TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure pertains to a vertical folding door system. More specifically, the disclosure pertains to a vertical folding door system comprising horizontal stiffening members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many types of shutting systems for closing a bay, separating a room etc. Vertical folding doors comprises a door blade divided into sections foldable in relation to each other and separated by horizontal stiffening bars. The lowest section of the flexible curtain is connected a driven drum via a cable or wire suitable for being wound or unwound about a winding axle at high speed, allowing apertures of large dimensions to be opened and shut in a very short time. Commonly, the door blade is in the form of a flexible curtain provided with multiple horizontal stiffening bars.

In order to ensure structural stability, the lateral edges of such curtains are guided by means of guide members on the horizontal stiffening bars being guided in guiding rails.

Since vertical folding doors often are implemented for covering large surfaces they are particularly subjected to high loads due to the wind hitting the large surface area of the door. The fastening points of the horizontal stiffening bars are thus subjected to very high loads, which requires the horizontal stiffening bars to be very large and bulky. This in turn negatively affects the maneuverability and speed of the door.

In the light of the above, there is a need to provide an improved vertical folding door.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide an overhead door system which seeks to mitigate, alleviate, or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination. According to an aspect a vertical folding door system for closing an opening is provided. The vertical folding door system comprises a foldable door, a drive unit connected to said foldable door for driving the foldable door between a closed and open position and a first guiding track and a second guiding track extending along each of the vertical edges of the opening.

The vertical folding door system further comprises horizontal stiffening members extending across the foldable door for dividing the foldable door into horizontal sections. The horizontal stiffening members comprises a first guide arrangement and second guide arrangement. The first and second guide arrangement each comprises a guide member guided in the first and second guiding track, respectively.

The horizontal stiffening members further comprises a biasing arrangement connecting a rigid part of the horizontal stiffening members and the first and second guide arrangement, respectively. The biasing arrangement is arranged to provide biasing force on the guide members towards the rigid part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing will be apparent from the following more particular description of the example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the example embodiments.

Fig. 1 illustrates a vertical folding door system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 illustrates a side view of a vertical folding door system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 illustrates a partial cross-section view from above of the horizontal stiffening member and the guiding tracks of the vertical folding door system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 depicts a vertical folding door in a partially open position. As is known to the skilled person a vertical folding door implements a foldable door which is pulled upwards by means of a drive unit, causing the foldable door to fold into sections. In the fully open position, the folded sections are gathered on top of the opening allowing access through said opening.

Accordingly, the vertical folding door system 100 is for closing an opening 20. The vertical folding door system 100 comprises a foldable door 1. The foldable door 1 may comprise a flexible curtain 1. Thus, the foldable door 1 may be in a flexible material such as a soft polymeric material or a textile material. In an alternative embodiment, the foldable door 1 may be in a stiff, i.e. rigid material, the foldable door 1 may thus comprise hinges allowing for the folding.

The vertical folding door system may further comprise a drive unit 5. The drive unit 5 is connected to the foldable door 1 for driving the foldable door between a closed and open position. The drive unit 5 may thus be adapted to operate the foldable door 1. In the closed position the foldable door 1 is lowered so as to cover the opening 20. In the open position the foldable door 1 is raised so as to enable access through said opening 20.

To guide the movement of the foldable door 1, the vertical folding door system 100 comprises guiding tracks. Accordingly the vertical folding door system comprises a first guiding track 3 and a second guiding track 4. Each of the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4 extends along each of the vertical edges of the opening 20, i.e. the lateral edges of the foldable door 1. Accordingly, the first guiding track 3 extends along a first vertical edge of the opening 20 and the second guiding track 4 extends along a second vertical edge of the opening 20. The first vertical edge is opposite to the second vertical edge of the opening 20.

Vertical folding door systems are often implemented to cover large openings, making them more susceptible to high loads due to wind. Therefore, the vertical folding door system comprises horizontal stiffening members 20. The horizontal stiffening members 20 extends across the foldable door 1 for dividing the foldable door 1 into horizontal sections. Accordingly the horizontal stiffening members 20 extends across the width of the foldable door 1, between the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4. The horizontal stiffening members 20 are thus distributed to divide the foldable door 1 into sections, causing the foldable door 1 to fold said sections relative to each other during the movement from the closed position to the open position.

The horizontal stiffening members 20 extends into the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4, whereby the foldable door 1 is guided by means of said horizontal stiffening members 20 interfacing with said first and second guiding track.

