IT202100014636A1 - SELF-LOCKING GATE VALVE - Google Patents

Description

Title: SELF-LOCKING GATE VALVE.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a self-locking gate valve.

In general, a rolling shutter is meant as a sliding closing device, particularly usable as a window frame for application to doors and windows of building constructions. However, applications to openings in other sectors to prevent or allow passage through them are not excluded.

STATE OF THE ART

In the sector of building fixtures, gate valves are known and widespread, comprising a series of slats joined to form a planar bulkhead that slides in the opening and closing of a compartment within two rectilinear guides.

The gate valves are commonly articulated to be wrapped around an upper rotor, or more? in general they can be dragged along a curved path.

The European patent EP3184726B1 describes an example of such gate valves, proposing in particular an articulation between the slats suitable for facilitating winding to the rotor.

Known gate valves, including that of EP3184726B1, however are subject to easy infringements, since in addition to being opened by wrapping them around the rotor, they can also be raised by pushing them from below.

That of EP3184726B1, in particular, allows two closed configurations, one in which the slats are locked together to prevent the passage of light and air, and one in which the slats are spaced apart to allow a partial passage of air and light. In the first ? It is possible to manually lift the staves by pushing them from below, exploiting the clearance between the staves and the rotor, as well as the low opposition of the latter to rotation. In the second the situation? even more critical as the spacing between the slats allows a conspicuous manual lifting from below without any opposition.

Purpose of the present invention? that of solving all or part of the problems of the prior art.

In particular, a preferred object of the present invention ? that of providing an anti-theft gate valve, in particular a self-locking one.

A further preferred object of the present invention ? that of providing a gate valve that is easy to install and use.

Another further preferable object of the present invention? providing a gate which includes at least one locked closed configuration in which the slats are spaced apart to allow partial passage of air.

Another further preferred object of the present invention ? that of providing a gate valve that is easy and cheap to make.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

According to a first general aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a self-locking gate valve comprising:

- a pair of sliding guides (5) placed parallel to each other to frame a passage opening on opposite sides,

- a series of slats (10) arranged to slide between the sliding guides (5) in opening and closing of said passage opening;

characterized in that the gate valve (1) comprises at least one self-locking device (20, 120) comprising:

- two consecutive staves, hereinafter referred to as self-locking staves (10a and 10b), movable away from and towards each other in the sliding direction (S) defined by the sliding guides (5);

- at least one ratchet device (28, 128) configured to lock the self-locking slats with respect to the guide (5) due to the approaching movement between them and to unlock them due to the opposite movement away from them.

According to some preferred embodiments, the ratchet device (28, 128) comprises:

- at least one cam mechanism comprising a drive (30, 130) and a follower (32, 132) integral respectively with one and the other of the two staves (10a, 10b),

- at least one tooth (35, 135) and one of its engagement seats (42, 142);

- where the follower (32, 132) includes at least the tooth (35, 135) or at least its seat of engagement (42, 142), and where the other of the two ? integral with the sliding guide (5) of the gate valve,

- the cam mechanism? configured to transform the movement towards and away from the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) into a reversible retractable motion of the follower which performs said engagement and disengagement.

In general ? preferably the cam mechanism (28, 128) is characterized in that:

- the originator (32, 132) ? rotatably secured to a first of the self-locking staves (10a), and comprises one of a cam surface (50, 150) and a cam pin (48, 148);

- the motive (30, 130) comprises the other between the cam pin (48, 148) and the cam surface (50, 150), and ? integral with the other stave (10b) in the movement towards and away from the staves, where said cam surface (50, 150) ? slidable relative to the cam pin (48, 148) to force rotation of the follower.

According to some preferred embodiments, the shutter comprises an articulation device (25, 125) between the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) configured to allow them to move away from and approach each other, where the articulation mechanism comprising an articulation pin (48, 148) and an articulation guide (52, 152) with respect to which this articulation pin ? sliding, wherein said motive (30, 130) comprises said pivot pin (48, 148) or said pivot guide (52, 152).

