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(11) | EP 0 681 637 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
TURNING DEVICE FOR OVERHEAD SECTIONAL DOORS DREHVORRICHTUNG FÜR SEKTIONSKIPPTORE DISPOSITIF DE MISE EN ROTATION DE PORTES BASCULANTES A SECTIONS |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The invention relates to a turning device for overhead sectional doors as set out in the first part of claim 1.
[0002] A problem with overhead sectional doors (see for example US-A-2 375 837) has thus far been that in connection with a normal door delivery a large extra space in height is required in addition to the height of the door to enable turning of the uppermost panel of the door. In order to overcome this problem, it has been possible to order headroom-reducing kits, the operation of which is based on double rails and different applications thereof. It is a common feature of these headroom-reducing kits that the price is high and a considerable extra space is still needed. All this makes the marketing of sectional doors more difficult compared with other door types, particularly because the ceiling is rather low in many garages.
[0003] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantage by means as simple and cheap as possible. This is achieved by a turning device which according to the invention is characterized in that the lever arm means comprise a sprocket wheel and a lever arm immovably mounted in connection with the sprocket wheel, one end of the lever arm being articulated to the lower end of the drive arm.
[0004] The invention is based on positive control of the uppermost panel by means of the uppermost roller or rollers, for which power is supplied by the relative movement of the door and the door frame structure in the initial phase of the door lifting movement and the final phase of the door closing movement. When the door is opened the turning device forces the uppermost panel to turn as soon as the lifting movement starts, and to move along the same path but in the opposite direction when the door is closed.
[0005] The main advantage of the invention is that the required extra height in the building becomes insignificant, because the required extra height is very small compared with the prior art.
[0006] A very important advantage is also the small number of components needed for the turning device and the resulting low price. The turning device can be included in the normal door delivery, if desired, or it can be installed later, also in existing sectional doors of the type described above.
[0007] Most advantageously the turning device is arranged at both edges of the door and in such a way that the lever arm means are mounted in bearings in connection with the outermost hinge between the two uppermost panels and preferably coaxially with the roller located at that point.
[0008] In the following the invention will be described in more detail by means of two preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows an overhead sectional door, in which a turning device according to the invention can be installed,
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a first preferred turning device according to the invention,
Figure 3 shows the turning device of Figure 2 seen from the direction of the arrow A of Figure 2,
Figure 4 shows the operation of the turning device according to Figures 2 and 3 in steps,
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a second preferred turning device according to the invention,
Figure 6 shows the turning device of Figure 5 seen from the direction of the arrow B of Figure 5,
Figure 7 shows the operation of the turning device according to Figures 5 and 6 in steps.
[0009] The overhead sectional door shown in Figure 1 comprises four adjacent horizontal panels 1 interarticulated by hinges 2a, 2b and 2c, and rollers 3 fitted to the outermost hinges 2c of the panels 1 in the vicinity of the upper and lower edges of the door in the same vertical planes as the rollers on the outermost hinges. The mounting of the uppermost rollers 3 differs from the mounting of the other rollers 3 in that they are attached to the uppermost panel 1 by means of turning arms 4 (see e.g. Figure 2). The rollers 3 are intended to move along a rail 5 on each side of the door. Both rails comprise a vertical portion 5a attached to a vertical part 6 of the door jamb or the like, a horizontal portion 5b attached to the ceiling of the garage or the like substantially at the height of the upper edge of the door, and a bent portion 5c connecting the vertical and horizontal portions 5a and 5b.
[0010] Figures 2 and 3 show in detail one preferred turning device according to the invention, which can be arranged on either side or both sides of the door shown in Figure 1. The turning device comprises lever arm means 7 mounted in bearings in connection with the outermost hinge 2c between the two uppermost panels 1, coaxially with the roller 3 located at that point; means for positive control 8 fixedly mounted in connection with the rail portion 5a and adapted to contact the lever arm means 7 a predetermined length near the initial opening and final closing position of the door; and a drive arm 9 disposed between the lever arm means 7 and the arm 4 of the uppermost roller 3.
[0011] The lever arm means 7 comprise a sprocket wheel 7a mounted in bearings coaxially with the uppermost roller and a lever arm 7b immovably mounted in connection with the sprocket wheel, one end of the lever arm being articulated to the lower end of the drive arm 9. The means for positive control 8 comprise a vertical chain-like piece with horizontal spaced-apart studs 8a cooperating with the sprocket wheel 7a. The upper end of the drive arm 9 is in turn articulated to the arm 4 of the roller 3 by means of an auxiliary arm 4a fastened thereto.
