EP2366859A1

EP2366859A1 - A wing opening/closing actuator system

Info

Publication number: EP2366859A1
Application number: EP11158556A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Gai
Original assignee: Ultraflex Control Systems Srl
Current assignee: Ultraflex Control Systems Srl
Priority date: 2010-03-19
Filing date: 2011-03-16
Publication date: 2011-09-21
Also published as: ITGE20100025A1; IT1398838B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wing opening/closing actuator system comprising a stationary frame internally surrounding an opening, which is in turn closed by a movable frame, moving relative to the stationary frame.

The stationary frame and/or said movable frame have mutually abutting members and lock bolts for locking the movable frame to the stationary frame in the closed position, which cooperate with corresponding engagement seats on the stationary frame.

There are further provided at least one actuator mechanism for displacing the bolts and at least one actuator for moving the movable frame from the open position to the closed position and vice versa, comprising at least one at least one push/pull member which is displaceable in the direction of displacement of the wing between the two open and closed positions and adapted to move the movable frame, which push/pull member is interposed between the stationary frame and the movable frame with which it is connected via a terminal element of the push member.

Furthermore, the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism is dynamically connected to said push/pull member and is driven by the actuator for displacement of the bolts.

Description

The present invention relates to a wing opening/closing actuator system comprising a stationary frame internally surrounding an opening, which is in turn closed by a wing consisting of a frame that is movable relative to the stationary frame, between an open position and a closed position.
The stationary frame and/or said movable frame have members in mutual abutment relation in the closed position of the movable frame, and lock means are provided for securing the movable frame to the stationary frame in the closed position.
These lock means consist of one or more lock bolts which are mounted so as to be displaceable on or in the movable frame, from a retracted idle lock position, in which the movable frame can be freely moved relative to the stationary frame, to an extracted operating lock position in which the movable frame is secured to the stationary frame, and which bolts cooperate with corresponding engagement seats formed in the stationary frame in such positions as to coincide with the stroke of the lock bolts between the two idle and operating lock positions.
There are further provided at least one actuator mechanism for displacing the bolts and at least one actuator for moving the movable frame from the open position to the closed position and vice versa, comprising at least one push/pull member which is displaceable in the direction of displacement of the wing between the two open and closed positions and adapted to move the movable frame, which push/pull member is interposed between the stationary frame and the movable frame with which it is connected via a terminal element of the push member.
In prior art wing opening/closing systems, the wing is moved using motorized actuators which, like in the system of the present invention, will move the wing from an open position to a closed position.
For the wing to be locked in the closed position, further electric actuators are generally provided, which are directly embedded in the wing frame or mounted to the exterior thereof. Once the main actuator has moved the wing into the closed position, controllers trigger the electric actuator to lock the window, e.g. by moving lock bolts to engagement in special engagement seats.
It will be readily apparent that these systems are complex and problematic in terms of both design and implementation, as the use of an additional electric actuator complicates the connection circuit between the main actuator and the electric actuator due, for instance, to the addition of sensors for detection of the closed and open positions of the wings; such increased complexity also increases the likelihood that the parts of the system will break, with consequent high maintenance costs.
Furthermore, in order to obtain as firm a lock as possible, the section of the lock bolts shall be of much the same size as the engagement seats on the stationary frame, and hence high precision is required for movement thereof by the electric actuator, which inevitably leads to an increase of manufacturing costs.
Therefore, the need is still felt for a wing opening/closing actuator system which, using relatively simple and inexpensive arrangements, allows the wings to be closed and secured to a stationary abutment frame and vice versa, without using complex mechanisms that require high manufacturing and maintenance costs.
The invention achieves the above purposes by providing a wing opening/closing actuator system as described hereinbefore, in which the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism, which will secure the wing to the stationary frame, is dynamically connected to the push/pull member, to be driven by the actuator to displace the bolt between the two operating and idle lock positions.
Thus, dynamic coupling means are provided for dynamically coupling the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism, for connection of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism to the actuator, so that such mechanism is controlled thereby without requiring any additional motorized drive members.
Advantageously, the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism is actuated using the start section and the end section of the stroke of the push/pull member, which sections are as long as the displacement stroke of the bolts from the operating lock position to the idle lock position respectively or as an actuating stroke for controlling such displacement.
In one embodiment, enabling/disabling means are provided, in combination with the dynamic coupling means as described above, for enabling/disabling dynamic actuation coupling of the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism, which enable dynamic actuation coupling of the displacement actuating mechanism during the start section and the end section of the extraction and retraction strokes of the push/pull member respectively.
Said movable frame may be hinged to the stationary frame to pivot about an axis that lies along the stationary frame to perform a closing movement toward the stationary frame to at least partial overlap therein, and to perform an opening movement away from the stationary frame.
Systems are known in the art which use an automatic control for moving mechanical bolts, which do not apply to electronic bolts. Such systems are disclosed, for example in EP2019180 and EP1443165 , but do not exhibit the advantageous kinematic transmission configuration of the kinematic transmission of the present invention and do not afford the same versatility.
Particularly, these systems are generally only mounted to wings of the recessed type and not to wings of the projecting type, as their particular configuration does not allow so.
Alternatively, the movable frame may be mounted to be able to slide in a direction parallel to the stationary frame, to perform a closing movement to at least partially overlap the stationary frame.
Preferably, the actuator is a device that has the characteristics of motorized actuators for driving windows, wings or the like, as disclosed in patent applications SC2006A000005 and SV2005A000005 .
