TWI465636B - A spring motor, a spring motor and drag brake combination, and a covering system for covering an architectural - Google Patents

Description

Spring motor, combination of spring motor and drag brake, and cover system for covering a building opening

The present invention relates to a spring motor and a towing vehicle that can be used to open and close or tilt a building opening covering such as a louver, a pleated shade, a vertical blind, other expandable materials, and other mechanical devices.

Typically, the shade transport system will have a head rail that supports the cover and obscures the mechanism for raising and lowering or opening and closing the cover. This drapes system is described in "Modular Transport System for Coverings for Architectural Openings", U.S. Patent No. 6,536, 503, incorporated herein by reference. In a typical top-down product, the cover is raised and lowered by a hoisting rope that is suspended from the head rail and attached to the bottom rail (also referred to as a moving rail or bottom slat). The opening and closing of the covering is typically accomplished with a trapezoidal strap (and/or stay cable) that travels along the front and back of the slat stack. The hoisting ropes typically travel along the slats stacking the front and back or through holes in the slats. In these types of coverings, the force required to raise the covering is minimized when it is completely lowered (fully extended) because the weight of the slats is supported by the trapezoidal belt so that only the bottom rail is raised initially. As the covering is further raised, the slats are laminated to the bottom rail, transferring the weight of the slats from the trapezoidal belt to the hoisting rope, so a progressively increasing lifting force is required as the covering approaches a fully raised (fully retracted) position. To raise the cover.

Some window covering products are built in the opposite direction (bottom up), wherein the moving rail is not at the bottom of the window covering bundle but at the top of the window covering bundle between the beam and the head rail, such that the beam The accumulation is typically accumulated at the bottom of the window as the cover retracts and the moving rail is at the top of the window covering, accumulating near the head rail as the covering extends. There are also composite products that can be pulled from top to bottom and/or bottom to top.

In a horizontal window covering product, there is external gravity that the operator resists to move the expandable material from one of its extended and retracted positions to the other.

In contrast to blinds, in top-down curtains, such as shearing horizontal blinds, the entire light blocking material typically wraps around the rotor track as the curtain rises. Thus, the weight of the curtain is transferred to the rotor track as the curtain is raised, and the force required to raise the curtain is thus gradually reduced as the curtain (light blocking element) approaches a fully raised (fully open) position . Of course, there are also bottom-up curtains and composite curtains that can be pulled from top to bottom and/or bottom-up. In the case of a bottom-up curtain, the weight of the curtain is transferred to the rotor rail as the curtain is lowered, emulating the weight-operating style of the top-down curtain.

In the case of vertically oriented window coverings that move left and right instead of moving up and down, a first rope is typically used to pull the covering to the retracted position, and then a second rope (or first rope) is used The second end) pulls the cover to the extended position. In this case, the operator does not resist gravity. However, such window coverings may also be configured to have another external force or load than gravity, such as spring force, which the operator will resist to move the expandable material from one position to another.

A wide variety of drive mechanisms are known for extending and retracting the covering - moving the covering or tilting the slat vertically or horizontally. A plurality of such drive mechanisms may use a spring motor to provide catalytic force (and/or supplement the catalytic force supplied by the operator) to move the cover.

1 through 20 illustrate various embodiments of a spring motor. These spring motors can be used to extend and retract window coverings by raising and lowering window coverings, moving window coverings left and right, or opening and closing their slats obliquely. Window coverings or coverings for building openings are also more specifically referred to herein as blinds or curtains.

1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a honeycomb shade 100 utilizing a spring motor and a drag brake assembly 102.

The curtain 100 of FIG. 1 includes a head rail 108, a bottom rail 110, and a covering material 112 formed as a honeycomb curtain structure and suspended from the head rail 108 and attached to both the head rail 108 and the bottom rail 110. The covering material 112 has substantially the same width as the length of the head rail 108 and the lifting bar 118, and has a length that is fully extended with the hoisting rope (not shown in this view but shown in Figure 6A). At substantially the same height, the hoisting ropes are attached to the bottom rail 110 and attached to the lifting table 116 such that as the lifting bar 118 rotates, the lifting reel on the lifting table 116 also rotates and the hoisting rope is wrapped around the lifting table 116 or The lifting platform 116 is unfastened to raise or lower the bottom rail 110 and thus raise or lower the curtain 100. Such a hoisting station 116 and its operating principles are disclosed in "Modular Transport System for Coverings for Architectural Openings", U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503, issued on March 25, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. The end cap 120 encloses the end of the head rail 108 and can be used to mount the honeycomb product 100 to a building opening.

A spring-loaded motor and drag brake assembly 102 disposed between the two lifters 116 is functionally interconnected to the lift table 116 via lift bars 118 such that as discussed in more detail below, when the spring motor rotates, lift The spool 118 and the spool on the lift table 116 also rotate and vice versa. The use of a spring motor to raise and lower the drapes is also disclosed in the aforementioned "Modular Transport System for Coverings for Architectural Openings", U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503.

In order to raise the curtain, the user lifts the bottom rail 110. A spring motor assists the user in raising the curtain. At the same time, the drag portion of the spring motor and the drag brake assembly 102 exerts resistance to this upward movement of the curtain. As explained below, the drag brake applies two different torques to resist rotation, depending on the direction of rotation. As explained in more detail below, in this embodiment, the resistance to the upward motion applied by the drag brake is the lesser of the two torques (referred to as the release torque). This release torque, along with system friction and torque due to the weight of the curtain, is sufficiently large to prevent the spring motor from slamming the curtain up once the curtain 100 is released by the user.

To reduce the curtain, the user pulls down the bottom rail 110, and gravity assists the user in performing this task. When the bottom rail 100 is pulled down, the spring motor rotates to increase the potential of the leaf spring (as explained in more detail below, by winding the leaf spring of the motor onto its output spool 122). As explained in more detail below, the drag portion of the combination 102 exerts a resistance to this downward movement of the curtain, and this resistance is the greater of the two torques applied by the drag brake (referred to as the holding torque). This holding torque is combined with the torque applied by the spring motor and the system friction is large enough to prevent the curtain 100 from falling. Thus, the curtain remains in its position released by the operator, regardless of where the curtain is released over the full extent of travel along the curtain; it is neither stooped up nor dropped down when released.

Referring now to Figure 2, the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102 includes a motor output spool 122, a leaf spring 124 (also referred to as motor spring 124), a stepped coil spring 126, a motor housing portion 128, and a brake housing portion. 130. The two outer casing portions 128, 130 are joined together to form a complete outer casing. Note that in this embodiment, the brake outer casing portion 130 extends beyond the brake mechanism to also enclose the portion of the motor.

