EP2236717A2

EP2236717A2 - Door drive having auxiliary drive mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP2236717A2
Application number: EP10159007A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Adrian Cornelis Wien
Original assignee: Kone Deursystemen BV
Current assignee: Kone Corp
Priority date: 2009-04-03
Filing date: 2010-04-01
Publication date: 2010-10-06
Also published as: NL2002710C2; EP2236717A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit (16) for a leaf (10) of a door or window with an additional closing device which is active across a limited area of the opening angle of the leaf around 0°. More particularly, the additional closing device comprises an additional closing mechanism (100) with a shaft engagement means (104) provided on the drive shaft (20), an intermediate arm (108) which is rotatable about a swinging shaft (110) being situated at a distance from and parallel to the drive shaft (20) and having a first engagement means (130) arranged on a first arm end (106) so as to be able to engage with said shaft engagement means (104), and a spring construction, a first end (116) of which is hingedly connected to a second arm end (112) of the intermediate arm (108) and a second end (122) of which is hingedly arranged at a fixed position, in which the shaft engagement means (104) and the first engagement means (106; 130) of the intermediate arm (108) engage with one another across a predetermined area of the rotation angle of the drive shaft (20).

Description

The present invention relates to a door drive unit for the leaf of a door, window and the like.
Various applications, such as fire-retardant swing doors for example in public buildings, care institutions, hospital complexes, etc. require the door to be closed automatically and to be kept closed in case of emergency, even when the power fails. The minimum and maximum requirements in this respect are laid down in current standards.
The drive unit known from DE 19500944 C2 aims for a maximum closing torque at a minimum opening angle of a door, which torque continuously decreases as the opening angle increases. With this known device, this is achieved by continuously changing the lever acting on the drive shaft. In particular, this publication shows a door drive unit for a leaf of a door, window and the like with an electromechanical motor, by means of which the leaf can be moved via a transmission box for coupling the motor shaft to the drive shaft, at least in the opening direction, via a drive shaft and with a closing spring configured as a spiral compression or tension spring by means of which the leaf can be moved in the closing direction via the drive shaft. The closing spring and motor are arranged parallel to one another and at a distance from one another. One end of the closing spring bears against a fixed stop in the housing, while the other end bears against a spring cup which is displaceably arranged in the housing. The drive shaft is provided with a cam disc which has various "levers" along the circumference. A flexible force-transmitting element is partly wrapped around the cam disc and couples the latter with the displaceable spring cup. By suitably designing the circumference of the cam disc, it can be achieved that the active lever is at its maximum in the closed position of the door.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drive unit for a leaf of a door, window or the like, in particular a drive unit which can be manufactured from relatively simple and inexpensive parts, for example standard components, and at the same time meets the required standards.
According to the invention, this object is achieved with a drive unit for a leaf of a door, window or the like, comprising:

a drive member for driving the leaf, in which the drive member is rotatable about a first rotary axis between a first position which corresponds to a first position of the leaf and a second position which corresponds to a second position of the leaf,
a main drive device which is connected to the drive member for driving the latter from the first position to the second position and vice versa,

a tumbler member which is pivotable between a waiting position and an operating position about a second rotary axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the first rotary axis,
a spring means which is connected to the tumbler member for pretensioning the tumbler member,

