EP2256278A2 - Method for operating a drive device and drive device and ventilation device or shadowing - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves storing energy provided by an energy collector (18) in an energy storage (19), where the energy collector and the energy storage are provided in an energy delivery device. The energy storage provides the stored energy to an actuator (5). The actuator is periodically loaded with the energy stored in the energy storage for performing gradual movement in a direction. A locking mechanism (8) is provided for the actuator, such that movement is prevented in another direction opposite to the former direction.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device, which has as an input element an actuator, with a power supply device which has at least one energy collector and an energy store for storing the energy provided by the energy collector and for outputting the stored energy to the actuator. The invention further relates to a drive device and a ventilation device or shading.

State of the art

Methods for operating a drive device according to the aforementioned type are known from the prior art. The drive device serves to provide a force or a torque to a consumer. In order to generate the force or the torque of the actuator is provided, so this serves as a drive element. To supply energy to the actuator, the energy delivery device is provided, which has the energy collector and the energy storage. The energy collector is used in the sense of an "energy harvesters" the collection of energy from an environment of the drive device. The energy collected by the energy collector is temporarily stored in the energy store. This cached energy may be delivered to the actuator to operate the drive device.

In general, in recent years there has been an increasing tendency to make electrical or electronic systems independent of a cable connection or an external power supply at least temporarily. Examples of such systems are laptops, MP3 players, portable tools, just to name a few. Such systems are with an energy storage, for example an accumulator, which is charged from time to time via the cable connection from an external power source. This can be avoided by gaining the energy needed to operate the system from its environment. For this purpose, the energy collector is provided, which may for example be in the form of thermocouples, solar cells, micro turbines or mechanical storage. Such energy collectors have in common that their size is subject to strong restrictions due to their intended use. However, the size also decreases the power that can be provided by the energy collector. The electrical power that a space-saving energy collector generates is usually in milliwatts. For the operation of sensors that are to measure and send data in not too small time intervals and also have no moving parts, this performance is often sufficient with skillful design. If, on the other hand, an actuator is to be operated, the power requirement is significantly higher. For this reason, the energy storage, which serves to temporarily store the energy provided by the energy collector, must be correspondingly large in size to allow operation of the actuator in a satisfactory manner. In the case of a correspondingly large energy store, however, the problem again arises that charging the energy store by means of the energy collector takes a very long time. This is especially true in the field of home automation, in which, for example, windows should be opened and / or closed by means of the drive device. At the same time, the space available for accommodating the energy collector is very small. Reliable opening or closing of the window by means of the drive device is thus not possible without providing an external power supply.

Disclosure of the invention

In contrast, the method for operating a drive device with the features mentioned in claim 1 has the advantage that with the drive device, a reliable energy self-sufficient operation is possible. This is accomplished by periodically loading the actuator with all of the energy stored in the energy store to effect a step of stepping in a first direction. It is therefore initially provided that the energy storage is charged by means of the energy collector. Subsequently, the entire energy in the energy store is applied to the actuator delivered, whereby a movement in the first direction is effected. The energy store is dimensioned such that the energy stored in it is sufficient to carry out a step of the stepwise movement. The actuator should therefore not be operated in a continuous operation or complete an adjustment process to an end. Rather, it is provided that the adjusting process proceeds stepwise and the energy of the energy storage is sufficient in each case to perform a step of this movement or the setting process. For this purpose, the energy storage and the energy collector with the actuator or the step size of the step to be performed are tuned. However, the energy storage device may for example be designed such that it can absorb slightly more energy than is necessary to carry out the step in order, for example, to compensate for environmental influences on the energy store (for example cold) or an aging process of the energy store.

For the operation of the actuator only provided by the energy collector energy is used, which is stored in the energy storage. Accordingly, no external energy supply is provided. The stepwise movement may be a multi-step movement, thus requiring several steps to achieve a desired parking position of the drive device. The drive device according to the invention is particularly applicable for a connection in the field of building technology, especially for ventilation devices such as windows, roof clutches or the like, but also for covers, shading devices and so on, so those systems that should be opened and closed from time to time, to regulate a climate in the respective building. In this area, it is extremely advantageous if the drive device for driving the said systems can be operated energy self-sufficient, for example, to be able to dispense with the laying of lines and to be able to provide them so in inaccessible places.

