EP0790385A1 - Roller shutter operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The operating mechanism for a roller blinds includes a shaft (2) on which the blinds itself (18) is rolled. The shaft is rotated by an electric motor (40) supported by a base (7). The base on which the electric motor is supported is solidly attached to a toothed wheel (19) which is able to be locked in a rotational position by a screw (21). The screw is provided with a flat region, so that the mechanical connection between the toothed wheel and the screw may be de-clutched. The electric motor may include a rotary contact assembly in order to supply power to the motor whilst the roller is turning.

Description

The invention relates to an operating device for a roller shutter. A rolling shutter generally comprises a shaft on which an apron can be more or less wound as a function of the rotation of the shaft around its largest axis. The shaft rotation drive systems are varied: it can be an electric motor or a mechanical winch, it is also possible for the user to act by direct action on the roller shutter deck, the latter then being provided with a compensation device capable of maintaining the flap in the position in which it has been released by the user.

In all cases, it is sometimes necessary to disengage the shutter drive system for safety reasons or to allow maintenance work on the device. In the devices known from the prior art, a clean release system must be provided, this system having to be the subject of an elaborate study of the resistance of materials and requiring the production of specific parts.

The object of the invention is the production of an operating device for a roller shutter allowing an effective disengagement of the drive system while being economical, providing this function in a safe manner and being of an implementation easy.

In this spirit, the invention relates to an operating device for a roller shutter comprising a shaft for winding an apron, said shaft being driven in rotation by a motor supported by a base, characterized in that said base is integral with a toothed wheel capable of being engaged with a screw so as to immobilize said rotating base and in that said screw is provided with at least one flat, so that the mechanical connection between said toothed wheel and said screw is disengageable .

Thanks to the invention, the disengagement of the operating device is particularly simple since it suffices to rotate the screw until its flat face of the gear wheel, the clearance between the screw and the gear wheel then being sufficient to allow relative movement of one with respect to the other.

The invention is particularly attractive from the point of view of economic view, because it relies on the use of a toothed wheel and a screw which are widely used in mechanical winches for driving roller shutter winding shafts. This use of parts already widely used avoids an important study of resistance of materials because, in its normal use, the winch already ensures a function of locking in rotation as well as a function of connection between several mechanical parts. This winch is therefore already sized for this new application since it provides substantially the same functions.

This use of parts already widely used also avoids the multiplication of tools since it is not necessary to create new parts. The series effect thus obtained also makes it possible to reduce the unit price of the parts already used.

From a mechanical point of view, the worm and the toothed wheel belonging to the winch provide a secure rotation immobilization since the effect is obtained by a toothing, which is particularly suitable for accepting the transmission effort, therefore an effort rotation lock. On the other hand, these parts provide an easy disengagement since the toothing angle is favorable for the rotation of the screw in the direction of disengagement, even under load; it is thus easy to disengage the device. In addition, the use of a screw and toothed wheel system implies the assurance of easily and quickly finding a re-clutch position thanks to the multiplicity of teeth distributed around the periphery of the wheel and thanks to the continuity of the thread. of the screw.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the screw is provided with two flats arranged symmetrically with respect to its largest axis. It can also be provided that the device comprises means for elastic positioning of the screw.

Finally, the invention can be used in a device comprising a compensating spring capable of rotating the shaft so as to wind the apron when the connection between the wheel and the screw is disengaged. The invention can also be used in a device comprising a retarder for the downward movement of the deck when the connection between the gear wheel and the screw is disengaged. In all cases, the screw can be obtained by simple machining of a screw used in a conventional device for operating a rolling shutter with a mechanical winch.

