EP1744000A1 - Method and drive mechanism for actuating a closure or solar protection - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a control unit acting on a jack to interrupt and/or invert the functioning of the jack according to value and/or variation of a parameter representative of interaction between a door leaf and an obstacle on a path, where the jack drives the leaf between two end positions. The jack has thrusts and a cover for limiting the displacement of the leaf at one of the end positions. The unit differentiates a variation of the parameter and a variation resulting from the action of the thrust and the cover. The unit differently controls the jack from the differentiation results. An independent claim is also included for a method for controlling actuation of a door leaf or solar protection by jack between two positions.

Description

The invention relates to a device for operating a closure element or sun protection and a method for controlling the operation of such an element.

Closure element means a door, a gate leaf, a shutter, a grid or equivalent equipment. By solar protection element means a sun protection screen, store or equivalent type.

To guarantee the safety of persons against the risk of collision or crushing due to the maneuvering of a closing element or sun protection, it is known to observe a magnitude that varies with the maneuvering force of this element. and to compare at each instant this quantity with a predetermined set value. In case of abnormal evolution of this magnitude, it is known to activate a safety procedure that reverses the direction of movement of this element. The reversal of the direction of movement makes it possible to clear the obstacle more easily or, if the obstacle is a person allows this person, to withdraw.

Furthermore, motorized actuators generally comprise a device for stopping the movement of the closure element or sun protection in its end positions. There are facilities which, to stop the aforementioned element in its end positions, comprise a stop disposed on its path, and a meter continuously measuring the distance traveled by this element. The counter makes it possible to know when the element is in an area close to its end-of-travel position, for example a few centimeters from this position. In this area, the safety procedure is inhibited, in whole or in part, to make room for a simple procedure for stopping the closure element or sun protection. When the displaced element comes against the stop, the magnitude observed exceeds the setpoint and the element is stopped. GB-A-1,538,258 and US Patent 3,764,874 disclose installations in which the magnitude that varies with the actuating force is the mechanical tension of a motion transmission chain from an engine to a garage door. A contact is used to, when the screen arrives near its end positions, switch the so-called safety procedure in stop procedure.

These installations are relatively complicated to implement since they require the use of a meter for moving the screen, such a meter being difficult to accommodate in modern maneuvering devices for which an increasingly high compactness is sought. This meter must be set precisely when commissioning the installation, which is long and requires a skilled workforce. In addition, sufficient safety margins must be provided to absorb unavoidable changes in the races of moving parts, these changes resulting from the running-in of the installation, its wear, or even climatic conditions. Finally, safety is no longer ensured in the vicinity of the end positions, which can be dangerous.

US Patent 5,668,451 provides to adapt the response of a safety device according to the rigidity of an obstacle encountered by a window or an electric sunroof. This security device is not able to handle limit switches.

It is also known from US Patent 4,501,963 to use, in place of the displacement counter mentioned above, a switch placed in the path of the screen and actuated by the latter, when it reaches the vicinity of one of its end positions, to stop the operation of a drive motor. A such installation imposes the fixing and wiring of the switch, which increases its cost and makes complex commissioning.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a new device for maneuvering a closure or sun protection element whose commissioning is particularly simple and which makes it possible to ensure both the safety of persons and / or equipment in the vicinity of the moving area of the displaced element, as well as stopping when it reaches one of its end positions.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a device for operating a closure or sun protection element, this device comprising means for driving this element between two end-of-travel positions, as well as a control unit for these drive means, this unit being able to act on these means to interrupt and / or reverse their operation as a function of the value and / or the variation of a parameter representative of an interaction between this element and an obstacle on the trajectory of this element between the two aforementioned positions. This device is characterized in that the drive means comprise means forming a stop and able to limit the displacement of this element at one of its extreme positions, in that the limitation of this displacement by these means forming a stop induces a variation of this parameter, in that the control unit can differentiate a variation of the aforementioned parameter, representative of an interaction of the aforementioned element with an obstacle, of a variation resulting from the action of the means forming an abutment and in that this unit can command differently the means according to the result of the aforementioned differentiation.

The control unit thus makes it possible, by virtue of the differentiation it operates, to provide both an anti-collision safety function and a stop function of the closure element when it arrives in one of the either of its end positions, without the need for a meter or switch. The commissioning of such a device is therefore simple and fast and its cost is more attractive than that of known equipment.

