Emergency opening device for a lift gate, lift gate and method for opening a lift gate with an emergency opening device

Abstract

The invention relates to an emergency open device for a lifting gate. The emergency lifting device has a driver, a movement element, an elongated drive means, and a blocking element. The driver can be rotatably mounted on a rotationally fixed inner shaft of a drive device of the lifting gate and is configured to be selectively connected to the drive device. The elongated drive means is connected to the movement element and is designed to transmit a movement produced by the movement element to the driver. The movement element is an elastic element for sample, which is pretensioned in a standby position and is configured to relax and drive the elongated drive means by means of the tension energy released when the blocking element is released.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to lifting gates in general and, in particular, to emergency opening devices for such lifting gates. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0002] Overhead doors have long been used, for example, in factories or warehouses as passageways or driveways between separate areas. These doors are equipped with a vertically movable door leaf, which is guided in two lateral door frames. When the door opens, the door leaf is pulled upwards by a drive mechanism, and when the door closes, it is lowered downwards. Prior art includes doors with a flexible, foil-like door leaf, as well as doors with segmented door leaves consisting of individual, pivotably connected, fixed door leaf segments. Typically, one or more electric motors are used as the drive mechanism for opening and closing such overhead doors. However, these electric motors can become inoperable in the event of a power failure, making it impossible to open and close the door using the drive mechanism.

[0003] EP 3 339 561 B1 describes a shading device with an emergency opening function. The device comprises an electric drive motor, a winding shaft, a blind that can be wound onto the winding shaft, and a mechanical emergency drive. The drive motor is coupled to the winding shaft via a freewheel that is locked in the direction the blind is being raised. The emergency drive is connected to the winding shaft via a clutch, and the clutch can be switched to a closed position by actuating the emergency drive, either under load or motion control. When the emergency drive is unloaded, it is in an open position.

[0004] EP 3 252 259 A1 describes a drive device for a roller shutter, which has a roller shutter shaft that is driven in a first mode by a moving part of an electric drive and in a second mode manually. The drive device comprises a housing, an inner part rotatably mounted on the housing, and a receiving area for the rotationally fixed mounting of a non-moving part of the electric drive. Furthermore, the drive device comprises a manually operable drive element, which is directly mounted on the inner part and serves for manually driving the roller shutter shaft, and a locking device.In a locked state, the locking device blocks a rotational movement of the inner part, whereby the roller shutter shaft is driven in the first mode, and in the unlocked state, after actuation of the locking device, allows a rotational movement of the inner part, whereby the roller shutter shaft is driven in the second mode.

[0005] DE 10 2016 225 078 A1 describes a gate with an emergency opening device, a gate leaf that can be moved between an open and a closed position, a primary motor that drives the gate leaf via a gate leaf drive, and an auxiliary motor that is connected to an emergency power supply and is suitable for driving the gate leaf. To improve such a gate so that the emergency opening device can be reliably used to open the gate in the event of various types of failure of the gate's main drive motor, it is proposed that the auxiliary motor be coupled to the gate leaf via an auxiliary motor coupling, and that the emergency power supply include an energy storage device. DESCRIPTION

[0006] Accordingly, the object of the invention can be considered to be to provide a purely mechanical emergency opening device for a lifting gate when the drive device becomes inoperative.

[0007] This problem is solved by an emergency opening device, by a lifting gate with such an emergency opening device, and by a method for operating such an emergency opening device according to the independent claims. Further embodiments are described in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0008] According to a first aspect, an emergency opening device for a lifting gate with a drive unit featuring a non-rotating inner shaft is provided. The emergency opening device comprises a driver, a moving element, an elongated drive element, and a locking element. The driver is rotatably mounted on the non-rotating inner shaft of the lifting gate's drive unit and is configured to be selectively connected to the drive unit. The elongated drive element is connected to the moving element and is designed to transmit any movement caused by the moving element to the driver. The locking element is configured to prevent movement of the driver relative to the non-rotating inner shaft.

[0009] The emergency opening device can be mounted on an electrically powered drive unit of a lifting gate to allow the gate to be opened even if the drive unit malfunctions. Such a situation could occur, for example, due to a power outage or a technical defect in the drive unit. The drive unit for which the emergency opening device is used can, in particular, be a drive unit with a stationary inner shaft and a rotating hollow shaft, driven, for example, by an external rotor motor or in another suitable manner.Such a hollow shaft can, for example, directly wind up a foil-like gate leaf or drive a toothed pulley or any other suitable drive means to lift a fixed gate leaf, such as a segmented gate leaf of a sectional door or a spiral door, via a belt, chain or any other suitable means.

