Patent Description:
The disclosure also relates to a method, performed by a control device, for stopping a vertical moving door of a vertical moving door system.

Further, the the disclosure relates to a computer program and to a computer-readable medium.

A corner bracket is adapted to be attached to a vertical moving door and is used to interact with a lift cable for the door. One corner bracket may be attached at one side of the door and another corner bracket may be attached at the other side of the door. The lift cables interact with each corner bracket and when applying a traction force in the lift cables, the door will move in the vertical direction.

Cable brake devices are used to brake and stop the movement of a vertical moving door in the event of that the lift cable for moving the vertical moving door breaks or snaps. The cable brake device interacts with tracks of the vertical moving door system and the cable brake device could damage the track in the event of the cable brake device being activated and brake the movement of the vertical moving door.

<CIT> discloses a corner bracket according to the preamble of claim <NUM> comprising a cable failure device for immobilizing a cable operated door, such as garage doors and the like, in the event of a failure of one of the cables operating.

<CIT> discloses a cable transmission to prevent a door from falling down when a cable tear occurs.

<CIT> discloses a cable operating mechanism for a pulley motor for a roller shutter.

<CIT> discloses a door that comprises a slack cable safety switch, accommodated in a chamber of a lever and an actuating element, which can protrude from a housing opening.

<CIT> discloses a slack-rope safety device for monitoring the tensile load of a rope assembly for the raising, holding and controlled lowering of a door leaf.

<CIT> discloses a hoist mechanism for a vertically movable door.

It is an object to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solve at least the above-mentioned problem.

According to the invention, there is provided a corner bracket for a vertical moving door according to claim <NUM>, the corner bracket comprising: a base plate configured to be attached to the door; and a guide path for a lift cable arranged in the base plate; wherein: a switch is arranged in the base plate and configured to be actuated by the lift cable in the event of a breakage of the lift cable. The actuation of the switch is an indication of a lift cable break.

According to the invention, a control element is arranged in the guide path and configured to be controlled by the lift cable; and wherein: the control element is configured to be pushed by the lift cable to a first position when the lift cable extends into the guide path, the control element is configured to be released by the lift cable to a second position in the event of a breakage of the lift cable, and the control element is configured to actuate the switch when the control element has been moved to the second position. The guide path in the base plate is occupied by the lift cable when the lift cable is tensioned and works correctly. In case of a cable break, the lift cable will leave the guide path and simultaneously release the control element and thus actuate the switch.

According to an aspect the control element is a lever, comprising a leaf spring element having a spring force configured to be exceeded by a force from the lift cable when the lever is pushed to the first position. When the lift cable is tensioned and works correctly, the lift cable will abut against the leaf spring element and push the leaf spring element to the first position. As long the leaf spring element is in the first position, the switch will not be actuated.

According to an aspect the control element is a pin, comprising a helical spring element having a spring force configured to be exceeded by a force from the lift cable when the pin is pushed to the first position. As an alternative to the leaf spring element, the pin, comprising a helical spring element is configured to be pushed to the first position by the lift cable, when the lift cable is tensioned and works correctly.

According to the invention, the guide path comprises an aperture, through which aperture, the control element is configured to extend. The switch is arranged in the base plate, and the control element is configured to extend through the aperture.

According to an aspect the guide path comprises a circular extension. The circular extension of the guide path results in that the lift cable smoothly will follow the circular extension and occupy the guide path when the lift cable is tensioned and works correctly.

According to an aspect the aperture is arranged in the circular extension of the guide path. Since the lift cable smoothly will follow the circular extension of the guide path, the lift cable will abut firmly against the control element, which is configured to extend through the aperture.

According to an aspect the base plate comprising a fastener element, which is configured to attaching the lift cable to the base plate. The weight from the vertical moving door will tension the lift cable when the lift cable is attached to the base plate.

According to an aspect the switch is an electrical micro switch. The micro switch is configured to be arranged in the base plate.

