GB2035060A - Motorised curtain drawing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus includes a motor driven windlass on which a curtain operating cord is wound. An actuator on a screwed rod rotatable with the windlass is arranged to actuate limit switches which determine the extent of travel of the curtains. A time switch may open and/or close the curtains at desired times of day. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Curtain actuating apparatus This invention relates to curtain actuating apparatus.

According to the present invention there is provided curtain actuating apparatus comprising a motor drivably connected with means for opening and closing a curtain, and switch means arranged to switch off the drive to the opening and closing means at a predetermined cut-off point.

Preferably the motor is connected with a device for automatically actuating the motor, for example at a preset time of day or in response to a predetermined ambient light level; thus curtains can be opened in the morning and closed in the evening without manual effort, and this can be of especial importance if the occupants of a house are away, for example on holiday, in which case the impression given is that the house is occupied. The switch means for switching off the drive may be connected with an electric light or other electrically-operated equipment so that as the curtain closes the light or other equipment is switched on, thus adding to the impression that the house is occupied.

The switch means may be connected with a radio or alarm signal which is actuated on opening of the curtain, thereby providing an 'alarm call' for wakening an occupant of the house in the morning. The connections from the switch means can be by means for a relay.

The means for opening and closing the curtain is preferably a rotatable member such as a windlass around which winds a cord for operating the curtain mechanism, and the switch means may be attached to the windlass.

The motor is preferably an electric motor and is most preferably driven from the mains supply through a transformer.

The switch means may be in the form of a rotatably drivable screwed rod on which are mounted two correspondingly-screw-threaded actuators restrained from rotation so that rotation of the rod causes the actuators to move along the rod. Electric or other switches may be disposed one on either side of the actuators in such a way that contact of an actuator with the switch cuts off power to the drive.

The distances between the actuators and the switches therefore determines the travel of the curtain, and preferably these distances are adjustable. In a modification, only a single actuator is provided arranged to actuate both switches, the distance between the switches being adjustable.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of one embodiment of apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is a circuit diagram showing how the apparatus of Fig. 1 is actuated; Figure 3 is a front view of an actuator disc as shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a top plan view showing schematically a second embodiment of apparatus of the invention arranged with a suitable housing; and Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the apparatus of the embodiment has a permanent magnet electric motor 1 which is rotatable in either direction, i.e. forward or reverse, and which is connected with the mains supply through a transformer which converts the 240 volts A.C.

of the mains to 1 2 volts D.C. for the motor.

The motor 1 drives a windlass 2 around which is wound a cord 3 for operating the travel of a pair of curtains (not shown). From the windlass 2 extends rigidly therewith a screwed brass rod 4 on which are mounted a pair of actuator discs 5, 6.

The discs 5, 6 are screw-threaded to correspond with the thread of the rod 4 and are apertured at several locations 1 2 near their perimeters to receive a securing pin 7 which prevents their rotation with the rod 4.

Two switches 8, 9 are provided on the outer sides of the actuator discs 5, 6 in fixed positions, the switches being connected with the motor 1.

In the circuit shown in Fig. 2 switches 10 are connected with a time switch or lightsensitive actuator so as to close and open at a predetermined time or light level, and further switches 11 are provided for manual operation in preference to the switches 10 thereby giving a manual 'over-ride'. The switches 10 and 11 are 'centre-off' switches and have 'forward' and 'reverse' alternative positions for causing current to flow through the circuit to open or close the curtains respectively.

When the curtains are initially open the switch 10 or 11 is actuated to go into the 'forward' position shown in Fig. 2 thus completing the electric circuit and actuating the motor 1. The motor rotates the windlass 2 and rod 4, causing the actuator discs 5, 6 to move along the rod 4 while the windlass 2 winds the cord 3 to close the curtains until the disc 5 moves the switch 8 from its contact in the circuit thus deactuating the motor 1.

When the curtains are to be opened the switch 10 or 11 moves to its 'reverse' position and the current is reversed in direction, thus reversing the motor 1, windlass 2 and rod 4 until the actuator disc 6 contacts the switch 9 to break the circuit.

The discs 5, 6 can be moved into any desired position on the rod 4 by withdrawing the pin 7 and screwing the discs on the rod 4 by withdrawing the pin 7 and screwing the discs on the rod before restoring the pin 7 to lock the discs 5, 6 in their new positions, in this way the apparatus can be adjusted for different lengths of travel of the curtains.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, apparatus of the invention is contained within a housing 20 and comprises a D.C. motor 21 provided with a mitred gear wheel 22. The gear wheel 22 is mounted on a swivel pin base so that actuation of the lever 23 permits manual operation.

A windlass 24 is journalled within the casing 20 and has a mitred gear wheel 25 which meshes with the gear wheel 22 of the motor 21. Cord 26 for operating the curtains is wound on the windlass 24 and a screwed rod 27 extends from the windlass 24 and is rigid therewith.

A single actuator disc 28, similar to the actuator discs 5, 6 of Fig. 3 is mounted on the rod 27, its position being fixed by securing pin 29 as described earlier. The actuator disc 28 on moving along the rod 27 actuates a pair of limit microswitches 30, whose relative positions may be adjusted by knob 31 to adjust the width of curtain travel.

Power for the motor 21 is obtained through time switch 32, transformer 33, rectifier 34 and fuse 35, the direction of current flow being determined by relay 36.

Modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Curtain actuating apparatus comprising a motor drivably connected with means for opening and closing a curtain, and switch means arranged to switch off the drive to the opening and closing means at a predetermined cut-off point.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor is connected to a power supply through a time switch arranged to sequentially open and close the curtains at predetermined times.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said means for opening and closing the curtain comprises a rotatable member driven by said motor and around which there is wound a cord for operating the curtain mechanism.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said switch means comprises a screwed rod fixed to and rotatable with said rotatable member and on which there is mounted a screw threaded actuator which is restrained from rotation so that rotation of the rod causes the actuator to move along the rod, and limit switches arranged on either side of the actuator so that contact of the actuator with the switch interrupts the power supply to the motor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the distance between the switches is adjustable to allow variable travel of the curtain.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims contained in a single housing.

7. Curtain actuating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

8. Curtain actuating apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.