashed lines. Both door leaves 2, 3 are inventively provided with a rigid portion 4 and a flexible portion 5. In the flexible region 5 stiffening elements 6, for example, spring steel rods are indicated by dashed lines.

The rigid region 4 extends on the longitudinal side 7 over the entire height of the door leaf and on the transverse side 8 over its entire width. The connecting line 9 between the rigid region 4 and the flexible region 5 reveals that the width of the flexible region increases from top to bottom toward the bottom 10.

At the top there is a cross member 11, which comprises drive elements for opening the door. Furthermore, trailing cables 12 for in FIG. 1 unspecified heaters shown.

FIG. 2 again shows the door leaves 2, 3 in the closed position and in the open position 2 ', 3'. It can be seen here that the narrow side 13 of the flexible region 5 is covered by a U-profile 14.

In FIG. 3 the bottom connection is visible. At the bottom 10, a guide profile 15 is fixed, screwed in the concrete case. This guide profile 15 comprises a guide groove 16 into which a guide finger 17 engages, which in turn is bolted to the door leaf 2. Is recognizable in FIG. 3 Furthermore, a bottom-side sealing profile 18 with internal heating 19th

In FIG. 4 the conclusion between the door leaves 2, 3 in the flexible area 5 is shown enlarged. Both door leaves 2, 3 are covered by U-profiles 14, 20. At the door leaf 3 safety strips 21, 22 are connected to the U-profile 14, which is deformable in the present embodiment and provided with a sensor not shown for detecting such deformations. Such a sensor system can be used to communicate the deformation of the control of the door drive, so that the closing operation is interrupted and, if this is desired in such cases, the door is opened again. Any safety routines can be provided in this case in the field of drive control.

In the illustrated embodiment, the safety strips are designed so that they surround a sealing profile 23 which is fixed to the U-profile 20 of the door leaf 2. The sealing strip 23 encloses a heater 24. The safety strips 21, 22 in conjunction with the sealing profile 23 provide an additional labyrinth seal in the region of the closing point between the door leaves 2, 3. In addition, they protect the seal 23rd

Due to the rigid region 4 of each door leaf 2, 3 a good connection to the upper transverse side 8 and on the longitudinal side 7 to the door frame 25, 26 is ensured. The not shown sliding bearing of the individual door leaves 2, 3 can be fixed rigidly and solidly on the upper transverse side 8. This results in a reliable guide in the direction of displacement. This is further improved on the floor side by the guide elements, e.g. in the form of the guide finger 17 and in the guide profile 15 are also attached to the rigid area 4.

The flexible areas 5 of the door leaves 2, 3, however, reduce the risk of damage at faster Passage of a vehicle, for example a truck with not yet sufficiently open gate. The stiffening elements 6, for example in the form of spring steel on the one hand cause a yielding of the door leaves 2, 3 in the flexible region 5 and at the same time ensure a reliable return to the starting position as soon as the application of force has ended.

The additional features such as covers, seals and heaters provide further protection and sealing functions and reliably prevent the freezing of such a refrigerator sliding door.

The door leaf 27 according to the FIGS. 5 and 6 corresponds essentially to the above-described door leaves 2, 3. In the illustration according to FIG. 6 and in particular according to FIG. 5 the fastening device 28 is illustrated by stiffening elements made of spring band steel 29. In an anchor block 30, a recess 31 is mounted, into which the spring steel strip 29 protrudes. He is there fixed with a nut 32 adjustable on a bolt 33. The fastening device 28 is firmly anchored in the rigid door leaf area 34.

The spring steel strip 29 projects into the flexible door leaf region 35, where it is anchored to the end with an anchor element 36 via transverse anchor rods in the flexible insulating material 38. The further the spring steel strip 29 protrudes into the flexible door leaf region 35, the more it can fulfill supporting functions there, provided it is anchored at the opposite end in the rigid door leaf region 34. By turning the bolt 33, the position of the nut 32 and thus the one end of the spring steel strip 29 with respect to the plane of the door leaf can be varied. As a result, the orientation of the flexible door leaf area 35 with respect to the goal plane can be adjusted. Should For example, be made a permanent deformation of the flexible door leaf area 35 by repeated driving, it can be adjusted by this adjustment possibility, the shape of the flexible Vortrittbereichs 35.

In the execution according to the FIGS. 5 and 6 In addition, the flexible door leaf area 35 is detachable from the rigid door leaf area by releasing the threaded bolts 33. The replacement of the flexible door leaf area is thus easily possible.

FIG. 7 shows a variant of the internal structure of a flexible door leaf portion 35 between two outer wall panels 39, 40, which are frontally connected to a closing block 41, for example glued. The closure block 41 is designed as a laminate multilayered in this embodiment.

The insulating material 42 is constructed in several layers formed from insulating mats 43. Most of these insulating mats 43 are connected to each other via an adhesive layer 44. This in turn results in a laminate of insulating mats 43.

In order not to affect the flexibility of the flexible door leaf region 35 due to the thickness D of this door leaf region 35 too much, in advantageous embodiments, a displacement of such insulation mats 43 may be provided. In the present case, for example, the boundary surface 45 between the upper layer 46, which is formed from two bonded insulating mats 43, and the lower layer 47, which in the present case is formed from three such bonded insulation boards 43, not glued. The upper layer 46 and the lower layer 47 are thus movable relative to each other, whereby the flexibility of the flexible door leaf region 35 increases compared to a fully glued version.

