Roller-shutter door system

A roller-shutter door system, comprising:

• a frame;
• the frame including a pair of opposed substantially parallel guide rails;
• a roller-shutter door, comprising:
• a plurality of door slats;
• the door slats being longitudinally hingedly coupled to one another to form the roller-shutter door;
• and
• a retraction roller carried by the frame so as to be rotatable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation substantially longitudinally parallel to the door slats;
• a superior end of the roller-shutter door being coupled to the retraction roller whereby the roller-shutter door can be opened by rolling onto the retraction roller with rotation of the retraction roller in a first direction and closed by unrolling from the retraction roller with rotation of the retraction roller in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• wherein longitudinal ends of the door slats are received within and are configured to ride along door guide channels in the guide rails;
• wherein the guide rails have equipment channels disposed on interior sides thereof, relative to the roller-shutter door;
• wherein the guide rails are configured so that superior ends of the equipment channels are open and unobstructed by any part of the guide rails;
• and
• wherein a radius guide is releasably received in the superior end of each equipment channel;
• each radius guide having an outwardly facing guide surface that curves inwardly and superiorly relative to the guide rails to guide the door slats toward the retraction roller;
• at least one substantially rigid component is disposed in at least one of the equipment channels;
• and
• a vertical clearance above the superior end of the respective equipment channel exceeds a length of the at least one substantially rigid component;
• whereby:
• when the radius guide is received in the superior end of the respective equipment channel, the radius guide obstructs withdrawal of the at least one substantially rigid component out of the superior end of the respective equipment channel by obstructing the superior end of the respective equipment channel;
• and
• when the radius guide is removed from the superior end of the respective equipment channel, withdrawal of the at least one substantially rigid component by sliding the at least one substantially rigid component out of the superior end of the respective equipment channel is permitted.

A roller-shutter door system, comprising:

• a frame;
• the frame including a pair of opposed substantially parallel guide rails;
• a roller-shutter door, comprising:
• a plurality of door slats having coated exterior surfaces;
• the door slats being longitudinally hingedly coupled to one another to form the roller-shutter door;
• the door slats comprising:
• main body members;
• and
• end shoes secured at longitudinal ends of the main body members whereby the end shoes form longitudinal ends of the door slats;
• and
• a retraction roller carried by the frame so as to be rotatable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation substantially longitudinally parallel to the door slats;
• a superior end of the roller-shutter door being coupled to the retraction roller whereby the roller-shutter door can be opened by rolling onto the retraction roller with rotation of the retraction roller in a first direction and closed by unrolling from the retraction roller with rotation of the retraction roller in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• wherein the longitudinal ends of the door slats are received within and are configured to ride along door guide channels in the guide rails;
• a pair of exterior side seals carried by the frame and extending along the guide rails, each of the side seals projecting from the respective guide rail towards the respective longitudinal end of the respective door slat to cover a respective gap between the respective door slat and the respective door guide channel when the roller-shutter door is closed;
• the guide rails have equipment channels disposed on interior sides thereof, relative to the roller-shutter door;
• the equipment channels being substantially parallel to and in longitudinal registration with the door guide channels and being disposed inwardly of the door guide channels relative to the door;
• wherein:
• each door slat carries a sacrificial wear shield at each longitudinal end thereof;
• the wear shields being interposed between the coated exterior surfaces of the door slats and the side seals whereby the side seals are configured to bear on the wear shields instead of on the coated exterior surfaces of the door slats;
• and
• the wear shields are carried by the end shoes;
• and wherein:
• the guide rails are configured so that superior ends of the equipment channels are open and unobstructed by any part of the guide rails;
• and
• a radius guide is releasably received in the superior end of each equipment channel;
• each radius guide having an outwardly facing guide surface that curves inwardly and superiorly relative to the guide rails to guide the door slats toward the retraction roller;
• at least one substantially rigid component is disposed in at least one of the equipment channels;
• and
• a vertical clearance above the superior end of the respective equipment channel exceeds a length of the at least one substantially rigid component;
• whereby:
• when the radius guide is received in the superior end of the respective equipment channel, the radius guide obstructs withdrawal of the at least one substantially rigid component out of the superior end of the respective equipment channel by obstructing the superior end of the respective equipment channel;
• and
• when the radius guide is removed from the superior end of the respective equipment channel, withdrawal of the at least one substantially rigid component by sliding the at least one substantially rigid component out of the superior end of the respective equipment channel is permitted.