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(11) | EP 4 382 709 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | DEVICE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT FORCE IN A SECURITY ACCESS GATE |
| (57) A security access gate comprising a movable door or wing (1), a hinge or wing clamp
(2), a cabinet (3), a motor drive, a motor drive output housing and motor output shaft,
a compliant element or shock absorber (4) and/or a torsion spring (6) installed in
the door (1), which are configured to absorb the energy created by the door (1) when
obstructed by a slow-moving or stationary object or person, so as to reduce the impact
force applied when the door (1) hits an object.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate.
[0002] The invention is in the technical field of the access gates and moving doors, particularly in the technical field of security and control devices for security access gate as the swing gate.
[0003] A swing gate helps control the flow of people, stop unauthorised people and let authorised people pass. The gate is aimed to target companies or buildings that needs to control large flows of people, for example airports, subways or big stores but anyone with these needs can use this kind of gates.
[0004] The main purpose of the swing gates is to enable control over the flow of people in places where there are a lot of people in motion or places where is necessary to ensure that only one person passes at a time.
[0005] In commerce there are numerous types of swing gates but also other type of gates with the same functionality are used for these situations. These gates are all focused to control the flow of people and to allow access only to authorized users.
[0006] Among the various solutions, there are several constructional and functional differences, such as the axis of door opening, the opening and closing time of the gates, the size or shape of the doors, ecc.
[0007] Although all gates have approximately the same aims, they are made with small differences depending on the use, the situation, the mass and the acceleration of the doors and numerously other parameters.
[0008] The access control and security gates are used in many solutions such as stores, hotels, sports facilities, hospitals, airports and offices.
[0009] Included in the various models are functions such as the use of access cards to be able to clearly identify the users before passing and which makes the product very suitable in places where only authorized persons are allowed to pass. However, there are still security risks that more than just one individual tries to pass at once, which also results in demands on the products from a safety perspective.
[0010] The main disadvantage of the prior art is that there are no gates that can provide high security and speed in the opening/closing phases of doors while meeting the specific safety standards.
[0011] More in detail, these safety standards suggest that product safety can be achieved by limiting the forces imposed by doors and gates during impact collision with any obstacles (impact force).
[0012] Systems according to prior art achieve functional safety through a safety zone, which is an area of the gate monitored by sensors, and if someone enters this zone, the doors stop moving.
[0013] Currently, security systems rely on this fact and do not allow to reduce the impact forces of continuously moving doors.
[0014] To meet safety standards, systems and devices of prior art reduce the operating speed of the gates. In this way, gate security is compromised because unauthorized persons could pass through the gates if the doors movement is not enough quick.
[0015] Thus, aim of the present invention is to provide a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate capable of solving the technical drawbacks mentioned above, and, in particular, the main aim of the present invention is to realize a device that absorb the impact energy so that it reduces the force of an impact from a security access gate or a moving door on a person or on an object.
[0016] Another aim of the present invention is to create a device that allows the doors to move faster, while at the same time meeting the safety standards that regulate the energy of an impact within a specific limit to ensure the safety of people passing through.
[0017] Another aim of the present invention is to realize a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate that permits the doors to move faster to increase the productivity and functionality of the product.
[0018] Another aim of the present invention is to realize a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate that does not hit objects or luggage of users who are passing through it
In addition, a final aim of the present invention is to realize a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate that improves the security of the device allowing doors to close more quickly to prevent unauthorized users from passing through the gate.
[0019] These and other aims are achieved by a device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate according to the attached independent claims.
[0021] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, form of execution of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate according to the present invention, illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a swing gate in an exemplary, but not limiting embodiment of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a scheme of a swing gate with moving doors in a close position, according to the present invention;
- figure 3 shows the male and female parts of a modified hinge of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figure 4 shows a front view of a modified hinge of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figure 5 shows a torsion spring of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figure 6 shows a scheme of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, with the torsion springs of figure 5, according to the present invention;
- figure 7 shows some shock-absorbing washers of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figures 8A and 8B show the detail of the hinge in two different embodiments, according to the present invention;
- figure 9 shows a compliant element of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, according to the present invention;
- figure 10 is a scheme that comprises the phases to reduce impact force of the device, according to the present invention.
[0022] Referring to the figures mentioned, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described.
[0023] Referring to the above figures, the gate module, object of the invention, is indicated by numerical reference 100 and, in a first embodiment, according to the present invention, comprises a couple of doors or mooving wings 1, some hinges or wing clamps 2 and cabinets 3.
[0024] The hinges 2 are arranged to connect the doors 1 to the cabinet 3, which is able to rotate the doors 1 to allow gate 100 opening and closing operations.
