EP1727169A2 - Operable housing for an electrical actuator, and corresponding mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The control box (14) has a printed circuit (20) arranged in a housing and supporting a set of electronic components comprising switches (28) switchable between open and closed states to activate a command. A displacement mechanism displaces the circuit in the box between an active position, in which the switch is switched, and a rest position, in which the switch is not switched.

Description

The present invention relates to a control box of an electric actuator, and an automation incorporating this housing.

There are control boxes of an electric actuator comprising a housing inside which is disposed a printed circuit supporting a group of several electronic components comprising at least one switchable switch between an open state and a closed state to trigger a command.

By order, we must understand this term in the broad sense. This means, for example, the activation of the electric actuator or a program associated with this actuator. The command may also correspond to the activation or programming of a sensor associated with the actuator. The control signal corresponds to the activation order or to the programming order that will be transmitted.

In known control boxes, the switch is a push button manually operable by a user. This push button must therefore be accessible from outside the housing.

The current trend of automation is miniaturization to make them discreet. The consequence is the reduction of the bulk of all the elements of these automations. It is thus necessary to reduce the size of the portion of the printed circuit occupied by components visible or accessible from outside the housing. This decrease must not, however, alter the functionality of the control box and in particular the triggering of a specific command by a user action.

The invention aims to satisfy this need by proposing a control box equipped with a mechanism of triggering a specific command by a user action in a small footprint.

The invention therefore relates to a control box of an electric actuator in which the printed circuit is movable inside the housing between an active position in which the switch is switched, and a rest position in which the switch is not switched.

• l'interrupteur est commuté par une surface d'appui ménagée à l'intérieur du boîtier ;
• l'interrupteur est un détecteur de l'effort exercé par la surface d'appui, ou un détecteur optique ou magnétique propre à détecter la proximité de la surface d'appui lorsque le circuit imprimé est déplacé dans sa position active ;
• une cale d'immobilisation déplaçable entre une position dans laquelle la cale empêche le circuit imprimé d'être déplacé jusqu'à sa position active, et une position escamotée dans laquelle le circuit imprimé est librement déplaçable vers sa position active ;
• l'interrupteur est un bouton-poussoir comportant :
  • une touche (38) déplaçable entre une position enfoncée et une position saillante pour commuter l'interrupteur de l'état ouvert vers l'état fermé ou vice-versa,
  • un élément élastiquement déformable (40) pouvant ramener automatiquement la touche vers sa position saillante, cet élément formant également le seul moyen de rappel automatique du circuit imprimé vers sa position de repos en absence de sollicitation de l'utilisateur ;
• le groupe de composants électroniques comporte un émetteur sans fil propre à transmettre un signal de commande à l'actionneur en réponse à la commutation de l'interrupteur ;
• le groupe de composants électroniques comporte un module électronique de commande de l'actionneur propre à générer le signal de commande de l'actionneur en réponse à la commutation de l'interrupteur.

Embodiments of this control box may include one or more of the following features:

• the switch is switched by a bearing surface formed inside the housing;
• the switch is a detector of the force exerted by the bearing surface, or an optical or magnetic detector capable of detecting the proximity of the bearing surface when the printed circuit is moved into its active position;
• an immobilizing wedge movable between a position in which the wedge prevents the printed circuit from being moved to its active position, and a retracted position in which the printed circuit is freely movable towards its active position;
• the switch is a push button comprising:
  • a key (38) movable between a depressed position and a projecting position to switch the switch from the open state to the closed state or vice versa,
  • an elastically deformable element (40) that can automatically return the key to its projecting position, this element also forming the only means of automatic return of the printed circuit to its rest position in the absence of user stress;
• the electronic component group comprises a wireless transmitter capable of transmitting a control signal to the actuator in response to switching of the switch;
• the group of electronic components comprises an electronic module for controlling the actuator capable of generating the control signal of the actuator in response to switching of the switch.

