Gate

0001The invention relates to a door according to the preamble of claim 1.

0002Doors with door leaves having a plurality of tilting axes that can be tilted relative to one another, are used in the form of garage doors and in the form of industrial doors for closing passages in garages and industrial halls. In both cases, the door leaf is usually arranged approximately in a vertical plane in the closed position and approximately in a horizontal plane in the open position overhead. To guide the door leaf movement between the closed position and the open position, there are usually guide rails with an approximately straight and approximately parallel to the lateral edge of the door leaf in the closed position, a further approximately straight and approximately parallel to the side edge of the door leaf in the open position, horizontal section and one of the two straight sections interconnecting arcuate section provided. In order to enable the door leaf to move along the arcuate section, the door leaf elements of the door leaf are connected to one another such that they can be tilted relative to one another about tilt axes running perpendicular to the guide rails.

0003If a person wants to leave a room closed with such a door, the door leaf, which has a width of 5 m or more in the case of industrial doors, must be moved as a whole from the closed position into the open position. This not only means a considerable increase in the load on the mechanical elements of the door leaf, but is also associated with a considerable expenditure of time. To solve these problems, it has already been proposed to integrate a door into the door leaf with a door leaf that can be pivoted about a pivot axis with respect to the adjacent door leaf elements that is approximately perpendicular to the tilting axes and in the closed position of the door leaf. Such a "wicket door" makes it possible to leave the area closed by the door leaf without opening the door leaf as a whole. Rather, only the door leaf integrated into the door leaf has to be opened by pivoting about the pivot axis. In order to enable an opening movement of the door leaf with the door leaf integrated therein, the door leaf of such constructions usually also consists of a plurality of door leaf elements which can be tilted relative to one another and which are collinear with the tilting axes.

0004In such constructions it must be ensured that the door leaf with the door leaf integrated therein does not sag in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane in the open position in which the door leaf is arranged approximately in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, in the course of the closing position, it must be ensured that the door leaf elements arranged on both sides of the door leaf do not move away from one another in the direction of the tilting axes. This problem is particularly evident in industrial doors in which door leaf drive devices are used with traction means coupled to the lower door leaf elements in the closed position on the two lateral edges of the door leaf. In these constructions, the action of the traction means on the side edges of the door leaf can promote the tendency for the door leaf elements arranged on both sides of the door leaf elements to spread open in the direction of the tilting axes.

0005In the case of conventional doors of the type described at the outset, the required stability can be achieved with the aid of stabilizing arrangements in the form of a frame frame completely surrounding the recess receiving the door leaf and fastened to adjacent door leaf elements. The frame element forming the lower edge of the recess is usually attached to a cutout of the lower door leaf element that forms the lower edge. In this way, with the aid of the lower door leaf element, which in this case extends over the entire door leaf width, and the lower frame element, sufficient stability of the overall construction is achieved. However, the lower door leaf element together with the lower frame element attached to it forms a trip edge. For this reason, the conventional wicket doors incorporated in a door leaf are not recognized as an escape route.

0006To solve this problem when using conventional wicket doors, the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO01055543A"><text>WO 01/055543</text></patcit> A further development of the known goals is proposed in which the door leaf received in the door leaf extends to the floor in the closed state of the door while avoiding the formation of a trip edge. The required stability of this overall construction in the open position and during the closing movement is to be achieved in the door known from the cited document by a stabilization arrangement in the form of a locking device, which counteracts a movement of the door leaf or the neighboring door leaf elements in the door leaf open position. For this purpose, the door known from the cited document has at least one push bolt that can be horizontally displaced parallel to the tilting axes in the bottom area of ​​the frame arrangement or the door leaf, which in the locking position engages in an opening in the frame or the door leaf. Furthermore, the stabilization arrangement of the known gate in the form of the locking device comprises a locking element which can be pivoted about an axis running parallel to the pivot axis and which is pushed to the side by the pushing bolt when the pushing bolt is moved into the opening, this locking element with a detent-like end behind the edge an abutment on the door or gate segment grasps and engages there. This is intended to prevent movement of the door leaf elements arranged on both sides of the door leaf in the horizontal direction in the main plane of the door in order to prevent the above-described opening of a gap between door leaf and frame or adjacent door leaf elements during the opening or closing movement of the door leaf.

0007In the <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5673740A"><text>U.S. 5,673,740 A</text></patcit> describes a roller door with an integrated wicket door in which a stabilizing bar is arranged at the lower edge of the wicket door.

0008In Scripture "<nplcit id="ncit0001" npl-type="b"><text>Doors and door accessories, DIN 18024 Part 2 of November 1996 "in" DIN Taschenbuch 240, August 31, 2003 (2003-08-31), Beuth Verlag GmbH, XP 55038108, Volume 3, pages 44 to 47</text></nplcit>"It is stated that lower door stops and thresholds, insofar as they are technically absolutely necessary, must not be higher than 2 cm.

0009In the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP1375798A1"><text>EP 1 375 798 A1</text></patcit> hinge arrangements are described with which wicket door leaves can be integrated into sectional door leaves.

0010In the <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="DE1659585"><text>DE 1 659585</text></patcit> Sectional doors with bottom seals are described, in which a fastening section of a sealing element is received in an open channel between lateral edges of a channel. The side walls of the canal fall in a ramp.

0011In the <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US20020046494A1"><text>US 2002/0046494 A1</text></patcit> describes a non-contact safety device that can be used as a closing edge safety device for a sectional door.

