Device for opening and / or closing a component

Abstract

Device for opening and / or closing a component (11) which has at least one movable component (13), with - a drive (15) for the moving component (13), - a safety device comprising at least one sensor (17) for monitoring a danger point in the area of ​​the component (11) during an opening and / or closing movement of the component (13) effected by means of the drive (15), and - a control device (19) designed to open and / or close the component (11) by means of the drive (15) during normal operation, and in the event of a malfunction, to terminate or reverse the current opening and / or closing movement of the component (13) and / or to establish a safe state in which movement of the component (13) by means of the drive (15) is prevented, wherein an emergency operating device (21) is provided for emergency operation, which includes at least one actuating element (23a, 23b) to be actuated by a user and is designed to cause the drive (15) to effect an opening or closing movement of the component (13) when the actuating element (23a, 23b) is actuated, and wherein the emergency operating device (21) is integrated into the safety device.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for opening and / or closing a component that has at least one movable part. The device comprises a drive for the movable part, a safety device comprising at least one sensor for monitoring a hazardous area in the region of the component during an opening and / or closing movement of the component effected by the drive, and a control unit configured to open and / or close the component by means of the drive, in particular automatically, during normal operation, and in the event of a malfunction, in particular a hazardous situation detected by the sensor or a fault, to terminate or reverse the current opening and / or closing movement of the component and / or to establish a safe state in which movement of the component by means of the drive is prevented.

[0002] Such devices are generally known. The building component in question is, in particular, a door or window of a building. Accordingly, the movable component is, in particular, a hinged, pivoting, or tilting sash, or a door leaf. German patent application DE 199 49 744 A1 discloses a drive unit with an emergency opening device for a door with a hinged sash. In an emergency, the hinged sash opens automatically under the influence of the energy storage device.

[0003] German patent application DE 10 2006 020 372 A1 discloses a sliding door system with at least one sliding leaf. The sliding leaf can be driven by a drive unit controlled by an electronic control device. The sliding door system can be used in an escape and rescue route because the drive unit is designed such that the sliding leaf opens to clear an escape route when an emergency signal is received. The sliding door system can be locked in at least one operating state by a locking device. A release device is provided for unlocking the locking device and for opening the sliding leaf.

[0004] Especially when the opening and closing of a building element is automated by a drive mechanism, potential hazards in the vicinity of the element are usually monitored in modern buildings using one or more sensors. In the case of a window or door, the closing edges, in particular, represent such potential hazards. Commonly used sensors operate without contact, such as light switches, light curtains, or ultrasonic sensors. Alternatively, tactile sensors are also used, such as safety edges or pressure-sensitive mats.

[0005] Automatic opening or closing, or automatic drive of the component, means that after activation of the drive – which can also be done manually, i.e., not automatically – the drive automatically completes the respective movement process of the component, i.e., the opening or closing, i.e., continues until a defined end state is reached, which is in particular the intended open or closed position of the component.

[0006] The safeguarding of a hazardous area by a safety device typically consists of the drive for the moving component stopping or reversing (i.e., reversing) the component's movement if a sensor of the safety device is triggered during a potentially dangerous movement of the component. This occurs, for example, if a person or object enters the monitoring range of a non-contact sensor or if, for instance, a pressure sensor is mechanically actuated. Once the safety device releases the moving component, normal operation can resume, allowing the component to be opened or closed using the drive.

[0007] Common safety devices are often equipped with a self-test function or other means of functional verification, which allows for monitoring, in particular, the correct operation of the sensors. If a fault is detected, the system switches to a safe state. In practice, however, automatic functional checks are performed not only in connection with the safety device, but also with the drive or its control system. As soon as a fault is detected in the drive or the control system, a safe state is also established.

[0008] Such safe states are characterized, among other things, by the fact that the moving component is stationary. In such a safe state, movement of the component by the control device is prevented, since the proper functioning of the safety device or the components connected to it is no longer guaranteed. Thus, by establishing the safe state, hazardous situations are avoided.

[0009] A disadvantage of such a situation is that the entire device must first be returned to its proper working order, i.e., the safe state must be lifted, before the component can be moved using the drive mechanism. The users or residents of a building, essentially the "on-site personnel," are often neither able nor authorized to do this. Consequently, one must wait for external service personnel before the component can be moved again, for example, before a window or door can be closed. This situation is frequently extremely unsatisfactory, as, for instance, if a door remains unlocked for an extended period, building security cannot be guaranteed, or a building management system cannot ensure proper climate control within the building.