Turning to Figure 2, a side view of the vertical folding door system is depicted. Referencing said figure, the vertical folding door system may further comprise a drum 2 for winding and winding a cable 62, i.e. a mechanical cable or wire. The cable 62 is connected to the foldable door 1. The drive unit 5 is connected to the drum 2 for driving said drum 2.

The drum 2 may be connected to the drive unit 5 via a gear box. The drive unit 5 may be arranged coaxially with said drum 2. The drive unit 5 may be a motor, such as an electrical motor.

The cable 62 may thus be fixed to the drum 2. The cable 62 may be fixed to the bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a. In one embodiment, the bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a is a horizontal stiffening member according to the invention, in one embodiment said bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20 may be a conventional beam or tube.

The cable 62 may be connected to a bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a. Thus, upon winding of the cable 68 the bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a is pulled upwards, causing the foldable door 1 to gradually fold into sections about the horizontal stiffening members arranged above said bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a thereby moving the foldable door 1 towards the open position. Upon unwinding of the cable 68 the bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a is descended downwards causing the foldable door 1 to gradually unfold about the horizontal stiffening members arranged above said bottommost horizontal stiffening member 20a thereby moving the foldable door 1 towards the closed position.

Further referencing Figure 2, the foldable door 1 may comprise horizontal apertures 19, i.e. pockets, extending through the entire foldable door 1, i.e. the width of the foldable door 1. The horizontal stiffening members 20 may extend through said horizontal apertures 19. Thus, the foldable door 1 is moved by means of the horizontal stiffening members subjecting the inner walls of the horizontal apertures to a contact force via the outer surface of the horizontal stiffening members 20.

In an alternative embodiment, the horizontal stiffening members 20 may be connected to the foldable door 1 by means fastening members. Thus the foldable door 1 may comprise connection loops or clamping connections for receiving said horizontal stiffening members 20.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the foldable door 1 may comprise separate sections, each pivotally connected to adjacent horizontal stiffening members 20 for allowing folding of the sections relative said horizontal stiffening members 20. For example, the foldable door 1 may be in a rigid material provided in separate sections pivotally interconnected by means of said horizontal stiffening members 20. Figure 3 depicts a horizontal stiffening member and the guiding tracks in further detail. As mentioned with reference to Figure 1, the horizontal stiffening members 20 may extend into the first and second guiding track.

Thus, the horizontal stiffening members 20 comprises a first guide arrangement 41 and a second guide arrangement 42. The first guide arrangement 41 comprises a guide member 37 guided in the first guiding track 3. The second guide arrangement comprises a guide member 38 guided in the second guiding track 4.

The horizontal stiffening members 20 further comprises a biasing arrangement 50. The biasing arrangement 50 connects a rigid part 21 of the horizontal stiffening members 20 and the first and second guide arrangement 41, 42, respectively. The biasing arrangement 50 is arranged to provide biasing force on the guide members 37, 38 towards the rigid part 21. Accordingly, the biasing arrangement 50 may be arranged between the rigid part 21 and the first and second guide arrangement 41, 42, respectively.

The biasing arrangement allows for relative movement between the rigid part and the guide arrangements. When the foldable door is subjected to wind loads, the center of the foldable door will bulge causing the rigid part to subject to a bending load in the wind direction. This will cause the horizontal stiffening members to extend due to the spring connection. The higher the wind load the more will the horizontal stiffening member extend. Thereby, the load is transferred from the horizontal stiffening members via their guide arrangements to the guide tracks. This makes the vertical folding door system much more durable for wind loads since the guide tracks typically are more sturdy and may handle high loads better than the horizontal stiffening members. The tension on the rigid part is thus reduced.

In one embodiment, each of the horizontal stiffening members may comprise the biasing arrangement and the guide arrangements. In one embodiment, only some of the horizontal stiffening members may comprise said biasing arrangement and guide arrangements.

Accordingly, the first guide arrangement 41 may constitute a first end of the horizontal stiffening members 20. The second guide arrangement 42 may constitute a second end of the horizontal stiffening members 20. The first end may be opposite to the second end. The rigid part 21 may constitute an intermediate part of the horizontal stiffening members 20, extending between said first and second guide arrangement 41, 42. Thus, the biasing arrangement 50 is arranged to provide biasing force towards the center of the horizontal stiffening member on the guide members 37, 38.

