ITPD20070083A1 - CORE BOX ENHANCED FOR ELECTRIC ACTUATORS FOR WINDOW AUTOMATION - Google Patents

Description

"PERFECTED BOX CONTAINER FOR ELECTRIC ACTUATORS FOR THE AUTOMATION OF WINDOWS"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows.

Electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows are known and widely used today, that is, they allow the automatic opening and closing of a wing of a window or door with respect to its frame.

These actuators comprise, within a box-like container fixed to the frame of the window or door, an electric motor and a series of gears for reducing and transmitting the torque to a pushing and traction element, which can be a chain or a bar with rack.

The thrust element is also contained at least in part inside the box-like container, where it engages with the last corresponding gear of the series of reduction and transmission gears.

A typical box-shaped container used up to now consists of at least three half-shells: a first external half-shell, an intermediate half-shell, and a second external half-shell.

The intermediate half-shell coupled with the first half-shell defines with the latter a first chamber for housing the electric motor, the associated electronic management components and the torque reduction and transmission gear train.

The second outer half-shell, which with the first outer half-shell defines the actual outer box-like casing, identifies with the intermediate half-shell a second chamber for the thrust and traction element.

A sealing gasket is arranged between the first outer half-shell and the intermediate half-shell to make the chamber in which the electric motor and electronic components are mounted watertight.

A box-like container structure such as the one described has some perfectibility.

In fact, this container structure consists of the aforementioned half-shells, each of which to be made by molding, and then mutually assembled with a certain number of screws, the latter operation which requires a time proportional to the number of elements to be assembled and threaded elements to be screwed. .

The number of components and the complexity of the assembly inevitably reflect on the overall production costs of the container.

The main aim of the present invention is to provide an improved box-shaped container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows which has a simplified structure with respect to known box-shaped containers.

Within the scope of the main aim described above, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved box-shaped container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows which is simple and quick to assemble.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a box-shaped container whose watertight seal of the chamber in which the electric motor and electronics are housed is optimal.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a box-shaped container which can be produced at lower costs than known box-shaped containers.

Not least object of the present invention is to provide an improved box-shaped container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows, which can be produced with known systems and technologies.

These and still other purposes, which will appear more clearly later on, are achieved by an improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows, containing inside it an electric motor, the associated electronic components, at least part of an element of thrust and traction for moving the door leaf, and a train of torque reduction and transmission gears interposed between said motor and said thrust and traction element, said box-like container characterized by the fact that it consists of two half-shells which define the external casing and which have corresponding internal partitions which, juxtaposed with half-shells closed one on top of the other, form a first chamber for the motor, the electronic components and at least part of the gear train, and a second chamber for at least part of said thrust and traction element, a seal being interposed between said two half-shells nition shaped to cover the facing perimeter edges of the two half shells and the edges of the juxtaposed partition elements which divide said first chamber from said second chamber.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a linear actuator comprising a box-shaped container according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the container according to the invention;

Figure 3 shows a first section, according to a longitudinal plane, of the container according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a second section, along the line IV-IV indicated in Figure 3, of the container according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a third section, along the line V-V indicated in Figure 3, of the container according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows a sectional detail of the container according to the invention.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, an improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows according to the invention is indicated as a whole with the number 10.

This improved box-like container 10 is represented by way of non-limiting example of the invention as part of a linear actuator 11 of the bar type 12 with rack 13.

Said container 10 is designed to contain inside it an electric motor 14, the associated electronic components 15, part of a pushing and traction element for moving the door leaf, which in the example described here is the bar 12, and a train of torque reduction and transmission gears 16 interposed between the motor 14 and the thrust and traction element, i.e. the bar 12 with rack 13.

box-shaped container 10 consists of two half-shells 17 and 18.

These two half-shells, first 17 and second 18, define the outer casing of the container 10 and have corresponding internal partitions 24 which, juxtaposed with half-shells 17 and 18 closed one on top of the other, form a first chamber 20 for the motor 14, the electronic components 15 and at least part of the gear train 16, and a second chamber 21 which contains part of the bar 12, which passes through it; the bar 12 with rack 13 which does not protrude from the front of the actuator 11 and which is not in the second chamber 21, is inside a tubular container 22, fixed to the box-like container 11.

Between said two half-shells 17 and 18 is interposed a gasket 23 shaped to cover the facing perimeter edges 17a and 18a of the two half-shells 17 and 18 and the edges 24a of the juxtaposed partition elements 24 which divide the first chamber 20 from the second chamber 21.

These partition elements 24 are substantially flat.

In particular, in the embodiment of the invention described here, the gasket 23 is given by a frame portion 23a which extends to involve the perimeter edges 17a and 18a of the half-shells 17 and 18, and by an intermediate portion 23b which extends from a first side 23c to a second opposite side 23d of the same frame 23a in the direction of the length of the gasket 23.

Said intermediate portion 23b is designed to interpose, as mentioned, between the edges 24a of the partitions 24, which in the central area 24b of the container 10 are shaped in an arc of a circle to allow the housing of the penultimate gear 25 of the gear train to the inside the first chamber 20; this penultimate gear 25 is keyed onto a shaft 26 which passes through the first chamber 20 and the second chamber 21, and transmits the motion to the last gear 27, which is placed in the second chamber 21 and is directly engaged to the rack 13 for the movement of the bar 12 .

In correspondence with the central arc-shaped zone 24b of the partitions 24, the gasket 23 has a counter-shaped arc portion 23e.

Each portion of the gasket 23 has two lips to surround the edges 24a of the partitions 24 and 17a of the first half-shell 17, while on the opposite side on the perimeter portion 23a there are grooves for the correct positioning of the edges 18 of the second half-shell 18.