It generally comprises a stationary case, in which it is mounted to slide along a guide, a push/pull member, motion being transferred to the latter by an actuation drive for reciprocating movement between the two positions in which such member is extracted from the case and retracted therein respectively, and corresponding to the maximum open and closed positions of the wing.
Otherwise, the actuator may be of manual type, i.e. use a chain-type drive or the like to move the push/pull member, by a manual control, e.g. rotation of a crank, which transfers motion to an actuation drive for reciprocating motion of the push/pull member through a guide between the two positions in which it is extracted from a stationary case and retracted therein respectively, and corresponding to the maximum open and closed positions of the wing.
A coupling terminal is also provided which, as mentioned above, allows dynamic coupling between the push/pull member and the lock bolt driving means.
In one variant embodiment, the means for dynamic coupling of the push/pull member to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the lock bolts and the means for enabling/disabling dynamic actuating coupling of the push/pull member to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the locks are integrated in the terminal for coupling the push/pull member to the movable frame.
Furthermore, in a preferred variant embodiment, in addition to the dynamic coupling means and the dynamic coupling enabling/disabling means, a kinematic transmission chain, or at least a part of it, is provided in the same terminal for transferring the actuating motion of the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the terminal for coupling the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism consists of a case, which is adapted to be fixed to the movable frame and houses a slide guide for a slider. Such guide has such an orientation that the direction in which the slider slides is substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the push/pull member at least in the start and end sections of the extraction and retraction strokes respectively. Particularly, the slider is able to slide in the guide in either direction according to the displacement of the push/pull member relative to the guide and the movable frame and in a stationary state of the movable frame.
The slider is the dynamic input member for the actuating motion of the kinematic chain of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism, and is dynamically connected to the push/pull member. The slider is held within the guide in a limit stop position, corresponding to the extraction limit position of the push/pull member, by at least one elastic element. This elastic element exerts a force on the slider for holding it in the limit stop position, such force being smaller than the force that retains the movable frame in the operating lock condition and greater than the driving force required for displacing the bolts from the operating lock position to the idle lock position.
Thus, the displacement of the slider along the guide in either direction corresponds to the end and start sections of the stroke of the push/pull member, such sections consisting of extensions of the extraction and retraction strokes of the push/pull member for displacement of the movable frame to a predetermined open limit position and to a closed limit position, in which the movable frame abuts against said stationary frame.
Still according to this preferred embodiment, the slider is the input member for the transfer of a rectilinear motion converted into an additional rectilinear output motion, whose kinematic chain is fully integrated in the terminal for coupling the push/pull member to the movable frame.
For example, the slider carries a rack oriented in the sliding direction of the slider and transfers the slider motion to at least one actuating pinion, engaging with the rack.
This pinion is part of a kinematic slider motion transferring chain, which has at its output a pair of driving members for driving one or more bolts, each of the latter being carried by a rack of a pair of racks facing toward each other and engaging on opposite sides of an additional output pinion of the kinematic chain.
Preferably, the lock bolts are mounted to slide in a corresponding guide of the movable frame substantially over a plane parallel to a longitudinal end surface, which comes out of at least one side of the movable frame for engagement in a given engagement seat on the stationary frame.
In this case, the kinematic chain of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism is integrated in the coupling terminal that couples the push/pull member to the movable wing, whereas the bolt driving means and the bolts themselves have mating dynamic coupling means that come to mutual engagement upon mounting of the terminal to the movable frame.
Alternatively, the slider element may be arranged to be the input member of a transmission adapted to convert a rectilinear input motion into a rotary output motion, in which case the kinematic chain is entirely integrated in the coupling terminal that couples the push/pull member to the movable frame.
The above described embodiment is preferably implemented by coupling of the slider and a shaft that is mounted parallel to the sliding direction of the slider and projects therefrom on the side facing toward the movable wing.
For the linear motion to be converted into a rotary motion, the shaft is mounted at one end to the slider to pivot about its axis and has external threads for engagement with the internal threads of a through hole formed in a stationary element, which is transverse to the sliding direction of the slider and is located at the terminal end of the slider guide; the shaft also projects beyond the transverse stationary element toward the movable frame.
Accordingly, the movable frame has therein a transmission for converting the actuating motion from a rotary input motion to a translational motion for displacement of the lock bolt/s, which transmission includes a pivotal input member for the rotary motion, that has coupling means mating with coupling means of the shaft carried by the slider.
Furthermore, the shaft has at least one non-round coupling end which is press-fit engageable in a mating non-round axial hole of a pivotal input member of the transmission mounted in the movable frame.
Advantageously, kinematic chain locking means are provided, which are disabled in the condition in which the movable frame abuts against the stationary frame and are enabled during the action of displacement of the wing from the closed position to the open position and vice versa.
By enabling or disabling the means for locking the kinematic chain, the slider is allowed to be displaced only in the start section and the end section of the strokes for extraction/retraction of the push/pull member respectively from/into to the case of the actuator.
The provision of means for locking the kinematic chain is particularly advantageous if any hardening or increased resistance caused by the increase of friction along the axis of rotation of the movable frame, where the movable frame is hinged to the stationary frame, increase the resistance to wing motion to such an extent that wing displacement requires a force greater than the compression/extension action of the spring.
For instance, during the closing stroke, if the bolts are not locked, the force exerted by the push/pull member for moving the movable frame would first move the bolts into the operating lock condition, thereby preventing the wing from closing due to abutment of the bolts against the stationary frame.