The invention also relates to an automation for a building comprising a controllable electric actuator, and the control unit of this actuator described above.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en coupe partielle de face d'un automatisme de bâtiment ;
• la figure 2 est une vue latérale gauche, d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un boîtier de commande utilisé par l'automatisme de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue partielle en coupe selon une ligne II-II de la figure 2, du boîtier de commande ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe selon une ligne III-III du boîtier de commande de la figure 2 ;
• les figures 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques en coupe respectivement d'un deuxième et d'un troisième modes de réalisation d'un boîtier de commande d'un actionneur ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues schématiques en coupe d'un quatrième et d'un cinquième modes de réalisation d'un boîtier de commande formant télécommande ;
• la figure 9 est une vue schématique partielle d'un sixième mode de réalisation d'un boîtier de commande ; et
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe selon une ligne IV-IV de la figure 9, du boîtier de commande de la figure 9.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial partial sectional front view of a building automation;
• Figure 2 is a left side view of a first embodiment of a control box used by the automation of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a partial sectional view along a line II-II of Figure 2, the control box;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view along a line III-III of the control unit of Figure 2;
• Figures 5 and 6 are schematic sectional views respectively of a second and a third embodiments of a control unit of an actuator;
• Figures 7 and 8 are schematic sectional views of fourth and fifth embodiments of a remote control control unit;
• Figure 9 is a partial schematic view of a sixth embodiment of a control box; and
• FIG. 10 is a sectional view along a line IV-IV of FIG. 9, of the control box of FIG. 9.

Figure 1 shows an automation 2 winding a blind or shutter.

The automation 2 comprises a winding tube 4 on which is wound the blind or the shutter. This tube 4 is rotatably mounted about an axis 6 via a crown 8 forming a bearing. The axis 6 is, for example, integral with a wall of the building.

The tube 4 is rotated by a wheel 10, itself driven in rotation by an electric actuator 12. The body of the electric actuator 12 is housed inside the tube 4.

The automation 2 also comprises a control box 14 integrated at the end of the actuator 12. This housing forms the head of the actuator. It is, at least partially, located outside the tube 4 and is fixed on a stationary support.

Walls of the housing 14 define a T-shaped housing 16 for receiving a printed control circuit of the actuator 12. This housing 16 is shown in dashed line in FIG.

The actuator 12 is powered by means of power cables 18.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show a printed circuit 20 for controlling the actuator 12 mounted inside the housing 14. In these figures, the elements already described with reference to Figure 1 bear the same reference numerals.

• des bornes 26 de raccordement du circuit imprimé 20 à une source d'alimentation par l'intermédiaire des câbles 18,
• un interrupteur 28 formé d'une touche 38 déplaçable entre une position saillante dans laquelle l'interrupteur 28 est dans l'état ouvert, et une position enfoncée dans laquelle l'interrupteur 28 est dans l'état fermé,
• un témoin lumineux 30 propre à indiquer à un utilisateur l'état de la commande effectuée,
• un module électronique 34 de commande de l'actionneur 12 dont l'activation est déclenchée par la fermeture de l'interrupteur 28, et
• des bornes 36 de raccordement du circuit imprimé 20 à l'actionneur 12 pour lui transmettre une commande générée par le module 34.

The printed circuit 20 is formed of a rigid electrically insulating substrate 22, such as for example a dielectric substrate, on which are etched conductive tracks 24. The circuit 20 supports a group of several electronic components. Here, by way of illustration, this group of electronic components comprises:

• terminals 26 for connecting the printed circuit 20 to a power source via the cables 18,
• a switch 28 formed of a key 38 movable between a projecting position in which the switch 28 is in the open state, and a depressed position in which the switch 28 is in the closed state,
• a warning light 30 able to indicate to a user the status of the command made,
• an electronic module 34 for controlling the actuator 12 whose activation is triggered by the closing of the switch 28, and
• terminals 36 connecting the printed circuit 20 to the actuator 12 to transmit a command generated by the module 34.

The module 34 may comprise several electronic components

The circuit board 20 is movably mounted along a direction F between an active position in which the key 38 is pressed by contact with a bearing surface 44, and a rest position in which the key 38 is remote from the surface. 44. For this purpose, the circuit 20 is fixed on a mobile carriage 48.

The surface 44 is integral with the housing 14 and formed inside this housing. Here, this surface 44 is a flat surface of a wall of the housing 14 vis-à-vis the key 38 in the direction F.

