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(11) | EP 1 375 805 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Acces door for sectional gates, with interchangeable sections |
| (57) The invention relates to an access door for gates and in particular for sectional
gates, wherein sections (16, 18) which are coupled at their ends with hinge blocks
(41, 42, 43, 44), are mounted either along the hinging edge of the panels (12-15)
of the leaf (10) and the panels (2-5) of the gate. Advantageously the hinge blocks engage inside the sections so as to form therewith a frame which stiffens the structure of the leaf; according to a preferred embodiment, sections like the preceding ones are also mounted along the closing edges of the panels (12-15;2'-5'). |
[0001] The invention relates to the doors provided in the gates or main entrances of industrial warehouses, garages and the like, for allowing persons to pass therethrough without having to open the entire gate; these doors are commonly called "access doors" and in the remainder of this description will therefore be referred to with this term.
[0002] It must also be pointed out that, although the gates considered below are sectional gates, i.e. consisting of panels hinged horizontally together and sliding vertically along guides provided in the walls so that they can be raised and lowered like a shutter, the invention may also be applied to normal or pivoting gates.
[0003] At present the access doors consist of shutters or leaves fixed to the gates by means of hinges similar to those of ordinary domestic doors; this solution is simple and low-cost, but has a few drawbacks.
[0004] One of them consists in the fact that the hinges are mounted projecting outside of the panels, by means of screws or rivets: they are therefore visible and (in addition to being unaesthetic) inevitably exposed to atmospheric agents and other external factors, such as knocks and the like; in this connection it must be considered that in industrial applications such as those typically of sectional gates, the access doors are often subject to knocks as a result of imprecise manoeuvres by lorries, forklift trucks and the like.
[0005] Another "drawback of the access doors known hitherto is the reliability of their closing action. Indeed it must be pointed out that generally industrial gates and access doors are formed by panels of sandwich type, i.e. consisting of a layer of insulating material (usually expanded synthetic resin or mineral wool) which has a low structural strength and is arranged between two external sheet-metal faces, to which the hinges are fixed (with screws or rivets).
[0006] This type of structure is light and has good insulating properties but is not very rigid, so that with time the panels of.the access door may be deformed or be affected by play; in such cases the closing action of the door becomes defective.
[0007] It should be noted moreover that the rigidity of the panels within the gates is an important requirement since, in particular in the case of sectional gates, during each opening and closing cycle they are subject to stresses caused by their movement and by the transition from a vertical position to a horizontal position, and vice versa.
[0008] The present invention aims to improve this state of the art, namely it has the object of providing an access door for gates with structural and operating features such as to ensure efficient and regular closing over time.
[0009] This object is achieved by an access door wherein the leaf is formed by one or more panels hinged to the panels of the sectional gate, which is characterized in that it comprises a first and a second section arranged respectively along the hinging edges of the panels of the gate and of the leaf, and at whose ends there are mounted hinge blocks engaging with the sections, being suitable to form respective parts of the hinges.
[0010] In this way the sections ensure the necessary rigidity for the hinged edges of the panels of the gate and of the leaf, i.e. their most highly stressed zones, while the end blocks allow stable and secure mounting of the hinges as a result of their engagement with the sections.
[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the end blocks are configured so as not to project from the profile of the sections, thereby providing for protection of the hinges by the sections against external knocks.
[0012] In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the access door comprises a third and a fourth section which are respectively identical to the second and the first section, and are arranged along the closing edges of the leaf and the sectional gate as the preceding ones.
[0013] In this case also end blocks are mounted at the ends of the sections, engaging with their central portion and being intended to form the stop element for the leaf against the gate.
[0014] These and further characterising features of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description provided hereinbelow, relating to a preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sectional gate with an access door according to the invention;
- Figs. 2 and 3 show the detail indicated by the circle in Fig. 1, in respective operating conditions;
- Figs. 4 and 5 show the top and bottom hinge blocks;
- the pair of Figures 6a, 6b show a cross-section through the hinging edge of the access door in Fig. 1, in the closed condition and during opening, respectively;
- Figs. 7a,7b show a cross-section through the closing edge of the access door in Fig. 1, in the closed condition and during opening, respectively;
- Figs. 8 and 9 show the blocks present along the closing edge of the access door in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 10 shows the blocks in Figs. 8 and 9 in the closed condition of the gate in Fig. 1.
[0015] The first figure shows overall a sectional gate 1 which comprises a series of panels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 2', 3', 4', 5' which are hinged together horizontally, whose top and bottom edges are shaped respectively with the typical convex and concave profiles known in the art and in accident-prevention standards, for preventing people from accidentally getting their fingers trapped between the panels of the gates during opening and closing of the latter.
[0016] A few examples of these sections are described in European Patent Application No. 1 213 429, filed by the same applicant of the present application.
