EP4187055A1 - Device for automatically actuating a crank of a roller shutter - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to an automatic maneuvering device (100) for a roller shutter crank (200) comprising:- an electric motor (140),- an electric power supply unit (160) for the electric motor,- a first gear element (120) mounted around the crank (200),- a second gear element (130) mounted around the electric motor and meshed in the first gear element,- a control unit (170 ) of the electric motor, configured to control the rotation of said electric motor, the rotation of the electric motor causing rotation of the crank via the first and second gear elements.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automatic operating device for a rolling shutter crank. The invention finds applications in all areas of building closure and in particular in the areas of home renovation and improvement.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently many types of window and door closing systems for commercial, industrial or residential premises. One of these closing systems, frequently used in housing, is the rolling shutter, the closing panel of which is a slatted apron wound around a hub, the rotation of which is actuated from inside the housing.

Conventional roller shutters are generally operated manually by a user by means of a rod connected to the hub around which the slatted apron is wound and a crank allowing the user to actuate the rotation of the rod and consequently of the hub. These manual roller shutters are relatively tedious to unroll and roll up because many turns of the crank are required to unroll or roll up the entire slatted curtain.

To simplify the winding or unwinding of the slatted apron, certain rolling shutters, known as electric, comprise an electric motor housed in the hub and driving said hub in rotation. Indeed, the electric motor, connected to the electrical network, allows automatic winding and/or unwinding of the slat apron around the hub. The electric motor is controlled from a control switch or a remote control. Such electric roller shutters are generally installed in new homes. Their installation in a home being renovated is relatively expensive because it requires not only the removal of the manual roller shutter and the installation of the electric roller shutter, but also the installation of the electrical wiring allowing the motor to be powered from the electrical network.

To limit costs and avoid having to remove the manual roller shutter and install the electric roller shutter, it is possible to motorise the manual roller shutter by installing a motor near the hub around which the slat curtain is wound. For this, it is necessary to dismantle the casing in which the hub and the slat apron are housed, to install the motor in the hub, to install the electrical wiring to connect the motor to the electrical network, to install a switch control and reassemble the box. The motorization of a manual roller shutter is therefore complex and requires the intervention of a professional. The user of the roller shutter can hardly carry out such a motorization alone.

Other devices for motorizing a manual rolling shutter have been proposed, such as that disclosed in the patent document WO 2021/161194 A1 , these devices being generally complex to install. For example, the device disclosed in this document requires dismantling the rod and the crank of the rolling shutter to install several modules positioned one above the other; it also requires fixing each of these modules by means of a screw system. Such a device therefore has not only the disadvantage of being complex to install (several elements having to be mounted in a defined order, at specific locations) but also that of being fixed and therefore dedicated to a predefined roller shutter.

There is therefore a real need for a device making it possible to operate a rolling shutter electrically which is removable and easy to install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To respond to the problems mentioned above of the complexity of the installation of motorization devices, the applicant proposes a device for motorizing the crank of a rolling shutter, this device being removable so as to be able to be used successively on several shutter cranks rolling.

• un moteur électrique,
• une unité d'alimentation électrique du moteur électrique,
• un premier élément d'engrenage monté autour de la manivelle,
• un second élément d'engrenage monté autour du moteur électrique et engrené dans le premier élément d'engrenage,
• une unité de commande du moteur électrique, configurée pour commander la rotation dudit moteur électrique, la rotation du moteur électrique entraînant une rotation de la manivelle par l'intermédiaire des premier et second éléments d'engrenage.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to an automatic operating device for a roller shutter crank comprising:

• an electric motor,
• an electric motor power supply unit,
• a first gear element mounted around the crank,
• a second gear element mounted around the electric motor and meshed in the first gear element,
• an electric motor control unit, configured to control rotation of said electric motor, the rotation of the electric motor causing rotation of the crank through the first and second gear elements.

Since this device is mounted directly on the roller shutter crank, it is easy to install and can be installed by the user himself. Due to its simplicity of installation, it can be installed successively on several cranks according to needs.

• il comporte un boîtier dans lequel sont logés au moins le moteur électrique, le premier élément d'engrenage, le second élément d'engrenage et l'unité de commande.
• il est monté à proximité d'une articulation de la manivelle.
• il est monté autour d'une poignée mobile de la manivelle, ladite poignée étant insérée à l'intérieur du premier élément d'engrenage.
• il comporte un système de verrouillage pour verrouiller le positionnement dudit dispositif de manœuvre automatique autour de la manivelle.
• le système de verrouillage est monté au-dessus d'une face supérieure du boîtier, autour de l'articulation de la manivelle.
• il comporte un élément de fixation amovible, pour fixer de manière amovible le boîtier contre un support adjacent à la manivelle.
• le premier élément d'engrenage et le second élément d'engrenage comprennent chacun une couronne munie, sur sa paroi extérieure, d'une dentelure, ladite dentelure du premier élément d'engrenage étant complémentaire de la dentelure du second élément d'engrenage.
• l'unité de commande comporte une carte électronique de commande à distance.
• la carte électronique de commande à distance est connectée par une liaison sans fil à une application téléchargée dans un téléphone mobile ou une tablette.

