Closure device with a curtain having flexible lateral edges

ES 2 365 635 T3

DESCRIPTION

Closing device with a curtain presenting flexible side edges.

The invention relates to a device comprising a curtain having flexible lateral edges having an extra thickness extending according to the longitudinal direction of the lateral edges, this extra thickness being directed by guide paths thus allowing the curtain to be moved between a closed position and a position. opening.

This device can be used to close a door or window opening, the cargo volume of a vehicle, such as a truck or a boat, to cover a swimming pool, etc.

The difficulty in developing such a device is that a compromise must always be found between the flexibility and rigidity of the side edges of the curtain to prevent the different layers of which they are generally formed from breaking or separating during opening and closing the curtain.

In particular, when the curtain is brought towards its closed position by the action of a thrust force on the lateral edges of the curtain, the pressure exerted in the longitudinal direction of the latter, as a consequence of friction in the guide paths, it can be relatively important. This is the case for a curtain with a large area or for a curtain exposed to the wind. In order to prevent the side edges from locking in or coming loose from the guide paths, it is important that these edges are sufficiently rigid and incomprehensible in their longitudinal direction while being sufficiently flexible and deformable by twisting.

This is not, for example, the case in the device object of document WO 03/048497. Indeed, this device comprises on its lateral edges a weatherstrip that moves in a guide path that, on the contrary, is compressible in its longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, it is preferable that all the side edges of the curtain are flexible to allow them to be released from the guide paths when a certain force is exerted on the curtain, in order to prevent the latter from being damaged. During the reintroduction of the side edges into the guide tracks, they must be able to be elastically deformed and / or bent without being damaged and without the curtain or the guide tracks being damaged.

In addition, the lateral edges must present a reduced friction in relation to the guide paths and be able to withstand a significant number of opening and closing cycles of the curtain, for example one to two million, without degradation of its physical characteristics, such as example its rigidity and flexibility.

It is equally important that the side edges can elastically bend according to a substantially continuous curve, that is to say in the shape of an arc, without forming discontinuities, such as folds. Indeed, the curvature of the side edges that would have been formed elastically, for example during the reintroduction of the side edges into the guide paths, must vary continuously otherwise the curtain or its side edges can be damaged. This problem often arises in current flexible curtain closure devices.

Since the curtain of the closing device, according to the invention, is designed to move at high speed, of the order of 1 to 3 m / sec., Between the open position and the closed position, it is important that the side edges are very light.

In this regard, it is known, especially from document WO 03/04897, in particular from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, to provide a reinforcement 17 on a drive belt 10 forming part of a notched belt 11. It has been observed that After a certain number of opening and closing cycles of the curtain, this armature 17 comes off and is detached from the drive belt, rendering it unusable.

Document WO 02/25048 shows, in figure 37, a hooking means formed by two flexible tapes 62 and 63 known under the trade name "Velcro" by which a metal tape 19 is removably tied to the lateral edge of the blind 1. Also after a certain number of opening and closing cycles of the blind, the tapes 62 and 63 become detached from the metal band 19 thus necessitating costly repairs.

Furthermore, the metal band 19 cannot be twisted which is a great drawback in the case where this band should be able to clear from its guiding path as a result of an accident.

Finally, if, for example, the curtain or a tape supporting the latter is fixed between two tapes that are stiffer than the curtain or this tape, it has been observed that the risk exists that it will deteriorate on site and / or in the vicinity of the place where it is fixed between these two tapes during the

ES 2 365 635 T3 significant number of opening and closing cycles. Such a situation occurs especially in documents WO 95/30064 and EP 1,460,231A2.

In particular, document EP 1,460,231 A2 refers to a flexible sliding door comprising a support strap 2, which is made in a manner substantially analogous to that of the curtain 3 with which the door is formed. It is, therefore, a strap 2 which is necessarily more flexible than the projecting strap 11. In fact, the latter has a relatively large thickness and is made of a relatively hard composite material which, moreover, is very inflexible. It has been observed that, after a significant number of flexures to which these doors are generally subjected, the projecting belt 11 deteriorates to such an extent that it renders them unusable.

