WO2016024018A1

WO2016024018A1 - Pocket-type opening panel with horizontally articulated pivoting flaps

Info

Publication number: WO2016024018A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/068780
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolas HOMMEL
Original assignee: Pega, Société Anonyme
Priority date: 2014-08-14
Filing date: 2015-08-14
Publication date: 2016-02-18
Also published as: LU92521B1; EP3180486B1; EP3180486A1

Abstract

The pocket-type opening panel with several panels (11,12) hinged to each other according to horizontal articulation axes comprise an upper panel (11) hinged according to an upper axis (A1) to a fixed frame (2), and a lower panel (12) pivoting according to a lower horizontal axis (A3) located at the lower edge (121) of same and guided in a vertical direction. Control means for controlling opening and closing are arranged to move the lower edge of the lower panel in the vertical direction, at least one of the panels comprising, on each side, a control arm (112, 122) rigidly linked to the panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to the general plane of the opening panel, and said control means, comprising, for example, a motorised carriage (40) that can be moved along a rack (31), are arranged to act on said control arms, at a predefined distance from said general plane, so as to exert a pivoting torque on the panel or panels carrying said control arms, in addition to moving the lower edge of the lower panel.

Description

OPENING PORTFOLIO WITH ARTICULATED SWIVEL SHUTTERS

HORIZONTAL

Technical area

The present invention relates to an opening with several flaps, typically two flaps, articulated on one another and on the frame according to horizontal axes of articulation, also called opening wallet. It relates more particularly to the opening and closing mechanisms of such an opening.

State of the art

Folding doors of this type are already known, comprising two shutters, or panels, located one above the other, in the same vertical plane when the opening is closed, the two panels having substantially the same height. and being articulated one on the other along a horizontal axis. The upper panel is articulated towards its upper edge on a fixed frame, integral with the building receiving said opening, and the lower panel has towards its lower edge and on each side, guide means, such as for example rollers, guided in vertical slides. When opening, the panels are folded towards each other up, the lower edge of the lower panel being guided in said slides, and the articulation of the panels between them moving forwards or backwards of the opening, to allow the panels to fold towards each other. The opening and closing of such openings, the size of which can be significant when they are used for example as hangar doors or the like, are currently motorized. Motorized opening and closing systems, known for example from FR2968345 or DE9301447, comprise in particular a system of racks fixed on each side of the frame, with which meshes gears mounted rotating on the lower panel, said gears being driven simultaneously in rotation by a motor carried on said lower panel. The purpose of these systems is to synchronize the movements of both sides of the opening, in particular to avoid jamming of the opening by a bracing phenomenon that could occur if one side of the opening comes to move faster than the other. A disadvantage of these openings is that when closed, the panels are vertical, one above the other, and both the weight of the panels inevitable friction, lead to generate another effort when the drive system tends to pull the bottom of the bottom panel upwards to generate the opening. Indeed, for there to be opening, it is necessary that the articulation between the panels moves out of the plane of the opening. However, because the vertical force exerted at the bottom of the lower panel is exerted substantially in the general plane of the opening, this force is transmitted with a very small horizontal component on the articulation between the panels. It is therefore necessary, at the beginning of the opening phase, a very significant vertical force exerted down the opening to not only compensate for the weight of the panels but also to generate a horizontal force sufficient to allow to start the separation of the axis of articulation between the panels outside the general plane of the opening.

Furthermore, when the opening is open, the panels are folded at the top of the opening, supported by the upper articulation of the upper panel on the frame and by the motor mechanism which retains the lower end of the lower panel. The panels are then cantilevered, relatively close to each other, and their weight generates a significant torque which is reflected on the hinge points up and down by substantially horizontal forces important. In particular, the forces then exerted by the lower rollers of the lower panel on the vertical rails tend to also create a kind of arching, opposing the descent, at the beginning of closing.

Between these extreme positions, the torques and forces are variable, depending on the opening of the opening and therefore variations of inclination of the panels.