[0010] The driver can be, for example, a toothed disc, a V-belt pulley, a sprocket, or any other passive drive element that can be set in rotational motion.

[0011] For a lifting gate with a stationary inner shaft and a rotating outer shaft, the driver can be rotatably mounted on the inner shaft, for example, by ball bearings or other suitable rotary bearings. Furthermore, the driver can be selectively connected to the drive unit; that is, the driver can be placed in a connected state as well as in a disconnected state. Connecting the driver to the drive unit can be achieved, for example, by means of bolts that are in a disengaged state by default and can be inserted as needed to connect the driver to the drive unit. For example, the bolts can be engaged in recesses of a lateral bearing on the outer hollow shaft, as will be explained in detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment.Such bolts can, for example, be held in their released starting position by pre-tensioned springs, which can be released, thus moving the bolts towards the drive device. However, it should be noted that any other detachable connection between the drive element and the drive device is also possible and conceivable.

[0012] Although described above in relation to a drive unit with a fixed inner shaft and a rotatable outer hollow shaft, the emergency opening device can also be used for lifting gates with a fixed motor or a fixed hollow shaft and a rotatable inner shaft, such as in a drive unit with an internal rotor motor driving an inner shaft. It is only necessary that the drive unit can be selectively connected to the drive unit. With a rotatable inner shaft, the drive unit is also rotatably mounted on the inner shaft, but when necessary, it is not connected to a bearing of the hollow shaft, but rather to the inner shaft, so that a rotary motion of the drive unit can be transmitted to the inner shaft.For example, bolts can be inserted radially from the outside inside the driver (for example, inside a toothed disc in the plane of the toothed disc and radially displaceable) into corresponding recesses in the inner shaft.

[0013] In other words, the driver of the emergency opening device is designed in such a way that it can be driven independently of the drive device, for example via a toothed belt, and can be connected to the respective moving element of the drive device if necessary, in order to transmit a rotary movement applied to the driver to the drive device.

[0014] The elongated drive element can be, for example, a toothed belt, a V-belt, a chain, or any other elongated drive element that can be used to generate a rotary motion of the drive element. Such a drive element can, for example, be wrapped around the drive element. The elongated drive element can be wrapped around the drive element once or multiple times. By way of example only, the configuration in which the drive element is a toothed pulley and the elongated drive element is a toothed belt that is wrapped around the drive element multiple times, i.e., wound onto the drive element, is mentioned here. In this configuration, when driven and unwound from the drive element, the toothed belt transmits a rotary motion to the drive element, which in turn is transmitted by the drive element to the drive device when the drive element is connected to the drive device.is indented, for example by inserting the bolts of the driver described above.

[0015] The moving element can be, for example, an elastic element or a battery-powered electric motor, as described below with reference to various embodiments. However, any other moving element that drives the elongated drive element is also conceivable. In particular, an elastic element and a motor can also be combined.

[0016] The locking element can be any type of element that prevents movement of the driver relative to the inner shaft. For example, the locking element can be a pawl, as described below with reference to an embodiment. However, it should be noted that such a pawl is merely a non-restrictive example of a locking element, and any other suitable locking element capable of selectively blocking or allowing rotation of the driver relative to the inner shaft can also be used. The locking element, as well as the connection of the driver to the drive device, can be operated purely mechanically by a user using muscle power.

[0017] To open the overhead gate using the emergency opening device, the follower can first be connected to the drive unit as described above, for example, by inserting appropriate bolts. The locking element can then be released, allowing the follower to rotate. This enables the moving element to drive the elongated drive element. For example, in certain embodiments, an elastic element is allowed to relax and transfer the stored tension energy via the elongated drive element and the follower to the drive unit in the form of a rotary motion, thus opening the overhead gate. In embodiments with a battery-powered electric motor as the moving element, the electric motor is activated.In this way, the motor shaft can wind up the elongated drive element, causing the elongated drive element to unwind from the driver and thus drive the driver.

[0018] According to the first aspect of the invention, the moving element is an elastic element. The elastic element is pre-tensioned in a ready position and is configured to relax and, by means of the tension energy thus released, to drive the elongated drive element when the locking element is released.

