GB2297584A

GB2297584A - A double-hung window arrangement and an electrical window operator for operating an upper sash of such an arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2297584A
Application number: GB9601788A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brent Moeller
Original assignee: VKR Holding AS
Current assignee: VKR Holding AS
Priority date: 1995-02-06
Filing date: 1996-01-30
Publication date: 1996-08-07
Anticipated expiration: 2016-01-30
Also published as: GB2297584B; AU4219596A; GB9601788D0; CA2168814C; CA2168814A1

Abstract

A double-hung window arrangement comprises a substantially rectangular main frame and vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections 7, 8. An electrical window operator for the upper sash section comprises an operator housing 11 with an electric drive motor and transmission means arranged on a horizontal upper part of the main frame and a chain 12 engaged in the housing by the transmission means and having a free end secured to an upper horizontal member 13 of the upper sash section, preferably so as to be non-detachable from the upper horizontal member at least in any open position of the upper sash section. The window operator is preferably remotely-controlled by means of a receiver 16 and separate unit 17. A spring-loaded insect screen (32, Fig 4) may be connected to the upper sash section 7.

Description

A double-hung window arrangement and an electrical window operator for operating an upper sash section of such an arrangement.

The present invention relates to a double-hung window arrangement of the kind comprising a substantially rectangular main frame with guide means for vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections covering an upper and a lower part of the main frame opening, respectively, and locking means for securing said sash sections with respect to said main frame in closed positions of said sections.

In window installations of this kind ventilation is normally provided by lifting the lower sash section from its closed position, whereas the upper sections is very seldomly used for ventilation purposes.

In the prior art as represented by U.K. Patent Specifications Nos. 565,098, 887,533 and 1,038,956, published U.K. Patent Application No. 2 242 225 and U.S. patents Nos. 2,067,106 and 3,324,594 various mechanical, electromechanical and electropneumatical operators for opening and closing the upper sash sections of such window installations have been disclosed.

These prior art solutions have in common that mechanical transmission members acting on the upper sash sections must to a great extent be arranged within the vertical side members of the main frame construction, whereby the window installations may become unduly complicated and expensive. In general, operators of this kind will, therefore, not be suitable for after-installation on existing double-hung windows.

In a double-hung window arrangement known from US Patent No. 1,105,784 ventilation by lowering of the upper sash section is made possible by means of a simple vertical screw spindle engaging a nut member secured to the upper horizontal member of the upper sash section, one end of said screw spindle being fitted and retained against lengthwise movement in a socket secured to the underside of the upper horizontal main frame member, whereas the other end of the screw spindle is provided with a hand wheel for turning the screw spindle and thereby moving the upper sash section between a closed position and a ventilating position determined by the length of the screw spindle.

Since in double-hung window arrangements the upper main frame member and the upper member of the upper sash section are normally located at a significant height over the floor, operation of the hand wheel of this prior art arrangement is quite cumbersome and is made even more difficult by the fact that the whole weight of the upper sash section is carried by the engagement of the nut member with the screw spindle, whereby turning of the hand wheel will require a considerable force. In addition, this solution is less attractive due to the fact that the screw spindle projecting downwards from the middle of the upper horizontal main frame member will be visible also from the outside in any position of the upper sash section.

On the above-mentioned background it is the object of the invention to provide an easily operable window operator for the upper sash section of a double-hung window arrangement of the kind defined and the installa tion of which can, moreover, be easily accomplished by the do-it-yourself customer.

Preferably, it is a further object of the invention to provide an operator of the kind set forth of a relatively simple and inexpensive structure which can be supplied as a doit-yourself kit for after installation on existing double hung window arrangements.

Preferably, a still further object of the invention is to provide a design of such an operator of which no component will be visible from the outside in the closed position of the upper sash section.

According to the invention a double-hung window arrangement of the kind defined is provided which includes a remotely operated electrical window operator for the upper sash section comprising an operator housing with an electric drive motor and transmission means arranged on a horizontal upper part of the main frame, an elongate connection member in the form of a chain engaged in said housing by said transmission means and having a free end secured to an upper horizontal member of the upper sash section so as to be non-detachable from said upper horizontal member at least in any open position of said upper sash section whereby to allow electrically operated displacement of said upper sash section from a closed position in which said chain is entirely accommodated in said housing and an open position in which said upper sash section is downwardly displaced from said closed position.

In a preferred embodiment provision is made for permitting operation of the upper sash section in a situation where the electric operator has become inoperable, e.g.

by interruption of the electric power supply to the operator, by arranging bracket means connecting the free end of the chain to the upper horizontal sash member to allow relative vertical displacement between said chain and said upper horizontal sash member, releasable locking means being provided for locking said free end of the chain with respect to said upper horizontal sash member.