Motor output spool 122 (see also FIG. 5) includes a spring take-up portion 132 at the flank of inclined left shoulder 134 and right shoulder 136, respectively, and defining an axially oriented flat recess 138, The flat recess 138 includes a raised button 140 (see FIG. 5) for securing the first end 142 of the leaf spring 124 to the motor output spool 122. The first end 142 of the leaf spring 124 is threaded into the flat recess 138 of the spring take-up portion 132 until the raised button 140 of the spring take-up portion 132 snaps over the first end 142 of the leaf spring 124 The opening 144 is so as to releasably secure the leaf spring 124 to the motor output spool 122.

Motor output spool 122 further includes a drag brake drum portion 146 that extends axially to the right of right shoulder 136. As will be described later, the stub shafts 148, 150 extend axially from each end of the motor output spool 122 for rotationally supporting the motor output spool 122.

The leaf spring 124 is a flat metal strip that is itself tightly wound as depicted in FIG. As described above, the first end 142 of the spring 124 defines a through opening 144 for releasably securing the leaf spring 124 to the motor output spool 122. As seen from the advantages of FIG. 2, the path of the leaf spring 124 is selected such that the end 142 of the leaf spring 124 is below the motor output spool 122 and into the flat recess 138 until the button 140 snaps to the leaf spring 124. It passes through the opening 144.

Referring now to coil spring 126, which is similar to a conventional coil spring, except that it defines two different coil diameters. (Note that the tape roll diameter is only one of the tape rolls. Another feature is its wire diameter or wire cross-sectional dimension.) The first tape roll portion 152 has a smaller tape roll diameter and defines a just slightly smaller drag drag. The inner diameter of the outer diameter of the drum 146. As described in more detail below, the second coil portion 154 has a larger coil diameter and defines a corresponding cavity 156 (also referred to as a housing aperture 156 or drag wheel 156) that is just slightly larger than the brake housing 130. The outer diameter of the inner diameter.

The brake outer casing portion 130 defines a cylindrical cavity 156 (also referred to as the drag brake housing bore 156 as indicated earlier) that is just slightly smaller in diameter than the second coil portion 154 of the stepped coil spring 126. path. The brake outer casing portion 130 includes an inner hollow shaft projection 158 that defines a leaf spring storage spool 162 along with an inner hollow shaft projection 160 (see FIG. 5) that is similar and matched to one of the motor outer casing portions 128. Reel 162 defines a through opening 164 that extends through outer casing portions 128, 130. As explained later, this through opening 164 can be used as a passing position of a rod, such as a lifting rod or an inclined rod, allowing two independent drives to be placed in close proximity to one another in a parallel direction, resulting in a use ratio than possible. The possibility of narrowing the head rail 108.

In FIG. 5, the first coil portion 152 of the stepped coil spring 126 is shown as being embedded almost in the dragging drum portion 146, and the second coil portion 154 is similarly shown to be embedded almost in the drag wheel 156. in. In fact, the coil portions 152, 154 are not actually embedded in their respective portions 146, 156, but are shown in this manner to indicate the coil portions 152, 154 and their respective drums 146 and housing apertures 156. There is a fact of interference coordination. The amount of this interference fit and the line diameter or line cross-sectional dimension of the stepped coil spring 126 are indicative of the release torque that must be overcome in order to rotate the brake drum 146 in a first direction and a second direction relative to the outer casing 130, respectively. Holding torque. These two torques may also be referred to as component torque because it is the torque applied by the drag brake assembly or the torque applied to the drag brake assembly as opposed to the system torque, which is exhibited by the system as a whole. Torque and it may also include torque due to the spring motor portion of the combination 102, friction torque, torque due to the weight of the curtain, and the like.

The coil spring 126 applies a torque that resists both the brake drum 146 and the bore 156 of the outer casing 130, and such torque resists rotation of the brake drum 146 relative to the outer casing 130 in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The amount of torque applied by the coil spring 126 against the brake drum 146 and the hole 156 varies depending on the direction of rotation of the brake drum 146 with respect to the outer casing 130, and the position at which the slip occurs changes depending on the direction of rotation. To facilitate this description, the coil spring torque that must be overcome in order to rotate the brake drum relative to the housing in one direction will be referred to as the holding torque, and the coil spring torque that must be overcome in order to rotate the brake drum relative to the housing in the other direction It will be called the release torque.

When the output spool and the brake drum rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to the outer casing 130 (as seen from the vantage point of Figure 2), a holding torque occurs which tends to move the coil spring 126 away from the drum portion 146 and toward the bore of the outer casing 130. 156 expand or expand. In this case, the dragging drum portion 146 slides through the first coil portion 152 of the coil spring 126, and the second coil portion 154 of the coil spring 126 is locked to the housing bore 156. This holding torque is the higher of the two component torques of the drag brake assembly, and in this embodiment the plate spring 124 is wound on the output spool 122 (and unwound from the storage spool 162, adding device 102). This occurs when the curtain 100 is pulled down by the user with the aid of gravity.

Therefore, when the user pulls down the bottom rail 110 to overcome the holding torque, the leaf spring 124 is wound around the output spool, and the drum 146 is slid relative to the coil spring 126. The holding torque is designed to prevent the curtain 100 from falling when the user releases the curtain 100 at any point along the travel distance of the curtain 112. (Of course, this configuration can be reversed such that a counterclockwise rotation occurs when the user lifts the bottom rail).

Similarly, when lifting the bottom rail 110 of the curtain 100, the output spool 122 and the brake drum 146 rotate in a clockwise direction relative to the aperture 156 of the housing 130 (as seen in Figure 2). The leaf spring 124 is wound on the storage reel 162 and unwound from the output reel 132 to assist the user in raising the curtain 100. Again, the stepped coil spring 126 rotates in the same clockwise direction such that the coil spring 126 is tightened away from the housing aperture 156 and toward the drum 146. This causes the first reel portion 152 to be clamped onto the dragging drum portion 146 and to cause the second reel portion 154 to retract away from the aperture 156. When the stepper coil spring 126 slips relative to the housing bore 156, the release torque (the lower of the two torques of the drag brake assembly) occurs. Therefore, when the operator lifts the bottom rail 110, the leaf spring 124 is rolled up on the storage reel 162, and as the curtain is raised, the coil spring slides relative to the hole 156.

