FR3077323A1 - DEVICE FOR CLOSING ACCESS TO A CLOSED PLACE WITH AUTOMATED MECHANICAL OPENING - Google Patents

Abstract

This shutter device for access (2) to a closed place with automated mechanical opening, comprises: - a gate (1) articulated on a first vertical pillar (3), and lockable on a second vertical pillar (4) of such as to close the access to said closed place, said second vertical pillar (4) having a locking mechanism adapted to cooperate with the lateral end of the gate (1) opposite that articulated on said first pillar (3); - a shoe (5) positioned upstream of the gate (1), incorporating means (11) able to move substantially vertically under the weight so as to generate the traction of a cable (6) connected to said locking mechanism of the portal. The locking mechanism consists of at least one striker articulated in the second pillar (4) on a horizontal axis, one end of which cooperates with a housing formed in the vicinity of the lateral end of the gate opposite to that hinged on the first pillar, and whose other end is being secured to the cable (6). The shoe (5) comprises a pit surmounted by a floor, and within which is slidable vertically an actuating element of the cable (6), said element being provided with a rod also vertical to which is directly secured or indirectly said cable, the floor being subjected to the action of springs bearing against the bottom of the pit and generating by default the positioning of the floor in the up position and corollary maintaining locked position of the locking mechanism.

Description

DEVICE FOR SHUTTERING ACCESS TO AN ENCLOSED LOCATION WITH AUTOMATED MECHANICAL OPENING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of devices for accessing enclosed spaces of any kind, the actuation of which is purely mechanical, and more particularly free from any motorization system of any kind whatsoever, in particular electric, this mechanical actuation being separate and therefore remote from said device.

This device is more particularly intended to be implemented in access systems for firefighters, especially in confined areas of airport sites. It is generally used in all accesses to confined spaces of any kind, but also in emergency exit devices.

PRIOR STATE OF THE ART

If electrically operated gates, such as garage doors, and other barriers, are now widely used, with possible remote access control such as by remote control, there are a number of situations in which these electrical actuations are impracticable, at least economically due to the remoteness of an electrical source, such as for example meadows, pastures etc. They may also be prohibited for other applications such as for example access to confined areas of airport sites, more particularly intended for firefighters. Indeed, such access, generally required by the emergency, cannot suffer any electrical failure of which, notwithstanding the progress made in this matter, such a difficulty cannot be completely overlooked. This problem also exists in the context of emergency exits.

Concerning this specific area of accessibility for firefighters in the confined enclosure of airport sites, there is a system in which the gate closing the access is simply pushed by the fire engine, causing it to fall, and on which said vehicle rolls, prohibitively and definitively affecting said portal and requiring its change.

In general, there are devices for blocking access to a determined place with mechanical opening, implementing a system of cables, or even cords, actuating the opening of a gate from a place offset by report to the portal. These devices are, however, of a relatively complex mechanism and incorporate a large number of connecting rods, angle transmissions, springs, etc. affecting in the long run the actual operation of such a device.

The objective of the present invention is to propose a device of the type in question which is both simple to implement and to produce, and which meets the specifications aimed by the competent authorities, in particular in terms of airport site security.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention proposes a device for closing off access to a closed place with automated mechanical opening, comprising:

- a portal proper, articulated on a first vertical pillar, and lockable on a second vertical pillar so as to close off access to said enclosed space, said second vertical pillar comprising a locking mechanism able to cooperate with the lateral end of the portal opposite to that articulated on said first pillar;

- A shoe positioned upstream of the portal, incorporating a means capable of moving substantially vertically under the weight, in particular of an individual or a vehicle, so as to generate the traction of a cable connected to said locking mechanism of the portal integrated into said second pillar, said cable winding around pulleys or idler rollers.

According to the invention:

- The locking mechanism consists of at least one keeper, articulated within said second pillar along a horizontal axis, and mounted in cantilever with respect to this horizontal axis of articulation, so that in l absence of any constraint, the keeper is in the operational position for locking the gate, one of the ends of said keeper cooperating with a housing provided for this purpose, arranged in the vicinity of the lateral end of the gate opposite to that articulated on the first pillar, and the other end of the keeper being integral with the cable;

- The shoe consists of a pit oriented substantially parallel to the portal when the latter is in the locked shutter position, and surmounted by a pit floor within which is capable of vertically sliding an actuating element of said cable, said element being provided with a rod also vertical at the end of which is secured directly or indirectly said cable, the floor being subjected to the action of springs bearing on the bottom of the pit and generating by default, that is to say say in the absence of any constraint, the positioning of the floor in the high position and as a corollary the maintenance in the locked position of the locking mechanism.

