Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means – Moisture content or wetness
Patent
1990-08-30
1992-10-27
Ro, Bentsu
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Moisture content or wetness
318466, 49 31, B60J 7057, B60R 1602, E05F 1520
Patent
active
051592479
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to a rain-actuated control for covering systems, which can be used, for example, for sliding roofs and lifter roofs of sheds, arenas, automobiles and greenhouses, etc.
The invention starts out from a sensor element, which is or will be mounted at the site to be monitored and passes on signals over a control system to a suitable actuating system.
The closing of covering systems for sheds, arenas, greenhouses, convertibles and sliding-lifter roofs of motor vehicles must usually be carried out at the present time by manually activating a switch, closing the circuit of which starts the closing of the covering, even though sensors of different types are known, which make the automatic closing of the covering possible in the event of rain. However, the problem arises here that a retrofitted or serial installation of such sensors with an appropriate and adapted electronic circuit is associated with much effort and consequently with additional costs.
It is an object of the invention, starting out from the control, to close a covering in the open position automatically with simple means in the event of precipitation.
A capacitor is an arrangement of insulated electrodes. For all arrangements with the same geometric data and the same dielectric properties of the insulating medium between the electrodes, the ratio of charge to voltage, which is referred to as the capacitance of the capacitor, has the same value.
With such a control, covering systems, that is, roof and wall parts of sheds and arenas of any type, sliding and lifter roofs of automobiles, roofs of convertibles and roofs and wall parts of greenhouses of the horticulture trade, if in the open position, can be closed automatically.
Suitable for use as capacitor electrodes in automobiles are the sheet metal body and the heating wires of the electrical windshield heater, which, with the ignition switched off, are connected galvanically, for example, by relay contacts, separately from the regular supply connections and are connected instead with the electronics measuring the capacitance. This sensor accordingly is already integrated in almost any modern automobile.
Since the vehicle geometry remains unchanged, the capacitance between the sheet metal body and the heating wires of the windshield heater changes only if there is a change in the dielectric in the electrostatic field of the capacitor.
Brief changes in the dielectric due to the intrusion of persons or animals into the relevant electrostatic field can be compensated for by the microprocessor control, as can normal soiling or contamination, which takes place relatively slowly, as well as interfering influences of a nonrecurring nature, such as bird droppings or a wind-blown wet leaf within the electrostatic field. The effect of temperatures is of such insignificant importance, that it can also be compensated for without problems. Through manipulating the control, a new normal capacitance can be stored at any time.
A further advantage is the protection of the sensor against corrosive media, since this sensor is especially in the protected interior of the automobile or consists of the sheet metal of the vehicle.
In the case of convertibles, in which the possibly heated rear window is lowered during the precipitation-monitoring time and thus does not come into consideration as sensor, a substitute electrode can be installed with a minimum of effort. This substitute electrode consists of a conducting and pressure sensitive foil, which is affixed to the upper edge of the inside of the windshield without a galvanic connection to the sheet metal of the automobile. This conductive foil is permanently connected to the microprocessor circuit.
The capacitor principle can, however, be used not only with automobiles.
The construction of the capacitor is very simple. It consists merely of two electrodes, which are insulated from one another. The insulation is retained under all types of weathering influences. This capacitor can then be mounted at any suitable place on buildings and connected wi
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Hogen Hans
Ro Bentsu
Sattlecker Armin
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