In this case, preferably said articulation device (25, 125) comprises an articulation arm (45, 145) placed to join the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) together, where said arm comprises the motive or follower (30, 132 ), more preferably they coincide.

In general ? preferable that said pivot pin (48, 148) ? the cam pin.

According to some preferred embodiments:

- the drive comprises an articulation arm (45) of the articulation device (25) placed to join the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) together in a sliding manner,

- where a first end? (45a) of the pivot arm (45) ? fixed unit to one of the slats (10b) and the pin (48) ? placed at the end? opposite (45b) so as to be sliding both with respect to the articulation guide (52) and to the cam surface, which are distinct from each other and both integral with the other stave (10a),

- where the articulation guide (52) and the cam surface (50) have different profiles configured to define a law of motion with respect to the pin which is different from each other, and where a ? mobile relative to the other; preferably the guide of the articulation ? motionless with respect to the stave and the cam surface ? mobile, for example rotatable with respect to the stave.

According to some preferred embodiments:

- the follower (132) comprises an articulation arm (145) of the articulation device (125) placed to join the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) together in a sliding manner,

- said articulation arm (145) has a first end? (132a) rotatable pivoted to one of the slats (10a)

- said articulation arm (145) comprises both the articulation guide (152) and the cam surface (150), which thus coincide? to define the same motion law with respect to the pivot;

- the motive (132) comprises said pin (148) fixed to the other stave (10b).

In general ? preferable that at least one self-locking device (20, 120) is placed at the end? bottom 12 of gate valve 1, where the extremity? inferior ? that reached by the staves in closed configuration.

Preferably, does the shutter include a plurality? of self-locking devices (20, 120).

Preferably does the self-locking device have a ratchet mechanism (28, 128) at both ends? of the self-locking slats.

Preferably the self-locking device (20, 120) ? active in blocking before reaching the minimum possible distance between the self-blocking slats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of its preferred embodiments, made with reference to the enclosed drawings and given by way of non-limiting example. In such drawings:

- figures 1a and 1b schematically show a gate valve according to the present invention respectively in an unlocked configuration and in a locked configuration; the guides are partially broken off to show an underlying self-locking device;

- figures 2a and 2b schematically show a perspective view of a detail of the shutter of the previous figures, where ? visible a self-locking device respectively in an unlocked configuration and in a locked configuration;

- figures 3a and 3b schematically show in side view the details respectively of figures 2a and 2b where ? the sliding guide of the slats has been removed for illustrative clarity;

- figure 4 schematically shows an exploded view of the gate valve bulkhead of the previous figures;

- figure 5 schematically shows a detail of the exploded view of figure 4;

- figure 6 ? a section of the self-locking device along a slide plane of the shutter;

figure 7 schematically shows a detail of a shutter according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;

- figure 8 schematically shows an exploded view of figure 7.

With reference to figures 1a and 1b ? illustrated a gate valve according to the present invention indicated as a whole with the reference number 1.

The shutter 1 comprises a pair of sliding guides 5 placed parallel to each other to frame a passage opening on opposite sides, where a series of slats 10 slide between the guides in opening and closing of said opening.

The staves 10 are parallel to each other according to the direction of longitudinal development, which is orthogonal to the sliding direction S between the guides 5.

The guides 5 are preferably U-shaped profiles or the like within which the slats 10 slide, which are preferably profiled with a substantially rectangular section.

The adjacent slats 10 are articulated to one another in an articulated manner according to axes X parallel to each other and orthogonal to the sliding direction S in the guides 5, so that each drags the next in sliding and can follow a non-rectilinear path, for example to be wound around a rotor 15.

The shutter? configured to have a substantially vertical operating orientation with respect to the ground such that the slats are dragged in opening sliding against the force of gravity? and closing sliding according to the force of gravity.

Does the gate valve have one end? lower 12 and one extremity? upper 14, where at the extremity? at the top, the series of staves emerges from the guides 5 to be hooked to any driving means 15, such as for example a common winding rotor.

