AU2012252496A1

AU2012252496A1 - Weight-controlled wind pressure relief system

Info

Publication number: AU2012252496A1
Application number: AU2012252496A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rainer Wronka
Original assignee: WRONKA MARC
Current assignee: WRONKA MARC
Priority date: 2011-05-12
Filing date: 2012-05-08
Publication date: 2013-11-28
Also published as: EP2707557A1; WO2012152791A1; DE102011113678A1; DE202011109765U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weight-controlled wind pressure relief system comprising a material surface (1) or tarpaulin which is mounted on at least one side on a stationary mount (26) and which is connected to a control cable (2). The control cable is pretensioned by means of at least one weight (9) such that a constant tensile force is exerted over a stroke travel. The wind pressure relief system here adapts automatically to the external weather conditions, in particular to wind and rain. The forces acting can be compensated for in a correspondingly quick manner and require no manual readjustment.

Description

Weight-controlled wind pressure relief system The present invention relates to a weight-controlled wind pressure relief system having a material surface or canopy which is counter-mounted on at least one side on a stationary 5 mounting and which is connected to a tensioning cable. Awning constructions are frequently used to provide shade and protection against rain. For example, sun awnings are used which are stretched between fixing points. It is important when using such sun awnings that sufficient tension is provided in all cases, as otherwise 10 water can collect, for example when it rains. The basic tension used must not be too high, since additional high forces act on the anchoring points of the sun awning when the wind blows. Under certain circumstances, these additional forces can result in damage to the sun awning and the anchoring points. It is therefore particularly important to use a system for such sun awnings which allows the tension to be maintained constant at all times and 15 continuously and dynamically corrected in an appropriate manner. In particular, sun awnings of conventional construction are very susceptible to wind pressure., and of course other externally-acting compression and tensile stresses such as rain and hail. For this reason, permanently fitted sun awnings which cannot be rolled up are installed with a 20 very high basic tension between these anchoring points and mountings, which are very elaborate due to the loading, in order to be able to withstand the above-mentioned weather effects without damage. Constructions which can be rolled up and unrolled are known as an alternative to 25 permanently fitted sun awnings. In the known sun awning constructions, which can be temporarily rolled up on and unrolled from a shaft manually or by means of a motor, the tensioning cables, which pull the awning from the shaft, are tensioned and tightened by means of a counter-mount, and the freed cable is frequently also wound up manually and secured to hooks. Other, more elaborate constructions make use of various tensioning spring 30 mechanisms and pretensioned or motor-driven winding rollers in order to pull and tension the tensioning cable and to wind up the freed cable.

WO 201/ . /91 ~9 2 A further known construction of a sun awning which provides for the sun awning to be rolled up onto and unwound from a shaft is known from EP 0 865 667 Bl. The construction is very elaborate, and makes use of various tensioning cables and necessary deflections of the cable with respect to the cable winding rollers, which are seated at fixed points on the shaft, to 5 tension the materials and canopies, which can thus be rolled out from a shaft on both sides, as uniformly as possible. The tension is equalized by means of spring mechanisms which act on the tensioning cables, In general, this construction has the advantage that the awning is only rolled out and 10 tensioned when required, and can be rolled in again in the event of threatened overloading due to weather effects. For this purpose, these constructions are often fitted with automatic sensor controls which retract the awnings automatically if the wind loading is too high. In the event that overloading., e.g. sudden thunderstorm and hurricane gusts, nevertheless 15 occurs, the permanently stretched sun awnings as well as the rollable sun aw 'nings are usually fitted with predetermined breaking points which are intended to prevent a sun awning which pulls too strongly due to wind pressure, for example, frorm damaging or destroying the very expensive tensioning and anchoring equipment. 20 A further known construction is known from AT 2007/000043. A gas pressure spring, which uses a block and tackle as a cable storage device and tensioning cable receptacle and holds it under tension, is located in the described upright of this sun awning system. This construction already has wind pressure compensation with limited function by means of a gas pressure spring which is under continuous stress. 25 A significant disadvantage of this gas pressure system and other systems provided with springs, however, is the limited life and stroke length. Depending on the design and loading, gas pressure springs and steel springs lose pressure or tension, so that the pressure or tension of the tensioning cable operated thereby decreases over time. 30 Furthermore, particularly when gas pressure springs are used., there is the problem that the tensioning distance, i.e., the stroke travel, of a sun awning to be tensioned thereby is relatively restricted, even when multiple blocks and tackles are used, since for safety reasons and for reasons of economy, the pressure for this application cannot be arbitrarily increased on a pro rata basis. Furthermore, a gas pressure spring has pressure differences between the retracted and the extended states, so that the tension achieved in the tensioning cable in the retracted state is greater than in the extended state. For the tensioning of a sun awning having s the described upright, this means that the tension in the tensioning cable is highest when the awning is rolled onto the shaft, and is lowest when the awning is unrolled from the shaft or extended. Furthermore, depending on the temperature difference between heat and frost, there are of course pressure differences in the gas pressure spring due to the thermal expansion of the pressurizing gas used, -which therefore cause different tensions in the actuated tensioning 10 cable, depending on the temperature of the gas pressure spring. Almost all known constructions in the field of sun protection. such as blinds and sun awnings, lack the necessary robustness, Immunity to malfunctions, and therefore service life, as these systems are continuously exposed to the weather and its extremes. Particularly in 15 strong wind, they are very susceptible to wear and breakage due to material and construction. Particularly with known sun awning systems, manufacturers even advertise their products with predetermined breaking points present at the suspension points or the materials to prevent damage to the expensive fixed system components. 20 It is an object of the present invention is to provide a maintenance-free and largely wear-free mechanical construction which is able to tension material surfaces and canopies in an accurate and easy manner and flexibly relieve the tensile stress. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the tensioning cable is pretensioned 25 by means of at least one weight such that a constant tensile force is exerted over a stroke travel. The great advantage which results is that the wind pressure relief system automatically adjusts itself to the external conditions. Particularly in the event of strong wind and rain, the 30 forces acting on the sun awning can be compensated for correspondingly quickly, and neither require manual readjustment nor do they load further mechanical systems.