• L'unité de commande peut différencier les variations précitées du paramètre par rapport à des variations de ce paramètre qui sont induites par le fonctionnement normal des moyens d'entraînement, notamment les variations de ce paramètre qui résultent d'oscillations de faible amplitude de l'élément de fermeture ou de protection solaire lors de son déplacement. Dans le cas d'un écran enroulable, ces variations normales peuvent, par exemple, résulter de la sur ou sous-compensation du poids de cet écran.
• Les moyens formant butée sont positionnés, par rapport à des moyens de détection des valeurs et/ou variations du paramètre, plus près que la zone d'interaction entre un obstacle et cet élément en cours de déplacement.
• La chaîne de transmission d'efforts entre les moyens formant butée et des moyens de détection des valeurs et/ou variations du paramètre est telle qu'un effort au niveau des moyens formant butée est transmis avec un amortissement moindre qu'un effort entre un obstacle et l'élément de fermeture ou de protection solaire en cours de déplacement.
• Les moyens d'entraînement sont constitués par un vérin, alors que les moyens formant butée comprennent des moyens de butée intrinsèque de ce vérin.

According to advantageous but non-mandatory aspects of the invention, such a device may incorporate one or more of the following features:

• The control unit can differentiate the aforementioned variations of the parameter from variations of this parameter which are induced by the normal operation of the drive means, in particular the variations of this parameter which result from oscillations of small amplitude of the closure element or sun protection when moving. In the case of a roll-up screen, these normal variations may, for example, result from the over or under-compensation of the weight of this screen.
• The abutment means are positioned, with respect to means for detecting the values and / or variations of the parameter, closer than the zone of interaction between an obstacle and this element being displaced.
• The chain of transmission of forces between the means forming a stop and means for detecting the values and / or variations of the parameter is such that a force on the means forming a stop is transmitted with less damping than a force between an obstacle. and the closing element or sun protection during movement.
• The drive means are constituted by a jack, while the abutment means comprise intrinsic stop means of this jack.

• a) limiter le déplacement de l'élément par des moyens formant butée au niveau de l'une au moins des positions de fin de course, en induisant une variation du paramètre ;
• b) différencier une variation du paramètre représentatif d'une interaction avec un obstacle d'une variation résultant de la limitation du mouvement par les moyens formant butée et ;
• c) agir sur les moyens d'entraînement en fonction du résultat de la différenciation.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling the operation of a closure or sun protection element which can be implemented with the above-mentioned device and, more specifically, a method in which the value is detected and / or the variation of a parameter representative of an interaction between such an element and an obstacle, on the trajectory of this element between the aforementioned positions. This method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

• a) limiting the displacement of the element by stop means at at least one of the end positions, by inducing a variation of the parameter;
• b) differentiating a variation of the parameter representative of an interaction with an obstacle from a variation resulting from the limitation of movement by the stop means and;
• c) act on the training means according to the result of the differentiation.

The above-mentioned variations are advantageously distinguished from those induced by the normal operation of the drive means.

The differentiation can be performed on the basis of the duration of a variation of the parameter which corresponds substantially to a stop of the drive means.

• De façon avantageuse, on agit sur les moyens d'entraînement pour:
  • d) inverser le sens de fonctionnement des moyens d'entraînement lorsque la variation du paramètre est différenciée comme représentative d'une interaction de l'élément avec un obstacle et
  - e) arrêter le fonctionnement de ces moyens d'entraînement lorsque la variation du paramètre est différenciée comme résultant de la limitation du mouvement par les moyens formant butée.

The parameter whose values and / or variations are detected can be the position or the rotational speed of an electric drive motor, the torque developed by the motor, the back EMF of the motor, the motor supply current or phase shift in voltage or current between windings of this motor.

• Advantageously, the drive means are acted upon for:
  • d) reversing the direction of operation of the driving means when the variation of the parameter is differentiated as representative of an interaction of the element with an obstacle and
  e) stopping the operation of these drive means when the variation of the parameter is differentiated as resulting from the limitation of the movement by the stop means.

