KR20150005890A - Spring motor and drag brake for drive for coverings for architectural openings - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is related to a spring motor and drag brake for use in coverings for architectural openings. The spring motor comprises: a housing; an output spool mounted on the housing for rotation about a first rotation shaft in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a storage spool mounted on the housing for rotation about a second rotation shaft to clockwise and counterclockwise directions; and a motor spring wound upon the storage spool itself and defining a first end and a second end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a spring motor for driving a cover covering a building opening portion and a drag brake,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spring motor and a drag brake that operate and drive a cover ring covering a building opening.

The present application is directed to spring motors and draggings that can be used to open or close curtains or coverings of building openings, such as venetian blinds, wrinkle curtains, vertical blinds, other expandable materials, and other mechanical appliances drag brakes.

Generally, the blind transport system includes a head rail that supports the hood and conceals the mechanism used to lift and lower or open and close the hood. U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503, entitled " Modular Transfer System Used to Indicate Building Openings ", the title of the invention incorporated herein by reference, describes such a blind system. In a typical top / down product, the lifting and lowering operations of the covering are done with the lift cord (s) attached to the head rail and attached to the bottom rail (also referred to as the moving rail or bottom slat). The opening and closing operation of the covering is made of a ladder tape (and / or a tilt cable) which operates along the front and rear lamination portions of the slats. Generally, the lift cord operates through holes in the slats or along the front and rear laminations of the slats. In this type of covering, the weight of the slats is supported by the ladder tape so that only the lower rails are lifted at start up, so that the force required to raise the covering is at a minimum when fully lowered (fully expanded). As the covering is further elevated, the slats are stacked on the lower rails, moving the weight of the slats from the ladder tape to the lift cords, thereby gradually increasing the covering by approaching the fully lifted (fully retracted) position of the larger lifting force .

Some window covering (curtain) products are installed bottom up, at the top of the window curtain bundle between the bundle and the head rail, instead of the moving rail being at the bottom of the window curtain bundle, When it is retracted, it accumulates at the bottom of the window and when the covering is extended, the moving rail is at the top of the window curtain, behind the head rail. There is also a composite product that can be both top-down and / or bottom-up.

In a horizontal window curtain product, an operator manipulates the product with an opposing force to an external gravity force to move the expandable material from one of the extended and retracted positions to the remaining position.

In contrast to blinds, a top-down shade, such as a shear horizontal window shade, generally results in the entire shielding material being wrapped around the rotor rail by the rise of the curtain. Thus, the weight of the sieve is moved to the rotor rail by the rise of the curtain, so that the force required to raise the sieve gradually decreases as the curtain (light blocking element) approaches the fully raised (fully open) position. Of course, there are up-and-down curtains and composite curtains that can be done both on a top-down and / or bottom-up basis. In the case of a bottom-up / top-down curtain, the weight of the curtain moves to the rotatable rail by the descent of the curtain, similar to the weighted action of the top / down blind.

In the case of vertically-oriented window coverings that operate in the left and right direction rather than the vertical direction, a first code is typically used to pull the curtain to a retracted position, and then a second code (or first code Is used to pull the curtain to the extended position. In this case, the operator does not exert any force against gravity. However, such window curtains are also arranged to have an external force or load other than gravity, such as a spring, so that the operator operates with a force opposing the force to move the expandable material from one position to another.

Various driving mechanisms for extending and retracting the curtain, i.e. moving the curtain in the vertical or horizontal direction, or moving the slat in the vertical direction, are known. Many of the driving mechanisms use a spring motor to move the curtain by giving a catalyst force (and / or by giving the stimulating force applied by the operator).

It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the drag brake mechanism is attached to a spring motor storage spool mounted in rotation with respect to the housing, the housing being attached to the output spool of the spring motor and made operative and achieving the same result. Likewise, many other modifications and modifications may be made.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the driving operation portion of the window curtain with the window curtain and the spring motor partially disassembled. Fig.
2 is an exploded perspective view of the spring motor of Fig.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the assembled motor of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an end view of the spring motor of Figure 3;
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
6A is a perspective view of a bottom-up / bottom-up curtain incorporating the spring motor of FIG.
6B is a partially exploded perspective view of the head rail of FIG. 6A, incorporating two sets of drivers in the head rail; FIG.
7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the assembled motor of Figure 7;
Fig. 9 is an end view of the spring motor of Fig. 8; Fig.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10 in Fig.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the assembled motor output shaft, coil spring, and spring coupler of Figure 7;
12 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor.
12A is an exploded perspective view similar to that of Fig. 12 of another embodiment of the spring motor.
13 is an assembled view of the spring motor of Fig.
14 is an end view of the spring motor of Fig.
15A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 15-15 in FIG.
Figure 15B is a perspective view of the assembled drag brake drum, riding sleeves, and coil spring of Figure 12;
16 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor.
17 is an assembled view of the spring motor of Fig.
18 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 15 except for the spring motor of Fig.
19 is a view schematically showing three steps including a backward winding operation of a flat spring motor.
20 is a graph showing the torque curves of the standard-rewind spring and the reverse-rewind spring.

1 to 20 are views for explaining various embodiments of the spring motor. The spring motor is used to move up and down the window curtain to expand and contract, move to the left or right, or tilting to open and close the slats. Herein, the term "window curtain" or "covering" of a building opening is referred to, and more particularly, blinds or shades are referred to.

1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a cellular shill 100 and a drag brake combination 102 using a spring motor.