This possibility of increasing or decreasing the flexibility of a layer structure, depending on how many layers are connected to one another, for example adhesively bonded or how many layers are arranged so as to be displaceable relative to one another, can be used for arbitrary adjustment of the flexibility. In this case, different materials and different thicknesses D of the door leaf can be used, wherein by two or more mutually displaceable layers an increase in flexibility as well as fully bonded or glued layers, a stiffening of the door leaf is effected.

FIG. 8 shows a door assembly according to FIG. 2 , wherein now a sensor device 48 is provided. The sensor device 48 presently includes a transmitter 49 and a receiver 50, which form a light curtain 51. When approaching the gate from the rear in the direction of the arrow R, for example, when driving a vehicle, the light curtain 51 is interrupted immediately, so that the door is opened via an appropriate control. When approaching in the direction U on the front of the refrigerator sliding door 1 flexible areas 5 are first pressed, which is indicated by the position 5 '. Thus, the flexible areas 5 reach the effective area of the light curtain 51, so that the sensor device 48 triggers the opening of the door. The flexible regions 5 according to the invention therefore additionally make it possible to realize automatic control of the opening process with only one sensor device on only one side of the refrigerator compartment sliding door 1.

The described Torblattgestaltung is not only in sliding doors as in the embodiments of advantage. Furthermore, the extends Invention not only on double-leaf, but also on single-leaf or multi-leaf doors.

Preferably, the width of the flexible region (5) is preferably increasingly formed from the passage side toward the underside of the door leaf (3).

Preferably, a cover (14) may be provided on the passage side of the flexible area.

Preferably, the cover (14) of the flexible portion (5) is formed as a rigid profile.

Preferably, at the edge of the door leaf at least partially a heater (19, 24) is provided.

Preferably, at least partially a seal (18, 23) is provided on the edge side of the door leaf.

Preferably, the rigid area (4) of the door leaf (3) comprises a floor guide element (17).

The flexible (5) and / or the rigid (4) region of the door leaf (2, 3) preferably comprises an insulating material.

Preferably, the flexible portion comprises a flexible insulating material (43) which is covered by one or more flexible cover plates (39, 40).

Preferably, the stiffening elements (29) are anchored in the rigid region (34) of the door leaf.

Preferably, the stiffening elements (29) at least partially made of stainless steel.

Preferably, the door leaf in the flexible region at least two mutually displaceable layers (46, 47).

Preferably, one or more tension elements are provided in the flexible region in order to counteract a permanent curvature of the door leaf.

Preferably, a sensor device (48) for object detection is provided on at least one side of the door leaf.

Preferably, the sensor device (48) comprises a light curtain (51). <U> REFERENCE LIST </ u> 1 Refrigerator door 35 flexible door leaf area 2 door leaf 36 anchor member 3 door leaf 37 tie rods 4 control area 38 insulation 5 flexible area 39 wall plate 6 stiffener 40 wall plate 7 long side 41 Terminal block 8th transverse side 42 insulation 9 connecting line 43 insulation mats 10 ground 44 adhesive layer 11 transverse spar 45 interface 12 trailing cable 46 upper layer 13 narrow side 47 Lower class 14 U-profile 48 sensor device 15 guide profile 49 transmitter 16 guide 50 receiver 17 guide fingers 51 light curtain 18 sealing profile 19 heater 20 U-profile 21 safety edge 22 safety edge 23 sealing profile 24 heater 25 Goal frame 26 Goal frame 27 door leaf 28 fastening device 29 Spring steel strips 30 anchor block 31 recess 32 nut 33 bolts 34 rigid door leaf area

Claims (14)

1. A thermally insulating door with at least one door leaf, which is mounted in a movable manner in an installed state in front of a cold room opening, wherein the door leaf (2, 3) has at least one rigid (4) and at least one flexible (5) area, wherein the flexible area (5) is on the passage side of the door leaf (3) pointing in the opened state to the passage provided, wherein the rigid area (4) extends on the upper side (8) over the entire width of the door leaf (3), characterized in that the rigid area (4) of the door leaf (3) extends to the lower side of the door leaf (3).
2. A door according to claim 1, characterized in that two door leafs (2, 3) are provided.
3. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that bearing means for movably mounting the door are arranged in the rigid area (4) of the door leaf (3).
4. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the width of the flexible area is designed in an increasing manner from the passage side towards the lower side of the door leaf (3), and wherein a cover (14) can be provided on the passage side of the flexible area (5), which is preferably designed as a rigid profile.
5. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that on the edge side of the door leaf at least in part a heating (19, 24) and/or in part a sealing (18, 23) is provided.
6. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that a security element (21, 22) is provided for securing a person or objects located in the closing area of the door.
7. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the rigid area (4) of the door leaf (3) comprises a floor guide element (17).
8. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the flexible (5) and/or the rigid (4) area of the door leaf (2, 3) comprises an insulating material, wherein preferably the flexible area has a flexible insulating material (43), which is covered by means of one or several flexible cover plates (39, 40).
9. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the flexible area (5) of the door leaf (2, 3) comprises stiffening elements (6).
10. A door according to claim 9, characterized in that the stiffening elements (29) are anchored in the rigid area (34) of the door leaf, wherein the stiffening elements (29) consist preferably at least in part of stainless steel.
11. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the door leaf in the flexible area (35) has at least two layers (46, 47), which are movable against each other, and/or one or several tension elements are provided in the flexible area, in order to counteract a permanent bulging of the door leaf.
12. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that the flexible area (35) is mounted detachably on the rigid area (34) of the door leaf.
13. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that on the at least one side of the door leaf a sensor device (48) is provided for object detection, which preferably comprises a light curtain (51).
14. A door according to one of the aforementioned claims, characterized in that it is designed as a single- or multiple-leaf sliding door.

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