CA1237976A

CA1237976A - Roll-up door

Info

Publication number: CA1237976A
Application number: CA000446759A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Bernt H. Manns
Original assignee: Nordiskafilt AB
Current assignee: Nordiskafilt AB
Priority date: 1983-02-03
Filing date: 1984-02-03
Publication date: 1988-06-14
Also published as: DE3478044D1; FI76183B; EP0125217B1; SE8300573L; FI840381A; EP0125217A3; SE8300573D0; EP0125217A2; FI76183C; ATE42798T1; FI840381A0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Roll-up door comprising two door-leaves arranged to be wound onto and off a common roll-up roller. The door-leaves are kept spaced apart by a roller and a rigid profile member at the lower ends of the door leaves where the latter are interconnected. The rigid member is guided by carriages which are rotatably mounted at the member ends and travel in U-beams. Belts are secured to the carriages and are carried about a number of pulleys and are wound onto and off discs which are mounted on the same shaft as the roller onto which the door-leaves are wound on and off, whereby the door-leaves will be maintained tensioned and their weight balanced. Particularly in the case of wide and heavy doors a second tensioning device may be used to provide an additional balancing force. A weight acts on the roll-up roller in a direction counter to the direction of the action of the dead weight of the door-leaf on the same roller. The second tensioning device is applicable in both single and double door-leaf constructions.

Description

~3~37~
BACKGROUND OF rye INVENTION
The subject invention concerns a roll up door the door--leaf of which is flexible and drrdnyed to be wound onto a roll-up roller. The door-leaf is attached preferably at its lower end, to two tensioning devices, one on either side of the door-leaf, which tensioning devices are received in their respective one of two side frames located on either side of the door-lea-f. The tensioning device are also arranged to act on the roll-up roller essentially for the purpose of providing a tensioning effect in said door-leaf between said roller and the lower end of the door-leaf.
Several different types of doors are available on the mar-kit, such as:
a) Continuous rigid doors panels;
b) Sect ionized, rigid door panels the sections o-f which are hingedly interconnected;
lo c) ~oor-panels consisting of steel lamely;
d) Doors made from alumlnium profiles arranged to be telescopically nested in one another.
A feature common to all types of doors mentioned above is that in their open position they are collected above the door open-on 1ng and for this reason several of them require considerable headroom space vertically or in the plane above the opening. For all the door types mentioned above the speed of opening up and closing the doors is very low, resulting in considerable hold-up time for internal--transport vehicles, particularly when double doors including an air lock are used in which case one door has to be shut before the second one is opened.
I

, Jo .., ~237~7~

Another type of prior-art door consists of a roll-up door comprising a single door-leaf which is arranged to be wound onto a roll-up roller. The door opening and closing movements are rapid the door operation is noiseless and the space required to accommodate the door-leaf in its open position is minimal. This prior-ar~ door is particularly suitable for use between two premises or rooms to avoid disturbing air currents and noise between the two premises. Because it may be closed and opened rapidly the door is also suitable for use between premises and the outside where a heavy traffic load makes it necessary to open and close the door frequently, such as or instance is the case at goods-reception stations. However, because the door--leaf is comparatively thin and not insulated, this type of door has the disadvantage that a considerable amount of energy is consumed to maintain the area immediately inside the door at the desired tempera-lure level. In addition, when the door is used to interconnect noisy room and a comparatively quiet room it has proved to be difficult to satisfactorily prevent the noise from penetrating into the quiet premises. This situation could of course, be remedied by arranging two roll up doors in succession but this solution is a comparatively expensive one, since two complete door arrangements are required.
It is essential, in order to enable sufficiently rapid door-leaf movements, that the door-leaf is maintained in a stretched and vertically tensioned state and that the door-leaf is completely or partly balanced by the door-leaf dead weight The prior-art door construction comprises a device designed Jo maintain the door-leaf in stretched condition vertically and at the same time balanced with aye the did of tensioning devices, located in their respective one of the two side frames. The tensioning device may consist for instance of d movable weight-actuated wire or belt pulley through which is carried a wire or belt. One end of the wire or belt is attached to the lower end of the door leaf. The opposite wire or belt end is arranged to be wound on and off a wire or belt pulley which is connected to the wind-up roller of the door-leaf, in the opposite direction from the winding-on and winding-off of the door leaf itself.
The load which my be a weight, a spring or some other suitable device is divided into two opposing counter-balancing load components. Half the load acts on the wire or belt pulley provided on the roll-up roller. This load component is transferred to the door--leaf do d consequence of the wlnding-on and w~nding-off of the wire or belt in the opposite direction to the door-leaf movement in the form of an upwardly directed force. The other half of the load acts do a downwardly directed force acting on the lower edge of the door--leaf.
Balancing ox the dead weight of the door-leaf must be effected by providing for differences in the moments or radii of the roll-up roller of the door-leaf and of the wire or belt pulley associated therewith. When the radius of the pulley is the larger one the vertically upwards directed force acting on the door-leaf will be reinforced and exceed the downwards directed force. The difference in forces will counteract the dead weight of the door-leaf and balance it. However, it has proved to be difficult, at least when the doors are very wide and their dead weight therefore considerable, to I; ,.

