EP2376737B1 - Exterior venetian blind comprising a sensor arrangement for detecting wind effects - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a solar protection installation comprising a blind with adjustable blades controlled by an electromechanical actuator, the blind being placed outside a glazed surface and subjected to wind. The invention also relates to a method of operating such a blind.

This type of blind, commonly called outdoor venetian blind comprises a rail, a drive mechanism, a plurality of parallel blades supported by laces and cords suspended from the drive mechanism, an electromechanical actuator adapted to act on the mechanism of drive to move the blades, for example vertically and orient them about their longitudinal axis. The laces and cords are also attached to a load bar, weighted, and taking the final blade position or the lowest blade of the blind. The blades are guided along slides or lateral cables.

The blind is usually associated with a sensor to measure the effects of wind on the blind. The measurement of the sensor is then used to control a folding of the blind. Indeed, the outdoor Venetian blind must be secured by an automatic control in case of strong wind, so as to protect the blind and the supporting structure against tearing under the effect of a strong wind. If there is wind, it is expected that the actuator drives the blind to a folded position in which the blades are less subject or are no longer subject to the effects of wind.

A sensor used in such an installation may be an anemometer, placed near the blind or at a facade. The distance from the anemometer also increases the lack of precision compared the real effects of the wind on the awning blades. It is also known to use vibration detectors or anemometers, for example accelerometers, piezoelectric cells, placed at the rail or possibly the load bar of the blind. These detectors allow a finer measurement of the effects of wind on the blades, but could be improved.

The patent EP 1 077 378 A2 describes a blind or canvas awning installation, including a wind sensor installed near the installation or on a preferential area of the installation.

The preferred areas are the load bar of a blind or awning, or the hinge of an arm, these areas being areas subject to strong wind influences.

However, further studies on the outer blinds with steerable blades have shown that movement, acceleration or vibration measurements on the load bar were not necessarily significant, and were limited by the weight of this load bar. The inertia of the load bar is all the more important added to the weight of the stacked blades when the blind is partially deployed. At the level of the rail or the supporting structure, the measurements are also imprecise with respect to the real effects of the wind.

• en statique : lorsque le store est complètement déployé, lames horizontales ; en position intermédiaire (store complètement déployé, lames orientées par exemple à 45°) ; en position dépliée partielle ;
• en dynamique : alors que le store effectue un mouvement de repli ou de déploiement ; alors que les lames sont en train d'être orientées (de 90° à 0° et inversement).

In addition, it is necessary to protect the blind in various configurations, including:

• in static: when the blind is fully deployed, horizontal blades; in the intermediate position (blind completely deployed, blades oriented for example at 45 °); in partial unfolded position;
• in dynamics: while the blind makes a movement of withdrawal or deployment; while the blades are being oriented (from 90 ° to 0 ° and vice versa).

The object of the invention is to provide a blind overcomes the above disadvantages and improving the known blinds of the prior art. In particular, the invention makes it possible to make more precise the determination of the effects of the wind on the blind.

The blind according to the invention is defined by claim 1.

Different embodiments of the blind according to the invention are defined by claims 2 to 9.

The blind operating method according to the invention is defined by claim 10.

• La figure 1 représente une installation selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une partie de l'installation selon l'invention.
• La figure 3 représente un graphique de signaux temporels obtenus grâce à un capteur fixé sur une lame finale (barre de charge) d'un store, avec et sans vent.
• La figure 4 représente un graphique de signaux temporels obtenus grâce à un capteur fixé sur une lame supérieure d'un store, avec et sans vent.
• La figure 5 représente un graphique de signaux temporels obtenus grâce à des capteurs fixés sur une lame finale et sur une lame supérieure d'un store, en présence de vent.

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

• The figure 1 represents an installation according to the invention.
• The figure 2 represents a part of the installation according to the invention.
• The figure 3 represents a graph of time signals obtained thanks to a sensor fixed on a final blade (load bar) of a blind, with and without wind.
• The figure 4 represents a graph of time signals obtained by means of a sensor fixed on an upper blade of a blind, with and without wind.
• The figure 5 represents a graph of time signals obtained by sensors fixed on a final blade and on an upper blade of a blind, in the presence of wind.

The invention proposes a positioning of the optimized wind sensor. The objective is to allow a fine detection of the effects of the wind on the blades of a blind, which is successful in the majority of the possible configurations of deployment and orientation of the blind. It is mainly intended for blinds placed outside buildings in front of glazed surfaces and therefore subject to the effects of wind. These blinds are generally deployed vertically from top to bottom, the top of the blind corresponding substantially to the top of the glass surface and the bottom of the blind at the bottom of the glass surface.

