ES2863314T3 - System for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings - Google Patents

Abstract

System for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings, characterized in that it comprises: - a shielding system (B), comprising one or more sets of cables located side by side of the other; - a drive and control system (A) for said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a first end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side; - a tensioning / balancing system (C) for each of said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a second end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side; - a support frame (D), said drive and control system (A) being connected to one side of said frame, said tensioning / balancing system (C) being connected to an opposite side of the frame; - said drive / control system (A) being adapted to operate as a function of the temperature and the level of solar and light irradiation that affects it, and being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more sets parallel to each other in a substantially cylindrical configuration (B1), in a position such that maximum shading is generated in a condition of maximum temperature and irradiation, and also being adapted to determine a mutual twisting of the cables of the corresponding set, until assuming a double cone configuration ( hourglass) (B2), in a position such that maximum illumination is generated in a condition of minimum temperature and irradiation; - said tensioning / balancing system (C) being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more assemblies fixed to said frame, or in controlled longitudinal translation with respect to said frame; - said drive / control system (A) and said tensioning / balancing system (C) cooperating to keep said one or more sets of cables taut.

Description

DESCRIPTION

System for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings

Field of application of the invention

The present invention relates to a system for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings.

Background of the technique

Different types of shielding systems for protection against sunlight are known from the art, especially for application in buildings.

For example, systems characterized by discrete elements that rotate (i.e. slats) or retract (i.e. packable shade producing devices), slat systems, or parallel wooden or metal blades controlled to be oriented at an angle are known. variable, arranged in horizontal or vertical direction, applicable in front of building facades, especially glass doors or windows. Said systems are capable of determining a shading of the facades depending on the angle of orientation of the slats or blades.

Roller shielding systems (textile or formed by rigid segments), retractable curtains, slats (horizontal or vertical, mobile or fixed), permanent elements (canopies, recesses, niches, etc.) are also known.

Said known systems are not without drawbacks: for example, they are equipped with complex control systems that generally act on all slats, with mechanical actuators subjected to wear and tear and maintenance.

Systems that do not provide independent control and hand over operation to the user are often under-operated and under-utilized, thus rendering the systems ineffective.

Known systems that do not require user input for their activation require the use of energy and connection with control systems (for example: Building Management System or BMS); require regular maintenance; have limitations on the validity of the warranty on the drive motors, higher maintenance and replacement costs.

Furthermore, such systems have known control problems in the case where their management software is not capable of including the specificity of the site and the relative profile of use of the building by users.

Examples of such known systems are described in patent applications EP2540951-A1, WO2009 / 034594-A1, EP0021892-A1, US2015 / 285535-A1, WO2014 / 045163-A2.

Therefore, a need has arisen to develop an improved alternative screening system over known systems.

Compendium of the invention

Thus, it is the object of the present invention to propose a system to screen and control sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings, with the aim of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks.

An object of the present invention is a system to screen and control sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings, characterized in that it comprises:

- a shielding system, comprising one or more sets of cables located next to each other;

- a drive and control system for said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a first end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side;

- a tensioning / balancing system for each of said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a second end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side;

- a support frame, said drive and control system being connected to one side of said frame, said tensioning / balancing system being connected to an opposite side of the frame;

- said drive / control system being adapted to operate as a function of the temperature and the level of solar irradiation and light incident on it, and being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more sets parallel to each other in a substantially configuration cylindrical, in a position such that maximum shading is generated in a condition of maximum temperature and irradiation, and being also adapted to produce as The result is a mutual twisting of the cables of the corresponding assembly, until assuming a double cone configuration (hourglass), in a position such that maximum illumination is generated in a condition of minimum temperature and irradiation;

- said tensioning / balancing system being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more assemblies fixed to said frame or in controlled longitudinal translation with respect to said frame;

- said drive / control system and said tensioning / balancing system cooperating to keep said one or more sets of cables taut.

A particular object of the present invention is a system for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings, as best described in the claims, which form an integral part of the present description. .

