WO2001077472A1

WO2001077472A1 - Window assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001077472A1
Application number: PCT/SG2001/000092
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yew Boon Teoh
Original assignee: Yew Boon Teoh
Priority date: 2000-04-11
Filing date: 2001-04-11
Publication date: 2001-10-18
Also published as: WO2001077472B1; AU2001256938A1; GB0008915D0; GB2361263B; GB2361263A

Abstract

A building window assembly having at least one moveable panel and an electrically operated actuated means for moving each panel between an open position and a closed position. Preferably at least two moveable panels are provided, the movement of each moveable panel being independently controllable. The actuating means may be electric or hydraulic.

Description

WINDOW ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to window systems and in particular to control systems for operating windows .

In buildings without air conditioning, windows need to be opened and closed manually in order to control ventilation of rooms. Opening and closing of windows is relatively easy when the windows are small and the operators are fit. However, when windows are large or the operators are elderly or infirm, opening and closing of windows may be difficult. Even when windows are small and the operators are fit, opening and closing may be difficult when the windows are in an inaccessible position due to their height on a wall or due to furniture or other obstacles being positioned in front of them.

The present invention addresses some of these problems by providing a window system in which window panels can be easily opened and closed with little effort by the operator.

The invention provides a building window assembly having at least one moveable panel and an electrically operated actuating means for moving each panel between an open' position and a "closed' position. Preferably at least two moveable panels are provided, the movement of each moveable panel being independently controllable. The actuating means may be controlled by means of controls mounted on the window assembly or by a remote control system. In a preferred embodiment, the window panels slide up and down in the same plane as the window, the panels sliding into a base unit when the window is fully opened, preferably being completely covered by the base unit and thus hidden from view. This allows the window to be fully opened without any portion of a glass panel (or any other type of panel used) or its frame covering the window space, thus maximising ventilation and ensuring uninterrupted views. By using a number of individually controllable panels, the operator may choose between, for example, single, double or triple glazing depending on the weather conditions outside. For example, single glazing may be used in summer with triple glazing used in winter.

The independently controllable panels need not be restricted to standard glass glazing panels. As well as or instead of one or more glazing panels, the . system may comprise a panel or panels for other purposes. For example, a metal grille may be incorporated in the assembly to be raised over panels at night or when the building is unoccupied. When not in use, the metal grille can be withdrawn into the base unit, thus improving the appearance of the assembly without the need for detachment of the grille from the window and separate storage of the grille when it is not required. Decorative glass panels of different coloured glass or other material, picture panels and semitransparent or frosted panels which act in lieu of curtains may also be incorporated. One of the panels may be a white board to reflect sunlight from the outside of the window and/or to act as a projector screen on the inside of the window, thus saving the storage space normally required for such objects. Such a panel may take the place of awnings conventionally used to shade windows from direct sunshine at certain times of the day. Such an arrangement is tidier than using conventional awnings and so has the additional advantage that the overall appearance of the building is improved.

Any combination of panels may be used with the panels not in use being withdrawn into the base unit of the window system out of sight. When all the panels are withdrawn, the window is open. As the panels can be fully withdrawn into the base unit below the window, maximum ventilation can be achieved without the panel or panel frame partially obscuring the view and without the need for finding alternative storage space when the particular panels are not being used. Each panel may be independently controlled to move between fully open or fully closed positions or any position in between. Thus the panels may be opened only to a limited extent to enable ventilation even during heavy rain, while keeping the window sufficiently closed to prevent, for example, children being able to climb out or intruders climbing in. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the window may be arranged to resemble a conventional sash window with at least one lower fixed panel positioned towards the inside of the window and at least one moveable upper external panel positioned towards the outside of the window, the upper panel being movable by means of the actuating means between a closed position in which the base of the or each upper panel is substantially at the same level as the top of the lower fixed panel, and an open position in which the or each upper panel is positioned behind the fixed glazed panel . Preferably, a sealing member is provided between the opposing edges of the fixed and moveable panels to prevent ingress of draughts or rain. Seals are also preferably provided to seal between the edges of the upper panels, if more than one panel is provided. In this embodiment as with the first embodiment, moveable panels are independently controllable to allow the operator to select, for example, single, double or triple glazing or the incorporation of a security panel or any other type of panel as described above.

