EP4092242B1

EP4092242B1 - A motion transmission device for motor-driven gates

Info

Publication number: EP4092242B1
Application number: EP22173238.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Mannori; Simone Mannori
Original assignee: FLli Mannori SNC Di Mannori Simone E Marco
Current assignee: FLli Mannori SNC Di Mannori Simone E Marco
Priority date: 2021-05-18
Filing date: 2022-05-13
Publication date: 2023-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2042-05-13
Also published as: EP4092242A1; EP4092242C0; IT202100012833A1

Description

This invention relates to a motion transmission device for motor-driven gates.
The current motor-driven gates which are installed outside buildings comprise at least:

a load-bearing frame substantially U-shaped and defined by a base beam to be buried and by two vertical uprights fixed to the base beam so as to create a passage opening;
at least one leaf connected (with at least one pair of suitable hinges) to one of the vertical uprights;
a drive unit associated with a vertical upright and equipped with means for transmitting motion to the leaf so that the leaf can rotate from a closed position of the opening to an open position of the opening and vice versa.

The gate may be equipped with a pair of leaves (connected to the corresponding uprights) each having an independent drive unit.
Currently, the drive units of these gates (usually electric motors assisted by hydraulic actuators associated with the leaf) are positioned along the vertical upright and protruding from the upright.
However, this structure determines greater overall dimensions of the gate and is subjected to rapid wear due also to the effect of the weather conditions.
In addition, there is also the problem of the stability of the structure of the gate relative to the ground.
In fact, over time the ground at which the gate is installed can yield and one or both of the vertical uprights can therefore be inclined.
In this case, the leaf supported by the inclined upright cannot correctly close.
For this reason, it is necessary to adjust the hinges installed between the inclined upright and the leaf supported by it.
The presence of the drive unit in the gate also determines the need for an adjustment of the motion transmission means between the motor and the leaf. These adjustments are complex and therefore costly.
All these needs have resulted in the companies manufacturing motor-driven gates studying alternative solutions in the positioning of the motor and of the motion transmission elements on the leaves.
In particular, solutions have been sought wherein the drive unit can be inserted inside the uprights of the frame, for example in an intermediate position in height or at the upper end of the upright.
These constructional architectures on the one hand improve the appearance of the gate and allow a greater covering of the drive unit but on the other hand they have drawbacks due to the difficult connection between the drive unit and the leaf.
For example, a drive unit located at the upper end of the upright must comprise complex transmission means such as, for example, a vertical shaft with a meshing system with the drive unit at its upper end which must in effect be combined with the upright of the leaf for almost its entire length.
This system is not able to guarantee a perfect and precise movement of the leaf over time since it is subjected to continuous twisting during its movement.
EP3216961A1 discloses a motion transmission device for gates with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
The aim of this invention is to provide a motion transmission device for motor-driven gates that overcomes the prior art drawbacks described above.
In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a motion transmission device for motor-driven gates which is able to obtain a fast, safe and precise connection between the drive unit and the leaf.
A further aim of the invention is to provide a motion transmission device for motor-driven gates which is able to obtain a connection between the leaf and the drive unit with reduced overall dimensions and precision of operation over time.
Said aims are fully achieved by the motion transmission device for motor-driven gates according to the invention as characterised in the appended claims.
The main features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, illustrated purely by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a motor-driven gate equipped with the motion transmission device according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a scaled-up perspective view with some parts cut away in order to better illustrate others of the motion transmission device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view, with some parts in cross section and others cut away to better illustrate some details, of the motion transmission device of the preceding figures.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in particular Figure 1, the motion transmission device according to the invention can be used on motor-driven gates 1.
A motor-driven gate 1 is illustrated in Figure 1 in a simple embodiment and without limiting the scope of the invention.
The gate 1 comprises a load-bearing frame 2 having at least one vertical upright 3 fixed to a walkable surface P.
It should be noted that the frame 2 may comprise two vertical uprights 3 and 3a joined by a crosspiece 3b buried as a joining and supporting element.
The gate 1 also comprises at least one leaf 4 articulated with its vertical upright 5 at the vertical upright 3 of the frame 2.
The leaf 4 is articulated to the vertical upright 3 of the frame 2 by one or more hinges 27 articulated to the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4.
The number of hinges 27 is a function of the height of the leaf 4 installed.
The number of leaves 4 present is also a function of the width of the gate 1.
In the case described here, reference will be made to a single leaf 4, but the solution according to the invention is applicable to gates with more leaves without the invention losing its validity.
The gate 1 comprises at least one drive unit 6 associated with the vertical upright 3 of the frame 2 and equipped with means 7 for transmitting motion to the leaf 4 which are able to rotate the leaf 4 from a closed position of a passage opening to an open position of the passage opening and vice versa.
As illustrated (see also Figures 2 and 3) the motion transmission means 7 comprise at least one body 8 comprising a first box-shaped portion 9 which can be associated with the vertical upright 3 of the frame 2 and having at least one through seat 10 for housing a rotary unit 11 configured to connect to the drive unit 6 (and take the motion from the drive unit 6).
