EP1245782A1 - Motorised roller shutter with obstacle detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The roller shutter for a door has a panel (2) formed by louvres (3,3A) with the lower one having a sensor for an obstacle connected to a motor drive control to selectively stop the blind. The sensor can be driven by a solar panel (14) mounted in an opening (17) on the external surface (15) of the lower louvre (3A). The panel can be mounted in a casing (19) for it and the signal transmission.

Description

The invention relates to a motorized rolling shutter for a door, window or similar comprising an apron consisting of a juxtaposition of blades, including a first blade connected to a tree winding and a final blade equipped with a obstacle detection, such as a probe or other, as well as, on the one hand, of means of transmission towards a unit for operating the shutter and / or a central unit alarm and, on the other hand, means of energy supply electric constituted by a solar collector device which is associated with at least one tank capacity and, on the other again, from a main unit, associated with said device detection, and in connection with said transmission means, as well as with said energy supply means electric.

The present invention will find its application in the field roller shutters.

If, in the case of a manually operated roller shutter, the operator is immediately able to notice that a obstacle hinders the normal progression of the shutter of this shutter rolling, especially when closing, this is not true for a motorized roller shutter. Indeed, the command of rolling up or deploying the deck is, here, ensured at through at the push of a control switch, so the operator is not required to stay next to the roller shutter controlled during the whole operation. Besides, it it is not rare that in a house equipped with several motorized roller shutters, a central control allows activate all of these roller shutters simultaneously. In these conditions, it is obvious that an obstacle can arise on the path of the deck of such a motorized rolling shutter without anyone noticing.

Incidentally, if engine operation is not stopped in this case, the roller shutter curtain continues to deploy in particular inside the trunk containing its mechanism winding. By forcing the maneuver, this can cause the rupture of this apron.

Furthermore, this poses a security problem, since it is possible for a user, especially a child, to get stuck under the apron of a rolling shutter during descent.

There are already a number of obstacle detection which, for the most part, are designed complex or do not provide the desired reliability.

Thus, it is known to install in the lateral slides, at inside of which ends move blades of the deck, coils in front of which comes move a magnet associated with the ends of one of the final blades of the deck, so that it is generated across the said coil a voltage detected by a management unit roller shutter operation. In short, if, during deployment maneuver, it is suddenly detected by this management unit an absence of voltage across a coil, it follows that an obstacle presents itself on the trajectory of the deck and the drive motor is stopped.

In this case, additional means are still provided able to inform the management unit that the roller shutter is well during deployment and not in the final phase, respectively, initial unwinding or winding. In effect, when the final deck blade reaches the threshold of the door or window, the voltage across a coil becomes void and it should, however, continue to ensure the deployment of this roller shutter deck, on the one hand, close the openings between the different blades and, on the other hand, make the apron anti-lifting device active rolling shutter with which these are usually fitted.

Such additional means may be in the form ILS switches taking, again, position in the side slides and which can be activated by the magnet of the final blade, for example in the initial phase and in final deployment or folding phase. Course others solutions exist.

It is also known to connect, through a slide lateral, the final blade of the deck to a coding wheel which is found at the drive mechanism of the roller shutter. Thus, depending on the number of turns made by said wheel it is determined whether the final blade of the deck is immobilized by an obstacle or came into abutment on the door threshold or window and it is controlled or not the stop of the operation of the drive motor.

If the previously mentioned solution generates a modification substantial side slide to install the coils, the solution just described is nonetheless binding to the extent that it is necessary to implement behind the scenes means avoiding any risk of blockage of the cable connecting the final blade to the encoder wheel. Otherwise, this and the elements associated with it constitute, obviously, complex means increasing the risks of failure.

Finally, we still know a detection device obstacle fully integrated in the final blade of the deck a roller shutter. Specifically, it is associated with this last a probe or other switch system which is controlled when the final blade rests, as the case may be, on an obstacle or on the threshold. The resulting signal through an associated electronic card is transmitted by an issuer towards a management unit for the operation of the component rolling, also equipped with a receiver.