Movement of the individual panels may be achieved by any suitable actuating means but is preferably achieved by means of independently controllable hydraulic jacks positioned within the base unit below the window portion. Guide rails may be provided in side panels of the assembly to ensure smooth sliding of the panels during opening and closing.

The panels may be fixed to the actuating means e.g. the hydraulic jack by any suitable means. Preferably, the panels are held in position by panel holders on each side edge of the panel, at least one of the panel holders being mounted on a hydraulic jack. Preferably, two hydraulic jacks are used per panel. Movement of the hydraulic jacks is transmitted via the panel holders to the panels. Preferably the panels are detachably-τnounted onto the panel holders to enable easy replacement of panels, which, for example have become cracked. Preferably the panel holders are hinged with the panels on at least one side. This enables easy cleaning of the outer surfaces of the panels by simply detaching the panel from the panel holder at one side and then rotating it by its hinge into the interior of the room for safe cleaning. The control system may be powered using solar energy or a domestic power supply. In preferred embodiments, the control system is powered using solar energy obtained via a solar panel installed on an exterior wall, the system being automatically connected to a domestic power supply when the solar energy is insufficient .

The electronic control system may be arranged to perform a number of functions in addition to simply opening and closing of the windows. Means can be provided to detect interference with panels and sound an alarm and thus act as a burglar alarm. A detector may be positioned on the panel which automatically stops the panel opening or closing any further when it comes into the vicinity of an obstacle. The control mechanism may be lockable such that it is necessary to input a coded sequence into the control panel or remote control before the actuating means can operate in order to make it more difficult for children to tamper with the opening or closing of the window. The control mechanism may be programmed to automatically raise or lower panels at particular times of the day, for example, raising a "curtain" panel or security grille at a predetermined time of night or an awning panel in the afternoon. Furthermore, rain detectors may be built into the assembly to automatically move a panel or panels to a fully or partially closed position when rain is detected.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A shows a front view of a first embodiment of the window assembly according to the invention; Figure IB shows a cross-sectional view of the window assembly shown in Figure 1A;

Figure 2A shows a side view of the hydraulic jacks which may be used in the embodiment of Figure 1 ^■

Figure 2B shows a plan view of the hydraulic jacks and panels of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 ,-

Figure 3 shows a perspective exploded view of a panel and panel holders which may be used in the invention;

Figure 4 shows a front perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the first embodiment of the window assembly according to the invention.

Figure 1A illustrates a front view of a first embodiment of the window assembly 1. The window assembly includes a glazing panel 2 supported by a panel holder 8 and a base unit 3. The glazing panel 2 is moveable and can be fully withdrawn into the base unit 3 by means of hydraulic jacks 9, 10. In use the hydraulic mechanism will be covered by side casings

' (not shown) . These side casings can be used to store and conceal the workings of the actuating means, e.g. the pumps, motor, oil tanks etc of a hydraulic jack system. A control panel 5 is provided in a side portion of the assembly. The control panel is connected to an electronic chip by which the various functions e.g. open, close, timer or alarm are controlled.

Figure IB shows a cross section of the window assembly of Figure 1A along line A - A and shows three panels 2A,2B,2C in a closed position between the base unit 3 and the top of the window assembly. The base unit 3 has an interior wall 3a and an exterior wall 3b enclosing a cavity 3c into which the panel 2 can be withdrawn. The exterior wall 3b may be the wall of an existing building i.e. the window assembly may be incorporated into an existing building, or specially built for new buildings. Guides 6 are provided in the side casing 5 to ensure smooth movement of the panels 2 when being opened and closed. Sealing members 7 are provided between the panels 2A, 2B and 2C to prevent ingress of water into the base unit . The interior and exterior walls of the base unit may be made of any suitable material and may be selected to match the appearance of the room or exterior surface on which -the base unit walls are mounted or they may be selected to match the side casing. The interior wall of the base unit may be in the form of a door to gain access to the interior of the base unit or may have shelf units incorporated into it, which can be folded down for use, for example, as a desk. Figures 2A and 2B show a side view and top plan view of three hydraulic jacks 9A,9B,9C suitable for raising and lowering the three panels 2A,2B,2C of the window assembly of Figure IB. The hydraulic jacks 9A,9B,9C have guide portions 14 which are attached to the panels 2A,2B,2C. Preferably, the hydraulic jacks are inter-connected to ensure maximum stability of the unit in use.