Finally, at the end of closing movement, while the panels are close to the vertical, it is necessary to still be able to exert on the articulation between the panels a horizontal force sufficient to bring the panels exactly in the vertical plane, and thus close the opening properly. Similar to what was said previously for the opening start, it It is therefore necessary to exert a significant vertical force on the bottom of the lower panel to obtain the required horizontal force, at the joint between the panels, to ensure the desired verticality.

There are therefore large variations in the forces required to provide the mechanism depending on the degree of opening or closing of the opening, which leads to oversize the organs of this mechanism to provide sufficient effort when the maneuver of the opening requires, especially at the beginning of its opening, or at the end of closure, while the efforts are much lower during most of the race.

To tend to facilitate the folding on themselves of the various panels of an opening several panels foldable accordion when opened, and also to facilitate its return to the closed position, US2005 / 072537 proposes a complex system of guidance panels with complementary rollers sliding in double slides, including a pivoting slides. In addition to the complexity of such a system, it is not useful for two-panel doors.

Objectives of the invention

An object of the present invention is to allow the opening and closing of the opening without the need to exert significant effort on the opening and closing control mechanisms. The invention thus aims to reduce the dimensions of the control members, and therefore their weight, and therefore the weight of moving parts. The invention also aims to ensure a more regular movement during opening and closing, thus avoiding abrupt acceleration or slowing down, sources of stress on the joints and on the movement control members.

General description of the invention

With these objectives in view, the invention relates to an opening, of the wall opening type, to several panels articulated one on the other along horizontal axes of articulation, the opening extending in a substantially vertical general plane when closed, and having an upper panel articulated in the upper part on a fixed frame along an upper horizontal axis of articulation, and a lower panel pivotable along a lower horizontal axis located at its bottom portion and guided in a vertical direction, and opening and closing control means being arranged to move the lower edge of the bottom panel in said vertical direction.

[001 1] According to the invention, at least one of the panels comprises, on each side, a control arm rigidly connected to the panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to said general plane, and said control means are arranged, in addition to the movement of the lower edge of the lower panel, to act on said control arms, at a predetermined distance from said general plane, so as to exert a pivoting torque on the panel or panels carrying said control arm.

Thus, for the opening, the control means act simultaneously by exerting on the bottom of the opening a force upwards, proper to lift the opening, and exerting on the ends of said arms a force generating a pivoting torque of the panel or panels carrying said arms, said pair being adapted to rotate the panels along their axes of horizontal joints. This torque, all the more important as the length of the control arms is large, results in a substantially horizontal force at the joint between the upper edge of the lower panel and the panel located above, therefore having a tendency to move this joint away from the general vertical plane of opening. It follows that the risk of jamming is eliminated, and the vertical force required to generate the horizontal force on said articulation between panels is considerably reduced. Similarly, for closure, at the end of lowering, the force exerted on the arms creates a torque that tends to rotate the panels in the opposite direction, to their vertical position, minimizing the vertical force required for the panels find their vertical position of closure.

According to a preferred arrangement, the lower panel comprises, on each side, a lower control arm rigidly connected to the bottom of the lower panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to said general plane, the upper panel comprises, on each side, an arm of upper control rigidly connected to the top of the upper panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to said general plane, and said control means are arranged to act simultaneously on the lower control arms and on the upper control arms.

Thus, for opening, the control means act on said arms by simultaneously exerting:

- On the lower arms, an upward effort to lift the opening, while generating a pivoting torque of the lower panel, adapted to rotate the latter according to the lower horizontal axis,

- On the upper arms, a downward force, capable of generating a pivoting torque of the upper panel according to its hinge axis on the frame.