In other words, the invention provides a device for accessing an enclosed space, the locking and unlocking of the gate being carried out in an extremely simple manner by the implementation of a simple cable, actuated remotely by a shoe also of simple operation, and the locking mechanism of which operates in cantilever and, in the absence of any external organ or means, generates the locking of said portal, promoting the conditions of security of access to the site determined by question.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the second pillar, incorporating the locking mechanism, is provided with at least one means for ejecting the gate with a view to its opening when it is unlocked.

Typically, this means consists of a spring, integral with one of the walls or internal faces of the second pillar, the free end of which is associated with a rubber stop or equivalent, sliding in a horizontal tube, said stop cooperating with the end of the gate.

Advantageously, these ejection means are two in number, distributed over the height of said pillar, in order to optimize the thrust exerted on the portal, in particular sought in emergency cases.

Alternatively, this or these ejection means are integrated in the portal, at the end of said portal being called to cooperate with said second vertical pillar, integrating the locking mechanism.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking mechanism comprises two strikes, oriented parallel to one another and one above the other within said second pillar, said strikes being connected together by a connecting rod to ensure a homothetic movement of the second strike under the action of the cable secured to the end of the first strike.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pit forming part of the shoe is provided with a drain, intended, in known manner, to evacuate runoff and rainwater and, as a corollary, to preserve the integrity of the cable emerging from said shoe.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the end of the portal cooperating with the second pillar consists of a vertical tube defining a recess of hollow parallelepiped shape, capable of substantially matching the shape of said second pillar, so that in position locking, said tube obscures the locking mechanism and in particular the locking strike (s), and thus make access to said locking mechanism inviolable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The manner in which the invention can be carried out, and the advantages which result therefrom, will emerge more clearly from the example of embodiment which follows, given by way of nonlimiting indication with the support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the general principle of operation of the device according to the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are views respectively from above and in longitudinal section of the shoe according to the invention, of which Figure 4 is a transverse view.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the particular shape of one of the profiles of the device and of one of the ends of the portal according to the invention, of which FIG. 6 is a view from another angle.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation and a top view of said second pillar according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating the double strike system and its actuation by the cable according to the invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the cooperation of one of the keepers with the end of the portal opposite the end articulated on said first pillar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There is shown, in relation to Figure 1, an illustrative diagram of the general principle of operation of the shutter device according to the invention.

This device basically comprises a portal (1) closing off an access area (2) defined by two vertical pillars, respectively a first pillar (3) and a second pillar (4). On the other hand, have not been represented within this figure the fence elements of a given site secured to the pillars (3) and (4), and for example consisting of a grid, a wall, barbed wire , etc ....

Also appears in Figure 1 a shoe (5), intended to allow the actuation of a cable (6) for unlocking the gate (1), and correspondingly its opening. Arrows have been materialized in this figure to represent a vertical actuation of the shoe (5), in particular under the effect of the weight, and in the precise example of a vehicle, generating the traction of the cable (6) and, consequently, unlocking the gate (1) outside the pillar (4).

The shoe (5) has been shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4. In the example described, which corresponds to secure access to an airport site, this shoe (5) is typically positioned, in this case in parallel to the gate (1) when the latter is in the closed position, and at a distance of approximately 4 meters from the gate (1). This shoe (5), with a length of about 3 meters, consists of a pit (10), typically concrete, of substantially parallelepiped shape, and a depth close to 20 centimeters. This pit (10) is intended to receive an element (11), the purpose of which is to ensure the traction of the cable (6). This element (11) has an appropriate shape so that it slides within the pit (10), as can be seen in FIG. 4. This element (11) is integral with a floor (12 ), typically made of galvanized steel, which can be dismantled to allow adjustment of the tension of said cable (6). This galvanized floor (12) in fact consists of three adjacent parts, a main part or flat area (13), covering and even exceeding the upper surface of the pit (10), at the ends of which are articulated at the level of hinges (14) lateral portions (15), the free edges of which rest on the road located on either side of the pit. Thus, when a vehicle passes over the shoe (5), the galvanized floor (12) descends under the effect of the weight, and, because of the hinges (14) of articulation of the lateral parts (15), it remains however a continuity on the rolling zone of said vehicle.