VVU LV I Z/ I .YJZ / 71 ' 4 The system functions uniformly and in a non-susceptible manner, regardless of the weather, in particular wind, rain and external temperature. At the same time, particularly in the case of strong wind or heavy rain, it allows tensioned material surfaces or canopies to yield smoothly to forces which thus act in the material in order to relieve the pressure in the short term 5 without losing tension, and to automatically return gently to their intended position immediately after the pressure has been relieved. The system can also be used for large free spans, and offers new sizing possibilities, Furthermore, for this purpose the construction can be adapted to suit most current 10 architectural and static situations in the easiest possible manner. The construction also indicates its loading state to the user and utilizes the smallest possible mounting forces for its fixed mountings. In an advantageous embodiment, at least one deflector roller is fixed to a tube, the tube 15 having an opening for feeding in the tensioning cable. The use of such a tube allows the tensioning cable to be easily fitted and guided. Guiding is of particular importance, since under certain circumstances high forces may act on the system from various directions and may necessitate stable guiding of the tensioning cable. 20 In a further advantageous embodiment, the weight is disposed inside the tube. Alternatively, the weight is mounted so that it can be moved along the stroke travel inside the tube. The tube provides additional protection and guidance for the weight, and therefore increases the functional reliability of the system. 25 Alternatively, a block and tackle system comprising a pulley block with a deflector roller can be provided, the weight being secured to the pulley block. In doing so, the major part of the block and tackle system can be disposed inside the tube. With an appropriate ratio, the block and tackle is used here on the one hand to compensate for the forces acting on the sun awning by means of a relatively small weight and on the other hand, as a damping element and as a 30 cable storage device for the tensioning cable. In a further advantageous embodiment, the pulley block is provided with at least one guide element, the pulley block being guided over a linear guide rail provided in the tube.

