EP0831193B1 - Process and apparatus for mounting flexible panels - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the invention is a method and a device for installing panels. flexible; it relates more particularly to large panels dimensions, like the decorated canvases placed in front of blind walls, for example.

The word "pose" here designates lifting, positioning, tension in the minus one direction, and fixing the flexible panel. The panels can be made of different materials: canvas, net, paper, etc. ...

We already know methods of installing such panels: in one of them, the fabrics are laced or hung on their periphery to a structure adequate rigid; the latter can be visible or hidden, in steel, in aluminum, polyvinyl chloride, etc ... The fasteners are Sandows, halyards, eyelets on hooks, etc. We can cite the patent Applicant's French number 2,658,940.

The advantages of this system are its simplicity, its relative reliability and the quality of the result obtained. However, it has drawbacks: the appearance lacing that detracts from the visual appearance of the whole; and if the lacing is hidden by flipping the edges of the fabric, slight defects appear in the angles, and above all we increase the slowness of the installation. On the other hand, the pose can only be carried out by basket operators or by mountaineers of the building ; and as the fabric is not maintained during lifting, the installer safety is compromised in the event of a gale.

In another known method, the fabric is linked to the peripheral structure by a zipper system that simplifies installation and makes it more fast. However, this process still requires work in a basket, and as the fabric is not maintained during lifting, safety is random ; the canvas tension is low, the frame remains visible, and the tailoring must be specific.

Finally, in a third type of process, the canvas is fixed between two horizontal bars, and it is slid into the longitudinal grooves of two vertical masts, which allows lifting comparable to hoisting sails of a boat. The upper and lower hooks are done using Bands, halyards or a metal profile with independent groove. This installation is faster, but security - although improved - is not perfect causes heavy horizontal bars which are difficult to maneuver; Moreover, as the fabric is not flat due to the offset between the masts and the bars, you don't get a perfect framing, and creases remain in the corners of the canvas.

The document FR A 2 579 661 describes a device for awnings forming awning, in which a canvas is intended deploy substantially horizontally from a vertical wall, to cover a surface above of the ground. Cables or other deployment are attached to a load bar that equips the edge of the canvas and are wound on drums at least some of which are motorized.

The present invention therefore relates to a method and a device for laying flexible panels, which is easy to be implemented, which offers considerable speed and whose security is maximum; moreover, the result obtained is completely satisfactory from the point of view aesthetic, because the panel is perfectly stretched and its corners have no defects or creases.

According to the invention, a device having two fixed parallel masts and two movable bars between which is fixed a flexible panel, the borders of this last able to slide in longitudinal grooves masts, is characterized in that each mast is consisting of a metal profile comprising at least one groove which can receive a border of the panel, and at minus an inner rib serving as a rail for a carriage which is attached to the corresponding end of a bar mobile, and internal passages for a means of integral transmission of said carriage, said means connecting two axes perpendicular to the mast, mounted at the ends of it, one of these axes can be driven in rotation.

In a preferred variant of the invention, each mast is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane, so that all the characteristic forms of its section are double, one on each side.

Lifting is obtained by different means depending on the installation site: you can use a halyard, cable, or any such link, assisted by a winch, or hand winch or motorized winch, etc .; the final blocking being ensured by a cleat or any other stop. You can also use a screw system irreversible step training preventing any accidental fall of the flexible panel, preventing any deliberately untimely manipulation, minimizing operator fatigue, requiring working time known in advance, and ensuring the vertical tension of the panel at the end of travel.

The vertical tension of the panel is produced by the winches or other, or by the screw system not reversible. The horizontal tension of the panel is ensured either by the rotation of a toothed wheel in the case of masts mounted in pivots between two ferrules, either by the displacement of a rod controlled by a jack, taking support on two ramps.

The rotary drive moves the carriages through the transmission means which can be a chain, a strap, a belt notched, cable, etc ...

The mast comprises several longitudinal housings of cylindrical section, or other, allowing several mast lengths to be sleeved one above the other others, to house a longitudinal transmission shaft, to install a tree around which the mast can pivot, etc. ; in the latter case, the rotation of two adjoining masts, in opposite directions, increases the distance separating the grooves of the two masts, in which the edge of the panel, which tends to stretch it.

We see that - thanks to the invention - the distance between the sliding groove of the edge of the panel and the rib serving as a rail for the carriage corresponding is constant, which has the effect of keeping substantially constant the distance between the panel and the carriages and therefore keep the panel perfectly flat.

On the other hand, it can be seen that the invention makes it possible to raise panels to significant heights or at inaccessible levels (except the mounting of installation) since the lifting and blocking training can be done from one end of each mast.

Lifting, according to the invention, is both very safe and very effective: the panel is permanently maintained over its entire periphery from the start of lifting operations, which eliminates risks linked to wind; on the other hand, the lifting can be mechanized, operations are much less tedious and faster: we can know in advance and precisely the duration of a panel installation, which is an added benefit for interested.

The invention allows great flexibility of design: depending on the height desired panel, you can have several mast lengths sleeved one above the other; depending on the width of the panel, it can be subdivided into several more reduced widths whose edges are joined after installation, or install a single panel guided from behind on a intermediate mast.