The shade 100 of Figure 1 includes a headrest 108, a lower rail 110 and a cellular covering construction 112 that is suspended from the headrail 108 and attached to both the headrail 108 and the lower rail 110 . The covering material 112 has a width that is basically the same as the length of the head rail 108 and the lift rod 118 and has a height equal to the length of the lift cord when it is basically fully expanded Set shown but not shown here). The lift cord is attached to the lower rail 110 and the lift station 116 such that upon rotation of the lift rod 118 the lift spools also rotate to the lift station 116, The upper rail 110 is lifted or lowered by being wrapped or loosened by the upper rail 116 so that the shade 100 is raised or lowered. The lift station 116 and its operating principle are described in U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503, entitled " Modular Transport System Covering a Building Opening ", issued March 25, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The end cap 120 is used to close the end of the head rail 108 and to mount the cellular product 100 in the building opening.

A spring motor and a drag brake combination body 102 are disposed between the two lift stations 116. The combination is transmitted to the lift station 116 via the lift rod 118 so that the spool and lift rod 118 also rotates (and vice versa) to the lift station 116 as the spring motor rotates, ). A technique relating to raising and lowering a window blind using a spring motor is a technique described in the above-mentioned U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503 entitled "Modular transportation system for covering building openings".

To raise the curtain, the user lifts the lower rail 110. The spring motor helps the user to raise the curtain. At the same time, the drag brake portion of the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 acts to interfere with this upward movement of the curtain. As will be described later, the drag brake exerts two different torques which interfere with rotation, in accordance with the rotational direction. In this embodiment, the resistance to upward motion exerted by the drag brake is less than two torques (see release torque), as will be described in more detail below. This release torque together with the torque due to the curtain weight and the system friction is such that when the shade 100 is once released by the user, the spring motor is sufficiently large to prevent the shade 100 from generating a creep motion Big.

In order to lower the cover, the user pulls down the lower rail 110 with the help of gravitational force. While pulling the lower rail 100 downward, the spring motor is rotated to increase the position energy of the flat spring (due to the action of winding the flat spring of the motor on the output spool 122, as will be described in more detail below) ). The drag brake portion of the combination 102 acts to inhibit this downward motion of the curtain and this stopping force is transmitted by a large two torques exerted by the drag brake, Torque). The torque exerted by the spring motor and the system friction and the combined holding torque are large enough to prevent the shade 100 from falling down. Therefore, the shade remains at the position where the operator is released without considering the position at which the shade is released along the entire range of travel paths.

Will be described with reference to FIG. The combination of the spring motor and the drag brake combination includes a motor output spool 122, a flat spring 124 (also referred to as a motor spring 124), a stepped coil spring 126, a motor housing 128, And a brake housing (130). The two housings 128, 130 are connected together to form a complete housing. Note that in this embodiment, the brake housing 130 extends beyond the brake mechanism and surrounds the motor part.

The motor output spool 122 (also shown in FIG. 5) has a spring-up take-up portion 132, which is laterally on the side by the inclined left and right shoulders 134 and 136, Forming an axially oriented flat recess 138 (see FIG. 5) having a raised button 140 to secure the first end 142 of the flat spring 124 to the output spool 122. The first end 142 of the flat spring 124 is configured such that the lifting button 140 of the spring lifting portion 132 releasably secures the flat spring 124 to the motor output spool 122 and the flat spring 124 And into the flat recess 138 of the spring up portion 132 until it snaps through the hole 144 at the first end 142 of the sprung portion 132.

In addition, the motor output spool 122 has a drag brake drum 146 extending axially to the left and right shoulders 136. Stub shafts 148 and 150 extend axially at each end of motor output spool 122 for rotational support of motor output spool 122 as described below.

The flat spring 124 is a flat strip of metal that is tightly wound as shown in Fig. The first end 142 of the spring 124 defines a through hole 144 for releasably securing the flat spring 124 to the motor output spool 122. As shown in Fig. 2, the routing of the flat spring 124 is such that the end 142 of the flat spring 124 is positioned such that the button 140 snaps into the through hole 144 of the flat spring 124. [ And into the flat 138 and below the motor output spool 122 until connected.

The coil spring 126 of the present disclosure is similar to a conventional coil spring except that it forms two different coil diameters (Note that the coil diameter is a feature of the coil. The first coil portion 152 has a small coil diameter and forms an inner diameter that is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the drag brake drum 146. The second coil portion 154 has a larger coil diameter as will be described in more detail below and has a corresponding cavity 156 (also referred to as a housing hole 156 or a drag brake hole 156) formed by the brake housing 130 Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > diameter < / RTI >

The brake housing 130 has a cylindrical cavity 156 slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the second coil portion 154 of the stepped coil spring 126 (also referred to as the drag brake housing hole 156, Thereby forming an inner diameter. The brake housing (130) has an inner hollow shaft projection (158). The protrusions form a through hole 164 extending through the housing 128, 130 with a corresponding corresponding inner hollow shaft projection 160 (shown in Figure 5) in the motor housing 128, Thereby forming a spool 162. As will be described later, such through holes 164 can be used as through regions for rods (e.g., lift rods or tilt rods) to provide two independent drive arrangements in close proximity to one another in close proximity to one another Thereby making it possible to use a narrower head rail 108 than is possible in other ways.

