EP3914796A1

EP3914796A1 - A sealable sectional door system and a door sealing kit

Info

Publication number: EP3914796A1
Application number: EP20702232.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kaj SØNDERGAARD
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
Priority date: 2019-01-22
Filing date: 2020-01-20
Publication date: 2021-12-01
Also published as: WO2020152070A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sectional door sealing kit comprising an elongated door seal (1) with an elongated seal chamber (2) and formed fully or partially from an elastic material allowing the door seal (1 ) to be inflated, and an inflating unit (3) for supplying a fluid to the seal chamber (2) to bring the door seal (1) from a deflated configuration to a predetermined inflated configuration. The inflating unit is a piston pump (3) communicating with the seal chamber (2) and including a pump chamber (s1) for holding a volume of fluid sufficient for expanding the door seal (1) by a single stroke of the piston, said piston pump being engageable with the sectional door (15).

Description

A sealable sectional door system and a door sealing kit

Summary

The present invention relates to a sealable sectional door system and a door sealing kit.

Upwardly acting sectional doors have become commonplace in a variety of structures, including buildings, trucks, and trailers. These doors are character ized by a plurality of hinged sections or panels that articulate in a pivoting fash ion as the door is moved up from a generally vertical, closed position to a gen erally horizontal, open position. The sectional doors are used for covering an opening of the structure and a number of door seals may be arranged along side of the opening to prevent free flow of air into the structure when the sec tional door is in the closed position, by packing against sides of the hinged sections or panels.

The sections of the sectional doors are guided by opposite guide rails mounted onto the structure at the opening. Each of the guide rails have a first upright part, a curved part and a second, generally horizontal part, and each guide rail has a first track section for guiding the sectional door along the up right part, a second track section for guiding the sectional door along the gen erally horizontal part, and a further rail section between the first and second parts. The first rail part is slightly inclined to the vertical to ensure that the door moves away from the door seals as the door moves upwards, to reduce door seal wear due to friction. The seal is obtained when the door reaches its fully closed position in which the sectional door is in physical contact with the door seal due to the slight inclination of the opposite first rail parts.

One problem associated with the current solutions is that the first rail parts must be mounted in the aforementioned inclined position in order to reduce the friction during closure of the sectional door, which mounting procedure is time-consuming.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved sealable sectional door system including an improved door sealing kit wherein prob lems associated with the prior art are reduced or eliminated. It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide a door sealing kit which can be retrofitted for use with an existing sectional door system. To achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present disclo sure a sealable sectional door system for closing an opening in a structure is provided, the sealable sectional door system including a sectional door sys tem comprising a sectional door with panel sections and guide rails and a door sealing kit comprising a) an elongated door seal with an elongated seal chamber and formed fully or partially from an elastic material allowing the door seal to be inflated, and b) an inflating unit for supplying a fluid to the seal chamber to bring the door seal from a deflated configuration to a prede termined inflated configuration. The door sealing kit is configured for sealing the entirety of, or selected portions of a generally vertical gap between ends of the panel sections of the sectional door and said opening, to restrict air flow in the closed position of the sectional door, by moving the sectional door from a first position to a second position to cause the fluid to flow into the seal chamber of the door seal. The inflating unit is a piston pump communi cating with the seal chamber and including a pump chamber for holding a volume of fluid sufficient for expanding the door seal by a single stroke of the piston; the piston pump either mounted to the structure to be engaged by the sectional door when the sectional door moves towards its closed position or mounted to said sectional door to engage the structure when the sectional door moves towards its closed position. The present invention makes is possible to retrofit a door sealing kit on exist ing structures having an opening covered by a sectional door, as the door sealing kit can be accommodated without significant constructional modifica tions of the existing door frame along the opening and of the existing sec- tional door construction.

In use of the invention, fluid flows from the inflating unit into the seal chamber of the inflatable door seal when the fluid containing space of the pump cham ber of the inflating unit is decreased, the volume of the seal chamber of the inflatable door seal being correspondingly increased by the amount of fluid driven out of the inflating unit.

