EP1676013B1 - Device for controlling the opening of a moveable element such as a smoke release hatch - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a jack to stress a hatch in the direction of its opening. A retractor cable (18) mounted on a plate (24) is wound on a winding drum (22). An engine (26) drives the drum in rotation around its axis. A ring gear (38), ball and piston (42) engage and release the drum with respect to an output shaft (26A). The shaft and rotation axis of the drum are aligned along a common axis (AC).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for controlling the opening of a mobile element such as a ventilation or smoke extraction hatch, comprising means for biasing said movable element in the direction of its opening, a return cable, a winding drum for this cable mounted on a support, a motor driving a driving output for driving the drum in rotation about its axis and clutch means for engaging or disengaging the drum relative to the drive output.

Movable elements such as air vents or smoke evacuation must be kept in the closed or waiting position and, from this position, can be very quickly open to allow for example the evacuation of smoke. In general, to keep the mobile element in the waiting position, the cable is tensioned by being wound on the drum whose rotation is prevented. To make an emergency opening, this rotation is released so as to allow unwinding of the cable and the movable member opens being biased in the direction of its opening by means such as a spring or a pneumatic cylinder or oleo. This opening can therefore be performed in a very short period of time. Then, to close the movable member, the drum is engaged on the drive output and the latter is actuated so as to wind the cable against the return force exerted by the aforementioned spring or cylinder.

The document FR 2,605,620 shows a device of this type, in which a worm is disposed on the driving output, while the drum is driven by a pinion which meshes with this worm and whose axis is arranged perpendicularly to that of the driving output . The drive output and worm gear that it carries are normally held such that this screw is engaged with the aforementioned pinion, so that the drive output is engaged on the drum. For disengagement, the assembly consisting of the drive output and the worm is tilted so as to escape the teeth of the pinion.

This system is relatively bulky and the disengagement by tilting requires that the drive output and the worm constitute a sufficiently light set, despite the presence of the engine, to allow this tilting.

The document BE 1,009,782 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein the driving output and the axis of rotation of the drum are substantially aligned along a common axis, and which comprises a movable clutch control member along the common axis between a first position in which it controls the clutch and a second position in which it allows the clutch.

The manner in which the control of the clutching is carried out, as well as the manner in which, after a clutch release, re-clutching is performed are not described in this document which merely states that the clutch is activated during normal operation, while off when no longer powered.

The document GB 2 200 403 also discloses a device of the aforementioned type, without describing means for controlling the disengagement and re-clutch.

The present invention aims to improve the state of the art and to provide a compact device, which can be installed easily in situ, in particular, when the movable element is a venting hatch or smoke, the along one side of this hatch and which allows a very quick release in case of emergency, and a controlled re-clutch.

This object is achieved thanks to the fact that the device of the invention comprises biasing means for biasing the disengagement control member to its first position and releasable retaining means, able to hold said member in its second position and to to be released to allow said member to arrive in its first position under the effect of said biasing means and the fact that it comprises an actuator capable of being connected to the driving output so as to be displaced along the common axis under the effect of a rotation of said output and adapted, during this movement, to cooperate with the control member of the clutch to bring the latter from its first position to its second position.

With this arrangement, the device has a generally elongated shape, and can easily be arranged along one side of a ventilation hatch or smoke. It can even be integrated with the building of this hatch, for a first time. In retrofit, it can be arranged in a casing aesthetically mounted on the frame of a pre-existing hatch.

The motor is in particular an electric motor which is optionally associated with a gearbox so that the term engine used in the following designate a motor or a geared motor. Thus, the drive output is the drive shaft or, where appropriate, the output shaft of the gearbox.

In the waiting position of the movable element, the drum is normally engaged on the drive output and the clutch control member is in its second position in which it is retained by the releasable retaining means. When, from this waiting position of the mobile element, it is desired to cause its emergency opening, it is sufficient to release the retaining means of the control member of the clutch so that the latter reaches its first position and thus controls the disengagement, thereby allowing rotation of the drum and unwinding of the cable, under the effect of the means which solicit the movable element in the direction of its opening.

The disengagement control member being movable along the common axis, it can be housed in the extension of the motor and the clutch means, so that the whole device has an elongate shape with a minimum radial size .

It is by a drive of the actuator by the drive output that the control member of the clutch is returned from its first position to its second position, without the intervention of another source of energy, without complex kinematics likely to increase the radial size of the device and in a controlled manner.