5, the first coil portion 152 of the stepped coil spring 126 is shown as being substantially embedded in the drag brake drum portion 146 and similarly the second coil portion 154 is also shown as being embedded in the drag brake hole 146 156, respectively. In fact, the coil portions 152,154 are not substantially buried in the respective parts 146,156, but are provided between the coil portions 152,154 and the respective drum 146 and housing holes 156, It is shown in this way to show that there is a fitting. The amount of the interference fit by the wire diameter or wire cross-sectional dimension of the stepped coil spring 126 is dependent on the amount of interference between the housing 130 and the housing 130 in the first and second directions, such that the brake drum 146, Torque and holding torque. The two torques may also be referred to as component torques because they are torques exerted by the drag brake component or by the drag brake component, in contrast to system torques. The system torque is generally the torque exhibited by the system and includes the torque due to the spring motor of the assembly 102, the friction torque, the torque due to the weight of the shade, and so on.

The coil spring 126 exerts a torque on both the hole 156 of the housing 130 and the brake drum 146 and the torque is transmitted to the brake drum 146 from rotating. The amount of torque exerted by the coil spring 126 relative to the brake drum 146 and the hole 156 is determined by the amount of torque generated by the rotation of the brake drum 146 relative to the housing 130, It changes according to the place. In order to facilitate this explanation, the coil spring torque which must be overcome so that the brake drum rotates in one direction with respect to the housing is referred to as the holding torque, and the coil, which must be overcome to rotate the brake drum in the other direction relative to the housing Spring torque is called release torque.

The retaining torque is related to the housing 130 having the property that the output spool and the brake drum expand or open the coil spring 126 in the direction away from the drum 146 toward the hole 156 of the housing 130 (Shown in Fig. 2) in the clockwise direction. In this situation, the drag brake drum portion 146 slides past the first coil portion 152 of the coil spring 126 while the second coil portion 154 of the coil spring 126 slides over the housing hole 156 ). This holding torque is the higher one of the two component torques of the drag brake component and in this embodiment the flat spring 124 has an output that is the same as the output of the flat spring 124 when the shade 100 is pulled by the user with the help of gravity force Occurs when the spool 122 is wound (and when the position energy of the device 102 is increased and released from the storage spool 162).

Thus, when the user pulls down on the lower rail 110 to overwhelm the holding torque, the flat spring 124 is wound onto the output spool and the drum 146 slides relative to the coil spring 126. The holding torque is designed to be sufficient to prevent the shade 100 from falling downward when the user releases it at any point along the travel distance of the shade 112. [ (Of course, this arrangement can be reversed so that rotation in the counterclockwise direction occurs when the user lifts the lower rail.)

Similarly, when the lower rail 110 is lifted, the output spool 122 and the brake drum 146 rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the hole 156 of the housing 130 (see FIG. 2). The flat spring 124 helps the user lift the shade 100, is unwound from the output spool 132 and is wound onto the storage spool 162. Further, the stepped coil spring 126 rotates in the same clockwise direction, causing the coil spring 126 to contract in the direction toward the drum 146 in the direction away from the housing hole 156. This construction causes the first coil portion 152 to undergo clamping downward in the drag brake drum portion 146 and the second coil portion 154 to contract in the direction away from the hole 156. [ The release torque (lower one of the two torques for the drag brake component) occurs when the stepped coil spring 126 slides relative to the housing hole 156.

Thus, when the operator raises the lower rail 110 upward, the flat spring 124 is wound on the storage spool 162 and the coil spring slides with respect to the hole 156 by the sill-rising.

In summary, the holding torque is the greater of the two torques for this drag brake component, and the second coil portion 154 expands against the bore 156 in the housing 130 to "lock" Occurs when the coil spring 126 grows or expands such that the first coil portion 152 expands from the drag brake drum portion 146 and slides relative to the drag brake drum portion. The release torque is the smaller of the two torques for the drag brake component and the second coil portion 154 contracts in a direction away from the bore 156 of the housing 130 and slides in relation to the bore, Occurs when the drag brake spring 126 is depressed such that the coil portion 152 is recessed and "engaged" with the drag brake drum portion 146. Both torques for the drag brake component provide a reduction in rotation of the output spool 122 and rotation of the drum 146 relative to the housing 130. The amount of torque in each rotational direction of the drag brake depends on the particular application.

The spring motor and the drag brake combination body 102 are assembled and the flat spring 124 is fixed to the output spool 122 as described above. The single-phase coil spring 126 slides over the drag brake drum portion 146 of the output spool 122 and this assembly includes a single-stage coil spring 126 disposed within the drag brake hole 156 and a brake housing 130 And a center hole 166 of a flat spring 124 that slides over the hollow shaft protrusion 158 of the brake housing 130. As shown in FIG. Next, the motor housing 128 is engaged with the brake housing 130. The two housings 128 and 130 are snapped together with a peg 168 and a bridge 170. (See, for example, US patent application Ser. Quot; Snap-Together Design for Component Assembly "is disclosed in U. S. Patent Application No. 11 / 382,089), the stub shafts 148 and 150 of the output spool 122 are individually connected to the output spool (See FIG. 5) on the drag brake drum portion 146 and the motor housing 128 to rotatably support the motor housing 122 (see FIG. 5).

5, the flat springs 124 are all in the "full discharge " position, wound around the storage spool 162. The spool 138 is in the intermediate position, The first coil portion 152 is tightly wound around the drag brake drum portion 146 and the second coil portion 154 is also tightly wound against the drag brake hole 156. [ Likewise, as the lower rail 110 of the shade 100 is pulled down by the user, the stepped coil spring 126 is urged by the user to cause the secondary coil portion 154 to expand and contract so as to tightly engage the drag brake hole 156 While the first coil portion 152 extends in a direction away from the drag brake drum portion 146. The drag brake drum portion includes two toe portions for the drag brake component called the holding torque The user slides the brake on the brake drum 146 at a higher level than the torque required to wind the flat spring 24 on the output spool 122 to descend the shade 100. In addition to the torque required to wind the flat spring 24, The system torque must also be overwhelmed and the torque is also to prevent the shade from falling downward once the user has released the shade 100 once.