In an alternative embodiment, temporary movable frame position holding means may be provided, for holding the movable frame in its closed position, i.e. with the movable frame abutting against the stationary frame. Enabling/disabling means are also used for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means to enable such means to hold the movable frame in its abutment position during the displacement stroke of the bolt/s from the operating condition in which the movable frame is secured to the stationary frame, to the idle position, in which the movable frame is not secured to the stationary frame.
This improvement provides the advantage that, in the system of the present invention, the lock bolts are allowed to slide and engage in their respective engagement seats without causing any collision between the lock bolts and their engagement seats. In addition to affording longer life and improved function of the system, the presence of temporary holding means allows the movable frame driving actuator to optimize its thrust action, as the actuator only starts its thrust action when the lock bolts are in their idle lock condition, i.e. retracted in the movable frame where they do not restrict the opening movement of the movable frame.
In order to achieve this, the holding force of the temporary position holding position shall be equal to or higher than the compression/extension force exerted by the elastic element so that, once the movable frame has reached its abutment position, while the slider is being displaced, i.e. moved from the operating lock condition to the idle lock condition and vice versa, in spite of the start and end sections of the stroke of the push/pull member, the temporary holding means hold the movable frame still, thereby affording perfect engagement of the lock bolts in their seats on the stationary frame.
In a first embodiment, the temporary position holding means consist of a first part that cooperates with a corresponding second part, the first part being integral with and/or fixed to the actuator and/or the stationary frame, and the second part being integral with and/or adapted to be fixed to the movable frame.
Advantageously, the first part is a tooth element having an inclined face and a steep face, which steep face forms a shoulder for abutment of a block that forms the second part.
Furthermore, the tooth element is designed to be displaced from a block engaging position to a block disengaging position through the means for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means and is elastically biased into the engaging and/or disengaging position.
In a further embodiment, these temporary holding means consist of a magnet and a ferromagnetic element, or two magnets, which are mounted to the movable frame and the stationary frame respectively, in coincident positions when the two frames abut against each other.
In order to ensure displacement of the movable frame, the temporary holding means must exert such a force on the movable frame that the sum of said holding force and the wing displacing force is smaller than the force exerted by the movable frame displacing actuator.
The invention also relates to additional features that further improve the above wing opening/closing actuator system and will form the subject of the dependent claims.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of a few embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1a and 1b show the wing opening/closing actuator system of the present invention;
Fig. 2 shows the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism according to a possible embodiment;
Fig. 3 shows the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism according to a further embodiment;
Figs. 4a to 4d are sectional views of a possible variant embodiment of the temporary holding means taken along a plane perpendicular to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism;
Fig. 5 is a view of a possible embodiment of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism as shown in Figure 3;
Figs. 6a to 6c are sectional views of a possible variant embodiment of the temporary holding means taken along a plane perpendicular to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism, particularly suitable for the variant as shown in Figure 5;
Fig. 7 is a view of a possible embodiment of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism of the present invention.

Figures 1a and 1b show the wing opening/closing actuator system of the present invention. The system comprises a stationary frame 1 surrounding the interior of an opening, which is in turn closed by a wing consisting of a movable frame 2, moving relative to the stationary frame 1, between an open position and a closed position.
The opening and the wing may be of any size and type, such as windows and/or door wings and the wings may be arranged to be moved either by a pivotal motion about an axis disposed along the stationary frame 1, with an outward and/or inward opening movement, pivoting along a horizontal or vertical axis, or by a sliding motion in a direction parallel to the stationary frame 1 so that the movable frame 2 can perform a closing movement to at least partially overlap the stationary frame 1.
The stationary frame 1 and/or said movable frame 2 have abutment members 11 in mutual abutment relation in the closed position of the movable frame 2, and lock means 21 are provided for securing the movable frame 2 to the stationary frame 1 in the closed position.
These lock means consist of one or more lock bolts 21 which are mounted so as to be displaceable in the movable frame 2, from a retracted idle lock position, in which the movable frame 2 can be freely moved relative to the stationary frame 1, to an extracted operating lock position in which the movable frame 2 is secured to the stationary frame 1, and in which the bolts 21 cooperate with corresponding engagement seats 12 formed in the stationary frame 1 in such positions as to coincide with the stroke of the lock bolts 21 between the two idle and operating lock positions.
The bolts are also known in the art and do not fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the invention may be provided in combination with any known type of bolt or other similar wing locking means, i.e. both those known in the art and new devices having the same construction features as those known in the art concerning the interfaces with the construction parts that characterize the present invention.
For the sake of completeness, the simplest bolt designs have rods or bars of some material, that are designed to slide along one or more sides of the movable frame parallel to the longitudinal direction of the corresponding side and to those of the rod or bar. Such displacement occurs in both directions, between a position in which each rod or bar projects beyond the end of the frame side along which it slides, and fits into a seat in the stationary frame (e.g. a hole formed in the side of the stationary frame that is oriented perpendicular or transverse to the one along which the rod or bar slides) and a position in which the rod or bar are retracted with respect to such end of the side of the movable frame along which it is slideably mounted. The displacement occurs by means of drive mechanisms, which convert, for instance, a rotary motion imparted by a rotating crank, into a translational sliding motion, or by the pivotal motion of a lever or the like.
Still referring to Figures 1a and 1b, there are provided a lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, which is shown to be mounted to the movable frame 2, and an actuator 13 for moving the movable frame 2 from the open position to the closed position and vice versa, which is preferably fixed to the stationary frame 1, and includes a push/pull member 131, which is adapted to be moved by special means in the wing displacement direction between the two open and closed positions and to move the movable frame 2, which push/pull member 131 is interposed between the stationary frame 1 and the movable frame 2, with which it is connected by a terminal element 132 of the push member.
The lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 is designed to secure the wing to the stationary frame 1, and is dynamically connected to the push/pull member 131 to be driven by the actuator 13 to displace the bolt 21 between the two operating and idle lock positions.
Thus, dynamic coupling means are provided for dynamically coupling the push/pull member 131 to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, for connection of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 to the actuator 13, so that such mechanism is controlled thereby without requiring any additional motorized drive members.
Particularly, as shown in Figure 1a, the actuator 13 is a device that has the characteristics of motorized actuators for driving windows, wings or the like, as disclosed in patent applications SC2006A000005 and SV2005A000005 .
It generally comprises a stationary case 134, in which it is mounted to slide along a guide, a push/pull member 131, motion being transferred to the latter by an actuation drive for reciprocating movement between the two positions in which such member is extracted from the case 134 and retracted in the case 134 respectively, and corresponding to the maximum open and closed positions of the wing.
A coupling terminal 132 is also provided which, as mentioned above, allows dynamic coupling between the push/pull member 131 and the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22.
As shown below, such terminal 132 connects the push/pull member 131 to one of the parts of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, particularly the slider 221, so that, under certain conditions, the slider 221 will be displaced by the action of the push/pull member in the direction of movement thereof.
Figure 2 shows a preferred variant embodiment of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism.
As mentioned above, the bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 is actuated using the start section and the end section of the stroke of the push/pull member 132, whose length is equal to the displacement stroke of the bolts 21 from the operating to the idle lock positions respectively; for this reason enabling/disabling means are provided, preferably in combination with the dynamic coupling means, for enabling/disabling dynamic actuation coupling of the push/pull member 131 to the bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, which actuate dynamic actuation coupling of the displacement actuating mechanism 22 during the start and end sections of the extraction and retraction strokes of the push/pull member 131 respectively.
In one improvement of the wing opening/closing system of the invention both the means for dynamic coupling of the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 and the means for enabling/disabling dynamic actuation coupling of the push/pull member 131 to the bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 are integrated in the terminal 132 for coupling the push/pull member 131 to the movable frame 2.
Furthermore, in addition to the dynamic coupling means and the dynamic coupling enabling/disabling means, a kinematic transmission chain or at least a part of it is provided in the same terminal 132, for transferring the actuating motion of the push/pull member 131 to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism.
In the embodiment as shown in Figure 2, the terminal for coupling the push/pull member to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 consists of a case, which is adapted to be fixed to the movable frame 2 and houses a slide guide 222 for a slider 221. Such guide 222 has such an orientation that the direction in which the slider 221 slides is substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the push/pull member 131 at least in the start and end sections of the extraction and retraction strokes respectively. Particularly, the slider 221 is able to slide in the guide in either direction according to the displacement of the push/pull member 131 relative to the guide and the movable frame 2 and in a stationary state of the movable frame 2.
The slider 221 is the dynamic input member for the actuating motion of the kinematic chain of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, such slider 221 being thus dynamically connected to the push/pull member 131. The slider 221 is held within the guide 222 in a limit stop position, corresponding to the extraction limit position of the push/pull member 131, by two elastic elements 223. These elastic elements 223 exert a force on the slider 221 for holding it in the limit stop position, such force being smaller than the force that retains the movable frame 2 in the operating lock condition and greater than the driving force required for displacing the bolts 21 from the operating lock position to the idle lock position.
Starting from the open wing condition, the actuator 13 moves the movable frame 2 toward the stationary frame 1, the force exerted by the actuator 13 is smaller than the extension/compression force of the elastic means 223, whereby the movable frame 2 is free to move toward the stationary frame 1 and the slider 221 remains still.
Once the closed condition has been reached, the movable frame 2 abuts against the stationary frame 1, and the actuator runs a further end section of its stroke, corresponding to the retraction of the push/pull member 131 into the case of the actuator 13.
Due to the abutment members 11, the push/pull member 131 has such a retraction force as to compress the elastic means 223, whereby the slider 221 is free to move along the guide 222 while the movable frame 2 remains still.
The slider 221 is the input member for the transfer of a rectilinear motion converted into an additional rectilinear output motion, whose kinematic chain is fully integrated in the terminal for coupling the push/pull member 131 to the movable frame 2.
Still referring to Figure 2, the slider 221 carries a rack 224 oriented in the sliding direction of the slider 221 which transfers the motion of the slider 221 to actuating pinions 225 engaging with the rack 224.
The pinions 225 are part of a kinematic chain for transferring the motion of the slider 221, which has at its output a pair of driving members for driving one or more bolts 21, each of the latter being carried by a rack of a pair of racks facing toward each other and engaging on opposite sides of an additional output pinion of the kinematic chain.
Therefore, by this transmission, the motion of the slider 221 drives the bolts 21 into an operating lock position, i.e. engaging in corresponding engagement seats of the stationary frame 1.
Conversely, when the wing is to move from the closed position to the open position, the start section of the stroke of the push/pull member 131, corresponding to extraction thereof from the case by the actuator 13, is used to cause the slider 221 to slide and set the elastic elements 223 to their maximum extension.
As described above, the transmission allows the motion of the slider 221 to be transferred to the lock bolts 21 which reach an idle lock condition, corresponding to their retracted position in the movable frame 2, for the actuator 13 to be able to move the wing: hence, the push/pull member 131 will continue its thrust action on the slider 221 which will reach an abutment point in the guide 222 and will move on, integral with the movable frame 2.
