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(11) | EP 0 911 479 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Device for operating vertical flexible doors |
| (57) A device for operating vertical flexible doors comprising a roll-up tube (7) which
is internally provided with means for the insertion of a gearmotor (11) and of a spring-loaded
balancing element (12), the tube being provided with means for connection to a coupling
element and with means for the quick connection of a sheet. The roll-up tube (7) also
has first brackets with which a stroke limiter assembly and an assembly for loading
the balancing element are associated; the first brackets are associable with lateral
posts with which second slotted brackets for wall mounting are slidingly associated;
the tube, the sheet and the posts are constituted by individual connectable elements. |
[0002] Vertical flexible doors are currently manufactured which are usually constituted by a transverse casement which is associated on the upper part of an opening formed within the perimeter of the building and is connected, at its ends, to two vertical posts; a tube is usually associated inside the transverse casement and has a built-in motor for lifting a sheet which can be rolled up on the outside of said tube.
[0003] Currently, providing and installing these flexible doors requires a preliminary inspection of the site by the installer, who must take the exact measurements of the opening to which the door is to be applied.
[0004] Then, on the basis of these measurements, the structure is custom-manufactured as regards the casement, the vertical posts, the tube and the sheet.
[0005] Once they have been manufactured, the installer must perform a second on-site inspection for mounting.
[0006] High production and installation costs therefore arise also because of the fact that any measurements that are not extremely accurate or any tolerances that are not sufficient can entail additional work, which must once again be performed in-factory.
[0008] Moreover, during installation it is highly important to adjust the individual components, since said vertical flexible doors can have a lifting speed of approximately 1.4 m/s, with as many as one million actuations per year.
[0009] In the prior art, these adjustments are not easy; in particular, it is not easy to adjust the calibration of the balancing element and to check the position of the vertical posts in relation to the ends of the sheet that can slide therein; this can also entail additional masonry work during testing.
[0010] Another problem observed during mounting is the arrangement, inside the tube, of the gearmotor and of a pack of springs required to lift the sheet; their incorrect alignment entails incorrect operation and rapid wear of the components.
[0012] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, eliminating the drawbacks of the cited prior art, by providing a device which allows to operate vertical flexible doors with low production and installation costs.
[0013] Within the scope of this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide a device which makes possible to operate vertical flexible doors by means of simple and quick operations which can be performed also by the user, without requiring preliminary on-site inspections regarding the precise dimensions of the openings to be equipped.
[0014] Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device which is constructively very flexible and can be adapted to the various dimensions and practical applications that can be found in each case.
[0015] Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device which allows to considerably simplify, during testing, adjustments such as for example the optimum alignment among the elements contained within the roll-up tube, quick and easy balancing of the springs for rolling up the sheet, the adjustment of their stroke limit, the interconnection of the various components and the positioning of the posts with respect to the masonry, the length of the sheet and the connection thereof to the roll-up tube.
[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which is also safe and reliable in use and has low transport and storage costs.
[0017] This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a device for operating vertical flexible doors, characterized in that it comprises a roll-up tube which is internally provided with seats for the insertion of a gearmotor and of a spring-loaded balancing element, provided with means for connection to a coupling element of another similar tube and means for the quick connection of a sheet, said roll-up tube having first brackets with which a stroke limiter assembly and an assembly for loading said balancing element are associated, said first brackets being associable with lateral posts with which second slotted brackets for wall mounting are slidingly associated, said tube, said sheet and said posts being constituted by individual connectable elements.
[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the components contained in, and associated with, the roll-up tube;
Figure 2 is a partially sectional side view of the components of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a schematic view of the vertical flexible door;
Figures 5 and 6 are detail views of the roll-up tube with the sheet associated therewith;
Figures 7 and 8 are a transverse sectional view and an exploded view, respectively, of the coupling element;
Figures 9 and 10 are a plan view and a side view, respectively, of the assembly for loading the balancing element;
Figure 11 is a view of the connection between a first bracket of the roll-up tube and a lateral post;
Figure 12 is a view of a detail of the locking of the lateral post;
Figures 13 and 14 are views of the assembly of a lateral post.
[0019] With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a vertical flexible door, which is usually composed of a transverse profiled element 2 and of two lateral posts 3a and 3b which are associated at the masonry 4 that surrounds an opening 5 to be closed by means of a suitable sheet 6.
