WO1991003618A1

WO1991003618A1 - System for fitting windows of buildings

Info

Publication number: WO1991003618A1
Application number: PCT/ES1990/000010
Authority: WO
Inventors: Felix Alvaro Fernandez
Original assignee: Felix Alvaro Fernandez
Priority date: 1989-09-08
Filing date: 1990-02-15
Publication date: 1991-03-21
Also published as: ES2017273A6; AU5165590A; EP0511956A1

Abstract

System for fitting windows of buildings and other uses, comprised of a frame (4) whose dimensions are adjusted to the window opening and to which is mounted a special blind (1, 2, 3) replaceable for the summer (mosquito net effect) or for the winter (double glazing effect). The design allows an optimum regulation of sun light, while saving energy for heating or cooling. The regulation may optionally be automatic since an electronic circuit provided with a photoelectronic sensor allows the blind (1, 2, 3) to be self-regulated, as the sun changes its position, without intervention of the user. The control may be remote with interconnection by means of an electric cable to the window.

Description

BUILDING WINDOW EQUIPMENT SYSTEM.

DESCRIPTION

CURRENT STATUS OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVEMENT CRITERIA.

The usual equipment components of the building window opening include:

a) Glazing components with their frames, fixed or mobile, single or double (hinged, sliding or fixed window panes; both single and double configuration); whose essential function is to prevent the passage of air, animal objects, simultaneously contributing to reduce thermal losses through the window opening, improving as much as possible the energy balance of the building, and at the same time allowing the

visualization from abroad.

b) Components outside the first glazing to regulate the flow of solar radiation that falls in front of the window opening

(external blinds, shutters, awnings, etc.)

The essential function of these components is to regulate the flow of incident energy from the sun, avoiding the passage of heat through the window opening, especially in hot weather. The regulation is carried out at the user's will within the possible regulation margins of each of the existing solutions (semi-opening of the shutters, intermediate routes of the position of the blinds, use of awnings, etc.), the optimal regulation that you would like the user would be one that allows a sufficient level of lighting in the area served by the window through the passage of diffused and reflected light from the sun, but not the direct entry of solar rays. That user requirement is not met for most of the usual solutions that these

external regulation components, since they normally carry out the regulation by preventing the passage of a part of the solar radiation in certain areas, but allowing the entry of direct radiation in others.

These components can significantly improve the energy balance of buildings, reducing cooling loads in the warm seasons; and although to a lesser extent, they can also reduce heating losses in cold weather in some cases.

The energy saving quotas of the installations vary from one solution to another, but in any case, to obtain good quotas, the permanent attention of the user is necessary to control the optimal regulation conditions depending on the climatic conditions and solar irradiation.

a) Protection components against the passage of insects or other animals (mosquito nets, anti-dust grids, etc.) The essential function of these components is to prevent the passage of insects, leaves, etc., while the glazing is open, allowing the air passage for ventilation.

These components are used indistinctly in front of or behind the glazing, and its configuration is that of a grid with a suitable mesh size for the foreign bodies to which they are intended and with its edges conveniently adjusted to the window frame. d) Interior components to the first glazing (interior blinds, blinds between double glazing, curtains, curtains, etc.).

These components do not have a technically justifiable essential function.

Normally their reason for use is aesthetic, and they are used integrated into the decoration of the building and the enclosure to which the window serves. Undoubtedly they can contribute to the regulation of the lighting of the premises, to a small contribution to the energy balance of the buildings and to a certain extent they can act as a mosquito net effect; all these contributions are of order

secondary, since the functions of the previously described components would be greatly exceeded.

In the current state of the window equipment technique, the above listed components are used in a tremendous variety of combinations, most of which are

irrationally conceived.

From the energy point of view, all solutions for the use of interior blinds at the first glazing are unreasonably inefficient for the warm season. The first glazing is the generator of the "greenhouse effect", in which the glass allows practically total penetration of incident solar radiation while it is unable to return that radiation reflected by the objects that are behind the glass. This is the effect on which solar thermal collectors are based. Consequently, any solution of blinds or curtains located behind the first glazing inevitably provides a significant flow of energy input through the window that is diffused within the enclosure that the window assists, raising its temperature. If you want to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room, you have to compensate for the excess energy by installing a cooling system in the building. The compensation of these effects means a very important part of the consumption costs

of the refrigeration installation and also forces an oversizing of the installation project itself, which could have been avoided with a more rational solution.