At the end? lower 12 ? Is it possible to provide a limit switch 18 which acts as a support for the staves to prevent their further descent by gravity, or is this limit switch ? given by a wall of the passage opening to which ? applied the shutter, such as for example the threshold of a door or a window, so it is not? an essential element.

With reference to figures 2 to 6, the gate valve 1 comprises at least one self-locking device 20 comprising:

- two consecutive staves 10a and 10b, hereinafter referred to as self-locking staves with respect to at least one of the guides 5;

- at least one articulation device 25 of the self-locking staves;

- at least one ratchet device 28 for locking the self-locking slats with respect to the guide 5 due to the relative movement between them, where preferably the articulation device ? part of the ratchet device.

According to the articulation function of said device 25, the two self-locking slats 10a and 10b are movably joined to each other so that they approach and move away from each other along the sliding direction S defined by the guides 5.

The approach movement of the staves activates the ratchet effect which locks the staves 10a and 10b with respect to the guide 5, while the movement away from it deactivates it (see figures 3a and 3b).

There? advantageously allows the shutter to be blocked when ? closed.

To allow us? the ratchet device 28 comprises:

- at least one cam mechanism comprising a drive 30 and a follower 32 integral respectively with one and the other of the two slats 10a and 10b (see figures 3a and 3b),

- at least one tooth 35 and one of its engagement seats 42 where ? received, for example an opening;

- where the follower 32 comprises at least the tooth 35 or at least its engagement seat 42, and where the other of the two ? integral with the sliding guide 5 of the gate valve,

- the tooth 35 and the engagement seat 42 can be engaged and disengaged from each other to respectively define the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration of the gate valve (see figure 2b);

- the cam mechanism transforms the movement towards and away from the self-locking slats 10a and 10b into a reversible retractable motion of the follower which performs said engagement and disengagement.

Furthermore, the tooth 35 and the relative engagement seat 42 are oriented in such a way that when they are engaged they oppose the lifting of at least one of the staves in the sliding direction S.

Various embodiments of the cam mechanism 28 are possible.

The one in figures 2 to 6 ? a first example where:

- the assignor 32 ? rotatably fixed to the lower stave 10a, it comprises the tooth 35 and a cam surface 50, for example a slot;

- the motive 30 comprises a cam pin 48 integral with the upper stave 10b in the movement towards and away from the lower stave 10a, where said cam surface 50 ? slidable relative to cam pin 48 to enforce rotation of the follower.

Preferably the 48 stud ? part of an articulation arm 45 of the articulation device 25 arranged to join slats 10a and 10b together in a sliding manner. A first end? 45a of the pivot arm 45 ? unit fixed to the upper stave 10b. The 48 stud? placed at the end? opposite 45b and slides, in the distance and approach direction S, in a guide 52 integral with the lower stave 10a, with respect to which ? motionless. In this way we can consider that the articulation arm 45 coincides with the driving force 30 so that the articulation device 25 ? part of the ratchet device 28.

The originator 32 has an extremity? 32a distal to the upper stave 10b and fixed to the lower stave 10a in correspondence with an axis of rotation X orthogonal to the direction S. The end? opposite 32b of the assignor ? proximal to the upper stave 10b and ? free to rotate around the X axis due to the thrust of the pin 30. Does it coincide with the tooth 35 and ? shaped to engage the seat 42. The latter for example ? formed directly in the guide 5 or in an element 6 joined thereto.

The guide 52 integral with the stave and the cam surface 50 have different profiles, as better visible in figures 3a and 5, so their interaction with the pin 48 respectively imposes the reciprocal movement of the staves in the direction of sliding S and the rotation of the tooth 35 around an axis X orthogonal to said direction S so? to be retractable.

Will the sector technician know? modify the illustrated example according to various possible variants, for example where mutually cooperating elements have inverted reciprocal positions, all contemplated by the present invention, including for example:

- a first variant where the pin 48 ? on the follower 32 and the cam surface 50 ? on motive 30;

- a second variant where the tooth 35 ? fixed with respect to the sliding guide 5 and the engagement seat 42 has a retractable movement due to the cam mechanism;

- a variant in which the cam surface 50 and the articulation guide 52 are integral with the upper stave 10b while the cam and articulation pin 48 is integral with the lower stave 10a;

- the permutations of the variants.