[0020] The present invention relates to a device for operating vertical flexible doors, which comprises a roll-up tube 7, which has standard lengths and can be cut to size, according to the opening 5, optionally reaching the intended size by joining a plurality of tubes by using a suitable coupling element 8.
[0021] This is allowed by the fact that inside the roll-up tube 7 means are provided for the connection of the coupling element 8 which are constituted by first radial ribs 9 whereat it is possible to arrange complementarily shaped first guides 10 formed along the generatrix of each one of said coupling elements 8.
[0022] Means for the insertion of a gearmotor 11 and of a spring-loaded balancing element 12 are present inside the roll-up tube. Such means are constituted by a plurality of second guides 13 which protrude radially from the roll-up tube 7 and advantageously have a T-shaped cross-section.
[0023] The gearmotor 11 can be slidingly inserted at the second guides 13 and has, at its ends, a pair of first flanges 14a and 14b which have suitable first seats 15 shaped complementarily to the second guides 13.
[0024] The balancing element 12 also has, at one end, a second flange 16 which also has second seats 17 shaped complementarily to the second guides 13; at its other end, said balancing element has a third cylindrical flange 18 whose outside diameter is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the roll-up tube 7.
[0026] Means for the quick coupling of one end of the sheet 6 are provided on the outer lateral surface of the roll-up tube 7 and are constituted by a profile 19 whose first end 20 is step-shaped and can be selectively arranged at a suitable first opening 21 formed on said roll-up tube. The profile 19 has a second end 22 in which a seat 23 is formed inside which it is possible to arrange, through a second opening 24, the ends of the sheet 6, with which a head 25 having a larger diameter than the second opening 24 has been associated beforehand, so as to allow to insert it laterally to the seat 23 and lock it when traction is applied to the sheet 6.
[0027] The sheet 6 can be sold directly in rolls to be cut to size; for this purpose there are provided suitable cross-members 26 for joining various sheet portions. The cross-members 26 can have third mutually opposite seats 27 inside which it is possible to slidingly insert, laterally to said cross-members, the ends of two sheets with which a head 25 is associated beforehand which prevents their extraction while unrolling and/or rolling up the sheet 6.
[0028] Suitable first brackets 28a and 28b are associated at the ends of the roll-up tube 7, at the flanges of the gearmotor 11 and of the balancing element. A stroke limiter assembly 29 and an assembly 30 for loading the balancing element are respectively associated with the brackets 28a and 28b.
[0029] The assembly 30 is constituted by a toothed ring 31 which is keyed to the shaft 32 of the balancing element 12 and interacts with a worm screw 33 which is rigidly coupled externally at the first bracket 28b.
[0030] The stroke limiter assembly 29 is of a known kind; when connected to the electrical panel, it allows to deactivate the gearmotor 11.
[0031] Each one of the lateral posts 3a and 3b within which the sheet 6 and the cross-members 26 are slidingly associable is also constituted by a first groove 34 formed at a wing of a first L-shaped profiled element 35 which constitutes, together with a second profiled element 36 which is also L-shaped but has smaller dimensions, a third opening 37 between the two.
[0032] The lateral posts 3a and 3b are connected, at the first profiled element 35, to the masonry 4 by means of suitable L-shaped second brackets 39, one wing of which is slidingly associated at a suitable second groove 40 formed adjacent to, and on the opposite side of, the first groove 34: this allows to position the second brackets at the chosen point of the masonry.
[0033] The other wing of the second brackets 39 has a longitudinal slot 41 which allows to choose the intended point for wall mounting in this case too.
[0034] In a downward region, each lateral post 3a and 3b can be rigidly coupled to the floor 42 by means of suitable third L-shaped brackets 43, so as to ensure optimum stability of said posts and therefore optimize the sliding of the sheet and of the cross-members therein.
[0035] The locking of the first brackets 28a and 28b to the masonry 4 instead occurs by using suitable fourth brackets 44 which are also L-shaped.
[0036] The use of the invention is as follows: the manufacturer can produce beforehand components for providing a vertical flexible door which fits standard openings and can adapt these embodiments to the various dimensions and applications that occur in practice, since for example the width can be achieved by cutting to size, on-site and with simple means such as a hacksaw and scissors, the sheet, the cross-members and the roll-up tube, optionally using the coupling element 8.
[0037] As regards vertical adjustment, it is sufficient to provide the lateral posts 3a and 3b by mutually inserting the various first and second profiled elements, cutting the last length. The profiled elements can be mutually locked by means of suitable conventional locking brackets and therefore without the need to perform couplings, holes or preliminary measurements.
