WO2009098556A1

WO2009098556A1 - Device for operating a venetian blind or solar curtains placed within a sealed space between two panes

Info

Publication number: WO2009098556A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/055408
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volodymyr Anatolijovych Milka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-04
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2009-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2010-08-04
Also published as: UA35743U

Abstract

A device for operating a Venetian blind or solar curtains placed inside a geometrical space between two panes is disclosed. The device comprises an electric drive such as a motor, electromagnet, etc., disposed in a direct physical contact with an internal device and useful for operating the Venetian blind or solar curtains. The electric device is powered through immobile contacts poured with sealant. This will ensure the reliability of device operation and will prevent seal failure of an IGU.

Description

DEVICE FOR OPERATING A VENETIAN BLIND OR SOLAR CURTAINS PLACED WITHIN A SEALED SPACE BETWEEN

TWO PANES

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to devices for operating Venetian blinds and solar curtains placed within a sealed space between two panes. Background Art

[2] One of the methods to protect an apartment against heat loss is to install vacuum insulated glazing unit (IGU) windows. Known in the art is also the use of Venetian blinds or solar curtains which, during summer, prevents sunlight from entering buildings thereby protecting them against hot weather. Practice has shown that the more preferable way to install such Venetian blinds or solar curtains is to install them within a space formed between two panes. This facilitates their normal operation in the long run: they do not become dusty, require no additional servicing, as well as are not exposed to external mechanical factors. Such type of blinds or curtains can be operated by means of devices, which are external with respect thereto and are generally installed inside buildings. Currently, in manufacturing of IGUs, to seal their internal space, use is made of silica gel (molecular sieve) poured with sealant (butyl and silicone) is used in manufacturing of IGUs in order to seal their internal space. A problem of installing a Venetian blind operated from outside within an IGU while keeping the space within the IGU hermetically sealed, is, therefore, emerged.

[3] Russian patent No. RU 2127793 Cl discloses a device, which comprises a Venetian blind placed inside a glass chamber comprising two panes; an intermediate frame for holding the two panes; a horizontal shaft disposed within a sealed space formed by the two panes and used for holding and operating the Venetian blind; an internal device for rotating the shaft with a permanent magnet installed at an end thereof at a short distance from the pane internal face; and the second magnet disposed at a short distance from the external face of the pane and provided with a step-down gear unit; and, according to a conventional configuration, a means for operating the Venetian blind, a cord, or, preferably, a motor disposed outside the sealed space of the insulated glazing unit, which is a more convenient means of operation.

[4] The main disadvantages of the above-mentioned invention include complexity in its manufacture, expensiveness, and magnetic coupling unreliability all these affecting adversely the sales and the level of sales. Accordingly, the object of this invention is to overcome these disadvantages, to simplify the manufacture of IGUs, and to improve reliability. The present invention may also be practiced in a Smart House system. Disclosure of Invention Technical Solution

[5] The object of this invention is achieved due to the fact that operation of a Venetian blind is carried out with the help of electric drives which are disposed within a hermetically sealed space of an IGU comprising two panes, an intermediate frame for holding the two panes and are in a direct physical contact, with no magnetic decoupling, with a step-down gear unit for rotating horizontal shafts which hold, raise and lower Venetian blind lamellae and turn the same. In one embodiment of the present invention, the contacts of these electric drives are poured with sealant and disposed in the intermediate frame and, due to their immobility, will not cause a premature wear or seal failure of the IGU (Fig. 1). In another embodiment, an intermediate metal frame serves as the contacts of these electric drives.

[6] In yet another embodiment, the electric drives and certain parts of internal devices can be disposed within a hermetically sealed envelope arranged outside the IGU but whose geometrical space is common with the geometrical space of IGU (Fig.6). This embodiment may be practiced in IGUs in which the distance between the panes is too short for placing certain parts of the device while is sufficient enough for curtains or Venetian blind lamellae.

[7] A control unit is located outside the IGU geometrical space and is connected to the contacts of the device poured with sealant (see Fig.4, reference number 18).