[0017] In the gate 1 there is an access door 10, whose leaf is formed by a series of panels 12, 13, 14, 15 which are hinged together horizontally and have the same height of the panels of the sectional gate; the top and bottom edges of the panels 12-15 also have the abovementioned male and female profiles.
[0018] In order to allow mounting of the leaf on the gate, respective sections are mounted along the hinging and closing edges of each panel 12-15; more specifically, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sections mounted along both the edges of the panels 12-15 are identical to each other and have been indicated by 16.
[0019] Likewise, the sections which have been mounted on the panels 2-5 and 2'-5' of the gate are identical to each other and have been indicated by 18.
[0020] The sections 16 have an open cross-section which, as can be seen in Fig. 6a, 6b wherein the hinging edge of the panels 3 and 13 is shown, comprises a front flange 20 on the outer side of the gate 1 and a rear flange 21 on the inner side, joined by a central portion 22.
[0021] The front flange 21 has a rounded configuration for the reasons which will appear more clearly below, while the rear flange 21 is substantially flat and has an engaging step 24; the central portion 22 extends along the end of the panel 13 and defines inside it a seat 26, which in this case is closed.
[0022] As referred to above, a section 16 is also mounted on the closing edge of the panels 12-15; with reference to Figures 7a, 7a, it can be seen that this section is arranged in a symmetrically reversed position with respect to the corresponding section, located on the hinging side of the same panel 13.
[0023] As regards the sections 18 which are mounted on the panels 2-5 and 2'-5' of the sectional gate 1, they also have an open cross-section with a front flange 30 shaped in a rounded manner, a flat rear flange 31 and a central portion 32; two parallel guides 35 are also provided on the latter and are functionally equivalent to the closed seat 25 already seen, as will emerge more clearly below.
[0024] The sections 16 and 18 are fixed to the respective panels by means of screws or rivets (not shown in the drawings) which pass through their rear flanges 21 and 31; to ensure an improved sealing action of the fixture, seals may also be mounted at the contact points between the sections and the surface of the panels.
[0025] Hinging of the leaf 10 and its panels 12-15 with the gate 1 is performed using four end blocks 41, 42, 43, 44 which are mounted at the top and bottom ends of the sections 16 and 18, respectively (c.f. Fig. 2); these blocks are shown separately in Figures 4, 5 and, in view of their corresponding form, only one pair of blocks 41 and 42 will be described in detail, since the other two blocks differ therefrom only in the part relating to the hinge.
[0026] As can be seen in Fig. 5, the first block 41 comprises a front element 50, a rear element 51 and a vertical plate 52 intended to engage in the seat 25 of the section 16; the base 53 of the plate 52 is shaped with a profile matching that of the edge of the panel on which the block 41 is mounted; therefore, since in this case the block is associated with the bottom edge of the panel, the base 53 is shaped according to the concave profile thereof, which allows coupling with the convex profile of the top edge, to prevent the accidental trapping of fingers between the panels as already mentioned farther above.
[0027] The front element 50 has at the top a collar 55 inside which the section 16 is inserted and where a hinging sleeve 56 is formed; the block 41 is fixed to the panel 13 using screws or rivets (not shown) applied to the rear element 51.
[0028] The other bottom block 43 differs from the preceding block in that it has a hinging pin 57' formed thereon; for this reason, in Fig. 5, the parts of the block 43 are numbered in the same way as those of the block 41, with the addition of a prime. It should be noted, moreover, that the plate 52' engages with the guides 35 of the sections 18 in a manner which is entirely similar to that of the plate 52 with the seat 25.
[0029] Fig. 4 shows the top blocks 42 and 44 which, like the bottom blocks, have a front element 60 (60'), a rear element 61 (61') and a vertical plate 62 (62'); however, since these blocks are associated with the convex top edge of the panels 2-5 and 12-15, they have a lug 63 (63') extending from the opposite side to the plate 62 (62'), shaped with a convex profile matching that of the edge of the panels. Furthermore, the top blocks 42, 44 are also hinged together by means of a sleeve 66 and a pin 67'.
[0030] The sections 16 and 18 arranged along the closing edge of the panels 12-15 and 2'-5' are coupled with blocks 71, 72, 73 and 74 which are similar to those considered, but do not have a hinge.
[0031] These blocks can be seen in Figures 8-10 and, in view of their similarity with the other blocks, they do not require particular explanations; the numbering of their parts corresponds to that already seen with the addition of 30 units (thus 50 becomes 80, 51 becomes 81, 60 becomes 90, and so on).
[0032] From the foregoing explanations it is easy to understand the operating principle of the access door 10.
[0033] During opening and closing of the sectional gate, the leaf 10 formed by the panels 12-15 is closed; for this purpose it is provided with a key-operated lock visible in Fig. 1, or handles or other equivalent means.