Still referring to Figure 2, kinematic chain locking means 228 are provided, which operate on the transmission, particularly by locking the pinions 225.
These means consists of two elements 229, 230, which are mounted in mutual sliding relation on an inclined plane and are held in position by elastic elements 231, 234.
In the open wing condition, the elastic elements 231, 234 hold the two elements 229, 230 in position, with the element 230 acting upon the pinion 225 and thus preventing the displacement of the slider 221 and hence the motion of the bolts 21.
Once the wing has come to abutment, the action of the push/pull member 131 during the end section of the stroke, corresponding to retraction thereof into the case 134, causes the elastic elements 231 to compress and allow the element 229 to slide along the element 230 and cause compression of the elastic elements 234 and release the pinion 225, thereby allowing displacement of the slider 221, which moves the bolts 21 into the operating lock position.
Conversely, during the start section of the stroke of the push/pull member 131, corresponding to extraction thereof from the case 134, the slider 221 is free to move and thus bring the bolts 21 into the idle lock condition. Once the movable frame 2 has moved away from its abutment condition, the elastic elements 231 extend, and the element 229 retracts from the element 230, which moves back into the pinion 225 locking position.
Advantageously, temporary movable frame position holding means may be also provided, for holding the movable frame 2 in its closed position, i.e. with the movable frame 2 abutting against the stationary frame 1. Enabling/disabling means are also used for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means to enable such means to hold the movable frame 2 in its abutment position during the displacement stroke of the bolts 21 from the operating condition in which the movable frame 2 is secured to the stationary frame 1, to the idle position, in which the movable frame 2 is not secured to the stationary frame 1.
In order to achieve this, the holding force of the temporary position holding position shall be equal to or higher than the compression/extension force exerted by the elastic elements 223 so that, once the movable frame 2 has reached its abutment position, while the slider 221 is being displaced, i.e. moved from the operating lock condition to the idle lock condition and vice versa, in spite of the start and end sections of the stroke of the push/pull member 131, the temporary holding means hold the movable frame 2 still, thereby affording perfect engagement/disengagement of the lock bolts 21 in/from their engagement seats 12 on the stationary frame 2.
Figures 4a to 4c show a possible embodiment of these temporary holding means.
The temporary holding means 3 consist of a first part that cooperates with a corresponding second part, the first part being integral with and/or fixed to the actuator 13 and/or the stationary frame 1, and the second part being integral with and/or adapted to be fixed to the movable frame 2. Particularly, the first part is a tooth element 31 having an inclined face 311 and a steep face 312, the latter forming a shoulder for abutment of a block 32 that forms the second part, which block is provided on the lock displacement actuating mechanism 22.
Therefore, the tooth element 31 is designed to be displaced from a block 32 engaging position to a block 32 disengaging position through the means for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means, as the tooth element 31 is elastically biased into the given engaging and/or disengaging position.
Such elastic bias may be obtained using elastic elements, such as springs or the like, which are preferably placed at one end 313 of the tooth element 31, where the latter is connected to the actuator 13.
Otherwise, the elastic bias of the tooth element 31 may be obtained by forming the latter from materials that have particular elastic deformation properties.
Particularly, in Figure 4a, the movable frame 2 closes the opening 4 and abuts against the stationary frame 1, the push/pull member 131 retracts into the stationary case 134, whereas the slider 221, that belongs to the bolt displacement mechanism 22, has run the whole stroke required for extraction of the bolts 21 to secure the movable frame 2 to the stationary frame 1.
The tooth element 31 is in a position in which it is engaged with the block 32 and is stably held in such position by the above described elastic bias.
Thus, the tooth element 31 prevents any relative motion between the stationary frame and the movable frame. Particularly, when the push/pull member 131 starts to move the movable frame 2 away from the stationary frame 1, the tooth element 31 will hold the movable frame 2 in its abutment position so that the slider 221 may slide along the guide 221 to allow the bolts 21 to be in a retracted, idle lock condition.
Once the locks reach the retracted, idle lock condition, the enabling/disabling means for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means compress the elastic means for holding the tooth 31 in position and allow relative movement between the movable frame 2 and the stationary frame 1.
Particularly, in Figures 4b and 4d, the enabling/disabling means consist of lifting means, such as a cam 33, which push the tooth into a disengagement position, by lifting the shoulder 312 from the block 32.
Therefore, when the bolts 21 are in the retracted, idle lock position, the end section of the stroke of the slider 221 can move the cam 33 so that such cam lifts the tooth 31 and allows the latter to slide along the surface of the bolt displacement mechanism 22, as shown in Figure 4c.
Conversely, as the opening 4 is closed, and hence the movable frame 2 is moved toward the stationary frame 1, the actuator 13 reverses the stroke of the push/pull member 131, which pushes the movable frame 2 toward the stationary frame 1.
As described above, the slider 221 moves integrally with the movable frame 2, but remains still with respect to the movable frame 2.
The inclined face 311 of the tooth 31 allows the movable frame 2 to cooperate, as it moves toward the stationary frame, like a lead-in surface for the bolt actuating mechanism 22, and allows compression of the elastic elements that hold the tooth 31 in position, thereby allowing the latter to slide along the surface of the mechanism 22 into snap engagement with the block 32, when the movable frame 2 abuts against the stationary frame 1.
Now, the movable frame 2 is held against the stationary frame 1 by the tooth element 31 and the slider 221 may run the stroke required for extraction of the bolts 21.