0012When using in the <patcit id="pcit0006" dnum="WO01055543A"><text>WO 01/055543</text></patcit> the goals described, however, it has been shown that despite the measures described in a door leaf opening and closing movement, there is a considerable gap between the door leaf and the adjacent door leaf elements due to the play in the movement of the push bolt and locking element, which is inevitable to ensure reliable operation, and the door leaf is in the open position overall sags in an unacceptable manner in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door leaf. In view of these problems, a further training course in the <patcit id="pcit0007" dnum="WO01055543A"><text>WO 01/055543</text></patcit> proposed goals, in which the locking device forming the stabilization arrangement has at least one locking element which can be moved in a plane running approximately perpendicular to the tilting axes, preferably approximately parallel to the pivoting axis. With this development, the gap formation described can be prevented. However, the stabilization arrangement designed in this way is associated with a considerable constructional expense.

0013In view of the above-described problems in the prior art, the invention is based on the object of providing a structurally simple door of the type mentioned, which on the one hand meets the requirements for an escape route and on the other hand has sufficient overall stability.

0014According to the invention, this object is achieved by the further development of the known goals specified in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

0015This invention is based on the knowledge that the deformations of the door leaf observed in the conventional doors of the type described at the beginning by bending in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane on the one hand and by spreading the door leaf elements adjacent to the recess receiving the door leaf on the other hand by structurally separated elements of the Stabilization arrangement can be prevented, whereby only the element of the stabilization arrangement counteracting the sagging of the door leaf in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane has to be arranged in the area of ​​the lower edge of the recess receiving the door leaf, while the observed spreading of the door leaf elements adjacent to the recess is also carried out by a stabilizing element arranged above the recess and in the simplest case can even be prevented by an upper door leaf element. The sagging in a direction running perpendicular to the plane of the door leaf can already be achieved effectively with a stabilizing element designed as a threshold element, which only has a considerable expansion and corresponding extent in the bending direction. Has stability, while it only has to have a small height in the direction of the pivot axis running perpendicular thereto, because stabilization in this direction by the further, possibly The stabilizing element arranged above the recess takes place. The threshold element can therefore be designed with a particularly low height of less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, particularly preferably less than 8 mm, in particular 5 mm or less of the edges in the area of ​​the edges running parallel to the tilting axes. Because of this low height of the threshold element, there are no concerns when using the wicket door integrated into the door leaf of a door according to the invention as an escape door.

0016To obtain a sufficient stabilizing effect in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door leaf, the width of the threshold element in this direction is greater than the door leaf thickness in this direction. In doors according to the invention, it is more than 250% of the door leaf thickness, in particular 300% of the door leaf thickness or more, the threshold element extending over the entire door leaf thickness in order to achieve better stabilization on the one hand and to avoid excessive protrusion over the door leaf thickness on the other. With a view to obtaining a balanced compromise between stability on the one hand and costs and space requirements on the other, the width of the threshold element is expediently less than 350%, preferably 300% or less of the door leaf thickness.

0017To obtain the desired stabilizing effect, the width of the threshold element has a value of 100 mm or more, particularly preferably 120 mm or more, in particular 140 mm or more, regardless of the door leaf thickness.

0018In order to obtain a stabilizing effect counteracting the deflection in a direction running parallel to the pivot axes and to simultaneously provide a receptacle for a sealing element provided on the lower edge of the door leaf, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if it is preferably at least partially made of a material with a tensile strength of more than 120 N / mm², especially more than 370 N / mm², particularly preferably more than. 540 N / mm² formed threshold element in the region of at least one of its preferably approximately parallel to the tilt axes extending edges to form a retainer extending in the direction of the tilt axes for a sealing element in its lower boundary surface in the closed position of the door leaf is bent back on itself. In order to obtain a reasonable compromise between stability on the one hand and costs and processing capability on the other hand, it has proven to be advantageous if the threshold element has a tensile strength of less than 1000 N / mm², preferably less than 900 N / mm², especially less than 750 N / mm² has, the tensile strength range from 540 to 750 N / mm² has proven particularly beneficial.

0019Additionally or alternatively, the threshold element can have a channel extending approximately parallel to the tilting axes and open downward in the closed position between its lateral edges, which can be used to accommodate a fastening section of the sealing element.

0020To avoid a trip edge in the area of ​​this channel, which is preferably formed approximately centrally between the side edges of the threshold element, it has proven to be expedient if the side boundary walls of the channel slope down in the direction of the side edges of the threshold element, preferably at an angle in the closed position include less than 60% with a horizontal plane.

0021In all embodiments of the invention, with regard to the desired stumbling block, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the total height of the threshold element is less than 22 mm, preferably less than 12 mm, particularly preferably less than 10 mm, in particular 7 mm or less, even if, even with threshold elements with a higher total height, the formation of a trip edge can still be prevented by providing appropriate ramp-shaped wall elements.

0022Threshold elements of goals according to the invention are preferably made of a material with high tensile strength, such as steel, with a material thickness of 3 mm or less, preferably 2 mm or less, which can optionally be stabilized by additional cranks or bends. In the context of the invention, however, the use of threshold elements made of other materials, such as composite materials, for example glass fiber reinforced plastic, or Kevlar, if necessary in connection with steel, thought. With material thicknesses of 3 mm or less or 2 mm or less, threshold elements can be produced with a channel serving to accommodate a sealing element while avoiding an excessive height of the threshold element. If a sealing element is not required and / or the sealing element can be attached below the threshold element without using a channel formed in the threshold element, threshold elements made of a material with a material thickness of 7 mm or less, in particular 6 mm or less, are also permitted. particularly preferably 5 mm or less is conceivable. In this case, a material thickness of about 5 mm is particularly useful.