The biasing arrangement 50 is thus arranged to bias the guide members 37, 38 against an inner surface of the first and second guiding track 3, 4, respectively. The inner surface facing away from the rigid part 21 and extends along the first and second guiding track 3, 4, respectively.

The biasing arrangement 50 may comprise a first biasing element 51 and a second biasing element 52. The first biasing element 51 may be connected to the rigid part 21 and the first guide arrangement 41. Thus, the first biasing element 51 provides a biasing connection between the rigid part 21 and the first guide arrangement 41. The second biasing element 52 may be connected to the rigid part 21 and the second guide arrangement 42. Thus, the second biasing element 52 may be connected to the rigid part and the second guide arrangement 42. In other words, the biasing elements may be arranged to resiliently connect the rigid part 21 and the guide arrangements 41, 42 such that the biasing elements provides a biasing force on the guide members 37, 38 towards the rigid part 21.

The first and second biasing elements 51, 52 may be mechanical springs, such as axial springs. Said axial springs may be parallel and preferably coaxial to the rigid part 21. Thus, the biasing arrangement may be considered a spring arrangement. In one embodiment, the biasing arrangement may comprise multiple springs, whereby a plurality of springs may connect the rigid part and the guide arrangement.

In an alternative embodiment, the biasing arrangement may utilize for example elastic sleeves as biasing elements/means. In such an embodiment, elastic sleeves may resiliently connect the rigid part and the guide arrangements.

The first biasing element 51 may be connected to the first guide arrangement 41. The first biasing element 51 is connected to the first guide arrangement 41 by means of a pivot connection 71, i.e. via said pivot connection 71. The second biasing element 52 may be connected to the second guide arrangement 42. The second biasing element 52 is connected to the second guide arrangement 42 by means of a pivot connection 72, i.e. via said pivot connection 72. The pivot connections 71, 72 are adapted to allow for an angular displacement about a vertical axis extending through said pivot connection 71, 72 between the first guide arrangement 41 and the rigid part 21 and the second guide arrangement 42 and the rigid part 21, respectively.

The pivot connections further accommodates the relative movement between the rigid part and the guide arrangements. The pivot connection causes a larger extension of the horizontal stiffening member due to the bending load inclining the connecting part of the guide arrangements relative the rigid part. Thus, the unloading of the horizontal stiffening members provided by the guide arrangement and biasing arrangement is substantially increased.

The pivot connection 71 connecting the first guide arrangement 41 and the rigid element 21 is adapted to allow for an angular displacement between the first guide arrangement 41 relative the rigid part 21 about the vertical axis extending through said pivot connection 71. The pivot connection 71 is arranged to be disposed outside the first guide track 3, between the guide member 37 and the rigid part 21. The pivot connection 71 may comprise a pivoting pin extending along the vertical axis.

The pivot connection 72 connecting the second guide arrangement 42 and the rigid element 21 is adapted to allow for an angular displacement between the second guide arrangement 42 relative the rigid part 21 about the vertical axis extending through said pivot connection 72. The pivot connection 72 is arranged to be disposed outside the second guide track 4, between the guide member 38 and the rigid part 21. The pivot connection 72 may comprise a pivoting pin extending along the vertical axis.

The first and second guide arrangement 41, 42 may each comprise an elongated element 23, 24. Thus, the first guide arrangement 41 comprises the elongated element 23. The elongated element 23 may extend from the guide member 37 of the first guide arrangement 41. The second guide arrangement 42 comprises the elongated element 24 may extend from the guide member 38 of the second guide arrangement 42.

The rigid part 21 or the elongated elements 23, 24 may comprise at least one hollow section. At least a portion of the other of said rigid part 21 or the elongated elements 23, 24 may extend inside the at least one hollow section. Thus, the contact between the rigid part and the elongated elements provides support for the guide arrangements during opening and closing movement of the foldable door while allowing for the desired distribution of load unto the horizontal stiffening member.

The elongated elements 23, 24 and the rigid part 21 may thus form a telescoping arrangement biased by means of the biasing arrangement 50.

Further referencing Figure 3, the rigid part 21 comprises the at least one hollow section. The elongated elements may each comprise a free end movable inside said at least one hollow section. The elongated elements 23, 24 may each comprise a guide portion 27, 28 arranged to be in sliding contact with an inner surface of the at least one hollow section. The guide portion allows for a more sturdy connection and relative movement between the components of the horizontal stiffening members.

