Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/02—Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary
  • E06B9/08—Roll-type closures
  • E06B9/11—Roller shutters
  • E06B9/13—Roller shutters with closing members of one piece, e.g. of corrugated sheet metal
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/56—Operating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures; Spring drums; Tape drums; Counterweighting arrangements therefor
  • E06B9/58—Guiding devices

Definitions

• the invention relates to a flexible shutter device for closing a bay or any type of opening, comprising drive means for moving the flexible flap between an open position and a closed position ;
• the drive means comprise a drum rotatable about its axis, around which the flexible flap is wound in its open position by forming a roll consisting of successive turns which are hooked to each other and from which the flexible flap can be unrolled and pushed to its closed position.
• the device also comprises slides mounted on a fixed support for guiding along the bay of the part of the lateral edge of the unwound flap, the flexible flap comprising substantially incompressible lateral edges projecting with respect to the plane of the lateral edge of the flap and substantially continuous moving in the slides.
• the device according to the invention can for example be used in buildings, or trucks or as cover of pools or boats.
• Devices for closing a bay having a drum around which a flexible flap is wound in its open position are known.
• the shutter is unwound by rotating the drum about its axis, so that the flap down by closing the bay while the side edges of the latter are guided in two guideways or rails extending parallel to each other.
• a thrust force is exerted on the lateral edges of the shutter by means of the turns, which are hooked to each other, in their longitudinal direction, thereby pushing the lateral edges of the shutter to move in the slides.
• the diameter of the roll formed around the drum varies according to the position of the flap, it forms a free space between the upper ends of the slides closest to the drum and the roller. Thus part of the side edges of the flap is not maintained by the slides. Given the flexible nature of the flap, this non-maintained portion of the flap, easily deformable and foldable, can quickly become uncontrollable.
• the progression of the lateral edges of the shutter in the slides can be slowed down (friction due to the wind pressure of up to 160 km / h). These rubs oppose the thrust force exerted on the lateral edges of the flap, by the rotation of the drum. In this case, if the drum continues to be rotated, the flap continues to unfold. In the free space between the roll and the upper edge of the slides, the side edges are no longer maintained and risk when there is pushing on them to form a fold and flambé. The formation of such a fold then prevents any sliding of the flap in the slides. You have to stop the engine and roll up the shutter again to absorb the fold that has formed. In addition, such a fold can degrade the lateral edges of the shutter.
• An object of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages by having a shutter device which is closed in a controlled manner by ensuring that the side edges of the flap do not blaze that is to say do not form a fold between the roller and the upper end of the slides as it unfolds.
• the device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises containment elements to prevent buckling of the lateral edges (2, 3) in their non-maintained part.
• the confinement elements comprise a pressure element making it possible to exert a thrust force on the lateral edges of the flap at the non-maintained portion of the flap extending between a first end of the slideways and the roller, so as to obtain a radial thrust force resultant which permanently applies the lateral edges of the flexible flap, in their non-maintained part, on the pressure element.
• an excess flap is formed between the upper end of the slideways (closest to the drum) and the roller.
• the pressure element ensures that the non-maintained portion of the flap side edges remains in abutment; this avoids fold formation between the roll formed on the drum and the end of the slides closest to the drum.
• the confinement means comprise a rod extending in the extension of the branches before the slides.
• the invention is as described in the dependent claims.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of a flexible shutter device in the closed position
• Fig. 2 shows a side view of the flexible shutter device of Figure 1
• Fig. 3 shows a side section of a shutter device according to the prior art during the unfolding of the flexible flap.
• Fig. 4 shows a side section of the flexible flap device of FIG. 3 in the closed position
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic side section of a slideway in the device of FIG. 3 (prior art).
• Fig. 6 shows a side section of a flexible shutter device, in the open position, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 7 shows a side section of the device of Figure 6 during the unfolding of the flexible flap.
• Fig. 8 shows a side section of the device of FIG. 6 in the closed position.
• Fig. 9 shows a schematic side section of the upper part of a slide according to the invention.
• Fig. 10 shows a section along line X-X of FIG. 9.
• Fig. 11 shows a section along the line XI-XI of FIG.
