EP3514307B1 - Management of the combined movement of two motorised leaves in the event of one of the leaves encountering an obstacle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for managing the combined movement of two leaves or leaves, more particularly in the event that one of the leaves encounters an unforeseen obstacle, involving a specific response from the system. In this case, in fact, the in principle automated movement of the leaves is stopped and the normal closing or opening cycle can no longer continue normally.

In the absence of a problem of this order, the management of the relative movement of two leaves respectively covering and covered with swing shutters or motorized doors is done in practice in particular by managing a time lag or a difference in speed in their movements, which requires control of the drive means and the positions of the leaves. In short, the leaves are designed to be movable between two extreme stable opening and closing positions with a view to disengaging and closing openings made in the walls of buildings. This requires designating beforehand a covering leaf and a covered leaf whose combined movements are managed to prevent collisions and guarantee the complete closing of the opening if it is desired. In order to be able to ensure their coordinated automated movements, in particular between these extreme positions, these leaves are connected to drive means which are themselves controlled by electronic control means.

There are many technical solutions for the implementation and control of these drive means, knowing that the problems to be solved in this context are themselves of several orders: as mentioned, it is first necessary to be able to pilot in a coordinated the covered leaf and the covering leaf, so that they do not collide during their movements. The resulting difference in processing involves controlling at all times the relative positioning of the two leaves in order to allow their automated movement without path interference. In many cases, the operation of these leaves also requires generating a positioning of the leaves in an intermediate position, considered optimal by the user, in particular to promote better sun protection and/or better ventilation, and which must be taken into account in management. Without forgetting the management of abnormal operating conditions that risk damaging it, such as the occurrence of high winds, or the existence of unforeseen obstacle(s) in the path of at least one leaf, conditions that should be detected and treated and which constitute the subject of the invention.

As a reminder, the existing technical solutions making it possible to respond to these problems are varied, giving rise to sometimes very different modes of operation. Thus, the majority of existing systems are equipped with a single motor which manages the simultaneous movements of the two leaves. The drive by a single motor means leads to a positioning of one of the wings which is necessarily and at all times in the mechanical dependence of the other, implying a certain operating rigidity. The choice of a single motor in fact implies the installation of a dedicated mechanism of the linkage type, for example based on a rack, which also occupies a significant space under the central part of the lintel of the opening and mask part of its surface.

A technical alternative consists in favoring separate motorization of the leaves, allowing independence of movements, and consequently greater flexibility, the consequence of doubling the drive equipment being in certain cases to provide and manage communications between the two. In practice, these independent drive path solutions move the type of solution from a technically mechanical terrain to a more electrical/electronic approach.

Within these electronic solutions, there are responses to two electronic control units, one per motorization system, and alternatives comprising only one electronic card managing the two motorization blocks. The connection between the electronic units or between the motorization systems can then be wireless or, on the contrary, wired, depending on the options taken and the conditions of use sought.

The links and, in some cases, the communication between the electronic cards for managing the leaf drive means, can complicate and ultimately weaken the robustness of the solution. This is a sensitive issue, particularly from the perspective of the management of events such as the encounter with obstacles hindering the normal movement of the leaves, potentially destructive to the system if they are not dealt with, a question which is at the heart of the present invention. .

The latter, which is part of the group of solutions based on drive means specific to each leaf, offers a reliable, robust and precise global solution to the problem of the combined control of leaf movements, including the treatment of unforeseen events likely to upset the normal operation of the system.

• détection permanente d'un obstacle qui stoppe le déplacement d'un des deux vantaux ;
• si le déplacement des vantaux va dans le sens de l'ouverture respectivement fermeture, pas d'arrêt de la commande de l'ouverture respectivement de la fermeture complète du vantail non stoppé ;

• détection de l'arrivée en butée dudit vantail ;
• envoi par l'unité de traitement électronique aux moyens d'entraînement maîtres et auxiliaires d'un signal de fermeture respectivement d'ouverture complète des deux vantaux ; et
• commande par l'unité de traitement électronique aux moyens d'entraînement maîtres et auxiliaires de l'engagement d'un cycle normal d'ouverture respectivement fermeture.