Obviously, in the final slide, with which this probe or similar, the electronic card and the transmitter, still suitable to integrate energy supply means electric to ensure the operation of the assembly. Such means of supplying electrical energy, in the form of batteries or similar, raise, of course, the problem of the autonomy of operation of these obstacle detection devices. At this subject it should be noted that a failure in the power supply causes a malfunction of the device so that the curtain of a roller shutter can continue to deploy despite the presence of an obstacle in its path with the consequences that have been mentioned more high.

Note that such an obstacle detection device can be associated, in its operation, with an alarm system. Gold, the lack of autonomy of a device integrated into the final slide makes this impossible. Indeed, in the context of such application it is required, in particular with a view to obtaining a approval by an insurance company, that said detection periodically informs the alarm center of its operating state. In short it is a question of emitting regularly through the transmitter a train of waves that comes to receive and interpret said alarm center. Obviously, such a repetitive emission results in a increased consumption of electrical energy, so it should be provided, as appropriate, a size accumulator important in this final slide or to proceed to its replacement periodically, solutions which, of course, are hardly acceptable.

It should also be noted that at many installations motorized roller shutters we just associate a clock to ensure the automatic opening and closing of their apron, respectively, at daybreak and at nightfall. Obviously, this requires either connecting all the shutters running on the same clock, or equipping them individually. If the first solution is binding on installation level, the second is for use, since it should adjust each of the clocks to guarantee that the shutters are closed and open properly moment in a day. This last solution is still particularly expensive.

Finally, it will be observed that many users have for habit of lowering the shutter of a window particularly exposed to sunlight during certain times of the day. Obviously, unless you go down the apron of this rolling shutter in anticipation, the user is not systematically in the home when the sun's rays enter the latter through the window concerned. For this it is already known to equip certain dwellings, at least the window shutters the most exposed, suitable solar collectors, specifically, to order the closing of the apron beyond a determined sunshine rate. This obviously poses the problem of the implantation of this solar collector externally on the facade and its connection to the management unit operation of the drive motor of these roller shutters.

Thus, within the framework of an inventive step the present invention was able to respond, in an advantageous manner, to the whole difficulties mentioned above.

More particularly, the invention relates to a rolling shutter motorized for door, window or similar comprising an apron consisting of a juxtaposition of blades, including a first blade connected to a winding shaft and a final blade fitted with a obstacle detection device, such as a probe or the like, as well as, on the one hand, means of transmission to a shutter operation management unit and / or a alarm center and, on the other hand, means for supplying electrical energy constituted by a sensor device solar which is associated with at least one tank capacity and, on the other hand, a main unit, associated with said detection device, and in connection with said means of transmission, as well as with said means for supplying electrical energy, characterized by the fact that the solar collector is in the form of a small panel solar, made in an opening on the outer side of the blade final, and installed on a housing, on the one hand, containing the main unit and the means of transmission and, on the other hand, taking position in a housing arranged in the thickness of the final slide.

The advantages which flow from the present invention consist in that such a solar collector device, in the form of a small panel associated with the final blade of the deck, is able ensure a sufficient supply of electrical energy to the correct functioning of a transmitter in almost permanent connection with, as appropriate, an operating management unit for the roller shutter or an alarm center, for transmission information relating to a resulting signal, in particular, of the obstacle detection device.

Furthermore and surprisingly, such a device for solar collector is able to transmit information proportional to the amount of sunshine, so it's possible to manage the opening and closing of the roller shutter as a function of the latter and, therefore, of the rising and setting of the Sun.

In particular, when the outside light corresponds to a number of LUX less than a threshold value, the energy produced by the solar collector device tends to zero, information which can be transmitted by the transmitter to the management unit of roller shutter operation. This can then trigger the deployment of the deck, either immediately or beyond fixed term.

Thus and advantageously, it is possible, thanks to the device according to the invention, to authorize or prevent entry light in a building and therefore allow or to prevent the sun's rays from heating up inside this building by intervening on the opening and / or closing the roller shutter. This ensures a thermal regulation inside this building and, by therefore, proper energy management.

Finally, although simple in design, it emerges from what precedes that the present invention has many advantages compared to the solutions of the state of the art.

The invention is explained in more detail in the description which will follow relating to an embodiment given as example and illustrated in the figures of the attached drawing.