[0010] In some cases, it is possible to close or open the door or window manually. However, this is not possible, for example, if the drive for the moving component is equipped with a self-locking gearbox. This is particularly the case with the spindle drives commonly used in practice. It may also be impossible to move the component manually for other reasons without damaging the drive or other components of the overall assembly.

[0011] In practice, situations often arise in which, due to an error, the system switches to a safe state, thus avoiding a dangerous situation, but an affected window or door, for example, cannot be closed for a longer period of time.

[0012] The object of the invention is to remedy this situation and thus create a possibility to move a component that cannot or should not be moved manually, even in the event of a fault, without endangering safety.

[0013] The solution to this problem is achieved in each case by the characteristics of the independent claims.

[0014] In the device according to the invention with the features of claim 1, an emergency operating device is provided for emergency operation, which comprises at least one actuating element to be actuated by a user and is designed to cause the drive to effect an opening or closing movement of the component when the actuating element is actuated.

[0015] The emergency operating device according to the invention allows people on site, in particular the users or residents of the respective building, to move the component using the drive. Consequently, the user does not have to wait for service personnel to, for example, lock the building. By providing an actuating element that is operated by a user, the invention pursues the concept of actively involving the user in emergency operation. This has the advantage that the user initiating the emergency operation can themselves ensure the safety that is normally provided by the safety device.

[0016] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are also given in the following description, in the claims and in the drawing.

[0017] Preferably, the emergency operating device operates according to the so-called deadman principle, meaning that emergency operation is carried out in accordance with the deadman operation. This means that the user must become and remain active in order to initiate and maintain the opening or closing movement of the component.

[0018] Preferably, the drive is only activated when the actuating element is pressed and the drive stops when the actuating element is no longer pressed.

[0019] The user must therefore ensure that the actuator remains powered for as long as the drive is to remain activated in order to move the component in the desired direction, either in the opening direction or in the closing direction.

[0020] Preferably, the operating mechanism is to be actuated manually by the user. Therefore, direct actuation by the user is required. An alternative actuation method, such as via an app on a mobile phone or tablet, is excluded here.

[0021] In some embodiments, the actuating element is a push button or a key that is pressed by the user and automatically returns to its initial position after being released.

[0022] Preferably, emergency operation is only possible in the event of a fault, in particular a fault in the drive, a fault in the safety device and / or a fault in the control unit, and a resulting safe state, but not in the event of a hazardous situation detected by the sensor device or during normal operation. This prevents the component from being accidentally moved unnecessarily by actuating the emergency operating device.

[0023] The emergency operating device can be operational either at all times or only in the event of a malfunction. Consequently, the entire device can be designed such that the emergency operating device is automatically activated only in the event of a malfunction.

[0024] The emergency operating device can be connected to the drive either directly or via the control unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the emergency operating device is connected to the sensor. If the safety device has multiple sensors, it may be provided that the emergency operating device is connected to only one of the sensors.

[0026] The control unit can be integrated into the sensor or - if multiple sensors are present - into one of the sensors of the safety device.

[0027] In some embodiments, the emergency operating device is integrated into the safety device, in particular into its sensor. The sensor and the emergency operating device may share a common housing.

[0028] In alternative embodiments of the invention, the emergency operating device is a separate unit from the safety device, in particular from its sensor. In this case, it may be provided that the sensor of the safety device and the emergency operating device have their own separate housings.

[0029] The emergency operating device may comprise only one actuating element for opening the component, or only one actuating element for closing the component, or two actuating elements, one of which is intended for opening the component and the other for closing the component.

[0030] In some embodiments, the drive for the moving component comprises at least one electric drive motor and a self-locking gearbox. The drive motor is, for example, a servo motor, and the gearbox is, for example, a spindle drive consisting of a spindle nut connected to the moving component and a spindle that can be set in rotation by means of the motor. Generally, however, the type of motor drive for the moving component is arbitrary.

[0031] The sensor of the sensor device can be a non-contact sensor or a tactile sensor.

[0032] The invention further relates to a door and / or window arrangement with at least one pivot, swivel or tilt sash and / or door leaf as a movable component, and with at least one device for opening and / or closing as disclosed herein.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention relates to a safety device for an opening and / or closing device as disclosed herein, wherein the safety device comprises at least one sensor for monitoring the danger point, and wherein the emergency operating device is integrated into the sensor or the emergency operating device is provided separately from the sensor.

[0034] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a device for opening and / or closing as disclosed herein or for operating a door and / or window arrangement as disclosed herein, wherein in normal operation the component is opened or closed by means of the drive, in particular automatically, based on a signal to the control device, in the event of a malfunction due to a fault the drive is automatically stopped and a safe state is established, and when a safe state has been established, in an emergency operation the drive is activated in order to effect an opening and / or closing movement of the component by means of the drive when the actuating element of the emergency operating device is actuated by a user.