In fact, the invention is embodied more particularly in a method for managing the encounter with unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves respectively main defined as covered and secondary defined as covering, each driven by drive means respectively masters for the covered leaf and auxiliaries for the covered leaf, said drive means being controlled by an electronic processing unit fitted to the master drive means and to which the auxiliary drive means are connected, the electronic processing unit being provided with means for measuring the displacement of the master drive means, elements already described in FR 2 741 651 . The invention is characterized in particular by the following steps:

• permanent detection of an obstacle which stops the movement of one of the two leaves;
• if the movement of the leaves goes in the direction of opening respectively closing, no stoppage of the control of the opening respectively of the complete closing of the non-stop leaf;

• detection of the arrival in abutment of said leaf;
• sending by the electronic processing unit to the master and auxiliary drive means of a closing signal respectively of complete opening of the two leaves; And
• command by the electronic processing unit to the master and auxiliary drive means of the engagement of a normal cycle of opening respectively closing.

In essence, when a leaf encounters a problem during its movement, the system maintains the current movement of the other leaf. Then reversing the movements makes it possible to return to the original situation, that is to say preceding the movement during which the problem occurred. The system carries out a sort of reinitialization of the operation from the stored basic data, in particular the stop positions from which the movements start.

According to the method, when the normal closing cycle is engaged, if the main and secondary leaves do not return to a complete closed position with their definition of respectively covered and covering leaf, the electronic processing unit triggers a readjustment procedure making it possible to find such a position.

In the context of the invention, a learning step is provided, which carries out the detection and storage in the electronic processing unit of at least the stable open and closed positions of each leaf in the covered/covering function which corresponds to them. has been affected. It is in particular on the basis of these stored positions that the resetting procedure is carried out.

Preferably, this learning step includes the memorization, at least for the master drive means of the covered leaf, of the travel traveled during the movement between the stable open and closed positions.

The knowledge by the system of the positions at the stop or even of the races to be carried out by the leaves makes it possible, in the event of detection of untimely obstacles, to reinitialize the system at the end of the reversal of the movements and, if the said reinitialization does not correspond to the information of positioning at the terminals as stored, the triggering of a readjustment procedure.

The normal movements of the leaves are managed on the basis of a predetermined time shift and stored in a storage memory of the electronic processing unit, which is implemented when the drive means are started, on receipt of a signal closing respectively opening of the leaves in the electronic processing unit of the system.

Preferably, under the invention, the drive means are electric motors. In this case, a current threshold value reflecting the blocking of the electric motors is stored in a storage memory of the electronic processing unit, and the instantaneous value of the current is measured continuously by means for measuring the current in each motor electric. This value is continuously compared with the stored threshold value, and each electric motor is stopped when the instantaneous value measured therein is greater than said threshold value. In other words, it is an operation by measurement of the called torque of the motors.

The measurement of the currents in the motors, which enables the system to know whether the leaves are moving or are in abutment against something, combined with the stored knowledge of the travels covered by the leaves between the predetermined stop positions, makes it possible to manage movements and know if they can be considered normal or if a problem has arisen.

The invention also relates to a device for managing the combined movement of two leaves respectively covering and covered with swing shutters or motorized doors, movable between two stable opening and closing positions for the release and sealing of door or window openings, each of the leaves being equipped with drive means managed according to the method mentioned above in the event of an obstacle being encountered, that is to say allowing in particular the measurement of the movement of the drive means. According to the invention, the method is in particular such that the drive means of a first leaf are masters of the auxiliary drive means of a second leaf, said master and auxiliary drive means being connected to a control unit. electronic processing equipping the master drive means.

There is therefore, in the hypothesis of the invention, only one electronic card which comes under the master drive means, and which manages the two drive devices.

