Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a sectional door, suitable for installation in garage
doors, industrial warehouses or docking bays, amongst others.
[0002] The sectional door described herein includes a coupling mechanism which allows said
door to be completely or partially lowered, wherein when it is partially lowered,
a lower section of the door is grounded on the floor whereas an upper section of the
door is in a raised position, leaving an opening between said sections of the door
for ventilation, safety and/or illumination reasons.
State of the Art
[0003] The use of sectional doors is widespread in industrial warehouses, docking or loading
bay areas and garage openings of private households, amongst other similar locations.
Furthermore, there are have been certain improvements of sectional doors which allow
independent sections of the door, basically an upper section and a lower section (each
section comprising one or more panels), to be moved independently from one another,
usually when the door has already been grounded and disconnecting the upper section
from the lower section, raising it to a preferred position. This improves lighting,
temperature and air circulation inside the property where it is installed, whilst
still providing certain safety measures as the lower section is still grounded in
a closed position.
[0004] These type of sectional doors usually include manually operated, electronically operated
or electromechanically operated fastening or coupling mechanisms in order to separate
or attach the upper section to the lower section of the door, as seen in the following
documents.
[0005] For instance, patent
EP 1825093 B1 discloses a vertically movable door, made up of an upper and a lower section, which
is movable between an open and a closed position. When the door is in a closed position,
the lower section can be released from the upper section by means of a disconnectable
joint, enabling the upper section to be lifted whilst leaving the lower section in
a barrier position, providing an opening between the upper and lower sections of the
door. The different disconnectable joints described herein are either manually operated
or use an electromechanical actuator
[0006] Patent
US 7726378 B1 discloses a similar door configuration, wherein upper door panels of the door may
be partially raised with regards to lower panels of the door, when said lower panels
of the door are resting on the ground, leaving a space between the upper and lower
panels. The includes split hinges arranged on both the left and right-hand door edge
as well as a central location of the door, so that said split hinges may connect or
disconnect adjacent panels of the door, through the use of quick-release pins.
[0007] Finally,
US patent application 2016/265582 A1 discloses an automatic or manually operated sectional door hinge system which enables
a sectional door to change between a single door section rollable as a single unit,
to a separated configuration having a plurality of rollable door sections. In said
separated configuration, the sectional door has an upper section which may be moved
to an elevated or raised position independently from a lower door section adjacent
to the ground.
[0008] The invention disclosed herein aims to improve existing coupling mechanisms used
in sectional doors, by using a mechanical solution which doesn't require the use of
either a person to manually operate a component of said mechanism or the use of electronic
or electromechanical control systems, in order to couple or uncouple the upper and
lower sections of a door.
Brief description of the invention
[0009] The present invention discloses a door which can be used for industrial applications
(warehouse doors, cargo or loading bay areas, etc.) as well as household applications
(garage doors of private households) which is capable of being completely opened,
completely closed or partially opened. These doors are commonly made up of:
- a door, preferably a sectional door comprising a plurality of panels divided into
an upper section and a lower section, each section made up of one or more panels joined
together, although other types of doors can be used such as roller or sheet doors
or single panel doors with slight adjustments obvious to a person skilled in the art;
- a frame installed in a building opening made up of at least two lateral structural
elements, which can also serve as guiding tracks or rails for the door,
- one or more coupling units, configured to couple or uncouple the upper section of
the door from said lower section of the door, and optionally,
- an actuator, such as an electric motor, which is configured to move the door.
[0010] Preferably, said one or more panels that make up each section of the door are joined
or fastened together in an articulated configuration in order to allow both sections
of the door to be guided adequately along different possible frame designs.
[0011] The present invention differs from other similar doors in that the one or more coupling
units it has installed on the door make use of a coupling mechanism which is purely
mechanical, and doesn't require the use of additional electronic control systems or
manual labour in order to couple or uncouple the upper section of the door from the
lower section of the door.
[0012] The coupling unit disclosed herein is made up of a first housing attached to a lower
end of the upper section of the door, a second housing attached to an upper end of
the lower section of the door and at least one coupling mechanism.