According to a second aspect there is provided a vertical moving door system comprising a vertical moving door, at least two lift cables, a motor and at least two corner brackets according to the above, wherein the respective at least two lift cables are connected to the motor and to the at least two corner brackets and wherein the motor is configured to move the vertical moving door by the at least two lift cables between an open and closed position. Moving the vertical moving door from the closed to the opened position is accomplished by tensioning the lift cables by the motor and to rolling up the lift cables on cable drums. The vertical moving door will move from the opened to the closed position by rolling out the cables from the cable drums by the motor, but still keep the lift cables in a tense position. In order to relieve the motor, springs may be connected to the vertical moving door and an adjacent wall. When moving the door in the direction of the closed position, the springs may be tensioned. The switch arranged in the corner brackets is configured to be actuated by the lift cable in the event of a breakage of the lift cable. The actuation of the switch is an indication of a lift cable break.

According to an aspect the motor and the switch in each of the at least two corner brackets are connected to an electric circuit, and wherein the switch is actuated and configured to stop the motor in the event of a breakage of the lift cable, which is connected to the corner bracket comprising the actuated switch. In the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables, the other lift cable will still be tensioned and work correctly. However, the switch is actuated and configured to stop the motor in the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables. Thus, the door will stop in the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables.

According to an aspect the electric circuit comprises a control device configured to receive an input signal from the actuated switch, and wherein the control device is configured to stop the motor as a response to the received input signal from the actuated switch.

According to an aspect a first corner bracket is arranged at a first lower side part of the door, and wherein a second corner bracket is arranged at a second lower side part of the door.

According to a third aspect there is provided a method, performed by a control device, for stopping a vertical moving door of a vertical moving door system, the vertical moving door system comprising: at least two lift cables, a motor and at least two corner brackets according to the above, wherein the respective at least two lift cables are connected to the motor and to the at least two corner brackets and wherein the motor is configured to move the vertical moving door by the at least two lift cables between an open and closed position, the method comprises the steps of: receiving a signal from the switch in the event of a breakage of the lift cable, and controlling the motor to stop the movement of the vertical moving door.

The disclosure also relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, causes the computer to carry out the method disclosed above. The disclosure further relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to carry out the method disclosed above.

However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only. Various changes and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

Hence, it is to be understood that the herein disclosed invention is not limited to the particular component parts of the device described or steps of the methods described since such device and method may vary within the scope of the appended claims.

The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown.

<FIG> shows a vertical moving door system <NUM>. The vertical moving door system <NUM> comprises a vertical moving door <NUM>, a first and a second lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>, a first and second track <NUM>, <NUM> on each side of the door <NUM>, a motor <NUM> and first and second corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> arranged on each side of the door <NUM>.

The vertical moving door system <NUM> according to an aspect is an up and above vertical moving door <NUM>, i.e. the vertical moving door <NUM> is moveable from a closed position C to an open position O. In the open position O the vertical moving door <NUM> is positioned in a substantial vertical position above an opening <NUM> of a wall <NUM>.

The vertical moving door <NUM> is according to an aspect a single blade vertical moving door <NUM>. However, the vertical moving door may alternatively be a sectional vertical moving door <NUM> comprising a number of connected sections (not shown).

The motor <NUM> is mounted either directly on the wall <NUM> or at one of the tracks <NUM>, <NUM>. The first and second lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> is in one end connected to the motor <NUM> via first and second cable drums <NUM>, <NUM> and in the other end connected to the vertical moving door <NUM> via the first and second corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM>. Put in another way, the first and second lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted or connected to the first and second corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> and the first and second corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> are connected or mounted to the vertical moving door <NUM>.

The motor <NUM> is configured to wind up and unwind the first and second lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> on the first and second cable drums <NUM>, <NUM> and thereby move the vertical moving door <NUM> between the open and closed position O, C.

The vertical moving door <NUM> is moveably connected to the first and second tracks <NUM>, <NUM>. The first and second tracks <NUM>, <NUM> are mounted at the opening <NUM> and configured to guide the vertical moving door <NUM> when it is moved between the closed position C and the open position O. Put in another way, the first and second tracks <NUM>, <NUM> guides the vertical moving door <NUM> when it is moved from the closed position C to the open position O and from the open positon O to the closed position C.