For example, a window can act as a self-sufficient, intelligent system together with energy-independent sensor technology and / or regulation so that a user of the building no longer has to actively take care of regulating the climate. However, the mechanical placement of such systems, such as windows and shadows, is very energy consuming while the available space for the actuator and the energy storage space - especially when integrated into a housing of said systems, such as a window frame - is very low. For this reason, it is provided to perform the adjusting movement of the respective system stepwise by means of the actuator, wherein the stored energy in the energy storage is substantially completely delivered to this, in order to perform the step of the stepwise movement. The movement is initially directed in the first direction. In this way, there is a method for operating the drive device, which realizes a combined system of actuator, energy storage and energy collector, which is able to meet all the relevant requirements for a control mechanism such as a window or a shade. These requirements are in particular small size, simple and inexpensive production and long life. Thus, the method allows efficient and without connection to an external power supply, for example, windows and other building elements to operate by energy gained from the environment, without having to provide a large energy storage.

A development of the invention provides that a locking of the actuator is provided such that a movement in a second direction opposite to the first direction is prevented. For example, to allow operation of the actuator against a force applied thereto without causing movement in the opposite direction after performing the step in the first direction, the locking of the actuator is performed. This is set in such a way that the movement in the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, is not possible. For example, by means of the actuator thus an adjusting movement can be carried out against a gravitational influence and then a backward movement due to the influence of gravity can be prevented. Thus, for example, it is possible to gradually open the aforementioned window by the movement in the first direction, which is provided against the force of gravity, thereby preventing a gravity caused by the window locking by the actuator.

A development of the invention provides that the lock is releasable to allow the movement in the second direction. Based on the example of It is easy to see from Window's that it should be possible to close it again after it has been opened. For this purpose, the lock is releasable. If the lock is released, the movement can take place in the second direction, for example, the window close due to the influence of gravity. In this case, the movement in the second direction may also be provided in several steps by releasing the lock or run continuously. In the latter case, the window can be opened stepwise, ie slowly, and for example brought to a defined position (for example partially opened). If it is desired to close the window, this can be done by releasing the lock, wherein preferably the closing of the window takes place quickly and continuously.

A development of the invention provides that the movement takes place in the second direction due to the influence of gravity or spring force. It has already been mentioned above that the movement in the second direction takes place under the influence of gravity. Alternatively or additionally, a spring may be provided, whose spring force causes the movement in the second direction. Likewise, however, the spring force may also be directed counter to the influence of gravity, so that the movement in the second direction is damped due to the influence of gravity by the spring force.

A development of the invention provides that for releasing the locking, a further actuator is provided, which is acted upon by energy from the energy storage. The energy stored in the energy store can therefore not only be used to operate the actuator in order to effect the movement in the first direction. Rather, it is provided that the other actuator is supplied by the energy storage with energy, the release of the lock should be effected.

A further development of the invention provides that, when the energy store is charged, a control device determines whether the movement in the first direction is carried out by means of the actuator or the release of the locking by means of the further actuator, for which purpose sensor data and / or external specifications are evaluated in particular. The control device thus serves to control the drive device. It determines whether the movement is in the first direction or in the second direction. In the former case, the control device controls the actuator so that the stepwise movement in the first direction is performed. If the movement is to be in the second direction, the control device activates the further actuator so that the lock is released. The control device may have sensors or be connected to such. The sensor data supplied by these sensors are used by the controller to set the direction of movement. Alternatively or additionally, external specifications can also be evaluated. This means that, for example, a user can specify whether the drive device should effect the movement in the first direction or in the second direction. For this purpose, a wired or wireless connection to the controller may be provided.

A further development of the invention provides that the distance traveled in the second direction is limited by restoring the lock. If the actuator is to be brought into a certain position by the movement in the second direction, which does not correspond to the starting position, then the lock can be restored as soon as this position is reached. In this way, for example, a fully open window can be brought into a half-open position, without having to complete a complete closing by releasing the lock and then a gradual opening of the window must be performed.