[0013] In a first particular embodiment, both the first housing and the second housing are
each made up of two lateral walls and a transversal wall, perpendicular to and in
a central position of both lateral walls, thus having a shape resembling an "H", with
both housings having an upper cavity and a lower cavity. Furthermore, for this particular
embodiment, the upper cavity of the first housing is attached to a lower end of the
upper section of the door, and the lower cavity of the second housing is attached
to an upper end of the lower section of the door.
[0014] In a second particular embodiment, the first housing and the second housing are each
made up of two lateral walls and a transversal wall, perpendicular to and in contact
with a distal end of both lateral walls, thus having a shape resembling a "U", with
both housings defining a cavity. Furthermore, for this particular embodiment, the
transversal wall of each housing is attached to a lower end of the upper section of
the door, and to an upper end of the lower section of the door.
[0015] The coupling mechanism is made up of an elongated appendix, having a base portion,
an intermediate portion and a thickened end portion, distal and opposite its base
portion, designed so that its thickened end portion is wider than said intermediate
portion and so that its base portion is wider than the thickened end portion, and
a clamping connector with an adjustable opening and an interior chamber suitable for
receiving, inserted, the cited elongated appendix, with at least one retaining device
which is movable between an initial standby position, a final standby position and
one or more intermediate positions.
[0016] According to a first embodiment, the base portion of the elongated appendix is fastened
to the transversal wall and located in the upper cavity of the second housing, and
the clamping connector is fastened to the transversal wall and located in the lower
cavity of the first housing, whereas according to the second embodiment the base portion
of the elongated appendix is fastened to the transversal wall and located in the cavity
defined by the second housing, and the clamping connector is fastened to the transversal
wall and located in the cavity defined by the first housing.
[0017] Both the elongated appendix and the clamping connector are fastened to their respective
housings by means of mechanical fasteners such as screws or bolts and nuts.
[0018] The coupling mechanism included in the one or more coupling units is configured to
transition between a coupling configuration and an uncoupling configuration.
[0019] In the coupling configuration, the thickened end portion elongated appendix is partially
inside the interior chamber of the clamping connector, inserted through its adjustable
opening, with at least one retaining device transitioning from its initial standby
position to a first intermediate position and then back to its initial standby position,
following a wall surface of the thickened end portion of the elongated appendix until
the retaining device is adjacent to a wall of the intermediate portion clamping the
thickened end portion.
[0020] On the other hand, in the uncoupling configuration, the elongated appendix is arranged
inside the interior chamber of the clamping connector, up to at least the beginning
of its base portion and the at least one retaining device transitions from said initial
standby position to its final standby position allowing the elongated appendix to
be removed from inside the clamping connector, as the adjustable opening of the clamping
connector is at least as wide as the base portion of the elongated appendix.
[0021] The at least one retaining device is preferably a horizontal cylindrical rod arranged
inside a guiding groove, wherein the guiding groove is configured to guide and limit
the cylindrical rod from its first standby position to its final standby position
and one or more intermediate positions.
[0022] The elongated appendix is designed so that it is either symmetrical or asymmetrical.
If it is symmetrical, the clamping connector comprises two cylindrical rods, opposite
one another, arranged inside respective symmetrical guiding grooves, whereas if it
is asymmetrical, then the clamping connector would suffice with one cylindrical rod
arranged inside a respective guiding groove.
[0023] The procedure of both configurations will be explained in detail in the description
of
FIGs. 1a to
1d for a first embodiment of the coupling mechanism, which has a symmetrical design,
and in
FIGs. 2a to
2d for a second embodiment of the coupling mechanism, which has an asymmetrical design,
and the differences between both embodiments.
[0024] For different embodiments of the present invention, the number of coupling units
used and their positioning on either section of the door changes according to a width
of the door onto which they are installed, as well as a weight they must be capable
of withstanding, in order to operate in optimum working conditions. For example, if
the width of the door is equal to or lower than 4600mm the number of coupling units
used in comparison to doors with a width larger than 4600mm, is smaller, wherein each
coupling unit can include one or more coupling mechanisms each.
[0025] The actuator can be configured to move either the upper section of the door, the
lower section of the door or both sections of the door independently.
[0026] In a particular embodiment, a brake device is installed on either the lower section
of the door, the upper section of the door or both, and configured to stop either
the lower, upper or both sections of the door from falling in the event of the coupling
unit and/or the actuator failing.