1 is a diagram showing how a combination of a spring motor and a drag brake combination 102 is installed in the shade 100. FIG. The lift rod 118 is driven by the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 through the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 completely (via the axial alignment through hole 176 in the output spool 122) May be installed anywhere between the lift stations 116 or along the length of the head rail 108 on either side of the lift station 116. [ This design has considerably more mounting flexibility than that made with prior art designs.

Note that in FIG. 4, the through hole 176 in the output spool 122 has a non-circular outline shape. Substantially, in certain embodiments, it has a "V" notch profile 176 that engages a similar profiled lift rod 118. Thus, the rotation of the output spool 122 results in a corresponding rotation of the lift rod 118, and the rotation is also reversed.

The storage spool 162 is also a hollow spool and forms a through hole 164 extending through another rod such as another lift rod 118. By the way, these holes 164 do not match the rod operating the coupling, but merely provide a passage through which the rod passes. This structure results in a very compact arrangement that is suitable for two independent parallel operations, as shown in FIG. 6B. In particular, this structure is desirable for the operation of the bottom-up / top-down shade 1002 as shown in FIG. 6A.

As shown in Fig. 6B, the ability to mount operating-adjusting elements such as spring motors or brakes at random locations along a plurality of shafts allows a functionally wide range of actions to be made. The arrangement of the arrangement shown in Figure 6b uses one shaft 1022 to raise and lower a portion of the covering and another shaft 1024, which is parallel to the first shaft 1022, It is possible to perform different functions by using two or more shafts while lowering the shaft. For example, one shaft is used to raise and lower the shade, and the remaining shafts are used to tilt the slats in the shade as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503.

Figures 6A and 6B show a bottom-up / downward shade 1002 using two spring motors and drag brake combination 102 for each lift rod 1022,1024. The shade 1002 includes an upper rail 1004 with an end cap 1006, a middle rail 1008 with an end cap 1010, a lower rail 1012 with an end cap 1014, A structure 1016, a combination of a spring motor and a drag brake combination 102M and 102B, a lower rail lift rod 1022 and a middle rail lift rod 1024.

The spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M and 102B, the lift stations 1018 and 1020 and the lift rods 1022 and 1024 are both disposed on the upper rail 1004 in the case of the bottom-up / downward shade 1002 of FIG. 6B . The two lift rods or shafts 1022 and 1024 pass completely through both the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M and 102B while each of the lift rods or shafts 1022 and 1024 is driven by only one spring motor and the drag Brake combination and the other one passes through without coupling. The front lift rod 1024 is operated by the lift cord 1030 to interconnect the two lift stations 1020, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M and the middle rail 1008 (see FIG. 6A) And the remaining spring motor and drag brake combination 102B pass through. The rear lift rod 1022 is operated by the lift cords 1032 so that the two lift stations 1018, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102B and the lower rail 1012 are interconnected (see Fig. 6A) And the remaining spring motor and drag brake combination 102M pass through.

In this case, the intermediate rail 1008 is moved upwards all the way to the position immediately below the upper rail 1004, or downwardly until it is positioned just above the lower rail 1012, And remains at an arbitrary position between the extremes. The lower rail 1012 does not move upwards until it is positioned directly beneath the intermediate rail 1008 (or does not care the time that the intermediate rail 1008 is set), or the entire length of the shade 1002 extends , Or the lower rail 1012 is held at an arbitrary position between the two extreme points.

Each of the lift rods 1022 and 1024 operates independently of each other and includes a front rod 1024 operatively connected to the intermediate rail 1008 and a rear rod 1022 operatively connected to the bottom rail, In the same manner as described above.

6B, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M, 102B may be the same, and they may also be configured such that the stepped coil spring 126 has a different wire diameter (not shown) to match the hold and release torque for each brake (Or other wire cross-sectional dimensions). The large diameter wire (or large wire cross-sectional dimension) used in the stepped coil spring 126 results in high retention and release torque. Regardless of whether or not they are the same, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102B "flip over" at installation relative to the spring motor and drag brake combination 102M. The lift rod 1022 for the lower rail 1012 passes through the through hole 176 in the output spool 122 of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102B and then engages with the output spool 122. And passes through the through hole 164 of the storage spool 162 of the spring motor and drag brake combination 102M. Similarly, the lift rod 1024 for the middle rail 1008 passes through (and is coupled with) the output spool 122 in the output spool 122 of the spring motor and drag brake combination 102M, do. And passes through the through hole of the storage spool 162 of the remaining spring motor and drag brake combination 102B.

Because the present application can add more spring motors or more spring motors and drag brake combinations as needed and provide the shaft or rods 1022 and 1024 so that the components pass completely through the housing, The combination of the spring motor and the drag brake can be placed at random locations along the rods 1022 and 1024. It is also possible to have two or more shafts passing completely through the housing of the spring-operated operating element, in which at least one shaft is in operative engagement with the spring and at least one other shaft is not engaged with the spring Now, the range of possible combinations of components in the system is widened. The spring-actuated operating components include a spring motor alone, a spring brake alone, a spring motor and spring brake combination as shown herein, or other components.