A development of the invention provides that the drive device is used for opening and closing a ventilation device, shading or the like, for driving a pump or for providing a valve. The ventilation device may be, for example, a window, a roof dome or the like. The pump may be a circulating pump, which is intended to circulate a liquid only slowly or only from time to time. Also, the drive device can be used to position the valve, wherein in particular a control valve, for example, for underfloor heating, is provided, which only has to be set at longer intervals.

The invention further relates to a drive device, in particular for a ventilation device, a shading or the like, and in particular for carrying out the method according to the preceding embodiments. The Drive device has an actuator as the drive element and has a power supply device having at least one energy collector and an energy storage for storing the energy provided by the energy collector and for providing the stored energy to the actuator. It is provided that the actuator can be acted upon periodically with the total energy stored in the energy storage in order to effect a step of a stepwise movement in a first direction. The drive device is particularly suitable for systems in which one or a few positions are to be reached quickly. Such a system may, for example, be the window which is to be quickly closed, or a shade which must be fully opened when the house is left by the user. On the other hand, parameters such as temperature, air quality and so on, due to which the drive device can be addressed by a controller, change much more slowly, often over a period of minutes to hours. In the systems described, it is therefore sufficient if the movement in the first direction, which is used to open the window, takes place only slowly. The movement in the second direction, ie to close the window, however, must be done quickly. The corresponding system can be designed such that it autonomously performs the movement in the second direction, that is, for example, merges into a closed state. In the case of ventilation devices in the form of roof hatches, this is given intrinsically, for example, due to the influence of gravity. Windows or shadows can be provided with a spring, in particular a tension spring. For the movement in the first direction, therefore, the gravity or the spring force must be overcome and additional energy expended to overcome friction.

A development of the invention provides that a locking counteracts a movement in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The locking is thus intended to allow the movement in the first direction, while the movement is inhibited in the second.

A development of the invention provides that for locking a pawl is provided. The pawl is part of a locking device, which is a moving back or turning back of the actuator in the second Direction does not allow. The pawl engages, for example, in a sawtooth-shaped element.

A development of the invention provides that the lock can be released by means of a further actuator to allow the movement in the second direction. For this purpose, the further actuator is, for example, connected to the pawl in such a way that release of the latching device can take place. In this case, the movement in the second direction is possible.

A development of the invention provides that the actuator is a stepping or traveling wave motor or an electric motor with a worm gear and a clutch. Such motors can be used as an alternative to the locking device or the pawl. It must therefore be provided no mechanical locking device. Rather, it is crucial that the drive device can proceed in small steps in the first direction and is held in the meantime in the assumed position, so no movement can take place in the second direction. For this purpose, even the conventional electric motor provided with the worm gear and the clutch can be used. Likewise, a piezobased actuator using the chimney climber principle may be used.

A development of the invention provides that a plurality of actuators are arranged in parallel or in series. In particular, if the actuator or the drive device to be able to reach several positions quickly, this can be realized by multiple actuators are arranged in parallel or in series. By the parallel connection of the actuators, an increased actuating force can be achieved, while in the serial arrangement increased travel ranges are possible.

The invention further relates to a ventilation device or shading. It has a drive device according to the above.

Figur 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Antriebsvorrichtung mit einem Ak- tuator, einem weiteren Aktuator und eine Energieliefereinrichtung, und

Figur 2

mehrere Diagramme, die einen zeitlichen Ablauf des Betreibens der An- triebsvorrichtung verdeutlichen.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawing, without any limitation of the invention. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic representation of a drive device with an actuator, another actuator and a power delivery device, and

FIG. 2

several diagrams that illustrate a timing of the operation of the drive device.