[0027] Preferably, the lower section of the door has a first standard brake device installed
on either side, positioned on the guiding tracks or rails of the frame, said first
brake device being a standard device readily available in the market. Furthermore,
the upper section of the door has a second brake device installed on either side of,
preferably, the lower panel of the upper section of the sectional door, said second
brake device being designed so that it includes an adjusting mechanism allowing it
to be installed adequately onto both the frame and the upper section of the door.
[0028] It will be understood that references to geometric position, such as parallel, perpendicular,
tangent, etc. allow deviations up to ± 5° from the theoretical position defined by
this nomenclature.
[0029] It will also be understood that any range of values given may not be optimal in extreme
values and may require adaptations of the invention to these extreme values are applicable,
such adaptations being within reach of a skilled person.
[0030] Other features of the invention appear from the following detailed description of
an embodiment.
Brief description of the Figures
[0031] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from
the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying
drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative, in which:
FIGs. 1a to 1d illustrate a first embodiment of a coupling mechanism with a symmetrical design in
which:
- FIG. 1a shows the coupling mechanism in a coupling configuration, in which the upper and
lower sections of the door are coupled together, mechanically fastened, so that the
door moves as a single unit;
- FIG. 1b illustrates the coupling mechanism as seen in FIG. 1a, but with the sections of the door in an articulated position, when the door is being
opened or else rolled up;
- FIG. 1c illustrates the coupling mechanism in an uncoupling configuration (see arrow A),
so that the upper section of the door can be released and moved independently from
the lower section of the door; and
- FIG. 1d illustrates the coupling mechanism, included in the coupling units, in an uncoupled
configuration, wherein the upper section of the door has been separated from the lower
section of the door;
FIGs. 2a to 2d illustrate a second embodiment of a coupling mechanism with an asymmetrical design
in which:
- FIG. 2a shows the coupling mechanism in a coupling configuration, in which the upper and
lower sections of the door are coupled together, mechanically fastened, so that the
door moves as a single unit;
- FIG. 2b illustrates the coupling mechanism as seen in FIG. 2a, but with the sections of the door in an articulated position, when the door is being
opened or else rolled up;
- FIG. 2c illustrates the coupling mechanism in an uncoupling configuration (see arrow A),
so that the upper section of the door can be released and moved independently from
the lower section of the door; and
- FIG. 2d illustrates the coupling mechanism, included in the coupling units, in an uncoupled
configuration, wherein the upper section of the door has been separated from the lower
section of the door;
FIGs. 3a illustrates an embodiment of a door in which the upper section of the door has been
elevated by uncoupling the coupling units installed therein from the lower section
of the door, having two detail views of:
- a first standard brake device, as seen in FIG. 3b; and
- a second adjustable brake device, as seen in FIG. 3c;
FIGs. 4a to 4c illustrate the design of the second adjustable brake device 15, shown in FIG. 3c, in which:
- FIG. 4a shows a perspective representation of the second brake device and its main components;
- FIG. 4b shows the second brake device in a predetermined initial position; and
- FIG. 4c shows the second brake device in an adjusted position through the use of an adjusting
mechanism; and finally
FIGs. 5a and 5b illustrate the safety device, wherein:
- FIG. 5a shows the safety device in a first position in which the upper section and lower
section of the door are uncoupled; and
- FIG. 5b shows the safety device in a second position in which the upper section and lower
section of the door are coupled.
Detailed description of an embodiment
[0032] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from
the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying
drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and non-limitative manner.
[0033] FIG. 1a to
FIG. 1d show a section of one of the coupling units 3 installed on a sectional door 2, showing
the different elements which together form one of its coupling mechanisms 7 and how
they cooperate with one another in order to couple or uncouple an upper section 2a
and a lower section 2b of the door 2, according to a first embodiment of the present
invention in which the coupling mechanism 7 is symmetrical.
[0034] For each one of these figures,
FIG. 1a to
FIG. 1d, the coupling unit 3 is made up of a first housing 5 and a second housing 6, opposite
one another, which together form a hollow box-type casing or enclosure. Both the first
housing 5 and the second housing 6 are made up of two lateral opposite walls, 5a,
6a, and a central transversal wall 5b, 6b, which joins both lateral walls 5a, 6a,
of each respective housing 5, 6, defining for each one an upper cavity 50a, 60a and
a lower cavity 50b, 60b.
