Motor assembly for architectural opening covering systems

Abstract

A motor assembly for a building opening covering system, the motor assembly comprising a main motor, a slave motor, an electrical energy storage device for storing electrical energy, a control circuit, and a housing accommodating the main motor, the slave motor, the electrical energy storage device, and the control circuit. The main motor and the slave motor are arranged side by side at a first end of the housing in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, the main drive shaft and the slave drive shaft being parallel to the longitudinal direction. The housing is configured to be supported with the first end of the housing in one end of a rail in a first orientation and in the other end of the rail in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor assembly for a building opening covering system, and also to one or more such building opening covering systems in combination with or including at least one such motor assembly.

[0002] Different types of architectural opening covering components are known, including, for example, roller blinds, blackout blinds, and venetian blinds. In some of these covering components, a flexible material, such as fabric, is used as the covering. An actuation mechanism allows the user to extend and retract the fabric relative to openings such as windows, doors, or other openings in the building structure.

[0003] WO 2012 / 109147 describes a building opening covering system using a top-down / bottom-up configuration with an extending and retractable covering, such as a roller blind or blackout curtain. In the top-down / bottom-up configuration, a top rail is fixedly mounted to the upper portion of the building opening and operatively connected to movable intermediate and bottom rails. The covering, such as a roller blind, blackout curtain, mesh, or fabric, is connected between the movable intermediate and bottom rails such that as the intermediate and bottom rails move toward and away from each other, the covering extends to cover the building opening and retracts to expose it. The mobility of the intermediate and bottom rails allows for selective covering of the upper, middle, or bottom portion of the building opening using the covering.

[0004] One or more motor assemblies may be provided to move the intermediate guide rail and the bottom guide rail. One or more controllers may be provided to detect the position of the movable intermediate guide rail and the bottom guide rail, and to move the guide rails based on the detected position.

[0005] Building opening cladding systems are typically configured with a front and a rear side, with the front side intended to face the interior of the building structure. It is generally desirable that any user interface (including connection points, display features, and / or buttons) be located on the front facing the interior of the building structure.

[0006] This article recognizes that users may also need to provide interface features at either end of the guide rail of the building opening concealing system. For example, for a top-down or bottom-up arrangement of the user interface in the top horizontal guide rail, depending on the building structure where the building opening concealing system is to be installed, the user may require the interface to be located at the left or right end of the top guide rail (when viewed from the front).

[0007] According to the present invention, a motor assembly for a building opening covering system is provided. The motor assembly includes a main motor providing rotational drive about a main drive shaft, a slave motor providing rotational drive about a secondary drive shaft, an energy storage device for storing electrical energy for powering the main and slave motors, and a control circuit configured to control the operation of the main and slave motors using the electrical energy stored in the energy storage device. The motor assembly includes a housing housing the main motor, slave motor, energy storage device, and control circuit. The housing extends longitudinally between a first end and a second end. When installed in a building opening covering system, this can be a horizontal direction between a left end and a right end. The main motor and slave motor are arranged side-by-side at the first end of the housing in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, with the main and slave drive shafts parallel to the longitudinal direction. In the installed state, the main motor and slave motor can therefore be arranged one in front of the other in a front-rear direction. Within the housing, the energy storage device is arranged longitudinally toward the second end of the housing at a position spaced apart from the main motor and slave motor. The present invention provides a motor assembly that can be mounted in two opposite orientations in a building opening covering system, such that in a horizontally mounted guide rail, the motor assembly can be mounted at either the left or right end of the guide rail. In this respect, according to the invention, a housing has an external shape and dimensions configured to be supported in one end of the guide rail of the building opening covering system in a first orientation, wherein the first end of the housing faces inward toward the guide rail and toward the lifting mechanism; and supported in the other end of the guide rail of the building opening covering system in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, wherein the first end of the housing faces inward toward the guide rail and toward the lifting mechanism.