[0019] The elastic element can be, for example, a spring, a rubber band, or any other suitable elastic element capable of storing elastic energy. For instance, the elastic element could be a coil spring held in the ready position (i.e., the position in which the emergency opening device is not in use but is kept ready for a power outage or similar event). The elastic element is connected to the elongated drive element in such a way that any movement of the elastic element, such as when the spring is released, is transmitted to the drive element. The elastic element can be held in the pre-tensioned position, for example, by appropriate mechanical locking elements. The elastic element (e.g., a coil spring) can, for instance, be attached at one end to the lower end of a gate frame.The other end of the elastic element is connected to the elongated drive element. For example, when the emergency opening device is ready, the elongated drive element can be wound onto the drive mechanism and run over a pulley below the drive unit of the lifting gate. Below the pulley, the free end of the elongated drive element can then be connected to the elastic element, such as a spring, so that when the spring retracts from its pre-tensioned position to its rest position upon activation of the emergency opening device, it pulls the elongated drive element over the pulley, unwinds it from the drive mechanism, and thereby drives the drive mechanism.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the elastic element is a spring.

[0021] The spring can be any suitable type. For example, it could be a coil spring, either a compression or extension spring. A torsion spring is also a possibility. In any case, the spring is capable of storing tension energy and releasing it when allowed to relax. In the emergency release device's ready state, the spring is pre-tensioned and is released when the device is activated, thus driving the elongated drive element and, in turn, the actuator.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the invention, an emergency opening device for a lifting gate is provided, comprising a drive unit with a non-rotatable inner shaft. The emergency opening device includes a driver, a motion element, an elongated drive element, and a locking element. The driver is rotatably mounted on the non-rotatable inner shaft of the lifting gate's drive unit and is configured to be selectively connected to the drive unit. The elongated drive element is connected to the motion element and is configured to transmit movement caused by the motion element to the driver. The locking element is configured to prevent movement of the driver relative to the non-rotatable inner shaft. The motion element is an electric motor with a motor shaft. The electric motor is connected to a battery and can be supplied with electrical energy by the battery.The electric motor is activated and the motor shaft winds the elongated drive element when the locking mechanism is released. This causes the elongated drive element to unwind from the drive pin, setting the pin into rotation. A purely mechanical switch can provide power to the motor, allowing the emergency release to function even without external power (i.e., energy not stored in the battery).

[0023] According to another embodiment, the driver has at least one detachable connecting element.

[0024] The releasable connecting element can be any suitable component that allows selective connection of the drive mechanism to the actuator. However, the connecting element is always designed to be purely mechanically actuated and requires no electrical energy. In the emergency release device's ready state, the releasable connecting element is in the released position.

[0025] According to another embodiment, the releasable connecting element is a bolt which can be displaced through an opening in the driver so that the bolt engages in a recessed position in the drive device.

[0026] The function of such a bolt has already been explained above. The bolt extends perpendicular to a plane formed by the driver and through corresponding openings in the driver. Each bolt is longitudinally displaceable along the corresponding opening in the driver. In a disengaged state, the bolt does not protrude laterally beyond the driver. In an engaged state, however, the bolt protrudes laterally from the corresponding opening. A portion of the bolt remains within the driver. When the emergency release device is installed, the protruding section of the bolt engages in a corresponding recess in the drive mechanism. This recess could, for example, be a bore in the drive mechanism.For example, such a recess may be located in a lateral bearing disc of an outer hollow shaft of a lifting gate if the drive device is a drive device with a stationary inner shaft and a driven hollow shaft.

[0027] In a drive device with a rotatable inner shaft and a stationary hollow shaft or a stationary outer part of the drive, the bolts within the drive pin can run radially and engage in corresponding recesses in the inner shaft. In each case, the drive pin is connected to the corresponding moving part of the drive device, so that a rotary motion can be transmitted from the drive pin to this driven part.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the elongated drive means is a belt that runs around the driver.

[0029] Such a belt could be, for example, a timing belt, a V-belt, or any other type of belt suitable for driving the drive mechanism. The belt is matched to the drive mechanism. For instance, the belt is a timing belt if the drive mechanism is a toothed pulley. If the drive mechanism is a V-belt pulley, the belt is a V-belt, and so on. Furthermore, the belt can be wound around the drive mechanism once or multiple times.

[0030] However, a chain can also be used instead of a belt. In this case, the drive mechanism is a sprocket or contains a sprocket.

[0031] According to another embodiment, the locking element is a pawl which is configured to block rotation of the driver about the non-rotating inner shaft in a locked position and which is configured to release rotation of the driver about the non-rotating inner shaft in a disengaged position.

