This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/DE01/00224, which has an International filing date of Jan. 18, 2001, and which designated the United State of America.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a segmented lifting or folding gate, which is vertically movable and has a plurality of segments. Adjacent segments are pivotable relative to one another at their ends along horizontally extending pivot axes. The folding gate includes a door, which has cases and a door leaf. The door leaf is formed of a plurality of door leaf segments, which are pivotable relative to one another and whose pivot axes extend coaxially to the pivot axes of the gate segments. The door leaf or the case is provided with at least one opening, at least one sliding bolt being displaceable axially, horizontally in the main plane of the door, and the sliding bolt engaging in the opening when the door is closed.
2. Description of the Background Art
Segmented lifting or folding gates have been known for a long time and are usually formed of lamellar, essentially rectangular plate-shaped segments, two vertically adjacent segments extending along a common, horizontal pivot axis, which extends parallel to longitudinal sides of the segments, and are pivotable with respect to one another. As a material for the segments, inter alia, light metals such as aluminum are used. A distinction is here made between lifting gates, in which the segments are pivoted essentially through 90° during lifting and when open the gate extends parallel to the ceiling; and folding gates, in which the adjacent segments are folded together in the manner of a concertina during opening in order to be able to close large-area openings in buildings, for example garage gates or industrial gates, without using rigid gate wings which swing out to an extended amount.
To allow passage of the gates for an individual person, without the need to open the entire gate, it is known to integrate doors in these gates, the door leaf also being composed of a plurality of segments which are pivotable relative to one another, and the pivot axes of these door leaf segments extend coaxially to the above-described pivot axes. To increase the stability of the construction, the door is installed in a door frame having vertically and horizontally extending cases. It should be possible to use these doors as escape doors, for example in the event of a fire, if the gate cannot be opened in a conventional manner. Such gates are disclosed in EP-A-0 936 339 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,723, which have cases or thresholds extending on the underside of the gate in the region of the door, individual segments of the door being in connection with the gate via horizontally extending sliding bolts. DE-A-3835055 finally is the only one to show a door integrated into the gate.
A disadvantage in the case of the gates known hitherto, with an integrated door, can be seen in the fact that, on the underside of the doors, a horizontally extending case or threshold is always arranged, which, particularly in emergencies, when rapid departure from the building is necessary, represents a trip threshold, over which persons can fall and injure themselves, or the evacuation of the building is delayed. This threshold has so far been regarded as indispensable, since on one hand it serves to provide the entire gate construction with sufficient stability when the gate is closed and on the other hand prevents a torsion of the floor section perpendicular to the main plane of the gate when the gate is opened. With interlocking contact of the door leaf, this stable door frame surrounding the door opening also prevents the pivotable segments of the door leaf moving relative to the gate. This threshold is also the reason why such doors are not approved as an escape route.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lifting or folding gate with a door such that the horizontally extending floor threshold below the door leaf can be eliminated without affecting the constructional stability of the gate, and a torsion of the gate segments or a relative movement of the door leaf with respect to the gate does not occur during opening.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the door leaf extends to the floor when the gate is closed, and the sliding bolt is arranged in the floor region of the case.
The gist of the invention is in the fact that the door leaf is fixed, by at least one sliding bolt and at least one co-moving locking element, relative to the case and thereby relative to the gate. The sliding bolt is displaceable axially, that is to say along its longitudinal axis, extending in a horizontal direction in the main plane of the gate. It may be arranged either in the door leaf or in the case surrounding the door. For fixing, an opening is provided in the case or in the door leaf, which corresponds to the displaceable sliding bolt, that is to say its depth and/or its diameter is matched to the dimensions of the sliding bolt. For locking the door leaf when closed, the sliding bolt, which is arranged in the floor region of the door leaf or of the case, is displaced axially, and thereby engaged in the opening, and a movement of the door leaf, or of the floor segment perpendicular to the main plane of the door is prevented. To this end, the sliding bolt is, in an ideal case, arranged on the side of the door leaf opposite the door hinges, on which the door handle and lock are disposed.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that the door leaf extends to the floor when the gate is closed, the door leaf or the case is provided with at least one opening, at least one sliding bolt is arranged axially in the floor region of the case or of the door leaf, so as to be horizontally displaceable in the main plane of the gate, and the sliding bolt engages in the opening when the door is closed.
