ARRANGEMENT FOR A SPRING FRACTURE SAFETY DEVICE FOR AN OVERHEAD SLIDING DOOR

Abstract: An arrangement for a spring fracture safety device intended for a closing element for an overhead sliding door or similar capable of being moved between a raised and a lowered end position, which can be attached to a door actuating spring (1) and is controlled by tracks extending along the intended path of movement of the door, continuous guide rollers or similar control devices. The spring fracture safety device functions efficiently and reliably, irrespective of where along the length of the spring fracture occurs. One free end (1A) of the door actuation spring is capable of being attached via a movement transfer device (9) to a release device (7) for a door braking element (8) interacting with a number of said guide rollers, etc., which braking element can be caused to move between a position (I) in which it is ready for release and a braking position, in which positions the element (8) is respectively kept withdrawn, so that said guide rollers are able to pass freely along the tracks in question, and is caused to project, so as to produce a braking effect by interaction with a door guide roller.

Description: Arrangement for a spring fracture safety device for an overhead sliding door The present invention relates to an arrangement for a spring fracture safety device intended for a closing element for an overhead sliding door or similar capable of being moved between a raised and a lowered end position, which can be attached to a door actuating spring and controlled by tracks extending along the intended path of movement of the door, continuous guide rollers or similar control devices. The principal object of the present invention is, in the first place, to make available an arrangement of the kind indicated above, which is caused to function efficiently and reliably in the event of spring fracture, irrespective of where along the length of the spring fracture occurs. Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that one free end of the actuating spring is capable of being attached via a movement transfer device to a release device for a door braking element interacting with a number of said guide rollers, etc., which braking element can be caused to move between a position in which it is ready for release and a braking position, in which positions the element is respectively kept withdrawn, so that said guide rollers are able to pass freely along the tracks in question, and is caused to project, so as to produce a braking effect by interaction with a door guide roller. The invention is described below as a preferred illustrative embodiment, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates the invention applied to one side of the track for an overhead sliding door and arranged in a so-called "braking position"; Fig. 2 illustrates the spring fracture safety device in an active braked position in which a door control roller is being restrained; Fig. 3 illustrates a part of the arrangement in a released, "braking position"; Fig. 4 illustrates said part in a so—called position in which it is ready for release; Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective view a release device which is a constituent part of the arrangement in its position in which it is ready for release; Fig. 6 illustrates, the release device in a separated position and partially sectioned. One free end 1A of a helical actuation spring 1, which may be supported by a number of holders 3 capable of being attached to the upper part of a door opening 2, and which is capable of being connected in a previously disclosed manner to a door panel 6 or similar closing element provided with a number of guide rollers 5 or other similar guide devices running in guide tracks 4 extending along the lateral edges of the door opening, is capable of being attached to a release device 7 for a door braking element 8 interacting with a number of said guide rollers 5, etc., via a movement transfer device 9 conveniently in the form of a cable. Said cable 9, which is preferably accommodated in such a way that it is protected inside a cable protector tube 10 extending between said end 1A of the spring and the door braking element 8, is connected by one of its ends 9A conveniently to a sleeve 11 threaded onto the end 1A of the spring, which sleeve exhibits a hole 12 through which the end of the cable passes and is then attached to the cable 9 once more by means of a suitable attachment 13. Said end 1A of the spring conveniently extends directly outwards from the spring 1, more or less tangentially, and is capable of interacting with a stop 14 on the spring holder 3, which stop is so arranged normally as to function as a support for the end 1A of the spring when the spring 1 is held under tension during normal operation of the door and its spring 1. A recess 15, which matches the form of the end 1A of the spring, is conveniently provided in said stop 14 for the purpose of securely retaining said end 1A of the spring and preventing the spring 1 from rotating when it is working and is placed under tension. In order to prevent the end 1A of the spring from slipping off a sleeve—shaped holder part 16, onto which the spring 1 is wound, and which extends around a shaft 19 attached to, for example, a cable drum 18 connected to a door operating cable 17, to which shaft the other end of the spring is attached, it is secured to the holder