[0012] When the door is opened the means for positive control 8 turn the lever arm means 7 which in turn, by means of the drive arm 9, force the uppermost roller 3 and the uppermost panel 1 closer to each other, thus causing the uppermost panel 1 to turn. The operation of the turning device is described step by step in Figure 4. In step a) the door is closed, the lever arm means 7 are in the lowermost position and the roller 3 is halfway on the bent portion 5c of the rail 5. In step b) the door has been lifted approximately 20 mm, the sprocket wheel 7a of the lever arm means 7 has turned by the action of the means for positive control 8 approximately to the midpoint of its path, the drive arm 9 has pushed the arm 4 midway between its extreme positions, and the roller 3 is ascending from the bent portion 5c of the rail to the horizontal portion 5b, and the uppermost panel 1 has turned approximately 15°. In step c) the door has been lifted approximately 40 mm, whereby the sprocket wheel 7a is becoming detached from connection with the means for positive control 8, the arm 4 has turned into its other extreme position and the roller 3 has reached the horizontal portion 5b of the rail, the uppermost panel 1 being thereafter free from the positive control of the turning device as the lifting movement is continued. Correspondingly, when the door is closed the turning device guides the uppermost panel 1 down along the same path as described above, back into the position of step a).
[0013] The second preferred embodiment of the turning device shown in Figures 5 and 6 differs from the device according to Figures 2 and 3 primarily in that the lever arm means 7' comprise a lever arm, one end of which is articulated to the lower end of the drive arm 9 and the other end cooperates with the means for positive control 8' which comprise a groove for positive control 8a'. The means for positive control 8' is formed of a cup-like piece open at the top and one side of said means is open, thus forming said groove for positive control 8a'. The auxiliary arm 4a' of the uppermost roller has also a slightly different shape from that shown in Figures 2 and 3.
[0014] The operation of this second turning device is described step by step in Figure 7 a) to c). These steps correspond with the steps in Figure 4, except that in this case positive control of the lever arm means 7' is provided by the groove 8a' of the means for positive control 8'. Herein the other end of the lever arm means 7' is detached from and connected to the means for positive control at the open upper end thereof.
[0015] In the foregoing the invention has been described by means of only two preferred exemplary embodiments. However, a person skilled in the art can implement its details in many alternative ways within the scope of the attached claims. Thus, for example, the lever arm means can be formed by means of a sprocket wheel only, and the means for positive control cooperating with the sprocket wheel can be formed as a vertical piece with toothing. Correspondingly the number of door panels and the other details can vary as well.
1. A turning device for overhead sectional doors, which door comprises a plurality of
adjacent horizontal interarticulated panels (1), rollers (3) disposed at the outermost
hinge points of the panels and in the vicinity of the lower and upper edges of the
door, and intended to move along a rail (5) on each side of the door, the uppermost
rollers being fitted to the door by means of turning arms (4) and each rail (5) comprising
a vertical portion (5a) attached to the vertical part (6) of the door jamb, a horizontal
portion (5b) substantially at the height of the upper edge of the door, and a bent
portion (5c) connecting the vertical and horizontal portions, wherein the turning
device arranged at least at one edge of the door comprises lever arm means (7; 7')
attached to the door; means for positive control (8; 8') fixedly mounted on the door
jamb or the rail (5) and adapted to contact the lever arm means (7; 7') a predetermined
length near the initial opening and final closing position of the door; and a drive
arm (9) disposed between the lever arm means (7; 7') and the arm (4) of the uppermost
roller, whereby when the door is opened the means for positive control (8; 8') turn
the lever arm means (7; 7') which in turn, by means of the drive arm (9), force the
uppermost roller (3) and the uppermost panel (1) closer to each other, thus forcing
the uppermost panel (1) to turn, characterized in that the lever arm means (7) comprise a sprocket wheel (7a) and a lever arm (7b)
immovably mounted in connection with the sprocket wheel, one end of the lever arm
being articulated to the lower end of the drive arm (9).
2. A turning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever arm means (7, 7') are mounted in bearings in connection with the
outermost hinge (2c) between the two uppermost panels (1), coaxially with the roller
(3) located at that point.
3. A turning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the meas for positive control (8) comprise a vertical chain-like piece with
horizontal spaced-apart studs (8a) cooperating with the sprocket wheel (7a) of the
lever arm means (7).
4. A turning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for positive control (8) comprise a vertical piece with toothing
cooperating with the sprocket wheel (7a) of the lever arm means.
