FR2850421A1 - Up-and-over door opening mechanism has auxiliary drive to assist start of opening operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The door opening mechanism, comprising vertical and horizontal rails (3), a drive motor, straps (17), pulleys and rollers that move along the rails, has an auxiliary drive for the initial opening phase comprising an endless screw (7) and a nut (9) connected detachably to the door panel. The screw is set parallel to a horizontal rail (3) and has a stop to limit the travel of the nut, which is connected to the door by a bar (10) and a retaining element (11) with a hook (16) that disengages automatically from the bar when the nut reaches the stop.

Description

STARTING AID DEVICE OPENING OVERHEAD DOOR

  Tilting garage doors, in the closed vertical position and in the open horizontal position, require significant effort during the opening phase. Indeed, the door being vertical, and the top of the door having to be moved horizontally, it is necessary to have recourse to powerful motors, therefore expensive, consumers of electricity, maintenance, 10 maintenance, ...

  The difficulty is all the greater and the effort all the more important as the axis of rotation, corresponding to the end of the strap attached to the door, and pulling upwards, is offset towards the inside of the garage. A vertical traction tends in theory to push the top of the door in a horizontal movement outwards, that is to say opposite to the desired movement, namely towards the interior of the garage.

  Known solutions have been proposed.

  We know that these overhead doors are mounted on rollers, by their upper part, moving on a horizontal rail (or slide) on each side of the door.

  The first known solution to solve the above problem consists in bending the end of the rail, on the side of the door, which gives a horizontal component making it possible to start starting in this initial phase of movement of the door.

  However, this solution has the drawback that the weight of the panel is no longer fully supported by the roller or by the rail, which implies that the weight is taken up by the drive mechanism (straps and the like).

  We have tried to remedy these drawbacks according to this known solution by increasing the torque of the motor, and / or by providing compensation weights, which adds additional disadvantages in terms of cost, maintenance, mounting, size.

  A second known solution in an attempt to remedy the above problems has been to provide an auxiliary finger mechanism associated with a second motor, distinct from the door drive motor.

  S5 The major drawback of this known solution results from the need to provide two motors, with the cost of assembly, purchase and maintenance that this represents, and the presence of a relatively fragile mechanical assembly.

  The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to solve the above problem by producing a device making it possible, in a simple, inexpensive and reliable manner, to assist in the movement of the door in the initial opening phase.

  To facilitate starting the opening of a tilting door, the present invention relates to a device for opening a tilting door consisting of a leaf and two horizontal longitudinal rails and two vertical longitudinal rails, the opening the leaf being produced using motor means and opening means, consisting of a set of straps, pulleys and rollers capable of moving in the corresponding rails, the device being characterized in that it comprises auxiliary means for driving the leaf during the door opening phase, the auxiliary means being separable.

  More particularly, the auxiliary means consist of a worm screw provided with a nut removably connected to the leaf, the worm screw being arranged parallel to a horizontal rail and having a stop for the nut.

  In order to simply secure the nut to the leaf, the nut is connected to the leaf by a finger, disposed on the nut and able to cooperate with retaining means arranged on the leaf, the retaining means being constituted by a hook able to cooperate with the finger of the nut.

  Preferably, said retaining means separate from the finger of the nut when the nut comes into contact with the stop.

  Advantageously, the worm is driven by a drive shaft 20 secured to the drive means, the drive shaft being made integral with the opening means when the nut comes into contact with the stop.

  Advantageously, the opening means consist of at least two straps, of a main pinion capable of driving two gear pulleys capable of moving the leaf when the nut comes into contact with the stop.

  Advantageously, the drive shaft is fixed on the main pinion which drives the gear pulleys when the nut comes into contact with the stop.

  In order to obtain braking of the door, during its closing phase, the leaf hook hooks up with the finger of the nut and the rotation of the worm screw causes said nut to move to its initial position.

  Advantageously, the main pinion consists of a series of concentric rings internally having stops and corresponding fingers, the series of rings thus formed being able to drive the pulleys when the nut comes into contact with the stop.

  In order to allow easy handling of the door, each of the geared pulleys is linked to a strap, itself connected to a counterweight system.

  The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description, relating to illustrative embodiments but in no way limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of the device 20 according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a perspective view from below of the device according to the invention in its initial position; - Figure 3 shows a side perspective view of the device according to the invention associated with a leaf - Figure 4 shows a side perspective view of the device according to the invention showing in detail the retaining means; - Figure 5 shows a side perspective view of the device according to the invention when it is secured to the retaining means; - Figure 6 shows a side perspective view of the device 30 according to the invention; - Figure 7 shows a perspective view from above of the opening means without the straps; and - Figure 8 shows in perspective two rings, with internal stops, constituting the main gear.

  In Figure l is shown the device according to the invention disposed on a tilting door 1 consisting of a leaf 2 and two horizontal rails and two vertical rails in which circulate rollers.

  l0 For the sake of clarity, only a single device has been shown according to the invention arranged on a single horizontal rail 3.

  It is understood that the device according to the invention can be mounted either on one of the two horizontal rails or on both.

