A concealed multi-layer folding canopy and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a hidden multi-layer folding awning and a control method thereof, and relates to the technical field of awnings, which comprises the following components: a foundation pit assembly arranged in a containing space below the ground; a hidden cover plate assembly which is arranged on the top of the foundation pit assembly and can be opened and closed; a multi-layer lifting column assembly which is arranged in the foundation pit assembly and has a retracted state of being retracted in the foundation pit and an unfolded state of being extended upwards; a reverse folding support assembly which is movably arranged on the top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly and comprises at least one support beam and a reverse mechanism for driving the support beam to rotate; a telescopic membrane roof assembly which is arranged on the support beam of the reverse folding support assembly and comprises a flexible membrane and a telescopic driving mechanism for driving the flexible membrane to telescopically extend along the length direction; and a driving and control assembly. The hidden cover plate assembly is arranged, the awning is completely hidden and stored, the ground is restored to be flat, and the problem of space occupation of the traditional awning is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of outdoor performance equipment, and in particular to a concealed multi-layered folding canopy and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] As a common outdoor shelter, awnings are traditionally fixed or simple retractable structures, which generally suffer from the following technical defects: First, they still occupy ground or space when not in use, affecting the complete utilization and aesthetics of the site; second, to achieve concealment, existing technologies often use deep foundation pits, which lead to high excavation costs, high construction risks, and limited applicability in urban core areas, sites with complex underground pipelines, or sites with poor geological conditions; third, the structural design is inefficient, with a small ratio between the concealed volume and the unfolded coverage area, making it difficult to balance the contradiction between "small volume concealment" and "large coverage"; fourth, the canopy materials (such as steel structures) are heavy, resulting in high support load, high driving energy consumption, and limited wind and earthquake resistance; fifth, the degree of automation and intelligence is insufficient, lacking the ability to automatically respond to environmental changes. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a concealed multi-layer folding awning and its control method to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, a concealed multi-layer folding awning is provided, comprising: The system comprises: a pit assembly, located in an underground space; a concealed cover assembly, closable on top of the pit assembly, the upper surface of which is flush with the surrounding ground; a multi-layer lifting column assembly, located within the pit assembly, comprising at least two layers of retractable sleeves, the multi-layer lifting column assembly having a retracted state within the pit and an extended state extending upwards; a reversible folding support assembly, movably located on top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly, comprising at least one support beam and a reversing mechanism for driving the support beam to rotate, the support beam having a retracted posture parallel to the multi-layer lifting column assembly and a supported posture extended relative to the multi-layer lifting column assembly; a telescopic membrane canopy assembly, laid on the support beam of the reversible folding support assembly, comprising a flexible membrane material and a telescopic drive mechanism for driving the flexible membrane material to extend and retract along its length; and a drive and control assembly for driving the opening and closing of the concealed cover assembly, driving the lifting and lowering of the multi-layer lifting column assembly, driving the reversing mechanism, and driving the telescopic drive mechanism, and controlling the movement sequence of each part.

[0005] In some embodiments, the foundation pit assembly is a shallow foundation pit with a reinforced support structure on its inner wall.

[0006] In some embodiments, a ball screw guide structure is provided between the sleeves of each layer of the multi-layer lifting column assembly.

[0007] In some embodiments, the support beam of the inverted folding support assembly is connected to the multi-layer lifting column assembly and adjacent support beams by a hinged structure.

[0008] In some embodiments, the flexible membrane material of the telescopic membrane canopy assembly is connected to the support beam via a tensioning structure.

[0009] In some embodiments, the drive and control components include a hydraulic drive unit and a control system. The hydraulic drive units are multiple sets, each driving different moving parts. The control system is equipped with a synchronization control module.

[0010] In some implementations, the control system includes an automatic control mode connected to a weather sensor.

[0011] In some embodiments, a sealed and waterproof structure is provided between the concealed cover assembly and the pit assembly.

