EP2426309A1

EP2426309A1 - Sectional door

Info

Publication number: EP2426309A1
Application number: EP11006905A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pieter Louis M. Van Hirtum; Johan Van Hirtum
Original assignee: Van Hirtum Geudens
Current assignee: Van Hirtum Geudens
Priority date: 2010-09-02
Filing date: 2011-08-24
Publication date: 2012-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-24
Also published as: BE1019469A3; EP2426309B8; EP2426309B1

Abstract

Sectional door (1) in order to open and close an opening (2) in a wall (7) that forms a link between the inside (3) and outside (4) of a building, primarily consisting of a frame (5) intended to be mounted in or against the edge of the opening (7) and at least two panels (6) connected together by hinges that can be moved by means of guide rails (8) and have at least a closed position, characterised in that the sectional door (1) has sealing means to hermetically seal the opening (2).

Description

The present invention relates to a sectional door.
A sectional door is often used as a closure for garages, but can also close other openings in buildings. The closure is realised in practice by a number of panels above one another, typically but not restricted to 300-800mm high, horizontally connected together with hinges. They can be pulled upwards to open the garage, whereby the direction of movement is converted into a horizontal movement by a guide rail. The horizontal movement typically takes place at a height that does not interfere, or barely interferes, with the normal activities in this garage, thus normally speaking at a height above two metres, although lower sectional doors are also known.
Because the movement from the vertical to the horizontal takes place panel by panel, instead of as a single large closure, the area impeded by this movement is limited.
However, traditionally a sectional door has the disadvantage that, as a result of its construction method, it does not have particularly good thermal and acoustic insulating properties, and thus for example is not suitable for a building that must be very well thermally or acoustically insulated.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to a least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages, by providing a sectional door in order to open and close an opening in a wall that forms a link between the inside and outside of a building, primarily consisting of a frame intended to be mounted in or against the edge of the opening and at least two panels connected together by hinges that can be moved by means of guide rails and have at least a closed position, whereby the sectional door has sealing means to hermetically seal the opening, whereby the sealing means comprise sealing strips which, when the panels are in a closed position, make airtight contact with the sides of the panels and the top of the top panel respectively, and whereby the sealing strips form a closed third sealing arch.
As a large proportion of the heat loss from a building takes place through the exchange of air between the inside and outside of the building, caused by an imperfect seal of the total of the doors and windows, etc, also called the shell, a sectional door according to the invention enables a passive house, in which the leaks through the shell are avoided so well that such a house can be considered as airtight, and also a traditional house, to be equipped with a sectional door.
Airtight is generally defined here as satisfying the 'Blower Door Test', which means that less than 60% of the volume of a building leaks away in one hour under the force of a pressure difference of 50 Pa.
The exchange of noise between the inside and outside is also avoided by the good seal that such a sectional door provides.
With such a sideways seal the door is both movable and airtight to a high degree.
Another advantage of this is that it is a cheap way of obtaining a good seal.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame contains an edge protruding from its sides and top, which runs over the entire or practically entire height of the sides and the length of the top respectively, and whereby the sealing strips (28,29) are affixed to this edge (27).
In a specific embodiment, this protruding edge can protrude perpendicularly from the top and side.
In another preferred embodiment the sectional door has fittings that are entirely on the inside of the panels.
The advantage of this is that the fittings cannot interfere with a good seal, such that an even better result is easily achieved.
In a further preferred embodiment the sealing means also comprise a strip of flexible airtight material, which on the inside completely spans a gap between two adjacent panels, whereby the strips are hermetically secured to the panels.
The advantage of this is that the airtightness can at least be partly provided cheaply and simply.
In another preferred embodiment there is an overlapping part between the frame and the panels when they are in a closed position, whereby the sealing means at least comprise a first and second sealing arch, each consisting of at least a strip of sealing material that is mounted on the overlapping part at the frame and seal against the outside of the panels and extend along at least almost all of the sides and top of the frame.
The advantage of this is that it is a simple and cheap way to realise a seal.
In a further preferred embodiment the sectional door contains a pulley, which seen from the opening is outside a protruding edge on the side of the frame
The advantage of this is that the mechanism for opening and closing the door does not interfere with the sealing means, whereby a better seal is obtained that is not so quickly damaged more slowly.
In a further preferred embodiment the sectional door also contains an upright edge on the underside of the opening that is on the inside of, and at least approximately parallel to, the panels in the closed position, and which has an overlapping part with the bottom panel and the sealing means contain a bottom seal at a position within the overlapping part and on the outside of the upright edge that makes contact with the inside of the bottom panel in the closed position or the lower edge of it.
This upright edge can also form part of the frame.
This has the advantages that an extra seal is provided such that the airtightness is even better guaranteed, and that the bottom edge can form part of the frame which means easier and more accurate fitting.
In a further embodiment the panels contain hollow bodies, each with two caps, whereby the caps are affixed such that an airtight closure of the hollow bodies is obtained.
Air leaks through the panels are thereby avoided.
In a further preferred embodiment the surface of the panels is flat on the outside, at least on the tops and sides of all of the panels.
Flat here means that in practice the unevenness is so slight that it does not significantly interfere with a good seal.
As a result a combination of attractive properties of unevenness, both technical and visual, can be obtained on the surface such as for example regular profiling or irregular surface structure, with a good contact with seals, for which a smooth surface is better.
In a further preferred embodiment the frame has an insulating layer on at least the largest part of its surface on the outside.
As a result, in addition to the airtightness, limited heat transfer can be achieved through the contact between the frame and the wall, thereby preventing a 'cold bridge', which improves the thermal insulating effect.
Other aspects of the invention concern:

a thermally discontinuous threshold for an opening in a building that is closable by one of more panels, for example a panel of a sectional door; and/or
a combination of such a threshold with an upright edge on the underside of the opening, whereby the edge has a seal on its side that extends over the length of the side, whereby this seal fits to the panel in the closed position or a seal on that panel; and/or
the use of such a threshold or combination with a door, whereby in a preferred variant of the use this door has seals to hermetically seal the opening; and/or
an opening in a building provided with a door and such a threshold or such a combination; and/or
a combination of a door with such an above-mentioned threshold or above-mentioned combination; and/or
a door with a frame in which the frame contains such an above-mentioned threshold or above-mentioned combination of threshold and upright edge.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment of a sectional door according to the invention and a method for producing this is described hereinafter by way of an example without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 shows an outside view of a sectional door according to the invention, mounted in an opening in a wall;
figure 2 shows the sectional door according to figure 1;
figure 3 shows an inside view of a part of the sectional door of figure 1 and;
figures 4, 5 and 6 show respective cross-sections according to lines IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI of figure 1.

Figures 1 to 6 inclusive schematically show a sectional door according to the invention.
This sectional door 1 closes off an opening 2 between the inside 3 and the outside 4 of a building, and primarily consists of a frame 5 and panels 6. Seen from the outside 4, the sectional door 1 is mounted behind and against a facade or outside wall 7 of a building.
The panels 6 are connected together by hinges and can be moved in two guide rails 8 between a closed position in which the panels 6 close off the opening 2, and an open position in which the panels 6 are pulled upwards out of the opening 2, and whereby at the top of the sectional door 1, a vertical movement of the panels 6 is converted into a horizontal movement by the guide rails 8.
In order to support the movement, at the top next to the guide rail 8 there is a pulley 9, over which a cable 10 runs, which partially supports the weight of the sectional door 1 with a weight or spring mechanism (not shown), so that a drive 11 needs to deliver less force to open and close the sectional door 1.
Seen from the outside the panels 6 are partly behind the parts of the frame 5 most protruding into the opening 2 and thus there is a certain overlapping area between the panels 6 and the frame 5.
The sectional door 1, and thus also the frame 5, has an underside 12, a top 13 and two sides 14, and has a height H and width B, that can also be considered as the length of the top 13 and the underside 12.
The bottom panel 6 has a lower edge 15. This is a compressible rubber edge, which, in the closed position, rests against the underside 12 of the frame and thereby somewhat deforms so that a certain degree of a seal is obtained.
The panels 6 are, as shown in figure 3, formed from a hollow body 16, filled with insulating material, which is closed on both sides by a cap 17 that hermetically seals the hollow body 16. This can be realised for example by affixing a sealing ring or sealing mastic between the hollow bodies 16 and the caps 17, or by very accurately filling the caps 17 and the hollow bodies 16 together.
Each of the panels 6 have a seal 17A on their convex top over their entire length, which, in a closed position, pushes against the concave underside of a panel 6 above.
This prevents air leaks taking place through the panels 6.
On the inside 3 of the sectional door 1, the gaps 18 between the panels 6 are spanned by strips 19 of flexible airtight material, that are hermetically secured to the panels 6, for example by glues. As a result the airtightness of the system of panels 6 is improved.
There are fittings on the panels 6, i.e. hinges 20 to connect the panels 6 together, combined hinge wheels 21 to bring about the coupling with the guide rail 8 and a brace 22 for connection to the drive 11.
All these fittings 20, 21, 22 are constructed such that they can be mounted on the inside 3 of the panels 6, without there being parts of the fittings 20, 21, 22 that are between two panels 6, or on the underside, top or side of the panels 6, and are thus mounted such that they only make contact with the panels on the inside 3. As a result the fittings cannot interfere with a good seal.
Incidentally, a minor presence of parts of the fittings 20, 21, 22 is allowed on the side of the panels, as long as they do not protrude as far forwards as the seal located furthermost on the inside 3, so that the fittings do not interfere with the seal.
The hinges 20 and hinge wheels 21 are mounted on the strips 19. The mounting of the fittings 20, 21, 22 is in general such that the panels 6 do not lose their air seal as a result of this mounting.
At the top 13 and sides 14, the frame 5 primarily consists of a corner profile 23 and insulation 24, which form the outside of the frame 6.
Alternatively the profiles of the frame 6 can be composed of other sub-profiles.