Modern architecture tends to the maximum extension of

glazing of buildings in such a way that the façade becomes a continuous succession of windows. The trend is rational, not only because of its undoubted aesthetic effect, but also because of the advantages of making maximum use of outdoor lighting, the nobility of glass as a material that is not unpleasant to the environment, the best

contemplation of the external environment and the cleaning and conservation of the facades; however, the problem of charges due to solar incidence is magnified with this trend. Attempts to reduce this problem through the use of double glazing with blinds between the two crystals, the application of absorption or reflection glasses for solar radiation, the formulas

"climalit" and the like... are always very poor solutions compared to the effect that can be achieved with a rationally designed external blind.

The rational blind must prevent the passage of direct sunlight but allow the entry of diffused and reflected light, to provide a sufficient level of natural daylight in the room.

In this condition, the solar incident loads for refrigeration are practically zero.

One way to solve this requirement is the solution of rotating slat blinds, which, properly positioned, totally cancel the penetration of direct sunlight by overlapping the slats in partial opening, but allow the entry of diffuse and reflected light. The geometric configuration of this solution is the one applied in the so-called Venetian blinds, made up of a battery of thin sheets located parallel to each other and supported by cords or tapes, whose angular positioning is manually actuated by cord and pulleys. This type of blinds is commonly used throughout the world, but they are commonly used as interior blinds and are therefore subject to the greenhouse effect. The reason for its lack of outdoor use lies in its structural weakness, which makes it unfit to face the actions of the wind on certain occasions in certain climatic conditions.

Physically the same thing happens with vertical slat blinds.

The most commonly applied solution for exterior blinds is that of roller slats; Its structural concept is suitable to withstand normal wind loads, but it does not allow the cancellation of direct solar radiation if a reasonable level of illumination of the enclosure is desired. They also have the drawback of the shutter drum drawer, which conditions, architecturally and

constructively the upper lintel of the window, especially in high-rise windows. On the other hand, they are susceptible to interstitial air leaks due to poor sealing of the shutter box, and the reliability of their components is low, causing breakdowns.

frequent.

On the other hand, in buildings that are not equipped with an air conditioning system, the window glazing components are practicable and are frequently kept open in the hot season to avoid the greenhouse effect and promote ventilation of the rooms. In these conditions, insects, other animals and objects carried by air currents can pass through the windows. In certain areas, the potential entry of insects is a serious problem, so they are used

mosquito nets as a separate attachment on the window. The rational blind should also incorporate this function in its configuration for the summer period.

For cold temperatures, the glazing is normally kept closed for its positive effect of thermal protection, while the blinds are normally kept open to take advantage of the scarcest natural light. In these conditions, the only thermal protection resistance is the heat resistance of the glass, which is very weak for window panes.

conventional. Thus, the heat losses through the glass are important in a conventional window and in cold weather, and strongly affect the consumption of heating installations. To minimize these losses, double glazing solutions are frequently applied, which are thermally effective, but which increase the cost of the window and also present some cleaning and conservation problems. The rational blind should also incorporate the primary advantage of reducing heat losses, having the same effect as double glazing during the winter period.

In addition to the requirements already stated for window equipment (external protection against direct solar radiation in summer, protection against heat loss in winter, the musketeer effect for buildings without air conditioning when the glazing is opened in the warm season, etc. .), there are other functions desired by users. Mainly it is worth mentioning:

- Maximum visualization, if desired, of the external environment. In other words, the blind must be able to be completely retracted when the user requires it.

- A sufficient darkening of the enclosures (for example to sleep during the day) at the user's will, which means that the blind must be able to close completely.

- In certain cases, users use awnings to keep the window in the shade. This requirement should be considered

optionally in a rational blind system.

- The handling for positioning and adjustment of the blind must be simple and comfortable. As a limit to this requirement, an automatic control system should be incorporated that, depending on the weather conditions and the position of the sun, selects the optimal position of the blind system for maximum

energy balance efficiency, both in winter and summer. The control knob should incorporate a MANUAL/AUTOMATIC selector, and thus, selecting the AUTOMATIC position the The user is released from the obligation to regulate the blinds. For greater comfort, the control unit can be located in the most appropriate place in the room (for example, near the headboard of the bed in a bedroom, or on the desk in the office, etc.)

- Structural integrity against limit wind conditions, within normality, must be guaranteed, and the

Components must be highly reliable and have a long service life.

- The aesthetics, both for the user and the architect, should be equal to or better than that of the systems

conventional.

- The costs must be comparable or lower than those of

conventional components that perform the same function, taking into account the considerable energy savings that the solution would bring.

- Installation on existing windows must be simple and economical.