[0008] Therefore, in the horizontal guide rail of the building opening covering system, the first end of the housing can be installed at the left end of the guide rail, wherein the second end is located inside the left end, or alternatively, the first end can be installed at the right end of the guide rail, wherein the second end is located inside the right end.

[0009] In this way, the present invention allows for the provision of building opening covering systems for installation in opposite orientations without requiring dedicated corresponding systems. The motor assembly described in the present invention can be housed in either system, but installed in one of two opposite orientations. This reduces the number of components required for manufacturing and lowers costs. The building opening covering system may include rails configured to receive the housing of the motor assembly in either orientation. Alternatively, one rail may be provided to receive the housing in one orientation, and another rail may be provided to receive the housing in the opposite orientation.

[0010] The control circuitry may include a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board can be efficiently assembled / mounted within the housing in the space left by the motor and the energy storage device. The control circuitry may include: a printed circuit board comprising a motor driver; and a printed circuit board comprising a user interface and controls.

[0011] The energy storage device may include batteries. In practice, in one arrangement, the energy storage device may be two batteries arranged side by side at the second end of the housing in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0012] The housing can also extend laterally between the front and rear surfaces.

[0013] The master motor can be arranged adjacent to the front surface, and the slave motor can be arranged adjacent to the rear surface.

[0014] When installed in the guide rail of a building opening cover system, this places the main motor in the position where the main motor of such a building opening cover system is frequently used.

[0015] The housing may extend between the top and bottom surfaces in another direction, also perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Preferably, in both the first and second orientations, the front surfaces face the same direction, but in the first and second orientations, the top surfaces face opposite directions, respectively.

[0016] Therefore, regardless of whether the housing is mounted in the guide rail of the building opening closure system in a first or second orientation, the main motor will always face the front surface. Thus, the other parts of the opening closure system, including the ropes and guide rails used to control the system, can be standardized regardless of the housing motor assembly's mounting orientation. With the main motor adjacent to the front surface and the driven motor adjacent to the rear surface, and the main motor always facing the front of the guide rail and the driven motor always facing the rear of the guide rail, the main drive shaft and driven drive shaft will always be in the same position to drive the other components of the building opening closure system.

[0017] The motor assembly may also include at least one of an LED, a connector port, and a button that are connected to the control circuit and disposed on the front surface of the housing.

[0018] These components are examples of user interfaces. Because the housing can be mounted in either a first or second orientation, features of the user interface, such as LEDs, connector ports, or buttons, can always face the front of the building opening cover system, regardless of which end of the building opening cover system has the motor assembly mounted on it.

[0019] User interface features, such as LEDs, connector ports, and buttons, can be located at the second end of the housing.

[0020] The user interface can be provided by a corresponding printed circuit board. LEDs, connector components, and buttons can be mounted on the printed circuit board.

[0021] According to the present invention, a building opening covering system is also provided, the building opening covering system including a guide rail extending between one end and another end and including a lifting mechanism for covering an object, and a motor assembly as defined above. The guide rail may define an internal space at the one end, the internal space being configured to support the housing of the motor assembly in a first orientation, wherein a main motor and a slave motor provide drive to the lifting mechanism.

[0022] The building opening covering system can be combined with another building opening covering system having a guide rail extending between one end and the other end and including a lifting mechanism for the covering. The guide rail of the other building opening covering system defines additional internal space to support the housing of the motor assembly in a second orientation, wherein the main motor and the slave motor provide drive to the lifting mechanism.

[0023] Building opening covering systems can be top-down systems, where the guide rail is a top guide rail and the building opening covering system includes a middle guide rail and a bottom guide rail, as well as a covering extending between the middle guide rail and the bottom guide rail.