W U LU 1 4I /'L / '" I"~ '" * Alternatively or additionally, the pul ley block can be provided with rollers which roil along an inner wall of the tube. Furthermore, the weight can have a spacer which rests on the inner wall of the tube and defines a distance. 5 In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a pivotable deflector roller is attached above or below the guide roller, wherein the pivotable deflector roller can be provided with a guide element, a linear guide rail being attached to the outside of the tube and the guide element being movable thereon. 10 A tensioning cable infeed to the deflector roller and a tensioning cable outfeed from the pivotable deflector roller are advantageously arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the tensioning cable and a pivot axis of the pivotable deflector roller. The loose pulley block is particularly advantageously provided with a braking body. 1s Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous to secure at least one connecting cable to the loose pulley block, the connecting cable being guided via a deflector roller to an outfeed roller and through an opening in the tube, and being connectable to a weight, wherein the deflector roller may replace the outfeed roller. Alternative arrangements can provide, for example, a fixed pulley block at the top end and a loose pulley block at the bottom end, or a 20 reverse arrangement. In a further advantageous embodiment, the tube has a cover at the bottom end and is fillable with a liquid, preferably an oil, particularly preferably comprising an antifreeze additive. The tube particularly advantageously encloses an angle with respect to the line of fall of the 25 weight, the tube being providable with a valve. In addition, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, a safety cable is provided which runs parallel to the connecting cable and is securable to a tension weight. Furthermore, a braking body can advantageously be provided which is attached to the tensioning cable, the loose 30 pulley block and/or the weight. It is particularly advantageous for a fal I protection device to be provided for the connecting cable and the tensioning cable, this being provided with an eccentric sliding clamp VV U 4UlIl_/ I2 j/ i 1; l i 11 ZA141U M ' 6 The present invention relates to a weight-tensioned sun awning system having wind pressure relief which achieves the above-mentioned object in an easy and extremely well-functioning manner. The basic design of the invention comprises at least one stationary mounting on 5 which at least one side of the material surface of the awning is permanently mounted or mounted under tension in a rolling manner or mounted so that it can be rolled up onto and unrolled from a winding shaft. Secured to the end of the material surface, which is then free, is a tensioning cable which is guided therefrom onto a stationarily mounted deflector roller. In the subsequent course of the tensioning cable, at least one hanging weight, which tensions 10 the tensioning cable with a tensile force and as a result tensions the material surface between the stationary mounting and the deflector roller, is secured directly or indirectly to the tensioning cable. Tests have shown that, in an installation with a single deflection over a stationary deflector roller, the weight should preferably weigh more than 20 kg to effect a tensioning of a single triangular sun awning without troublesome sagging. In this 1.5 embodiment of the invention, it is particularly important that the suspended weight has a free run or available stroke travel which is at least long enough that the tensioning movement of the weight in each case corresponds to at least the length of the tensioning path between the stationary mounting and the stationarily mounted deflector roller. 20 The particular tension weight used can be in one part or several parts, and can also be adjustable by increasing or decreasing the weight. It can be formed from various materials, wherein in particular stone materials which are used in other areas as serni-finished products have clearly proven to be the most cost-effective solution. A solution which is particularly favorable and already technically equipped for the function is the use of so-called fountain 25 balls made of stone material, which are produced industrially and are available in different sizes and weights and which already have a central through hole and provide many options for securing the cables. The simplest solution is to feed the respective cable through the central through hole of the fountain ball and then secure it to a fixing body, preferably made of metal, which has a larger diameter than the through hole. In particular when the cable is 30 fed centrally into the through hole at the other end via a clearance insert having a non-sharp edged or rounded central hole corresponding to the cable diameter, the so-called fountain ba Il in relative terms hangs exactly centrally below the cable, its total weight being taken up entirely without stress at the most reliable point in terms of safety and functionality aspects, 7 namely, at its exact bottom end. Other securings to the ball by means of dowels or transverse rods have the disadvantage that the securing could break in the case of overload, or as a result of frost in conjunction with water which has penetrated, or weathering in general. 5 In an installation of this type, an overload of the tensioned material surface or the mounting due to sudden wind or water pressure acting on the tensioned material surface is prevented, as the material surface can yield to these pressure twistings so as to provide relief. This is due to the fact that as soon as the pressure forces occurring on the particular material surface become greater than the tensile force exerted by the weight. the tension relationship is rapidly 10 reversed, and the material surface then pulls the weight until the described excess pressure on the material surface has reduced once more and the retracting weight has pulled the material surface back into its rest position. In this process, the material surface is always maintained below the tensile stress set by means of the weight. 15 Tests have shown that the pressure is relieved very quickly, and a brief easing of the material surface is usually sufficient even with the strongest gusts, and that after such a pressure relief. when the material surface is pulled back into its tensioned rest position, the air masses to be displaced by the material surface already significantly brake the fall of the weight which tensions the material surface. 20 In turbulent strong wind conditions, the wind pressure could suddenly change sides, whereby the braking effect of the air mass as described above would not be present, In order to counteract this problem, it has been shown to be extremely expedient that the tensioning cable is connected to the weight by means of a block and tackle mounted in between. 25 T[he tensioning cable, as the cable part of a block and tackle system, is fed from the stationarily mounted deflector roller into a block and tackle, to the loose pulley block of which the weight is then secured as the pulling weight force. In this way, the block and tackle serves not only as a cable storage device for the tensioning cable, but also, by causing force 30 losses due to the mechanical friction of the roller bearings and the radial deformation of the cable during deflection, as a damping element and brake against excessively rapid falling back of the weight after a relief situation of the sun awning due to a wind pressure. Particularly in the case of stainless steel cables of at least 4 mm thickness, which are wUUZl/132/91 r1r41/dw 8 preferably used as tensioning cables, significant braking occurs when at least three or more deflections are used, as this virtually excludes a possible risk of accident and breakage. In tests, a block and tackle system with a suspended tension weight freely mounted to a mast 5 has shown two significant disadvantages. Firstly, the free deflector rollers of a loose pulley block, which is situated at a suitable gripping height for a tensioned sun awning, present a possible risk of accident in the event of unintentional intervention during a lifting operation. Secondly, when the sun awning is extended, the loose pulley block turns relative to the fixed pulley block in spite of using twist-reducing steel cables, and this turning in the long term 10 would result in damage due to friction on the steel cables. Research in this regard has shown that twist-free cables and guides are currently only available in a thickness of 10 mm or greater, which is oversized for the majority of installations, In order to avoid these two disadvantages, a solution has been sought in which the block and 15 tackle runs concealed or covered, and preferably only one cable holds the weight suspended therefrom, so that rotation, and therefore cables running and rubbing against one another, is prevented, and reaching into a running deflector roller is not possible. A solution has been provided in which the installation of the block and tackle system is in 20 first instance for the most part fitted into a tube, which is used as a tensioning mast. Only the stationarily mounted deflector roller, which here serves as part of the fixed pulley block, partially protrudes from the tube through an opening, so that the tensioning cable can be fed here into the tube or the block and tackle system. In order to join the loose pulley block to the weight positively in the tensioning direction, a separate stationarily mounted deflector roller 25 is positioned inside the tube such that the deflector roller is secured approximately in the tensioning direction of the block and tackle system and opposite from the fixed pulley block end. A connecting cable is then secured to the loose pulley block, and from there is fed to this separate stationarily mounted deflector roller. From here, the connecting cable is fed to an outfeed roller, which feeds the connecting cable out of the tube once more and deflects the 30 cable, and which in this embodiment is mounted in the top end of the tube projecting through an opening in the tube such that the connecting cable is fed out without touching the tube and is freely movable in the line of fall. In this embodiment of the invention having a block and tackle, it is particularly important that the suspended weight has a free run or available stroke W U 4UI l/ 1L)4/I I I 1' / II CA' ' ' 9 which is at least long enough that it at least corresponds to the length of the tensioning path to be pulled by the tensioning cable in the particular installation, divided by the transmission ratio of the block and tackle. To enable the weight to run without touching within the stroke travel, the tube must be set at an angle with respect to the line of fall of the connecting cable 5 in such a way that the weight still does not touch the tube in the uppermost stroke travel position of the weight hanging freely from the connecting cable. Otherwise, the required force would increase significantly because of friction and angular lever forces beginning at the moment of contact, which would be a hindrance to the force expended, for example, when winding up the material surface onto a shaft or in a pressure-relief situation. 10 The freely hanging visible weight has a further safety advantage, as it shows the loading state of the awning due to wind pressure and the limit of the possibility of relieving the wind pressure, because the length or height of the particular stroke of the weight is a clear indicator in relief situations. As soon as the weight reaches the region at the end of the available stroke 15 travel once or more frequently during a weather situation with strong wind and the relief situations caused by the wind pressure in gusts, this is a sign that a material surface of this installation, which can be rolled onto a winding shaft, for example, should now be rolled up, as there is a possibility of a subsequent overload due to further increasing wind forces. However, the load limit or at least the limit of possible relief of this design of a sun awning 20 installation according to the invention is indicated at the latest by such a lifting of the weight to the possible end point. In this embodiment of the invention, the connecting cable and the separate stationarily mounted deflector roller have a further important function with regard to the safety of the 25 invention, since, if the tensioning cable should ever break due to material breakage. etc., the weight would fall to the ground unhindered. To prevent this, the possible tensioning path between the separate stationarily mounted deflector roller for deflecting the connecting cable and the loose pulley block is adjusted so that it corresponds to the set stroke travel of the externally hanging weight. This can be achieved by appropriate positioning of the separate 30 stationarily mounted deflector roller as well as by adjusting the length of the tensioning cable which runs in the block and tackle.