[0035] The upper cavity 50a of the first housing 5 is attached or fixed to a lower end of
the upper section 2a of the door 2, whereas the lower cavity 60b of the second housing
6 is attached or fixed to an upper end of the lower section 2b of the door 2.
[0036] The coupling mechanism 7 is primarily made up of a clamping connector 9, arranged
inside the lower cavity 50b of the first housing 5, fixed to its central wall 5b,
and an elongated appendix 8 arranged inside the upper cavity 60a of the second housing
6, fixed to its central wall 6b.
[0037] For this particular embodiment, shown in
FIG.1a to
FIG. 1d, the elongated appendix 8 is symmetrical, and the clamping connector 9 has two retaining
devices 10, preferably cylindrical rods, located inside respective guiding grooves
100, which allow their respective retaining device 10 to transition from an initial
standby position 11 to a final standby position 13, when the elongated appendix 8
is inserted or removed from inside the clamping connector 9. The final standby position
13 is at a different height with reference to that of the initial standby position
11.
[0038] FIG. 1a shows the coupling mechanism 7 in a coupled configuration, in which the upper section
2a and the lower section 2b of the door 2 are coupled/fastened together as the door
2 is being lowered due to a thickened end portion 8c of the elongated appendix 8 being
arranged inside the clamping connector 9 through its adjustable opening 9a. This configuration
allows the door 2 to move as a single unit when the actuator (not shown) is powered,
guided by a frame 1 (not shown).
[0039] In order to retain the elongated appendix 8 inside the clamping connector 9, the
two retaining devices 10 (in this example cylindrical rods), in their initial standby
position 11 of their respective guiding grooves 100, are located below the thickened
end portion 8c and adjacent to an intermediate portion 8b of the elongated appendix
8.
[0040] This creates a synergistic effect in which the retaining devices 10 of the clamping
connector 9 cannot shift their position due to a downwards force exerted by the thickened
end portion 8c due to the weight of the lower section 2b of the door 2, whilst simultaneously
the elongated appendix 8 cannot be released from the clamping connector 9 because
the width of its adjustable opening 9a is smaller than the width of the thickened
end portion 8c due to the position of the retaining devices 10 adjacent to the intermediate
portion 8b of the elongated appendix 8.
[0041] FIG. 1b also illustrates the coupling mechanism 7 shown and described in
FIG. 1a, however this particular figure is a representation of how the coupling mechanism
7 acts when the sections of the door 2 are in an articulated position, when the door
2 is either being lowered or rolled up.
[0042] FIG. 1c shows the coupling mechanism 7 in an uncoupling configuration (in fact in a first
step indicated by the arrow A), in which the lower section 2b of the door 2 is on
the ground, but the actuator is still operative which allows the upper section 2a
of the door 2 to be mechanically uncoupled from the lower section 2b of the door 2,
so it can be moved independently.
[0043] Starting from the position of the coupling mechanism 7 seen in
FIG. 1a, once the door 2 has been grounded, and if the actuator 4 is still operative, the
upper section 2a is forced to be lowered (see arrow A) towards the lower section 2b
of the door 2.
[0044] By forcing the upper section 2a of the door 2 to move towards the grounded lower
section 2b of the door 2, the clamping connector 9 proceeds to engulf the elongated
appendix 8, until it has reached its base portion 8a, of a substantial larger width
than that of the thickened end portion 8c or the central portion 8c. As the clamping
connector 9 is lowered onto the elongated appendix 8, the two retaining devices 10,
in their respective guiding grooves 100, transition from their initial standby position
11 towards a final standby position 13, in which the retaining devices 10 are adjacent
respective walls of the base portion 8a of the elongated appendix 8, and the adjustable
opening 9a has a width at least as wide as the width of the base portion 8a. The second
housing 6 is also partially inserted in the lower cavity 50b of the first housing
5.
[0045] Once the retaining devices 10 are in this position, the actuator 4 proceeds to raise
the upper section 2a of the door 2 up to a prearranged position (see Fig. 4), such
as completely or partially raised, whilst the lower section 2b of the door 2 remains
grounded.
