EP2638226B1

EP2638226B1 - Operator device for swing gates

Info

Publication number: EP2638226B1
Application number: EP11797133.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Laurina Stagnoli
Original assignee: Stagnoli T G Srl
Current assignee: Stagnoli T G Srl
Priority date: 2010-11-12
Filing date: 2011-11-11
Publication date: 2016-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2031-11-11
Also published as: IT1402476B1; ITBS20100182A1; EP2638226A1; WO2012063226A1; CN103237947A

Description

The present invention relates to an operator device for opening/closing gates, in particular a linear type operator with coaxial telescopic stem.
In one known embodiment, such operator device comprises an outer tubular body which extends mainly along a longitudinal axis and having a proximal extremity suitable for being hinged to a fixed upright of the gate, and a mobile stem inserted telescopically inside the outer tubular body and having a distal extremity suitable for being hinged to a leaf of the gate. The mobile stem is commanded to translate in relation to the outer tubular body by means of a motor apparatus, comprising for example a worm placed in rotation by the motor of such motor apparatus and along which the mobile stem slides.
In the movement of the swing gates the possibility of adjusting the travel of the mobile stem once the gate and the operator device have been mounted in situ is often requested, both because in some cases the strike plate fixed to the ground for closing the gate is missing, and to compensate any imprecision caused by the structure or mounting of the gate, and because it may be necessary to limit the travel of the leaf in relation to the maximum possible aperture.
Attempts have therefore been made to fit the operator devices of the type described above with elements for the limitation of the travel, but such elements were made outside the device body with evident disadvantages of an aesthetic and functional nature, being exposed to atmospheric agents and to dirt. In addition, in actual fact, the limitation of the travel was only achieved on opening the leaf, fitting a limit stop ring on the mobile stem so that, returning inside the outer tubular body it abuts against said body stopping the travel of the stem. Examples of devices for the automatic opening of doors, gates or any other closures, provided with elements for the limitation of the travel, are disclosed in US 2 882 045 A1 and FR 2 542 362 A1 . FR-A-2542362 discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1.
The object of the present invention is to propose an operator device of swing gates in which the travel of the leaf can be adjusted both on opening and closing, and in any case able to overcome the above cited drawbacks.
Such object is achieved by an operator device according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention.
The features and advantages of the operator device according to the invention will be evident from the following description of its preferred embodiments, made by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of the operator device according to the invention, where the protection element of the end-stroke elements has been removed;
Figure 2 is a ground view from below of the device of figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to the previous, but with the protection element attached to the device;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of an end portion of the mobile stem and of the worm of the motor apparatus;
Figure 6 shows, in a perspective view, the end portion of the tube of the mobile stem and of one of the two parts of a translation bush which couple to the worm for the translation of the mobile stem;
Figure 7 shows, in a perspective view, the end portion of the tube of the mobile stem and of the other of the two parts of the translation bush;
Figure 8 shows the translation bush inserted in one extremity of the tube of the mobile stem;
Figures 9 and 10 are two exploded views, from above and from below, of the end portion of the mobile stem fitted on the worm of the motor apparatus;
Figure 11 is a view from below of a portion of the operator device at one limit-stop body;
Figure 12 is an axial cross-section of the portion of figure 11, along the line A-A of such figure;
Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the stop element alone of an end-stroke element of the device;
Figure 14 is a transversal cross-section of the operator device at one end-stroke element; and
Figure 15 shows, in perspective view from below, the operator device fitted on a swing gate.

