Belt for electromagnetic sucker

A belt for electromagnetic sucker includes a first substantially U-shaped section, a second substantially U-shaped section, an electromagnetic sucker coupled to at least one of the first and second substantially U-shaped sections, at least one of the first and second substantially U-shaped sections being structured and arranged to be secure to a support, and a connector structured and arranged to secure the first and second substantially U-shaped sections to one another.

The present application is a U.S. National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/FR2006/002323 filed Oct. 17, 2006 which published as WO 2008/046970 on Apr. 24, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to improvements to belts for electromagnetic suckers and/or an electromagnet.

2. Discussion of Background Information

As is known, a sucker is in fact an electromagnet attached at the periphery of an opening and is capable, when excited, of retaining a reinforcing plate fixed to the door, or inversely.

In the state of the art, the sucker is fixed in a section, referred to as the belt, which is itself fixed against the support (a wall or a door).

The belt is in the form of a tubular section comprising, on one of its surfaces, an opening that is cut out to enable the sucker to be inserted and attached. This opening is advantageously used to access the other surface of the section and to enable the assembly to be fixed to the support.

Experimentation has shown that this localized fixing is insufficient on lengthy belts and, in this case, that it is necessary to use additional screws extending through the two opposite surfaces of the section, with all the risks that this involves.

The implementation of these belts is not practical because running the electric supply cables poses problems. Indeed, the cables must be connected to the sucker prior to it being fixed in the belt, which involves the following disadvantages:the length of the cables must be much greater than the length separating the opening for the insertion thereof and the terminals of the sucker, and this length must then be reinserted in the belt;the positioning of the sucker must be carried out on-site and after connection of the cables;a connection check-up requires disassembling the sucker.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The belt of the invention, which overcomes these disadvantages, is characterized in that it is constituted by the association of two sections each having a substantially U-shaped cross-section, one of which carries the sucker and comprises a mechanism for enabling it to be fixed to the support, whereas the other is adapted to cover the first, a mechanism is provided for affixing the two assembled sections to one another.

The invention also provides for a belt for electromagnetic sucker comprising a first substantially U-shaped section, a second substantially U-shaped section, an electromagnetic sucker coupled to one of the first and second U-shaped sections, a mechanism adapted to secure the belt to a support, and a mechanism adapted to secure the first and second U-shaped sections to one another.

The second U-shaped section may be adapted to cover the first U-shaped section. The first U-shaped section may comprise a median portion having a longitudinal groove.

The first U-shaped section may comprise a base portion that is securable to the support and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnetic sucker. The first U-shaped section may comprise a base portion that is securable to the support and to one side of the electromagnetic sucker and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnetic sucker. The first U-shaped section may comprise a base portion that is securable to the support via two connecting areas arranged on opposite sides of a middle connecting area that is securable to one side of the electromagnetic sucker and two spaced apart members securable to opposite sides of the electromagnetic sucker.

The second U-shaped section may comprise a base portion and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnetic sucker. The second U-shaped section may comprise a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnetic sucker and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnetic sucker. The second U-shaped section may comprise a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnetic sucker and two spaced apart members securable to two spaced apart members of the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for a method of assembling the belt described above to a support, wherein the method comprises securing the first U-shaped section to a support, securing the electromagnetic sucker to the first U-shaped section, and securing the second U-shaped section to the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for a method of assembling the belt described above to a support, wherein the method comprises securing a base portion of the first U-shaped section to a support, securing a first side of the electromagnetic sucker to a median portion of the first U-shaped section, and securing two spaced apart members of the second U-shaped section to two spaced apart members of the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for an electromagnet retaining assembly for a door comprising a first substantially U-shaped section, a second substantially U-shaped section, an electromagnetic coupled to one of the first and second U-shaped sections, and a mechanism adapted to secure the retaining assembly to a support. The first and second U-shaped sections may be securable to one another.

The second U-shaped section may be adapted to cover the first U-shaped section. The first U-shaped section may comprise a median portion having a longitudinal groove.

The first U-shaped section may comprise at least one of a base portion that is securable to the support and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, a base portion that is securable to the support and to one side of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, and a base portion that is securable to the support via two connecting areas arranged on opposite sides of a middle connecting area that is securable to one side of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members securable to opposite sides of the electromagnet.

The second U-shaped section may comprise at least one of a base portion and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, and a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members securable to two spaced apart members of the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for a method of assembling the assembly described above to a support, wherein the method comprises securing the first U-shaped section to a support, securing the electromagnet to the first U-shaped section, and securing the second U-shaped section to the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for a method of assembling the assembly described above to a support, wherein the method comprises securing a base portion of the first U-shaped section to a support, securing a first side of the electromagnet to a median portion of the first U-shaped section, and securing two spaced apart members of the second U-shaped section to two spaced apart members of the first U-shaped section.

The invention also provides for an electromagnet retaining assembly for a door comprising a first substantially U-shaped section, a second substantially U-shaped section comprising an opening, an electromagnetic coupled to one of the first and second U-shaped sections and having a portion adapted to project into the opening of the second U-shaped section, and a mechanism adapted to secure the retaining assembly to a support.

The first U-shaped section may comprise at least one of a base portion that is securable to the support and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, a base portion that is securable to the support and to one side of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, and a base portion that is securable to the support via two connecting areas arranged on opposite sides of a middle connecting area that is securable to one side of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members securable to opposite sides of the electromagnet. The second U-shaped section may comprise at least one of a base portion and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members arranged on opposite sides of the electromagnet, and a base portion comprising an opening which receives therein a portion of the electromagnet and two spaced apart members securable to two spaced apart members of the first U-shaped section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the belt is constituted by the association or connecting together of two sections, i.e., first section1and second section2each having a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The second section2is capable of completely covering the first section1.

Section1is provided to enable a sucker or electromagnet V to be fixed or secured in place. According to the invention, the sucker V is fixed in the section1prior to the section1being fixed to the support S. Generally, this fixing is carried out at the factory.

According to one embodiment, the median portion or base3of the section1has a longitudinal groove4arranged between two spaced-apart areas which are secured to the support S. The groove4in the base3defines a projecting portion, the bottom of which serves as a support for the sucker V. The sucker V is held by screws5extending through the bottom of the groove4which, as shown inFIG. 3, has holes6receiving the screws5.

The spaced apart areas of the base or median portion3each have an opening7, which are preferably oblong, for passage of the screws8for fixing the first section1against the support S.

The median portion of second section2has an opening9for passage of a portion of the sucker V.

After the first section1has been fixed, and the supply cables (not shown) connected thereafter, the assembly is covered by the second section2, which acts in the manner of a cap. Any usual mechanisms can be used for fixing the second section2to the first section1.

Thus, screws, schematically represented with axes10inFIG. 2, can be used for fixing together sections1and2. Section2can also be clipped on section1.

With respect to fixing the sucker V, this can be carried out with screws extending through the wings of section1, such as those shown in dotted lines inFIG. 1and schematically identified with axes11. In this case, it is not necessary that the sucker V take support against the bottom of the groove4.