The body 8 comprises a second annular portion 12 configured to define a seat 13 for coupling with a stretch of the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4. The second annular portion 12 is equipped with a device 14 for transmitting a rotational movement which can be associated with the stretch of the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4.
The motion transmission device 14 is kinematically connected to the rotary unit 11 to allow the passage of the motion from the drive unit 6 directly to the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4.
In other words, the body 8 has the shape of an "eyelet" wherein the box-shaped part is fixable to the vertical upright of the frame and protruding from it.
The annular part of the eyelet makes it possible to couple a part of the vertical upright of the leaf which is therefore directly connected, by means of the transmission devices, to the drive unit.
As illustrated, the second annular portion 12 comprises a first part 15 and a second part 16 with an curved profile which can be separated from each other.
The first curved part 15 protrudes (that is, it is formed directly) from the first box-shaped portion 9 of the body 8.
The second curved part 16 is associable with the first curved part 15 by means of joining means 17 configured to obtain a mutual stable locking of the first and second parts to define the coupling seat 13 of the stretch of the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4 positioned before the mutual joining of the first 15 and second 16 curved parts.
In other words, the annular portion can be separated to allow a correct housing of the stretch of upright of the leaf (with body 8 already mounted on the upright of the frame) and the tightening makes the stretch of upright integral with the device for transmitting the rotary motion.
The joining means 17 may be at least one pair of fastening screws 28 which can be screwed into corresponding seats 29 made on the two curved parts 15 and 16 of the second annular portion 12.
Preferably, the rotary unit comprises a rotary pin 11 which can be housed in the through seat 10 of the first box-shaped portion 9.
In light of this, the rotary pin 11 has a cylindrical portion rotatably housed in the through seat 10 of the first box-shaped portion 9 and an end conical toothed head 18 positioned close to the second annular portion 12.
In light of this, the rotary pin 11 is equipped with a central through seat 25 configured for coupling with a transmission shaft 26 of the drive unit 6.
Again as illustrated, the device 14 for transmitting the rotational motion positioned in the second annular portion 12 comprises an annular crown 19 equipped with a portion having gears 20 configured to mesh with the rotary unit 11 (that is, with the conical head 18 of the pin 11).
The device 14 for transmitting the rotational motion also comprises a counter-ring 21 (or mask) associated with the annular crown 19 and having an inner seat 21 shaped to match the profile of the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4 in order to stably house the stretch of the vertical upright 5 of the leaf 4.
The rotary motion transmission device 14 structured in this way makes it possible to adapt to any tubular profile of the upright 5 of the leaf 4 to be motor-driven thanks to the counter-ring 21 configured to be stably coupled to the stretch of the upright of the leaf.
The counter-ring 21 is in turn integral stably with the annular crown 19.
The annular crown 19 comprises an outer part equipped with an annular geared protrusion 20 with a semi-conical cross section in such a way as to mesh with a part of the conical profile of the conical head 18 of the pin 11 in such a way as to allow controlled rotation of the annular ring 19 and of the counter-ring 21.
Preferably, the first box-shaped portion 9 has four walls each equipped with a through seat 10 which can be engaged by the rotary element (pin) 11 depending on the relative position of the drive unit 6 on the upright 3 of the frame 2.
In other words, the position of the drive unit 6 may be different depending on the requirements for installation of the gate and the available overall dimensions.
Figure 1 shows three different positions of the drive unit 6: a first intermediate position inside the upright of the frame (continuous line) and two end positions, the first at the lower end (or buried) and the other at the upper end of the upright (illustrated with a dashed line).
In the first case, the pin 11 is connected to the drive unit 6 on the rear side of the first box-shaped portion 9 (associated with the upright 3) and through an opening in the upright 3 of the frame 2 coinciding with the seat 10.
In the case of drive units illustrated by the dashed line, the connection occurs through the upper or lower openings 10 of the first box-shaped portion 9.
In the latter two cases, advantageously, the body 8 may be positioned much closer to the drive unit 6 located above or below to reduce the distance and therefore the mechanical connections (transmission shaft 26) between the drive unit 6 and the body 8.
In this configuration, advantageously, the body 8 can also replace one of the two hinges 27 used for the articulation of the leaf to the frame 2.
Preferably, the body 8 is equipped with a first bearing 22 interposed between the annular crown 19 and the second annular portion 12 to allow the rotation of the annular crowns 19 and the counter-ring 21 inside the second annular portion 19.
It should be noted that the first box-shaped portion 9 is equipped with a seat 23 for a second bearing 24 interposed between the first box-shaped portion 9 and the rotary element 11.
The preset aims are achieved thanks to a motion transmission device structured in this way.
The presence of a ring-shaped body with the separable annular portion can constrain the leaf in a precise and fast manner without additional processing operations.
The motion transmission units have a very limited overall size and guarantee a reliably safe movement.
The possibility of connecting to the body of the device on at least five different sides allows a high flexibility of positioning of the device in all the different configurations of the drive unit.
The eyelet-like structure makes it possible to use the device also as an articulation point of the leaf if necessary, increasing the safety of the gate as a whole.