With reference to figures 7 and 8, will it be? now illustrated an alternative embodiment where elements equal or similar to the previous ones are indicated with the same reference numbers or with these numbers added by 100 or multiples thereof.

The self-locking device 120 differs from the device 20 of the previous figures in that the articulation arm 145 coincides with the follower 132 instead of with motive 130.

Said pivot arm 145 includes the cam surface 150, has the end? lower 132a pivoted rotatable to the lower stave 10a and the extremity? upper 132b which acts as tooth 35.

Motive 132? a pin 148 fixed to the upper stave 10b. The cam surface 150 preferably ? defined by a slot in the follower within which the pin 148 slides and rotates, therefore it also has the function of articulation guide 152. In this case, the articulation guide 152 ? integral with the lower stave 10a but mobile with respect to it, instead? be motionless as in the previous embodiment.

The articulation device ? indicated as a whole with the number 125 and as can be understood from the foregoing, it comprises the pin 148 and its articulation guide 152.

The ratchet device ? indicated as a whole with the reference number 128 and comprises the articulation device 125 and the engagement seat 42 of the tooth.

In general ? preferable that at least one self-locking device 20, 120 is placed at the end? bottom 12 of gate valve 1.

In general ? also preferable that the gate includes a plurality? of self-locking devices 20, 120.

In general ? preferable that the self-locking device has a ratchet mechanism at both ends? of the self-locking slats.

In use, the staves are lifted by pulling them from above in opposition to the force of gravity. and are lowered allowing it to descend by gravity. There? does it ensure that they are at a maximum distance from each other when the rolling shutter ? open, which means that the tooth and its seat are not engaged and the staves are free to slide in the guide 5. When the staves are lowered to close the passage, the one at the end? bottom 12 stops against the threshold or against a limit switch and the staves consequently gradually begin to approach each other. When their proximity? below a predetermined distance, for example zero, the tooth engages its seat and does not allow the lower self-locking stave 10a to be lifted by pushing it from below. To free her? necessary to lift the upper self-locking stave 10b. If all the slats in guide 5 are self-locking, the only unlocking system is? pull the gate valve from above in the opening movement, for example by winding the slats in the rotor 15.

In general, the engagement between the tooth and the seat ? active in blocking the movement of the lower stave before reaching the minimum possible distance between the self-locking staves, in this way ? possible to leave the slats partially spaced to allow the passage of air without there? compromise the safety of the shutter. There? ? particularly advantageous if all the slats in the sliding guide 5 are self-locking.

In general, with reference to figures 1 and 2, we observe that a predetermined number of staves 10 proximal to the end? top of the gate valve have a fixed distance between them, preferably minimum, cos? to favor for example the winding to the rotor 15.

GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term "comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are understood to be open-ended terms specifying the presence of the stated characteristics, elements, components, assemblies, integers and/or phases, but do not exclude the presence of other undeclared characteristics, elements, components, groups, integers and/or phases. The above also applies to words that have similar meanings such as the terms "including", "have" and their derivatives. Furthermore, the terms "part", "section", "portion", "member" or "element" when used in the singular can have the double meaning of a single part or of a plurality? of parts. As used herein to describe the embodiment(s) above, the following directional terms "forward", "backward", "over", "down", "vertical", "horizontal", "under" and "transverse" , as well as any other similar directional term refers to the embodiment described in the operative position. Finally, terms of degree such as "substantially", "about" and "approximately" as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the final result is not significantly changed.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be clear to those skilled in the art from this description that various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, can the size, shape, position or orientation of various components be changed as needed? and / or wishes. The components shown directly connected or in contact with each other may have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment may be adopted in another embodiment. Not ? It is necessary that all the advantages are present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Each feature that ? original compared to the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, should also be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by those features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (12)

