Electromechanical actuator for a swing gate

Abstract

Electromechanical actuator for an articulated barrier, to be interposed between said swing gate (16) and a fixed structure (20), to which the swing gate is articulated at a first vertical axis (18), said actuator being of the type comprising: - a casing (2) articulated at a horizontal axis (28) to a bracket (22), which in turn is articulated at a second vertical axis (24) to a first plate (26) fixed to said fixed structure (14), said casing (2) housing an electric drive motor for a worm screw (4) with a horizontal axis, - a nut (6) coupled to said worm screw (4) and articulated at a third vertical axis (12) to a second substantially horizontal plate (14) fixed to said swing gate (16), characterized in that it includes an intermediate element (30), which is removable and is articulated to said bracket (22) through a coupling with mutually engaging pins and holes, wherein said pins have an axis coinciding with said horizontal articulation axis (28), and said holes are defined by the installer to ensure the substantial horizontality of the axis of said worm screw (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromechanical actuator for a swing gate.

[0002] Electromechanical actuators for swing gates, swing doors and similar applications, are well known. They comprise an electric motor housed within an enclosure or casing of the actuator, configured to drive a worm screw, which is also housed within the casing and to which a slidingly coupled nut is connected. The nut is generally articulated at a first axis to a horizontal plate fixed to the swing gate to be moved, while the casing of the actuator is articulated at a second axis to a horizontal plate fixed to the fixed structure (column, pillar, etc.), to which the swing gate is articulated at a third axis that is not coplanar with the articulation axes of the actuator to the two brackets.

[0003] To allow for correct installation of the actuator, which may have different configurations depending on its manufacturer, the horizontal plate to which the actuator casing is attached is generally perforated, thereby offering different fastening options to the installer.

[0004] The actuation of the actuator in one direction or the other causes the worm screw to rotate, moving the nut along it in one direction or the other, resulting in the rotation of the swing gate for opening or closing.

[0005] The three rotation axes of the swing gate relative to its supporting structure, of the actuator casing relative to the perforated plate fixed to the supporting structure of the swing gate, and of the nut relative to the fixing plate of the swing gate are substantially vertical and must remain so to ensure proper movement of the swing gateand the actuator's moving parts.

[0006] For this purpose the knonw actuators are constrained with the casing and with the nut to their respective plate, which have a well precise configuration and a well precise height, which ensures the horizontality of the axis of the worm screw and therefore its orthogonality to the three rotation axes.

[0007] In these known actuators, one of which is described in US 7000353, the correct coupling between the actuator casing and the perforated plate fixed to the support structure of the swing gaterequires that the connecting bracket between the two is not only articulated at one end to the plate along a vertical axis but is also articulated to the actuator casing along a horizontal axis. This configuration allows the motor to perform limited movements on a vertical plane to absorb inevitable positioning and movement irregularities. However, it is essential that the axis of the worm screw remains substantially horizontal during the movements of the swing gate.

[0008] This condition is generally ensured during the initial installation of the actuator, as its mounting bracket is welded to the swing gate in compliance with this requirement. However, it may present issues when replacing the actuator with another of a different type. Currently, no standardization exists in this field, and the vertical distance measured between the horizontal plate fixed to the supporting structure of the swing gate and the plate fixing the actuator nut to the gate may vary for different actuators.

[0009] Therefore, replacing an actuator with a different model always involves certain criticalities. The plate to which the actuator casing is articulated is typically fixed to a stationary structure, and its repositioning would require modifications to that structure. Similarly, the plate fixing the actuator nut to the swing gate would require interventions of similar or different nature but nonetheless of considerable complexity, as it would involve removing the plate, welding it in a new position, and at the very least, repainting the welded area.

[0010] The objective of the invention is to overcome these limitations and to propose an actuator that can be easily installed, particularly for replacing a pre-existing actuator of a different type.

[0011] In particular, the objective of the invention is to provide an actuator that can be easily replaced with a pre-existing actuator of a different type without requiring labor-intensive and costly modifications.