[0032] The pawl can, for example, be pivotally mounted on an inner part of the driver, which is always rigidly connected to the inner shaft (when the emergency release device is installed). An outer part of the driver can then be rotatably mounted on the inner part and have a recess into which the pawl can pivot to prevent rotation of the outer part of the driver (and thus of the driver as a whole). If the pawl is not pivoted into such a recess, the driver, or rather the outer part of the driver, can rotate relative to the inner shaft.

[0033] Releasing the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position allows the driver to rotate relative to the stationary part of the drive mechanism, thereby enabling the moving element to drive the elongated drive element. For example, in appropriate embodiments, the pre-tensioned elastic element can be allowed to relax. In embodiments with an electric motor, the electric motor can be allowed to wind up the elongated drive element when the electric motor is activated. The elongated drive element then drives the driver, which in turn drives the drive mechanism to open the lifting gate.

[0034] According to another embodiment, the emergency opening device also has an emergency lever for mechanically actuating the emergency opening device.

[0035] The emergency lever is mechanically connected to the locking element and the driver, or to the driver's releasable connecting elements (in corresponding embodiments), and can be mechanically actuated to release and lock the pawl, as well as to connect the driver to the drive unit. For example, appropriate cables can be provided for this purpose. Furthermore, the emergency lever can also be connected to a brake of the drive unit to actuate or release it in the event of a power failure.

[0036] The emergency lever can be mounted on a lifting gate in a position easily accessible to the user. Preferably, the emergency lever is mounted on the side of the gate frame. However, other suitable positions are also conceivable.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, the emergency lever has at least four successive detent positions. In the first of the four detent positions, the emergency opening device is in a rest state in which the locking element is engaged and the actuator is released from the drive mechanism.

[0038] In the second of the four detent positions, the drive unit is connected to the drive mechanism. In the third of the four detent positions, the locking element is also released. In the fourth of the four detent positions, a brake on the drive mechanism is also released.

[0039] Since the locking element is engaged and the drive element is detached from the drive unit in the first position, the drive unit can be operated normally with electrical power. In this position, the emergency release mechanism is merely kept ready by maintaining the movement element. For example, the elastic element is held under tension, or the electric motor is held ready for activation. Because the drive element is locked by the locking element, it cannot rotate. This simultaneously prevents the elastic element from relaxing or the electric motor (or, more generally, the movement element) from being activated, since the movement element is connected to the drive element via the elongated drive element, and therefore the movement element, the elongated drive element, and the drive element can only move together.In embodiments with an electric motor as the moving element, the electric motor remains deactivated in the first position. Furthermore, the drive mechanism cannot be moved by the drive device in this state.

[0040] When the emergency lever is actuated to bring about an emergency opening, in the second position the driver is first mechanically connected to the drive device, for example by moving the bolts described above via corresponding cables.

[0041] In the third position, in addition to the connection of the drive mechanism to the drive unit, the locking element is released, for example, also via corresponding cables, to allow the drive mechanism to rotate. In embodiments with an electric motor as the moving element, the electric motor is simultaneously powered by the battery and thus activated, for example, by moving a corresponding mechanical switch. In versions of the lifting gate in which no additional brake is present in the drive unit, the emergency opening device is already activated in this position, and the gate leaf is raised by the emergency opening device.

[0042] In the fourth position, any brake on the drive unit is also mechanically released, for example, by means of corresponding cables. For drive units with a brake, the emergency release is triggered in this position because only then is movement of the drive unit possible via the emergency release mechanism.

[0043] All steps required to trigger the emergency opening can be performed using a single operating unit via the emergency lever. Furthermore, since the sequence of these steps is predetermined by the emergency lever, incorrect operation by the user is prevented.

[0044] In another aspect, a lifting gate is provided. The lifting gate comprises a drive unit with a non-rotating inner shaft and a brake, a gate leaf, two gate frames, and a previously described emergency opening device. The gate leaf is guided within the gate frames. The drive unit is designed to raise and lower the gate leaf using electrical energy. The emergency opening device's actuator is rotatably mounted on the non-rotating inner shaft. The drive unit is configured to connect to the actuator. The emergency opening device is purely mechanically operable to open the lifting gate in the event of a power failure.