With the invention the first rail part does not need to be positioned with an in clination in order to ensure that the door panels move away from the door seal, as is necessary with the known sectional door systems to reduce fric tion. The sealing is by way of example established when the sectional door approaches its closed position when an engagement member of the sectional door system, such as a bracket mounted onto a lower portion of the sectional door, engages the inflating unit causing fluid to expand the inflatable cham- ber of the inflatable seal.

The inflating unit includes a displaceable member moveable from a first posi tion to a second position so as to reduce the volume of the aforementioned pump chamber of the inflating unit. The displaceable member may be a pis- ton arranged inside the pump chamber of the inflating unit, where the piston is connected to a piston rod extending along a portion of the length of the pump chamber, and is in one embodiment configured for engaging an en gagement member of the sectional door as the latter is moving towards its closed position, whereby the displaceable member is then displaced by and along with the sectional door until the latter reaches its closed position. The inflating unit can be a fluid piston pump having a rigid cylindrical main body with a given volume pump chamber, a piston and a piston rod connected to the piston. The volume of the pump chamber is chosen to correspond to the fluid volume the inflatable door seal must receive to be sufficiently inflated for establishing an efficient seal with the sectional door when in its closed position. By using an inflating unit having a piston arranged inside such main body, it is possible through the engagement member contacting an engagement head connected to the end of the associated piston rod to allow the movement of the sectional door to activate the displacement of the piston, hereby achieving the effect that the displacement of the piston causes the pump chamber fluid to flow into the seal chamber of the elongated door seal.

The sectional door includes a number of panel sections being interconnected to one another by pivoting hinges and each sectional door section is supported by a number wheels arranged along the side end of the sectional door sec tions. The weight of the sectional door may be in the order of 100-1000 kg, which would be sufficient to activate the inflating unit and force fluid into the seal chamber of the door seal. The sectional door sealing kit of the invention normally only requires the in troduction of fluid at the installation stage and this fluid remains therein. As such, there is a reduced risk of contaminating the environment with the door seal inflating fluid. The inflating unit may be such configured that any fluid (air) lost in use of the sealable sectional door system is drawn from the envi- ronment into the pump chamber as the sectional door is opened and dis placement of the displaceable member takes place in a direction opposite that of its previous movement. In the context of the present invention, the term“rail” is used to describe the element used for supporting the sectional door relative to the building struc ture, where the rail may provide a path for the sectional door during opening and closing of the opening in the structure.

In the context of the present invention, the term“fluid” is used to describe a fluid for filling the chamber of the door seal; this fluid used for expanding the door seal may be any liquid or gas air composition such as ambient air or an inert gas.

In the context of the present invention, the term“inflate” is used herein to re fer to an expansion by filling the door seal with a gas or liquid.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects, features and advantages will appear from the following de tailed description of embodiments, with reference being made to the accom panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a sectional door with an inflatable door seal element according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 2A illustrates an inflatable door seal of the present invention, where the door seal is mounted on a building and the door seal is deflated, Fig. 2B illustrates an inflatable door seal of the present invention, where the door seal is mounted on a building and the door seal has been inflated,

Fig. 3A illustrates an inflatable door sealing kit mounted on a building, where the inflatable seal is deflated, and Fig. 3B illustrates an inflatable door sealing kit mounted on a building, where the inflatable seal is inflated.

