Patent ID: 12252924

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An example of a door operating system100and a sliding door assembly200will be described in the following. With reference toFIG.1, a sliding door assembly comprises a sliding door leaf101, sliding door rail110, and a door operating system100for operating the sliding door leaf101. The door operating system100comprises a drive unit112for driving the sliding door leaf101. The sliding door leaf101is driven by the drive unit112along the sliding door rail110which is fixed relative a door frame102.

The sliding door leaf101is slidingly connected to the sliding door rail110for example by means of at least one wagon130. The wagon130is preferably engaging with the sliding door rail110via at least one low friction wheel allowing the sliding door leaf101to move into a closed and open position along the horizontal sliding door rail110.

Further referring toFIG.1, the door operating system100may comprise the drive unit112, which may be of any conventional type. Typically, the drive unit112comprises an electric motor and a reduction gearing providing the necessary torque to move the sliding door leaf101between the open and closed position. According to the present example, a belt drive arrangement connects the drive unit112with the wagon130, which works as a drive member. Advantageously, the drive unit112is adapted to be connected to the door frame102of the sliding door assembly, or even mounted within the interior of the upper part of the door frame110. The door operating system100may thus be mounted to a support structure99of the sliding door assembly200.

The door operating system100may comprise a belt drive system970. The belt drive system comprises a belt wheel176, an additional belt wheel175and a belt171. The belt171connects the belt wheel176and the additional belt wheel175for torque transfer between said belt wheel176and the additional belt wheel175. The belt drive system970is configured to be driven by the drive unit112. The belt176may be defined as a first belt wheel, whereby the additional belt wheel175may be defined as a second belt wheel175.

The wagon130is connected to the belt171for transfer of torque from the belt drive system970to the sliding door leaf101. Hence, the belt171is configured to be mounted to the sliding door leaf101.

The belt171is preferably a synchronous endless drive belt extending between the belt wheel176and the additional belt wheel175. In one embodiment, the additional belt wheel175is directly driven by the drive member112and the second belt wheel176is rotationally supported by a console108being fixed to the door frame102. The belt wheel176and the additional belt wheel175may be cogged wheels. The drive belt171may accordingly be a cogged belt.

Typically, the door frame102comprises the support structure99. The support structure99may be a top beam. The top beam may extend above the sliding door leaf101. The belt tensioning system170as well as the door operating system100may be mounted to said top beam99.

Accordingly, the belt wheel176and the additional belt wheel175are rotatably coupled to the top beam99. In most cases, the top beam99and the belt171are made of different materials. For example, the top beam99may be in aluminum and the belt171is often in a material at least comprising steel, i.e. a steel-reinforced material. Thus, if the sliding door assembly is subjected to changes in temperature, the difference in thermal expansion properties between the top beam99and the belt171will cause the belt171to loose tension due to the top beam99and the belt171expanding differently.

According to the invention, this may be addressed by means of having the belt wheel176comprised in a belt tensioning system, which will be further described with reference toFIG.2-4.

FIG.2depicts a front view of the belt tensioning system170for tensioning the belt171of the belt drive system described with reference toFIG.1.

The belt tensioning system170comprises the belt wheel176. The belt wheel176is connectable to the belt and the additional belt wheel of belt drive system described with reference toFIG.1.

The belt tensioning system170comprises a belt wheel guiding arrangement330. The belt wheel176is movably connected to the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Hence, the belt wheel guiding arrangement330is arranged to accommodate adjustment of the position of the belt wheel176relative said belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Worded differently, the belt wheel guiding arrangement330is arranged to accommodate adjustment of the belt wheel176relative the additional belt wheel175

Further, the belt tensioning system170comprises a belt tension arrangement470for adjusting the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330(and the additional belt wheel175). The belt tension arrangement470operatively connects the belt wheel176and the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Accordingly, the belt tensioning arrangement470is arranged between the belt wheel176and the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

The belt tensioning arrangement comprises an engagement member340and a tensioning member370. The engagement member340comprises an eccentric cam structure341. The tensioning member370is arranged to engage said eccentric cam structure341of the engagement member340. Thus, the tensioning member370is arranged to be in contact with said eccentric cam structure341.

The engagement member340and the tensioning member370are adjustable relative to each other to adjust the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Thus, the point(s) of engagement between the engagement member340and the tensioning member370on the eccentric cam structure341is adjustable such that relative adjusting of the tensioning member370and the engagement member340causes adjustment of the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement339. Accordingly, the engagement member340and the tensioning member370may be selectively movable relative to each other.