W LP ZU I /I .)L / ' y141../ ~ ZA) 1, .' QJ I 10 This is because, when. adjusted in this way, after the tensioning cable breaks, the loose pulley block is pulled by the connecting cable which is secured thereto until it comes to a stop against the flanges of the separate stationarily mounted deflector roller. The fall of the weight is therefore always stopped by the connecting cable no later than the bottom end of the set 5 stroke travel of the weight. In turn, a safety cable, which is described below, is provided in the event of breakage of the connecting cable. The block and tackle, which, in this embodiment of the invention is accommodated inside the tube and therefore positioned so that it is inaccessible to intervention, must also be protected 10 against possible twisting, and furthermore the problem of flailing and dragging by the loose pulley block against the inner wall of the tube must be solved, since, particularly in the case of the action of wind force on the sun awning. the tube is spontaneously set into vibration. Not only could the flailing and dragging which occurs damage the material, but in particular it would also disturb the user as a troublesome noise. 15 The loose pulley block is provided with rollers in such a way that it can roll along the side of the inner wall of the angled tube facing the ground and can be maintained at a distance from the tube. Not only gravity, but also the specific positioning of the securing of the tensioning cable and connecting cable, which create a tension angle of the cable, cause the rollers and 20 therefore the loose pulley block to be constantly pressed against this side of the inner wall of the tube, since, due to this angle of incidence, the tension and tensile force of the weight which acts on these cable parts now partially acts in a transverse force directed against this side of the inner wall of the tube. 25 Furthermore, the possible deflection distance of a movement of the loose pulley block, which leads to rattling or flailing, is limited by a braking body mounted on the loose pulley block and its small circumferential distance from the inner side of the tube, which at the same time thus takes over the function of an additional guide element for the loose pulley block. 30 In this embodiment, turning of the loose pulley block is further prevented in that it is guided in an approximately linear manner by a sliding guide along and between a connecting cable and a safety cable. For this purpose, the separate deflector rollers and the outfeed rollers are initially positioned, and the cables guided over the deflector rollers, in such a manner that the W U 2Z0 l ,/ E)2 /9V IlDU'd 11 cables are guided outside the possible turning radius of the loose pulley block and along the inner side of the tube opposite the rollers. Furthermore, the internal distance between these cables, which are guided as parallel as possible, corresponds to the distance between the outer sides of the flanges of the loose pulley block. The width of the flanges of the loose pulley 5 block is now dimensioned, and the flanges widened, in such a way that they are always located between the two cables along the possible tensioning path of the loose pulley block, and, in sliding along these, are approximately linear and are guided in such a way that they are protected against twisting. The cutouts located on the braking body, which are enclosed by the safety cable and the connecting cable, not only make it possible for these cables to 10 pass through, but at the same time also prevent an otherwise possible j umping-out of the cables from this position in the event of a wind gust, whereby the cables could then jump onto the inside of the flange, or also together onto one side of a flange. In this embodiment of the invention, the mentioned safety cable is a further, identical cable 15 running next to the connecting cable but installed in parallel, which is fitted as a separate connection between the loose pulley block and the weight. In the event of breakage of the connecting cable, the safety cable alone must be capable of taking over the function of the connecting cable. The functions of the safety cable and the connecting cable are therefore mutually interchangeable. 20 The braking body, mentioned previously as an additional guide element, which is secured to the loose pulley block, has several functions within the invention. In general, it is used in conjunction with the air in the tube or a liquid as an additional speed-damping brake with regard to the fall speed of the weight when it drops back after a previous raising of the weight 25 which has taken place, for example, in a relief situation of the sun awning. It is particularly effective when the tube is closed at the bottom end and the tube is filled with a liquid through the openings. The filling level should be at least high enough that the braking body comes into contact with the liquid before the weight reaches an assumed head height of 30 a person standing beneath it. Since the braking body is formed in such a way that it takes up the greater part of the tube cross-section, upon immersion and further movement in the liquid, it displaces, swirls up and accelerates the respective circulating liquid, which must flow past it. The forces required for this slow down the descent of the tension weight, but without WO 2012/152791 1 12 significantly reducing the basic tensile force of the weight. The reduction in the basic tensile force is thus limited exclusively to a negligible value of the weight of the displaced liquid. In order to drain the liquid and to control the filling level, the tube has a valve at its bottom end, which is to be opened for this purpose. 5 When a liquid is used, the liquid should preferably be enriched with an antifreeze agent. All components of the invention which come into contact with the liquid should preferably be made of a stainless steel which is resistant to corrosion due to the action of water, antifreeze or salt. 10 In general, the magnitude of this braking effect is dependent on the magnitude of the ratio of the cross-sectional area covered by the braking body to the uncovered cross-sectional area of the tube. As previously described, the braking body must be able to move up and down in the tube, but, particularly with regard to its simultaneous use as an additional guide element for 15 the loose pulley block and an associated small distance of its edges from the inner wall of the tube, the covering cross-section of the tube can be reduced by making additional cutouts in its body for a larger and faster throughput of liquid. In another embodiment of the braking body, the braking body covers the entire free cross 20 section of the tube. The edges of the braking body which face the movable penetrating parts and the inner wall of the tube are provided with sliding or slipping materials located thereon, such as rubber-like plastics, spongy, porous materials or even affixed brush-like fibers. These materials must rest closely and tightly enough against the movable penetrating parts of the inner wall of the tube that the braking body seals the air space within the tube above it against 25 the air space of the tube below it, at least to the extent that the sliding friction associated with upward and downward movements of the braking body neither damages the sliding materials used nor causes excessively high friction loss in proportion to the tensile force of the tensioning weight. With this design, to rectify a functional impairment, a weight portion which offsets the tensile force in an amount equal to the average friction loss is added to the 30 tensioning weight. Equipped in this way, the braking body causes only the air located between the braking body and the closed tube end in each case to brake movement of the braking body in a damping VV Ui 4UA 4 I J Z '/ I _)Z i 11 1ut u'~a 13 manner during a rapid upward or downward movement of the braking body, since the air must push past the rubber lips or brush fibers, for example, of the braking body. Since air is highly compressible, the braking effect occurs dynamically. In the event of a relief situation caused by a wind pressure and the associated sudden raising of the weight, this does not 5 result in an abrupt stop at the end of the available stroke travel, but, rather, due to the increasing pressure drop in the bottom end of the tube, results in an increasing suction force, which causes an increase in the damping braking effect. When the weight falls back after the relief situation, this increasingly damping braking effect is produced as a result of the increasing overpressure which then occurs in the bottom end of the tube and opposes the 10 braking body. By means of an adjustable valve at the bottom end of the tube, an additional air throughput can be set to reduce or once more increase the braking effect. Depending on the embodiment of the invention and the arrangement of the components according to the invention, the braking body can be mounted at different positions and also 15 on other components of the invention within the tube. For this purpose, in each case the braking body must, if necessary, have appropriate cutouts for the penetration of movable components, enable the free progression of the movements of the inventive components which are necessary according to the invention, and jointly carry out the appropriate tensioning movements. 20 The use of a plurality of braking bodies is also quite expedient, particularly when these at the same time or even primarily take over the function of guide elements for the loose pulley block and/or a tensioning weight located within the tube. For example, the brush disks, which cover the tube section and rest against the inner walls of the tube, and which on the one hand 25 are directly secured to a tensioning weight located within the tube, and on the other hand are mounted directly on a non-movable pulley block which is securely mounted on the weight, not only center and guide this unit within the tube at a spacing from the inner wall of the tube, but are also able to meet the required effect of a braking body. 30 A further embodiment of the invention provides a solution which in particular offers a solution as an embodiment for public spaces. This is because a different solution is much better suited here with regard to safety aspects, and due to the threat of vandalism or a misuse of a freely accessible and externally attached tensioning weight.

