EP2368003A1

EP2368003A1 - A device for the actuation by motor and for the blocking and unblocking of a sectional door

Info

Publication number: EP2368003A1
Application number: EP09756437A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivo Finardi
Original assignee: Prefer Commerciale Srl
Current assignee: Prefer Commerciale Srl
Priority date: 2008-12-15
Filing date: 2009-11-17
Publication date: 2011-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-17
Also published as: EP2368003B1; ITTO20080929A1; WO2010069445A1; IT1392261B1; RU2011129232A

Abstract

A device for the actuation by motor of a sectional door (1) and for blocking and unblocking said door by maneuvering bolts (8), comprising at least one bolt (8), a system (6) for connection to a motor (4) and a mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door (1) and to the bolts (8), wherein the bolts (8) and the mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts are installed close to the upper end portion of the door (1), the bolts (8) are arranged for operating with respect to an upper fixed cross member (T) of the door frame, and the device does not include a manually controlled lock. Preferably, the bolts (8) are two in number and they are symmetrically arranged with respect to the mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts. It is of advantage that the system (6) for connection to a motor (4) is formed only by a bracket or rod (6). The mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts comprises a support member (11) fixed to the door (1), a square member (12), mounted for swing within a limited field with respect to the support member (11) and connected to the system (6) for connection to a motor (4), and means (16,25-27) for actuation of the bolts (8), connected to the square member (12). It is of advantage that the bolts (8) and the mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts form together a single unit intended to be applied to the door.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A DEVICE FOR THE ACTUATION BY MOTOR AND FOR THE BLOCKING AND UNBLOCKING OF A SECTIONAL DOOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The subject of this invention is a device intended for actuating by motor the opening and closing of a sectional door, and for blocking and unblocking said door in correlation with its opening and closing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The sectional doors are widely used for closing up garages, and presently the opening and the closure of most said doors are actuated by a motor which, in view of its braking action, is also suitable for stopping the door in its closure position.

However, the stop of the door thus effected by the motor has not the same effectiveness of a blocking by means of bolts, and for this reason also some bolts, manually operable by means of a lock, are in general installed. The blocking of the door can take place in an automatic manner at the end of its closure and, by special arrangements, the unblocking of the door can be operated by the motor itself before starting the opening displacement of the door. Nevertheless, according to the known art, a manually operated lock is always installed when bolts are present.

The lock should be installed at a height above the ground adequate for its manual maneuver, and it is connected by tie-rods to the bolts which effect the door blocking. Moreover, the lock should also be connected by a long tie-rod to the door operating motor device, in order that the motor is al- lowed to unblock the door before starting the opening displacement.

It follows from all these circumstances that the installation is complicated and expensive, and it considerably compromises the aesthetic appearance of the door, also seriously hindering the cleaning operations. Besides, the presence of tie-rods and other members installed at a human height is a source of troubles and also a possible source of risks, and it involves a not negligible probability that the tie-rods are damaged, thus possibly hindering or preventing their operation. Special difficulties are encountered when the guide members of the door are installed coplanar with the boards forming the door, because this condition prevents the use of certain kinds of side bolts which, per se, are to be preferred since they have improved features. Therefore, the present state of the art exhibits several drawbacks with reference to the above stated aspects of the sectional doors having driving motor means and being provided with bolts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the object of this invention is to systematically eliminate the drawbacks shown by the present systems of sectional doors having driving motor means and being provided with bolts. The idea on which this invention is based is to omit the manually operated lock and to install the door blocking bolts near the upper end portion of the door in order to cooperate with an upper fixed cross member of the door frame. In this manner, the installation of the devices onto the door is greatly simplified and it is made less expensive. About the entire door is made exempt from any applied member, and it is left free both in respect of the aesthetic and in respect of the cleaning operations. No member protrudes by the door at the human height, and therefore all troubles and possible risks caused by these members are prevented. In particular, no tie-rod is present on the door and is exposed to damages.

This invention also proposes an improved mechanism intended to allow the motor to effect, during a first period of its opening operation, the retraction of the bolts in order to unblock the door without submitting the door to any important traction, and then to proceed with raising the door by keeping in the retracted position the bolts, whereas during an end period of the closing operation the mechanism allows the bolts to pass from the retracted position to the position in which they block the door.

The subject of this invention is a device for the actuation by motor of a sectional door and for the blocking and unblocking of said door, comprising at least one bolt, a system for connection to a motor and a mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts, characterized in that the bolts and the mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts are suited for installation close to the upper end portion of the door, that the bolts are arranged for operating with respect to an upper fixed cross member of the door frame, and that the device does not include a manually controlled lock. . Thanks to these features, all the above stated purposes are carried out with respect to the known art. Preferably, the bolts are two in number and they are symmetrically arranged with respect to the mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts. It is of advantage that said system for connection to a motor is formed only by a bracket or rod. Such a bracket or rod is usually provided but, according to the known art, it cannot be the sole element of the whole transmission system, which should comprise in addition a long tie-rod for transmitting the traction to a lock and to a system operating the bolts, such tie-rod being no more present according to the invention. Thus the installation is further simplified.

