MOTOR-OPERATED DEVICE WITH SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS

Abstract: Device for motorised opening and closing of folding doors, panel doors, folding gates and panel gates, in the following referred to as doors, wherein the door is opened and closed by means of a motor drive transmission acting on the door and which, independent of the direction of movement of the door, will disengage the door, so that the door is released and will stop in case of an obstacle, independent of a continued motor motion. The device is characterized by a power transmission member (1) which is non-disengageably connected to the drive shaft (13) of the motor drive and rotatable about a centre (18) of rotation coaxial with said shaft; a disengageable lever (2) which also is rotatable about said centre of rotation (18); a double-armed lever (4) which also is rotatable about said centre of rotation (18); a disconnection unit (3) provided to releasably connect the disengageable lever (2) with the moment lever (4), said unit (3) being provided to release the moment lever (4) from the disengageable lever (2) if the door is hindered by an obstacle in its range of movement.

Description: MOTOR-OPERATED DEVICE WITH SAFETY RELEASE MECHANISM FOR OPENING AND CLOSING DOORS TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a device for motorised opening and closing of folding doors, panel doors, folding gates, and panel gates, in the following referred to as doors, wherein the door is opened and closed by means of a motor drive transmission acting on the door and which, independent ofthe direction of movement ofthe door, will disengage the door, so that the door is released and will stop in case of an obstacle, independent of a continued motor motion. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Machine-powered industry doors and the like for many years have been subject to various regulations and safety standards in Sweden. The Door Safety Standards issued by the authorities and developed for about 30 years have correspondences in our neighbour countries and in the rest of Western Europe. It therefore exists a great number of national and regional safety regulations for doors. As far as crush guards are concerned, it is generally stated that: "a machine-powered door or the like shall be designed such that crush damages are prevented". The applicant has previously developed a completely mechanical safety system working as a guard during the opening movement of a door, known as Torverk's link arm release, Swedish patent No. 8100121-6. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object ofthe invention to meet with future safety demands by offering a completely mechanical system for the opening as well as for the closing movement, which can eliminate the risk of crush damages in the crush risk zones between the sections ofthe doors, between door and floor, between door section and stationary wall or other part of a building, and between door and any other object within the range of movement ofthe door, for example a pallet or a vehicle. It is also an object to satisfy future European requirements as far as safety, comfort and economy is concerned in a way which is reliable, simple and which requires little maintenance. These and other objects can be achieved therein that the invention is characterised by what is stated in the appending claims. Further characteristic features and aspects ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the following description of a preferred embodiment, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a safety release mechanism; Fig. 2 is a view from above; Fig. 3 is view from below, wherein the safety release mechanism in its released state is indicated; and Fig. 4 schematically shows the device in its functional environment. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 4, the integrated equipment, in which a safety release mechanism is included as a part thereoζ consists ofthe following main parts, namely a power transmission member 1, a disengagable lever 2, a disconnection unit 3, a moment lever 4, a first pull-push link 5, a second pull-push link 6, a power transmission release coupling 7, and a member 8 here referred to as latch lock member. The safety release mechanism, which in Fig. 4 schematically is represented by the unit 10, consists ofthe power transmission member 1, the disengagable lever 2, the disconnection unit 3, the moment lever 4, the power transmission release coupling 7, the latch lock member 8. A motor mechanism for driving the device is assembled in a motor mechanism box 9 above the device (only partly shown). According to Fig. 1, the power transmission member 1 consists of a cylindrical part 11 and a straight lever 15 projecting at a right angle from the said cylindrical part 11. Under one end of lever 15 there is a flange member 16 with an inwardly turned rim 17, the upper surface of which having bevelled edges. The cylindrical part 11 ofthe power transmission member is mounted by means of a cotter joint 12 on the driving shaft 13 of the motor mechanism, the centre of said shaft 13 defining a common rotational centre 18 ofthe device. A spacing sleeve 14 is mounted towards the motor mechanism box 9 around the cylindrical part 11 ofthe power transmission member 1. Under the power transmission member there is the straight, double-armed disengagable lever 2. The disengagable lever 2 is mounted on the drive shaft 13 ofthe motor mechanism by means of a washer 19 and a screw 20. The disengagable lever 2 is freely rotatable about the common rotational centre 18. The power transmission release