The belt tensioning system according to the above may thus be operated in a user friendly manner simply by adjusting the belt tensioning arrangement compared to a conventional belt tensioning system where the user have to use particular tools and follow a hard to interpret scale in order to set the correct tension by means of incremental turning of multiple adjustment screws. The tensioning system according to the invention may simplify this process by enabling usage of a suitable eccentric cam structure guiding the user to the correct tension.

The tensioning of the belt171may be achieved by rotation of the engagement member340due to the tensioning member engaging the eccentric cam structure341. The rotation of the engagement member340causes the belt wheel176to move relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Hence, the engagement member340is adjustable relative the tensioning member370by means of rotation of said engagement member340. In one embodiment, the eccentric cam structure341is formed by an eccentric disc347. In one embodiment, the engagement member340is adjustable relative the tensioning member370by means of rotation of said eccentric disc347.

As is recognizable by the skilled person, the positioning of the engagement member and the tensioning member may be possible to alter. In one embodiment, the engagement member340is operatively connected to the belt wheel176and the tensioning member370is operatively connected to the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Thus, the engagement member340may be mounted to the belt wheel176. The belt wheel176may be rotatable relative said engagement member340. This allows for a less complex and more intuitive to use belt tensioning system. However, in an alternative embodiment, the tensioning member370may be operatively connected to the belt wheel176while the engagement member is operatively connected to the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

The belt tension system170may comprise a mounting portion320. The mounting portion320is arranged to be mounted to a support structure99of the sliding door assembly200(shown inFIG.1). The mounting portion320may be arranged to be mounted to the support structure by means of fastening elements321.

The belt wheel guiding arrangement330is fix relative a support structure of the sliding door assembly. The belt wheel guiding arrangement330may be connected to, e.g. fix to, the mounting portion320. Thus, the belt wheel guiding arrangement330may be arranged to be mounted to the support structure99by means of the mounting portion320.

The belt wheel guiding arrangement390is arranged to allow movement of the belt wheel176along a tensioning axis A. The tensioning axis A extends parallel with the belt.

In one embodiment, the belt tensioning system comprises a first plate element373. The first plate element is connected to the mounting portion320. The first plate element373extends along the tensioning axis A. The first plate element373may comprise the belt wheel guiding arrangement390.

In one embodiment, the belt tensioning system170may further comprise a fixating member310. The fixating member310is adapted to releasably fixate the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Thus, once the position of the belt wheel176has been adjusted, the belt wheel176may be fixated in the adjusted position relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. In order to allow for adjustment, the fixating member may be released. Releasable may herein refer to disengageable, i.e. arranged to be in an engaged position and a disengaged position.

The fixating member310may be arranged to releasably fixate the engagement member340relative the tensioning member370. Thus, the fixation of the position of the engagement member and the securing of the position of the belt wheel may be performed in one operation, allowing for a more user-friendly and time efficient belt tensioning system. In one embodiment, the fixating member310may be arranged to releasably fixate the engagement member340to belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

The fixating member310will later be further described with reference toFIG.3.

Further referencingFIG.2, the tensioning member370may be biased against the engagement member340. This ensures that the engagement between the engagement member and the tensioning member is maintained. Further, it allows for adjusting of the tension in the belt without manually setting up the tensioning member relative the engagement member each time. Accordingly, the tensioning member370is adjustable relative the engagement member340at least by means of being biased against said engagement member340.

Biased against herein refers to the tensioning member370being spring-loaded to exert a contact force onto the eccentric cam surface341of the engagement member340.

The tensioning member370may comprise a tensioning element375. The tensioning element375may be an elongated element such as a screw.

A first end376of said tensioning element may be arranged to engage the engagement member340.

The belt tensioning system170may further comprise a tensioning guide arrangement390. The tensioning guide arrangement390is adapted to guide movement of the tensioning element375relative the engagement member340.

The tensioning guide arrangement may be fix relative the mounting portion320. In an alternative embodiment, said tensioning guide arrangement may be arranged to be directly fixated to the support structure of the sliding door assembly.