[0045] The drive unit can be any suitable drive unit for overhead doors. Specifically, it is a drive unit with a stationary inner shaft and a concentrically arranged rotating hollow shaft, which serves to raise and lower the door leaf. The door leaf can be guided in the door frame, for example, in corresponding guides. The door leaf can be either a fixed, segmented leaf or a foil-like leaf that is wound directly onto the hollow shaft. In the case of overhead doors with fixed, segmented leaves, the drive unit can, when opening, either coil the door leaf within a door head or push it vertically upwards or under a ceiling of a room, as is known from standard sectional doors. The drive unit can be located above the door opening in the door head.

[0046] The emergency opening device can be configured according to any of the embodiments described above. The drive element of the emergency opening device is, as described above, located adjacent to the drive unit, i.e., also within the door head, and can be selectively connected to the drive unit. The elongated connecting element of the emergency opening device can run together with the movement element within at least one door frame. The drive element is then located above the corresponding door frame in the door head adjacent to the drive unit and can be selectively connected to it. During normal operation of the overhead door, the movement element is held in the ready position, as described above, and the drive element is disconnected from the drive unit. In this state, the overhead door is driven solely by the electric motor via the drive unit.In an emergency, for example in the event of a power outage or technical defect of the drive device, the emergency opening device can be used as described above to open the lifting gate without directly using the drive device, i.e. without the need for external electrical energy.

[0047] Instead of just one emergency opening device in a gate frame, two emergency opening devices can also be used, one in each gate frame. In such designs, there is a drive mechanism on each side of the drive unit, and each gate frame contains a moving element and an elongated connecting element.

[0048] According to a further aspect, a method for operating a previously described lifting gate is provided. The method begins with the rotationally fixed connection of the drive mechanism to the drive unit. The method then proceeds with releasing the locking element to allow rotation of the drive mechanism relative to the rotationally fixed inner shaft. Finally, the method involves releasing the brake of the drive unit, thereby opening the lifting gate.

[0049] In summary, the invention provides an emergency opening device for a lifting gate that is purely mechanically operated. Such an emergency opening device can be used in the event of a power failure to open a locked lifting gate, thereby, for example, clearing an escape route. Furthermore, due to its modular design, the emergency opening device can be easily maintained and retrofitted, and is particularly suitable for lifting gates with a fixed internal shaft. Operation of the emergency opening device with just a single emergency lever, which sequentially performs all necessary mechanical movements, is also intuitive and easy to use in an emergency or panic situation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0050] The following section describes exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrations are schematic and not to scale. Identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar elements. The drawings show: Fig. 1 A schematic representation of an emergency opening device on a lifting gate with a drive device having a fixed internal shaft in a standby state according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 A schematic representation of the emergency opening device made of Fig. 1 in an open position according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 3 A flowchart of a procedure for operating the emergency opening device of the lifting gate made of Fig. 3 according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXECUTION FORMS

[0051] The present disclosure relates to emergency opening devices for overhead doors. Such an emergency opening device is generally understood to be an opening device for an overhead door that can be used to open the door in exceptional circumstances. For example, such an emergency opening may occur if the overhead door's drive mechanism, which is normally used to open the door, is inoperable due to a power outage or a technical defect. However, it is also conceivable that the emergency opening device could be used as a panic opening device even if the drive mechanism is still operational. This could involve, for example, situations in which a user has difficulty operating the drive mechanism to open the door normally, but wants to leave the space separated by the overhead door and therefore panics.In such a case, a user is thus provided with a simple and intuitive way to open the lifting gate, for example with an emergency lever 17, as described below.

[0052] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an emergency opening device 10 in a closed lifting gate 100 in a ready state according to an exemplary embodiment. The right side of the figure shows... Fig. 1 A frontal view of the left side of the lifting gate 100. The left side of the Fig. 1 Figure 10 shows a schematic side view of the emergency opening device 10. Components of the drive device 110 of the lifting gate 100 are on the left side of the Fig. 1 not shown.

[0053] The lifting gate 100 has a drive device 110 and an emergency opening device 10.