The drive unit for the leaf of a door, window or the like according to the invention comprises the main drive device and the additional drive device. The additional drive device may be designed to be completely mechanical and does not require any external power supply. The spring means comprises for example a mechanical spring construction, such as a coiled spring, or a pneumatic or a hydraulic piston/cylinder assembly, such as a gas spring. The spring means can also be designed differently.
The leaf has two extreme positions: a closed position and an open position. In a starting position (one of the extreme positions of the leaf), the tumbler member is in the waiting position and the spring means exerts a torque on the tumbler member in the first direction, that is to say clockwise or counterclockwise. By means of the drive member, the main drive device subsequently drives the leaf from the starting position to the other extreme position (final position). In this case, the tumbler member is carried along by the rotating movement of the drive member and brought into the operating position. The additional drive device is thus engaged by the drive member. In the operating position, the spring means exerts a torque on the tumbler member in the second direction, counter to the first direction. In the operating position, the tumbler member and the drive member are connected to one another for transmitting the torque exerted on the tumbler member to the drive member, so that the leaf is pushed into the final position.
When moving the leaf out of the final position, the tumbler member is returned to the waiting position. By rotating the drive member from the second position to the first position, the tumbler member can be pivoted, counter to the pretension of the spring means, about the second rotary shaft from the operating position to the waiting position.
According to the invention, the first position of the drive member can correspond to an open leaf and the second position of the drive member can correspond to a closed leaf, with the rotation of the drive member from the first position to the second position defining a closing direction, and the rotation of the drive member from the second position to the first position defining an opening direction, and with the first direction of the torque exerted on the tumbler member being equal to the closing direction of the drive member, and with the tumbler member being pivotable from the waiting position to the operating position in a direction of rotation which is counter to the closing direction of the drive member. In the operating position, the torque which is exerted on the tumbler member by means of the pretensioned spring means is in this case transmitted to the drive member for exerting an additional closing torque on the drive member in the closing direction. In this case, the additional drive device ensures that a closed leaf which is connected to the drive member remains closed. This is, for example, suitable for a fire-resistant swing door. However, the drive unit according to the invention can also be used with a leaf which is pushed into the open position by means of the additional drive device.
In one embodiment, the tumbler member comprises a tumbler arm with a first arm portion and a second arm portion, in which each of the arm portions extends from the second rotary axis, and in which the spring means is connected to the second arm portion for exerting, in the waiting position, a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages eccentrically with respect to the second rotary axis on a first side of the second rotary axis, and in which, when the tumbler arm pivots from the waiting position to the operating position, the spring means is displaced by the second arm portion in such a manner that the spring means, in the operating position, exerts a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages eccentrically with respect to the second rotary axis on a second side of the second rotary axis, which is situated opposite the first side thereof. In this case, it is possible for the tumbler arm to have a dead point position, in which the spring means exerts a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages substantially on the second rotary axis, and in which the tumbler arm moves through the dead point position when pivoting from the waiting position to the operating position.
In one embodiment, the spring means comprises a first end and a second end, in which the first end is hingedly connected to the second arm portion about a third pivot axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the second rotary axis, and in which the spring means has a longitudinal axis which extends, in the waiting position, on the first side and, in the operating position, on the second side of the second rotary axis. The longitudinal axis of the spring means determines a line of force - the spring force of the spring means is exerted according to said line of force.
In this case, the second end can be arranged at a fixed position so as to be able to pivot about a fourth pivot axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the second rotary axis. The tumbler member is, for example, connected to a housing so as to be able to pivot about the second pivot axis, the second end of the spring means being fitted to the housing so as to be able to pivot about the fourth pivot axis. The spring means can extend substantially in line with the second arm portion. In the dead point position, the second, third and fourth pivot axis are aligned according to a substantially straight line. In the waiting position and the operating position, the spring means and the second arm portion of the tumbler arm enclose an angle which is between 150° and 180°.
In one embodiment, the operating position is determined by a rotation angle from the second position of the drive member which is smaller than 40°, for example smaller than 30° or smaller than 20°. The additional torque is exerted in a limited area around a closed or open position of the leaf. The main drive device is active across the entire area of rotation between the extreme positions of the leaf. The additional drive device is only active across a part of said area of rotation, for example a limited area around 0° (closed position) of the leaf, for example from 0° to a few tens of degrees. Outside this limited area, only the main drive device is active.
The main drive device can be designed in different ways. For example, the main drive device is provided with an electric motor which is connected to the drive member for driving the latter in at least the opening direction, and a closing spring which is connected to the drive member for driving the latter in the closing direction.
It is possible to provide the additional drive device with coupling means for coupling a rotating movement of the drive member about the first rotary axis from the first position to the second position to a pivoting movement of the tumbler member about the second rotary axis from the waiting position to the operating position, and for transmitting the torque exerted on the tumbler member in the operating position to the drive member.