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the roller shutter equipped with an obstacle protection device at its final blade, this in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram of the operation of this obstacle detection device and the means which are associated.

Thus, the present invention relates to a motorized roller shutter 1 for door, window or similar. This component includes an apron 2 consisting of a juxtaposition of blades 3, in particular articulated relative to each other. A first blade (not visible) is connected directly or indirectly to a winding shaft on which a drive motor acts to control the deployment or folding of said apron 2. Furthermore, a final blade 3A terminates the latter at its lower end and is brought to rest on threshold 4 of the door or window a once shutter 1 closed.

Note, again, that the blades 3, 3A are guided in the phase of deployment or folding of the deck 2 by slides side 5 into which are introduced their ends.

This roller shutter 1 includes a sound management unit operation 6, in conjunction with the drive motor 7, shown in broken lines, as well as with a switch 8 accessible to the user.

As visible in Figure 2, the roller shutter 1 is equipped an obstacle detection device 9 more particularly integrated in the final blade 3A. So on the lower song of the latter can be arranged a probe, knowing that this obstacle detection device 9 can still use the form of a switch capable of being controlled when the blade final 3A encounters an obstacle during the deployment of the apron 2. In fact, the impulse delivered by this device detection 9 is sent to a main unit 10, by example a microprocessor, moreover, in connection with remote transmission means 11, in particular in the form of a transmitter. In fact, it is defined capable of addressing a information transmitted by the device 9 through the unit main 10 towards management unit 6 of the component rolling 1, or even an alarm center 12.

To ensure the functioning of this detection device 9 and, in particular, the main unit 10 and the means for transmission 11, it is integrated, preferably in the blade final 3A of deck 2, energy supply means electric 13, autonomous type.

Advantageously, these means of supplying electrical energy autonomous 13 are defined by a solar collector device 14 formed on the external side 15 of said final blade 3A and to which is associated with at least one tank capacity 16.

Such a solar collector device, in the form of a small solar panel formed in an opening 17 on this external side 15 of the final blade 3A, is able to ensure, in all case, a sufficient supply of electrical energy for, not only, allow the transmission means 11 to transmit a signal relating to a pulse delivered by the detection 9, but also to ensure, through these means 11, a periodic transmission relating to the state of operation of this detection device 9 towards the alarm center 12, if necessary through the management 6.

In fact, this solar collector device 14 and the capacity associated tank 16 are likely to ensure this autonomy over several days, this in the absence of radiation bright, which could be the case if the solar collector 14 was obscured intentionally or by malice.

In this regard, it is planned, according to a protocol in accordance with the invention, to transmit to the management unit 6 and / or to the alarm center 12, this through the main unit 10 and transmission means 11, information relating to the operating state of the solar collector device 14, in particular as to the amount of electrical energy produced. Through this data, it is noted, in particular, the instant this production of electrical energy becomes zero, or even less than a threshold value. It is then proceeded to a time count knowing that beyond a fixed duration an alarm signal is issued, either through the central 12, either through signaling means different adapted. For example, these means of signaling can be constituted by the same apron of the rolling shutter whose rise can be prevented to inform the user of a malfunction. Through the unity of operation management 6 of the roller shutter, this deck 2 can still execute a specific movement, such as an ascent and / or a partial descent, to warn the user of the failure.

This same data relating to the quantity of energy produced by the solar collector device makes it possible to envisage the command automated opening and closing of apron 2 of roller shutter according to a determined light rate. So, at daybreak increasing the amount of light can be detected by an increase in energy production electric which, if it is greater than a threshold value by elsewhere in memory, either from the main unit 10, or from the management unit 6 of the roller shutter 1, can generate the automatic opening of the deck 2, provided that a automated operation command has been stored in particular at the level of this management unit 6 by through programming means 18 that can define the control switch 8.

Similarly, the detection of a decrease in the production of energy produced below a threshold value can be interpreted as being sunset for the automated shutter shutter control 2.

Note that for this automated operation of the roller shutter 1, the detection of an electrical energy production according to the case above or below a threshold value can generate the triggering of a delay relative to the command, proper, by the management unit 6 of the opening or closing the deck 2.