Advantageously, the releasable retaining means are formed by an electromagnetic retention system releasable by breaking or activation of its power supply.

Advantageously, the device comprises a drive shaft, coupled to the drive output and aligned with the common axis, it comprises a driven member, integral in rotation with the drum and arranged in axial overlap with the drive shaft in a axial overlap area and the clutch means are adapted to join together in rotating said driven member with the drive shaft by said axial overlap area.

This arrangement also promotes the radial compactness of the device of the invention.

Advantageously, the driven member and the drive shaft have, in said axial overlap zone, clutch shapes such as indentations and lights, and the clutch means comprise at least one rotational locking member. adapted to be engaged in the clutch forms of the driven member and the drive shaft for securing them in rotation.

Advantageously, the device comprises a drive shaft, coupled to the drive output and aligned with the common axis, and the clutching means comprise a clutch piston, movable relative to the drive shaft in translation according to the common axis, between a clutch position and a disengagement position.

It is by a translation of the clutch piston along the common axis that one operates the clutch or disengagement. This movement operates in the direction of the length of the device, without increasing its radial size.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for, after a clutch controlled by the passage of the disengagement control member from its second position to its first position, return said member in its second position without engaging the drum relative to the drive output.

When, after an emergency opening of the movable element, it is desired to bring the latter back to its waiting position, it is necessary to re-wind the cable on the drum. Beforehand, to allow a satisfactory clutch, it is necessary to bring the disengagement control member in its second position so that it allows the clutch. To avoid partial windings of the cable and mishandling, this movement occurs without engaging the drum. It is only once that the clutch control member will be retained in its second position that this clutch can be operated.

Advantageously, the device is associated with an electronic management unit capable of managing the operation of the engine and means of clutch according to management parameters including an emergency opening alarm.

It is understood that the motor and the clutch means may be arranged in situ, that is to say in the immediate vicinity of the movable member to open. With a simple wiring to this device, remote operation can be controlled either by a fixed command or by a remote control, thanks to the electronic management unit. In this way, one can even control several devices according to the invention equipping several mobile elements, from a central point. One can still have a command for each of these devices, but make them all react forcefully to an emergency alarm to control the simultaneous opening of all devices, for example when the presence of smoke is detected .

Advantageously, the management parameters further comprise at least one parameter chosen from a rain detection parameter, a wind speed detection parameter, a temperature detection parameter, a clock regulation parameter.

With the device according to the invention, it is possible not only to control an emergency opening, but also a comfort opening, for example for a momentary ventilation. Just for this, the drum being engaged on the drive output, drive the latter to rotate the drum so as to unwind the desired amount of cable for comfort opening. The aforementioned parameters then make it possible to close the mobile element if necessary, for example, if rain is detected, if a strong wind could damage the device when it is open, if a temperature too low outside requires closing the movable element or on the contrary if a too high temperature inside requires its opening, or simply according to the predetermined opening time.

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the detailed description which follows, of an embodiment shown by way of non-limiting example.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un ouvrant de toiture équipé du dispositif de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dispositif de l'invention dans une position correspondant au maintien de l'élément mobile commandé par ce dispositif dans sa position fermée ou d'attente ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III - III de la figure 2;
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues en coupe dans le même plan que celui de la figure 3, montrant respectivement le dispositif de l'invention dans une position correspondant à l'ouverture d'urgence de l'élément mobile commandé par ces dispositifs, dans une position de réarmement après une ouverture d'urgence et dans une position correspondant à une ouverture maîtrisée de cet élément mobile, par exemple pour l'aération d'un local dont ledit élément mobile constitue un ouvrant ; et
• la figure 7 est une vue partielle d'une variante, en coupe dans le même plan.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a roof opening equipped with the device of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device of the invention in a position corresponding to the maintenance of the movable element controlled by this device in its closed or waiting position;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III - III of Figure 2 ;
• figures 4 , 5 and 6 are sectional views in the same plane as that of Figure 3 , respectively showing the device of the invention in a position corresponding to the emergency opening of the movable element controlled by these devices, in a reset position after an emergency opening and in a position corresponding to a controlled opening of this mobile element, for example for the ventilation of a room of which said movable element constitutes an opening; and
• Figure 7 is a partial view of a variant, in section in the same plane.

Sure Figure 1 , the movable element is formed by a hatch 10, for example a roof window.