The invention is characterized in that the sensor is placed on one of the first blind blades closest to the rail.

When the blind is in the folded position, the blades rest and are stacked on the load bar, the orientation cords (also called ladders) between them being relaxed and folded between the blades or outside thereof , the drive laces being wound on themselves in a rocker placed at the rail, the rocker forming part of the drive mechanism.

During the deployment of a venetian blind, the highest blades move away from each other while the lowest blades are still stacked tight on the load bar. Ladders (especially the upper part) are gradually subjected to more tension, without it being very important. The highest blades are relatively free to move in windy conditions, including for a partial deployment of the blind. The lowest blades are stacked and the body including the stacked blades and the load bar is only slightly influenced by the wind. This freedom of movement of the upper blades increases the sensitivity to the effects of the wind and therefore the measurement sensitivity of the sensor placed at one of these blades. When the blind is fully deployed, all the ladders are subjected to the same tension.

During a fallback movement, the kinematics is substantially the same. The bottom blades stack one after the other on the load bar while the ladders are subjected to a decreasing tension.

The blinds guided by a cable are more sensitive to the wind than the blinds guided along the slides. However, in both cases, because of this guidance, the difference in horizontal reaction between the bottom and top of the awning vis-à-vis the wind is insignificant. The vertical reaction of the lower blades (lower blades) and the load bar is also limited by the weight of the load bar, even though the wind may become able to lift the load bar and the lower blades.

If a sensor is placed at one of the first blades of the awning, it will be able to detect the influence of the wind both in the situations of slightly deployed awning as in the situations of deployed awning, in static or in dynamic.

The positioning of a sensor on a first venetian blind blade is all the more advantageous that it can also be used for purposes other than wind detection. In particular, the use of an accelerometer makes it possible to detect the oriented position of the blades. Indeed, certain types of blinds have the distinction of being able to deploy while the blades are open. For this very advantageously, a sensor positioned on an upper blade can detect and control the orientation of the blades as soon as the awning begins to unfold.

In addition, this positioning close to the rail and the actuator simplifies the connection between the sensor and a control unit of the actuator. Unlike the mounting of a sensor on the load bar, it is not necessary to run power and / or information cables all along the blind, or consider an autonomous sensor including wireless measurement.

This simplifies the problems related to the autonomy of such sensors and gain in size at the sensor and the control unit.

The figure 1 represents a Venetian blind installation 1 comprising a blind 2 provided with orientable parallel blades 3 supported by cords 4 and 4 'suspended from a driving mechanism 6. An electromechanical actuator 5 is able to act on the drive mechanism to move and orient the blades about their longitudinal axis, using the training cords 4 and cords of orientations, or scales 4 '. The drive mechanism includes a drum 6a on which is wound one of the training cords and around which rotates one of the orientation cords. The cords are also attached to a load bar 7, weighted. When the blind is partially deployed or folded, a portion of the blades rests on this load bar, as shown in FIG. figure 1 . The portion of the unloaded orientation cords is shown bent between the blades or outside the blades.

The actuator and the drive mechanism are placed in a rail 8. The displacement of the blades and / or the load bar are guided in slides 9. Alternatively, the blades and the load bar can be guided by cables stretched on both sides of the blades. A sensor 10 is placed on the first blade of the blind, the closest to the rail. This sensor is intended to determine or measure motion characteristics of the blade on which it is mounted, such as its position and / or speed and / or acceleration, and / or vibrations thereof. A not shown connection cable connects the sensor to the actuator, and in particular to a control unit of the actuator.

The sensor may comprise a first portion 10 on a blade and a second portion positioned elsewhere, for example in the control unit. The two parts can be connected by power supply and / or information exchange conductors. Alternatively, they can be connected by a non-wired link, for example radio.

Preferably, the sensor or the first sensor portion is mounted on the upper blade of the blind, i.e., the one that is highest or closest to the drive mechanism. Alternatively, the sensor or the first sensor portion is mounted on one of the 3 or 5 upper blades of the blind, that is to say the 3 or 5 blades being the highest or closest to the mechanism of training.