As indicated above, these couples result in a substantially horizontal force at the articulation between the upper edge of the lower panel and the panel above, thus having a tendency to move this joint from the general vertical plane. opening it and facilitating its opening. Similarly, for closing the sash, at the end of lowering, the force exerted on the arms creates a torque that tends to rotate the lower panel in the opposite direction, to its vertical position, minimizing the effort vertical required. Also, at the beginning of descent, while the lower edge of the lower panel is in the up position, and said panel close to the horizontal, the force exerted on the control arms also results in a torque in the direction tending to facilitate the release of the lower panel out of this substantially horizontal position, to bring it in an inclined position.

It follows therefore that overall, throughout the race, both in the opening direction in the closing direction, the vertical forces required to open or close the opening are greatly reduced, and subject to lower variations all or long of the opening and closing strokes. The motors and drive members can therefore be smaller in size, and they are subjected to lower stresses during maneuvers. According to a particular arrangement, the control means for vertically moving the bottom of the lower panel comprise on each side of the opening a control rod extending vertically, and a carriage guided in translation on said control bar and driven in translation by motor means, the upper control arm being connected to the upper end of said control bar and the lower control arm being connected to said carriage. Preferably, the control bar carries a rack and the carriage is driven in translation by a pinion rotatably mounted on the carriage and rotated by the drive means and cooperating with the rack. Thus, the vertical forces resulting from the meshing of the pinions with the racks, when the pinions are driven in rotation, apply:

on the end of the lower control arms by means of said carriages, thus exerting on the lower panel on the one hand a force directed upwards and on the other hand a relatively downward pivoting torque corresponding to the torque of upward pivoting of the lower control arms,

- On the end of the upper control arms, by connecting the control bar on these arms, thus exerting on the upper panel an upward pivoting torque corresponding to the downward pivoting torque of the upper control arms.

To ensure identical movement of both sides of the opening during its opening or closing, preferably the drive gears on both sides are connected in rotation and driven by a single gear motor attached to one of the carriages. Preferably again, the reduction gear of the geared motor is a worm gear reducer, thus ensuring an irreversibility of the movement of the opening, ensuring its maintenance in whatever position it is, closing or opening full or partial, when the engine is not controlled. In particular, this avoids any risk of inadvertent closure due to the weight of the panels, when the door is in the open or partially open position, and also ensures the locking of the door in the closed position. The control arms could be respectively connected to the control bar and the carriage by links for vertical rectilinear movement of the bar and the carriage, while the control arms are pivoted, for example by links of the type comprising a pin connected to the control arms and slidable in a horizontal light of the control bar or the carriage. Preferably, however, according to another particular arrangement, the control arms are respectively connected to the control bar and the carriage by being articulated thereto, so as to pivot with respect to the bar and the carriage respectively when the panels, and therefore the control arms, pivot, while the carriage moves along the control bar. As a result, the position of the control bar, and thus of the carriage, in the horizontal direction varies according to the inclination of the panels and the control arms. To allow this variation, the control bar, whose upper end is articulated on the upper control arm, is also connected to the frame at its lower end by a connecting rod extending parallel to the line of the upper axes connecting the upper articulation axis of the upper panel and the axis of articulation of the upper control arm on the control bar, so as to constitute a deformable parallelogram whose two large parallel sides are formed on the one hand by the frame and d ' secondly by the control bar, and the other two small sides are constituted respectively by said rod and by said line of the upper axes, substantially physically constituted by the upper control arm.

Preferably, the frame comprises fixed vertical vertical slideways and the lower edge of the lower panel is pivotable along the lower horizontal axis on movable guiding means in the lateral slideways, for guiding said lower edge. according to said slides. Although the control rods, connected to their upper and lower ends to the frame, could be sufficient to ensure the vertical guidance of the bottom of the opening through the guide carriage, all horizontal forces can be exerted on the edge lower part of the opening would then be supported only by said control means, which would imply that these have a strong transverse mechanical strength, while their function is essentially to ensure the vertical lifting forces of the opening. The use of lateral guide rails is therefore preferred to ensure reliable guidance and recovery of all horizontal forces on the opening, and this regardless of its degree of opening.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of an advantageous embodiment of the opening according to the invention, presented below solely by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a plan view of the opening in the closed position, from the outside of the building,