• la figure 1 est une vue de face d'un volet roulant incorporant un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne II-II à la figure 1, alors que le dispositif est en position embrayée ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, alors que le dispositif est débrayé ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne IV-IV à la figure 3 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 pour un second mode de réalisation d'un dispositif de manoeuvre de volet roulant ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de détail d'une partie d'un dispositif de manoeuvre de volet roulant selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention et ;
• la figure 8 est une vue similaire à la figure 7 pour un quatrième mode de réalisation d'un dispositif de manoeuvre de volet roulant.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of four embodiments of an operating device for rolling shutters in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of a roller shutter incorporating a first embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view along line II-II in Figure 1, while the device is in the engaged position;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2, while the device is disengaged;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV in Figure 3;
• Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 for a second embodiment of a shutter operating device;
• FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a part of a rolling shutter operating device according to a third embodiment of the invention and;
• Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 for a fourth embodiment of a shutter operating device.

The operating device 1 for rolling shutter shown in FIG. 1 essentially consists of a winding shaft 2 in which is housed a tubular motor consisting of a fixed casing 3 containing an electric motor 4, a reduction gear 5 and a device limit switch 6. A base 7, which supports the casing 3, is mounted integral with a fixed console 8 by means of a shaft 7 has penetrating into a housing 9 whose casing is rigidly fixed to the console 8. A ring 10 integral with the shaft 2 is provided with an internal toothing cooperating with a pinion, not shown, which transmits to the end-of-travel device the movement of the shaft 2. The output shaft of the reduction gear 5 carries a disc 11 in taken with the shaft 2 and capable of transmitting a rotational movement from the motor to the winding shaft.

On the other hand, a compensation spring 12 is housed inside the shaft 2 near its other end. One end of the spring 12 is fixed in a stationary disc 13 inside the shaft 2 while its other end is secured to a second disc 14 movable in rotation with the shaft 2. A shaft 15 supports the disc 13 and is fixed by means of a bracket 16 to a support console 17.

The operation is as follows:

When the apron 18 of the roller shutter is completely wound on the shaft 2, the compensation spring 12 is not bandaged. If it is necessary to close the shutter, the electric motor 4 is activated, so that it transmits through the reduction gear 5 and thanks to the drive disc 11 a torque to the shaft 2 which progressively unrolls the deck 18 The rotational movement of the shaft 2 progressively bands the spring 12, so that the latter stores energy. The movement of the apron 18 can be stopped at any time by means of a brake (not shown) associated with the motor 4. When it is necessary to wind the apron 18 of the roller shutter, the motor is activated in the opposite direction in order to communicate to the 'shaft 2 a rotational movement in the opposite direction. The compensation spring 12 then tends to rotate the shaft 2 in the same direction as the motor 4 by restoring the energy which it has stored during the descent of the deck 18.

The compensation spring 12 is dimensioned so that it tends to raise the bulkhead 18 in the absence of the motor 4 and the brake associated with it. As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the housing 9 comprises a toothed wheel 19 integral in rotation with the shaft 7 a , which is mounted on this shaft for example by means of a nut 20.

According to the invention, a worm 21 is disposed near the toothed wheel 19, so that the toothing of the toothed wheel 19 is engaged with the thread of the screw 21 as shown in Figure 3. The screw 21 is a screw of the type used in a device for maneuvering a roller shutter with a mechanical winch. It is therefore a part produced in very large series whose marginal cost is relatively low. This screw is held between two plates 22 and 23 carried by the ends of two springs 24 and 25 bearing against stops 26 and 27 of the housing 9. Thus, the springs 24 and 25 constitute means for elastic positioning of the screw 21 by relative to the axis of the shaft 2. A handle 30 is connected to the plate 22 through the stop 26 and the spring 24. This handle makes it possible to impart to the screw 21 a rotational movement around its axis.

According to the invention and as it appears more clearly in Figures 4 and 5, the screw 21 is provided with two flats 21 a and 21 b . These flats make it possible to provide a clearance J between the external envelope of the thread of the screw 21 and the external envelope of the toothing of the toothed wheel 19, so that the mechanical connection between the toothed wheel and the screw is disengaged when the screw is in the position of Figure 3. It can provide a clearance J, for example less than 10 mm and preferably of the order of a few millimeters.