In said drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes an operator device for swing gates.
According to one general embodiment, the operator device 1 comprises an outer tubular body 10, for example of a cylindrical shape, which extends along a longitudinal axis X and having a proximal extremity 10' suitable for being hinged to a fixed upright 3 of the gate 2.
A mobile stem 12 is inserted telescopically in the outer tubular body 10 having a distal extremity 12"suitable for being hinged to a leaf 4 of the gate 2. For its axial translation in relation to the outer tubular body 10, the mobile stem 12 is moved by a motor apparatus 14.
In one embodiment, said motor apparatus 14 comprises an electric motor 15. Advantageously, the electric motor 15 is directly attached to the outer tubular body 10, preferably next to the proximal extremity 10'.
Said electric motor 15 is suitable for moving in rotation a worm 16 which extends axially inside the outer tubular body 10.
In one embodiment, the mobile stem 12 comprises an inner tubular body 18, for example of a cylindrical shape, placed coaxially around the worm 16 and at least one translation bush 20 joined to said inner tubular body 18 and having a threaded axial hole 21 coupling to the thread of the worm 16. Preferably, the translation bush 20 is inserted and attached in the open proximal extremity 18' of the inner tubular body 18, that is the extremity facing towards the fixed upright 3 of the gate.
Consequently, the distal extremity 12" of the mobile stem 12 being constrained to the leaf 4 of the gate, and therefore prevented from rotating, and each translation bush 20 being joined to the tubular body 18 of the mobile stem 12, a rotation of the worm 16 corresponds to an axial translation of the mobile stem 12.
In the outer tubular body 10 a longitudinal slot 24 is made at least near one end, but advantageously at both ends of said body, that is a through hole of an elongated shape in the direction of the longitudinal axis X of the outer tubular body 10.
Each longitudinal slot 24 is engaged by an end-stroke element 30 comprising a stop element 32 inside the outer tubular body 10. In other words, the stop element 32 extends radially from the inner wall of the outer tubular body 10 towards the inside of said body.
The mobile stem 12 comprises, at each end-stroke element 30, a radial abutment boss 40 suitable to axially engage the stop element 32 so as to stop the translation of the mobile stem 12.
Advantageously, each end-stroke element 30 is translatable along the respective longitudinal slot 24 so as to be stably fixed in a desired axial position to define a limit stop position of the operator device.
In a preferred embodiment, each end-stroke element 30 comprises a blocking screw 34 inserted in the longitudinal slot 24, the stop element 32 being screwed to the extremity of said blocking screw 34 inside the outer tubular body 10.
The head 34' of the screw 34 acts on a locking plate 36 which rests on the outer wall of the external tubular body 10 so as to enable locking of the stop element 32 to the inner wall of the outer tubular body 10 following screwing up of the blocking screw 34.
Advantageously, the stop element 32 has a plate-shape structure fitted with tips 32' resting on the inner wall of the outer tubular body 10. When the stop element 32 is tightened by the blocking screw 34, such tips 32' cut into said inner wall, ensuring the stable axial positioning of the end-stroke element 30.
Returning to the translation bush 20, in a preferred embodiment it is composed of two half-bushes 20', 20", each of a substantially semi-cylindrical shape. Advantageously, the radial abutment boss 40 is made in one piece with the body of the half-bush 20 facing towards the end-stroke element 30.
In one embodiment, said radial abutment boss 40 is made in a portion of the translation bush 20 remaining inside the inner tubular body 18 of the mobile stem 12, and projects radially from said body passing through a hole 42 made in it.
Advantageously, during prolonged use of the operator device, in order to prevent the translation bush 20 from accidentally rotating in relation to the inner tubular body 18 of the mobile stem, for example thereby risking damage of the radial abutment boss 40, the two half-bushes 20', 20" are fitted with further anti-rotation radial protuberances 44, for example in the form of circular studs, which are inserted in corresponding holes 45 made in the inner tubular body 18 of the mobile stem 12.
Moreover, to prevent, for example on account of incorrect installation of the operator device on the gate, that the mobile stem 12 should be slightly inclined or out of line with the outer tubular body 10 by an angle such as to prevent the correct abutment of the radial abutment boss 40 against the stop element 32, especially during the exit phase of the mobile stem 12, an alignment plate 50 is attached, for example by screwing, to the anti-rotation radial protuberances 44 of the half-bush 20" opposite the end-stroke elements 30. Said alignment plate 50 constitutes a thickness which is interposed between the inner tubular body 18 of the mobile stem 12 and the inner wall of the outer tubular body 10, ensuring the correct alignment of the radial abutment boss 40 and the stop element 32.
It is to be noted that the realisation of translation bush 20 in two separate half-bushes 20', 20" makes it possible, at the moment of assembling the operator device, to insert one half-bush at a time in the inner tubular element 18, leaving in any case a certain play between the two half-bushes inserted and the inner wall of the outer tubular body 10, thereby permitting the radial abutment boss 40 and the further radial anti-rotation protuberances 44 to enter inside said tubular element 18 to then come out of their respective holes. Following the insertion of the worm 16 in the threaded hole 21 of the translation bush 20, the two half-bushes 20', 20" are kept resting against the inner wall of the inner tubular body 18 (figure 12). Such expedient advantageously makes it possible to make the radial abutment boss 40 and the radial anti-rotation protuberances 44 in one piece with the body of the half-bushes 20', 20".
According to a preferred embodiment, a protection element 60 is placed on the outer tubular body 10 which covers at least the portion of said tubular body where the longitudinal slots 24 with relative end-stroke elements 30 are situated.
Such end-stroke elements 30 are therefore completely concealed from view and do not alter the overall appearance of the operator device; in addition, the internal elements of the operator device are protected from atmospheric agents and from dirt.
By removing the protection element 60, the travel of the operator device, and therefore of the leaf of the gate, may be easily regulated, both on opening and closing of the leaf, by loosening the blocking screw 34 and making the end-stroke elements slide along the respective longitudinal slots. Once the correct position has been identified, said elements are stably fixed in the chosen position by screwing up the blocking screw.
A person skilled in the art may make modifications, adaptations and replacements of elements with others functionally equivalent to the embodiments of the operator device according to the invention, so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the scope of protection of the following claims. Each of the characteristics described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other embodiments described.