* Another embodiment of a spring motor and a drag brake combination

7 to 11 are views showing another embodiment of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 '. In contrast to FIG. 2, the difference between this embodiment 102 'and the above-described embodiment 102 will be mainly described. This embodiment includes two "common" coil springs 126S and 126L that are linked together by a spring coupler 127 ' instead of a single stepped coil spring 126. [ The first coil spring 126S has a small diameter coil and the second coil spring 126L has a large diameter coil.

The spring coupler 127 'is a washer-shaped mechanism with a longitudinal groove formed in the slot 178'. The slots receive the extended ends 180 ', 182' of the coil springs 126S, 126L. The coil spring 126S has a small diameter coil so that the end portions 180 ', 182', which are provided inside the large diameter coil spring 126L and extend therefrom, are positioned within the slot 178 ' And are adjacent to each other.

The spring coupler 127'forms a central hole 184 'which allows the spring coupler 127' to slide over the stub shaft 150 'of the output spool 122'. The spring coupler 127 'allows the two springs 126S and 126L to be made of wires having different diameters (or different cross-sectional dimensions if the wire is not circular in its own section) But still acts as a single spring when the output spool 122 'rotates. Figure 11 shows two springs 126S, 126L that are linked and actuated by a spring coupler 127 'and mounted on an output spool 122'.

The combination of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102'is described in detail above except that the use of the two coil springs 126S and 126L gives flexibility to select the wire cross section dimensions for the respective coil springs 126S and 126L. And operates in the same manner as the combination of the spring motor and the drag brake combination. In this way, the correct (or preferred) brake torque can be selected more accurately for each application.

For example, FIG. 7 illustrates a small coil spring (not shown) for clamping the drag brake drum portion 146 'relative to the wire cross-sectional dimension used for the large coil spring 126L clamping the inside of the drag brake hole 156' 126S). ≪ / RTI > The slip torque (torque at the point where the coil spring passes over the clamped surface) is a function of the diameter of the wire cross-section used for the coil spring (the larger the wire cross-section dimension is, the higher the sliding torque is, The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 has a greater holding torque (greater at two torques) than the holding torque of a similar spring motor and drag brake combination with a small spring coil 126S made of a small cross-section wire.

12 and 13 to 15B illustrate another embodiment of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 ". In contrast to FIG. 2, the embodiment 102 " Respectively. This embodiment 102 "includes a motor output spool 122 ", a flat spring 124" (or a motor 124 "), a motor housing 128 ", a brake housing 130 ", a drag brake drum portion 146 "), and coil spring 126 ". As will be described below, some of the items may be slightly different from those described in connection with the previous embodiments, and this embodiment 102 " also operates the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 " (Although the other embodiment 102 * shown in Figure 16 does not use sleeves). ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 >

A readily apparent difference is that the split brake drum portion 146 "is a split piece that can be rotated and supported by the shaft extension 148" of the motor output spool 122 ". The motor output spool 122 " is supported on housings 128 ", 130 "to rotate and the drag brake drum portion 146 " is engaged with shaft extension 148" of motor output spool 122 & The motor output spool 122 "and the drag brake drum portion 146 " are provided with hollow shafts 176 ", 186 < RTI ID = 0.0 >Quot;).

The brake housing 130 "includes two" ears " portions < / RTI > of slot- ) "188 ".

The riding sleeve 127 "is a discontinuous, cylindrical ring with a longitudinal cutout 192 ", which cuts the ring to a smaller diameter " collapsed " Both of the riding sleeves 127 "are identical to the two coil springs 126" (the coil springs 126 "may be of different wire diameters to achieve the desired torque as desired) Only one set of riding sleeves 127 "and coil springs 126 " may be suitably used as needed, as a technical description that can be clearly understood after describing the operation of the drag brake combination 102" . The embodiment 102 "of Figure 12 shows two sets of riding sleeves 127" and coil springs 126 "used to obtain a larger holding torque (greater braking force). In fact, May also be used as needed (and may be accommodated in the drag brake drum portion 146 "). Also, the use of the riding sleeve 127 " is optional, as can be seen in the embodiment 102 * of FIG. 16, as described in more detail below.

The use of the riding sleeve 127 " is achieved for the drag brake drum portion 146 " and for the riding sleeve 127 ", while the coil spring 126 "is located directly on the outer diameter portion of the drag brake drum portion 146 & For example, the riding sleeve 127 " has a certain degree of flexibility (and therefore collapses towards the outer diameter portion of the drag brake drum portion 146 "). ) And a material having a self-lubricating property to some extent. Also, if a riding sleeve 127 "is used, it is necessary to replace the drag brake drum portion 146 " Instead, the riding sleeve 127 " can be simply replaced when high wear occurs between the coil spring 126 "and the riding sleeve 127 ". The remaining description describes only one set of riding sleeves 127 "and coil springs 126 ", and it is understood that the use of two or more sets will result in the same advantage with essentially the same operating principle as described above .

The flat spring 124 "is assembled to the motor output spool 122" in the same manner as previously described for the motor output spool 122 of FIG. The assembled flat springs 124 "and the motor output spool 122 " are then coupled to a flat spring 124 " that slides over the hollow shaft projections 158 ", 160" of the motor housing 128 & Is assembled to motor housing 128 " and brake housing 130 " with holes 166 "of motor housing 124 ".