The figure 2 details the installation in schema form. The actuator 5 comprises a control unit 20 for controlling a motor assembly 21, for example a geared motor, which may also comprise a brake (not shown). The motor assembly drives its output shaft (or shafts) 22 through the drive mechanism 6 intended to deploy, fold the blind 2 and orient its blades in a known manner. The blind itself is represented as a dashed block. The sensor 10, placed on one of the first blades of the blind (one of the upper blades of the blind) is connected to the control unit by a first cable 25. This first cable allows the sensor supply and transfer information from the sensor to the control unit, necessary for the invention. This first cable can pass along one of the orientation cords and through the rail to arrive at the control unit. This first cable may be replaced by a non-wired link 25 ', represented in dashed lines: indeed, the sensor 10 may be a sensor transmitting wireless information, for example a radio transmitter-sensor, or even operate as a passive device . Thus, a sensor composed on the one hand of a magnet, RFID chip or mirror placed on the or one of the first blades, and on the other hand a corresponding element (for example Hall effect sensor, Reed bulb, antenna RFID, optical transceiver) placed at the rail advantageously fulfills the conditions of the invention. The control unit is itself connected to a power source by a second cable 26.

The figure 3 is a graph representing as curves the vibrations detected by a sensor placed on the load bar of a venetian blind. The curves represent the vibrations along the X and Z axes represented at figure 1 and show respectively the lateral and vertical components of the displacement of the load bar. The upper curves show the vibrations of a deployed blind, open blades, subjected to a wind of 14 m / s, the curves of the bottom, the vibrations of the blind in the absence of wind.

This diagram is a control diagram that compares the orders of magnitude of the vibrations measured by the sensor on the load bar in the presence and in the absence of wind for the X and Z axes for a first type of roller blind, the blind being fully deployed and the blades closed. It is thus noted that there are differences, but not very significant, between the results with or without wind for the same axis. The exploitation of the measurements is possible but requires an important measuring precision and a fine exploitation of the results. he then there is a significant risk of detecting false information due for example to vibrations of the structure on which is fixed the Venetian, especially in case of strong wind.

For comparison, the figure 4 shows the vibrations measured by the sensor placed on the upper blade in the presence and in the absence of wind for the X and Z axes for the same type of roller blind, the blind being partially deployed and the blades being oriented open.

It is thus noted that there are significant differences between the results with or without wind for the same axis, even if the results are favored by the semi-open position of the blind and the orientation in opening of the blades: the curves of measurements with wind deviate significantly from the windless measurement curve which gives a control value. The exploitation of the measurements is thus facilitated compared to the preceding example.

The figure 5 is a graph representing in the form of curves the vibrations detected by a sensor placed, according to the invention, on the first blade of the blind, that is to say the closest to the rail and for comparison those detected by a sensor placed on the load bar. Similar results could be obtained for a sensor placed on the second or third blade. The curves represent the vibrations along the X and Z axes represented at figure 1 and show respectively the lateral and vertical components of the movement of the first blade.

1. 1 - suivant la composante Z verticale,
2. 2 - suivant la composante X horizontale.

On the figure 5 , curves 1 and 2 represent the vibrations of a deployed blind, blades open, subjected to a wind of 14 m / s, for a sensor on the first blade of the blind:

1. 1 - according to the vertical Z component,
2. 2 - according to the horizontal X component.

• 3 - suivant la composante X horizontale,
• 4 - suivant la composante Z verticale.

Curves 3 and 4 represent the vibrations of a deployed blind, blades open, subjected to a wind of 14 m / s, for a sensor on the blind load bar:

• 3 - according to the horizontal X component,
• 4 - according to the vertical Z component.

It can thus be seen that the two curves showing the vibrations detected by a sensor on the first blade are more marked, with greater variations in time. These variations also allow a better distinction with respect to results without wind, and thus an easy exploitation of the results, for the same sensibility of detection. The results are therefore more significant than for a sensor on the load bar.

The horizontal X-component vibration is larger in average value for the sensor on the load bar than for the sensor on the upper blade, while the vibration measured in the vertical Z component is larger for the sensor placed on the sensor. the upper blade.

However, regardless of the axis, the two curves for the sensor on the upper blade are located above those for the sensor placed on the load bar (higher average values).

The results will be more easily exploitable, for the same detection sensitivity.

It is therefore understood from these graphs that a measurement by a sensor placed on one of the first blade blades of the blind is more interesting as a measurement by a sensor placed on the load bar. In particular, the use of vector measurements (using the measurements provided along two or even three axes of an accelerometer, for example) makes it possible to detect real situations with even greater finesse.