FIG. 1a is a right view of the opening of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1b is a sectional view along the line B-B of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1c is a sectional view along the line C-C of FIG. 1,

FIG. 1d is a view from above of the opening of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the opening, similar to FIG. 1, but in the open position,

FIG. 2a is a sectional view along the line A-A of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to those of FIGS. 1b and 2a but in intermediate opening positions of the opening leaf,

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the lower part of the opening leaf in the closed position,

- Figure 6 is a detail view of the upper part of the opening in the open position. Description of a preferred execution

The opening according to the invention comprises a movable assembly 1 and a frame 2 for adapting the opening in an opening of a building, not shown. The frame 2 comprises on each side vertical rails 21. The moving assembly 1 consists of two panels 1 1 and 12 located one above the other, in the same vertical plane forming the general plane P of the opening when closed. The upper panel 1 1 is hinged by its upper edge on the frame 2 along a horizontal axis A1. The upper panel 1 1 and the lower panel 12 are hinged together by a hinge 13 of horizontal axis A2. The lower panel 12 carries towards its lower edge 121, and on each side, a roller 14, better visible in Figures 5 and 6, of horizontal axis A3, the rollers 14 being movable in the rails 21 so as to guide vertically the bottom of the lower panel 12.

The lower panel 12 comprises, on each side, a lower control arm 122 rigidly connected to the bottom 121 of the lower panel 12, at the axis A3, and extending from said panel in a direction inclined towards down from the panel. The upper panel 1 1 has, on each side, an upper control arm 1 12 rigidly connected to the top 1 1 1 of the top panel and extending from said panel in a direction inclined upwardly from the panel.

The opening and closing system of the opening comprises, on each side, a vertical control bar 30 carrying a rack 31, parallel to the slide 21. The upper end of the vertical bar 30 is hinged to the end of the upper control arm 1 12 along an axis A4. Its lower end is connected to the frame 2 by a lower link 32, articulated along an axis A5 on the bar 30 and along an axis A6 on the frame, in line with the hinge axis A1 of the upper panel 1 January. The axes A4, A5 and A6 are positioned so that the rod 32 and the control arm 1 12, or more exactly the axis lines A5A6 and A1 A4 and are parallel so as to form with the vertical bar 30 and the frame 2 a deformable parallelogram P1 of vertices A1 -A4-A5- A6. The rod 32 is further preferably connected to the upper control arm 1 12 by a complementary vertical bar 33.

The opening and closing system of the opening also comprises a carriage 40, guided in translation on the vertical bar 30 by rollers 41, and on which is articulated along an axis A7 the end 123 of the control arm lower 122 rigidly connected to the lower panel 12.

The control arms extend obliquely from the panels on which they are secured, with an angle of 70 to 85 degrees relative to the plane of the panel, preferably an angle of 75 to 85 degrees. The upper control arm 112 extends upwardly from the top of the top panel 11, and the lower control arm 122 extends downwardly from the bottom of the bottom panel 11. As can be seen in FIGS. 2a and 6 in particular, this angle makes it possible laterally to disengage the vertical control bar 30 with respect to the slideway 21 in order to avoid interference between said control bar and the carriage 40 on the one hand and the frame 2 or the slide 21 on the other hand when the opening is completely open, the panels 1 1 and 12 then being close to the horizontal and the control arms 1 12,122 must then not be too vertical, fault what the control bar 30 and the carriage 40 would abut on the frame or the slide.

The carriage 40 carries a pinion 51 rotating along an axis A8 and meshing with the rack 31. The pinions 51 located on each side of the opening are connected in rotation, by a shaft 52 rotated by a geared motor 53 fixed on one of the carriages 40. The geared motor comprises an electric motor 531, preferably a low DC motor tension, and a worm gear 532, to ensure the irreversibility of the drive in rotation of the pinions 51.