Claims

Operator device for moving the leaf of a swing gate, comprising an outer tubular body (10) which extends mainly along a longitudinal axis (X) and having a proximal extremity (10') suitable for being hinged to a fixed upright (3) of the gate, a mobile stem (12) inserted telescopically in the outer tubular body (10) and having a distal extremity (12") suitable for being hinged to a leaf (4) of the gate, and a motor apparatus (14) able to move said mobile stem (12); the mobile stem (12) having an abutment suitable to axially engage a step element (32) inside the outer tubular body (10) providing a limit stop position of the operator device;
and wherein the motor apparatus (14) comprises a worm (16) which extends axially inside the outer tubular body (10) and which is susceptible to be placed in rotation by the motor (15) of the motor apparatus, the mobile stem (12) comprising an inner tubular body (18) placed coaxially around the worm (16) and a translation bush (20) joined to said inner tubular body (18) and having a threaded axial hole (21) coupling to the thread of the worm (16), said distal extremity (12") of the mobile stem (12) being opposite to the open proximal extremity (18') of the inner tubular body (18) facing towards the fixed upright (3),
said operator device being characterized in that in the outer tubular body (16) a longitudinal slot (24) is provided at least near one end, said longitudinal slot (24) being engaged by an end-stroke element (30) comprising said stop element (32) inside the outer tubular body (10), and wherein said abutment of the mobile stem (12) comprises a radial abutment boss (40) suitable to axially engage the stop element (32) so as to stop the mobile stem, the end-stroke element (30) being translatable along the longitudinal slot (24) so as to be fixed in a desired axial position to define a limit stop position of the operator device; and wherein a protection element (60) is placed on the outer tubular body (10) which covers at least the portion of said tubular body where the longitudinal slot with relative end-stroke element (30) is situated.
Operator device according to claim 1, wherein the radial abutment boss (40) is integrally formed with the body of the translation bush (20).
Operator device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the end-stroke element (30) comprises a blocking screw (34) inserted in the longitudinal slot (24), the stop element (32) being screwed to the extremity of the blocking screw inside the outer tubular body, the head of the screw acting on a locking plate (36) which rests on the outer wall of the external tubular body (10) so as to enable locking of the stop element (32) to the inner wall of the outer tubular body (10) following screwing up of the blocking screw (34).
Operator device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the stop element (32) is plate-shaped fitted with tips (32') suitable to cut into the inner wall of the outer tubular body (10) when the end-stroke element (30) is fixed in the desired axial position.
Operator device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the translation bush (20) is composed of two separate half-bushes (20', 20") inserted in an extremity of the inner tubular body (18) of the mobile stem (12), the radial abutment boss (40) being made in a portion of the translation bush (20) remaining inside said inner tubular body (18) and projecting radially from this body passing through a hole (42).
Operator device according to claim 5, wherein the two half-bushes (20', 20") are fitted with further anti-rotation radial protuberances (44) for example in the form of circular studs which are inserted in corresponding holes (45) made in the inner tubular body (18) of the mobile stem (12).
Operator device according to claim 6, wherein an alignment plate (50) is attached, for example by screwing, to said radial anti-rotation protuberances (44) of the half-bush (20") opposite the end-stroke element (30) and which, by positioning itself between the inner tubular body (18) of the mobile stem (12) and the inner wall of the outer tubular body (10), ensures the correct alignment of the radial abutment boss (40) and the stop element (32).