coupling 7 is mounted on one lever arm ofthe disengagable lever 2 , said coupling consisting of a U-profile 76, the legs of which having been cut at an acute angle at one end. The power transmission release coupling 7 is pivotally connected to the disengagable lever 2 via two screws 71 passing through the legs ofthe U-profile 76, fastened by screwing in the disengagable lever 2. A handle 77 extends obliquely downwards from the U-profile 76. A screw 72 with a helical spring 74 extends through an oval hole 73 in the web ofthe U-profile 76 and is screwed into the underside ofthe disengagable lever 2. As shown in Fig. 3, a latch catch 21 is mounted on the second arm of said disengagable lever 2, said latch catch being defined by two cams 22 and an intermediate groove. With reference to Fig. 1, the straight moment lever 4 is located above the power transmission member 1, journalled at the centre ofthe moment lever in the cylindrical part 11 of said power transmission member 1. In the upward direction the moment lever 4 is positioned by said spacing sleeve 14. The moment lever 4 has two arms, which in their ends are pivotally connected to said first and second pull-push links 5 and 6. Further, a latch stop 41 is mounted on the moment lever 4. A device, here referred to as a latch lock 8, is stationary mounted on the motor mechanism box 9. Said latch lock 8 consists of a plate which is welded to the motor mechanism box and has one end cut at an angle. The disconnection unit 3 mainly consists of a round bar, in the following cold rocker latch 31, which extends at a right angle relative to the moment lever 4 mainly beneath but also somewhat beyond the upper surface ofthe moment lever 4; a shaft 32 which is partly threaded; a helical spring 33; and the above mentioned latch catch 21. The rocker latch 31 is in its upper end pivotally connected to the moment lever 4 and in the bottom end pivotally connected to one end ofthe shaft 32. The helical spring 33 is mounted around the shaft 32 and can be compressed by means of a clamping nut 34 and a retaining nut 35 against a projection 36. Said projection 36 which is connected to the movement arm defines a pivoted second holder for the shaft 32. The shaft 32, in the region of its connection with the projection 36, is provided with an elongated hole 37 which allows axial movements ofthe shaft 32. As is shown in Fig. 4, the preferred embodiment includes a system for opening and closing the door, wherein the first pull-push link 5 acts on one door half via a first link arm 51, a second link arm 52, a door bracket 53, a wall attachment 54, a door stop 55, a front door leaf 56, and a rear door leaf 57, and wherein the second pull-push link 6 acts on the second door half via a first link arm 61, a second link arm 62, a door bracket 63, a wall attachment 64, a door stop 65, a front door leaf 66, and a rear door leaf 67. MODE OF OPERATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The function ofthe device, during the normal operation ofthe device, is to transfer the rotation ofthe driving shaft 13 ofthe motor mechanism via the power transmission member 1, the coupling 7, the disengagable lever 2, the latch catch 21, the rocker latch 31, the moment lever 4 and the pull-push links 5 and 6 to respective door half, directly or indirectly through said link arms, opening and closing the door. In case there is an obstacle in the range of movement ofthe door, and the opening or closing movement of a door half is hindered by the obstacle, a counter-force results in one ofthe push-pull links 5, 6, acting on the moment lever 4. This in turn results in a difference in torque between the moment lever 4 and the disengagable lever 2. When the torque difference is sufficiently large, the rocker latch 31 will be tilted by one cam ofthe latch catch 21 by pressure from said cam, wherein the rocker latch 31 will slide over said one cam 22 of said latch catch 21. Said sliding is facilitated by the fact that the cams 22 are bevelled in the upper part so that they have an angle which corresponds to the tilted latch catch. Further, the sliding is facilitated by the fact that latch catch 21 is made of a self-lubricated plastic material. The moment lever 4, the push-pull links 5, 6 and the door leaves herein are released from the torque ofthe motor and will stop, while the drive shaft 13 ofthe motor mechanism, including the power transmission member 1 and the disengagable lever 2, will continue their movement to the end position. In Fig. 3, the device is shown with a released disconnection unit 3. When the unit 3 has released, the rocker latch 31 will spring back and stop against the latch stop 41, which acts on the upper part ofthe rocker latch 31. The latch stop 41 limits the spring back path ofthe rocker latch 31 in the released position. This makes a return ofthe rocker latch 31 to a position between the cams 22 possible by turning the disengagable lever 2 towards the moment lever 4, wherein the rocker latch 31 is brought towards one ofthe two cams 22 bringing the rocker latch 31 back to position between the cams 22 while the disengagable lever 2 readopts its original position parallel with the moment lever 4. If the disconnection unit 3 has released during an opening movement because of an obstacle, the motor shall rotate in order to bring the unit 3 back to normal position, wherein the rocker latch 31 will be returned as in the foregoing. If on the other hand, the said unit 3 has released during a closing movement, the motor shall rotate for an opening movement in order to bring the unit 3 back to normal position. In order that the closed door shall not be able to open by a manual pressure on the door leaves, the rocker latch 31 is locked by the latch lock member 8 when the door is in its closed position. The rocker latch 31 then cannot be tilted and hence it will prevent the door from being opened. In case of an interruption in electricity supply or other failure making it impossible to operate the door by means ofthe motor drive, the door can be opened and/or closed by disconnecting it from the drive shaft 13 of the motor drive transmission by pulling the power transmission release coupling 7 downwards, wherein the disengagable lever 2 is released from the power transmission member 1. Thereafter the door leaves can be operated manually even though the motor is at standstill.