EP0507828A1

EP0507828A1 - Flexible panel tensioning device.

Info

Publication number: EP0507828A1
Application number: EP91901828A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Michel Fouquet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-27
Filing date: 1991-07-25
Publication date: 1992-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 2010-12-26
Also published as: FR2656370B1; EP0507828B1; CA2072085A1; WO1991010036A1; AU7054691A; DE69008193D1; FR2656370A1

Abstract

Le dispositif de maintien sous tension d'un panneau souple mobile (1), notamment un vélum de store, dont une extrémité est reliée à un tambour d'enroulement (2) et dont l'extrémité opposée est reliée à au moins un lien de traction souple (9), chaque lien de traction étant relié à un organe de tension (8) de manière à solliciter constamment le panneau souple (1) dans le sens de déroulement de celui-ci à l'encontre de l'action de moyens d'enroulement du panneau reliés au tambour d'enroulement (2). L'organe de tension (8) est relié au lien de traction (9) par l'intermédiaire d'un coulisseau (15) monté déplaçable en translation dans une glissière et il comporte en outre des moyens de blocage en rotation du coulisseau constitués par des nervures délimitant ladite glissière.The device for holding under tension a movable flexible panel (1), in particular a blind canopy, one end of which is connected to a winding drum (2) and the opposite end of which is connected to at least one flexible traction (9), each traction link being connected to a tension member (8) so as to constantly urge the flexible panel (1) in the direction of unwinding of the latter against the action of means winding of the panel connected to the winding drum (2). The tension member (8) is connected to the traction link (9) by means of a slider (15) mounted movable in translation in a slideway and it further comprises means for locking the slider in rotation consisting of ribs delimiting said slide.

Description

Device for keeping a flexible panel under tension

The invention relates to a device for keeping a mobile flexible panel under tension for indoor or outdoor use, such as a blind awning or a protective fabric for a vertical, horizontal or inclined surface. This flexible flexible panel is intended to protect canopies, pergolas, terraces, balconies, greenhouses, etc.

Such a device is known for keeping a blind awning under tension, one of the ends of which is under tension. fixed to a winding drum connected to means for driving the latter in rotation, and its opposite end is fixed to a hollow load bar. This tensioning device comprises a tensioning member in the form of a helical tension spring arranged inside the load bar. Each end of the spring is integral with a first return pulley of a flexible traction link constituted by a respective cable extending on either side of the load bar. One end of each cable is fixed inside the load bar at a point near the corresponding end thereof. The cable first passes over the first corresponding pulley fixed to the spring to be deflected by it towards the corresponding end of the load bar to which is attached a second return pulley which deflects the cable by approximately 90º towards the low. The cable is returned one last time upwards by a third pulley. The opposite end of the cable is finally fixed to a respective winding flange secured to the winding drum of the awning awning.

The cable is fixed in the groove of the flange so as to wind on it in the opposite direction to the direction of winding of the panel. on the drum so that the cable is wound on the flange when the panel is unwound from the drum.

During the unwinding of the awning awning of the drum, the differences in speeds of the unwinding of the awning and of the simultaneous winding of the cable are compensated for by the tension spring which undergoes retraction and then expansion while moving said first pulleys which are fixed. at its ends.

An approximately constant tension is thus obtained in the flexible panel during the unwinding and winding of it!

Each cable can possibly be attached directly to the tension member, but in this case there is no reduction in the cable travel, which has a drawback for the dimensioning of the spring which is in this case exposed to a retraction and expansion twice as large as in the case described above.

As a variant, the helical tension spring can be arranged above the winding drum so as to extend parallel to it. In this case, one end of each cable is fixed near one of the corresponding ends of the load bar. The cable first extends downwards in order to pass over a first pulley which deflects it by approximately 180º. The cable passes over a second pulley placed above the winding drum in order to be deflected by about 90º towards the spring and. it is then deflected by approximately 180º by passing over a pulley fixed to the corresponding end of the spring so as to describe a loop. The cable is then diverted for the last time by approximately 90º on a third pulleys me to wind on a flange secured to the winding drum of the flexible panel.

It is also possible to use a separate tension member for each cable, arranged, of. each longitudinal side of the flexible panel.

Another device is also known for keeping a flexible flexible panel under tension, comprising a pair of helical tension springs arranged on either side of a flexible and extending panel. parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. One end of each spring is fixed in a structure framing the surface which must be covered by the flexible panel and its opposite end carries a first deflection pulley over which passes a traction cable. One end of the traction cable is fixed in said structure below the spring and is deflected by about 180º by said pulley fixed to the spring so as to pass over a second pulley which deflects it again by about 180º towards a load bar to which its other end is fixed in order to bias it down.