The first corner bracket <NUM> is arranged at a first lower side part <NUM> of the door <NUM>, and the second corner bracket <NUM> is arranged at a second lower side part <NUM> of the door <NUM>.

According to an aspect the vertical moving door system <NUM> may comprise two motors <NUM>, positioned at each side of the door <NUM>. The first and second tracks <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged on each side of the door <NUM> and positioned at opposite vertical edges of the opening <NUM>. The first and second tracks <NUM>, <NUM> may have a U-, C- or G-shaped cross sectional shape.

In order to relieve the motor <NUM>, springs <NUM>, <NUM> may be connected to the vertical moving door <NUM> and the adjacent wall <NUM>. When moving the door <NUM> in the direction of the closed position C, the springs <NUM>, <NUM> may be tensioned.

The vertical moving door system <NUM> as such are well known and will thus not be described further in detail herein.

Each of the first and second corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a switch <NUM>, which is configured to be actuated by the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> in the event of a breakage of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>. The actuation of the switch <NUM> is an indication of a lift cable break.

The motor <NUM> and each switch <NUM> in the corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to an electric circuit <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is actuated and configured to stop the motor <NUM> in the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> connected to the corner bracket <NUM>, <NUM> comprising the actuated switch <NUM>. In the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>, the other lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> will still be tensioned and work correctly. However, the switch <NUM> is actuated and configured to stop the motor <NUM> in the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, the door <NUM> will stop in the event of a breakage of one of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>. The electric circuit <NUM> comprises a control device <NUM> configured to receive an input signal from the actuated switch <NUM>. Thus, the control device <NUM> is configured to send a signal to the motor <NUM> in order to stop the motor <NUM> as a response to the received input signal from the actuated switch <NUM>.

<FIG> show schematic cross sectional views along line I - I in <FIG>, with an unbroken and broken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> of a vertical moving door system <NUM>. In <FIG> the door <NUM> is closed and the first lift cable <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly. The first lift cable <NUM> is in a first end attached to the first corner bracket <NUM> and in a second end connected to the first cable drum <NUM>. In <FIG> the door <NUM> has moved vertically upwards by the first and second lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>. However, due to failure, the first lift cable <NUM> has been broken. However, the second lift cable <NUM> works correctly and prevents the vertical moving door <NUM> to fall down. In the event of that one of the lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> breaks and snaps, the tension in the broken lift cable <NUM> rapidly will decrease as it is no longer connected to the motor <NUM> (<FIG>) and the cable drum <NUM>, <NUM>. The first end part of the first lift cable <NUM> in <FIG> is still attached to the first corner bracket <NUM>. However, the first end part of the first lift cable <NUM> is no longer tensioned and will no longer act with a force on the first corner bracket <NUM>.