• détection d'orientation précoce, dans les différentes phases de déploiement ou de repli du store,
• câblage ou alimentation du capteur simplifié : que le capteur soit sans fil, qu'il comprenne une partie passive installée sur la lame ou qu'il soit autonome (alimentation possible par proximité, sans contact),
• dans le cas d'un capteur autonome, la puissance d'émission n'a pas besoin d'être importante, compte tenu de la proximité avec l'unité de commande (le récepteur). Par exemple, la portée peut être limitée à moins de 30 cm. Ainsi, le capteur peut avoir une consommation réduite et permettre de garantir son autonomie sur une période plus importante qu'un capteur sans fil placé sur une barre de charge.

Moreover, other advantages of the positioning of the sensor have been highlighted and are detailed below. These reinforce the interest of positioning according to the invention and also show that this choice is not simply due to chance or simple tests.

• early orientation detection, in the different phases of deployment or folding of the blind,
• simplified sensor wiring or power supply: whether the sensor is wireless, whether it includes a passive part installed on the blade or whether it is autonomous (power supply possible by proximity, without contact),
• in the case of a standalone sensor, the transmit power need not be large, given the proximity to the control unit (the receiver). For example, the range may be limited to less than 30 cm. Thus, the sensor can have a reduced consumption and can guarantee its autonomy over a longer period than a wireless sensor placed on a load bar.

By "the upper blade" is meant throughout this document, the blind blade is the highest, that is to say the closest to the drive mechanism.

By "the upper blades" is meant throughout this document, the blades of the blind are the highest, that is to say the closest to the drive mechanism.

• Une étape de déploiement du store à partir d'une position complètement ouverte, lames empilées, vers une position de déploiement partiel, dans laquelle la lame supérieure sur laquelle est située la première partie du capteur est isolée des autres lames et dans laquelle au moins une partie des autres lames reste empilée sur une lame finale. Cette étape est assurée par le mécanisme d'entraînement entraîné par le motoréducteur 21, lui-même piloté par l'unité de commande.
• Une étape de détermination d'une caractéristique de vent à partir d'informations fournies par le capteur au moins lorsque le store est dans la position de déploiement partiel. Cette étape est par exemple assurée par l'unité de commande qui comprend des moyens de traitement des signaux reçus du capteur et contenant les informations.

The invention also relates to a method of operating a blind. The method comprises:

• A step of deploying the blind from a fully open position, stacked blades, to a partial deployment position, wherein the upper blade on which is located the first part of the sensor is isolated from the other blades and wherein at least one part of the remaining blades remains stacked on a final blade. This step is provided by the drive mechanism driven by the geared motor 21, itself controlled by the control unit.
• A step of determining a wind characteristic from information provided by the sensor at least when the blind is in the partial deployment position. This step is for example provided by the control unit which comprises means for processing the signals received from the sensor and containing the information.

The control unit preferably comprises hardware and / or software to govern the operation of the blind according to the method of the invention. These hardware and / or software means include for example computer programs.

When a blade is said to be isolated from the others, it is meant in this document that it is no longer part of the stack of blades on the load bar. It may remain partially in contact with one or both adjacent blades.

Claims (9)

1. Blind (2) of the venetian blind type, intended to be mounted in front of an opening of a building, comprising:

   - a plurality of parallel slats (3) of substantially horizontal longitudinal axis, supported by cords (4, 4') suspended from a drive mechanism (6),

   - an electromechanical actuator (5) able to act on the drive mechanism to move and orient the slats about their longitudinal axis, and

   - a sensor (10) intended to determine at least one characteristic of movement of one or more slats,

   characterized in that the sensor comprises at least a first part (10) placed on one of the upper slats of the blind and in that the movement of one or more slats is due to the wind to which the blind is subjected.
2. Blind according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first part of the sensor is a constituent part of the sensor able to move with the slat on which it is placed.
3. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part is placed on one of the top 5 slats of the blind, preferably on one of the top 3 slats of the blind.
4. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor makes it possible to determine the position in which the slats are oriented.
5. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor makes it possible to determine a characteristic of movement of the slat on which the first part is placed, the characteristic being notably a position and/or a speed and/or an acceleration and/or vibrations.
6. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part is passive or, respectively, active, and in that the sensor comprises a second part that is active or, respectively, passive, collaborating with the first part.
7. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part comprises a radio emitter with a range of under 30 cm.
8. Blind according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first part is connected by power supply and/or data interchange conductors, for example connected to one of the cords.
9. Method of operating a blind as defined in one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

   - deploying the blind from a completely open position with the slats stacked into a partially deployed position in which the top slat on which the first part of the sensor is situated is isolated from the other slats and in which at least part of the other slats remains stacked on a final slat;

   - determining a characteristic of one or more slats from information supplied by the sensor at least when the blind is in the position of partial deployment.

Images