The problem encountered in all the known devices described above is posed by the fact that a tension spring naturally tends during its extension to rotate on its longitudinal axis. The deflection pulleys attached to the ends of the spring will thus change planes, oscillating around their axis until making one or two turns and thereby causing the cable parts which form a loop to cross when the cable is returned by the corresponding pulley fixed to the spring. Contact between crossing cable parts creates friction between them, which can cause blockage complete or even a short-term break.

The same problem is encountered in the case where one of the ends of each cable is fixed directly to one of the ends of a tension spring. This is due to the fact that a cable consists of twisted strands and thus also has a tendency to twist naturally during the extension and retraction of the spring which forms knots and loops causing wear and therefore breakage. of the cable.

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing a device for keeping a flexible panel under tension, in which the parts of each cable connected to a tension member are always kept in the same plane in order to prevent crossing. of cable parts or the twisting thereof around its own axis.

The subject of the invention is a device for keeping a movable flexible panel under tension, in particular a blind awning, one end of which is connected to a winding drum and the opposite end of which is connected to at least one connection link. flexible traction, each traction link being connected to a tension member so as to constantly urge the flexible panel in the direction of unwinding thereof against the action of winding means of the panel, characterized in that the tension member is connected to the traction link by means of a slide mounted displaceable in translation in a slide, and in that it comprises means for blocking the slide in rotation.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a schematic sectional view longitudinal of a blind comprising a hollow load bar in which is mounted a device according to the invention; Fig.2 is a cross section of the load bar along the line of 2-2 in Fig.1; Fig.3 is a schematic view of a longitudinal section of one half of a blind comprising a lateral profile in which is mounted a device according to the invention; - Fig.4 is a partial view in longitudinal section of a side profile of the blind in which is mounted a device according to the invention comprising several slides guided and connected together by a cable; and - Fig .5 is a schematic partial view of a longitudinal section of a blind covering a triangular surface and comprising a lateral profile in which is mounted a device according to the invention. Fig. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a device according to the invention for maintaining under tension a movable flexible panel constituted by a blind awning 1. One end of the awning 1 is fixed to a winding drum 2 and its opposite end is fixed to a hollow load bar 3, for example by fitting into a longitudinal groove 4 (FIG. 2) provided in said load bar, by means of a bar 5.

The winding drum 2 is rotatably mounted and is rotated in both directions by an electric motor, not shown, whose shaft can be immobilized in a desired angular position. This motor can advantageously be integrated into the drum. The winding drum 2 can also be operated by any suitable means such as a simple crank combined with a ratchet device allowing the locking of the drum in a desired angular position. The blind 1 advantageously comprises a pair of hollow uprights 6 constituted by profiles arranged on either side of the load bar. This load bar 3 is guided during its movement, along the uprights 6 for example by longitudinal slots 7 formed therein.

The velum tensioning device 1 is composed of two symmetrical halves A and B arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis CC of the velum and connected together by a tension member 8 constituted for example by a helical tension spring extending inside the hollow load bar 3.

Each half A and B of the tensioning device comprises a flexible traction link in the form of a cable 9, one of the ends of which is fixed to a winding flange 10 disposed at a respective end of the winding drum 2 and integral in rotation of it.

The direction of winding of the cable 9 on the flange 10 is reversed with respect to the direction of winding of the velum 1 on the winding drum 2.

Starting from the flange 10, the cable 9 extends in the corresponding upright 6 in order to pass over a first deflection pulley 12 whose axis is integral with the upright and defining the maximum unwinding of the velum. The cable 9 is deflected by about 180º by the first deflection pulley 12 in order to pass over a second deflection pulley 13 mounted at the corresponding end of the load bar 3. The cable 9 is therefore deviated by about 90º towards the center of the load bar 3, deviated one last time by about 180º by a third pulley 14 disposed inside the load bar 3. The cable 9 is. finally, fixed inside said load bar, near the second return pulley 13.

The third pulley 14 is mounted in a corresponding slider 15, of a pair of sliders mounted movable in translation inside the load bar 9. This third pulley 14 is housed in a central recess 16 (Fig.2) formed at the corresponding end of the slide 15. The opposite end of the slide 15 is connected to the spring 8 so that each end of the spring 8 is connected to a respective half A, B of the tensioning device.

The inner surface of the load bar 3 comprises longitudinal ribs 17 delimiting a slide 17a in which are guided parts forming longitudinal projections 18 formed over at least part of the length of the slide 15 Each slide 15 can naturally be guided in a slide respective extending only over part of the length of the load bar 3. The longitudinal internal ribs 17 of the load bar 3 constitute means for blocking the slide 15 in rotation against a tangential force developed by the spring 8 during the extension and retraction thereof.

These means for blocking the rotation of the slide 15 can also have any shape at least partially, complementary in a cross section and extending over the entire length of the slide or only over part of it. Thus the load bar 3 can for example have an oval cross section complementary to the cross section of a slide that is also oval.