In one embodiment, the first biasing element 51 is arranged to bias the rigid part 21 relative the portion of the elongated element 23 of the first guide arrangement 41 extending inside the at least one hollow section of the rigid part 21. The second biasing element 52 is arranged to bias the rigid part 21 relative the portion of the elongated element 24 of the second guide arrangement 42 extending inside the at least one hollow section of the rigid part 21.

In one embodiment, the first biasing element 51 is connected to the rigid part 21 and the portion of the elongated element 23 of the first guide arrangement 41 extending inside the at least one hollow section of the rigid part 21. The second biasing element 52 may be connected to the rigid part 21 and the portion of the elongated element 24 of the second guide arrangement 42 extending inside the at least one hollow section of the rigid part 21.

The horizontal stiffening members will now be further described with reference to Figure 3.

A portion of the elongated element 23 of the first guide arrangement 41 extends into the rigid part 21. The elongated element 23 has a free end movable inside the rigid part 21, i.e. the hollow section of the rigid part 21. The first biasing element 51 is adapted to provide a biasing force between the free end and the rigid part 21. A first end of the first biasing element 51 is connected to said free end of the elongated element 23. A second end of the first biasing element 51 is connected to the rigid part 21.

The rigid part 21 may have a first end portion 77 at a first end of the rigid part 21 proximal to the first guide arrangement 41. The first end portion 77 comprises a through-hole, whereby the elongated element 23 extends through said through-hole into the hollow section of the rigid part 21

A second end of the first biasing element 51 is connected to the first end portion 77. Thus, the first biasing element 51 extends between said first end portion 77 and the free end and the rigid part 21. The first biasing element 51 may be coaxial to the elongated element 23. In one embodiment, the first biasing element 51 is an axial spring, whereby the elongated element 23 extends inside said axial spring. Thus, the axial spring may be wrapped around the elongated element 23. In one embodiment, the portion of the elongated element 23 extending inside the at least one hollow section may be provided with a guide portion 27 arranged to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the hollow section. The rigid part 21 may comprise the hollow section, whereby said guide portion 27 may be arranged to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the hollow section of the rigid part 21. The free end of the elongated element 23 may be provided with the guide portion 27.

The elongated element 23 may have an end opposite to the free end. Accordingly, the elongated element may have a first end and a second end, the second end being the aforementioned free end. The first end is connected to the pivot connection 71. Thus, the first guide arrangement 41 may comprise the pivot connection 71.

A portion of the elongated element 24 of the second guide arrangement 42 extends into the rigid part 21. The elongated element 24 has a free end movable inside the rigid part 21, i.e. the hollow section of the rigid part 21. The second biasing element 52 is adapted to provide a biasing force between the free end and the rigid part 21. A first end of the second biasing element 52 is connected to said free end of the elongated element 24. A second end of the second biasing element 52 is connected to the rigid part 21.

The rigid part 21 may have a second end portion 78 at a first end of the rigid part 21 proximal to the second guide arrangement 42. The second end portion 78 comprises a through-hole, whereby the elongated element 24 extends through said through-hole into the hollow section of the rigid part 21.

A second end of the second biasing element 52 is connected to the second end portion 78. Thus, the second biasing element 52 extends between said second end portion 78 and the free end and the rigid part 21. The second biasing element 52 may be coaxial to the elongated element 23. In one embodiment, the second biasing element 52 is an axial spring, whereby the elongated element 24 extends inside said axial spring. Thus, the axial spring may be wrapped around the elongated element 24.

In one embodiment, the portion of the elongated element 24 extending inside the at least one hollow section may be provided with a guide portion 28 arranged to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the hollow section. The rigid part 21 may comprise the hollow section, whereby said guide portion 28 may be arranged to be in sliding contact with the inner surface of the hollow section of the rigid part 21. The free end of the elongated element 24 may be provided with the guide portion 28.

The elongated element 24 may have an end opposite to the free end. Accordingly, the elongated element may have a first end and a second end, the second end being the aforementioned free end. The first end is connected to the pivot connection 72. Thus, the second guide arrangement 42 may comprise the pivot connection 72.

In one embodiment, the rigid part 21 may comprise tube. Thus, the hollow section may extend through the entire rigid part 21. The rigid part 21 may be made of a polymeric material, i.e. a stiff polymeric material, or metal, such as steel or aluminum.