  Only one vertical rail 4 has also been shown in which the opening means 5 and the driving means 6 are arranged.

  A worm screw 7 is arranged parallel to the horizontal rail 3 and is associated at its proximal end with the opening means 5 and fixed at its distal end to a fixing lug 8 fixed to the horizontal rail 3.

  The worm 7 has a length of about half of the horizontal rail 3, and preferably about a third of the horizontal rail 25 3, starting from the opening means 5.

  A nut 9, able to move on the worm 7, is shown in its initial position, that is to say when the tilting door 1 is closed; it is then close to the opening means 5. The fixing lug 8 comprises a stop 8A intended to stop the movement of the nut 9 at the end of the travel on the worm 7.

  The nut 9, of generally cylindrical shape, is ideally made of plastic material.

  The nut 9 is capable of cooperating detachably with the leaf 2, by a finger 10 partially shown in FIG. 1.

  The leaf 2 has retaining means 11 for the finger 10 consisting of a pyramid block 12 located on the upper part of the leaf 2, at the connection between the horizontal rail 3 and the vertical rail 4.

  The opening means 5 of the door 1 include a main pinion 13 (FIG. 7) capable of driving two gear pulleys 14, 15 arranged on either side of said pinion 13.

  The axis of the main pinion 13, the axis (X-X) of the worm 7, and the axis of the motor shaft 22 associated with the motor 6, are collinear.

  Figure 2 shows in perspective the nut 9 in its initial position, seen from below.

  The finger 10 is fixed to the nut 9 according to any known means (screw, nut, etc.), and 25 consists of a metal rod with a circular section, bent.

  The finger 10 has a first proximal straight portion 10a fixed to the nut 9, then a second intermediate straight portion 10b perpendicular to the first proximal portion 10a, and finally a third distal straight portion 30Oc substantially perpendicular to the second intermediate portion lOb, and therefore substantially parallel to the first proximal portion 10a.

  In its initial position (FIG. 2), the nut 9 is associated with the leaf 2 by a hook 16 placed on the pyramidal block 12 and cooperating with the finger 10.

  More precisely, the finger 10 comes into engagement with the hook 16 of the leaf, at the level of the distal portion 10c of the finger 10.

  io The opening means 5, arranged in a known manner in the vertical rail 4, have a set of at least two straps 17, each winding around a gear pulley 14, 15, so as to move the leaf 2 when the motor means 6 are operating, using a counterweight system (not shown but known per se).

  The pyramidal block 12 also has a sliding member 18 of the leaf 2 in the horizontal rail 3, of a type known per se.

  FIG. 3 shows the same device as that of FIG. 2 but in an intermediate position, that is to say when the leaf 2 is slightly open.

  During the opening phase, the motor means 6 drive the motor shaft 22 which drives the main pinion 13, and the worm 7 which are associated with it.

  The rotational movement of the worm 7 then causes the nut 9 to move in the direction of the stop 8A (away from the opening means 5).

  The distal part 10c of the finger 10 then causes the leaf 2 to open by its cooperation with the hook 16 placed on the leaf.

  The device according to the invention makes it possible to create a horizontal force suitable for moving the leaf 2.

  During the opening phase, that is to say, when the nut 9 moves on the worm screw 7 in the direction of the stop 8A, the gear pulleys 14 are not set in motion by the main gear 13.

  Indeed, during this phase, the motor shaft 22 drives the worm 7 only, but not the main gear 13, thanks to a disengageable mechanism described later.

  s5 Thus, the opening of the tilting door 1 is only carried out by the motor means 6 and the nut 9. The opening forces are not subjected to all of the straps 17.

  FIG. 4 shows more precisely a perspective view of the sliding member 20 and of the stop 8A.

  The sliding member 18 is provided with a rectangular plate 19 connecting the pyramidal block 12 to a roller 20 able to move in a slide 21 located in the horizontal rail 3.

  Figures 5 and 6 show the nut 9 in its final position, that is to say in contact with the stop 8A.

  When the nut 9 comes into contact with the stop 8A, the main pinion 13 is designed in such a way that it can then drive the gear pulleys 14, 15 and thus the set of straps 17, which allows movement leaf 2.

  The hook 16 (secured to the leaf) is designed so that it can, at the end of the opening phase, detach from the finger 10 (secured to the nut) when the nut 9 bears against the stop 8A.

  The worm 7 has a circular groove 7A at its distal end so that, when the nut 9 is in contact with the stop 8A, it remains associated with said groove 7A, in which it rotates without linear movement. The nut 9 is therefore in a stationary state, whatever the direction of rotation of the worm 7.

  FIG. 6 thus represents the device according to the invention when the finger 10 1S is detached from the hook 16 of the leaf.

  The nut 9 bears against the stop 8A until the hinged door 1 is fully open.

  During the closing phase, the leaf 2 is moved only using the assembly consisting of the main pinion 13, gear pulleys 14, 15 and straps 17 connected to a counterweight system.

  During the closing phase, when the leaf 2, and more precisely the hook 16 cooperates again with the finger 10, the nut 9 is released from the groove 7A, on which it was stationary, and engages again on the threads of the worm 7 which, by its rotation, takes the nut 9 to its initial position.