In the example shown, the device 12 for controlling the opening of this door is housed in a cross member of its frame or frame 14. This cross member may in fact be constituted by a hollow elongate member, for example a profile section. To simplify the representation, the device 12 is simply schematized on Figure 1 by a gray box. However, in the case where it is disposed within such a cross member, it is not necessary that it is disposed, in addition, in a housing.

The case of Figure 1 corresponds for example to a first mounting of the device of the invention, or to its mounting on a hatch whose frame has hollow elements having suitable dimensions. If this is not the case, the device of the invention can also be housed in an elongate housing, disposed on or against a cross member of the frame of the hatch. The dimensions and the aesthetics of this housing will be chosen so that it is as little apparent as possible with respect to this cross, which it can for example simply increase somewhat the thickness.

The electrical wiring for the control of the device 12 is not represented on Figure 1 .

The hatch 10 of Figure 1 is constantly recalled in the sense of its opening by a resilient return means such as a jack 16. A return cable 18, connected to the hatch 10 and returned to the drum of the device 12, for example by a return pulley 20 can to be wrapped around this drum to close the hatch.

Winding or controlled unwinding of the cable on the drum makes it possible to control the opening of the hatch 10.

The device of the invention is now described with reference to the figures 2 and 3 . This device comprises a drum 22 for winding the cable 18 which is rotatably mounted on a support such as a plate 24. The device also comprises a motor 26 whose drive output 26A is connected to a drive shaft 28 formed by a hollow tube. In this case, this connection is operated via an elastic connection 30 compensating for any slight misalignments between the drive output 26A and the shaft 28. With these slight misalignments, the drive output and the shaft of drive 28 are aligned along a common axis AC. A portion of the drive shaft 28 which extends between two support flanges 32A and 32B serves as support axis for the drum 22. The rotation of the shaft 28 is supported by a bearing 34A carried by the cheek 32A which is close to the motor and by a bearing 34B carried by a support plate 36 which is itself supported by the plate 24 as the cheeks 32A and 32B above. This bearing 34B is disposed on the side of the end of the shaft 28 opposite the motor 26.

Due to the support of the drum 22 by the shaft 28, the axis of rotation of this drum is the common axis AC above.

The device comprises a driven member 38 which is integral in rotation with the drum 22 and which is arranged in axial overlap with the drive shaft 28 in a zone Z of axial overlap. The clutching means are able to rotate the driven member 38 with the shaft 28 in this area Z. In this case, the driven member 38 is formed by a ring which passes through an opening of the cheek 32B so that its rear end is disposed against the front end of the drum 22. The ring 38 is secured to the drum 22 by pins 39 disposed between said ends.

For the present description, it is considered that the forward direction is that which, according to the plate 24, goes away from the motor 26, while the direction towards the rear is the opposite direction.

In the overlap zone Z, the ring 38 has indentations formed by axial recesses 38A on its inner periphery, and the shaft 28 has slots 28A arranged in correspondence with the recesses 38A. The rotational locking members are formed by balls 40 which, as seen on Figure 3 , are able to be engaged in the lights 28A and in the recesses 38A to secure the ring gear 38, and therefore the drum 22, in rotation with the shaft 28.

To achieve the clutch by bringing the balls 40 in the position shown in Figure 3 , the device comprises a clutch piston 42 which is movable relative to the shaft 28 in translation along the common axis AC. In this case, the piston 42 is disposed inside the hollow tube formed by the shaft 28.

Figure 3 shows the piston 42 in its clutch position, in which a radial bulge 43 of this shaft 28 is in the aforementioned axial overlap zone Z, so as to push the balls 40 away from the axis AC so that they are arranged in the lights 28A protruding in the recesses 38A. The diameter of the bulge 43 is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the tube which forms the shaft 28 in zone Z.

Sure Figure 4 the piston 42 is in its disengaged position and it can be seen that it has been moved backwards in the direction of the arrow F, so that its bulge 43 is no longer in the zone Z and leaves the The balls 40 come closer to the axis AC, thus escaping the recesses 38A of the ring gear 38. Indeed, in this disengaging position, the balls cooperate with an axial portion 42A of the piston of radial dimensions smaller than those of the bulge 43. could of course provide that, on this portion, the piston 42 has radial maximum dimensions similar to those of the bulge 43 and axial grooves receiving balls in the disengaged position. In the clutch position, the balls then cooperate with the rear end of the grooves to remove them and cooperate with the periphery of the piston so as to be pushed into the recesses 38A.

