Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CA 02290665 1999-11-19
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Support Piece Intended for a Mounting
for a Door Mechanism
The invention relates to doors opening against the ceiling
and with vertical travel such as garage doors.
It more particularly relates to the mechanism of such a door
(shaft, drum, spiral return spring), the mounting for
supporting this mechanism, and, finally, a support piece
forming part of this mounting.
Numerous variants of embodiments of doors, such as garage
doors, sectional or not, are already known.
General structures typical of such doors are described in
the documents US-A-3616575, DE-A-2702032, GB-A-703965, WO
96/36 784.
It is known that the mechanism of the door includes:
- a shaft positioned horizontally above the opening of the
.. door when the latter is mounted in position;
- a drum (and generally two) key-mounted on an extreme part
of the shaft, intended for winding a cable also connected
with the leaf of the door in its lower part;
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- a spiral return spring (and often two) mounted around the
shaft, one extreme part of which is rotatably immobilised -
so as to be fixed - and the other extreme part of which is
immobilised on the shaft, and therefore turns with it.
In most cases additional parts are provided for, in the form
of rings, mounted coaxially with the shaft and on it,
intended for the immobilisation of the corresponding extreme
parts of the spring.
Such a mechanism is supported by a mechanism comprising
typically two assemblies, one at each extreme part of the
shaft and the mechanism itself being designed to be fixed to
the doorframe of the construction containing the opening
with which the door is associated.
The known structures of the mounting and of the mechanism
are usually fairly complex with inherent disadvantages:
cost, difficulty of installation, size, weight for transport
etc.
The object of the invention is therefore to remedy these
disadvantages.
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a
support piece specially intended for a mounting comprising,
in addition to this support piece, a bearing and a fixing
flange, this mounting being especially intended to support a
mechanism for a door such as a garage door opening against
the ceiling and with vertical travel, the said mechanism
including particularly a shaft, at least one cable reel drum
and at least one spiral spring mounted around the shaft, the
.. said support piece forming a cradle to house the bearing,
the said cradle comprising at least one notch for
immobilisation of the first extreme part of the spring
CA 02290665 1999-11-19
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positioned towards the support piece, the second extreme
part of the spring being immobilised on the shaft.
According to other characteristics, the piece has the form
of a rigid folded wall comprising a first wing provided with
-5 a first curved cutout with the notch(es), a web with a free
passage prolonging the cutout, a second wing facing the
first wing and with a second curved cutout corresponding to
the first, the two cutouts and the free passage forming the
cradle, and a folded-back return wing adjacent to the second
wing, directed away from the first one, intended to be fixed
to the doorframe of the construction which is to house the
door.
In one embodiment, the second cutout has no notches.
The plane of the return wing is far enough away from the
plane of the web of the U to create a space for the cable
reel drum. This drum, in one embodiment, is cylindrical or
slightly truncated and its diameter is of the order of 65 to
75 mm.
In one embodiment, the support piece includes two notches at
least substantially diametrically opposed.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a
mounting for supporting a door mechanism such as mentioned
comprising two assemblies intended to be positioned on the
two extreme parts of the shaft, each assembly comprising .
- a support piece such as previously mentioned;
- a bearing mounted in the cradle of the support piece;
- a flange fixed rigidly to the support piece, in particular
to its web, by fixation means, thus immobilising the
bearing, the bearing housing the shaft, the first folded
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extreme part of the spring in the embodiment considered
being immobilised between the support piece and the bearing
in the immobilisation notch.
In a first embodiment, the flange and the bearing are a
single moulded piece.
In a second embodiment they are two separate pieces.
In one embodiment, a single support piece is provided with a
notch, while the other support piece has none, the mechanism
comprising only one spiral spring.
In another embodiment, both support pieces have notches, the
mechanism being capable of comprising two spiral springs.
According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a door
mechanism such as mentioned, the first extreme part of which
being situated towards the support piece and immobilised
between this support piece and the bearing.
This mechanism has no piece in the form of an added
immobilisation ring specifically intended for the
immobilisation of the first extreme part of the spring: Such
a piece in the form of an immobilisation ring is however
provided for the second extreme part of the spring
associated with the shaft.
The bearing includes of a first cylindrical part of smaller
diameter forming, inside a guide for the outer surface of
the shaft and a second cylindrical part of larger diameter
on the outside of which the drum is mounted, being provided
with a cavity for this purpose.
The annular wall connecting the two cylindrical parts is
intended to abut against or substantially against the second
wing of the support piece.
CA 02290665 1999-11-19
According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a
door such as mentioned, comprising .a leaf, sectional or not,
guide rails, rollers, a mechanism such as previously
mentioned, manual or motorised driving means and a mounting
5 such as that previously described.
This door is initially not installed. It is intended to be
installed in position in a construction including an opening
for which the door is intended.
