Shading device with power drainage system

Abstract

Shading device, in particular a Venetian blind or a Venetian blind, at least comprising: 1.1. an upper rail (2) and a lower rail (3), 1.2. a blind with a plurality of slats (7), each of which is movably mounted in at least one lateral guide rail (1) by means of guide pins (6) and has photovoltaic elements (5) for generating electricity, which are electrically connected to the guide pins (6) of the respective slat (7), and 1.3. a current discharge system for discharging the generated current, wherein 1.4. in which at least one guide rail (1) a total of at least two electrical busbars (4) are provided, so that an electrical contact with the photovoltaic elements (5) of the lamellae (7) can be established in order to conduct the generated current, and 1.5. at least one pressure means (8) is provided which presses the guide bolts (6) against the busbars (4) and thus ensures constant contact for conducting the current, 1.6. wherein the pressure means (8) are arranged alternately around the guide pins (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a shading device, in particular a Venetian blind or a Venetian blind, comprising at least a top rail and a bottom rail, a curtain with a plurality of slats, each of which is movably mounted by means of guide pins in at least one lateral guide rail and has photovoltaic elements for generating electricity.

[0002] Venetian blinds with slats on which photovoltaic elements are mounted are already known from the prior art. Reference is made, for example, to the publications DE 10 2007 031 236 A1 or DE 10 2014 200 359 A1.

[0003] Reference is also made to the publication EP 3 892 813 A1 as a further example of the state of the art.

[0004] The current generated in the photovoltaic elements of the lamellae is conducted via an electrical contact between the guide pins of the lamellae and busbars located in the guide rail(s). However, due to factors such as wind load on the lamellae, the contact between the guide pins and the busbars can be broken, leading to undesirable malfunctions.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved shading device with photovoltaic louvers.

[0006] This problem is solved by the features of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

[0007] The inventors recognized that when current is conducted via the guide pins of the lamellae, which are movably mounted in the lateral guide rails and contact one or more busbars there, a problem exists in maintaining a uniform and constant contact between the guide pins and the busbar(s).

[0008] Regarding the current flow via the electrical contact between the guide pins of the lamellae to the busbars, full reference is made to the disclosure content of the priority application.

[0009] To ensure constant contact between the guide pins and busbars for current conduction, it is advisable to press the guide pins evenly and continuously against the busbars. This pressure can be achieved using a band or cord that is looped alternately around the guide pins, i.e., passed alternately on the left and right side of the guide pins and resting against them laterally. When the band is tightened or tensioned along the length of the guide rail, the guide pins are then pressed laterally against the busbar(s).

[0010] The tape can be attached between the top and bottom rails of the shading device. For ease of use, the tape is then tightened or tensioned by fully lowering the bottom rail. The length of the tape is adjusted accordingly to the height of the slats or the maximum distance between the top and bottom rails. The weight of the bottom rail keeps the tape taut, so that the guide pins are alternately pressed against the busbars.

[0011] Accordingly, the inventors propose to improve a shading device, in particular a Venetian blind or a roller blind, comprising at least: a top rail and a bottom rail, a curtain with a plurality of slats, each of which is movably mounted in at least one lateral guide rail by means of guide pins and has photovoltaic elements for generating electricity, and a current dissipation system for dissipating the generated current, wherein at least two electrical busbars are provided in the at least one guide rail so that electrical contact with the photovoltaic elements of the slats can be established in order to dissipate the generated current, by providing at least one pressure means which presses the guide pins against the busbars and thus ensures constant contact for dissipating the current, wherein the pressure means are arranged alternately around the guide pins.

[0012] The shading device according to the invention serves to feed the electricity generated in the photovoltaic elements of the louvers into a power grid or an electricity storage system. Depending on the design of the current feed-in system, an inverter is advantageously also provided. The shading device is preferably a venetian blind or a Venetian blind, in particular a venetian blind canopy. The invention is described below using a shading device designed as a venetian blind as an example.

[0013] According to the invention, at least two electrical busbars are provided in the at least one guide rail. A simple embodiment provides that a guide rail is formed on each side of the lamellae, in which the guide pins are movably mounted, thus providing a total of two guide rails. Advantageously, at least two electrical busbars are then provided in the guide rails. A simple embodiment provides that each of the two guide rails contains two busbars that are alternately contacted by adjacent guide pins.

[0014] The invention is described below for an embodiment with one lateral guide rail, each with two busbars. Other embodiments, for example with only one guide rail in total, so that the shading device is only movably mounted on one side, or two guide rails, each with only one busbar, are also within the scope of the invention.

[0015] The slats of the external venetian blind are mounted in the side guide rails by means of guide pins attached to their short ends, just like conventional external venetian blinds. When the slats are raised and lowered, the guide pins move within the guide rails.