[8] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that such devices may also be operated using a remote control unit a receiving device 19 whereof may be disposed either in the blind device housing itself inside the IGU geometrical space (Fig. 4) or outside it, for example, at the front face of window frame.

[9] Some embodiments of the device in accordance with the present invention and the operation of one of them will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Description of Drawings

[10] Fig. 1 is a front sectional view of an IGU, the IGU comprising: a glass 1; an IGU fastening frame 2; silica gel 3; sealant 4; a Venetian blind device housing 5; a motor 6 for raising and lowering the Venetian blind; a step-down gear unit 7; an shaft 8 with reels 9 fitted thereon; a cord 10 attached to said reels; lamellae 11; a motor 12 for turning said lamellae; a step-down gear unit 13; an shaft 14 with reels 15 fitted thereon; braces 16; and contacts 17 of the electric drive;

[11] Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1, illustrating the motor 6 for control of raising and lowering the Venetian blind; [12] Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 1, illustrating the motor 12 for control of turning the lamellae about their longitudinal axes;

[13] Fig. 4 is the front view of the window comprising control unit buttons 18 and sensors of a receiving device 19 of a remote control unit disposed thereat;

[14] Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention comprising solar curtains 20; and

[15] Fig. 6 shows an embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention in which the drive 21 of the Venetian blind is disposed within a hermetically sealed envelope 22 arranged outside the IGU but whose geometrical space is common with the geometrical space thereof. Industrial Applicability

[16] The device depicted in Fig. 1 operates as follows: upon pressing the corresponding push-button of the control unit, the motor 6 is activated and rotates, through the step- down gear unit 7, the shaft 8 with the reels 9 fitted thereon, thereby causing the winding of the cord 10 around the reels which cord in turn raises the Venetian blind. Upon pressing the other push-button of the control unit, the motor 6 is activated to rotate in the opposite direction and the cord is unwinding this resulting in the lowering of the Venetian blind.

[17] In one embodiment of the device in accordance with the present invention comprising the solar curtains 20 (Fig. 5), the raising or lowering of the solar curtains occurs upon activation of the motor 6.

[18] Upon pressing the corresponding push-buttons of the control unit, the motor 12 is activated to rotate in some or other direction and rotates, through the step-down gear unit 13, the shaft 14 with the reels 15 fitted thereon causing the braces 16 to turn Venetian blind about their longitudinal axes in order to reduce or to increase a light flux penetrating between them. In an embodiment comprising the solar curtains, this portion of the device in accordance with the present invention is absent.

[19] References:

[20] 1. Russian Patent No. 2127793 of 20 March 1999, Cl. 6 E 06 B 9 /264.

[21] 2. EP 0245811 A of 19 November 1987.

Claims

[1] L A device for operating a Venetian blind (11) or curtains (20), comprising the

Venetian blind (11) or the curtains (20) placed within a glass chamber comprising two panes (1); an intermediate frame (2) for holding the panes; a horizontal shaft (8) which is disposed within a sealed space formed by two panes and is used for holding and ensuring raising and lowering of the Venetian blind or curtains; an internal step-down gear unit (7) for rotating a shaft (8); an electric drive (6) to ensure the operation of the internal device, characterized in that the electric drive is disposed inside a geometrical space formed by the panes.

[2] 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises a horizontal shaft (14); an internal step-down gear unit (13) for rotating shaft (14); and an electric drive (12) to ensure the turning of Venetian blind lamellae.

[3] 3. The device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that said electric drive is disposed outside an insulated glazing unit within a hermetically sealed envelope (22) poured with sealant whose geometrical space is common with the geometrical space of the insulated glazing unit.

[4] 4. The device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the electric drives are powered through contacts (17) poured in the intermediate frame.

[5] 5. The device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the intermediate frame serves as contacts of the electric drives.

[6] 6. The device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the Venetian blind is operated with the help of a control unit (18) disposed outside said geometrical space.

[7] 7. The device according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that the Venetian blind is operated with the help of a remote control unit a receiving device (19) whereof is disposed inside said geometrical space.