Stopping the motor <NUM> and the vertical moving door <NUM> in the event of a lift cable break will eliminate the risk of that a person or objects in the path of the vertical moving door <NUM> could be injured or that the vertical moving door system <NUM> is damaged. Stopping the door <NUM> in the event of a lift cable break is also an indication for service personnel to replace the broken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> with a new lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic side view of a corner bracket <NUM>, <NUM> comprising a base plate <NUM> configured to be attached to the door (<FIG>) and a guide path <NUM> for a lift cable arranged in the base plate <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is arranged in the base plate <NUM> and is configured to be actuated by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>) in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. A control element <NUM> is arranged in the guide path <NUM> and is configured to be controlled by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM>, through which aperture <NUM>, the control element <NUM> is configured to extend. The switch <NUM> is arranged in the base plate <NUM>, and the control element <NUM> is configured to extend through the aperture <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> comprising a fastener element <NUM>, which is configured to attaching the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to the base plate <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic cross sectional view along line II - II in <FIG>, with an unbroken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is attached to the fastener element <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> in the base plate <NUM> is occupied by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly. The control element <NUM> is configured to be pushed by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to a first position when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> extends into the guide path <NUM>. The control element <NUM> according to <FIG> is a lever <NUM>, comprising a leaf spring element <NUM> having a spring force configured to be exceeded by a force from the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> when the lever <NUM> is pushed to the first position. When the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly, the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> will abut against the leaf spring element <NUM> and push the leaf spring element <NUM> to the first position. As long the leaf spring element <NUM> is in the first position, the switch <NUM> will not be actuated. The switch <NUM> may be an electrical micro switch. The switch <NUM> is arranged in a space <NUM> of the base plate <NUM> and adjacent to the aperture <NUM> in the guide path <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> comprises a circular extension <NUM>. The circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM> results in that the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> smoothly will follow the circular extension <NUM> and occupy the guide path <NUM> when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly. The aperture <NUM> is arranged in the circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM>. Since the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> smoothly will follow the circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM>, the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> will abut firmly against the control element <NUM>, which is configured to extend through the aperture <NUM>. Signal cables <NUM> of the circuit <NUM> are connected to the switch <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic cross sectional view along line II - II in <FIG>, with a broken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The leaf spring element <NUM> has been released by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to a second position in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The leaf spring element <NUM> is configured to actuate the switch <NUM> when the leaf spring element <NUM> has been moved to the second position. The lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> have left the guide path <NUM> and simultaneously released the leaf spring element <NUM> and thus actuated the switch <NUM>. When the switch <NUM> is actuated, signals to the circuit <NUM> are initiated for stopping the motor <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic side view of a corner bracket <NUM>, <NUM> comprising a base plate <NUM> configured to be attached to the door <NUM> (<FIG>) and a guide path <NUM> for a lift cable arranged in the base plate <NUM>. The switch <NUM> is arranged in the base plate <NUM> and is configured to be actuated by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG>) in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. A control element <NUM> is arranged in the guide path <NUM> and is configured to be controlled by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> comprises an aperture <NUM>, through which aperture <NUM>, the control element <NUM> is configured to extend. The switch <NUM> is arranged in the base plate <NUM>, and the control element <NUM> is configured to extend through the aperture <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> comprising a fastener element <NUM>, which is configured to attaching the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to the base plate <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic cross sectional view along line III - III in <FIG>, with an unbroken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is attached to the fastener element <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> in the base plate <NUM> is occupied by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly. The control element <NUM> is configured to be pushed by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to a first position when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> extends into the guide path <NUM>. The control element <NUM> according to <FIG> is a pin <NUM>, comprising a helical spring element <NUM> having a spring force configured to be exceeded by a force from the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> when the pin <NUM> is pushed to the first position. When the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly, the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> will abut against the pin <NUM> and push the pin <NUM> to the first position. As long the pin <NUM> is in the first position, the switch <NUM> will not be actuated. The switch <NUM> may be an electrical micro switch. The switch <NUM> is arranged in a space <NUM> of the base plate <NUM>. The guide path <NUM> comprises a circular extension <NUM>. The circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM> results in that the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> smoothly will follow the circular extension <NUM> and occupy the guide path <NUM> when the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> is tensioned and works correctly. The aperture <NUM> is arranged in the circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM>. Since the lift cable smoothly will follow the circular extension <NUM> of the guide path <NUM>, the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> will abut firmly against the pin <NUM>, which is configured to extend through the aperture <NUM>. Signal cables <NUM> of the circuit <NUM> are connected to the switch <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a schematic cross sectional view along line III - III in <FIG>, with a broken lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The pin <NUM> has been released by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> to a second position in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is configured to actuate the switch <NUM> when the pin <NUM> has been moved to the second position and released pin <NUM> on the switch <NUM>. The pin <NUM> has been moved to the second position by the spring element <NUM>. The lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> have left the guide path <NUM> and simultaneously released the pin <NUM> and thus actuated the switch <NUM>. When the switch <NUM> is actuated, signals to the circuit <NUM> is initiated for stopping the motor <NUM>.