In addition to the characteristics which have just been mentioned in the previous paragraph, the automatic maneuvering device according to the invention may have one or more additional characteristics among the following, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations:

• it comprises a casing in which are housed at least the electric motor, the first gear element, the second gear element and the control unit.
• it is mounted close to a crank joint.
• it is mounted around a movable handle of the crank, said handle being inserted inside the first gear element.
• it comprises a locking system to lock the positioning of said automatic maneuvering device around the crank.
• the locking system is mounted above an upper face of the housing, around the articulation of the crank.
• it comprises a removable fixing element, for removably fixing the casing against a support adjacent to the crank.
• the first gear element and the second gear element each comprise a crown provided, on its outer wall, with a serration, said serration of the first gear element being complementary to the serration of the second gear element.
• the control unit comprises a remote control electronic card.
• the remote control electronic card is connected by a wireless link to an application downloaded into a mobile telephone or a tablet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

• La figure 1 représente une vue schématique d'une manivelle de volet roulant autour de laquelle est monté un dispositif de manœuvre automatique selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• La figure 2 représente une vue schématique en perspective d'un exemple du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention, monté sur une manivelle de volet roulant ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue schématique de profil, en coupe, d'un exemple du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention, monté sur une manivelle de volet roulant ;
• La figure 4 représente une vue schématique de face, en coupe, d'un exemple du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention, monté sur une manivelle de volet roulant ;
• La figure 5 représente une vue schématique en coupe du premier élément d'engrenage du dispositif de manœuvre automatique, monté autour de la poignée de la manivelle ;
• La figure 6 et la figure 7 représentent une vue de face et une vue de dessus du système de verrouillage du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention ;
• La figure 8 représente une vue schématique en perspective du premier élément d'engrenage du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention ; et
• La figure 9 représente schématiquement une vue d'un exemple d'unité de commande et d'unité d'alimentation électrique du dispositif de manœuvre automatique de l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, illustrated by the figures in which:

• There figure 1 shows a schematic view of a roller shutter crank around which is mounted an automatic operating device according to one embodiment of the invention;
• There figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an example of the automatic operating device of the invention, mounted on a roller shutter crank;
• There picture 3 shows a schematic side view, in section, of an example of the automatic operating device of the invention, mounted on a roller shutter crank;
• There figure 4 shows a schematic front view, in section, of an example of the automatic operating device of the invention, mounted on a roller shutter crank;
• There figure 5 shows a schematic sectional view of the first gear element of the automatic maneuvering device, mounted around the handle of the crank;
• There figure 6 and the figure 7 show a front view and a top view of the locking system of the automatic maneuvering device of the invention;
• There figure 8 shows a schematic perspective view of the first gear element of the automatic maneuvering device of the invention; And
• There figure 9 schematically represents a view of an exemplary control unit and power supply unit of the automatic maneuvering device of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of an automatic operating device, configured to be easily installed around a roller shutter crank, is described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. This example illustrates the characteristics and advantages of the invention. It is however recalled that the invention is not limited to this example.

In the figures, identical elements are identified by identical references. For reasons of legibility of the figures, the size scales between the elements represented are not respected.

An example of an automatic maneuvering device 100 according to the invention is represented on the figure 1 . This automatic maneuvering device 100, which will be described in detail later, is mounted on the crank 200 of the rolling shutter. It is mounted, for example, on the handle 210 of the crank, close to the articulation 220 of said handle. The term "crank" refers to all the articulated elements, mounted at the end of the rod 250 (end opposite the hub) used to drive the hub of the roller shutter in rotation. This crank comprises three elements 210, 212, 214, connected by two joints 220, 222 which allow either a position at rest in which the three elements are aligned, or a positioning in operation in which the central element 212 is perpendicular to the other two elements 210, 214. The end element of the crank, that is to say the element furthest from the hub, constitutes the handle 210 of the crank 200. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the automatic maneuvering device 100 is mounted around the handle 210, for example near the hinge 220. In other embodiments, the automatic maneuvering device 100 can be mounted around any of the other two elements. 212, 214 of the crank 200, close or not to a joint 220, 222.