On the corner profile 23 a first and second sealing arch 25, 26 are formed by rubber strips that extend over the entire height H of the sides 14 of the frame 5 and the length B of the top 13 of the frame 5. The rubber strips are positioned such that they make contact with the outside 4 of the panels 6 when they are in a closed position.
The sealing arches 25 and 26 are on the part A of the frame 5 that has an overlap with the panels 6 in the closed position.
A protruding edge 27 is affixed to the corner profile 23 that also extends over the entire height H of the side 14 and the length of the top 13, and on which on each side 14 of the frame 5 there is a second rubber strip 28, which makes contact with the sides, thus the caps 17, of the panels when they are closed, and on which at the top 13 of the frame there is a third rubber strip 29 that lies against the top of the top panel 6, and which also extends from a position above the top panel 6 to a position on the outside 4 of the top panel 6.
The second strips 28 on the sides 14 of the frame 5 connect to the third strip 29 on the top 13 of the frame 5, such that an unbroken third sealing arch 30 is obtained.
An alternative to the combination of a corner profile 23 and protruding edge 27 can also be formed by other profiles connected together, for example a straight profile and a U profile with unequal limbs.
On the underside 12 the frame 5 primarily consists of an L profile 31 that normally speaking is mounted on a thermally discontinuous threshold 32. One limb 33 of the L profile 31 forms an upright edge. The L profile 31 is made from a material that conducts heat poorly, to prevent creating a cold bridge.
The limbs of the L profile 31 indicate the level at which an inside floor and outside floor can be laid with a close fit, with the inside floor being equal to the limb 33, the outside floor equal to the other limb of the L profile 31.
Seen from the outside, the limb 33 that forms the upright edge, forms an overlapping part A' with the panels 6 in a closed position.
Such a threshold 32, whether or not with an edge as formed by a limb 33, whether or not as part of an L profile, can also be used together with, in combination with, or as a component of another type of door.
A seal 34 is affixed to the outside 4 of the limb 33 of the L profile 31 protruding into the opening, consisting of a rubber strip. This seal 34 lies against the lower edge 15 of the bottom panel 6 when the panels 6 are closed.
The guide rail 8, the cable 10 and the pulley 9 are mounted on the frame 5, without forming part of it, according to the meaning attributed to the terms in this description.
The pulley 9, seen from the opening 2, is outside the protruding edge 27, so that it does not impede the good fit of the two strips 28 against the sides of the panels 6, which is a problem when providing a seal similar to the third sealing arch 30 in a traditional sectional door.
Panels of a sectional door often have a certain rough finishing on the outside 4, with an irregular surface or with decorative lines in the form of horizontally extending profiling. In order to foster a good seal, at least the outside edge of the outside of the panels 6, thus at the place where the panels 6 come into contact with the first and/or second sealing arches 25, 26, is made flat by filling up any surface roughness or profiling. Here flat means: so flat that the roughness does not prevent a good seal with a straight rubber strip.
The first and second sealing arch 25, 26 fit the underside 12 of the frame 5 on the lower edge 15 of the bottom panel 6, so that an airtight seal is obtained with the panels 6 in a closed position.
The same applies to the sealing arch 30. This fits to the seal 34, so that a supplementary completely airtight seal around the opening 2 is realised.
To this end rubber blocks are provided in the profile on the underside of the side 14. They ensure both the said fit, as well as the seal of the space between the frame 5 and lower edge 15.
In combination with the closure also present caused by the first and second sealing arch 25, 26 and the lower edge 15 of the bottom panel, and the fact that all of the panels 6 are also airtight, the sectional door 1 can ensure an airtight closure.
As a result it has substantially better acoustic and thermal insulating properties.
The frame is mounted sideways on the inside wall 35 of the opening 2, possibly via connecting pieces such as a separate mounting slat 36. In order to ensure the airtight closure of the sectional door 1, it is of course also necessary for this assembly to be such that gaps between the walls and floors on the one hand, and the frame on the other hand, are prevented, and if applicable sealed, for example with construction mastic.
In order to avoid cold bridges, as many components as possible are constructed from material with a poor thermal conductivity, for example glass fibre.
Optionally the panels 6 can be made more insulating by providing them with an extra insulating layer on the inside 3.
Also a 'low-energy home', a very well insulated home, which however does not entirely satisfy the standards for a passive home, gains an advantage from the good insulating properties obtained from the sectional door according to the invention.