The invention further provides that the door leaf is fixed by at least one sliding bolt and at least one co-moving locking element relative to the case and thereby relative to the gate. The sliding bolt is displaceable axially, that is to say along its longitudinal axis, extending in a horizontal direction in the main plane of the gate. It may be arranged either in the door leaf or in the case surrounding the door. For fixing, an opening is provided in the case or in the door leaf, which corresponds to the displaceable sliding bolt, that is to say its depth and/or its diameter is matched to the dimensions of the sliding bolt. For locking the door leaf when closed, the sliding bolt, which is arranged in the floor region of the door leaf or of the case, is displaced axially, and thereby engaged in the opening, and a movement of the door leaf, or of the floor segment perpendicular to the main plane of the door is prevented. To this end, the sliding bolt is in an ideal case arranged on the side of the door leaf opposite the door hinges, on which the door handle and lock are disposed.
An advantage of the invention is that, by virtue of the extension of the door leaf to the floor, that is to say the lack of a potential trip obstacle in the form of a door threshold, this door can be used as an escape route. In addition, on lifting of the gate, at least the floor segment of the door leaf is fixed relative to the surrounding gate section, and thereby a torsion of the gate, or a relative movement of the door leaf with respect to the gate is prevented.
An advantageous further embodiment of the invention is in the sliding bolt, during displacement into the opening, pressing or pushing a locking element (for example, a pawl) sidewards, the latter, with an end formed as a detent, catching behind the edge of a retaining plate, also described as an abutment, on the door or gate segment, and engaging. By the pivoting and subsequent engagement of the locking element, movement of the door leaf or at least of its floor segment in the main plane of the gate itself is prevented.
If the sliding bolt is arranged in the door leaf and the associated opening in the case, then the locking element must also be located in the case and engages behind the retaining plate, which is then mounted on the door leaf.
Advantageously the door leaf and the cases surrounding the door are each equipped with a plurality of the above-described sliding bolts and locking elements. The door leaf can thereby be fixed at multiple points, and in particular with a door leaf composed of a plurality of segments, the sliding bolts and locking elements can be arranged in the lateral lower and/or upper edge regions of the door to avoid a relative movement of the individual door leaf segments.
It is proposed to dispose the axially displaceable sliding bolts in the case and the thereto corresponding openings in the door leaf. In this embodiment it is possible also to accommodate the below-described drive of the sliding bolts on or in the region of the cases, that is to say in the gate.
Alternatively thereto, the sliding bolts can also be disposed in the door leaf and the openings in the case. The energy supply, for example an electrical lead for an electrical bolt drive, can thereby be guided in an appropriate manner, for example with flexible cables, from the gate into the door leaf.
For driving the sliding bolts, it is proposed that they are movable electromagnetically, for example, via electrical servomotors or with magnetic switches, hydraulically or pneumatically by, for example, hydraulic or pneumatic systems known to the person skilled in the art. Mechanical movement of the sliding bolt may take place, for example, in the manner of a snap lock used in conventional doors, that is to say the sliding bolt is moved by spring force and engaged in the opening. To this end the tip of the sliding bolt may also be rounded in a hemispherical manner to permit engagement and disengagement out of the opening. Furthermore, it is known to the person skilled in the art to provide any arbitrary mechanical device, which locks the sliding bolt in the closed position as soon as the door lifted.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is that a vertical arrangement, on the underside of the door leaf, further bolts in the main plane of the gate, which are possibly displaceable and, when the gate is closed, can engage in the corresponding opening in the floor. An additional displacement, which may be desirable or required for security considerations, of the bolts can also be implemented in the above-described manner. In both embodiments, the bolts initially serve to stabilize the door when closed, that is to say that a movement of the gate and of the door perpendicular to its main plane is prevented. Such a movement, for example under the influence of a strong wind pressure, would in the long term lead to damage of the gate. The additional displaceability of the bolts by, for example, a drive, particularly in the region of the door serves as additional securing against unauthorized use.
Advantageously the length of the bolts is three to eight times that of the bolt diameter. With a suitable choice of material, in particular metal or stainless steel, bolts with such dimensions can receive a maximum flexural moment perpendicular to their longitudinal axis without deforming under its effect.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, by at least two of the vertically arranged bolts, the axially displaceable sliding rods, the movement of the sliding bolts can be driven. To this end the upper region of the two sliding rods can be formed as a toothed rack, which on its vertically upward movement, is deflected via gear wheels and a steel strip, and draws the sliding bolt out of the associated opening.
Here the sliding bolt is advantageously moved against a compression spring, which is tensioned by the movement.
Overall, on closing of the gate the sliding bolt is moved back and the door is released. During the opening of the gate, the sliding bolts, driven by the relaxation of the compression springs, spring back into the openings and lock the door.
Simultaneously with this operation the door segments are secured by the locking elements, which engage behind the retaining plates as described above.