The automatic maneuvering device 100 is shown in a general perspective view on the figure 2 and according to sectional views on the figures 3 and 4 . This automatic maneuvering device 100 comprises a first gear element 120 and a second gear element 130, meshed one inside the other. The first gear element 120 and the second gear element 130 each comprise a toothed crown, that is to say a crown or ring whose outer wall is provided with several teeth forming a set of teeth. An example of first gear element 120 is shown in the figure 8 which comprises an outer wall 121, an inner wall 122 delimiting an orifice 124 and a toothing 123. The second gear element 130 is substantially identical to the first gear element 120, only the internal dimensions of the crown varying with respect to those of the first gear element 120.

As seen on the figure 2 , the toothing 133 of the second gear element 130 and the toothing 123 of the first gear element are of complementary shapes and dimensions so that they mesh with each other and transmit one to the other a circular motion. The first gear element 120 is designed to be mounted around one element of the crank 200. The second gear element 130 is designed to be mounted around an electric motor 140. Thus, the electric motor 140, which is connected to a power supply unit 160, drives the second gear element 130 in rotation; the second gear element 130 drives the first gear element 120 in rotation, via the interlocking teeth 123 and 133; the first gear element 120 in turn drives the crank 200 in rotation.

In the example of figure 2 , 3 and 4 , the first gear element 120 is mounted around the handle 210 of the crank 200, this handle 210 being aligned with the other elements 212, 214 of the crank 200 and secured with these other elements 212, 214 via the joints 220 and 222. The crank 200 being integrally mounted at the end of the rod 250, said rod 250 is also rotated, which causes the hub of the roller shutter to rotate.

The electric motor 140 is a direct current motor such as, for example, a DC motor or a brushless motor (without commutator) whose torque and power are between 40Nm and 90Nm, the brushless motor having the advantage of being effective over a long life.

As shown on the picture 2 and on the figure 9 , the electric motor 140 is powered by a power supply unit 160. In one embodiment, the power supply unit 160 comprises an electrical connection device or wiring for connecting the electric motor 140 to the electrical network, for example via a wall socket. In another embodiment, the power supply unit 160 comprises an electric battery, for example rechargeable, which provides the electric current necessary for the operation of the electric motor 140.

As shown on the picture 2 and on the figure 9 , the electric motor 140 is connected to a control unit 170 designed to control the starting and/or stopping of the electric motor 140. This control unit 170 can, for example, be connected between the power supply unit electric 160 and the electric motor 140.

This control unit 170 comprises, in certain embodiments, a remote control electronic card. This electronic card can be connected by a wireless link, for example an infrared link or a Bluetooth link, to a remote control by which the user controls the closing or opening of the roller shutter. Alternatively, the electronic card includes a voice recognition module allowing the user to control, by voice, the closing or opening of the roller shutter. In another variant, the electronic card is connected by a wireless link, for example a Bluetooth link or a link by a mobile telephone network, to an application downloaded into a mobile telephone or a tablet; the user can then control the opening or closing of the roller shutter from his mobile phone or tablet. This variant has the additional advantage of allowing control of the opening/closing of the roller shutter from outside the home, once the connection between the electronic card and the mobile phone or tablet is established.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the automatic maneuvering device 100 comprises a casing 110 in which are housed all the parts of said automatic maneuvering device described above. In other words, the first and second gear elements 120, 130 are housed in the housing 110; similarly, the electric motor 140, the electric power unit 160 and the control unit 170 are also housed in the housing 110. The housing 110 not only houses all the parts of the automatic maneuvering device, but it protects them also dust, humidity and shocks. This box 110 can be made of any material suitable for receiving electrical components. It can advantageously be made of a relatively elastic material, such as example the elastomer, so as to absorb the shocks if the automatic maneuvering device moves during its operation.

In a variant, the box 110 is equipped with a removable fixing element (not visible in the figures), such as for example one or more suction cups, making it possible to fix the automatic maneuvering device against a support, such as a neighboring wall, during its operation. Indeed, in operation, it is possible that the automatic maneuvering device 100 moves a little under the effect of the vibrations of the electric motor 140 or the rotation of the crank 200. A removable fixing element makes it possible to maintain, in a temporary, the automatic maneuvering device during its operation.

The automatic maneuvering device 100 as described above has the advantage of being easy to install since it is simply mounted on the crank 200. The user simply needs to fit the crank 200, for example the handle 210 of the crank, inside the first gear element 120 and to power the device 100 - either by connecting the power supply unit 160 to a wall socket, or by installing a previously charged electric battery - for the automatic maneuvering device to be operational. The automatic maneuvering device 100 can be uninstalled just as easily by carrying out the reverse operations of those of the installation. Given this ease of installation and uninstallation, the automatic maneuvering device 100 is removable and easily moved from one roller shutter to another, in particular when all of its parts are housed in the box 110. A single automatic operating device 100 can therefore be used for all the roller shutters in the home, which is particularly economical for the user.

