Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Automatic control – Nonthermal automatic initiator
Patent
1986-09-16
1988-03-01
Britts, Ramon S.
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Automatic control
Nonthermal automatic initiator
160168R, E06B 9322
Patent
active
047279184
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to slatted blinds of the kind commonly called Venetian, and Vertical, Blinds which comprise horizontally, or vertically, disposed slates connected by cords for rotational adjustment on their axes between an overlapping (closed) condition and an open condition for the admission of light. More particularly, the invention relates to automatic means for effecting such adjustment.
BACKGROUND ART
It is common practice in commercial buildings to install Venetian blinds at each window with facility for manual adjustment at the option of the occupant. A recent analysis of the effects of solar load upon the efficiency of a building's airconditioning plant has shown that energy consumption of the plant is greatly affected by the building's solar load.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention derives from the realization that an ideal situation for energy conservation would exist if the following criteria were met: a desired changed condition of the blind which will return to the controlled mode of operation at the next change of light.
It is the principal object of the invention to provide for automatic control of blind adjustment in a building to reduce the solar load upon airconditioning of the interior thereof. By "solar load" is meant the temperature variation within the building which is related to the presence or absence of the sun's rays whether direct, diffused or reflected.
To this end the invention in one general form provides a control device for at least one slatted blind adjustable between open and closed conditions by rotation of its slats about their axes, said device comprising a reversible electric motor whose driving shaft is connectable to rotate said slats, a sensing device for signalling an indication of high or low ambient radiation, an electrical control circuit responding to an output from the sensing device to energize said motor through a selected one of two switches for rotation in one direction or the other depending upon the indications signalled, and limit switches for de-energizing said motor when said slats attain predetermined degrees of open and closed conditions .
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A shows a front elevation of a venetian blind:
FIG. 1B is a fragmentary view of one corner of the blind;
FIG. 1C shows the drive motor arrangement;
FIG. 1D is an end elevation of the motor arrangement;
FIG. 2 shows in both schematic and block diagrammatic form a control device constructed according to this invention; and
FIG. 3 shows schematically the connection of plural driving motors to the control device.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows in four separate views, A-D, a typical connection of a driving motor 4 through a gear train 5 to the rotational control rod 6 of a Venetian blind 7 having horizontally disposed slats 8 adjustable between opened and closed conditions by rotation about their axes. Through rotation of the control rod 6, supporting cords (not shown) for the slats 8 effects their rotation. The output shaft 9 from the gear train 5 is connected to a driving head 10 provided with a socket for the control rod 6 and carries a cam 11 engageable with microswitches 12 which serve as limit switches to stop the motor 4 when the slats 8 are in a predetermined degree of closed or opened condition. Power to the motor 4 is conveyed by power lead 13 housed within a mullion 14 of a window frame 15 on which the blind has been installed. A manual control 16 is preferably provided on the opposite mullion 17 to enable the occupant of a room to make manual adjustment to the blind 7. It will be appreciated that the control device, including the driving motor 4, may be incorporated with initial installation of a blind 7, or it may be subsequently installed upon an existing blind. Furthermore, the motor 4 and associated components may be mounted at the front of the blind 7.
The entire control device of this inventio
REFERENCES:
patent: 3646985 (1972-03-01), Klann
patent: 3675023 (1972-07-01), Kunke et al.
patent: 4096903 (1978-06-01), Ringle
patent: 4492908 (1985-01-01), Stockle et al.
patent: 4644990 (1987-02-01), Webb et al.
patent: 4664169 (1987-05-01), Osaka et al.
Britts Ramon S.
Greigg Edwin E.
Purol David M.
Vermont Management Pty Ltd.
LandOfFree
Blind adjuster does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Blind adjuster, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Blind adjuster will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-992733