The coupling means are designed for coupling the drive member and the tumbler member in a limited area and for uncoupling the drive member and the tumbler member outside thereof. The coupling means comprises, for example, a first coupling means which is provided on the drive member, and a second coupling means which is provided on the tumbler member, and in which the first coupling means and the second coupling means engage with one another across a predetermined area of the rotation angle of the drive member.
In this description, the following parts are also referred to by the terms placed behind them in brackets: drive member (drive shaft), tumbler member (intermediate arm), first arm portion (first arm end), second arm portion (second arm end), second pivot axis (swinging shaft), spring means (spring construction), first coupling means (shaft engagement means), second coupling means (first engagement means). The terms without brackets and the terms in brackets have identical or similar meanings and can be used interchangeably.
The additional drive device for exerting additional torque on the drive shaft can comprise a shaft engagement means provided on the drive shaft, an intermediate arm which is rotatably arranged about a swinging shaft situated at a distance from and parallel to the drive shaft with, on a first arm end, a first engagement means which is arranged so as to be able to engage with said shaft engagement means, and a spring construction, a first end of which is hingedly connected to a second arm end of the intermediate arm and having a second end which is hingedly arranged in a fixed position, in which the shaft engagement means and the first engagement means of the intermediate arm engage with one another across a predetermined area of the rotation angle of the drive shaft.
With this preferred embodiment of an additional closing mechanism according to the invention, an engagement means is provided on the drive shaft and fixedly connected thereto. An intermediate arm, more particularly an end thereof facing the drive shaft and provided with a first engagement means which can interact with the shaft engagement means, interacts with this shaft engagement means across a limited area of the rotation angle of the drive shaft, for example 0° - ± 30°, such as 0° - ± 20°. Examples thereof are combinations of projections and corresponding depressions, such as pins and slots. The intermediate arm is arranged so as to be able to rotate about a swinging shaft which is situated parallel to and at a distance from the drive shaft. The other end of the intermediate arm is connected to a spring construction which can pivot about a fixed point. To this end, the spring construction, for example a tension spring, a cup spring or compression spring, preferably a compression spring, is arranged in a fixed position such that its free end can pivot. In the non-active position of the additional closing mechanism, the angle between the intermediate arm and the spring is large (slightly larger than 180°). When the shaft engagement means engages with the first engagement means, the angle between the intermediate arm and the spring first passes through the zero position (intermediate arm and spring are in line with one another, i.e. angle = 180°) and then decreases further, so that the closing force on the door increases. In the (virtually) closed position, in other words an opening position of the leaf of 0° - 5°, this closing force is at its maximum. This maximum closing force is partly determined by the minimum angle which is possible between the intermediate arm and the spring construction. The angle and thus the lever action is preferably limited by dispaceably accommodating the pivoting point of the intermediate arm and spring construction in a slot having a desired predetermined length, so that the slot ends form stop faces for the pivoting point in the extreme active positions of the additional closing mechanism. One or more additional stop faces may be provided, for example in the housing against which the end of the intermediate arm with the first engagement means rests in the non-active position.
Thus, the invention provides a drive unit which can be constructed in a simple manner from substantially standard parts and thus inexpensively.
Advantageously, the main drive device comprises a closing spring which is designed as a compression spring and a proximal end of which is fitted at a fixed position relative to the drive shaft and the other, distal end is coupled to a displaceably arranged spring cup, with the spring cup being connected to the drive shaft via a transmission means.
In a preferred embodiment, the shaft engagement means and the first engagement means are arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that they engage with one another at a rotation angle of the drive shaft of 0° to approximately ± 30°, for example 0° to approximately ± 20°.
Advantageously, the shaft engagement means is a disc attached to the drive shaft and provided with an engagement pin on its circumferential edge, with the first end of the intermediate arm being provided with a fork, preferably with uneven teeth. With this embodiment, the longest tooth forms a stop face which is situated in the movement path of the engagement pin, so that the engagement pin, upon rotation thereof, bears against the latter across a limited area of the opening angle of the door, as defined above. The shortest tooth is situated outside the movement path, at least in the non-active position.
In a further preferred embodiment, the spring construction which is designed as a compression spring is positioned between a connecting element which is hingedly connected to the second arm end of the intermediate arm and has a stop face for the compression spring, and a hinged fastening element which has a stop face facing the stop face of the connecting element for the compression spring, with the connecting element and the fastening element being connected to one another so as to be displaceable in the length direction of the spring.
Referring to the above description of the displacement of the pivoting point, the pivoting point of the second end of the intermediate arm and the compression spring is advantageously displaceably positioned in a curvilinear slot, preferably a slot which is arranged concentrically around the swinging shaft and has the dimensions of a circular arch section of which the swinging shaft is the centre.
From the point of view of making efficient use of space, the additional closing mechanism is advantageously arranged virtually diametrically opposite the closing spring.
Advantageously, the transmission means is flexible and preferably comprises a chain or part thereof.
The drive unit may be provided with a second additional drive device which is designed in accordance with the above-described additional drive device. In this case, two similar additional drive devices are provided, each of which can interact with the drive member. The second additional driving device can increase the closing force on the leaf.
The invention also relates to a swing door, comprising a frame, a door leaf rotatable about a vertical axis, provided with a drive unit according to the invention, as described above. More particularly, the swing door is a fire-retardant swing door, in which at least the door leaf is made from fire-retardant material.
The invention furthermore relates to a method for driving a leaf of a door, window or the like, comprising:

providing a drive unit which is provided with:
- a drive member for driving the leaf, in which the drive member is rotatable about a first rotary axis between a first position which corresponds to a first position of the leaf and a second position which corresponds to a second position of the leaf,
- a main drive device which is connected to the drive member for driving the latter from the first position to the second position and vice versa,
- an additional drive device, which is provided with:
a tumbler member which is pivotable between a waiting position and an operating position about a second rotary axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the first rotary axis,
a spring means which is connected to the tumbler member for pretensioning the tumbler member,

in the waiting position, pretensioning the tumbler member by the spring means, with a torque being exerted on the tumbler member about the second rotary axis in a first direction,
rotating the drive member from the first position to the second position,
pivoting the tumbler member, counter to the pretension of the spring means, about the second rotary axis from the waiting position to the operating position by rotating the drive member from the first position to the second position,
in the operating position, pretensioning the tumbler member by the spring means, with a torque being exerted on the tumbler member about the second rotary axis in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction,
in said operating position, transmitting said torque to the drive member for exerting an additional torque on the drive member.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a partly cut-away view in perspective of an embodiment of a drive unit of a door leaf according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows an exploded view in perspective of details of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of a drive unit according to the invention;
Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of a drive unit according to the invention in the open position of the door leaf;
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of a drive unit according to the invention during the closing of the door leaf at a door opening angle of approximately 25°;
Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 of a drive unit according to the invention in the closed position of the door leaf; and
Fig. 6 shows a graph which illustrates the torque as a function of the opening angle of the door leaf;
Figs 7a, 7b, 7c show plan views of a second embodiment of a drive unit according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a partly cut-away view in perspective of an embodiment of a drive unit of a door leaf according to the invention. A door leaf 10 made from a fire-retardant material is hingedly suspended from a door frame 12 by means of hinges (not shown). At the top beam 14 of the door frame 12, an embodiment of a drive unit according to the invention is arranged which is denoted overall by reference numeral 16.
In this exemplary embodiment, the drive unit 16 comprises a main drive device with an electric motor 18 comprising a horizontal motor shaft. A drive shaft 20 for moving the door leaf is arranged in a vertical direction and transversely to this motor shaft. A converting device 22 is provided for causing the motor shaft to engage with the drive shaft 20. Above the motor 18, a closing spring 24 is arranged in a tubular housing 26, parallel to the motor shaft. In the illustrated embodiment, a proximal end 28 of the closing spring 24 is situated at a fixed position, in this case a stop face 30 provided on the housing 32 of the converting device 22. The distal end 34 bears against a spring cup 36 which is displaceably arranged in the tubular housing 26. The spring cup 36 is connected to the drive shaft 20 via a transmission means 38, such as a chain.
At one end 42, an arm 40 is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 20. The other end 44 of the arm 40 is provided with a sliding pin 46 which is directed vertically downwards and is displaceably arranged in a U-shaped profiled section 50 which is attached to the hinge side 48 of the door leaf 10. In order to open the door leaf 10, a rotary movement of the motor shaft of the electric motor 18 is converted into a counterclockwise rotary movement of the drive shaft 20 via the converting device 22, with the closing spring 24 being tensioned by winding the transmission means 38 around the drive shaft 20 and a resultant displacement of the spring cup 36 in the direction of the drive shaft 20. In general, due to this standard connection between the drive shaft 20 and the leaf 10, the opening angle of the leaf 10 is smaller than the rotation angle of the drive shaft 20.
Closing the door leaf 10 may be effected by releasing the closing spring 24, optionally additionally supported by the electric motor 18, so that the drive shaft 20 is in this case displaced clockwise via the transmission means 38.