WUt ZU12,/13 91 r V I ioI , . A 14 The weight is accommodated inside the tube, where it is connected to the tensioning cable or to the loose pulley block of a block and tackle system. It is also important that the weight cannot flail and rattle against the inner wall of the tube. The weight is therefore guided 5 without friction at a spacing from the inner wall of the tube. In addition to the solutions already explained in the preceding description, this object is also achieved by a spacer in the form of a roller slide. As shown here, this roller slide can approximately correspond to the design of the loose pulley block shown in the same figure, but without deflector rollers. The same as for the loose pulley block, the weight is joined approximately centrally to the roller 10 slide by a force fit and by a form tit, and is therefore guided linearly along the inner walls of the tube at a distance from the inner wall of the tube by the rollers, which in each case always rest approximately against the inner wall of the tube. A further advantage of this embodiment is that these tubes can also be set up vertically, as they do not require an angle which allows the necessary free stroke travel for an attached weight. 15 Since a meaningful longitudinal dimensioning of the weight is relatively restricted by the width and the length of the tube, and therefore the achievable mass of the weight is limited for such a design having an interior weight, there is a further embodiment of the invention for the case in which this total space in the tube is not suffcient for the required stroke and 20 tensioning travel of the block and tackle and the weight plus the space required for the weight, and the installation height of the tube cannot be further increased. At the same time, this approach is intended to provide a solution if no foundations can or may be anchored in the ground on which the required tubes must be erected and anchored by means of foundations, and the system is to be implemented freely with a type of foot. In general, for 25 the same tensile force on the tensioning cable, the stroke travel of the weight can be reduced by increasing the number of deflections between the fixed pulley block and the loose pulley block while simultaneously increasing the magnitude of the attached tensioning weight corresponding to this increase factor. To enable this, in the present approach, a separate and significantly wider discrete space in which there is room for a significantly wider and above 30 all heavier weight is created below an only relatively short tube, which is open at the bottom and has space for a multiple-ratio block and tackle and its respectively required tensioning path. The weight is connected to the loose pulley block or to the tensioning cable through the bottom tube opening and through a space access. In this way, a required increase in the magnitude of the weight and tensile force can be implemented by making the weight wider. If the tube is rigidly connected to the walls of the separate space, and the body of the separate space is formed as a type of free-standing foot or plinth, no further anchoring of the tube is necessary. The separate space as a foot with the tube on top can then be freely positioned on 5 the ground and erected as a complete functional unit without further anchoring. Minus its tensile force, which is delivered to the material surface tensioning via the tensioning cable, the suspended weight acts completely as a vertically acting weight force on the body of the separate space, which is designed as a foot. 10 This embodiment is particularly advantageous, for example, in the application of providing cover with a sun awning to shade outside seating in dining establishments in urban streets. The separate space could be combined with a conventional concrete raised bed container having comparable dimensions, and appear as such. 15 Particularly in this last described embodiment of the invention, the general advantage of the invention becomes especially clear since, even with pressure loading due to wind or rain, the tensioning cable of the sun awning only exerts a tilting or lever force acting on the tube at right angles under a relatively low basic tension. Anchoring points of the tubes and other mountings having far less strength are required for tensioning the material surface than would 20 be the case in particular for permanent tensioning or installations without a relief system. Due to the fact that they are freely positionable due to the capability for their tensioning mountings to be freely fitted to masts, tubes and uprights in general, sun awnings are also frequently erected as permanently installed protective installations and canopies. This type of 25 canopy is provided particularly often as protection against sun and rain in kindergartens and their outside play areas and sand boxes, as well as over wading poois for children in public swimming pools. Here in particular, the invention is able to display its advantages in an embodiment having a permanently tensioned material or canopy surface. This is because, particularly with these permanent tensioning devices, with conventional installations, due to 30 the static structure and tensioning forces capable of withstanding even gale-force winds, it is necessary to invest very cost-intensively in the strong anchoring points and tensioning devices needed for this purpose, without actually providing protection against complete material breakage. Although in the embodiment according to the invention the tensioning W k-) LU 1L/ 1.)Z /i V r'_ 11LrL_1.J/_/'A O~tfJ 16 cables, because of the heavy weights in the tube, are subject to a higher basic tension than would be necessary for systems which can be rolled up. the high wind peaks are absorbed in a load-relieving manner by the relief movement, and the material or canopy surface is subsequently pulled back into its tensioned state once more. 5 The invention has the further advantage, which has not yet been described separately, that it can ideally be used with very large tensioned surfaces and in particular with tensioned surfaces with which the material surfaces are mounted so that they can be rolled up onto a winding shaft, and with which distances of more than 10 meters are to be freely spanned. 10 This is because the particular constant tensile force which is required, which increases with the length of a particular free surface to be spanned, can be easily and cost-effectively increased practically in any desired manner by means of appropriate weights. Because of the robustness and simplicity of the invention, a very large number of further 15 options are possible, for example also for the tensioning of vertical material surfaces or films and canvases which are temporarily used outdoors as advertising surfaces as signs on building sites or advertising banners, Furthermore, the invention is also very well suited for various uses in the architectural field and for normally permanent tensioned installations of material and canopy surfaces, such as projecting roofs, porch roofs or temporary installations 20 in open-air theaters. This is because, in the case of otherwise normally static permanent spans, the loading limits for the anchors or the tensioned surfaces due to wind pressure for a material breakage, which otherwise occurs when these loading limits are exceeded, are significantly increased as a result of using the invention. With an installation according to the invention, this is prevented in that, when loading peaks occur, such as a storm gust at which 25 the breaking limit is normally reached statically, short-term relief occurs exactly at this point. For this purpose, the weight used for tensioning must be adjusted by means of its mass., using a tensile force which just corresponds to this loading limit for material breakage. In particular, however, the invention is an outstanding solution for the various requirements 30 and arrangements as a sun awning for providing shade and for protection against rain. Compared with existing sun awning systems, the invention also has clear advantages within a system which is fitted with wind sensors and can be automatically rolled up on a motorized shaft. The wind pressure adjustment value in the sensor, which is required for the rolling-up W U 421 1 / ' "'/"V "' 17 command, can therefore be set significantly higher, as the loading peaks due to wind pressure do not then pull on the material or lead to material breakage before the awning is automatically retracted, as is commonly the case, but are always absorbed in each case due to the load relief without the load-relieving material surface starting to flap or fail, since it is 5 constantly under the damped tensile stress of the weight. The invention does not require complicated spring mechanisms of any kind for dynamic force characteristics, or a variety of tensioning and winding devices for cables and ropes. Its components are all simple and robust, alone and in interaction, so that in an installation according to the invention, apart from the material surface, freedom from maintenance can theoretically be assumed without 10 restricting or changing the function while the tensile force remains constant. Installation is very simple relative to other sun awning systems, as only low tensile forces act in each case and virtually no sudden transverse forces due to wind can act on the mountings. The invention is described again with reference to the figures. In the drawing: 15 Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a wind pressure relief system having a block and tackle system in a tube used as a tensioning mast, Fig. 2 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig, 1 according to section A-B, 20 Fig. 3 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig. I according to section C-D, Fig. 4 shows a Plan view corresponding to Fig. I according to section EF-, 25 Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a braking body corresponding to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, Fig. 6 shows a plan view of a braking body corresponding to Fig. 7, 30 Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system with the weight inside the tube, V8 Fig. 8 shows a further alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system, Fig. 9 shows a detail view of a spacer in the form of a roller slide 5 corresponding to the embodiment in Fig. '7, Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the wind pressure relief system in use for tensioning a sun awning secured to a wall, 10 Fig. 11 shows a detail view of the top end of a wind pressure relief system, Fig. 12 shows a schematic diagram of the wind pressure relief system having a tensioned sun awning, 15 Fig. 13 shows a schematic diagram of the wind pressure relief system and a sun awning subjected to a strong wind pressure, Fig. 14 shows an alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system at two ends with a sun awning secured to a tensioning cable, 20 Fig. 15 shows a further application example of the wind pressure relief system having a triangular sun awning, a tensioning cable being secured to each end, 25 Fig. 16 shows a wind pressure relief system corresponding to Fig. 15 with an installation as in Fig. 7, Fig. 17 shows an alternative embodiment corresponding to Fig. 14 having a wind pressure relief system according to Fig. 7, and 30 Fig 18 shows a plan view corresponding to Fig. 7 according to section J-K.

