AU2018200260A1 - Mechanism for the movement and locking of slats of a slat arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The invention concerns a mechanism for the moving and locking of slats of a slat arrangement, which are used in particular in building installations. The mechanism includes a coupling rod, which is arranged to be moved freely in liner 5 fashion. The rod is provided with a catch pin that is guided inside an angled slot of a lever that in turn is secured to a shaft which is positively coupled to the slat to be rotated. Linear movement of the coupling rod is transformed into a rotational movement of the slat. At the same time the design / configuration of the slot causes a locking action after the slat has been closed so that it cannot be opened from the 10 outside. Fig. 1 3 b 232H Fig. 1

Description

The invention concerns a mechanism for the moving and locking of slats of a slat arrangement, which are used in particular in building installations.

The mechanism includes a coupling rod, which is arranged to be moved freely in liner fashion. The rod is provided with a catch pin that is guided inside an angled slot of a lever that in turn is secured to a shaft which is positively coupled to the slat to be rotated. Linear movement of the coupling rod is transformed into a rotational movement of the slat. At the same time the design I configuration of the slot causes a locking action after the slat has been closed so that it cannot be opened from the outside.

Fig. 1

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2018200260 12 Jan 2018

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Mechanism for the movement and locking of slats of a slat arrangement

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns the configuration of a mechanism for moving and 5 locking of slats of a slat arrangement which are used in particular in building installations.

A. CROSS-REFERENCE TO EARLIER PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present patent application claims Paris Convention priority from German patent application DE 10 2017 100 659. The contents and disclosure of the specification of that patent application is incorporated herein by way of shorthand cross-reference.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Slat arrangements, otherwise known in Australia as shutters or blinds, are generally comprised of a plurality of rotatable or pivotable slats which can be moved back and forth by means of a movement or gear mechanism (or arrangement) between a closed and an open position. Depending on the size or function of the slat arrangement, it may be required to lock the same in the closed position. For example it is thus possible to decouple the movement mechanism and the drive mechanism from forces that are generated in the process of sealing the slat arrangement with sealing elements against which the slats have to be pressed. With a suitable locking means it is, moreover, possible to protect the slat arrangement from the direct effect of wind loads, or to effectively prevent a forced opening from the outside. For aesthetic reasons, and for protection from the environment and to prevent dirt buildup, the movement mechanism is preferably disposed inside the slat arrangement. It is thus necessary to keep the entire arrangement for moving and locking the slats as compact as possible.

A movement mechanism (or simply: movement), which incorporates a locking means and which is disposed within the frame of a slat arrangement, is disclosed in patent document DE 10 2009 005 594 B4. The movement consists of multiple levers on both sides of the slats. The levers are attached to the slat via two revolute joints and to the frame via another two revolute joints. A further respective revolute joint

2018200260 12 Jan 2018 connects the movement to a drive element, which is able to move in a linear manner inside the frame, and to two of the levers. The lengths of the levers and positioning of the revolute joints is chosen such as to enable a tilting and outwards movement of the slats during the opening and closing movement. In order to lock the slats in their closed position, one of the levers is provided with a hook-like end which, when closing the slat arrangement, engages with a bolt that is attached to the slat.

One disadvantage of this movement is the relatively complex configuration and lay-out which requires 12 revolute joints per slat. The greater the number of joints in such a design, the greater is the level of maintenance required.

Patent document GB 1396285 A discloses a manually operated movement for a slat arrangement, in this case a window louvre. The slats are provided on both sides with a short shaft each, through which the pivoting axis of the slats extends.

To facilitate the opening and closing of the slats, the shafts are pivotally supported in pivot bearings in the frame of the slat arrangement. In order to couple the rotational movement of the individual slats, the end of one of the shafts on one side of the slats is attached to two coupling rods that are able to move in an antiparallel manner. The coupling rods are moveably engaged with two pins that are oriented axially parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein said pins are attached to the respective shaft on both sides of the rotating axis. A plate with a slot-like cut-out is attached to one of the coupling rods between the pivot bearings of two adjacent slats. An operating lever with handle is pivotally attached in approximately the same position on the other coupling rod. On the side of the pivoting point opposite the handle, the operating lever is provided with a catch that engages with the slot-like cut-out in the plate. The catch is implemented as a rotatable roller on a bolt. As a result of the rotating motion of the operating lever, the coupling rods are moved antiparallel via the bearing of the operating lever and via the catch that is guided inside the cut-out. Said movement is transferred by means of the pins to the shafts, which causes all slats that are attached to the coupling rods to be moved around their axes of rotation.