- Conservation and maintenance operations must be

minimum (in any case, comparable or lower than existing systems.)

All these requirements must be met by a rational window equipment system, and this is the objective pursued with the system proposed in this patent.

invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM OBJECT OF INNOVATION

As stated in the previous section, this innovation refers to a complete window equipment system for buildings that performs various functions. The system is described in full, covering all functions

potential, but, depending on the cases, it can be applied

partly according to specific functions that the user wants to use. In the "Claims" section, only the innovation concepts that the system components appropriate to their functions are specified, but not their field of application. The main component of the system is a mosquito net blind that is represented in figure 1., in the deployed position (not collected). This component comprises a flat element (1) that is transparent to light, but that prevents the passage of insects and other objects of specified size, on which the elements (2) called slats rest, forming an articulation (A). These slats are plant

rectangular with one of its long sides resting on the aforesaid joint of the element (1), and on the other long side it also forms a joint (B) with the movable element (3), also flat, which may have similar characteristics to the element ( 1) or simply be a set of parallel threads or tapes. The planes formed by elements (1) and (3) are always kept parallel.

The element (1) is perimetrally supported on a suitable frame (4) that adjusts to the frame or to the opening of the window of the building. The material of the elements (1) and (3) can be a grid, a plastic film, flat glass or a set of parallel tape threads depending on the applications, but always with a configuration that provides high light transparency.

Element (3) can be moved parallel to (1) since the joints (A) are fixed and the joints (B) can take the desired position along the circumference of radii (r) and with center at (TO). According to this configuration, the angle (_) of the slats (2) is defined by the position taken by the regulation mechanism (5).

The plan shape of the slats (2) will be rectangular and its profile will be defined in the appropriate way depending on the

characteristics and size of the frame (4), as well as the

dimensions (d), (r), (s) and (p).

The joints (A) and (B) can have various constructive solutions according to the examples. It could be of the hinge type, or made by perforations made on the elements (1) and (3) and penetrations of the elements (2) or vice versa, or by simply folding the elements (1) and (3) on the slats. (2), etc).

The slats (2) will be made of opaque material, metallic, plastic, wood, etc.

In applications where it is optionally desired to keep the window passage area, the entire set of Celomas (2) and elements (1) and (3) can be fully retracted by lifting the slats and folding elements (1) and (3) so that all the assembly is collected in the upper part of the frame when desired. The hoisting mechanism will be by means of cords and pulleys and its action will be manual or motorized depending on the option prescribed. Figure 2 represents a partial position.

The set of: element (1), slats (2) and element (3) is hung from an upright piece called a hanger (5), which holds the upper edge of the element (1) and is easily mounted on the upper lintel of the frame (4). The set of elements (1), (2), (3) and (5) are replaceable for winter and summer conditions. In the replacement for winter, elements (1) and (3) will be

transparent to light but will not allow the passage of air; In the summer replacement, these elements will allow air to pass through but not insects.

The frame (4) will be mounted fixed on the frame of the window opening for cases of normal installation, but in cases that the prescriber so wishes, its realization will be hinged on the upper lintel, so that the entire assembly will be transformed into a awning (figure 3). The mechanism (6) for its positioning to the awning configuration will be of the type called compass by means of cords and pulleys, and its action can be manual or motorized.

Optionally it can be equipped with lateral fans to avoid the penetration of solar radiation in certain positions of the sun.

The geometric configuration of the blind component made up of elements (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) as represented in figure 1 corresponds to the solution in which joints A and B of the slats (2) are located horizontally. For certain uses the mechanical solution is equally valid cor. joints A and B located vertically.

In the most normal employment solution, the frame (4) will be in a vertical plane like the typical window plane, but the mechanical solution is equally applicable to inclined or horizontal planes.

The applications of these components can be summarized for guidance and not limitation in the following: Windows, doors, screens, vertical or inclined skylights, illuminated roofs, terrace shades, porches and greenhouse covers, etc.; in its constructive forms of industrial manufacturing or in DIY solutions.

The second fundamental component of the system is the control of management and regulation. In the most economical solutions, the control will be carried out by the user with direct manual actuation or by means of electromechanical systems. In direct manual action, the user will be obliged to access the window when he wishes to raise or lower the blind, regulate the incident sun radiation or raise or retract the awning, if applicable; These operations will be similar in simplicity to conventional systems. In the electromechanical action the

The blind assembly will be equipped with electric motors for lifting-lowering action, slat angle positioning, and, where appropriate, slat angle positioning, and where appropriate

positioning of the awning, therefore, the user is not obliged to approach the window since he will have a small electrical control box with the buttons or switches necessary for said actions, and said box will be located at the point where he designates from the room with an electric cable connection to the blind system; however, you are required to actuate the adjustment button a few times a day depending on the position of the sun if you want to keep the room properly lit but without excess heat input.