It can be seen that the front part of the bulge 43 is formed by a ramp 43A which, during the passage of the piston 42 from its disengaging position of Figure 4 at its clutch position at Figure 3 gently pushes the balls into the recesses 38A.

The piston 42 is naturally maintained in its clutch position by a return spring 44 which, in this case, is disposed between the rear end of the piston 42 and the rear end of the cavity 29 of the tube 28, this end rear being delimited by a wall element located in the vicinity of the cheek 32A.

To control the passage of the piston 42 in its disengaged position, the device comprises a clutch control member which, in this case, is formed by a plate 46 which is located on the side of the plate 24 opposite the motor 26, view of the free front end 42B of the piston 42. This plate 46 is movable in translation along the axis AC between its second position shown on Figure 3 and his first position represented on Figure 4 .

In its second position, the plate 46 is brought forward so as to allow sufficient progression of the piston 42 forwards under the effect of the spring 44 so that the portion 43 of the piston is in the zone Z. This plate is held in this second position by retaining means such as an electromagnetic system. This is for example an electromagnet 50 whose plate 46, which is then a polar plate, is one of the elements, while the other element 48 is fixed. When the electromagnet is energized, the plate 46 is held against the fixed element 48. When the supply stops, this plate is released and, under the effect of a return spring 52, it is projected towards the rearwardly to strike the free front end 42B of the piston 42 and to push the latter backwards, as indicated by the arrow F of Figure 4 .

For the retention of the plate 46, an electromagnetic lock could also be envisaged.

As indicated Figure 7 , it could also be provided that the clutch control member (in this case, the plate 46) is normally returned to its second position by biasing means such as a tension spring 54, arranged between this plate and a fastening 56 secured to the plate 24. In this variant, the passage of the plate 46 of this second position in its first clutch control position is then controlled by a command generating a force opposite to the biasing force exerted by the spring 54 and of greater intensity than that of the latter. For example, this control can be a compressed air injection system comprising a control piston 58 movable in a compressed air chamber 60, itself connected to a supply of compressed air. The chamber is supplied with compressed air for emergency opening, for example when smoke is detected.

Sure Figure 4 , the clutch has just been controlled and the piston 42 has been pushed by the plate 46 against the force exerted by the spring 44 so as to allow the balls 50 to be disengaged with respect to the recesses 38A, thus releasing the rotation of the ring 38 and the drum 22 relative to the drive shaft 28. The cable 18 can then be unwound, the rotation of the drum being caused by the return force exerted, for example, by the cylinder 16 shown at Figure 1 which puts the cable 18 in tension.

This situation is that of an emergency opening, caused for example by the detection of smoke in the room closed by the hatch 10.

From this situation, it is a question of rearming the device, that is to say, to place it again in a situation of winding the cable on the drum to close the hatch. For this purpose, the device according to the invention comprises an actuator which is formed by an actuating screw 62 which can be driven by the motor 26 to cooperate by screwing or by unscrewing with a nut 64 fixed relative to the support constituted by the 24. The nut can be fixed to the plate, possibly via the plate 36 previously mentioned. It is located between the front end of the shaft 28 and the clutch control plate 46. It is understood that the screwing of the screw 62 in the nut 64 has the effect of advancing the screw forward until it reaches the position shown on Figure 5 in which it places the plate 46 in its second position. It then suffices to power the electromagnet 50 to retain the plate 46 again in its second position.

In this case, the screw 62 is arranged coaxially with respect to the shaft 28 being integral with the latter in rotation.

For this, one of the two elements constituted by the shaft 28 and the screw 62 is an outer element which extends around the other of these two elements which is then an inner element. The device comprises a rotational locking member, fixed relative to the inner member and engaged in an axial slot that has the outer member.

In this case, insofar as the shaft 28 is hollow to allow the displacement of the piston 42, it has been chosen that this shaft 28 constitutes the aforementioned external element. The screw 62 is thus disposed inside this shaft and it itself has a tubular shape with a through bore 63 through which extends the front end of the piston 42. The thread 62A of the screw is formed on its outer periphery.

In addition, in the example shown the shaft 28 has two axial slots 66A and 66B diametrically opposite. A ring 68 is arranged around this shaft so as to be able to move relative thereto. This ring has two diametrically opposed threads in which are engaged rotational locking screws 70A and 70B, the ends facing the axis AC respectively penetrate the axial slots 66A and 66B, to project into radial holes 63A and 63B of the screw 62.