0023As already mentioned above, with a view to obtaining a tight opening closure in the closed position of the door leaf, it has proven to be useful if a sealing element extending approximately parallel to the tilting axes is attached in the area of ​​the lower boundary surface of the threshold element in the closed position, which according to an embodiment of the invention extends over the entire width of the door leaf. The sealing element can have a fastening section, preferably at least partially accommodated in the channel of the threshold element, and at least one, preferably two or more, sealing tabs sloping downwards in opposite directions, starting therefrom. A particularly good sealing effect is obtained if at least one edge of at least one sealing tab facing away from the fastening section is bent upwards at least in sections in the closed position, because this edge is then pushed against the lower boundary surface of the threshold element by the sealing tab resting on the bottom of the opening to be closed so as to provide a reliable seal between the floor and the threshold element. In connection with the use of a securing device forming a further aspect of the invention, it has proven to be particularly expedient if the sealing element is penetrated, preferably in the region of its fastening section, by a cable duct which may be open at the top and approximately in the direction of the tilting axes. A connecting cable between individual elements of a safety device for a gate according to the invention can be inserted into this cable duct.

0024When the closed position is reached, the sealing tabs of the sealing element are bent upwards with respect to the fastening section. Excessive wear of the sealing element as a result of this bend can be prevented if at least one sealing tab is connected to the fastening section via at least one desired bending point of small material thickness.

0025According to the invention, the desired stabilizing effect is achieved particularly reliably because the threshold element is attached to the lower edges of the door leaf elements adjacent to the recess in the direction of the tilting axes in the closed position. Taking into account the fact that the individual door leaf elements are manufactured uniformly in large-scale production regardless of their subsequent place of use, the invention provides that a fastening element attached on the one hand to the lower edge of one of the door leaf elements and on the other hand to an upper boundary surface of the threshold element is used to fasten the threshold element comes. A material-locking fastening, such as gluing, can be used as well as a form-fitting fastening, such as screwing. A combination of both types of fastening is preferably used, possibly with additional stabilization by means of a non-positive fastening.

0026It has already been explained above that the width of the threshold elements of goals according to the invention in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane is preferably greater than the door leaf thickness. In corresponding embodiments of the invention, it must be prevented that people can stand on the threshold element in the door leaf closed position and are pulled upwards with the door leaf during an opening movement. For this purpose, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that the fastening element, starting from the outside of the door leaf in the closing pitch, obliquely downwards towards an outside edge of the threshold element and / or an upper boundary surface section sloping downwards from the inside of the door leaf in the closed position Has upper boundary surface section sloping towards an inside edge of the threshold element, wherein at least one of the upper delimiting surface sections in the closed position encloses an angle of 15 ° or more, particularly preferably 20 ° or more, with a horizontal plane. In this embodiment of the fastening elements according to the invention it is achieved that a foot that occurs on an upper boundary surface section slips off this boundary surface section and cannot stand securely on it, so that there is also no risk of a person standing on the fastening element or the threshold element during a door leaf opening movement is pulled up with.

0027Conventional cross-sectional shapes of door leaf elements with which, in addition to the required stability, an adequate finger protection effect can be achieved, are for example in <patcit id="pcit0008" dnum="EP304642A"><text>EP 304 642</text></patcit> and the <patcit id="pcit0009" dnum="EP370376A"><text>EP 370 376</text></patcit> described. The disclosure content of these documents with regard to the cross-sectional shapes of conventional door leaf elements or panels in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes is hereby incorporated into this description by express reference. In these conventional door leaf elements, an indentation is provided in the region of the lower edge of the door leaf elements, into which a projection in the region of the upper edge of an adjacent panel can engage. With regard to the stabilizing effect sought within the scope of this invention, a second embodiment of the invention provides that the fastening element has a projection received in an indentation in the lower edge of the door leaf elements that extends parallel to the tilt axes and is open at the bottom. Further stabilization can be achieved if the fastening element has a receptacle formed between a wall element resting on an inner surface of the door leaf and the projection for receiving a projection arranged on the lower edge of the door leaf element.

0028As already explained above, the door leaf of gates according to the invention expediently also has a plurality of door leaf elements that can be tilted relative to one another and that are collinear with respect to the tilting axes.

0029From a manufacturing point of view, it has proven to be particularly expedient if the door leaf elements have approximately the same shape as the door leaf elements in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes. In this case, a distance corresponding to the height of the fastening element is usually left free between the lower edge of the door leaf and the threshold element. A tight seal in the area of ​​the lower edge of the door leaf can be achieved if a transition element is attached to the lower door leaf element in the door leaf closed position and is arranged between the threshold element and the lower door leaf element in the door leaf closed position. In this case, the transition element can have a sealing arrangement in contact with the threshold element attached to the adjacent door leaf elements in the door leaf closed position. To provide a reliable seal, such a sealing arrangement expediently comprises a sealing element resting against a front boundary surface of the threshold element in the door leaf closed position and / or a sealing element resting against an upper boundary surface of the threshold element in the door leaf closed position.