[0024] The invention will be more clearly understood through the following description, given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 An example of a building opening covering system is shown;

[0026] Figures 2(a), (b), (c) and (d) illustrate embodiments of the motor assembly according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 A guide rail is shown for a building opening cover system for receiving motor assemblies;

[0028] Figure 4 The motor assembly with part of its housing removed is shown;

[0029] Figures 5(a), (b), (c) and (d) show the motor assembly with part of the housing removed;

[0030] Figures 6(a) and (b) show cross-sections of the motor assembly mounted within the guide rail;

[0031] Figures 7(a) and (b) show details of one end of the motor assembly;

[0032] Figures 8(a) and (b) and (c) and (d) show the motor assemblies assembled to the opposite ends of the guide rail; and

[0033] Figures 9(a) and (b) show the guide rails for the building opening cover system used to receive motor components.

[0034] The following description relates to an example of installing the motor assembly of the present invention in a top-down / bottom-up building opening covering system, such as that described in WO 2012 / 109147. However, it should be understood that the motor assembly can be similarly installed in other building opening covering systems that require the use of two motors to drive the extension and / or retraction of the covering.

[0035] Figure 1 An exemplary building opening covering system 10 in the form of a top-down / bottom-up building opening covering system is shown. The building opening covering system can be installed at a building opening (not shown) to allow the covering to be pulled upwards and / or downwards relative to the lower and upper portions of the building opening. Figure 1 As shown, the building opening covering system 10 includes a top rail 12, a middle rail 14, and a bottom rail 16. The top rail 12 is a fixed rail, while the middle rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 are movable. In the example shown, the top rail 12 can be fixedly mounted to a wall or frame (not shown) surrounding the building opening (not shown). The top rail 12 houses a master motor and a slave motor, as well as control circuitry that controls the actuation of the middle rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 to expose less or more of the top and / or bottom portion of the building opening.

[0036] As shown in the example, the intermediate rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 are connected to the top rail 12 via a lifting rope 18. The lifting rope 18 can lower and raise the intermediate rail 14 and the bottom rail 16. In operation, the intermediate rail 14 can move independently of the bottom rail 16 relative to the top rail 12, and the bottom rail 16 can move independently of the intermediate rail 14 relative to the top rail 12. In this way, by selectively and independently moving the bottom rail 16, a covering 20 (e.g., fabric, roller blind, etc.) positioned between the intermediate rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 can be raised from bottom to top. The covering 20 can also be lowered from top to bottom by selectively and independently moving the intermediate rail 14. By selectively moving the intermediate rail 14 and the bottom rail 16 relative to each other in this way, the covering 20 extends and retracts over different portions of the corresponding building openings to expose fewer or more building openings.

[0037] A main motor (described below) may be disposed in the top guide rail 12 to enable movement of the intermediate guide rail 14, and similarly, a slave motor (described below) may be disposed in the top guide rail 12 to enable movement of the bottom guide rail 16. Furthermore, appropriate control circuitry and / or power supply may be disposed in the top guide rail 12.

[0038] Top-down / bottom-up covering arrangements are well-known. Therefore, this document need not discuss various spool arrangements that might be used to extend and retract the lifting rope 18 to move the intermediate guide rail 14 and the bottom guide rail 16. It is sufficient to understand that the top guide rail 12 houses a master motor and a slave motor, each having a master drive shaft and a slave drive shaft, thereby providing appropriate rotational drive to the suitable arrangement to control the lifting rope 18.

[0039] Figures 2(a) and (c) and Figures 2(b) and (d) show the corresponding motor assemblies in the first orientation and the second orientation, respectively.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the motor assembly 30 has a modular form and is independent of the housing 40. The housing 40 extends in the longitudinal direction X, the transverse direction Y, and another transverse direction Z. Specifically, the housing extends from a first end 42 to a second end 44 in the longitudinal direction X, from a front surface 46 to a rear surface 48 in the transverse direction, and extends between a top surface 50 and a bottom surface 52 in the other transverse direction Z. Comparing the first orientation of Figures 2(a) and (c) with the second orientation of Figures 2(b) and (d), it should be noted that the first end 42 and the second end 44 are reversed, and the top surface 50 and the bottom surface 52 are reversed, but the front surface 46 and the rear surface 48 remain facing the same direction. As will be described in detail below, this ensures that the drive shaft of the housed motor remains in the same position to engage with other features of the building opening covering system.