In one embodiment, the tensioning element375may be connected to the tensioning guide arrangement390by means of a spring374. Said spring374being arranged to bias the tensioning element375against the engagement member340. A first end of the spring374may be connected to the first end376of the tensioning element375. A second end of the spring374may be connected to the tensioning guide arrangement390.

The tensioning element375may extend along the tensioning axis A. The tensioning element375may be movable along said tensioning axis A. The spring374may be coaxial to said tensioning element375. The tensioning axis A may be aligned with the eccentric cam structure341of the engagement member340such that the tensioning element375engages the eccentric cam structure341. Accordingly, the eccentric outer surface of the eccentric cam structure341may extend orthogonally to the tensioning axis A.

The tensioning element375may comprise a second end377. Said second end377is opposite to the first end376. The second end377may be a guided by means of the tensioning guide arrangement390. The second end377may be a free end of the tensioning element375.

As depicted inFIG.1, the belt tensioning system170may further comprise a tensioning indicating arrangement410. The tensioning indicating arrangement410is intended for providing an indication on the tension of the belt to a user.

Accordingly, the tension indicating arrangement410is arranged to indicate at least one predefined position of a reference point414of the tensioning element375relative the engagement member340. Each of the at least one predefined position is associated with a corresponding position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

The reference point may be the second end377or an arbitrary chosen point along the tensioning element375. By using the tension indicating arrangement, the service personnel is directly informed regarding suitable positions of the belt wheel. Said suitable positions may be chosen to accommodate for different tensions of the belt. The service personnel may thus adjust the engagement member and the tensioning member according to a predefined position of the reference point of the tensioning element indicated by the tensioning indicating arrangement.

The tensioning indicating arrangement may comprise a set of indicators of predefined positions along the tensioning axis A. Said set of indicators may comprise a scale with markings411,412,413indicating said predefined positions.

The tensioning indicating arrangement may be positioned proximal to the tensioning element375. In one embodiment, the tensioning indicating arrangement is positioned on the tensioning guide arrangement390or the mounting portion320. Preferably however, the tensioning indicating arrangement410is positioned on the first plate element373, preferably proximal to the tensioning member370.

The tensioning member370may comprise an adjustment element379adapted to adjust the biasing of said tensioning member370, i.e. adjusting tension of the spring374. Thus, the force which the tensioning member is engaging the engagement member may be adjusted by means of said adjustment element. This allows for a more robust and reliable belt tensioning system less susceptible to wear or failure due to the engagement member and the tensioning member coming out of engagement.

The adjustment element379may be arranged adjacent to an adjustment flange391of the tensioning guide arrangement. The adjustment flange391comprises an aperture for movably receiving the tensioning element375.

In one embodiment, the spring374is mounted to the adjustment flange391and the first end376of the tensioning element375. In one embodiment, the tensioning element375comprises a threaded portion, whereby the adjustment element379is mounted to said threaded portion for adjusting the tension of the spring374relative the adjustment flange391. The adjustment element379may be a nut.

The tensioning element375may comprise a head portion. The first end376may be said head portion. The head portion may protrude radially from the tensioning axis A relative an intermediate portion of the tensioning member375to prevent passage of the first end through the aperture of the adjustment flange391.

In one embodiment, the tensioning guide arrangement390may comprise a stop flange392. Said stop flange392may comprise an aperture for movably receiving the tensioning member375. The stop flange392is arranged along the tensioning axis A distant from the engagement member340relative the adjustment flange391. The tensioning member370may comprise a stop element378. The stop element378may protrude radially from the tensioning axis A relative the tensioning member375to prevent passage of the tensioning member375through the aperture of the stop flange392beyond said stop element378.

In one embodiment, the stop element378is mounted to the threaded portion of the tensioning element375for adjusting the position of the stop element378relative the tensioning element375along the tensioning axis A. The stop element378may be a nut.

In one embodiment, the first plate element373may comprise the tensioning guide arrangement390. The stop flange392and/or the adjustment flange391may accordingly form protruding portions of said first plate element373.

Thus, the tensioning member370is movably connected to said first plate element373. Further, the belt wheel176the belt wheel176may be rotatably and movably connected to said first plate element373by means of the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

As depicted inFIG.2, the belt wheel guiding arrangement330comprises an elongated recess331for receiving a guiding member connected to the belt wheel176for guiding the belt wheel176. The elongated recess may extend along the tensioning axis A. The guiding member may thus extend orthogonally to the tensioning axis A and through the elongated recess331. The belt wheel176is thus movably connected to the elongated recess331by means of said guiding member. The first plate element373may comprise the belt wheel guiding arrangement and said elongated recess331.