0030To obtain an attractive external appearance of the door according to the invention and in view of the risk described above when stepping on the threshold element, it has proven to be particularly useful if the transition element has approximately the same shape at least in the area of ​​the door leaf outside in a sectional plane perpendicular to the tilting axes has as the fastener, ie has an upper boundary surface section sloping in the direction of the outer edge of the threshold element, wherein an upper boundary surface section sloping down in the direction of the inner edge of the threshold element can also be provided. Additionally or alternatively, the color designs of the transition element and the fastening element can also be coordinated with one another, in particular the same, particularly preferably according to the color design of conventional sealing arrangements, in black. The transition element also expediently comprises a projection which engages in an indentation in the lower edge of the lower door leaf element.

0031As already explained in detail above, the threshold element of a door according to the invention counteracts the bending of the door leaf in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane. The bending of the door leaf in a direction running parallel to the pivot axis can be counteracted with the aid of a stabilizing element arranged above the recess receiving the door leaf and spanning the recess. In a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, this stabilizing element can be implemented by a continuous door leaf element arranged above the recess receiving the door leaf. In order to obtain the desired stabilizing effect, the stabilizing element expediently has a boundary surface which is arranged approximately in a vertical plane in the door leaf closed position and which, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, is formed by an essentially flat layer made of a material of high tensile strength.

0032In cases in which the topmost door leaf element in the closed position has a cutout forming the top edge of the recess receiving the door leaf so that the topmost door leaf element cannot provide a sufficient stabilizing effect, it has proven to be advantageous when an additional stabilizing element is received in a door leaf element arranged above the recess and / or is attached to an inner boundary surface of a door leaf element arranged above the recess. This additional stabilization element in the form of a channel open in the direction of a door leaf element with a channel bottom running approximately in a vertical plane in the closed position and for fastening this additional stabilization element to the inner boundary surface of the door leaf element can have flanges bent outwards from the channel walls.

0033In gates that can be moved between the closed position and the open position with an electric drive device, it must be ensured that the electric drive is automatically switched off when the edge of the gate leaf leading during the closing movement hits an object or a person during the closing movement. For this purpose, conventional doors have a power limitation of the drive with which it is achieved that an automatic shutdown takes place when a predetermined drive power is exceeded. However, this switch-off only takes place after a delay caused by the inertia of the door leaf movement. The distance covered during the delay time is taken up in conventional doors by the sealing arrangement arranged on the lower edge of the door leaf. In the case of doors according to the invention, however, particularly thin sealing arrangements can be used, a lower edge of the door leaf with a section of the threshold element not protected by a sealing element being able to strike an object or a person during the closing movement. In this case, despite the known force limit, considerable damage to property or personal injury can occur.

0034In a door with a movable between a closed position and an open position and preferably a plurality of or. This risk can be excluded according to a further aspect of the invention in that a non-contact safety device designed to detect objects or people in the area of ​​a movement path of a leading edge of the door leaf during a closing movement is used.

0035With such a safety device, the path traversed by the leading edge of the door leaf during the closing movement is already monitored in a contactless manner before this leading edge reaches the corresponding path section. The drive can then be switched off before the door leaf hits an object arranged in the area of ​​the movement path or a person present there. Such a safety device can be used not only in doors according to the invention with an integrated wicket door, but also in conventional doors without a wicket door. The use of such security devices is particularly useful, however, in the case of doors according to the invention with an integrated wicket door and a sealing arrangement of small thickness arranged on the lower boundary surface of the threshold element.

0036The security device of gates according to the invention expediently has at least one transmitter arrangement for emitting wirelessly transmitted signals in a direction running approximately parallel to the tilting axes and at least one receiver arrangement for receiving the signals emitted by the transmitter arrangement, the transmitter arrangement and the receiver arrangement expediently in the area of ​​opposite sides Edges of the door leaf attached, are preferably attached to the door leaf. The signals of the transmitter arrangement are expediently emitted parallel to the edge of the door leaf leading during the closing movement in the direction of the closing movement in front of this edge so that objects and people can be detected before the edge of the door leaf hits it during the closing movement.

0037For use in connection with doors according to the invention, in which the width of the threshold element in a direction running perpendicular to the door leaf plane in the closed position is greater than the door leaf thickness, it has proven to be useful to obtain a particularly reliable securing effect, if the transmitter arrangement for emitting signals can be operated along two or more signal paths which are offset from one another in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the door leaf and which preferably extend approximately parallel to the tilting axes. With such transmitter arrangements, a signal grille moving with the threshold element can be created in the space traversed by the threshold element, whereby the interruption of only one grille element formed by the individual signal paths during the door leaf movement can be used to generate a switch-off signal for the door drive.

0038With regard to the generation of suitable signal grids, it has proven to be particularly expedient for reasons of cost if at least two signal paths are fed by a common transmitter element. This can be made possible by using suitable deflection elements in the area of ​​the opposing edges of the door leaf. With a view to obtaining a particularly reliable safety effect, it has proven to be expedient if the transmitter arrangement has at least two transmitter elements, each of which is designed to feed at least one signal path. In the two embodiments just described, it has proven to be advantageous for reasons of cost if a common receiver element of the receiver arrangement is assigned to at least two signal paths.

0039In the context of the large-scale production of doors of the type according to the invention, transmitter arrangements and receiver arrangements can only be manufactured and fastened with limited accuracy. Furthermore, slight deformations of the door leaf must be expected in the course of the door leaf movement, especially in the case of door leaves with an integrated wicket door. With these boundary conditions, reliable operation of the safety device of a gate according to the invention can be ensured if the transmitter arrangement is designed to emit signals in a signal cone with an opening angle of more than 2 °, preferably 5 ° or more, with excessive transmission power while ensuring a reliable signal reception can be avoided if the opening angle of the signal cone is 20 ° or less, in particular 10 ° or less, particularly preferably 8 ° or less.