AL 7~37 obtain sufficient difference in forces. The difference of moments (difference of radii) that this would require is of such a magnitude that the dimensions of the wire or belt pulley inevitably would become unproportionally large. The difference of moment (radii) also affects the movements of the weight in the side frame and therefore the space allowed for the movements of the weight may be insuffi-client. When the load is on the form of a spring the spring movements become unproportionally large and affect the serviceable life of the spring.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
. . _ The roll-up door on accordance with the subject invention has for its purpose to remedy the drawbacks outlined above while at the same time provide good insulating effects.
At the same time, the door according to the invention possesses all the advantages of single door-leaf roll-up doors.
These objectives are obtained in the roll-up door in accordance with the subject invention by providing the door in accordance with one embodiment thereof wit double door-leaves arranged to be wound onto and to be wound of a common roll-up roller. Preferably, the lower ends of the double door-leaves are attached to, alternatively carried around, a rigid profile member which is supported by the interconnected door leaves.
A tensioning device in the form of a belt or the like may be arranged in the frame members at either side of the roll-up door and secured to the latter, said belt arranged to be wound onto or off a drum in a direction opposite to the winding-on and winding-off ~23'7~7~

direction of the Lowe aft hut Islet or s-ilnildr means is preferably arranged to be wound onto belt pulley which is mounted on the same shaft as the roller onto which are wound the door-leaves. The belt and the door-leaves are wound onto respectively the pulley and the roller in opposite directions An elongate flexible sealing cloth is preferably suspended from the lower end of the roll-up door and secured to the double door-leaves of the door. A photoelectric cell arranged to emit a beam of light between the sealing cloth and the rigid member may be lo so connected to the motor operating the door-leaves movements that as soon as the beam of light emitted by the photoelectric cell is interrupted the winding-off of the door ceases.
In order to stiffen the door-leaves one or several members may be arranged to be lowered together with the door into abutment against stop means which are conceived to stop and support the stiffening mulberries at suitable spaced apart positions.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention a second tensioning device is arranged in each one of the side frames to act on the roll-up roller to provide a force counteracting the force of gravity of the door-leaf. Said second tensioning device is applicable in single door-leaf as well as multiple door leaf constructions.

' -q2;~ 6 RIFE DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through the door along line I-I of Fig. 2, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line II~II
of Fig. 1 through the end wall of the construction in accordance with the invention, Fig. 3 is a tensioning device associated with the door, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the roll-up door as seen from the side, Fig. 5 illustrates the tensioning and balancing device in accordance with the invention to be used in a single-leaf roll-up door in accordance with the invention, Fig. 6 appearing on a sheet with Fig. 2 is a somewhat modified embodiment of the device of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a corresponding device in accordance with one embodiment thereof modified for use in a double-leaf roll-up door.

The roll-up door in accordance with the embody-mint shown in Figs. 1-4 is designated generally by numeral

2. This door consists of two door-leaves 4 forming a double-cloth door-leaf. The cloths are interconnected at their bottom ends around a rigid profile member, such as a ..