The FIG. 1 shows a drive device 1, which is for operating a window 2 - which represents a ventilation device 2 '- is used. It should be realized by means of the drive device 1, a tilting movement about a pivot axis 3, as indicated by the arrow 4. The drive device 1 has an actuator 5, with which a linear movement, as indicated by the arrow 6, can be achieved. The actuator 5 has an operative connection to the window 2 in such a way that the window 2 can be swung out by a movement of the actuator 5 in a first direction, that is, from a closed position into a tilted and thus open position. The actuator 5 must overcome a spring force of a spring 7, which is designed as a compression spring. The spring 7 is in the FIG. 1 exemplified with its one end to the actuator 5 and held stationary with its other end. To tilt the window 2, the actuator 5 moves stepwise to the left, wherein it counteracts the spring 7, which is designed as a compression spring. The movement of the actuator 5 takes place periodically, that is, it runs gradually.

In order to prevent the window 2 from being reset by the spring 7 while the actuator 5 is not active, the catch 8 is provided, wherein a pawl 9 engages in a locking counter-element 10 in a latching manner and the latching connection thus produced prevents the window 2 from moving backwards. The locking counter-element 10 is formed, for example, sawtooth. In the illustrated position of the pawl 9, this occurs against a locking surface 11 of the locking counter-element 10 when the window 2 is moved in a second direction due to the spring force of the spring 7. This will be prevented. When moving in the first direction, ie a deflection of the window 2 by the actuator 5, however, the pawl 9 runs on a sliding surface 12, whereby the pawl 9 can pass from a first detent region 13 into a second detent region 14.

By means of a further actuator 15, which can cause a movement in the direction of the arrow 16, the pawl 9 can be out of the sphere of influence of the locking counter-element 10 and also reverted into this. This means that the latching connection can be canceled by the further actuator 15 at least temporarily. If the latching connection is not present, then the spring 7 moves the window 2 back into its initial state, ie a closed position. Both the actuator 5 and the further actuator 15 are controlled by a control device (not shown). To supply energy to the actuators 5 and 15, an energy delivery device 17 is provided, which has an energy collector 18 and an energy store 19. The energy storage 19 is coupled to the energy collector 18 such that it stores energy provided by it. The energy collector 18 is, for example, a solar element for generating electrical energy from solar energy. The energy store 19 is designed such that the energy stored in it is just sufficient to displace the locking counter-element 10 by means of the actuator 5 in such a way that the pawl 9 can move from the latching area 13 into the next latching area 14. For this purpose, the entire energy stored in the energy store 19 is delivered to the actuator 5. The window 2 can therefore be moved only gradually to its fully open position. By contrast, it is possible by releasing the lock 8 to bring the window 2 in one step in its closed position.

The drive device 1 thus has as a central element a lock 8, which is designed as a ratchet mechanism, for which purpose, for example, a sawtooth-shaped contour is provided. The lock 8 blocks in the direction in which the window 2 would intrinsically move due to the spring force of the spring 7 (second direction). The actuator 5 serves to move the system in the first direction opposite to the second direction. By contrast, the further actuator 15 is, for example, mounted orthogonally to the blocking counter-element 10 or the actuator 10, so that it is able to release the latching connection between the pawl 9 and the counter-blocking element 10. The drive device 1 also has the control device, which is likewise supplied by the energy supply device 17, for example. The energy collector 18 recovers energy from an environment of the drive device 1 and the window 2 and charges the energy storage 19 quickly. If the energy store 19 is full, the control device decides whether the window 2 should be opened, closed or left in its current position. If the window 2 is to be opened, the actuator 5 pulls the window 2 a step in the first direction, so that the pawl 9 gets from the first latching area 13 into the second latching area 14.

The energy required for this purpose is supplied by the energy store 19, which must of course be matched to the detent 8 or a distance between the detent areas 13 and 14, respectively. Subsequently, the energy storage 19 is recharged before the next step is possible. In this way, the window 2 is moved slowly and gradually to a target position. In this case, the stored in the drive device 1 potential energy - by tensioning the spring 7 - to. If the window 2 is closed, then the actuator 15 is actuated, so that the latching connection of the lock 8 is opened. Due to the spring force of the spring 7, the window 2 now moves in the second direction, so that the window 2 closes. A partial closing can be set, for example, over a period of actuation of the actuator 15. If the window 2 to remain in its current position, none of the actuators 5 or 15 is actuated. Optionally, the energy storage 19 may be deflated to provide a time scale for the next step. However, this is not necessary, but depends on a corresponding design of the control device.