Reference numbers

Structure/building b

sealable sectional door system 100

door seal 1

seal chamber 2

inflating unit 3

biasing means 4

pump chamber s1

piston 6

piston rod 7

connecting tube 8

motor 9

connecting element 10

guide rail 11

first rail section 12

second rail sections 13

panel section14

sectional door 15

pressure release valve 20

head 21

engagement member 22 first volume VL

volume V_s

Detailed description The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with refer ence to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodi- ments and aspects set forth herein; rather, these embodiments and aspects are provided for thoroughness and completeness. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout the description. The drawings are not neces sarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illus trate and explain the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

In fig. 1 an embodiment of a sealable sectional door system is schematically indicated by numeral 10; the sectional door system as such may by way of example be of the type disclosed in W003091529. The shown sectional door system generally includes a sectional door 15 com prising a plurality of individual, rigid panel sections 14 pivotally interconnected by hinges, as well as a pair of opposite guide rails 11 , of which only one guide rail 11 is shown. The sectional door 15 is positioned to cover a vertical opening in a building or other structure and is operable to be moved up and down be- tween an open position and the shown closed position, guided by the afore mentioned guide rails 11 mounted at the opening. In the open position the sectional door will typically be aligned with a horizontal ceiling or similar inside the building or other structure. The sectional door 15 can be operated by a motor 10 via a connecting element 9.

The guide rails 11 each comprise a first upright rail section 12 extending up wards from the floor G of the structure and being connected to a second rail section 13 via a curved section, as can be seen in fig. 1. Each guide rail 11 may have a track for receiving and guiding rollers (not shown) mounted to the opposite ends of the panel sections 14. The guide rails 11 are normally made from metal or other relatively high-strength material. A door sealing kit forming part of the sealable sectional door system of the present invention is also shown in fig. 1 ; the door sealing kit is configured for sealing the entirety of, or selected portions of, the vertical gap between the ends of the panel sections of the sectional door and the opening, to restrict air flow into the structure in the closed position of the sectional door 15.

The sealing kit generally comprises an elongated door seal 1 formed fully or partially from an elastic material and having at least one elongated section with an elongated seal chamber 2 (see fig. 2A), as well as a fluid connection 8 for allowing the seal 1 to be inflated. An inflating unit 3 of the door sealing kit is activatable to supply a fluid, preferably air, to the seal chamber 2 via the con nection 8, to bring the seal 1 from a deflated configuration to a predetermined inflated configuration shown schematically in figs. 1 and 2A, wherein the seal chamber 2 encloses a predetermined first volume. The deflated configuration of the door seal 1 shown in fig. 2B is brought about by the inherent tendency of the elastic material to contract when substantially no fluid is in the seal chamber 2, in which case the seal chamber 2 encloses a relatively smaller volume.

The inflating unit 3 of the door sealing kit may have a limited inflating capacity, i.e. a capacity to deliver only a limited, predetermined volume or body of fluid. The inflating unit 3 of the sealing kit may be configured to deliver a fluid volume to the seal chamber 2 corresponding to the difference between the predeter- mined first volume VL and relatively smaller second volume Vs of the seal chamber 2, compare figs. 2A and 2B. The sealing kit may define a closed cir cuit whereby de-activation of the inflating unit 3 brings about a withdrawal of the delivered volume of air or other fluid inside the seal chamber 2 back to the inflating unit 3 whereby the same body of fluid may be used for the inflating, with no - or only occasional - replenishment being required. Alternatively, some replenishment may take place on or prior to re-activation of the inflating unit 3.

According to one preferred embodiment, ambient air can be used as a suita- ble fluid for the inflation, but the invention is by no means limited to ambient air; other types of fluids may likewise be used, e.g. any inert gas.

In the preferred embodiment shown in figs.3A and 3B, the inflating unit 3 comprises a piston pump with a pump body 5, communicating with the seal chamber 2, and including a pump chamber s \ for holding a volume of fluid sufficient for expanding the door seal 1 by a single stroke of the piston 6. The chamber s \ of the piston pump 3 is preferably cylindrical. In the shown em bodiments of the present invention, the piston 6 inside the pump chamber si is connected to a piston rod 7 extending along the pump chamber si and having an engagement member 22 located outside the pump chamber si.

The head 21 is configured for engaging an engagement member 22 mounted to one, such as a lowermost one, of the panel sections 14, along one side of the sectional door 15. This engagement occurs while the sectional door is moved towards its closed position, see fig. 3A, whereby the piston is driven downwards, thereby delivering fluid to the seal chamber 2 until the sectional door 15 finally assumes is closed position, shown in figs. 1 and 3B.