1. Self-locking gate valve comprising: - a pair of sliding guides (5) placed parallel to each other to frame a passage opening on opposite sides, - a series of slats (10) arranged to slide between the sliding guides (5) in opening and closing of said passage opening; characterized in that the gate valve (1) comprises at least one self-locking device (20, 120) comprising: - two consecutive staves, hereinafter referred to as self-locking staves (10a and 10b), movable away from and towards each other in the sliding direction (S) defined by the sliding guides (5); - at least one ratchet device (28, 128) configured to lock the self-locking staves with respect to the guide (5) due to the approach movement and to unlock them due to the away movement. 2. Gate valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratchet device (28, 128) comprises: - at least one cam mechanism comprising a drive (30, 130) and a follower (32, 132) integral respectively with one and the other of the two staves (10a, 10b), - at least one tooth (35, 135) and one of its engagement seats (42, 142); - where the follower (32, 132) includes at least the tooth (35, 135) or at least its engagement seat (42, 142), and where the other of the two ? integral with the sliding guide (5) of the gate valve, - the cam mechanism? configured to transform the movement towards and away from the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) into a reversible retractable motion of the follower which performs said engagement and disengagement. The gate according to claim 2, wherein the cam mechanism (28, 128) is? characterized by the fact that: - the originator (32, 132) ? rotatably secured to a first of the self-locking staves (10a), and comprises one of a cam surface (50, 150) and a cam pin (48, 148); - the motive (30, 130) comprises the other between the cam pin (48, 148) and the cam surface (50, 150), and ? integral with the other stave (10b) in the movement towards and away from the staves, where said cam surface (50, 150) ? slidable relative to the cam pin (48, 148) to force rotation of the follower. 4. Gate according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises an articulation device (25, 125) between the self-locking staves (10a, 10b) configured to allow them to move away from and approach each other, where the articulation mechanism comprising a pivot pin (48, 148) and a pivot guide (52, 152) with respect to which that pivot pin ? sliding, wherein said motive (30, 130) comprises said pivot pin (48, 148) or said pivot guide (52, 152). 5. Gate valve according to claim 4, characterized in that said articulation device (25, 125) comprises an articulation arm (45, 145) placed to join the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) together, wherein said arm comprises the motive or the originator (30, 132). 6. Gate valve according to claim 4 or 5 when dependent on claim 3, characterized in that said pivot pin (48, 148) is? the cam pin. 7. Gate valve according to claim 6, characterized in that: - the drive comprises an articulation arm (45) of the articulation device (25) placed to join the self-locking slats (10a, 10b) together in a sliding manner, - where a first end? (45a) of the pivot arm (45) ? fixed unit to one of the slats (10b) and the pin (48) ? placed at the end? opposite (45b) so as to be sliding both with respect to the articulation guide (52) and to the cam surface, which are distinct from each other and both integral with the other stave (10a), - where the articulation guide (52) and the cam surface (50) have different profiles configured to define a law of motion with respect to the pin which is different from each other, and where a ? mobile relative to the other. 8. Gate valve according to claim 6, characterized in that: - the follower (132) comprises an articulation arm (145) of the articulation device (125) placed to join the self-locking staves (10a, 10b) together in a sliding manner, - said articulation arm (145) has a first end? (132a) rotatable pivoted to one of the slats (10a) - said articulation arm (145) comprises both the articulation guide (152) and the cam surface (150), which thus coincide? to define the same motion law with respect to the pivot; - the motive (132) comprises said pin (148) fixed to the other stave (10b). 9. Gate valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one self-locking device (20, 120) ? placed at the end? bottom 12 of gate valve 1, where the extremity? inferior ? that reached by the staves in closed configuration. 10. Gate valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of of self-locking devices (20, 120). 11. Gate valve according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-locking device has a ratchet mechanism (28, 128) at both ends? of the self-locking slats. 12. Gate valve according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-locking device (20, 120) is? active in blocking before reaching the minimum possible distance between the self-blocking slats.