[0012] More specifically, the objective of the invention is to propose an actuator that can replace a pre-existing actuator of a different type without requiring any intervention on the fixing plates attached to the swing gate and its supporting structure, or at most, limiting the intervention to the simple execution of a drill hole.

[0013] These objectives, along with others that will become apparent from the following description, are achieved according to the invention with an electromechanical actuator for a swing gate, as defined in claim 1.

[0014] The present invention is further clarified below in some of its preferred practical embodiments, provided purely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: figure 1shows a schematic top perspective view of an actuator according to the invention applied to a swing gate articulated to a fixed post; figure 2shows a schematic bottom perspective view of the actuator; figure 3shows a perspective view from below of the actuator with the mounting bracket attached to the fixed post; and figure 4shows an exploded top perspective view of the actuator.

[0015] As seen in the figures, the actuator according to the invention conventionally comprises a casing 2 housing an electric motor inside. The motor is configured to drive a worm screw 4 in rotation, to which a nut 6 is coupled. The nut is housed within a rectilinear extension 8 of the casing 2 which is open at the bottom. As the motor rotates in one direction or the other, the nut moves along this extension.

[0016] A cylindrical pin 10 extends downward from the nut 6 and is designed to engage in an articulated manner along a vertical axis 12 with a plate 14, which is generally welded to a swing gate 16.

[0017] The swing gate 16, in turn, is articulated along a vertical axis 18 to a fixed structure 20, which may consist of a metal column, a concrete pillar, or a brick post. In the illustrated example, the fixed structure is a metal post of a gate.

[0018] The actuator according to the invention also includes a bracket 22, which has a conventional shape in that one end is fork-shaped to allow articulation along a vertical axis 24 with a horizontal plate 26 fixed to the post 20, while the other end is designed to be articulated along a horizontal axis 28 to the casing 2 of the actuator.

[0019] However, unlike traditional mounting systems, the present invention provides that the end of the bracket 22 opposite to the one articulated to the fixed plate 26 is connected to an intermediate element 30, which, in turn, is attachable to the actuator casing 2.

[0020] In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, this intermediate element 30 is advantageously formed by a pair of L-shaped elements 32, preferably made of metal, designed to be housed within corresponding vertical slots 34 created in the side walls of a recess 36 at one end of the actuator casing 2. This recess is intended to allow oscillations of the actuator casing 2 on the vertical plane around the horizontal axis 28.

[0021] These oscillations are enabled by the particular configuration of the end of the bracket 22, which is equipped with a pair of horizontally aligned pins 38 that protrude laterally from opposite sides of the bracket and engage in corresponding holes 40 formed in the vertical arm 42 of each L-shaped element 32.

[0022] Each of the two L-shaped elements 32 can be fixed within its respective slot 34 in the casing 2, for example, with a screw 44 passing through a hole 46 made in the horizontal arm 48 of the element itself.

[0023] It may be advantageous for the actuator to leave the factory with the vertical arm 42 of each L-shaped element 32 already featuring a hole 40, in which a pin 38 of the bracket 22 is engaged. This bracket is pre-mounted on the actuator, which can then be installed in the conventional manner.

[0024] However, if the actuator is to be installed as a replacement for a previous one, where the two mounting plates 14 and 26, attached respectively to the swing gate 16 and the fixed structure 20, have a different positioning based on the previous actuator, the installer will not need to move plate 14 relative to the swing gate 16 or plate 26 relative to the fixed structure 20. Consequently, there will be no need for the labor-intensive operations that such an adjustment would require. Instead, it will be sufficient to remove the two L-shaped elements 32 and drill hole 40 in each of them in the appropriate position to ensure that the axis of the worm screw 4 remains horizontal even with the new actuator. This is a very simple, quick, and precise operation that can be performed either on-site or in a workshop, without affecting either the swing gate 16 or the fixed structure 20 to which it is articulated.