[0035] This method preferably provides that, in emergency operation, the drive is automatically stopped if the operating element is no longer actuated by the user. In other words, emergency operation follows the deadman principle mentioned above.

[0036] The invention is described below by way of example only, with reference to the drawings. These represent only possible embodiments of the invention; further embodiments can be found in the description and the claims. The drawings show: Fig. 1 schematically a window arrangement according to the invention with a device according to the invention for opening and closing a window sash according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 schematically an embodiment of a device according to the invention, and Fig. 3 schematically an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention.

[0037] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a window arrangement according to the invention as a building element 11, which has a frame 31 and a tilt sash 13 that can be pivoted relative to the frame 31 between a closed position and an open, tilted position.

[0038] These movements of the sash 13 for opening and closing the window 11 are effected by means of a drive 15, which has a controllable electric drive motor and a self-locking gearbox and is mechanically connected to the sash 13 in a manner not shown here. The opening and closing of the sash 13 occurs automatically when the drive 15 receives a corresponding signal from a control unit 19.

[0039] The control device 19 can be, for example, a central building management system or a control device installed only in the area of ​​the window 11, which includes, for example, a button to be operated by a user, via which the drive 15 is controlled in order to, for example, cause the sash 13 to be opened for the purpose of ventilating the respective room.

[0040] The lateral closing edges of such a window 11 represent potential hazard points. To monitor these hazard points, a safety device is provided, which in this example comprises two sensors 17 in the form of light switches. The sensors 17 are connected to the drive 15.

[0041] During normal operation, when the sash 13 is moved in the closing direction by the drive 15, for example, to close the window 11, if one of the sensors 17 is triggered due to an intrusion into its monitoring area 35, the drive 15 is stopped to prevent further movement of the sash 13. Alternatively, the movement is not stopped but reversed, i.e., the sash 13 is moved in the opening direction. As soon as there is no longer any intrusion into the monitoring area 35 and the safety device consequently releases the sash 13, the originally desired automatic closing process can continue or be carried out again.

[0042] However, if a fault condition is detected rather than a hazardous situation, the current opening or closing movement of the wing 13 is also stopped. However, the movement does not automatically resume until the safe state, into which the device automatically switches upon fault detection, is lifted.

[0043] The fault could, for example, affect one of the sensors 17, the drive 15, or the control unit 19. Fault detection can be carried out, for example, by the control unit 19 or by functional checks performed in the sensors 17 and the drive 15 themselves, e.g., at regular time intervals.

[0044] Since the drive 15 is connected to the wing 13 via a self-locking gear, the wing 13 cannot be moved manually in a safe state. To enable the wing 13 to be moved by means of the drive 15 despite the fact that the device is in a safe state, an emergency operating device 21 is provided according to the invention, which in the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 1 is integrated into one of the two sensors 17. Possible configurations of the emergency operating device 21 are discussed in more detail below.

[0045] The emergency operating device 21 operates according to the dead man principle, thus requiring a continuous application of pressure to an actuating element, in particular a push button, in order to activate the drive 15 and keep it in the activated state, thereby setting the wing 13 back in motion and maintaining the respective movement for as long as is necessary to move the wing 13, for example, into the closed position.

[0046] How Fig. Figure 2 shows that sensor 17 could, for example, be a light switch, which is described in Fig. 2 whose optics 33 are shown. In this embodiment, the emergency operating device 21 is integrated into the sensor 17, i.e., the sensor 17 and the emergency operating device 21 share a common housing 25.

[0047] How Fig. Figure 2 also shows that in this embodiment the control unit 19 is integrated into the sensor 17. In other embodiments, the control unit 19 can be arranged in a different location (see Figure 2). Fig. 1) It can – as already mentioned in connection with Fig. 1 mentioned - the control unit may also be a central building management system.

[0048] The emergency operating device 21 comprises two actuating elements 23a, 23b in the form of pushbuttons, which are arranged on the underside of the sensor 17 and are thus easily accessible to a user. The in Fig. The left-hand button 23a shown in section 2 must be pressed by a user to activate the drive 15 in the opening direction via the control unit 19, in order to move the sash 13 in the opening direction. Accordingly, the Fig. The two right buttons 23b must be pressed to move the wing 13 in the closing direction.

[0049] According to the previously mentioned deadman's switch, the user must hold down the respective button 23a or 23b to activate the drive 15 and thus keep the wing 13 in motion. If the user releases the button 23a or 23b, the drive 15 stops and the wing 13 remains stationary.