Thus, the screw 62 and the ring 68 are permanently integral in rotation with the shaft 28.

As previously indicated, to return the plate 46 to its second position, the screw 62 rotates in a first direction of rotation in which it is screwed into the nut 64.

Note that when advancing the screw 62 in the direction of the arrow G indicated on Figure 5 , the piston 42 has remained in the vicinity of its disengaged position, thus preventing the clutch drum 22 on the shaft 28. To do this, the device comprises a pivoting arm 72 which, as can be seen by comparing the Figures 3 and 4 on one hand and Figure 5 on the other hand, is able to be straightened during a displacement of the actuator constituted by the screw 62 in the direction G tending to bring the plate 46 back to its second position. Due to this rectification, this arm 72 opposes the movement of the clutch piston 42 from its disengaged position to its clutch position.

The arm 72 has in fact a retaining surface 72A which, when it is straightened, is substantially directed towards the rear and which, in this situation, passes through a slot 75 of the hollow shaft 28 and cooperates with a bulge or a shoulder 74 of the piston 42 to prevent it from advancing. The arm 72 is pivotally mounted in an axial slot 76 that has a sleeve 78 disposed around the shaft 28 and integral with the latter in rotation.

The pivoting arm 72 is connected to the rotational locking member constituted by the ring 68 and the screws 70A, 70B. In this case, this connection is made by a spring 80. Indeed, the rear end 72B of the arm 72, located on the other side of the retaining surface 72A with respect to its pivot axis 73, is attached to the rear end of a spring 80 whose front end is connected to the ring 68.

More specifically, the front end of this spring has the shape of a pin 80A disposed around the screw 70B. It is understood that the advancement of the ring 68 corresponding to the screwing of the screw 62 causes the tension of the spring 80 and, consequently, the straightening of the arm 72. On the other hand, since under the effect of the unscrewing of the screw 62 relative to the nut, it has moved enough backwards in the direction F with the ring 68, the spring ceases to be tensioned and the arm 72 is free to move to again in the slot 76 without protruding inside the tube 28, through the slot 75 that has the periphery of the latter. In other words, the pivoting arm disappears after the movement of the actuator rearward, that is to say in the opposite direction to G to release the movement of the clutch piston 42 to its clutch position.

This displacement is effected automatically, under the effect of the thrust exerted by the spring 44. This clutching situation was thus obtained by driving the shaft 28 in the direction of rotation corresponding to the unscrewing of the screw, which has in particular had the effect of moving the screw backwards. As soon as the clutch is made, it is sufficient to continue to rotate the shaft 28 in the same direction, that is to say that of unscrewing the screw, to wind the cable on the drum 22 to close the moving element. We then arrive in the position shown on Figure 3 previously described.

It can be seen that the threaded portion 62A of the screw extends only over a portion of the latter, but that it stops before the free end before the screw so as to protect the outer periphery of the screw. the latter of the latter a terminal portion before 62'A unthreaded. When the screw is driven rotation in the direction of its unscrewing, it moves backwards, in the direction F of Figure 4 , until its thread 62 escapes the tapping of the nut 64. In this situation, the terminal portion 62'A remains disposed inside the bore of the nut as seen on the Figures 3 and 4 , which allows the screw to continue to be maintained without moving axially when the rotation of the shaft 28 continues in the first direction of rotation.

From this situation, the device is ready either for a new emergency opening or for a controlled opening, corresponding for example to the desire to ventilate a room that equips the trap door. Figure 1 .

Figure 6 shows this controlled opening situation. It requires to perform a controlled unwinding of the cable relative to the drum. For this, the motor 26 is controlled so as to drive the shaft 28 in rotation in its first direction of rotation corresponding to the screwing of the screw 62 in the nut 68.