[0046] As the width of the adjustable opening 9a of the clamping connector 9 is at least
as wide as that of the base portion 8a, it can be removed easily as both the thickened
end portion 8c and the intermediate portion 8b of the elongated appendix 8 are both
narrower than its base portion 8a, and the retaining devices 10 are also at a sufficient
distance when in their final standby positions 13 in order to avoid collisions with
the elongated appendix 8 whilst the upper section 2a of the door 2 is being raised.
[0047] FIG. 1d shows the coupling mechanism 7 of the coupling unit in an uncoupled configuration
in which the upper section 2a of the door 2 has been separated from the lower section
2b of the door 2, following its extraction
(see arrow A) as seen in
FIG. 1c.
[0048] When the coupling mechanism 7 is in this uncoupled configuration, the two retaining
devices 10 have returned to their initial standby position 11 of their respective
guiding grooves 100, due to protruding ends 6c of the lateral walls 6a of the second
housing, wherein said protruding ends 6c are facing towards the inside of the upper
cavity 60a of the second housing 6, in the shape of an arc.
[0049] When the actuator 4 is raising the upper section 2a of the door 2, these protruding
ends 6c collide, respectively, with one of the retaining devices 10, which are currently
in the final standby position 13, forcing the retaining devices 10 to return back
to their initial standby position 11, so that the upper section 2a of the door 2 can
be mechanically coupled back with the lower section 2b of the door 2 when deemed necessary,
by approaching the upper section 2A to the lower section 2B of the door 2.
[0050] FIG. 2a to
FIG. 2d show a section of one of the coupling units 3 installed on a sectional door 2, showing
the different elements which together form one of its coupling mechanisms 7 and how
they cooperate with one another in order to couple or uncouple an upper section 2a
and a lower section 2b of the door 2, according to a second embodiment of the present
invention in which the coupling mechanism 7 is asymmetrical.
[0051] For each one of these figures,
FIG. 2a to
FIG. 2d, the coupling unit 3 is made up of a first housing 5 and a second housing 6, opposite
one another, which together form a hollow box-type casing or enclosure. Both the first
housing 5 and the second housing 6 are made up of two lateral opposite walls, 5a,
6a, and a transversal wall 5b, 6b, which joins both lateral walls 5a, 6a, of each
respective housing 5, 6, defining for each one a cavity 50, 60, resembling the shape
of a "U".
[0052] The transversal wall 5b of the first housing 5 is attached or fixed to a lower end
of the upper section 2a of the door 2, whereas the transversal wall 6b of the second
housing 6 is attached or fixed to an upper end of the lower section 2b of the door
2.
[0053] The coupling mechanism 7 is primarily made up of a clamping connector 9, arranged
inside cavity 50 of the first housing 5, fixed to its wall 5b, and an elongated appendix
8 arranged inside cavity 60 of the second housing 6, also fixed to its wall 6b.
[0054] For this particular embodiment, as seen in
FIG.2a to
FIG. 2d, the elongated appendix 8 is asymmetrical having a wall or side which is substantially
flat whilst the other wall or side varies in width throughout its extension.
[0055] The explanation used in
FIGs. 1a to
1d is also valid for
FIGs. 2a to
2d, with the only difference that the elongated appendix 8 is asymmetrical, as stated
previously, and therefore it only uses one of its two retaining devices 10 in its
respective groove 100 to block the different positions of the coupling mechanism 7,
using the remaining retaining device 10' and groove 100' as a guiding element, granting
the coupling mechanism 7 more stability.
[0056] Therefore, even though the clamping connector 9 has two retaining devices 10, 10',
preferably cylindrical rods, located inside respective guiding grooves 100, 100',
one of the retaining devices 10' is only used as guiding element as it has a groove
100' which only allows the cylindrical rod to move longitudinally against the flat
side of the elongated appendix 8. The remaining retaining device 10 has a guiding
groove 100 which allows it to transition from an initial standby position 11 to a
final standby position 13, when the elongated appendix 8 is inserted or removed from
inside the clamping connector 9, in a similar fashion as described previously in FIGs.
1a to 1d. The final standby position 13 is at a different height with reference to
that of the initial standby position 11.