  More precisely, when the door 1, which is horizontal, is closed, the motor means 6 are actuated and the motor shaft 22, therefore the worm 7, performs five turns on itself without there has gear pulley drive 14, 15.

  The door 1 is only driven after rotation of the worm 7 by five turns on itself.

  After these five turns, the gear pulleys 14, 15 are driven by the main pinion 13, and the leaf 2 moves to its initial vertical position, thanks to the set of straps 17 and the counterweight.

  In the last part of the door 1 closing stroke, the hook 16 is again joined with the finger 10 of the nut 9 and causes the latter to move. The worm screw 7 drives the leaf 2 at a lower speed of movement.

  In fact, the movement of the nut 9, during the closing phase, on the worm screw 7 makes it possible to brake the return of the tilting door 1 and 20 makes it possible to avoid too rapid closing of the tilting door 1.

  FIG. 7 shows from above the opening means 5, and more precisely the main pinion 13 and the two gear pulleys 14, 15.

  The main pinion 13 is fixed to the motor shaft 22, which is fixed at one end to the worm 7 and by the other end to the motor means 6 (not shown).

  The main pinion 13 is designed in such a way that, during the opening phase 30, that is to say during the displacement of the nut 9 on the worm screw 7 from its initial position (FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in its abutment position (FIG. 4), it does not cause the rotation of the gear pulleys 14, 15 and therefore the movement of the straps 17.

  The main pinion 13 cooperates with the gear pulleys 14, 15 only when the nut 9 bears against the stop 8A.

  During the closing phase, the main pinion 13 is designed in such a way that it drives the rotation of the gear pulleys 14, 15, when the worm gear 7 has made five turns on itself without causing a movement of leaf 2 and therefore of nut 9.

  The main pinion 13 can be produced using a series of concentric cylindrical rings having stops and corresponding fingers 15 (FIG. 8).

  Thus, during the rotation of the motor shaft, a first ring is rotated. After having traversed a predetermined angle but less than 3600, the first cylindrical ring drives, thanks to its internal stop, a second cylindrical ring having an internal finger cooperating with the internal stop of the first ring.

  The second ring also has an internal stop enabling it to cooperate with the internal finger of the third ring, and so on until the last ring comprising a gear capable of cooperating with the gears of the gear pulleys 14, 15.

  The main pinion 13 thus consists of a sufficient number of rings internally having stops and corresponding fingers 30 suitable for allowing the connection of the gear of the main pinion 13 with the gear pulleys 14, 15 when the nut 9 enters in contact with the stop 8A.

  It is common for a person skilled in the art to determine the number of rings and the length of their corresponding stops and fingers to produce such a main pinion 13 having the required characteristics.

  FIG. 8 represents a gear ring 25 having internally a finger 26 capable of cooperating with an internal stop 27 10 of a second concentric ring 28.

Claims (16)

  1. Device for opening a tilting door (1) consisting of a leaf (2) and two horizontal longitudinal rails and two vertical longitudinal rails, the opening of said leaf (2) being carried out using motor means (6) and opening means (5), consisting of a set of straps (17), pulleys (14, 15) and rollers (20) capable of moving in the corresponding rails (3 ), characterized in that it comprises auxiliary means for driving said leaf 10 (2) during the opening phase of said door (1), said auxiliary means being separable.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said auxiliary means consist of an endless screw (7) provided with a nut (9) detachably connected to said leaf (2).   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said endless screw (7) is arranged parallel to a horizontal rail (3).   4. Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said worm (7) has a stop (8A) dtudit nut (9).   5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said nut (9) is connected to said leaf (2) by a finger (10), disposed on said nut (9) and able to cooperate with retaining means (11) arranged on said leaf (2).   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said retaining means (11) consist of a hook (16), capable of cooperating with said finger (10) of the nut (9).   7. Device according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that said retaining means (11) separate from said finger (10) of the nut (9) when said nut (9) comes into contact with said stop (8A).   8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said endless screw (7) is driven by a motor shaft (22) integral with said motor means (6).   9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drive shaft (22) is made integral with said opening means (5) when the nut (9) comes into contact with said stop (8A).   10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said opening means (5) consist of at least two straps (17), of a main pinion (13) capable of driving two gear pulleys (14, 15) able to move said leaf (2) when said nut 20 (9) comes into contact with said stop (8A).   11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said drive shaft (22) is fixed on said main pinion (13).   12.Device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said pulleys (14, 15) are driven by said main pinion (13) when said nut (9) comes into contact with said stop (8A).   13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the closing phase, said hook (16) is joined with said finger (10) of the nut (9) and the rotation of said worm (7) causes said nut (9) to move to its initial position.   14. Device according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that said main pinion (13) consists of a series of concentric rings (25, 28) having internally stops (27) and fingers (26 ) correspondents.   15. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the said 10 series of rings (25, 28) thus formed is capable of driving said pulleys (14, 15) when said nut (9) comes into contact with said stop ( 8A).   16. Device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that each of said gear pulleys (14, 15) is linked to a strap (17), itself connected to a counterweight system.