The aforementioned engagement is such that the inflating unit 3 head 21 is released on the sectional door moving up again; the engagement may re main for a portion of the upwards movement of the sectional door 15 suffi cient to pull the piston back to its original position shown in fig. 3A, thereby withdrawing fluid from the seal chamber 2, or disengagement may be imme diate, with return of the piston 6 being effected by spring action, either by a spring 4 incorporated in the inflating unit 3 or by any inherent tendency of the door seal 1 to return fully to its deflated configuration where the seal chamber 2 has the smaller volume, as shown in fig. 2B. The inflating unit 3 may in clude one-way valves, such as for allowing for automatic replenishment of any fluid lost as the piston returns, thereby obviating the need for mainte nance.

The door seal 1 can have a substantial circular or a substantial rectangular cross section in an inflated configuration. In a not shown embodiment of the present invention, the door seal 1 may be formed by a number of elongated sections or simply be a number of interconnected tubes 8.

The invention further comprises a connecting tube 8 inserted in between the inflating unit 3 and the inflatable door seal 1.

FIGS. 2A-2B show a horizontal cross-sectional view of the sectional door seal 1 which has the inflatable door seal 1 secured along one vertical side of the building structure b along its opening. It can be seen from FIG 2A that the door seal 1 comprises a seal chamber 2 which has a substantially circular cross- section and extends fully or partially along the height of the sectional door 15 in its closed position. The distal end of the inflatable door seal 1 is closed. The seal chamber 2 may be defined by a tube of elastic resiliently deformable ma terial such as rubber or polymeric material. Preferably, the seal chamber 2 has a length corresponding to, or essentially to, the length of the door seal 1 , which length may by way of example be in the order of 2-3 or more, allowing a user installing the door seal 1 to cut it off to a desired length and to then seal the seal chamber 2 at the distal end thereof

In fig. 3A, the piston 16 has been moved from a first position within the pump chamber s1 towards the floor G of the structure whereby the volume of the pump chamber decreases and fluid therein is forced out of the pump chamber s1 into the seal chamber 2 via the connecting tube 8. The door sealing kit may additionally include a valve for optional release of the inflating fluid from the seal chamber 2 when the sectional door is in the closed position; alternatively, for such release the engagement member 22 may be disengaged from the inflating unit head, allowing the piston head to return to its original position by the action of a biasing element 4, e.g. a spring, thereby drawing the fluid into the pump chamber.

In FIG 3A-3B, a pressure activated valve 20 is located at the distal end of the door seal 2, but may also be arranged in connection with the inflating unit, such as at the connecting tube 8. The pressure activated valve 20 may allow fluid to be selectively introduced into, retained in, and/or released from the pump chamber si.

The air pressure in the pump chamber s \ is raised to an appropriate level as the piston 6 is forced within the pump chamber s1 towards the connecting tube 8. The sectional door 15 exerts a force onto the piston head 21 via an engage ment member 22 or other engagement member. As a result, air is forced into the seal chamber of the inflatable door seal 1 , and the door seal 1 expands elastically to engage with the surfaces of the sectional door (shown in FIG. 2B and 3B).

The door seal 1 is preferably mounted to the fixed structure b as shown in the drawings, such as on the floor G of the structure b. Flowever, in an alternative embodiment of the sealable sectional door system 15 of the invention the door sealing kit is mounted onto the sectional door 15, the door seal 1 being along the edges of the panels 14 and the inflating unit 3, which may be of the afore mentioned piston pump type, being preferably an integral part of one or more of the panels 14, and with the engagement member 22 mounted on the struc ture b, such that on lowering the sectional door 15 the piston head 21 is moved into contact with the engagement member 22, with the piston 6 being then displaced until the sectional door 15 finally reaches its closed position. It will be understood from the foregoing that an elongated door seal 1 of the invention may preferably be arranged along each vertical side of the opening, each door seal 1 being serviced by a respective inflating unit 3. The door seal 1 may be permanently or releasably connected to the inflating unit 3.