Furthermore, it can be detected through this device solar collector 14 that a window is directly exposed to sunrays, for example in summer, so it can be ordered, at that time, the closing of the apron 2 for protect the home from an excessive increase in temperature.

Ultimately, it's about storing, again, in the frame of a memory of the main unit 10d or the unit of management 6, another threshold value for this quantity of energy produced by the solar collector device 14, a value which, if it is exceeded, in particular for a defined period, generates closing the shutter 2 of the roller shutter 1. Note, in this case, that the closing of the deck 2 may be partial, especially so as to provide certain lighting in a room or to avoid glare or reflections on a screen or the like due to an open flap. In this regard, we note that this partial closure can be achieved, particular, so that the gaps between the blades 3 remain apparent.

Of course and conversely, reopening the roller shutter can, also be automated if energy production by the solar collector device 14 comes down below of a defined threshold value. Again, this reopening cannot intervene only if this production of electrical energy is lower than said threshold value for a period predetermined.

As is apparent from the above description, the solar collector device 14, as a means supply of autonomous electrical energy to a obstacle detection not only eliminates the need for unreliable over time, but also the use of a clock for opening and shutter closing depending on the day and the night.

Finally, it still makes it possible to effectively protect a house against excessive sunlight, this in the absence of any other sun sensor.

Note that as an advantageous embodiment, the solar collector device 14, in the form of a small panel solar, can be installed on a box 19 containing the unit main and the transmission means 11 and taking position in a housing 20 formed in the thickness of the final blade 3A. It will be observed, in this regard, that the integration of the system of solar collector 14 at the level of this final blade 3A is particularly clever, since the latter remains usually visible under the underside 21 of the box 22 when the apron 2 is folded into the latter.

Finally, the present invention, although of conception simple, provides solutions to the many problems encountered in the context of the state of the art.

Claims (6)

Motorized rolling shutter for door, window or similar comprising an apron (2) consisting of a juxtaposition of blades (3, 3A), including a first blade connected to a winding shaft and a final blade (3A) equipped with a obstacle detection device (9), such as a probe or the like, as well as, on the one hand, transmission means (11) in the direction of a management unit (6) for operating the shutter (1 ) and / or an alarm center (12) and, on the other hand, electrical energy supply means (13) constituted by a solar collector device (14) with which is associated at least one reservoir capacity (16) and, on the other hand, a main unit (10), associated with said detection device (9), and in connection with said transmission means (11), as well as with said supply means in electrical energy (13), characterized in that the solar collector device (14) is in the form of a small solar panel, formed in an opening (17) on the external side (15) of the final blade (3A), and installed on a housing (19), on the one hand, containing the main unit (10) and the transmission means (11 ) and, on the other hand, taking position in a housing (20) formed in the thickness of the final blade (3A). Roller shutter according to claim 1, characterized in that the management unit (6) and / or the main unit (10) include a memory in which is stored a first threshold value relating to the quantity of electrical energy produced by the solar collector device (14) which, if it is greater than said threshold value, is provided capable of generating the command to open the curtain (2) of the roller shutter (1) and, respectively, a second threshold value, which, if said quantity of energy produced by the solar collector device (14) is less than this second threshold value, generates the closing of the deck (2). Roller shutter according to claim 2, characterized in that it includes in said memory a threshold value relating to the quantity of electrical energy produced by the solar collector device (14) which, if it is greater than said threshold value, generates the partial closure of the deck (2), in particular so that gaps between the blades (3) remain apparent. Roller shutter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is emitted periodically by the transmission means (11) in the direction of the management unit (6) and / or of a central alarm (12) information relating to the operating state of the obstacle detection device (9). Roller shutter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a memory at the level of the management unit (6) and / or of the main unit (10) in which a value is stored. threshold relating to the production of electrical energy by the solar collector device (14) which if it is less than said threshold value generates the counting of a time which, if it is greater than a determined time known in said memory, generates an alarm signal through an alarm center (12) and / or appropriate signaling means. Roller shutter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises programming means (18), defined by the control switch (8) of said roller shutter (1) for controlling the opening and total and / or partial automatic closing of the shutter (2) of the roller shutter (1) as a function of threshold values relating to the quantity of electrical energy produced by the solar collector device (14).

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