0040As already explained at the beginning, the door leaf during the closing movement and thus also the leading edge of the door leaf during the closing movement traverses an arcuate section of a predetermined path between a vertical guide rail section and a horizontal guide rail section. In particular in the case of garage doors with a total height of 2.50 m, in the area of ​​this arcuate section of the predetermined path, the door leaf edge, which is advancing during the closing movement, must be reliably prevented from hitting objects or people. In this context, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if at least one element of the transmitter arrangement, such as a transmitter element realized, for example, in the form of a light source or a deflecting element realized, for example, in the form of a mirror and / or at least one element of the receiver arrangement, how a receiver element realized in the form of a photodiode or a deflecting element realized in the form of a mirror is attached to the door leaf via a coupling arrangement about a pivot axis running approximately parallel to the tilting axes. In this way it can be achieved that the pivotably arranged transmitter element and / or receiver element with respect to when passing through the arcuate section of the predetermined path. the leading edge of the door leaf is pivoted and is thus arranged approximately in a vertical plane with this leading edge at any point in time of the shooting movement. In this context, it has also proven to be particularly useful if a stop arrangement is provided to limit the pivoting movement of the element of the transmitter arrangement and / or of the element of the receiver arrangement, such as that the pivotably attached element is arranged during the closing movement at least along a portion of the path of movement of the leading edge of the door leaf during the closing movement below this edge approximately in a vertical plane containing the leading edge.

0041For safety reasons, it has proven to be useful if the coupling arrangement and thus also the element of the receiver arrangement and / or the transmitter arrangement attached to it is attached to an inner boundary surface of the door leaf so that the coupling arrangement and the elements attached to it can be accessed when the door leaf is closed outside is prevented. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the desired arrangement of the element of the receiver arrangement and / or the transmitter arrangement attached to the coupling arrangement in a vertical plane with the edge of the door leaf leading during the closing movement can be achieved if the coupling arrangement has a leading edge in the area of ​​the closing movement concerning. a pivot axis running parallel to the tilting axes pivotably attached to the door leaf, in particular an inner boundary surface of the door leaf, which in at least one pivot position engages over the leading edge of the door leaf during the closing movement. For this purpose, the coupling lever can have two or more lever segments, each in a plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes, enclosing an angle of less than 180 ° with one another, preferably extending essentially in a straight line.

0042As already explained above, the pivoting movement of the coupling arrangement can be limited with the aid of a suitable stop arrangement in such a way that the coupling arrangement does not pivot too far away from the leading edge during the closing movement of the door leaf. that the element of the transmitter arrangement and / or receiver arrangement attached to the coupling arrangement is also arranged in the area of ​​the arcuate section of the predetermined path approximately in a vertical plane with the edge of the door leaf leading during the closing movement. However, this limitation of the pivoting movement of the coupling arrangement means that the coupling arrangement can only give way to a limited extent when it hits the floor of the space to be closed with the door leaf or when it hits an object or part of a person lying on the floor. This can lead to damage to the coupling arrangement, to objects lying on the floor and / or to personal injury. This risk can be reduced if at least two lever segments of the coupling lever are pivotably connected to one another with respect to a pivot axis running parallel to the tilting axes, whereby a pivoting movement of the lever segments is preferably limited with the aid of a further stop arrangement. In the course of the pivoting movement of the lever segments, these segments are moved towards one another. In this way, the coupling arrangement is shortened in the end phase of the closing movement of the door leaf in a direction opposite to the direction of movement, so that the pivoting movement limited by the stop arrangement is sufficient to ensure trouble-free operation of the gate equipped with a safety device according to the invention and damage to objects on the bottom of the opening to be closed and / or injuries to persons can be reliably prevented.

0043Damage to transmitter elements, deflection elements and receiver elements of the safety device of gates according to the invention can be avoided particularly easily if the coupling lever pivotably attached to the door leaf has a housing designed to accommodate at least one transmitter element, at least one receiver element and / or at least one deflection element. With this housing, the elements mentioned can be protected from damage without impairing their functionality. To obtain the desired function of monitoring a space through which the threshold element passes, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the housing is arranged in the lever segment which is pivotably attached to the lever segment attached to the door leaf. To ensure the functionality when using signal grids with two or more signals propagating along parallel signal paths, it has proven to be useful if the housing has two or more windows for at least one signal propagating along one of the signal paths.

0044The safety device of the goals according to the invention can be made particularly compact if an end area of ​​the pivotable lever segment connected to the lever segment attached to the door leaf and the lever segment attached to the door leaf, facing away from the pivot axis, is arranged offset in the direction of the tilt axis, because in this arrangement the offset lever segment in the door leaf closed position can be arranged next to the door leaf.

0045As already explained above, an element of the safety device attached to the coupling arrangement is expediently automatically pivoted into the interior of the space closed with the door leaf when the door leaf reaches the closed position, the coupling arrangement expediently to evade in a direction opposite to the closing movement when an obstacle is encountered is designed in the final phase of the closing movement.

0046A safety device according to the invention for a gate according to the invention is essentially characterized by a transmitter element and / or receiver element and a coupling arrangement designed for pivotably coupling this element to a door leaf, the transmitter element having a light source and the receiver element having a photodiode and the coupling arrangement having two or may have more possibly articulated lever segments connected to one another.