WU z1U/134/'/1 -Lq/Er U/UJO'_/3 19 Fig. I shows a wind pressure relief system in which the major part of the block and tackle system is in first instance accommodated in a tube 3 which is used as a tensioning mast. In this embodiment, a stationarily mounted deflector roller 4 is part of the fixed pulley block 7. The deflector roller lies partially outside the tube 3 via an opening 19. A tensioning cable 2 5 can be fed into the tube 3 or into a block and tackle system 6 through the opening 19. A loose pulley block 8 is fixed to a weight 9 by force-fit by means of a separate stationarily mounted deflector roller 4. A connecting cable 18 is attached to the loose pulley block 8 and is further fed to the separate stationarily mounted deflector roller 4. The tensioning cable 2 is guided on an outfeed roller 20 which guides the tensioning cable 2 out of the tube 3. For smooth 10 operation of the wind pressure relief system, the weight 9 has a free stroke travel which corresponds to at least the length of the tensioning path to be pulled by the tensioning cable 2, divided by the transmission ratio of the block and tackle system 6. To ensure that the weight 9 can move freely within the stroke travel, the tube 3 has an angle 47 with respect to the line of fall of the tensioning cable 2. 15 In order to effectively relieve the wind pressure, the wind pressure relief system has a block and tackle system 6 in a tube 3. The block and tackle system 6 comprises a fixed pulley block 7 and a loose pulley block 8. Furthermore, deflector rollers are provided for operating the block and tackle. The tensioning cable 2 is fed via a pivotably mounted deflector roller 12 to 20 a stationarily mounted deflector roller 4 via an opening 19. The pivotable deflector roller 12 is accommodated in a pivoting mounting, the mounting being rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 30. The stationarily mounted deflector roller 4 feeds the tensioning cable 2 from the fixed pulley block 7 to the loose pulley block 8, the tensioning cable 2 being fed to the cable part 5 of a block and tackle. The cable component 5 is fixed to a securing device 40 of 25 the loose pulley block 8 by means of an eye. A connecting cable 18 is connected at the bottom end of the loose pulley block 8 to the fixed pulley block 7 by means of the securing device 45. The connecting cable 18 is thus guided over a stationary deflector roller 32. The loose pulley block 8 also has a braking body which additionally damps the movability of the loose pulley block 8. The wind pressure is already partially relieved by the braking body 15. 30 The connecting cable 18 is fed out of the tube 3 through an opening 21 via an outfeed roller 20. The connecting cable 18 is connected to the weight 9 outside the tube 3. The loose pulley block 8 is provided with rollers 3 1. These enable the loose pulley block 8 to move up and down within the tube 3.