part 16 by means of a clamp 20, which may be screwed securely thereto. The door braking element 8 is so arranged as to be capable of being moved between a position I in which it is ready for release, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and in which position I the spring fracture safety device 21 is maintained in a readiness position in which the guide rollers 5 are able to pass freely along the track 4 in question in order to be capable of being released automatically in the event of fracture of the spring 1, and a braking position II, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and in which position II the door braking element 8 projects in front of a guide roller 5 of the kind in question in its intended path of movement 22, for example in the internal space 4A of the track, and which, to either side of the running surface of the guide roller, is defined by track surfaces 4B, 4C set transversely to one another, with which the running surface of the guide rollers can interact in order to achieve braking interaction with a door guide roller 5. The door braking element 8 may consist of a brake block 23 which is provided with a number of brake heels 24 projecting in the same direction away from the block 23. Said brake block 23 is capable of being actuated in its position I in which it is ready for release by a number of release springs 25 executed from curved spring material, or is spring—actuated in some other way so as to be capable of being released, if necessary. Said release is prevented in said position I by means of the release device 7 consisting of a pin, for example, which is attached by its one end 7A to the end 9B of a cable, and the other end 7B of which is capable of being accommodated in a hole 26 in a tongue—shaped attachment 27 which projects in a direction away from the bottom 28A of a trough—shaped casing 28, inside the internal cavity 29 of which the door braking element 8 is capable of being accommodated. The attachment 27 is so arranged as to be accommodated by a suitable opening 30 in the brake block 23. By pulling the cable 9 " : n the direction of the arrow 31, springs 25 of the kind in question will be permitted to push out the brake block 23 in the direction of the arrow 32, which, thanks to the presence of the cable end connection 1A, 9, 9A, 11, will occur at precisely the same moment as the fracture of the spring 1. The springs 25 can be so arranged as to be capable of making contact respectively with the bottom 28A of the holder and with the rear surface 23A of the brake block, and may exhibit guide pins 33 projecting, for example, from their central part 25A and thus also from the bottom 28A of the casing, which guide pins are capable of being accommodated by suitable holes 34 in the brake blocks 23. The casing 28, which can exhibit fastening devices 35 enabling it to be fastened to, for example, the outside or some other surface of a door guide track 4, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, also exhibits an elongated opening 36, for example, on one of its sides, so as to permit the cable 9 to be introduced as far as the intended connection with the attachment 27. Said springs 25 are accommodated in a space 28B formed between the bottom 28A of the casing and the brake block, whilst the brake block 23 and its brake heels 24 are kept fully retracted inside a space 28D defined by an opening edge 28C. The brake heels 24 can exhibit a relieved section 37 so adapted as to be capable of accommodating a part of a guide roller, etc., of the kind in question, so as to function as a restraint for said guide roller 5 and conveniently also for a swinging roller holder 38 attached to the door element 6, which holder is described in more detail below. The roller holder 38 consists of two swinging arms 39, 40 which are attached at one end 39A, 40A to a swinging axle 42 accommodated in a bearing 41 attached to the door panel 6, so as to be permitted to be pivoted about said bearing 41. At the opposite ends 39B, 40B of the swinging arms a tube 43 is securely attached to the arms 39, 40, and a bearing shaft 44 for a door guide roller 5 is accommodated by said tube 43, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The swinging arms 39, 40 are attached by means of bolted connections 45 to a bearing plate 46, which is secured to the inside 6A of the door by means of screws 47, each of which bearing plates has its own flange 48, 49 projecting at right angles from the door panel 6. The bolts 45 are accommodated in curved openings 50 in the flanges and in holes 51 which extend through the swinging arms 39, 40. A suitable bearing component 52, which is accommodated by an adjacent section 6' of the door panel and which is attached to the shaft 42 by means of a tongue 53 containing a hole, enables a link to be provided between two sections 6', ό2 of the door panel which are connected together. In the event of the fracture of the spring 1 the straight end 1A of the spring leaves the stop 14 and rotates towards the clamp 20 in the direction of the arrow 54, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The cable 9 is pulled in the direction of the arrow 31 and causes the release pin 7 to be withdrawn from the hole 26 in the mounting 27, in so doing releasing the brake block 23 so that it can move outwards under spring pressure in the direction of the arrow 32. The brake heels 24 are thus , caused to project through appropriate