[0025] Moreover, the higes 2 comprise a male part 21 and a famale part 22 that hold within them the doors 1.
[0026] In order to open the gate 100, it may be necessary to identify oneself by means of an identification device to be inserted into or brought close to a part of the gate 100. The invention consists of a compliant element or shock absorber 4 installed in the doors 1 of a gate 100.
[0027] In particular, the compliant element 4 is formed by a shock-absorbing material. Advantageously, the shock-absorbing material can be placed, for example, in various locations between the motor output shaft and the doors 1.
[0028] Typical options comprises:
- between the door 1 and the hinge 2;
- between the hinge 2 and the motor drive output housing;
- between the motor drive output housing and the motor output shaft;
[0029] Always advantageously, the compliant element 4 can be placed in any place in the device where it can decouple the motor motion from the door motion.
[0030] In particular, the shock-absorbing material absorbs the energy created by the doors 1 obstructed by a slower moving or stationary object. For example, when a person or object obstructs the moving door 1.
[0031] The compliant element 4 deforms itself to absorb the energy and returns to its normal shape and size once the door 1 has stopped.
[0032] In addition, the compliant element 4, being rigid, does not affect the normal operation of the door 1 and the movement during opening and closing phases of the doors 1.
[0033] The innovation of this invention is to use the compliant element 4 in the drive system on a security access gate 100 to reduce the impact force applied when the moving door 1 hits an object.
[0034] As mentioned above, the compliant element 4 is rigid in normal operation of the door 1 so that it does not affect the motion but during an impact the material will compress to absorb the impact energy. The material would return to its pre-impact size and shape after the impact.
[0035] Advantageously, the best location to place the compliant element 4 is next to the doors 1, but inside the gate module 100 together with an extension of the door 1 that pushes on the compliant elements 4 in the event of an impact, so that the energy of the impact is absorbed by the compliant elements 4 rather than by the affected person.
[0036] More in detail, when a door 1 is obstructed or is about to hit a person, the compliant elements 4 inside the gate module 100 compresses and absorbs some of the impact energy thereby reducing the impact force on the object.
[0037] Advantageously, in addition to the compliant elements 4, a torsion spring 6 could be connected to the motor drive of the gate 100. When impact occurs, the torsion spring 6, due to the opposing torque, compresses to absorb the initial impact. At the same time, the doors 1 will stop due to the change in an encoder output. Once the obstacle has moved, the doors 1 of the gate 100 will resume rotating.
[0038] In particular, when an impact occurs, the gate 100 incurs an opposing torque due to the obstacle, while the torsion spring 6 compresses and absorbs the initial impact. The encoder converts the angular position of the shaft to a digital output. Feedback to the drive is given by the change in the encoder output.
[0039] Therefore, when a sudden change occurs, dynamic braking is activated to stop the gate. Advantageously, the ideal solution is to develop a solution that loads the springs 6 only at the moment of impact, otherwise the springs 6 will be loaded for each gate opening/closing cycle, thus reducing the life cycle of said springs 6.
[0040] Advantageously, torsion spring 6 can be added as an alternative or combination with the compliant element 4.
[0041] As shown in figure 5, the problem of reduce the impact force has been divided into six subsequent phases.
[0042] In particular this phases are:
- detection of a person or object 701;
- sense the impact 702;
- absorb the energy 703;
- give the feedback to drive 704;
- disengage drive 705;
- stop the door 706.
[0043] Operationally, a sensor detects the presence of a person or object such as a suitcase or luggage while a torque limiter detects the impact.
[0045] The dynamic brake and the resolver are connected to the motor, for example, at the bottom of the gate module 100 and brake the door 1 during impact to reduce the speed and thus the impact force.
[0046] The clamping force between the hinge 2 and the door 1 is a factor in reducing the impact force. To prevent the reduction in clamping force from causing the structure to sway, doors 1 should be secured with shock-absorbing washers 8 in the hinge 2 to provide greater structural stability.
[0047] When an impact occurs, shock-absorbing washers 8 absorb energy and dissipate it. More in particular, shock-absorbing washers 8 absorb energy and dissipate heat. Advantageously, the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate achieves the following results:
- door opening and closing time less than a minimum time appropriate for different requirements;
- impact force less than current regulations and standards;
- impact force must be reduced in a short time;
- minimum sway during movement.
[0048] Always advantageously, to solve the problem of reducing impact forces, components are implemented in existing models and systems.
[0049] In a second embodiment, hinges 2 can be modified to realize the device with Sorbothane shock-absorbing washers 8. In more detail, this modification was developed by creating a CAD model of the hinge 2 to identify the best possible fit. Specifically, the hinges 2 were redesigned based on the thickness of the damping material placed between the doors 1 and the hinge 2.