As a corollary, springs (16) are positioned at the bottom of the pit (10) and bear under the underside of the central zone (13) of the floor (12). The characteristics of these springs are chosen as a function, on the one hand, of the weight which the shoe (5) is likely to receive, and on the other hand, of the triggering threshold of said shoe (5), that is to say - say the mass below which one does not wish to see the gate unlocked. In this case, in the context of the particular example of access to an airport site, it is desired that only fire trucks be empowered to generate unlocking of the gate, so that the minimum actuation weight is arbitrarily set at 1 ton.

More specifically, the element (11), in this case of cross section of square shape, comprises two lateral walls (17), coming to bear against the lateral faces of the pit (10), and have a length selected to limit the downward travel of the galvanized floor (12), in this case typically from a distance of 3.5 centimeters. It also comprises a vertical rod (18), also emanating from the underside of the main zone (13) of the floor (12), to which a secondary rod (19) is secured, oriented in this case horizontally and at the end of which the cable (6) is secured. This cable (6) is returned by a first return pulley (20) before leaving the pit by a pipe or sheath (not shown) ending at the foot of the second pillar (4), possibly via other pulleys of reference (also not shown).

The secondary rod (19) is secured to the rod (18) by means of a strip (22) making it possible to control the depth of said secondary rod (19) relative to the rod (18), and therefore, as a corollary, the cable tension (6).

It is therefore understandable that, when the floor (12) is lowered under the action of the passage of a vehicle, the rod (18) is lowered concomitantly, generating, due to the respective positioning of the secondary rod ( 19) and the pulley (20), a pull of the cable (6), in this case typically the same distance of 3.5 centimeters.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the pit (10) has an underlying drain (21) capable of evacuating rain or runoff water, and thus retaining a relatively dry atmosphere within the pit (10), suitable for maintain the integrity of the various elements, in particular the cable (6).

There is shown, in relation to FIG. 5, a schematic perspective view illustrating the particular shape of the second pillar (4), and that of the end of the portal (1) opposite the lateral end articulated on the first pillar ( 3).

In this case, the pillar (4) has a zone (25) defining a succession of vertical side walls oriented perpendicularly to each other, and in particular a spout (26) capable of cooperating with a corresponding zone (27) of the lateral end considered of the portal (1). In fact, said lateral end of the portal (1) has a hollow recess (28) of parallelepiped shape and complementary to the spout (26), defining two vertical walls cooperating with the vertical walls also oriented perpendicularly to one another. other, resulting from the beak (26) of the second pillar (4). The result of this particular form is a concealment, in particular of the locking mechanism described in more detail later, when the gate (1) is in the locked position.

The locking mechanism will be described below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. This locking mechanism basically comprises at least one keeper (30), articulated on a horizontal axis (31) fixed between two of the side walls defining the pillar (4). As can be seen in particular in FIG. 7, the keeper (30) is articulated in cantilever, so that due to its only weight, and this articulation in cantilever, it naturally tends to lower, in this case to the left in Figure 7, at one of its ends (32). The cable (6) mentioned above, is secured to the opposite end (33) of said keeper, as, incidentally, illustrated in FIG. 8.

Advantageously, these strikes are two in number (see FIG. 8) and are interconnected by means of a connecting rod (34) ensuring a homothetic movement of the upper strike (30 ') by the lower strike (30), the strike upper (30 ') being articulated according to the same principle on a horizontal axis (31') parallel to the axis (31).

The free end (32), respectively (32 ') of the strikes (30) and (30'), in the absence of stress, that is to say in the absence of traction of the cable (6), has intended to be received in a notch (35) formed on one of the lateral faces of the hollow area (28) of the portal (1) (see FIG. 9).

On the other hand, when the cable (6) is pulled under the action of the weight of a vehicle on the shoe (5), the keepers (30) and (30 ') rise by a distance greater than 3, 5 centimeters due to the cantilever positioning of the hinge pins (31) and (3Γ), and in any case sufficient to release the end (32) and (32 ') out of the notches (35 ) provided on the gate (1).

The elevation of the end (32) of the keeper (30) and, clearly, the direction of the opening of the gate, have been shown by arrows respectively. The notch (35) is defined, on the one hand, by a vertical partition (36) and by another partition (37) whose upper end is connected in the form of a bevel (38) to another vertical wall (39 ) of the portal (1) and this, in order to favor relocking of the portal after use, the end (32) of the keeper then simply sliding over this bevelled shape, to come back into place in the notch (35).

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, and in particular in the more specific context of an access device for fire engines in an enclosed site, in particular an airport site, the release of the strikes (30) and (30 ') is also accompanied by an ejection of the gate (1) according to the arrow materialized in FIG. 1.

