EP2982820A2 - Foldable door assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding door arrangement for temporarily closing a building wall recess, having a plurality of rectangularly formed door elements (2) which are aligned parallel to one another and which have the longest rectangular edges (15), which are each provided at an upper edge with a guide device (11), and a guide rail arrangement (FIG. 8) for sliding movement of the guide means (11), which is designed to be fixed to the building wall recess, and with a power-operated drive means (3) for a movement of the door elements (2) between the building wall recess at least substantially closing closed position and one Building wall recess is formed at least substantially fully releasing opening position. According to the invention, provision is made for guide devices (11) arranged adjacently to each other to be articulated to one another

Description

The invention relates to a folding door assembly for temporarily closing a Gebäudewandausnehmung, with a plurality of rectangular and with the longest rectangular edges respectively parallel aligned door elements, which are each provided at an upper edge with a guide means, as well as with a guide rail arrangement for sliding movable mounting of the guide means for fixing down the Gebäudewandausnehmung is formed, as well as with a power-operated drive device, which is designed for movement of the door elements between the building wall recess Gebäudewandausnehmung at least substantially completely releasing opening position.

According to one known to the Applicant, not written down prior art, a folding door assembly comprises a plurality of door elements which are slidably suspended from a guide rail assembly and must be individually and manually engaged by an operator to a power-operated drive means to bring from a closed position to an open position to become. Upon reaching the open position means are provided which cause an automatic decoupling of the drive means to avoid damage to the door elements. In the same way, a manual coupling and an automated decoupling for the door elements of the folding door assembly is provided during the closing process.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding door assembly that can be brought into the open position and from the open position to the closed position without manual intervention of a user from the closed position.

This object is achieved for a folding door arrangement of the aforementioned type with the features of claim 1. In this case, it is provided that guide devices arranged adjacent to one another are connected to one another in an articulated manner.

In this way, a synchronized forced movement of the door elements is achieved, wherein the drive means for providing driving forces along a movement path, in particular along a portion of the movement path, the door elements is formed. Preferably, it is provided that the door elements during an opening movement from the closed position, are arranged in the largest surfaces of the door elements parallel to each other in a common plane, initially moved in the open position along a substantially rectilinear movement path. When the door elements approach the open position, they are pivoted relative to one another in order to ensure an advantageously compact arrangement of the door elements relative to one another. It is advantageous if, in the open position, the door elements are accommodated with largest surfaces facing one another, in particular parallel largest surfaces lying opposite one another in a storage area, for example a storage box. By coupling the guide devices with each other, it is sufficient if, for example, only those door elements are connected to transmit power to the drive means, which are arranged along a straight portion of the movement path, while the door elements off of the straight portion of the path of travel, that is, for example, those door members arranged along a curved portion of the path of travel in the storage area are not in direct force-transmitting coupling with the drive means. Due to the articulated connection of the guide devices, an at least largely tension-free movement of the guide devices is ensured along the entire movement path for the door elements, ie both longitudinal and curved sections of the movement path, without resulting in undesirable stresses between the guide devices or with respect to the guide rail arrangement.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is expedient if the drive device has a traction means which is designed for a force introduction to at least one, in particular to exactly one, guide means. The traction means are, for example, a slippery rope such as a wire rope or a pliable belt such as a timing belt or V-belt or a link chain with movably coupled chain links. With the help of the traction means is a power transmission from the drive means to the at least one, in particular exactly one, guide means. By way of example, it can be provided that those guide devices which are provided for a force-transmitting coupling with the traction means, have a switchable coupling device, which enable a path-dependent engagement or disengagement of the traction means or of the traction means. It is preferably provided that exactly one single guide device, in particular the furthest from the drive device remote guide means, is connected to the traction means. It is particularly preferred that the exactly one guide device still remains along a straight portion of the movement path when the opening position for the folding door arrangement is reached, so that no undesired reaction forces act on the traction means.

It is expedient if the traction means is arranged endlessly circumferentially between the drive device and a deflecting means on the building wall recess and that a guide roller arranged at a maximum distance from the drive device is connected to the traction means. Preferably, the traction means is designed as an endlessly circulating ring, which is deflected at least by two respective guide rollers spaced at each end. Preferably, one of the guide rollers is coupled to the drive device, in particular mounted on a drive shaft of the drive arrangement. Depending on the configuration of the traction means, the guide roller can be, for example, a gearwheel for a link chain or a belt pulley for a V-belt or a pulley for a toothed belt.