Brief description of the drawings

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below of one embodiment thereof (and its variants), and with reference to the accompanying drawings provided merely by way of a mere non-limiting example, at which:

Figures 1a and 1b show a front view of the screening system object of the present invention respectively in a condition of maximum illumination (minimum shading) and maximum shading (minimum illumination) of the rear area: the transition between maximum and minimum shading allows a variation of permeability to radiation by the system;

Figures 2 and 3 schematically represent two types of movement performed by the shielding system and the drive mechanism;

Figures 4 and 6 show respectively an exploded view and a sectional view of the components of an embodiment of the drive and control system of the shielding system;

Figures 5 and 7 show respectively an exploded view and a sectional view of the components of an embodiment of the tensioning / balancing system of the shielding system;

Figure 8 shows an enlarged view of a part of the system of Figure 1b;

Figure 9 shows a variant of application and shape of the shielding system object of the present invention, in the case of application on a flat façade with geometry in rectangular perspective;

Figure 10 shows a variant of application and additional shape of the shielding system in the case of irregular contour and / or frame;

Figure 11 shows a variant of application and additional form of the shielding system in the case of application on a curved surface;

Figures 12a, 12b, 12c show three possible locations of the shielding system, respectively inside a wall, outside a wall, and sandwiched in a double sheet wall;

Figure 13 shows a variant of application and additional form of the screening system in an interior room.

The same reference numbers and letters in the drawings identify the same elements or components.

Detailed description of example embodiments

The present invention is related to a system for shielding and controlling sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, adapted to control sunlight and / or light radiation that can pass from the front face of the system to the rear face. , thus modulating the transit of light towards the environment or the posterior area in which or in front of which the system is applied.

The system comprises three main components (see now Figure 1):

- a shielding system B;

- an actuation and control system A of the shielding system connected to one side of the latter;

- a tensioning / balancing system C of the shielding system connected to the opposite side of the latter with respect to the control / drive system.

The shielding system is surrounded by a D-frame that encloses it, which has the function of supporting the system. The drive and control system A is connected to one side of the frame and the tensioning / balancing system C is connected to the opposite side.

Shielding system B comprises one or more sets of cables located side by side, each set constrained at one end in tensioning elements that are part of the drive / control system, which are adapted to keep the cables of the set parallel to each other in a substantially cylindrical configuration B1, and in a position such that the maximum shading (figure 1 a) of the rear surface is generated, with minimum light transfer, while said tensioning elements are also adapted to generate a mutual twisting of the cables of each set, until the set assumes a double cone configuration (hourglass) B2, therefore in a position such that the maximum illumination (figure 1b) of the rear surface is generated, with maximum light transfer and maximum transparency allowable with modified system geometry.

In a possible variant, a drive and control system A is provided for each of the cable assemblies, which, depending on the temperature and the level of solar irradiation that affects it, controls the twisting of the cables of the corresponding set in a specific position between the two aforementioned ends, that is, of parallelism of the cable assemblies (in said state of maximum shading) and of double cone configuration (hourglass) in said state of maximum transparency. Therefore, the cable assemblies are controlled individually and independently of each other.

A non-limiting embodiment of a drive and control system A is described below, with specific reference to Figures 4 to 7.

The drive system (Figures 4 and 8) comprises a thermal box 1, 2 of polyhedral shape, in particular in the shape of a right prism in the illustrated example.

The box comprises a front side 1 in direct contact with sunlight or light flux, manufactured by means of a transparent surface, said front face being adapted to receive light radiation that can therefore enter the box.

Instead, the surfaces on the other sides of the thermal box are adapted to retain and absorb incident sunlight; For example, they are made of metal painted with black paint, with higher absorbance in the entire spectrum of sunlight ( 250-2500 nm), and externally they are protected by a layer of insulating material with variable thickness depending on the place of installation of the system. These technical characteristics effectively make it possible to have a protected environment with an internal temperature that varies as a function of sunlight or incident light radiation, as a function of the capacitive function of the air contained in the system, but also of a radiant function due to the particular geometry. and the materials used. In particular, the thermal radiation in the infrared reintroduced by the superheated surfaces is confined inside the thermal box, thus contributing to the increase in temperature of the same.

The drive system (Figures 4, 6 and 8) also comprises a system to control the twisting movement of the corresponding set of cables as a function of the temperature created inside the thermal box as a result of the introduction of light radiation.

The system for controlling the movement first provides an element made of a phase transition material, such as a shape memory spring 5, which, in the specific case, has activation temperatures - austenite start - and deactivation temperatures - martensite end - and the corresponding hysteresis cycle defined based on the temperature range in which the system is applied, and the useful life required by the designer. Said spring is capable of varying its elongation (thus simultaneously generating a force and an elongation consisting of the variation of the geometry) as a function of temperature. As the elongation of the spring varies, it exerts a force proportional to its characteristic constant, and this force results in movements and rotations in the system.

The spring 5 is enclosed within a cylinder 3 that has the function of avoiding an unstable behavior of the spring, thus optimizing all the movement generated to move the screen. In a non-limiting example, the cylinder can be made of plastic or metal.