There are other advantages: such as the assembly and disassembly of the panels are very fast, you can change the panels frequent, allowing use with high turnover rates; the invention allows complete industrialization of the process: the elements profiles are extruded and can therefore be produced in large quantities, carts and other parts are commercially available or very easy to machine; assembly can be programmed without any risk, and shipping is possible "in kit" or "ready to assemble", ie in complete batches ready for mounting.

• les figures 1a, 1b, 1c sont des vues de face, de côté et de dessus du principe de pose d'un panneau souple suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue très schématique d'un lot "prêt à monter" ;
• la figure 3 est une autre vue très schématique, en perspective, du panneau en cours de montage ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du mât symétrique suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale d'une barre mobile suivant l'invention ;
• les figures 6a et 6b sont des vues de face et de côté en coupe partielle du système de transmission monté dans le mât, ce dernier étant fixé en pivot à ses deux extrémités ;
• les figures 7a, 7b, 7c, et 7d sont des vues de face, de côté, et de dessus montrant la fixation des barres mobiles sur les chariots dans le cas des mâts fixés en pivots ainsi que le principe de déplacement du mât pour obtenir la tension du panneau ;
• la figure 8 est une vue de dessus en coupe longitudinale à plus grande échelle de deux mâts contigus de la figure 7 ;
• les figures 9a, 9b, 9c, et 9d montrent le système de rotation et de blocage des mâts dans le cas où ils sont fixés à un mur .

We will describe an example of implementation of the invention, given without limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

• Figures 1a, 1b, 1c are front, side and top views of the principle of laying a flexible panel according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a very schematic view of a batch "ready to mount";
• Figure 3 is another very schematic perspective view of the panel during assembly;
• Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the symmetrical mast according to the invention;
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a movable bar according to the invention;
• Figures 6a and 6b are front and side views in partial section of the transmission system mounted in the mast, the latter being pivotally attached at its two ends;
• Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are front, side and top views showing the fixing of the movable bars on the carriages in the case of the masts fixed in pivots as well as the principle of displacement of the mast to obtain the panel tension;
• Figure 8 is a top view in longitudinal section on a larger scale of two contiguous masts of Figure 7;
• Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d show the system of rotation and blocking of the masts in the case where they are fixed to a wall.

We see in Figures 1a, b, c, a flexible panel 1, such as a painted canvas for example, stretched between two vertical masts 2 and 3, and two movable bars horizontal 4 and 5; masts 2 and 3 are fixed here in a wall 6, while bars 4 and 5 are immobilized as will be explained below.

In Figure 2, we see a set "ready to assemble": the panel 1 folded "in accordion ", two masts 2 and 3, and two movable bars 4 and 5.

In Figure 3, we find the same elements during lifting: panel, prepared on the ground, is hung on the upper movable bar 5 which is hoisted between masts 2 and 3, and to the lower bar 4 on standby.

Figure 4 is a cross section of a symmetrical mast according to the preferred variant of the invention: it can be seen that this mast consists of a profile metallic, aluminum for example, symmetrical about a plane longitudinal MM '. This mast is formed by a shell 11, of section which is substantially oval, for example, and suitably reinforced with sails 12, 13, 14. At one of its ends, the mast is open at 15 and has two cylindrical housings 16 and 17 to receive the vertical edges of the flexible panel 1 which are formed in beads 18 and 19.

On the other hand, the sails 13 and 14 carry ribs 20 and 21 playing the role of rails for carriages 22 and 23.

On either side of the veil 12, internal passages are provided longitudinal for integral transmission means 24 and 25 carriages 22 and 23 respectively. Note that each of these means 24 and 25, consisting for example of a toothed belt armed with cables, is very well protected in its passage, against any aggression exterior, such as bad weather, foreign bodies, vandalism, etc.

Finally, several housings delimiting passages of cylindrical sections or others, 26, 27, 28 and 29 allow the possible installation of trees or other bodies whose roles will be explained later.

FIG. 5 shows the section of one of the movable bars 4 (or 5), having an opening 30 to receive one of the horizontal edges of the panel 1 this border is formed in a bead 31. We also see in section a rectangular housing 32 for a sliding sleeve 33 ensuring the connection of the movable bar with the corresponding carriage, and allowing a slight deflection during the rotation of the masts, as will be explained further.

In FIGS. 6a and 6b, we see a mast 2, which is here pivotally fixed by its two ends 35 and 36 between a base 37 and an upper plate 38 (slab, ceiling, etc ...). An electric motor 39 drives a set of gears 40 by means of a screw 41; these gears drive the belt notched 24 whose movement is returned by a roller 42 in the upper part. A stop 57 (Figure 7a), mounted on the rail at the bottom, blocks the bar lower 4 than a predetermined level. As the screw 41 has a pitch no reversible, on the one hand the assembly cannot fall down accidentally, and on the other hand, at a given moment, the lower bar coming into abutment, the flexible panel stretches and stops the carriage and bar from rising superior, thus determining its final position; after stretching the flexible panel correctly, the upper carriage is therefore blocked in this position ; it can only be moved by a reverse command of training.