[0016] The photovoltaic elements of the lamellae are electrically connected to the guide pins, for example by means of a soldered connection or a copper wire. The movable guide pins contact the stationary busbars, allowing the generated current to be conducted away. A sliding contact is preferably formed between the guide pins and the busbars. Advantageously, the guide pins have a type of thickening at their ends, which, as a contact element, provides an enlarged contact surface with the busbars.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the shading device provides that exactly one pressure-bearing element is formed per guide rail. Thus, preferably, two pressure-bearing elements are formed per venetian blind, namely one on each side or at each longitudinal end of the slats. This ensures that the guide pins or the contact elements formed at the ends of the guide pins maintain constant contact with the busbars on both sides and that the current flow is not interrupted. Furthermore, the pressure-bearing element on both sides of the guide pins prevents the slats from twisting or bending. The pressure-bearing elements are advantageously arranged in the guide rails.

[0018] The clamping elements are positioned particularly advantageously between the upper and lower rails of the shading device and are attached between these two rails. This means that each clamping element is fixed at one end to the upper rail and at the other end to the lower rail. For example, the clamping elements are clamped in a guide pin of the upper or lower rail.

[0019] The length of the clamping elements is advantageously matched to the maximum distance between the top and bottom rails when the slats are fully lowered; that is, the length of the clamping elements advantageously corresponds to this maximum distance. Furthermore, the clamping attachment of the clamping elements to the top and bottom rails advantageously allows for manual retensioning of the clamping elements and slight adjustment of their length. However, other methods of attaching the clamping elements to the top and bottom rails, such as gluing or knotting, are also possible.

[0020] According to the invention, the pressure elements are arranged in the guide rails such that they alternately run around the guide pins. "Alternatively" here means that a pressure element is guided alternately to the left and right around the guide pins at one longitudinal end of the slats, following a slalom-like pattern. This ensures that a uniform pressure is exerted on the guide pins across the entire slat assembly.

[0021] Basically, the pressure-bearing elements on both sides of a slat curtain can be guided around the guide pins in a mirror-image or non-mirror-image manner.

[0022] Advantageously, the pressure elements are guided equally around the guide pins on both sides, meaning that, looking from the outside inwards at a slat assembly, they alternate between the front and back of the slats, i.e., in a mirror image. This ensures an even force is applied to the slats when pressing them down.

[0023] To ensure the guide pins are pressed against the busbars, the pressure elements are preferably under tension along the length of the guide rails when the lower rail is fully lowered. This causes the guide pins of the slats to be pressed against the busbars alternately, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slats. The pressure elements are thus tensioned longitudinally along the guide rails and, due to their slalom-like arrangement around the guide pins, press them transversely against the busbars.

[0024] Another advantageous embodiment of the shading device provides that at least one securing eyelet is formed on each guide pin, through which the clamping element is guided. Advantageously, two securing eyelets are formed on each guide pin to allow for maximum flexibility in the mounting of the securing eyelets and the clamping elements. However, it is also possible to form only one securing eyelet per guide pin, with the securing eyelets then arranged alternately on adjacent guide pins to enable the clamping element to move in a slalom-like pattern.

[0025] These guide lugs advantageously prevent the clamping element from unintentionally detaching and twisting from the guide pins. In a preferred embodiment, the locking lugs are designed as closed lugs. In another embodiment, the locking lugs are designed merely as a type of guide pin, i.e., as open lugs.

[0026] A simple design involves the clamping element being an elongated component selected from the following list: tape, cord, line, rope, strip, or string. It should be noted that this list is not exhaustive and other designs are possible.

[0027] Advantageously, the clamping elements are made of a textile material, plastic, or wire. It is particularly beneficial if the clamping elements are as inelastic as possible, or even completely inelastic, in their longitudinal direction and only flexible or bendable in the transverse direction.

[0028] A shading device, in particular a Venetian blind or a roller blind, is described, comprising at least a top rail and a bottom rail, a curtain with a plurality of slats, each of which is movably mounted by means of guide pins in at least one lateral guide rail, and which has photovoltaic elements for generating electricity, wherein a current dissipation system as described above is provided for dissipating the generated electricity.

[0029] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a preferred embodiment and the figures, whereby only the features necessary for understanding the invention are shown.

[0030] They show in detail: Fig. 1: A schematic side view of a venetian blind with a power drainage system, Fig. 2: A schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the external venetian blind according to the Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a guide rail, Fig. 3: a schematic cutaway perspective view of a guide rail of the external venetian blind according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4: A schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the external venetian blind according to the Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a lamella, and Fig. 5: an enlarged view of the Fig. 4 in the area of ​​the guide rail.

[0031] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a venetian blind with a current-dissipation system. The venetian blind comprises a multitude of slats 7, each of which has photovoltaic elements 5 mounted on it for power generation. The venetian blind also includes a laterally arranged guide rail in which the slats are movably mounted. The slats 7, or the entire slat assembly, are arranged between a top rail 2 and a bottom rail 3.