[0050] In this way, despite the presence of a safe condition, a user on site can, for example, automatically close a wing 13 that has remained open due to a fault using the drive 15, without having to call service personnel.

[0051] Fig. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment in which the emergency operating device 21 is not integrated into the housing 27 of the sensor 17. Instead, the emergency operating device 21 is provided as a separate unit with its own housing 29. On an outer side of the housing 29, the components already described above in conjunction with Fig.The two buttons 23a and 23b mentioned above are arranged to be accessible to a user for opening and closing the wing 13.

[0052] One advantage of this design is that the emergency operating device 21 can be positioned independently of the mounting location of the sensors 17 within the area of ​​the relevant component. This concept also allows for the retrofitting of existing automatic door or window closers and openers. Despite this remote arrangement of the emergency operating device 21, it is connected to the sensor 17 and linked to the control unit 19 integrated within it. Reference symbol list 11 Building element, window 13 Component, tilting wing 15 Drive 17 Sensor, light switch 19 Control unit 21 Emergency operating device 23a Actuating element, push button 23b Actuating element, push button 25 common housing 27 Sensor housing 29 Housing of the emergency operating device 31 frames 33 Optics of the sensor

Claims

[1] Device for opening and / or closing a component (11) comprising at least one movable component (13), with - a drive (15) for the moving component (13), - a safety device comprising at least one sensor (17) for monitoring a danger point in the area of ​​the component (11) during an opening and / or closing movement of the component (13) effected by means of the drive (15), and - a control device (19) designed to open and / or close the component (11) by means of the drive (15) during normal operation, and in the event of a malfunction, to terminate or reverse the current opening and / or closing movement of the component (13) and / or to establish a safe state in which movement of the component (13) by means of the drive (15) is prevented, wherein an emergency operating device (21) is provided for emergency operation, which includes at least one actuating element (23a, 23b) to be actuated by a user and is designed to cause the drive (15) to effect an opening or closing movement of the component (13) when the actuating element (23a, 23b) is actuated, and wherein the emergency operating device (21) is integrated into the safety device. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the drive (15) is only activated when the actuating element (23a, 23b) is actuated and the drive (15) stops when the actuating element (23a, 23b) is no longer actuated. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the actuating element (23a, 23b) must be manually actuated by the user. [4] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the actuating element (23a, 23b) is a push button or a key which is to be pressed by the user and which automatically returns to its initial position after being released. [5] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that emergency operation is only possible in the event of a fault, in particular a fault in the safety device, in the control device (19) and / or in the drive (15), and a resulting safe state, but not in the event of a hazardous situation detected by means of the sensor device or in normal operation. [6] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (21) is ready for operation at all times or only in the event of a malfunction. [7] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the emergency operating device (21) is connected directly or via the control device (19) to the drive (15). [8] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (21) is connected to the sensor (17). [9] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (21) is integrated into the control device (19). [10] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (21) is a separate unit from the safety device, in particular from its sensor (17), wherein in particular the sensor (17) of the safety device and the emergency operating device (21) have separate housings (27, 29) from each other. [11] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the emergency operating device (21) comprises only one actuating element for opening the component (11) or only one actuating element for closing the component (11) or two actuating elements (23a, 23b), one of which is intended for opening the component (11) and the other for closing the component (11). [12] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the drive (15) has at least one electric drive motor and a self-locking gearbox. [13] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the sensor (17) is a non-contact sensor or a tactile sensor. [14] Door and / or window arrangement comprising at least one pivot, swing or tilt sash and / or door leaf as a movable component (13), and comprising at least one device according to any of the preceding claims. [15] Safety device for a device according to one of claims 1 to 13 or an arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the safety device comprises at least one sensor (17) for monitoring the danger point, and wherein the emergency operating device (21) is integrated into the sensor (17) or the emergency operating device (21) is provided separately from the sensor (17). [16] Method for operating a device according to one of claims 1 to 13 or an arrangement according to claim 14, wherein in normal operation the component (13) is opened or closed by means of the drive (15), in particular automatically, due to a signal to the control device (19), in the event of a malfunction due to a fault the drive (15) is automatically stopped and a safe state is established, and when a safe state has been established in an emergency operation the drive (15) is activated in order to effect an opening or closing movement of the component (13) by means of the drive (15) when the actuating element (23a, 23b) of the emergency operating device (21) is actuated by a user. [17] Method according to claim 16, characterized by , that in emergency operation the drive (15) is automatically stopped when the actuating element (23a, 23b) is no longer actuated by the user.

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