In order to increase the closing force of the door in the closed position and virtually closed position, the drive unit 16 according to the invention comprises an additional drive device. In this exemplary embodiment, the additional drive device forms an additional closing mechanism which is denoted overall by reference numeral 100 in Fig. 1. The additional closing mechanism is active in a limited area, from the closed position up to a limited door opening angle of the leaf 10, for example 0°-30°.
Fig. 2 shows this mechanism in greater detail. A disc 102 is fixedly attached to the drive shaft 20. The disc 102 has a hollow circumferential edge 103 in which an engagement pin 104 is situated. In the limited area, the engagement pin 104 is in engagement with a fork-shaped first end 106 of an intermediate arm 108 which is arranged so as to be rotatable about a vertical swinging shaft 110. By means of a hinge pin 114, the second end 112 of the intermediate arm 108 is hingedly attached to a connecting element 116. To this end, this connecting element comprises an end with two horizontal parts which are at a vertical distance from one another between which the hinge pin 114 extends through an opening (not shown) which is provided in the second end 112. The other end 120 of the connecting element 116 is displaceably connected to a fastening element 122 which is attached at a fixed position. The connecting element 116 and the fastening element 122 are each provided with mutually facing stop faces 124 between which a compression spring 126 is clamped. The combination is accommodated in the housing which consists of two parts 128 and is provided with various openings for accommodating and attaching various elements. In particular, a slot 132 in the shape of a circular arch section is provided in the bottom housing part 128a for displaceably holding the swinging shaft 110.
Figs. 3-5 show plan views of the embodiment of a drive unit according to the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 at three points in time during the closing of a door from an open position to a closed position. Fig. 3 shows an open position in which the additional closing mechanism is not active. By opening the door, the closing spring 24 is tensioned by the fact that the transmission means 38 is wound partly around the drive shaft 20. In this position, the engagement pin 104 which is fixedly connected to the drive shaft 20 is outside the engagement range of the fork end 106 of the intermediate arm 108 and there is no contact or friction between them. The fork end 106 rests against a stop face 107. The angle between the intermediate arm 108 and the spring 126 is slightly larger than 180°. Only the closing spring 24 is active.
At the opening angle of the door, illustrated in Fig. 4, of approximately 25°, the additional closing mechanism is actuated upon closure (and vice versa released upon opening) of the door. The engagement pin 104 comes into contact with the long tooth 130 of the fork end 106. Due to the large angle (> 180 °) between the intermediate arm 108 and the compression spring 126, little force is required to cause the intermediate arm 108 to rotate about the swinging shaft 110, which force is produced by the closing spring 24 with transmission means 38.
Fig. 5 shows the door in the closed position. The engagement pin 104 is accommodated in the fork end 106. The angle between the intermediate arm 108 and the compression spring 126 is minimal (< 180°) within the displacement area of the hinge pin 114 determined by the slot 132. Thus, the additional closing mechanism, via the intermediate arm 108, exerts a maximum closing force on the drive shaft 20 of the drive unit. The total closing force is the result of the action of the additional closing mechanism and of the closing spring 24.
Fig. 6 shows the total torque of an embodiment of a door drive unit according to the invention as a function of the opening angle during opening (line A) as well as closing (line B), both when pulling and pushing. Line C shows the minimum requirement and line D the maximum during closing. As can clearly be seen, line B amply satisfies the minimum requirement, represented by line C and line B is also below the maximum of line D in the entire opening range of -120° to +120°. Incidentally, it should be noted that the difference between lines A and B in torque upon closure of the door and/or opening of the door is caused by the internal friction of the total assembly.
Figs. 7a, 7b and 7c show a second embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention in the open position, during closing, and in the closed position of the door leaf, respectively. Identical or similar parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The drive unit comprises two additional drive devices 100, 200, each of which is designed in the same manner as described with reference to Figs. 1-6. The action of the additional drive devices is the same as described above. The additional drive devices 100, 200 each exert an additional torque on the drive member 20, so that the closing force on the leaf may be greater.
The invention can also be described by means of the following clauses:

1. Drive unit for the leaf of a door, window or the like, comprising
a motor with which the leaf can be driven at least in the opening direction by means of a drive shaft and
a closing spring with which the leaf can be driven in the closing direction by means of the drive shaft,
in which the drive unit is furthermore provided with an additional closing device for exerting an additional closing force on the drive shaft in a limited area around a closed position of the leaf.
2. Drive unit according to clause 1, in which the additional closing device comprises a spring construction which engages across a limited area with the drive shaft.
3. Drive unit for the leaf of a door, window or the like, in particular according to clause 1 or 2, comprising
a motor with which the leaf can be driven at least in the opening direction by means of a drive shaft and
a closing spring with which the leaf can be driven in the closing direction by means of the drive shaft,
in which the drive unit is furthermore provided with an additional closing mechanism for exerting an additional closing force on the drive shaft in the closed and virtually closed positions of the leaf, which closing mechanism comprises a shaft engagement means provided on the drive shaft, an intermediate arm which is rotatable about a swinging shaft being situated at a distance from and parallel to the drive shaft and having a first engagement means arranged on a first arm end so as to be able to engage with said shaft engagement means, and a spring construction, a first end of which is hingedly connected to a second arm end of the intermediate arm and a second end hingedly arranged at a fixed position, in which the shaft engagement means and the first engagement means of the intermediate arm engage with one another across a predetermined area of the rotation angle of the drive shaft.
4. Drive unit according to clause 3, in which the shaft engagement means and the first engagement means are arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that they engage with one another at a rotation angle of the drive shaft of 0° to approximately ± 30°, more preferably 0° to approximately ± 20°.
5. Drive unit according to clause 3 or 4, in which the shaft engagement means is a disc attached to the drive shaft and provided with an engagement pin on its circumferential edge, and in which the first end of the intermediate arm is provided with a fork, preferably with uneven teeth.
6. Drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses, in which the spring construction comprises a compression spring which is positioned between a connecting element which is hingedly connected to the second arm end of the intermediate arm and has a stop face for the compression spring, and a hinged fastening element which has a stop face facing the stop face of the connecting element for the compression spring, in which the connecting element and the fastening element are connected to one another so as to be displaceable in the length direction of the compression spring.
7. Drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses 3-6, in which the pivoting point of the second end of the intermediate arm and the spring construction is displaceably positioned in a curvilinear slot, preferably a slot which is arranged concentrically around the swinging shaft and has the dimensions of a circular arch section of a predetermined length, of which the swinging shaft is the centre.
8. Drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses, in which the additional closing mechanism is arranged virtually diametrically opposite the closing spring.
9. Drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses, in which the closing spring is designed as a compression spring and a proximal end of which is fitted at a fixed position relative to the drive shaft and the other, distal end is coupled to a displaceably arranged spring cup, with the spring cup being connected to the drive shaft via a transmission means.
10. Drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses, in which the transmission means is a chain.
11. Swing door, comprising a frame, a door leaf which is rotatable about a vertical axis, provided with a drive unit according to one of the preceding clauses.
12. Swing door according to clause 11, in which at least the door leaf is made from a fire-retardant material.