The terms first, second and third as used as an adjective for strip, strips, sealing arch or sealing arches only serve as a more specific designation of the different strips or sealing arches that can occur in a sectional door according to the invention. They do not imply the presence of a specific or minimum number of the said strips or sealing arches in a sectional door in which they occur.
More specifically the so-called first and second sealing arches, are arches of sealing means that are mounted on the frame and act against the front of the panels, and the so-called third sealing arch is an arch-forming line of sealing means that comprise sealing strips, which seal the opening between the frame on the one hand, and the sides of the panels and the top of the top panel on the other hand. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a sectional door according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of variants, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Sectional door (1) in order to open and close an opening (2) in a wall (7) that forms a link between the inside (3) and outside (4) of a building, primarily consisting of a frame (5) intended to be mounted in or against the edge of the opening (7) and at least two panels (6) connected together by hinges that can be moved by means of guide rails (8) and have at least a closed position, characterised in that the sectional door (1) has sealing means to hermetically seal the opening (2), whereby the sealing means comprise sealing strips (28,29) which, when the panels (6) are in a closed position, seal an opening between the frame (5) on the one hand and the sides of the panels (6) and the top of the top panel (6) on the other hand, and whereby the sealing strips (28,29) form a closed so-called third sealing arch (30).
Sectional door according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealing strips (28,29) are secured to the frame (5) and make airtight contact with the sides of the panels (6), and the top of the top panel (6) respectively.
Sectional door according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the frame (5) contains a protruding edge (27) from its sides (14) and top (13) that runs over the entire or practically entire height (H) of the sides (14) and length of the top (13) respectively, and that the sealing strips (28,29) are affixed to this edge (27).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the sealing means comprise a strip (19) of airtight flexible material that completely spans a gap (18) between two adjacent panels (6) on the inside (3) whereby the strips (19) are hermetically secured to the panels (6).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that there is an overlapping part (A) between the frame (5) and the panels (6) when they are in a closed position, whereby the sealing means contain at least a so-called first sealing arch (25) and a so-called second sealing arch (26), each consisting of at least a strip of sealing material that is mounted on the frame on the overlapping part (A) and seals against the outside (4) of the panels (6) and extends along at least practically the entire sides (14) and top (13) of the frame (5).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it contains a pulley (9) that, seen from the opening (2), is outside a protruding edge (27) on the side (14) of the frame (5).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, whereby the sectional door (1) also contains an upright edge (33) on the underside (12) of the opening (2) that runs along the inside (3) of and at least approximately parallel to the panels (6) in a closed position, and which has an overlapping part (A') with the bottom panel (6), characterised in that the sealing means contain a bottom seal (34) located at a position within the overlapping part (A') on the outside (4) of the upright edge (33), which makes contact with the inside (3) of the bottom panel (6) in a closed position or the lower edge (15) of it.
Sectional door according to claim 7, characterised in that under the upright edge (33) there is a thermally discontinuous threshold (32).
Sectional door according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the upright edge (33) and/or threshold (32) form part of the frame (5).
Sectional door according to any of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that de sealing strips (28, 29) fit to the bottom seal (34).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it has fittings (20, 21, 22) that do not protrude next to the panels (6) as far as the distance to the so-called first, second or third sealing arch (25, 26, 30) located furthermost on the inside.
Sectional door according to claim 11, characterised in that it has fittings (20, 21, 22) that are completely on the inside (3) of the panels (6).
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the panels (6) contain hollow bodies (16) each with two caps (17), whereby the caps (17) are affixed such that an airtight seal of the hollow bodies (16) is obtained.
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the surface of the panels is flat on the outside (4) of all of the panels (6), at least on the top edges and side edges.
Sectional door according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the frame (5) has an insulating layer (24) on at least the bulk of its surface on the outside (4).