1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door operator for operating a swing leaf of a door assembly, wherein the door operator is configured to be mounted at a reception body such as a door transom, a wall, or the like, and has a connector module for connecting at least one connecting line.
2. Prior Art
Door operators are known, which are electro-mechanic or electro-hydraulic door operators and require a power supply via at least one external connecting line. Furthermore, external connecting lines may include various signal lines to connect the door operator to a central control, which is provided outside the door operator, for example in a building. Further connecting lines may include the junction link to sensors which are likewise provided outside the door operator at the door assembly. With the intention to reduce the multiplicity of variants of current door operators and to have standardized door operators qualify for more flexible mounting, solutions are necessary to provide door operators which, despite a uniform configuration, allow for most diverse mounting situations.
In particular door operators are in demand, which, in the shipping condition, are structured that a mechanic only needs to perform simple modifications during the installation on-site, to adapt the standardized door operator to the most diverse mounting situations and application possibilities. In this case, particular requirements relate to the configuration of the connector module which represents the interface of the door operator to external devices.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a door operator which is configured for flexible mounting in various mounting situations.
According to one embodiment of the invention the connector module, from the direction of the reception body and from at least one lateral direction, has at least one opening, through which the connecting lines can be optionally guided to the connector module.
According to one embodiment of the invention the connector module further increases the flexibility with regard to mounting the door operator in various mounting situations. In particular in the case of a wall mounting or when mounting the door operator at the door transom, an electrical connecting line may be already pre-installed such that the connecting line is led out of the wall or out of the door transom at a suitable location. If the connector module has an opening pointing into the direction of the reception body, the connecting line may be guided through this opening in order to constitute the supply connection or signal connection on the inside of the connector module.
However, if a connecting line is run in the direction towards the door operator on the outside on the reception body, the opening in the connector module pointing to the lateral direction is utilized. In particular at first the door operator can be mounted and subsequently the connecting line can be affixed. In this case, the opening in the lateral direction can be utilized. In particular the power supply can be guided through the opening from the direction of the reception body, whereas the connecting lines for the signal supply can be guided through the opening in the lateral direction. This creates a very flexible and variable mounting for a standardized door operator, wherein it is very often possible to decide only on-site during installation which connection type will be utilized to connect the door operator.
Preferably, at least one terminal connector component is accommodated in the connector module to establish an electrical connection for the connecting line. The terminal connector component serves to connect the power supply, wherein the door operator may comprise a mounting plate such that the terminal connector component is mechanically accommodated on the mounting plate. The terminal connector component may have latching projections for its reception on the mounting plate, which latch into insert recesses, which are provided in the mounting plate. For further simplifying the connection between the connecting line and the terminal connector component, the terminal connector component may have unlocking push buttons which can be manually operated. When operating the unlocking push buttons, the connecting line can be inserted into associated connecting terminals. The unlocking push buttons of the terminal connector component may be configured as spring-loaded such that, once the operation of the unlocking push buttons is terminated; the connecting line is firmly received in the terminal connector component.
Preferably, the unlocking push buttons are configured in a way that the connecting lines can be simply inserted into the terminal connector component without having to be operated separately and are retained in the terminal connector component at least in the pull-out direction, which simplifies the connecting procedure.
Furthermore, at least one distributor circuit board, which allows for a variable voltage supply distribution to at least one power supply unit provided in the door operator, may be accommodated in the connector module.
A connecting bridge line may be provided between the connector module and the distributor circuit board. This allows for establishing an electrical connection between the terminal connector component and the distributor circuit board.
The distributor circuit board may comprise a number of connecting sockets into which the associated connecting plugs are insertable. The connecting sockets of the distributor circuit board may comprise a first connecting socket for connecting to the terminal connector component, wherein another connecting socket for connecting to the power supply unit may be provided within the door operator. Furthermore, a third connecting socket for connecting another door operator provided on the distributor circuit board such that, in case of a double-leaf door, only one connecting line can supply two door operators. Furthermore, an ON-OFF switch may be provided on the distributor circuit board in order to manually switch the door operator on and off. For this purpose, the distributor circuit board can be accommodated in the connector module in such a way that at least the ON-OFF switch extends in the direction towards an outside of the connector module.