The skilled person realizes that the belt wheel guiding arrangement330may be arranged in different manners allowing for guided movement of the belt wheel176. In alternative embodiment, the belt wheel176may be mounted to a movable console slidably connected to a track forming the guide arrangement.

Turning toFIG.3, a cross-section view of a part of the belt tensioning system is depicted. The belt wheel176is rotatable about a belt wheel axis B. The belt wheel axis B extends orthogonally to the tensioning axis A described with reference toFIG.1.

As seen in saidFIG.3, the fixating member310comprises a fixating element311, such as a screw member. The fixating element311may be rotatably coupled to the belt wheel176. The fixating element311may extend through the belt wheel guiding arrangement330and the engagement member340. Upon tightening of the fixating element311, the engagement member340is locked into position and the position of the belt wheel176is fixated relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330. Upon loosening of the fixating element311the engagement member is rotatable relative the fixating element311and the belt wheel176is movable relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

This allows for a less complex tensioning, since the fixating element allows may secure or enable the positioning of both the belt wheel and the engagement member only by one action.

The fixating element311may constitute the guide member guided in the elongated recess331. The elongated recess331may thus be adapted to receive a portion of the fixating element311for guiding the belt wheel176.

The engagement member340may thus comprise a through-hole for receiving the fixating element311. The through-hole may be aligned with the belt wheel axis B.

The fixating element311may extend along the belt wheel axis B. The fixating element311may be rotatably coupled to the belt wheel176by means of a bearing421comprising bearing mounting420adapted to receive said fixating element311. The fixating element311is fixedly connected to the bearing mounting and the bearing421is adapted to allow relative rotation between the fixating element311and the belt wheel176.

The fixating element311may extend through the first plate element373by means of extending through the elongated recess331of the belt wheel guiding arrangement330of said first plate element373. Thus, fixation of the fixating member310fixates the engagement member340to the first plate element373and fixates the positon of the belt wheel176relative the first plate element373.

In one embodiment, the belt tensioning system may further comprise a distance element423arranged between engagement member340and the first plate element373along the belt wheel axis B. This ensures proper alignment between the tensioning member and the engagement member. The fixating element311may extend through said distance element423. The distance element423may be an annular distance element.

ReferencingFIG.4, a top view of the belt tensioning system is depicted. The belt tensioning system170may further comprise a retention heel328. The retention heel328may protrude from the mounting portion320. The retention heel328is arranged to engage a corresponding surface of the sliding door assembly200. This allows for a more stable mounting of the belt tensioning system.

The belt tensioning system may further comprise a second plate element327. The second plate element327may interconnect the first plate element373and the mounting portion320. The second plate element327may extend along the tensioning axis A.

In one embodiment, the second plate element327may be orthogonal to the first plate element373and the mounting portion320. The mounting portion320and the first plate element373may be parallel. Preferably, the mounting portion320and the first plate element373are arranged to be parallel to the at least one sliding door leaf of the sliding door assembly.

In one embodiment, the first and second plate element and the mounting portion may be in aluminum.

According to an aspect, a belt drive system970is provided. The belt drive system970comprises the belt tensioning system170according to any of the previously described embodiments, the belt171and the additional belt wheel175. The belt wheel176of the belt tensioning system170is connected to the additional belt wheel175by means of the belt171.

According to an aspect, a door operating system100is provided. The door operating system100comprises the drive unit112. The door operating system100comprises the belt drive system970for transferring torque from the drive unit112of said door operating system100to a sliding door leaf101of the sliding door assembly200.

According to an aspect, a sliding door assembly200is provided. The sliding door assembly comprises the at least one sliding door leaf101and the door operating system100. The door operating system is adapted to operate said at least one sliding door leaf101.

According to an aspect, a method for adjusting the tension of the belt in a belt drive system970according to the above is provided. The method comprises adjusting the engagement member340and the tensioning member370relative each other to adjust the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330.

The method may further comprise fixating the position of the belt wheel176relative the belt wheel guiding arrangement330by means of the fixating member310.

The method may further comprise fixating the engagement member340relative the tensioning member370by means of the fixating member310.

It should be appreciated that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the description is only illustrative and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the scope of the invention to the full extent indicated by the appended claims.