[0012] A method for controlling a concealed, multi-layered folding canopy includes the following steps: When unfolded, the following steps are performed in sequence: opening the hidden cover plate assembly, raising the multi-layer lifting column assembly, rotating the support beam to a supporting posture via the reversing mechanism, and unfolding and tensioning the flexible membrane material via the telescopic drive mechanism. When retracted, the following steps are performed in sequence: retracting the flexible membrane material via the telescopic drive mechanism, rotating the support beam to the retracted position via the reversing mechanism, lowering the multi-layer lifting column assembly, and closing the concealed cover assembly.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: This application achieves complete concealment and storage of the awning by setting up a hidden cover plate component, restoring the ground to a flat surface and completely solving the problem of traditional awnings occupying space. The shallow foundation pit combined with the nested telescopic structure of the multi-layer lifting column component enables large-stroke lifting without deep excavation, significantly reducing construction difficulty and cost, and broadening the scope of application. The combined design of the multi-layer lifting and reversible folding support components makes the structure extremely compact when folded and provides large-area coverage when unfolded, significantly improving space conversion efficiency. The use of lightweight membrane material as the roof, combined with the multi-unit synchronous control of the hydraulic drive component, effectively reduces the overall weight and operating energy consumption, and improves wind resistance stability and operational reliability. In addition, the control system integrates an automatic sensing module, which can realize intelligent opening and closing, improving the convenience of use and adaptability to different scenarios. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the unfolded structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the present invention is stored. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] refer to Figures 1 to 2 This application provides a concealed multi-layer folding awning, comprising: The foundation pit assembly 1 is located in an underground storage space; a concealed cover assembly is foldably installed on top of the foundation pit assembly 1, with its upper surface flush with the surrounding ground; a multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 is located within the foundation pit assembly 1, comprising at least two layers of retractable sleeves, the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 having a retracted state within the foundation pit and an extended state extending upwards; a reverse folding support assembly 3 is movably installed on top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2, comprising at least one support beam and a mechanism for driving the support beam to rotate. The reversing mechanism includes a support beam with a retracted posture parallel to the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 and a supported posture unfolded relative to the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2; a telescopic membrane canopy assembly, laid on the support beam of the reversing folding support assembly 3, including a flexible membrane material and a telescopic drive mechanism for driving the flexible membrane material to extend and retract along its length; and a drive and control assembly for driving the hidden cover plate assembly to open and close, driving the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 to rise and fall, driving the reversing mechanism to move, and driving the telescopic drive mechanism to move, and controlling the movement sequence of each part.

[0017] In the aforementioned reversible folding support assembly 3, the reversing mechanism is the core actuator that reliably switches the support beam between its folded and supported positions. Its specific structure and operation are as follows: This reversing mechanism is essentially a hydraulically driven rotary swing mechanism. Its core components include a fixed support, a rotary shaft, a swing arm, and a hydraulic linear drive unit.

[0018] Fixed support: rigidly connected to the top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2.

[0019] Rotary shaft: Rotatably supported in a fixed support. The root of the support beam is fixedly connected to the rotary shaft, so that the support beam can rotate together with the rotary shaft.

[0020] Swing arm: One end is fixed to the rotary shaft (or fixed to the root of the support beam), and the other end is hinged to the output end of the hydraulic linear drive unit.

[0021] Hydraulic linear drive unit: typically a double-acting hydraulic cylinder. Its cylinder body tail is connected to another hinge point on the fixed support or multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 via an clevis, and its piston rod end is hinged to the aforementioned swing arm.

[0022] Working process: When the control system commands the deployment, the hydraulic drive assembly supplies oil to the hydraulic cylinder corresponding to the reversing mechanism, driving the piston rod to extend or retract. The linear motion of the piston rod is converted into the rotational motion of the slewing shaft through the swing arm, thereby driving the support beam to rotate from a vertical retracted posture to a horizontal supported posture. When the support beam reaches the preset support angle (usually 90°), the hydraulic system maintains pressure, and the mechanism is equipped with a mechanical angle limit and locking device to ensure safety. This locking device can be a pin, driven by an auxiliary hydraulic cylinder or electromagnet, set at the corresponding position of the fixed support and the slewing shaft (or support beam). When the angle is reached, the pin pops out and inserts into the locking hole, achieving mechanical rigid locking and preventing rotation under the action of external forces such as wind load. The retraction process is the opposite: the locking device is released first, the hydraulic cylinder moves in the opposite direction, and the support beam is pulled back to the retracted posture parallel to the column.

[0023] It efficiently and smoothly converts the linear force driven by hydraulics into the large torque rotational motion of the support beam. It has a compact structure, large output force, precise control, and can achieve reliable mechanical locking.

[0024] In the telescopic membrane roof assembly, the telescopic drive mechanism is the core power and transmission component that enables the flexible membrane material to move synchronously and smoothly along the length of the support beam. Its specific structure and operation are as follows: This telescopic drive mechanism is an integrated system that combines linear drive, synchronous transmission, and sliding support. Its core consists of three parts: a hydraulic drive unit, a synchronous transmission mechanism, and a sliding support structure.

[0025] Hydraulic drive unit: As a power source, it typically consists of one or more double-acting multi-stage telescopic hydraulic cylinders. The cylinder body is fixedly mounted at a reference position (e.g., on a central support beam or fixed keel), and the end of its final piston rod is connected to the movable keel unit that needs to be directly driven.