20 In addition, the tube 3 can also be filled with a liquid 16 up to a filling level line 29, as a result of which the movement of the loose pulley block 8 within the tube 3 is additionally damped. The filling level line 29 of the liquid 16 can be correspondingly matched to the 5 required movement height of the loose pulley block 8. The cable part 5, which is attached to the securing device 40, describes a tension angle 64 with respect to the inner wall of the tube 3. The tension angle 64 is likewise located between the connecting cable 18, which is attached to the securing device 45, and the inside of the 10 tube 3. In addition, the tube 3 is also provided with a cover I and a tube closure 52 to retain the liquid 16 in the tube 3. Fig. 2 shows the wind pressure relief system corresponding to Fig. I according to section A 13 in a plan view. The pivotable deflector roller 12 is shown in a position parallel to the infeed 15 of the tensioning cable 2, and the maximum pivotable positions of the deflector roller corresponding to the pivot angle 53 about the pivot axis 30 are indicated. The tensioning cable runs over the deflector roller 12 into the tube 3 via an opening 19. Furthermore, the axes of rotation 39 of the stationary deflector roller 4 as well as of the outfeed roller 20 and of the safety roller 22 inside the tube are shown. A flange 42 forms the termination of the fixed 20 pulley block 7 inside the tube 3. A further outfeed roller 24, which feeds a safety cable 22 out of the tube 3, is provided in addition to the outfeed roller 20. Fig. 3 shows the wind pressure relief system according to Fig. I along the section C-D in a plan view. The loose pulley block 8 inside the tube 3 has rollers 31 which support the loose 25 pulley block 8 along the inner wall of the tube 3. The safety cable 22 runs parallel to the connecting cable 18 via the opposite flange 42 of the loose pulley block 8. A deflector roller 54, which deflects the cable part 5 of the tensioning cable inside the loose pulley block 8, is also provided. The cable part 5 is attached to the securing device 40 on the loose pulley block 8. 30 Fig. 4 shows the wind pressure relief system corresponding to Fig. I along the section E-F in a plan view. A deflector roller 32 feeds the connecting cable 18 from the loose pulley block 8 VV U 4,UI1/ IJ 71 Y I/ 1C IC/J T 21 back to the fixed pulley block 7. A further deflector roller 44 feeds the safety cable 22 to the fixed pulley block 7. Fig. 5 shows a braking body 15 which is part of the loose pulley block 8 and which has 5 recesses in the form of a cutout 49 for a connecting cable 18 and a safety cable 2 2 as well as recesses in the form of a cutout 50 for a flange 42, in each case in pairs for the deflector roller 42, the connecting cable 18 and the safety cable 22. The braking body 15 increases the contact surface against which the loose pulley block 8 has to be moved within the liquid 16 in the tube 3. 10 Fig. 6 shows the plan view of a braking body 15 corresponding to the embodiment in Fig. 7 The braking body 15 has a cutout 51 as an outlet and a cutout 50 for the flanges 42, in each case in pairs. In addition, the braking body 15 is provided with a cutout 63 for a linear guide rail. 15 Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system in which the weight 9 is accommodated inside the tube 3. The weight 9 is part of the loose pulley block 8 and is attached to the bottom end. The loose pulley block 8 has further rollers 31 here for better guiding compared to the embodiment in Fig, 1. Significantly fewer deflector rollers are 20 required as a result of the integral design. The pivotable deflector roller 12 and the stationarily mounted deflector roller 4 of the fixed pulley block 7 and the deflector rollers of the cable part 5 for securing same to the securing device 40 of the loose pulley block 8 are also provided in this embodiment. In addition, the tube 3 also has a valve 27 for regulating the liquid 16. 25 Fig. 8 shows a further alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system in Fig. 7. A fairly large weight 9 is acconnodated in a foot of the tube 3.The foot of the tube 3 is considerably wider than the top part of the tube 3. In this embodiment, the foot requires a sufficient displacement volume 61 in which the weight 9 is moved up and down. 30 Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment of the wind pressure relief system according to Fig. 7., the loose pulley block 8 having an extension to which the weight 9 and further rollers 31 on a spacer are secured.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic illustration of the wind pressure relief system used with a sun awning which is secured to a wall 33. The sun awning is secured to a stationary mounting 26 and connected to the tensioning cable 2 for the material surface 35 at a free end 25. The 5 tensioning cable 2 is tensioned over the tensioning path 59. The wind pressure relief system is secured to the ground 34, the tube 3 enclosing an angle 47 with respect to the connecting cable 18. The weight 9 is show-n in a retracted position of the sun awning, and indicated in an extended position 36. 10 Fig. !I shows a detail of the top end of the wind pressure relief system, the tensioning cable 2 running into the tube 3 via the stationarily mounted deflector roller 4. The connecting cable 18 runs out of the tube once more through the opening 21 via an outfeed roller 20, together with a safety cable 22 which emerges via the outfeed roller 24. 15 Fig. 12 shows a schematic illustration of the wind pressure relief system in use with a triangular awning cloth having a material surface 35 which is secured to the wall 33 by means of a stationary mounting 26. The free end 25 of the material surface 35 is connected via the tensloninL cable 2 of the wind pressure relief system. The weight 9 is shown here in the weight position 36 with the sun awning extended, and in the weight position 37 with the sun 20 awning retracted. Fig. 13 shows the device described in Figs. 11 and 12 under strong wind pressure 46. Furthermore, a stopper 58 is provided on the tensioning cable 2. The wind pressure 46 inflates the material surface 35 in the manner of a wind sail. As a result, the tensioning cable 25 2 is tensioned accordingly and the weight 9 is pulled upwardly by means of the wind pressure relief system. The wind pressure relief system thus guarantees a constant tension in the tensioning cable 2. If the wind abates and the wind pressure 46 is thus reduced, the material surface 35 of the sun awning relaxes once more and the weight 9 continues to guarantee a constant tension of the sun awning by means of the tensioning cable 2, 30 Fig. 14 shows an embodiment similar to that described in Fig. 11, except that the sun awning is not triangular but rectangular, and therefore has two free ends 25. A wind pressure relief system is provided at each free end 25. The principle of operation of the wind pressure relief V V '/ LUV I I d 1 J I I 1/I L1 I./ UJ) OfJ 1 23 system under high wind pressure 46 is similar to that described in Fig. 13, with the difference that each wind pressure relief system is provided to compensate for the tension loading on the tensioning cable 2 by means of a weight 9. 5 Fig. 15 shows an alternative application of the wind pressure relief system. Here, the sun awning is provided with a wind pressure relief system at each end by means of the material surface 35. This exemplary embodiment shows a triangular sun awning, having three free ends 25, which in each case are connected to a weight 9 of the wind pressure relief system by means of a tensioning cable 2. The principle of operation of the wind pressure relief system :10 corresponds to the previous exemplary embodiments. Fig. 16 shows the embodiments from Fig. 15 with a wind pressure relief system, the weight 9 being provided inside the tube 3 according to the embodiment in Fig. 7. 15 Fig. 17 shows an alternative embodiment corresponding to Fig. 14. However, wind pressure relief systems are used in which the weight 9 is disposed in a separate foot 38 according to Fig. 8. Fig. 18 shows a plan view of the tube from Fig. 7 in the section corresponding to J-K. Here, 20 the cable part 5 of the block and tackle is fed via a deflector roller 54. In addition, the loose pulley block 8 runs on the inner wall of the tube 3 by means of four rollers 31.