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématique de principe, en vue de dessus, d'un portail à un vantail incorporant un dispositif de manoeuvre conforme à l'invention;
• La figure 2 est une coupe longitudinale schématique à plus grande échelle d'un bras de manoeuvre de l'installation de la figure 1 dans une première configuration;
• La figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 2 lorsque le bras est dans une seconde configuration ;
• La figure 4 est une représentation schématique de principe de la variation de vitesse de rotation du moteur de l'installation des figures 1 à 3, lorsque le vantail heurte un obstacle ;
• La figure 5 est une représentation analogue à la figure 4 représentant la variation de la vitesse lorsque le vantail arrive dans sa position de fin de course de fermeture ;
• La figure 6 est un schéma-bloc représentant un procédé de contrôle mis en oeuvre dans l'installation des figures 1 à 3 ;
• La figure 7 est une vue analogue à la figure 2 pour une installation conforme à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• La figure 8 est une représentation en vue de côté d'une l'installation conforme à un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• La figure 9 est une vue dans le sens de la flèche A à la figure 8, lorsque la porte est en train de parvenir dans sa position de fermeture et
• La figure 10 est une vue analogue à la figure 9 pour une installation conforme à un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention, alors que la porte est en train de parvenir dans sa position d'ouverture maximale et
• la figure 11 est un schéma bloc analogue à celui de la figure 6 pour un autre procédé de contrôle.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will emerge more clearly in the light of the following description of four embodiments of an operating device according to its principle and their methods of implementation. , given solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of principle, in top view, of a gate with a leaf incorporating an operating device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section on a larger scale of an operating arm of the installation of Figure 1 in a first configuration;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 when the arm is in a second configuration;
• Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the principle of the rotational speed variation of the engine of the installation of Figures 1 to 3, when the leaf strikes an obstacle;
• Figure 5 is a representation similar to Figure 4 showing the variation in speed when the leaf reaches its closing end position;
• Figure 6 is a block diagram showing a control method implemented in the installation of Figures 1 to 3;
• Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 for an installation according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 8 is a side view of an installation according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• FIG. 9 is a view in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 8, when the door is reaching its closed position and
• FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 for an installation according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, while the door is reaching its maximum open position and
• Figure 11 is a block diagram similar to that of Figure 6 for another control method.

The installation shown in Figures 1 to 3 is intended to move a leaf 1 between an open position, shown in solid lines and a closed position shown in phantom, where the leaf closes an opening defined between two pillars 2 and 2 '. The leaf 1 pivots about a vertical axis Z ₁ defined by a lug 21 secured to the pillar 2. The leaf 1 is driven by an electric jack 3 itself articulated about an axis Z ₃ parallel to the axis Z ₁ and defined by another lug 22 carried by the pillar 2. The rod 31 of the jack 3 is hinged, about an axis Z ₃₁ parallel to the axis Z ₁ , on a lug 11 carried by the leaf 1.

A control unit 4 makes it possible to control the movements of the leaf 1 by appropriately driving the jack 3.

As is more particularly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the jack 3 comprises a casing 32, one end 32a of which is articulated on the lug 22 and in which is disposed an electric motor 33, for example a direct current motor, supplied with current I by unit 4 by means of a multiconductor cable 41.

The output shaft 34 of the motor 33 is threaded and screwed into an internal thread 31a of the rod 31 which is immobilized in rotation and whose end 31b is hinged to the lug 11, as explained above.

An encoder 35 makes it possible to detect the instantaneous angular position α of the rotor of the motor 33 and transmits the corresponding information to the unit 4 in the form of an electric signal S ₁ (α) by means of a conductive cable 42.

du moteur 3.As is more particularly apparent from FIG. 6, the method of processing the data inside the unit 4 comprises a first step 1001 in which the speed of rotation is calculated from the signal S ₁ (α). $\mathrm{\theta }=\frac{d\alpha }{d\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="3"\; label="t\; engine"\; filenames="imgf0001.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">t\; </figure-callout>}}$

engine 3.

.In a second step 1002, the unit 4 calculates the variation of the speed θ as a function of time, ie $\frac{d\theta }{dt}$

.

In a third step 1003, the absolute value of this variation is compared to a first predetermined value V ₁ representative of the speed variations occurring normally during the opening and closing movements of the leaf 1 between its end positions represented respectively in full lines and in phantom lines in Figure 1. Given the friction in the joints and possible hard spots in the junctions, the speed θ can vary along the path of the leaf 1, in normal proportions. The value V ₁ is chosen so that it can be considered that the operation is normal when the absolute value of dθ / dt is less than this value. In this case, steps 1001 to 1003 are repeated and unit 4 continues to supply the motor 33 normally.

When the absolute value of dθ / dt is greater than V ₁ , the attitude to be adopted is differentiated according to the conditions of variations of the speed.