To avoid a blockage of the clutch piston 42, it is necessary to prevent this screwing, which advances the screw 62 as seen by comparing the figures 3 and 6 , the effect of which is to straighten the arm 72. For this, the spring 80 is made to allow "a dead stroke" of the ring 68 without this spring is put in tension. This is achieved by the fact that the front end 80A of this spring has the shape of a pin defining an oblong opening in which is engaged the barrel of the screw 70B. The dead stroke corresponds substantially to the length of this pin. Figure 6 shows the situation in which the ring 68 has reached the end of this dead race. To detect this limit switch, the device comprises a CF sensor. This is for example a presence detector which detects the presence, right in this sensor, of the free end of the screw 62. This detection causes a break in the power supply of the motor 28 so that the drive shaft 28 stops (of course, this break is effective only for a comfort opening and not when the screw 62 is moved to bring the plate 46 in its second position as on Figure 5 ). Thus, the controlled comfort opening of the movable element such as the hatch is limited by the aforementioned dead stroke. By appropriately choosing the length of the pin 80A and the diameter of the drum 22, it is ensured that this dead stroke allows a sufficient unwinding of the cable (for example, of the order of 30 to 40 cm) so that the comfort opening is sufficient.

Of course, to close the movable member after such a comfort opening, it is sufficient to re-order the motor to cause its drive in rotation in the unscrewing direction of the screw 62 and re-wind the cable on the drum 22.

The device comprises a system for, in particular in the position of Figure 3 , oppose the unwinding of the cable under the effect of the opening force applied by the cylinder 16 of Figure 1 . It can for example be associated with an electromagnetic locking system of the hatch 10, with an electromagnetic brake for the motor or the drum, or alternatively choose to constantly supply the motor with a reduced voltage to avoid the drive in. rotation at its output under the effect of the force exerted by the cable on the drum 22 in the direction of unwinding.

Advantageously, it can also be chosen that the resistive torque applied by the drive output (possibly through a gear) on the drum 22 is naturally greater than the torque applied to this drum by the cable 18 under the effect of the return force of the spring 16.

It is found that in the device of the invention, the drive shaft 28, the clutch piston 42 and the actuator constituted by the screw 62 are arranged coaxially.

The piston 42 passes through the actuator 62 which is hollow and which is engaged in the drive shaft 28, the latter also being hollow.

The motor, the drum 22 and the aforementioned clutch means are mounted on the straight plate 24. The latter is advantageously adapted to be fixed on a rectilinear part of the frame of the movable element, for example by means of screws 25. If the plate is fixed on the outside of this frame, a housing cover can be arranged around the device, with an opening allowing the passage of the cable 18 and that of the power supply wiring for the motor and the various elements of the device. requiring wiring (sensors, electromagnet, ...). The length and width dimensions of the plate are chosen to correspond substantially with those of a cross member of the frame of the hatch Figure 1 to integrate aesthetically in or on this frame.

As indicated on Figure 2 , the device advantageously comprises an electronic management unit ECU which is able to manage the operation of the motor 26 and clutch means according to appropriate management parameters. Thus, by one or more LCM motor control lines, the ECU controls the driving of the motor 26 in either direction of rotation of the drive output 26A. By an LCF line, it receives an information from the limit switch CF so as to control the stopping of the motor when, the plate 46 being in its second position detected by a position sensor CP, the end of travel of the screw 62 is detected as previously indicated. Through an LCE control line, the ECU can also control the supply or break of the supply of the electromagnet 50, so as to control the retention or on the contrary the release of the plate 46. By a LCP line connecting it to the position sensor CP, the ECU can be informed of the return of the plate 46 in its second position and then control the supply of the electromagnet by the line LCE.

Moreover, by a line P, the ECU unit receives information on management parameters enabling it to manage the control of the device of the invention. These settings may include an emergency opening alarm. Upon receipt of such an alarm, the ECU can cause the breakage of the power supply of the electromagnet thus allowing the disengagement of the drum 22 and the emergency opening of the movable element connected to the cable 18. Of course, the same ECU can equip several devices according to the invention, each connected to a particular mobile element. For example, a room may have several opening hatches that are all managed by the same electronic control. This allows the simultaneous opening of these traps during the emission of the emergency opening alarm. The other parameters taken into account by the ECU may be a rain detection parameter, a wind speed detection parameter, a temperature detection parameter, or a clock regulation parameter. Of course, it is also possible for the actuation of the switch to control the controlled opening of the movable element. outside the emission of the aforementioned parameters. Again, the same ECU can control several devices according to the invention to each open mobile elements connected to these respective units according to the appropriate commands.

