EP0507828B1 - Flexible panel tensioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for tensioning a movable flexible panel (1), particularly the canopy of a shade, of which one end is connected to a reel (2), the other end being connected to at least one flexible pulling tie (9), each of these ties being linked to a tensioning element (8) so that the flexible panel (1) is continuously under stress in the direction in which it unwinds and thus counters the action of a winding device connected to the reel (2). The tensioning element (8) is connected to the pulling tie (9) via a translatably movable slide (15) mounted in a slide channel, and further comprises a device for rotatably locking the slide and consisting of ribs which define said slide channel.

Description

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

We know, from European patent application EP-A-0 208 103, such a device for keeping a blind awning under tension, one end of which is fixed to a winding drum connected to means of rotational drive thereof, 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 and is connected to a slide on which is fixed one of the ends of a cable which passes from 'first on a first pulley about 90 ° down. The cable being returned one last time upwards by a second 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 displacing 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 the latter.

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 downward in order to pass over a first pulley which deflects it by approximately 180 °. The cable passes over a second pulley arranged above the winding drum in order to be deflected by approximately 90 ° towards the spring and it is then deflected by approximately 180 ° passing over a pulley fixed at the corresponding end. spring so as to describe a loop. The cable is then deflected one last time by approximately 90 ° to a third pulley 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 on each longitudinal side of the flexible panel.

Another device is also known for keeping a mobile flexible panel under tension, comprising a pair of helical tension springs disposed on either side of a flexible panel and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof. this. One of the ends 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 approximately 180 ° by said pulley fixed to the spring so as to pass over a second pulley which deflects it again by approximately 180 ° 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 return pulleys fixed 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 according to claim 1.

• la Fig.1 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'un store comportant une barre de charge creuse dans laquelle est monté un dispositif suivant l'invention ;
• la Fig.2 est une coupe transversale de la barre de charge suivant la ligne de 2-2 de la Fig.1 ;
• la Fig.3 est une vue schématique d'une coupe longitudinale d'une moitié d'un store comportant un profilé latéral dans lequel est monté un dispositif suivant l'invention ;
• la Fig.4 est une vue partielle en coupe longitudinale d'un profilé latéral de store dans lequel est monté un dispositif suivant l'invention comportant plusieurs coulisseaux guidés et reliés entre eux par un câble ; et
• la Fig.5 est une vue partielle schématique d'une coupe longitudinale d'un store recouvrant une surface triangulaire et comportant un profilé latéral dans lequel est monté un dispositif suivant l'invention.

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 partial schematic 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 keeping a movable flexible panel under tension 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 approximately 180 ° 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 deflected by approximately 90 ° towards the center of the load bar 3, deflected one last time by approximately 180 ° by a third pulley 14 disposed inside the load bar 3. The cable 9 is finally fixed at 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 has longitudinal ribs 17 delimiting a slide 17 a 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 respective slide 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 of the latter.

These means for blocking the slide 15 in rotation can also have any shape that is 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 rotation of the slide 15 can be constituted by the axis 14 a 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 17 a can alternatively be formed in a profile disposed above the winding drum 2, but this solution is obviously more bulky. 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 of winding of the velum. When the drum 2 is rotated in the direction of unwinding of the velum 1 the load bar 3 begins to move along the slots 7 of the uprights 6 so as to deploy the velum 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 up 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 speed of unwinding of the velum 1 will then decrease compared to the speed of winding of the cables 9 as the velum 1 is unwound and the cables 9 are wound and thus we arrive at a point where the speed d 'winding of the velum 1 becomes lower than the winding speed of the cable 9. These speed differences are thus taken up and compensated for by the spring which undergoes a retraction and then an expansion. During the unrolling 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.

Tension device maintains tension permanent awning awning 19 one end of which 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 disposed on either 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 return pulley 25 which deflects it by approximately 180 °. Then the cable 24 passes over a second pulley 26 which deflects it again by about 180 ° to 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 of the latter 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 schematically shows 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 blind awning 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 slides 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 upright 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 in 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 the 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 (11)

1. Device for tensioning a movable flexible panel (1 ; 19 ; 42), especially a canopy of a shade, one end of which is connected to a reel (2 ; 20 ; 43) and whose other end is connected to at least one flexible pulling tie (9 ; 24 ; 31 ; 44), each pulling tie being connected to at least one tensioning element (8 ; 30 ; 33 ; 50) so as to constantly pull flexible panel (1; 19 ; 42) in the unrolling direction of the latter against the action of rolling devices of the panel connected to reel (2 ; 20 ; 43), the tensioning element (8 ; 30 ; 33 ; 50) being connected to pulling tie (9 ; 24 ; 31; 44) by means of slide (15 ; 28; 36 ; 48) translatably movable in slide channel (17a ; 29 ; 37 ; 49) characterized by the fact that the slide (15 ; 28; 36 ; 48) comprises a return pulley (14 ; 26 ; 38 ; 47) of the pulling tie (9 ; 24 ; 31 ; 44) in order to provide a reduction of the latter and includes rotation blocking devices (17) of the slide (15 ; 28 ; 16 ; 48).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the rotation blocking devices of slide (15 ; 28 ; 36 ; 48) consist of longitudinal ribs (17) recessed in slide channel (17a ; 29 ; 37 ; 49) arranged so as to cooperate with parts forming projections (18) on at least a part of the length of slide (15; 28 ; 36 ; 48).
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that slide (15 ; 28 ; 36 ; 48) is provided at one of its ends with central axial recess 16, in which the return pulley (14 ; 26 ; 38 ; 47).
4. Device in accordance with Claims 1 and 3, characterized by the fact that the rotation blocking devices of slide (15 ; 28 ; 36 ; 48) consist of shaft (14a) of return pulley (14) supported by the slide, said shaft (14a) projecting radially on each side of the slide to cooperate with grooves formed in the slide channel.
5. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing claims, made up of two symmetrical halves (A, B) for tensioning flexible panel (1), symmetrical and arranged on each side of the longitudinal axis (C-C) of flexible panel 1, each half (A, B) including flexible pulling tie (9) connected to the panel by means of load bar (3) attached to said other end of the latter, characterized by the fact that it includes at least one pair of slides (15) connected to each other by tensioning element (8) and arranged in respective slide channels (17a) .
6. Device in accordance with Claim 5, characterized by the fact that slide channels (17a) are recessed in load bar (3).
7. Device in accordance with Claim 5, characterized by the fact that slide channels (17a) are recessed in a section arranged above reel (2).
8. Device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that corresponding slide channel (17a ; 29 ; 37 ; 49) is recessed in at least one section (6 ; 23 ; 34 ; 39) arranged at the side in relation to reel (2 ; 20 ; 43).
9. Device in accordance with any of Claims 1 to 4, composed of two symmetrical flexible panel tensioning halves (A, B) arranged on each side of the longitudinal axis (C-C) of flexible panel (19), each half including flexible pulling tie (24) connected to panel (19) by means of load bar (21) attached to said other end of the latter, characterized by the fact that each half includes at least one slide (28) movable in slide channel (29) recessed in section (23) arranged at one side of load bar (21).
10. Device in accordance with any of the foregoing claims, characterized by the fact that it includes several pairs of slides (36) arranged in parallel slide channels (37) and by the fact that slides (36) are connected to each other by flexible pulling tie (31).
11. Device in accordance with Claim 10, characterized by the fact that each slide is connected to one end of corresponding tensioning element (33).

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