EP1816308B1 - Device for shading building entrances having a sensor - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for shading building openings with a curtain formed by adjoining slats, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

In arrangements of this kind, weather influences can lead to restrictions with regard to certain functions. Thus, for example, the slats may be blocked by ice at greater cold, so that a pivoting movement about its longitudinal axis and accordingly a so-called blind function is not readily possible. If such restrictions are not observed and the functions that are not possible under the given conditions are nevertheless initiated, damage or destruction may occur. Without suitable precautions, therefore, a very careful and prudent and therefore cumbersome operation is required to avoid the said damage or destruction.

The DE 40 20 395 A1 shows a device of the kind mentioned, in which the position of a shutter blind fully automatically in response to the time and by a light sensor detected light incidence with additional modulation by the temperature (basic function) or partially (partial function) is lowered or raised. If the brightness reaches a certain limit, which corresponds to a partial reduction, the roller shutter is lowered accordingly. If it gets darker again, the roller shutter is opened again. Reopening, however, may be disabled by a time-dependent override command. In this known arrangement is therefore dependent on the Lighting conditions, the basic function (complete lowering) or the partial function (partial lowering) and triggered when falling below a limit, the starting position approached. However, the subfunction present here is not critical to weather and is always shared if the basic function is used, since the roller shutter curtain always passes through a partial reduction position in the case of a complete reduction or increase. The problem that damage or destruction could occur when the sub-function is actuated does not occur here.

The DE 298 09 684 U1 shows a roller shutter, in which the winding shaft driven by an electric motor is arranged on the underside of the opening to be covered by the curtain. In order to prevent the motor from burning when the winding shaft is blocked by ice, a thermosensor and a temperature switch are provided, which switches off the electric motor in the event of frost and accordingly completely prevents actuation of the curtain.

The DE 40 23 673 A1 in turn contains a control and regulation system for a fully automatic operation of a roller shutter and is thus on the line already discussed above DE 40 20 395 A1 ,

The EP 1069 275 A shows and describes a so-called Raffstore whose curtain is formed by hung on a so-called ladder lamellae, wherein in addition to the basic function (raising and lowering of the curtain) and a partial function (pivoting of the slats) is provided and the motors serving for this purpose influenced by various sensors Control device is assigned. A weather-dependent block of the subfunction while maintaining the basic function is not provided here. The subfunction is executed here only time-dependent or depending on the direction of the compass.

On this basis, it is therefore the object of the present invention, an arrangement of the type mentioned above with simple and inexpensive means so To improve that a high ease of use and reliability can be achieved and that while maintaining the basic function of a weather-related damage or destruction of the device is effectively prevented.

This object is achieved by the features in claim 1.

These measures advantageously ensure that due to the weather conditions existing restrictions on certain functions are automatically observed without the basic function would be limited, so that it is always available and at the same time a weather-related damage or destruction of the device is effectively prevented, which facilitates the operation of the arrangement according to the invention and increases the reliability.

Advantageous embodiments and expedient developments of the above-mentioned measures are specified in the dependent claims and from the following example description with reference to the drawing closer.

The drawing described below contains a schematic representation of a rooftop window associated with a jalousable shutter with temperature sensor.

The main field of application of the present invention is the weathering particularly exposed shading devices for building openings as is the case with a shading window associated with a shading device. The invention will therefore be described below described on the basis of a roof window associated roller shutter, the curtain in the main function is moved up and down, but in which at least one further function is provided by the slats are like blind slats about its longitudinal axis pivotally, which is hereinafter referred to as Jalousierfunktion. The description is also based on an embodiment with a designed as a temperature sensor weather sensor. In this context, however, it should be mentioned that, of course, other applications are conceivable.

The drawing shows a roof structure 1 with an opening 2, in which a roof window 3 is used, on which an associated roller shutter 4 is placed. This has a curtain 6 formed by adjoining slats 5, which is movable up and down. In the drawing, the curtain 6 is shown in its lower end position.

The upper end of the curtain 6 is mounted on a winding shaft 7, on which the curtain 6 can be wound up. The winding shaft 7 may be formed as a spring shaft whose spring arrangement is tensioned when unwinding the curtain 6 and vice versa. To move the blind 6 of the winding shaft 7 are adjacent, in guidance prevents the slats 5 can be brought into the Jalousierstellung as soon as or as long as a predetermined temperature is present. If the slats 5 are in the Jalousierstellung when reaching a predetermined temperature, they are returned to the normal position and then locked for the Jalousierfunktion. For this purpose, the curtain 6 is simply lightly attracted in the described embodiment, ie the movement beyond the covering position of the curtain 6 is reversed. In the normal position of the curtain 6 is only moved up and down. This basic function should remain available.