• Fig. 12 shows a schematic side section of the upper part of a slide of a device according to the invention, in which slides the lateral edges of a flexible flap.
• Fig. It shows a section along line XIII-XIII
• Fig. 12. Fig. It shows a section along line XIV-XIV of the
• Fig. 15 shows a side view of the upper part of a device according to another embodiment of the invention; in the closed position;
• Fig. 16 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 15, the device being in the open position.
• Figs. 17 to 20 are views similar to those of
• Fig. 15 and 16 of two alternative embodiments.
• Figs. 21 and 22 are views similar to those of
• FIG. 15 and 16 of another embodiment shows a section along the line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 22.
• the figures are not drawn to scale. Generally, similar elements are denoted by similar references in the figures.
• the present invention relates to a device with a flexible flap cooperating with drive means, such as a drum whose axis is connected to the shaft of an electric motor.
• the flexible flap moves in downward and upward movement between, respectively, a closed position and an open position, and is intended for closure of a bay in a wall or passage, such as a corridor .
• flexible flap it is appropriate to understand, in the context of the present invention, all flexible planar element such as a tarpaulin, articulated slats, a metal sheet etc., which is provided at its lateral ends with substantially incompressible edges. It is also a component that can be wound around a drum whose axis is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the flap during opening of the latter.
• the shutter device is shown schematically in the closed position.
• This device comprises a flexible flap 1 with lateral edges 2 and 3 protruding with respect to the plane of the shutter 1.
• the lateral edges 2 and 3 are advantageously formed by a continuous bead 46 (illustrated in detail in Figures 13 and 14) or by a succession of small teeth moving in vertical slides 4 and 5.
• the slides 4 and 5 are provided on either side of a bay 6 which is present in a wall 7.
• a drum 8 on which the flexible flap 1 can be wound.
• an electric motor 9 which drives the drum 8 about its axis 11. This allows to wind the flap 1 on the drum 8 to bring it into the open position or to unroll the shutter 1 to its closed position.
• the lateral edges 2 and 3 thereof are guided by the slides 4 and 5.
• a transparent window 10 may be provided in the middle of the shutter 1.
• the shutter 1 When the shutter 1 is opened, it is wound around the drum 8 by forming a roll consisting of turns formed by successive superimposed layers of the shutter 1.
• FIGS 3, 4 and 5 show a shutter device according to the prior art.
• the flap 1 is unwound by rotating the drum 8 about its axis, so that the shutter 1 goes down by closing the bay 6 while the lateral edges 2,3 of the latter are guided in the two slides 4.5 straight s extending parallel to each other.
• a thrust force is exerted on the lateral edges 2, 3 of the shutter 1 in their longitudinal direction.
• Each of the slides 4, 5 has a U-shaped section, the central portion 40 is leaned against the structure of the bay 6, the opening of the U of a slide 4 being directed towards the opening of the other slide 5 .
• Each U-shaped slider 4, 5 has a branch 42 which extends rearwards towards the wall 7, and another branch 44 which extends forwardly towards the drum 8. ( Figures 11 and 14)
• the drum 8 is held in abutment against the structure of the wall 7 by means of springs 20 directed along a substantially horizontal axis.
• Figures 3 and 5 show the case when closing the bay 6, the descent of the flap 1 along the slides 4.5 is blocked by an obstacle or by friction due to the force of the wind.
• the drum 8 is always rotated and the flap 1 continues to unwind by creating an excess flap 1 between the roll and the upper end 30 of the slides 4,5. Part of the excess of the flap 1 remains wound on the drum 8 in particular because of the presence of the attachment teeth for holding the turns together; the remainder of the excess forms a fold 15 in the portion of the flap 1 not maintained, that is to say in the space between the roller 8 and the upper end 30 of the slides 4, 5.
• the fold loop 15 increases.
• the flap 1 folds in its part not maintained directly at the exit of the slides 4,5; this fold prevents the flap from entering the slides 4.5. It is necessary to stop the motor 9 and rewind the shutter 1 in order to absorb the fold 15 that has formed.
• Figures 6 to 12 show a flexible flap device according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• the slides 4,5 are substantially straight and vertical in most of their height.
• the upper part of the slides 4,5 is inclined towards the wall 7 with respect to the plane formed by these same slides 4,5.
• the slides may have a convex boss 34 to allow them to return in the vertical plane.
• the rear branch 42 of the slides 4, 5 is extended upwards by a curved flexible guide 33.
• the set of curvatures 33 and 34 form a
• Figs. 9 to 14 show this guide 33 in more detail.
• the guide 33 has a flattened U-shaped profile. This shape is adapted to the particular shape of the side edge of the flap, which has in the example shown, a protruding bead 46 (illustrated in FIGS.