[0057] FIG. 3a illustrates a sectional door 2, according to the present invention, in a specific
position in which the upper section 2a of the door 2 has been uncoupled and elevated
from the lower section 2b of the door 2 which is grounded. This is possible through
the use of one or more coupling units 7, installed in the door 2 and which are currently
in an uncoupled configuration so that the upper section 2a of the door 2 can be uncoupled
and elevated independently from the lower section 2b of the door 2, which remains
grounded acting as a barrier. This allows the inside of a building, where the door
2 has been installed, to be ventilated adequately as well as improving lighting of
the areas near the door 2, whilst simultaneously using the lower section 2b of the
door as a safety measure. An actuator or motor (not shown in this figure) is connected
to the upper section 2a of the door 2. It should be noted that even though no figure
illustrates it, both sections 2a, 2b of the door 2 can also be moved as a single unit
when the coupling unit 3 is in a coupling configuration.
[0058] FIG. 3a also shows the first housing 5 and the second housing 6 attached, respectively, to
a lower end of the upper section 2a of the door 2 and to an upper end of the lower
section 2b of the door, which together form the coupling unit 3.
[0059] Additionally,
FIG. 3a also shows:
- an arrangement of a first brake device 14, preferably a standard model readily available
in the market, with a detailed view seen in FIG. 3b, arranged on either side of a bottom end of the lower section 2b of the door 2, and
being guided by the frame 1, which has guiding tracks or rails;
- an arrangement of a second brake device 15, with a detailed view seen in FIG. 3c, arranged on either side of a bottom end of the upper section 2a of the door 2, and
being guided by guiding tracks or rails of the frame 1, said second brake device 15
being adjustable with regards to the position and inclination of the guiding rails/tracks
of the frame 1, shown in detail and discussed further in FIGs. 4a to 4c; and
- a safety device 16, which will be discussed further and shown in detail in FIGs. 5a and 5b.
[0060] The second brake device 15 is shown in great detail in
FIGs. 4a to
4c, wherein its main components are: a mounting or support plate 151 which is fastened
or attached to a panel of the upper section 2a of the door 2, in a position adjacent
to the guiding rail or track of the frame 1, so that a first guiding wheel 153a, fastened
to said mounting or support plate 151, can be positioned in said guiding rail or track
of the frame 1. The first guiding wheel 153a is designed to include a recess or cavity
into which a transmission cable (not shown) is arranged, with one of its distal ends
fastened to a hook 157 of the second brake device 15 and the remaining distal end
connected to an actuator or motor of the sectional door 2.
[0061] A main plate 156 is fastened to the support plate 151 through the use of a first
cylindrical dowel pin 152a, which defines a rotation axis or pivoting point for the
main plate 156 to shift position with regards to the support plate 151. The main plate
156 has a clamping device 155 fastened to it through the use of a second cylindrical
dowel pin 152b which allows said clamping device 155 to vary its position between
an active and a passive arrangement, wherein the hook 157 is fastened to a lower portion
of the clamping device 155. A distal end of the second cylindrical dowel pin 152b
has a second guiding wheel 153b which is positioned or inserted inside the guiding
track or rail of frame 1 of the door 2.
[0062] In order to adequately position the second guiding wheel 153b inside the guiding
rail of frame 1, the second brake device 15 includes an adjusting mechanism 154 made
up of a bolt and a nut, whereby the position of the nut along the thread of the bolt
defines an angle, a, between the main plate 156 and the mounting plate 151, rotating
or pivoting around a rotation axis defined by the first cylindrical dowel pin 152a,
as seen in
FIG. 4c. This is necessary due to a gradual increase in an inclination of the frame 1 for
these types of doors, from the ground upwards, and therefore the adjusting mechanism
154 allows a user to regulate a distance between the second brake device 15 and the
guiding rail of frame 1, so that the second guiding wheel 153b is in an optimum position.
[0063] Even though it isn't shown in
FIGs. 4a to
4c, the clamping device 155 shifts from a passive arrangement, as seen in these figures,
to an active arrangement upon failure of the transmission cable connected to the actuator
of door 2, whereupon the clamping device 155 automatically rotates around an axis
of rotation defined by the second cylindrical dowel pin 152b, as a result of a slackening
of the transmission cable fastened to the hook 157, resulting in the clamping device
155 exerting a force or pressure against frame 1, which stops the upper section 2a
of the door 2 from falling.