Claims

A motion transmission device (1) for gates comprising:
- a load-bearing frame (2) having at least one vertical upright (3) adapted to be fixed to a walkable surface (P);

- at least one leaf (4) adapted to be articulated with its vertical upright (5) at the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2);

- a drive unit (6) adapted to be associated with the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2) and equipped with means (7) for transmitting motion to the leaf (4) which are able to rotate the leaf (4) from a closed position of a passage opening to an open position of the passage opening and vice versa; the motion transmission means (7) comprising at least one body (8) having:

- a first box-shaped portion (9) which can be associated with the vertical upright (3) of the frame (2) and having at least one through seat (10) and a rotary unit (11) adapted to be housed in the at least one through seat (10) and configured to connect with the drive unit (6);

- a second annular portion (12) configured to form a seat (13) for coupling with a stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4); the second annular portion (12) being equipped with a device (14) for transmitting a rotary movement which can be associated with the stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4); the transmission device (14) being adapted to be connected by a kinematic mechanism of the device with the rotary unit (11) for allowing the passage of the motion from the drive unit (6) to the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4), characterised in that the second annular portion (12) comprises a first part (15) and a second part (16) with a curved profile and which can be separated from each other; the first curved part (15) protruding from the first box-shaped portion (9) of the body (8) and the second curved part (16) being associable with the first curved part (15) by means of joining means (17) configured to obtain a mutual stable locking of the first and second parts to define the coupling seat (13) of the stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4) positioned before the mutual joining of the first (15) and second (16) curved parts.
The device according to claim 1, wherein the rotary unit comprises a rotary pin (11) which can be housed in the through seat (10) of the first box-shaped portion (9).
The device according to claim 2, wherein the rotary pin (11) has a cylindrical adapted to be portion rotatably housed in the through seat (10) of the first box-shaped portion (9) and an end conical toothed head (18) adapted to be positioned close to the second annular portion (12).
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (14) for transmitting the rotational motion positioned in the second annular portion (12) comprises an annular crown (19) equipped with a portion having gears (20) configured to mesh with the rotary element (11) and a counter-ring (21) associated with the annular crown (19) and having an inner seat (21) shaped to match the profile of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4) for stably housing the same stretch of the vertical upright (5) of the leaf (4).
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first box-shaped portion (9) has four walls each equipped with a through seat (10) which can be engaged by the rotary element (11) depending on the relative position of the drive unit (6) on the upright (3) of the frame (2).
The device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the body (8) is equipped with a first bearing (22) interposed between the annular crown (19) and the second annular portion (12) to allow the rotation of the annular crowns (19) and the counter-ring (21) inside the second annular portion (19).
The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first box-shaped portion (9) is equipped with a seat (23) for a second bearing (24) interposed between the first box-shaped portion (9) and the rotary element (11).
The device according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the rotary pin (11) is equipped with a central through seat (25) configured for coupling with a transmission shaft (26) of the drive unit (6).