It is advantageous if the drive device is designed as an electric motor, in particular as an electric geared motor, and if the traction means, in particular at least substantially, is arranged along a section of a movement path for the door elements. The use of an electric motor as a drive device offers a large variety of design options for the design of the drive device in terms of properties such as maximum movement speed for the door elements and / or maximum propulsion force for the door elements. Furthermore, this is a compact design of the drive device as well as a low-cost power supply allows. This is especially true when the drive device is designed as a geared motor. Furthermore, by the arrangement of the traction means along the path of movement, an at least substantially lateral force-free use of the traction means is made possible. This is the case in particular when the traction means is arranged parallel to a rectilinear section of the movement path.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the drive device is coupled to a control device, which is assigned a release switch, which is designed to provide a release signal from the control device to the drive means to at least one braking action of the drive means for the traction means in the presence of the release signal largely cancel. First, the control device is provided for a supply of electrical energy to the drive means and can either be equipped directly with appropriate control switches, where an operator his Bedienwusch, ie the opening or closing process can pretend. Alternatively, the control device can also be connected to a higher-level control system, for example a control station, from which the folding door arrangement is centrally controlled. Also conceivable is a combination of local control by an operator and central control via the control station. In any case, a release switch is arranged for safety reasons immediately in the vicinity of the folding door assembly, which may for example be referred to as an emergency opening switch or panic switch and which is intended to allow independent from the control switches or the control console emergency operation of the folding door assembly. In this emergency operation, an output of a release signal from the control device to the drive device. By this release signal, the drive device is influenced such that a braking effect is reduced by the drive means to the traction means so far that opening of the folding door assembly is made possible by hand.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive device comprises an electrically controllable, coupled to the control device, in particular in the de-energized state open, braking device. Preferably, the drive device is not designed to be self-locking, which is unproblematically the case, for example, when using a conventional geared motor. In order to prevent movement of door elements during the occurrence of external forces during normal operation for the folding door arrangement, the drive device is associated with a braking device which is coupled to the control device and is supplied with electrical energy from the control device at a desired standstill of the folding door arrangement such that Movements of the guide means along the path of movement are at least largely prevented. In the case of a power failure, however, to ensure that the folding door assembly can be opened or closed in a manual manner. In order to ensure this, it is provided according to the invention that the braking device associated with the drive device is open in the de-energized state, ie shows no braking effect, so that only the internal friction of the drive device has to be overcome for the movement of the door elements of the folding door arrangement.

Preferably, the guide device comprises two guide carriages which are arranged on different sides of the movement path for the respective door elements. By the use of two carriages for the respective door element can be ensured on the one hand, a stable mounting on the guide rails. On the other hand, pivoting of the door element is thereby made possible when the respective door element reaches the storage area, for example during an opening operation for the folding door arrangement, and for a compact arrangement in the storage area in a manner opposite to other door elements which are received in the storage area. Preferably, a pivoting movement for the door element takes place starting from a parallel arrangement of the largest surfaces of the adjacently arranged door elements in a common plane in the closed position towards a parallel arrangement of the largest surfaces of the adjacently arranged door elements in mutually spaced planes in the open position. Such a pivoting movement can be realized in an advantageous manner in that the two guide carriages for the respective door element are arranged on different sides of the movement path for this door element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the guide carriages are each mounted rotatably about a vertical axis on the door element and are coupled together with at least two steering levers to effect a positive guidance of the carriage of the respective guide device. These measures ensure a synchronized movement for the individual door elements during the opening or closing operation of the folding door arrangement. In this case, the rotatable arrangement of the carriages on the door elements ensures the desired pivoting mobility while a coordination of the pivoting movement for the respective door element is ensured by the steering lever, for each of the door elements between the open position and the closed position always to achieve at least largely free of play leadership on the guide rails.