[0034] In this situation the sections 16 on the hinging and closing edges are arranged next to the sections 18, as shown in Figures 6a,7a, and the gate 1 together with the leaf 10 form a single body.
[0035] Therefore the rotation (Fig. 3), with respect to the horizontal hinging axis, of the panels 2-5 and 2'-5' of the former occurs integrally with that of the panels 12-15 of the latter, during raising and lowering of the gate.
[0036] The leaf 10 of the access door 10, on the other hand, is opened and closed (by operating its lock, handle or the like) in a precise and safe manner owing to the effect of the sections 16 and 18 which stiffen the edges of the panels 2-5, 2'-5', 12-15 and fixing of the hinge blocks 41-44, with which they are coupled by means of the plates 52, 52', 62, 62'. In other words, the sections 16 of the panels 12-15 and the blocks 41, 42, 71, 72 associated therewith operate as a single frame which strengthens the structure of said panels.
[0037] Likewise, the sections 18 arranged on the panels 2-5, 2'-5' of the sectional gate function in the manner of a door fixture; the result, therefore, is that stable and reliable closing and opening of the leaf 10 are ensured over time.
[0038] There are also other advantageous effects achieved by the access door of the preceding example.
[0039] Firstly, it is obvious that the use of interchangeable sections along the hinging and closing edges of the panels 12-15, 2-5 and 2'-5', allows the production costs to be kept low since it is required to manufacture only two types of sections (instead of four as is usually the case).
[0040] Secondly it must be pointed out that coupling of the hinges with the sections 16 and 18 ensures a rigid assembly and protects them against damage due to knocks and the like.
[0041] Indeed, these coupled sections and hinge blocks 41, 42, 43 and 44 are preferably made of suitable metallic material such as aluminium or strong plastics; therefore, in the case of any knocking of the gate by a vehicle or any other object in general which damages the panels, the hinge blocks remain in any case square with respect to the sections, ensuring that the access door remains operational.
1. Access door for gates, comprising a leaf (10) formed by at least one panel (12-15)
connected to a corresponding panel (2-5) of the gate (1) by means of hinges (41-44),
characterized in that it comprises a first and a second section (16, 18) mounted respectively along the
hinging edge of the panel (12-15) of the gate (1) and of the panel (2-5) of the leaf
(10), and in that it comprises hinge blocks (41-44) mounted on the ends of the sections, said hinge
blocks being coupled with the latter and forming respective parts of the hinges.
2. Access door according to Claim 1, wherein the gate (1) is of the sectional type and
the leaf (10) comprises a plurality of panels (12-15) articulated together and hinged
with corresponding panels (2-5) of the gate by means of said hinge blocks (41-44)
coupled with the ends of the sections (16, 18), which are arranged along the hinging
edge of the panels of the gate and of the leaf.
3. Access door according to Claims 1 and 2, wherein the panels (2-5) of the gate (1)
and those (12-15) of the leaf (10) are of the composite type, comprising a core of
insulating material arranged between two external surfaces made of sheet metal or
the like.
4. Access door according to the preceding claims, comprising a third and a fourth section
(16, 18) which are respectively identical to said first and second section, and are
mounted along the closing edge of the panels (12-15; 2'-5') of the leaf (10) and of
the gate (1).
5. Access door according to the preceding claims, wherein the sections (16, 18) have
an open cross-section comprising a front flange (20, 30) and a rear flange (21, 31)
which are joined by a central portion (22, 32), and in which the front flange is shaped
with a rounded profile joining to that of the hinge blocks (41-44).
6. Access door according to the preceding claims, wherein the hinge blocks (41-44) comprise
a plate (52, 52', 62, 62') engaged in a seat (25) or in guides (35) formed in a central
portion (22, 32) of the sections (16, 18).
7. Access door according to Claim 6, wherein the hinge blocks (42, 44) located along
the top edge of the panels (2-5; 12-15) of the sectional door and of the leaf (10)
have a lug (63, 63') extending on the opposite side to the plate (62, 62'), which
is shaped with a convex profile matching that of the top edge of the panels and of
the type intended to prevent fingers being trapped between the panels.
8. Access door according to Claim 7, wherein the hinge blocks (41, 43) located along
the bottom edge of the panels (2-5; 12-15) of the sectional gate and of the leaf (10)
have a base (53, 53') on the opposite side to the plate (52, 52'), which is shaped
with a concave profile matching that of the bottom edge of the panels and coupling
with the convex profile of the top edge so as to prevent fingers being trapped between
the panels.
9. Access door according to Claim 8, comprising closing blocks (71, 72, 73, 74) arranged
at the ends of said third and fourth sections (16, 18), engaged with them and having
a form similar to that of the corresponding hinge blocks (41-44), but without hinging
pins (57', 67') and sleeves (56, 66).