The invention will be better understood thanks to the
following description with reference to the appended
drawings.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a garage door in
position, closed, from the inside of the construction with
which it is associated;
- figure 2 is a partial elevation of a mounting intended to
support the mechanism of a door such as that of figure l;
- figure 3 is a sectional view of the mechanism of figure 2
along the line III-III;
- figure 4 is a perspective view of the support piece
specially intended for. the mounting;
- figure 5 is a front view of the support piece;
- figure 6 is an axial side view of the support piece;
- figure 7 is a perspective view of the bearing and the
fixing flange;
In the particular and typical embodiment considered, a
construction includes an opening 1, such as the entrance of
a garage door, to which is associated a garage door 2 which
is mobile between a closed position and an open position.
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The door 2, in this embodiment, is sectional, the leaf 3
including a number of panels 4 associated one with another
so as to swivel around axes parallel to a direction D which
is horizontal and in the plane of the opening 1.
The leaf 3 is provided at its sides with rpllers cooperating
with guide rails 6 positioned on each side of the opening 1,
both vertically and horizontally above it. These rails 6 are
fixed to the doorframe of the construction surrounding the
opening 1.
In the embodiment considered driving means 7 are provided,
in this case manual, for opening and closing the leaf 3.
The door 2 also comprises a mechanism 8 supported by a
mounting 9, itself fixed to the doorframe above the opening
1, and in particular on each side of it.
The mounting 9 comprises, therefor, two approximately
analogous assemblies, symmetrically positioned opposite each
other. Only one of these two assemblies is described in
detail hereunder.
The mechanism 8 comprises a shaft 10 with an axis l0a
parallel with the direction D.
On each extreme part of the shaft 10 is fixed, in the
embodiment considered, a drum 12 spirally grooved on the
outside as in 13, which receives a cable 14 which is thus
rewound on the drum 12 , the said cable also being fixed at
its other extreme part to the lower end part of the leaf 3.
In another embodiment only one drum 12 and one cable 14 are
° provided for.
In the embodiment considered, the drum 12 has a generally
cylindrical shape. It is also possible for the drum 12 to
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have a slightly truncated shape. In that the leaf 3 is
lightened with respect to the conventional leaves of the
known state of the art, the drum 12 can have a reduced
diameter of the order of 65 to 75 mm.
Around the shaft 10 is coaxially mounted a spiral return
spring extending over a certain axial distance.
In another embodiment two spiral springs are provided for,
on each side of the door.
A first extreme part 16 of the'spribng 15 - in this case that
positioned towards an extreme part 11 - is rotatably
immobilised but is fixed with respect to the doorframe of
the construction.
The second and opposite extreme part 17 of the spring 15 -
in this case that positioned towards the central part of the
shaft 10 - is immobilised on the shaft 10 and therefore
cannot rotate with respect to it. For this purpose, an added
piece 18, in the form of a ring, is provided, mounted on the .
shaft 10 and keyed to it, possibly adjustable as to axial
position and in any case in relative angular position.
In the embodiment shown, the drum 12 includes on its
transverse face, on the side where it is connected to the
shaft 10, a recess 19, in which is mounted an added ring 20
interposed between the shaft 10 and the mounting 9.
The mounting 9 first comprises of a support, piece 21
intended to be fixed to the doorframe of the construction
and supporting the mechanism 8 and, where appropriate, other
elements or parts of the door, for instance the rails 6.
The mounting 9 further comprises a piece 22 which, in the
embodiment shown,.is monoblock and moulded to form both a
bearing 22a and a flange 22b.
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The mounting also comprises fixing means 23, such as screws,
for the rigid fixation of the flange 22b on the support
piece 21.
In another embodiment the bearing 22a and the flange 22b are
two separate pieces.
In the embodiment shown the support piece 21 is made using a
rigid folded metal.partition.
In this embodiment, the support piece 21 successively
comprises a first wing 24, a web 25, a second wing 26 and a
folded-back return wing 27.
The wing 24, the web 25 and the return wing 27 form a U
shape.
The folded-back return wing 27 is adjacent to the second
wing 26, on the edge opposite the web 25. It is oriented so
as to face the first wing 24.
In the embodiment shown, the second wing 26 fits in
elevation along an axial direction D and has an outline of
generally trapezoid shape with a wide base oriented towards
the folded-back return wing 27 which makes it possible to
have a folded-back return wing 27 with a larger area.
The folded-back return wing 27 has, in the embodiment
shown, a generally trapezoid shape in which one of the non-
parallel sides 28 corresponds to the junction with the
second wing 26.
The support piece 21 forms a cradle 2g to house the piece 22.
For this purpose, the first and second wings 24 and 26 are
each provided, respectively, with a curved cutout 30, 31
starting from the web 25.
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Consequently, the first wing 24 has, in elevation, a
generally semi-annular shape. The same applies to the second
wing 26, which has an outline of generally trapezoid shape
as previously mentioned.