Spring 5 and cylinder 3 are inserted into the thermal box. Therefore, the spring modifies its length depending on the temperature created inside the thermal box. In particular, it lengthens as the temperature increases. Due to a slide 4 (inserted in cylinder 3) that restricts movement within the required range of movement, this elongation causes a lifting of an element to transmit translation, which comprises two bars 6, 10 that partially penetrate one into the another, partially inserted into the spring. Also present axially is a counter spring 8 which is compressed as a function of the elongation of the spring 5, and a head block 9. The elements 4 and 9 therefore retain the two springs axially the transmission element 6, 10. In the state initial neutral with spring 5 relaxed, the shielding system is normally open, the cables are twisted in a double cone in a position such that maximum illumination is generated, while in the condition of maximum heating or incident sunlight or light flux with elongated spring 5, the cables are parallel in a position such that maximum shading is generated. In sunlight condition or light flux intermediate incidents with With respect to those described above, the spring can be placed with a partial amount of elongation or shortening, thus producing as a result a condition of partial shading with respect to the maximum potential of the shielding, with less twisting of the cables.

There is also a transformation system controlled by the elongation of the spring, which transforms said elongation of the spring into a rotation-translation movement of the cables.

The transformation system comprises:

- a first head plate 7 comprising a flange 7 'fixed to frame D, and a hollow cylinder 7' 'inside which the system slides axially to control the movement (5, 6, 8, 9, 10).

- a second head plate 12 comprising a flange 12 'and a hollow cylinder 12' 'within which the hollow cylinder 7' 'of the first head plate can slide, the hollow cylinder 7' 'providing pins 13 that mesh within the corresponding helical grooves 12 '' 'located in the hollow cylinder of the second head plate. The latter is fixed to the transmission element 10 so that an axial movement of the latter causes an axial rotation-translation movement of the second head plate as a result of the helical shape of the grooves 12 '' ''. The ends of the cables of the corresponding assembly are connected in the contour of the flange 12 'of the second header plate and are fixed by means of a pressure element 11 in the form of an annular crown which in turn is fixed in the contour of flange 12 '. For this, the contour of the flange 12 'comprises a series of grooves for fixing the ends of the cables that can be equipped with suitable terminals of specific thickness. The rotation-translation of the second head plate 12 allows a twisting of the cables and, therefore, a dynamic behavior of the shield by adjusting the transmission of sunlight and light radiation, as mentioned above.

The structure of the cable is important for the operation of the system because it allows the passage of the system from a cylinder geometry to an hourglass geometry (double cone): the cylinder and the hourglass (double cone) have two different lateral areas , and therefore a continuous material, and not subtle material such as cables, would not allow the transition of geometry unless there were wrinkles / deformations in the material itself.

The exterior application of such cables could create problems due to fouling, the possibility of debris being trapped in and wearing them, and due to the presence of forces that cause them to move and put them under stress in an undesired way (such as wind). For this reason, it is preferable to insert a layer of transparent plastic material placed externally, constrained to the frame D, with a protection function while maintaining upper and lower openings to allow the passage of air. The transparent plastic layer can be made, for example, of ETFE or ECTFE, fluorine polymer, or glass.

A tensioning / balancing system C of the shielding system is also provided for each set of cables and therefore the sets of cables are individually and independently tensioned from each other.

Thus, the drive / control system (A) and the tensioning / balancing system (C) cooperate to keep the cable assemblies taut.

In one embodiment, the tensioning system may be shaped similarly to the system for controlling movement described above.

With reference to Figures 5 and 7, there is a first tail plate 18 comprising a flange 18 'fixed to frame D in a position opposite to that of fixing the first head plate, and a hollow cylinder 18' '.

A second tail plate 15 comprises a flange 15 'and a hollow cylinder 15' 'within which the hollow cylinder 18' 'of the first tail plate can slide, the hollow cylinder providing pins 14 that mesh inside corresponding slots longitudinal 15 '' 'located in the hollow cylinder of the second tail plate. In the two hollow cylinders a lower counter spring 16 fixed at the ends to the two hollow cylinders is inserted.

The other ends of the cables of the corresponding assembly are connected in the contour of the flange 15 'of the second tail plate, and are fixed by means of a pressure element 17 in the form of an circular crown which in turn is fixed in the contour of the flange 15 ', therefore in a manner equivalent to the fixing system of the head part described above.

The rotation-translation movement of the cable assemblies produced by the "head" system causes a controlled longitudinal translation counter-reaction of the "tail" system to maintain the correct tension of the cables.