In the most refined option, there will be an automatic regulation system, which relieves the user of being aware of changes in the position of the sun. The blind becomes

"intelligent". In this system there is a solar radiation sensor conveniently located on the element (1) of the blind and which is permanently "looking" towards the outside and when it "feels" direct solar radiation, it gives the order to the regulation electric motor to modify the angle of the slats, until the sensor "feels" the shadow of these slats. In this condition the room will be sufficiently illuminated but direct radiation from the sun will not penetrate into it.

The logic of the system is very simple (figure 4), in such a way that the system tries to maintain a lighting flow through the window between two values I max. I min. As long as the lighting is between these values, the system is at rest. If the incident illumination on the sensor becomes greater than I max. The system gives the order to close the slats and lowers the lighting that passes through the blind until a value less than or equal to I max is reached. When the lighting sensed by the sensor is less than I min., the system responds to open the slats. margin I max. to I min. it will be set for the desired comfort lighting for the venue. This system logic is very easy to perform

electronically by means of photoresistors or photodiodes, and it has been experimentally verified in prototypes that have already been tested and carried out.

This option will include all the pushbuttons or switches of the electromechanical option plus a selector for manual or automatic positioning.

In figure 5, the basic concept of control box available to the user is represented in a schematic, non-restrictive way.

Claims

CLAIMS The following claims are declared novelty:

1.- Window equipment system for buildings and other uses, characterized in that it integrates a first component that acts as a blind to regulate the penetration of sunlight,

(Figure 1), and it is also a mosquito net in its summer replacement and has the function of a double window in its winter replacement to improve the window thermally and acoustically; and a second component consisting of an automatic system with a photo-electronic sensor (Figures 4 and 5), which is capable of monitoring the presence of the sun and its position, thus automatically regulating the first "blind" component, and relieving the user of the need to comply with said regulation.

2.- Window equipment system for buildings and other uses, according to claim ¹ , characterized in that the composition of the first component integrates a frame (4), which is mounted on the window hole and acts as a support for a set , which can be replaceable, which functions as a blind plus a mosquito net in summer or a blind plus double glazing in winter. The frame also acts as a chassis for all the mechanisms for managing and regulating the blind.

3.- Window equipment system for buildings and other uses, according to claim ² , characterized in that the replaceable assembly is made up of two surface elements of a size adapted to the frame, which are essentially transparent to light but prevent the passage of objects of size greater than a specified one. The first of these surface elements (1) is held by its upper edge by a hanger effect piece (5), which hangs appropriately over the frame lintel. The second surface element (3) forms a plane parallel to the first, and can move parallel to it. Between said surface elements there is a battery of slats (2) placed parallel to each other, and articulating at the intersections of the slats with the two aforementioned surface elements, so that a section perpendicular to the longest side of the slats gives a battery. of deformable parallelograms with a single degree of movement, this degree of freedom being defined by the vertical displacement of the second superficial element, which is actuated by the regulation mechanism (Figure 1). In this way, the angle of inclination of the slats is varied and the flow of light that penetrates the room served by the blind can be regulated. The geometric configuration described for the case of vertical displacement of the second surface element is equally applicable for horizontal displacement, in which case it would be a blind with vertical slats, but with the same basic mechanical concept.

4.- Window equipment system for buildings and ^others according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame and blind assembly (Figure 1) can be optionally foldable, so that the frame is hinged to the window opening at its upper part. and can be tilted to such a position that it is configured as an awning (Figure 3).

5.- Window equipment system for buildings and other uses, characterized in that the second component mentioned in the

claim ¹ , has a lighting sensor

conveniently located to "feel" the presence of the shadow cast by the slats (2) on it when there is direct solar radiation, so it can monitor the position of said slats. The sensor acts as a translator that governs the electronic circuit and the electromechanical elements that provide the automatic regulation established by the logic of the system described in Figure 4.

6.- System for equipping windows in buildings and other uses, according to claim ⁵ , characterized in that the automatic system can optionally be carried out in a control box (Figure 5), which incorporates the necessary controls and the electronic circuit based on the logic of figure 4, allowing the user automatic operation and remote control, since said control box can be located far from the window, being connected by means of the appropriate electronic cable of

interconnection.