~23'7~7~i tube 6, The tube serves both as a weight-balancing, means to achieve equal tensionirlg of the two door-leaves and as a guide means to control the movements of the door 2, The ends of the tube 6, only one ox which is shown in the drawings (jigs. 1 and I are rotatable mounted in a carriage 8 which is arranged to run in a U-shaped beam 10 the open side of which faces the door--leaves 4 and which beam forms a guide means to control the movements ox the carriage 3, The U-beam 10 is mounted in a profile member 12 forming the frame and end post of the roll-up door 2. A corresponding frame member (not shown is provided at the opposite side ox the door 2.
The door-leaves if are pulled up and down by being wound onto and our a roller 14, whereby tile two door-leaves 4 are wound onto and off said roller, The door-leaves 4 are lcept in spaced relationship both by the tube 6 and by a roll 16 about which is carried one of the door-leaves 4.
In this manner the two door-leaves 4 forming the roll-up door 2 will be suspended in parallel relationship along principally the entire extension of the door when the latter is ion its fully pulled-down position, that is closed, 'rho relative movements ocalrring between the two door-leaves 4 as a result of each winding turn of one of the leaves being wound on top of the other leaf on the roller 14 are comperlsated for in a simple manner by turning the profile member 6 or by biasing the roll 16 I, by a sprint, ~L~3~7~76 t Tao owe no I toe roll-up door 2 is pro-vow a flexible, elorl~rate sealing cloth lo my means of at~achlTIent mummers I-) the two ends Or the cloth 18 are secured to their recessive one Or the door-leaves 4, The cloth 18 hangs freely like a loop or pocket below the tube G, In the lower closed) position Or the door the cloth will abut against the substructure/ground, thus forming-an insulating means protecting against floor draughts In this manner good insulation effects are obtained also when the ground/floor is uneven, sloping, etcetera.
A system including a photoelectric cell 20 arranged on the carriage 8 cooperates with a beam ox light emitted between the two carriages in parallel with tile tube 6 and in the lengttlwise direction of the sealing cloth 18 inside the loop formed by the latter, In case the sealing cloth lo bends upwards as a result of an obstruction, for instance by the presence of a person or a vehicle underneath the door, blocking the path ox move-mint of the cloth 18 during the closing movement Or Theodore 2, the beam of light to interrupted and the closing : movement of the door is stopped. It may even be preferable to arrange for the door to reopen automatically over a short distance when the closing movement has been stopped Owing to the interruption of the door closing movement be-ore the tube 6 reaches the obstacle or blocking object accidents may be avoided. Alternatively, the safety , ..

.
Jo ~23~

function may be provided in other conventional ways, for instance by the provision of a pneumatically operated rail, a tape-sw:itc~" to mention only a few, The door in accordance with the invention it pro-voided with a special tensioning device comprising a belt 22 which is attached to the carriage 8, The belt 22 extends in a downward direction from the carriage and immediately above ground level it is passed about two pulleys 24 ? 26 from whence it runs upwards towards a third pulley 28 which is positioned at the upper portion ox the roll-up door 2 (see Fig. 3 and the left part of Fig, 1). On its run from tile carriage 8 to the pulley 28 the belt 22 is turned over a quarter ox a turn about its lengthwise axis whereby at the level of the ply 28 and beyond, the belt 22 will exterld ion parallel with the door-leaves 4.
From the pulley 28 the belt 22 runs downwards and about a fort pull 30 which it secured to a spring 32 and further tip and around a fifth pulley 34 and finally to a window disc 36, The disc 36 is mounted on the tame shalt 38 as are the roller ill the corresponding wind-on disc for the belt 22 at the opposite side of the door 2 (not shown) and a motor 40 producing the motions of the roller 14 and the dusks 36. Owing to the mounting of these means on a common shaft the door-leaves 4 will be paid out when the belts 22 are paid in because the latter are wound on the discs 36 n a direction opposite to that Or the door-leaves I By _ 9 _ ~23797~

selecting Tao .liarneter~; ox e discs 36 to ensure that the diameters of' the bluets 22 wound onto the discs 36 in all positions of the (loon exceed the diameter of the door-leaves 4 Winnie or-to the roller 14 an increased tensioning force exerted on the door-leaves is obtained upon door closing movements because the spring 32 is tensioned gradually as a result of the length of the belt 22 wound onto the disc I exceeds the lent of the door-leaf 4 which is wound off from the roller 14.
The width ox the door-leaves 4 exceeds the length of the tube 6 and their side edges project into the U-pro-file member lo, see , 2 (and Fugue. l), This increases thy sealinlr, effect at trio side frames of the door 2 when the latter it in its lower position, The side edges of the door-leavec; 4 are slitted at their lower ends in such a mariner that each door lea` 4 forms a depending flap 42 below an laterally of the tube Jo One or several stiffening members in the form of tubes or teams ill between the two door-leaves 4 are _.
around to be lifted and lowered by the carriages 8 to and from a positron at suitable spacings when the door 2 is in its lower octane.
Fix, 1 shows a stiffening member l14 supported on a pair of abutments ll6 which preferably are secured to the U-profile members lo This tube l14 gives stability to the door 2 in the lowermost possession of the latter and ,, prevents it from serving as a wind-catcher means of sail :,