The riding sleeve 127 "and coil spring 126" are then assembled to the drag brake drum portion 146 "as shown in Figure 15b. The riding sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126 " And is disposed in line in the outer diameter portion of the brake drum portion 146 ". The coil spring 126 "is installed in the corresponding riding sleeve 127" such that the curled end 190 "of the coil spring 126" protrudes through the slot opening 192 "of the riding sleeve 127". Each riding sleeve 127 " has a circumferential flange 194 "at each end such that the coil spring 126" out of the corresponding riding sleeve 127 " during operation of the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 & Which helps keep it from slipping away.

The assembled drag brake drum portion 146 ", coil spring 126 ", and riding sleeve 127 " are then installed on the extension shaft 148 " of the motor output spool 122 " Of the brake housing 130 "in the brake housing 130 ". The drag brake drum portion 146 " causes the motor output spool 122" and the drag brake & Circular outline shapes 176 ", 186 "of drum portion 146 " rotate until they are aligned to be inserted through the entire assembly, as shown in FIG.

The motor output spool 122 "corresponds to the counterclockwise rotation (corresponding to the descent of the shade 100 and the movement of the flat spring 124" from the storage spool 162 "to the motor output spool 122 & 12, the both motor output spool 122 " and drag brake drum portion 146 " rotate counterclockwise during operation. The riding sleeve 127 "is also forced to rotate in the same direction as above (due to the frictional force between the riding sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126 ") and the coil spring 126 " (Due to frictional forces between the riding sleeve 127 "and the coil spring 126 "). However, the curled end portion 190 "of the coil spring 126" is fixed to the brake housing 130 "to prevent the occurrence of rotation, so that the remaining coil spring 126 " , The coil spring 126 " is tightened tightly against the riding sleeve 127 ". The riding sleeve 127 "is slightly collapsed toward the outer diameter portion of the drag brake drum portion 146" so that the lift rod 118 " of the drag brake drum portion 146 " ) Of rotation).

When the shade 100 is lifted, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 "cause the user to release the flat spring 124 " from the motor output spool 122 " "). The drag brake drum portion 146 " rotates clockwise to rotate clockwise by exerting a force on the riding sleeve 127 "and the coil spring 126 ". The coil spring 126" The coil spring 126 "grows" or expands, the inner diameter increases, and the riding sleeve 127 " The drag brake drum portion 146 " can rotate without receiving little resistance from the coil spring 126 ". Thus, the use of the drag brake drum portion 146 " Can easily lift the shade 100 with the help of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 ".

12A shows the spring motor and drag brake in Fig. 12, except that one coil spring 126 "is turned 180 degrees relative to the coil spring 126 " and is made of a wire material with a thinner cross- The riding sleeve 127 "and the coil spring 126 " also rotate clockwise when the drag brake drum portion 146" rotates clockwise Rotate. In this case, however, the clockwise rotation causes the second coil spring 126 " to tighten downwardly toward the riding sleeve 127 ", reducing the inner diameter of the riding sleeve 127 " And clamped downwardly on the drum portion 146 ". Because the cross-sectional diameter of the second coil spring 126 "is smaller than the cross-section of the first coil spring 126 ", the drag torque applied to the drag brake drum portion 146 " ≪ / RTI > is smaller than the drag brake applied to the drag brake drum portion 146 " If the cross-sectional dimension of the wire of the second coil spring is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the wire of the first coil spring 126 ", the breaking torque becomes larger clockwise. If the dimensions of the two coil springs 126 " Are opposite to each other, the braking torque will be the same in both directions.

16 and 17 are views showing another embodiment of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 *. Compared to Figure 12, this embodiment 102 * is substantially the same as the previously disclosed embodiment 102 " except that it does not have a riding sleeve 127 "and only has a single coil spring 126 * . However, two or more coil springs 126 * may be used as needed, as in the case of the previously described embodiment 102 ". The coil springs 126 * But instead directly to the outer diameter portion of the drag brake drum portion 146 *. In addition to these differences, the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 * basically operate in the same manner as previously described embodiment 102 ".

In this spring motor and drag brake combination 102 *, which is common in all of the spring motor and drag brake combinations described herein, the coil spring 126 ** or the flat spring 124 ** may be omitted from the assembly Please note that you can. If the coil spring 126 ** is omitted, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 * will operate only with the spring motor without drag brake characteristics. Similarly, if the flat spring 124 ** is omitted, the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 * will not have motor properties and will only operate as a drag brake.

18 is a view showing another embodiment of the combination of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 **. In contrast to Figure 5, this embodiment 102 ** illustrates that in the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ** the storage spool 162 * is not a hollow spool as in the previously described embodiment 102 Is generally similar to the previous embodiment (102) except for the following. And, in this case, the lift rod can not penetrate the storage spool 162 *. In addition to these differences, the spring motor 102 and the drag brake combination 102 ** basically operate in the same manner as the embodiment 102 described above.

Figs. 19 and 20 show an embodiment of a flat spring (or motor spring), which is used in the embodiments described herein as needed. The flat spring 124 shown in step # 1 is made by itself rolling the flat metal strip tightly, after which the coil is relieved of pressure. The flat spring forms an inner diameter 196, and in this embodiment, the inner diameter is 0.25 inches. The spring 124 as shown as the object of step # 1 is used in the embodiment described above, or the spring is subjected to an additional step as shown in FIG.