Preferably, said mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts comprises a support member fixed to the door, a square member, mounted for swing within a limited field with respect to said support member and connected to said system for connection to a motor, and means for actuation of the bolts, connected to said square member.

In this manner, the square member transmits the movement only to the bolt operating means during a starting period of the door opening motor operation, to which corresponds the limited swing field of the square member, thus retracting the bolts and unblocking the door. Only during a subsequent period, when the limited swing field of the square member has been covered, the square member transmits to the door the raising movement. In a corre- sponding manner, in the door closing operation of the motor, during a starting period the square member transmits to the door the lowering movement by keeping the bolts in the retracted position, and then, when the door closure has been completed, the square member swings and, through the bolt operation means, allows these latter to displace for blocking the door, this dis- placement being operated, as usual, by a return spring.

This mechanism is, in part, similar to the known mechanism that transmits to the lock a traction intended to operate, through the lock, the bolt retraction, but the known mechanism, as it is, could not be used for the direct transmission of the traction to the bolts. It is of advantage that said mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts comprises a spring located around the pivot of the square member, which spring biases the square member towards its position corresponding to the unblocking of the bolts.

As a modification, said spring could be replaced by a friction device or a click device intended for keeping the bolts in their current positions.

Preferably, each said means for actuating the bolts includes a two- beams lever, which is pivoted to a supporting plate fixed to the door, and whose one beam is operatively connected to an element of said square member, whereas the other beam of the lever is connected to the bolt. It is of advantage that said bolts and said mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts form together a single unit intended to be applied to the door. In this manner the installation of the device onto the door is rendered considerably more easy and simple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, objects and advantages of the subject of this invention will appear more clearly from the following description of an embodiment, having the character of a non limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows on a small scale a diagrammatic front view of the up- per end portion of a sectional door equipped with a device according to this invention.

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the whole including the door, the device according to the invention and the driving motor.

Figure 3 shows on a larger scale a front view of the unit including the bolts and the mechanism for transmitting the traction to the door and to the bolts, this unit being represented in the condition wherein the door is not blocked.

Figure 4 shows a section of a bolt, this section being taken along line IV-IV of Figure 3. Figure 5 shows, in a manner similar to Figure 3, the unit including the bolts and the mechanism for transmitting the traction to the door and to the bolts, this unit being represented in the condition wherein the door is blocked.

Figure 6 and Figure 7 represent, respectively, a plan view and a side view of the unit according to Figure 5. Figure 8 is a perspective representation of the unit according to the Figures 5 to 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figure 2, the door 1 , which is diagrammatically rep- resented by the sole outline of its section, is placed to close up a space 2, under the ceiling 3 of which there is installed in a known way a door operating motor 4, whose displacements are led by guide members per se known, not represented. To the door 1 is applied a mechanism for transmitting a traction to the door 1 and to the bolts. This mechanism is designed in general by numeral 5 and it cooperates with a means 6 for connection to the motor 4 and with bolts, which are designated in general by numeral 8.

It is typical of this invention the fact that the devices 5 to 8 are installed near the upper end portion of door 1 , as it appears from Figures 1 and 2, instead of being installed as usual, along with a manually operated lock, at a height suitable for a manual maneuver. Such lock is omitted in the application of the invention. It is also typical of the invention the fact that the bolts 8 cooperate with a upper fixed cross member T which is a part of the door frame, instead of cooperating with side guide members of the door.

In the upper portion of door 1 may also be provided small windows 9 for lighting and/or ventilation of the space 2. The motor 4, if suitable, may be provided with an emergency control 4¹ for unblocking the same in the case of a motor damage or a lack of electric energy.

A special advantage resulting by the fact that the devices are installed near the upper end portion of the door is that the system for connec- tion to the motor 4, which is directly connected to the mechanism 5 for transmission of a traction to the door 1 and to the bolts 8, can be embodied by only a simple bracket or rod 6. It is thus avoided the installation of a long vertical tie-rod, usually needed for connecting to a mechanism which transmits a traction to tie-rods connected to the side bolts, which mechanism, ac- cording to the known art, is installed at the same height of the manually operated lock, or is a part of this lock.

The mechanism 5 for transmitting a traction to the door and the bolts includes a supporting plate 10, fixed in a suitable manner to the door 1 near its upper end portion. To the supporting plate 10 is fixed a support member 11. To the support member 11 is pivoted at 13 a square member 12 which carries an articulation 14 for the system 6 connecting to the motor 4. The square member.12 has a shaft 16 traversing a window of the support member 11 , which window is arcuated with its center in the pivot 13, whereby the square member 12 can rotate about the pivot 13 only within a limited angular field. The shaft 16 protrudes from both sides of the support member 11. The means which operate the bolts 8 are connected to protruding portions of the shaft 16, and therefore to the square member 12. Preferably, this device also includes a spring 24 mounted around the pivot 13, and this spring stresses the square member 12 towards its position corresponding to the unblocking of the bolts.