More precisely, if we consider the case where the leaf 1 encounters an obstacle on its trajectory while it is moving, its speed decreases, as represented in FIG. 4, between a normal value θ _n and a zero value. θ ₀ . Δt is the time taken by the speed θ to go from the speed θ _n to the speed θ ₀ .

The value of Δt depends on the catching up of the games at the joints of the jack 3 on the lugs 11 and 22, as well as on the level of the hinge of the leaf 1 on the pillar 2 and at the interfaces between the rod 31 and the 34 and between the internal components of the engine 33. In practice, the value of Δt is of the order of 300 milliseconds.

An abutment 36 in the form of a flange is fixed around the rod 31 inside the housing 22 and intended to bear against a cover 37 of the housing 32 when the jack is fully deployed, that is to say when the leaf is in the closed position, as shown in Figure 3.

The sensor 35 is also used to detect the stopping of the motor 33 when the stop 36 hits the cover 37. In this case, the variation of the speed of rotation θ between its normal value θ _n and the value θ ₀ representative of a stop, occurs on a time interval Δt much shorter than in the previous case. In practice, the value of Δt in this case is of the order of 20 milliseconds. Indeed, no backlash of play occurs at the joints between the cylinder 3 and the lugs 11 and 22 or between the leaf 1 and the pillar 2, so that the variation in the speed corresponding to the stopping of the engine 33 is much faster.

This faster variation of the speed comes from the fact that the chain of transmission of effort between the abutment 36 and the encoder 35 is shorter and more precise than the transmission chain of effort between the leaf 1 and the encoder 35. As a result, the damping of the blocking force F ₁ , exerted on the stop 36 by the cover 37 and transmitted to the motor 33 to stop it, is less than the damping of the blocking force resulting from the interaction between leaf 1 and an obstacle placed on its trajectory. This corresponds to the fact that the stop 36 is placed closer to the motor 33 and the encoder 35 than the leaf 1 itself.

It is used that the duration of variation Δt is lower when the stop 36 comes into action to differentiate a stop of the motor 33 due to an interaction of the leaf 1 with an obstacle of a stop due to the implementation of the stop 36. More precisely, during a step 1004, the value of Δt defined above is compared with a predetermined reference value ΔT, for example equal to 100 milliseconds. During step 1004, it can be considered that, if Δt is smaller than ΔT, we are in the situation of FIG. 5 where the stop 36 has intervened, whereas, if Δt is greater than ΔT, we are in the situation of Figure 4 corresponding to a blockage of the leaf 1 by an obstacle.

To account for the deviation of the Δt values in FIGS. 4 and 5, the time scale in these figures is different.

When Δt is less than ΔT, the unit 1004 can be programmed to, in a step 1005, control the stopping of the motor 33 which has then reached its end position corresponding to the closing of the leaf.

On the contrary, when Δt is greater than ΔT, the unit 1004 can be programmed to control, in a step 1006, a reversal of the direction of movement of the motor 33, that is to say of the leaf 1 to release an obstacle struck. by this leaf.

The abutment 36 and the cover 37 constitute the intrinsic stop means of the maximum extension movement of the jack 3. No part must therefore be added to the jack 3 to provide the stop function used in the invention.

In addition, the cylinders are generally delivered in fully deployed configuration, that is to say in a configuration where their intrinsic stop is active. When installing a leaf as shown in Figure 1, just put it in closed configuration, then mount the cylinder 3 as delivered, both on the pillar 2 and on the leaf 1 to obtain a stop end race without further adjustment.

The measurement of the speed θ can be carried out directly by an optical type or hall effect encoder, by measuring the back EMF of the motor in the case of a DC motor, or by any other known means.

The parameter used by the unit 4 to detect its variations may also be the torque developed by the motor 33 during the maneuver, this torque being measured by the motor supply current. In the case of an AC motor, for example of two-phase asynchronous type, the measurement of the torque can also be performed by measuring the phase shift in voltage or current between motor windings.

Variations in speed or torque are conventionally obtained by a derivative calculation.

As shown in FIG. 7, two abutments 36 and 36 'can be mounted on the rod 31 of a jack 3, which makes it possible to detect the arrival of leaf 1 in its two open and closed end-of-travel positions. stops 36 'and 36 then respectively bearing against the cover 37 of the housing 32 of the cylinder. One can then act according to step 1005 in these two positions.

In the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear identical references increased by 100. This installation allows the operation of a sectional garage door 101 between a closed position shown in solid lines and an open position shown in phantom. The door 101 is connected to a carriage 105 moving back and forth parallel to the ceiling 102 of a building. The carriage 105 is connected to the door 101 by an arm 106 which is articulated on a tab 111 and on a tab 151 respectively integral with the door 101 and the carriage 105.