To be able to lock the slats in their closed position, the otherwise linearly extending, slot-like cut-out is provided with an angled end. This is where the catch of the operating lever is located in the closed state of the slat arrangement. To provide the locking function, the angled end and the catch are positioned such in relation to

2018200260 12 Jan 2018 the pivoting point of the operating lever that the catch, prior to reaching the angled end, must pass an inversion point after which the operating lever is retained in the locked position through a force that is extended by the slats. The location of the inversion point is where the catch moves past an imagined connecting line that extends perpendicular to the movement vector of the coupling rods towards the pivoting point of the operating lever. The force that is extended by the slats is in this instance caused by the counter-pressure of the elastic sealing elements against which the slats are placed in the closed state. The inversion point can only be overcome by the manual rotating motion of the operating lever, which makes it impossible to open the slat arrangement from outside. The locking action would also work with a linearly extending cut-out, without the angled end. However, the angled end makes it possible to shorten the path of the operating lever that is required to achieve the locked position. One disadvantage is that after the inversion point has been passed, the force acting on the sealing elements in the closed position is reduced again, which may have a negative effect on the sealing effect of the slat arrangement.

Depending on the size of the slat arrangement, it may also be disadvantageous that only one movement is provided for the locking of slats which are coupled via the coupling rods. The sealing of the entire slat arrangement with the elastic sealing elements requires a certain contact pressure. The resulting motion resistance may cause a rather large mechanical load for the single movement mechanism or arrangement.

In the implemented principle of the movement, five revolute joints per slat are required to be able to transfer the rotational movement, wherein greater tolerances must be allowed for for the moveable connection between the coupling rods and the pins, which poses an additional difficulty for providing a reliable sealing of the slat arrangement.

Against this background, it would be advantageous to provide a movement and locking mechanism for slats of a slat arrangement (such as horizontal or vertical blinds, shutters or louvres for windows, doors and the like of a building) which is low in maintenance and consists of as few as possible and simple parts (components).

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a movement and locking mechanism for slats of a slat arrangement, comprising:

• a pivot bearing with an axis of rotation;

«a shaft disposed coaxially in the pivot bearing, with a first end-face pointing to a slat, and a second end-face;

• a connecting piece which is fixed on the first end-face of the shaft;

• a coupling element which is fixed on the second end-face of the shaft, and • means for the movement of the slat, comprising a coupling rod with which the slat may be moved, wherein the coupling rod is provided with a connection to the coupling element and to a catch arrangement which comprises a catch pin and a slot-like cut-out for accepting and guiding the catch pin, wherein the cutout is provided with an angled end disposed at an angle for locking the slat by means of the catch pin;

· wherein the coupling element is a lever which is attached with a fixed end nonrotatably to the second end-face of the shaft;

• wherein the cut-out is located in the lever;

• wherein the catch pin, which engages in the cut-out at the lever, is disposed on the coupling rod and the coupling rod is guided linearly along its axis;

· and wherein the cut-out is comprised of a straight first leg and a straight second leg angled to each other at an apex of the angle, wherein the first leg, which points to the fixed end of the lever, is disposed in radial direction to the axis of rotation, and the second leg, which points to a free end of the lever, extends parallel to the axis of the coupling rod as long as the catch pin is moved between an upper end-position and the apex of the angle.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a mechanism as per the first aspect, for a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats, the mechanism comprising a plurality of said levers, a plurality of said catch pins and two said coupling rods, the arrangement of levers, catch pins and coupling rods being such that each slat is connected at its longitudinally opposite ends via one said lever and one said catch pin to the respective one of the coupling rods located adjacent the respective opposite end of the slats.

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

Advantageously, the mechanism of the second aspect can comprise a liner drive, wherein the two coupling rods are connected to the linear drive via corner drive assemblies such that both coupling rods can be moved simultaneously via the linear drive between opposite linear movement end-positions.

