Security integrated system for motorised rolling gates

Abstract

 Security integrated system (100) for a motorised rolling gate, comprising the use of a motor gear (10) and of a brake (50), that is automatically activated when the motor gear is deactivated, characterised in that it comprises an encoder (20,21,30,31) for detecting the current number of revolutions (10), the motor gear (10) being deactivated when said number of revolutions exceeds a predefinable threshold. In particular, the brake comprises a brake lining (20) which rotates with the same frequency as the motor gear (10), characterised in that said encoder (20,21,30,31) is realised by means of a first element (21) placed on the brake lining (20) and a second element (31) placed on a non-rotatable support (30), in such a way that said first and second elements (21,31) face each other at each revolution of the motor gear, thus sensing the execution of each revolution of the same.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a security integrated system for motorised rolling gates.

[0002] More in detail, the invention allows the end user to be immediately aware of possible breaks of compensation springs or of failures of other type, such as not to allow the normal slide of the rolling gate with subsequent free fall of the same.

[0003] Conventional non-motorised rolling gates comprise one or more compensation springs to hold the load of the unrolled part of the gate.

[0004] Conventional motorised rolling gates adds a gear motor equipped with brake that activates when the motor is not working. The brake is used for reducing the action the compensation springs must exert, and therefore for protect them.

[0005] Notwithstanding this, with use such compensation springs can wear out and break. When one/two of such springs break, the system is no longer considered as safe and it is needed to intervene in order to restore them.

[0006] The problem of such conventional system is that it needs a continuous monitoring of the working of its parts, in particular of its compensation springs.

[0007] To be effective, the constant monitoring must be done by qualified personnel.

[0008] It is object of the invention to provide a security integrated system for motorised rolling gates, which solves the problems and overcomes the drawbacks of the previous state of the art.

[0009] It is subject-matter of the invention a security integrated system for a motorised rolling gate, comprising the use of a motor gear and of a brake, that is automatically activated when the motor gear is deactivated, characterised in that it comprises an encoder for detecting the current number of revolutions, the motor gear being deactivated when said number of revolutions exceeds a predefinable threshold.

[0010] Preferably according to the invention, the brake comprises a brake lining which rotates with the same frequency as the motor gear, the system being characterised in that said encoder is realised by means of a first element placed on the brake lining and a second element placed on a non-rotatable support, in such a way that said first and second elements face each other at each revolution of the motor gear, thus sensing the execution of each revolution of the same.

[0011] Advantageously according to the invention, said encoder is an optical encoder.

[0012] Advantageously according to the invention, said encoder is a magnetic encoder, said first element being a magnet, said second element being a magnetic detector.

[0013] Preferably according to the invention, said threshold is a function of the resultant of the gate weight and action of said one or more compensation springs.

[0014] Preferably according to the invention, a predefinable quantity is added to said resultant, in order to take into account possible frictions due to wear.

[0015] Preferably according to the invention, said quantity amounts to a value comprised between 7 and 12% of said resultant.

[0016] Preferably according to the invention, the system further comprises a electronic central station which receives and elaborates the signal provided by said encoder, cutting off the electric supply to the motor gear as soon as said number of revolutions exceeds said predefinable threshold, therefore blocking the system itself.

[0017] Advantageously according to the invention, by exceeding of said predefinable threshold, it is activated a luminous and/or acoustic alarm.

[0018] Preferably according to the invention, after the blocking following the exceeding of said predefinable threshold, the system allows a last moving of the gate.

[0019] According to the invention, the signal provided by said encoder can be utilised to determine the upper and lower limit of the sliding of the gate.

[0020] The invention will be described for illustrative and not limitative purposes with reference to the drawing of the enclosed figures, wherein:

• figure 1 shows an embodiment of the system according to the invention;
• figure 2 shows in detail the encoder used in the example of figure 1.

[0021] In the following of the description, equal reference signs will be used for indicating equal elements in the figures.

[0022] An accidental event (such as the breaking of one or more compensation springs), or a possible failure or breaking of a mechanism, could put a rolling gate in conditions of serious danger, and in case of non intervention, it would cause the downstroke of the same at a speed higher than the security value, thus causing damages to persons or things situated under it.

[0023] Therefore, the system according to the invention is suited to detect immediately the precence of a dangerous situation (technically expressed with acquisition of a load value between 7 and 12% of said resultant), blocking immediately the machine "motorised rolling gate" and signalling the serious anomaly by a luminous and/or acoustic indicator.

[0024] The system, in particular, will allow the end user a last moving (opening + closing of the motorised rolling gate), afterwards it will stuck, preventing any further moving of the gate.

[0025] The end user, once looked over the permanent locking of the system, will therefore have to call a qualified installer, who will arrange for the solution of the problem that has caused the lock itself and will restore, according to the safety procedure, the normal working of the integrated system.

[0026] Making reference to figure 1, in order to determine the instant of the lock, and therefore the lock itself, the system according to the invention comprises a brake constituted by a fixed element 30 coaxially disposed with respect to the lining 20 of the motor gear 10.

[0027] The lining 20 of the brake, as known, rotates together with the axis of the motor gear and activates in the same instant in which the motor gear 10 is deactivated, i.e. the gate is not any longer moved. This allows to maintain locked the gate itself, with the help of the known compensation springs.