According to one embodiment of the door operator, the connector module may be positioned on the mounting plate via pilot pins and preferably be self-retainingly accommodated. In this case, the self-retaining reception concerns the reception of the door operator on the mounting plate in an intermediate mounting step. The mechanic may affix the modules of the door operator, comprising the connector module, in a precise position on the mounting plate via the pilot pins. In the following, it is not required to manually hold the door operator on the mounting plate such that the mechanic can effect the final screw connection between the door operator and the mounting plate in a simplified manner. The door operator may consist in particular of individual modules, wherein the connector module is one of the modules forming the door operator.
It is furthermore preferred the connector module be configured such as to protrude beyond the mounting plate in lateral direction. This results in the advantage of creating a free access for the connecting line from the direction of the reception body, i.e. from the direction of the mounting plate, to the terminal connector component. The mounting plate may be configured as a flat oblong sheet metal component, wherein the direction of extension of the sheet metal component corresponds to the longitudinal extension of the door operator. If the mounting plate is correspondingly shorter, it will terminate within the connector module and the terminal connector component can be mounted onto the mounting plate at the end side. For example, if the connecting line penetrates the reception body in the area between the end of the mounting plate and the end of the body of the connector module, establishing the connection between the connecting line and the terminal connector component is particularly simple. The connector module has in particular an inner compartment which offers sufficient storage space for excess cable length.
To create a mechanical reception for the connecting line in the door operator, at least one cable relief may be provided at the connector module. The cable relief may be formed in particular by a clamping element which is inserted into a clamping element reception at the connector module. The clamping element reception forms a type of insert by two lateral rails, into which the clamping element can be inserted. If the connecting line is guided through the clamping element, the latter may be finally screwed to the connector module, whereby the connecting line is simultaneously clamped. A cable relief is thereby created, wherein, when a mechanical tensile load on the connecting line occurs, the clamping element absorbs the force and the electrical connection between the connecting line and the terminal connector component is not under load. The cable relief is mounted at the underside in a vertical direction at the connector module and serves as a cable relief for a connecting line which is guided to the connector module via the lateral direction.
Furthermore, a cable relief element may be provided disposed at the terminal connector component. The cable relief element may have a U-shaped section for being positively inserted into the terminal connector component, which is adjoined by a T- or H-shaped section serving as a clamping lacing to the connecting bridge line and/or the connecting line. The connecting bridge line and/or the connecting line may be tied to the T- or H-shaped section of the cable relief element via a cable tie.
In its geometric configuration, the inventive connector module forms a shell or a basket, which is configured to form cavities and to have thin walls and is manufactured for example in a plastic material injection moulding process, from thermosetting plastic, in a deep-drawing process or in a metal die-casting process, The plastic material configuration has the advantage that the connector module is electrically insulated. In particular a frame to be inserted or to be clipped on the distributor circuit board may be provided at the connector module in a holding manner. In a conceptual form, the shell-like or basket-like shape of the connector module is a cube, which represents an end-side section of the cuboid door operator.
The door operator comprises a signal connecting circuit board, which serves in particular to connect the connecting lines which are required between the door operator and external sensors or an external control for example. The signal connecting circuit board may be clipped at the top side on the connector module by associated latching elements to be received and retained thereon. Advantageously the signal connecting circuit board is configured in a U-shape or horseshoe-shape. The central section, formed by the U-shape or the horseshoe-shape, corresponds to a top side opening within the basket-shaped connector module. If the signal lines are run through the opening from the direction of the reception body or through the opening from the lateral direction into the inner compartment of the connector module, the corresponding connecting lines can be connected to associated connecting terminals fitted on the signal connecting circuit board. As a consequence, the connecting lines can be led to the connecting terminals in a simple manner through the top side opening. The connecting terminals may comprise screw terminals, which are easily accessible for a mechanic, because they point to the top, i.e. from the mounting plate in the direction towards the connector module and consequently, if the connector module is already installed, they are easy to manipulate.