In yet a further aspect, the present invention provides a slats installation, comprising a frame member, a plurality of slats supported within the frame in spacedapart, parallel arrangement for rotation between an open and a closed position, and a mechanism for the movement and locking of the slats according to first or second aspect, mounted to the frame.

Other aspects and preferred features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment provided with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a first perspective view of the a basic lay-out I configuration of a movement and locking mechanism of slats of a slat arrangement in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a second perspective view of the movement and locking mechanism of figure 1, from a side opposite that of the first view; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view analogous to figure 1 of the movement and locking mechanism, omitting the frame of the slats arrangement.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The arrangement (or mechanism) for movement and locking of slats of a slat arrangement comprises, according to Fig. 1, a pivot bearing 1 with an axis of rotation

10. The pivot bearing 1 has the shape of a cylindrical sleeve which is fixed to a frame 11 (shown only partially in the Figures) of the not-depicted slat arrangement, the frame providing the support structure for the entire slat arrangement.

At pivot bearing 1 is received a shaft 2 for rotation about axis of rotation 10.

The shaft 2 is provided with a first end-face 21 and a second end-face 22. The first end-face 21 faces a slat 7 (depicted in the Figures by a dotted line) of the slat

2018200260 12 Jan 2018 arrangement. A connecting piece 3 is non-rotatably attached to the first end-face 21. The connecting piece 3 is a parallelepiped-shaped body with which an interlocking and frictional connection to slat 7 can be established. The second end-face 22 of shaft 2 is provided with a coaxially-disposed profile extension 23 to provide an interlocking and frictional connection to a coupling element.

The coupling element is attached to the second end-face 22 of the shaft 2. The coupling element is provided in form of a lever 4 made from a strip-like, flat material that comprises a fixed end 41 and a moveable end 42. The lever 4 is disposed flat against the second end-face 22 with its fixed end 41, and is non10 rotatably attached to shaft 2 through an interlocking connection with the profile extension 23.

Disposed at the moveable end 42 is a slot-like cut-out 43 that extends through the lever 4 in the direction of the axis of rotation 10. The cut-out 43 has a constant width b. Along its length, the cut-out 43 is angled to include angle a. At apex S of the angle a the cut-out 43 is ‘split’ into a straight first leg 44 and a straight second leg 45. In other words, the two straight Iegs44, 45 join each other at an angle a. The first leg 44, which extends from the apex S to the fixed end 41, is disposed in radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 10. The second leg 45, which extends from the apex S to the moveable end 42, extends as a passant with respect to the axis of rotation 10, wherein said second leg 45 is oriented such that it changes from the radial direction, as per the depiction in Fig. 1, at the angle a in clockwise direction.

A cylindrical catch pin 5 is disposed axially parallel to the axis of rotation 10 that engages in the cut-out 43. It is provided with a slightly smaller diameter than the width b of the cut-out 43 so that it is able to move inside the slot-like cut-out 43 with little play.

The catch pin 5 is solidly attached to a catch pin retainer 51. The catch pin retainer 51 is a parallelepiped-shaped body that is adjustably attached to a coupling rod 6.

The coupling rod 6 is disposed with its axis along the frame 11, orthogonal to 30 the axis of rotation 10 and at an axial distance to the axis of rotation 10. The coupling rod 6 has a circular cross-section and is linearly moveably supported along its axis at two slide bearings 61. The slide bearings 61 are disposed along the coupling rod 6,

2018200260 12 Jan 2018 symmetrical at both sides of the pivot bearing 1, and are solidly connected to the frame 11.

The catch pin retainer 51, which supports the catch pin 5, is located on the coupling rod 6 between the pivot bearings. To facilitate this, the catch pin retainer 51 is provided with a through-hole with which it is slid onto the coupling rod 6. The attachment of the catch pin retainer 51 on the coupling rod 6 is detachable by means of grub screws 52, which are screwed in in radial direction to the coupling rod.

To carry out a controlled movement of the slat 7 between an opened and a closed and locked state, the coupling rod 6 is attached to a linear actuator 8. Suitable linear actuators 8 are known from prior art and are not described here any further. The linear actuator 8 is used to linearly move the coupling rod 6 inside the slide bearings 61.