This will lead back to the condition as shown in Figure 4a.
In a further embodiment, these temporary holding means may consist of a magnet and a ferromagnetic element, or two magnets, which are mounted to the movable frame 2 and the stationary frame 1 respectively, in mating positions when the two frames abut against each other.
In order to ensure displacement of the movable frame 2, the temporary holding means must exert such a force on the movable frame 2 that the sum of said holding force and the wing displacing force is smaller than the force exerted by the movable frame 2 displacing actuator 13.
Figure 3 shows the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism according to a further embodiment.
In this variant embodiment, the slider 221 is the input of a transmission that converts a rectilinear input motion into an output rotary motion.
Referring to Figure 3, the push/pull member 131 is connected to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22 via the coupling terminal 132. The slider 221 is coupled to a shaft 226, which is mounted parallel to the sliding direction of the slider 221 and has external threads in its end in contact with the slider 221, whereby it engages with the internal threads of a threaded through hole formed in the stationary element 227, which extends transverse to the sliding direction of the slider 221, and is located at the terminal end of the guide of the slider 221; the shaft 226 further projects beyond the transverse stationary element 227 toward the movable frame 2.
Starting from the open wing condition, the actuator 13 moves the movable frame 2 toward the stationary frame 1, the force exerted by the actuator 13 is smaller than the extension/compression force of the elastic means 223, whereby the movable frame 2 is free to move toward the stationary frame 1 and the slider 221 remains still.
Once the closed condition has been reached, the movable frame 2 abuts against the stationary frame 1, and the actuator runs a further end section of its stroke, corresponding to the retraction of the push/pull member 131 into the case of the actuator 13.
Due to the abutment members 11, the retraction force of the push/pull member 131 is greater than the extension/compression force of the elastic means 223, whereby the slider 221 is free to move, while the movable frame 2 remains still.
The slider 221 transfers the motion of the shaft 226 whose threads for engagement of the stationary element 227 cause it to perform a non-translational, rotary movement about an axis of rotation oriented in the sliding direction of the slider 221.
Preferably, the shaft 226 has a non-round coupling end for press-fit engagement into a complementary non-round axial hole of a rotatable input member of the transmission mounted in the movable frame 2, which transfers the rotary motion of the shaft 226 into a translational motion of the bolts 21 so that these bolts can engage in the corresponding engagement seats 12 on the stationary frame 1.
Conversely, when the wing is to move from the closed position to the open position, the start section of the stroke of the push/pull member 131, corresponding to extraction thereof from the case by the actuator 13, is used to cause the slider 221 to slide and set the elastic elements 223 to their maximum extension.
As described above, the transmission allows the motion of the slider 221 to be transferred to the lock bolts 21 which reach an idle lock condition, corresponding to their retracted position in the movable frame 2, for the actuator 13 to be able to move the wing: hence, the push/pull member 131 will continue its thrust action on the slider 221 which will reach an abutment point against the stationary element 227 and will move on, integral with the movable frame 2.
Still referring to Figure 3, kinematic chain locking means 228 are provided, which operate on the transmission, particularly by preventing any sliding motion of the slider 221.
These means consist of two elements 228 integral with the case of the bolt displacement actuating mechanism 22, which are mounted to rotate about an axis, and engage in engagement elements 223 integral with the slider 221. These lock means 228 are held in their engagement position by elastic elements and are released from this engagement position when the wing comes to abutment, due to stop elements on the stationary frame 1.
In the open wing condition, the elastic elements hold the two elements 228 in an engaged position, where they prevent displacement of the slider 221 and hence any movement of the bolts 21, thereby holding the slider 221 integral with the case, and hence with the movable frame 2 to which the case is mounted.
When the wing comes to abutment, during the end section of the stroke, corresponding to retraction of the push/pull member 131 into the case 134, the stop elements on the stationary frame 1 cause the release of the lock means 227 which rotate on themselves and compress the elastic elements, so that the slider 221 is free to move and drive the bolts into the operating lock condition, by rotation of the shaft 226.
Conversely, during the start section of the stroke of the push/pull member 131, corresponding to extraction thereof from the case 134, the slider 221 is free to move and thus bring the bolts 21 into the idle lock condition. When the movable frame 2 moves away from the abutment condition, the elastic elements extend and the lock means 228 move back into engagement with the engagement elements 233, thereby preventing any further displacement by the slider 221.
Figure 5 is a view of a possible variant embodiment of the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism as shown in Figure 3, whereas Figures 6a to 6c shows a possible variant embodiment of the temporary holding means that are used in the variant of Figure 5.
According to this variant, the stationary element 227 of Figure 3 consists of a housing case that at least partially houses the structure of the bolt actuating mechanism 22 and, particularly when the movable frame 221 abuts against the stationary frame 1, houses the slider 221 and the tooth element 31 of Figures 6a to 6c.
In this case, the temporary holding means 3 consist of a first part that cooperates with a corresponding second part, the first part being integral with and/or fixed to the stationary frame 1, and/or the actuator 13, the second part being integral with and/or adapted to be fixed to the slider 221. Particularly, the first part is a tooth element 31 having an inclined face 311 and a steep face 312, the latter forming a shoulder for abutment of a block 2211 that forms the second part, which block is provided on 222.
The tooth element 31 is elastically biased into engagement and/or disengagement with the block 2211 which also acts, in this case, as means for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means, because it has a shape that allows, as shown below, said tooth element 31 to be lifted as the slider 221 slides.
