A movement and balancing mechanism for vertical sliding doors

Description

[0001] Vertically sliding door units are well known and widely used, particularly for wardrobes and furniture in general.

[0002] In vertically sliding door systems currently in use, a sliding door is supported at one end of at least one cable, which is wound on one or more idle pulleys and is fixed, with its other end, to a counterweight of equal weight to that of the door.

[0003] This system provides excellent balancing of the door in all its possible positions. A minus point is that the unit is very heavy and bulky and therefore unusable in many circumstances.

[0004] US 4,760,622 discloses a balancing mechanism for vertically sliding window sashes comprising biasing force transmission means (comprising a tackle assembly), a conical, spiral-grooved pulley whereon a cable connected to a spring is windable and a cable drum, aligned to the conical pulley and fixed thereto for rotation together, whereon a cable connected to the tackle assembly is windable.

[0005] An aim of the present application is to produce a vertical sliding door unit of reduced weight and bulk, compared to said traditional systems, so that it may be used in furnishing applications and achieve more widespread use.

[0006] Such an aim has been achieved with a mechanism as contained in claim 1. Additional new and desirable characteristics are said in the dependent claims.

[0007] In other words, the new mechanism includes, for each vertically sliding door, at least one return or balancing spring means, an idle door cable winding wheel between the door and the spring means, a length of a door cable secured by one end to the door, with the other end being attached to the door cable wheel, a length of a spring cable secured to the spring and a to a spring cable winding wheel, a winding groove of varying radius being provided on the spring cable winding wheel. There are two winding wheels, one for the door cable and the other for the spring cable, which are coupled by reduction gearing.

[0008] The new unit may use helical spring or gas systems as the balancing means for vertically sliding doors and therefore proves more compact and lighter compared to traditional vertical sliding door units.

[0009] The invention will be better described by referring to exemplary unrestrictive embodiments, shown in the annexed figures in which:

figure 1 is a broken-away elevational side view of a side unit of a vertical door movement mechanism, according to the invention, shown reduced;

figure 2 is a cross-sectional view along plane 2-2 in figure 1, shown enlarged with respect to said figure;

figure 3 shows in an enlarged scale with respect to the previous figures, a spring tension regulation device, at the base of a spring;

figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a side unit of a movement and balancing mechanism, in this case for a pair of opposite vertical sliding doors.

[0010] With reference first to figures 1, 2 and 3, a side unit for a movement and balancing mechanism for a vertical sliding door, carried on a fixed structure 1, is denoted, as a whole, by reference number 10. The door is referenced 2 and is guided through its vertical movement on fixed guides, referenced 4, on which it slides by means of, e.g., bearings or rollers 5. One end of a length of flexible cable 12, hereafter referred to as door cable, is fixed to a door bracket 6. This cable 12 winds round a stationary idle roller or pulley 14, on fixed structure 1, and is secured and winds round a peripheral grooved wheel 16, which is idle on the fixed structure 1. The peripheral groove of wheel 16 is referenced 18. As can be seen in figure 2, wheel 16 is idle supported on a pivot 20, having its axis a20 integral to structure 1, by a bearing 22. A small diameter crown wheel or toothing 24 is integral to the groove wheel 16 and meshes with a large diameter toothing 26 of a further wheel, or gear wheel, 28. The latter is supported idle, by a bearing 30, on a pivot 32, having axis a32, carried by structure 1. The axes a20 and a32 are parallel, in the example in the figures. Wheel 28 has a winding groove 34 for a cable, which groove has a varying radius around axis a32, as can be seen, for instance, in figure 1.

[0011] A second length of cable, or spring cable 36, has one end secured in groove 34, so as to wind round it, and the other end secured to a return spring 38, shown in a broken-away view in figure 1. The return spring 38, in the example shown, is a helical spring secured, in an adjustable way, to a stationary anchorage in structure 1, as shown in figure 3. The anchorage system of the spring could be any known anchorage system, for example, as in figure 3, a system comprising a cooperating screw 41 and nut screw 42, in which a lower end of spring 38 is locked to the nut screw by a pivot 43.

[0012] The system of the invention, through appropriate sizing of the variable radius groove 34 depending on spring 38, is able to provide for perfect balancing of door 2 in all positions thereof. The weight of door 2, applied to cable 12, is vertical in the vertical section of the cable 12 and horizontal in the horizontal section of the cable 12. The following condition must be satisfied for balance of wheel 16 around its axis a20: P.r16= T.r24
where P is the weight of the door (or of the door portion relating to side unit 10), r16 is the radius of the cable winding surface of wheel 16, T is the force exchanged by wheels 16 and 28 at toothings 24 and 26, and r24 is the pitch circle radius of toothing 24. For the equilibrium of wheel 28, the following condition must be satisfied: T. r26= F. r34
where F is the force exerted by spring 38, and r34 is the varying radius of the bottom of groove 34 (winding surface). Since the force exerted by spring 38 varies according to the drawing conditions of spring 38 (and is generally greater if the spring is extended), by properly designing the varying radius of groove 34, F. r34 can be made constant. This ensures perfect balancing of door 2, at all moments and, in short, a smooth vertical door raising and lowering motion.