<FIG> is illustrates a flow chart of a method, performed by a control device <NUM>, for stopping a vertical moving door <NUM> of a vertical moving door system <NUM>, the vertical moving door system <NUM> comprising: at least two lift cables <NUM>, <NUM>, a motor <NUM> and at least two corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM>, the at least two corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> each comprising: a base plate <NUM> configured to be attached to the door <NUM>; a guide path <NUM> for a lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in the base plate <NUM>; and a switch <NUM> is arranged in the base plate <NUM> and configured to be actuated by the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM> in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>, wherein the respective at least two lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the motor <NUM> and to the at least two corner brackets <NUM>, <NUM> and wherein the motor <NUM> is configured to move the vertical moving door <NUM> by the at least two lift cables <NUM>, <NUM> between an open and closed position O, C.

The method comprises the steps of: receiving s101 a signal from the switch <NUM> in the event of a breakage of the lift cable <NUM>, <NUM>, and controlling s102 the motor <NUM> to stop the movement of the vertical moving door <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram of a version of a device <NUM>. The control device <NUM>, performing the method, may in a version comprise the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> comprises a non-volatile memory <NUM>, a data processing unit <NUM> and a read/write memory <NUM>. The non-volatile memory <NUM> has a first memory element <NUM> in which a computer programme, e.g. an operating system, is stored for controlling the function of the device <NUM>. The device <NUM> further comprises a bus controller, a serial communication port, I/O means, an A/D converter, a time and date input and transfer unit, an event counter and an interruption controller (not depicted). The non-volatile memory <NUM> has also a second memory element <NUM>.

There is provided a computer programme P which comprises routines for performing the safety method. The programme P may be stored in an executable form or in a compressed form in a memory <NUM> and/or in a read/write memory <NUM>.

Where the data processing unit <NUM> is described as performing a certain function, it means that the data processing unit <NUM> effects a certain part of the programme stored in the memory <NUM> or a certain part of the programme stored in the read/write memory <NUM>.

The data processing device <NUM> can communicate with a data port <NUM> via a data bus <NUM>. The non-volatile memory <NUM> is intended for communication with the data processing unit <NUM> via a data bus <NUM>. The separate memory <NUM> is intended to communicate with the data processing unit <NUM> via a data bus <NUM>. The read/write memory <NUM> is adapted to communicating with the data processing unit <NUM> via a data bus <NUM>.

When data are received on the data port <NUM>, they are stored temporarily in the second memory element <NUM>. When input data received have been temporarily stored, the data processing unit <NUM> is prepared to effect code execution as described above.

Parts of the methods herein described may be effected by the device <NUM> by means of the data processing unit <NUM> which runs the programme stored in the memory <NUM> or the read/write memory <NUM>. When the device <NUM> runs the programme, methods herein described are executed.

Claim 1:
A corner bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>) for a vertical moving door (<NUM>), the corner bracket (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a base plate (<NUM>) configured to be attached to the door (<NUM>); and
a guide path (<NUM>) for a lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) arranged in the base plate (<NUM>); wherein:
a switch (<NUM>) is arranged in the base plate (<NUM>) and configured to be actuated by the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the event of a breakage of the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein the switch is configured to transmit a signal to a control device (<NUM>) to stop a motor (<NUM>) in the event of a breakage of the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>), said motor (<NUM>) being configured to wind up and unwind the lift cable on a cable drum (<NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein a control element (<NUM>) is configured to be controlled by the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein:
the control element (<NUM>) is configured to be pushed by the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a first position when the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) extends into the guide path (<NUM>),
the control element (<NUM>) is configured to be released by the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) to a second position in the event of a breakage of the lift cable (<NUM>, <NUM>), and
the control element (<NUM>) is configured to actuate the switch (<NUM>) when the control element (<NUM>) has been moved to the second position, characterised in that the control element (<NUM>) is arranged in the guide path (<NUM>) and in that the guide path (<NUM>) comprises an aperture (<NUM>), through which aperture (<NUM>) the control element (<NUM>) is configured to extend.