An alternative to the "tail" system described above is simply to attach the ends of the cables directly to frame D, for example, using only the first tail plate 18. In this case, the lower end of the cable assemblies does not translate and remains fixed to the frame also following the translational rotation movement described above.

Figures 2 and 3 schematically represent two types of movement carried out by the system of the invention described above, respectively in the case of the presence (figure 2) of the "tail" tensioning system and the absence of the latter (figure 3 ).

The geometry of the "head" and "tail" plates preferably has a circumference, but it could also be elliptical, and it is possible that they have different diameters, thus giving rise to frustoconical geometries, also considering the presence of the cables constrained to them. . This particular type of geometry allows both to vary the general appearance of the system, as well as to create a double deformed cone with two cones of different heights, following the rotation of the system.

The manual activation and deactivation of the system is always guaranteed by means of a mechanical transmission that allows to control the interlocking and the release of the mobile lower tensioning element. Said system allows generating a force greater than that generated by the shape memory spring, thus allowing repositioning in the desired state while maintaining the integrity of all the components, and therefore without damaging them. The mechanical transmission allows the forced translation / rotation of the system, forcing the springs to extend / contract independently of thermal or light stimuli.

In a possible variant, the frame D could be a non-closed structure, comprising only the "head" and "tail" sections conveniently fixed in the rear structure that houses the shading system.

Therefore, the extreme adaptability obtained with the use of the shielding system of the present invention is evident.

In a variant as described above, the drive and control system provides a thermal box for each set of cables. Each thermal box with relative control element works independently.

In another possible variant, a thermal box can be provided for several sets of cables, adapted to control individual systems to transmit movement and rotation for each set of cables. In this case, the thermal box can be manufactured in a similar way to the previous variant, as well as the transmission systems, with implementation variants within the reach of those skilled in the art.

The drive and control system described above can be replaced by the following alternatives. In fact, there are solutions with active or passive operation.

The manufacture of the thermal box described above is among the passive alternatives, but it is clear that other embodiments are possible, generalizing a generic control system with a phase transition based on temperature. For example, as a replacement for the shape memory spring, it is possible to use wax systems, transition from liquid to solid phase or TBM (thermobimetal) or thermally activated plastics TMP (thermomobile plastics). The ambient temperature variation modifies the geometry / density of the actuator and consequently there is a variation of the arrangement of the system as described above.

Active alternatives, but that do not contemplate the use of the thermal box, can include electromechanical actuators. The activation of said actuators occurs after an electrical input regulated by one or more sensors and control systems and originating in the electrical network or in a photovoltaic system.

The possibility of active control also allows an activation for each individual element or pattern at the option of the user.

Another variant is a solar panel system that generates drive current.

The thermal box can have different shapes, it can be thermally insulated or not, depending on the application, also based on the rate of variation of the temperature to follow the thermal radiation curve. A system can also be introduced in the thermal box to slow down or accelerate the trend of the thermal curve, such as, for example, a hatch that opens or closes autonomously or controlled to make the hot air escape or not.

The cables can be made of stretchable or non-stretchable material. The material of the cables can be, for example and without limitation, polypropylene, polyester or nylon.

In a preferred use, the shielding system is applied externally to the facade of a building, positioned in front of the transparent wall part (windows / doors) to modulate the natural lighting of the interior room and at the same time control the solar contributions.

The normal shape of the building facades, and therefore of the system, is flat (figure 9). However, this system can take different forms depending on the surface to which it is applied. For example, it can adopt a curved shape to allow application also on building facades with curvature in plan (figure 11), or an irregular contour shape for windows with non-rectangular perspective geometry (figure 10).

The system can be placed, with respect to the building façade, internally (figure 12a), externally (figure 12b) or in a double-pane façade recess (figure 12c).

The system can also be applied internally to rooms to vary the transparency / shading of transparent interior partitions, for example and in a non-limiting way in the case of a study used as an office (figure 13).

Variants of the non-limiting example described are possible, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention, which comprises all equivalent embodiments for those skilled in the art.

The elements and features illustrated in the various preferred embodiments can be combined with each other without, however, departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The advantages derived from the application of the present invention are obvious.