[0032] As shown in the cross-sectional view of the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the lamellae 7 each have a guide pin 6 at their longitudinal ends, which are movably arranged in the lateral guide rails 1. The ends of the guide pins 6 have a type of thickening that serves as an electrically conductive contact element 9. In the embodiment shown here, a guide rail 1 is arranged on each side. Two busbars 4, for example made of copper, are arranged in each of the guide rails 1. The guide pins 6, or rather the contact elements 9, of adjacent lamellae 7 are alternately in contact with one of the two busbars 4. Accordingly, the guide pins 6 of adjacent lamellae 7 are of different lengths.

[0033] To ensure uniform contact between the guide pins 6 or the contact means 9 and the busbars 4, a pressure-bearing element is provided on each side of the guide rail 1 according to the invention. The pressure-bearing elements are designed here as an elongated band 8. Fig. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a guide rail 1, clearly showing the tape 8 and its path around the guide pins 6. The tape 8 alternately passes the guide pins 6 on the left and right, thus describing a kind of slalom pattern. The tape 8 is attached to both the upper rail 2 and the lower rail 3 of the venetian blind and runs from top to bottom within the guide rail 1. The tape 8 is clamped to the bolt 10 of the lower rail 3, allowing for retensioning and length adjustment to precisely regulate the contact force. In the fully lowered position shown here, the tape 8 is tensioned between the upper rail 2 and the lower rail 3. This causes the guide pins 6 to be pressed alternately against the busbars 4 on the left and right.

[0034] Each of the guide pins 6 of the lamellae 7 has two retaining eyelets 11 through which the strap 8 alternately passes. The retaining eyelets 11 prevent the strap 8 from twisting. The strap 8 lies flat against the guide pins 6 and has some play within the retaining eyelets 11, so that when the lamellae 7 pivot about their longitudinal axis, the strap 8 is not kinked by the guide eyelets 11. The cross-sectional plane of this drawing passes through the guide pins 6 and retaining eyelets 11, so the retaining eyelets 11 are only shown in a sectional view.

[0035] In the Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the external venetian blind according to the Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a lamella 7, wherein the Fig.Figure 5 shows an enlarged view of this in the area of ​​the guide rail 1. It can be seen that the guide pins 6, or rather their contact elements 9, of two adjacent lamellae 7 each contact one of the two busbars 4. The lower rail 3 is also movably mounted in the guide rail 1 by means of a pin 10. The belt 8 is attached to this pin 10.

[0036] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by the preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. In particular, the invention is not limited to the specified combinations of features, but other combinations and partial combinations of the disclosed features that are obviously feasible to a person skilled in the art can also be formed. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated by separate combinations of features from the explained embodiments, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention. Likewise, it is also within the scope of the invention to effect a mechanical reversal of the functions of the individual mechanical elements of the invention. Reference symbol list 1 guide rails 2 Upper rail 3 Bottom rail 4 busbar 5 photovoltaic element 6 guide pins 7 lamella Volume 8 9 Contact materials 10 bolts of the bottom rail 11 Safety eyelet

Claims

[1] Shading device, in particular a Venetian blind or a Venetian blind, at least comprising: 1.

1. an upper rail (2) and a lower rail (3), 1.

2. a blind with a plurality of slats (7), each of which is movably mounted in at least one lateral guide rail (1) by means of guide pins (6) and has photovoltaic elements (5) for generating electricity, which are electrically connected to the guide pins (6) of the respective slat (7), and 1.

3. a current discharge system for discharging the generated current, wherein 1.

4. in which at least one guide rail (1) a total of at least two electrical busbars (4) are provided, so that an electrical contact with the photovoltaic elements (5) of the lamellae (7) can be established in order to conduct the generated current, and 1.

5. at least one pressure means (8) is provided which presses the guide bolts (6) against the busbars (4) and thus ensures constant contact for conducting the current, 1.

6. wherein the pressure means (8) are arranged alternately around the guide pins (6). [2] Shading device according to the preceding claim 1, characterized by , that each guide rail (1) has exactly one pressure element (8). [3] Shading device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized by , that the clamping means (8) are each attached between an upper rail (2) and a lower rail (3) of the shading device. [4] Shading device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized by, that in the fully lowered state of the lower rail (3) the pressure means (8) are under tension in the longitudinal direction of the guide rails (1), so that the guide pins (6) of the lamellae (7) are alternately pressed against the busbars (4) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the lamellae. [5] Shading device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that at least one retaining eyelet (11) is formed on each of the guide pins (6), through which the clamping element (8) is guided. [6] Shading device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the clamping means (8) are designed as an elongated element selected from the following list: tape, cord, line, rope, strip or cord. [7] Shading device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the pressure means (8) are made of a textile material, plastic or wire.

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