In step # 1, the coil spring 124 is first wound such that the first end 200 of the spring 124 is inside the coil and the second end 202 of the spring 124 is outside the coil. Next, the coil spring 124 is pressure relieved to take up the coil set shown in Fig. 1, and the first (inner) end thereof has a smaller radius of curvature and the second (outer) And has a gradually increasing spring. Next, in step # 2, the coil spring 124 is wound backward until it reaches the position shown in step # 3. In step # 3, the end 200 of the spring 124 (with the small coil set radius of curvature) is outside the coil and the end 202 of the spring 124 (with the large coil set radius of curvature) And has a radius of curvature of the coil set that gradually and continuously decreases from the inner end to the outer end. This reverse-winding coil 124R is not pressure relieved again. In addition, the reverse-winding coil 124R preferably forms an inside diameter 198 that is slightly larger than the inside diameter 196 of the original flat spring 124. In this embodiment 124R, the inner diameter is 0.29 inches.

20 shows the power assist torque curve (state at the end of step # 1) of the standard wind-up flat spring 124 and the curve corresponds to the torque curve of the reverse-winding flat spring 124R at the end of step # 3 of FIG. It is. The figure shows the time from the moment the spring begins to unwind (the leftmost of the graph) until it is fully unwound (the point where the curve rises steeply, midway around the graph) and then until the spring is completely rewound (Rightmost side of the graph). It will be appreciated that the power assist torque curve of the reverse-winding flat spring 124R is a more flat curve over the entire operating range of the spring compared to the range of the standard-winding flat spring 124. [ These more flat torque curves are generally good characteristics for use with spring motor types used to raise and lower window curtains.

Now, referring briefly to FIG. 2, if the flat spring 124 is replaced with the reverse-rewind spring 124R of FIG. 19, the end 200 of the reverse-rewind spring 124 Is an end 142 that has an aperture 144 that allows it to be attached to the output spool 122. [ The lever arm acting on the output spool 122 is defined by the distance from the axis of rotation of the output spool 122 to the surface 132 of the output spool. This lever arm is minimized when the reverse-rewind spring 124R is generally unwound from the output spool 122 and is generally self-wound. Thus, in this aligned arrangement, the portion of the reverse-rewind spring 124R with the highest spring ratio (minimum coil set radius of curvature) acts on the minimum lever arm.

When the reverse-winding spring 124R is wound on the output spool 122, the lever arm acting on the output spool 122 increases in thickness of the spring coil wound on the output spool 122. [ Thus, the lever arm is maximized when the lowest spring rate of the reverse-rewind spring 124R (the portion with the maximum coil set radius of curvature) acts on the output spool. The final result is flat in the power assist torque curve, as shown in Fig.

19 shows a process of reversing the spring 124, which changes the spring rate along the spring length while maintaining the uniform thickness and width of the metal strip forming the spring. A similar result can be obtained using another process, and the coil set curvature of the spring 124 to obtain a negative slope or other desired slope torque curve can be designed.

For example, the metal strips forming the springs 124 may have a variable angle < RTI ID = 0.0 > (" Cross the anvil and draw it out. The angle at which the metal is drawn across the anvil is changed such that the spring rate is made to increase or decrease continuously from one end to the opposite end of the spring or to an intermediate point at one end, The coil of any length is constantly maintained, and is made to change in a next step, decrement, or increase, then decrease, or any other desired form. The coil set radius of curvature of the spring is preferably manipulated to produce the desired spring force at each point along the spring so as to result in the required power assist torque curve to suit any particular application.

Generally, the radius of curvature of the coil set in the prior art is the same across the length of the flat spring or continuously increases from the inner end 200 to the outer end 202, and the outer end 202 connected to the output spool of the spring motor ). By the way, as described above, in the general case, with the reversing spring shown in step # 3 of FIG. 19 and in many other engineering flat spring arrangements described above, the flat spring part further away from the end connected to the output spool Is constructed of a flat spring so as to have a larger radius of curvature than the portion of the flat spring adjacent to the end connected to the output spool. The radius of curvature of the coil set has a third portion that is farther from the end connected to the output spool that is smaller than the large radius portion or remains constant from the large radius portion to the opposite end.

100: Shade 102: Spring motor and drag brake combination
108: head rail 110: lower rail 116: lift station
118: lift rod 120: end cap 122: motor output spool
124: flat spring 126: coil spring 127: spring coupler
128: motor housing 130: brake housing
146: drag brake drum 148, 150: stub shaft

Claims (17)