This electronic processing unit comprises a radiofrequency signal receiver, at least one data storage memory and means for measuring the displacement of the master drive means. The purpose of the receiver is in particular to receive, with a view to processing them, the signals sent by a remote control able to operate the shutters, leaves, leaves, etc.

Preferably, the drive means consist of an electric motor for each leaf, and the measuring means consist of a tachometer which measures the movement of the master motor, that of the auxiliary motor being able to be deduced from knowledge of the timing and measurement of currents signaling arrivals at end stop.

Counting the revolutions traveled by the motor shaft is an operation that is simple to perform, very reliable, and which gives an extremely precise indication of the position of the leaf. It is also a simple and effective means of managing intermediate positions if necessary, for example a predetermined ajar position of the leaves, or to help in the assessment of situations which deviate from the basic operation of closing and open the leaves.

According to a preferred possibility, the drive means can be powered by at least one battery recharged by at least one photovoltaic panel, which makes the operation of the leaves energetically autonomous.

As mentioned, the system is controlled by means of a radiofrequency transmitter remote control sending opening and closing messages to the receiver of the leaf electronic processing unit. It is in fact the interface, for the user, allowing him to operate the whole.

In order to implement the staggered movements of the leaves and to detect in particular the arrivals at abutment, the electronic processing unit comprises a delay stage and means for measuring the current in the motors. They make it possible in practice to detect a blocking of the motor, since this causes a sudden increase in the current. This measurement is first of all useful for detecting arrivals at a stop, with a view to managing the various routes and the number of revolutions which correspond to them. It is also used to detect accidental blockages due to undesirable obstacles, and which do not correspond to foreseeable routes/stops.

The timing stage manages the offset between leaves, which can be predetermined and stored in the storage memory of the electronic processing unit. It triggers the timer upon receipt of the remote control signal in the electronic unit.

The lag is in practice of the order of 3 to 5 seconds, i.e. to allow the leaves to intersect under good conditions, one or the other, depending on the nature of the operation controlled (opening or closing), leaves the first and performs its movement a little in advance, the second being driven in stride with an offset of a value of this order.

• la figure 1 représente un organigramme simplifié de fonctionnement du système lorsqu'un vantail rencontre un obstacle imprévu à l'ouverture ; et
• la figure 2 montre un organigramme similaire de fonctionnement du système lorsqu'un vantail rencontre un obstacle imprévu à la fermeture.

The invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended figures, for which:

• there figure 1 shows a simplified flowchart of system operation when a leaf encounters an unforeseen obstacle during opening; And
• there picture 2 shows a similar flowchart of system operation when a sash encounters an unexpected obstacle while closing.

With reference to the figure 1 , when an operator actuates a remote control with a view to opening swing or leaf shutters capable of closing a bay, said remote control sends a radiofrequency signal picked up by the receiver of the electronic processing unit which controls the two motors. The control of the leaves is done as we have seen with a slight offset from one relative to the other to avoid any positional interference in the opening strokes of the two leaves. More precisely, during an opening phase, the covering leaf starts its movement a few seconds before the covered leaf, in other words the auxiliary motor is activated first, followed with a slight lag by the master motor.

If one of the leaves, whatever it is (covering or covered) encounters an unforeseen obstacle, detected in the system by an increase in torque and therefore in current, said leaf is blocked, and the power supply to the corresponding motor is cut off. by the electronic unit. This, however, maintains the control of the opening of the other leaf until it comes to a stop in its fully open position.

When this arrival at the stop is detected, the electronic processing unit commands the closing of the two leaves, which is in principle possible since the obstacle encountered is located in the path of the opening and is therefore not active in a closing movement.

When the two leaves are correctly closed, the system then commands a new normal opening cycle. In the event that the main leaf carrying the master motor does not find, at the end of this closing operation, in its initial closing position as resulting in particular from the information stored via the rev counter, leading to a closing which is not carried out correctly, a resetting procedure is launched, which guarantees that the covered leaf is indeed completely covered by the covering leaf .