Figures 1 to 3 depict the design of a vertically oriented slat arrangement (not shown) in the closed and locked state. In the closed state, the coupling rod 6 is located at an upper end-position O. In the upper end-position O, the catch pin 5 is disposed above an imaginary horizontal line H through the axis of rotation 10 of the pivot bearing 1 and is located inside the second leg 45.

Considering the forces required to move the slat 7, as well as considering the requirement for keeping the arrangement as small as possible for integration into the frame 11 of the slat arrangement, the axial distance between the axis of rotation 10 and the coupling rod 6 and thus also the lever 4 are designed to be as small as possible. In the closed state, the lever 4 is at an approximate angle of 45° relative to the imaginary horizontal line H.

The angle a and a radius r of the apex S to the axis of rotation 10 are matched to each other. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the chosen value of the radius r = 45 mm and the value of the angle a = 45°. Other values for the radius r and the angle a are possible within the range of the angle a from >0° to <90°; whereby taking account of the above-stated requirements and of the usual opening angles of slats of a slat arrangement, only angles in the range between 30° and 60° are meaningful. The values for the angle a should be chosen such that the second leg 45 extends parallel to the coupling rod 6 in the closed state. Due to the shape of this path, the slat 7 is locked against opening from the outside.

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

If an attempt is made to twist the slat 7 through an external force, said force is transferred from shaft 2 via the lever 4 to the catch pin 5. The torque acting on the catch pin 5 is directed almost perpendicular to the extension of the coupling rod 6 due to the orientation of the second leg 45. The applied force is transferred via the catch pin retainer 51 and the coupling rod 6 radially to the slide bearings 61 and into the frame 11. A portion of the force that acts in axial direction on the coupling rod 6 is so negligibly small, if it exists at all, that it is not possible to transfer the force acting from outside to the slat 7 and onto the coupling rod 6. Thus the linear actuator 8 that is attached to the coupling rod 6 does not require high retaining forces, which means that it may be designed as a correspondingly small and low-cost item.

In the controlled movement during opening of the slat 7, the coupling rod 6 is moved downwards from the upper end-position O. Following the coupling rod 6, the catch pin 5 is moved downwards inside the second leg 45. The displacement inside the straight second leg 45 takes place without overcoming any force, as it is generated, for example, at the apex by the slats 7 known from the prior art. Since the second leg 45 extends parallel to the coupling rod 6, the displacement inside the second leg 45 does initially not cause a movement of the slat 7. Once the catch pin 5 reaches the first leg 44 at the apex S, as shown in Fig. 3, the displacement of the catch pin 5 inside cut-out 43 is continued inside the first leg 44. Due to the angle a with which the second leg 45 deviates from the radial track of the first leg 44, the catch pin 5 impacts on the wall of the cut-out 43 in the first leg 44. This causes the lever 4 to be moved together with the catch pin 5 so that the shaft 2 is made to rotate around the axis of rotation 10 and the slat 7 is opened.

The controlled movement of the slat 7 may be continued until the lower end25 position U of the coupling rod 6 is reached. In the lower end-position U, the slat 7 is in the open state. The locations of the upper and lower end-positions O and U depend on the desired location of the slat 7 in the open and closed state and will be determined by the configuration of the linear actuator 8.

It is possible for the catch pin 5 to reach the lower end-position U to move past the imaginary horizontal line H. When moving past the horizontal line H, the catch pin 5 comes tangentially closer to the axis of rotation 10. The distance a between the axis of rotation 10 and the end of the first leg 44 is therefore chosen such that the first leg 44 does not limit the tangential approach.

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

Each of the Figures 1 to 3 only shows one arrangement for the movement and locking of one slat 7. It is understood that in a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats 7, each slat 7 is connected with one lever 4, one catch pin retainer 51 and one catch pin 5 to the coupling rod 6. Multiple slide bearings 61 are provided to facilitate the linearly moveable support of the coupling rod 6. The number of slide (ie friction) bearings 61 corresponds at least to the number of slats 7, wherein the slide bearings 61 are disposed symmetrically between the pivot bearings 10 of the slats 7. All slats 7 of the slat arrangement are moved collectively due by propelling of the coupling rod

6.

A further embodiment (not shown) for a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats 7 foresees that every slat 7 is fitted on its lengthwise opposite ends with an arrangement for moving and locking according to the Figures 1 to 3. The two coupling rods 6 are then redirected in the lower or upper section of the slat arrangement and moved via a single, horizontally disposed linear actuator.