The FIG. 2 shows diagrams 20 to 29. The abscissa of the diagrams 20 to 29 generally corresponds to the time, while the diagrams 20 and 25 on their ordinate the position of the window 2, the diagrams 21 and 26, the energy stored in the energy storage 19, the diagrams 22 and 27 the potential energy stored in the spring 7, the diagrams 23 and 28 represent a speed of the actuator 5 and the diagrams 24 and 29 represent a speed of the further actuator 15. Diagrams 20 to 24 show the time courses of said variables during opening of the window 2, while the diagrams 25 to 29 depict them during closing. In highlighted areas 30, the energy storage device 19 is charged by means of the energy collector 18. It can be clearly seen from the diagram 20 that the position of the window 2 only changes when the energy source 19 Energy storage 19 is not loaded, ie outside of the areas 30. This is accompanied by the course of energy stored in the energy storage 19, as shown in the diagram 21. Within the areas 30 there is an increase in the stored energy up to a maximum, while in the subsequent movement of the window 2 in the first direction, the entire stored energy is consumed, so that the energy storage 19 is completely emptied.

During the opening of the window 2, the spring 7 is tensioned so that potential energy is built up, as indicated by diagram 22. The diagram 23 shows that the actuator 5 is actuated in each case for a short time, ie periodically, as soon as the energy store 19 is full. On the other hand, the actuator 15 is not actuated during the opening of the window 2, as the diagram 24 shows. In the diagrams 24 to 29 the closing of the window 2 is shown. This is done by means of an actuation of the actuator 15, as shown in diagram 29. Then the window 2 shifts to its closed position (diagram 25). To actuate the actuator 15, the entire energy stored in the energy store 19 is likewise consumed, as can be seen in diagram 26. By closing the window 2, the potential energy of the spring 7 is reduced (Diagram 27). An actuation of the actuator 5 does not take place (diagram 28).

Claims (15)

Method for operating a drive device (1) having as drive element an actuator (5), with a power supply device (17), the at least one energy collector (18) and an energy store (19) for storing the energy from the collector (18) provided energy and for outputting the stored energy to the actuator (5), characterized in that the actuator (5) is periodically charged with the total energy stored in the energy store (19) to effect a step of stepping in a first direction , A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a detent (8) of the actuator (5) is provided such that a movement in a second direction opposite to the first direction is prevented. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detent (8) is releasable to allow the movement in the second direction. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement takes place in the second direction due to the influence of gravity or spring force. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for releasing the lock (8), a further actuator (15) is provided, which is acted upon by energy from the energy store (19). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when the energy store (19) is charged, a control device determines whether the movement in the first direction of the actuator (5) or the release of the lock (8) by means of the further actuator (15) is performed, for which purpose in particular sensor data and / or external specifications are evaluated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance traveled in the second direction is limited by restoring the locking. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device for opening and closing a ventilation device (2 '), a shading or the like, is used to drive a pump or to provide a valve. Drive device (1), in particular for a ventilation device (2 '), shading or the like and in particular for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, which has an actuator (5) as the drive element, with a power supply device (17) at least one energy collector (18) and an energy store (19) for storing the energy provided by the energy collector (18) and providing the stored energy to the actuator (5), characterized in that the actuator (5) periodically with the entire Energy stored in the energy store (19) can be acted upon to effect a step of a stepwise movement in a first direction. Drive device according to claim 9, characterized in that a detent (8) counteracts a movement in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Drive device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pawl (9) is provided for locking (8). Drive device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (8) by means of a further actuator (15) is releasable to allow the movement in the second direction. Drive device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (5) is a stepping or traveling wave motor or an electric motor with a worm gear and a clutch. Drive device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of actuators (5) are arranged in parallel or in series. Ventilation device (2 ') or shading, characterized by a drive device according to one or more of the preceding claims.

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