The carriage 48 is slidably mounted inside grooves 50 (FIG. 4) formed in walls of the 14. These grooves 50 are parallel to the direction F.

The carriage 48 has an L-shaped end projecting from the housing 14 (see FIG. 3). This end forms a mechanism for moving the circuit 20 that is manually operable by the user from outside the casing 14.

A wedge 52 is rotatably mounted about an axis 54 perpendicular to the direction F. The wedge 52 is movable between a position in which it prevents the circuit 20 is moved to its active position, and a retracted position in which the circuit 20 is free to move between its active position and its rest position, the advantage being to avoid accidental triggering of the command.

In Figure 3, the shim 52 is shown in the position in which it prevents the movement of the circuit 20 to its active position.

The operation of the mechanism for operating the switch will now be explained.

In its rest position, the key 38 is remote from the surface 44 and the switch 28 is in the open state. Under these conditions, the module 34 is not powered and no control signal is transmitted to the actuator 12.

When the user wishes to transmit a control signal to the actuator 12, it drives the L-shaped end of the carriage 48 into the interior of the housing 14. This causes the circuit 20 to move from its rest position to its active position. The key 38 comes into contact with the surface 44 and if the user continues to drive the carriage 48 into the housing 14, the surface 44 presses the key 38. The switch 28 then switches to the closed state. This triggers the feeding of the module 34 which in turn triggers the transmission of a control signal to the actuator 12 via terminals 36.

The control signal is, for example, a winding or unwinding order of the blind or shutter. By way of illustration, the control signal allows a supply of a motor of the actuator 12 in one direction or the other through the terminals 36.

Switching to the closed state of the switch 28 also triggers the illumination of the indicator light 30.

Many other embodiments are possible.

For example, the terminals 26, the indicator light 30 and the switch 28 are not connected in series but are connected independently and directly to the module 34. Thus, after a pulse generated by the switch 28, the module 34 can maintain the power supply. light 30 until a second pulse of the switch 28.

FIG. 5 shows a control box 60 inside which is mounted displaceable in a direction D represented by a two-way arrow in FIG. 5, a printed circuit board 62.

One end of the circuit 62 projects outside the housing 60 through an opening 64 formed for this purpose in a wall of the housing. This end of the protruding circuit 62 forms a mechanism for moving the circuit 62 which is manually manoeuvrable by the user. The opposite end of the circuit 62 is biased by an elastically deformable element 64 in the direction of the opening 64. The element 64 is, for example, a spring.

As in FIG. 1, a group of several electronic components is fixed on the circuit 62. However, to simplify FIG. 66 was represented. This switch 66 is here a push button equipped with a key 68 movable between a projecting position in which the switch 66 is open and a depressed position in which the switch 66 is closed. Here, the movement of the key 68 between its projecting position and its depressed position takes place along a direction E represented by a two-way arrow in FIG. 5. This direction E is not collinear with the direction D. On the contrary, the direction E is here, for example, perpendicular to the direction D.

The housing 60 comprises a heel 70, for example, integral with a wall of the housing 60. This heel 70 forms a ramp 72 inclined relative to the directions E and D, so as to form a bearing surface 72 capable of driving the key 68 when the circuit 62 is moved towards the inside of the housing 60 along the direction D.

The operation of the housing 60 follows from the explanations given for the housing 14. In particular, the circuit 62 is movable between an active position in which the switch 66 is closed by action on the surface 72, and a rest position in which the switch 66 is open.

FIG. 6 shows a housing 80 for controlling an actuator identical to the housing 60, except that the heel 70 and the ramp 72 are replaced by a rocker 82 capable of pressing the key 68 when the circuit 62 is moved towards the inside the housing, by pivoting about an axis 84. The axis 84 is integral with the housing 80.

More specifically, the flip-flop 82 is equipped with two bearing surfaces 86 and 88.

The surface 88 is intended to drive the rocker 82 in rotation about the axis 84 when a component fixed on the circuit 62 abuts against it. Here, this component is the switch 66 itself.

The surface 86 is itself adapted to depress the key 68 when the rocker is rotated about the axis 84.