It is advantageous if the control device is associated with a sensor arrangement which is designed for detecting objects in a movement range of the door elements. The sensor arrangement serves to ensure safe operation of the folding door arrangement and is preferably designed such that specific danger spots such as a door gap decreasing during the closing operation for the folding door arrangement and / or a recess for the door elements can be monitored in a migration of the storage area and that upon detection of a Hazard situation, for example, an immediate shutdown of the drive device or possibly a reversal of motion for the door elements is made by suitable control of the control device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sensor arrangement comprises a radiation source for emitting modulated electromagnetic waves, in particular in the wavelength range of visible light or ultraviolet radiation or infrared radiation, and a radiation receiver for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves and a processing device for processing the received Electromagnetic waves comprises, wherein the processing means is designed for determining phase differences between emitted and received electromagnetic waves. With such a sensor arrangement, a largely independent of other environmental conditions such as sunlight, fog or rain detection of the environment of the folding door arrangement can be made. Such a sensor arrangement is also under the name TOF sensor (Time of flight sensor) known and includes, in addition to the radiation source and the radiation receiver in the associated processing means an image processing, with the aid of movements of people and / or objects in the detection range of the sensor device can be dictated and at a below certain predetermined safety distances a shutdown signal can be provided by the persons and / or objects to the control device in order to effect a shutdown of the drive device. In a further development of the invention, it may be provided that an optical and / or acoustic warning signal is emitted by persons and / or objects when the first predetermined safety distance is undershot and / or a movement speed of the door elements is brought about by suitable activation of the drive device and only when a second one is undershot predetermined safety distance by the persons and / or objects to provide a complete shutdown of the drive device.

Figur 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Falttüranordnung, einer zugeordneten Antriebseinrichtung, einer Sensoranordnung, einer Steuerungseinrichtung, eines Freigabeschalters und eines Bedienschalters,

Figur 2

eine Vorderansicht eines Türelements und der zugehörigen Führungseinrichtung und

Figur 3

eine Draufsicht auf die Falttüranordnung mit einem geraden Führungsschienenabschnitt und einem als Speicherbereich ausgebildeten gekrümmten Führungsschienenabschnitt.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing. Hereby shows:

FIG. 1

a schematic side view of a folding door assembly, an associated drive means, a sensor assembly, a control device, a release switch and a control switch,

FIG. 2

a front view of a door member and the associated guide means and

FIG. 3

a plan view of the folding door assembly with a straight guide rail section and a Storage area formed curved guide rail section.

In the FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a folding door assembly 1 shown in the sake of clarity, only two door elements 2 and a drive means 3 with associated control device 4, coupled thereto sensor assembly 5 and also the control device 4 associated release switch 6 and an operating switch 7, which is also the control device 4 is assigned, and a guide rail assembly 8 are shown.

As from the representation of FIG. 3 can be removed, the guide rail assembly 8 comprises two parallel guided guide rails 9 and 10, which are fixed in a manner not shown on a lintel of a building wall recess. The door elements 2 are by means of guide means 11, which are described in more detail below, slidably received on the guide rails 9 and 10. Preferably, the door elements 2 are substantially cuboid-shaped, wherein the largest surfaces 12 of the door elements 2 in a closed position, as shown in the FIG. 1 is shown, parallel to each other in a common plane, which in turn parallel to the plane of the FIG. 1 is aligned, are arranged. By contrast, it is provided in an open position, not shown, that the largest surfaces 12 of the door elements 2 are arranged parallel to each other in spaced-apart planes. By the door elements 2 associated guide means 11 is independent of the position of the door elements 2 between the closed position and the open position ensures that edges 15 of the door elements 2 are aligned parallel to each other.

Each of the guide means 11 comprises by way of example two guide carriages 16, which are of identical design and mirror-symmetrical to one in the FIG. 3 Movement path 17 shown schematically are arranged. Each of the carriage 16 has a in the FIG. 2 shown in more detail U-shaped base body 18 which is connected via a rotatably received in the door element 2 retaining bolt 19 in force-transmitting connection with the door element 2. In this way, a pivoting movement of the respective door element 2 about a preferably centrally between the two retaining bolts 19 of the respective guide carriage 16 arranged virtual pivot axis 21 is made possible when it is moved along the curved portion 20 of the movement path 17. In order to enable a preferably play-free guidance of the door elements 2 on the guide rails 9 and 10, each of the guide carriage 16 comprises two jointly mounted on the same U-legs of the base body 18, rotatably mounted relative to the base body 18 support rollers 22. In this case, the guide rails 9 and 10 for Receiving the weight of the respective door elements 2 each provided with a vertically upwardly facing support track 24 on which the support rollers 22 can roll. Further comprising the guide rails 9 and 10, for example, each parallel aligned and opposing guide surfaces 24, 25, against which guide rollers 26 and 27, whereby a lateral guidance for the carriage 16 is ensured.