housing;
An output spool mounted on the housing for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the first rotation axis;
A storage spool mounted to the housing and adapted to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis; And
And a motor spring wound on the storage spool itself and having a first end and a second end,
Wherein the output spool forms a first hollow core extending through the first rotary shaft and the storage spool forms a second hollow core extending through the second rotary shaft, Which is fixed to the output spool,
Wherein the housing comprises first and second shafts forming perforations parallel to the first and second hollow cores and further extending completely through the housing and the first and second hollow cores respectively, 1 and at least one of the first and second shafts is driven by the output spool and the rest of the first and second shafts independently rotate from the output spool. The method according to claim 1,
Covering for building openings; And
Further comprising a first set of lift cords operatively connected to the cover ring for unfolding and retracting the cover ring,
And one of the first and second shafts drives a first set of the lift cords. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a second set of lift cords operatively connected to the covering for causing the covering to unfold and shrink,
And the remainder of the first and second shafts driving a second set of lift cords. 3. The method of claim 2,
Further comprising a set of tilt cords operatively connected to the covering for tilting the covering,
And the balance of the first and second shafts drives the set of tilt cords. housing;
An output spool mounted on the housing for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the first rotation axis;
A storage spool mounted to the housing and adapted to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to a second rotational axis parallel to the first rotational axis; And
And a motor spring wound on the storage spool itself and having a first end and a second end,
Wherein the output spool forms a first hollow core extending through the first rotary shaft and the storage spool forms a second hollow core extending through the second rotary shaft, Which is fixed to the output spool,
Wherein the housing defines first and second hollow cores and further includes first and second shafts extending completely through the housing and the first and second hollow cores, At least one of the first and second shafts is driven by the output spool,
Additionally, coverings for building openings; A first set of lift cords operatively connected to the covering for causing the covering to unfold and shrink; A set of tilt cords operatively connected to the covering to tilt the covering; And a gear set connecting the first shaft and the second shaft, wherein one shaft drives the remaining shaft through the gear, the remaining shaft drives the tilt cable,
Wherein each of the gears forms an outer periphery having teeth arranged on an outer periphery thereof and at least a part of the outer periphery of one of the gears is not provided with teeth and a gap is formed, Wherein said one shaft drives said remaining shaft so that said covering is tilted only until said gap reaches a point at which one shaft continues to rotate. housing;
An output spool mounted on the housing for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the first rotation axis;
A storage spool mounted to said housing along a longitudinal axis parallel to said first axis of rotation;
A motor spring wound on the storage spool per se and having a first end and a second end;
A first shaft extending through the housing and the output spool;
A second shaft extending through said housing and said storage spool;
A covering for a building opening comprising first and second movable rails operatively connected to the covering for extending and closing the covering;
A first set of lift cords operatively connected to the first movable rail; And
A second set of lift cords operatively connected to the second moveable rails,
Wherein the output spool forms a first hollow core extending through the first rotation axis and the storage spool forms a second hollow core extending through the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second hollow cores At least one of which forms an outer shape that is not in the form of a cylinder, the motor spring being fixed to the output spool at the first end,
Wherein one of the first and second shafts drives a first set of lift codes and the remainder of the first and second shafts drives a second set of lift codes. housing;
An output spool mounted on the housing for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the first rotation axis;
A storage spool mounted to said housing along a longitudinal axis parallel to said first axis of rotation;
A motor spring wound on the storage spool per se and having a first end and a second end;
A first shaft extending through the housing and the output spool;
A second shaft extending through said housing and said storage spool;
A covering for a building opening comprising a first set of lift cords operatively connected to the covering for extending and closing the covering;
A set of tilt cables operatively connected to the covering to tilt the covering;
Wherein the output spool forms a first hollow core extending through the first rotation axis and the storage spool forms a second hollow core extending through the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second hollow cores At least one of which forms an outer shape that is not in the form of a cylinder, the motor spring being fixed to the output spool at the first end,
One of the first and second shafts drives a first set of lift codes and the remaining one drives a set of tilt cables, one of the first and second shafts being driven by the output spool And the rest of the first and second shafts rotate independently from the output spool. housing;
An output spool mounted on the housing for rotating clockwise and counterclockwise with respect to the first rotation axis;
A storage spool mounted to said housing along a longitudinal axis parallel to said first axis of rotation;
A motor spring wound on the storage spool per se and having a first end and a second end;
A first shaft extending through the housing and the output spool;
A second shaft extending through said housing and said storage spool;
A covering for a building opening comprising a first set of lift cords operatively connected to the covering for extending and closing the covering;
A set of tilt cables operatively connected to the covering to tilt the covering; And
And a gear set connecting the first shaft and the second shaft,
Wherein the output spool forms a first hollow core extending through the first rotation axis and the storage spool forms a second hollow core extending through the longitudinal axis and wherein the first and second hollow cores Wherein at least one of the first and second shafts forms an outer shape that is not in the form of a cylinder, the motor spring is fixed to the output spool at the first end, one of the first and second shafts drives a first set of lift coils,
One shaft drives the remaining shaft through the gear, the remaining shaft drives the tilt cable,
Wherein each of the gears forms an outer periphery having teeth arranged on the outer circumference and at least a part of the outer periphery of the gears is not provided with teeth and a gap is formed so as not to drive the remaining one shaft Wherein the one shaft drives the remaining one shaft so that the covering is tilted only until the gap reaches the gap where the one shaft continuously rotates. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the output spool drives the second shaft and the second shaft is operatively connected to the first set of lift codes. 10. The method of claim 9,
A first gear coaxial with the output spool and mounted for rotation therewith; And
Further comprising a second gear coaxial with said storage spool,
Wherein the first gear drives the second gear and the second gear drives the second shaft. The method according to claim 1,
And the output spool drives the second shaft. 12. The method of claim 11,
A first gear coaxial with the output spool and mounted for rotation therewith; And
Further comprising a second gear coaxial with said storage spool,
Wherein the first gear drives the second gear and the second gear drives the second shaft. 13. The method of claim 12,
And the first shaft rotates independently from the output spool. 12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising coverings for the building openings comprising a first set of lift cords operatively connected to the coverings for spreading and retracting the coverings,
And the second shaft is operatively connected to the first set of lift cords. 12. The method of claim 11,
And the first shaft rotates independently from the output spool. 16. The method of claim 15,
Further comprising coverings for the building openings comprising a first set of lift cords operatively connected to the coverings for spreading and retracting the coverings,
And the second shaft is operatively connected to the first set of lift cords. The method of claim 3,
Further comprising first and second movable rails connected to the covering,
Characterized in that the first set of lift codes drives one of the first and second movable rails and the second set of lift codes drives the other one of the first and second movable rails Spring motor.

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