The carriage 105 is driven towards and away from the lintel 121 of the opening to be closed by means of a drive device 103 which comprises an endless chain 131 disposed inside a rail 132 and driven by a electric motor 133 whose output shaft is engaged with a pinion gear 134 around which is wound the chain 131 about 180 °, while a second pinion 134 'is mounted loosely on the rail 132, away from the pinion 134.

A connecting nut 138 is fixed on the chain 131 while being secured to the carriage 105, which makes it possible to reciprocate the carriage 105 as a function of the rotation printed by the motor 133 to the pinion 134.

An encoder 135 is coupled to the motor 133 and makes it possible to detect the instantaneous position α of its rotor.

As in the first embodiment, the output signal S ₁ (α) of the encoder 135 is transmitted, by a conducting cable 142, to a control unit 104 which supplies the motor 133 with its drive current I by means of a multicore cable 141.

A thrust shuttle 136 is fixed on the chain 131. It is intended to bear against a stop 137 mounted in an adjustable manner on the rail 132. The shuttle 136 and the stop 137 are positioned respectively on the chain 131 and on the rail 132 so that the abutment 136 bears against the abutment 137 when the carriage 105 reaches the end of the stroke when closing the door 101, that is to say when the door 101 reaches its configuration shown in solid lines at Figure 8, from that shown in phantom.

As in the first embodiment, the unit 104 can differentiate a variation in the speed of rotation θ = dα / dt of the engine 133 resulting from a blockage of the door 101 by an obstacle during descent or ascent, to which in which case the time interval Δt during which the speed of rotation of the motor changes from a normal speed θ _n to a zero or almost zero speed θ ₀ is of the order of a few hundred milliseconds, of a more abrupt variation of this speed, of the order of a few tens of milliseconds, which occurs when the shuttle 136 comes into contact with the stop 137.

As in the first embodiment, the stop 136 is closer to the motor 133 and the encoder 135 than the lower panel 112 of the door 101.

The abutment 137 is positioned so that, when the shuttle 136 bears against this abutment, the chain portion separating this shuttle 136 from the pinion 134 is very short, in practice as short as possible, which makes it possible to preserve the Δt interval corresponding to that shown in Figure 5 for the first embodiment a low value, for example less than 20 milliseconds.

The damping due to the clearance of the clearance between the door panels, the lugs 111 and 151, the butt 106, the carriage 105 and the chain 131, which occurs when the door 101 meets an obstacle, does not occur in case interaction between elements 136 and 137.

As in the first embodiment, variations of small amplitude of the speed θ are not taken into account to act on the drive means 103. These variations can result from variations in the compensation of the weight of the door 101.

As shown in FIG. 10, a second shuttle 136 'can be mounted on the chain 131, a second stop 137' then being mounted at a suitable location on the rail 132 to stop the operation of the motor 133 at the end of the race. In the configuration of FIG. 10, the shuttle 136 is remote from the abutment 137 and is in the cut portion of the rail in this figure.

The invention is described in the foregoing for applications where variations in speed are taken into account. according to the time. It is also applicable in the case where the control unit determines whether a parameter exceeds a threshold value, regardless of the temporal variation of this parameter. For example, if the detected parameter is the torque C generated by a motor, this torque varies in increasing until it exceeds a first value C ₁ when a leaf or a door hits an obstacle. When the leaf or the door reaches a limit position, the torque varies in ascending order to exceed a second value C ₂ , greater than C ₁ because the damping of the locking effect of the leaf or the door is less than when interacting with an obstacle. By measuring the value of the torque C and determining whether it is between C ₁ and C ₂ or greater than C ₂ , it is therefore possible to differentiate the causes of increase of this torque and to act accordingly on the motor. 'training.

As represented in FIG. 11, a method in accordance with the invention thus comprises a step 1003 where the value of C is compared with C ₁ and where normal operation is conserved as long as C remains less than or equal to C ₁ . If C exceeds C ₁ , a differentiation step 1004 is carried out by comparing C with the value C ₂ . If C is less than C ₂ , then it can be considered that the displaced element has encountered an obstacle and the operation of the drive means is reversed in a step 1006. If C is greater than or equal to C ₂ , then we can consider that the element reaches the end of the stroke and the drive means are stopped in a step 1005.