In summary, the holding torque is the greater of the two torques of the drag brake assembly and occurs as the coil spring 126 grows or expands such that the second coil portion 154 expands against the aperture 156 of the outer casing 130 and "Locked" on the aperture 156 of the outer casing 130, and the first reel portion 152 expands from the drag brake drum portion 146 and slides relative to the drag brake drum portion 146. The release torque is the lesser of the two torques of the drag brake assembly and occurs when the drag brake spring 126 is collapsed such that the second coil portion 154 is tightened away from the aperture 156 of the outer casing 130 and is opposite the aperture of the outer casing 130 The 156 slips and the first reel portion 152 collapses and "locks" onto the dragging drum portion 146. The two torques of the drag brake assembly provide resistance to rotation of the drum 146 relative to the outer casing 130 and rotation of the output spool 122 relative to the outer casing 130. The amount of torque used to pull each direction of rotation of the brake and which torque is greater depends on the particular application.

To assemble the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102, the leaf spring 124 is secured to the output spool 122 as has been described. The stepped coil spring 126 slides over the dragging drum portion 146 of the output spool 122, and the assembly is placed inside the brake housing portion 130, and the central opening 166 of the leaf spring 124 protrudes from the hollow shaft of the brake housing portion 130. The material 158 slides and the stepped coil spring 126 is disposed inside the drag hole 156. The motor housing portion 128 is then mated to the brake housing portion 130. The two outer casing portions 128, 130 are spliced together with the rivets 168 and the bridges 170 as shown in the U.S. Patent Application Serial No. S/N 11/382,089, filed on May 8, 2006. In the "Together Design for Component Assembly", the case is hereby incorporated by reference. The stub shafts 148, 150 of the output spool 122 are seated on respective through openings 172, 174 (see Fig. 5) in the motor housing portion 128 and the drag brake drum portion 146, respectively, for rotatably supporting the output spool 122.

As seen in Figure 5, the leaf spring 124 is shown in a "completely unloaded" position, which is wound onto the storage reel 162. The stepped coil spring 126 is shown in an intermediate position wherein the first coil portion 152 is tightly wound around the dragging drum portion 146 and the second coil portion 154 is also tightly wound against the drag wheel 156 . As explained earlier, as the bottom rail 110 of the curtain 100 is pulled downward by the user, the stepped coil spring 126 expands or expands such that the second coil portion 154 is tightly locked to the drag wheel 156, and The belt reel portion 152 expands away from the dragging drum portion 146, which allows the brake to slip at the brake drum portion 146 at the higher of the two torques of the towing brake assembly, which is referred to as the holding torque. The user must overcome this holding torque and the torque required to wind the leaf spring 24 on the output spool 122 and any other system torque to reduce the curtain 100, and such torque is also prevented once the user releases the curtain 100. The torque of the curtain falling.

FIG. 1 shows how a spring motor and drag brake combination 102 may be installed in the curtain 100. Since the lift bar 118 is fully coupled to the drag brake assembly 102 (via the axially aligned through opening 176 in the output spool 122), the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102 can be mounted along the length of the head rail 108 Anywhere, between the lifting stations 116 or on either side of the lifting platform 116. This design provides more installation flexibility than the installation flexibility provided by prior art designs.

Note that in FIG. 4, the through opening 176 in the output spool 122 has a non-circular cross section. In fact, in this particular embodiment, it has a "V" notch profile 176 that matches a lift bar 118 having a similar profile. Thus, rotation of the output spool 122 causes a corresponding rotation of the lift bar 118, and vice versa.

The storage spool 162 is also a hollow spool defining a through opening 164 through which another rod, such as another lift rod 118, can extend. However, this opening 164 does not cooperate with the rod for driving engagement but provides only a passage for the rod to pass through. As shown in Figure 6B, this results in a very tight configuration of two independent parallel drivers. This is especially needed for the operation of the bottom-up/top-down curtain 1002 as shown in Figure 6A.

As shown in Figure 6B, the ability to mount a type of drive control element (such as a spring motor or brake) anywhere along a plurality of axes permits a wide range of functionality to be achieved. The configuration shown in Figure 6B uses one axis 1022 to raise and lower one portion of the cover and another axis 1024 that is parallel to the first axis 1022 to raise and lower another portion of the cover, but using two or more The axis also allows for other functions. For example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,536,503, one shaft can be used to raise and lower the covering and the other shaft can be used to slant the slats on the covering.

6A and 6B depict a top down/bottom-up curtain 1002 that uses two spring motors and a drag brake combination 102, one for each lift bar 1022, 1024. The curtain 1002 includes a top rail 1004 having an end cap 1006, an intermediate rail 1008 having an end cap 1010, a bottom rail 1012 having an end cap 1014, a honeycomb curtain structure 1016, a spring motor and drag brake combination 102M, 102B, and two bottom rails. A lifting platform 1018, two intermediate rail lifting platforms 1020, a bottom rail lifting bar 1022, and an intermediate rail lifting bar 1024.

In the case of the top-down/bottom-up curtain 1002 of FIG. 6B, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M, 102B, the lift tables 1018, 1020, and the lift bars 1022, 1024 are all received in the top rail 1004. The lifting rods or shafts 1022, 1024 are each fully passed through both the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M, 102B, but each of the lift rods or shafts 1022, 1024 engages only one of the spring motor and the drag brake combination and is not Pass the other while engaging the other. The front lift bar 1024 operatively interconnects the two lift tables 1020, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M, and the intermediate rail 1008 via the hoisting rope 1030 (see FIG. 6A), but only by another spring motor and the drag brake combination 102B . The rear lift bar 1022 interconnects the two lift tables 1018, the spring motor and the drag brake assembly 102B and the bottom rail 1012 via the hoisting rope 1032 (see FIG. 6A), but only by another spring motor and the drag brake combination 102M.

In this case, the intermediate rail 1008 can travel all the way up until it rests just below the top rail 1004, or it can travel all the way down until it rests directly above the bottom rail 1012, or the intermediate rail 1008 can remain there. Anywhere between the two extreme positions. The bottom rail 1012 can travel all the way up until it rests just below the intermediate rail 1008 (regardless of where the intermediate rail 1008 is now), or it can travel all the way down until it extends the entire length of the curtain 1002, or the bottom rail The 1012 can be held anywhere between these two extreme positions.

Each lifting bar 1022, 1024 operates independently of one another using its respective components in the same manner as described above with respect to a single bar system, the front bar 1024 is operatively coupled to the intermediate rail 1008, and the rear bar 1022 Operately connect to the bottom rail.