The means for blocking the slide 15 in rotation can be constituted by the axis 14a which in this case projects radially on either side of the slide 15 in order to cooperate with grooves formed in the slide, that is to say say in the wall of the load bar 3. The slides 17a. may alternatively be provided in a profile disposed above the winding drum 2, but this solution is. obviously more cumbersome. The slides can also be arranged inside a fixed tubular element placed in the winding drum of the velum and connected to the latter by bearings. The ends of the tubular member are fixed to supports of the winding drum.

The tensioning device according to this first embodiment operates as follows from the wound state of the velum 1 on the drum 2.

In its rest state the load bar 3 is constantly stressed in the direction of unwinding of the velum 1 by the tensile force of the spring 8 transmitted to the bar by the cables 9 while being held in place by the force exerted by the means for winding the velum. When the drum 2 is rotated in the direction of unwinding of the velum 1 the bar. load 3 begins to move along the slots 7 of the uprights 6 so as to deploy the awning while keeping it taut.

The cables 9 are simultaneously wound on the flanges 10. At the start of this rotation of the drum 2 with the flanges 10, the peripheral speed or unwinding of the velum 1 is greater than the peripheral or winding speed of the cables 9 on the flanges 10.

The cables 9 thus tend to take slack, which has the effect that the sliders 15 move towards the center of the load bar 3, under the action of the tension spring 8 which retracts.

The winding speed of the velum 1 will then decrease compared to the winding speed of the cables 9 as the velum 1 is. unwound and the cables 9 are wound and we thus arrive at a point where the winding speed of the velum 1 becomes lower than the winding speed of the cable 9. These speed differences are thus taken up and compensated by the spring which undergoes a retraction and then an expansion. During the unwinding of the velum 1, these sliders 15 move in an alternating movement along the slide formed by the grooves 17 of the load bar, first towards the center and then towards the ends of the latter while being blocked in rotation and keeping the pulleys 14 in the same plane thanks to the partially complementary shapes of the slides 15 and of the internal surface of the load bar 3. When winding the velum 1, the slides 15 are moved in the same way, first towards the ends of the load bar and then towards the center of it.

Fig.3 schematically illustrates another embodiment of the invention. Since this tensioning device is made up of two symmetrical halves, the description in Fig.3 is limited to one of them.

The tensioning device maintains in ten permanent awning awning 19 whose one end is. connected to a winding drum 20 and its opposite end is connected to a load bar 21. The ends of the load bar 21 are guided in slots 22 formed in hollow uprights 23 arranged on either side. on the other side of the load bar.

The load bar 21 is at each of its ends connected to a flexible traction link in the form of a cable 24 which constantly biases said load bar in the direction of movement of the awning 19. The blind also includes immobilization means , not shown, of the winding drum 20 so that the awning is always tensioned in a desired position.

The cable 24 extends inside the upright 23 and passes over a first deflection pulley 25 which deflects it by approximately 180º. Then the cable 24 passes over a second pulley 26 which deflects it again by about 180º towards a fixing point 27 inside the upright.

The second return pulley 26 is mounted at one end of a slide 28 mounted displaceable in a longitudinal slide 29 formed in the upright 23. The opposite end of the slide 28 is connected to a tension member in the form of a helical spring 30 extending in the upright 23 and having its opposite end fixed thereto. The device operates as follows. The tension of the spring 30 is maximum when the load bar 21 is in its upper position. The displacement of said load bar downwards means that a corresponding length of cable is returned upwards by the first pulley 25, which in turn causes the slide 28 to move upwards under the action of the spring 30.

The spring 30 is. dimensioned so that it continues to develop a certain tensile force on the slide 28 when the load bar 21 has reached its lower position.

The second pulley 26 carried by the. slide remains during the movement thereof always in the same plane thanks to the means of locking in rotation of the slide which are similar to those described with reference to Fig.2.

A greater reduction can be obtained by replacing the first and second pulleys with a respective set of juxtaposed and coaxial pulleys, which is necessary for a very large reach of the velum.

Fig.4 shows schematically another embodiment of the invention allowing a reduction in the travel of a cable 31 which has one of its ends connected to a load bar 32 of a velum. blind 19. The device comprises several tensioning members 33 in the form of helical tension springs extending in a hollow upright 34 provided with a slot 35 in which the end of the load bar 32 is guided.

One of the ends of each spring 33 is fixed to the upright 34 and its opposite end is fixed to a respective slider 36. The sliders 36 are mounted movable in translation in slides 37 formed by longitudinal grooves formed in the upright 34. Each slide carries at its opposite end a return pulley 38. The slides are arranged in pairs in the glis sieres 37 so that their respective pulleys are facing each other. Fig.4 shows two pairs of slides, the respective pulleys of which are connected to each other by the cable 31, one end of which is fixed inside the upright 34. If a greater reduction is desired, a slide can still be provided in the amount with another pair of. similar slides.