One of the essential objectives of the invention is to propose a technically and economically justified solution to all of the aforementioned problems.

To this end, the curtain of the device, according to the invention, is provided with at least one cable, substantially incompressible in the sense of its length, extending almost parallel to the lateral edges of the curtain in such a way as to allow to apply a force pushing on these side edges according to their longitudinal direction to move the curtain from its open position to its closed position, the neutral surface of said lateral edges being formed during the bending of the cable located in this cable, the latter being fixed relative to the curtain, close to each of the lateral edges of the latter in an immovable manner preventing any relative displacement with relation to the curtain.

Advantageously, the curtain is provided with a succession of several juxtaposed cables immobilized relative to each other and extending along a plane parallel to the plane of the curtain.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cable (s) are held and preferably countersunk in an elastic support.

Other details and particularities of the invention will become apparent from the description given below by way of non-limiting example of some particular embodiments of a curtain device, according to the invention, with reference to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view in vertical section of a curtain device in the closed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 with the curtain in its open position.

Figure 3 is a front view of this same device, also with the curtain in the open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a part of the lateral edge of a curtain of a device, according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a partial longitudinal section of a rolled part of the lateral edge of a curtain, according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a schematic front elevation view, partially broken, of a third particular embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of the embodiment represented in Figure 6.

FIG. 8 is a view analogous to FIG. 4 of a fourth embodiment.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, with partial breakage of a part of an incompressible tape fixed near the lateral edges of the curtain of a device according to the invention.

In the different figures, the same reference figures refer to identical or analogous elements.

In a general way, the invention relates to a device comprising a curtain that is preferably flexible and is, for example, formed by a canvas, a net, etc. And that has flexible lateral edges provided with an extra thickness that extends according to the longitudinal direction of the lateral edges. In other embodiments, the body of the curtain can be formed by a succession of sheets articulated to each other, extending perpendicular to its direction of travel and laterally embroidered by a flexible area presenting the aforementioned extra thickness.

This extra thickness is guided in guide paths, thus allowing the curtain to be moved between a closed position and an open position.

ES 2 365 635 T3

The curtain is characterized in that it is provided with at least one cable that is substantially incompressible in the sense of its length extending parallel to the lateral edges of the curtain. Preference is given to a series of cables extending side by side in the same plane and parallel to the side edges of the curtain. This plane is parallel to the plane of the curtain in such a way that it makes it possible to apply a thrust force on these lateral edges along their longitudinal direction to move the curtain from its open position towards its closed position.

By "plane of the curtain 2", it is necessary to understand the flat surface of the unrolled curtain in rectilinear guide paths.

Another essential characteristic of the invention is that the plane or the neutral surface of said lateral edges formed during the bending of these edges is located on the cable (s) themselves. The latter must also be fixed relative to the curtain in the vicinity of each of the lateral edges of the latter in an immovable manner. This or these cables can therefore be at the side edges of the curtain or at a relatively short distance from them.

The term "neutral surface of an edge of the curtain" is understood to mean the plane in which neither compression nor elongation, according to the longitudinal direction of this edge, occurs when this edge is subjected to forces that tend to bend it. The parts of this edge located between the neutral surface and the center of curvature are in compression and shorten, while the parts located on the other side of this neutral surface are stretched and elongated.

Figures 1 to 3 show very schematically a device in which the present invention, as defined above, is applicable.

In this case, this device is mounted in front of a door opening 1 and comprises a curtain 2 cooperating with a drum 3. The lateral edges 4 of this curtain 2 are directed in guide paths 5.

In Figure 1, the curtain 2, after unrolling from the drum 3 in the direction of arrows 6, is brought into the closed position, while Figures 2 and 3 show the curtain 2 in the open position after being wound on drum 3 in the direction of arrows 7.

Figure 4 refers to a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the side edges 4 are formed by an extra thickness 4 'which is directed in guide paths, not shown. This extra thickness 4 'comprises a flexible flat tape 8 made of an elastic material, eg polyurethane, in which a series of parallel cables 21 are incorporated, extending on the neutral surface 24 in the longitudinal direction of this tape. This tape 8 is substantially incompressible in the sense of its length and, possibly, its width and is fixed in an immovable manner on one of the faces of the curtain 2 at the site of the lateral edges 4. It is formed by the cables 21 and a support 22 for the latter and is very little or not flexible according to a direction transverse to its longitudinal direction and is parallel to its large faces. The tape 8 can preferably withstand a twist around a longitudinal axis.