[0013] The mechanism has considerably reduced weight and limited bulk, with respect to a counterweight system, as could be seen for instance in figure 2, in which it can be appreciated that it may be enclosed in a box 50 of limited thickness.

[0014] A unit including the cable 12, the wheels 16 and 28 and the spring 38 may be centrally arranged with respect to door 2, or two such symmetrical units could be provided for with identical characteristics and positioned at the sides of door 2.

[0015] In figure 4, a modified embodiment of the unit is shown, for a pair of opposite vertically sliding doors. In figure 4 a movement and balancing unit for the upper door 2 has the same references as for figure 1 and will not be described in detail. In the lower part of the figure a further vertical door is shown and referenced 102. The details thereof and the movement and balancing unit thereof have the same references as for the upper door, increased by 100. In particular, therefore, a door cable 112 is coupled to door 102, by an arm 103, and winds round an idle snub pulley 114 and an additional idle snub pulley 115. Thus it winds around an idle wheel 116 supported on the stationary frame 1, said wheel having a peripheral groove 118. An end of the cable 112 is secured in said peripheral groove. The cable 112 is wound on wheel 116 is an opposite direction with respect to cable 12 on the wheel 16. Wheel 116 has an externally toothed portion 124, of reduced radius, that engages with a toothing 126 of a further wheel 128. Wheel 128 is idle round a pivot 132 supported on the frame 1. Wheel 128 has a varying radius groove 134 in which one end of a spring cable 136 is secured, the other end thereof being secured to a spring 138. The cam groove 134 has an identical but opposed configuration to that of cam groove 34.

[0016] The considerations on the equilibrium of the wheels referring to wheels 16 and 28 may be repeated for wheels 116 and 128. The unit comprising the wheels 16 and 28, 116, 128, relative idle snub wheels and cables, occupy a very restricted space, enclosed in a box of limited thickness. The unit is therefore of reduced weight and dimensions and is easy to assemble.

Claims

1. A movement and balancing mechanism (10) for vertically sliding door (2), including:

- a spring means (38) with one end thereof secured in a stationary position;

- a first circular winding surface (18) on a first wheel (16), said first winding surface (18) having a constant radius;

- a second winding surface (34) on a second wheel (28), said second winding surface (34) having a varying radius;

- a first length of cable (12) or door cable, having one end secured to the sliding door (2) and the other end, directly secured to the first wheel (16), windable on the first winding surface (18) having a constant radius;

- a second cable (36) or spring cable, having one end secured to the spring means (38) and the other end, secured to the second wheel (28), windable on the second winding surface (34) having a varying radius, whereby a variable force exerted by the spring means (38) according to its drawing conditions sets a constant moment round a rotation axis (a32) of the second winding surface (34) having a varying radius,

characterised in that
said first and second wheel (16, 28) are positioned with parallel axes and a gearing engagement (24, 26), consisting of a first toothing (24) integral with the first wheel (16) in meshing engagement with a second toothing (26) on the second wheel, is provided therebetween.

2. A mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the winding surface (18) having a constant radius is a groove of the first idle wheel (16) and the winding surface (34) having a varying radius is a groove of the second idle wheel (28).

3. A mechanism (10) according to claim 2 characterised in that the said wheels (16, 28) are interengaging by means of toothings, and a toothing (24) of said toothings is provided on a sprocket portion of the first wheel (16) and another toothing (26) of said toothings is provided on a portion of greater radius on the second wheel (28).

4. A mechanism (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that it includes idle snub pulleys (14) for at least the door cable (12).

5. A mechanism (10) according to claim 1 characterised in that an end of the spring means (38) opposite the spring cable (36) is secured to a position regulating device (41,42).

6. A vertical sliding door system including a number of vertical sliding doors (2) characterised in that for each vertical sliding doors (2) it includes a mechanism (10) according to any one of the previous claims.