0047The invention is explained below with reference to the drawing, to which express reference is made with regard to all details that are essential to the invention and not highlighted in the description. In the drawing shows:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>a view of a gate according to the invention between the opening division and the closed position from the inside,</dd><dt>Fig. 2</dt><dd>a sectional view of the lower edge of the door leaf elements in a sectional plane perpendicular to the tilting axes,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>a sectional view through the lower edge of a door leaf element in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>a sectional view of a sealing element attached to the lower boundary surface of the threshold element of a door according to the invention in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes,</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a sectional view of an upper edge of a door leaf according to the invention in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes,</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a representation of the coupling arrangement of a safety device according to the invention at the beginning of a closing movement of the door leaf,</dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>a representation of the coupling arrangement of a safety device according to the invention in the course of the closing movement and</dd><dt>Fig. 8</dt><dd>a representation of the coupling arrangement of a safety device according to the invention when the door leaf reaches the closed position,</dd><dt>Fig. 9</dt><dd>a coupling arrangement of a security device according to the invention according to a further embodiment of the invention and</dd><dt>Fig. 10</dt><dd>a door leaf with a coupling arrangement attached to it <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Fig. 9</figref> in the door leaf closed position.</dd></dl>

0048This in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Door leaf, generally designated 10, comprises a plurality of door leaf elements, of which the lower door leaf elements 12 and 14 in the closed position in the in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> position shown are arranged one above the other, as well as a total of 100 designated and integrated in the door leaf door leaf with two in <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Door leaf elements 102 and 104 arranged one above the other. The door leaf elements 12 and 14, like the door leaf elements 102 and 104, can be tilted relative to one another with the aid of hinged joints indicated at 30 with respect to the tilting axes 20.

0049The lower edge of the recess in the door leaf 10 receiving the door leaf 100 is delimited by a threshold element 50 fastened to the lower edge of the door leaf elements 12 arranged on opposite sides of the recess. The threshold element 50 is fastened to the door leaf elements 12 in the case of FIG<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> illustrated embodiment of the invention with the aid of fastening elements 40 which are fastened on the one hand to the upper boundary surface of the threshold element 50 and on the other hand to the lower boundary surface of the door leaf elements 12. At the in<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> The illustrated embodiment of the invention, a gap left between the lower edge of the door leaf element 102 and the threshold element 50 is bridged by a transition element 140.

0050As in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> can be seen, the width B of the threshold element 50 in a direction perpendicular to the door leaf plane is greater than the thickness 0 of the door leaf in this direction. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the width B of the threshold element is 123.5 mm, while the thickness 0 of the door leaf is 42 mm. In the context of the invention, however, threshold elements with a smaller or larger width and door leaves with a smaller or larger thickness can also be used. At the in<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> The illustrated embodiment of the invention extends the threshold element over the entire thickness of the door leaf and protrudes over the door leaf both on the inside of the door leaf and on the outside of the door leaf.

0051The edges 52 of the threshold element 50, which run parallel to the tilting axes 20, are folded back onto themselves to obtain a greater stabilizing effect and to form a receptacle 60 for a sealing element 70 attached to a lower boundary surface of the threshold element 50.

0052The sealing element 70 comprises a fastening section 72 and a total of four sealing tabs 74 and 76, the outer sealing tabs 76 as well as the inner sealing tabs 74 extending obliquely downward in opposite directions. The edges 78 of the sealing tabs 76 facing away from the fastening section 72 are bent outwards and upwards in order to ensure a better sealing effect when it hits the floor of the space to be closed. The fastening section 72 of the sealing element 70, which extends parallel to the tilting axes over the entire width of the door leaf, is arranged in a channel 54 in the threshold element 50, which is open at the bottom, is centrally located between the edges 52 and extends parallel to the tilting axes over the entire width of the door leaf. The lateral boundary walls 56 of the channel 54 slope down in the direction of the lateral edges 52 of the threshold element 50, and in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing they enclose an angle α of approximately 45 ° with a horizontal plane. In the area of ​​the lateral edges 52, the height h of the threshold element 50 of the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is approximately 5 mm. The total height H in the region of the channel 54 in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is approximately 7 mm. The depth T of the receptacle 60 is approximately 3 mm.

0053The threshold element 50 of in <figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> illustrated embodiment of the invention is made entirely of a steel sheet with a thickness of about 2 mm. The threshold element extends, as in FIG<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> can be seen over the entire width of the door leaf.

0054In <figref idref="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> a sealing element 70 ', which can be used in addition or as an alternative to the sealing element 70, has a central fastening section 72' and two sealing tabs 76 'extending obliquely downwards in opposite directions, each of which at its edge 78' facing away from the fastening section 72 ' turned up. The sealing tabs 76 'are connected to the fastening section 72' via predetermined bending points 77 'of lesser material thickness. The fastening section 72 'is penetrated by a channel 73' which is open at the top and in which a line 80 can be received.

0055According to the <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">2</figref> the threshold element 50 is attached to the door leaf element 12 with the aid of a fastening element 40 attached on the one hand to the upper boundary surface of the threshold element 50 and on the other hand to the lower edge of the door leaf element 12. To obtain the desired stabilizing effect, a projection 42 provided on the upper edge of the fastening element 40 is received in an indentation 12a provided in the lower edge of the door leaf element 12. A downwardly protruding projection 12b in the area of ​​the inside of the door leaf on the lower edge of the door leaf element 12 is arranged in a receptacle formed between a wall element 44 resting on an inner surface of the door leaf element 12 and the projection 42. According to<figref idref="f0002">Fig. 2</figref> the fastening element 42 has an upper boundary surface section 46 that slopes downwards from the outside of the door leaf in the closed position towards an outside edge of the threshold element 50 and an upper boundary section 46 that slopes downwards from the inside of the door leaf in the closed position towards an inside edge of the threshold element 50 Boundary surface section 48. In the closed position, the upper boundary surface section 46 encloses an angle β of approximately 25 ° with a horizontal plane. In the closed position, the upper boundary surface section 48 encloses an angle γ of approximately 20 ° with a horizontal plane. The sloping upper boundary surface sections 46 and 48 ensure that a foot on the fastening element 40 slips off the fastening element, so that the risk of a person standing on the fastening element 40 being accidentally carried along when the door leaf 10 opens.