The watertight seal of the first chamber 20 with respect to the second chamber 21 and with respect to the outside is ensured by two annular seals, 28 and 29 respectively.

The first annular seal 28 is placed between a corresponding collar 25 a of the penultimate gear 25 and the counter-shaped facing edge of the hole through which said collar 25a faces the second chamber 21; this first seal 28 ensures the protection of the first chamber 20 from water and humidity which might penetrate into the second chamber 21, which is inevitably open on the outside for the transit of the bar 12.

The second annular seal 29 surrounds the end of the shaft opposite to that on which the last gear 27 is keyed, and is pressed between a shoulder 30 made externally to the first half-shell 17, and an opposing abutment 31 defined on an element of cover 32 externally associated with the first half-shell 17.

The watertight seal of the first chamber 20 is completed by the conical rubber cable gland 32 for the power supply cable 33, which is pressed against the corresponding locking collar 34 on the first half-shell 17 by an annular cover 35, which with the edge 35a of its hole tightens the grommet 32 against the cable 33.

In a form of the invention not shown, the pushing and pulling element can be a chain, designed to wind itself inside a second suitably shaped chamber.

In practice it has been found that the invention thus described solves the intended aim and objects.

In particular, the present invention provides an improved box-like container for electric actuators for automating doors and windows which has a simplified structure with respect to known box-like containers; in fact the container 10 according to the invention is made up of only two half-shells 17 and 18, instead of three like the known containers, which suitably shaped and with the interposition of the gasket 23 allow to make the two chambers 20 and 21 of which the first chamber 20 , with the motor 14 and the electronics 15, watertight.

Just two half-shells mean fewer components to produce, fewer components to assemble, fewer threaded elements to assemble and therefore less complexity and greater speed of execution during assembly, with consequent positive effects on both production speed and labor costs.

Furthermore, the box-shaped container according to the invention allows the realization of a chamber 20 for the motor and the electronics which is perfectly watertight, thanks to the expedients given by the presence of the two annular seals 28 and 29 at the points where the shaft 26 comes out. from the first chamber 20.

Furthermore, the container 10 according to the container invention can always be produced by molding plastic material, but at lower costs than known box-shaped containers, since it is composed of only two half-shells, as explained above.

Last but not least, the present invention provides an improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows, which can be produced with known systems and technologies.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the needs and the state of the art.

Where the features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks, such reference marks have been affixed for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and consequently such reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference marks.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1) Improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows, containing an electric motor (14), the associated electronic components (15), at least part of a push and traction element (12) for movement of the window leaf, and a train of gears (16) for torque reduction and transmission, interposed between said motor (14) and said thrust and traction element (12), said box-like container (10) characterized by the fact of consist of two half-shells, first (17) and second (18), which define the external envelope and which have corresponding internal partition elements (24) which, juxtaposed with half-shells (17, 18) closed one on top of the other, create a first chamber (20) for the motor (14), the electronic components (15) and at least part of the gear train (16), and a second chamber (21) for at least part of said thrust and traction element (12) , between said two half-shells (17, 18) essen interposed with a gasket (23) shaped to cover the facing perimeter edges (17a, 18a) of the two half-shells (17, 18) and the edges (24a) of the juxtaposed partition elements (24) which divide said first chamber (20) from said second bedroom (21). 2) Box-shaped container according to claim 1, characterized in that said push and pull element for moving the door leaf is a bar (12) with rack (13). 3) Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said partition elements (24, 24b) are substantially flat. 4) Container according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said gasket (23) is given by a frame portion (23 a) which extends to affect the perimeter edges (17a, 18 a) of the half-shells (17, 18), and from an intermediate portion (23b) which extends from a first side (23 c) to a second opposite side (23 d) of the same frame (23 a) in the direction of the length of the gasket (23). 5) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said intermediate portion (23 b) is designed to interpose between the edges (24a) of the partition elements (24), which in the central area (24b) of the container ( 10) are shaped in an arc of a circle to allow housing the penultimate gear (25) of the gear train inside the first chamber (20). 6) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that this penultimate gear (25) is keyed onto a shaft (26) which passes through the first (20) and second chamber (21), and transmits motion to the last gear (27), which is placed in the second chamber (21) and directly engages the rack (13) for moving the bar (12). 7) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in correspondence with the central arc-shaped area (24b) of the partitions (24), the gasket (23) has a counter-shaped arc portion (23e). 8) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each section of the gasket (23) has two lips to surround the edges (24a) of the partitions (24) and the edges (17a) of the first half-shell (17), while on the opposite side on the perimeter portion (23 a) grooves are defined for the correct positioning of the edges (18a) of the second half-shell (18). 9) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watertight seal of the first chamber (20) with respect to the second chamber (21) and with respect to the outside is ensured by two annular seals (28, 29), a first seal ( 28) being placed between a corresponding collar (25a) of the penultimate gear (25) and the counter-shaped facing edge of the hole through which said collar (25 a) faces the second chamber (21), said second annular seal (29) surrounding the 'end of the shaft (26) opposite to that on which the last gear (27) is keyed, and is pressed between a shoulder (30) made externally to the first half-shell (17), and an opposing abutment (31) defined on a covering element (32) externally associated with the first half-shell (17). 10) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watertight seal of the first chamber (20) is completed by a conical rubber grommet (32) for the power supply cable (33), which is pressed against the corresponding locking collar (34) on the first half-shell (17) by an annular cover (35), which with the edge (35a) of its hole tightens the cable gland (32) against the cable (33). 11) Container according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said pushing and traction element can be a chain, designed to wind itself inside a second suitably shaped chamber. 12) Improved box-like container for electric actuators for the automation of doors and windows, as per one or more of the preceding claims, which is characterized by what is described and illustrated in the attached drawings.