• the guide 33 constitutes a pressure element which makes it possible to exert a thrust force (illustrated by arrows in Fig. 12) at the place where, during the winding of the shutter 1, the surface of the part of the shutter 1 which is not yet wound comes into contact with the part of the flap 1 which already forms turns around the drum 8.
• the guide 33 keeps the turns adjacent to each other.
• the guide 33 exerts pressure on these gripping teeth in order to fix the successive turns of the flap to one another when winding the latter around the drum. 8.
• the guide 33 is held in abutment against the wall 7 by means of a support element 18.
• the support element 18 is provided at the place where, during the winding of the shutter 1, the surface the part of the shutter 1 which is not yet wound comes into contact with the portion of the shutter 1 which already forms turns around the drum 8. (Figs 6 to 8)
• the pressure element 33 makes it possible to exert a thrust force on the lateral edges 2, 3 of the shutter 1 at the non-maintained part of the shutter 1 extending between the upper end 30 of the slides
• the end 30 thus makes it possible to guide the flap 1 at the outlet of the slides 4,5 so as to form a curvature 33 in the non-maintained part of the flap 1.
• the curvature 33 of the flap 1 in its non-maintained part is concave with respect to drum 8 (Fig. 12).
• the slides have, in the illustrated manner, a curvature 34 opposite the curvature 33 so as to recover the straight plane of the slides 4,5 in their lower part.
• the upper end 30 of the slides 4, 5 comes close to the last turn of the flap wound on the drum 8.
• Figs. 15 to 23 represent four alternative embodiments.
• the drum 8 is no longer movable along a substantially horizontal axis but is held in a fixed manner.
• the device comprises a movable support structure 50 which keeps the guide 33 in permanent contact with the last turn wound on the drum 8 whatever the open or closed state of the device, that is to say some the volume of the roll.
• the guide 33 mainly provides a sliding effect which limits the friction.
• the movable support structure 50 can take different forms. In Figs. 15 to 20, it is a substantially triangular element, pivoting about a pivot axis 52 and whose face 54 facing the drum has a concave curvature with respect to the drum 8.
• the confinement element consists of a substantially straight rod 66 which extends upwards in the extension of the front branch 44 of each slideway 4,5. This rod 66 preferably extends between the last coil wound of the roll and the not yet wound portion of the flap (1), near the side edge 2,3, just in front of the bead 46 (Fig. 23).
• each slideway 4,5 is also extended upwards by a guide 60 substantially straight.
• a reinforcement U 68 may be provided around the guide 60 and the rod 66.
• a return system comprising springs 62 and return pulleys 64 keeps the guide 60 bearing against the roller.
• the rod 66 may extend to a height corresponding to the point of contact between the roll and the guide 60.
• the rod 66 does not come into contact with the flap, a slight space is maintained between the rod and the shutter on either side of the rod. If an obstacle interrupts the closure of the shutter or if a particular pressure increases the friction, the shutter, near its side edge then comes against the rod. This then prevents the shutter from flaming.
• the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments which are an illustration of the invention and which should not be considered as limiting.
• the device has been described in a position where the flap moves in a vertical plane and in a direction from top to bottom (when closing).
• the position of the flap and the drum is not limiting.
• the same device can be used in other positions, in particular, the flap can be vertical but open in a lateral direction.
• the device according to the invention can be used in a horizontal position, for example for the cover of boats or swimming pools.
• the upper end of the slides must be understood as the end closest to the drum; but for the sake of clarity of the disclosure with respect to Figs., it is called the upper end in the present description.
• the device according to the invention has the advantage of closing a bay or any type of opening without any weighting of the flexible flap.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)

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Publications (2)

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• 2007
  • 2007-02-07 EP EP07101917A patent/EP1956179A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2008
  • 2008-02-04 RU RU2009133274/03A patent/RU2451148C2/ru active
  • 2008-02-04 EP EP08708647A patent/EP2118425B1/de active Active
  • 2008-02-04 CN CN200880004294.8A patent/CN101631927B/zh active Active
  • 2008-02-04 US US12/525,787 patent/US8272425B2/en active Active
  • 2008-02-04 DK DK08708647.6T patent/DK2118425T3/da active
  • 2008-02-04 BR BRPI0807200A patent/BRPI0807200B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2008-02-04 WO PCT/EP2008/051344 patent/WO2008101796A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2008-02-04 CA CA2676738A patent/CA2676738C/fr active Active
  • 2008-02-04 ES ES08708647T patent/ES2401182T3/es active Active
  • 2008-02-04 JP JP2009548674A patent/JP2010518284A/ja active Pending
  • 2008-02-04 PL PL08708647T patent/PL2118425T3/pl unknown
  • 2008-02-04 PT PT87086476T patent/PT2118425E/pt unknown

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