Referring briefly to Figure 6B, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102B, 102M may be identical, or they may have differences: the stepped coil spring 126 may have different wire diameters (or different wire cross-sectional dimensions) for each Customized holding torque and release torque. The larger diameter wire (or larger wire cross-sectional dimension) used in the stepped coil spring 126 results in higher holding torque and release torque. Whether or not the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102B are "flip" relative to the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102M when installed. The lift bar 1022 for the bottom rail 1012 passes through the through opening 176 in the output spool 122 of the drag motor assembly 102B (and engages the output spool 122). It also passes through the through opening 164 of the storage spool 162 of the combination of the spring motor and the drag brake 102M. Similarly, the lift bar 1024 for the intermediate rail 1008 is coupled to the through opening 176 (and engages the output spool 122) in the output spool 122 of the drag pulley assembly 102M by a spring motor. It also passes through the through opening 164 of the storage spool 162 of the other combination of the spring motor and the drag brake assembly 102B.

Please note that it may be possible to add more spring motors or more spring motors to the drag brake combination if necessary, and because these components are used to supply the shaft or rods 1022, 1024 completely through their outer casing, they can be along the rod 1022, 1024 Located anywhere. Also note that this ability to operate two or more shafts completely through a spring operating drive housing (at least one shaft operatively engaging the spring and at least one other shaft not operatively engaging the spring) is permitted within a system A combination of a wide range of components. The spring operated drive assembly can be a separate spring motor, a separate spring brake, a combination of a spring motor and a spring brake as shown herein, or other components.

Other embodiments of spring motor and drag brake combination

7 through 11 depict another embodiment of a spring motor and drag brake assembly 102'. The difference between this embodiment 102' and the previously disclosed embodiment 102 is highlighted in comparison to FIG. This embodiment includes two "conventional" coil springs 126S, 126L that are functionally linked together by a spring coupler 127' rather than a single stepped coil spring 126. The first coil spring 126S has a smaller coil diameter and the second coil spring 126L has a larger coil diameter.

The spring coupler 127' is a washer-type device that defines a longitudinal slot 178' that receives the extended ends 180', 182' of the coil springs 126S, 126L, respectively. Since the coil spring 126S has a smaller coil diameter, as shown in FIG. 10, it fits inside the coil spring 126L having a larger diameter, and the extended ends 180', 182' are adjacent to each other within the slot 178'.

The spring coupler 127' defines a central opening 184' that 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, 126L to be made of wires having different diameters (or different wire cross-sectional dimensions because the wires do not need to have such a circular line) and still rotate when the output spool 122' is rotated Acts as a single spring. Figure 11 shows two coil springs 126S, 126L functionally linked by spring coupler 127' and mounted on output spool 122'.

This spring motor and drag brake combination 102' operates in the same manner as the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 described above, except that the use of the two coil springs 126S, 126L allows individual selection of line cross sections for each of the coil springs 126S, 126L. The flexibility of size. In this way, the correct (or desired) braking torque can be selected more precisely for each application.

For example, Figure 7 depicts a smaller coil spring 126S for clamping around the dragging drum portion 146' than the larger cross-sectional dimension of the larger coil spring 126L for clamping inside the drag wheel 156'. Line cross section size. Since the slip torque (the torque of the coil spring slipping through the surface it grips) is a function of the diameter of the cross section of the coil spring (the larger the line cross section size, the higher the slip torque, everything else) Equal), so the embodiment shown in Figure 7 has a higher holding torque (two torques) than the holding torque of a smaller spring motor and a drag brake combination with a smaller coil spring 126S made of a smaller cross-sectional line. The larger one).

Figures 12 and 13-15B depict another embodiment of a spring motor and drag brake assembly 102". The difference between this embodiment 102" and the previously disclosed embodiment 102 is quickly highlighted as compared to Figure 2. This embodiment 102" includes a plurality of identical or very similar components, such as motor output spool 122", leaf spring 124" (or motor spring 124"), motor housing portion 128", brake housing portion 130", dragging the brake drum Part 146" and coil spring 126". As described below, some of these items are slightly different than those described with respect to the previous embodiments, and this embodiment 102" also has a mounting sleeve 127" for mounting the sleeve 127" for this spring motor and drag The operation of the brake combination 102" is desirable but not absolutely necessary. (Another embodiment 102 shown in Fig. 16 ^* no casing is used.)

An obvious difference is that the dragging drum portion 146" is a separate piece that is rotatably supported on the shaft extension portion 148" of the motor output spool 122. As can be seen from Figure 15A, the motor output spool 122" is rotatably supported On the outer casing portions 128", 130", and the dragging drum portion 146" is rotatably supported on the shaft extension portion 148" of the motor output spool 122". The motor output spool 122" and the dragging drum portion 146" have hollow shafts. 176", 186" having non-circular cross-sections (see also Figures 12 and 14) to engage the lift bar 118. The brake outer casing portion 130" includes two "ears" 188" that define axial alignment The slotted opening releasably secures the crimped end 190" of the coil spring 126" as described below.

The mounting sleeve 127" is a discontinuous cylindrical ring having a longitudinal slit 192" that allows the rings to "shrink" to a smaller diameter. If the coil spring 126" is equivalent (although the coil spring 126" may have a different wire diameter if necessary to achieve the desired torque), the mounting sleeve 127" is equivalent. As explained in the description of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102" It becomes clearer after the operation, and it is possible to use only one set of the mounting sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126" when necessary and appropriate. Embodiment 102 of Figure 12 shows two sets of mounting sleeves 127" and coil springs 126" for obtaining greater holding torque (more braking power). Of course, if necessary (and if can be accommodated in the dragging drum portion 146) Additional groups can also be used for "upper". Again, the use of the mounting sleeve 127" is optional as evidenced by the embodiment 102 ^* of Figure 16 described in more detail later.

The coil spring 126" can be placed directly on the outer diameter of the dragging drum portion 146", but the use of the mounting sleeve 127" allows for more flexible selection of the appropriate material for the dragging drum portion 146" and the mounting sleeve 127". For example, the mounting sleeve 127" can advantageously be made of a material having a certain flexibility such that it can be crimped onto the outer diameter of the dragging drum portion 146" and having some self-lubricating properties. With the mounting sleeve 127", it is possible to replace only the mounting sleeve 127" with high wear between the coil spring 126" and the mounting sleeve 127", rather than having to replace the dragging drum portion 146". The remainder of the description describes only a set of mounting sleeves 127" and coil springs 126" (unless otherwise noted), it being understood that two or more sets may be used, the principle of operation being substantially the same as described above but having the advantage of The result.