In a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats 7, the advantages of the detachable fixing of the catch pin retainer 51 to the coupling rod 6 become apparent because it makes the independent adjustment of the individual slats 7 possible.

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2018200260 12 Jan 2018

List of reference numbers
	1	Pivot bearing
	10	Axis of rotation
5	11	Frame
	2	Shaft
	21	First end-face
	22	Second end-face
	23	Profile extension
10	3	Connecting piece
	4	Lever
	41	Fixed end
	42	Moveable end
	43	Cut-out
15	44	First leg
	45	Second leg
	5	Catch pin
	51	Catch pin retainer
	52	Grub screw
20	6	Coupling rod
	61	Slide bearing
	7	Slat
	8	Linear actuator
	H	Horizontal line
25	0	Upper end-position
	S	Apex of angle
	U	Lower end-position
	a	Angle
	a	Distance between axis of rotation and first leg
30	b	Width
	r	Radius of apex S to axis of rotation

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

Claims (3)

Claims

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2018200260 12 Jan 2018

1. A mechanism for the movement and locking of slats of a slat arrangement, comprising

- a pivot bearing having an axis of rotation;

5 - a shaft disposed coaxially in the pivot bearing, having a first end-face oriented towards a slat and a second end-face;

- a connecting piece fixed at the first end-face of the shaft;

- a coupling element fixed at the second end-face of the shaft; and

- means for the movement of the slat, comprising a coupling rod by way of

10 which the slat may be moved, wherein the coupling rod is provided with a connection to the coupling element and to a catch arrangement, wherein the catch arrangement comprises a catch pin and a slot-like cut-out for accepting and guiding the catch pin, the cut-out having an angled end at an angle (a) for the purpose of locking the slat by means of the catch pin;

15 - wherein the coupling element is a lever which is attached with a fixed end non-rotatably to the second end-face of the shaft;

- wherein the slot-like cut-out is disposed at the lever and is comprised of a first and a second straight leg, the first and second legs meeting at an apex of the angle (a), wherein the first leg, which points to the fixed end of the

20 lever, is disposed radially to the axis of rotation, and the second leg, which points to a moveable end of the lever, is disposed parallel to the coupling rod when the slat is in a closed position;

- wherein the catch pin is arranged at the coupling rod and guided in the cutout of the lever, and

25 - wherein the coupling rod is moveably guided in a linear manner along a longitudinal axis thereof.

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Fig. 2

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the angle (a) has a value in a range between >0° and <90°.

3. A mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the angle (a) has a value in a range between 30° and 60°.

2018200260 12 Jan 2018

4. A mechanism according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a radius between the apex and the axis of rotation is greater than a minimal distance between the catch pin and the axis of rotation.

5 5. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a distance between the axis of rotation and the first leg of the lever is smaller than the smallest distance between the catch pin and the axis of rotation.

6. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a catch pin retainer

10 for the adjustable attachment of the catch pin on the coupling rod is disposed between the coupling rod and the catch pin.

7. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein glide bearings for the linear guidance of the coupling rod are disposed symmetrically with respect to

15 the pivot bearings.

8. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, for a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats, the mechanism comprises a plurality of said levers and said catch pins, the arrangement of levers and catch pins being such

20 that each slat is connected via one said lever and one said catch pin to the coupling rod.

9. A mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, for a slat arrangement with a plurality of slats, the mechanism comprises a plurality of said

25 levers, a plurality of said catch pins and two said coupling rods, the arrangement of levers, catch pins and coupling rods being such that each slat is connected at its longitudinally opposite ends via one said lever and one said catch pin to the respective one of the coupling rods located adjacent the respective opposite end of the slats.

10. The mechanism according to claim 9, further comprising a liner drive, and wherein the two coupling rods are connected to the linear drive via corner drive

2018200260 12 Jan 2018 assemblies such that both coupling rods can be moved simultaneously via the linear drive between opposite linear movement end-positions.

11. A slats installation, comprising a frame member, a plurality of slats supported 5 within the frame in spaced-apart, parallel arrangement for rotation between an open and a closed position, and a mechanism for the movement and locking of the slats according to one of claims 8, 9 or 10 mounted to the frame.

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Fig. 3