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for motorised opening and closing of folding doors, panel doors, folding gates and panel gates, in the following referred to as doors, wherein the door is opened and closed by means of a motor drive transmission acting on the door and which, independent ofthe direction of movement ofthe door, will disengage the door, so that the door is released and will stop in case of an obstacle, independent of a continued motor motion, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by a power transmission member (1) which is non- disengagably connected to the drive shaft (13) of the motor drive and rotatable about a centre (18) of rotation coaxial with said shaft; a disengagable lever (2) which also is rotatable about said centre of rotation (18); a double-armed lever (4) which also is rotatable about said centre of rotation (18); a disconnection unit (3) provided to releasably connect the disengagable lever (2) with the moment lever (4), said unit (3) being provided to release the moment lever (4) from the disengagable lever (2) if the door is hindered by an obstacle in its range of movement; and at least a first push-pull link (5) arranged such that one end of said first push-pull link (5) is rotatably connected to one end ofthe moment lever (4), wherein the second end of said first push-pull hnk (5) is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to a door leaf. 2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the disconnection unit (3) comprises a stationary lock member on one ofthe said disengagable lever (2) and moment lever (4); a movable lock member (31) which is movably connected to the other of said disengagable lever (2) and moment lever (4); and a spring member provided to act on the movable lock member and to normally keep it in engagement with the stationary lock member to prevent a relative rotation between said two levers; and that the movable lock member is provided to be released from its engagement with the stationary lock member, overcoming the spring force ofthe spring member if a torque difference between the disengagable lever (2) and the moment lever (4) would arise. 3. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stationary lock member (21) is made ofa self-lubricated plastic material . 4. Device according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the stationary lock member (21) has cams (22), which in the upper parts thereof, have bevelled edges, and that the angles ofthe bevelled edges correspond with the angle ofthe movable lock member when it is tilted to releasing position, which facilitates moving the movable lock member (21) over the cams (22) ofthe stationary lock member (21). 5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring force of said spring member (33) can be adjusted by means of a tightening unit (34, 35) allowing a continuously variable regulation ofthe engagement power ofthe movable lock member (6). 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the disengagable lever (2) is provided with a coupling (7), which is manual coupling for releasing the disengagable lever (2) from the power transmission member (1). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the coupling (7) comprises a latch member (76) which is pivotablly connected to the disengagable lever (2), said latch member (76) by means of a spring member (74) connecting the disengagable lever (2) with the power transmission member (1). 8. Device according to claim ^characterized by an abutment member (8) which locks the movable lock member (31) when the door is closed, so that said movable lock member (31) cannot be tilted and therein preventing it from releasing the disconnection unit (3) and hence also preventing the door from being opened by pressure on any ofthe door leaves. 9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that when said safety release mechanism is designed for a two-section door, wherein the two door halves are provided to be opened and closed simultaneously by means of a motor drive mechanism mounted above the door, there is used, besides said first push-pull link (5), which is provided such that one end of said first push-pull link (5) is pivotally connected with one end ofthe moment lever (4), wherein the other end of said first push-pull link (5) is directly or indirectly pivotally connected to one door half, also a second push-pull link (6) provided such that one end of said second push-pull link (6) is pivotally connected to the second end ofthe moment lever (4), and that the other end of said second push-pull link (6) is directly or indirectly pivotally connected with the other door half.

Inventors: BJUREMO MATS, BJUREMO, MATS
Applicants: BJUREMO MATS, TORSBY VERKSTADS AB, TORVERK TORSBY VERKSTADS AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1993
Main classification: E05F15
IPC codes: E05F15