During operation of the housing 80, the user moves the circuit 62 to the inside of the housing 80. The switch 66 then abuts on the surface 88, which causes the flip-flop 82 to rotate. the rotation of the flip-flop 82, the surface 86 depresses the key 68, which triggers the transmission of a control signal to the actuator. The advantage of this embodiment is that the key 68 is depressed by the surface 86 in a direction corresponding to the direction of preferential actuation of the switch 66.

Figure 7 shows a housing 90 for controlling a remote control actuator. In this embodiment, a printed circuit 92 moves in translation between a rest position and an active position along a direction G represented by a two-way arrow in FIG.

• d'un interrupteur 94, ici un bouton-poussoir équipé d'une touche enfonçable 96 le long de la direction G, ce bouton-poussoir est, par exemple, identique à celui de la figure 2,
• d'un module de commande 98, par exemple, identique au module de commande 34,
• d'une batterie 100 propre à alimenter les différents composants électroniques montés sur le circuit 92,
• d'un émetteur sans fil 102 propre à transmettre des signaux de commande à l'actionneur, et
• d'un témoin lumineux 104 monté sur une extrémité du circuit 92 faisant saillie à l'extérieur du boîtier 90.

The circuit 92 comprises a group of electronic components furthermore formed:

• a switch 94, here a push-button equipped with a push-button 96 along the direction G, this push button is, for example, identical to that of FIG. 2,
• a control module 98, for example, identical to the control module 34,
• a battery 100 clean to supply the various electronic components mounted on the circuit 92,
• a wireless transmitter 102 capable of transmitting control signals to the actuator, and
• a light indicator 104 mounted on one end of the circuit 92 projecting outside the housing 90.

The end of the protruding circuit 92 forms a manual movement mechanism of the circuit 92, identical to that of FIGS. 6 and 7.

The circuit 92 can be biased towards its rest position in which the switch 94 is open, by at least one elastic deformable element. Here, for example, there are two springs 106, 108.

A wall of the housing 90 forms a bearing surface 109 opposite the key 96 in the direction G.

During operation of the housing 90, the user moves the circuit 92 inwardly of the housing 90 against the forces of stress exerted by the elements 106 and 108. The key 96 then comes into contact with the surface 109 and if the user continues moving the circuit 92, the surface 109 depresses the key 96.

In response to the depression of the key 96, the module 98 generates a control signal that is transmitted to the transmitter 102. The transmitter 102 then transmits via a wireless link, such as for example a radio link, the control signal to the electric actuator.

In parallel, the depression of the key 96 triggers the illumination of the indicator light 104.

FIG. 8 represents a control box 110 for an actuator that also forms a remote control. This housing 110 is identical to the housing 90 except that the circuit 92 is moved from its rest position to its active position by a pusher 112, only one end 113 of the pusher 112 protruding outside the housing 110. .

In FIG. 8, the elements already described with reference to FIG. 7 bear the same numerical references.

The pusher 112 also forms a light guide secured by one of its ends 114 of the light indicator 104, so that this light is visible from the outside of the housing 110 by a user. The end 114 is opposite the end 113.

A seal 116 is provided at the interface between the pusher 112 and the walls of the casing 110, so as to seal this casing 110.

Another variant is the replacement of the indicator light 104 of the previous variant by a transmitter and / or sensitive photo receiver for transmitting and / or receiving commands, for example infrared, through the light guide.

Figures 9 and 10 show a control housing 120 of an actuator which differs from the housing 14 essentially by the way of mounting the printed circuit inside the housing and by the way to prevent accidental movement of this circuit.

More specifically, the housing 120 comprises a housing 122 identical to the housing 16, inside which is housed a drawer 124 and a printed circuit 126. The drawer 124 is integral with the housing 120 and has two grooves forming a sliding rail for the circuit 126. These grooves are aligned parallel to a direction H represented by a two-way arrow in FIG. 9 so that the circuit 126 can move in translation between the active position and the rest position defined with reference to FIG. 2.

To simplify FIGS. 9 and 10, among all the electronic components of the printed circuit 126, only a push-button 128 forming a switch is shown. The pushbutton 128 is, for example, identical to the push button 28 of Figure 1 and will not be described here in detail. Here, the button 128 key carries the reference 130 and moves in the direction H.