According to a further development of the invention a double-hung window arrangement of the kind set forth may further comprise the arrangement of a screen device including a rolled-up web of a spring loaded screening material carried by a supporting device secured to said upper part of the main frame and having a free end to be connected with said upper sash section to be automatically actuated by opening of said sash section to provide screening of the part of the main frame opening between the upper sash section and the upper part of the main frame.

Such a screen device may typically be an insect screen.

The invention further relates to an electrical window operator for operating an upper sash section of a double-hung window arrangement of the kind comprising a substantially rectangular main frame with guide means for vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections covering an upper and a lower part of the main frame opening, respectively, said operator comprising an operator housing with an electric drive motor and transmission members for arrangement on a horizontal upper part of said main frame, an elongate connection member in the form of a chain engaged in said housing by said transmission means and having a free end designed to be secured to an upper horizontal member of said upper sash section.

In the following an gnbodiment of the invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying schematical drawings, in which figures 1 and 2 are front and side elevations, respectively, of an embodiment of a double-hung window arrangement according to the invention with a remotely controlled electrical chain operator; figure 3 shows an operator housing for the oper ator in figures 1 and 2 with transmission means engaging an operator chain, connected with an upper horizontal member of the upper sash section of the arrangement in figures 1 and 2; figure 4 is a side elevation of a further develop ment of the window arrangement in figures 1 and 2.

The double-hung window arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2 is of a generally well known construction with a main frame composed of upper and lower horizontal frame members 1 and 2 and vertical side members 3 and 4 in which guide means 5 and 6 of a conventional design as schematically illustrated in figure 2, are provided for vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections 7 and 8, respectively.

As further illustrated in figure 2 the upper sash section 7 is arranged on the external side of the lower sash section 8, so that ventilation can be provided by lifting the lower sash section 8 or lowering the upper sash section 7 or both.

In conventional double-hung window arrangements of this kind ventilation is normally provided by lifting the lower sash section, whereas lowering of the upper sash section is seldomly used for this purpose.

In the embodiment shown the lower sash section 8 is a conventional manually operated window section which may be lifted by operating a handle 9 secured to the lower horizontal sash member 10. Locking fittings not illustrated will normally be provided for locking the lower sash section with respect to the upper sash section 7 in the closed position.

Experimental tests have shown, however, that a better and technically more correct ventilation will be provided by lowering of the upper sash section 8.

To facilitate opening of the upper sash section 7 the window arrangement of figures 1 and 2 is provided with a remotely operated electrical window operator acting on the upper sash section 7. The operator comprises an operator housing 11 secured to the upper horizontal main frame member 1 and accommodating an electric drive motor and transmission means engaging an elongate connection member in the form of a chain 12 having a free end secured to the upper horizontal sash member 13 of the upper sash section 7 by means of a bracket 14.

The electric drive motor, not illustrated in the operator housing 11 is enabled and disabled from an electrical control circuit 15 which may be arranged at a convenient location on the wall in which the window arrangement is installed. In the embodiment shown the control circuit 15 incorporates a signal receiver 16 arranged to receive control signals, e.g. IR signals, from a separate remote control unit 17. The control circuit 15 is further connected via a cable 18 with an electrical power supply and via enabling/disabling line 19 with the electric motor in operator housing 11.

Wireless control of the control circuit 15 from a separate remote control unit is, of course, not necessary for the electrical operator of the invention. The control circuit may as shown be equipped with a more conventional enabling/disabling switch arrangement, which is conveniently accessible to the customer.

As more clearly illustrated in figure 3 the operator chain 12 is composed of interconnected alternating chain members 20 and links 21. The transmission means in operator housing 11 engaging the operator chain 12 comprises a sprocket wheel 24 secured to the main shaft 25 of the electric drive motor, not illustrated, and engaging the operator chain 12 in generally V-shaped cut-outs 26 between teeth 27.

As shown in figure 3 the bracket 14 connecting the free end of operator chain 12 with upper horizontal sash member 13 is arranged to allow relative vertical displacement of the chain 12 with respect to the upper sash member 13. To achieve this the bracket 14 comprises a generally U-shaped fitting secured to sash member 13 and providing an opening 28 through which the chain 12 is passed.

To prevent disconnection of the chain 12 from the upper sash member 13 a stop member 29 is secured to the free end of the chain 12. In normal operation the free end of chain 12 is fixed with respect to upper sash member 13 by means of a locking pin 30 projecting into the chain 12 between adjacent rivets 22. The locking pin 30 may be mounted either as shown in the bracket 14 itself or in a separate fixture to be retractable from its engagement with the chain 12 to allow relative vertical movement of the upper sash section 7 along the chain 12 in a situation where the chain 12 has become blocked in a ventilation position, e.g. due to interruption of the power supply for the electrical operator, without disconnection of the chain 12 from the bracket 14.