[0054] The drive device 110 has a stationary inner shaft 111 and a hollow shaft 113 that rotates around the outside and is arranged concentrically to the inner shaft. The hollow shaft 113 is rotatably mounted on the inner shaft 111 and, together with the inner shaft 111, forms an external rotor motor. Specific drive components of this external rotor motor, such as magnetic coils in a stator or rotor, are not shown for the sake of clarity. However, a stator can be non-rotatably connected to the inner shaft 111 within the hollow shaft 113 and surrounded by a rotor, which in turn is non-rotatably connected to the hollow shaft 113. The external rotor motor thus formed drives the hollow shaft 113, while the inner shaft 111 remains stationary relative to the lifting gate. A toothed disc 114 is also rotatably mounted on the inner shaft 111 and is fixedly connected to the hollow shaft 113.A toothed belt 115 is mounted on the toothed pulley 114. This belt runs over a deflection pulley on the underside of a gate frame 130 and is attached to the lowest segment of a segmented gate leaf 120. When the drive device 110 is activated, the hollow shaft is set into a rotary motion. This drives the toothed pulley 114 and raises or lowers the gate leaf 120.

[0055] The emergency opening device 10 has a driver 11, a movement element 12, an elongated drive element 14, a deflection roller 18 and a locking element 15.

[0056] The driver 11 is in the Fig. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the driver is designed as a toothed disc. A radially inner section of the driver 11 is fixedly connected to the inner shaft 111. A radially outer section of the driver 11 is rotatably mounted on the radially inner section. The driver 11 also has two openings 16 designed as through holes. A detachable connecting element 13 is installed in each of these openings, which in Fig. 1 is designed as a bolt. These bolts are linearly displaceable along the respective through-hole in the driver 11, as indicated by the two double arrows. Furthermore, the toothed disc 114 of the drive device 110 has two recesses 112 corresponding to the bolts, which are located in Fig. 1 The recesses 112 are designed as bores into which the bolts can be inserted. Thus, the driver 11 is connected to the drive device 110 or to the toothed disc 114 of the drive device 110 in a rotationally fixed manner when the bolts are inserted into the recesses 112.

[0057] The movement element 12 is in Fig. 1 The elastic element 12 (a spiral spring) is designed as a toothed belt. The elongated drive element 14 is designed as a toothed belt, runs over the driver 11 and the deflection pulley 18, and is connected to the spiral spring at one end (at the end facing away from the deflection pulley 18 in a vertical orientation from the driver 11). The toothed belt is connected to the driver 11 at the other end and wound several times around the driver 11. The locking element 15 is in Fig. 1 The pawl is designed as a locking pawl. This locking pawl is pivotably connected at one end to the inner section of the driver 11. The locking pawl can be pivoted radially outwards into a corresponding notch in the outer section of the driver 11. The locking pawl is in Fig. 1 shown in this locked state and prevents in Fig. 1 Accordingly, the outer part of the driver 11, and thus the entire driver 11, can rotate around the inner shaft 111. Although in Fig. 1 While an elastic element 12 is shown as the motion element 12, it should be noted that any other suitable motion element 12 can also be used. For example, as described above, a battery-powered electric motor 18 with a motor shaft configured to wind the elongated drive element 14 and unwind it from the driver 11 can be used instead of the deflection pulley 18. In this case, the elastic element 12 is omitted. However, a combination of elastic elements 12 and electric motors 18 is also conceivable.

[0058] In Fig. 1 The emergency opening device 10 is shown in a ready state. In this state, the elastic element 12 is pre-tensioned, i.e., the coil spring is stretched and thus stores tension energy. Since the locking element 15 is locked and thus prevents rotation of the driver 11, and since the elongated drive element 14 (toothed belt) runs over the driver 11 and is connected to the elastic element 12 (spring), the spring cannot relax and is held in the tensioned state. Since the releasable connecting elements 13 (bolts) are in Fig. 1 Furthermore, when the actuator 11 is in the disengaged position, it is decoupled from the drive device 110. The drive device 110 can therefore be freely operated with electrical energy without being affected or obstructed by the emergency opening device 10.

[0059] Fig. 2 shows the emergency opening device 10 and the lifting gate 100. Fig. 1 in a position after the emergency opening device 10 has been triggered. This could be, for example, a situation following a power failure or a technical issue with the drive device 110, which prevents the lifting gate 100 from being opened electrically by the drive device 110.

[0060] In this position, the detachable connecting elements 13 (bolts) are inserted and the driver 11 is thus coupled to the drive device 110. Furthermore, in the Fig. 2 the locking element 15 (pawl) is pivoted into a position which allows a rotational movement of the outer section of the driver 11 around the inner section of the driver 11, i.e. in which the driver 11 is not locked and can therefore rotate around the inner shaft 111.