The proposed solar screening system has a dynamic and adaptive behavior to different environmental conditions by providing localized solar protection based on the outside temperature and the levels of sunlight present on the facade surface. The innovation also consists of the hourglass shape of the solar shielding that differentiates it from other known mobile shielding systems: while the latter are typically characterized by discrete elements that rotate (i.e. slats) or retract (i.e. that is, roller blinds), the proposed solar shielding system transfers a simple translational movement in a rotation of a component that transforms an hourglass into a cylinder and vice versa. The hourglass shape is also particularly interesting because it ensures an optimal view of the outside environment while effectively shielding radiation, especially in summer and at higher solar height angles. With the system of the present invention it is possible to achieve a specific control of the levels of sunlight or light radiation, both active and passive depending on the type of control, to increase the comfort of the users and at the same time satisfy different needs.

In the passive variants, the translational movement of the cable assemblies is provided, for example, by a shape memory spring system whose activation does not require electrical energy or any electronic control, but rather takes advantage of the incident sunlight in the facade of the building that causes an increase in the temperature of the thermal box in which the springs are enclosed.

Those skilled in the art are capable of realizing the object of the invention from the above description without introducing additional constructive details.

Claims (7)

1. System to screen and control sunlight or the flow of light from artificial sources, especially for application in buildings, characterized in that it comprises: - a shielding system (B), comprising one or more sets of cables located next to each other; - a drive and control system (A) for said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a first end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side; - a tensioning / balancing system (C) for each of said one or more sets of cables located side by side, connected to a second end of said one or more sets of cables located side by side; - a support frame (D), said drive and control system (A) being connected to one side of said frame, said tensioning / balancing system (C) being connected to an opposite side of the frame; - said drive / control system (A) being adapted to operate as a function of the temperature and the level of solar and light irradiation that affects it, and being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more sets parallel to each other in a substantially cylindrical configuration (B1), in a position such that maximum shading is generated in a condition of maximum temperature and irradiation, and also being adapted to determine a mutual twisting of the cables of the corresponding set, until assuming a double cone configuration ( hourglass) (B2), in a position such that maximum illumination is generated in a condition of minimum temperature and irradiation; - said tensioning / balancing system (C) being adapted to keep the cables of said one or more assemblies fixed to said frame, or in controlled longitudinal translation with respect to said frame; - said drive / control system (A) and said tensioning / balancing system (C) cooperating to keep said one or more sets of cables taut. 2. Shielding system according to claim 1, wherein said drive / control system (A) comprises: - at least one thermal box (1, 2) comprising a front side (1), with respect to the light origin, adapted to receive the light radiation that can enter the thermal box, and comprising other sides adapted to retain the light radiation inside the thermal box; - at least one system to control the twisting movement of said one or more sets of cables, depending on the temperature created inside said thermal box as a result of the introduction of said light radiation inside the thermal box, said system for controlling the torsional movement comprising an element made of a phase transition material placed inside the thermal box capable of altering its length as a function of temperature, - a transformation system, controlled by the elongation of said element made of a phase transition material, capable of transforming said elongation into said mutual torsional movement of said one or more sets of cables. Shielding system according to claim 2, wherein said element made of a phase transition material is a shape memory spring (5) or a wax system, a liquid to solid phase transition system or a system TBM (thermobimetal) or thermally activated plastics TMP (thermomobile plastics). 4. Shielding system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said transformation system comprises: - a first plate (7) comprising a first flange (7 ') fixed to said frame (D), and a first hollow cylinder (7' ') wherein said system for controlling movement (5, 6, 8, 9 , 10) slides axially; - a second plate (12) comprising a second flange (12 ') and a second hollow cylinder (12' ') within which said first hollow cylinder (7' ') can slide, said first hollow cylinder comprising pins (13) that mesh inside corresponding helical grooves (12 '' ') located in said second hollow cylinder, said first ends of said set of cables being connected to said second flange (12'), so that an axial movement of the first plate causes an axial rotation-translation movement of the second plate; - an element for transmitting translation (6, 10), adapted to slide inside said first and second hollow cylinders, and connected between said element made of a phase transition material and said second plate. Screening system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tensioning / balancing system (C) comprises: - a third plate (18) comprising a third flange (18 '), fixed to the frame (D), and a third hollow cylinder (18''); - a fourth plate (15) comprising a fourth flange (15 ') and a fourth hollow cylinder (15'') in which said third hollow cylinder (18'') can slide, said third hollow cylinder providing pins (14) that mesh inside corresponding longitudinal grooves (15 ''') located in said fourth hollow cylinder, said second ends of said set of cables being connected to said fourth flange (15'); - a lower counter spring (16), inside said third and fourth hollow cylinders, fixed to the ends of said third and fourth hollow cylinders. Shielding system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said tensioning / balancing system (C) comprises means for fixing said second ends of said set of cables directly to said frame (D). Screening system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a layer made of protective transparent plastic material constrained to the frame (D).