For detecting the temperature, a weather sensor 11 designed here as a temperature sensor is provided, the output of which communicates with an associated input of the control device 10, as indicated by a signal line 12. If, in addition to or as an alternative to the temperature, another weather parameter is to be recorded, a weather sensor corresponding to this weather parameter is to be provided. This is to be positioned in any case on a weather-exposed site. Trained as a temperature sensor weather sensor 11 is arranged in the outer region of the shutter 4, that discharged by the engine 9 waste heat can not lead to a distortion of the measurement result.

The weather sensor 11 is expediently designed as a digital sensor, which is provided with a one-wire interface. A limit value for the value of the weather parameter measured by means of the weather sensor 11, in the present case for the outside temperature measured by means of the temperature sensor, is specified in the control device 9. Upon reaching or presence of this limit certain, coming from the outside control commands, in the example shown, the command to initiate the Jalousierfunktion suppressed, or automatically given the control command to undo an existing Jalousierstellung, ie in the example shown, the curtain 6 to attract until the slats 5 are pivoted back into the normal position. Since the control device 10, as already mentioned above, expediently designed as a freely programmable controller, the specification of each desired limit or its subsequent change in a simple manner possible.

In the example shown with temperature sensor, a limit of 4 ° C is expediently set. As soon as this temperature is present, the control device 10 causes the motor 9 to no longer be able to move the curtain 6 beyond the lower covering position, so that the lamellae 5 remain in the normal position and are not pivoted. If the lamellae 5 are pivoted upon reaching said limit temperature, the control device 10 automatically raises the command to the motor 9 to raise the curtain 6 so far that the lamellae 5 are moved back to the normal position, and that the curtain 6 can not be lowered further , In this situation, the curtain 6 can only be moved up and up to the covering position, which means no significant danger even with heavy frost, since the drive wheels 8 ensure reliable transport of the curtain 6 and a winding can take place on the Wikkelwelle 7.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail above, but without this being a limitation connected. Thus, the invention can of course be used not only in conjunction with a louverable roller shutter for a roof window, but also in conjunction with other shading devices. The same applies to the weather parameter. Of course, the invention can also be used with advantage where it does not or not exclusively depend on the temperature, but also other weather parameters, such as wind load, etc. Also, the suppression of the blind function in the example shown is only one possibility, which provides the invention. Of course, it would also be conceivable to suppress or initiate other functions depending on a specific weather signal.

Claims (12)

1. A device for shading building openings comprising a curtain (6) formed by adjacent slats (5), such curtain (6) being actuatable by a motor (9), with the motor (9) being associated with a control means (10) comprising at least one input for a signal provided by at least one weather sensor (11) and being designed in such a manner that the motor (9) depending on functions of the curtain (6) preset by the weather signal omits and/or carries out associated movements, with at least one partial function being provided besides a basic function of the curtain (6) and with a limit value for the weather signal emitted by the weather sensor (11) being presettable within the control means (10), characterised in that the at least one partial function is a further critical function selectable during operation of the device and provided in addition to the main function, and further that the control means (10) is designed in such a manner that the curtain (6) in its basic function is still actuatable by the motor (9) when the preset limit value is present and/or has been reached and that only the at least one critical partial function is blocked.
2. A device in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that the control means (10) is designed as a freely programmable control.
3. A device in accordance with Claim 2, characterised in that the limit value presettable in the control means (10) has a desirable distance from a critical value.
4. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the weather sensor (11) is designed as a digital sensor.
5. A device in accordance with Claim 4, characterised in that the weather sensor (11) is provided with a digital one wire interface.
6. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the weather sensor (11) is designed as a temperature sensor.
7. A device in accordance with Claim 6, characterised in that the weather sensor (11) designed as a temperature sensor is provided on the outside.
8. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims 3 to 7, characterised in that the control means (10) is designed in such a manner that the motor (9) for functions of the curtain (6) preset at a temperature limit value of 4°C omits and/or carries out associated movements.
9. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the control means (10) is designed in such a manner that the curtain (6) being in the critical partial function when a presettable limit value has been reached is moved back to its basic function by means of the motor (9).
10. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that in the case of a roller shutter (4) with blind function, where the slats (5) are tiltable around their longitudinal axis by moving the curtain (6) beyond a bottom cover position, the control means (10) is designed in such a manner that a movement of the curtain (6) beyond the bottom cover position can be blocked and/or reverted when a presettable limit value is present and/or has been reached.
11. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the device is a roller shutter for roof windows.
12. A device in accordance with any of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the slats (5) forming the curtain (6) have a blind function around their longitudinal axis and that the said blind function is the critical partial function in case of frost.

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