- 3~237~3~76 or balloon type.
Pig. 6 shows the manner irk whiz Lowe intoning device it; ~upplt~ Ed with weigh 48 which by means of a hock I is upended in a wire 52. The weight is su~.3p~nded FOE as to tend to turn the disc 36 in the same section as the tensioning belt 22 and consequently it enforce the moment of force by means of which the tensioning belt 22 acts on the disc 36. In this manner the weight 48 serve to balance the weight of the delves 4 upon operation of the door. and to tension it. The weight 48 is particularly suitable for use in logic door in order to avoid big and bulky tensioning devices miring the tensioning belt 22 and the spying 32.
jigs. 5 and 7 show modifications of the invention. The door-leaf 61, which is a single- or dollble-leaf door, it wound on and off a roll-up roller 62 corresponding to roller 14. A belt 64 or similar means is attached to the lower end 63 of the door-leaf. The belt I I carried around mixed discs 65 and around a movable disc 66 which it weighted by a tensioning device, the o~posil:e end ox said belt being wound onto a disc 67 which it mounted on the same shaft a the roll-up roller 62.
The movable disc 66 is weighted by a tensioning device, preferably a spring 68. The spring force is divided into two components one ox which is transferred via the discs 65 It the door-leaf 61 as a vertically downwards directed force. The other force component is transferred to the disc 67 and the roll-up ~2~7g~

roller 62 and acts on the door leaf 61 as a vertically upwards directed force. To the downwardly directed force should be added the force of gravity of the door-leaf.
The latter force may be wholly or partly compensated for by the difference of mounts (difference of radii) bet-wren the disc 67 and the roll-up roller 62.
Wide and heavy doors may need further balancing.
This is achieved by the provision of a weight 69 which acts on the door-leaf 61 as an upwardly directed force via the belt 70, the disc 67 and the roll-up roller 62.
All of the weight 69 may act on the door-leaf as is the case in -the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 5 but in this case its movements will be rather large. In order to no-dupe its movements the weight 69 may be suspended from a movable disc 71 fig. 7). One end of the belt 70 is attached to the fixed frame of the roll-up door. Only half of the load of the weight 69 acts on -the door-leaf but on the other hand its movements are smaller.
A number of advantages reobtained with a roll--up door in accordance with the invention. With the double-leaf version of the door excellent insulation is obtained as a result of the insulating air layer formed between the two leaves. This makes it possible to use the door between heated and non-heated premises or between the inside and the outside of a building. The balancing with the aid of the springs 32, 68, and the tensioning belt 22 and, when applicable, the weight 48~ 69 also makes it possible to raise and lower the door leaf 4, 61 quickly and to operate it by means of a small motor 40.
The embodiments of the invention described in the foregoing are to be regarded as examples only and other embodiments are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For instance the springs and weights, such as springs 37, 68 and weight 48, 69 may be replaced by other tensioning devices What I claim is:

- It -,

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An improved roll-up door comprising:
first and second flexible door leaves;
a roll-up roller unto which said first and second leaves may be wound;
a tensioning device adjacent either edge of said door leaves and connected to the lower ends of said leaves and adapted to act as well on said roller to provide a tensioning effect in said leaves between said roller and the lower edge of said leaves; and first and second spacer members for maintaining said first and second leaves in substantially parallel relationship, said first spacer member being rotatable and pivotal mounted between said door leaves at the lower end thereof and arranged for raising or lowering with said leaves and compensating for the relative movements there-between by the rotation thereof, said second spacer member fixedly located between said door leaves and between said first spacer member and said roll-up roller.

2. The door of claim 1 wherein said first spacer comprises a rigid profile member, said first and second door leaves are interconnected at their ends and said rigid profile member is supported by said interconnected door leaves.

3. An improved roll-up door as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depending flexible and elongate sealing cloth is provided at the lower end of said roll-up door, said sealing cloth attached to the double leaves of said door.

4. An improved roll-up door as claimed in claim 3, wherein a photoelectric cell is arranged to emit a beam of light between said sealing cloth and said rigid profile member, and wherein a motor is provided to operate the door movements, said motor arranged, upon interception of the beam of light emitted by said photoelectric cell, to interrupt the winding-off of said door.

5. An improved roll-up door as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or several stiffening members, said stiffening members arranged to be lowered together with said door, and abutment means arranged to stop and support said stiffening members at suitable spacings.

6. The door of claim 1 wherein said door includes a second tensioning device in each one of said side frames, said second tensioning device arranged to act on said roll-up roller to provide a force counteracting the force of gravity of said door leaf.

7. An improved roll-up roller as claimed in claim 6, wherein each one of said tensioning devices is a belt or equivalent means and wherein a disc is mounted on the same shaft as said roller onto which said door leaf is wound, said belt arranged to be wound on and off said disc, said winding-on and winding-off of said belt effected in a direction opposite to the direction of winding-on and winding-off of said door leaf.

8. An improved roll-up roller as claimed in claim 7, wherein the belts or equivalent means provided in the same lateral frame are wound onto or off a common disc.