The elastic bias may be obtained using elastic elements, such as springs or the like, which are preferably placed at one end 313 of the tooth element 31, where the latter is connected to the actuator 13.
Otherwise, the elastic bias of the tooth element 31 may be obtained by forming the latter from materials that have particular elastic deformation properties.
Particularly, in Figure 6a, the movable frame 2 closes the opening 4 and abuts against the stationary frame 1, the push/pull member 131 retracts into the stationary case 134, whereas the slider 221, that belongs to the bolt displacement mechanism 22, has run the whole stroke required for extraction of the bolts 21 to secure the movable frame 2 to the stationary frame 1.
The tooth element 31 is in a position in which it is engaged with the block 2211 and is stably held in such position by the above described elastic bias.
Thus, the tooth element 31 prevents any relative motion between the stationary frame and the movable frame. Particularly, when the push/pull member 131 starts to move the movable frame 2 away from the stationary frame 1, the tooth element 31 will hold the movable frame 2 in its abutment position so that the slider 221 may slide along the guide 221 to allow the bolts 21 to be in a retracted, idle lock condition.
Once the bolts have reached the retracted, idle lock condition, with the movement of the slider 221 the block 2211 pushes the tooth 31 upwards by compressing the elastic means for holding it in position and allowing relative movement between the movable frame 2 and the stationary frame 1.
Therefore, when the bolts 21 are in the retracted, idle lock position, the end section of the stroke of the slider 221 can lift the tooth 31 and allow the latter to slide along the surface of the bolt displacement mechanism 22, as shown in Figure 6c.
Conversely, as the opening 4 is closed, and hence the movable frame 2 is moved toward the stationary frame 1, the actuator 13 reverses the stroke of the push/pull member 131, which pushes the movable frame 2 toward the stationary frame 1.
As described above, the slider 221 moves integrally with the movable frame 2, and there is no movement of the slider 221 relative to the stationary frame 2.
The inclined face 311 of the tooth 31 allows the movable frame 2 to cooperate, as it moves toward the stationary frame, like a lead-in surface for the bolt actuating mechanism 22, and allows compression of the elastic elements that hold the tooth 31 in position, thereby allowing the latter to slide along the surface of the mechanism 22 into snap engagement with the block 2211, when the movable frame 2 abuts against the stationary frame 1.
Particularly referring to Figures 5 to 6c, the tooth element 31 is housed in the stationary element 227, with the slider 221.
Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the system of the present invention, particularly the bolt displacement mechanism 22 and the actuator 13.
In this embodiment, the actuator 13 has two centering elements, i.e. dowel pins 5, which fit into corresponding engagement seats on the movable frame 2, as the movable frame 2 moves toward the stationary frame 1.
The dowel pins 5 allow proper abutment of the movable frame against the stationary frame, which is a particularly effective feature when the wing to be moved has a large size and its motion causes oscillations that might affect proper positioning.
The engagement seats of the dowel pins 5 may be provided in the bolt moving mechanism 22.

Claims

A wing opening/closing actuator system comprising a stationary frame (1) internally surrounding an opening (4), which opening (4) is closed by a wing, which wing comprises a frame (2) that is movable relative to the stationary frame (1) and displaceable from an open position to a closed position,
said stationary frame (1) and/or said movable frame (2) having mutual abutting members (11) for mutual abutment in said closed position of said movable frame (2),
and means being provided for securing the movable frame (2) to the stationary frame (1) in said closed position,
which means consist of one or more lock bolts (21) which are mounted so as to be displaceable on or in said movable frame (2) from a retracted idle lock position in which the movable frame (2) can be freely displaced relative to the stationary frame (1) and an extracted operating lock position in which the movable frame (2) is secured to the fixed frame, and which bolts (21) cooperate with corresponding engagement receptacles (12) formed in said stationary frame (1), which engagement receptacles (12) are in such a position as to coincide with the stroke of said lock bolts (21) between said two idle and operating lock positions,
at least one bolt displacement actuating mechanism (22) being provided and
at least one actuator (13) for moving said movable frame (2) from the open position to the closed position and vice versa,
said actuator (13) comprising a stationary case (134) in which a push/pull member (131) is mounted to be movable along a guide, a transmission being provided for transferring the motion for driving said push/pull member (131), for reciprocating displacement thereof between the two positions of extraction from the case (134) and retraction in the case (134), corresponding to the end open and end closed positions of the wing, and said push/pull member (131) being further coupled to the lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism (22) via a coupling terminal (132),
said lock bolt displacement actuating mechanism (22) being dynamically connected to said push/pull member (131) and driven by the actuator (13) for displacement of the bolt (21) the two operating and idle lock positions,
characterized in that
there are provided means for dynamic coupling of the push/pull member (131) to the actuator mechanism for displacing the lock bolt (22) and means for enabling/disabling the dynamic coupling of the push/pull member (131) to the actuator mechanism for displacing the bolts (22), which enabling/disabling means enable said dynamic coupling for driving the displacing actuator mechanism (22) during the start section and the end section of the stroke of extraction and retraction of the push/pull member (131) respectively, the length of these start and end sections of the extraction and retraction stroke, corresponding to the displacement stroke of the bolts (21) from the operating lock position to the idle local position and vice versa respectively.