To this end, the second pillar (4) also includes ejection means, more specifically illustrated in FIG. 7. Within this, only one ejection means is illustrated, being however understood that there may be a plurality over the entire height of said pillar (4), typically two or even three.

These ejection means consist, on the one hand of a spring (40), fixed on one of the internal walls of the pillar (4), secured to a stop (41), typically made of rubber, the free end (42) is intended to bear against the face (39) of the portal (1). The propulsion power resulting from this ejection means is obviously adjustable according to the constants of the spring (40) used.

According to an alternative version, these ejection means are not located in the second pillar, but in the end region of the portal (1), intended to cooperate with said second pillar. The operating principle of this or these ejection means remains however identical.

Still with the aim of securing as much as possible the locking of the gate (1), the upper face of the pillar (4) is closed by means of an upper cover (not shown).

It is understood that the device of the invention has a number of adjustment parameters.

First, the gate opening time can be adjusted depending on the distance of the shoe (5) from the gate (1).

Furthermore, the opening power, which can prove to be decisive in the context of emergency access by firefighters, will depend on the choice of compression springs (40), and possibly on their number.

As a corollary, we understand all the interest of the access device according to the invention, because of its extreme simplicity of realization on the one hand, and of implementation on the other hand, being further emphasized the non-hookable character of the gate due to the particular configuration of the second pillar and the corresponding lateral end of the gate, favoring safety conditions.

Claims (8)

1. Device for closing the access (2) to a closed place with automated mechanical opening, comprising: - a portal (1) proper, articulated on a first vertical pillar (3), and lockable on a second vertical pillar (4) so as to block access to said enclosed space, said second vertical pillar (4) comprising a locking mechanism able to cooperate with the lateral end of the portal (1) opposite to that articulated on said first pillar (3); - a shoe (5) positioned upstream of the gate (1), integrating a means (11) able to move substantially vertically under the weight, in particular of an individual or a vehicle, so as to generate traction d 'a cable (6) connected to said locking mechanism of the portal integrated in said second pillar (4), said cable winding around pulleys or idler rollers; characterized: - in that the locking mechanism consists of at least one keeper (30, 30 '), articulated within said second pillar (4) on a horizontal axis (31, 3 T), and mounted door-to-door false with respect to this horizontal articulation axis, so that in the absence of any constraint, the keeper is in the operational position for locking the gate, one (32) of the ends of said keeper cooperating with a housing (35) provided for this purpose, formed in the vicinity of the lateral end of the portal opposite to that articulated on the first pillar, and the other end (33) of the keeper being integral with the cable ( ⁶ ); - And in that the shoe (5) comprises a pit (10) oriented substantially parallel to the portal (1) when the latter is in the locked shutter position and surmounted by a floor (12), pit within which is capable of vertically sliding an element (11) for actuating said cable (6), said element (11) being provided with a rod (18) also vertical to which said cable is directly or indirectly secured, the floor (12) being subjected to the action of springs (16) bearing on the bottom of the pit and generating by default, that is to say in the absence of any constraint, the positioning of the floor (12) in the high position and consequently the keeping the locking mechanism in the locked position. 2. Sealing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second pillar (4), integrating the locking mechanism, is provided with at least one ejection means (40, 41) of the portal for its opening when unlocked. 3. obturation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral end of the portal (1) opposite to that articulated on said first pillar (3) is provided with at least one means for ejecting the portal in view when opened when unlocked. 4. Sealing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ejection means consists of a spring (40), integral with one of the walls or internal faces of the second pillar (4), the free end is associated with a stop or equivalent (41), sliding in a horizontal tube, said stop cooperating with the end of the portal. 5. Sealing device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the ejection means are two in number, distributed over the height of said second pillar or said end of the portal, in order to optimize the thrust exerted on the gate. 6. Sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises two strikes (30, 30 '), oriented parallel to one another and one above on the other within said second pillar, said strikes being connected together by a connecting rod (34) in order to ensure a homothetic movement of the second strike (30 ') under the action of the first strike (30), this the latter being mobilized under the action of the cable (6) secured to one (32) of its ends. 7. Sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pit (10) is provided with a drain, intended to evacuate runoff and rainwater and, as a corollary, to keep the integrity of the cable emerging from said shoe. 8. Sealing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the end of the portal cooperating with the second pillar (4) consists of a vertical tube defining a recess (28) of parallelepiped shape in hollow, capable of substantially matching the shape of said second pillar, so that in the locking position, said tube obscures the locking mechanism and in particular the locking strike (s), and thus make access to said locking mechanism inviolable.