[0061] The releasable connecting elements 13 were inserted into the recesses 112 in the toothed pulley 114 before the pawl was released, thus coupling the driver to the drive device 110 so that a rotary motion of the driver 11 could be transmitted to the drive device 110. After the releasable connecting elements 13 were inserted, the locking element 15 was moved into the released position. This allows the elastic element 12 (spring) to relax and release the previously stored tension energy. The spring then drives the toothed belt 14, rotating the driver 11 around the inner shaft 111. Since the driver 11 was previously coupled to the drive device 110, this rotary motion is transmitted to the inoperative drive device 110, thereby lifting the gate leaf 110 and opening the overhead gate 100.When a battery-powered electric motor 18 is used instead of the deflection pulley 18 and the elastic element 12, the electric motor 18 is simultaneously electrically connected to the battery via a mechanical switch and thus activated when the locking element 15 is released. This causes the electric motor 18 to wind the elongated drive element 14 onto its motor shaft and unwind it from the driver 11, thereby driving the driver 11.

[0062] Although with regard to the Fig. 1 and 2Although a lifting gate 100 with a fixed segmented gate leaf 120 has been described, it should be noted that the emergency opening device 10 can also be used in a lifting gate 100 that is equipped with a foil-like curtain as the gate leaf 120. In such a lifting gate 100, the toothed disc 114 can be omitted. The driver 11 is then located directly next to the lateral bearing (the side walls) of the hollow shaft 111 and can be directly connected to it, for example, by incorporating the recesses 112 into these lateral bearings. Furthermore, it should be noted that, although in the Fig. 1 and 2While only one emergency opening device is shown and described, a lifting gate 100 may also have a second emergency opening device on the opposite side of the drive device 110, for example, to increase the opening speed. Such a second emergency opening device can be operated either separately or together with the first emergency opening device.

[0063] The emergency opening device 10 can be actuated, for example, by an emergency lever 17, as described above. This emergency lever 17 can be connected, for example, to the releasable connecting elements 13 and the locking element 15 via cables. Furthermore, the emergency lever 17 can also be designed to mechanically release a brake integrated into the drive unit 110 before the lifting gate finally opens. The emergency lever can also have various successive operating positions, the sequence of which corresponds to the intended sequence of steps for opening the lifting gate 100 with the emergency opening device 10. In particular, in a first operating position, the releasable connecting elements 13 can be extended (and thus the driver 11 decoupled from the drive unit 110), and the locking element can be engaged.In the subsequent second operating position, the releasable connecting elements 13 can first be retracted, thus coupling the driver 11 to the drive unit 110. In the third position, the locking element 15 can then be released / disengaged, and in a fourth position, a brake of the drive unit 110 can be released, thus opening the lifting gate 100. For lifting gates 100 whose drive unit 110 does not have a brake, opening occurs after the third operating position of the emergency lever 17.

[0064] In all the above-mentioned cases, the lifting gate 100 can be opened purely mechanically by a user via the emergency lever 17 in the event of a power failure or defect, without the need for electrical energy.

[0065] Fig. 3 is a flowchart of a process 200 for opening a lifting gate 100 with a previously inserted Fig. 1 and 2described emergency opening device 10. The procedure 200 begins at step 201 with the rotationally fixed connection of the driver 11 to the drive device 110. For this purpose, for example, the detachable connecting elements 13 (bolts) are pushed into the recesses 112.

[0066] In step 202, the locking element 15 is moved into the released position to allow rotation of the driver via the tension energy of the elastic element 12 (or via the drive power of the electric motor 18 in corresponding embodiments). In embodiments of the lifting gate 100 in which the drive device 110 does not include an internal brake, the process ends here and the lifting gate 100 opens.

[0067] In embodiments of the lifting gate 100 in which the drive device 110 includes an internal brake, this brake is mechanically released in step 203, for example, as described above, via corresponding cables which are actuated with the corresponding actuation position of the emergency lever 17.

[0068] After the emergency opening device 10 has been triggered, it can be reset to its ready state by the drive device 110 as soon as the drive device 110 is operational again. To do this, the drive device 110 simply needs to be operated in reverse until the elastic element is pre-tensioned again. Then, the locking element 15 is re-engaged and the driver 11 is decoupled from the drive device 110 by pulling the releasable connecting elements 13 out of the recesses 112.