1. Drehvorrichtung für Sektionskipptore für den Überkopfbereich, wobei ein Tor eine Mehrzahl
benachbarter, horizontal untereinander gelenkig verbundener Paneele (1) und an den
äußersten Gelenkpunkten der Paneele und in der Nähe der unteren und oberen Kanten
des Tors angeordnete Rollen (3) aufweist, die dafür vorgesehen sind, sich entlang
einer aufjeder Seite des Tors angeordneten Schiene (5) zu bewegen, wobei die obersten
Rollen mittels Dreharmen (4) am Tor befestigt sind und jede Schiene (5) einen am vertikalen
Teil (6) des Türrahmens befestigten vertikalen Abschnitt (5a), einen im wesentlichen
in der Höhe der oberen Kante des Tors befindlichen horizontalen Abschnitt (5b) und
einen Kurvenabschnitt (5c) aufweist, der den vertikalen und den horizontalen Abschnitt
verbindet, wobei die wenigstens an einem Rand des Tors angeordnete Drehvorrichtung
eine am Tor angebrachte Hebelarmeinrichtung (7; 7') sowie eine Zwangssteuerung (8;
8') aufweist, die am Torpfosten oder an der Schiene (5) fest angebracht und so ausgeführt
ist, daß sie die Hebelarmeinrichtung (7; 7') eine vorbestimmte Strecke von der anfänglichen
Öffnungs- und letztendlichen Schließposition des Tors entfernt berührt, und mit einem
Antriebsarm (9), der zwischen der Hebelarmeinrichtung (7; 7') und dem Arm (4) der
obersten Rolle angebracht ist, wodurch, wenn das Tor geöffnet wird, die Zwangssteuerung
(8; 8') die Hebelarmeinrichtung (7; 7') dreht, die wiederum mittels des Antriebsarms
(9) die oberste Rolle (3) und das oberste Paneel (1) näher zueinander zwingt, wodurch
das oberste Paneel (1) dazu gebracht wird, sich zu drehen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Hebelarmeinrichtung (7) ein Ritzelzahnrad (7a) und einen mit dem Ritzelzahnrad
unbeweglich verbundenen Hebelarm (7b) aufweist, wobei ein Ende des Hebelarms gelenkig
mit dem unteren Ende des Antriebsarms (9) verbunden ist.
2. Drehvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Hebelarmeinrichtung (7; 7') in Lagern in Verbindung mit dem äußersten Scharnier
(2c) zwischen den beiden obersten Paneelen (1) koaxial mit der an diesem Ort angeordneten
Rolle (3) befestigt ist.
3. Drehvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zwangssteuerung (8) ein vertikales kettenartiges Teil mit beabstandeten
Bolzen (8a) aufweist, die mit dem Ritzelzahnrad (7a) der Hebelarmeinrichtung (7) zusammenarbeiten.
4. Drehvorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Zwangssteuerung (8) ein vertikal angeordnetes Bauteil mit einer Verzahnung
aufweist, die mit dem Ritzelzahnrad (7) der Hebelarmeinrichtung zusammenarbeitet.
1. Dispositif tournant pour des portes en tronçons disposées en hauteur, ladite porte
comprenant une pluralité de panneaux horizontaux adjacents articulés entre eux (1),
des rouleaux (3) disposés au niveau des points d'articulations les plus extérieurs
des panneaux et au voisinage du bord inférieur et du bord supérieur de la porte, et
destinés à se déplacer le long d'un rail (5) de chaque côté de la porte, les rouleaux
situés le plus en haut étant assemblés à la porte au moyen de bras tournants (4) et
chaque rail (5) comprenant une partie verticale (5a) attachée à la partie verticale
(6) de la jambe de porte, une partie horizontale (5b) sensiblement à la hauteur du
bord supérieur de la porte, et une partie incurvée (5c) qui connecte les parties verticale
et horizontale, dans lequel le dispositif tournant agencé au moins au niveau d'un
bord de la porte comprend des moyens formant bras de levier (7 ; 7') attachés à la
porte ; des moyens de commande positive (8 ; 8') montés de façon fixe sur la jambe
de porte ou sur le rail (5) et adaptés à venir en contact avec les moyens formant
bras de levier (7 ; 7') à une longueur prédéterminée à proximité de la position d'ouverture
initiale et de la position de fermeture finale de la porte ; et un bras d'entraînement
(9) disposé entre les moyens formant bras de levier (7 ; 7') et le bras (4) du rouleau
situé le plus en haut, grâce à quoi, lorsque la porte est ouverte, les moyens de commande
positive (8 ; 8') font tourner les moyens formant bras de levier (7 ; 7') qui forcent
à leur tour, au moyen du bras d'entraînement (9), le rouleau situé le plus en haut
(3) et le panneau situé le plus en haut (1) en rapprochement l'un de l'autre, forçant
ainsi le panneau situé le plus en haut (1) à tourner,
caractérisé en ce que les moyens formant bras de levier (7) comprennent une roue dentée (7a) et un bras de levier (7b) monté de manière immobile par rapport à la roue dentée, une extrémité du bras de levier étant articulée à l'extrémité inférieure du bras d'entraînement (9).
caractérisé en ce que les moyens formant bras de levier (7) comprennent une roue dentée (7a) et un bras de levier (7b) monté de manière immobile par rapport à la roue dentée, une extrémité du bras de levier étant articulée à l'extrémité inférieure du bras d'entraînement (9).
2. Dispositif tournant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens formant
bras de levier (7 ; 7') sont montés dans des paliers en connexion avec l'articulation
la plus extérieure (2c) entre les deux panneaux situés le plus en haut (1), coaxialement
avec le rouleau (3) situé à ce point.
3. Dispositif tournant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de
commande positive (8) comprennent une pièce verticale analogue à une chaîne avec des
barreaux horizontaux écartés (8a) qui coopèrent avec la roue dentée (7a) des moyens
formant bras de levier (7).
4. Dispositif tournant selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de
commande positive (8) comprennent une pièce verticale avec une denture qui coopère
avec la roue dentée (7a) des moyens formant bras de levier.