Claims

1. A sealable sectional door system for closing an opening in a structure (b), said sealable sectional door system including:

a sectional door system comprising:

a sectional door (15) with panel sections (14) and

guide rails (11 ,12,13) and

a door sealing kit comprising:

an elongated door seal (1 ) with an elongated seal chamber (2) and formed fully or partially from an elastic material allowing the door seal (1 ) to be inflated, and

an inflating unit (3) for supplying a fluid to the seal chamber (2) to bring the door seal (1 ) from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration, said door sealing kit being configured an arranged for sealing the entirety of, or selected portions of a vertical gap between ends of the panel sections (14) of the sectional door (15) and said building (b), movement of the sectional door (15) to a closed position causing said fluid to flow into said seal chamber (2),

characterized in said inflating unit (3) being a piston pump communicating with the seal chamber (2) and including a pump chamber (s1 ) for holding a volume of said fluid sufficient for inflating said door seal (1 ) by a stroke of a piston (6), said piston pump being either mounted to be engaged by said sectional door (15) when the sectional door (15) moves towards said closed position or mounted to said sectional door (15) to engage said structure (b) when the sectional door (15) moves towards said closed position.

2. A sealable sectional door system according to claim 1 , said inflating unit (3) and said door seal (1 ) being mounted to the sectional door (15), said door seal (1 ) being inflated by said inflating unit (3) when encountering an engagement member (22), such as a floor (G) of said structure (b), during said movement.

3. A sealable sectional door system according to claim 1 , said inflating unit (3) and said door seal (1 ) being mounted to said structure (b), said door seal (2) being inflated by said inflating unit (3) being met by an engagement member (22) on said sectional door (15) during said movement.

4. A sealable sectional door system according to any of the previous claims, said seal chamber (2) enclosing a predetermined first volume (VL).

5. A sealable sectional door system according to claim 4, said inflating unit (3) being configured to deliver a fluid volume (VF) to the seal chamber (2) corresponding to the difference between the predetermined first volume (VL) and a relatively smaller second volume (V_s) of the seal chamber (2).

6. A sealable sectional door system according to any of the previous claims, further comprises a connecting tube (8) connecting the inflating unit (3) and the door seal (1 ).

7. A sealable sectional door system according to any of the previous claims, said inflating unit (3) including a one-way valve (20) allowing for automatic full or partial replenishment of fluid in said pump chamber as the piston (6) returns.

8. A sealable sectional door system according to any the previous claims, said sealing kit being a closed circuit whereby movement of said piston (6) in one direction brings about a withdrawal of the supplied volume of fluid inside the seal chamber (2) back to the inflating unit (3) whereby the same body of fluid may be used for the inflating, with no - or only occasional - replenishment being required.

9. A sealable sectional door system (100) according to any of the previous claims, said fluid being ambient air.

10. A sealable sectional door system (100) according to any of the previous claims, said inflating unit (3) having a head portion (21 ) being configured for engaging an engagement member (22) mounted onto one or more selected panel sections (14) along one or both sides of the sectional door (15).

11. A sealable sectional door system (100) according to the previous claims, said engagement being configured for remaining for a portion of the movement of the sectional door towards its open position sufficient to pull the piston (6) to its original position.

12. A door sealing kit comprising:

- an elongated door seal (1 ) with an elongated seal chamber (2) and formed fully or partially from an elastic material allowing the door seal (1 ) to be inflated, and

- an inflating unit (3) for supplying a fluid to the seal chamber (2) to bring the door seal (1 ) from a deflated configuration to a predetermined inflated configuration,

characterized in said inflating unit being a piston pump (3) communicating with the seal chamber (2) and including a pump chamber (s1 ) for holding a volume of fluid sufficient for expanding the door seal (1 ) by a single stroke of the piston.

13. The door sealing kit of claim 12, a distal end of said seal chamber (2) being closed or closable.