[0028] The fixed element 30 acts in co-ordination with the lining 20, and has been conceived in such a way that the modifications to be made to the latter are very limited. The working of the system according to the invention is indeed entrusted to the detection of the number of revolutions of the motor gear 10 by means of an encoder formed by a portion 21 of the brake lining 20 and a portion 31 of the fixed element 30, which are disposed in such a way that they face each other periodically at each revolution of the motor gear, and therefore can provide an information on the number of revolutions of the latter.

[0029] In the example of figure 1, the parts 21 and 31 are respectively a magnet and a detector. It is therefore sufficient to introduce a magnet into the lining 20, and to place a fixed circular element with a magnetic detector placed on the same plane of the circumference formed by the first magnet during its rotation but at a larger distance from the centre of the same.

[0030] Such an encoder, realisable even in an optic way, allows a constant monitoring of the number of revolutions effectuated by the motor gear.

[0031] From researches made by the Applicant, one could determine that the actual number of revolutions of the motor gear is a function of the actual weight of the gate, therefore a function of the action of the compensation springs as well. As a consequence, once made the required measurements and initial calibrations, one can determine, on the basis of the detected number of revolutions, whether the compensation springs are damaged, that is whether their action is reduced. If indeed the number of revolutions exceeds a defined threshold, which is a certain function of the weight of the gate plus a tolerance to take into account frictions that can eventually appear along time, then one is in the presence of a damage of the springs.

[0032] At this point, the system according to the invention intervenes by a control electronic central unit which cut off the electric supply to the motor gear and activates a luminous and/or acoustic alarm, allowing the user for a last moving of the gate (in order to allow him to leave the room and to close it).

[0033] To this end, with the system of the invention, on installing it, the authorised operator effectuates the calibration of the weight of the motorised rolling gate by repeating, in sequence, at least two operations of opening and closing of the same. The found result during calibration step is acquired by the apparatus with the automatic addition of a value comprised between 7 and 12% of the same result, in order to compensate frictions and possible rubbings which intervene eventually during the normal rolling of the machine.

[0034] The integrated security system according to the invention can be applied to all central motor gears and comprises:

• brake assembly 50 with encoder system for detecting the number of revolutions of the motor gear, and a shunt circuit 60 at machine-edge of the motor gear;
• electronic central unit 40 for automatic/manual controlling the motorised rolling gate.

[0035] The control electronic central unit 40 that stores the above-mentioned value in the calibration step is able to detect eventually even a minor deviation (smaller number of revolutions of the electric motor = increase of load), in order to compare the latter with the entered parameters and determine according to an equation (for example the value for a prototype was of -50giri/min. per 10Kg) whether the increase of load can compromise the normal safe operation of the machine.

[0036] The system according to the invention further allows, optionally, to provide the motor gear with an electronic stop.

[0037] Indeed, in the step of calibration of the applied load to the motorised rolling gate, one can establish electronically the upper and lower limit of the sliding of the same.

[0038] As a consequence, with the system according to the invention one has an effective tool of safety for rolling gates, which is of easy and economical realisation, without the modification of the motor gear or the use of sensors directly on the compensation springs to be necessary, and without the monitoring of the absorbed power by the motor gear to be necessary.

[0039] The preferred embodiments have been above described and some modifications of this invention have been suggested, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make variations and changes, without so departing from the related scope of protection, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Security integrated system (100) for a motorised rolling gate, comprising the use of a motor gear (10) and of a brake (50), that is automatically activated when the motor gear is deactivated, characterised in that it comprises an encoder (20,21,30,31) for detecting the current number of revolutions (10), the motor gear (10) being deactivated when said number of revolutions exceeds a predefinable threshold.

2. Security integrated system according to claim 1, wherein the brake comprises a brake lining (20) which rotates with the same frequency as the motor gear (10), characterised in that said encoder (20,21,30,31) is realised by means of a first element (21) placed on the brake lining (20) and a second element (31) placed on a non-rotatable support (30), in such a way that said first and second elements (21,31) face each other at each revolution of the motor gear, thus sensing the execution of each revolution of the same.

3. Security integrated system according to claim 2, characterised in that said encoder is an optical encoder.

4. Security integrated system according to claim 2, characterised in that said encoder is a magnetic encoder, said first element (21) being a magnet, said second element (31) being a magnetic detector.

5. Security integrated system according to any claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said threshold is a function of the resultant of the gate weight and action of said one or more compensation springs.

6. Security integrated system according to claim 5, characterised in that a predefinable quantity is added to said resultant, in order to take into account possible frictions due to wear.

7. Security integrated system according to claim 6, characterised in that said quantity amounts to a value comprised between 7 and 12% of said resultant.

8. Security integrated system according to any claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it further comprises a electronic central station (40) which receives and elaborates the signal provided by said encoder (20,21,30,31), cutting off the electric supply to the motor gear (10) as soon as said number of revolutions exceeds said predefinable threshold, therefore blocking the system itself.

9. Security integrated system according to any claims 1 to 8, characterised in that, by exceeding of said predefinable threshold, it is activated a luminous and/or acoustic alarm.

10. Security integrated system according to any claims 1 to 9, characterised in that, after the blocking following the exceeding of said predefinable threshold, the system allows a last moving of the gate.

11. Security integrated system according to any claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the signal provided by said encoder (20,21,30,31) is utilised to determine the upper and lower limit of the sliding of the gate.

Drawing