Overall, by these jointly acting devices, the door is locked when the gate is opened and released for use after it is closed.
To increase the reliability of use of the gate, it is proposed that, at the lower edge of the gate, an electromagnetic safety strip, which is known per se, is arranged, with which a strip-shaped transmitter can be moved in a vertical direction against a spring force.
If, on closing of the gate, an object or a person is located below the gate, the contact strip is moved relatively to the gate by the resistance of the object, and an electrical contact is made, which is connected to an automatic cut-off for the gate drive. Advantageously, the safety strip is of three-part design, that is to say that a strip is mounted to the left and right of the gate and on the door at the bottom edge in each case. Here, the person skilled in the art can advantageously connect the strips to one another in a suitable manner, such that, on tripping even of only one strip, the automatic cut-off responds and the gate drive cuts off. Safety is thus ensured in the event of obstruction under all three gate parts.
A further advantage is provided by a device with which that part of the safety contact strip mounted on the lowermost door leaf segment can be vertically pivoted or lifted, because the door can only be opened easily if the contact strip is not lying on the floor.
To lift the contact strip from the floor, a drive can be installed, which is activated when the door is opened, for example even when the door latch is operated.
To allow use of the door also as an escape route, it is equipped with a panic lock known to the person skilled in the art. This permits the opening of even a locked door from the inside, for example by simply pushing down the door latch. By this means, the rapid evacuation of persons from a building is permitted, even when they do hot have a suitable key for the door.
With a drive of the vertically extending bolts provided on the lower edge of the door, it is recommended to actively connect it to the door handle or the door lock. That means that, on operation of the door handle or door lock, for example to open the door, the bolts are displaced synchronously. To open the door, they must be drawn upwards out of the openings in the floor and inserted during closing.
The drive of the bolts may also take place here as described above, and, for example on opening of the doors, an electrical contact may be made, which sets an electrical or magnetic bolt drive into movement. In particular, an active mechanical connection between the bolt and door handle is proposed, which has a rack, the latter being equipped at the level of the door lock with a toothed rack, which engages directly with a toothed quadrant, which is pivoted via the door latch about a horizontal axis. The rack and the sliding bar connected to the bolt should be pivoted relative to one another at the level of the horizontal pivot axis, at which the individual adjacent segments can be pivoted relative to one another, and should also have a coaxial joint to permit the buckling or folding operation on opening of the gate.
To prevent a movement of the door leaf in a horizontal direction in the main plane of the gate, the door leaf and/or the vertical cases are equipped with hook-like devices, which, when the door is closed, catch behind correspondingly formed projections on the cases or door leaf. In particular, these hooks are disposed in the region of the bolts to prevent pulling open of the gap between the door leaf and case, for example during opening.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is to provide a pressure roller, which is mounted on both narrow sides of the gate in the lower region and on closing of the gate runs on a centering or locking curve, which is mounted in the lower region of the gate case. The gate and the door are thereby brought together in the lower region, their position is fixed and the bolts are centered over the openings.
It is therefore achieved that the sliding bolts are introduced with accurate fit into the opening, the locking element being pivoted such that it engages behind the retaining plate and at the same time makes the electrically conducting contact between the individual parts of the safety contact strip.
In order that the goal of a precise centering is achieved, which ensures perfect functioning of the locking mechanism, the height of the centering or locking curve is advantageously designed so as to be variably settable, so that it can be adjusted at any time.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. 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, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
The exemplary embodiment shown in
At the narrow side of the gate, the pressure rollers (17) are mounted, which, during closing of the gate run along a centering or locking curve (18) to center the gate. During opening of the gate, they run in the upper region of the gate case on rails (19) or freely.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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100 02 980 | Jan 2000 | DE | national |
100 37 329 | Jul 2000 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/DE01/00224 | 1/18/2001 | WO | 00 | 11/7/2002 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO01/55543 | 8/2/2001 | WO | A |
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1549714 | Bretos et al. | Aug 1925 | A |
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3022817 | Cafardi | Feb 1962 | A |
4120072 | Hormann | Oct 1978 | A |
4383569 | Labelle | May 1983 | A |
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4745708 | Roche | May 1988 | A |
5577541 | McKeon | Nov 1996 | A |
5673740 | Park | Oct 1997 | A |
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6227278 | Forsland | May 2001 | B1 |
6338693 | Scholten et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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528 030 | Jan 1957 | BE |
38 35 055 | Apr 1990 | DE |
0 936 339 | Aug 1999 | EP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20030141023 A1 | Jul 2003 | US |