[0064] FIGs. 5a and
5b shows two positions of a safety device 16 installed on either side of the coupling
unit 3, adjacent to the guiding rails or tracks of frame 1. This safety device 16
is necessary mainly for two reasons:
- 1) controlling the first brake device 14, and
- 2) ensuring that the uppermost panel of the lower section 2b of the door 2 is firmly
secured to the frame 1 when the upper section 2a is uncoupled from the lower section
2b of the door, due to the fact that it doesn't have retention means which stop it
from falling down as the panels are preferably fastened together in an articulated
configuration.
[0065] The safety device 16 (see Figs. 5a and 5b) is made up of a static protruding element
161, facing downwards, mechanically fastened to the upper housing 5 of the coupling
unit 3, and a mobile protruding element 163 fastened to the lower housing 6 of the
coupling unit 3.
[0066] The mobile protruding element 163 has a cable connecting it to a far end of a piston
164, said piston being mounted on a support 167 comprising to parallel walls with
orifices through which the piston 164 is guided. The piston 164 has a coaxial spring
165 mounted on a shaft and set between both walls of the support 167. Furthermore,
the mobile protruding element 163 has a transmission cable 166 connected to a first
brake device 14, using a guiding wheel 168, arranged on the lowermost panel or portion
of the lower section 2b of the door 2, adjacent to the guiding rail of frame 1. The
first brake device 14 is used to stop the lower section of the door from falling or
collapsing in the event of transmission cable 166 failing.
[0067] The static protruding element 161 has a wheel 162, or other equivalent rotating device,
fastened to it, so that when it is lowered, the wheel 162 moves along a surface of
mobile protruding element 163, and forcing it to move laterally (see arrow C of
FIG. 5b), counteracting a force exerted by the spring 165, which also causes a head of the
piston 164 (seen in
FIG. 5b) to exit the guiding rail of frame 1, as well as changing the configuration of the
first break device 14 to a passive or inactive arrangement, thus allowing the lower
section 2b of the door 2 to be raised, together with the upper section 2a of the door
2, as a single unit.
[0068] The safety device 16 operates synergistically with the coupling mechanism 7 included
in the coupling unit 3, which allows both sections 2a, 2b of the door 2 to be either
coupled or uncoupled.
[0069] In
FIG. 5a it can be observed that a portion of the piston 164, specifically the head of the
piston 164, is located inside the guiding rail or track of frame 1 of the door 2,
so that the lower section 2b is kept in a fixed position. Furthermore, even though
it isn't seen in these figures, when the upper section 2a of the door 2 is uncoupled
from the lower section 2b, the first brake device 14 is in an active position, meaning
that its clamp or retention element is exerting a force against frame 1, even when
in a grounded position.
[0070] If it is assumed that in
FIG. 5a the upper section 2a is being lowered towards the lower section 2b of the door (see
arrow B), once both sections 2a, 2b have been coupled together by means of the coupling
mechanism 7 (not shown), we can see in
FIG. 5b how the static protruding element 161 has caused the mobile protruding element 163
to shift position laterally (see arrow C), and as a result, the head of the piston
164 has exited the guiding rail or track of frame 1, compressing spring 165, and by
pulling the transmission cable 166 configuration of the first brake device 14 has
changed from an active arrangement to a passive or inactive arrangement, which will
allow the lower section 2b of the door 2 to be elevated together with the upper section
2a.
[0071] It will be understood that various parts of one embodiment of the invention can be
freely combined with parts described in other embodiments, even being said combination
not explicitly described, provided there is no harm in such combination.