[0026] Synchronous transmission mechanism: To ensure the sequential and synchronous sliding of multiple movable keel units, a wire rope (or synchronous belt) pulley system is employed. Specifically, a closed-loop wire rope is arranged along a preset path between every two adjacent keel units, and between the first and last keel units and the fixed point. The wire rope is guided by a fixed pulley system, and its two ends are fixed to specific keels or frames. When a hydraulic cylinder drives one of the main keel sections, the remaining keels are forcibly pulled according to a preset transmission ratio through the transmission of this wire rope system, achieving synchronous extension and retraction of all movable units. This design ensures the consistency of movement of each segment when the membrane roof is unfolded or retracted, preventing membrane wrinkles or structural stress caused by jamming or asynchrony.

[0027] Sliding support structure: A linear sliding pair is provided on the lower or side of each movable keel unit, typically consisting of a high-strength aluminum alloy guide rail and a matching slider (or roller). The guide rail is fixedly installed along the length of the support beam, while the slider is connected to the keel unit. This structure provides low-friction, precise guidance and load-bearing support for the telescopic movement of the keel unit, ensuring the straightness and stability of its movement trajectory.

[0028] Control System and Operating Process: The hydraulic cylinders of the telescopic drive mechanism are supplied with oil by independent control valve groups within the hydraulic drive assembly. The control system includes position sensors (such as rope encoders) to provide real-time feedback on the position of each keel unit. During operation, the control system precisely controls the extension or retraction of the hydraulic cylinders via proportional or servo valves according to instructions. The linear motion of the hydraulic cylinders directly drives the main keel unit connected to them. Simultaneously, through the coupling of the aforementioned wire rope synchronous transmission mechanism, the remaining keel units are synchronously pulled, moving smoothly along their respective sliding guides, thus achieving the layered expansion or contraction of the entire membrane roof like a telescope tube. Upon reaching the fully expanded or fully retracted position, the hydraulic system maintains pressure and, in conjunction with mechanical limit blocks, achieves locking.

[0029] This design combines the high thrust of hydraulic drive, the synchronization precision of wire rope transmission, and the guiding stability of linear guide rails to form a reliable and efficient telescopic drive system.

[0030] In some embodiments, the foundation pit assembly 1 is a shallow foundation pit, and its inner wall is provided with a reinforced support structure. The reinforced support structure is C30 reinforced concrete support, and the support thickness is not less than 20cm.

[0031] In some embodiments, a ball screw guide structure is provided between the sleeves of each layer of the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2.

[0032] In some embodiments, the support beam of the inverted folding support assembly 3 is connected to the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 and adjacent support beams by a hinged structure.

[0033] In some embodiments, the flexible membrane material of the telescopic membrane canopy assembly is connected to the support beam via a tensioning structure.

[0034] In some embodiments, the drive and control components include a hydraulic drive unit and a control system. The hydraulic drive units are multiple sets, each driving different moving parts. The control system is equipped with a synchronization control module.

[0035] In some implementations, the control system includes an automatic control mode connected to a weather sensor.

[0036] In some embodiments, a sealed and waterproof structure is provided between the concealed cover assembly and the pit assembly 1.

[0037] A method for controlling a concealed, multi-layered folding canopy includes the following steps: When unfolded, the following steps are performed in sequence: opening the hidden cover plate assembly, raising the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2, rotating the support beam to a supporting posture through the reversing mechanism, and unfolding and tensioning the flexible membrane material through the telescopic drive mechanism. When retracted, the following steps are performed in sequence: retracting the flexible membrane material through the telescopic drive mechanism, rotating the support beam to the retracted position through the reversing mechanism, lowering the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2, and closing the hidden cover assembly.

[0038] This application achieves complete concealment and storage of the awning by setting up a hidden cover plate component, restoring the ground to a flat surface and completely solving the problem of traditional awnings occupying space. The shallow foundation pit combined with the nested telescopic structure of the multi-layer lifting column component 2 enables large-stroke lifting without deep excavation, significantly reducing construction difficulty and cost, and broadening the scope of application. The combined design of the multi-layer lifting and reverse folding support component 3 makes the structure extremely compact when folded and provides large-area coverage when unfolded, significantly improving space conversion efficiency. The use of lightweight membrane material as the roof, combined with the multi-unit synchronous control of the hydraulic drive component, effectively reduces the overall weight and operating energy consumption, and improves wind resistance stability and operational reliability. In addition, the control system integrates an automatic sensing module, which can realize intelligent opening and closing, improving the convenience of use and scene adaptability.