The equivalent is true during an operating cycle aimed at closing the leaves, as shown in picture 2 . We start from an open position and a normal closing cycle is initiated by action on the remote control, then passed on by the electronic processing unit which controls the two motors: first the master motor of the covered leaf and then, after a delay of a few seconds, the auxiliary motor of the covering leaf.

If an obstacle occurs on the closing path of at least one of the two leaves, the system suspends the control of the corresponding motor but does not act on the control of the motor of the other leaf, which closes normally. When it comes to a stop, the electronic unit controls the opening of the two leaves, which is a priori possible since the obstacle encountered opposes the closing and not the opening of the leaf concerned. Then, the system initiates a new normal closing cycle.

The management of unforeseen events of the obstacle type opposing the movements of the leaves is carried out, within the framework of the invention, by a simple and effective method implemented by a particularly robust and reliable device.

The invention is of course not limited to the examples of operation which are set out with reference to the figures, but it encompasses the variants and versions which come within the scope of the claims.

Claims (14)

1. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves, respectively a main leave defined as covered and a secondary leaf defined as covering, each controlled by drive means, respectively master drive means for the covered leaf and auxiliary drive means for the covering leaf, said drive means being controlled by an electronic processing unit which is provided on the master drive means and to which the auxiliary drive means are connected, the electronic processing unit being provided with means for measuring the movement of the master drive means, characterized by:

   - detection of an obstacle which stops the movement of one of the two leaves;

   - if the movement of the leaves is in the direction of opening or closing, not stopping the command for the complete opening or closing of the non-stopped leaf;

   - detection of said leaf coming into abutment;

   - transmission, by the electronic processing unit to the master drive means and auxiliary drive means, of a signal for completely closing or opening the two leaves; and

   - command, by the electronic processing unit to the master drive means and auxiliary drive means, for initiating a normal cycle of opening or closing.
2. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, when the normal closing cycle is initiated, if the main and secondary leaves do not return to a completely closed position, with their definition of covered leaf and covering leaf, respectively, the electronic processing unit triggers a resetting procedure making it possible to return to such a position.
3. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a learning step performs the detection and storage, in the electronic processing unit, of at least the stable open and closed positions of each leaf in the covered/covering function assigned thereto.
4. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the learning step comprises storing, at least for the master drive means of the covered leaf, of the distance covered during the movement between the stable open and closed positions.
5. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a predetermined time shift stored in a storage memory of the electronic processing unit is implemented at the start-up of the drive means upon receipt, in the electronic processing unit, of a signal for closing or opening the leaves.
6. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means are electric motors.
7. Method for managing the meeting of unforeseen obstacles during the combined movement of two leaves according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, with a current threshold value that reflects the blocking of the electric motors being stored in a storage memory of the electronic processing unit, the instantaneous value of the current continuously measured by current measuring means in each electric motor is continuously compared with the stored threshold value, and each electric motor is stopped when the instantaneous value measured therein is greater than said threshold value.
8. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves, respectively a covering leaf and a covered leaf, of swing shutters or motorized doors, which leaves are movable between two stable open and closed positions for clearing and closing off door or window openings, the management device including drive means and each of the leaves being provided with the drive means managed by an electronic processing unit and means for measuring the movement of the drive means, the leaves being managed according to the method of the preceding claims in the event of meeting an obstacle, such that the drive means of a first leaf are the master for the auxiliary drive means of a second leaf, said master and auxiliary drive means being connected to the electronic processing unit provided on the master drive means.
9. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the electronic processing unit comprises a radio frequency signal receiver, at least one data storage memory and means for measuring the movement of the master drive means.
10. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to either claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the drive means consist of an electric motor for each leaf, and the measuring means consist of a rev counter.
11. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the drive means are powered by at least one battery recharged by at least one photovoltaic panel.
12. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it is controlled by means of a remote control having a radiofrequency transmitter transmitting opening and closing messages to the receiver of the electronic processing unit.
13. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to any of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the electronic processing unit comprises a time-delay stage.
14. Device for managing the combined movement of two leaves according to any of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the electronic processing unit comprises means for measuring the current in the motors.

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