A notch 132 is formed in an edge of the circuit 126, so as to receive a retractable wedge 134. The wedge 134 is movable between a position in which it is housed in the notch 132 and prevents any displacement of the circuit 126 and a retracted position wherein the circuit 126 is free to move along the direction H.

As in the previous embodiments, a bearing surface 136 depresses the key 130 of the switch 128 when the circuit 126 is in its active position.

Many other embodiments of the control box described herein are possible. For example, when the switch is switched, the associated control signal consisting of a programming mode switching order can be processed at an electronic module of the housing which will transmit or not a control signal to the actuator. This switching order in programming mode can also be directly transmitted to a printed circuit of the actuator, this order being then processed at the actuator. A programming mode can be, by way of example, the memorization of particular positions of the controlled screen.

A large number of electronic components can be mounted on the printed circuit board. In addition, it is not necessary that the group of electronic components mounted on the printed circuit comprises a specific indicator light to indicate the status of the command performed.

The switch has been described here as a push button. Alternatively, the switch is a detector of the force exerted by the bearing surface. The switch can also be an optical detector or magnetic sensor capable of detecting the proximity of the bearing surface when the printed circuit is in its active position.

In the various embodiments described here, the printed circuit moves in translation. A particular embodiment relates to the case where the displacement of the printed circuit is not caused by a contact action but by using a force caused by a magnet, gravitation or inertia. This embodiment has the advantage of having a mechanism in a closed housing, with no moving part between the inside and the outside. The sealing of the housing can therefore be improved more easily and at lower cost. In the case of displacement by gravitation or inertia, the effect can be achieved thanks to the mass of the various electronic components. This embodiment is more particularly intended for a sensor, such as, for example, the activation of this sensor by tilting it from a horizontal position to a vertical position or by applying a shock to it in a given direction, but other applications. are possible.

The control box can be integrated with the electric actuator or with a dissociated element such as a control point or a sensor.

The control box has been described in the particular case where it comprises a mechanism for moving the printed circuit between its rest position and its active position under the action of a pressing force exerted by the user on a surface of contact outside the housing, this contact surface being mechanically coupled to the printed circuit. Alternatively, other mechanisms for moving the printed circuit are provided such as, for example, mechanisms without surface external contact mechanically coupled to the printed circuit.

The control box described here can be used in a large number of automation systems present in a building. For example, it can be used in automation for solar panels, opening or closing of doors, alarm devices, building lighting, air conditioning or heating of the building or ventilation of the building.

Claims (8)

Control unit of an electric actuator of a building, this housing comprising a housing inside which is arranged a supporting printed circuit (20; 62; 92; 126), a group of several electronic components comprising at least one switch (28; 66; 94; 128) switchable between an open state and a closed state for triggering a command, characterized in that the printed circuit is movable within the housing between an active position in which the switch is switched, and a rest position in which the switch is not switched. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that said switch is switched by a bearing surface (44; 70; 72; 86; 109; 136) formed inside the housing. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the switch is a sensor of the force exerted by the bearing surface or an optical or magnetic detector capable of detecting the proximity of the bearing surface when the printed circuit is moved in its active position. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing comprises an immobilizing wedge (52; 134) displaceable between a position in which the wedge prevents the printed circuit from being moved to its active position, and a retracted position in which the printed circuit is freely movable towards its active position. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switch is a push button comprising: - a key (38) movable between a depressed position and a projecting position to switch the switch from the open state to the closed state or vice versa, - An elastically deformable element (40) can automatically return the key to its projecting position, this element also forming the only means of automatic return of the printed circuit to its rest position in the absence of stress on the user. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group of electronic components comprises an electronic module (34; 98) for controlling the actuator capable of generating the control signal of the actuator in response to the switching. of the switch. Housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the group of electronic components comprises a wireless transmitter (102) capable of transmitting the control signal to the actuator in response to switching of the switch. Building automation with a controllable electric actuator (12), characterized in that the automation also comprises a housing (14) for controlling this actuator according to any one of the preceding claims.

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