In FIGS. 7a, 7b, and 7c, the attachment of the movable bars 4 and 5 can be seen. on mobile carts, such as 22 (or 23), via the sliding sleeves, such as 33.

Inside each mast 2, in the housing 28 is mounted a shaft of rotation 58, and in the housing 26 a control shaft 44 in two parts: the opposite ends of these two parts are toothed and they mesh respectively at 46 and 47 in the upper two ferrules 48 and lower 49; the two ends face to face of the two parts of this tree carry wheels such as 43 to rotate and rotate them block in rotation. Figure 8 shows how the rotation of two masts contiguous 11 around their respective trees 58 allows, in a first time, to bring their openings together, such as 15, and then to move them apart on the other by returning to the normal position, where the two planes of symmetry MM 'are parallel.

These rotations allow, at first, to facilitate the sliding vertical edges of the flexible panel 1, that is to say the beads such only 18 or 19, in housings 16 and 17, because the panel is not stretched in the horizontal direction, then, in the second step, when the panel is in place, stretch it horizontally. The imposed circular deflections by trees such as 44, during the rotations of the masts 11 are taken up by the sleeves, such as 33, integral with the mobile carriages 22 or 23.

Figures 9a, b, c, and d show the rotation and locking system of the masts in case they are fixed to a wall. Here, the rotation shaft 50 of the mast 2 is outside the profile 11 which is notched at 45 to allow rotation mast 2. This shaft 50 is mounted on a console 51 fixed to the wall and comprising two inclined vertical faces 52 and 53; a small jack 54, mounted in the mast housing 29, can move a rod 55 in a indentation 56; this rod rests against the faces 52 or 53, playing the role ramps, to rotate the mast around its shaft 50. Blocking the rotating mast is obtained by pushing the rod 55 back into its notch 56 towards the shaft 50 to the zone where the ramps 52 and 53 are parallel.

The installation according to the invention can be done on the ground in an access area public (street, large area, etc.), on the wall, on the terrace with private access, etc ... since the commands can be done remotely.

In the case of great heights of the flexible panel, it can be sleeved several mast sections one above the other, placing the sleeves in one of the longitudinal housings of the mast taking into account the high rigidity due to the high inertia module of the profile which constitutes them.

Claims (13)

1. A device having two fixed uprights (2, 3) and two movable spars between which is secured a flexible panel (1), the edges (18, 19) of the latter being able to slide in longitudinal grooves in the uprights, characterised in that each upright (2, 3) consists of a metal section (11) comprising at least one groove (16, 17) into which an edge (18, 19) of the panel (1) can be fitted, and at least one internal rib (20, 21) acting as a rail for a runner (22, 23) which is attached to the corresponding end of a movable spar (4, 5), and internal passages for a transmission means (24, 25) integral with said runner, said means connecting two spindles perpendicular to the upright (41, 42), fitted at the ends of the upright, one of these two spindles (41) being drivable in rotation.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that each upright is symmetrical relative to a longitudinal plane (MM'), so that all the characteristic forms of its cross-section are duplicated, one on each side.
3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the flexible panel is raised by different traction means, such as a hoisting line or cable, assisted by a hand-operated or motorised winch, final locking being provided by a cleat or any other stop of this type.
4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the flexible panel is raised by a system of non-reversing pitch drive screws (41), also tensioning the panel vertically in the direction of raising at the end of its travel.
5. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the flexible panel is tensioned vertically by the winches.
6. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that the flexible panel is tensioned vertically by the non-reversing screw system (41).
7. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flexible panel is tensioned horizontally by the rotation of a toothed wheel (47), when the uprights are mounted so as to pivot between two collars (48 and 49).
8. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flexible panel is tensioned horizontally by the movement of a rod (55) operated by a jack (54) bearing against two ramps (52 and 53).
9. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transmission means is a toothed belt (24) reinforced with cables.
10. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upright comprises several longitudinal housings (26, 27, 28, 29) of cylindrical cross-section, allowing several lengths of upright to be fitted together one on top of the other.
11. A device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the upright comprises at least one housing (26), allowing a shaft (44) controlling rotation of the uprights to be fitted.
12. A device according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the upright comprises at least one housing (28) allowing a shaft (45), about which the upright can pivot, to be fitted, so that the rotation of two adjacent uprights, in opposite directions, increases the distance separating the grooves (15) in the two uprights in which the edges (16, 17) of the flexible panel (1) slide, which has the effect of tensioning the panel.
13. A method for producing a device having two fixed parallel uprights and two movable spars between which is secured a flexible panel, the edges of the latter being able to slide in longitudinal grooves in the uprights, characterised in that each upright is produced in the form of a metal section comprising at least one groove into which one edge of the panel can be fitted, and at least one internal rib acting as a rail for a runner which is attached to the corresponding end of a movable spar, and internal passages for a transmission means integral with said runner, said means linking two spindles perpendicular to the upright and fitted at the ends of it, one of these shafts being drivable in rotation.

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