[0025] The invention may allow for different possible configurations of the L-shaped elements 32. First, each L-shaped element 32 may be pre-drilled with multiple holes 40, enabling the installer to choose the most suitable one to maintain the horizontal alignment of the worm screw 4. Second, the L-shaped elements 32 may be provided without any holes, allowing the installer to drill hole 40 in the most appropriate position. Finally, the L-shaped elements 32 may come with a limited number of pre-drilled holes, typically one or two, while still allowing for additional holes to be made if the existing ones are not correctly positioned for proper use.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the intermediate element 30, which in the depicted example consists of two L-shaped elements 32, could instead be formed by a single U-shaped element. This element would have two parallel arms designed to engage with the bracket 22 and could be positioned either externally to the actuator casing 2, as shown in the drawings, or internally. The first solution appears more advantageous as it allows for the removal of the intermediate element 30 to drill the holes 40 without the need to access the interior of the casing 2, thereby eliminating the necessity of opening the actuator.

[0027] The insertion of this removable intermediate element between the casing 2 and the bracket 22 has proven to be highly beneficial because: it enables the actuator to be installed on any swing gate, even as a replacement for a pre-existing actuator of a different type, without requiring modifications to the position of the plate 14, which is already fixed to the swing gate 16; as a result, it eliminates the need to move plate 14 and avoids all the associated operations of detaching the plate from the swing gate 16, welding it in a different position, and repainting at least the welded area; it does not require any modifications to the actuator itself, apart from the possible drilling of two holes 40 in the intermediate element; if the intermediate element 30 is attached externally to the actuator casing 2, it allows the adaptation of the actuator without needing to open the casing 2 or access its interior to remove the intermediate element. it enables this adaptation through very simple operations that can be conveniently carried out either in a workshop or directly on-site.

Claims

1. Electromechanical actuator for an articulated barrier, to be interposed between said swing gate (16) and a fixed structure (20), to which the swing gate is articulated at a first vertical axis (18), said actuator being of the type comprising: - a casing (2) articulated at a horizontal axis (28) to a bracket (22), which in turn is articulated at a second vertical axis (24) to a first plate (26) fixed to said fixed structure (14), said casing (2) housing an electric drive motor for a worm screw (4) with a horizontal axis, - a nut (6) coupled to said worm screw (4) and articulated at a third vertical axis (12) to a second substantially horizontal plate (14) fixed to said swing gate (16), characterized in that it includes an intermediate element (30), which is removable and is articulated to said bracket (22) through a coupling with mutually engaging pins and holes, wherein said pins have an axis coinciding with said horizontal articulation axis (28), and said holes are defined by the installer to ensure the substantial horizontality of the axis of said worm screw (4).

2. Actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that said intermediate element (30) is configured to have multiple predefined positions for said horizontal axis (28) of articulation of said bracket (22).

3. Actuator according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that said horizontal axis (28) of articulation of said bracket (22) to said intermediate element (30) is the common axis of a cylindrical pin (38) and a hole (40) engaging with each other.

4. Actuator according to claim 3, characterized in that said intermediate element (30) comprises a pair of L-shaped elements (32), with a vertical arm (42) in which at least one hole (40) can be made, intended to be removably engaged by a corresponding pin (38) protruding from each side of said bracket (22).

5. Actuator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said intermediate element (30) is positioned inside a recess (36) formed at one end of said casing (2) of the actuator for the free oscillation of said bracket (22) around said horizontal axis (28) of articulation.

6. Actuator according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said intermediate element (30) comprises a pair of vertical L-shaped elements (32), each having a vertical arm (42) with multiple holes (40) positioned at different heights, among which the installer can choose the one in which to engage the respective cylindrical pin (38) of said bracket (22).

7. Actuator according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the L-shaped elements (32) of said intermediate element (30) are housed within respective seats (34) formed in the inner walls of said recess (36).

8. Actuator according to claim 7, characterized in that a hole (46) is formed in the horizontal arm of each of said L-shaped elements (32) for a fastening screw (44) to fix said L-shaped element (32) to said casing (2).

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