The represented unit has two bolts 8 mounted on the supporting plate 10 in symmetrical positions with respect to the support member 11 , this arrangement being the preferred one. However it is to be remarked that the unit could also be embodied with a single bolt.

With advantage, each means which operates a bolt 8 is formed by a lever with two beams 25 and 26, this lever being rotatably mounted on a pivot 27 carried by the plate 10. The first beam 25 of the lever is coupled with a protruding end of the shaft 16 of the square member 12, from which it re- ceives the operation, whereas the second beam 26 is coupled with the bolt 8 and operates the same.

As it appears from Figure 4, a bolt 8 includes a support 19 fixed to the supporting plate 10 and holding a cylindrical envelope 21 which guides the proper bolt element 22 and contains a return spring 28. The lower end portion of the bolt 22 is articulated to the lever beam 26. Preferably, the bolt 22 also has means 23 which allow to exactly regulate its working position.

In Figures 5 to 8, the square member 12 is represented in its rest position, which the square member 12 takes up when the door 1 is closed and the motor 4 does not operate. The shaft 16 is lowered and, through the lev- ers 25-26, it allows the bolts 22 to engage the upper fixed cross member T under action of the springs 28, and thus to mantain locked the door 1 in its closed position.

When motor 4 is operated for opening the door 1 , through the connection system 6 it causes the square member 12 to swing and this latter, on its turn, causes the levers 25-26 to rotate and to drag downwards the bolts 22, which disengage from the cross member T and unlock the door 1. The square member 12 covers the limited swing allowed by the arcuate windows

15, and the shaft 16 attains the upper end of the arcuate windows. From now on, the traction exerted by the motor 4 and transmitted to the square member 12 is transmitted by this latter, through the shaft 16, to the support member 11 , to the plate 10 and to the door 1 , which is raised, whilst the bolts 8 continue to be kept in their retraction position.

When then the door 1 is again lowered, during the lowering operation the bolts 8 are kept in their retraction positions by the action of spring 24. After the door 1 has attained its closure position, motor 4 continues to operate and the square member 12 rotates against the action of spring 24 as long as this rotation is allowed by the arcuate window 15 traversed by the shaft

16, thus allowing the levers 25-26 to rotate and the bolts 22, under action of the springs 28, to engage the fixed upper cross member T, in order to block the door 1.

Therefore, there has been provided a device intended for actuating by motor the opening and closing of a sectional door, and for blocking and unblocking said door by means of bolts in correlation with its opening and closing, which device has a structure more simple and less expensive than the known devices, and also allows a very simplified installation, whereas a trouble-free operation is ensured, corresponding to that of the more complex and improved known devices. The disadvantages of the known art are remedied.

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the embodi- ment described and shown as an example. Several possible modifications have been mentioned in the course of the description, and others are within the capacity of those skilled in the art. These modifications and others and any replacement by technically equivalent means may be introduced in what has been described and shown without departing from the spirit of the inven- tion and the scope of this Patent, as defined by the appended Claims.

Claims

1 . A device for the actuation by motor of a sectional door (1 ) and for blocking and unblocking said door by maneuvering bolts (8), comprising at least one bolt (8), a system (6) for connection to a motor (4) and a mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door (1) and to the bolts (8), characterized in that the bolts (8) and the mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts are suited for installation close to the upper end portion of the door (1 ), that the bolts (8) are arranged for operating with respect to an upper fixed cross member (T) of the door frame, and that the device does not include a manually controlled lock.

2 . An actuation device as set forth in Claim 1 , characterized in that the bolts (8) are two in number and they are symmetrically arranged with respect to the mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts.

3 . An actuation device as set forth in Claim 1 characterized in that said system (6) for connection to a motor (4) is formed only by a bracket or rod (6).

4 . An actuation device as set forth in Claim 1 , characterized in that said mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts comprises a support member (11 ) fixed to the door (1 ), a square member (12) mounted for swing within a limited field with respect to said support member (1 1), connected to said system (6) for connection to a motor (4), and means (16,25-27) for actuation of the bolts (8), connected to said square member (12).

5 . An actuation device as set forth in Claim 4, characterized in that said mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts comprises a spring (24) located around the pivot (13) of the square member (12), which spring biases the square member (12) towards its position corre- sponding to the unblocking of the bolts (8).

6 An actuation device as set forth in Claim 4, characterized in that said means for actuating each bolt (8) include a two-beams lever (25,26), which is pivoted (at 27) to a supporting plate (10) fixed to the door (1 ), and whose one beam (25) is operatively connected to an element (16) of said square member (12), whereas the other beam (26) of the lever is connected to the bolt (8).

7 . An actuation device as set forth in Claim 1 characterized in that said bolts (8) and said mechanism (5) for transmitting a traction to the door and to the bolts form together a single unit intended to be applied to the door.