[0041] Figures 2(a) through (d) also show connector ports 54, such as USB-C connector sockets, buttons 55, and LEDs 56, provided in the front surface 46 of the housing 40. Because the front surface 46 faces the same direction regardless of whether the housing is mounted in the first orientation of Figures 2(a) and (c) or the second orientation of Figures 2(b) and (d), these features of the user interface will always remain available to the user. As shown, the connector ports 54, buttons 55, and LEDs 56 are positioned towards the second end 44 of the housing 40.

[0042] Figure 3 schematically shown Figure 1 The lower portion of an example of the top guide rail 12, wherein the top portion is cut off.

[0043] As shown in schematic block 60, various spools and rope assemblies are provided as drive assemblies for controlling the lifting rope 18. These different components of drive assembly 60 require only rotational drive about the main drive shaft 62 and rotational drive about the parallel slave drive shaft 64.

[0044] exist Figure 3In the arrangement shown, each end of the top guide rail 12 is configured to support the motor assembly 30. Specifically, in the first orientation of Figures 2(a) and (c), the motor assembly 30 may be mounted in and supported by the first end 66 of the top guide rail 12. In the second orientation of Figures 2(b) and (d), the motor assembly may also be arranged in and supported by the opposite second end 68 of the top guide rail 12. In practice, the top guide rail 12 may have a constant / uniform profile cross-section (e.g., it may be constructed as an extrusion), and therefore may have a configuration that supports the motor assembly 30 at any point along the length of the top guide rail 12.

[0045] Figure 3 A convenient arrangement is shown in which the drive assembly extends directly above the lifting rope opening. However, the drive assembly 60 can also be longitudinally offset from at least one lifting rope opening. Suitable guiding devices can be provided for the rope. With this arrangement, the lifting rope can be guided to the corresponding lifting rope opening below the motor assembly 30. With the lifting rope extending below the motor, it is possible to provide a spool and one or more ropes extending through the fabric to be accommodated, regardless of the motor's position. By positioning the drive assembly 60 and the corresponding rope spool away from the lifting rope opening, space can be provided at the end of the guide rail for other hardware, such as the motor assembly 30 discussed herein.

[0046] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of the motor assembly 30 in a second orientation is shown in Figures 2(b) and (d). As shown, the motor assembly 30 includes a master motor 72 providing rotational drive about a master drive shaft 62 and a slave motor 74 providing rotational drive about a slave drive shaft 64. The master motor 72 and the slave motor 74 are supported side-by-side in the transverse direction Y within the housing 40, with the master motor facing the front surface 46. As shown in Figure 2(b), corresponding openings 76 and 78 are provided at the first end 42 on the master drive shaft 62 and the slave drive shaft 64, thereby allowing rotational drive from the master motor 72 and the slave motor 74 to be transmitted to the outside of the housing 40 of the motor assembly 30.

[0047] Figure 5(a) shows an example of the interior of the first end 42 of the housing 40, where connecting parts 82 and 84 are respectively disposed on the shafts of the main motor 72 and the driven motor 74. Connecting parts 82, 84 are configured to engage with corresponding shafts of the drive assembly 60 to provide rotary drive to the drive assembly 60. As shown, the corresponding connecting parts 82, 84 may have different profiles for engaging with different corresponding shafts of the drive assembly 60. By providing different profiles, it can be ensured that the motor assembly 30 always engages with the appropriate shaft of the drive assembly 60. In other words, it ensures that the main motor drives the appropriate shaft of the drive assembly 60 and the driven motor drives the appropriate features of the drive assembly 60.