The features of the above clauses can be added to one of the claims separately or in combination. In addition, the features mentioned in the description can be applied separately or in combination in the drive unit according to one of the claims. The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications which are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Drive unit (16) for a leaf (10) of a door, window or the like, comprising:
- a drive member (20) for driving the leaf (10), in which the drive member (20) is rotatable about a first rotary axis between a first position which corresponds to a first position of the leaf (10) and a second position which corresponds to a second position of the leaf (10),

- a main drive device (24) which is connected to the drive member (20) for driving the latter from the first position to the second position and vice versa,
characterized in that the drive unit (16) comprises an additional drive device (100) which is provided with:
- a tumbler member (108) which is pivotable between a waiting position and an operating position about a second rotary axis (110) which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the first rotary axis,

- a spring means (126) which is connected to the tumbler member (108) for pretensioning the tumbler member (108),
in which, in the waiting position, the tumbler member (108) is pretensioned by the spring means (126) for exerting a torque on the tumbler member (108) about the second rotary axis (110) in a first direction,
in which the tumbler member (108) is pivotable about the second rotary axis (110) from the waiting position to the operating position, counter to the pretension of the spring means (126), by rotating the drive member (20) from the first position to the second position,
in which, in the operating position, the tumbler member (108) is pretensioned by the spring means (126) for exerting a torque on the tumbler member (108) about the second rotary axis (110) in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, and in which, in said operating position, said torque is transmitted to the drive member (20) for exerting an additional torque on the drive member (20).
Drive unit according to claim 1, in which the first position of the drive member (20) corresponds to an open leaf (10), and in which the second position of the drive member (20) corresponds to a closed leaf (10), and in which the rotation of the drive member (20) from the first position to the second position defines a closing direction, and the rotation of the drive member (20) from the second position to the first position defines an opening direction, and in which the first direction of the torque exerted on the tumbler member (108) is equal to the closing direction of the drive member (20), and in which the tumbler member (108) is pivotable from the waiting position to the operating position in a direction of rotation which is opposite to the closing direction of the drive member (20).
Drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, in which the tumbler member (108) comprises a tumbler arm (108) with a first arm portion and a second arm portion, in which each of the arm portions extends substantially radially with respect to the second rotary axis (110), and in which the spring means (126) is connected to the second arm portion for exerting, in the waiting position, a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages eccentrically with respect to the second rotary axis (110) on a first side of the second rotary axis (110), and in which, when the tumbler arm (108) has pivoted from the waiting position to the operating position, the spring means (126) is displaced by the second arm portion for exerting, in the operating position, a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages eccentrically with respect to the second rotary axis (110) on a second side of the second rotary axis (110), which is situated opposite the first side thereof.
Drive unit according to claim 3, in which the tumbler arm (108) has a dead point position, in which the spring means (126) exerts a pretensioning force on the second arm portion which engages substantially on the second rotary axis (110), and in which the tumbler arm (108) moves through the dead point position when pivoting from the waiting position to the operating position.
Drive unit according to claim 3 or 4, in which the spring means comprises a first end and a second end, in which the first end is hingedly connected to the second arm portion about a third pivot axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the second rotary axis, and in which the spring means has a longitudinal direction which extends, in the waiting position, on the first side and, in the operating position, on the second side of the second rotary shaft (110).
Drive unit according to claim 5, in which the second end is arranged at a fixed position so as to be able to pivot about a fourth pivot axis which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the second rotary axis.
Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, in which the operating position is determined by a rotation angle from the second position of the drive member (20) which is smaller than 40°, for example smaller than 30° or smaller than 20°.
Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, in which the main drive device is provided with a motor (18) which is connected to the drive member (20) for driving the latter in at least the opening direction, and a closing spring (24) which is connected to the drive member (20) for driving the latter in the closing direction.
Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, in which the additional drive device is provided with coupling means for coupling a rotating movement of the drive member (20) about the first rotary axis from the first position to the second position to a pivoting movement of the tumbler member about the second rotary axis (110) from the waiting position to the operating position, and for transmitting the torque exerted on the tumbler member (108) in the operating position to the drive member (20).
Drive unit according to claim 9, in which the coupling means comprises a first coupling means (104) which is provided on the drive member (20), and a second coupling means (106, 130) which is provided on the tumbler member (108), and in which the first coupling means (104) and the second coupling means (106; 130) engage with one another across a predetermined area of the rotation angle of the drive member (20).
Drive unit according to claim 10, in which the first engagement means (104) and the second engagement means (106; 130) are arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that they engage with one another at a rotation angle of the drive shaft (20) of 0° to approximately ± 30°, more preferably 0° to approximately ± 20°.
Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, in which the drive unit (16) is provided with a second additional drive device (200) which is designed according to the features of one of the preceding claims.
Swing door, comprising a frame (12), a door leaf (10) rotatable about a vertical axis, provided with a drive unit according to one of the preceding claims.
Swing door according to claim 13, in which at least the door leaf (10) is made from a fire-retardant material.
Method for driving a leaf (10) of a door, window or the like, comprising:
- providing a drive unit (16) which is provided with:
• a drive member (20) for driving the leaf (10), in which the drive member (20) is rotatable about a first rotary axis between a first position which corresponds to a first position of the leaf (10) and a second position which corresponds to a second position of the leaf (10),

• a main drive device (24) which is connected to the drive member (20) for driving the latter from the first position to the second position and vice versa,

• an additional drive device (100) which is provided with:
- a tumbler member (108) which is pivotable between a waiting position and an operating position about a second rotary axis (110) which runs at a distance from and substantially parallel to the first rotary axis,

- a spring means (126) which is connected to the tumbler member (108) for pretensioning the tumbler member (108),
the method comprising:
- in the waiting position, pretensioning the tumbler member (108) by the spring means (126), with a torque being exerted on the tumbler member (108) about the second rotary axis (110) in a first direction,

- rotating the drive member (20) from the first position to the second position,

- pivoting the tumbler member (108) by rotating the drive member (20) from the first position to the second position, counter to the pretension of the spring means (126), about the second rotary axis (110) from the waiting position to the operating position,

- in the operating position, pretensioning the tumbler member (108) by the spring • means (126), with a torque being exerted on the tumbler member (108) about the second rotary axis (110) in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction,

- in said operating position, transmitting said torque to the drive member (20) for exerting an additional torque on the drive member (20).