Fig.5 shows a triangular structure composed of three sections 39, 40, 41 interconnected. The space delimited by the profiles can be covered by a flexible flexible panel in the form of a blind awning 42, also of triangular shape. The awning awning 42 is by its base fixed to a winding drum 43 fixed to one of the profiles and arranged so as to extend parallel to the latter.

The triangular velum 42 can be wound on the winding drum 43 and unwound therefrom using an electric motor, not shown, which can advantageously be integrated into the winding drum 43.

The top of the velum is directed towards the opposite corner of the structure and is connected to a device for tensioning the velum by a flexible link in the form of a cable 44.

The cable extends through an opening 45 formed in the angle between the two sections 39, 41 which form the top of the structure and is then deflected towards the inside of one of these sections by a first return pulley 46, the axis of which is fixed to the structure near the opening 45. The cable 44 then passes over a second return pulley 47 disposed in the section 39 and which returns it in the direction of the first pulley 46. The cable 44 is finally fixed inside the same profile.

The second pulley is mounted at one end of a slide 48 mounted displaceable in a slide 49 formed in the profile 39 and which comprises means for blocking the rotation of the slide similar to those described with reference to Fig.2. The opposite end of the slide 48 is connected to a tension member constituted by a helical tension spring 50, the other end of which is. fixed in profile 39.

During the unwinding of the triangular velum 42 by the rotation of the winding drum 43, a length of cable is pulled through the opening 45 and returned by the pulleys 46, 47, at the same time as the slider 48 is moved towards the base of the structure under the action of the spring 50 while being locked in rotation in the manner already described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The tension members of the various embodiments can be constituted by devices, for example hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, gas or others.

The slide can also be provided in a prefabricated profile which is then mounted in a load bar or in another profile forming part of a structure surrounding the surface intended to be covered by the flexible panel.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Device for keeping a movable flexible panel under tension (1; 19; 42), in particular a blind awning, one end of which is connected to a winding drum (2; 20; 43) and the opposite end is connected to at least one flexible traction link (9; 24; 31; 44), each traction link being connected to at least one tensioning member (8; 30;

33; 50) so as to constantly urge the flexible panel (1; 19; 42) in the direction of unwinding thereof against the action of winding means of the panel connected to the winding drum (2; 20; 43), characterized in that the tension member (8; 30; 33; 50) is connected to the traction link (9; 24; 31; 44) by means of a slide (15; 28 ; 36; 48) mounted displaceable in translation in a slide (17a; 29; 37; 49) and in that it comprises means for locking in rotation

(17) of the slide (15; 28; 36; 48).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for blocking the rotation of the slide (15; 28; 36; 48) are constituted by longitudinal ribs (17) formed in the slide (17a.; 29; 37; 49) and. arranged to cooperate with protruding parts

(18) over at least part of the length of the slide (15; 28; 36; 48).

3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide (15; 28; 36; 48) is, at one of its ends, provided with a central axial recess 16 in which is housed a return pulley (14; 26; 38; 47) of the traction link (9; 24; 31; 44) in order to provide a reduction thereof.

4. Device according to claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the means for locking in rotation of the slide (15; 28; 36; 48) are constituted by the axis (14a) of the return pulley (14) carried by the slide, said axis (14a) projecting radially, on either side of the slide in order to cooperate with grooves formed in the slide.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, composed of two symmetrical halves (A, B) for keeping the flexible panel (1) symmetrical under tension and arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis (CC) of the flexible panel 1, each half (A, B) comprising a flexible traction link (9) connected to the panel via a load bar (3) fixed to said opposite end thereof, characterized in that 'It comprises at least one pair of slides (15) connected to each other by the tension member (8) and arranged in respective slides (17a).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the slides (17a) are provided in the load bar (3).

7. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the slides (17a) are formed in a profile disposed above the winding drum (2).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the corresponding slide (17a.; 29; 37; 49)) is formed in at least one profile (6; 23; 34; 39) arranged laterally relative to the winding drum (2; 20; 43).

9. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, composed of two symmetrical halves (A, B) for keeping the flexible panel under tension and arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis (CC) of the flexible panel (19), each half comprising a link of flexible traction (24) connected to the panel (19) by means of a load bar (21) fixed to said opposite end thereof, characterized in that each half comprises at least one slide (28) displaceable in a slide (29) formed in a profile (23) disposed on a respective side of the load bar (21).

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several pairs of slides (36) arranged in parallel slides (37) and in that the slides (36) are interconnected by the link flexible traction (31).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that each slide is connected to one end of the respective tension member (33).