The leaf spring 124" is assembled to the motor output spool 122" in the same manner as has been described for the motor output spool 122 of FIG. The assembled leaf spring 124" and the motor output spool 122" are then assembled into the motor housing portion 128" and the brake housing portion 130". The opening 166" of the leaf spring 124" is in the motor housing portion 128" and the brake housing, respectively. The portion 130" of the hollow shaft projections 158" and 160" slides over.

Next, the mounting sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126" are assembled to the dragging drum portion 146" as shown in Fig. 15B, wherein the mounting sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126" are mounted in series outside the dragging drum portion 146". On the path. The coil spring 126" is mounted to its corresponding mounting sleeve 127" such that the crimped end 190" of the coil spring 126" projects through the slotted opening 192" of the mounting sleeve 127". Each mounting sleeve 127" includes a circumferential flange 194" at each end to assist in preventing the coil spring 126" from slipping off its respective mounting sleeve 127 during operation of the spring motor and drag brake assembly 102".

The assembled dragging drum portion 146", the coil spring 126" and the mounting sleeve 127" are then mounted to the extension shaft 148" of the motor output spool 122" to ensure that the coiled end 190" of each coil spring 126" is Immediately in one of the slotted openings 188" of the brake housing portion 130". The drag brake drum portion 146 is "rotated" until the motor output spool 122" and the non-circular profile 176", 186 of the dragging drum portion 146". "Aligned separately, such that the lift bar 118 can be inserted through the entire assembly as shown in FIG.

During operation, as shown in the vantage point of Figure 12, as the motor output spool 122 "rotates counterclockwise (corresponding to the reduction of the curtain 100 and the leaf spring 124" from the storage spool 162" to the motor output spool 122" The shifting of the motor output spool 122" and the dragging drum portion 146" counterclockwise. It also causes the mounting sleeve 127" to rotate in the same direction (due to the friction between the mounting sleeve 127" and the dragging drum portion 146", and also causes the coil spring 126" to rotate in the same direction (return Due to the friction between the sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126". However, the curled end 190" of the coil spring 126" is fastened to the brake outer casing portion 130" and is prevented from rotating, so as the remainder of the coil spring 126" begins to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the coil spring 126" is taut placed Casing 127". The mounting sleeve 127" is slightly crimped over the outer diameter of the dragging drum portion 146", thus providing increased resistance to the rotation of the dragging drum portion 146" (and the lifting bar 118 that engages the dragging drum portion 146".

When the curtain 100 is lifted, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102" assist the user because the leaf spring 124" is unwound from the motor output spool 122 (which is thus rotated clockwise) and is wound on the storage spool 162" . The dragging drum portion 146" also rotates clockwise, which causes the mounting sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126" to rotate clockwise. Again, since the crimped end 190 of the coil spring 126" is fastened to the slot of the brake housing portion 130" The opening 188" is shaped such that the coil spring 126" "grows" or expands, increasing its inner diameter and greatly reducing the braking torque to the mounting sleeve 127" and the drum portion 146". The small resistance from the coil spring 126" In this case, the dragging drum portion 146"" can thus be rotated. By means of the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102", the user can thus easily raise the curtain 100.

Figure 12A depicts the same spring motor and drag brake assembly 102 embodiment as in Figure 12, except that one of the coil springs 126" is flipped 180 degrees relative to the coil spring 126" and is made of wire material having a thinner cross section. Now, when the dragging drum portion 146" is rotated clockwise, the mounting sleeve 127" and the coil spring 126" also rotate clockwise. However, in this case, the clockwise rotation causes the second coil spring 126 to "tighten" against its mounting sleeve 127", thereby reducing the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve 127" and thus the dragging of the dragging drum portion 146" on. Since the cross-sectional diameter of the second coil spring 126" is smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the first coil spring 126", the drag torque applied to the dragging drum portion 146" when it is rotated in the clockwise direction is smaller than when the dragging portion is dragged. 146" drag torque applied to it when rotated in a counterclockwise direction. If the cross-sectional dimension of the line of the second coil spring is larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the line of the first coil spring 126", the braking torque in the clockwise direction will be larger. If the two coil springs 126 are identical but still opposite each other Towards, the braking torque in both directions will be the same.

16 and 17 further depict the spring motor and drag brake composition of Example 102 ^*. Figure 12 shows the comparison of this embodiment is substantially equivalent to 102 ^* the previously disclosed embodiments of Example 102, "except that this embodiment does not have mounting sleeve 127 'and which has only a single coil spring 126 ^* outside. However, as in the case of the embodiment 102" previously described, two or more such coil springs 126 ^* may be used as necessary. The coil spring 126 ^{* is} directly placed on the outer diameter of the dragging drum portion 146 ^* . Instead of using the mounting sleeve 127". In addition to these differences, the spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ^* operates in substantially the same manner as the previously described embodiment 102".

Note that as with all of the spring motor and drag brake combinations described herein, in this spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ^* , the assembly may omit the coil spring 126 ^** or the leaf spring 124 ^** . If the coil spring 126 ^** is omitted, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 ^* operate only as a spring motor, without dragging and braking performance. Similarly, if the leaf spring 124 ^** is omitted, the spring motor and the drag brake combination 102 ^* operate only as if the brake is being pulled, and there is no motor performance.

Figure 18 depicts another embodiment of a spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ^** . This embodiment 102 ^{** is shown to be} substantially identical to embodiment 102 in comparison to FIG. 5, except that in this spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ^** , the storage reel 162 ^{* is} not as good as the embodiment 102 previously described. It is a hollow scroll. Therefore, in this case, the lifting bar cannot pass through the storage reel 162 ^* . In addition to this difference, this spring motor and drag brake combination 102 ^** operates in substantially the same manner as embodiment 102.

19 and 20 depict one embodiment of a leaf spring (or motor spring) that can be used in the embodiments described herein if desired. The leaf spring 124 shown in the step #1 is produced by tightly winding a flat metal strip on itself, and thereafter the stress is removed from the coil. The leaf spring defines an inner diameter 196 which, in this embodiment, is 0.25 inches. The spring 124 as shown at the end of step #1 can be used in the above embodiment, or as shown in Figure 19, the spring can be subjected to additional steps.