[0039] Example: The foundation pit assembly 1 is a rectangular shallow foundation pit located below ground level, with a designed depth of 7.2 meters and an overall width of 80 meters. It is composed of multiple independent unit segments spliced ​​together along its length; in this embodiment, each unit segment is 2 meters long. To ensure the structural stability of this shallow foundation pit during long-term use, resist lateral earth pressure, and prevent uneven settlement, the inner wall and bottom slab of the foundation pit adopt an integral cast-in-place reinforced concrete support structure. Specifically, this support structure is cast with C30 concrete, with an overall thickness of 20 centimeters, and is internally reinforced with a two-way steel mesh to form a robust continuous shell, providing a reliable foundation for the upper equipment.

[0040] The concealed cover assembly can be opened and closed to cover the top of the pit assembly 1. The cover body is made of 6061 aluminum alloy profile frame and panel, with overall dimensions of 2 meters (length) × 80 meters (width). For ease of manufacturing, transportation and installation, the cover is divided into 10 sections along the width direction, each section being 8 meters wide, and the sections are connected by high-strength hinges or pins. A 3-centimeter-thick asphalt wear-resistant layer is laid on the surface of the cover, making its upper surface completely flush with the surrounding plaza ground, achieving visual concealment. To achieve waterproof sealing, continuous EPDM rubber sealing strips are installed at the contact points between the cover and the upper edge of the pit. At the bottom of the cover, a linear guide rail is installed, which is connected to the drive and control components through a hydraulic drive linkage, thereby realizing the smooth horizontal sliding and opening and closing of the entire cover.

[0041] The multi-layer lifting column assembly 2 is fixedly installed inside the foundation pit. In this embodiment, one column assembly is installed in each 2-meter-long foundation pit unit. The assembly adopts a 3-layer nested telescopic structure, consisting of an outer sleeve (300mm diameter), a middle sleeve (250mm diameter), and an inner sleeve (200mm diameter) from the outside to the inside. All sleeves are made of high-strength 6061-T6 aluminum alloy tubing and undergo anodized surface treatment to enhance corrosion resistance. To achieve high-precision, low-friction, and smooth lifting, a ball screw guide structure is installed between each layer of sleeves, with a guiding accuracy of ±2 mm. When fully retracted, the column assembly has a total height of 7.2 meters, consistent with the depth of the foundation pit; when fully extended, the total height reaches 17.843 meters.

[0042] The reversible folding support assembly 3 is movably connected to the top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2. In this embodiment, each set of columns is connected to a set of support beams at the top, with a total of 4 sets. The support beams are made of lightweight, high-strength carbon fiber reinforced composite material, with a cross-sectional dimension of 150mm × 100mm. Each set of support beams is hinged to the top of the column via a hydraulically driven reversing mechanism. The core of this reversing mechanism is a swing device driven by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, which can precisely rotate the support beams between 0° (folded posture, parallel to the column) and 90° (expanded posture, horizontal support). To achieve synchronous movement of the 4 sets of support beams, foldable synchronous connecting rods are provided between each support beam. After the support beam rotates to the horizontal position, the mechanical locking device built into the reversing mechanism will automatically activate, rigidly locking the support beam to ensure the stability of the support frame.

[0043] The telescopic membrane roof assembly is laid on the unfolded support beams to form a sheltered surface. The roof uses a 0.8mm thick high-strength PVDF membrane material, which has good weather resistance, self-cleaning properties, and light transmittance. The edges of the membrane material are fixed to the support beams with stainless steel clamps and tensioning cables, and the tensile stress on the membrane surface is maintained at 15-20 kN / m by adjustment to form a stable pre-tensioned curved surface and enhance wind resistance. The membrane roof is designed as a telescopic structure along the length of the support beams. In this embodiment, it is divided into four telescopic units, each 5.4 meters long. Driven by a telescopic drive mechanism (including hydraulic cylinders, a wire rope synchronization system, and linear guide rails), these four units can slide out sequentially or be stacked and retracted like a telescope tube, achieving an unfolded length of 21.659 meters for a single unit.