holes 55 in the wall 4D of the track and to adopt a position in the normal path of movement of the guide rollers. When a guide roller 5 reaches a brake heel 24, a part of the roller 5 engages in the relieved section 37, and the tube 43 conveniently engages in a nose—shaped part 56 of the respective brake heel 24. The effect of this is to brake the previously free falling movement of the door panel 6 towards the ground. The lower part 24A of the respective brake heel 24 comes into contact with the lower edge 57 of the through—hole 55. In the presence of a swinging roller holder 38 the roller 5 and the door panel 6 will move relative to one another viewed in the vertical sense, so that the door panel 6 is caused to be displaced in the direction of the arrow 58 towards an attachment profile 59 secured to the track 5 and its seal 61 supported by a profile section 60, once the bolted connection 45 has yielded and has permitted the rotational movement of the swinging arms 39, 40 in the direction of the arrow 62 about the link 40, 42. The effective braking of the door panel 6 is achieved in this way thanks to the present invention. The safety device can be re—used after replacing the broken spring 1, once the consituent parts have been repositioned. The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings but ma ' be modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [ received by the International Bureau on 04 December 1987 (04.12.87); original claims 1—11 replaced by new claims 1-10 (2 pages) ] 1. Arrangement for a spring fracture safety device intended for a closing (6) for an overhead sliding door or similar capable of being moved between a raised and a lowered end position, which can be attached to a door actuating spring (1) and is controlled by tracks (4) extending along the intended path of movement of the door, continuous guide rollers (5) or similar control devices, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that one free end (1A) of the helical door actuation spring (1) , the said end of which is capable of interacting with a stop (14) acting as a support, is secured to a cable (9) acting as a movement transfer device and which cable (9) being attached to a release device (7) for a door braking element (8) interacting with a number of said guide rollers (5) , etc. , which braking element can be caused to move between a position (I) in which it is ready for release and a braking position (II), in which positions (I; II) the element (8) is respectively kept withdrawn, so that said guide rollers (5) are able to pass freely along the tracks (4) in question, and is caused to project, so as to produce a braking effect by interaction with a door guide roller (5) . 2. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 1, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that a cable (9) acting as a movement transfer device is secured to a straight section (1A) of the actuation spring (1) , conveniently to a sleeve (11) with a hole at its end threaded onto the end of the spring. 3. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 1-2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the door actuation spring (1) is secured by means of a clamp (20) to a holder cαnponent (16). 4. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cable (9) is arx rrmcdated in a cable protector tube (10) extending between said spring end (1A) and the door braking element (8) . 5. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the door braking element (8) consists of a spring-actuated brake block (23) provided with a number of brake heels (24) and accαπrcdated inside a casing (28) capable of being attached to the side of a track (4) . 6. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 5, c a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the brake block (23) is capable of being controlled by means of control devices (33) projecting from the bottom (28A) of the casing, which control devices conveniently consist of a number of guide pins capable of being acαxrmcdated in holes (34) in the brake block (23) . 7. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 5-6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a release spring (25) , preferably made of curved spring material, is acc rπiodated in a space (28B) between the bottom (28A) of the casing (28) and the brake block (23) . 8. Arrangement accordning to any of the Patent Claims 5-7, c h ar a c ter i ze d in that a brake heel (24) exhibits a relieved section (37) so arranged as to acccirmodate a part of a guide roller (5) , etc., of the kind in question. 9. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 8, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that brake heels (34) of the kind in question are so arranged as to function as restraints for swinging roller holders (38) attached to the door element (6) . 10.. Arrangement according to any of the Patent Claims 5-9, c h ar a c t e r i z e d in that the release device (7) for said door braking element consists of a pin attached to the movement transfer cable (9) , which pin is so arranged as to be connected to a mounting (27) attached to the casing (28) in order to permit the brake block (23) to be restrained by force in its position (I) in which it is ready for release.

Inventors: BENGTSSON FRED, BENGTSSON, FRED
Applicants: CRAWFORD DOOR PROD, CRAWFORD DOOR PRODUCTION AB
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E05D13
IPC codes: E05D13