Thus, by applying a thrust force on these lateral edges 4 in the direction of the arrows 6, as indicated in figure 1, the curtain 2 can be moved from its open position towards its closed position.

On the face of this tape 8, opposite to that facing the curtain 2, a notched strap 9 is glued, when on the other side of the edges 4, in front of the tape 8, a notched strap 10 is glued.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment in which the two belts 9 and 10 have teeth 11 respectively 12 that mesh with each other in the position in the rolled-up position of the curtain 2.

During the bending of the tape 8, as shown in figure 5, the surface 24 thus obtained comes to be located on the cables 21. This is very important to avoid that the belts 9 and 10 can untie from the curtain after a large number opening and closing cycles of the latter. In fact, within the framework of the present invention, it is a curtain that must be able to withstand between one and two million opening and closing cycles.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the automatic setting of a curtain device after one of the side edges has left its guiding path 5. These two figures clearly show the torsion at which edge 4, comprising a succession of blocks 19, it is subjected during its reintroduction into the corresponding guide path 5.

In Figure 7, edge 4 without incompressible tape is shown in solid lines, while

ES 2 365 635 T3 in broken lines the case in which this tape is incorporated in this edge 4.

In the embodiment without incompressible tape, the parts of the curtain between the blocks 19 are deformed in an uncontrolled manner, and as a consequence, at the moment when the blocks 19 have to enter the guide path 5, they are hooked to this last in the place indicated by the arrows 27.

Another problem that can arise if the curtain does not present the incompressible tape is that the lateral edge can penetrate into the free space between the drum and the entrance of the guide paths at the moment when the curtain moves towards its closed position.

Thanks to the fact of providing an incompressible tape near the lateral edge of the curtain, which is less flexible than the latter, a much less pronounced deformation of the edge parts 4 is obtained between two successive blocks and a uniform curvature, without discontinuities, of the latter during its reintroduction into the guidance path.

Figure 8 refers to an embodiment in which the extra thickness 4 'at the lateral edges 4 of the curtain 2 is formed by a succession of small blocks 19 mounted at a certain distance relative to each other on a cord 25 formed of textile yarns or the like which is therefore compressible in the sense of its length.

In this embodiment, the tape 8 is incorporated into a sheath formed by a fold 20 of the curtain 2 near its lateral edges 4. This therefore allows, as is the case in the embodiment, as explained in relation to Figure 7, obtain a regular, uniform and continuous flexion in the form of an arc. The tape 8 can be glued in the fold 20 on its two sides or on one of its sides.

To prevent this cord 25 from bending between two consecutive blocks 19, these blocks must move and be kept in a guiding path, not represented in this figure 8. The presence of an incompressible tape 8 makes it possible to improve the sliding of the blocks. 19 blocks on the guiding path.

Furthermore, thanks to the presence of the tape 8, the distance between two consecutive blocks can vary within relatively large limits.

Thus, in embodiments similar to those represented in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the tape 8 can also be incorporated into one such fold of the curtain.

Figure 9 shows in more detail, a particular embodiment of a tape 8, formed by the cables 21 and the support 22. In this embodiment, the tape 8 has on its face located on the side of the center of curvature of the curtain 2 in its rolled position a succession of grooves 23 that extend perpendicularly in relation to the longitudinal direction of the cables 21, in such a way as to facilitate the bending of the tape 8.

Advantageously these grooves 23 extend to the cables 21.

The tape 8 is arranged in such a way relative to the lateral edges 4 that the neutral surface 24, formed during its bending and the mention of which has been made in relation to Figures 4 and 5, is located on the built-in cables 21 on this tape 8.

As already mentioned in connection with Figures 6 and 7, it is equally important that, in this specific application, the tape is sufficiently elastic in torsion.