[0048] The motor assembly includes control circuitry configured to control the operation of both the master and slave motors. This control circuitry is responsive to features such as button 55 and LED 56. Communication with the control circuitry is possible via connector port 54. Furthermore, connector port 54 can be used to provide power to recharge the energy storage device of the motor assembly 30. The control circuitry can be mounted on one or more printed circuit boards. In the illustrated arrangement, the control circuitry is distributed among three printed circuit boards 86, 88, and 90. Printed circuit boards 86 and 88 can be used to control the motors, while printed circuit board 90 can be used as part of the user interface. As shown in Figure 7, connector port 54, button 55, and LED 56 can be directly mounted on printed circuit board 90.

[0049] In summary, the motor assembly 30 can then be mounted at the first end 66 of the top guide rail 12 in the first orientation shown in Figures 2(a) and (b), wherein the first end 42 of the housing 40 faces the drive assembly 60 towards the interior of the top guide rail 12. Alternatively, the motor assembly 30 can be similarly mounted at the second end 68 of the top guide rail 12, wherein the first end 42 of the housing 40 faces the drive assembly 60 towards the interior of the top guide rail 12. In both support arrangements, the main drive shaft 62 and the driven shaft 64 are located in the same position within the top guide rail 12 and can therefore drive the drive assembly 60 of the top guide rail 12 in the same manner.

[0050] The housing 40 of the motor assembly 30 has an external shape and dimensions that can be supported at either end 66 or 68 of the top guide rail 12 in either a first or second orientation. The housing includes features to achieve this purpose. Similarly, the surface of the top guide rail 12 has a shape and dimensions configured to receive the housing 40 of the motor assembly 30 in either orientation, wherein the main drive shaft 62 and the driven drive shaft 64 are properly aligned.

[0051] Figures 6(a) and (b) show an example cross-section of the top guide rail 12 of the housing 40 that contains and supports the motor assembly 30.

[0052] Return to Figure 4 As shown in Figures 5(a) to (d), the motor assembly 30 also includes batteries 92 and 94 as energy storage devices within the housing 40. Although the main motor 72 and the slave motor 74 are positioned toward the first end 42 of the housing and provide drive output through the first end 42 of the housing 40, the energy storage devices can be positioned toward the second end 44 of the housing 40. As shown, the energy storage devices are arranged in the longitudinal direction X toward the second end 44 of the housing 40 at a position spaced apart from the main motor 72 and the slave motor 74. A pair of batteries 92 and 94 are provided as energy storage devices, and these batteries can be axially aligned with the main drive shaft 62 and the slave drive shaft 64.

[0053] As described above, the motor assembly 30 may include a connector port 54, a button 55, and an LED 56. The motor assembly may alternatively or additionally include other user interface components. In the illustrated arrangement, the connector port 54, button 55, and LED 56 are disposed in the front surface 46 facing the second end 44 of the housing 40. These are shown in more detail in the cross-sectional views of Figures 7(a) and (b).

[0054] As shown in Figures 8(a) and (b), when the motor assembly 30 is mounted at the first end 66 of the top rail 12, the connector 54, button 55, and LED 56 of the user interface are configured to face towards or extend beyond the first end 66 of the first rail 12. Similarly, as shown in Figures 8(c) and (d), when the motor assembly 30 is mounted at the second end 68 of the top rail 12, the connector 54, button 55, and LED 56 are configured to face towards or extend beyond the second end 68 of the first rail 12.

[0055] The top rail 12 may be configured to support a housing 40 extending beyond the motor assembly 30, as shown in Figures 8(a) to (d). Alternatively, the ends 66 and 68 of the top rail 12 may include openings allowing access to / observation of the connector port 54, button, and LED 56. For example, the top rail 12 may be provided with end caps for fitting to the ends of the top rail 12, but with appropriate openings for features for the user interface.