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for dynamic coupling of the push/pull member (131) to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the lock bolts (22) and the means for enabling/disabling dynamic actuating coupling of the push/pull member to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the locks (22) are integrated in the terminal (132) for coupling the push/pull member (131) to the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for dynamic coupling of the push/pull member (131) to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the lock bolts (22) and the means for enabling/disabling dynamic actuation coupling of the push/pull member (131) to the actuator mechanism for displacement of the bolts (22) and at least part of a kinematic chain for transferring the motion of the actuator mechanism for displacement of the bolts are integrated in the terminal (132) for coupling the push/pull member (131) to the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said terminal (132) for coupling the push/pull member comprises
a case that is designed to be fixed to the movable frame (2) and has a slide guide for a slider (222) therein,
which guide (222) has such an orientation that the direction in which the slider (221) slides is substantially parallel to the direction of displacement of the push/pull member (131) at least in said start and end sections of the extraction and retraction strokes respectively,
which slider (221) is dynamically connected to the push/pull member (131),
at least one elastic element (223) being interposed between said slider (221) and said guide (222), for holding with a predetermined force said slider (221) in a limit stop position that corresponds to the limit stop position of extraction of the push/pull member (131),
said slider (221) being able to slide in said guide (222) in either direction according to the displacement of the push/pull member (131) relative to said guide (222) and the movable frame (2) and in a stationary state of said movable frame (2),
and said slider (221) being the dynamic starting element of the motion for driving the kinematic chain of the actuator mechanism for displacement of the bolts (22).
A system as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the end section and/or the start section of the stroke of the push/pull member (131), which correspond to the displacement stroke of the slider (221) are extensions of the extraction and retraction strokes of the push/pull member (131) for displacement of the movable frame (2) to a predetermined open limit stop position and to the closed limit stop position in which the movable frame (2) abuts against said stationary frame (1).
A system as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the slider (221) is the starting element of a transmission for converting a rectilinear motion, into at least one additional rectilinear exit motion, whose kinematic chain is fully integrated in the terminal (132) for coupling the push/pull member to the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slider (221) carries a rack (224) oriented in the sliding direction of the slider (221), for engagement of at least one actuating pinion (225) of a kinematic motion transferring chain, which ends with a pair of driving carriers for one or more bolts (21), each of which is carried by a rack of a pair of mutually facing racks, engaged on opposite sides of an ending pinion of said kinematic chain,
each of the bolt/s (21) being mounted to slide in a corresponding guide of the movable frame (2) on a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal end surface, external to said movable frame (2) on at least one side, the kinematic chain of the bolt displacement actuating mechanism (22) being integrated in the terminal for coupling the push/pull member (131) to the movable wing, whereas the bolt carrier means and the bolts (21) themselves have mating dynamic coupling means which mutually engage as the terminal is mounted to the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in one or more of said preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein the slider (221) is the starting element of a transmission that converts a rectilinear motion into at least one further rotary exit motion, whose kinematic chain is fully integrated in the terminal (132) for coupling the push/pull member to the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the slider (221) is coupled to a shaft (226),
which shaft (226) is mounted parallel to the sliding direction of the slider (221) and projects out of it on the side that faces toward the movable frame (2),
said shaft (226) being mounted so as to pivot about its axis by one end on the slider (221), and said shaft (226) having external threads for engagement in the internal threads of a threaded through hole formed in a stationary element (227), which is transverse to the sliding direction of the slider (221) and situated at the terminal end of the slider guide,
and which shaft (226) projects out of said transverse stationary element (227) toward the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the movable frame (2) has therein a transmission for converting the actuating motion from a rotary input motion to a translational motion for displacement of the lock bolt/s (21), which transmission includes a pivotal input element for the rotary motion, that has coupling means mating with coupling means of the shaft (226) carried by the slider,
said shaft (226) having at least one non-round coupling end which is press-fit engageable in a mating non-round axial hole of a pivotal input member of the transmission mounted in the movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein kinematic chain locking means (228) are provided, which are disabled in the condition in which the movable frame (2) abuts against the stationary frame (1) and are enabled during the action of displacement of the wing from the closed position to the open position and vice versa,
whereby enabling or disabling of said kinematic chain locking means (228) only allows displacement of the slider (221) in the start section and the end section of the stroke of the push/pull member (131) for extraction and retraction of the push/pull member (131) respectively.
A system as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein there are provided means for temporarily holding said movable frame (2) in the closed position, i.e. with said movable frame (2) abutting against the stationary frame (1), and means for enabling/disabling said temporary holding means for holding the two frames in a mutual abutting position, during the stroke of displacement of the bolts from the operating lock position of the movable frame (2) in the stationary frame (1) to the idle lock position,
said temporary holding means opposing a force equal to or higher than the compression/extension force exerted by said at least one elastic element (223) so that said movable frame (2) is held in the abutment position against the stationary frame (1) during displacement of the slider (221) against the action of the elastic elements (223) and to the idle lock state of said bolts (21), in which the latter are released from the engagement seats (12) in the stationary frame (1).
A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said temporary position holding means consist of a first part that cooperates with a corresponding second part, the first part being integral with and/or fixed to said actuator (13) and/or the stationary frame (1), and the second part being integral with and/or adapted to be fixed to said movable frame (2).
A system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein said first part consists of a tooth element (31), which tooth element (31) has an inclined face (311) and a steep face (312), which steep face forms a shoulder for abutment of a block (32), which block (32) forms said second part,
said tooth element (31) being movable from engagement to disengagement with said block (32) by said means for enabling/disabling the temporary holding means (3),
and said tooth element (31) being elastically biased into such engagement and/or disengagement position.
A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said means for temporary holding the closed position consist of at least one magnet and at least one ferromagnetic element cooperating with said magnet, or two magnets fixed in coincident positions on the movable frame (2) and the stationary frame (1).