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. The coil spring 124 is then stress relieved, so that it employs the coil set shown in Figure 1, the spring having a smaller radius of curvature at its first (inner) end and gradually and continuously increasing to its second ( Outer) end. Next, in step #2, the coil spring 124 is reversely wound until it reaches the position shown in step #3, wherein the end 200 of the spring 124 (having a smaller radius of curvature of the coil group) is now in the coil Externally, and the end 202 of the spring 124 (having a larger radius of curvature of the coil set) is now inside the coil, the radius of curvature of the coil set is gradually and continuously reduced from the inner end to the outer end. This reverse wound coil 124R is no longer stress relieved. Again, the reverse wound coil 124R defines an inner diameter 198 that is preferably slightly larger than the inner diameter 196 of the original leaf spring 124. In this embodiment 124R, the inner diameter was 0.29 inch.

Figure 20 graphically depicts the power assist torque curve for a standard coiled leaf spring 124 (as it is at the end of step #1) and is associated with a reverse wound leaf spring 124R at the end of step #3 of Figure 19. The torque curve is compared. It is depicted from the moment the spring begins to unwind (at the extreme left of the graph) until it is completely unwound (toward the middle of the graph, which is the point at which the curve shows a sharp drop) and then returns until the spring is completely re-wound ( Torque up to the far right of the graph. It can be appreciated that the power assist torque curve of the reverse wound leaf spring 124R is a flat curve that is flatter than the curve of the standard wound leaf spring 124 over the entire operating range of the spring. This flatter torque curve is typically the desired characteristic for the type of spring motor used to raise and lower the window covering.

Referring briefly to Figure 2, if the leaf spring 124 is replaced by the reverse wound spring 124R of Figure 19, the end 200 of the reverse wound spring 124 (which has a smaller radius of curvature of the coil set) has holes 144. At the end 142, the aperture 144 allows the reverse wrap spring 124 to be attached to the output spool 122. The lever arm acting on the output spool 122 is defined as the distance from the axis of rotation of the output spool 122 to the surface 132 of the output spool 122. This lever arm is minimal when the reverse wrap spring 124R is substantially unwound from the output spool 122 and is substantially wound on itself. Therefore, in the case of this configuration, the portion of the reverse winding spring 124R having the highest spring rate (the minimum radius of curvature of the coil group) acts on the minimum lever arm.

When the reverse wrap spring 124R is substantially wound on the output reel 122, the lever arm acting on the output reel 122 will increase the thickness of the spring wrap that is now wound on the output wrap 122. Therefore, when the lowest spring rate of the reverse winding spring 124R (the portion having the largest radius of curvature of the coil group) acts on the output spool, the lever arm will be the largest. The end result is a smoothed output of the power assisted torque curve, as shown in FIG.

The procedure for reverse wrap spring 124 depicted in Figure 19 is only one way to vary the spring rate along the length of the spring while maintaining the uniform thickness and width of the metal strip forming the spring. Similar results can be obtained using other procedures, and it is possible to design the coil set curvature of the spring 124 to obtain a torque curve with a negative slope or any other desired slope.

For example, the metal strip forming the spring 124 can be towed across the anvil at varying angles to change the coil set curvature (and thus the spring rate) of the various portions of the spring 124 without changing other physical parameters of the spring. By changing the angle of the metal across the anvil, the spring rate can be continuously increased or continuously reduced from one end of the spring to the other end, or it can be increased from one end to an intermediate point, in the coil It remains constant for a particular length and then decreases, or increases and then decreases, or changes step by step or in any other desired pattern, depending on the application for which it will be used. The coil radius of curvature of the spring can be manipulated as necessary to produce the desired spring force at each point along the spring to produce the desired power assist torque curve for any particular application.

The curl radius of the prior art coil set is generally constant throughout the length of the leaf spring or continuously from the inner end 200 to the outer end 202, which is coupled to the output spool of the spring motor. However, as explained above, the reverse wrap spring shown in step #3 of Figure 19 and the many of the other well-designed leaf spring configurations described above, the plate The spring can be subtly designed such that the portion of the leaf spring that is distal from the end of the output spool can have a coil having a larger radius of curvature than the portion of the leaf spring that is closer to the end of the output spool. group. The coil set radius of curvature may have a third portion that is still further from the end connected to the output spool, the third portion being smaller than the larger radius portion, or it may remain constant from the larger radius portion to the other end, and the like.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the drag brake mechanism can be attached to a spring motor storage spool that is mounted for rotation relative to the housing, which will still functionally attach to the output spool of the spring motor and still achieve the same result. Many other modifications are also possible.

100. . . Honeycomb / Honeycomb

102. . . Spring motor and drag brake combination/device

102B. . . Spring motor and drag brake combination

102M. . . Spring motor and drag brake combination

102'. . . Spring motor and drag brake combination

102"...spring motor and drag brake combination

102 ^* . . . Spring motor and drag brake combination

102 ^** . . . Spring motor and drag brake combination

108‧‧‧ head rail

110‧‧‧Bottom rail

112‧‧‧ Covering material (curtain)