Ansprüche

1. Bewegungs- und Ausgleichsmechanismus (10) für eine Vertikalschiebetür (2), die Folgendes enthält:

- ein Federmittel (38), das an einem Ende in einer ortsfesten Position befestigt ist;

- eine erste kreisförmige Wickelfläche (18) an einem ersten Rad (16), wobei die erste Wickelfläche (18) einen gleichbleibenden Radius aufweist;

- eine zweite Wickelfläche (34) an einem zweiten Rad (28), wobei die zweite Wickelfläche (34) einen variierenden Radius aufweist;

- einen ersten Abschnitt eines Seils (12) oder Türseils, das mit einem Ende an der Schiebetür (2) befestigt ist und mit dem anderen Ende direkt an dem ersten Rad (16) befestigt ist und auf der ersten Wickelfläche (18), die einen gleichbleibenden Radius aufweist, gewickelt werden kann;

- ein zweites Seil (36) oder Federseil, das mit einem Ende an dem Federmittel (38) befestigt ist und mit dem anderen Ende an dem zweiten Rad (28) befestigt ist und auf die zweite Wickelfläche (34), die einen variierenden Radius aufweist, gewickelt werden kann, wodurch eine variable Kraft, die durch das Federmittel (38) entsprechend seinen Zugzuständen ausgeübt wird, ein gleichbleibendes Moment um eine Drehachse (a32) der zweiten Wickelfläche (34), die einen variierenden Radius aufweist, einstellt,

dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das erste und das zweite Rad (16, 28) mit parallelen Achsen angeordnet sind und ein verzahnender Eingriff (24, 26), der aus einer ersten Verzahnung (24), die integral mit dem ersten Rad (16) ausgebildet ist und sich in Zahneingriff mit einer zweiten Verzahnung (26) an dem zweiten Rad befindet, besteht, zwischen ihnen hergestellt ist.

2. Mechanismus (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Wickelfläche (18), die einen gleichbleibenden Radius aufweist, eine Nut des ersten Mitläuferrades (16) ist und die Wickelfläche (34), die einen variierenden Radius aufweist, eine Nut des zweiten Mitläuferrades (28) ist.

3. Mechanismus (10) nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Räder (16, 28) durch Verzahnungen ineinander greifen und eine Verzahnung (24) der Verzahnungen an einem Ritzelabschnitt des ersten Rades (16) ausgebildet ist und eine weitere Verzahnung (26) der Verzahnungen an einem Abschnitt von größerem Radius an dem zweiten Rad (28) ausgebildet ist.

4. Mechanismus (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er Mitläufer-Ablenkrollen (14) für mindestens die Türseile (12) enthält.

5. Mechanismus (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein Ende des Federmittel (38) gegenüber dem Federseil (36) an einer Positionsregelvorrichtung (41, 42) befestigt ist.

6. Vertikalschiebetürsystem, das eine Anzahl von Vertikalschiebetüren (2) enthält, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es für jede Vertikalschiebetür (2) einen Mechanismus (10) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche enthält.

Revendications

1. Mécanisme de mouvement et d'équilibrage (10) pour porte à coulissement vertical (2) comprenant :

- un moyen de ressort (38) dont une extrémité est fixée à une position immobile ;

- une première surface d'enroulement circulaire (18) sur une première roue (16), ladite première surface d'enroulement (18) ayant un rayon constant ;

- une deuxième surface d'enroulement (34) sur une deuxième roue (28), ladite deuxième surface d'enroulement (34) ayant un rayon variable ;

- une première longueur de câble (12) ou de câble de porte, ayant une extrémité fixée à la porte coulissante (2) et l'autre extrémité directement fixée à la première roue (16), pouvant être enroulé sur la première surface d'enroulement (18) ayant un rayon constant ;

- un deuxième câble (36) ou câble de ressort, ayant une extrémité fixée au moyen de ressort (38) et l'autre extrémité fixée à la deuxième roue (28), pouvant être enroulé sur la deuxième surface d'enroulement (34) ayant un rayon variable, de telle manière qu'une force variable exercée par le moyen de ressort (38) en fonction de ses conditions de tirage établit un moment constant autour d'un axe de rotation (a32) de la deuxième surface d'enroulement (34) ayant un rayon variable,

caractérisé en ce que
lesdites première et deuxième roues (16, 28) sont positionnées avec des axes parallèles et une mise en prise d'engrenage (24, 26), se composant d'une première denture (24) intégrale à la première roue (16) mise en prise par engrènement avec une deuxième denture (26) sur la deuxième roue, est fournie entre celles-ci.

2. Mécanisme (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la surface d'enroulement (18) ayant un rayon constant est une gorge de la première roue folle (16) et la surface d'enroulement (34) ayant un rayon variable est une gorge de la deuxième roue folle (28).

3. Mécanisme (10) selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que lesdites roues (16, 28) se mettent en prise l'une avec l'autre par le biais de dentures, et une denture (24) desdites dentures est fournie sur une partie de pignon de la première roue (16) et une autre denture (26) desdites dentures est fournie sur une partie de rayon supérieur de la deuxième roue (28).

4. Mécanisme (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des poulies folles amorties (14) pour au moins le câble de porte (12).

5. Mécanisme (10) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'une extrémité du moyen de ressort (38) opposée au câble de ressort (36) est fixée à un dispositif de régulation de position (41, 42).

6. Système de portes à coulissement vertical comprenant un certain nombre de portes à coulissement vertical (2), caractérisé en ce que, pour chaque porte à coulissement vertical (2), il comprend un mécanisme (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.

Drawing