A NOISE DAMPENING DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a noise dampening device for a power door or gate assembly including a chain loop adapted in use to run along and/or within a track or rail. The noise dampening device includes cushioning means attached to an internal surface of the track or rail. The cushioning means is configured to substantially follow and being in register with at least part of the chain loop.

Claims

1. A noise dampening device for a power door or gate assembly including a chain loop adapted in use to run along and/or within a track or rail, the noise dampening device including cushioning means attached to an internal surface of the track or rail, the cushioning means substantially following and being in register with at least part of the chain loop.

2. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the rail or track is a C-shaped channel or extrusion with a pair of returns.

3. The noise dampening device of claim 2, wherein each return includes a groove adapted to accommodate the cushioning means.

4. The noise dampening device of claim 3, wherein an upper portion of the cushioning means extends beyond the groove.

5. The noise dampening device of claim 1, which includes an adhesive adapted to facilitate adhesion of the cushioning means onto the internal surface of the track or rail.

6. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the chain loop includes a plurality of connected links.

7. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning means is in the form of an elongate strip located below the chain covering the vast majority of its length.

8. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning means includes any shock absorbing or resilient materials in the form of padding.

9. The noise dampening device of claim 8, wherein the padding is equipped with a hard backing.

10. The noise dampening device of claim 9, wherein the hard backing includes adhesive on its bottom surface.

11. The noise dampening device of claim 8, wherein the shock absorbing or resilient materials include at least one of the following: felt, foam, leather, soft rubber, nylon, silicon and a body of air.

12. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the cushioning means includes a structure including a pile of bristle stemming from a hard backing.

13. The noise dampening device of claim 12, wherein the hard backing includes an adhesive on its bottom surface so as to facilitate adhesion of the structure to the floor of the groove.

14. The noise dampening device of claim 1, wherein the power door or gate assembly includes a drive trolley being associated with the chain.

15. The noise dampening device of claim 14, wherein the drive trolley is adapted to be located such that a gap is provided between the drive trolley and the cushioning means.

16. The noise dampening device of claim 15, wherein the drive trolley includes a step adapted to escalate the drive trolley to a position where there is no contact between the drive trolley and the cushioning means when the power door or gate assembly is in operation.

17. A powered door or gate assembly including: a rail or track; a chain loop including a plurality of connected links, the chain loop being adapted in use to run along and/or within the rail or track; and a noise dampening device including cushioning means attached to an internal surface of the track or rail; wherein the cushioning means substantially follows, and is in register with, at least a part of the chain.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a track with a cushioning means in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the track and cushioning means of FIG. 2 in combination with a chain located above the cushioning means;

[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cushioning means of FIG. 1 with a hard backing and an adhesive tape;

[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cushioning means of FIG. 3;

[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the track of FIG. 1 and a cushioning means in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 6 is a transparent perspective view illustrating the interior of the track including the cushioning means of FIG. 5; and

[0027] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the track with a cut out for the purpose of showing its interior and cushioning means of FIG. 1 in operation with a drive trolley.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 2, a metal track 10 is shown being part of a powered door or gate assembly (not shown). The door or gate assembly has a chain loop 12 which has a plurality of connected links 14. The chain loop 12 is configured in use to run along and within the metal track 10. The door or gate assembly also has a noise dampening device which includes cushioning means in the form of a pair of elongate cushioning strips 16 attached to an internal surface of the track 10. As best shown in FIG. 6, each of the elongate cushioning strips 16 substantially follows, and is in register with, the straight portion 18 of the chain.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the track 10 is a C-shaped metal channel with a pair of returns 20 & 22. Each of the returns 20 & 22 includes a groove 24, 26 for accommodating one cushioning strip 16.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 2, the connected links 14 of the chain loop 12 are supported and driven by drive and idle sprockets (not shown). Each cushioning strip 16 is located below the chain 12. The cushioning strips 16 cover the vast majority of the length of chain loop 12. The only portions of the chain loop 12 that are not covered are the ones that go around the drive and idle sprockets. As such, the cushioning strips 16 prevent direct contact of the links 14 with the metal track 10 when the chain 12 sags under gravity particularly during acceleration and deceleration. This results in a substantial reduction or prevention of rattling and/or banging noise and vibration caused by the impact of the links 14 on the surface of the C-shaped channel.

[0031] The cushioning strips 16 are provided to dampen, absorb or counteract the impact of the links 14 on the C-shaped channel. As such, the cushioning strips 16 may include any shock absorbing or resilient materials in the form of padding. Ideally, each cushioning strip 16 is equipped with a hard backing so as to facilitate placement of the cushioning strip into the groove 24, 26. The shock absorbing or resilient materials may include one of the following: felt, foam, leather, nylon, soft rubber, silicon and a body of air.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the present exemplary embodiment, each of the cushioning strips 16 includes a structure 28 including a pile of bristle 30 stemming from a hard backing 32. The hard backing 32 has an adhesive 34 (see FIG. 3) on its bottom surface so as to facilitate adhesion of the structure 28 to the floor of the groove 24. The adhesive is covered by a thin layer of sealing tape 36 which is to be peeled off before installation of the cushioning strips 16.

[0033] Turning to FIGS. 5 and 6, an alternate embodiment of the cushioning strips 16A is shown with bristles 30A arranged in spaced apart rows 38. This arrangement would serve the same purpose as preventing the chain loop 12 from contacting or impacting on the metallic track 20 thereby substantially reducing or eliminating the rattling and/or banging noise when the door assembly is in operation.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 7, the chain loop 12 is in operation moving a drive trolley 40 which is located in the middle of the track 10 along.

[0035] Now that a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the noise dampening device of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages: [0036] 1. it enables substantial reduction or elimination of rattling and/or banging noise generated by contact between the links and the track when sagging of the chain occurs; [0037] 2. it is easy to install and apply; [0038] 3. it is economical to use requiring minimum raw materials and adaptation; and [0039] 4. it is easy to repair and replace if necessary.

[0040] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For instance, the track may be replaced by a rail in another design of the door assembly. Optionally, the upper portion of the cushioning strips 16 may extend beyond the respective grooves 24 & 26 so as to further avoid any friction with other metallic surfaces of the returns 20 & 22. The noise dampening device may be applied to a gate assembly. As an alternate embodiment, the cushioning strips may be attached to the internal surface of the respective returns of the track if the returns come in plain without any groove. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the metal track or rail of the present invention may not include a groove. In such an embodiment, the drive trolley which is associated with the chain may be adapted to be located such that a gap is provided between the drive trolley and the cushioning means. One way to achieve this is for drive trolley to include a step such that it is escalated to a position where there is no contact between the drive trolley and the cushioning means when the power door or gate assembly is in operation. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.