In all cases, the invention makes it possible, by means of a single control unit 4 or 104, to carry out two differentiated operations for controlling the movements of a closure element or sun protection element, namely the control of a movement in the opposite direction when an obstacle is encountered on the trajectory of this element or the control of the stopping of the motor when the element reaches an end position, the differentiation between the two actions to be undertaken being performed on the basis of the variation mode of the parameter used.

Claims (10)

Apparatus for operating a closing or sun protection element (1; 101), said device comprising means (3; 103) for driving said element between two end-of-travel positions and a control unit (4; ) of said drive means, said unit being able to act on said means to interrupt and / or reverse their operation as a function of the value (α, θ, C) and / or the variation (θ, dθ / dt) d a parameter representative of an interaction between said element and an obstacle on the path of said element between said positions, characterized in that the driving means (3; 103) comprise stop means (36, 37, 36 '; 136, 137, 136 ', 137') adapted to limit the displacement of said element at one of said extreme positions, in that the limitation of said displacement by said stop means induces a variation of said parameter, in that said unit command (4; 104) is a to differentiate (1004) a variation (dθ / dt, C) of said parameter (θ, C) representative of an interaction (Δt>ΔT; C ₁ <C <C ₂ ) of said element (1; 101) with an obstacle of a variation resulting from the action (Δt≤ΔT; C≥C ₂ ) of said stop means and in that said unit is adapted to to control differently (1005, 1006) said drive means (3; 1003) according to the result of the differentiation. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit (4; 1004) is able to differentiate said variations of said parameter of variations $\left(\left|\frac{d\theta }{dt}\right|\le V_1;\mathrm{VS}\le {\mathrm{VS}}_1\right)$

said parameter induced by the normal operation of said drive means (3; 103). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said abutment means (36, 37, 36 ', 136, 137, 136', 137 ') are positioned relative to detecting means (35; values (α, θ, C) and / or variations (θ, dθ / dt, C) of said parameter, closer than the interaction zone (112) between an obstacle and said element (1; 101). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chain (31-34; 131-134) for transmitting forces between said stop means (36, 37, 36 '; 136, 137, 136', 137 ') and means (35; 135) for detecting the values and / or variations of said parameter is such that a force (F ₁ ) at said stop means is transmitted with less damping than a force between an obstacle and said element (1; 101) being moved along its path between said end positions. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said drive means consist of a jack (3) and in that said abutment means (36, 37, 36 ') comprise the intrinsic stop means (36). 37) of the rod (31) of said cylinder. Method for controlling the operation, between two end-of-travel positions, of a closing element (1; 101) for solar protection by drive means, in which the value (α, θ, C) is detected ) and / or the variation (θ, dθ / dt) of a parameter representative of an interaction between said element and an obstacle on the trajectory of said element between said elements positions, characterized in that it comprises steps of: - a) limiting the displacement of the element by abutment means (36, 37, 36 '; 136, 137, 136', 137 ') at at least one of said end positions, inducing a variation (θ, dθ / dt) of said parameter; b) differentiating (1004) a variation of the parameter representative of an interaction (Δt>ΔT; C ₁ <C <C ₂ ) with an obstacle of a variation (Δt≤ΔT; C≥C ₂ ) resulting from the limitation movement by said stop means and; - c) act (1005, 1006) on the drive means (3; 103) depending on the result of the differentiation. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the variations (dθ / dt≤V _1; C≤C ₁ ) of said parameter induced by the normal operation of said drive means (3, 103) are also differentiated. Method according to one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the differentiation is carried out on the basis of the duration of a variation (Δt) of said parameter substantially corresponding to a stop (θ _n -θ _o ) of said means of drive (3; 103). Method according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the parameter whose values and / or variations are detected is the position (α) or the speed (θ) of a drive motor (33; electrical, the torque (C) developed by said motor, the back EMF of said motor, the current (I) for supplying said motor or the phase shift in voltage or current between the windings of said motor. Method according to one of Claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said drive means is acted upon for: d) inverting (1006) the direction of operation of said drive means, when the variation of said parameter is differentiated (1004) as representative of an interaction (Δt ≤ΔT; C ₁ <C <C ₂ ) of said element with a obstacle or e) stopping (1005) the operation of said drive means when the variation of said parameter is differentiated (1004) as resulting from the limitation of the movement (Δt≤ΔT; C≥C ₂ ) by said stop means (36, 37 , 36 ', 37', 136, 137, 136 ', 137').

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