116‧‧‧Upgrade

118‧‧‧ Lifting rod

120‧‧‧End cover

122‧‧‧Motor output reel

122'‧‧‧ Output reel

122"‧‧‧Motor Output Reel

124‧‧‧ plate spring

124‧‧‧R reverse winding coil/reverse winding plate spring

124"‧‧‧ plate spring

124**‧‧‧ plate spring

126‧‧‧ coil spring

126L‧‧‧ coil spring

126S‧‧‧ coil spring

126"‧‧‧ coil spring

126*‧‧‧ coil spring

126**‧‧‧ coil spring

127'‧‧‧Spring Coupler

127"‧‧‧" casing

128‧‧‧Motor casing part

128"‧‧‧Motor housing part

130‧‧‧煞Car casing part

130"... brake housing part

132. . . Output reel / spring take-up part / surface

134. . . Left shoulder

136. . . Right shoulder

138. . . Flat recess

140. . . Raised button

142. . . First end

144. . . Through opening/hole

146. . . Dragging the drum part

146'. . . Dragging the drum part

146"... dragging the drum part

146 ^* . . . Dragging the drum part

148. . . Short axis

148"...shaft extension / extension shaft

150. . . Short axis

150'. . . Short axis

152. . . First coil part

154. . . Second coil part

156. . . Cavity / housing hole / dragging the car hole

156'. . . Dragging the car hole

158. . . Internal hollow shaft protrusion

158"... hollow shaft protrusion

160. . . Internal hollow shaft protrusion

160"... hollow shaft protrusion

162. . . Plate spring storage reel

162"... storage reel

162 ^* . . . Storage reel

164. . . Through opening

166. . . Central opening

166"...open

168. . . nail

170. . . Bridge

172. . . Through opening

174. . . Through opening 176. . . Through opening / "V" notch profile

176"... hollow shaft / non-circular profile

178'. . . Longitudinal slot

180'. . . Extended end

182'. . . Extended end

184'. . . Central opening

186"... hollow shaft / non-circular profile

188"...ear/slot opening

190. . . Curly end

190"...curled end

192"... longitudinal slit/groove opening

194"...circumferential flange

196. . . the inside diameter of

198. . . the inside diameter of

200. . . First end

202. . . Second end

1002. . . Bottom-up/top-down curtain

1004. . . Top rail

1006. . . End cap

1008. . . Intermediate rail

1010. . . End cap

1012. . . Bottom rail

1014. . . End cap

1016. . . Honeycomb curtain structure

1018. . . Bottom rail lifting table

1020. . . Intermediate rail lifting table

1022. . . First shaft/bottom rail lifting rod

1024. . . Shaft/intermediate rail lifting rod

1030. . . Lifting rope

1032. . . Lifting rope

1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a shutter and a spring motor driver for the shade; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the spring motor of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled motor of FIG. Figure 4 is an end view of the spring motor of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4; Figure 6A is a top-down/bottom-up curtain with the spring motor of Figure 3. Figure 6B is a partially exploded perspective view of the head rail of Figure 6A with two sets of drives in the head rail; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor; Figure 8 is an illustration 7 is a perspective view of the assembled motor; FIG. 9 is an end view of the spring motor of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is an assembled motor output shaft of FIG. Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor; Figure 12A is an exploded perspective view similar to Figure 12 of another embodiment of the spring motor; Figure 13 is a view of the coil spring and spring coupler; 12 is an assembled view of the spring motor; FIG. 14 is an end view of the spring motor of FIG. 13; FIG. 15A is a line 15-15 along the line of FIG. Figure 15B is a perspective view of the assembled dragging drum, mounting sleeve and coil spring of Figure 12; Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the spring motor; Figure 17 is a spring motor of Figure 16 Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 15 but with respect to the spring motor of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of the three steps involved in the reverse winding of the leaf spring motor; and Figure 20 is a A graph of the torque curve of a standard wound spring and a reverse wound spring.

100‧‧‧ Honeycomb / Honeycomb Products

102‧‧‧Spring motor and drag brake combination/device

108‧‧‧ head rail

110‧‧‧Bottom rail

112‧‧‧ Covering material (curtain)

116‧‧‧Upgrade

118‧‧‧ Lifting rod

120‧‧‧End cover

Claims (27)