[0044] The drive and control components provide power and intelligence to the entire canopy system. It includes six independent hydraulic drive units: two units drive the opening and closing of the concealed cover assembly; two units drive the raising and lowering of the multi-layer lifting column assembly 2; one unit drives the reversing action of the inverted folding support assembly 3; and one unit drives the extension and retraction of the telescopic membrane canopy assembly. Each hydraulic unit includes a CB-FC10 hydraulic pump, a multi-stage telescopic hydraulic cylinder, high-pressure rubber hoses, and control valves. All hydraulic lines are protected by outer sleeves. At the core of this component is an S7-200 SMART PLC controller, which constitutes the intelligent control system. This system connects to rain and wind speed sensors and can operate fully automatically based on preset logic (e.g., automatic deployment for rainfall ≥ 5mm / h, automatic emergency retraction for wind speed ≥ 6). The system also features a touchscreen interface and an emergency stop button, supporting manual control and emergency handling.

[0045] Work process Deployment Process: When the PLC controller receives the deployment command (from an automatic sensor or manual trigger), it first commands the cover plate drive unit to operate, moving the two cover plates horizontally along the guide rails to open them to both sides of the pit. Next, the lifting drive unit starts, and the three-layer sleeves of the columns extend synchronously to a height of 17.843 meters under the drive of the ball screws and lock. Subsequently, the reversing drive unit operates, pushing the four sets of support beams to rotate synchronously 90° to a horizontal position via the reversing mechanism and securing them with locking devices. The synchronous connecting rods then unfold to form a stable frame. Finally, the telescopic drive unit starts, driving the four sections of the membrane canopy to fully unfold to 21.659 meters along the slide rails, and the membrane surface is tightened by the tensioning system, putting the canopy into operation.

[0046] Retraction Process: When retraction is required (e.g., when the weather clears or a strong wind warning is issued), the control system first commands the telescopic drive unit to retract and fold up each section of the membrane roof. Next, the reversing drive unit releases its lock and drives the support beam to rotate synchronously in the opposite direction by 0°, bringing it back to a position parallel to the columns. Then, the lifting drive unit drives each layer of the column sleeves to retract synchronously, lowering the entire upper structure to a height of 7.2 meters within the pit. Finally, the cover plate drive unit actuates, sliding and closing the two cover plates, compacting the sealing strips at the edges of the cover plates, restoring them to a flush position with the surrounding ground, completing the fully concealed retraction.

[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A concealed multi-layer folding awning, characterized in that, include: Foundation pit components, located in the underground storage space; A concealed cover assembly is foldably installed on top of the pit assembly, and the upper surface of the concealed cover assembly is flush with the surrounding ground. A multi-layer lifting column assembly is installed inside the foundation pit assembly and includes at least two layers of retractable sleeves. The multi-layer lifting column assembly has a retracted state that is retracted into the foundation pit and an extended state that is extended upwards. A reversible folding support assembly is movably disposed on the top of the multi-layer lifting column assembly, including at least one support beam and a reversing mechanism for driving the support beam to rotate. The support beam has a retracted posture parallel to the multi-layer lifting column assembly and a supported posture unfolded relative to the multi-layer lifting column assembly. The telescopic membrane canopy assembly is laid on the support beam of the inverted folding support assembly, and includes a flexible membrane material and a telescopic drive mechanism for driving the flexible membrane material to extend and retract along the length direction. The drive and control components are used to drive the opening and closing of the concealed cover assembly, drive the lifting and lowering of the multi-layer lifting column assembly, drive the reversing mechanism to move, and drive the telescopic drive mechanism to move, and control the movement sequence of each part.

2. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The foundation pit assembly is a shallow foundation pit, and its inner wall is provided with a reinforced support structure.

3. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-layer lifting column assembly is provided with a ball screw guide structure between each layer of sleeve.

4. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support beam of the inverted folding support assembly is connected to the multi-layer lifting column assembly and adjacent support beams by a hinge structure.

5. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible membrane material of the telescopic membrane roof assembly is connected to the support beam via a tensioning structure.

6. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive and control components include a hydraulic drive unit and a control system. There are multiple sets of hydraulic drive units, each driving different moving parts. The control system is equipped with a synchronization control module.

7. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 6, characterized in that, The control system is equipped with an automatic control mode that connects to a meteorological sensor.

8. The concealed multi-layer folding awning according to claim 1, characterized in that, A sealed and waterproof structure is provided between the concealed cover plate assembly and the foundation pit assembly.

9. The control method for the concealed multi-layer folding canopy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: When unfolded, the following steps are performed in sequence: opening the hidden cover plate assembly, raising the multi-layer lifting column assembly, rotating the support beam to a supporting posture via the reversing mechanism, and unfolding and tensioning the flexible membrane material via the telescopic drive mechanism. When retracted, the following steps are performed in sequence: retracting the flexible membrane material via the telescopic drive mechanism, rotating the support beam to the retracted position via the reversing mechanism, lowering the multi-layer lifting column assembly, and closing the concealed cover assembly.

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