Born as elements for security in specific areas, automatisms gradually became an article that is mandatory for comfort Today, the demand for protection measures relocate it as a necessary implement when caring for the access to properties.
MDI is a company that has many years of experience in the electric door industry.
Definition, advantages and types of mechanisms that are currently known in our market
The advancement of technology, the reduction of costs and the wide range of options offered in electronic security matter is so wide and so widespread that open doors by automatic mechanisms operated by remote control, biometric detection systems and closed-circuit cameras connected to a central monitoring are current currency.
Among all these systems of security we will stop in this report, especially in the first of those mentioned: at the doors and automated gates.
The concept of automation has been present in modern civilization for many years. So much it’s like in the movies, mainly those dedicated to the genre of science fiction, much older than Mission Impossible already showed some artefacts capable of opening in a few second heavy steel doors.
And while in practice that kind of mechanisms were reserved for military government agencies or large companies, little by little, with the “shrinkage” of the devices and their consequent cheaper it began to be used by companies and businessmen for their private residences.
That is, devices born for security gradually became comfort items with that sense they came to our country: as a measure of comfort more for private residences.
Of course, at first, they were not available to everyone but, since the golden half of the 90s, it began to become massive its use. The automation boom of gates occurred just when the middle class family begins to access financially to a certain type of items that stopped being a luxury to become an article of comfort more. That was the historical moment, in the middle of the 90’s.
The installation staff does the necessary reforms, in the case that these are needed, add the engine with built-in electronic board and its remote opening controls, thus leaving the gate ready for automatic opening the recent statement, then, concludes that any gate can be automated.
The most condition important necessary is the optimal operation of the gate in form manual because the systems automatic do not solve problems of malfunction.
A manual gate with no problems it is something other than an automated gate with problems. For each installer you must do a visual inspection and of gate operation. When you are sure that it works correctly or in the case of a lift
that is well balanced or balanced, that is not rusty and without mechanical defects just there must face automation.
Different types
There are different automation options and depend, fundamentally, on the type of gate. When it comes to lift gates, 95% of the cases are resolved through two systems – the worm or a torsion arm – while when it is about sliding the automatism is resolves through a mechanism of rack or -in the case of curved sliding- by a torsion arm.
These are the most common variants, although there are other alternatives that depend, fundamentally, on the kind of gate. To automate a gate, it’s necessary an auger system for example should exist from where the gate ends to the ceiling around 25 centimetres free. This space between roof and gate responds to the shape of the actuator: the auger is a screw inside a rail that moves a traction arm that lifts the gate as if it were a manual movement. When the gate is raised, the traction arm is higher than the blade, so you need those 25 centimetres.
The torsion mechanisms, on the other hand, are placed directly on the gate leaf and when twisting by a reduction box, it turns and lifting on himself.
These two systems, as already said, they are not the only ones but automatism grants innumerable advantages and benefits: from the comfort point of view allows the convenience of not getting out of the car to open the gate. From security, the possibility of being attentive to the surrounding situation while the gate opens or closes.
There is also a system for cable pulls of steel, although it is little recommended by installers. The automatism works by traction of a winch placed on the gate, which twists the cable fixed to the base of the same.
Another system is that of folding drawbacks, others carry a rail that instead of being parallel to the gate is in the roof, like endless but that goes pulling from above. Different actuators for very specific and not so common applications.
When it comes to sliding gates, in general two variants are presented: those whose sheaves rest on the ground and those that are hung on a rail or a guide, called aerial slides. In both cases, however, it is always preferable make the tensile force where it is supported.
In sliding that automate down zippers are used – serrated bars – that through a that pulls it, reduces the width of vehicle passage. For this reason, there are to take special collection at the time of measuring the final opening and whether it will be appropriate or not to apply this mechanism.
All systems are developed to fulfil the function of opening and closing the gate but there are different types such as sliding, lifting or pivoting and models for meet the various needs according to the weight of the gate, residential use, consortiums and industrial low or high traffic. It’s just a matter of choosing the right option.
Conclusion
Adaptable to all types of needs, increasingly low cost in some of its variants and models, security and comfort element to the once, the gate automation is an element accessible today. And leave in sepia colour the image of that person opening doors with the push of a button, image until about exclusive years of the films of Science fiction.
Here at MDI we offer automated sliding and swinging gates with PLC that make your daily routine easier to complete. Contact us today for more information.