[0038] Moreover, by performing wall mounting by means of third slotted brackets 43 inserted beforehand in the first profiled element 35, said mounting is very easy and also allows extensive horizontal adjustment.
[0039] The presence of the second guides 13 inside the roll-up tube 7 allows to achieve optimum alignment between the gearmotor 11 and the balancing element 12; the balancing element can be subjected to fine adjustment by means of an easy and quick activation of the assembly 30 for loading the balancing element 12 and therefore by simply turning the worm screw 33.
[0040] It is also very easy to associate one end of the sheet with the roll-up tube by using the profiled element 19.
[0041] All this allows to provide individual elements having standard measurements, which are sent directly to the installation site without having to perform exact preliminary measurements of the opening and also allowing the user to perform the installation, since it is possible to perform adjustments with considerable tolerances.
[0042] It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a device having been provided which allows to significantly limit the costs for manufacture, storage, transport and installation of vertical flexible doors.
[0043] The materials and the dimensions that constitute the individual components of the invention may of course be the most pertinent according to specific requirements.
[0044] The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. TV97U000047 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
[0045] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. A device for operating vertical flexible doors, characterized in that it comprises
a roll-up tube which is internally provided with means for the insertion of a gearmotor
and of a spring-loaded balancing element, provided with means for connection to a
coupling element of another similar tube and means for the quick connection of a sheet,
said roll-up tube having first brackets with which a stroke limiter assembly and an
assembly for loading said balancing element are associated, said first brackets being
associable with lateral posts with which second slotted brackets for wall mounting
are slidingly associated, said tube, said sheet and said posts being constituted by
individual connectable elements.
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said roll-up tube is internally
provided with means for connection to said coupling element which are constituted
by suitable first radial ribs whereat complementarily shaped first guides formed along
the generatrix of each one of said coupling elements are arranged.
3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for the insertion
of a gearmotor and of a spring-loaded balancing element are present inside said roll-up
tube and are constituted by a plurality of second guides which protrude radially with
respect to said roll-up tube and have a T-shaped cross-section.
4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that said gearmotor is slidingly
inserted at said second guides and has, at its ends, a pair of first flanges which
have suitable first seats shaped complementarily to said second guides.
5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that said balancing element has,
at one end, a second flange which has second seats shaped complementarily to said
second guides, said balancing element having, at the other end, a third cylindrical
flange whose outside diameter is approximately equal to the inside diameter of said
roll-up tube so as to allow to axially align said gearmotor and said balancing element.
6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that means for the quick coupling
of one end of said sheet are provided on the outer lateral surface of said roll-up
tube, said means being constituted by a profiled element which has a first step-shaped
end and is selectively positioned at a suitable first opening formed in said roll-up
tube, said profiled element having a second end in which a seat is provided to position,
through a second opening, the end of said sheet with which a head has been associated
beforehand which has a larger diameter than said second opening so as to allow to
insert it laterally with respect to said seat and lock it when traction is applied
to said sheet.
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that cross-members for joining various
sheet portions are associable with said sheet, said cross-members having third mutually
opposite seats to slidingly insert, laterally to said cross-members, the ends of two
sheets with which a head is associated beforehand, said head preventing the extraction
of said ends when unrolling and/or rolling up said sheet.
8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that first brackets are associated
at the ends of said roll-up tube, at the flanges of said gearmotor and said balancing
element, a stroke limiter assembly and an assembly for loading the balancing element
being respectively associated with said first brackets, said balancing element loading
assembly being constituted by a toothed ring which is keyed to a shaft of said balancing
element and interacts with a worm screw which is externally rigidly coupled at one
of said first brackets.
9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that each one of said lateral posts
in which said sheet and said cross-members are slidingly associable is also constituted
by a first groove which is formed at a wing of a first L-shaped profiled element which
constitutes, together with a second profiled element which is also L-shaped but smaller,
a third opening between the two.
10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that said lateral posts are connected,
at said first profiled element, to a masonry by means of second L-shaped brackets,
a wing of which is slidingly associated at a second groove formed adjacent to, and
on the opposite side of, said first groove so as to allow to position said second
brackets at a chosen point of the masonry.
11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that another wing of said second
brackets has a longitudinal slot which allows to select the intended wall mounting
point.
12. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that each one of said lateral posts
is rigidly associated, in a downward region, with the floor by means of third L-shaped
brackets.