WU 4U ll/ 1:3Z /'1 24 List of reference numerals 1 Cover 2 Tensioning cable 5 3 Tube 4 Deflector roller 5 Cable part 6 Block and tackle systern 7 Fixed pulley block 0 8 Loose pulley block 9 Weight 10 Guide element 11 Linear guide rail 12 Pivotable deflector roller 15 13 Tensioning cable outfeed 14 Tensioning cable infeed 15 Braking body 16 Liquid 17 Spacer 20 18 Connecting cable 19 Opening 20 Outfeed roller 21 Opening 22 Safety cable 25 23 Distance 24 Outfeed roller 25 Free end 26 Mounting 27 Valve 30 28 Direction arrow 29 Filling level line 30 Pivot axis 31 Rollers 25 32 Deflector roller 33 Wall 34 Ground 35 Material surface 5 36 Weight position 37 Weight position 38 Space 39 Axis 40 Securing device 10 41 Axis of rotation 42 Flange 43 Flange 44 Deflector roller 45 Securing device 15 46 Wind pressure 47 Angle 48 Circular enlargement 49 Cutout 50 Cutout 20 51 Cutout 52 lube closure 53 Pivot angle 54 Deflector roller 55 Installation 25 56 Installation 57 Installation 58 Stopper 59 Tensioning path 60 Stroke travel 30 61 Displacement volume 62 Linear guide rail 63 Cutout 64 Tension angle

Claims

1. A eight-controlled wind pressure relief system having a material surface (1) or canopy which is counter-mounted on at least one side on a stationary mounting (26) and 5 which is connected to a tensioning cable (2), characterized in that the tensioning cable (2) is pretensioned by means of at least one weight (9) such that a constant tensile force is exerted over a stroke travel (60).

2. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to Claim I or in 10 particular according thereto, characterized in that, by means of a weight (9) secured to the tensioning cable (2), a constant tensile force of at least 20 kg acts on the tensioning cable (2) in the continuation of the tensioning cable (2) and after the deflection by means of a stationarily mounted deflector roller (4), and the weight (9) has a free stroke travel (60) which is at least large enough that the weight (9) tensions 15 the tensioning cable (2) over the length of the tensioning path (59).

3. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I or 2 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the deflector roller (4) is secured to a tube (3), the tube (3) having an opening (19) for feeding in the tensioning 20 cable (2).

4. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims 1, 2 or 3 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the weight (9) is disposed inside the tube (3) and/or that the weight (9) is mounted so that it can be 25 moved along the stroke travel (60) inside the tube (3).

5. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 4 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a block and tackle system (6) is provided which comprises a pulley block (7) together with the deflector 30 roller (4), the weight (9) being secured to the pulley block (8), and/or that the major part of the block and tackle system (6) is disposed inside the tube (4) [sic; (3)]. W U ZU/ 1211291 'LI IP/1 '4 4/U3)'+. 1 27

6. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 5 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the pulley block (8) is provided with at least one guide element (10), the pulley block (8) being guided by way of a linear guide rail (11) provided in the tube (3), and/or that the pulley block (8) 5 is provided with rollers (3 1) which roll along an inner wall of the tube, and/or that the weight (9) has a spacer (17) which rests on the inner wall of the tube and defines a distance (23).

7. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims 10 1 to 6 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a pivotable deflector roller (12) is provided above or below the deflector roller (4), and/or that the pivotable dellector roller 12) is provided with a guide element (10), a linear guide rail (i1) being attached to the outside of the tube (3) and the guide element (10) being movable thereon. 15

8. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 7 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a tensioning cable infeed (14) to the deflector roller (4) and a tensioning cable outfeed (13) from the pivotable deflector roller (12) are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the tensioning cable 20 (41) and a pivot axis (30) of the pivotable deflector roller (12).

9. The weight-control led wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 8 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the pulley block (8) is provided with a braking body (15) and/or that at least one connecting cable (18) can 25 be secured to the pulley block (8), the connecting cable being fed via a deflector roller (32) to an outfeed roller (20) into an opening (21) in the tube (3) and being connectable to a weight (9), the deflector roller (32) replacing the outfeed roller (20).

10. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims 30 1 to 9 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that the tube (3) has a cover at the bottom end and can be filled with a liquid (16), preferably an oil, particularly preferably comprising an antifreeze additive. W U /VIZ/ I3/91 v I j/- r k UI I /UJO t J 1 28

11. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 10, characterized in that the tube encloses an angle (47) with respect to the line of fall of the weight (9), and/or that the tube (3) is provided with a valve (17) [sic; (27)]. 5

12. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 11 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a safety cable (22) is provided which runs parallel to the connecting cable (18) and is securable to a tension weight (9). 10

13. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 12 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a braking body (15) is provided which is attached to the tensioning cable, the loose pulley block (8) and/or the weight (9). 15

14. The weight-controlled wind pressure relief system according to at least one of Claims I to 13 or in particular according thereto, characterized in that a fall protection device is provided for the connecting cable and the tensioning cable, this being provided with an eccentric sliding clamp.