Optionally, the mechanism may comprise a counterbalance torque compensation system, arranged to counterbalance the torque resulting from the weight of the panels, this counterweight may be located for example at the upper control arm 1 12 or at the level lower link 32. We will now explain the operation of the mechanism for opening and closing the opening.

When the opening is closed, the panels 1 1 and 12 are both vertical, aligned in the general vertical plane P, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. In this position, the upper control arm 1 12 is oriented upwards and the control bar 30 carrying the rack 31 is located in a high position. The lower control arm 122 is oriented downwards, opposite to the inclination of the upper control arm 1 12, the angle of the axis lines A3A7 and A1A4 with respect to the horizontal being of substantially the same value. but of opposite sign. It should be noted, however, that the inclinations indicated above are not necessarily of the same value.

To open, it actuates the motor that begins to drive the gears 51 in rotation. This rotation of the gears in engagement with the racks tends to simultaneously move the carriage 40 upwards and the control bar 30 downwards, which tends to rotate, along the axis A1, the upper control arm 1 12 towards the bottom, and therefore the upper panel 1 1 upwards, and simultaneously tends to lift the bottom of the lower panel 12 linked to the carriage by the lower control arm but especially exerts on said lower panel a pivoting torque along the axis A3 because the lifting force is exerted on the end of the control arm 122. The resulting torques exerted on the two panels have the effect of beginning to incline the panels, by moving the articulation 13 between the panels towards the outside, as shown in Figure 3, without the need to exert a significant vertical force on the carriage. The downward movement of the vertical control bar 30, accompanied by the pivoting of the upper control arm 1 12 causes a deformation of the deformable parallelogram A1A4A5A6 (P1), ensuring that the control bar 30 always remains vertical, when approaching of the slide 21 down, as seen in Figure 4.

The greater the opening, the more the panels 1 1 and 12 are closer to the horizontal, and the control arms 1 12 and 122 are inclined to the vertical, and the racks 31 are closer to the slides 21 all in descending. The carriages pull the bottom of the opening upwards, through the lower control arms 122, the necessary forces remaining relatively low because the weight of the panels 1 1 and 12 is then essentially translated by a pair of A1 upper axis, and a force with a strong horizontal component at the level of the rollers 14, horizontal component supported by the slides, and a small vertical component supported by the carriages, pinions and drive members in rotation of these gears, component vertical even lower than the torque exerted on the upper panel simultaneously tends to lift the latter but also to pull the bottom panel upwards via the hinge 13 between the panels. Overall, thanks to the invention, the forces required to ensure the opening of the opening remain relatively low over the entire opening stroke.

Incidentally note that stopping the engine immobilizes the carriage on the rack and thus blocks the opening in position, regardless of its degree of opening, the irreversibility of the worm gear reducer preventing the weight of the panels opening can cause an unexpected closure thereof by driving the carriage down.

When the opening is in the maximum open position, shown in Figures 2, 2a and 6, the control arms 1 12 and 122 are strongly inclined relative to the horizontal, as well as the rod 32, the control bar 30 then being closer to the frame frame 2 and in the maximum position downwards.

From this position, it is sufficient to close to control the rotation of the motor in the opposite direction, to move the carriages downwards, this descent accompanied by the pivoting of the control arms and the deformation of the deformable parallelogram P1 , inversely to the opening. At the end of the closing stroke, the force exerted by the carriages down on the ends of the lower control arms 122, as well as the force exerted by the control rods upward on the ends of the upper control arms 1 12, generates on the panels 1 1 and 12 pairs of opposite directions that facilitate their return to the vertical plane, without the need for significant effort down on the lower edge of the bottom panel. Although in general the opening according to the invention comprises only two panels articulated one on the other, it will be understood that it would be possible to use the same opening and closing control system for openings comprising more than two panels hinged together, for example with three panels, the median panel then being also guided laterally in the side rails, for example halfway up the panel.