In use, all of the hydraulic jacks 9A,9B,9C may be operated together to raise or lower all of the panels at the same time. However, jacks controlling each individual panel 2A, 2B and 2C are independently controllable to enable the operator to choose between single, double or triple glazing or, if panels other than glazing panels are used, to put these into operation or to store them within the base unit when not in use. The panels may be identical or different, for example all being of clear glass or a mixture of clear glass, coloured glass and, for example, a metal security grille. The hydraulic jacks 9A,9B,9C are selected, ^•operated and controlled by the operator pressing buttons on the control panel 5 mounted on the window assembly 1. Alternatively, or in addition, there may be a remote control system for controlling the movement of the panels. If a remote system is to be used, a sensor can be mounted anywhere on the window assembly to detect a signal from the remote controller.

Figure 3 shows in exploded view, a single panel 2 and pair of panel holders 8 for holding the panel 2 in position in the assembly. The panel holders may be attached to the hydraulic jacks 9 by any appropriate means. The panel 2 is mounted on the panel holders 8 by means of pins (not shown) which are slidable within the panel holders through mounting channels 17 on hinge portions 18 of the panels 2. Sliding buttons are provided on the panel holders to slide the pin in and out of the hinges. By moving the sliding button 19, the pins can be removed from the hinge portions at one side, enabling the panel 2 to be rotated around the hinges on the opposite side to allow cleaning of the outer surface of the panels 2. Removal of the pins from all of the hinge portions of an individual panel enables the panel 2 to be detached from the panel holders and easily replaced when, for example, a glazing panel becomes cracked etc. Although the first embodiment has been described with reference to a base unit positioned below the glazing panels, it should be understood that in an alternative arrangement, the glazing panels can slide upwards into a top unit above the level of the glazing panels. In another alternative arrangement, the base unit and/or top unit can be replaced with at least one side unit with the glazing panels arranged to slide into the side panel or panels.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention in which the base unit has been replaced by a fixed glazing panel 62. The upper panel 63 is identical to the panel 2 described for the first embodiment, as is the mechanism for moving the panel 63. There may of course be more than one lower panel 62 and more than one upper panel 63. Movement of each of the moveable upper panels can be independently controlled. As in the first embodiment, the movement of each of these panels can be independently controlled.

Where upper and lower panels are used together in the same window, the lower and upper edges of the upper and lower panels respectively have sealing means to- ensure the close fit of the edges of the glazing panels and to prevent ingress of air and water at the junction. Similarly,, sealing means are provided between the edges of the frames of adjacent upper panels when more than one upper panel is used in the same window.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A window assembly for a building comprising a window having at least one moveable panel, an electrically operated actuating means, panel holders for mounting each panel onto the actuating means, and control means for controlling the movement of each moveable panel .

2. The window assembly according to claim 1 wherein there are at least two moveable panels, and the movement of each moveable panel is independently controllable by the control means .

3. The window assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein in a fully opened position, at least one moveable panel is positioned within a base unit below the window, a top unit above the window or a side unit adjacent to the window.

4. The window assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein in a fully opened position, a moveable panel is positioned behind a fixed glazed base panel.

5. The window assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuating means includes at least one hydraulically operated jack.

6. The window assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a moveable panel is detachably mountable on at least one panel holder .

7. The window assembly according to claim 6 wherein a moveable panel is hingedly mountable onto a panel holder.

8. A window assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figures .