In order to ensure a reliable power transmission between adjacent door elements 2 both during an opening operation and during a closing operation for the folding door arrangement 1 are each adjacently arranged guide carriage 16 adjacent door elements 2 connected by means of a connecting element 27. By way of example, the connecting element is rotatably mounted on holding pins 28, which are coupled to the respective guide carriage 16. In addition, it is provided that the two carriages 16 of a respective door element 2 via steering levers 29, 30 are connected to each other, wherein the steering levers 29, 30 are each pivotally attached to the corresponding basic bodies 18 of the respective guide carriage 16. The function of the steering levers 29, 30 is to cause a positive guidance of the two carriages 16 of a door element 2 during the movement along the curved portion 20 of the movement path 17. As a result of this positive guidance, an undesired pivoting movement of door elements 2 about pivot axes, which are aligned in particular parallel to the virtual pivot axis 21, should be prevented when driving forces are introduced on at least one of the door elements 2.

As from the representation of FIG. 3 can be removed, the two steering levers 29, 30 are each arranged on the opposite U-legs of the respective body 18 by way of example. By way of example, the two steering levers 29, 30 crossed and are rotatably mounted on retaining pins 31, 32.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 3 Drive device 3 shown by way of example includes an electric motor 33, the drive shaft, not shown, connected to a transmission unit 34. The transmission device 30 is designed to reduce the rotational movement of the drive shaft of the electric motor 33 and has a drive shaft 35 on which a toothed belt wheel 36 is fixed. The toothed belt wheel 36 is at least partially surrounded by an example designed as a toothed belt traction means 37 which extends along the straight portion 38 of the movement path 17. The traction means 37 is guided on a gear unit 34 facing away from the end around a fixed guide roller 39 and forms a closed ring with an upper run 40 and a lower run 41. For initiating a drive movement of the drive means 3 on the door elements 2 is provided by way of example that the Untertrum 41 of the traction means 37 with a clamping device 42 is force-transmitting connected to the retaining pin 19 of that carriage 16, which has a maximum distance to the drive means 3. Due to the power transmission of the connection of the individual door elements 2 via the connecting elements 27 and the positive guide for the door elements 2, which is ensured by the steering levers 29, 30, both an opening movement for the folding door assembly 1 and a closing movement for the folding door assembly 1 alone by providing of electrical energy to the drive means 3 and the resulting rotational movement of the traction means 37 take place.

By way of example, it is provided that the electric motor 33 of the drive device 3 is associated with an electrically controllable braking device 43 which can act in a manner not shown on the drive shaft of the electric motor 33, not shown, and provides a braking torque when supplied with electrical energy, the unwanted movement of the Door elements 2 prevented. A control of the braking device 43 via the control device 4, which is electrically coupled via a control line 44 to the braking device 43 and which is an example of a composite of a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an associated frequency converter.

By way of example, the control device 4 is electrically connected to the electric motor 33 via a supply line 45 in order to be able to provide drive energy to the electric motor 33. Such a provision of drive energy by the control device 4 takes place when an unillustrated operator operates the control switch 7, which is equipped with two exemplarily designed as directional arrows control buttons 46 and 47, which allow intuitive operation of the folding door assembly 1.

