FLEXIBLE CURTAIN CLOSURE DEVICE DRIVE AND CONTAINMENT MECHANISM

MECANISME D'ENTRAINEMENT ET DE RETENUE POUR LA FERMETURE D'UN RIDEAU FLEXIBLE

English Abstract

A roll-up closure device (Fig. 1) comprising a light weight flexible curtain
(1), an
extruded profiled edge (2), a synchronizing drive mechanism (3), a vertical
retaining
means (6) and a take up means (7). Said roll-up closure device eliminates the
need for
horizontal retaining mechanism positioned across the opening and the counter
balance
devices commonly associated with light weight flexible curtain roll-up closure
devices as
a means of preventing the curtain from being pulled out of the vertical
retaining guides
due to differential pressures that may exist in the closure device
environment.

Claims

CLAIMS:
The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is
claimed
are defined as follows:
1. A closure device (Fig. 1) comprising a light weight flexible curtain (1),
an
extruded profiled edge (2), a synchronizing drive mechanism (3), a vertical
retaining means (6) and a take up means (7).
2. A closure device as specified in claim 1 wherein said extruded profiled
edge
(2) is permanently attached to the vertical edges of said light weight
flexible
curtain (1) (Fig. 2) in such a manner as to allow said light weight flexible
curtain
(1) to be inserted into said vertical retaining means (6) (Fig. 3). Said
extruded
profiled edge (2) in conjunction with said vertical retaining means (6)
combine to
maintain a horizontal tension on said light weight flexible curtain (1) in
such a
manner as to retain said light weight flexible curtain (1) within said
vertical
retaining means (6)
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FLEXIBLE CURTAIN CLOSURE DEVICE DRIVE AND CONTAINMENT
MECHANISM
when said closure device is exposed to differential pressures during said
closure
device operation (Fig. 1).
3. A closure device as specified in claim 1 or 2 wherein said synchronizing
drive mechanism (3) consists of semi rigid rod (8) (Fig. 4) inserted inside
said
extruded profiled edge (2) in such a manner as to create a means by which to
push
said light weight flexible curtain (1) down into said vertical retaining means
(6).
4. A closure device as specified in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said synchronizing
drive mechanism (3) consists of a driven roller mechanism (9) (Fig. 4A) that
compresses said extruded profiled edge (2) between two counter rotating
rollers
(9A)(9B) (Fig. 4A) in such a manner as to drive said light weight flexible
curtain
(1) down into said vertical retaining means (6) (Fig. 5 & 6) during said
closure
device operation.
5. A closure device as specified in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein said
synchronizing drive mechanism (3) consists of a tensioned continuous belt (10)
(Fig. 5) positioned around said extruded profiled edge (2) where said extruded
profiled edge (2) comes into contact with said take up means (7) in such a
manner
as to create a synchronized drive means between said driven roller mechanism
(9)
and said take up means (7) capable of varying the contact radius of said
tensioned
continuous belt (10) (Fig. 5) to ensure a constant contact with said extruded
profiled edge (1) as the combined diameter of said extruded profiled edge (2)
and
said take up means (7) varies during said closure device operation.
6. A closure device as specified in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 wherein said
synchronizing drive mechanism (3) consists of a driven wheel mechanism (11)
(Fig. 6) mounted on a tensioned radius arm (11A) (Fig. 6) positioned in such a
manner as to maintain a constant contact between said driven wheel mechanism
(11) (Fig. 6) and said extruded profiled edge (2) where said extruded profiled
edge (2) comes into contact with said take up means (7) in such a manner as to
create a synchronized drive means between said driven roller mechanism (9) and
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FLEXIBLE CURTAIN CLOSURE DEVICE DRIVE AND CONTAINMENT
MECHANISM
said take up means (7) as the combined diameter of said extruded profiled edge
(2) and said take up means (7) varies during said closure device operation.

Description

CA 02426217 2003-04-22
FLEXIBLE CURTAIN CLOSURE DEVICE DRIVE AND CONTAINMENT
MECHANISM
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Said invention overcomes the Umitations and problems commonly associated with
the
atandard counter Valance devices an~i'iorizontal retainine mechanisms usc<i ~o
light
weight flexible curtain roll-up elos~.ire devices by incorporating an extruded
profiled edge
that is attached to the vertical edges of~a light weight flexible curtain, the
extruded
profiled edges in conjunction with a vertical retaining means then combine to
form a
horizontal tensioning and retaining mechanism for the light weight flexible
curtain. A
synchronizing drive mechanism is then used to synchronize the closure device
drive
means to the closure device take-up means in order to control the light weight
flexible
curtains opening and closing as well as to maintain a vertical tension on the
light weight
flexible curtain. The application of these two methods combine to generate an
efficient,
safe and economical means of controlling the effects of differential pressures
in the
closure device environment.

CA 02426217 2003-04-22
FLEXIBLE CI1RTAIN CI,OSIJRE DEVICE DRIVE AND CONTAINMENT
MECHANISM
F1ELD OF THE INVENTION:
This invention relates to closure devices. A closure device being any
mechanism or
device used for the purpose of closing an opening. More particularly, the
invention
relates to light weight flexible curtain roll-up closure devices designed to
close an
opening by moving a curtain vertically up or down over the opening from a
fully open
position to a fully closed position or any intermediate position that may
partially close the
opening.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
The fundamental benefits generally associated with lightweight flexible
curtain roll-
up closure devices are ease of maintenance and the resistance to damage due to
impact or
collision to both the closure device and the vehicle or persons involved.
It is common in light weight flexible curtain roll-up closure devices to use
counter
balance tensioning devices such as springs or weights, as a means of
maintaining a
vertical tension on the lightweight flexible curtain and controlling the
opening and
closing of the closure device. 'T'he use of such counter balance devices can
render
maintenance difficult, complicated and excessive.
It is also common in light weight flexible curtain roll-up closure devices to
use a rigid
horizontal retaining mechanism, such as a metal tube or bar, positioned across
the
opening as a means of preventing the lightweight flexible curtain from being
pulled out
of the vertical retaining guides due to differential pressures that commonly
exist in the
closure device environment. The use of such a horizontal retaining mechanisms
can
virtually negate the use of a lightweight flexible curtain closure device as a
safe, impact
or collision resistant closure device.
04/ 19103

Representative Drawing