The two cutouts 30; 31 are positioned facing each other
along the direction D.
In the embodiment shown, the two cutouts 30, 31 have a semi-
circular profile of analogous radius.
Other embodiments can be considered depending on the shape
of the piece 22.
The web 25 is made in two sections 25a, 25b, separated by a
free passage 32 extending and connecting the two cutouts 30,
31.
The cradle 29 is formed by the two cutouts 30,31 and the
passage 32. The cradle 29 is adapted to the shape of the
piece 22 which it is intended to support so that the piece
22 can be positioned and removed by a simple radial
translation, i.e. perpendicularly to the plane of the
opening 1.
The folded-back return wing 27 forms a plate for fixation to
the doorframe. For this purpose it includes appropriate
holes 33 with which fixing screws or bolts can be used.
Where appropriate, the support piece 21 also includes
openings, passages, cutouts etc. for functional purposes.
In the embodiment shown the first cutout 30 is provided with
two notches 34 at least substantially diametrically opposed,
and consequently situated near the edge 35 where the first
wing 24 is connected with the web 25.
CA 02290665 1999-11-19
In this embodiment, the second wing 31 has no notch such as
34.
Other embodiments can also be considered. Thus the cutout 30
may include only one notch 34 or conversely more than two
5 notches. This notch or these notches 34. may be positioned
differently in the cutout 30. In another embodiment a
succession of notches 34 is, provided for, the cutout 30
having a generally indented shape. Besides, the second
cutout 31 may be provided with notch(es).
10 In a first embodiment, a support piece 21 of one of the two
assemblies of the mounting 9 is provided with the notches)
34 while the other support piece has none. Such an
embodiment is intended for a mechanism 8 comprising only one
spiral spring 15.
In a second embodiment the two support pieces 21 of the two
assemblies of the mounting 9 are provided with notches. The
mechanism 8 can then include one or two spiral springs 15.
The plane of the folded-back return wing 27 is far enough
away from the plane of the web 25 to create a space 36 for
housing the drum 12.
The structure which has just been described is well adapted
to the case of a cylindrical drum 12 of small diameter, the
support piece 21 remaining of acceptable dimensions while
still retaining excellent rigidity.
The piece 22 includes, in the embodiment concerned, a first
cylindrical part 37 having a certain axial length and of
smaller diameter and a second cylindrical part 38 having a
small axial length but a greater diameter. The two
cylindrical parts 37, 38 are connected by a transverse
30' annular connecting wall 39.
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In the embodiment shown, in which the flange 22b is-
manufactured in one piece as a monoblock with the part 22a,
the flange is positioned on the first cylindrical part 37
and more particularly near the wall 39.
The first cylindrical part 37, inside, forms a bearing for
the outer surface of the shaft 10, which passes through the
piece 22.
The wall 39 is intended to abut against or substantially
against the second wing 26 in the space 36.
As for the second cylindrical part 38, housed partly in the
space 36, partly above, its outside forms a bearing for the
cylindrical internal face of the drum 12.
Additionally, the second cylindrical part 38 also forms,
this time inside, a housing for the ring 20.
It is understood that the term « bearing » and the
corresponding tolerances must be considered relatively
depending on the type of application considered.
The structure described is such that the axial dimensions of
the mechanism are limited, since the latter does not
protrude outside the door 2.
Positioning operations are carried out as follows:
The support pieces 21 of the two assemblies are intended to
be suitably fixed to the doorframe by means of the folded
back return wing 27 which forms a fixing plate, and the
appropriate screws or bolts.
Besides, the pieces 22, on each side of the shaft 10, are
positioned and supported by the cradle 29 of the two support
pieces 21.
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Immobilisation is achieved by means of the flanges 22b and
the fixation means 23.
The first extreme part 16 of the spring 15 is immobilised by
being interposed between the support piece 21 and the piece
22 in the notch 34.
The notch 34 is therefore of a size and shape adapted to,
more pazticularly complementary to, the size and shape of
the extreme part 16.
In the embodiment considered the extreme part 16 is bent
back into a hook manufactured in one piece, the hook coming
behind the second wing 26.
Consequently, it is not necessary to provide, as was
conventionally the case, for an added piece in the form of
an immobilising ring specifically - intended for the
immobilisation of the first extreme part 16.
Thanks to the mounting structure described, the balancing
mechanism can thus be pre-assembled and pre-adjusted, in
particular in the factory or as part of after-sales service.
Furthermore the balancing mechanism can be assembled and
disassembled from the front in the embodiments described,
using the fixing devices 23 of the flange 22b to the support
piece 21, which makes for great ease of use.
In addition, the fixation of the mounting 9 to the doorframe
of the construction which is to house the door allows this
mounting to be pre-mounted, as against fixing directly to
the masonry which calls for a lengthy installation time and
adjustments, especially of alignment.