Further, the control device 4 is associated with a release switch 6, which is an emergency stop button, which may be arranged, for example, in the vicinity of a designated by the folding door assembly 1 danger zone, for example in the vicinity of a wall portion of the of the Falttüranordnung 1 to be closed building wall section adjacent. Upon actuation of the release switch 6, different procedures can be stored in the control device 4. During a movement of the door elements 2 between the open position and the closed position, it may be provided that the control device 4 interrupts a power supply for the electric motor 33 and provides electrical energy to the braking device 43 in order to rapidly decelerate the movement of the door elements 2 cause. If, on the other hand, an actuation of the release switch 6 takes place during a phase in which no movement of door elements 2 takes place, the control device 4 can be designed such that it interrupts the provision of electrical energy to the braking device 43, so that a free mobility of the drive device 3 given is. As a result, a manual actuation of the folding door assembly 1 can take place, in which the door elements 2 by one or more Operator be brought into the open position or the closed position.

Upon actuation of the control switch 7 to effect an opening movement or closing movement for the folding door assembly 1, the control device 4 continuously queries the sensor assembly 5 to obtain information about whether persons and / or objects maintain a safe distance from the moving door elements 2. By way of example, it is provided that the sensor arrangement 5 provides a switch-off signal to the control device 4 when there is such a falling below a safety distance. In this case, it may be provided, for example, that the control device 4 on the one hand interrupts a power supply for the electric motor 33 and on the other hand provides electrical energy to the braking device 43 in order to effect a rapid deceleration of the movement of the door elements 2. Alternatively it can be provided that the control device 4 reverses the direction of the drive device after carrying out a braking operation with the aid of the braking device 43, for example in order to reverse a closing movement into an opening movement.

Alternatively, it may be provided that, when a first predetermined safety distance is undershot by persons and / or objects, an optical and / or acoustic warning signal is emitted and / or a speed of movement of the door elements 2 is reduced by suitable control of the drive device 4 and only if a second predetermined safety distance by the persons and / or objects a complete shutdown of the drive device 4 takes place. For the sake of completeness it should be mentioned that the door elements 2 in not shown manner engage on a bottom with suitable elements in a bottom guide rail, also not shown, to ensure a stable suspension of the individual door elements 2.

Claims (10)

Folding door arrangement for temporarily closing a building wall recess, with a plurality of rectangularly formed and with the longest rectangular edges (15) respectively parallel aligned door elements (2), each at an upper edge with a guide device (11) are provided, and with a guide rail assembly (8) for sliding movable Storage of the guide means (11) which is designed to be fixed to the building wall recess, and with a power-operated drive device (3) for a movement of the door elements (2) between a building wall recess at least substantially closing position and a Gebäudewandausnehmung at least substantially is formed fully releasing open position, characterized in that each adjacently arranged guide means (11) are hinged together Folding door arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive device (3) has a traction means (37) which is designed for a force introduction to at least one, in particular to exactly one, guide means (11). Folding door arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive device (3) as an electric motor (33), in particular as an electric gear motor, is formed and that the traction means (37), in particular at least substantially, along a, preferably rectilinear, portion (38) of a movement path (17) for the door elements (2) is arranged. Folding door arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the traction means (37) is arranged endlessly circumferentially between the drive device (3) and a deflecting means (39) on the building wall recess and that a guide device (11) arranged at a maximum distance from the drive device (3) ) is connected to the traction means (37). Folding door arrangement according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the drive device (3) is coupled to a control device (4), which is associated with a release switch (6) for providing an enable signal from the control device (4) to the drive means (3) is designed to at least substantially cancel out a braking effect of the drive device (3) for the traction means (37) when the release signal is present. Folding door arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that as the drive means (3) comprises an electrically controllable, with the control device (4) coupled, in particular in the de-energized state open, braking device (43). Folding door arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide device (11) comprises two guide carriages (16) which are arranged on different sides of the movement path (17) for the respective door element (2). Folding door arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide carriage (16) each about a vertical axis are rotatably mounted on the door element (2) and with at least two steering levers (29, 30) are coupled together to effect a positive guidance of the carriage (16) of the respective guide means (11). Folding door arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device (4) for the drive device (3) is associated with a sensor arrangement (5), which is designed for detecting objects in a range of movement of the door elements (2). Folding door arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor arrangement (5) comprises a radiation source for emitting modulated electromagnetic waves, in particular in the wavelength range of visible light or ultraviolet radiation or infrared radiation, and a radiation receiver for receiving reflected electromagnetic waves and processing means for processing the received electromagnetic waves, wherein the processing means is designed for determining phase differences between emitted and received electromagnetic waves.

Images