0056According to <figref idref="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> the lower door leaf element 102 has approximately the same shape as the lower door leaf element 12 in a sectional plane running perpendicular to the tilting axes. The distance left between the lower edge of the door leaf element 102 and the threshold element 50 is bridged by a transition element 140, the cross-sectional shape of which, starting from the inner boundary surface of the door leaf element 102 in the direction of the outer edge of the threshold element 50, corresponds approximately to the cross-sectional shape of the fastening element 40. Accordingly, the transition element 140 has on its upper edge a projection 142 which is received in an indentation 102a in the lower edge of the door leaf element 102. Furthermore, a receptacle 146 is formed between a wall element 144 resting against an inner delimiting surface of the door leaf element 102 and the projection 142, in which a downwardly protruding projection 102b is received in the area of ​​the inner delimiting surface of the door leaf element 102. Just like the fastening element 40, the transition element 140 also has an upper delimiting surface section 146 sloping downwardly in the direction of the outer edge of the threshold element 50. With regard to the desired opening movement of the door leaf, the transition element 140 is not attached to the threshold element 50. To ensure a desired seal in the closed position of the door leaf, two sealing elements 172 and 174 are arranged in the area of ​​the lower boundary surface of the transition element 144, of which the sealing element 172 rests on a front boundary surface of the threshold element 50 in the door leaf closed position, while the sealing element 174 is on the upper boundary surface of the threshold element formed by the channel 54 rests.

0057The door leaf element 102, like the door leaf element 12, is formed in the form of a double-shell panel at least partially filled with insulating material, such as PU foam, the two shell elements being positively connected to one another in the area of ​​edge sections folded back onto themselves. The transition element 144, like the fastening element 40, is fastened to the door leaf element 12 or door leaf element 102 in the area of ​​these edge sections of the panel shell which are folded back onto themselves with the aid of screws (not shown in the drawing). To adapt the position of the fastening element 40 or transition element 140 to any unevenness in the floor, fastening is carried out with the aid of wall elements 44 or 144 provided elongated holes, wherein the elongated holes can extend approximately parallel to the pivot axes and perpendicular to the tilt axes.

0058According to <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> The stabilization arrangement of a door according to the invention can also have at least one stabilization element 90 arranged above the recess receiving the door leaf 100 and spanning the recess, which in the case of the in FIG <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> The illustrated embodiment of the invention is formed from a steel sheet with a material thickness of about 2 mm and is designed overall in the form of a channel open in the direction of the inner boundary surface of the door leaf 10. In this case, the channel bottom 92 in the closed position of the door leaf 10 runs approximately in a vertical plane. The channel walls 94 extend approximately perpendicular to the channel bottom 92. At the edges facing away from the channel bottom 92, the channel walls 94 are bent outwards to form fastening flanges 96. The flanges 96 are penetrated by screws 98, which can be received in this door leaf element in the area of ​​edge sections of the shells of the upper door leaf element which are bent back onto themselves. Received by the channel bottom 92 and the flange-shaped fastening sections 96 the stabilizing element 90 has a particularly high overall stability with regard to deflections in the in <figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> the direction of gravity indicated by the arrow P. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing element 90 is attached to the inner delimiting surface of the door leaf 10. In this embodiment, the upper edge of the recess in the door leaf serving to receive the door leaf is formed by a cutout in the topmost door leaf element. If a complete door leaf element extends continuously over the entire width of the door leaf above the recess serving to accommodate the door leaf, this complete door leaf element can be used as an additional stabilizing element. Furthermore, in embodiments based on the<figref idref="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> described type also intended to integrate the additional stabilizing element 90 in the door leaf element in order to avoid inwardly protruding parts.

0059In the <figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> The embodiment of the invention shown comprises a contactless safety device with a transmitter arrangement 210 arranged in the area of ​​the right edge of the door leaf below the lower edge of the door leaf leading during a closing movement and a receiver arrangement 210 arranged in the area of ​​the left edge of the door leaf below the lower edge leading during the closing movement 250. The transmitter arrangement 210 can have a light source and the receiver arrangement 250 can have a photodiode. At the in<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the transmitter arrangement 210 is coupled to the lower edge of the door leaf element 12 via a coupling arrangement 220, while the receiver arrangement 250 is coupled to a lower edge of the door leaf element 12 via a coupling arrangement 260. In other embodiments of the invention, it is also contemplated to couple only one deflection arrangement to the door leaf elements 12 via corresponding coupling arrangements and to work with stationary transmitter elements and receiver elements, such as light sources and photodiodes. If light sources are used as transmitter elements, the deflection arrangements can be implemented in the form of simple mirrors. In any case, a safety device according to the invention is used to generate a signal that spreads below the edge advancing during the closing movement, possibly also an acoustic signal, which can be received by the receiver arrangement 250 and used for drive control. The transmitter arrangement 210 is in accordance with FIG<figref idref="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> Can be operated to emit signals in a signal cone with an opening angle of more than 2 °. This ensures that the receiver arrangement 250 can receive signals emitted by the transmitter arrangement 210 even if the door leaf is twisted, provided that no signal is interrupted by an obstacle.