A combination of a spring motor and a drag brake, comprising: an output spool mounted for rotation in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; a motor spring wound on itself and defining a first end and a first a second end, the first end being fastened to the output reel; and a brake comprising a brake drum functionally coupled to the output reel such that rotation of the output reel causes the brake drum to rotate; And a fixed outer casing defining a fixed inner hole; wherein the coil spring assembly is configured to cause the coil spring assembly to resist the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction of the brake drum The direction is mounted relative to the mounting member that rotates the housing, the torque required to overcome the rotational resistance is greater in one of the directions than the torque required in the other direction, wherein the coil spring assembly includes a smaller diameter a spring portion and a larger diameter spring portion; wherein the smaller diameter spring portion is collapsed when the brake drum rotates relative to the housing in one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction And tightening the larger diameter spring portion away from the inner bore; and the smaller diameter spring when the brake drum rotates relative to the outer casing in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction Partially extending away from the brake drum and the larger diameter spring portion expands against the inner bore. The combination of the spring motor of claim 1 and the drag brake, wherein the coil spring assembly comprises a first coil spring providing the smaller diameter spring portion; a second coil spring providing the larger diameter spring portion, and a A spring coupler that functionally connects the first coil spring and the second coil spring such that the coil springs rotate together as a single assembly. The combination of the spring motor of claim 1 and the dragging brake, wherein the coil spring assembly applies a torque against the brake drum and the inner bore of the outer casing, the torque resisting the clockwise direction of the brake drum and the counterclockwise a direction of rotation relative to the outer casing; and wherein the coil spring assembly slides relative to the brake drum to allow the brake drum to rotate relative to the outer casing in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, and the disk The spring assembly slides relative to the aperture of the housing to allow the brake drum to rotate relative to the housing in the other direction. A combination of the spring motor of claim 3 and the drag brake, wherein the motor spring is wound around the output spool as the smaller diameter spring portion extends away from the brake drum. The combination of the spring motor of claim 2 and the drag brake, wherein the smaller diameter spring portion is made of a wire having a first cross-sectional dimension, and the larger diameter spring portion is different from the first A line of the second cross-sectional dimension of the cross-sectional dimension is made. The combination of the spring motor of claim 1 and the drag brake, and further comprising a cover for a building opening, the cover being functionally coupled to the brake drum such that the brake drum extends with the cover Rotating in accordance with one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction The object retracts and operates in the other of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction. The combination of the spring motor of claim 6 and the drag brake, wherein the outer casing defines two pairs of axially aligned openings and two parallel open passages, each open passage extending completely through the outer casing and through the respective warp beams Aligning one of the pair of aligned openings, and each axially aligned opening pair receives a shaft extending through the outer casing, one of the open passages extending axially through the output spool, and each of the shafting operations Sexually attached to the covering. The combination of the spring motor of claim 1 and the drag brake, wherein the smaller diameter spring portion and the larger diameter spring portion are part of a single spring. A combination of a spring motor and a drag brake, comprising: an output spool mounted for rotation in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction; a motor spring wound on itself and defining a first end and a first a second end, the first end being fastened to the output reel; and a brake comprising an outer casing; a brake drum functionally coupled to the output reel such that rotation of the output reel causes the brake drum to rotate; a coil spring assembly mounted on the brake drum by the mounting member that resists rotation of the brake drum in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction relative to the housing to overcome the rotational resistance The torque is greater in one of the directions than the torque required in the other direction, The coil spring assembly includes a first coil spring and a second coil spring mounted on the brake drum, each of the first coil spring and the second coil spring including a first end fastened to the outer casing, wherein the output spool The first coil spring is crimped onto the brake drum in accordance with one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction, and wherein the output spool is in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction When the person rotates, the second coil spring shrinks on the brake drum. The combination of the spring motor of claim 9 and the drag brake, wherein the coil spring assembly includes a collapsible sleeve intermediate the brake drum and the first coil spring. The combination of the spring motor of claim 9 and the drag brake, wherein the outer casing defines two pairs of axially aligned openings and two parallel open passages, each open passage extending completely through the outer casing and through the respective warp beams One of the pair of aligned openings is adapted to receive a shaft extending through the outer casing, one of the open passages extending axially through the output spool. A covering system for covering a building opening, comprising: a movable covering; a spring motor operatively coupled to the movable covering, the spring motor including an output reel and a having a connection to the a leaf spring of the first end of the output spool, the leaf spring having a first end and a second end, the leaf spring being coupled to the output spool at the first end, wherein the leaf spring is away from the At least a portion of the first end further has a coil set having a second portion of the coil spring that is closer to the first end and has a smaller radius of curvature Large radius of curvature, and wherein the output reel is installed to follow a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise rotation; a drum that is functionally coupled to the output spool such that rotation of the output spool causes the brake drum to rotate; an outer casing; and a coil spring assembly by which the disk is The spring assembly is mounted on the brake drum against the mounting member that rotates in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction relative to the outer casing, and the torque required to overcome the rotational resistance is greater in one of the directions The torque required in the other direction; wherein the outer casing is fixed and defines an inner bore; wherein the coil spring assembly includes a smaller diameter spring portion and a larger diameter spring portion, wherein the brake drum is clockwise When one of the direction and the counterclockwise direction is rotated relative to the outer casing, the smaller diameter spring portion is crimped onto the brake drum and the larger diameter spring portion is tightened away from the inner bore, and wherein the brake drum is When the other of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction is rotated relative to the outer casing, the smaller diameter spring portion extends away from the brake drum and the larger diameter spring portion abuts Internal hole expansion. The covering system of claim 12 for covering a building opening, further comprising: first and second shafts operatively coupled to the covering, wherein the first and second shafts extend completely through the outer casing, The first shaft is operatively coupled to the leaf spring and the second shaft is inoperatively coupled to the leaf spring. The covering system of claim 13 for covering a building opening, wherein the first shaft is operatively coupled to the sheet by being coupled to the output spool spring. A spring motor comprising: a housing; an output spool mounted in the housing for rotating in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about a first axis of rotation, the output spool defining an extension through the first axis of rotation a first hollow core; a storage reel mounted in the housing for rotating in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about a second axis of rotation parallel to the first axis of rotation, the storage spool defining an extension through a second hollow core of the second rotating shaft; and a motor spring wound on itself and the storage reel and defining a first end and a second end, the motor spring being fastened at the first end Secured to the output spool; wherein the outer casing defines an opening aligned with the first hollow core and the second hollow core, and further comprising extending completely through the outer casing and separately through the first and second hollow cores a first axis and a second axis, wherein one of the first axis and the second axis is driven by the output reel, and the other axis of the first axis and the second axis is independent of the output reel Turn. The spring motor of claim 15 further comprising a cover covering a building opening; and a first set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the cover to extend and retract the cover; wherein the first And one of the second shafts drives the first set of hoisting ropes. The spring motor of claim 16, further comprising a second set of lifting cords A cord operatively coupled to the covering to extend and retract the covering; wherein the other of the first and second shafts drives the second set of hoisting ropes. The spring motor of claim 16, further comprising a first set of stay cables operatively coupled to the cover to tilt the cover; wherein the other of the first and second axes drives the set of obliques Cable. A spring motor as claimed in claim 15, wherein the output spool drives the second shaft. The spring motor of claim 16, wherein the first shaft rotates independently of the output roll. The spring motor of claim 19, further comprising a covering covering a building opening, the first set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the covering to extend and retract the covering; wherein the second shaft An operative connection to the first set of hoisting ropes. The spring motor of claim 19, wherein the first shaft rotates independently of the output spool. The spring motor of claim 22, further comprising a cover covering a building opening, the first set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the cover to extend and retract the cover; wherein the second axis An operative connection to the first set of hoisting ropes. The spring motor of claim 17, further comprising first and second moving rails coupled to the covering, wherein the first set of hoisting ropes drive one of the first and second moving rails, and the second set of lifting The rope drives the other rail of the first and second moving rails. A spring motor comprising: a housing; an output spool mounted in the housing for rotating in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about a first axis of rotation, the output spool defining an extension through the first axis of rotation a first hollow core; a storage reel mounted in the housing for rotation in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about a longitudinal axis parallel to the first axis of rotation, the storage spool defining an extension through the longitudinal direction a second hollow core of the axis; wherein at least one of the first and second hollow cores defines a non-cylindrical outer contour; a motor spring wound around itself and the storage reel and having a first end and a second end, the motor spring is fastened to the output spool at the first end; a first shaft extending through the outer casing and passing through the output spool; a second shaft extending through the outer casing And passing through the storage reel; further comprising: a covering for covering a building opening, comprising: first and second moving rails operatively connected to the covering to extend and retract the covering; a set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the first moving rail; and a second set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the second moving rail; wherein the first shaft and the second shaft drive the shaft The first set of hoisting ropes, and the other of the first shaft and the second shaft drives the second set of hoisting ropes. The spring motor of claim 25, wherein the output spool drives the second shaft; and wherein the first shaft rotates independently of the output spool. A spring motor comprising: a housing; an output spool mounted in the housing for rotating in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about a first axis of rotation, the output spool defining an extension through the first axis of rotation a first hollow core; a storage spool mounted in the housing along a longitudinal axis parallel to the first axis of rotation, the storage spool defining a second hollow core extending through the longitudinal axis; wherein at least the One of the first and second hollow cores defines a non-cylindrical outer contour; a motor spring wound around itself and the storage reel and defining a first end and a second end, the motor spring being attached The first end is fastened to the output spool; a first shaft extending through the outer casing and passing through the output spool; a second shaft extending through the outer casing and passing through the storage spool; further comprising: a covering for covering a building opening, comprising a first set of hoisting ropes operatively coupled to the covering to extend and retract the covering; wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are one of the shafts Lend a first set of hoisting rope drives; a set of stay cables operatively coupled to the covering to tilt the covering; wherein the other shaft drives the set of stay cables; and wherein the first shaft and the second One of the shafts is driven by the output spool, and the other of the first shaft and the second shaft is rotated independently of the output spool.