According to certain embodiments, the automatic maneuvering device 100 comprises a locking system 150 making it possible to lock the positioning of said device 100 around the crank 200. An example of a locking system 150 is represented on the figures 5, 6 And 7 . In this example, the locking system 150 comprises a positioning rail 151 and a locking abutment 153. The positioning rail 151 comprises two parallel pads 151a, 151b, spaced apart by a width approximately equivalent to the width of the joint 220 around which the automatic maneuvering device is positioned; these two runners 151a, 151b are designed to fit at least partially into the articulation 220. The positioning rail 151 can comprise one or more lateral orifices 152, each intended to receive a guide head 155. In the example of the figure 6 And 7 , two guide heads 155 are fixed on the upper surface 126 of the first gear element 120 and two side holes 152 are made in the positioning rail 151, each guide head 155 being housed in one of the side holes 152. In this example, each of the side orifices 152 is of longitudinal shape and is made in one of the pads 151a, 151b of the positioning rail 151, so that each of the pads 151a, 151b can be guided along the guide head 155 during longitudinal displacement.

In the examples of figures 5, 6 And 7 , the locking abutment 153 is housed in a central orifice 156. This central orifice 156 is formed in the junction zone of the two pads 151a, 151b. The locking abutment 153 can be mounted on a spring 154, itself housed at least partially in an orifice 125 made on the surface of the toothing 123 of the first gear element 120. The spring 154 forms, with the locking abutment 153, a retainer serving to lock the positioning rail around the articulation 220 of the crank. When the user positions the automatic maneuvering device 100 around the crank 200, in the vicinity of the joint 220, the spring 154 and the locking abutment 153 are pushed into the first gear element 120; when the positioning rail 151 is positioned around the articulation 220, the spring 154 is decompressed and the locking abutment 153 maintains the positioning rail 151 in the position where it fits the articulation 220.

In the preceding paragraphs, a positioning rail threshold 151 has been described. Those skilled in the art will understand that the locking system 150 can comprise two positioning rails positioned head to tail, on either side of the articulation 220, as shown in the figure 5 .

The locking system 150 as just described is only one embodiment. Other embodiments of the locking system can be provided such as, for example, a pin surrounding the joint and closed by a hook. Whatever the embodiment, the locking system 150 has the effect of blocking the automatic maneuvering device 100 on the crank 200 and of blocking the joint 220 so that the crank 200 remains in the so-called rest position. during operation of the electric motor and therefore during unwinding or rolling up of the slatted curtain.

Whatever the embodiment of the locking system, it can be mounted on the upper surface 126 of the first gear element 120, as previously explained. In the embodiments where the automatic operating device is housed in a housing 110, the locking system 150 is then mounted on the outer surface of the housing 110 so as to be easily accessible by the user, the spring 154 then being housed at least partially in an orifice of the housing 110.

Although described through a certain number of examples, variants and embodiments, the automatic operating device according to the invention comprises various variants, modifications and improvements which will appear obvious to those skilled in the art, it being understood that these variations, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

Device for automatic operation (100) of a roller shutter crank (200) comprising: - an electric motor (140), - a power supply unit (160) of the electric motor, - a first gear element (120) mounted around a movable handle (210) of the crank (200), said handle being inserted inside the first gear element (120), - a second gear element (130) mounted around the electric motor and meshed in the first gear element, - a control unit (170) of the electric motor, configured to control the rotation of said electric motor, the rotation of the electric motor causing a rotation of the crank via the first and second gear elements. Automatic maneuvering device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a casing (110) in which are housed at least the electric motor (140), the first gear element (120), the second gear element (130) and the control unit (170). Automatic maneuvering device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is mounted close to an articulation (220) of the crank (200). Automatic maneuvering device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a locking system (150) to lock the positioning of the said automatic maneuvering device (100) around the crank (200). Automatic maneuvering device according to Claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the locking system (150) is mounted above an upper face of the casing (110), around the articulation (220) of the crank. Automatic maneuvering device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it includes a removable fastening element, for removably fastening the casing (110) against a support adjacent to the crank (200). Automatic maneuvering device according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first gear element (120) and the second gear element (130) each comprise a crown provided, on its outer wall (121 ), a serration (123), said serration of the first gear element (120) being complementary to the serration of the second gear element (130). Automatic maneuvering device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control unit (170) comprises a remote control electronic card. Automatic maneuvering device according to Claim 8, characterized in that the electronic remote control card is connected by a wireless link to an application downloaded into a mobile telephone or a tablet.

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