0060The transmitter element 210, like the receiver element 250, is fastened to the door leaf 10 so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis running approximately parallel to the tilt axes 20 with the aid of the coupling arrangement 220 or 260. The coupling arrangements that can be used for this purpose are described below with reference to FIG<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> described using the example of the coupling arrangement 220. The coupling arrangement 220 is formed in the form of a coupling lever comprising three segments 222, 224 and 226. The coupling lever 220 is attached to the lower edge of the door leaf 10 such that it can be pivoted about a pivot axis 230 running parallel to the tilting axes 20. The lever segment 222 adjoining the door leaf 10 is assigned a stop 231 with which a pivoting movement of the lever segment 222 in the pivoting direction indicated by the arrow S away from the lower edge of the door leaf 10 is limited. The lever segment 222 forms an obtuse angle α of approximately 130 ° with the lever segment 224 adjoining it. The lever segments 222 and 224 are made in one piece. The lever segment 226 is coupled to the end of the lever segment 224 facing away from the lever segment 222 about a pivot axis 232 running parallel to the tilting axes 20. The pivoting movement of the lever segment 226 with respect to the lever segment 224 is limited by a stop 234. At the in<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> The illustrated embodiment of the invention, the maximum pivot angle α 'of the lever segment 226 with respect to the lever segment 224 is 110 °.

0061In the in <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> The position of the door leaf 10 shown in the vicinity of the open position in which the door leaf element 12 is arranged almost in a horizontal plane, is achieved by the articulated coupling of the coupling arrangement 220 to the door leaf 10 that the opening serving to accommodate the transmitter element 210 in the lever segment 224 facing away from the end of the lever segment 226 is arranged approximately in a vertical plane S with the lower edge of the connecting element 40 in this position. The pivoting movement of the lever segment 226 with respect to the lever segment 224 is limited by the stop arrangement 234 in the direction indicated by the arrow S '. In the course of the closing movement of the door leaf, the coupling arrangement 220, starting from the FIG<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> position shown in <figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> position shown in which the lower door leaf element 12 is already arranged in a vertical plane. To reach the in<figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> In the position shown, the coupling arrangement 220 is pivoted about the pivot axis 230 under the action of gravity. The pivoting movement is limited by a further stop element 236 in the direction indicated by the arrow S ″, so that the recess 228 serving for receiving the transmitter element 210 is also in the in<figref idref="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> position shown is arranged approximately in a vertical plane with the lower edge of the door leaf element 12. When the closed position is reached, the coupling arrangement is moved into the in<figref idref="f0008">Fig. 8</figref> pivoted position shown. The lever segment 222 is in the in<figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> is pivoted in the direction indicated by the arrow S, while the lever segment 226 is pivoted with respect to the lever segment 224 in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow S ′ in the direction of the lever segment 224. As a result of the two pivoting movements described, the coupling arrangement can give way to objects or body parts lying on the floor.

0062In the <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Fig. 9</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">10</figref> shows a coupling arrangement for a safety device according to a further embodiment of the invention. It shows<figref idref="f0009">Figure 9a</figref>) a perspective view of the coupling arrangement, <figref idref="f0010">Figure 9b</figref>) a side view of the coupling arrangement, <figref idref="f0011">Figure 9c</figref>) a view of the coupling arrangement from behind and <figref idref="f0012">Figure 9d</figref>) a view of the coupling arrangement from below. When describing the<figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Fig. 9</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">10</figref> Coupling arrangement shown are for those elements which the elements of the based on <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0007">7</figref> the coupling arrangement explained, the same reference numerals are used.

0063In the <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Fig. 9</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">10</figref> The coupling arrangement shown differs essentially in this respect from the one based on <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0007">7</figref> explained coupling arrangements that the lever segment 226 is designed in the form of a housing for transmitter elements, deflection elements and / or receiver elements of the safety device.

0064As particularly evident in the <figref idref="f0009">Figure 9a</figref>) and <figref idref="f0010">9b</figref>), the lever segment 226 designed as a housing has two windows 240, which allow the entry of signals extending parallel to each other and parallel to the tilting axes of the door leaf into the housing or the exit of such signals from the housing.

0065As particularly evident in <figref idref="f0012">Figure 9d</figref>) can be seen, an end region of the lever segment 226 facing away from the pivot axis 232 is arranged offset in the direction of the tilt axes with respect to the lever segment 222 to be fastened to the door leaf. In this way it is achieved that the lever segment 226 can be arranged next to the door leaf in the door leaf closed position, as in FIG<figref idref="f0013">Fig. 10</figref> can be seen.

0066The ones in the <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Fig. 9</figref> and <figref idref="f0013">10</figref> The coupling arrangement shown is just like that based on <figref idref="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> and <figref idref="f0007">7</figref> The coupling arrangement explained can be fixed on the inside of the door leaf with the aid of a fastening element 250. For this purpose, the fastening element 250 has a total of three bores 252 designed to receive one screw each.

0067The described arrangement of the safety device ensures in every phase of the closing movement, in particular in the course of the arcuate guide rail section, that the transmitter arrangement 210 emits a signal that spreads below the edge leading during the closing movement, so that the movement path of this edge can be monitored without contact.