It is furthermore intended the connector module has a support area for supporting the signal connecting circuit board, wherein a partial area of the support area is configured at a support part which is foldably disposed at the connector module. Prior to clipping the signal connecting circuit board on the connector module, the support part may be folded-open, in order to establish the connections to the terminal connector component for example, which are provided on the lower side. Furthermore, the distributor circuit board may be slid in the inserting frame or clipping frame below the support part. If subsequently the support part is folded and latched, such that the partial surface forms one plane with the remaining support surface of the signal connecting circuit board, the inserting frame or clipping frame is closed in such a way that the distributor circuit board is firmly inserted in the connector module.
To further extend the signal links, which are led into the door operator via the connecting terminals on the signal connecting circuit board by the external connecting lines, a flat cable may be provided that leads the signal links towards a control unit within the door operator. In this case, the flat cable can be run above the individual modules forming the door operator. According to an advantageous further development of the connector module, at least one cable guide is located on the top side, in order to establish a predetermined path for the flat cable within the door operator.
In addition to the connector module, the door operator may have a drive module or a main module, which comprises a drive unit. The unit can be mechanically and self-retainingly connected to the connector module via at least one slip-on projection, wherein at least one slip-on recess, which is complementary to the slip-on projection, is provided at the connector module, into which the slip-on projection can be inserted. Furthermore, the connector module may be self-retainingly connected to the drive unit by a latching device which comprises at least one latching projection. As a consequence, at least the connector module can form a mechanical unit with the main module or the drive module, the mechanic is then able to handle this unit individually and to place it onto the mounting plate.
It may be furthermore provided that the drive unit has a shaft passage for a door operator output shaft to pass therethrough. The door operator output shaft may exit the drive unit at a first side and/or a second side of the door operator. The connector module may protrude from the drive unit over the area of the shaft passage, wherein a pocket-shaped recess may be provided in the connector module through which the door operator output shaft passes through the walling of the connector module.
Preferably, a first closure element is provided which can be inserted into the recess such as to form a shaft passage for the door operator output shaft in the connector module. If the door operator output shaft is led out of the door operator at the opposite side, a second closure element may be provided which is insertable into the recess in the connector module and completely closes the latter. As a consequence, the second closure element forms a type of blind plug, whereas the first closure element, together with the pocket-like recess, forms a circular passage.
Hereinafter, further measures enhancing the invention will be illustrated in detail in conjunction with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention based on the Figures, in which:
a is a detail view of the cable relief element according to
a and 5b are perspective views of a first and a second embodiment of the cable relief element;
a is a lateral view of both the door operator and the mounting plate, wherein a first and a second closure element are shown, which are optionally insertable into pocket-like recesses provided in the connector module;
b is a modification of the first and second closure element of
The illustrated terminal connector component 5 has latching projections 34 via which the terminal connector component 5 is connected to the mounting plate 8 and is thereby disposed to be at least locked against rotation, in that the latching projections 34 latch in latching recesses 35, which are provided in the mounting plate 8. The mounting plate 8 has furthermore an electrical interconnect point 36 which serves for electrically contacting a grounding contact within the connecting line 2.
In addition or as an alternative, preferably in the shipping condition, the terminal connector component 5 is attached at the mounting plate 8 in a releasable manner, for example by screwing or is permanently attached, for example by riveting.
a is a detailed view of the cable relief 10 according to
Power supply conductors of the here non-illustrated connecting line 2 are, as shown in
As shown in
The connector module 1 has furthermore a support part 19, which forms a partial area 18 for the support of the signal connecting circuit board 16 on the connector module 1 and is illustrated only by way of example in a folded-down form. When mounting the connector module 1 and when establishing the electrical connections, in particular of the power supply, the support part 19 may remain in the opened position to allow for access to the inside of the connector module 1. Once the internal connections are established, and once the distributor circuit board is inserted into the connector module 1, the support part 19 will be folded-up such that the partial area 18 thereof becomes a part of a whole support surface of the signal connecting circuit board 16. As a consequence, during following work on the signal connections via the connecting terminals 33, the high-voltage carrying components are concealed within the connector module 1 by the support part 19. The connector module 1 has furthermore a cable guide 20, which is configured as a support surface and serves for guiding a flat cable which extends between a flat cable connector 40, in the shape of a plug or a socket, and a control unit provided in the door operator, wherein the flat cable is not illustrated in detail in the illustration.