Thereby, the upper sash section may be closed manually in case of such a power failure.

As will be immediately apparent from figure 3 the upper sash section 7 may in the normal situation with the free end of chain 12 fixed with respect to upper sash member 13 be lowered and lifted by clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, respectively, of sprocket wheel 24.

In the closed position of the upper sash section 7 the chain 12 is as shown in fig. 3 entirely accommodated within the operator housing 11 along a path defined by a curved guide wall 31 so that no part of the electrical operator will be visible from the outside.

In the side elevation in figure 4 a further development of the window arrangement is shown in which a screen device 32 in the form of e.g. an insect screen is arranged to cover the ventilation opening provided by lowering of the upper sash section 33. The screen device includes a rolled-up web 34 of a screening material carried under spring load by a supporting device 35 secured to the upper main frame member 36 and having a free end 37 to be connected with the upper sash member.

Thereby, the screening web may automatically be brought in position by lowering of the upper sash section 33.

As apparent from the drawings the entire electrical operator of the invention is composed of relatively few components including the operatorhousing 11 incorporating the operator chain 12 and suitable electrical wiring, the control circuit 15, the bracket and locking means for connecting chain 12 with upper sash member 13 and optionally the separate remote control unit 17.

Thus the entire operator may be supplied conveniently as a do-it-yourself kit for easy installation on existing double-hung windows.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A double-hung window arrangement of the kind comprising a substantially rectangular main frame with guide means for vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections covering an upper and a lower part of the main frame opening, respectively, and locking means for securing said sash sections with respect to said main frame in closed positions of said sections, said arrangement further including a remotely operated electrical window operator for the upper sash section comprising an operator housing with an electric drive motor and transmission means arranged on a horizontal upper part of the main frame, an elongate connection member in the form of a chain engaged in said housing by said transmission means and having a free end secured to an upper horizontal member of the upper sash section so as to be non-detachable from said upper horizontal member at least in any open position of said upper sash section whereby to allow electrically operated displacement of said upper sash section from a closed position in which said chain is entirely accommodated in said housing and an open position in which said upper sash section is downwardly displaced from said closed position.

2. A double-hung window arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the free end of the chain is permanently connected to said upper member of the upper sash section by bracket means.

3. A double-hung window arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bracket means is arranged to allow relative vertical displacement between said chain and said upper horizontal part of said upper sash section and comprises releasable locking means for locking said free end of the chain with respect to said upper horizontal part of the sash section.

4. A double-hung window arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the free end of the chain and said bracket means are provided with cooperating stop means for preventing said chain from being disconnected from said bracket means.

5. A double-hung window arrangement as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the arrangement of a screen device including a rolled-up web of a spring loaded screening material carried by a supporting device secured to said upper parts of the main frame and having a free end connected with said upper part of said upper sash section to be automatically actuated by opening of said sash section to provide screening of the part of the main frame opening between the upper sash section and the upper part of the main frame.

6. A double-hung window arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said screen device is an insect screen.

7. An electrical window operator for operating an upper sash section of a double-hung window arrangement of the kind comprising a substantially rectangular main frame with guide means for vertically slidable upper and lower sash sections covering an upper and a lower part of the main frame opening, respectively, said operator comprising an operator housing with an electric drive motor and transmission members for arrangement on a horizontal upper part of said main frame, an elongate connection member in the form of a chain engaged in said housing by said transmission means and having a free end designed to be secured to an upper horizontal member of said upper sash section.

8. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 7 further comprising bracket means for permanently connecting the free end of said chain to said upper member of the upper sash section.

9. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 8 wherein said bracket means is arranged to allow relative vertical displacement of said chain and comprises releasable locking means for locking said free end of the chain.

10. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 9 wherein the free end of the chain and said bracket means are provided with cooperating stop means for preventing said chain from being disconnected from said bracket means.

11. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 8 further comprising an electrical control circuit electrically connected to said electrical drive motor and including control means for enabling and disabling said electrical drive motor.

12. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 11 wherein said control means comprises a signal receiver arranged in said control circuit and as a separate unit, a remote control unit for transmission of control signals to said signal receiver.

13. An electrical window operator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the operator housing with the chain1 the bracket means, the control circuit and the signal receiver as well as the remote control unit form parts of a do-it-yourself package for easy installation on existing double-hung windows.

14. A double hung window arrangement substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

15. An electrical window operator substantially as any one embodiment herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.