Claims (17)

1. Device for controlling the opening of a movable member (10), such as an aeration or smoke release hatch, comprising means (16) for urging said movable member (10) in the opening direction thereof, a return cable (18), a winding drum (22) for this cable, mounted on a support (24), a motor (26) for rotationally driving the drum about its axis, and clutch means (42, 38, 40) for engaging or disengaging the drum with respect to the motor output, the motor output (26A) and the rotational axis of the drum (22) being substantially aligned along a common axis (AC), and the device comprising a disengagement control member (46), movable along the length of the common axis (AC) between a first position in which it causes the disengagement and a second position in which it allows the engagement, and also comprising return means (52), for urging said member (46) towards its first position, and releasable retaining means (50), capable of retaining said member in its second position and of being released to allow said member to reach its first position under the effect of said return means, and characterised in that it comprises an actuator (62) which can be connected to the motor output (26A) so as to be displaced along the common axis (AC) under the effect of a rotation of said output, and which is able to cooperate with the disengagement control member (46) during this displacement, in order to return said member from its first position to its second position.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the releasable retaining means (50) are formed by an electromagnetic system which effects the releasable retention by cutting off or activation of its electrical power supply.
3. Device according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a drive shaft (28), coupled to the motor output (26A) and aligned with the common axis (AC), in that it comprises a driven member (38), fixed in rotation with the drum (22) and disposed so as to axially overlap the drive shaft (28) in an axial overlap region (Z), and in that the clutch means are able to fix said driven member in rotation with the drive shaft by means of said axial overlap area.
4. Device according to claim 3, characterised in that the driven member and the drive shaft (28) possess, in said axial overlap region (Z), engagement formations (38A, 28A) such as indentations and apertures, and in that the clutch means comprise at least one rotational locking member (40), capable of being engaged in the engagement formations of the driven member (38) and of the drive shaft (28) to fix both of these together in rotation.
5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises a drive shaft (28), coupled to the motor output (26A) and aligned with the common axis (AC) and in that the clutch means comprise a clutch piston (42), movable relative to the drive shaft (28) via translation along the common axis, between an engaged position and a disengaged position.
6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the actuator is formed by an actuation screw (62) capable of being rotationally driven by the motor (26) and of cooperating via screwing or unscrewing with a nut (64) which is stationary relative to the support (24)
7. Device according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a drive shaft (28), coupled to the motor output (26A) and aligned with the common axis (AC), and in that the actuation screw (62) is disposed so as to be coaxial with this shaft and fixed in rotation therewith.
8. Device according to claim 7, characterised in that one of the two elements constituted by the drive shaft (28) and by the actuation screw (62) is an exterior element which extends around the other of these two elements, which is an interior element, the device comprising a rotational locking member (70A, 70B), which is stationary relative to the interior member and engaged in said axial slot (66A, 66B) possessed by the exterior member.
9. Device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that in order to return the disengagement control member (46) from its first position to its second position, the actuation screw (62) turns in a first direction of rotation while being screwed into the nut, and in that in order to wind the cable on the drum, the drum turns in the opposite direction, the screw (62) thus being driven in the direction of its unscrewing relative to the nut (64) to the point of escaping from the internal thread thereof.
10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises means (72, 80, 74) for, after a disengagement caused by the disengagement control member (46) passing from its second position to its first position, returning said member into its second position without engaging the drum (22) with the motor output (26A).
11. Device according to claims 5 and 10, characterised in that it comprises a pivoting arm (72), capable of being straightened when the actuator (62) is displaced in the direction (G) for returning the disengagement control member (46) into its second position, so as to oppose the displacement of the clutch piston (42) from its engagement position into its disengagement position, and to retract, as a result of a displacement of the actuator in the opposite direction, so as to allow the displacement of the clutch piston into its engagement position.
12. Device according to claims 8 to 11, characterised in that the pivoting arm (72) is connected to the rotational locking member (70A, 70B).
13. Device according to claim 5 and any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the drive shaft (28), the clutch piston (42) and the actuator (62) are disposed coaxially.
14. Device according to claim 13, characterised in that the clutch piston (42) passes through the actuator (62), which is hollow and which is engaged in the drive shaft (28), which is likewise hollow.
15. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the motor (26), the drum (22) and the clutch means (42, 38, 40) are mounted on a rectilinear plate (24) which can be fixed onto a rectilinear portion of the frame of the movable member.
16. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterised in that it is associated with an electronic control unit (ECU) capable of controlling the operation of the motor (26) and clutch means (42, 38, 40) as a function of control parameters comprising an emergency opening alarm.
17. Device according to claim 16, characterised in that the control parameters further include at least one parameter chosen from a rain detection parameter, a wind speed detection parameter, a temperature detection parameter, and a clock regulation parameter.

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