The signal connecting circuit board 16 is preferably configured with visual indicators 48, for example in the shape of LED and/or LCD displays, which display by way of example the operating and/or malfunctioning conditions of the door operator, an upcoming service or the like. With the enclosure in place, the visual indicators 48 are preferably visible from the outside.
a is a lateral view of the connector module 1 with a pocket-shaped recess 26. The pocket-shaped recess 26 is located in a body section of the connector module 1, which section may protrude beyond a drive unit 21 present in the door operator; however not illustrated in
If the output shaft exits on both sides of the drive unit 21, a closure element 27a is preferably mounted at the side of the connector module 1, at which the door leaf is connected for example via an arm assembly. At the opposite side of the connector module 1, preferably a closure element 27b is accordingly fitted on, which covers the shaft passage in the connector module 1.
By removing the closure element 27, the output shaft is accessible, without having to take off an entire covering plate, which is more complicated.
In case of a so-called tandem-solution, in which two door operators are operatively coupled to each other, closure elements 27a are mounted to the door operator, at which both the door leaf and the other door operator are directly connected.
b shows another variant of closure elements 27a, 27b. The closure element 27a is configured similarly to the closure element 27a of
To form a respective output shaft covering, the closure elements 27a, 27b are placed onto the connector module 1 in the direction 49, namely in the direction of the plane of the page in
The closure element 27b is preferably configured according to the ones described above and placed onto the output shaft of the door operator 1 itself. In this case, only fastening elements for the closure element 27a need to be provided.
Advantageously, with the closure element 27a in place, the closure element 27b can be removed from the connector module 1, for example can be pried off. This is advantageous in that the closure element 27b, with the door operator 1 installed and equipped with the enclosure, can be uninstalled at any time, in order to expose or to cover the respective end of the output shaft of the door operator 1. Thereby a mechanic does not have to pay attention beforehand which closure element 27a, 27b he has to place or to remove at what location, prior to installing the door operator 1, which makes the installation more mounting-friendly.
This embodiment has the advantage of being able to utilize more shared components and of being able to choose simpler shapes for specific parts, namely the closure element 27b, and thus of requiring less material.
In both embodiments, the first closure element 27a exposes the respective end of the output shaft of the door operator 1, and thus creates a shaft passage for the output shaft. The second closure element 27b in turn covers the output shaft to the outside.
The invention in its configuration is not limited to the above presented preferred embodiment. On the contrary, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the presented solution, likewise with basically different types of executions. All features and/or advantages including the constructional details, spatial dispositions and process steps, which result from the claims, the description or the drawings, may be essential to the invention, both by themselves and in their most various combinations. In particular the individual components of the connector module 1, as well as related structural components are latched onto the connector module 1. No connecting elements are required to establish the individual connections. The latching relates in particular to the distributor circuit board 6, the signal connecting circuit board 16, as well as to the closure elements 27a and 27b, which can be installed at the connector module 1 essentially without requiring any additional tools. Furthermore, the latching technique is applied to the connector module 1 which latches onto any other component of the door operator, for example the drive unit 21.
Instead of or in addition to the described latching connections, other retaining mechanisms, such as clamping, screwing or the like are possible. The described connecting sockets and connecting plugs may be replaced for example by continuous lines or cables.
The above described slip-on recesses 23 and slip-on projections 24 may be configured such that the drive unit 21 has the slip-on recesses 23 and the connector module the slip-on projections 24.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2007 054 460.1 | Nov 2007 | DE | national |
This is a U.S. national stage of application No. PCT/EP20081009647, filed on 13 Nov. 2008, which claims Priority to the following German, Application Nos.: 10 2007 054 460.1, filed: 13 Nov. 2007; 10 2007 054 462.8, filed: 13 Nov. 2007; 10 2007 054 463.6, filed: 13 Nov. 2007; and 10 2007 054 464.4, filed: 13 Nov. 2007; the contents of which are incorporated here by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP2008/009647 | 11/13/2008 | WO | 00 | 5/13/2010 |