In another variant of the device according to the invention, the cable (s) 21 can be fixed directly on the curtain, for example by gluing, or they can also be incorporated into the latter in a reinforced or thicker area.

For devices with curtains of a certain dimension or that need very frequent openings and closings and at high speed, it is necessary to provide mechanical drive means, such as a motor 28 shown in Figure 3, allowing a thrust force to be exerted on the tape 8 in its longitudinal direction for actuation of the latter. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, this motor can, for example, act on a toothed area, not shown, meshing with blocks 1 9.

It is important to note that the tape 8 can occupy a very variable place in relation to the excess thickness. Thus, it can be totally part of the latter, as in the first embodiment, or be located at a small distance from this extra thickness, outside the guide paths and towards the interior of the curtain. Another possibility is that the excess thickness at least partially covers the tape, that is to say that they partially overlap.

It is equally important that, during the bending of the extra thickness 4 ', formed from a succession of

ES 2 365 635 T3 blocks 19, a continuous uniform curved shape is obtained in the shape of an arc similar to that of the tape

8.

This requires that the distance between the thickness and the tape be relatively small. In fact, practical tests allow the specialist to determine the maximum distance between the tape and the excess thickness to obtain the desired result, which is to prevent folds from forming in the curtain, especially between two consecutive blocks during its movement towards its closed position.

Another possibility to obtain this result could be to keep the distance between the blocks 19 and the belt 8 less than the dimension of the blocks according to the longitudinal direction of the lateral edges 4 of the curtain 2.

When the curtain 2 is mounted on a drum 3, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the tape 8 can be attached to the curtain 2 only with its face located on the side of the center of curvature of the latter. This possibility has already been mentioned in connection with the embodiment represented in figure 8.

The cable (s) 21 preferably have a diameter of 0.5 to 4 mm. This or these cables can be trapped in separate sheaths, for example made of polyurethane, which are fixed in an immovable way on a flexible support.

On the other hand, this or these cables are advantageously formed of several twisted branches. This gives them better flexibility than in the case where they are formed from a single rod.

The pushing force that is exerted on the cables or cables varies between 5 and 150kg. It is therefore important that its compressive strength is large enough to resist this force. The advantage of having several parallel cables, as shown in the different figures, is that they allow a better winding of the curtain and a good rigidity during the reintroduction of the side edges in the guide paths, as shown in figures 6 and 7.

Another advantage is also that a tape containing several parallel cables cannot practically undergo deformation in a direction parallel to its large faces, as already mentioned above. However, a twisting of the lateral edges 4 around their longitudinal axis remains possible in order to facilitate the automatic reintroduction of these lateral edges 4 into the guide paths.

When the curtain 2 is made of a flexible plastic canvas, such as PVC, which is, for example, reinforced by a fabric or a weave of polyester fibers, or of another material, the tape 8 comprising one or more steel cables, it is advantageously fixed on the face of the curtain 2 which is directed towards the outside of the roll formed during the winding of the curtain 2. These cables are optionally fixed directly on this face of the curtain. Indeed, the fabric or fabric of polyester fibers extending according to the plane of the curtain and rolled up in said plastic material, is compressible according to the plane of the curtain, but it is not appreciably extensible and therefore cannot practically elongate in this direction without the curtain is damaged. By fixing the tape 8 to the face of the curtain 2 which is opposite to that directed towards the center of curvature when the curtain 2 is rolled up, the latter is not subjected to an elongation, but is somewhat compressed according to the direction of its lateral edges in the site of the latter.

It is clear that the invention is not limited to the different embodiments described above and illustrated by the attached figures, but that other variants can also be considered without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus, instead of belts with notches, one could use, on the one hand, a strap that has spurs on one of its faces and, on the other hand, a strap provided with corresponding holes in which these spurs can be inserted during the operation. application of these straps against each other.

On the other hand, the extra thickness can have very varied shapes and be formed, for example, by a burelet.

The same applies to the tape that is substantially incompressible in the sense of its length. This can be formed by any elongated element whose cross section can be highly variable and have, for example, a circular, ellipsoidal, polygonal, etc. shape.

Although the nature of the materials, with which the cable (s) are made can be highly variable, we give a pronounced preference to steel cables.