[0069] The above description of embodiments with reference to the drawings merely describes exemplary embodiments. All features disclosed herein can also be implemented in the described and illustrated lifting gates 100 and emergency opening devices 10. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0070] 10 Emergency opening device 11 Driver 12 Movement element, elastic element, battery-operated electric motor 13 Detachable connecting element 14 Elongated drive element 15 Locking element 16 Opening 17 Emergency lever 18 Deflection pulley, battery-operated electric motor 100 Lifting gate 110 Drive device 111 Inner shaft 112 Recess 113 Hollow shaft 114 Toothed disc 120 Gate leaf 130 Gate frames 200 Procedure 201 Connecting the driver to the drive device 202 Releasing the locking element 203 Releasing the brake

Claims

1. Emergency opening device (10) for a lifting gate (100) having a drive device (110) with a rotationally fixed inner shaft (111), the emergency opening device (10) comprising: a driver (11); a movement element (12); an elongate drive means (14); and a locking element (15); wherein the driver (11) is rotatably mountable on the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111) of the drive device (110) of the lifting gate (100); wherein the driver (11) is configured to be selectively connected to the drive device (110); wherein the elongate drive means (14) is connected to the movement element (12) and is configured to transmit a movement caused by the movement element (12) to the driver (11); wherein the locking element (15) is configured to prevent a movement of the driver (11) with respect to the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111); and wherein the movement element (12) is an elastic element (12); wherein the elastic element (12) is biased in a standby position; and wherein the elastic element (12) is configured to relax and to drive the elongate drive means (14) by the thus released tensioning energy when the locking element (15) is released.

2. Emergency opening device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the elastic element (12) is a spring.

3. Emergency opening device (10) for a lifting gate (100) having a drive device (110) with a rotationally fixed inner shaft (111), the emergency opening device (10) comprising: a driver (11); a movement element (12); an elongate drive means (14); and a locking element (15); wherein the driver (11) is rotatably mountable on the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111) of the drive device (110) of the lifting gate (100); wherein the driver (11) is configured to be selectively connected to the drive device (110); wherein the elongate drive means (14) is connected to the movement element (12) and is configured to transmit a movement caused by the movement element (12) to the driver (11); wherein the locking element (15) is configured to prevent a movement of the driver (11) with respect to the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111); wherein the movement element (12) is an electric motor with a motor shaft; wherein the electric motor is connected to a battery and can be supplied with electrical energy by the battery; and wherein the electric motor is activated and the motor shaft winds up the elongate drive means (14) when the locking element (15) is released.

4. Emergency opening device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver comprises at least one releasable connection element (13); wherein the releasable connection element (13) is configured to selectively connect the driver (11) to the drive device (111).

5. Emergency opening device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the releasable connection element (13) is a bolt which is displaceable through an opening (16) of the driver (11) such that the bolt engages in a recess (112) of the drive device (110) in an engaged position.

6. Emergency opening device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate drive means (14) is a belt which runs around the driver (11).

7. Emergency opening device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking element (15) is a pawl which is configured to block a rotation of the driver (11) about the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111) in an engaged position and which is configured to release the rotation of the driver (11) about the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111) in a disengaged position.

8. Emergency opening device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an emergency lever (17) for mechanically actuating the emergency opening device (10).

9. Emergency opening device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the emergency lever (17) has at least four consecutive latching positions; wherein the emergency opening device (10) in the first of the four latching positions is in a rest state in which the locking element (15) is locked and the driver (11) is released from the drive device; wherein in the second of the four latching positions the driver (11) is connected to the drive device (110); wherein further, in the third of the four latching positions, the locking element (15) is released; and wherein further, in the fourth of the four latching positions, a brake of the drive device (110) is released.

10. Lifting gate (100), comprising: a drive device (110) with a rotationally fixed inner shaft (111) and a brake; a gate leaf (120); two gate frames (130); and an emergency opening device (10) according to one of the preceding claims; wherein the gate leaf (120) is guided in the gate frames (130); wherein the drive device (110) is configured to raise and lower the gate leaf (120) using electrical energy; wherein the driver (11) of the emergency opening device (10) is rotatably mounted on the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111); wherein the drive device (110) is configured to be connected to the driver (11); and wherein the emergency opening device (10) can be actuated purely mechanically in order to open the lifting gate (100) in the event of a power failure.

11. Method (200) for operating the emergency opening device (10) of a lifting gate (100) according to claim 10, comprising the steps: rotationally fixedly connecting (201) of the driver (11) to the drive device (110); releasing (202) the locking element (15) in order thereby to enable a rotational movement of the driver (11) relative to the rotationally fixed inner shaft (111); releasing (203) the brake of the drive device (110) and thereby opening the lifting gate (100).

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