[0056] In one arrangement, the motor assembly 30 can be attached to the top rail 12 via an adapter, which can be elastically secured (snap-fitted) to the motor assembly 30 from either side. The adapter can be screwed to the top rail 12. Then, as described above, the end components of the motor can be covered with end caps. Naturally, the top rail 12 itself will therefore have a slightly shorter range on the motor assembly side.

[0057] The above about Figure 3 The example of the first guide rail 12 described allows the motor assembly 30 to be mounted at either end 66, 68, such that the first or top guide rail 12 can be used with the motor assembly 30 at either end. However, it should be understood that, as Figure 9(a) and 9(b) As shown, the motor assembly 30 can also be used in conjunction with a separate first guide rail 12, which is designed for use with the motor assembly 30 at a first end 66 as shown in FIG. 9(a) or a second end 68 as shown in FIG. 9(b). This first guide rail still utilizes the same modular motor assembly 30, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency.

Claims

1. A motor assembly for a building opening covering system, the building opening covering system having a cover and a guide rail, the guide rail having a lifting mechanism for the cover between one end and another end of the guide rail, the motor assembly comprising: The main motor provides rotational drive around the main drive shaft; The motor is used to provide rotational drive about the drive shaft; An energy storage device for storing electrical energy used to power the main motor and the slave motor; as well as A control circuit is configured to control the operation of the main motor and the slave motor using the electrical energy stored in the energy storage device; wherein: The motor assembly also includes a housing that houses the main motor, the slave motor, the energy storage device, and the control circuit, the housing extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end and a second end; The main motor and the slave motor are arranged side by side at the first end of the housing in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the main drive shaft and the slave drive shaft are parallel to the longitudinal direction; Within the housing, the energy storage device is arranged in the longitudinal direction toward the second end of the housing at a position spaced apart from the main motor and the slave motor; and The housing has an external shape and size, and is configured to be supported in one end of a guide rail of a building opening covering system in a first orientation, wherein the first end of the housing faces inward toward the guide rail and toward the lifting mechanism; and to be supported in the other end of a guide rail of a building opening covering system in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation, wherein the first end of the housing faces inward toward the guide rail and toward the lifting mechanism.

2. The motor assembly of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a printed circuit board.

3. The motor assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.

4. The motor assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing extends in the lateral direction between the front surface and the rear surface.

5. The motor assembly of claim 4, wherein the master motor is arranged adjacent to the front surface and the slave motor is arranged adjacent to the rear surface.

6. The motor assembly according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising at least one of an LED, a connector port, and a button connected to the control circuit and disposed on the front surface of the housing.

7. The motor assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of the LED, connector port, and button is adjacent to the second end of the housing.

8. The motor assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The housing extends between the top and bottom surfaces in another transverse direction, which is also perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. and In both the first and second orientations, the front surface faces the same direction, but in the first and second orientations, the top surface faces opposite directions.

9. A building opening covering system, comprising: A guide rail that extends between one end and the other end and includes a lifting mechanism for the cover; as well as Motor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8; in The guide rail defines an internal space at one end, the internal space being configured to support the housing of the motor assembly in the first orientation, wherein the main motor and the slave motor provide drive to the lifting mechanism.

10. The building opening covering system of claim 9, wherein it is combined with another building opening covering system, the other building opening covering system having a guide rail extending between one end and the other end and including a lifting mechanism for the covering; wherein The guide rails of the other building opening covering system define additional internal space to support the housing of the motor assembly in the second orientation, wherein the main motor and the slave motor provide drive to the lifting mechanism.

11. The building opening covering system according to claim 9, wherein... The guide rail defines additional internal space to support the housing of the motor assembly in the second orientation, wherein the main motor and the slave motor provide drive to the lifting mechanism.

12. The building opening covering system according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the building opening covering system is a top-down system, the guide rail is a top guide rail and the building opening covering system includes a middle guide rail and a bottom guide rail and a covering extending between the middle guide rail and the bottom guide rail.

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