[0050] More in detail, the female part 22 of the hinge 2 was provided with a hollow cylindrical pin-like structure so that shorter screws could be used when fastening with the door 1, thereby also reducing costs. As an example, fully threaded M6 x 35 mm long cylindrical head screws can be used for fastening the doors 1.
[0051] In another embodiment of the present invention, the gate 100 does not involve the application of any mechanical part to perform the braking as in the solutions described by the prior art.
[0052] In particular, the reason why this embodiment does not require these functions is because the drive motor for the opening and closing operations of the doors 1 can be set in reverse mode to slow the speed and then brake the doors 1 without the need to use a separate mechanical part.
[0053] Using the motor for braking allows for a less complex and costly structure due to the fact that existing components are used without having to add more.
[0054] Following numerous tests, Sorbothane was identified as the best material to be placed between glass doors and hinges, whereas, polyurethane was identified as the best material to be placed between the frame and hinges.
[0055] Additionally, to better fit the hinges to the Sorbothane shock-absorbing washers 8, M3 screws can be used or the number of hinges can be increased by identifying, through a finite element study, the ideal position of the hinges themselves in order to achieve better structural stability.
[0056] Advantageously, in agreement with current standards and regulations, the device according to the invention can have, by way of example, a gate opening and closing time of less than 0,6 seconds and an impact force of less than 400 N.
[0057] Still advantageously, the device comprises gates 100 with the same dimensions and material as existing gates in order to simplify installation operations in existing modules or gates 100 but also to keep costs down.
[0058] Depending on the needs and design choices, it is possible to reduce the opening and closing time of the doors 1 and also the impact force without exceeding the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0059] These parameters can be set and chosen to not allow any unauthorized user to pass the gate 100 and to decrease the impact power in case of impacts or collisions. A further advantage is that the doors 1 are not able to wobble more than 5 mm during movement and that in case of impact the recovery time cannot exceed 3 seconds.
[0060] Sensors that have the objective of detecting people inside the gate can be used to achieve the above purposes.
[0061] Always advantageously, if the impact force is reduced below the threshold defined by regulations, this improvement can be exploited by going to increase motor speed and thus decrease door opening and closing times.
[0062] It is clear from the description made that the features of the device to reduce the impact force in a security access gate, that is the object of the present invention, are clear, as are the advantages thereof.
[0063] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all within the scope of protection of the attached claims.
[0064] Furthermore, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements; in practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be varied according to contingent needs and the state of the art.
[0065] Where the constructional features and techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference marks or numbers, such reference marks or numbers have been affixed for the sole aim of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, consequently, they do not in any way constitute a limitation on the interpretation of each element identified, for example, by such reference marks or numbers.
1. A security access gate comprising a door or mooving wing (1), a hinge or wing clamp
(2), a cabinet (3), a motor drive, a motor drive output housing and a motor output
shaft, characterized in that said gate comprises a compliant element or shock absorber (4) and/or a torsion spring
(6) installed in said door (1), which are configured to absorb the energy created
by said door (1) when obstructed by a slow-moving or stationary object or person,
so as to reduce the impact force applied when said door (1) hits an object.
2. Access gate as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said compliant element (4) is placed:
- between the door (1) and the hinge (2) or
- between the hinge (2) and the motor drive output housing or
- between the motor drive output housing and the motor output shaft.
3. Access gate as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said compliant element (4) deforms itself to absorb the energy and returns to its
normal shape and size once said door (1) has stopped.
4. Access gate as claimed in one of the previous clamis characterized in that said compliant element (4) is formed by a shock-absorbing material.
5. Access gate as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said torsion spring (6) is connected to said motor drive of the gate (100) and is
configured so that, when impact on said door (1) occurs, said torsion spring (6) compresses
to absorb the impact.
6. Access gate as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that said hinge (2) is connected to some shock-absorbing washers (8) that absorb energy
and dissipate it when an impact occurs in order to improve the stability of said door
(1) and prevent the structure to sway.
7. Access gate as claimed in claim 6 characterized in that said compliant element (4) and said shock-absorbing washers (8) are made in sorbothane.
8. Access gate as claimed in one of the previous claims characterized in that said hinge (2) comprises a male part (21) and a famale part (22) that hold within
them at least two doors (1) and said female part (22) of said hinge (2) is provided
with a hollow cylindrical pin-like structure so that shorter screws are used when
fastening with the door (1).
9. Method to reduce the impact force in the security access gate of claim 1 characterized in that said method comprises the following phases:
- detection of a person or object (701);
- sense the impact (702);
- absorb the energy (703);
- give the feedback to drive (704);
- disengage drive (705);
- stop the door (706).