1. A sectional door, comprising:
- a frame (1),
- a door (2) which is divided into an upper section (2a) and a lower section (2b),
wherein each section (2a, 2b) comprises one or more panels,
- one or more coupling units (3) configured to couple or uncouple said upper section
(2a) of the door (2) from said lower section (2b) of the door (2), and
- an actuator (4) configured to move the door (2),
characterised in that said one or more coupling units (3) comprise:
- a first housing (5) attached to a lower end of the upper section (2a) of the door
(2),
- a second housing (6) attached to an upper end of the lower section (2b) of the door
(2) and
- at least one coupling mechanism (7) comprising:
∘ an elongated appendix (8) having a base portion (8a) fastened to the second housing
(6), an intermediate portion (8b) and a thickened end portion (8c), distal and opposite
said base portion (8a), wherein said thickened end portion (8c) is wider than said
intermediate portion (8b) and wherein the base portion (8a) is wider than the thickened
end portion (8c), and
∘ a clamping connector (9) fastened to the first housing (5) including an adjustable
opening (9a) with an interior chamber (9b) suitable for receiving, inserted, said
elongated appendix (8) and at least one retaining device (10) movable between an initial
standby position (11), a final standby position (13) and one or more intermediate
positions (12),
wherein in a coupling configuration, the elongated appendix (8) is partially inside
said interior chamber (9b) of the clamping connector (9) and said at least one retaining
device (10) transitions from said initial standby position (11) to a first intermediate
position (12) and then back to said initial standby position (11), adjacent to a wall
of the intermediate portion (8b) of the elongated appendix (8), clamping the thickened
end portion (8c),
wherein in an uncoupling configuration, the elongated appendix (8) is inside said
interior chamber (9b) of the clamping connector (9) and said at least one retaining
device (10) transitions from said initial standby position (11) to said final standby
position (13) allowing the elongated appendix (8) to be removed from inside the clamping
connector (9), and wherein said at least one retaining device (10) returns to said
initial standby position (11) when the elongated appendix (8) is removed.
2. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein said at least one retaining device
(10) is a horizontal cylindrical rod arranged inside a guiding groove (100), wherein
said guiding groove (100) is configured to guide said cylindrical rod from the first
standby position (11) to the final standby position (13) and one or more intermediate
positions (12).
3. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein said first housing (5) and said second
housing (6) each comprise two lateral walls (5a, 6a) and a transversal wall (5b, 6b),
perpendicular to said two lateral walls (5a, 6a), wherein both housings (5, 6) have
an upper cavity (50a, 60a) and a lower cavity (50b, 60b).
4. The sectional door according to claim 3, wherein said upper cavity (50a) of the first
housing (5) is attached to said lower end of the upper section (2a) of the door (2),
and wherein said lower cavity (60b) of the second housing (6) is attached to said
upper end of the lower section (2b) of the door (2), and wherein the elongated appendix
(8) is fastened to said transversal wall (6b) and located in the upper cavity (60a)
of the second housing (6), and wherein the clamping connector (9) is fastened to said
transversal wall (5b) and located in the lower cavity (50b) of the first housing (5).
5. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein the at least one retaining device
(10) returns to the initial standby position (11) by means of a protruding end (6c)
of the lateral walls (6a) of the second housing (6) against which the at least one
retaining device (10) abuts during the removal of the elongated appendix (8).
6. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein if a width of the door (2) is equal
to or lower than 4600mm, the sectional door comprises two coupling units (3), each
one arranged on a lateral portion of the door (2).
7. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein if a width of the door (2) is bigger
than 4600mm, the sectional door comprises three coupling units (3), with two of said
three coupling units (3) being arranged on a lateral portion of the door (2), and
a third coupling unit (3) arranged in a central portion of the door (2).
8. The sectional door according to claim 1, 6 or 7, wherein each coupling unit (3) includes
three coupling mechanisms (7) arranged equidistantly from one another.
9. The sectional door according to claim 1, wherein said actuator (4) is configured to
move the upper section (2a) of the door (2).
10. The sectional door according to claim 1, further comprising a first brake device (14)
installed on the lower section (2b) of the door (2), and a second brake device (15)
installed on the upper section (2a) of the door (2), said braking devices (14, 15)
configured to prevent the sections (2a, 2b) of the door (2) from falling in the event
of the one or more coupling units (3) or the actuator (4) or both failing.
11. The sectional door according to claim 10, wherein said second brake device (15) installed
on the upper section (2a) of the door (2) is adjustable with regards to the frame
(1).
12. The sectional door according to claim 2, wherein said elongated appendix (8) is either
symmetrical or asymmetrical.
13. The sectional door according to claim 12, wherein the elongated appendix (8) is symmetrical,
and the clamping connector (9) comprises two cylindrical rods, opposite one another,
arranged inside respective guiding grooves (100), wherein said guiding grooves (100)
are symmetrical.
14. The sectional door according to claim 12, wherein the elongated appendix (8) is asymmetrical,
and the clamping connector (9) comprises at least one cylindrical rod arranged inside
a respective guiding groove (100).