In one embodiment, the rigid part 21 may extend across substantially the entire width of the foldable door 1. Preferably, the length of the rigid part 21 may extend across at least more than half of the width of the foldable door 1.

To accommodate the load transferred from the horizontal stiffening members 20, the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4 may be mounted to a wall 30 surrounding the opening. Said first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4 may be mounted to said wall 30 by means of a support structure. The support structure may comprise a first profile 91 and a second profile 92. The first guiding track 3 is mounted to the first profile 3, whereby said first profile 3 is mounted to the wall 30. The second guiding track 4 is mounted to the second profile 4, whereby said second profile 3 is mounted to the wall 30.

The guide members 37, 38 may be of different types suitable for guiding in the first and second guiding track. In one embodiment, the guide members 37, 38 may comprise gliding blocks, adapted to slide inside the first and second guiding track 3, 4, respectively. In one embodiment, the guide members 37, 38 may each comprise a wheeled trolley 31, 32 for interplaying with the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track, respectively. The wheeled trolleys 31, 32 may thus each comprise two wheels for interplaying with guiding tracks.

In one embodiment, the first and second guiding track 3, 4 are arranged to provide a play in a direction parallel to the rigid part 21 for the guide members 37, 38 of the first and second guide arrangement 41, 42 for allowing relative movement between the guide members 37, 38 and the first and second guiding track 3, 4 in said direction parallel to the rigid part 21 inside said first and second guiding track 3, 4. The play enables the guide members to move inside the guiding tracks to compensate for wind load exerted on the horizontal stiffening members since it allows for the horizontal stiffening members to extend further. The first and second guiding track 3, 4 may be arranged to provide a play, i.e. clearance distance, in a direction parallel to rigid part 21 between the guide members 37, 38 of the first and second guide arrangement 42 and the inner walls of the first guiding track 3 and the second guiding track 4, respectively, for allowing relative movement between the guide members 37, 38 and the first and second guiding track 3, 4 in said direction parallel to the rigid part 21.

Thus, the first guiding track 3 is arranged to provide a play, i.e. a clearance distance, in a direction parallel to the rigid part 21 between the guide member 37 of the first guide arrangement 41 and the inner walls of the first guiding track 3 for allowing relative movement between the guide member 37 and the first guiding track 3. Said inner walls of the first guide arrangement 41 may extend in a vertical plane orthogonal to the rigid part 21.

Similarly, the second guiding track 4 is arranged to provide a play, i.e. a clearance distance in a direction parallel to the rigid part 21 between the guide member 38 of the second guide arrangement 42 and the inner walls of the second guiding track 4 for allowing relative movement between the guide member 38 and the second guiding track 4. Said inner walls of the second guide arrangement 42 may extend in a vertical plane orthogonal to the rigid part 21.

In one embodiment, the play may be between 0,01 m and 0,1 m. The clearance distance may thus be between 0,01 m and 0,1 m as maximum. Accordingly, the clearance distance, i.e. the distance between an end of the guide members 37, 38 most proximal to a first inner wall of the first and second guiding track 3, 4 is the furthest, may be at most 0,01 m and 0,1 m.

The first guiding track 3 may comprise an elongated recess extending along said first guiding track 3. A part of the first guide arrangement 41 extends through said elongated recess. In one embodiment, said part of the first guide arrangement 41 comprises the pivot connection 71. Correspondingly, the second guiding track 4 may comprise an elongated recess extending along said second guiding track 3. A part of the second guide arrangement 42 extends through said elongated recess. In one embodiment, said part of the second guide arrangement 42 comprises the pivot connection 72.

The elongated recess may extend along the inner surface which the biasing arrangement 50 is arranged to bias the guide members 37, 38 against.

Further referencing Figure 3, the horizontal stiffening members 20 may comprise a first stop member 73 adapted to prevent movement of the rigid part 21 towards the first guiding track 3 beyond said first stop member 73. The first stop member may protrude from the elongated element 23 of the first guide arrangement 41. The horizontal stiffening members 20 may comprise a second stop member 74 adapted to prevent movement of the rigid part 21 towards the second guiding track 4 beyond said second stop member 74. The second stop member may protrude from the elongated element 24 of the second guide arrangement 42. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments. However, many variations and modifications can be made to these embodiments. Accordingly, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the embodiments being defined by the following claims.