The embodiment of Figures 1 to 5 shows a use of the invention on a shutter or a panic door. Indeed, when it is necessary to quickly open the shutter of this embodiment, it suffices to turn the handle 30 by a quarter of a turn to disengage the device and allow the rotation of the base 7 and of the motor 4 so that, under the effect of the compensating spring 12 and possibly a vertical upward thrust, the deck 18 is wound around the shaft 2.

When it is necessary to control the device again with the electric motor 4, it suffices to make the handle 30 a quarter turn in the same direction or in the opposite direction so that the mechanical connection between the toothed wheel 19 and the screw 21 is again engaged. It can be noted that thanks to the construction of the device with a toothed wheel and a screw, the re-clutch position can be easily and quickly found thanks to the multiplicity of the teeth of the toothed wheel 19 and the threads of the screw 21.

In addition, the disengagement of the device is particularly easy. A rotation of the handle 30 in the trigonometric direction or in the opposite trigonometric direction leads to disengagement of the device, which is particularly important when this device must be handled by a person not initiated or acting under the influence of panic.

It should be noted that thanks to the use of parts used in very large quantities for mechanical winches, the cost of these parts is low and therefore the cost of the declutching function thus obtained is also low.

FIG. 6 represents a use of the invention on a door of the fire stop type. Parts or elements similar or identical to those of FIG. 1 bear references increased by 50.

This device 51 differs from that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 essentially in that the compensating spring is absent and in that a vibrator escapement 62 acts as a retarder during the movement of the shaft 52.

By using the invention, it is possible to disengage the mechanical connection between a toothed wheel 69 secured to the shaft 57a and a screw 71 mounted in a housing 59 fixed to a console 58.

When the mechanical connection between the toothed wheel 69 and the screw 71 is disengaged, the bulkhead 68 is driven by gravity and it closes the opening located under the shaft 52, while being braked by the exhaust 62.

This device is particularly advantageous for use on a fire type door. Indeed, as before, it is easy to maneuver the screw 71 to unlock the mechanical connection with the toothed wheel 69 and thus free the apron 68 in the event of fire. As in the previous embodiment, it suffices to make the screw 71 a quarter turn in the opposite direction or in the same direction to re-engage the device and be able to control the movement of the deck 68 by means of the electric motor 54 .

FIG. 7 represents a detail of a part of a rolling shutter operating device according to a third embodiment of the invention in which elements similar to those of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 bear identical augmented references of 100.

This device 101 comprises a winding shaft 102 in which is housed an envelope 103 containing an electric motor, not shown. An end-of-travel device 106 is connected to a ring 110, integral with the winding shaft 102, by a drive pinion 131 which allows the movements of the shaft 102 to be transmitted to the device 106 by means of internal toothing 110 a of the ring 110. A base 107 is integral with the casing 103 and is extended by a shaft 107 a penetrating into a housing 109 comprising a toothed wheel 119 and a worm screw 121 in accordance with the invention and similar to those of the first embodiment. This device further comprises a fixed part 132 housed in the shaft 102 and supporting the limit switch device 106 and the base 107. The part 132 carries a first half 133a of a rotary connector 133, the second half 133b of which is carried by the base 107 opposite the first half. The rotary connector can be of any known type and for example with brushes in rubbing contact on a contact track. This connector allows the electrical current to be conveyed to the motor by a cable 134, a first part 134 a of which is fixed to the housing 109 and to the part 132 and a second part 134 b of which enters an orifice 107 b of the base 107 .

When the device of the invention is disengaged, that is to say when the endless screw 121 is in its position in which a flat face is opposite the toothed wheel 119, the toothed wheel is driven in rotation, for example by a compensation spring similar to that of FIG. 1, and the base 107 rotates relative to the fixed part 132, so that an electric cable cannot simply be fixed at the same time on these two parts. This is why the rotary connector 133 is provided between them so that the cable 134 is not damaged during movement after declutching.