Also, the opening and closing control means of the rack-and-pinion type, which have been previously described, could also be replaced by screw-nut type systems, the control rods then being constituted by screws extending vertically along the slideways and the geared motor driving in rotation nuts engaged with said screws and mounted rotating on the carriages associated with the control arms. It could also have fixed nuts on the carriages and the screws then being rotated synchronously, or in the same spirit a system with chains and gables. Whatever the case, the principles described above with regard to the kinematics of the opening and the utility of the control arms, remain identical and easily transposable.

Claims

claims

1. Opening, opening wallet type, to several panels (1 1, 12) hinged to one another along axes of horizontal joints, the opening extending in a substantially vertical general plane (P) when is closed, and having an upper panel (1 1) hinged on an upper axis (A1) on a frame (2) fixed by its upper edge (1 1 1), and a lower panel (12) pivoting along a lower horizontal axis (A3) located at its lower edge (121) and guided in a vertical direction, and opening and closing control means being arranged to move the lower edge of the bottom panel in said vertical direction,

characterized in that at least one of the panels comprises, on each side, a control arm (12, 122) rigidly connected to the panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to said general plane, and said control means are arranged, in addition to the displacement of the lower edge of the lower panel, to act on said control arms, at a predetermined distance from said general plane, so as to exert a pivoting torque on the panel or panels carrying said control arm.

A door according to claim 1, wherein the lower panel (12) has, on each side, a lower control arm (122) rigidly connected to the bottom (121) of the lower panel and extending from said panel according to a direction transverse to said general plane, the upper panel (1 1) comprises, on each side, an upper control arm

(1 12) rigidly connected to the top (1 1 1) of the upper panel and extending from said panel in a direction transverse to said general plane, and said control means are arranged to act simultaneously on the lower control arms (122) and the upper control arms (1 1 1).

Opening according to claim 2, wherein the control means comprise on each side a control bar (30) extending vertically, and a carriage (40) guided in translation on said control bar and driven in translation by driving means the upper control arm (1 12) being connected to the upper end of said control bar (30) and the lower control arm (122) being connected to said carriage (40).

Opening according to claim 3, wherein the control bar (30) carries a rack (31) and the carriage (40) is driven in translation by a pinion (51) rotatably mounted on the carriage and driven in rotation by the drive means and cooperating with the rack.

Opening according to claim 4, wherein the driving gears (51) on both sides are rotatably connected and driven by a single geared motor (53) fixed on one of the carriages.

Opening according to claim 5, wherein the reduction gear of the geared motor is a worm gear.

Opening according to claim 3, wherein the control arms (1 12, 122) are respectively connected to the control bar (30) and the carriage (40) being articulated thereof, so as to pivot relative respectively at the bar and the carriage when the panels (1 1, 12), and therefore the control arms, pivot, while the carriage (40) moves along the control bar (30).

8. A door according to claim 7, wherein the control rod (30) is articulated by its upper end to the upper control arm (1 12) along an axis (A4) and is also connected to the frame (2) to its lower end by a connecting rod (32) extending parallel to the line A1A4 axes so as to form a deformable parallelogram (A1A4A5A6), two large parallel sides of which are constituted by the frame (2) and the control bar (30), and the other two small sides are constituted by the line of axes A1A4 and said link (32).

9. Opening according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (2) has vertical fixed side rails (21) and the lower edge (121) of the lower panel (12) is pivotable along the lower horizontal axis. (A3) on guiding means (14) movable in the lateral rails.

10. Opening according to claim 2, wherein the control arms (1 12, 122) extend obliquely from the panels (1 1, 12) on which they are secured, at an angle of 70 to 85 degrees to to the plane of the panel.

1 1. Opening according to claim 1, comprising a counterbalance torque compensator, arranged to counterbalance the torque resulting from the weight of the panels (1 1, 12), this counterweight can be located at the upper control arm (1 12) or at the level of the lower link (32).