FIG. 8 represents a fourth embodiment of the invention in which elements similar to those of the embodiment of FIG. 7 bear identical references increased by 100. This device differs from the preceding essentially on the one hand in that a differential connection is provided between the shaft 207 a and the base 207 and on the other hand in that the end-of-travel device is eliminated in favor of detectors placed, for example, on the path of the roller shutter deck.

The differential connection between the shaft 207a and the base 207 is achieved through a toothed wheel 237 mounted at the end of the shaft 207 opposite to that which carries the toothed wheel 219. The toothed wheel 237 meshes with a pinion 238 engaged with internal toothing 232 a of the fixed part 232. The axis of rotation 239 of the pinion 238 is carried by the base 207, so that the toothed wheel 237 can drive the base 207 in rotation using the pinion 238 as a satellite. Of course, several pinions 238 can be distributed around the circumference of the toothed wheel 237.

The operation is as follows: as long as the toothed wheel 219 is immobilized by the endless screw 221, the toothed wheel 237 blocks the base 207 in rotation. If the connection between the endless screw 221 and the toothed wheel 219 is disengaged, the toothed wheel 237 can rotate and no longer opposes the movement of the base 207 transmitted to it by the pinion 238.

The differential connection thus produced between the toothed wheel 219 and the base 207 makes it possible to use the ratio of the numbers of teeth of the elements 237, 238 and 232 a to form a speed reducer. In addition, this construction is particularly advantageous for heavy rolling shutters such as steel grids for protecting stores. In this case, the motor is subjected to a large torque and the differential connection makes it possible to reduce the force at the level of the contact between the worm 221 and the toothed wheel 219, which makes it possible to reduce the force of disengagement of their respective teeth and facilitates disengagement.

Of course, the differential link is also applicable in the case of a mechanism incorporating a limit switch device. This modification is within the reach of man of the job.

The invention has been presented with roller shutters driven by electric motors, but it applies regardless of the type of the roller shutter drive device. In particular, it applies in the case of a rolling shutter driven by means of a mechanical winch.

Claims (11)

Operating device for a roller shutter comprising a shaft (2, 52, 102, 202) for winding an apron (18, 68) said shaft being rotated by a motor (4, 54) supported by a base (7 , 57, 107, 207), characterized in that said base is integral with a toothed wheel (19, 69, 119, 219) capable of being engaged with a screw (21, 71, 121, 221) so immobilizing said rotating base and in that said screw is provided with at least one flat (21a, 21b), so that the mechanical connection between said toothed wheel and said screw is disengageable. Operating device for roller shutter according to claim 1, characterized in that said screw is provided with two flats (21a, 21b) arranged symmetrically with respect to the largest axis of said screw. Operating device for rolling shutter according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises means (24, 25) for elastic positioning of said screw (21) constituted by two springs (24, 25) located on either side of said screw (21). Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a compensation spring (12) tending to rotate said shaft (2) so as to wind said apron (18) when the connection between said toothed wheel (19) and said screw (21) is disengaged. Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a retarder of the movement (62) of the lowering of the deck when the connection between said toothed wheel (69) and said screw (71) is disengaged. Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said screw (21) is obtained by machining a screw of the type used in an operating device for rolling shutter with mechanical winch. Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical connection between said screw and said toothed wheel is re-engaging after being disengaged. Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said motor is an electric motor (4) or a mechanical winch. Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rotary electrical connector (133, 233) disposed between said base (107, 207) and a fixed part (132, 232) of the device . Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a differential connection (237, 238) between said toothed wheel (219) and said base (207). Operating device for rolling shutter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a limit switch device (106) supported by a fixed part (132) relative to which said base (107) is capable of '' have a rotational movement.

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